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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f57f44 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text +*.htm text +*.html text +*.png binary +*.jpg binary +*.svg text +*.pdf binary +*.bmp binary +*.zip binary +*.midi binary +*.mp3 binary diff --git a/79004-0.txt b/79004-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6225339 --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7152 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79004 *** +Transcriber’s Note: There are two Chapter VIIs. + + + + + LIVES + OF THE + CHIEF FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND. + + The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let + him not leave us, nor forsake us. + + 1 Kings 8:57. + + VOL. III. + + + + + THE LIFE + OF + JOHN ELIOT: + + WITH AN ACCOUNT + OF THE EARLY MISSIONARY EFFORTS + AMONG + THE INDIANS OF NEW ENGLAND. + + BY NEHEMIAH ADAMS, + PASTOR OF ESSEX STREET CHURCH, BOSTON. + + _Written for the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and + approved by the Committee of Publication._ + + BOSTON: + MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, + Depository, No. 13 Cornhill. + 1847. + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, + BY CHRISTOPHER C. DEAN, + In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT BY THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE. + + +The substance of this book is a Lecture delivered in 1842, before +the Young Men’s Missionary Association of Boston. On application of +the Publishing Committee, the author has consented to enlarge it for +publication, as one of the Series of the Lives of the New England Fathers. + + + + +SEAL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS (OR SALEM) COLONY. + + +[Illustration: SIGILLVM:GVB:ET:SOCIET:DE:MATTACHVSETS:BAY:IN:NOVA:ANGLIA] + +TRANSLATION. + +Seal of the Governor and Colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England. + + + + +LIFE OF JOHN ELIOT. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. + + Missionary object of the Pilgrims. Seal of Massachusetts + Colony. Reasons with the Pilgrims for leaving Holland. Extract + from the Royal Charter of the Plymouth Colony. Charter of + the Salem Company. Thoughts on this Continent as a field for + Missionary efforts. Account of the landing at Plymouth, and the + first meeting with the Indians. First Missionary efforts among + them. Manners and habits of the New England Indians. Numbers in + the various tribes. Reflections on the Missionary character and + efforts of the Pilgrims. The May-flower. + + +A prominent object with the Pilgrim fathers in coming hither, was, to +preach the Gospel to the Indians of this Continent. + +Many popular orators and writers represent them, as it were, following +and worshiping a goddess of liberty. But it was not for the mere liberty +of believing and doing what they pleased that they braved the ocean and +the perils of this wilderness. Two great motives influenced them. For the +liberty of worshiping God according to their own consciences, they “went +out not knowing,” as the event proved, “whither they went.” But this was +not all; they had a missionary object in coming here. + +It is an interesting fact that the original seal of the Colony of +Massachusetts Bay, who arrived and settled at Salem in 1628, had on it a +North American Indian, with these words proceeding from his mouth, “Come +over and help us.” This device on the seal of their colony published to +the world the fact that they regarded themselves as foreign missionaries +to North America. This was also the case with their brethren of the +Plymouth Colony, who arrived eight years before. + +The Pilgrims had fled to Holland, from the persecutions of the English +Church. In the account of their residence in Holland we find some records +which establish beyond a doubt the fact of their missionary intentions in +coming to these shores. Governor Bradford, in his History of Plymouth, +speaking of the Pilgrims while yet in Holland, says, “This year, (1617,) +Mr. Robinson and his Church begin to think of a remove to America, for +several weighty reasons, as (1.) The difficulties in Holland discouraged +many from coming to them out of England, and obliged many to return. (2.) +By reason of these difficulties with the licentiousness of the youth, +and temptations of the place, many of their children left their parents, +some of them becoming soldiers, others taking to foreign voyages, and +some to dissoluteness and the danger of their souls, to the great grief +of their parents, and fear lest their posterity through these temptations +and examples should degenerate, and religion die among them. (3.) From an +inward zeal and great hope of laying some foundation or making way for +propagating the kingdom of Christ to the remote ends of the earth, though +they should be but as stepping stones to others.” + +They obtained letters patent from the crown authorizing them to settle +in North Virginia. The following is an extract from the Royal Charter, +and is of the same purport with the third reason assigned by Governor +Bradford for their removal to America. The Royal Charter says,—“We have +thought it fit, according to our kingly duty—to second and follow God’s +holy will, by which means we may with boldness go on to the settling of +so hopeful a work which tendeth to the reducing and conversion of such +savages as remain wandering in desolation and distress, to civil society +and Christian religion.” + +It is well known that the Colonists who received this Charter, and sailed +for North Virginia, were driven into the waters of Cape Cod, and thus +unintentionally landed and settled at Plymouth. + +The Charter of “the Colony of Massachusetts Bay,” who settled a few years +after at Salem, says, “To win and incite the natives of that country to +the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind +and the Christian faith, is, in our royal intention and the adventurer’s +free profession, the principal end of the plantation.” + +The Committee of the “Massachusetts” Company, in their letter dated +at Gravesend, and addressed to Mr. Endicott, the leader, and afterward +the Governor, of the Massachusetts or Salem Colony, say, “For that the +propagating the Gospel is the thing we profess above all in settling this +plantation, we have been careful to make plentiful provision of good +ministers.”[1] + +It is interesting to think of this Continent as having been the object +of missionary zeal and efforts with the pilgrim fathers. The place which +this continent occupies on the globe is peculiar and interesting. The +numerous nations of the old world are crowded together in one hemisphere, +and this continent is the prominent object of the other. It did not seem +presumption to the pilgrims to believe that God laid its deep foundations +by itself, in the midst of the oceans rolling between it and the rest of +the globe, for some purpose as singular as its position. In the writings +of ancient poets there are remarkable allusions to this continent, when +as yet it was undiscovered. Seneca, a Latin writer, who lived at the +beginning of the Christian era, has in his “Medea” this declaration: +“The time will come in remote years when the ocean will unloose the +present boundaries of nature, and a great country will appear. Another +Typhis will discover new worlds, and Thule will no longer be the limit +of the earth.”[2] Homer and Horace had sung of Islands west of Africa, +the Atlantides, which were “the Elysian fields.” Hanno, the Carthaginian +general and great navigator, had sailed from the pillars of Hercules, +(the straits of Gibraltar,) westward, thirty days. Some suppose that he +must have seen America, or some of the neighboring islands.[3] Columbus +verified the dreams and surmises of the world; the Cabots pursued his +sublime discoveries, and they, with their Bristol crews, long accustomed +to Icelandic fisheries, found this continent. New adventurers carried +home some of the native Indians; and, at length, a new Continent, +inhabited by wild men, became the subject of intense interest to the +civilized world. Our pious forefathers, while yet in the old world, +fancied that they heard the Macedonian cry from the Indians here, and +it quickened their flight, as they say, “to follow Christ into a waste +howling wilderness.” + +Having been driven into the waters of Cape Cod, instead of North +Virginia, and making a safe harbor on Saturday, the Pilgrims fell +on their knees and blessed the God of heaven. The Sabbath came; the +Mayflower riding at anchor, and the exploring party in the shallop, kept +the first Sabbath of the Lord which, perhaps, had ever been recognized in +this region, since God rested from his works. + +“Monday,” says Prince, in his New England Chronology, “the people go +ashore to refresh themselves;—the whales play round about them, and the +greatest store of fowl they ever saw. But the earth here a company of +sand hills, and the water so shallow near the shore, they were forced +to wade a bow-shot or two to get to land, which being freezing weather, +affecteth them with grievous coughs and colds, which after proves the +death of many. When they had marched a mile southward, they see five +or six savages whom they follow ten miles till night, but could not +overtake them, and lodge in the woods. The next day they come to a place +of graves, then to some heaps of sand, when they dig into them, and +find several baskets full of Indian corn, and take some, for which they +purpose to give the natives full satisfaction as soon as they could meet +with any of them.” Two days after, they returned to borrow more corn; the +ground had frozen a foot deep, but they made up their corn, says Governor +Morton, to ten bushels; the next day some of the party, having spent the +night there, dug again into some little hillocks, but they found that +instead of being cornhills they were graves. By the overruling providence +of God, the corn which they had thus borrowed with such good intent to +repay, furnished them with seed for the ensuing spring. Here we have the +first scene of their approach to the wild objects of their pious and +benevolent endeavors. + +During the month of February, after their arrival, the colony were +afterwards informed that the Indians assembled all their Powwaws, or the +conjurers of the country, to curse them with their horrid ceremonies and +incantations. They held their assembly for this purpose in a dark and +dismal swamp. + +On the morning of March 16th, however, they say a savage boldly came +alone along the houses straight to the rendezvous, and surprised them +with calling out, “Welcome, Englishmen! Welcome, Englishmen!” It seems +that he had learned some broken English from the fishermen of Nova +Scotia. He said that his name was Samoset, that he was sagamore or lord +of a country “a day’s sail thence with a great wind,” or five days land +travel. He told them that four years ago all the inhabitants of the place +where they then were, (now Plymouth,) died of an extraordinary plague; +that there was neither man, woman, nor child remaining. At night they +lodged and watched him. A few days after he returned with an Indian +named Squanto, whom a man by the name of Hunt had carried to Spain with +nineteen others, and who by some means went to England, and lived in +Cornhill, London, with Mr. John Slanie, merchant. He could speak a little +English, and thus he was extremely useful to the colonists in assisting +them to trade and make treaties with the surrounding Indians. They +endeavored to conciliate the natives, but wisely mingled intimations that +they were prepared to resist them if attacked. + +The treacherous tribe of Narragansett Indians, with five thousand +fighting men, who at first made a treaty with the settlers, showed signs +on one occasion of hostility. Canonicus, their chief Sachem, sent a +bundle of arrows, tied with a snake’s skin, which Squanto told them meant +a challenge. Governor Bradford and his Council sent them word that if +they had rather have war than peace, they might begin when they would; +they had done the Indians no wrong, nor did they fear them; nor would +the Indians find them unprepared. Then, with some wit, the Governor sent +them, by another messenger, the snake’s skin filled with powder and +bullets; but they refused to receive it, and sent it back. + +Thus, after various alarms, and treaties, the pilgrims had fortified +themselves in the country, and individuals among them had begun the pious +work of instructing some of the young Indians in the Christian religion. + +In 1621, one year after the arrival at Plymouth, Elder Robert Cushman +sent word to his friends in England that many of the Indians, especially +the younger of them, were teachable; that if the Colony had means they +would bring up hundreds of them to labor, and learning, and that young +men in England who desired to further the Gospel among these poor +heathen, would do well to come over and spend their estates, time, and +labor, in so doing. + +During the few first years after the settlement at Plymouth, several of +the natives gave evidence of conversion, and instances of happy death +occurred among them. But the hardships and trials incident to a removal +into this wilderness delayed the systematic and general efforts of the +settlers to convert the Indians. Individuals, however, were laboring +among them with success. In 1636, the Plymouth Colony enacted laws to +provide for the preaching of the Gospel among the Indians, and ten years +after, the Massachusetts Colony passed a similar act. + +In 1675, it was ascertained that the whole number of Indians in New +England, beginning as far east as the St. Croix River, was about fifty +thousand. Of these, about twelve thousand were in the neighborhood of the +Massachusetts and the Plymouth Colonies. + +At the settlement of this country there were five principal nations, +or sachemships, of Indians, in this part of New England, viz, 1. The +Pequots; 2. The Narragansetts; 3. The Pawkunnawkuts; 4. The Pawtucketts; +5. The Massachusetts. Each of these nations included several tribes, +governed by sagamores. + +The Pequots formerly had 4000 warriors; in 1674, 300. + +The Narragansetts formerly had 5000 warriors; in 1674, 1000. + +The Pawkunnawkuts formerly had 3000 warriors; in 1674, nearly extinct. + +The Pawtuckets formerly had 3000 warriors; in 1674, 250. + +The Massachusetts formerly had 3000 warriors; in 1674, 300. + +The _Pequots_ inhabited the most southerly parts of New England, their +country for the most part fell under the Connecticut jurisdiction. Their +principal sachem lived at or near New London, called, in their language +Pequot. + +The _Narragansetts_ occupied Rhode Island, and other islands in +Narragansett bay. + +The _Pawkunnawkuts_ inhabited the region of the Plymouth Colony, +and their sachem held sway over the Sagamores of Nantucket, Martha’s +Vineyard, and neighboring places. A few years before the arrival of the +Pilgrims, a great number of this nation of Indians as before stated, were +swept away by a plague, and thus the way was opened for the entrance of +the Pilgrims. + +The _Pawtuckets_ lived to the north, and northeast of the Massachusetts +Indians. They were almost wholly destroyed by the plague just mentioned. + +The _Massachusetts_ Indians dwelt principally about the parts of +Massachusetts bay which were first settled by the English, and bordering, +some of them, on the region of the Pawkunnawkuts. They were very numerous +and powerful. Their chief sachem held rule over many petty chiefs. This +people was also visited by the plague in 1612-13, which destroyed the +most of them, and prepared the way for the English settlers. + +This fact has often brought to mind these words of David: “We have heard +with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what work thou didst in +their day, in the times of old. How thou didst drive out the heathen with +thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people and cast +them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, +neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, +and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them.” + +An early New England writer[4] says, that he had not been able to learn +accurately the nature of the disease or plague which depopulated the +Indian tribes in the remarkable manner already described; but that he had +“discoursed” with some old Indians, who told him that the patients were +“all over exceedingly yellow,” and this they described by showing him a +yellow garment which the bodies of the victims resembled in color, both +before and after death. There is a tradition that a Frenchman, who not +long before this plague, had fallen into their hands by shipwreck, told +them, as some of the surviving shipmates reported, just before he died +by their hands, that “God was angry with them for their wickedness, and +would not only destroy them all, but would also people their country with +men who would not live after their brutish manners.” Those infidels then +blasphemously replied, that God could not kill them; which blasphemous +mistake was confuted by an horrible and unusual plague, whereby they were +consumed in such vast multitudes, that our first planters found the land +almost covered with their unburied carcases, and they that were left +alive were smitten into awful and humbler regards of the English by the +terrors which the Frenchman’s prophecy had imprinted on them. + +When the Pilgrims in Holland thought of coming to this country, some of +them hesitated for several reasons, and among others through their fear +of the savages, who they heard were “cruel, barbarous, and treacherous, +being most furious in their rage, and merciless where they overcome, not +being content only to kill and take away life, but delight to torment men +in most bloody manner that may be, flaying men alive with the shells of +fishes, cutting off the points and members of others by piecemeals, and +broiling them on the coals, and causing men to eat the collops of their +flesh in their sight whilst they live; with other cruelties horrible +to be related.”[5] Some were therefore in favor of settling in Guiana, +in South America. But they feared the jealousy of the Spaniards, and +finally concluded to settle within the jurisdiction of the company of +Virginia, where the English, in 1607, had made a settlement. In this way, +they supposed that they could also have better access to the savages, +“to reduce them to civil society, and the Christian religion.” But God +brought them by a way they knew not, having first in part cut off the +heathen nations to bring them in. + +The May-flower sailed from Holland, September 6, 1620, for the Hudson +River. But they were driven into the waters of Cape Cod, and it was a +current belief that the shipmaster was bribed by the Dutch to change her +course, because the Dutch wished to settle in the region for which the +Pilgrims embarked. But some of the best authorities deny this, and say +that the change of their course was accidental. + +There is so much connection between climate and characters that we may +reasonably suppose it to have been the intention of Providence to plant +the Pilgrims in this cold region, and on this hard soil, that they might +be and do that which is proved to have been their high destiny to be and +to accomplish. Whereas, had they settled in a warmer and more enervating +latitude, we cannot believe that such a New England as we now behold +would have arisen; it would have been easier for the settlers to have +borne the imposition of slavery from the mother country, whereas here +in Massachusetts the sturdy vigor and independence which were borne and +nourished on this rocky and sandy soil, grew impatient of slavery, and +soon threw it off, and hence in part the present difference between +the North and the South, in some of the essential elements of natural +prosperity. God brought the Pilgrims into these bays and harbors, and to +this northern soil, because here the qualities necessary to their future +usefulness and greatness as a nation could be most successfully developed +and strengthened. Instead of reducing the savages to slavery as they +might have done had the institution of slavery been fastened upon them +in southern regions, they “reduced the savages to civil society, and the +Christian religion.” Let us return for a moment to the landing of the +Pilgrims. + +When the May-flower had cast anchor, the Pilgrims fitted up the little +shallop which they had brought in their vessel, and coasted the Cape for +about a month to determine on the best place for landing and settlement. +Having at length fixed on a place, the shallop, with the exploring +party came to anchor on Saturday, the 9th of December, corresponding to +December 20, New Style. The Sabbath dawned upon them, but the exploring +party remained on board, notwithstanding the inmates of the May-flower +were still at anchor, waiting to know the result of the exploration. How +beautiful and striking was the coincidence of their arriving at Plymouth +on the eve of the Sabbath. What a Sabbath it must have been to them. Not +only was their comfortless and perilous voyage in a crowded vessel, and +their anxious search for a landing place now over, but their persecutions +in the old world, their oppressive treatment from the Established Church +for not conforming to rites and practices which they could not observe, +had now come to an end. Now they had found a new world where they +might believe and worship as they pleased. Now they would no longer be +taxed for the support of worship in which they had no share. Now their +ministers would no longer be ill-used or nick-named, for not conforming +to unscriptural practices; now they would not be obliged to keep Lent, +and Ash-Wednesday, Candlemas, Christmas, and All-Saints’-day, in a manner +repugnant to their consciences. As they looked on this great wilderness, +free from all corruptions of man in the worship of God, and pure in that +respect as the virgin snows that covered the evergreens, and sheeted +the old sand wastes, and shone on the distant hills, they could breathe +freely, as they said in the words which indicate the essential spirit of +their faith, God is a spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him +in spirit and in truth. The world has never seen such a sight, before +or since, as that shallop and the May-flower in Plymouth Bay, with the +progenitors of this great and glorious New England; fleeing from the old +world, arriving at this new world and keeping Sabbath at anchor in these +waters. What has ever happened to be likened to it since the time when +Noah and his family sailed away from the old world, which had corrupted +itself before God, and transplanted the religion of the true God for a +new beginning? It would have been interesting to have heard the prayers, +and songs of praise, and words of Scripture, with which they kept the +Sabbath in their floating Bethels. We notice here that Puritan regard for +the Sabbath which has ever characterized New England, and on which her +safety so much depends. How natural it would have been for the voyagers +to have leaped ashore at the first moment of their arrival in the +harbor which they had concluded to make their home. How many passengers +now in similar circumstances, would deny themselves the pleasure of +exchanging the wearisome confinement on ship-board, for the excitement +and satisfaction of exploring their new home? But the Pilgrims would not +begin the work of their settlement, of removing any of their effects from +the vessel, on the Lord’s day, and since the time when God rested from +his work on the Sabbath, there has not been a more sublime act of rest +and of worship, than was observed by that Pilgrim band. + +All this was in accordance with their character and intentions as a +missionary band, and for its relation to this view of their character we +have dwelt at large upon this incident in their history. + +It cannot be impressed too deeply upon our minds that our forefathers +did not come here merely to “enjoy their liberty,” not merely to flee +from persecution, not to increase their worldly estate; they came here, +among other good reasons, as they expressly declare, to extend the +kingdom of Christ, and the Royal Charter professed that the royal object +in granting it was that they might reduce such savages as they found +wandering in desolation and distress to civil society and the Christian +religion. Does any one cherish a feeling of reverence and love for +these pilgrims in view of their sacrifices and efforts to found these +institutions which we possess, who yet feels no interest in the work +of propagating the gospel to the ends of the earth? Let him consider +that a company of Christian missionaries going from this land and +settling in India, or Africa, or Oceanica, may be the founders of just +such institutions as we enjoy, among the people to whom they are sent. +Let every missionary consider that in distant years he may be justly +regarded as a pilgrim-father to some portion of the earth for whom he +may have done as much as the New England Pilgrims have done for New +England. The object of Christian missions is to re-produce and multiply +our Christian institutions in heathen and pagan lands. The opportunity +of laying foundations in heathen wilds, similar to those which the +Pilgrims laid here, has not come to an end. Many a missionary bark may +yet be, essentially, a May-flower to distant parts of the earth. Some +islands which were filled with savages as barbarous as our Indians, have +had their independence recognized by Christian nations, and have taken +their place among the nations of the earth; and that band of American +missionaries who left these shores for the Sandwich Islands in 1820, +and who went round Cape Horn singing the old hymn in the tune of Melton +Mowbray, + + “Head of the church triumphant, + We cheerfully adore thee,” &c., + +and who planted the Gospel on those islands, will no doubt in after +times have their names enshrined by a grateful posterity in those distant +seas. The little schooner which the Rev. John Williams, the martyr of +Rarotonga, built with his own hand, to visit the islands of the Harvey +group, was a real “May-flower.” Prophetic visions of the effects of the +Gospel we see fulfilled on these shores and around the globe. Here, +emphatically, “instead of the thorn has come up the fir-tree, and instead +of the brier the myrtle-tree.” In what way can we cherish the memory of +our Pilgrim fathers better than to keep alive in us and our children that +zeal to spread the Christian religion and Christian institutions, which +was one of the strong impulses that bore them across the flood? As the +missionary spirit was the native air in which the pilgrim faith was born +and nurtured, we may believe that the same spirit will most effectually +cherish those institutions and laws which are the fruit of their wisdom. +That spirit is a sincere desire to see the glory of God promoted in the +world, a willingness to make efforts and sacrifices “that his way may be +known on earth, his saving health among all nations.” + +“The May-flower”! That name must have been proposed by some gentle +wife, or by some sweet child, to the man who built that favored vessel! +She was, in her seasonableness, more than a _May-flower_; she was the +Crocus among the eternal snows and the dreary winter of this western +savage world. In the selection of her for the great mission which +she accomplished, angels might have said to her, as they came to be +ministering spirits to those in her who were to be, in more than one +sense, “heirs of salvation,” as Gabriel said to Mary, “Hail, thou that +art highly favored—the Lord is with thee!” The name of this vessel is one +of those instances, of which we see so many in the word, the providence +of God, in which “the beauty of the Lord our God” appears in connection +with his acts of renown. To the cold eye of reason that name was only +a mercantile accident; the eye of faith is willing to be accounted +visionary while it sees in it that same hand which, after the deluge, +selected the rainbow instead of a periodical tempest, or a Dead Sea, as +the memorial of a covenant with the earth. + +The painting of the Landing of the Pilgrims, by Weir, justly represents +some of the pilgrim company as of cultivated and even polished appearance +and manners; they were not the offscouring of the earth. They were +men and women of whom, in their day, the world was not worthy. For +scholarship, intelligence, and moral worth, the Pilgrims and their +associates in the old countries would have been ornaments to the land +which chased them away. The reader will find this illustrated in a +satisfactory manner in the Life of the Rev. John Cotton, by the Rev. +A. W. M’Clure, in the first two volumes in this series of the Lives of +eminent N. E. Puritans. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Description of the Indians. Their manners, habits, mode of + life, &c. Efforts to convert them, previous to Eliot’s labors. + + +Some account of the manners and habits of the Indians, as our forefathers +and their successors found them, will be necessary that we may appreciate +the labors and self-denial which were required of those who instructed +these sons of the forest in religion and civilization. A correct +knowledge of their original condition dispels the romantic associations +which many have with the name of a North American Indian. The lowest +degradation had been reached by these savages. The laws of a people are +a true picture of the people, and some of the laws which the Indians +enacted when they began to be civilized, reveal the misery and filthiness +from which they began at last to be recovered. This will be illustrated +as we proceed. + +We will speak first of the personal appearance of the Indian. + +Their skin was of a tawny color, a yellowish, dark complexion. Their +form and limbs were well proportioned, and it was seldom that a crooked +person was found among them. Their hair was long, black, and coarse, +without curling; their eyes black, without lustre. In their general +appearance they were so much like the Moors of Africa, that many have +supposed them to have come originally from that part of the world. + +They had many wives, but one of them was chief in her husband’s regard. +They put away their wives, and the wife also left her husband when +offended with him. + +Their revengeful disposition is proverbial. The relatives of an injured +or murdered Indian regarded his wrong as done to them, and they sought +satisfaction in the death of the offender, or in the payment of wampum, +(or shells,) which passed with them for money. + +They were an idle race, especially the men. Tillage was chiefly performed +by the women, though to but little extent. The women also carried +burdens, as in removing from place to place. They also prepared the food. + +Their wigwams were made with slim poles fixed in the ground, bent, and +fastened at the top with the bark of trees. The best of them were made +tight and warm with the whole barks of trees, pressed when green by a +heavy weight of timber. A common sort of bulrushes woven together, made +mats for the covering of the poorer houses. The houses varied in size, +from twenty to forty feet square, and some were from sixty to a hundred +feet long, and thirty feet broad. In the smaller houses a fire was +kindled in the centre, but in the larger, several fires were made for the +convenience of the inmates. A hole in the top of the house served the +place of a chimney, and on the top of the house a mat was suspended, to +serve the purpose of a ventilator to the smoke, being set to the windward +side. Their bedsteads were made of rude boards split from the tree, and +raised about a foot from the ground, covered with skins, or with mats of +woven grass, or bulrushes. + +Their principal food was a kind of pottage in which it would be +difficult to say what article prevailed. Indian corn, kidney beans, all +kinds of flesh and fish, cut in small pieces with the bones, many kinds +of roots, artichokes, ground-nuts, squashes, oak acorns, walnuts, and +chestnuts, were boiled together. The nuts being dried, and powdered, were +used as flour to thicken the mess. They made a cake of parched corn, +which they called nokake. This they took with them in their travels, and +is said to have been so hearty a kind of food, that they subsisted on it +many days in their wanderings from place to place. + +Their household utensils corresponded in simplicity to their food, and +mode of cooking. The pots were made of clay, in the shape of an egg +without the top. They were glad to receive pots of metal, as the earth +of which they made their brittle vessels was scarce and dear. They used +a kind of wood which was not liable to split, for dishes, spoons, and +ladles. Their water pails were made of birch bark, folded square, with a +handle or bail. Some of them held two or three gallons, and they could +make one of them in the space of an hour. They wrought pictures of birds, +beasts, fishes and flowers of divers colors in their baskets, which were +made of corn husks, silk grass, and wild hemp. + +They formerly used no drink but water, though they soon learned from the +settlers the manufacture and use of cider. When they became acquainted +with intoxicating drinks, they showed a violent love for them, by which +their savage passions and propensities were fearfully excited. + +Their clothing was, at first, of skins, and some had mantles of birds’ +feathers, twilled together. Even the most barbarous of them were decent +in covering their persons, and were never seen naked in public. + +One of their principal remedies in sickness was, to put the patient, and +sometimes several patients together, in a rude stone house, which they +would heat by building fires round it, and having thus put the sick into +a violent perspiration, they would plunge them into a neighboring brook. + +They divided time into sleeps, and moons, and winters. It is a curious +fact that they called the Constellation, Charles’ Wain, by the same name +with the English, the Bear. Like the early eastern nations, they seem to +have pondered the face of the heavens, and to have made figures of the +stars. + +Their money consisted of shells, or strings of shells, the black +being double in value to the white. The _mints_ of their money seem to +have been at Block Island, and Long Island, upon whose sandy flats and +shores, these welk shells were chiefly found. It was called wompompeague, +or, wompeague, and by contraction, wompum, or, wampum. They redeemed +captives, paid tribute, made satisfaction for wrongs, and murders, and +purchased peace of their more powerful neighbors, with strings of this +wampum. + +Their weapons were bows and arrows, clubs, tomahawks, made of wood like a +pole axe, with a sharp stone in the head. They used targets or shields of +bark. + +They formerly smeared their skin with bears’ grease, but when the English +swine afforded them lard, they used it as a substitute, and thus having +anointed themselves, they painted their faces with vermilion, or red, +and powdered their heads. Sometimes they painted one half of the face +black, and the other white, and so, with various colors, deformed their +visages, the women, especially, doing this, and the warriors thereby +making themselves hideous in battle. Widows, mourning for their husbands, +painted their faces wholly black. The men preparing for war put their +hair in a roll, and surmounted it with turkey’s or eagle’s feathers, with +other fantastic and showy decorations. + +They took great pleasure in dancing, the men only dancing, and they +singly, (except in the war dance,) with uncouth and antic gestures and +movements of the whole body, the spectators singing or whooping. The +dancer took off his ornaments one by one as he danced, and gave them away +to those who looked on, and when he had given away all that he had upon +him, and was weary, another would succeed him, and thus succeeding each +other they would spend the nights of a whole week together, sleeping by +day. At such dancings accompanied with revelings, chiefly held after +harvest, they were addicted to many evil practices. + +They were a hospitable race. Strangers were furnished with the best food +and lodging, and were served before themselves. + +Their government was for the most part monarchical, the chief sachem or +sagamore making his will the law, though there were chief men associated +with him as counselors. In some of the tribes the influence of the head +men was greater than in others, making the government a mixture of +monarchy and aristocracy. + +They had no idols made with hands, but being ignorant of the true God, +they adored natural objects; the sun, the moon, the earth, fire, and +other things. They supposed that every thing in nature has a god in it, +or belonging to it, but fire they believed to be itself a god. They +believed that there was one god in the southwest, who was the chief deity. + +The Indians had priests or powows, or, powaws, who were conjurers, who, +with horrid rites and incantations, told their fortunes, advised them +in their affairs, yelled over them in their sick and dying moments, and +performed religious worship with terrific noises and actions, + + “Like stabled wolves or tigers at their prey, + Doing abhorred rites to Hecate.” + +The Indians believed in the immortality of the soul, that the good are +admitted to a splendid entertainment, and the wicked wander in agony +forever, and that there is no resurrection of the body for good or bad. + +As to the origin of the Indians, Roger Williams has well expressed the +truth on the subject, in his Key into the language of the Indians of New +England.[6] + +“From Adam and Noah that they spring, it is granted on all hands. But for +their later descent, and whence they came into these parts, it seems hard +to find, as to find the well-head of some fresh stream which running many +miles out of the country to the salt ocean, hath met with many mixing +streams by the way.” + +Mr. Williams gives many particulars of their manners and customs; some of +which are here added. + +Their nokake, or nokehick, parched meal, was carried by each man on a +journey, or in war, in a basket, fastened to his back, or in a hollow +belt. With a spoonful of this meal, and a spoonful of water from the +brook, Mr. Williams says he has many a time made a good supper. This +parched meal, boiled with water, he says, is the wholesomest diet they +have. _Nawsaump_ was a kind of meal pottage unparched, and from this the +English derived their _samp_, or Indian corn, broken and boiled, and +eaten, hot or cold, with milk or butter; “which are mercies beyond the +natives’ plain water, and which is a dish exceeding wholesome for the +English bodies.” + +Tobacco was in general use among them, and was the only plant which the +men cultivated, the women attending to the rest. The following remark, by +Mr. Williams, is in good illustration of former views and feelings with +regard to the use of spirituous liquors. “I never see any take tobacco +so excessively as I have seen men in Europe; and yet excess were more +tolerable in them, because they want the refreshing of beer and wine, +which God had vouchsafed Europe.”[7] + +They made up a fire, when they were lying down to sleep, summer and +winter. “Their fire,” says Williams, “is instead of our bed clothes. And +so themselves, and any that have occasion to lodge with them, must be +content to turn often to the fire, if the night be cold; and they who +first wake must repair the fire.” + +Bad dreams they considered as threatenings from God; and when they +happened to them, they would engage in prayer at all times of the night. +An Indian once dreamed that the sun, whom they worship as a god, darted +a beam into his breast. This he took for an admonition of his death. He +called his friends and neighbors together, and prepared some refreshment +for them; but himself remained awake, and fasting, for ten days and +nights in great humiliation and distress. + +“The women nurse all the children themselves; yet a rich or high woman +maintains a nurse to tend the child.” + +“They have amongst them natural fools, either so born, or accidentally +deprived of reason.” + +“The toothache is the only pain which will force their stout hearts to +cry. I have never heard any cries among them like those of men in the +toothache. In this pain they use a certain root dried, not much unlike +our ginger.” + +“They are most skillful in cutting off the heads of their enemies in +fight. I know the man, yet living, who pretended to fall from his own +camp to the enemy, proffered his service in the front with them against +his own army. He drew them out to battle, keeping in front; but, on a +sudden, shot their chief leader and captain, and, in a trice, fetched off +his head, and returned immediately to his own again. His act was false +and treacherous; yet herein appear policy, stoutness, and activity.” + +“Their desire of and delight in news, is great as the Athenians. A +stranger that can relate news in their own language they will style him +manittoo, a god.” + +In hearing news they sit in a circle, two, three, or four deep. “I have +seen near a thousand in a round where English could not well near half so +many have sitten.” + +They frequently inquired “Why came the Englishmen hither?” The +explanation most commonly believed among themselves at first was, that +the English wanted fire-wood, and so removed to these parts, as the +Indians remove when they have used up the wood around them. + +They kept the time of the day and the night with great accuracy, by +observing the sun, moon, and stars. Living abroad in the fields and +sleeping much out of doors, even the young children were expert in +telling the time. The Indians were punctual in their promises as to +time. Mr. Williams says they once charged him with lying for not being +punctual, though necessarily delayed. + +English travelers were struck with the paths which the bare and tough +feet of the Indians had made in stony places. One writer says that he +has known many of them to run between eighty and a hundred miles in a +summer’s day, and return within two days. He says they were so thoroughly +acquainted with the interior of the country by means of hunting, that +they have guided travelers forty miles without any path. They coveted +horses above other beasts, preferring the ease of riding even to the +comfort of milk and butter from the cow. On meeting with one another in +travel, they were very happy and joyful; and striking fire, with stones +or sticks, took tobacco, and set down to talk. It was quite rare to +meet an old man or a lame man with a staff, their constitutions being +generally robust. + +The English settlers were greatly struck with the purity of the air +and of the water in New England.[8] But as New England is about twelve +degrees south of England, the greater cold of this region is explained, +Mr. Williams thinks, by the fact that main lands and continents are +colder than islands. “England’s winds are sea winds, which are commonly +more thick and vapory, and warmer winds. The northwest wind, which +occasioneth New England cold, comes over the cold, frozen land, and +over many millions of loads of snow. And yet the pure wholesomeness of +the land is wonderful, and the warmth of the sun such in the sharpest +weather, that I have often seen the natives’ children run about stark +naked in the coldest days, and the Indian men and women lie by a fire in +the woods in the coldest nights; and I have often been out myself such +nights without fire, mercifully and wonderfully preserved.” + +It is observed by many writers that the Indians had a considerable +mixture of sadness in their disposition. Though nature here was profuse +in wild animals for food, and fish, and fowl, and fruits, the savages +were subject to much suffering from causes which they had no knowledge +to understand nor skill to prevent. Their superstitions joined with +their savage vices made them afraid. It would seem also, in noticing +the proofs of this disposition to melancholy, that the coming event of +their disappearance as a race had cast its shadow upon their spirits. Mr. +Williams says that they dislike cloths inclining to white, “but preferred +to have a sad color, without any whitish hairs, suiting with their own +natural temper, which inclines to sadness.”[9] + +In the spirit with which our forefathers came hither, seeking the +conversion of the red race, good men from time to time pursued different +measures for their spiritual good. But while other men deserve great +praise for their zeal and industry in this benevolent work, it was +reserved to JOHN ELIOT to gain for himself the name of the Apostle to the +Indians. The way in which he obtained it will now appear, and also some +account of his life and character, with further notices respecting the +Indians. + +Though individuals had incidentally labored among the Indians for their +spiritual good before the Apostle Eliot began his efforts to give them +the Gospel, and some useful impressions had been made on some of their +minds, the first systematic efforts for their conversion were made by +him. Roger Williams’ narrative was printed in London, in 1643. Eliot +began to preach in the Indian tongue in 1646. Mr. Williams says, + +“Many solemn discourses I have had with all sorts of nations of them, +from one end of the country to the other, so far as opportunity, and the +little language I have, could reach. + +“I know there is no small preparation in the hearts of multitudes of +them. I know their many solemn confessions to myself, and one to another, +of their last wandering conditions. + +“I know not with how little knowledge and grace of Christ the Lord may +save; and therefore neither will despair, nor report much. + +“Two days before the death of Wequash, the Pequot captain, as I passed +up to Quunnihticut (Connecticut) river, it pleased my worthy friend, +Mr. Fenwick, whom I visited at his house in Saybrook fort, at the mouth +of that river, to tell me that my old friend Wequash lay very sick. I +desired to see him, and himself was pleased to be my guide two miles +where Wequash lay. + +“Amongst other discourses concerning his sickness and death, in which he +freely bequeathed his son to Mr. Fenwick, I closed with him concerning +his soul. He told me that some two or three years before, he had lodged +at my house, where I acquainted him with the condition of all mankind, +and his own in particular; how God created man and all things; how man +fell from God, and his present enmity against God and the wrath of God +against him till repentance. Said he, your words were never out of my +heart to this present; and, said he, ‘Me much pray to Jesus Christ.’ I +told him so did many English, French, and Dutch, who had never turned +to God nor loved him. He replied in broken English: ‘Me so big naughty +heart: me heart all one stone!’ Savoring expressions using to breathe +from compunct and broken hearts, and a sense of inward hardness and +unbrokenness. I had many discourses with him in this life; but this was +the sum of our last parting, until our general meeting.”[10] + +We now come to the history of the man by whom the work of converting and +civilizing the Indians was carried out with the most signal success. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + John Eliot. Birth and Education. Associated with Rev. Thomas + Hooker. Arrives at Boston. Settles in Roxbury. Anecdote. + Discovery of Spot Pond. Marriage. Christian and Ministerial + character. His zeal for common School Education. Notices of his + personal character. His Congregational Sentiments. Remarks upon + them. Mr. Eliot’s children. His prayers. His preaching. Infant + Baptism. + + +John Eliot was born in Nasing, Essex, England, in the year 1604. All that +is known of his parents is, that they were eminently pious, to which Mr. +Eliot bore testimony, when he wrote in after life these words: “I do see +that it was a great favor of God unto me to season my first years with +the fear of God, the word, and prayer.” + +He was educated in England at the University of Cambridge, and was +distinguished for his love of the languages, in which he attained +uncommon skill, especially in Hebrew and Greek. There is a connection +between this fact and his labors in New England in acquiring the Indian +tongue and translating the Bible and other books into it. + +The Rev. Thomas Hooker, afterwards the first Pastor of the Church +in Cambridge, New England, who afterwards removed with his Church to +Hartford, Connecticut, had been silenced for his conscientious scruples +at certain rites and observances in the Church of England, after +exercising the ministry four years. At the suggestion and request of +distinguished individuals, he established a school in the town of Little +Braddow, near Chelmsford, in the county of Essex, England. Mr. Eliot +was an usher in this school. In this school several individuals were +trained up who became eminently useful. Mr. Eliot wrote an account of +this school; and says of it, and of his connection with the family of Mr. +Hooker, “To this place was I called through the infinite riches of God’s +mercy in Christ Jesus to my poor soul; for here the Lord said unto my +dead soul, Live; and, through the grace of Christ, I do live, and I shall +live forever. When I came to this blessed family, I then saw, and never +before, the power of godliness in its lively vigor and efficacy.” + +By the influence of Mr. Hooker, Mr. Eliot was led to devote himself to +the Christian ministry. Seeing the corruptions of the Church of England, +and the oppressive spirit of those in authority towards all who would +not conform to the ceremonies and practices of the Established Church, +he resolved that he would go to America, that he might preach the gospel +without restraint. + +He came to Boston in November, 1631, in the ship “Lyon,” with Governor +Winthrop’s lady and children, and sixty others. There was then no +minister at the Church in Boston, Rev. Mr. Wilson, their pastor, having +gone to England to settle his affairs. Mr. Eliot joined the Church at +Boston, and preached to them a part of a year, till the return of Mr. +Wilson, when the Church wished to make him colleague and teacher with +Mr. Wilson. But he had engaged with several individuals, in England, +that if they should remove to America, he would be their minister. They +came the year after his arrival, and settled at Roxbury; and having +formed a Church there, secured the services of Mr. Eliot. He was then +twenty-eight years old, and he continued as Pastor of the Church in +Roxbury nearly sixty years. His meeting-house was on the hill where the +present meeting-house of the First Church in Roxbury (unitarian) now +stands. Cotton Mather has preserved an anecdote connected with this hill, +illustrating the art which Mr. Eliot had at spiritualizing. Going up +the hill to his meeting-house, in his old age, with much feebleness and +weariness he said to the one who led him, “This is very like the way to +heaven, ’tis up hill; the Lord by his grace fetch us up.” Spying a bush +near him he instantly added, “And truly there are thorns and briars in +the way too!” which instance, Mather says, “I would not have singled out +from the many thousands of his occasional reflections, but only that I +might suggest unto the good people of Roxbury something for them to think +upon when they are going up to the house of the Lord.”[11] + +In February of the year after his arrival, Mr. Eliot is mentioned as +one of the company who, with the governor, made an excursion into the +vicinity of Boston, and discovered a pond to which they gave its present +name of “Spot Pond.”[12] This pond has of late been a prominent candidate +for the privilege of supplying this city with water. + +In 1632, Mr. Eliot was married to the pious young lady to whom he was +betrothed in England, and who came to America by appointment the year +after Mr. Eliot’s arrival. We shall have occasion to speak of her in the +sequel of this history. + +In the exercise of the Christian ministry, Mr. Eliot was remarkable +for a deep sense of the great responsibleness of his work. It made him +humble; he seemed to have a peculiar fear of the temptations incident to +his profession, and to be deeply impressed with the weight of its duties. +His brethren in the ministry were struck with this characteristic of his +ministerial deportment. + +He bestowed much labor and diligence upon his preparations for the +pulpit. It is said that when he listened to a discourse which seemed +to have had care and attention bestowed upon it, he was accustomed +to express his approbation and thanks to the preacher. But while his +discourses showed him to be a student, he placed a higher value on +spiritual gifts in preaching than upon the greatest accomplishments of +art or labor. He frequently exhorted young preachers to make Christ +prominent in their discourses and in all their ministrations. + +He had an elevated sense of the meaning and privilege of +church-membership. With affection, but also with plain and faithful +words, he never ceased to rebuke the inconsistencies of professors of +religion. Mather says of him, “He would sound the trumpet of God against +all vice with a most penetrating liveliness, and make his pulpit another +Mount Sinai, for the flashes of lightning therein displayed against the +breaches of the law given from that burning mountain. There was usually a +special fervor in the rebukes which he bestowed on carnality. When he was +to brand the earthly mindedness of Church members and the allowance and +indulgence which they often give themselves in sensual delights, he was a +right Boanerges. He spoke as many thunderbolts as words!” + +He paid particular attention to the young people of his charge, gave them +instruction in public and private with the help of catechisms composed by +him especially for their use. It was his familiar habit, when he visited +a family, to call the young around him and lay his hands on their heads +with words of kindness and prayer. + +He showed his love of learning in his zeal for the establishment of +common schools. The grammar School at Roxbury owed much to his care. At +the meeting of a Synod in Boston, he made the schools of the country a +special subject of prayer, beseeching God that he would cause them to be +established everywhere, that schools might flourish, that every member +of the Synod might go home to procure and encourage a good school in his +town; and that before they should die, they might be so happy as to see a +good school established in every part of the country. + +“God so blessed his endeavors that Roxbury could not live quietly +without a free school in the town, and the issue of it has been one thing +that has almost made me put the title of Schola Illustris upon that +little nursery; that is, that Roxbury has afforded more scholars first +for the College and then for the public than any town of its bigness, +or, if I mistake not, of twice its bigness in all New England. From the +spring of the school at Roxbury, there have run a large number of the +streams which have made glad the whole city of God. I persuade myself +that the good people of Roxbury will forever scorn to begrudge the cost, +or to permit the death of a school which God has made such an honor to +them; and thus the rather because their deceased Eliot has left them a +fair part of his own estate for the maintaining of the school in Roxbury; +and I hope, or at least I wish that the ministers of New England may be +as ungainsayably importunate with their people as Mr. Eliot was with his +for schools which may seasonably tinge the young souls of the rising +generation. A want of education for them is the blackest and saddest of +all the bad omens that are upon us.”[13] + +One result of his interest in schools was that many individuals were +raised up under his eye who became ministers of the gospel, and some of +them were eminently useful. + +He was so engrossed in the affairs of his ministry that he hardly paid +sufficient attention to his worldly affairs, never being anxious about +his support, depending wholly on the temporary and voluntary offerings +of his people, which varied with the times. Dr. Dwight, in his Travels +in New England and New York,[14] relates an anecdote to illustrate his +generous and somewhat improvident disposition and habits. “The parish +treasurer having paid him his salary, put it into a handkerchief, and +tied it into as many hard knots as he could make to prevent him from +giving it away before he reached his own house. On his way he called on a +poor family, and told them that he had brought them some relief. He then +began to untie the knots, but finding it a work of great difficulty, he +gave it to the mistress of the house, saying, ‘Here, my dear, take it, I +believe the Lord designs it all for you.’” + +Like many other ministers, he owed much to the care which his wife took +of him and his worldly affairs. She of course did not commend him for +such reckless acts of charity as the one just named. One day some cattle +stood before their door. His wife, to try him, asked him to whom they +belonged, and though they were his own, he did not know them. + +His influence upon his brethren in the ministry seems to have been +eminently spiritual. He once said in a company of them, “The Lord Jesus +takes much notice of what is said and done among his ministers when they +are together. Let us pray before we depart.” His advice to some who +complained of the conduct of Church members towards them, was, “Bear, +forbear, forgive.” On one occasion he came into a meeting of ministers +who had met as referees on some difficulties between two parties. A large +bundle of papers lay on the table, containing the correspondence and +other documents relating to the quarrel. He put them all into the fire, +and said, “You need not be astonished at what I have done, for I did it +on my knees before I came here.” + +He loved to attend upon the ministry of his brethren when they lectured +during the week. It used to excite surprise, that, with his many labors +and studies, he could find so much time to do this. His appearance in +the house of God as a hearer was noticeable, being always wakeful and +watchful, turning the pages of a Bible to find the texts referred to by +the preacher, and on returning to his home, he would preach the sermon +over again to those who walked with him. + +He is mentioned as remarkable for the value which he seemed to set on the +Sabbath, and for the high spiritual enjoyment which its return brought +with it. Of every Sabbath it might almost be said with regard to his +enjoyment of the sacred hours, “That Sabbath was a high-day.” + +He was eminently a man of prayer, setting apart whole days for special +supplication and communion with God, to which he frequently added +fasting. When he had any special difficulty in his private, or in public +affairs, he devoted himself to special, secret prayer for some time +together, on the principle related of another, “That when we would have +any great things to be accomplished, the best policy is to work by an +engine which the world sees nothing of.” When he heard any special news +he would sometimes say, “Brethren, let us turn all this into prayer.” +When he paid a visit to a family with which he was familiar, he would +sometimes say, “Come, let us not have a visit without a prayer; let us +pray down the blessing of heaven on your family before we go.” + +A pious woman, afflicted with a wicked husband, complained to him that +she was greatly troubled by the bad company which her husband brought +with him into the house, and asked him what she should do. He said to +her, “Take the holy Bible into your hands when they come, and you will +soon drive them away.” The experiment is said to have been successful. + +One day walking in his garden with a friend, he began to pluck up the +weeds. His friend pleasantly said to him, “Sir, you tell us we must be +heavenly-minded,” as though he would draw from Mr. Eliot some remarks on +the consistency of heavenly-mindedness with attention to things about us. +Mr. Eliot replied, “It is true; and this is no impediment unto that; for +were I sure to go to heaven tomorrow, I would do what I do to-day.” + +He went into a merchant’s counting room, where he saw his mercantile +books on the table, and some books of devotion on the shelf. Upon which +he said, “Sir, here is earth on the table, and Heaven on the shelf. Pray +don’t sit so much at the table as altogether to forget the shelf.” + +Preaching once on holiness in all manner of conversation, he said, “In +the morning if we ask, Where am I to be to-day? our souls must answer, In +heaven. In the evening if we ask, Where have I been to-day, our souls may +answer, In heaven. If thou art a believer thou art no stranger to Heaven +while thou livest; and when thou diest, Heaven will be no strange place +to thee: no, thou hast been there a thousand times before.” + +He would say to students, “I pray look to it that you be morning birds.” + +A few years before his death, he pressed his people to obtain another +pastor, and said, “’Tis possible you may think the burden of maintaining +two ministers may be two heavy for you; but I deliver you from that +fear; I do here give back my salary to the Lord Jesus Christ, and now, +brethren, you may fix that upon any man that God shall make a pastor +for you.” But his Church kindly and generously told him that they +should count his very presence worth a salary, when he should be so +superannuated as to do no further service for them. + +He was an abstemious man, and yet far from being morose or censorious, +but when invited to a large dinner, it is said that while he eat but very +little he would indulge in pleasant and grateful remarks with respect to +the plenty with which God had furnished his people in this wilderness. +Having been invited at a stranger’s house to take some drink, which he +was told was wine and water, he replied, “Wine! ’tis a noble, generous +liquor, and we should be humbly thankful for it; but, as I remember, +water was made before it,” and water was his drink, to a degree which was +far from being common even in those days. + +He was greatly displeased with the increasing attention in his day +among the men to the wearing of the hair, the length of it growing to +effeminacy, and false hair frequently being added, when there was no +necessity for it to cover the head. He finally despaired of changing or +checking the custom, and said, “The lust is become insuperable.” + +It is said of him that no man ever had fewer enemies than he, but still +there were those who privately disliked him, and he charged his wife in +her visits among the people to do good in a special manner to any whom +she found disposed to speak against him, or to entertain unkind feelings +towards him. Having once displeased a hearer by something in a sermon, +the man abused him publicly by words and by printing something to his +injury. The man soon after was wounded. Mrs. Eliot had considerable skill +in medicine and the treatment of wounds, and Mr. Eliot sent her to cure +the man, which she did, and upon his recovery the man called to thank +her, but she took no reward, and Mr. Eliot kept him to dine, and took no +notice of his evil conduct, whereupon the man was deeply affected and +subdued. + +He had much tact and wit in suiting his benedictions to the conditions +and circumstances of different people. + +In the days of affliction he showed exemplary resignation to the will +of God. He followed to the grave two or three of his sons, who were +ministers of the Gospel. But his patience and submission under these +trials are spoken of with great commendation. + +His love for the Hebrew tongue is seen in the following enthusiastic +words: “O that the Lord would put it into the heart of some of his +religious and learned servants to take such pains about the Hebrew +language as to fit it for universal use! Considering that above all +languages spoken by the lip of man, it is most capable to be enlarged, +and fitted to express all things, and motions, and notions that our human +intellect is capable of in this mortal life, considering also that it is +the invention of God himself; and what one is fitter to be the universal +language, than that which it pleased our Lord Jesus to make use of when +he spake from heaven unto Paul!” + +In the government of his family, it is said that there might have been +seen a perpetual mixture of a Spartan and a Christian discipline, and +that whatever decay there might have been in family religion generally, +the people ‘knew how that he would command his children and his household +after him, that they should keep the way of the Lord.’ + +He was remarkable for the efforts he employed to instruct the children, +making catechisms for them having reference to any prevailing errors. +The effect of this is certified in a remark of Cotton Mather, that it is +a well-principled people that he has left behind him. “As when certain +Jesuits were sent among the Waldenses to corrupt their children, they +returned with much disappointment and confusion, because the children of +seven years old were well-principled enough to encounter the most learned +of them all; so, if any seducers were let loose to wolve it among the +good people of Roxbury, I am confident they would find as little prey +in that well instructed place as in any part of the country. No civil +penalties would signify so much to save any people from the snares of +busy heretics, as the unwearied catechising of our Eliot has done to +preserve his people from the gangrene of ill opinion.”[15] + +It is said of Mr. Eliot that he was not only an evangelical minister, but +a Protestant and a Puritan. “He was a modest, humble, but very reasonable +non-conformist unto the ceremonies which have been such unhappy apples of +strife in the Church of England; otherwise the dismal thickets of America +had never seen such a person in them.” + +Mr. Eliot was strongly attached to the Congregational form of Church +order. He spoke of it as the special gift of Christ to his people who +followed him into the wilderness with an earnest zeal for communion with +Him in a pure worship. He regarded Congregationalism as a happy medium +to “rigid Presbyterianism” on the one hand, and “leveling Brownism” on +the other, the liberties of the people not being disregarded, nor the +authority of the elders rendered insignificant, but a due balance kept +between them both. He regarded the Platform of Church Discipline “as +being the nearest of what he had yet seen to the directions of heaven.” + +By this it is not to be understood that Mr. Eliot as a true +Congregationalist, supposed that any form of Church government was +imposed by Christ or the Apostles upon the Christian Church, as being +in any way essential to the existence of a true Church of Christ. With +regard to the appointment of any special form of Church Government, it +would seem that there is a wise silence in the New Testament. The genius +of Christianity forbids an adherence to any form of ecclesiastical +order as essential to the existence of a Church of Christ. This truth +was declared by Christ at Jacob’s well to the Samaritan woman. The Jews +insisted on Jerusalem as the place where men ought to worship. The +Samaritans as strenuously maintained that acceptable worship could be +performed only in their mountain. + +Christ said, The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor +yet at Jerusalem worship the Father; that is, no place in preference to +another shall be essential to acceptable worship. God is a Spirit, and +they that worship him need not restrict themselves to any hallowed place, +but may worship him any where acceptably, if they worship Him in spirit +and in truth. + +But if so great a change was allowed as the abolition of sacred places, +which once were essential to acceptable worship, and notwithstanding all +that had been done to make men feel that Jerusalem and the Temple were +the places to which the true worshipers must of necessity resort, it +follows that no forms, any more than places, are essential to the true +worship of God. We may infer what form of Church government prevailed +under the Apostles, though different readers of the New Testament will +draw different inferences. This shows that no form is prescribed as +being essential, otherwise we should not have been left in the dark in +so important a subject. The body of Moses and the place of his sepulchre +were hidden, because as we generally suppose the Israelites would have +paid an idolatrous reverence before such a shrine as the tomb of their +illustrious leader, and in the Jewish Church the solemn farce of a Holy +Sepulchre would have been enacted, in anticipation and in countenance of +the subsequent follies which have been connected with the Sepulchre of +Christ. We may say of any supposed form of Church government as being in +any way essential, as is said of the body of Moses, and for a similar +reason, “The Lord buried it,” and “no man knoweth of its sepulchre to +this day.” + +Our preference for the Congregational form of Church government is +not properly founded on any prescriptions in the New Testament, but on +our convictions that this form is most accordant with the genius of +Christianity and of republican institutions. But so surely as we insist +on Congregationalism as having any “divine right,” or authority, and we +seek to propagate Congregationalism with such convictions, we are as +surely High Churchmen and Puseyites as can any where be found. To insist +on the absence of all forms and on the perfect simplicity of worship, +with a sectarian spirit, shows as great an attachment to _a form of +worship_ as though we urged the adoption of all the ceremonies of the +Cathedral. We may be as bigoted in favor of simplicity as of any thing +else, and a Quaker and a Congregationalist may be as much a formalist +and a Churchman as any other. At the same time we may believe that the +Congregational form of government is nearer to the Spirit of the New +Testament than any other, and this is what Mr. Eliot probably meant when +he said that Congregationalism was nearest in his view to the directions +of heaven. + +The influence which was exerted upon the mind of Thomas Jefferson, and +which he exerted in the framing of the Constitution, by observing, as he +did, an illustration of democracy in a Congregational Baptist Church in +Virginia, is well known.[16] + +We ought to carry out the true Puritan doctrine of liberty of +conscience by not despising any who choose to worship under a different +form and order from our own. It is an interesting illustration of the +noble spirit in our Puritan institutions that all sects have liberty +here to worship God with any forms or in any manner they please; and he +who tries to hinder them any further than by convincing them, or feels +sourly towards them in the enjoyment of their liberty of conscience +and religious preferences, has not yet learned all that he may of the +nature and spirit of religious liberty. But if we profess to be in the +true succession from the Puritans and Pilgrims as to doctrine and Church +order, let us not mix any of those things with our worship from which +the Pilgrims fled to this wilderness, that they might be rid of them. +We can live peaceably and freely in the midst of such corruptions and +not be persecuted. They could not. Let us not abuse our liberty, by +turning again to those beggarly elements of human appointments in Church +government and worship which corrupt the religion of Christ. Let us +not begin to do so by cultivating the spirit of bigoted attachment to +our simple order and forms, for thereby we as truly violate the spirit +of Christianity as though we insisted on a multitude of ceremonies and +a hierarchy, as essential to a Church. He who says “No Church without +simplicity in worship,” and he who says, “No Church without a Bishop,” +are two extremes which meet. At the same time, we shall be the degenerate +sons of men who made such sacrifices for purity in worship as did the +Pilgrims, unless we adhere to our simple and beautiful mode of Church +government and worship as preferable to any other. + +The practice of examining persons who seek admission to the Church, was +much insisted on by Mr. Eliot. The relation of their experience he says, +“is an ordinance of wonderful benefit. The devil knows what he does when +he thrusts so hard to get this custom out of our churches. For my part I +would say in this case, Get thee behind me Satan; thou givest an horrible +offence to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us keep up this ordinance with all +gentleness; and where we see the least spark of grace held forth, let us +prize it more than all the wit in the world.” + +Mr. Eliot had six children, a daughter and five sons. The daughter +became exemplary for her piety and matronly deportment. His first son, +John, was “a lively, zealous, acute preacher, not only to the English at +New Cambridge,[17] but also to the Indians thereabout.” He died early, +and upon his death-bed uttered many remarkable things. The third child, +Joseph, was pastor of the Church in Guilford, Conn. The fourth child, +Samuel, was a candidate for the ministry, but died young. The fifth +was Aaron, who also died very young. The last was Benjamin, who became +his father’s assistant in the ministry at Roxbury, but died before his +father. Of these six children, Mr. Eliot said, “THEY ARE ALL EITHER WITH +CHRIST, OR IN CHRIST.” + +Mather speaks of the singular and surprising successes of Mr. Eliot’s +prayers; ‘for they were such that in our distresses we still repaired +to him under that encouragement.’ “He is a prophet, and he shall pray +for thee, and thou shall live.” He mentions the following fact. They +who are displeased at David’s imprecations against his enemies, may see +in it that a good man may pray for the destruction of the incorrigibly +wicked, when great and good ends will be accomplished by it, leaving +it submissively to the appointments of the all-wise God. A good man +never ventures to pray in this manner, except when he is under a strong +influence, drawing him very near to God with holy freedom and boldness. +At such times his feelings are eminently pure; and it is in such times +that good men feel impelled to pray for the removal of those who oppose +God, and hinder others in their salvation. No doubt if there were more of +ardent piety, there would be more of righteous indignation against the +obstinate opposers of religion, and we should find ourselves better able +to understand the feelings and language of David, when praying against +the enemies of his throne and of the God who ruled by him. That language +will come into more familiar use by the people of God, in their nearest +approaches to him, as they go forth with their King and Saviour in his +conflicts with his enemies. + +The fact to which the allusion has been made was this: + +There was a pious gentleman of Charlestown by the name of Foster, who, +with his son, was taken prisoner by the Turks. The news being spread +in this vicinity, the good people offered up many prayers for his +deliverance. But it was reported that the prince, within whose authority +he was a prisoner, had resolved that during his reign, no captive should +be set free. The friends and acquaintances of this man then concluded +that his captivity was hopeless. Soon after, Mr. Eliot on some public +and solemn occasion, used these direct and forcible petitions. “Heavenly +Father! work forth deliverance of thy poor servant, Foster; and if the +prince which detains him, will not, as they say, dismiss him so long as +himself lives, Lord, we pray thee to kill that cruel prince; kill him, +and glorify thyself upon him.” Soon after the prisoners returned and +brought news that in consequence of the untimely death of the prince they +had been set at liberty. + +There was one thing which seems to have pressed very heavily on the mind +and heart of Mr. Eliot in his ministerial office. It was the care of a +Church. “He looked upon it,” says one, “as a thing no less dangerous +than important, and attended with so many difficulties, temptations, and +humiliations, as that nothing but a call from the Son of God could have +encouraged him unto the susception of it. He saw that it was no easy +thing to feed the souls of such a people, to bear their manners with +all patience, not being by any of their infirmities discouraged from +teaching of them, and from watching and praying over them, to value them +highly as the flock of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood, +notwithstanding all their miscarriages, and in all to examine the rule +of Scripture for the warrant of whatever shall be done, and to remember +the day of judgment wherein an account must be given of whatever shall be +done, having in the meantime no expectation of the riches and grandeurs +which accompany a worldly domination.” This seemed to be characteristic +of the spirit with which Mr. Eliot discharged his duties as the pastor of +a Church. + +An observation of Rev. Samuel Ward has been quoted as applicable to him: +“In observing I have observed and found that divers great clerks have had +but little fruit of their ministry, but hardly any truly zealous men of +God, though of lesser gifts, but have had much comfort of their labors in +their own and bordering parishes, being in this likened by Gregory to the +iron on the smith’s anvil, sparkling round about.” + +Mather says, “The Lord Jesus Christ was the load-stone which gave a +touch to all the sermons of our Eliot; a glorious, precious, lovely +Christ, was the point of heaven to which they still verged unto.” It is +said, that though he printed many books or pamphlets, his heart seemed +to be in none of them so much, as in his ‘Harmony of the Gospels, in the +holy History of Jesus Christ.’ It was a standing piece of advice with him +to young ministers, “Pray let there be much of Christ in your ministry.” +On hearing a sermon in which the Saviour had been made prominent, he +would say, O, blessed be God, that we hear Christ so much and so well +preached in poor New England. + +On coming out of the meeting-house where he had been listening to a +sermon, he said to the preacher, “Brother, there was oil required for the +service of the sanctuary; but it must be beaten oil; I praise God that +I saw your oil so well beaten to-day; the Lord help us always by good +study to beat our oil that there may be _no knots in our sermons left +undissolved_, and that there may a clear light be thereby given in the +house of God.” Still it is observed that he looked for something more +than mere study in a sermon; he required those things in it which would +make the hearer feel that the Spirit of God was in the sermon and with +the preacher, and he was once heard to complain, “It is a sad thing when +a sermon shall have that one thing, The Spirit of God, wanting in it.” + +He had eminently spiritual views of the duty and privilege of infant +baptism. On giving the Rev. Cotton Mather the Right Hand of Fellowship +at his ordination, he said to him, “Brother, art thou a lover of the +Lord Jesus Christ? Then I pray, feed his lambs.” He was careful to have +the lambs pass under the “Lord’s tything rod.” One Mr. Norcott, a truly +pious man, published a book against the baptism of infants, which being +circulated in Boston and the vicinity, Mr. Eliot answered it in a brief +publication, beginning with these words: “The book speaks with the voice +of a lamb, and I think the author is a godly though erring brother; but +he acts the cause of a roaring lion, who by all crafty ways, seeketh to +devour the poor lambs of the flock of Christ.” He then speaks “in the +behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.” + +On one occasion, speaking of the Saviour’s directions to Peter, John +21:15, he observed, That _the care of the lambs is one third part of the +charge over the house of God_. + +The title of one of Mr. Eliot’s publications, “The Divine Management +of Gospel Churches, by the Ordinance of Councils, constituted in order +according to the Scriptures, which may be a means of uniting those two +holy and eminent parties, the Presbyterians and the Congregational,” +shows that a plan of union between these two sister denominations is not +wholly of modern origin. + +But reserving many things respecting Mr. Eliot’s character and opinions +for another place in this book, let us now look at him in that remarkable +work to which God appointed him among the Indians of this vicinity. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Nonantum. Mather’s description of the natives. The Lost Tribes + of Israel. Specimen of Indian words. Eliot’s first religious + exercise at Nonantum. Indian Questions. Second visit to + the Indians. Indian Questions. Eliot’s reflections on his + interviews. Anecdotes. + + +The old turnpike road to Worcester, in Brighton, leaves Nonantum hill +on the left, and a private road conducts to the summit of the hill which +is crowned by two mansions.[18] The scenery from that hill has a rare +combination of still life and of the busy world. The Charles River, seen +from a distant part of the hill, meanders to the sea; the quiet, classic +scenes of Cambridge are before the eye; soft undulations of hill and +dale, winding roads and aboriginal woods, and the quiet waters of the +estuary, impress the mind with sensations of repose which are pleasantly +broken by the distant noise of travel upon the bridges, the sudden +whistle of the locomotive, and an impressive view of the neighboring +city. That hill, extending as far as Watertown, and Newton, was once the +favorite residence of the Indians, in this vicinity,[19] and thither +Eliot, the pastor of the neighboring Church in Roxbury, directed his way, +to give the Indians the word and ordinances of the Gospel in their own +language. + +Cotton Mather says, “The natives of the country now possessed by the +New Englanders, had been forlorn and wretched heathen ever since their +first herding here; and though we know not how these Indians first became +inhabitants of this mighty continent, yet we may guess that probably the +devil decoyed these miserable savages hither, in hopes that the gospel +of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would never come here to destroy +or disturb his absolute empire over them. But our Eliot was in such +ill-terms with the devil, as to alarm him by sounding the silver trumpets +of heaven in his territories, and make some noble and zealous attempt +towards ousting him of his ancient possessions here. There were, I think, +twenty several nations, if I may call them so, of Indians, upon that spot +of ground which fell under the influence of our Three United Colonies; +and our Eliot was willing to rescue as many of them as he could from that +old usurping landlord of America, who is, by the wrath of God, the prince +of this world.”[20] + +Some of the interest and zeal which many of the first planters and their +successors felt with regard to the Indians, was owing to their belief +that they were the Ten Tribes of Israel. Cotton Mather enumerates “some +small reasons,” as he calls them, which led the English to suspect that +they might be Israelites. He adds, “They have, too, a great unkindness +for our swine;”—but he does not seem to place much reliance on that +coincidence with the Jewish antipathy to swine, for he adds, “but I +suppose that is because our swine devour their clams, which are a great +dainty with them.” + +This supposition that the North American Indians are the Ten Tribes of +Israel, has seemed even more probable to many modern writers than it did +to the first settlers of the country. Mr. Catlin, in his interesting and +valuable work on the North American Indians, mentions many curious facts +in the history, manners and customs of the present race of red men, in +favor of this supposition. But there are so many theories on the subject +of the Lost Tribes of Israel, and it is so easy for an ingenious mind to +discover or invent resemblances, that neither this theory nor any other +on the same subject has ever obtained general belief. + +It was to a people of rude speech and fierce countenance that Mr. Eliot +endeavored to give a knowledge of the Gospel and the institutions of +civilized life. His first labor of course was to acquire their language. +It was the language of the Massachusetts Indians to which he applied +himself. He found an old Indian who could speak English, took him into +his family, and by finding out one word, and expression, and sentence +after another, he soon was able to converse in that tongue, and finally +understood it so well that he reduced it to rules, and made an Indian +grammar. One glance at this language will show that it must have been +no easy task for a stranger to learn it well enough to converse in it. +Some of the words are of enormous length, one of them sometimes filling a +whole line. The word for “our loves,” is _noowoomantammoorkanunornash_. +“Our question” is _Kummogkodonnattootummooetiteaongannunnarash_. “One +would think,” says Mather, “that these words had been growing ever since +Babel unto the dimensions to which they are now extended.” Another remark +of his on this subject, though it may seem to us to be somewhat in a +trifling mood, was undoubtedly written with sober feelings, considering +the prevalent superstitions of those times—superstitions with regard to +which we greatly err if we suppose them to have been, in those times, +peculiar to America.[21] “I know not,” this writer adds, “what thoughts +it will produce in my reader, when I inform him that once finding that +the demons in a possessed young woman understood the Latin and Greek +and Hebrew languages, my curiosity led me to make trial of this Indian +language, and the demons did seem as if they did not understand it.” + +The reason of the great length of these Indian words is understood to +be, that instead of having separate words for pronouns and adjectives, +the noun or verb expresses them by adding syllables to itself. Mather, +who was ready at anagrams and puns, says that the name _Eliot_ read +backwards, is _t o i l E_, and he thinks that the name corresponds well +with the toil of reducing such a language to a grammar. At the close of +his Grammar Eliot wrote these words: “Prayers and pains through faith in +Christ Jesus, will do any thing.” + +We have from Eliot’s own pen a narrative, called “A true relation of our +beginnings with the Indians.” It was published in London, in 1647, under +this title, “The Day breaking, if not the Sun-rising, of the Gospel, with +the Indians in New England.” + +In October, 1646, Eliot, with a few others, having sought the blessing +of God, went to Nonantum, for the purpose, as he says, of making known to +the Indians the things of their peace. As they approached the wigwams, +five or six of the Chiefs met them with English salutations and bid +them welcome. The principal wigwam had been previously prepared for the +meeting, and many of the Indians were assembled. Eliot and his companions +then began with prayer in the English language, not being sufficiently +acquainted with the Indian tongue to make suitable religious impressions +at first with it upon the minds of the Indians, and besides they wished +to let the Indians see that they felt the duty in hand to be serious and +sacred, and they had a desire, moreover, as missionaries to offer up a +united supplication to God, “with the same request and heart sorrowes,” +in that place where God was never wont to be called upon. + +It was an affecting sight, as we may suppose, to Eliot and his friends, +when they ceased from prayer and looked upon the company of Indians +sitting in silence, with a mixture of curiosity and seriousness and +wildness in their faces. To such an audience Eliot preached in the Indian +tongue from Ezekiel 37:9. “Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, +Thus saith the Lord, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon +these slain that they may live.” + +It is a curious fact that the name of the man[22] in whose wigwam they +were assembled was Waban, and Waban is the Indian name for the wind, so +that it seemed to Waban that the message was sent to him, and it proved +a means in his conversion. The text from which Mr. Eliot preached on +this occasion, was not one which his hearers could at first understand, +and therefore some have expressed surprise at the selection of it. But +in reply to this, it may be asked, what passage of the Word of God +would have been immediately intelligible to those ignorant hearers? +Besides, the text seems to have been chosen by Mr. Eliot for a purpose +which is certainly proper on special occasions, viz., as a warrant and +encouragement to his own soul and that of his helpers, in preaching in +that valley of dry bones. Yet, after suitable religious impressions had +been made, and the hearers had felt their lost and wretched state, and +their need of divine power, in reflecting upon the text it must have +seemed to the hearers peculiarly appropriate to the occasion and to their +condition. + +An hour and a quarter was occupied in the discourse. Mr. Eliot gave the +Indians first a brief exposition of the ten commandments, showing the +wrath and curse of God against those who break the least one of them. The +subject was then applied, and the law having been brought to do its work +in their hearts, and their sins being pointed out to them, as Mr. Eliot +says, with much sweet affection, Jesus Christ was preached to them as the +only Saviour. He told them who Christ was, and what he did, and whither +he had gone, and how he will come again to judge the wicked and burn +the world. The creation and fall of man, the greatness of God, heaven +and hell, the pleasures of religion and the miseries of sin were then +explained in language and with illustrations suited to their capacity. + +The sermon being finished, Mr. Eliot proposed some questions to them, +and first inquired whether they understood what had been said, and +whether all or only some of them understood it? A multitude of voices +exclaimed that they all understood every thing which had been spoken. +Leave was then granted them to put questions, and it is interesting +to notice the first questions which these children of the wilderness +proposed. The first questions were, + +“What is the cause of thunder?” + +“What makes the sea ebb and flow?” + +“What makes the wind blow?” + +But there were some questions proposed by them which Mr. Eliot says some +special wisdom of God directed them to ask, as, for example, + +_How may we come to know Jesus Christ?_ + +Mr. Eliot told them that if they could read the Bible they would see +clearly who Jesus Christ is, but inasmuch as they could not then read, he +desired them to remember what he had told them out of the Bible, and to +think much and often upon it, when they lay down on their mats in their +wigwams and when they rose up, and to go alone in the fields, and woods, +and muse on it, and so God would teach them. + +He told them that if they would have help from God in this thing, they +must begin to pray, and though they could not make long prayers as the +English did, yet if they did but sigh and groan, saying, “Lord, make me +to know Jesus Christ for I know him not,” and if with all their hearts +they persisted in such prayers, they might hope that God would help them. +But they were especially to remember that they must confess their sins +and ignorance to God and mourn over them and acknowledge how just it +would be in God to withhold from them any knowledge of Christ, on account +of their sins. + +This instruction was communicated to them by Mr. Eliot through the Indian +interpreter whom he had brought with him, but he says he was struck with +the fact that a few words from the Preacher had much greater effect than +many from the interpreter. + +One of them asked, whether Englishmen were ever at any time so ignorant +of God and Jesus Christ as they themselves? + +Another put this question: Whether if the father be naught and the +child good, will God be offended with that child? because in the second +commandment it is said that he visits the sins of the fathers upon the +children. + +They were told in reply to this that every child who is good will not be +punished for the sins of his father, but if the child be bad, God would +then visit his father’s sins upon him, and they were bid to notice that +part of the second commandment which contains a promise to the thousands +of them that love God and keep his commandments. + +One of them asked, How is all the world now become so full of people, if +they were all once drowned in the flood? This led to the story of the ark +and the preservation of Noah. + +Mr. Eliot then proposed some questions to them, for example, Whether they +did not desire to see God, and were not tempted to think there is no God +because they could not see him? + +Some of them answered, They did desire to see Him if it could be, but +they had heard from Mr. Eliot that he could not be seen, and they did +believe that though their eyes could not see him, he was to be seen with +their soul within. + +Mr. Eliot endeavored to confirm them in this impression, and asked them +if they saw a great wigwam or a great house, would they think that +racoons or foxes built it? or would they think that it made itself? or +that no wise builder made it, because they could not see him who made it? + +Knowing that the doctrine of one God was a great stumbling block to +them, Mr. Eliot asked them if they did not think it strange that there +should be but one God, and yet this God be in Massachusetts, and in +Connecticut, in Old England, in this wigwam, and the next, and every +where at the same time? + +One of the most sober of them replied that it was indeed strange, as +every thing else they had heard preached was strange, and they were +wonderful things which they never heard of before, but yet they thought +“it might be true, and that God was so big every where.” Mr. Eliot +illustrated the truth by the light of the sun, which, though it was but +a creature of God, shed its light into that wigwam, and the next, in +Massachusetts and Old England, at once. + +He inquired of them if they did not find something troubling them within +after the commission of murder, theft, adultery, lying; and what would +comfort them, and remove that trouble of conscience when they should die +and appear before God? + +They replied that they were thus troubled, but they could not tell what +they should say about it, or what would remove this trouble of mind, +whereupon Mr. Eliot enlarged upon the evil of sin and the condition of +the soul which is cast out of the favor of God. + +Having spent three hours in this interview, Mr. Eliot asked them if +they were not weary, and they said, no. But thinking it best to leave +them with an appetite, Mr. Eliot concluded the meeting with prayer, but +before he departed the principal Indian expressed a desire for more land +to build a Town upon, and Mr. Eliot promised to speak for them to the +General Court, “that they might possess all the compass of that hill upon +which their wigwams then stood.” + +In the second visit which Mr. Eliot made to the Indians at Nonantum, he +began to catechise the younger children. He framed three questions only, +that their memories might not be overloaded. The questions and answers +were these: + +1. Who made you and all the world. Ans. God. + +2. Who do you think should save you and redeem you from sin and hell? +Ans. Jesus Christ. + +3. How many commandments hath God given you to keep. Ans. Ten. + +By the time that the questions reached the smaller children, they had +learned the answers perfectly, from hearing the others repeat them, and +the parents had become familiar with them, and they were requested to use +this _Shorter_ Catechism of three questions, in teaching their children, +against the next visit. + +The substance of Mr. Eliot’s address to the Indians on this occasion was +this: “We are come to bring you good news from the great God Almighty, +Maker of Heaven and earth, and to tell you how evil and wicked men may +come to be good, so that while they live they may be happy, and when they +die may go to God and live in heaven.” + +He then endeavored to give them just impressions concerning God, his +power, greatness, and goodness, his will, what he required of all men, +even of the Indians, in the ten commandments, the dreadful punishment of +all who break one of these commandments, the anger of God at sin, and +yet his compassion for sinners in sending Christ to die for wicked men. +He taught them that if they would repent and believe, God would love the +poor miserable Indians, but that the wrath of God would burn against all +who neglected so great salvation as was now offered to them by those +whose only desire was their salvation. + +The power of these words was manifestly felt by one of the Indians, who +at the thought of his sins and of the danger to which they exposed him, +wept aloud, yet without affectation, but striving to conceal his emotions. + +Perhaps in no way can we communicate religious instruction in a more +simple and effectual way to the young who may read this book, than to +record here the questions and answers which Mr. Eliot has preserved in +his several interviews with the Indians. Other writers who lived at that +time have also recorded questions and answers which they heard. But it +will not be necessary to state the times, or places, or the hand by which +they were recorded. + +An old man rose up after Mr. Eliot had finished his sermon, and asked +whether it was not too late for such an old man as he, who was near +death, to repent or seek after God. + +This question affected Mr. Eliot and his companions with compassion. They +told him what is said in the Bible about those who were hired at the +eleventh hour, and drew a parallel to his case by describing a son who +had for very many years been disobedient, and afterwards penitent, and +the feelings of his father towards him. + +Question. How came the English to differ so much from the Indians in +the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, seeing they all had at first one +father? + +Question. How may we come to serve God? + +Question. How comes it to pass that the sea water is salt and the land +water fresh? + +Answer. This is one of the wonderful works of God. As strawberries are +sweet and cranberries sour, by the appointment of God, so was it in +this case. To this was added some account of natural causes and effects +in connection with this subject, “which they less understood, yet did +understand somewhat, as appeared by their usual signs of approving what +they understand.” + +Question. If the water is higher than the earth, how comes it to pass +that it doth not overflow all the earth? + +The missionary took an apple and illustrated the shape of the earth, the +motion on its axis, and round the sun; then showed them how God made +a great hollow ditch for the waters, which was so deep as to hold the +waters by the attraction of gravitation, so that notwithstanding their +convexity, they could not overflow the earth. + +During a recess in this interview, the Indians were busily employed in +discussing these several subjects among themselves, their minds being +evidently excited by them, through the effect of new ideas upon subjects +which were new or had always been incomprehensible to them. Being +afterwards asked if they wished to propose any further questions, one +asked, + +If a man has committed some great sins, (stolen goods, &c.,) and the +Sachem does not punish him, and he is not punished, but he restores the +goods, what then? is not all well now? meaning to ask whether restoration +made sufficient amends to the law of God. + +He was told that though men be not offended at such sins, yet God is +angry. The holiness of God was here illustrated. Such a sinner should +seek forgiveness as much as any other sinner through the blood of Christ. + +Upon hearing this answer, the Indian who proposed the question drew back +and hung down his head, with an appearance of great sorrow and confusion, +and finally broke out saying, “Me little know Jesus Christ, or me should +seek him better.” Mr. Eliot comforted him by telling him that as it is +early dawn at first when there is but little light, but the sun rises +to perfect day, so it would be with him and his people with regard to a +knowledge of the favor of God if they would seek Him. + +One of the Indians who had received religious impressions in his +acquaintance with the colonists, said he would propose this question. A +little while since he said he was praying in his wigwam to God and Jesus +Christ, that God would give him a good heart; that in his prayer another +Indian interrupted him and told him that he prayed in vain, because that +Jesus Christ could not understand what Indians speak in prayer; he had +been used to hear Englishmen pray, and so could well enough understand +them, but Indian language in prayer he was not acquainted with. His +question therefore was, “Whether God and Jesus Christ did understand +Indian prayers?” + +At the close of one interview, Mr. Eliot prayed for above fifteen minutes +in the Indian tongue, that they might feel that Christ understood such +prayers. The Indians stood about him in grotesque figures, some of them +lifting up their eyes and their hands to accompany the prayer, and one of +them holding a rag to his eyes and weeping violently, and after prayer +retiring to a corner of the wigwam to weep in secret; which one of Mr. +Eliot’s companions observed and spoke with him, and found him to be +deeply affected with a sense of his guilt. + +Mr. Eliot makes several useful observations in view of his first two +visits to the Indians. + +1. None of them slept in sermon or derided God’s messenger. + +2. That there is need of learning in ministers who preach to Indians +more than to gracious Christians, in order to answer their philosophical +questions. + +3. That there is no need of miraculous or extraordinary gifts in seeking +the conversion of the most depraved of the human family. + +4. If Englishmen despise the preaching of faith and repentance and +humiliation for sin, the poor heathens will be glad of it, and it shall +do good to them. + +He adds to this, The Lord grant that the foundation of our English woe +be not laid in the ruin and contempt of those fundamental doctrines +of faith, repentance, humiliation for sin, but rather relishing the +novelties and dreams of such men as are surfeited with the ordinary food +of the Gospel of Christ. Indians shall weep to have faith and repentance +preached, when Englishmen shall mourn, too late, that are weary of such +truths. + +5. That the deepest estrangement of man from God is no hindrance to his +grace, nor to the Spirit of grace. What nation or people ever so deeply +degenerated since Adam’s fall, as these Indians, and yet the Spirit of +God is working upon them. + +“It is very likely if ever the Lord convert any of these natives, they +will mourn for sin exceedingly, and consequently love Christ dearly; for +if by a little measure of light such heart-breakings have appeared, what +may we think will be when more is let in?” + +“They are some of them very wicked, some very ingenious. These +latter are very apt and quick of understanding, and naturally sad and +melancholy, (a good servant to repentance) and therefore there is the +greater hope of heart-breakings if ever God brings them effectually home, +for which we should affectionately pray.” + +Mr. Eliot says, “It is wonderful to see what a little leaven and that +small mustard-seed of the Gospel will do, and how truth will work when +the spirit of Christ hath the setting of it on, even upon hearts and +spirits most incapable.” The night after the Indians had heard the Gospel +preached for the third time, an English youth lodged in Waban’s tent. He +said that Waban instructed his companions with regard to the things which +they had heard that day, and prayed with them, and that he awoke several +times that night and began to pray and speak to one and another of the +Indians of the things which they had heard. Mr. E. says, This man, being +a man of gravity and chief prudence, a counsel among them, although no +Sachem, is like to be a means of great good to the rest of his company, +unless cowardice or witchery put an end, as usually they have done, to +such hopeful beginnings. + +Two young Indians being at an Elder’s house one Sabbath evening, having +been previously affected under Mr. Eliot’s preaching, one of them began +to confess to the elder how wicked he had been, and declared that God +could never look upon him with love. The elder opened to him in a +familiar manner the truth of God’s love to the guilty, his willingness to +pardon the vilest through the redemption made by Christ, and illustrated +his instructions by the discourse of Christ to the Samaritan woman at +Jacob’s well, and how Christ forgave her though she was living in sin at +the moment when he began to speak to her. Whereupon the young man began +to weep bitterly, and the other youth, his companion, disclosing his own +guilt, burst out into loud weeping in which they both continued for half +an hour. + +An old man told Mr. Eliot at one of the meetings that he was fully +purposed to keep the Sabbath, but still he was in fear whether he should +go to heaven or hell. This was a case in which reliance on good works +gave as usual no peace to the conscience. It led Mr. Eliot to speak fully +of the way of justification by Christ without works, “as the remedy +against all fears of hell.” + +Mr. Eliot was interested in the fact that some of the Indians who seemed +to receive the Gospel most readily, and feel its power, were able to use +“gracious expressions,” as he calls them, which he was confident they had +not heard from him, nor from his assistants. He gives a specimen of them +with the corresponding Indian words: + + Amanaomen Jehovah tabassen metagh. Checheson Jehovah kekowhogkow. + Take away, Lord, my stony heart. Wash, Lord, my soul. + +“What are these,” he says, “but the sprinklings of the spirit and blood +of Christ Jesus on their hearts? and ’tis no small matter that such dry, +barren, and long accursed ground should yield such kind of increase in so +small a time. I would not readily commend a fair day before night, nor +promise much of such kind of beginnings, in all persons, nor yet in all +of these, for we know how the profession of many is but a mere paint, and +their best graces nothing but mere flashes and pangs which are suddenly +kindled, and as soon to go out, and are extinct again; yet God doth not +usually send his plough and seeds-men to a place but there is at least +some little piece of good ground, although three to one be naught; and +methinks the Lord Jesus would never have made so fit a key for their +locks unless he had intended to open some of their doors, and so to make +way for his coming in.” + +At the fourth meeting with the Indians, the children having been +catechised, and the vision of the dry bones, which seems to have +impressed Mr. Eliot from the first in speaking to the Indians, being +explained, they offered all their children to the English to be educated +by them. + +At this time one of them being asked, What is sin? he answered, A naughty +heart. He did not seem to feel that sin consists only in outward acts. + +One of them complained that some of the Indians reviled him and the more +serious Indians, calling them rogues, and otherwise insulting them for +cutting off their long locks and arranging their hair in a modest manner, +for, Mr. Eliot says, “since the word hath begun to work upon their hearts +they have discerned the vanity and pride which they placed in their hair, +and have therefore, of their own accord (none speaking to them that we +know of) cut it modestly.” They said that some Indians who had heard the +news of the great attention to religion among them, would come from a +distance and stay with them three or four days, and one Sabbath, and then +they would go from them, (implying that they did not like the Sabbath), +but as for themselves, they said they were fully purposed to keep the +Sabbath. + +Some of the Indians who heard the Gospel, despised and rejected it. So it +has always been and is now, wherever the Gospel is preached. Some have +their hearts opened to attend to the things of their peace, and others +are hardened. Mr. Eliot’s assistant, learning that some Indians had +discouraged and threatened others with regard to their attendance on the +preaching, spoke to them on one occasion about the temptations of Satan. +After sermon they proposed these questions: + +1. Some Indians say we must pray to the devil for all good, and some to +God; may we pray to the devil or no? + +2. What does _humiliation_ mean, which we hear used so often by the +English? + +3. Why do the English call us Indians, for before they came here we had +another name? + +4. What is a spirit? + +5. May we believe in dreams? + +6. How did the English come to know God so much, and we so little? + +At the close of this interview they said that their great desire was to +have a town and to learn to spin. + +They believed in the existence of an evil spirit, whom they called +CHEPIAN, and who they thought corresponded to the devil in Scripture. +They gave the following account of their way in which conjurers or Powows +were made: Whenever an Indian had a strange dream in which Chepian +appeared to him as a serpent, he would make it known to the rest, and for +two days the Indians would dance and rejoice for what the serpent had +told him, and he then became a Powow, or one whom the devil favored with +his communications. The reader will notice the identity of the form in +which they made the devil to appear to them, with the form in which he +appeared to our first parents. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Nonantum granted to the Indians by the General Court. First + Indian Laws. Eliot’s and Shepard’s account of the progress of + the Gospel among the Indians. Concord Indians. Their laws. + Nonantum. Questions and anecdotes. Cape Cod Indians. The Synod + at Cambridge, 1648, examine the Christian Indians. “Who made + Sack?” Anecdotes and Questions. Order of the General Court, + 1647. Regard for the Sabbath. Power of conscience. Questions. + Burial of a child. Settlement of Natick. Questions. + + +The Indians were desirous of obtaining a grant of land for a permanent +settlement, that they might enter upon civilized life. They had bartered +their principal places to the English. The General Court purchased of +some of the planters, who had bought it of the Indians, the place where +their meeting was held, and gave it to them. The Indians inquiring what +the name of the place should be they were told it should be Noonatomen +(afterwards Nonantum) which signifies _rejoicing_, “because they did +rejoice at the word of God, and God did rejoice over them as penitent +sinners.” + +The following is a specimen of their first laws: + +1. If any man be idle a week, or at most a fortnight, he shall pay five +shillings. + +3. If any man shall beat his wife, his hands shall be tied behind him, +and he shall be carried to the place of justice to be severely punished. + +4. Every young man, if not another’s servant, and if unmarried, shall +be compelled to set up a wigwam, and plant for himself, and not live +shifting up and down to other wigwams. + +5. If any woman shall not have her hair tied up, but hang loose or be cut +as men’s hair, she shall pay five shillings. + +7. All those men that wear long locks, shall pay five shillings. + +Most of the facts above narrated are contained in a piece written by Mr. +Eliot, entitled The Day Breaking if not the Sun Rising of the Gospel with +the Indians in New England. It was printed in London, “by Richard Cotes, +for Fulk Clifton, and are to be sold at his shop under Saint Margaret’s +Church, on New-fish Street Hill, 1647.” + +The same printer in 1648, issued another piece, written by Mr. Thomas +Shepard, minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, at Cambridge, in New +England, called, “The Clear sun-shine of the Gospel breaking forth +upon the Indians of New England; or, An Historical Narrative of God’s +Wonderful Workings upon sundry of the Indians, both Chief Governors and +common people, in bringing them to a willing and desired submission to +the Ordinances of the Gospel; and framing their hearts to an earnest +inquiry after the knowledge of God the father and of Jesus Christ the +Saviour of the world.” This piece was dedicated by Stephen Marshall, +Jeremy Whitaker, Edmund Calamy and nine others, in England, “to the Right +Honorable the Lords and Commons assembled in High Court of Parliament, +That in you the Representatives of this nation, England might be stirred +up to be Rejoycers in and advancers of these promising beginnings.” They +looked upon the success of the Gospel among the Indians as a fulfillment +in part of the promise of God the Father to the Son, “Ask of me, and I +will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts +of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2. They remind the Parliament +that “God makes man’s will of sin serviceable to the advancement of the +riches of his own grace. The most horrid act that was ever done by the +sonnes of men, the murther of Christ, God made serviceable to the highest +purposes of Grace and mercy that ever came upon his breast. Hee suffered +Paul to be cast into prison to convert the Jaylor, to be shipwrackt at +Milita to preach to the barbarous. So he suffered their (the Pilgrims’) +way to be stopp’d up here, (in England) and their persons to be banished +hence, that hee might open a passage for them in the wilderness, and make +them instruments to draw soules to him, who had been so long estranged +from Him. The end of the adversary was to suppresse, but God’s to +propagate, the Gospel, as one saith of Paul, his _blindnesse gave light +to whole world_. ‘Cœcitas Pauli totius orbis illuminatio.’ Acts 9:9. It +was a long time before God let them (the Pilgrims) see any further end +of their coming over than to preserve their consciences, cherish their +Graces, provide for their sustenance. But hee let them know it was for +some farther arrand that he brought them here, giving them some Bunches +of Grapes, some clusters of Figs in earnest of the prosperous successe +of their endeavours upon these poor out casts. If the first fruits bee +specimens, what will the whole harvest bee? When the East and West shal +sing together the song of the Lamb.” + +Mr. Shepard says that the news of what had been done for the Indians +at Nonantum, by the preaching of the Gospel, had reached the Concord +Indians, and their Sachem was so much affected by it, that he made +application to have the Gospel and its ordinances made known to them. +“They craved the assistance of one of the chiefe Indians of Noonanetum +(Nonantum,) a very active Indian, to bring in others to the knowledge of +God.” + +Mr. Eliot had already expressed his views[23] on the subject of a native +ministry in these words,—“Nor doe I expect any great good will bee +wrought by the English, (leaving secrets to God,—although the English +surely begin and lay the first stones of Christ’s Kingdom and Temple +amongst them) because God is wont ordinarily to convert Nations and +peoples by some of their owne country men who are nearest to them, and +can best speake, and most of all pity their brethren and countrimen.” + +A native ministry among the Indians began, in an informal way, much +earlier than we have seen it begin among other heathen nations. The North +American Indians, though sunk in superstition and wickedness, retained +much more of intellectual strength, were more shrewd, and sooner became +fit to teach their countrymen than has been the case elsewhere in the +history of modern missions. No doubt the climate had much to do with the +vigor of mind which the Indians have exhibited. They were far removed +from the effeminateness of Eastern nations, and though indolent in their +dispositions and habits, their minds when roused by the truth of the +Gospel, rose to greater intellectual efforts than have been commonly seen +in tribes exposed to the enervating influences of warmer latitudes. + +Some quotations from the introduction by Calamy and others, to Mr. +Shepard’s piece above referred to, will show the spirit of those good +men, as well as confirm the fact that the Gospel had done wonders in a +short time among the Indians. It was published in 1648, two years after +Mr. Eliot had begun his labors with them. + +They tell the readers of the effects which the Gospel had wrought among +the Indians. “They set up prayers in their families morning and evening, +and are in earnest in them. And with more affection they crave God’s +blessing upon a little parched corn, and Indian stalks than many of us do +upon our greatest plenty, and abundance. God is making good that promise, +Zeph. 2:11. I will famish all the gods of the earth, (which he doth by +withdrawing the worshipers, and throwing contempt upon the worship,) and +men shall worship me alone, every one from his place, even all the isles +of the heathens.” + +They call upon the people of England to read and ponder this remarkable +narrative of the work of grace among the North American Savages. “Let +these poor Indians stand up incentives to us, as the Apostle set up +the Gentiles a provocation to the Jews; who knows but God gave life to +New England to quicken Old, and hath warmed them that they might heat +us; raised them from the dead, that they might recover us from that +consumption, and those sad decays which are come upon us.” + +“This small Treatise is an Essay to that end, an Indian Sermon; though +you will not hear us, possibly when some rise from the dead you will hear +them. The main Doctrine it preacheth unto all is to value the Gospel, +prize the ministry, loath not your manna, surfeit not of your plenty, +be thankful for mercies, fruitful under means: Awake from your slumber, +repair your decays, redeem your time, improve the seasons of your peace, +answer to cals, open to knocks, attend to whispers, obey commands; you +have a name you live, take heed you be not dead, you are Christians in +shew, be so in deed: least as you have lost the power of religion, God +take away from you the form also.” + +“And you that are ministers learn by this not to despond, though you see +not present fruit of your labors; though you fish all night and catch +nothing. God hath a fulness of time to perform all his purposes. And the +deepest degeneracies and the widest estrangements from God shall be no +bar or obstacle to the power and freeness of his own grace when that time +is come.” + +“And you that are merchants, take incouragement from hence to scatter +beams of light, to spread and propagate the Gospel into those dark +corners of the earth; whither you traffick you take much from them; if +you can carry this to them, you will make them an abundant recompense. +And you that are Christians indeed, rejoice to see the Curtains of +the Tabernacle inlarged, the bounds of the Sanctuary extended, Christ +advanced, the Gospel propagated, and souls saved. And if ever the love +of God did centre in your hearts, if ever the sense of his goodness hath +begot bowels of compassion in you, draw them forth towards them whom God +hath singled out to be the objects of his grace and mercy; lay out your +prayers, lend your assistance to carry on this day of the Lord begun +among them. The Parents also and many others being convinced of the evil +of an idle life, desire to be employed in honest labor, but they want +instruments and tools to set them on work, and cast garments to throw +upon those bodies that their loins may bless you whose souls Christ hath +cloathed. Some worthy persons have given much; and if God shall move +the heart of others to offer willingly towards the building of Christ a +Spiritual temple, it will certainly remain upon their account when the +smallest rewards from God shall be better than the greatest layings out +for God.” + +It will be perceived that this is an appeal in behalf of foreign +missions. We will consider some of the facts which Mr. Shepard relates, +and to which this appeal is an introduction. + +“The awakening of the Indians in our Towne,” says Mr. Shepard, “raised a +great noyse among all the rest round about us, especially about Concord +side, where the Sachim and one or two more of his men hearing of these +things, and of the preaching of the Word, and how it wrought among them +here, came therefore hither to Noonanetum, (Nonantum,) to the Indian +Lecture, and what the Lord spake to his heart wee know not, only it +seems he was so farre affected as that he desired to become more like to +the English, and to cast off those Indian wild and sinfull courses they +formerly lived in; but when divers of his men perceived their Sachim’s +mind, they secretely opposed him herein, which opposition being known, +he therefore called together his chief men about him, and made a speech +to this effect unto them, viz.: That they had no reason at all to oppose +those courses the English were now taking for their good, for saith hee, +all the time you have lived after the Indian fashion, under the power and +protection of higher Indian Sachims, what did they care for you? They +onely sought their owne ends out of you, and therefore would exact upon +you and take away your skins, and your kettles, and your wampam from you +at their own pleasure, and this was all that they regarded: but you may +evidently see that the English mind no such things, care for none of your +goods, but onely seek your good and welfare, and instead of taking away +all, are ready to give to you.” + +The effect of this speech seems to have been happy. The Indians sought +the assistance of a discreet and active Indian at Nonantum, “in making +certain lawes for their more religious and civill government, and +behaviour.” It will interest the reader to observe the fruit of this +half civilized legislator’s advice and labors. Mr. Shepard gives us the +“Conclusions and Orders made and agreed upon by divers Sachims and other +principall men amongst the Indians at Concord, in the end of the eleventh +moneth, An. 1646.”[24] The following are a good specimen of the whole: + +1. Every one that shall abuse themselves with rum or strong liquors, +shall pay for every time so abusing themselves twenty shillings. + +2. There shall be no more Powwowing amongst the Indians. And if any shall +hereafter Powwow, both he that shall Powwow, and he that shall cause him +to Powwow shall pay twenty shillings apiece. + +3. They do desire that they may be stirred up to seek after God. + +4. They desire they may understand the wiles of Satan, and grow out of +love with his suggestions and temptations. + +5. That they may fall upon some better course to improve their time than +formerly. + +6. That they may be brought to the sight of the sin of lying, and +whosoever shall be found guilty herein, shall pay for the first offence +five shillings, the second ten shillings, the third twenty shillings. + +7. Whosoever shall steale any thing from another, shall restore fourfold. + +8. They desire that no Indian hereafter shall have any more but one wife. + +9. They desire to prevent the falling out of Indians, one with another, +and that they may live quietly one by another. + +10. That they may follow after humility, and not be proud. + +11. That when Indians doe wrong, they may be liable to censure by fine or +the like, as the English are. + +12. That they pay their debts to the English. + +13. That they doe observe the Lord’s day, and whosoever shall prophane +it, shall pay twenty shillings. + +14. This order refers to the disgusting practice of eating vermin +gathered from their persons; “and whosoever shall offend in this case +shall pay for every louse a penny.” + +15. They will weare their haire comely as the English do, penalty five +shillings. + +16. They intend to reforme themselves in their former greasing +themselves, penalty five shillings. + +17. They do all resolve to set up prayer in their wigwams, and to seek +God both before and after meate. + +20. Whosoever shall play at their former games shall pay ten shillings. + +22. Wilful murder shall be punished by death. + +23. They shall not disguise themselves in their mournings, as formerly; +nor shall they keep a great noyse by howling. + +25. No Indian shall take an Englishman’s canooe without leave, penalty +five shillings. + +26. No Indian shall come into any Englishman’s house, except he first +knock; and this they expect from the English. + +27. Whosoever beats his wife, shall pay twenty shillings. + +28. If any Indian shall fall out with and beate another Indian, he shall +pay twenty shillings. + +29. They desire they may be a towne, and either to dwell on this side the +Beare swamp, or at the East side of Mr. Flint’s Pond. + +These orders were put into form by Captain Simon Willard, of Concord, +whom the Indians chose to be their Recorder. They were very solicitous +that what they agreed upon might be faithfully preserved without +alteration. The narrative of these conclusions and orders is signed by +Thomas Flint, and Simon Willard.[25] + +Mr. Shepard says that on the 3d March, 1647, he and the Rev. Messrs. +Wilson of Boston, Allen, of Dedham, and President Dunster, and many +Christian friends, attended the Indian Lecture at Nonantum. “On which +day,” he says, “perceiving divers of the Indian women well affected, +and considering that their soules might stand in need of answer to +their scruples as well as the mens, and yet because we knew how unfit +it was for women so much as to ask questions publicly immediately by +themselves, wee did therefore desire them to propound any questions they +would be resolved about by first acquainting either their Husbands or the +Interpreter privately therewith; whereupon we heard two questions orderly +propounded; which because they are the first ever propounded by Indian +women in such an ordinance that ever wee heard of, and because they may +bee otherwise useful, I shall therefore set them down.” + +The first question was proposed by the wife of one Wampooas, a serious +Indian, and was to this effect: + +“Do I pray when my husband prays, if I speak nothing as he doth, yet if +I like what he says, and my heart goes with it?” + +The second was by the wife of one Totherswampe, viz., “Whether a husband +should do well to pray with his wife, and yet continue in his passions +and be angry with his wife?” + +Mr. Shepard says, he had “heard few Christians when they begin to look +towards God, make more searching questions than these Indians.” + +An old Indian had an unruly, disobedient son. He asked, “What should one +do with him, in case of obstinacy and disobedience, and that will not +hear God’s word, though his father command him, nor will not forsake his +drunkenness, though his father forbid him.” + +Rev. Mr. Wilson was much moved at this question, “and spake so terribly +yet so graciously as might have affected a heart not quite shut up, which +this young desperado hearing, (who well understood the English tongue,) +instead of humbling himself before the Lord’s Word, which touched his +conscience and condition so neare, hee was filled with the Spirit of +Satan, and as soone as ever Mr. Wilson’s speech was ended, he brake out +into a loud contemptuous expression. ‘So!’ saith he; which we passed by +without speaking againe, leaving the Word with him, which wee knew would +one day take its effect one way or other upon him.” + +In 1647, Messrs. Eliot, Wilson and Shepard, were sent for to Yarmouth, to +arbitrate in some difficulties, by means of which “not only that bruised +Church, but the whole Towne” was restored to peace. “But Mr. Eliot, as +hee takes all other advantages of time, so hee took this, of speaking +with, and preaching to the poore Indians in these remote places about +Cape Cod.” + +The Indian dialect varied in forty or sixty miles, and on this account, +and because the Indians at Cape Cod “were not accustomed to sacred +language, about the holy things of God, wherein Mr. Eliot excels any +other of the English, who in the Indian language about common matters +excell him,” it was difficult to make them understand, yet by the help of +one or two interpreters, they succeeded. + +There was a Sachem among them of a very furious spirit, whom the English +for that reason called Jehu. He promised to attend the preaching on the +day appointed, and to bring his men with him, but that very morning he +sent his men to sea for fish, and although he came late to hear the +Sermon, his men were absent. Yet he feigned that he did not understand +what was said, though the others said that he did understand, and Mr. +Eliot by privately questioning him found out that he did. He heard, +however, “with a dogged look, and a discontented countenance.” How +curious the uniform resemblance of the human heart in different classes +of hearers in every age and place, under the preaching of the Gospel. Who +in preaching has not seen a face answering to this Jehu’s face, and the +heart of man to that of this man? + +It was found on this visit to the Indians of Cape Cod, that there +was some tradition among them of the Gospel having been preached in +those parts before. An aged Indian told the ministers that the very +things which Mr. Eliot had taught them as the Commandments of God, and +concerning God, and the making of the world by one God, they had heard +from some old men now dead. A French ship was wrecked upon that coast +many years before, and among the passengers and crew was the Frenchman +who, the Indian tradition said,[26] while the Indians were putting him to +death, told them that God was angry with them for their sins. Mr. Shepard +speaks of “the French preacher cast upon those coasts many years since.” +This man may have been a French Catholic Priest, on his way to the French +possessions in Canada.[27] + +The presence of this preacher among them will account for a dream which +one of the Indians related to Mr. Shepard and his companions, as having +occurred to him some time ago. The tradition of what the preacher had +said, and the account of his appearance was strongly impressed upon +his imagination,[28] as we may suppose, without resorting to any other +explanation of the dream which nevertheless is curious and interesting. + +He said that two years before the arrival of the English, there was a +great mortality in that region, and one night when he was much disturbed +and broken of his rest, he dreamed that he saw many men arrive upon the +coast, dressed in such clothes as the English wear. Among them there was +a man wholly in black, with a thing in his hand which he now saw was an +Englishman’s book; that the man in black stood on a place higher than the +rest, with the English around him, before a great number of the Indians. +This man told the Indians that God was _moosquantum_, or angry with them, +and would kill them for their sins. He said, that he himself then stood +up, and asked the man in black what God would do with him and his Squaw +and Papooses. The man would not answer him the first nor the second time, +but the third time he proposed the question, the man smiled upon him, and +told him that he and his papooses would be safe, and that God would give +them victuals and other good things. + +Strange as it may seem, this dreamer who seemed thus to have had his +dream fulfilled, would not come to the sermon till it was nearly +finished, and then finding that the man in black was yet speaking, “away +he flung,” and was seen no more by the ministers till the next day. +Whether Satan, or fear, or guilt, or the world prevailed, Mr. Shepard +says he could not say. + +The next year this writer says, he was much surprised in attending +an Indian Lecture at Nonantum, to see so many Indian men, women, and +children, in English apparel, so that they were scarcely known from the +English people. Partly by gifts, and partly by their own labors, some of +them had obtained means by which they were even handsomely dressed. + +June 9, 1648, was the first day of the Synod’s meeting at Cambridge. +The forenoon was spent in hearing a sermon preparatory to the work of +the Synod, and the afternoon was occupied in hearing an Indian Lecture. +“There was a great gathering of Indians from all parts to hear Mr. Eliot, +which we conceived not unseasonable at such a time; partly that the +reports of God’s worke begun among them might be seen and believed of the +chief who were then sent, and met from all the churches of Christ in this +country, who could hardly believe the reports they had heard concerning +these new stirs among the Indians, and partly hereby to raise up a +greater spirit of prayer, for the carrying on the work begun upon the +Indians among all the churches and servants of the Lord Jesus. The sermon +was spent in showing them their miserable condition without Christ, out +of Ephes. 2:1, that they were dead in trespasses and sinnes, and in +pointing unto them the Lord Jesus who onely could quicken them.” + +After sermon, opportunity was given for the Indians to ask questions. +Some of them were these: + +What countryman was Christ, and where was he born? + +How far off is that place from us here? + +Where is Christ now? + +How may we lay hold on Christ, and where, he being now absent from us? + +Mr. Shepard continues, “But that which I note is this, that their +gracious attention to the Word, the affections and mournings of some +of them under it, their sober propounding of divers and spirituall +questions, their aptnesse to beleeve and understand what was replyed +to them; the readiness of divers poore naked children to answer openly +the chief questions in the Catechism, which were formerly taught them, +and such like appearances of a great change upon them did marvellously +affect all the wise and godly ministers, magistrates and people, and did +raise their hearts up to great thankfulnesse to God; very many deeply and +abundantly mourning for joy to see such a blessed day, and the Lord Jesus +so much known and spoken of among such as never heard of him before: So +that if any in England doubt of the truth of what was formerly writ; or +if any malignant eye shall question and vilifie this work, they will now +speak too late, for what was here done at _Cambridge_, was not set under +a Bushell, but in the open Sunne; and what _Thomas_ would not beleeve by +the reports of others, he might be forced to beleeve by seeing with his +own eyes, and feeling Christ Jesus thus risen among them with his own +hands.”[29] + +An old Indian came to Mr. Eliot’s house, as Mr. Eliot told Mr. Shepard, +and Mr. Eliot told him that because he brought his wife and children to +meeting so constantly, he would give him some clothes, for it was cold +weather, and the old man was quite destitute. He did not understand this +term which Mr. Eliot used for clothes, and enquired of Mr. Eliot’s Indian +domestic, and when he understood that it was clothing which was promised, +he broke out with much feeling, saying, “God is merciful:”—“a blessed, +because a plainhearted, affectionate speech,” says Mr. Shepard, “and +worthy of Englishmen’s thoughts when they put on their clothes; to think +that a poor blind Indian that scarce ever heard of God before, that hee +should see not only God in his clothes, but mercy also in a promise of a +cast off worne sute of clothes, which were then given him, and which he +now daily wears.” + +Mr. S. says that “Mr. Edward Jackson one of our Towne, constantly +attended Mr. Eliot’s Lectures, and took down the questions and answers, +and having sent me his notes, I shall send you a taste of some of them,” +viz.: + +1. Why are some so bad that they hate those men that would teach them +good things? + +2. Was the devil or man made first? + +3. If a father prays to God to teach his sons to know him, and he doth +teach them himself, and they will not learn to know God, what should such +fathers do? This question was put by an old man that had rude children. + +4. A Squaw asked this question: Whether she might not go and pray in some +private place in the woods, when her husband was not at home, because she +was ashamed to pray in the wigwam before company? + +5. How may one know wicked men, who are good, and who are bad? + +6. To what nation did Jesus Christ come first unto, and when? + +The following question illustrates the old saying, that a child or fool +may ask a question which a philosopher cannot answer. It relates to the +solemn and fearful subject of the dissolution of the body and soul. Who +has not, at least in his earlier years, puzzled himself with questions +about the passage of a departing spirit from the chamber of death? The +question referred to was this: + +7. If a man should be inclosed in iron a foot thick, and thrown into the +fire, what would become of the soul? Could the soul come out thence or +not? + +8. Why did not God give all men good hearts, that they might be good? + +9. If one should be among strange Indians that know not God, and they +should make him to fight against some whom he ought not to fight against, +and he should refuse, and for his refusal they should kill him, what +would become of his soul in such a case? This question was asked by a +“stout fellow,” whose mind was interested in religion, and was connected +with the notion of the Indians that all their valiant men have a reward +after death. He seemed to think that his refusal to fight in the case +supposed, might prejudice his chance of reward hereafter. + +10. How long is it before men believe who have the word of God made known +unto them? + +11. How may we know when our faith is good, and our prayers good prayers? + +12. Why did not God kill the devil, that made all men so bad, God having +all power? + +13. If we be made weak by sin in our hearts, how can we come before God +to sanctify the Sabbath? + +An amusing incident took place at one of the public meetings. A drunken +Indian cried out, “Mr. Eliot, who made sack? Who made sack?” This, it +will be perceived, was a cavil about the “origin of evil.” It is said +that “he was soon snib’d by the other Indians, who cried out that it was +a papoose question. Mr. Eliot seriously answered him; which hath cooled +his boldness ever since.” + +The man who took down these questions says that “he had some occasion to +speak to Waban, (one of the chief men at Nonantum,) about the time of +sun-rising, and staying about half an hour, as he came back by one of the +wigwams, the man of that wigwam was at prayer, at which he was so much +affected that he stopped under a tree to listen; and these passages of +Scripture came to his mind while listening to the voice of devotion from +the wigwam: ‘All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the +Lord.’ ‘O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.’” + +He says that he had seen an Indian call his children in from the field +where they were gathering corn, when he asked a blessing upon the food +before them, “with much affection, having but a homely dinner to eat.” +Mr. Shepard adds, “I wish the like hearts and wayes were seen in many +English who professe themselves Christians, and that herein and many the +like excellencies they were become Indians, excepting that name, as he +did, in another case, except these bonds.” + +The following is the substance of an order passed by the General Court at +Boston, May 26, 1647, concerning the Indians. + +“Upon information that the Indians dwelling among us, and submitted +to our government, being by the ministry of the Word brought to some +civility, are desirous to have a course of ordinary judicature set up +among them: + +“It is ordered, therefore, by authority of this Court, that some one +or more of the magistrates, as they shall agree among themselves, +shall, once every quarter, keep a Court at such place where the Indians +ordinarily assemble to hear the Word of God, and may then hear and +determine all causes civill and criminall, not being capitall, concerning +the Indians only; and that the Indian sachims shall have libertie to +take order in the nature of summons or atachments, to bring any of their +own people to the said Courts, and to keep a Court of themselves every +moneth, if they see occasion, to determine small causes of a civill +nature, and such smaller criminall causes, as the said magistrates shall +refer to them: and the said sachims shall appoint officers to serve +warrants, and to execute the orders and judgements of either of said +Courts, which officers shall from time to time bee allowed by the said +magistrates in the quarter Courts, or by the Governour: And that all +fines to bee imposed upon any of the Indians, in any of the said Courts, +shall goe and bee bestowed towards the building of some meeting-houses, +for education of their poorer children in learning, or other publick use, +by the advice of said magistrates, and of Master Eliot, or of such other +elder, as shall ordinarily instruct them in the true Religion. And it is +the desire of this court that the said magistrates, and Master Eliot, +or such other elders as shall attend the keeping of the said Courts, +will carefully indeavour to make the Indians understand our most usefull +Lawes, and the principles of reason, justice, and equity, whereupon +they are grounded; and it is desired that some care may be taken of the +Indians on the Lord’s dayes.” + +Mr. Shepard speaks of his brother Eliot as a man “whom, in other +respects, but especially for his unweariednesse in this work of God, +going up and down among them, and doing them good, I think we can never +love nor honor enough.” Mr. Eliot says, “That which I first aymed at was +to declare and deliver unto them the law of God, to civilize them; which +course the Lord took by Moses, to give the law to that rude company, +because of transgression, Galatians 3:19, to convince, bridle, restrain, +and civilize them, and also to humble them. But when I first attempted +it they gave no heed unto it, but were weary, and rather despised what +I said. A while after God stirred up in some of them a desire to come +into the English fashions, and live after their manner, but knew not how +to attain unto it; yea, despaired that it should ever come to passe in +their dayes; but thought that, in 40 yeears more, some Indians would be +all one English, and in an hundred yeears all Indians hereabout would so +bee: which when I heard, (for some of them told me they thought so, and +that some wise Indians said so,) my heart moved within me, abhorring that +wee should sit still and let that work alone, and hoping that this notion +in them was of the Lord, and that this mind in them was a preparation +to embrace the law and Word of God; and therefore I told them that they +and wee were all one save in two things, which make the only difference +betwixt them and us: First, wee know, serve, and pray unto God, and they +doe not. Secondly, we labor and work in building, planting, clothing +ourselves, &c., and they doe not; and would they but doe as wee doe in +these things they would bee all one with Englishmen. They said they did +not know God, and therefore could not tell how to pray to him nor serve +him. I told them if they would learn to know God, I would teach them; +unto which they being very willing, I then taught them, (as I sundry +times had indeavored afore,) but never found them so forward, attentive, +and desirous till this time; and then I told them I would come to their +wigwams and teach them, their wives and children, which they seemed very +glad of; and, from that day forward, I have not failed to doe that poore +little which you know I doe.” + +Mr. Eliot says that he found the usual opposition to religion among +Indians which he found among white men. The Indians of “Dorchester Mill,” +for example, would not, at first, regard his instructions; “but the +better sort of them perceiving how acceptable this was to the English, +both to magistrates, and all the good people, it pleased God to step in +and bow their hearts, to desire to be taught to know God.” “The _Linn_ +Indians,” Mr. Eliot said, “are all naught save one.” This was owing to +the opposition of their sachem. + +A sober Indian going up into the country with two of his sons, prayed +as he used to do at home, and talked to the Indians about God and Jesus +Christ; whereupon they mocked, and called one of his sons Jehovah, and +the other Jesus Christ. + +The Nonantum Indians early began to observe the Lord’s day. They fined +every violator of the Sabbath ten shillings. One Sabbath morning the +sachem’s wife went to fetch water, when, meeting with other Indian +women, she fell into worldly conversation with them, but they reproved +her. She insisted that it was not improper, but the other women informed +the native Indian preacher who was to address them that day, and he +discoursed to them upon the sanctification of the Sabbath, and in his +discourse related what he had heard about the sachem’s wife. After sermon +they had much conversation on the subject, in which the sachem’s wife +insisted that, inasmuch as her conversation was in private, and early +on the Sabbath morning, there was no harm in it; and then she retorted +upon the preacher by telling him that he had sinned much more than she +in giving occasion to so much talk about this subject on the Sabbath. +The whole matter was, by common consent, referred to Mr. Eliot for his +arbitration. + +Towards evening, on another Sabbath, two strangers came to Waban’s tent +(Nonantum); and when they came in, they told him that, about a mile +off, they had chased a racoon into a hollow tree, and that if he would +send his servants to fell the tree, they might catch him, which Waban, +in his desire to entertain the strangers with fresh game, accordingly +did. Whereupon the Indians were much displeased, and this case was, by +request, made the subject of discourse on the next lecture day. + +Another case was this. “Upon a Lord’s day their public meeting holding +long, and somewhat late when they came at home, in one wigwam the fire +was almost out, and therefore the man of the house, as he sat by the +fireside, took his hatchet and split a little dry piece of wood, which +they reserve on purpose for such use, and so kindled his fire, which, +being taken notice of, it was thought to bee such a worke as might not +lawfully bee done upon the Sabbath day, and therefore the case was +propounded the lecture following for their better information.” + +A great improvement was soon visible among them in their treatment of +their wives. A man who had offended in this respect was brought before +the assembly at a time when the governor and many of the colonists +happened to be present. The man being publicly accused of beating his +wife, made no defence, but confessed his sin, and being kindly admonished +and instructed, he turned his face to the wall and wept; “and such +was the modest, penitent, and melting behaviour of the man that it +much affected all to see it in a barbarian, and all did forgive him; +onely this remained, that they executed their law notwithstanding his +repentance, and required his fine, to which he willingly submitted, and +paid it.” + +The power of conscience among them is illustrated by Mr. Eliot in the two +following anecdotes. + +The son of a sachem, 14 or 15 years old, had been intoxicated; and being +reproved by his father and mother for disobedient and rebellious conduct, +he despised their admonition. Before Mr. E. heard of it, he had observed +that on being catechised, the fifth commandment being required of him, he +reluctantly said, “Honor thy father,” but left out “mother.” + +George, the Indian, who asked, in a public meeting, “Who made sack?” +killed a cow, and sold it at the college for a moose. President Dunster +was unwilling that he should be directly charged with it, but wished Mr. +Eliot to inquire of him as to the crime. But being brought before the +assembly, he freely confessed his sin. + +The Indians were never weary of asking questions in the public meetings. +An old Powaw once demanded, Why, seeing the English had been in the land +twenty-seven years, they had never taught the Indians to know God till +now? He added, many of us have grown old in sin, whereas had you begun +with us earlier, we might have been good. + +The answer was that the English did repent that they were not more +earnest at the first to seek their salvation, but the Indians were never +willing to hear till now, and as God has now inclined their hearts to +hear, the English were striving to redeem the time. + +Another question was of deep interest. One of them said, That before he +knew God, he thought he was well, but since, he had found his heart to be +full of sin, and more sinful than it ever was before; and that this had +been a great trouble to him; that at that day his heart was but little +better than it was at first, and _he was afraid it would be as bad as it +was before, and therefore he sometimes wished that he might die before +he should be so bad again_! Now, said he, my question is, Is this wish +a sin? Mr. E. says this question was evidently the result of his own +experience and seemed to be sincere. + +Another question was this: + +Whither do our little children go when they die, seeing they have not +sinned? + +This led to an exposition of the depravity of man’s nature, and of the +part which it is hoped dying infants have in the redemption made by +Christ, and the covenant relation of the children of believers, which +last doctrine Mr. Eliot says, “was exceedingly grateful unto them.” + +The whole assembly at one time united and sent a question to Mr. Eliot by +his man, as their united question, viz: + +“Whether any of them should go to heaven, seeing they found their hearts +full of sin, and especially full of the sin of lust?” At the next lecture +held at “Dorchester mill,” occasion was taken to preach to them from +Matt. 11:28, 29. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden,” +&c., when the justifying grace of Christ to all who are weary and sick +of sin was fully and earnestly set forth. But at this time they repeated +their fearful apprehension that “none of them would go to heaven.” + +A question which uniformly troubled all who began to think of embracing +religion was this: + +“If we leave off Powawing and pray to God, what shall we do when we are +sick?” For though they had some knowledge of the medicinal qualities in +certain roots and herbs, they of course had no knowledge of the human +system, and hence no skill in applying their remedies, but relied on +the antics and unearthly gestures and incantations of their Powaws to +make the medicines take effect. Mr. Eliot expressed the desire that +the Lord would stir up the hearts of some people in England to give +some maintenance towards a school or academy, wherein there should be +“Anatomies, and other instructions that way.” Mr. E. had himself showed +them an anatomy, the only one he says the English had ever had in the +country. By a course of instruction in medicine Mr. E. believed that he +could most effectually, and perhaps, in the only way, “root out their +Powaws.” + +The Indians proposed this question to Mr. Eliot: + +“What shall we say to some Indians who say to us, What do you get by +praying to God, and believing in Jesus Christ? You go naked still, +and are as poor as we. Our corn is as good as yours; and we take more +pleasure than you; if we saw that you got any thing by praying to God, we +would do so.” + +Mr. E. answered to them on this point as follows: “First, God gives two +sorts of good things; 1. little things, which he showed by his little +finger, (‘for they use and delight in demonstrations;’) 2. great things, +(holding up his thumb). The little mercies he said are riches, clothes, +food, sack, houses, cattle, and pleasures, all which serve the body for +a little while, and in this life only. The great mercies are wisdom, the +knowledge of God, Christ, eternal life, repentance and faith; these are +for the soul, and eternity. Though God did not give them so many little +things, through the knowledge of the Gospel, he gave them the greater +things which are better. This he proved by an illustration: when _Foxun_, +the Mohegan Counselor, who is counted the wisest Indian in the country, +was in the Bay, I did on purpose bring him unto you; and when he was +here, you saw he was a fool in comparison of you, for you could speak of +God, and Christ, and heaven, &c.; but he sat and had not one word to say +unless you talked of such poor things as hunting, wars, &c.” + +He also told them that they had some more clothes than the wicked +Indians; and the reason why they had so few, was because they had so +little wisdom; but if they were wise to obey God’s commands, for example, +“Six days shalt thou labor,” they would have clothes, houses, cattle, and +riches, as the English have. + +Many questions and cases of dispute arose out of their old practice of +gaming, to which they were greatly addicted. The irreligious Indians +demanded the old stakes of some who had been convinced of the sin of +gaming, and had declined to pay their forfeits. The winners however, +insisted on being payed. Mr. Eliot had no little trouble in settling the +matters of casuistry and conscience which thus occurred. But he took this +method in many cases. He prevailed on the creditor to accept one half of +his demand, having first showed him the sinfulness of gaming. He then +told the debtor in private that God requires us to fulfill our promises +though to our hurt, and then asked him if he would pay half. In this +way such cases were many of them settled, for the creditors refused Mr. +Eliot’s proposition, that whoever challenged a debt incurred by gaming +should go before the Governor with his demand. + +The demand upon Mr. Eliot for agricultural and other implements soon +increased beyond his ability to supply them. The women were desirous of +learning to spin; wheels were procured for them. The men began to supply +the English market all the year round, in the winter with brooms, staves, +eel-pots, baskets, and turkies; in the spring with cranberries, fish, and +strawberries; in the summer, with whortleberries, grapes and fish; and in +the autumn, with cranberries, fish and venison. Some of them worked with +the English in haying time, and harvest; but it was hard work for them +with their old habits of indolence. “Old boughs,” says Mr. Eliot, “must +be bent a little at once; if we can set the young twigges in a better +bent, it will bee God’s mercy.” + +Mr. Eliot fell in with a Narragansett Sachem, and having spoken to him +on the subject of religion, asked him if he did not believe such things? +The Sachem seemed averse to answer, and Mr. E. asked him why he had not +profited more by the instructions of a Mr. Williams, their teacher? He +answered that the Indians did not care to learn of him, because he is no +good man, but goes out and works upon the Sabbath day. “I name it,” says +Thomas Shepard, “not to show what glimmerings nature may have concerning +the observation of the Sabbath, but to show what the ill example of the +English may do, and _to show what a stumbling-block to all religion the +loose observation of the Sabbath is_.” + +In a few years Mr. Eliot says a visible improvement had taken place in +many of the domestic habits of the Indians, indicating an advancement +in the principles and sentiments of civilization. Not only were they as +a general thing respectably clothed, but the common wigwams at Nonantum +equalled those of Sachems in other tribes, and instead of herding +together in one room they made divisions and apartments in their houses +from feelings of propriety and modesty. + +Questions relating to the plurality of their wives perplexed them, and +gave occasion for the same judicious decisions on this delicate and +trying subject which are now made by our wise and discreet missionaries +in lands where the same practice exists. While some good men are in favor +of driving the ploughshare at once among the roots of this and every +other evil in the institutions and customs of corrupt society, it is +found impracticable to do so, by those who see the complicated nature +of these practices, without occasioning still greater evils. Remedial +measures are in operation among the converts from heathenism and paganism +by which caste and polygamy and other social evils will in time, but not +in a day or year, be done away. The process of cure was more rapid among +the Indians, than it is among the Oriental tribes, for reasons connected +with the character of the people, the ascendency which religion soon had +among them, and the absence of opposing influences in the government of +the tribes. + +The text from which Mr. Eliot preached his first sermon at Nonantum, +(“Prophesy to the wind,” &c.) and which made Waban, whose name +translated, is, the wind, had produced a decided effect on him, and he +became useful in diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel to other tribes, +at Concord, at places on the Merrimack, and elsewhere. He remained +steadfast in the faith, and never ceased to think that the Word of God +was directed specially to himself in that first sermon of Mr. Eliot, +though Mr. E. says that he had no design in the coincidence between the +text and the Indian’s name. + +Mr. Eliot once preached to the Indians from these words, Ephes. 5:11, +“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,” &c. One of +the questions proposed after sermon was this: + +What do Englishmen think of Mr. Eliot, because he comes among wicked +Indians to teach them? + +Another question was as follows: + +Suppose two men sin. The one knows he sinneth, and the other doth not +know sin, will God punish both alike? + +Another asked, Suppose there should be one wise Indian that teacheth +good things to other Indians, whether should not he be as a father or +brother unto such Indians he so teacheth in the ways of God? + +One of the Indians at Nonantum had a child sick of consumption. When it +was dead some of the Indians came to one of the English and asked him the +proper manner of burial. Whereupon the father procured some pieces of +board and nails, and made a decent coffin; and about forty of the tribe +went with the body to the grave. There having laid the body in the earth, +in a solemn and suitable manner, without any howlings, or heathenish +rites, or savage gesticulations, they made up the mound, and then of +their own accord, for it was not the English custom, they assembled for +prayer near the grave, and requested one of their number, a serious +Indian by the name of Totherswamp, to pray with them, which he did, “with +such zeal and variety of gracious expressions, and abundance of tears, +both of himself and most of the company, that the woods rang again with +their sighs and prayers.” + +Thomas Shepard says, “I know that some will think that all this work +among them is done and acted thus by the Indians to please the English, +and for applause from them; and it is not unlikely but ’tis so in many, +who doe but blaze for a time; but certainly ’tis not so in all, but that +the power of the Word hath taken place in some, and that inwardly and +effectually, but how far savingly time will declare. Some may say that +if it be so, yet they are but few that are thus wrought upon. Be it so; +yet so it hath ever been, many called, few chosen, and yet withal, I +believe the calling in of a few Indians to Christ, is the gathering home +of many hundreds more, considering what a vast distance there hath been +between them and God so long, even dayes without number; considering +also, how precious the first fruits of America will be to Jesus Christ, +and what seeds they may be of harvests in after times; and yet if there +was no great matter seen in those of grown years, their children, +notwithstanding, are of great hopes, both from English and Indians +themselves, who are therefore trained up to schoole, where many are very +apt to learne, and who are also able readily to answer to the questions +propounded, containing the principles and grounds of all Christian +religion in their own tongue. I confesse it passeth my skill to tell +how the Gospel should be generally received by these American natives, +considering the variety of languages in small distances of places; onely +hee that made their cares and tongues can raise up some or other to +teach them how to heare, and what to spake; and if the Gospel must ride +circuit, Christ can and will conquer by weake and dispicable meanes, +though the conquest perhaps may be somewhat long.”[30] + +Mr. Eliot wrote an interesting letter to a friend in England, dated +Roxbury, this 12th of Nov. 1648, and sent it _by the way of Virginia, and +through Spain_. + +He says that the Indians used to abhor the remembrance of their +dead friends, but that now they had begun to receive profit from the +recollection of their dying counsels, and hope from their confidence in +the safety of the pious dead. The woman who asked the question, whether, +when her husband prayed, if she prayed in her heart, but did not speak, +yet her heart liked what he said, it was prayer; called her two grown +up daughters to her when she was dying and said to them: “I shall now +die, and when I am dead, your grand-parents and uncles will send for +you to come live among them and promise you great matters, and tell you +what pleasant living it is among them. But do not believe them, and I +charge you never hearken unto them, nor live among them; for they pray +not to God, keep not the Sabbath, commit all manner of sins, and are not +punished for it. But I charge you live here, for here they pray unto God, +the Word of God is taught, sins are suppressed and punished by laws, and +therefore I charge you live here all your days.” Soon after it came to +pass as she had said, and the case was propounded to Mr. Eliot, and the +father-in-law opposed the removal of the children, on the ground of their +mother’s charge. + +The settlement of Natick took place in the following way. Many Indians +in the country were desirous of hearing the Gospel, but they would not +remove into the neighborhood of the English, “because they had no tools +or skill, or heart to fence their grounds,” and so their corn was spoiled +by the English cattle, and the English refused to pay for it, because the +Indians would not build fences. “Therefore,” Mr. E. says, “a place must +be found (both for this and sundry other reasons) somewhat remote from +the English;—but I feare it will bee too chargeable, though I see that +God delighteth in small beginnings that his name may be magnified.” + +There was a great fishing place at the falls of the Merrimack where +the Indians assembled every spring, and Mr. E. visited them. They put a +question to him after one of his sermons, which all who are interested in +the conversion of the heathen often find occurring to them with painful +interest. “If it be thus as you teach, then all the world of Indians are +gone to hell, to be tormented forever, until now a few may go to heaven +and be saved; is it so?” + +In the letter which went so far in getting to England, Mr. Eliot records +some further questions from his Nonantum Indians, viz: + +How many good people were in Sodom when it was burnt? + +Doth the devil dwell in us as we dwell in a house? + +When God saith, Honor thy father, doth he mean three fathers, our father, +our Sachem, and our God? + +When the soul goes to heaven, what doth it say when it comes there. And +what doth a wicked soul say when it cometh into hell? + +If one sleep on the Sabbath at meeting, and another awaketh him, and he +be angry at it, and say it’s because he is angry with him that he so +doth, is not this a sin? + +If any talk of another man’s faults and tell others of it when he is not +present to answer, is not that a sin? + +Why did Christ die in our stead? + +Seeing Eve was first in sin, whether she did die first? + +Why must we love our enemies, and how shall we do it? + +When every day my heart thinks I must die and go to hell for my sins, +what shall I do in this case? + +May a good man sin sometimes? Or may he be a good man and yet sin +sometimes? + +If a man think a prayer, doth God know it, and will he bless him? + +Who killed Christ? + +If a man be almost a good man and dieth, whither goeth his soul? + +How long was Adam good before he sinned? + +Seeing we see not God with our eyes, if a man dream that he seeth God, +doth his soul then see him? + +Did Adam see God before he sinned? Shall we see God in heaven? + +If a wicked man pray, whether doth he make a good prayer? Or when doth a +wicked man pray a good prayer? + +Whether God did make hell before Adam sinned? + +If two families dwell in one house, and one prayeth and the other not, +what shall they that pray do to them that do not? + +Did Abimelech know Sarah was Abraham’s wife? + +Did not Abraham sin in saying she was my sister? + +Seeing God promised Abraham so many children, like the stars for +multitude, why did he give him so few? And was it true? + +If God made hell in one of the six days, why did God make hell before +Adam sinned? + +How shall I bring mine heart to love prayer? + +If one man repent and pray once in a day, another man often in a day, +whether doth one of them go to heaven, the other not? Or what difference +is there? + +I find I want wisdom, what shall I do to be wise? + +Why did Abraham buy a place to bury in? + +Why doth God make good men sick? + +How shall the Resurrection be, and when? + +Do not Englishmen spoil their souls to say a thing cost them more than it +did? and is not all one as to steal? + +You say our body is made of clay; what is the sun and moon made of? + +If one be loved of all Indians, good and bad, another is hated of all, +saving a few that be good, doth God love both these? + +I see why I must fear hell and do so every day. But why must I fear God? + +How is the tongue like fire, and like poison? + +What if false witnesses accuse me of murther, or some foul sin? + +What punishment is due to liars? + +If I reprove a man for sin, and he answer, “Why do you speak thus angrily +to me? Mr. Eliot teacheth us to love one another?”—is this well? + +Why is God so angry with murtherers? + +If a wife put away her husband because he will pray to God and she will +not, what is to be done in this case? + +If there be young women pray to God, may such as pray to God marry one +that will not pray to God, or what is to be done in this case? + +Whether doth God make bad men dream good dreams? + +What is salvation? + +What is the Kingdom of Heaven? + +If my wife do some work in the house on the night before the Sabbath, and +some work on the Sabbath night, whether this is a sin? + +If I do a sin, and do not know it is a sin, what will God say to that? + +Is faith set in my heart or in my mind? + +Why have not beasts a soul as man hath, seeing they have love, anger, +&c., as man hath? + +How is the Spirit of God in us, and where is it? + +Why doth God punish in hell for ever? man doth not so, but after a time +lets them out of prison again. And if they repent in hell, why will not +God let them out again? + +How shall I know when God accepts my prayers? + +How doth Christ make peace between man and God? and what is the meaning +of that point? + +Why did the Jews give the watchmen money to tell a lie? + +If I hear God’s word when I am young, and do not believe, but when I am +old I believe, what will God say? + +In wicked dreams doth the soul sin? + +Doth the soul in heaven know things done here on earth? + +Doth the soul in heaven remember what it did here on earth before he died? + +If my heart be full of evil thoughts, and I repent and pray, and a few +hours after it is full again, and I repent and pray again; and if after +this it be full of evil thoughts again, what will God say? + +Why did the earth shake at Christ’s resurrection? + +What if a minister wear long hair, as some other men do, what will God +say? + +If a man will make his daughter marry a man whom she doth not love, what +will God say? + +Why doth Christ compare the kingdom of heaven to a net? + +Why doth God so hate them that teach others to commit sin? + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Letters respecting the Indians, from individuals in New + England, to their friends in Old England. Speculations about + the lost tribes of Israel. Remarks. Questions. Samuel Gorton, + the Familist. Two Indians controvert his opinions. Interesting + conversation. Labors of the Mayhews on Martha’s Vineyard. + Covenant of the Indians of Martha’s Vineyard. Questions. + Merrimack Indians. Accounts by the Mayhews of their labors. + Questions. + + +Some of Mr. Eliot’s letters respecting the Indians were published in +London, with an appendix by Rev. “J. D.” As we are interested and +entertained occasionally by a supposed discovery of the lost tribes of +Israel, it may not be useless to give here some of the speculations and +reasonings of this good man, on this subject as relating to the North +American Indians. He begins his appendix with the following words: + +“The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that love them, +saith the Psalmist; Ps. 111:3. The word which we, render _sought out_, +hath a mighty emphasis in it: ’Tis a word used sometimes to denote the +elaborate care of digging and searching into mines. And sometimes it’s +made use of to expresse the accurate labors of those who comment upon +writings. Indeed, there is a golden mine in every work of God; and the +foregoing letters to a gracious eye, are as a discovery of a far more +precious mine in America, than those gold and silver mines of India: For +they bring tidings of the unsearchable riches of Christ, revealed unto +poore soules in those parts.... I could not pass over so rich a mine +without digging.... + +“The general consent of many judicious and godly divines doth induce +considering minds to believe that the conversion of the Jews is at hand. +It’s the expectation of some of the wisest Jews now living, that about +the year 1650, Either we shall be Mosaick or else that themselves Jews +shall be Christians.... There may be at least a remnant of the generation +of Jacob in America, (peradventure some of the Ten tribes dispersions.) +And that those sometimes poor now precious Indians may be as the first +fruits of the glorious harvest of Israel’s redemption. The observation is +not to be slighted, (though the observer, Mr. Shepard, said it was more +cheerful than deep) that the first Text out of which Mr. Eliot preached, +was about the dry bones.... Why may we not at least conjecture, that +God by a special finger pointed out that text to be first opened, which +immediately concerned the persons to whom it was preached?” + +He then states the reasons why the Indian tribes may be of Jewish +descent, viz: + +“1. They have at least a traditional knowledge of God, as the Maker of +heaven and earth. + +2. Whatever they attribute unto others, this they peculiarly attribute +unto God, viz: that all things, both good and evil, are managed by his +Providence. + +3. Before they had received any instruction from the English, upon +observation of a bad year, or other ill success, they did meet and +weep as unto God, and on the other side, upon a good year, or good +success in any business, as of War, they used to meet and make a kind of +acknowledgement of thanks to God in it. + +4. They are careful to preserve the memory of their families, mentioning +Uncles, Grandparents, &c. A thing which had a great tang of, and affinity +to, the Jews’ care of preserving the memorial of their Tribes. + +5. Those of them who have been wrought upon, tell of some face of +Religion, wisdom and manners which long agoe their ancestors had, but +that it was lost. + +6. The better and more sober of them delight much to expresse themselves +in parables, a thing peculiar to the Jews. + +These and the like considerations prevail with me to entertain (at least) +a conjecture that these Indians of America may be Jews, especially of the +Ten Tribes. And therefore to hope that the work of Christ among them may +be as preparatory to his own appearing.” + +Some of these reasons appertain with equal force to other tribes of the +earth who have been supposed by different writers to be remnants of the +house of Israel. While we should respect the interest and zeal of those +who study the providence of God, with a view to finding out his designs, +and to be prepared for the fulfillment of his promises, we should not +easily yield our confidence to any hypothesis which rests merely on +conjecture, or depends for support in reasons which apply equally well +to theories inconsistent with it. This is not the place to remark at +large on the interesting subject of the Jews and their conversion, but +the impression seems happily to be extending that the sooner we cease to +regard them as destined to a national conversion, and look at them as +sinners of the human family, like Mohammedans and Papists, and refrain +from efforts and a treatment which foster their spirit of separation and +their assumption of superior dignity and special claims to respect and +favor, the sooner we shall employ ourselves in efforts to address them in +a way which will be far more likely to humble their pride, and prepare +them to submit to the Gospel, than the somewhat adulatory and flattering +method of approaching them and speaking of them will ever be. + +The improvement which the writer above named makes of Mr. Eliot’s letters +in the following exhortations is far more obviously correct than his +speculations about the origin and destiny of the Indians. He says the +work of grace among them should lead the people of England, + +“First, To study and search into the works of the Lord, to see how he +counter plots the enemy in his designs; In making the late Bishops +persecuting of the godly tend to the promoting of the Gospel. + +Secondly, To take heed of despising the day of small things. + +Thirdly, To be ashamed of and bewail our want of affection to and +estimation of that glorious Gospel, and those great things of Christ, +which these poor Heathens upon the little Glymmerings and tasts so +exceedingly value and improve. + +Fourthly, Doth not the observation of the preceding reports clearly +confirm the doctrine of the Sabbath, and the practice of prayer. O +tremble, ye Sabbath slighters and duty despisers, Christ hath witnesses +against you in America.... The converted Heathen in New England goe +beyond you, O ye Apostolic Christians in England. + +Arise ye heads of our Tribes in Old England, and extend your help to +further Christ’s labourers in New England. + +Rouse up yourselves, my Brethren! ye preachers of the Gospel, this work +concerns you. Contrive and plot, preach for and presse the advancement +hereof. + +Come forth ye masters of money, part with your gold to promote the +Gospel. If you give any thing yearly, remember Christ will be your +Pensioner. If you give any thing into banke, Christ will keep account +thereof and reward it.” + +The reader, it is to be hoped, will not be weary of the Indian questions, +which Mr. Eliot sent to his friends in England as often as he wrote to +them. These questions are not only curious, but they suggest valuable +thoughts and lead to profitable reflections. + +If a man know God’s Word, said one of them at the Indian lecture, but +believe it not, and he teach others, is that good teaching? and if others +believe that which he teacheth, is that believing or faith? Upon this +question Mr. Eliot asked them how they could tell when a man knoweth +God’s Word, that he doth not believe it? They answered, When he doth not +do in his practice answerable to that which he knoweth. + +If I teach on the Sabbath that which you have taught us, and forget some, +is that a sin? and some I mistake and teach wrong, is that a sin? + +Do all evil thoughts come from the devil, and all good ones from God? + +What is watchfulness? + +What should I pray for at night, and what at morning, and what on the +Sabbath day? + +What is true Repentance? or how shall I know when this is true? + +How must I wait on God? + +Shall we see Christ at the day of judgment? + +When I pray for a soft heart, why is it still hard? + +You said, God promised to go with Moses; how doth he go with us? + +When such die as never heard of Christ, whither do they go? + +When the wicked die, do they first go to heaven to the judgment-seat of +Christ to be judged, and then go away to hell? + +Why doth God say, I am the God of the Hebrews? + +When Christ arose, whence came his soul? When it was replied, From +heaven; they said, How then was Christ punished in our stead? or when did +he suffer in our stead, afore death, or after? + +When I pray every day, why is my heart so hard still, even as a stone? + +If one purposeth to pray, and yet dieth before that time, whither goeth +his soul? + +Why must we be like salt? + +Doth God know who shall repent, and who not?—why then did God use so much +meanes with Pharaoh? + +What meaneth that ‘blessed are they that mourn’? + +When I see a good example, and know that it is right, why do I not do the +same? + +What anger is good, and what is bad? + +Do they dwell in separate houses in heaven, or all together, and what do +they? + +If a child die before he sin, whither goeth his soul? ‘By this +question,’ says Mr. E., ‘it did please the Lord to convince them of +original sin, blessed be his name.’ + +If one that prays to God sins like him that prays not, is not he worse? +‘And while,’ says Mr. Eliot, ‘they discoursed of this point, and about +hating wicked persons, one of them shut it up with this: They must love +the man and do him good, but hate his sin.’ + +Why do Englishmen so eagerly kill all snakes? + +May a man have good words and deeds, and a bad heart, and another have +bad words and deeds, and yet a good heart? + +What is it to eate Christ’s flesh, and drink his blood; what meaneth it? + +What meaneth a new heaven and a new earth? + +If but one parent believe, what state are our children in? + +How doth much sinne make grace abound? + +What meaneth that, We cannot serve two masters? + +Can they in Heaven see us here on earth? + +Do they see and know each other? Shall I know you in heaven? + +If all the world be burnt up, where shall hell be? + +Do they know each other in Hell? + +What meaneth, that Christ meriteth eternal life for us? + +What meaneth that, The woman brought to Christ a box of oyle, and washt +his feet with tears, &c.? + +What meaneth that of the two debtors, one oweth much, another but little? + +What meaneth God when he sayes, yee shall be my jewels? + +If so old a man as I repent, may I be saved? + +When we come to believe, how many of our children doth God take with us, +whether all, only young ones, or at what age? + +What meaneth that, Let the trees of the wood rejoice? + +What meaneth that, The Master doth not thank his servant for waiting on +him? + +When Englishmen choose magistrates and ministers, how do they know who be +good men that they dare trust? + +Seeing the body sinneth, why should the soul be punished, and what +punishment shall the body have? + +If a wicked man prayeth and teacheth, doth God accept, or what saith God? + +If a man be wise and his Sachem weak, must he yet obey him? + +We are commanded to honour the Sachem, but is the Sachem commanded to +love us? + +When all the world is burnt up, what shall be in the room of it? (By an +old woman.) + +Mr. Eliot says, in a letter containing these questions, + + “You may perceive many of the questions arise out of such texts + as I handle, and do endeavour to communicate as much Scripture + as I can. The word of the Lord converteth, sanctifieth, and + maketh wise the simple; sometimes they aske weaker questions + than these, which I mention not; you have the best, and when + I am about writing, I am careful in keeping a remembrance of + them; it may be the same question may be again and again asked + at several places and by several persons. The Lord teach them + to know Christ, whom to know is eternal life. I shall entreat + your supplications at the throne of grace, under the tender + wing whereof I now leave you, being forced by the time, and + rest, + + Your respectful and loving brother and fellow-laborer in the + Indian work, + + JOHN ELIOT.” + +Samuel Gorton, charged with being a Familist and Antinomian, was +banished from Plymouth, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The Familists +were an Anabaptist sect, founded in Holland, in 1555, by Henry Nicholas, +a Westphalian. They held that the essence of religion consists in the +feelings of divine love, (and hence they were called the Family of love, +and familists), that all other religious tenets, whether relating to +matters of faith or modes of worship, are of no consequence, and that +it is indifferent what opinions Christians entertain concerning God, +provided their hearts are filled with the emotions of piety and love. +They were confuted by Dr. Henry More, and by George Fox, the Quaker. A +proclamation was issued against them by Queen Elizabeth in 1580. + +This Gorton in 1650 was in Rhode Island. Two of the Nonantum Indians +made a visit to Providence and Warwick, and spent a Sabbath and heard +Gorton and his followers explain their views, and afterwards had some +conversation with them. + +Upon their return, on a lecture day, before the people had fully +assembled, these two Indians addressed a question to Mr. Eliot; and +the conversation which ensued is recorded by him as illustrating the +proficiency in Christian knowledge to which some of the Indians had +attained, and their ability to withstand false teachers. + +The question was this: What is the reason that seeing those English +people, where they had been, have the same Bible that Mr. Eliot has, yet +do not speak the same things? Being asked the reason of his question, +they said, They had been at Providence and Warwick, and they perceived by +conversation with them that they differed from Mr. E.; they heard their +public exercises, but did not understand what they meant, though they +understood the English language well. Being asked what they said, they +replied, they said thus: + +They (that is Mr. Eliot and his friends) teach you that there is a heaven +and a hell, but there is no such matter. + +Mr. E. asked them what reason they gave for this assertion. + +Because there is no other heaven but what is in the hearts of good men, +and no other hell but what is in the hearts of bad men. + +_Mr. E._ What did you say to that? + +_Indians._ We told them we did not believe them, because heaven is a +place where good men go when this life is ended, and hell is a place +where bad men go when they die, and cannot be in the hearts of man. + +_Mr. E._ approving this answer. What else did they say? + +_Indians._ They spake of Baptism, and said, they teach you that infants +must be baptized, but that is a very foolish thing. + +_Mr. E._ What reason did they give? + +_Indians._ Because infants neither know God nor baptism, nor what they +do, and therefore it is a foolish thing to do it. + +_Mr. E._ What did you say to that? + +_Indians._ I could not say much; but I thought it was better to baptize +them while they be young, and then they are bound and engaged; but if you +let them alone till they be grown up, it may be they will fly off, and +neither care for God nor Baptism. + +Mr. E. commended this reply. What further did they say? + +_Indians._ They spake of ministers, and said, they teach you that you +must have ministers, but that is a needless thing. + +_Mr. E._ Why? + +_Indians._ They gave these reasons: First, ministers know nothing but +what they learn out of God’s book, and we have God’s book as well as +they, and can tell what God saith. Again, ministers cannot change men’s +hearts, God must do that, therefore there is no need of ministers. + +_Mr. E._ What did you reply? + +_Indians._ I told them that we must do as God commands us, and if he +commands us to have ministers we must have them. And further, I told them +I thought it was true that ministers cannot change men’s hearts; but when +we do as God bids us, and hear ministers preach, then God will change our +hearts. + +_Mr. E._ What else did they speak of? + +_Indians._ They said, they teach you that you must have magistrates, but +that is needless. + +_Mr. E._ What reason did they give? + +_Indians._ They said, Because magistrates cannot give life, therefore +they may not take away life; besides, when a man sinneth, he doth not sin +against magistrates; and therefore why should they punish them? but they +sin against God, and therefore we must leave them to God to punish them. + +_Mr. E._ What answer did you make? + +_Indians._ I said to that as to the former, we must do as God commands +us. If God commands us to have magistrates, and commands them to punish +sinners, then we must obey. + +In answer to the question, Why all who have the Bible do not speak the +same things. Mr. E. preached on that occasion from 2 Thes. 2:10, 11. +“Because they believed not the truth that they might be saved; for this +cause God shall send them strong delusions that they might believe a +lie,” &c. + +The Rev. Thomas Mayhew, and his son the Rev. Experience Mayhew, +prosecuted the work of evangelizing the Indians of Martha’s Vineyard with +signal success. As the relations which they give respecting the Indians, +and the progress of the Gospel among them, correspond so nearly with the +foregoing narratives, it is not thought necessary to speak of them at +large. Some idea of the principles which were inculcated by the Mayhews, +and of the influence which they exerted upon the natives, may be derived +from the following covenant which Mr. Thomas Mayhew wrote for them, and +in which they all with free consent willingly and thankfully joined. + + COVENANT OF THE INDIANS OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD. + + “Wee, the distressed Indians of the Vineyard, (or NOPE, the + Indian name of the Island,) that beyond all memory have been + without the true God, without a Teacher, and without a Law, the + very servants of sin and satan, and without peace, for God did + justly vex us for our sins; having lately, through his mercy, + heard of the name of the True God, the name of his Son Christ + Jesus, with the holy Ghost, the Comforter, three Persons, but + one most Glorious God, whose name is JEHOVAH; wee do praise + His Glorious Greatness, and, in sorrow of our hearts, and + shame of our faces, we do acknowledge and renounce our great + and many sins, that we and our Fathers have lived in, do run + unto him for mercy and pardon for Christ Jesus’ sake; and we + do this day, through the blessing of God upon us, and trusting + to his gracious help, give up ourselves in this Covenant, Wee, + our wives and children, to serve JEHOVAH: And we do this day + chuse Jehovah to be our God in Christ Jesus, our Teacher, our + Lawgiver in his Word, our King, our Judge, our Ruler by his + magistrates and ministers; to fear God Himself, and to trust in + Him alone for salvation, both of Soul and Body, in this present + Life, and the Everlasting Life to come, through his mercy in + Christ Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer, and by the might of his + Holy Spirt, to whom, with the Father and Son, be all Glory + everlasting, Amen.” + +Mr. Mayhew says, “I observed that the Indians, when they chose their +Rulers, made choyce of such as were best approved for their godliness, +and most likely to suppress sin, and encourage holiness. There was an +Indian that was well approved for his Reformation, that was suspected +to have told a plain Lye for his Gain; the business was brought to the +public Meeting, and there it was notably sifted with zeal and good +affection; but at length the Indian defending himself with great disdain +and hatred of such evil, proved himself clear, and praised God for it.” + +He also relates the following anecdote: + +“My Father and I were lately talking with an Indian who had not long +before almost lost his life by a wound his Enemies gave him in a secret +hidden way, the mark whereof he had upon him, and will carry it to his +grave. This man understanding of a secret Plot that was to take away his +Enemies life, told my Father and I, That he did freely forgive him for +the sake of God, and did tell this Plot to us that the man’s life might +be preserved. This is a singular thing, and who among the Heathen will do +so?” + +Again: “_Myoxeo_ also lately met with an Indian which came from the +_Mayn_, (the mainland,) who was of some note among them. I heard that he +told them of the great things of God, the sinfulness and folly of the +Indians, the pardon of sin by Christ, and of a good life; and so they +were both affected, that they continued this discourse two half nights +and a day, until their strength was spent. He told him in particular how +a Beleever did live above the world, that he did keep worldly things +alwaies at his feet, (as he shewed him by a sign,) That when they were +diminished or increased, it was neither the cause of his sorrow or joy, +that he should stoop to regard them, but he stood upright with his heart +Heavenward, and his whole desire was after God, and his joy in Him.” + +He says, “Within two or three weeks (1652) there came an Indian to me in +business, and by the way he told me that some Indians had lately kept a +day of Repentance to humble themselves before God in prayer, and that the +word of God which one of them spake unto for their Instruction, was Psal. +66: 7. ‘He ruleth by his Power forever, his eyes behold the nations, let +not the rebellious exalt themselves.’ I asked him what their end was in +keeping such a day? He told me these six things. ‘1. They desired that +God would slay the rebellion of their hearts. 2. That they might love God +and one another. 3. That they might withstand the evil words of wicked +men, and not be drawn back from God. 4. That they might be obedient to +the good words and commands of their Rulers. 5. That they might have +their sins done away by the Redemption of Jesus Christ. And Lastly, That +they might walk in Christ’s way.’” + +In 1651, thirty Indian children were at school which began in November, +1651. “They are apt to learn,” says Mr. M., “and more and more are now +sending in unto them.” + +“I was once,” says Mr. M., “down towards the further end of the Island, +and lodged at an Indian’s house, who was accounted a great man among +the Islanders, being the friend of the Sachem on the _Mayn_. At this +man’s house where I sate awhile, his son being about thirty years old, +earnestly desired me, in his Language, to relate unto him some of the +ancient stories of God. I then spent a great part of the night (in such +discourse as I thought fittest for them) as I usually do when I lodg in +their houses; what he then heard did much affect him. And shortly after +he came and desired to joyn with the praying Indians to serve Jehovah.” +He was persecuted for this; but he told Mr. M. “That if they should stand +with a sharp weapon against his breast, and tell him that they would kill +him presently if he did not turn to them; but if he would, they would +love him; yet he had rather lose his life than keep it on such terms.” + +A Powaw once told Mr. M. that after he had forsaken his powawing, and +had begun to serve God, and to renounce his Imps, which he did in a +public manner, the Imps still remained with him tormenting him, so that +he could never be at rest, sleeping or waking. At a Lecture, sometime +after, he asked Mr. M. this question: If a Powaw had his Imps gone from +him, what he should have instead of them to preserve him? He was told if +he believed in Christ “he should have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in +him, which is a good and strong Spirit, and will so keep him safe, that +all the Devils in Hell, and Powaws on earth, should not be able to do him +any hurt; and that if he did set himself against his Imps by the strength +of God, they should all flee away like muskeetooes.” He replied, That +soon after he had believed he was not troubled with any pain as formerly +in his bed, nor dreadful visions of the night, but lay down with ease, +slept quietly, waked in peace, and walked in safety; “for which he is +very glad and praises God.” + +Mr. Mayhew also relates a fact, like the one already given respecting the +feelings and conduct of the Christian Indians at the death and burial +of their children. The case already mentioned, it will be remembered, +occurred at Nonantum; this, at Martha’s Vineyard. Mr. Mayhew says, + +“I have observed the wise disposing hand of God in another providence +of his. There have not, as I know, any man, woman, or child, died, of +the meeting-Indians, since the meeting began, until now of late the Lord +took away Hiacoomes, his child, which was about five days old. He was +best able to make a good use of it, and to carry himself well in it, +and so was his wife also; and truly they gave an excellent example in +this also as they have in other things; here were no black faces for it +as the manner of the Indians is, nor goods buried with it, nor hellish +howlings over the dead, but a patient resigning of it to him that gave +it. There were some English at the burial, and many Indians to whom I +spake something of the Resurrection; and as we were going away, one of +the Indians told me he was much refreshed in being freed from their old +customes, as also to hear of the Resurrection of good men and their +children to be with God.” + +One of the ‘meeting-Indians’ said that ‘if all the world, the riches, +plenty, and pleasures of it were presented without God, or God without +all these, I would take God.’ + +Another said, ‘If the greatest Sagamore in the land should take him in +his arms, and proffer him his love, his riches and gifts, to turn him +from his ways, he would not go with him from the way of God.’ + +One of them was heard, of his own accord, in complaining against head +knowledge and lip prayers, without heart holiness, loathing the condition +of such a man, saying, I ‘desire my heart may taste of the word of God, +repent of my sins, and lean upon the Redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ + +The following is a letter from a good man in this country to a friend in +England, written about the year 1650. + + ‘The best News I can write you from _New-England_ is, the Lord + is indeed converting the _Indians_, and for the refreshing of + your heart, and the hearts of all the godly with you; I have + sent you the Relation of one _Indian_ of two yeares profession, + that I took from his owne mouth by an Interpreter, because he + cannot speak or understand one word of _English_. + + THE FIRST QUESTION WAS; + + _Q._ How did you come first to any sight of sinne? + + _A._ His answer was, Before the Lord did ever bring any + _English_ to us, my Conscience was exceedingly troubled for + sin, but after Mr. _Mayhew_ came to preach, and had been here + some time, one chiefe _Sagamore_ did imbrace the Gospel, and + I hearing of him, I went to him, and prayed him to speake + something to me concerning God, and the more I did see of God, + the more I did see my sinne, and I went away rejoycing, that I + knew any thing of God, and also that I saw my sinne. + + _Q._ I pray what hurt doe you see in sinne? + + _A._ Sin, sayth he, is a continuall sicknesse in my heart. + + _Q._ What further evill doe you see in sinne? + + _A._ I see it to be a breach of all Gods Commandements. + + _Q._ Doe you see any punishment due to man for sinne? + + _A._ Yea, sayth he, I see a righteous punishment from God due + to man for sinne, which shall be by the Devills in a place like + unto fire (not that I speake of materiall fire, saith he) where + man shall be for ever dying and never dye. + + _Q._ Have you any hope to escape this punishment? + + _A._ While I went on in the way of _Indianisme_ I had no hope, + but did verily believe I should goe to that place, but now I + have a little hope, and hope I shall have more. + + _Q._ By what meanes doe you look for any hope? + + _A._ Sayth he, by the satisfaction of Christ. + + I prayed the Interpreter, to tell him from mee that I would + have him thinke much of the satisfaction of Christ, (and so he + told him) I prayed him to returne mee his Answer. + + _A._ I thanke him kindly for his good Counsell, it doth my + heart good, sayd he, to heare any man speake of Christ. + + _Q._ What would you thinke if the Lord should save you from + misery? + + _A._ If the Lord, said he, would save me from all the sinne + that is in my heart, and from that misery, I should exceedingly + love God, and, saith he, I should love a man that should doe + mee any good, much more the Lord, if he should doe this for mee. + + _Q._ Doe you thinke that God will doe you any good for any good + that is in you? + + _A._ Though I beleeve that God loves man that leaves his sinne, + yet I beleeve it is for Christ’s sake. + + _Q._ Doe you see that at any time God doth answer your prayers? + + _A._ Yea, sayth he, I take every thing as an Answer of prayer. + + _Q._ But what speciall answer, have you taken notice of? + + _A._ Once my wife being three dayes and three nights in + labour, I was resolved never to leave praying till she had + deliverance, and at last God did it, and gave her a sonne, and + I called his name _Returning_, because all the while I went on + in _Indianisme_ I was going from God, but now the Lord hath + brought mee to him backe againe. + + By this time Captaine _Gooking_ came to us, and he asked him + this Question: + + _Q._ What he would thinke if he should finde more affliction + and trouble in God’s wayes, than he did in the way of + Indianisme. + + _A._ His answer was, when the Lord did first turne me to + himselfe and his wayes, he stripped mee as bare as my skinne, + and if the Lord should strip me as bare as my skinne againe, + and so big _Saggamore_ should come to mee, and say, I will + give you so big Wampom, so big _Beaver_, and leave this way, + and turne to us againe: I would say, take your riches to your + selfe, I would never forsake God and his wayes againe. + + This is a Relation taken by my selfe, + + WILLIAM FRENCH.’ + +There was a great fishing place at one of the falls of the Merrimack, +where the Indians assembled in great numbers in the spring of the year, +and Mr. Eliot went to meet them. He hired a Nashaway or Lancaster Indian +to beat down a path for him from Roxbury through the woods, and to notch +the trees that he might find his way through. His Church were concerned +for his safety, on account of difficulties between two tribes through +which his path lay. A Sachem with twenty men did escort for him, and the +journey occupied three days. “It pleased God,” he says, “to exercise +us with such tedious rain and bad weather, that we were extreme wet, +insomuch that I was not dry night nor day from the third day of the week +to the sixth, but so traveled, and at night pull off my boots, wring my +stockings, and on with them again. My horse was tired, so that I was +forced to let him go without a rider and take one of the men’s horses, +which I took along with me. Yet God stept in and helped. I considered +that word of God, ‘Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’” + +It is not surprising that the questions proposed by the Indians should +have excited so much interest among their English teachers, and the +friends in England to whom they were communicated. Should similar +questions be reported to us from a tribe of people among whom our +missionaries had effected an entrance, we should feel that there was +great promise of success among that people. It seems that many in England +doubted the practicability of converting the North American savages. +They were greatly surprised at the communications from Mr. Eliot; they +saw that nothing was too hard for the Almighty, that Christ could save +unto the uttermost, all who come unto God by him, that the Gospel was +suited to the nature of man in every condition, that the story of the +cross moved the heart of the savage as well as the civilized, and that +Mr. Eliot’s reflection after his first efforts in preaching at Nonantum +was true, “That there is no need of miraculous or extraordinary gifts in +seeking the salvation of the most depraved of the human family.” + +The Sudbury, Concord, Lancaster, Medford, and Dedham Indians had all in a +few years received the Gospel from Nonantum. In visiting that interesting +spot we cannot but say, “From you sounded out the word of the Lord.” + +A pious Indian from Martha’s Vineyard visited the Indians of Merrimack +weare. After he had been there, the Merrimack Indians stated this case to +Mr. Eliot, for an explanation. ‘If a strange Indian comes among us whom +we never saw before, yet if he pray unto God we do exceedingly love him. +But if my own brother, dwelling a great way off, come unto us, he not +praying to God, though we love him, yet nothing so as we love that other +stranger who doth pray unto God.’ + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Natick. The Indians build a bridge. Scenery of Charles River. + The Arsenal at Watertown. Indian names. Mrs. Sigourney’s Lines. + Gov. Endicott’s Letter. Proceedings preparatory to forming + an Indian Church. Confessions of several Indians. Indian + Catechism. Number in the Indian Church at Natick. Eliot’s + Indian Grammar. His Indian Bible. Remarks upon it. A copy sent + to Charles II. Richard Baxter’s remark. Further observations on + the Indian Bible. 14 places of praying Indians, in 1660. Mr. + Bancroft’s testimony. Indian Youths at Harvard College. + + +We come now to another stage in the history of the Indian mission. + +It has already been said that in 1650 Mr. Eliot obtained a grant of land +for the Indians, for the purpose of building houses and organizing a town +government. The place selected was called NATICK, which means _a place +of hills_. There the Indians began to build houses, each house having +a piece of land attached to it for agriculture. One large building was +erected to be the property of the town, the lower part to be used for a +school-room and place of worship, the upper room to be a place of deposit +for skins and articles of public property, with a bed for Mr. Eliot. + +In one of his letters to friends in England, Mr. Eliot says, + +“There is a great river which divideth between their planting grounds +and dwelling place, through which they easily wade in summer, yet in +the spring it is deep and unfit for daily passing over, especially of +women and children.” He proposed to the Indians that they should make a +foot bridge over it, which was accordingly built, and was ninety feet +long and nine feet high. When it was finished, Mr. Eliot called the +Indians together, prayed, and gave thanks to God, and taught them out of +a portion of Scripture. He then told them that as it had been hard and +tedious labor in the water, if any of them desired wages for their work +he would give it to them, yet considering the work was for their own use, +if they should do all that labor in love, he should take it well and +remember it. + +They replied that they were far from desiring any wages for doing their +own work, and on the contrary were thankful for their employment,—at +which Mr. Eliot praised them for their readiness and ingenuity at such +work. This bridge is said to have lasted longer than one which the +English built about the same time at Dedham. + +It would be interesting if we could identify some of the favorite +places of the Indians in this vicinity. It is pleasant to think that they +were often grouped together at that most charming point where the Charles +River bends round the arsenal at Watertown. No one who has stood on the +bridge at that place on a summer morning when the mists were rising +from the stream, or in the after part of the day, when the sun was in +the right position over the curving parts of the stream to make their +outlines brilliant as gold in the green meadow, can have failed to think +that had such scenery occurred to him in Italy or Scotland, he would have +found it celebrated in the works of the poet and painter. We have only +to take journeys about home to find in the part of the country where we +live, views and scenes both natural and historical of thrilling interest. +It is easy to imagine the light canoe borne rapidly along the winding +vales of the Charles River; we meet with Indian names in almost every +village which is watered by that interesting stream, as well as in other +places. Wrentham has its Nuckup hill; Norwich its Quenaboag and Shetucket +river; Auburn its Boggachoog brook; Lancaster its Weshakum ponds; and +Natick its Pegan plain. + +The following lines by Mrs. Sigourney may appropriately be introduced +here. + + INDIAN NAMES. + + “How can the red man be forgotten, while so many of our states + and territories, bays, lakes and rivers, are indelibly stamped + by names of their giving?” + + Ye say, that all have passed away, + That noble race and brave, + That their light canoes have vanished + From off the crested wave; + That ’mid the forests where they roamed, + There rings no hunter’s shout; + But their name is on their waters, + Ye may not wash it out. + + ’Tis where Ontario’s billow, + Like Ocean’s surge is curled, + Where strong Niagara’s thunders wake + The echo of the world, + Where red Missouri bringeth + Rich tributes from the west, + And Rappahannock sweetly sleeps, + On green Virginia’s breast. + + Ye say their cone-like cabins, + That clustered o’er the vale, + Have fled away like withered leaves, + Before the autumn gale; + But their memory liveth on your hills, + Their baptism on your shore, + Your everlasting rivers speak + Their dialect of yore. + + Old Massachusetts wears it + Within her lordly crown, + And broad Ohio bean it + Amid her young renown; + Connecticut hath wreathed it, + Where her quiet foliage waves, + And bold Kentucky breathes it hoarse, + Through all her ancient caves. + + Wachuset hides its lingering voice, + Within his rocky heart, + And Alleghany graves its tone + Throughout his lofty chart; + Monadnock on his forehead hoar, + Doth seal the sacred trust; + Your mountains build their monuments, + Though ye destroy their dust. + +The Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians of North +America, an account of which will be found in the appendix to this +volume, published a letter addressed to them by Governor Endicott, of +Massachusetts. It is interesting as a testimony to the advancement which +the Indians had made in religion and civilization, and as a specimen +of the personal interest which good rulers in former times took in the +promotion of the kingdom of Christ in the earth. The letter is here +printed as it is written, with the Introduction by the Society: + + “The next Letter you meet withall came from the present + Governour of the _Massachusets_, directed to the President of + our Corporation, and another of the Members thereof, which + wee thought good to publish, that every Christian Reader may + partake in the same consolation, wherewith he and we are + comforted; and joyne with us in prayer to the Lord of the + Harvest, that he would provide more Labourers to enter upon + this soul-saving worke, and enlarge the hearts of all his + people in this Nation towards the same.” + + “_Much honoured and beloved in the Lord Jesus_: + + I Esteeme it not the least of God’s mercies that hath + stirred up the hearts of any of the people of God to be + instrumentall in the inlarging of the Kingdome of his deare + Sonne here amongst the Heathen _Indians_, which was one + end of our comming hither, and it is not frustrated. It + was prophesied of old, and now begins to be accomplished, + _Psal._ 2:8. Neither can I but acknowledge the unspeakable + goodnesse of God that gives us favour in the sight of our + Countreymen to helps on with so large a hand of bounty, so + glorious a work, provoked thereunto by your worthy selves, + the chiefs Actors of so good a designe, let me (with leave) + say confidently, you will never have cause to repent it; + For the work is Gods and he doth owne it, the labour there + hath been yours, and your Master will reward it. I think + Religion and Conscience binde me to seek unto God for you, + and to praise him with you, for what is already begun. The + Foundation is laid, and such a one that I verily beleeve + the gates of Hell shall never prevaile against. I doubt + not but the building will goe on apace, which I hope will + make glad the hearts of Thousands. Truly Gentlemen, had + you been eare and eye-witnesses of what I heard and saw on + a Lecture-day amongst them about three weeks since, you + could not but be affected therewith as I was. To speak + truly I could hardly refrain tears from very joy to see + their diligent attention to the word first taught by one + of the _Indians_, who before his Exercise prayed for the + manner devoutly and reverently (the matter I not so well + understanding) but it was with such reverence, zeale, + good affection, and distinct utterance, that I could not + but admire it; his Prayer was about a quarter of an houre + or more, as we judged it; then he took his Text, and + Mr. _Eliot_ their Teacher told us that were _English_, + the place (there were some Ministers and diverse other + godly men there that attended me thither) his Text was + in, _Matth._ 13:44, 45, 46. [The kingdom of heaven is + like unto treasure, &c. And to a merchant man, &c.] He + continued in his Exercise full halfe an houre or more, as + I judged it, his gravity and utterance was indeed very + commendable; which being done Mr. _Eliot_ taught in the + _Indian_ tongue about three quarters of an hour as neer + as I could guesse; the _Indians_ which were in number men + and women neer about one hundred, seemed the most of them + so to attend him, (the men especially) as if they would + loose nothing of what was taught them, which reflected much + upon some of our _English_ hearers. After all there was a + _Psalme_ sung in the _Indian_ tongue, and _Indian_ meeter, + but to an _English_ tune, read by one of themselves, that + the rest might follow, and he read it very distinctly + without missing a word as we could judge, and the rest + sang chearfully, and prettie tuneablie. I rid on purpose + thither being distant from my dwelling about thirty eight, + or forty miles, and truly I account it one of the best + Journeyes I made these many years. Some few dayes after I + desired Mr. _Eliot_ briefly to write me the substance of + the _Indians_ Exercise, which when he went thither again, + namely to _Naticke_, where the _Indians_ dwell, and where + the _Indian_ taught, he read what he remembered of it first + to their School-Master who is an _Indian_, and teacheth + them and their Children to write, and I saw him write also + in _English_, who doth it true and very legible, and asked + him if it were right, and he said yea, also he read it unto + others, and to the man himselfe, who also owned it. To tell + you of their industry and ingenuitie in building of an + house after the _English_ manner, the hewing and squaring + of their tymber, the sawing of the boards themselves, and + making of a Chimney in it, making of their ground-sells + and wall-plates, and mortising, and letting in the studds + into them artificially, there being but one _English_ man + a Carpenter to shew them, being but two dayes with them, + is remarkeable. They have also built a Fort there with + halfe trees cleft about eight or ten inches over, about + ten or twelve foot high, besides what is intrencht in the + ground, which is above a quarter of an acre of ground, as + I judge. They have also built a foot bridge over _Charles_ + Rivers, with Groundsells and Spurres to uphold it against + the strength of the Flood and Ice in Winter; it stood + firme last Winter, and I think it will stand many Winters. + They have made Drummes of their owne with heads and brases + very neatly and artificially, all which shews they are + industrious and ingenuous. And they intend to build a + Water-Mill the next Summer, as I was told when I was with + them. Some of them have learnt to mow grasse very well. + I shall no further trouble you with any more Relation at + this time concerning them. But a word or two further with + your patience concerning other _Indians_. The work of + God amongst the _Indians_ at _Martins Vineyard_, is very + hopefull and prosperous also. I mist of Mr. _Mayhew_ their + Teacher, who was lately at _Boston_, and therefore cannot + give you a particular account thereof at this present time; + yet I cannot but acquaint you what other motions there + are touching other _Indians_. There came to us upon the + 20th of this instant Moneth, at the Generall Court one + _Pummakummim_ Sachem of _Qunnubbagge_, dwelling amongst or + neer to the _Narragansets_, who offered himselfe and his + Men to worship God, and desired that some _English_ may + be sent from the _Massachusets_ Government to plant his + River, that thereby he may be partaker of Government, and + may be instructed by the _English_ to know God. We shall + I hope take some care and course about it, and I hope we + shall have more help to carry on that work also; For there + are some Schollers amongst us who addict themselves to the + study of the _Indian_ Tongue. The Lord in mercy recompence + it into your Bosomes, all that labour of love vouchsafed + to the poor _Indians_, which are the hearty prayers, and + earnest desire of, much honoured, + + _Boston the 27th of the Eight. 1651._ Your loving Friend in + all service of Christ. + + JOHN ENDECOTT.” + +The prudence and caution of Mr. Eliot in his proceedings with regard to +the formation of a Church among the Indians are not a little remarkable. +He says, + + “In way of preparation of them thereunto, I did this Summer + call forth sundry of them in the dayes of our public Assemblies + in Gods Worship; sometimes on the Sabbath when I could be with + them, and sometimes on Lecture daies, to make confession before + the Lord of their former sins, and of their present knowledg + of Christ, and experience of his Grace; which they solemnly + doing, I wrote down their Confessions: which having done, and + being in my own heart hopeful that there was among them fit + matter for a Church, I did request all the Elders about us to + hear them reade, that so they might give me advice what to + do in this great and solemn business; which being done on a + day appointed for the purpose, it pleased God to give their + Confessions such acceptance in their hearts, as that they saw + nothing to hinder their proceeding, to try how the Lord would + appear therein. Whereupon, after a day of Fasting and Prayer + among ourselves, to seek the Lord, in that behalf, there was + another day of Fasting and Prayer appointed, and publick notice + thereof, and of the names of Indians were to confess, and enter + into Covenant that day, was given to all the Churches about + us, to seek the Lord yet further herein, and to make solemn + Confessions of Christ his Truth and Grace, and further to try + whether the Lord would vouchsafe such grace unto them, as to + give them acceptance among the Saints, into the fellowship of + Church-Estate, and enjoyment of those Ordinances which the Lord + hath betrusted his Churches withal. That day was the thirteenth + of the eighth month. + + When the Assembly was met, the first part of the day was + spent in Prayers unto God, and exercise in the Word of God; + in which my self first and after that two of the Indians + did Exercise; and so the time was spent till after ten or + near eleven of the clock. Then addressing our selves unto + the further work of the day, I first requested the reverend + Elders (many being present) that they would ask them Questions + touching the fundamental Points of Religion, that thereby + they might have some tryal of their knowledg, and better that + way, than if themselves should of themselves declare what + they beleeve, or than if I should ask them Questions in these + matters: After a little conference hereabout, it was concluded, + That they should first make confession of their experience + in the Lords Work upon their hearts, because in so doing, it + is like something will be discerned of their knowledg in the + Doctrines of Religion: and if after those Confessions there + should yet be cause to inquire further touching any Point + of Religion it might be fitly done at last. Whereupon we so + proceeded, and called them forth in order to make confession. + It was moved in the Assembly by Reverend Mr. _Wilson_, that + their former Confessions also, as well as these which they made + at present, might be read unto the Assembly, because it was + evident that they were daunted much, to speak before so great + and grave an Assembly as that was, but time did not permit it + so to be then: yet now in my writing of their Confessions I + will take that course, that so it may appear what encouragement + there was to proceed so far as we did; and that such as may + reade these their Confessions, may the better discern of the + reality of the Grace of Christ in them.” + +He afterwards says, + + “In the year 52 I perceiving the grace of God in sundry of + them, and some poor measure of fitnesse (as I was perswaded) + for the enjoyment of Church-fellowship, and Ordinances of Jesus + Christ, I moved in that matter, according as I have in the + Narration thereof, briefly declared. In the year 53 I moved not + that way, for these Reasons. + + I having sent their Confessions to be published in _England_, + I did much desire to hear what acceptance the Lord gave unto + them, in the hearts of his people there, who daily labour at + the Throne of grace, and by other expressions of their loves, + for an holy birth of this work of the Lord, to the praise of + Christ, and the inlargement of his Kingdome. As also my desire + was, that by such Books as might be sent hither, the knowledge + of their Confessions might be spread here, unto the better and + fuller satisfaction of many, then the transacting thereof in + the presence of some could doe. These Books came by the latter + Ships (as I remember) that were bound for _New England_, and + were but newly out when they set saile, and therefore I had not + that answer that year, which my soule desired, though something + I had which gave encouragement, and was a tast of what I have + more fully heard from severall this year, praised be the Lord. + + Besides there fell a great damping and discouragement upon + us by a jealousie too deeply apprehended, though utterly + groundlesse, _viz._ That even these praying _Indians_ were + in a conspiracy with others, and with the _Dutch_, to doe + mischief to the _English_. In which matter, though the ruling + part of the People looked otherwise upon them, yet it was no + season for me to stir or move in this matter, when the waters + were so troubled. This businesse needeth a calmer season, + and I shall account it a favour of God when ever he shall + please to cause his face to shine upon us in it. Yet this I + did the last year, after the Books had been come a season, + there being a great meeting at _Boston_, from other Colonies + as well as our owne, and the Commissioners being there, I + thought it necessary to take that opportunity to prepare and + open the way in a readinesse against this present year, by + making this Proposition unto them; namely, _That they having + now seen their confessions, if upon further triall of them in + point of knowledge, they be found to have a competent measure + of understanding in the fundamentall points of Religion; and + also, if there be due testimony of their conversation, that + they walke in a Christian manner according to their light, so + that Religion is to be seen in their lives; whether then it be + according to God, and acceptable to his people, that they be + called up unto Church estate?_ Unto which I had I blesse the + Lord, a generall approbation. + + Accordingly this year 54 I moved the Elders, that they would + give me advice and assistance in this great businesse, and that + they would at a fit season examine the _Indians_ in point of + their knowledge, because we found by the former triall, that a + day will be too little (if the Lord please to call them on to + Church-fellowship) to examine them in points of Knowledge, and + hear their Confessions, and guide them into the holy Covenant + of the Lord. Seeing all these things are to be transacted in a + strange language, and by Interpreters, and with such a people + as they be in these their first beginnings. But if they would + spend a day on purpose to examine them in their knowledge + there would be so much the more liberty to doe it fully and + throughly, (as such a work ought to be) as also when they may + be called to gather into Church-Communion, it may suffice that + some one of them should make a Doctrinall Confession before + the Lord and his people, as the rule of faith which they build + upon, the rest attesting their consent unto the same: And + themselves (the Elders I mean, if the Lord so far assist the + _Indians_, as to give them satisfaction) might testifie that + upon Examination they have found a competency of knowledge in + them to inable them unto such a work and state. And thus the + work might be much shortned, and more comfortably expedited in + one day. I found no unreadinesse in the Elders to further this + work. + + They concluded to attend the work, and for severall Reasons + advised that the place should be at _Roxbury_, and not at + _Natick_, and that the _Indians_ should be called thither, the + time they left to me to appoint, in such a season as wherein + the Elders may be at best liberty from other publick occasions. + The time appointed was the 13 of the 4 moneth; meanwhile I + dispatched Letters unto such as had knowledge in the Tongue, + requesting that they would come and help in interpretation, + or attest unto the truth of my Interpretations. I sent also + for my Brother _Mayhu_, who accordingly came, and brought an + Interpreter with him. Others whom I had desired, came not. I + informed the _Indians_ of this appointment, and of the end it + was appointed for, which they therefore called, and still doe, + when they have occasion to speak of it _Natootomuhteáe kesuk, A + day of asking Questions, or, A day of Examination_. I advised + them to prepare for it, and to pray earnestly about it, that + they might be accepted among Gods people, if it were the will + of God. + + It pleased God so to guide, that there was a publick Fast + of all the Churches, betwixt this our appointment, and the + accomplishment thereof: which day they kept, as the Churches + did, and this businesse of theirs was a Principall matter in + their Prayers.” + +It will be useful, as well as interesting, to give some of the +“Confessions of Indians” which were made and considered in preparation +for their entering into the Church state. + + +CONFESSION OF TOTHERSWAMP. + + “Before I prayed unto God, the English, when I came unto + their houses, often said unto me, Pray to God; but I having + many friends who loved me, and I loved them, and they cared + not for praying to God, and therefore I did not: But I thought + in my heart, that if my friends should die, and I live, I then + would pray to God; soon after, God so wrought, that they did + almost all die, few of them left; and then my heart feared, + and I thought, that now I will pray unto God, and yet I was + ashamed to pray; and if I eat and did not pray, I was ashamed + of that also; so that I had a double shame upon me: Then you + came unto us, and taught us, and said unto us, _Pray unto God_; + and after that, my heart grew strong, and I was no more ashamed + to pray, but I did take up praying to God; yet at first I did + not think of God and eternal Life, but only that the English + should love me and I loved them: But after I came to learn + what sin was, by the Commandments of God, and then I saw all + my sins, lust, gaming, &c. (he named more.) You taught, That + Christ knoweth all our hearts, and seeth what is in them, if + humility, or anger, or evil thoughts, Christ seeth all that + is in the heart; then my heart feared greatly, because God + was angry for all my sins; yea, now my heart is full of evil + thoughts, and my heart runs away from God, therefore my heart + feareth and mourneth. Every day I see sin in my heart; one man + brought sin into the World, and I am full of that sin, and I + break Gods Word every day. I see I deserve not pardon, for the + first mans sinning; I can do no good, for I am like the Devil, + nothing but evil thoughts, and words, and works. I have lost + all likeness to God, and goodness, and therefore every day I + sin against God, and I deserve death and damnation: The first + man brought sin first, and I do every day add to that sin, more + sins; but Christ hath done for us all righteousness, and died + for us because of our sins, and Christ teacheth us, That if we + cast away our sins, and trust in Christ, then God will pardon + all our sins; this I beleeve Christ hath done, I can do no + righteousness, but Christ hath done it for me; this I beleeve, + and therefore I do hope for pardon. When I first heard the + Commandments, I then took up praying to God and cast off sin. + Again, When I heard, and understood Redemption by Christ, then + I beleeved Jesus Christ to take away my sins: every Commandment + taught me sin, and my duty to God. When you ask me why do I + love God? I answer, Because he giveth me all outward blessings, + as food, clothing, children, all gifts of strength, speech, + hearing; especially that he giveth us a Minister to teach us, + and giveth us Government; and my heart feareth lest Government + should reprove me; but the greatest mercy of all is Christ, to + give us pardon and life.” + + +“TOTHERSWAMP + +_The Confession which he made on the Fast day before the great Assembly +was as followeth:_ + + I Confess in the presence of the Lord, before I prayed, many + were my sins, not one good word did I speak, not one good + thought did I think, not one good action did I doe: I did act + all sins, and full was my heart of evil thoughts; when the + English did tell me of God, I cared not for it, I thought it + enough if they loved me: I had many friends that loved me, + and I thought if they died I would pray to God: and afterward + it so came to pass; then was my heart ashamed, to pray I was + ashamed, and if I prayed not, I was ashamed; a double shame was + upon me: when God by you taught us, very much ashamed was my + heart; then you taught us that Christ knoweth all our hearts: + therefore truly he saw my thoughts, and I had thought, if my + kindred should die I would pray to God; therefore they dying, + I must now pray to God; and therefore my heart feared, for I + thought Christ knew my thoughts: then I heard you teach, _The + first man God made was named_ Adam, _& God made a Covenant + with him, Do and live, thou and thy Children; if thou do not + thou must die, thou and thy Children_: And we are Children of + _Adam_ poor sinners, therefore we all have sinned, for we have + broke Gods Covenant, therefore evil is my heart, therefore + God is very angry with me, we sin against him every day; but + this great mercy God hath given us, he hath given us his only + Son, and promiseth, That whosoever beleeveth in Christ shall + be saved: for Christ hath dyed for us in our stead, for our + sins, and he hath done for us all the words of God, for I can + do no good act, only Christ can, and only Christ hath done all + for us; Christ hath deserved pardon for us, and risen again, + he hath ascended to God, and doth ever pray for us; therefore + all Beleevers Souls shall goe to Heaven to Christ. But when I + heard that word of Christ, Christ said _Repent and Beleeve_, + and Christ seeth _who Repenteth_, then I said, dark and weak + is my Soul, and I am one in darkness, I am a very sinful man, + and now I pray to Christ for life. Hearing you teach that Word + that the Scribes and Pharisees said _Why do thy Disciples break + the Tradition of the Fathers_? Christ answered, _Why do you + make void the Commandments of God?_ Then my heart feared that + I do so, when I teach the Indians, because I cannot teach them + right, and thereby make the word of God vain. Again, Christ + said _If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the + ditch_; Therefore I feared that I am one blind, and when I + teach other Indians I shal caus them to fall into the ditch. + This is the love of God to me, that he giveth me all mercy in + this world, and for them al I am thankfull; but I confess I + deserve Hell; I cannot deliver my self, but I give my Soul and + my Flesh to Christ, and I trust my soul with him for he is my + Redeemer, and I desire to call upon him while I live. + + This was his Confession which ended, Mr. _Allin_ further + demanded of him this Question, How he found his heart, now in + the matter of Repentance? + + His answer was; I am ashamed of all my sins, my heart is broken + for them and melteth in me, I am angry with my self for my + sins, and I pray to Christ to take away my sins, and I desire + that they may be pardoned. + + But it was desired that further Question might be forborn, lest + time would be wanting to here them all speak.” + +The following is the Confession of Waban, (or the wind,) the man in +whose wigwam Mr. Eliot preached to the Indians in the beginning of his +ministry among them, and who, from Mr. Eliot’s text, “Prophesy unto the +wind,” &c., supposed that the message of God was specially directed to +himself. + + +CONFESSION OF WABAN. + + “Before I heard of God, and before the English came into this + Country, many evil things my heart did work, many thoughts I + had in my heart; I wished for riches, I wished to be a witch, + I wished to be a Sachem; and many such other evils were in my + heart: Then when the English came, still my heart did the same + things; when the English taught me of God (I coming to their + Houses) I would go out of their doors, and many years I knew + nothing; when the English taught me I was angry with them: + But a little while agoe after the great sikness, I considered + what the English do; and I had some desire to do as they + do; and after that I began to work as they work; and then I + wondered how the English come to be so strong to labor; then + I thought I shall quickly die, and I feared lest I should die + before I prayed to God; then I thought, if I prayed to God in + our Language, whether could God understand my prayers in our + Language; therefore I did ask Mr. _Jackson_, and Mr. _Mahu_, + If God understood prayers in our Language? They answered me + God doth understand all Languages in the World. But I do not + know how to confess, and little do I know of Christ; I fear I + shall not beleeve a great while, and very slowly; I do not know + what grace is in my heart, there is but little good in me; but + this I know, That Christ hath kept all Gods Commandements for + us, and that Christ doth know all our hearts; and now I desire + to repent of all my sins: I neither have done, nor can do the + Commandements of the Lord, but I am ashamed of all I do, and + I do repent of all my sins, even of all that I do know of: I + desire that I may be converted from all my sins, and that I + might beleeve in Christ, and I desire him; I dislike my sins, + yet I do not truly pray to God in my heart: no matter for good + words, all is the true heart; and this day I do not so much + desire good words, as throughly to open my heart: I confess I + can do nothing, but deserve damnation; only Christ can help me + and do for me. But I have nothing to say for my self that is + good; I judg that I am a sinner, and cannot repent, but Christ + hath deserved pardon for us.” + + This Confession being not so satisfactory as was desired, Mr. + _Wilson_ testified, that he spake these latter expressions with + tears, which I observed not, because I attended to writing; but + I gave this testimony of him, That his conversation was without + offence to the English, so far as I knew, and among the Indians + it was exemplar: his gift is not so much in expressing himself + this way, but in other respects useful and eminent; it being + demanded in what respects, I answered to this purpose, That his + gift lay in Ruling, Judging of Cases, wherein he is patient, + constant, and prudent, insomuch that he is much respected + among them, for they have chosen him a Ruler of Fifty, and he + Ruleth well according to his measure. It was further said, they + thought he had been a great drawer on to Religion; I replyed, + so he was in his way, and did prevail with many; and so it + rested. + + +“CONFESSION OF WILLIAM, OF SUDBURY. + + I confess that before I prayed, I committed all manner of + sins, and served many gods: when the English came first, I + going to their houses, they spake to me of your God, but when I + heard of God, my heart hated it; but when they said the Devil + was my god, I was angry, because I was proud: when I came to + their houses I hated to hear of God, I loved lust in my own + house and not God, I loved to pray to many gods. Five years + ago, I going to English houses, and they speaking of God, I did + a little like of it, yet when I went again to my own house, + I did all manner of sins, and in my heart I did act all sins + though I would not be seen by man. Then going to your house, I + more desired to hear of God; and my heart said, I will pray to + God so long as I live: then I went to the Minister Mr. _Browns_ + house, and told him I would pray as long as I lived: but he + said I did not say it from my heart, and I beleeve it. When + _Waban_ spake to me that I should pray to God, I did so. But I + had greatly sinned against God, and had not beleeved the Word + but was proud: but then I was angry with my self, and loathed + my self, and thought God will not forgive me my sins. For when + I had been abroad in the woods I would be very angry, and would + lye unto men, and I could not find the way how to be a good + man: then I beleeved your teaching, That when good men die, the + Angels carry their souls to God; but evil men dying, they go to + Hell, and perish for ever. I thought this a true saying, and + I promised to God, to pray to God as long as I live. I had a + little grief in my heart five years ago for my sins: but many + were my prides; sometime I was angry with my self, and pityed + my self; but I thought God would not pardon such a proud heart + as mine is: I beleeve that Christ would have me to forsake my + anger; I beleeve that Christ hath redeemed us, and I am glad to + hear those words of God; and I desire that I might do al the + good waies of God, and that I might truly pray unto God: I do + now want Graces, and these Christ only teacheth us, and only + Christ hath wrought our redemption, and he procureth our pardon + for all our sins; and I beleeve that when beleevers dy, Gods + Angels carry them to Heaven; but I want faith to beleeve the + Word of God, and to open my Eyes, and to help me to cast away + all sins; and Christ hath deserved for me eternall life: I have + deserved nothing my self: Christ hath deserved, all, and giveth + me faith to beleeve it.” + + +“CONFESSION OF MONEQUASSUN, THE SCHOOLMASTER. + + I Confess my sorrow for all my sins against God, and + before men: When I first heard instruction, I beleeved not, + but laughed at it, and scorned praying to God; afterward, + when we were taught at _Cohannet_ (that is the place where + he lived) I still hated praying, and I did think of running + away, because I cared not for praying to God; but afterwards, + because I loved to dwell at that place, I would not leave the + place, and therfore I thought I will pray to God, because I + would still stay at that place, therefore I prayed not for the + love of God, but for love of the place I lived in; after that I + desired a little to learn the Catechisme on the Lecture daies, + and I did learn the ten Commandements, and after that, all + the points in the Catechisme; yet afterwards I cast them all + away again, then was my heart filled with folly, and my sins + great sins, afterwards by hearing, I began to fear, because of + my many sins, lest the wise men should come to know them, and + punish me for them; and then again I thought of running away + because of my many sins: But after that I thought I would pray + rightly to God, and cast away my sins; then I saw my hypocricy, + because I did ask some questions, but did not do that which + I knew: afterward I considered of my question, and thought I + would pray to God, and would consider of some other Question, + and I asked this Question, _How should I get Wisdom?_ and the + Answer to it did a little turn my heart from sin, to seek after + God; and I then considered that the Word of God was good; then + I prayed to God because of the Word of God. The next Lecture + day you taught that word of God, _If any man lack Wisdom, let + him ask it of God, who giveth freely to them that ask him, and + upbraideth no man_, _James_, 1:5. Then again a little my heart + was turned after God, the Word also said, _Repent, mourn, and + beleeve in Jesus Christ_: this also helped me on. Then you + taught, _That he that beleeveth not Christ, and repenteth not + of sin, they are foolish and wicked; and because they beleeve + not, they shall perish_: then I thought my self a fool, because + I beleeved not Christ, but sinned every day, and after I heard + the Word greatly broke the Word. But afterward I heard this + promise of God, _Who ever repenteth and beleeveth in Christ, + God will forgive him all his sins, he shall not perish_; then I + thought, that as yet, I do not repent, and beleeve in Christ: + then I prayed to God, because of this his Promise; and then + I prayed to God, for God and for Christ his sake: after that + again I did a little break the Word of Christ. And then I + heard some other words of God, which shewed me my sins, and + my breakings of Gods word; and sometimes I thought God and + Christ would forgive me, because of the promise to them that + beleeve in Christ, and repent of sin, I thought I did that + which God spake in the Promise. Then being called to confess, + to prepare to make a Church at _Natick_, I loved _Cohannet_; + but after hearing this instruction, _That we should not only be + Hearers, but Doers of the Word_, then my heart did fear. And + afterward hearing that in _Matthew_, Christ saw two brethren + mending their Nets, he said, _Follow me and I will make you + Fishers of men_, presently they followed Christ; and when I + heard this, I feared, because I was not willing to follow + Christ to _Natick_; they followed Christ at his Word, but I + did not, for now Christ saith to us, _follow Me_: then I was + much troubled, and considered of this Word of God. Afterward I + heard another word, the blind men cried after Christ and said, + _Have mercy on us thou Son of David_, but after they came to + Christ he called them, and asked them, _What shall I do for + you?_ they said, _Lord open our eyes_; then Christ had pity on + them, and opened their eyes, and they followed Christ; when I + heard this, my heart was troubled, then I prayed to God and + Christ, to open mine eyes, and if Christ open my eyes, then + I shall rejoyce to follow Christ: then I considered of both + these Scriptures, and I a little saw that I must follow Christ. + And now my heart desireth to make confession of what I know + of God, and of my self, and of Christ: I beleeve that there + is only one God, and that he made and ruleth all the World, + and that he the Lord, giveth us al good things: I know that + God giveth every day all good mercies, life, and health, and + all; I have not one good thing, but God it is that giveth it + me, I beleeve that God at first made man like God, holy, wise, + righteous; but the first man sinned, for God promised him, _If + thou do my Commandements, thou shalt live, and thy Children; + but if thou sin, thou shalt die, thou and thy children_; this + Covenant God made with the first man. But the first man did + not do the Commandements of God he did break Gods Word, he + beleeved Satan; and now I am full of sin, because the first + man brought sin; dayly I am full of sin in my heart: I do not + dayly rejoyce in Repentance, because Satan worketh dayly in my + heart, and opposeth Repentance, and all good Works; day and + night my heart is full of sin. I beleeve that Jesus Christ was + born of the _Virgin Mary_; God promised her she should bear + a Son, and his Name should be _JESUS_, because he shall + deliver his people from their sins: And when Christ came to + preach, he said, _Repent, because the Kingdom of Heaven is at + hand_; again Christ taught, _Except ye repent and become as a + little child, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven_; + therefore humble your selves like one of these little children, + and great shall be your Kingdom in Heaven. Again Christ said, + _Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden with sin, + and I will give you rest: take up my Cross and Yoak, learn of + me for I am meek, and ye shall find rest to your souls, for my + yoak is easie and burden light_: these are the Words of Christ + and I know Christ he is good, but my works are evil: Christ his + words are good, but I am not humble; but if we be humble and + beleeving in Christ, he pardons all our sins. I now desire to + beleeve in Jesus Christ, because of the word of Christ, that + I may be converted and become as a little Child. I confess my + sins before God, and before Jesus Christ this day; now I desire + all my sins may be pardoned; I now desire repentance in my + heart, and ever to beleeve in Christ; now I lift up my heart to + Christ, and trust him with it, because I beleeve Christ died + for us, for all our sins, and deserved for us eternal life in + Heaven, and deserved pardon for all our sins. And now I give + my soul to Christ because he hath redeemed: I do greatly love, + and like repentance in my heart, and I love to beleeve in Jesus + Christ, and my heart is broken by repentance: al these things + I do like wel of, that they may be in my heart, but because + Christ hath all these to give, I ask them of him that he may + give me repentance, and faith in Christ, and therefore I pray + and beseech Christ dayly for repentance and faith; and other + good waies I beg of Christ dayly to give me: and I pray to + Christ for al these gifts and graces to put them in my heart: + and now I greatly thank Christ for all these good gifts which + he hath given me. I know not any thing, nor can do any thing + that is a good work: even my heart is dark dayly in what I + should do, and my soul dyeth because of my sins, and therefore + I give my soul to Christ, because my soul is dead in sin, and + dayly doth commit sin; in my heart I sin, and all the members + of my body are sinful. I beleeve Jesus Christ is ascended to + Heaven through the clouds, and he will come again from Heaven: + Many saw Christ go up to Heaven, and the Angels said, even + so he will come again to judg all the world; and therefore + I beleeve Gods promise, That all men shall rise again when + Christ cometh again, then all shall rise, and all their souls + comes again because Christ is trusted with them, and keeps + their souls, therefore I desire my sins may be pardoned; and I + beleeve in Christ; and ever so long as I live, I will pray to + God, and do all the good waies he commandeth.” + + +“CONFESSIONS OF ROBIN SPEENE. + + I was ashamed because you taught to pray to God, and I did not + take it up; I see God is angry with me for all my sins, and + he hath afflicted me by the death of three of my children, + and I fear God is still angry, because great are my sins, and + I fear lest my children be not gone to Heaven, because I am + a great sinner, yet one of my children prayed to God before + it died, and therefore my heart rejoyceth in that. I remember + my Pawwawing [for he was a _Pawwaw_] my lust, my gaming, and + all my sins; I know them by the Commandements of God, and God + heareth and seeth them all; I cannot deliver my self from sin, + therefore I do need Christ, because of all my sins, I desire + pardon, and I beleeve that God calls all to come to Christ, and + that he delivereth us from sin.” + +“_His Second Confession._ + + I have found out one word more: great are my sins, and I do + not know how to repent, nor do I know the evil of my sins; only + this one word, now I confess I want Christ, this day 1 want + him; I do not truly beleeve nor repent: I see my sin, and I + need Christ, but I desire now to be redeemed: and I now ask you + this Question _What is Redemption?_ I answered him, by shewing + him our estate by Nature, and desert, the price which Christ + paid for us, and how it is to be applied to every particular + person; which done, he proceeded in his confession thus: I yet + cannot tell whether God hath pardoned my sins, I forget the + word of God; but this I desire, that my sins may be pardoned, + but my heart is foolish, and a great part of the Word stayeth + not in my heart strongly. I desire to cast all my sins out of + my heart: but I remember my sins, that I may get them pardoned, + I think God doth not yet hear my prayers in this, because I + cannot keep the Word of God, only I desire to hear the Word, + and that God would hear me.” + +“_His Third Confession._ + + One word more I cal to mind, Great is my sin! this saith my + heart, I have found this sin, when I first heard you teach, + that all the world from the rising to the sitting Sun should + pray to God, I then wondered at it, and thought, I being a + great sinner, how shal I pray to God; and when I saw many come + to the Meeting, I wondred at it: But now I do not wonder at + that work of God, and therefore I think that I do now greatly + sin: and now I desire again to wonder at Gods Works, and I + desire to rejoyce in Gods good waies. Now I am much ashamed, + and fear because I have deserved eternal wrath by my sins: + my heart is evil, my heart doth contrary to God: and this I + desire, that I may be redeemed, for I cannot help my self, + but only Jesus Christ hath done al this for me, and I deserve + no good, but I beleeve Christ hath deserved all for us: and + I give my self unto Christ, that he may save me, because he + knoweth eternal life, and can give it; I cannot give it to my + self, therefore I need Jesus Christ, my heart is full of evil + thoughts; and Christ only can keep my soul from them, because + he hath paid for my deliverance from them.” + + +“CONFESSION OF ANTONY. + + Another who made his Confession is named _Antony_, upon whom + the Lord was pleased the last Winter to lay an heavy stroke; + for he and another Indian being at work sawing of Board, and + finishing the Peece, they laid it so short, and the Rowl not so + stedfast, insomuch that this man being in the Pit directing to + lay the Piece, and the other above ordering thereof, it slipped + down into the Pit upon this mans head, brake his neather Chap + in two, and cracked his Skull, insomuch that he was taken up + half dead, and almost strangled with blood; and being the last + day of the week at night I had no word until the Sabbath day, + then I presently sent a Chyrurgion, who took a discreet order + with him; and God so blessed his indeavors, as that he is now + well again, blessed be the Lord: and whereas I did fear that + such a blow in their Labor might discourage them from Labor, + I have found it by Gods blessing otherwise; yea this man hath + performed a great part of the sawing of our Meeting-House, and + is now sawing upon the School-house, and his recovery is an + establishment of them to go on; yea, and God blessed this blow, + to help on the Work of Grace in his soul; as you shall see in + his Confession, which followeth. + + Before I prayed to God I alwaies committed sin, but I do + not know all my sins, I know but a little of the sins I have + committed, therefore I thought I could not pray to God, because + I knew not al my sins before I prayed to God, and since I heard + of praying to God: formerly when the English did bid me pray + unto God I hated it, and would go out of their houses, when + they spake of such things to me. I had no delight to hear any + thing of Gods Word, but in every thing I sinned; in my speeches + I sinned, and every day I broke the Commands of God. After + I heard of praying to God, that _Waban_ and my two brothers + prayed to God, yet then I desired it not, but did think of + running away; yet I feared if I did run away some wicked men + would kill me, but I did not fear God. After when you said unto + me, pray, my heart thought, I will pray; yet again I thought, + I cannot pray with my heart, and no matter for praying with + words only: but when I did pray, I saw more of my sins; yet I + did but only see them, I could not be aware of them, but still + I did commit them: and after I prayed to God, I was still full + of lust, and then a little I feared. Sometimes I was sick, and + then I thought God was angry, and then I saw that I did commit + all sins: then one of my brothers died, and then my heart was + broken, and after him another friend, and again my heart was + broken: and yet after all this I broke my praying to God, and + put away God, and then I thought I shall never pray to God: but + after this I was afraid of the Lord, because I alwaies broke + my praying to God and then my heart said, God doth not hear my + prayer. When I was sick, and recovered again, I thought then + that God was merciful unto me. Hearing that word of God, _If + you hear the Word of God, and be forgetful hearers, you sin + against God_; then I thought God will not pardon such a sinner + as I, who dayly did so, and broke my praying to God. When I + heard the Commandements, I desired to learn them, and other + points of Catechism, but my desires were but small, and I soon + lost it, because I did not desire to beleeve: then sometimes + I feared Gods anger because of al my sins; I heard the Word + and understood only this word, _All you that hear this day, it + may be you shall quickly die_, and then I quickly saw that God + was very angry with me. Then God brake my head, and by that I + saw Gods anger; and then I thought that the true God in Heaven + is angry with me for my sin, even for al my sins, which every + day I live, I do. When I was almost dead, some body bid me now + beleeve, because it may be I shal quickly die, and I thought I + did beleeve, but I did not know right beleeving in Christ: then + I prayed unto God to restore my health. Then I beleeved that + word, _That we must shortly appear before Jesus Christ_; then + I did greatly fear lest if I beleeved not, I should perish for + ever. When I was neer death, I prayed unto God, _Oh Lord give + me life, and I will pray to God so long as I live_, and I said, + _I will give my self, soul, and body to Christ_: after this, + God gave me health, and then I thought, truly, God in Heaven is + merciful; then I much grieved, that I knew so little of Gods + Word. And now sometimes I am angry, and then I fear because I + know God seeth it; and I fear, because I promised God when I + was almost dead, that if he giveth me life, I will pray so long + as I live; I fear lest I should break this promise to God. Now + I desire the pardon of all my sins, and I beg faith in Christ, + and I desire to live unto God, so long as I live; I cannot + myself get pardon, but I dayly commit sin, and break Gods Word, + but I look to Christ for pardon.” + + +“CONFESSION OF EPHRAIM. + + All the daies I have lived, I have been in a poor foolish + condition, I cannot tell all my sins, all my great sins, I do + not see them. When I first heard of praying to God, I could + not sleep quietly, I was so troubled, ever I thought I would + forsake the place because of praying to God, my life hath been + like as if I had been a mad man. Last yeer I thought I would + leave all my sins, yet I see I do not leave off sinning to this + day; I now think I shall never be able to forsake my sins. I + think sometimes the Word of God is false, yet I see there is + no giving over that I might follow sin, I must pray to God; I + do not truly in my heart repent, and I think that God wil not + forgive me my sins: every day my heart sinneth, and how will + Christ forgive such an one? I pray but outwardly with my mouth, + not with my heart; I cannot of my self obtain pardon of my + sins: I cannot tell all the sins that I have done if I should + tell you an whol day together: I do every morning desire that + my sins may be pardoned by Jesus Christ; this my heart saith, + but yet I fear I cannot forsake my sins, because I cannot see + all my sins: I hear, That if we repent and beleeve in Christ, + all our sins shall be pardoned, therefore I desire to leave off + my sins. + + This poor Publican was the last which made his Confession before + I read them unto the Elders, and the last of them I shall now + publish. I will shut up these Confessions with the Confession + (if I may so call it) or rather with the Expression, and + manifestation of faith, by two little Infants, of two yeers + old, and upward, under three yeers of age when they died and + departed out of this world. + + _The Story is this_, + + This Spring, in the beginning of the yeer, 1652, the Lord was + pleased to afflict sundry of our praying Indians with that + grievous disease of the Bloody-Flux, whereof some with great + torments in their bowels died; among which were two little + Children of the age above-said, and at that time both in one + house, being together taken with that disease. The first of + these Children in the extremities of its torments, lay crying + to God in these words, _God and Jesus Christ, God and Jesus + Christ help me_; and when they gave it any thing to eat, it + would greedily take it (as it is usual at the approach of + death) but first it would cry to God, _Oh God and Jesus Christ, + bless it_, and then it would take it: and in this manner it lay + calling upon God and Jesus Christ untill it died: The mother of + this Child also died of that disease, at that time. The Father + of the Child told me this story, with great wonderment at the + grace of God, in teaching his Child so to call upon God. The + name of the Father is _Nishohkou_, whose Confession you have + before. + + Three or four daies after, another Child in the same house, + sick of the same disease, was (by a divine hand doubtless) + sensible of the approach of death, (an unusual thing at that + age) and called to its Father, and said, _Father, I am going + to God_, several times repeating it, _I am going to God_. The + mother (as other mothers use to do) had made for the Child a + little Basket, a little Spoon, and a little Tray: these things + the Child was wont to be greatly delighted withal (as all + Children will) therefore in the extremity of the torments, + they set those things before it, a little to divert the mind, + and cheer the spirit: but now, the child takes the Basket, and + puts it away, and said, _I will leave my Basket behind me, for + I am going to God, I will leave my Spoon and Tray behind me_ + (putting them away) _for I am going to God_: and with these + kind of expressions, the same night finished its course, and + died. + + The Father of this child is named _Robin Speen_, whose + Confessions you have before, and in one of them he maketh + mention of this child that died in Faith. When he related this + story to me, he said, He could not tell whether the sorrow for + the death of his child, or the joy for its faith were greater, + when it died. + + These Examples are a testimony, That they teach their children + the knowledg and fear of God, whom they now call upon; and also + that the Spirit of God co-worketh with their instructions, who + teacheth by man, more than man is able to do.” + + Mr. Eliot says, ‘I have now finished all that I purpose to + publish at this time; the Lord give them Acceptance in the + hearts of his Saints, to engage them the more to pray for them; + and Oh! that their judgings of themselves, and breathings after + Christ, might move others (that have more means than they + have, but as yet regard it not) to do the like, and much more + abundantly.’ + +A meeting of the Elders of the Churches was requested by Mr. Eliot, as +before stated, to give advice in view of these Confessions, and upon +further personal examination of some of the Indians, as to the next step +to be taken in organizing the Indian Church. But Mr. E. says, + + “There fell out a very great discouragement a little before + the time, which might have been a scandall unto them, and I + doubt not but Satan intended it so; but the Lord improved it to + stir up faith and Prayer, and so turned it another way: Thus it + was. Three of the unsound sort of such as are among them that + pray unto God, who are hemmed in by Relations, and other means, + to doe that which their hearts love not, and whose Vices Satan + improveth to scandalize and reproach the better sort withall; + while many, and some good people are too ready to say they + are all alike. I say three of them had gotten severall quarts + of strong water, (which sundry out of a greedy desire of a + little gaine, are too ready to sell unto them, to the offence + and grief of the better sort of _Indians_, and of the godly + English too)[31] and with these Liquors, did not onely make + themselves drunk, but got a Child of eleven years of age, the + Son of _Toteswamp_, whom his Father had sent for a little Corne + and Fish to that place near _Watertowne_ where they were. Unto + this Child they first gave too spoonfuls of Strong-water, which + was more then his head could bear; and another of them put a + Bottle, or such like Vessel to his mouth, and caused him to + drink till he was very drunk; and then one of them domineered, + and said, _Now we will see whether your Father will punish us + for drunkennesse_ (for he is a Ruler among them) _seeing you + are drunk with us for company_; and in this case lay the Child + abroad all night. They also fought, and had been severall times + Punished formerly for Drunkennesse. + + When _Toteswamp_ heard of this, it was a great shame and + breaking of heart unto him, and he knew not what to doe. The + rest of the Rulers with him considered of the matter, they + found a complication of many sins together. + + 1 The sin of Drunkennesse, and that after many former + Punishments for the same. + + 2 A willful making of the Child drunk, and exposing him to + danger also. + + 3 A degree of reproaching the Rulers. + + 4 Fighting. + + Word was brought to me of it, a little before I took Horse to + goe to _Natick_ to keep the Sabbath with them, being about ten + dayes before the appointed Meeting. The Tidings sunk my spirit + extreamly, I did judge it to be the greatest frowne of God that + ever I met withall in the work, I could read nothing in it but + displeasure, I began to doubt about our intended work: I knew + not what to doe, the blacknesse of the sins, and the Persons + reflected on, made my very heart faile me: For one of the + offendors (though least in the offence) was he that hath been + my Interpreter, whom I have used in Translating a good part of + the Holy Scriptures; and in that respect I saw much of Satans + venome, and in God I saw displeasure. For this and some other + acts of Apostacy at this time, I had thoughts of casting him + off from that work, yet now the Lord hath found a way to humble + him. But his Apostacy at this time was a great Triall, and I + did lay him by for that day of our Examination, I used another + in his room. Thus Satan aimed at me in this their miscarrying; + and _Toteswamp_ is a Principall man in the work, as you shall + have occasion to see anon God-willing. + + By some occasion our Ruling Elder and I being together, I + opened the case unto him, and the Lord guided him to speak some + gracious words of encouragement unto me, by which the Lord did + relieve my spirit; and so I committed the matter and issue unto + the Lord, to doe what pleased him, and in so doing my soul was + quiet in the Lord. I went on my journey being the 6 day of the + week; when I came at _Natick_, the Rulers had then a Court + about it. Soon after I came there, the Rulers came to me with + a Question about this matter, they related the whole businesse + unto me, with much trouble and grief. + + Then _Toteswamp_ spake to this purpose, _I am greatly + grieved about these things, and now God tryeth me whether I + love Christ or my Child best. They say, They will try me; but + I say, God will try me. Christ saith, He that loveth father, + or mother, or wife, or Child, better than me, is not worthy of + me. Christ saith, I must correct my Child, if I should refuse + to doe that, I should not love Christ. God bid Abraham kill + his Son, Abraham loved God, and therefore he would have done + it, had not God with-held him. God saith to me, onely punish + your Child, and how can I love God, if I should refuse to doe + that?_ These things he spake in more words, and much affection, + and not with dry eyes: Nor could I refraine from teares to + hear him. When it was said, The Child was not so guilty of + the sin, as those that made him drunk; he said, _That he was + guilty of sin, in that he feared not sin, and in that he did + not believe his counsells that he had often given him, to take + heed of evill company; but he had believed Satan and sinners + more then him, therefore he needed to be punished._ After other + such like discourse, the Rulers left me, and went unto their + businesse, which they were about before I came, which they did + bring unto this conclusion, and judgement, They judged the + three men to sit in the stocks a good space of time, and thence + to be brought to the whipping-Post, & have each of them twenty + lashes. The boy to be put in the stocks a little while, and the + next day his father was to whip him in the School, before the + Children there; all which Judgement was executed. When they + came to be whipt, the Constable fetcht them one after another + to the Tree (which they make use of instead of a Post) where + they all received their Punishments: which done, the Rulers + spake thus, one of them said, _The Punishments for sin are + the Commandements of God, and the worke of God, and his end + was, to doe them good, and bring them to repentance._ And upon + that ground he did in more words exhort them to repentance, + and amendment of life. When he had done, another spake unto + them to this purpose, _You are taught in Catechisme, that the + wages of sin are all miseries and calamities in this life, and + also death and eternall damnation in hell. Now you feele some + smart as the fruit of your sin, and this is to bring you to + repentance, that so you may escape the rest._ And in more words + he exhorted them to repentance. When he had done, another spake + to this purpose, _Heare all yee people_ (turning himselfe to + the People who stood round about, I think not lesse then two + hundred, small and great) _this is the Commandement of the + Lord, that thus it should be done unto sinners; and therefore + let all take warning by this, that you commit not such sins, + least you incur these Punishments_. And with more words he + exhorted the People. Others of the Rulers spake also, but some + things spoken I understood not, and some things slipt from me: + But these which I have related remained with me. + + When I returned to _Roxbury_, I related these things to our + Elder, to whom I had before related the sin, and my grief: who + was much affected to hear it, and magnified God. He said also, + That their sin was but a Transient act, which had no Rule, and + would vanish. But these Judgements were an ordinance of God, + and would remaine, and doe more good every way, then their sin + could doe hurt, telling me what cause I had to be thankfull for + such an issue: Which I therefore relate, because the Lord did + speak to my heart, in this exigent, by his words.” + +This difficulty being thus settled, the time came for the meeting of the +Elders. Mr. Eliot observes, + + “When the assembly was met for Examination of the _Indians_, + and ordered, I declared the end and Reason of this Meeting, + and therefore declared, That any one, in due order, might have + liberty to propound any Questions for their satisfaction. + Likewise, I requested the Assembly, That if any one doubted + of the Interpretations that should be given of their answers, + that they would Propound their doubt, and they should have + the words scanned and tryed by the Interpreters, that so all + things may be done most clearly. For my desire was to be + true to Christ, to their soules, and to the Churches: And + the trying out of any of their Answers by the Interpreters, + would tend to the satisfaction of such as doubt, as it fell + out in one Answer which they gave; the Question was, _How + they knew the Scriptures to be the word of God?_ The finall + Answer was, Because they did find that it did change their + hearts, and wrought in them wisedome and humility. This Answer + being Interpreted to the Assembly, my Brother _Mahu_ doubted, + especially of the word [_Hohpoóonk_] signifying _Humility_, it + was scanned by the Interpreters, and proved to be right, and + he rested satisfied therein. I was purposed my selfe to have + written the Elders Questions, and the _Indians_ Answers, but + I was so imployed in propounding to the _Indians_ the Elders + Questions, and in returning the _Indians_ Answers, as that + it was not possible for me to write unlesse I had caused the + Assembly to stay upon it, which had not been fitting; therefore + seeing Mr. _Walton_ writing, I did request him to write the + Questions and Answers, and help me with a Copy of them, which + I thank him, he did, a Copy whereof I herewith send to be + inserted in this place, on which, this only I will animadvert, + That the Elders in wisdome thought it not fit to ask them in + Catechisticall method strictly, in which way Children might + Answer. But that they might try whether they understood + what they said, they traversed up and downe in Questions of + Religion, as here you see. + + POSTSCRIPT. + + Let the Reader take notice, That these questions were not + propounded all to one man, but to sundry, which is the reason + that sometime the same Questions are propounded againe and + againe. Also the number Examined were about eight, namely, + so many as might be first called forth to enter into + Church-Covenant, if the Lord give opportunity.” + +We have a Catechism, entitled “The Examination of the Indians at Roxbury, +the 13th day of the 4th month, 1654.” The following are some of the +questions and answers. + + _Q._ Have not some Indians many Gods? + + _A._ They have many Gods. + + _Q._ How doe you know these Gods are no Gods. + + _A._ Before the English came we knew not but that they were + Gods, but since they came we know they are no Gods. + + _Q._ How doe you know the word of God is Gods word? + + _A._ I believe the word that you teach us, was spoken of God. + + _Q._ Why doe you believe it? + + _A._ Therefore I believe it to be the word of God, because when + we learn it, it teacheth our hearts to be wise and humble. + + _Q._ Whether are not your sins, and the temptations of + _Hobbomak_ more strong since, then before you prayed to God? + + _A._ Before I prayed to God, I knew not what Satans temptations + were. + + _Q._ Doe you know now? + + _A._ Now I have heard what Satans temptations are. + + _Q._ What is a temptation of the Devill in your heart, doe you + understand what it is? + + _A._ Within my heart there are Hypocrisies, which doe not + appear without. + + _Q._ Whether doe not you find this a principall temptation + from the wickednesse of your heart, to drive you away from + Christ, and not to believe the gracious Promises in Jesus + Christ? Or whether when you find wickednesse in your heart, you + are not tempted that you cannot believe? + + _A._ My heart doth strongly desire to goe on in sin, but this + is a strong temptation, but Faith is the work of Jesus Christ. + + _Q._ What doe you believe about the immortality of the soule, + and resurrection of the body? doth the soule dye when the body + dyeth? + + _A._ I believe, when the body of a good man dyeth, the Angels + carry his soule to heaven, when a wicked man dyeth, the Devills + carry his soule to hell. + + _Q._ How long shall they be in that state? + + _A._ Untill Christ cometh to Judgement. + + _Q._ When Christ cometh to judge the world, what then shall + become of them? + + _A._ The dead bodies of all men shall rise againe. + + _Q._ Whether shall they ever dye any more? + + _A._ Good men shall never dye any more. + + _Q._ Whether doe you believe that these very bodies of ours + shall rise againe? + + _A._ This body which rots in the earth, this very body, God + maketh it new. + + _Q._ Who is Jesus Christ? + + _A._ Jesus Christ is the Son of God, yet borne man, and so + both God and man. + + _Q._ Why was Christ Jesus a man? + + _A._ That he might dye for us. + + _Q._ Why is Christ Jesus God? + + _A._ That his death might be of great value. + + _Q._ Why doe you say, Christ Jesus was a man that he might dye, + doe onely men dye? + + _A._ He dyed for our sins. + + _Q._ What reason or justice is there, that Christ should dye + for our sins? + + _A._ God made all the world, and man sinned, therefore it was + necessary Christ should dye to carry men up to Heaven. God hath + given unto us his Son Jesus Christ, because of our sins. + +The Question being put to another for further Answer, his Answer was, +_That God so loved the world, that he gave his onely begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life_. + + _Q._ When you heare that _Adam_ by his sin deserved eternall + death, and when you hear of the grace of God sending Jesus to + save you, which of these break your heart most? + + _A._ Pardon of sin goeth deepest. + +With regard to the formation of the church, one writer says; + + “This great and solemne work of calling up these poor Indians + unto that Gospel light and beauty of visible Church-estate, + having now passed through a second Tryall: In the former + whereof, they expressed what experience they had found of + Gods grace in their hearts, turning them from dead works, to + seek after the living God, and salvation in our Saviour Jesus + Christ. In this second they have in some measure declared how + far the Lord hath let in the light of the good knowledge of God + into their soules, and what tast they have of the Principles + of Religion, and doctrine of salvation. Now the Question + remaineth, _What shall we further doe? And when shall they + enjoy the Ordinances of Jesus Christ in Church-estate?_ + + “The work is very solemne, and the Question needeth a solemne + Answer. It is a great matter to betrust those with the holy + priviledges of Gods house, upon which the name of Christ is so + much called, who have so little knowledge and experience in + the wayes of Christ, so newly come out of that great depth of + darknesse, and wild course of life; in such danger of polluting + and defiling the name of Christ among their barbarous Friends + and Countrey-men; and under so many doubts and jealousies of + many people; and having not yet stood in the wayes of Christ + so long, as to give sufficient proof and experience of their + stedfastnesse in their new begun profession. Being also the + first Church gathered among them, it is like to be a pattern + and president of after proceedings, even unto following + Generations. Hence it is very needfull that this proceeding + of ours at first, be with all care and wearinesse guided, for + the most effectuall advancement of the holinesse and honour of + Jesus Christ among them. + + “Upon such like grounds as these, though I and some others + know more of the sincerity of some of them, than others doe, + and are better satisfied with them: Yet because I may be in + a temptation on that hand, I am well content to make slow + hast in this matter, remembring that word of God, _Lay hands + suddenly on no man_. Gods works among men doe usually goe + on slowly, and he that goeth slowly, doth usually goe most + surely, especially when he goeth by counsell. _Sat cito si + sat bene_,[32] the greater proof we have of them, the better + approbation they may obtain at last. Besides, we having had + one publick meeting about them already this summer, it will be + difficult to compasse another, for we have many other great + occasions, which may hinder the same, and it is an hard matter + to get Interpreters together to attend such a work, they living + so remote. The dayes also will soon grow short, and the nights + cold, which will be an hindrance in the attendance unto the + accomplishment of that work, which will most fitly be done at + _Natick_. + + “But above all other Reasons this is greatest, that they + living in sundry Towns and places remote from each other, and + labourers few to take care of them, it is necessary that some + of themselves should be trained up, and peculiarly instructed, + unto whom the care of ruling and ordering of them in the + affaires of Gods house may be committed, in the absence of such + as look after their instruction. So that this is now the thing + we desire to attend, for the comfort of our little _Sister that + hath no breasts_, that such may be trained up, and prepared, + unto whom the charge of the rest may be committed in the Lord. + And upon this ground we make the slower hast to accomplish + this work among them. Mean while I hope the Commissioners + will afford some encouragement for the furtherance of the + instruction of some of the most godly and able among them, who + may be in a speciall manner helpfull unto the rest, in due + order and season. + + “And thus have I briefly set down our present state in respect + of our Ecclesiasticall proceedings. I beg the prayers of the + good people of the Lord, to be particularly present at the + Throne of Grace, in these matters, according as you have hereby + a particular Information how our condition is. And for me also, + who am the most unfit in humane reason for such a work as + this, but my soule desireth to depend and live upon the Lord + Jesus, and fetch all help, grace, mercy, assistance, and supply + from him. And herein I doe improve his faithfull Covenant and + Promises, and in particular, the Lord doth cause my soule to + live upon that word of his, _Psal._ 37:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, wherein + I have food, rayment, and all necessaries for my selfe and + children (whom I have dedicated unto the Lord, to serve him in + this work of his, if he will please to accept of them) and this + supply I live upon in these rich words of gracious Promise, + _verse_ 3. _Trust in the Lord, and doe good, dwell in the Land, + and verily thou shalt be fed._ + + “Herein also I find supply of grace to believe the conversion + of these poor Indians, & that not only in this present season, + in what I doe already see, but in the future also, further then + by mine eye or reason I can see. Which supply of grace, I live + upon in those words of his gracious Promise, which I apply + and improve in this particular respect, _verse_ 4. _Delight + thyselfe also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires + of thy heart_. + + “Herein also I find supply of grace to believe, that they shall + be in Gods season, which is the fittest, brought into Church + Estate; faith fetching this particular blessing out of the + rich Fountaine of those gracious words of Promise, _Commit thy + way unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to + passe_. + + “Herein also my soule is strengthened and quieted, to stay + upon the Lord, and to be supported against all suspitious + jealousies, hard speeches, and unkindnesses of men, touching + the sincerity and reality of this work, and about my carriage + of matters, and supply herein. Which grace my soule receiveth + by a particular improvement of that rich treasury of the + Promise in these words, _verse_ 6. _And he shall bring forth + thy righteousnesse as the light, and thy judgement as the noon + day._ And herein likewise I find supply of grace, to wait + patiently for the Lords time, when year after year, and time + after time, I meet with disappointments. Which grace I receive + from the commanding force of that gracious Promise, _verse_ 7. + _Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him, fret not thy + selfe_, either for one cause, or another. Thus I live, and thus + I labor, here I have supply, and here is my hope, I beg the + help of prayers, that I may still so live and labour in the + Lords work, and that I may so live and dye.” + +In 1670, the number of men and women in full communion at Natick, was +between forty and fifty, and more than three hundred and fifty had +renounced their savage practices and open sins, and gave heed to the +instructions of the Gospel. + +Their meetings were notified by the drum. In their assemblies they were +attentive and reverent. A native teacher commenced worship with prayer, +and the English Christians assisted in the business of instruction. +There, as at other times, and in other places among civilized people God +poured out his Spirit upon the young. Several cases of hopeful piety in +young children are mentioned. The most interesting of them have already +been given. + +Mr. Eliot having made a grammar of the Indian tongue, and a catechism, +was proceeding with his Indian Bible. In 1649, he said it was his earnest +wish to translate some parts of the Scriptures for the Indians. He +probably labored at this work, at intervals, for twelve years, and he was +at least forty-five years of age when he began it. + +It should be remembered that this work, unlike the same employment of our +foreign missionaries at their first arrival at new stations, was wholly +in addition to his labors as Pastor of another people,—the congregation +at Roxbury. It was of no direct use to him in his ministerial work, any +farther than investigation and study is always profitable to the mind. +It was a labor superadded to the cares and toil of his pastoral and +ministerial office. + +A man who has a taste for languages is generally repaid for the labor +of acquiring them, by the stores of learning which they contain. Cato +learned Greek at the age of eighty, and the literary world mention +it to his praise. But here is a man learning a language which has no +literature. No tragic or heroic muse had left her inspired strains in +it. No beautiful old ballads or legendary songs repaid his labor,—no +Canterbury Tales, or Children in the Wood, or Chevy Chase, or Fairy +Queen, hymns of devotion, nor martial songs; the language could only +whoop and powaw; the great word, gathering subjunctives and adjuncts into +itself, like a crowded wigwam, was savagely ignorant of the graces, or +the concise, vigorous expressions of some barbarous tongues, and Eliot’s +researches into it were like digging, as the Plymouth settlers did, into +the mounds for corn, and finding nothing but skulls. But nothing could +repress the ardor of his benevolent mind. He was determined that the +Indians should have the word of God in their own tongue, and the work +drew near to its accomplishment. + +But how could it ever be printed? His slender salary could not pay for +it; the planters could not subscribe an adequate sum. In a letter to +England in 1651, he says, with much sorrow, “I have no hope to see the +Bible printed in my days.” + +The Society for Propagating the Gospel came to his help.[33] In +September, 1661, the New Testament in the Indian tongue was published at +Cambridge. Three years after this, the Old Testament was added, and the +whole Bible, with a Catechism and the Psalms of David in metre, was thus +given to the Aborigines of this desert, in their own tongue, in forty +years after the settlement of the country. + +This was the first Bible printed on this Continent. It was printed at +Cambridge, by Samuel Green and Marmaduke Johnson. A copy handsomely +bound, was sent to King Charles II., and the Rev. Richard Baxter says of +it, “Such a work and fruit of a plantation was never before presented +unto a king.” Two hundred copies, in plain and strong leather, were +immediately put in circulation for the use of the Indians. An angel would +almost have exchanged his heavenly joy for the happiness of Eliot, when +he visited Natick, and saw the Bible in the hands of the natives. Like +old Jacob, strengthening himself upon his dying bed, he might then have +said, “I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord;” or, like Simeon, “Now, +Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen +thy salvation.” + +Douglass, in his History of America,[34] says, “Mr. Eliot with immense +labor translated and printed our Bible into Indian. It was done with a +good pious design, but it must be reckoned among the _otiosorum hominum +negotia_, (works of men of leisure). It was done in the Natick (Nipmuck) +language. Of the Naticks, at present, there are not twenty families +subsisting, and scarce any of these can read. _Cui bono?_” (To what +profit?) + +Those who know how far Mr. Eliot was from being a man of leisure, will +smile at the suggestion that the translation of the Bible into the Indian +tongue was the work of an idle amateur. The disappearance of the race for +whom this translation was designed, so unexpected, and indeed so contrary +to the fond hopes of our forefathers, is very far from showing the +futility of Mr. Eliot’s pious labor. Many of the Indians were made wise +unto eternal life by the translated Bible. The good which it accomplished +was more than an equivalent for the labor which it cost. + +Cotton Mather says, “Behold, ye Americans, the greatest honour that ever +you were partakers of. This Bible was printed here at our Cambridge, +and it is the only Bible that ever was printed in all America, from the +very foundation of the world. The whole translation he writ with but one +pen; which pen, had it not been lost, would have certainly deserved a +richer case than was bestowed upon that pen with which Holland writ his +translation of Plutarch.”[35] + +The New Testament was published first, and then the whole Bible, Primers, +Grammars, Psalters, Catechisms, The Practice of Piety, Baxter’s Call, +Shepard’s sincere Convert and Sound Believer, soon appeared in the Indian +tongue, from the pen of Mr. Eliot. + +By this time there were fourteen places of praying Indians under the +care of Mr. Eliot, and about eleven hundred souls who were apparently +converted. Natick, Stoughton, Grafton, Tewksbury, Hopkinton, Oxford, +Dudley, Woodstock (three villages), Uxbridge and Marlboro’, all had +communities of praying Indians. + +Mr. Bancroft, in his History of the United States,[36] says, “No pains +were spared to teach them to read and write, and in a short time a larger +proportion of the Massachusetts Indians could do so, than recently of +the inhabitants of Russia.” The Indians of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, +and Nantucket, amounting to about twenty-nine hundred, also were, by the +labors of the Mayhews and others, partly evangelized. Mr. Eliot says, in +1673, that there were six churches gathered among the Indians, one at +Natick, one at Grafton, one at Marshpee, two at Martha’s Vineyard, and +one at Nantucket. All these had religious teachers devoted exclusively to +them, except the church at Natick, of which Mr. Eliot says, “In modesty +they stand off, because they say that so long as I live, there is no +need.” They could not be prevailed upon to have another teacher even with +the advantages of his entire devotion to them, while Mr. Eliot was alive. + +Cotton Mather says,[37] “The number of preachers to the Indians +increases apace. At Martha’s Vineyard, the old Mr. Mayhew and several +of his sons, or grand-sons, have done very worthily for the souls of +the Indians; there were fifteen years ago by computation about fifteen +hundred souls of their ministry, upon that one island. In Connecticut, +the holy and acute Mr. Fitch has made noble essays towards the conversion +of the Indians; but I think the sinner he has to deal withal, being +an obstinate infidel, gives unhappy rumor as to the successes of his +ministry. And godly Mr. Pierson has, if I mistake not, deserved well +in that colony upon the same account. In Massachusetts we see at this +day the pious Mr. Gookin, the gracious Mr. Peter Thacher, the well +accomplished and industrious Mr. Grindal Rawson, all of them hard at +work, to turn these poor creatures from darkness to light, and from Satan +unto God. In Plymouth we have the most active Mr. Samuel Treat laying out +himself to save this generation, and there is one Mr. Tupper, who uses +his laudable endeavours for the instruction of them. + +“’Tis my relation to him[38] that causes me to defer unto the last place +the mention of Mr. John Cotton, who hath addressed the Indians in their +own language with some dexterity. He hired an Indian after the rate of +twelve pence per day, for fifty days, to teach him the Indian tongue; but +his knavish tutor having received his whole pay too soon, ran away before +twenty days were out; however, in this time he had profited so far that +he could quickly preach unto the natives.” + +Two Indians from Martha’s Vineyard were entered at Harvard College. +Their names were Joel and Caleb. Joel was lost on his voyage from Boston +to Nantucket just before taking his degree. Caleb was graduated, but soon +died of consumption at Charlestown. His name now stands on the College +Catalogue in this form: “1665, Caleb Cheesehahteaumuck, Indus.” He +composed a Latin and Greek Elegy on the death of an eminent minister, and +subscribed them, “Cheesehahteaumuck, Senior Sophista.” + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Disturbance of Missionary efforts. Philip’s war. Removal of + the Indians to Deer Isle. Return. Conclusion of the History + of Missionary efforts among the Indians of this neighborhood. + Reflections. + + +Civilization and the influence of the Gospel, however, had their limits. +The Narraganset Indians, situated between the Connecticut and Plymouth +Colonies, refused the Gospel, and the benevolent intentions of the +English. King Philip, the famous warrior of Mount Hope, (now Bristol) +whose name was terrible to our forefathers, scorned the doctrines of the +cross. Mr. Eliot once had an interview with him, explained the way of +salvation, and exhorted him to repent. The Indian chieftain rose, took +hold of Mr. Eliot’s button, and told him, that he cared no more for his +Gospel than he did for that button. + +The Indians under Philip were growing jealous of English encroachments +upon their hunting fields. Petty depredations were made by the Indians +upon the English settlements, then followed a summons to court, which, in +process of time, became exceedingly annoying to proud, untamed savages. +They had bartered their lands for English implements and toys; the tools +and the toys were gone, and the savage could not be satisfied to abide +by a paper, call it treaty, bond, or contract, on which he had scratched +his mark. He sighed for his old domains; the waves of civilization were +coming round him like a flood; his people were artfully crowded by the +English into narrow inlets between the settlements, that they might be +watched on all sides. + +King Philip was summoned to Court in 1674, for some offence committed by +his tribe. The informer was murdered by the angry savages. The murderers +were hanged by the English. The massacre of eight or nine of the English +at Swansey was the consequence. Philip wept when he heard that the blood +of a white man had been shed. The Colonists began to arm, and a universal +panic prevailed. The superstition of those days added much to the general +terror. Signs in the heavens were reported to have been seen, a scalp on +the disc of the moon in an eclipse; an Indian bow was imprinted on the +sky. Troops of horses were heard rushing through the air. The horrors of +an Indian war made their faces pale and their hearts faint. The scenes at +Bloody Brook, the burning of Lancaster, Medfield, Brookfield, Weymouth, +Groton, Marlborough, the ambushments rising on the congregation as they +returned from public worship, the massacre of wives and children at +home, and the scalping of husbands and brothers in the field, roused the +colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to an exterminating +war. + +It is easy to see that the communities of praying Indians could not +escape the influence of the general excitement against the Indians. Some +of them were accused, justly or unjustly, of favoring the designs of the +enemy. The Colonists were all the time afraid that the instinctive love +of war and carnage in the Indian bosom would break through the restraints +of religion, and that all which had been done for the Indians would be +only a qualification of them as more successful traitors and expert +butchers. + +On the other hand, King Philip was jealous of the praying Indians. He +used every means of persuasion and fear to enlist them on his side. Their +situation was trying in the extreme. In the excited state of mind which +an Indian war created among the English, a war on the part of the savages +of stratagem, and treachery, it was natural that the Christian Indians +should be trusted and feared. Some of them enlisted with the English and +did good service, and some deserted to Philip. + +In 1675, a number of the Christian Indians were brought to Boston on +a charge of being concerned in a murder at Lancaster. Mr. Eliot and +his friends interposed to save them, and succeeded in showing that the +accusation was false and malicious. In so doing, they incurred the +popular resentment, and were suspected and accused of bad motives and +treasonable conduct. + +The feelings of the people were now so unreasonable that the worst +consequences to the praying Indians were apprehended. In this state of +things the General Court, as a means of protection to themselves and to +the Indians, passed an order that the Natick Indians should be removed to +Deer Island, in Boston harbor, between four and five miles from shore. +They came to the place called the Pines, near Cambridge, on Charles +River, and were thence conveyed by water to Deer Island. Mr. Eliot met +them at the Pines, and endeavored to soothe and cheer them. He was then +seventy years old. One might question whether he or the Indians suffered +most in their removal. + +A party of Indians had fired a barn at Chelmsford. The English imputed +it to the praying Indians at Tewksbury. A party of the English went to +their wigwams, called them out and shot one lad, and wounded several +women and children. The murderers were tried, but the jury were overawed +by the public sentiment and cleared them. The Tewksbury Indians fled into +the wilderness; messengers were sent to them inviting them to return, but +they gave this answer: We are not sorry for what we leave behind, but +we are sorry that the English have driven us from praying to God, and +from our leader. We did begin to understand a little of praying to God. +When the winter season came, their sufferings forced them back to their +wigwams, and the English endeavored in various ways to atone for the +injuries they had suffered. + +The Stoughton Indians, for some suspicion, were also removed to Deer +Island, and the whole number there amounted to five hundred. Mr. Eliot +and his friends visited them, and found them patient and meek, exhibiting +the true influence of the Gospel in a satisfactory degree. But they were +exposed to want and suffering of various kinds. The ill-treatment of +other communities of Indians followed in rapid succession, and it was in +vain that they sought in moments of contention, to repair the injuries +which they had inflicted. One party of Indians, for example, had been +taken by a Narraganset Sachem, and had escaped, and were wandering in +the woods, when an English scouting party met them, taking from them, +among other things, a pewter cup which Mr. Eliot had given them for their +communion service, and which they had kept and carried with them with the +reverence of a Jew for his sacred vessels of gold and silver. This party +were also carried to Deer Island. + +Philip, the terror of the English Colonies on this continent, was +finally destroyed. The war subsiding, the Deer Island Indians, with the +permission of the General Court, and by the funds of the society in +England for propagating the Gospel, were removed to Cambridge, and were +permitted to choose their places of settlement. Some of them went to +the various falls of Charles River, some to Brush Hill in Milton, some +settled at Nonantum, and many of them went to Natick. + +But the efforts to Christianize the Indians were never resumed with +the interest and zeal which were formerly felt. On the part of the +English, there was conscience of wrong, and on the part of the Indians a +remembrance of injustice, and thus a breach was made between them which +was never healed. Some of the Indians had been made slaves. King Philip’s +wife and son had been sold in the West Indies.[39] Mr. Eliot followed +with his prayers and efforts those of his Christian Indians who had been +sold into bondage. He wrote to the celebrated and honorable Robert Boyle +to use his efforts in redeeming some who had been left at Tangier. + +By various means the praying towns had been reduced in 1684, to four. +The tribes have dwindled and finally disappeared, till a few years since +one poor hut in Natick, inhabited by a family of Indian and Negro blood, +and the gravestone of Daniel Takawambait in the stone wall, were the most +prominent of the memorials which they have left behind them. Fragments of +their language are imperishably associated with many places and scenes +throughout the land. The rural retreat, the new town, the gallant ship, +are emulous of their names; while the tavern sign, the bank note, the +omnibus, and the tobacconist, grace themselves with their faces and +implements. The New England poet, historian, and orator, draw thrilling +incidents from Mount Hope and Bloody Brook, and the Christian and the +philanthropist will enshrine the names of Nonantum and Natick. Westward +and still westward, the New England tribes have receded. Civilization has +had more repulsion and injury for the savage than Christianity has been +able to overcome. There is a law of progress in the affairs of nations +expressed in the prophetic language of the patriarch Noah; “God shall +enlarge Japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.” The savage +retreats before the civilized man, and while we mourn over the ruin of +individual tribes, we cannot but stand in awe of that resistless measure +of God’s providence by which he is forcing the Caucasian race to fill the +earth, and suffering uncivilized nations to melt away like the snow in +spring. + +But that same vigorous faith which brought the Pilgrims here as +missionaries to the Indians, has followed the red man in his wanderings +over this vast continent. The names of David Brainard, Samuel Kirkland, +and Gideon Blackburn, are identified with the history of Indian missions. +The American Board has pursued the work of evangelizing them with much +success. The history of the Cherokees, the mountaineers of America, is +of itself a tale of romantic and thrilling interest. The sketches of the +present North American Indians by Mr. Catlin, in his valuable work, show +that a large field for missionary effort on this continent is yet spread +before the American churches. + +When the workmen were digging for the foundation of some new houses at +the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston, several years ago, +they found the skeleton of an Indian. He had been buried on his side, +reclining on his arm, and was found in that posture. Christian faith +and hope, mingled with a little fancy, would fain lead us to hail this +incident as a sign that the Indian race are not yet recumbent in hopeless +degradation; that though seemingly buried in the great wilderness, they +are buried in the posture of rising. Many interesting recollections, and +our natural feelings towards an oppressed people, make us wish that this +was more than fancy, and, as the Indian on the seal of the Massachusetts +colony had a passage of Scripture proceeding from his mouth, Come over +and help us, would we gladly put another passage into the mouth of that +resurrection Indian above mentioned, making him say, with prophetic +ecstasy, as he looks towards Nonantum and surveys the scenes of his +ancient, and apparently lost race, “Thy dead men shall live, together +with my dead body shall they arise; awake and sing, ye that dwell in +dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out +her dead.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Mr. Eliot’s avowal of republicanism, and his retraction of it. + His connection with the controversy about Mrs. Hutchinson. + Richard Baxter’s Testimony about Mr. Eliot. Roman Catholics + instructing the Indians. Mrs. Eliot. Close of Mr. Eliot’s life. + Conclusion. + + +Two events in the life of Mr. Eliot must necessarily be noticed in +giving a complete account of him. One is the publication and subsequent +retraction of a book called the Christian Commonwealth, and the other is +his connection with the controversy raised by that notorious woman, Mrs. +Anne Hutchinson. + +Mr. Eliot wrote a book about the year 1650, called the Christian +Commonwealth. It was carried to England in manuscript and printed. In +1660, the Governor and Council of Massachusetts condemned this book +as being “full of seditious principles and notions in relation to all +established governments in the Christian world, especially against the +government established in their native country.” + +Mr. Eliot wrote an acknowledgment of error as the author of the book, +and presented his recantation to the General Court. He speaks in it of +Cromwell and his friends as “the late innovators” in the government of +Great Britain, and of the monarchy as restored under Charles II., “as not +only a lawful but eminent form of government.” The book was suppressed, +and Mr. Eliot’s recantation was published through the colony. + +This incident has been considered as reflecting on Mr. Eliot’s +character for discretion, or for decision. The book does not survive in +this country to speak for itself. The facts in the case seem to be that +during the success of Cromwell, Mr. Eliot composed his book in accordance +with what seemed to be the tendency in England towards a settled +republican form of government. But upon the restoration of Charles II., +the provincial government of Massachusetts felt in duty bound to show +their allegiance to the crown by protesting against the sentiments +of a book which favored republicanism. How often it is the case that +success is regarded as settling the question of right. Had Cromwell’s +plan succeeded, the Massachusetts government would not have felt obliged +to condemn Mr. Eliot’s book. We may perhaps reflect upon him for not +maintaining and defending the principles of his book; but to have done +so would have been treason, seeing that monarchy had again become the +established form of government in the mother country. Mr. Eliot, perhaps, +felt that it was right for him to find reasons for that permanent change +in the government of Great Britain which in the providence of God seemed +to be at hand. When the event proved otherwise than he expected, loyally +being then so much a part of religion, and “the powers” in the government +of the mother country being, according to the received opinions of +Christians, and like all other powers “that be,” “ordained of God,” it +was a question with Mr. Eliot between decision and boldness, amounting to +a treasonable spirit, and submission to constituted authority. The ill +success of Cromwell no doubt made Eliot think that he had misinterpreted +the purposes of God. Men are apt to feel and reason in this manner. +If a colony, or province, or a number of men make insurrection, and +succeed in overthrowing the government, men call it a revolution, and +the independence of the new state or nation is acknowledged. If they do +not succeed, the attempt is called a plot, conspiracy, insurrection, +and the actors who in the event of success would have been “the fathers +of their country,” “the founders of a nation,” are gibbeted by their +generation, and regarded as traitors by the next, and by the world. +While a revolution is pending, a man may say many things as an observer +and theorizer, which, when events contradict them, he will do his best +to retract, or cover up. It cannot be wondered at, that, amid the +enthusiasm which attended the Restoration, and the implicit submission +of the Colonial government to the restored king, and influenced by the +loyal spirit of his times, Mr. Eliot should have deemed it a Christian +duty to confess and retract that which the providence of God seemed +to indicate was an error. He was not prepared to lift up a standard +against the government of Great Britain; the appeal which Cromwell and +his friends had made to the God of nations and of battles, had not been +answered in his favor, and Mr. Eliot was meek enough to yield submission +to that which, in the circumstances, seemed to be a Christian obligation. +What should he have done? Had he still believed that Cromwell was the +anointed of the Lord, and that Charles was the usurper, he should have +suffered any punishment rather than falsify his sentiments. It may be +charitably supposed, however, that the events of the Restoration changed +his opinion, and made him satisfied to be still a royalist. We have no +evidence in any part of his life, that Mr. Eliot was a time-server, or +coward; on the contrary, he was remarkable for decision of character and +independence. + +In confirmation of what has now been said respecting Mr. Eliot’s +decision and firmness, we may allude to the part he took in opposing the +sentiments and influence of that notorious disturber of the churches in +his day, Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. She was of the sect of Antinomians, who +abused the doctrines of free grace, maintaining that the law is of no use +or obligation under the dispensation of the Gospel, while the doctrines +they taught superseded the necessity of good works. Mrs. Hutchinson +pretended to immediate impressions from heaven as the rule of conduct, +saying that she knew God “spake to her, just as Abraham knew that it was +the command of Heaven to sacrifice Isaac.” The Governor, Vane, who was an +enthusiast, countenanced this woman, and Rev. Mr. Cotton, who took Mr. +Eliot’s place in the church at Boston, when Mr. Eliot removed to Roxbury, +was also infected by her influence so far as to oppose his colleague, +the Rev. Mr. Wilson, and the other ministers, who were generally opposed +to her. Had Mr. Eliot remained the teacher of the church in Boston, it +would have prevented that church from being divided as it was with regard +to Mrs. Hutchinson, through the influence of his successor, Mr. Cotton. +Mr. Eliot, with several other ministers, visited her, conversed with +her upon religious subjects to ascertain her sentiments and spirit, and +remonstrated with her for her bold denunciation of all the Plantation +except Messrs. Cotton and Wheelright. Mr. Eliot appeared as a witness +against her on her trial before the magistrates, and with Hugh Peters +and Mr. Weld, testified that she said to them that “Mr. Cotton preached +a covenant of grace, and the other ministers a covenant of works.” Mr. +Eliot added, “I do remember this also, that she said we were not able +and faithful ministers of the new covenant, because we were not like the +apostles before the ascension.” Mr. Eliot took occasion on this trial to +bear testimony against yielding to _impressions_ as a rule of faith and +duty. A passage from Mr. Hooker’s sermons was quoted in justification +of Mrs. Hutchinson’s statements. But Mr. Eliot who had been brought up +at the feet of Mr. Hooker, and knew his opinions well, insisted that +the construction given to the passage was contrary to Mr. Hooker’s mind +and judgment. His old friend, Gov. Winthrop, gently dissented from Mr. +Eliot’s strong testimony against impressions. Mr. Eliot said, “I say +there is an expectation of things promised; but to have a particular +revelation of things, as they shall fall out, there is no such thing in +the Scripture.” Gov. Winthrop replied, “We must not limit the word of +God.”[40] Mrs. Hutchinson was condemned and banished. Her end softened +the feelings of those who condemned her, and made them reflect upon +the inexpediency of proceeding so strenuously as they did against her. +Such feelings always arise in the minds of good men who have withstood +prevailing errors, not to make them regret the testimony they bore for +the truth, but to mourn over hasty and excessive zeal, when patience, and +perhaps a measure of neglect, might sooner have ended a controversy, or +have prevented it altogether. But it is easier for those who are removed, +by time or place, from the excitements of a controversy, to moralize +upon the best way of conducting it, than it would have been for them +to exercise the judicious temper which they recommend and praise, had +they themselves partaken in the strife. Mr. Eliot showed himself in this +controversy to be no fanatical enthusiast, and gave evidence that he was +a man of decision and courage. + +The following characteristic letter was written by the famous Rev. +Richard Baxter to Dr. Increase Mather then in London. It was occasioned +by the receipt of Cotton Mather’s Life of Eliot. + + “DEAR BROTHER: + + I thought I had been near dying at 12 o’clock, in bed; but your + book revived me. I lay reading it until between one and two. I + knew much of Mr. Eliot’s opinions, by many letters which I had + from him. There was no man on earth whom I honoured above him. + It is his evangelical work that is the apostolical succession + that I plead for. I am now dying, I hope, as he did. It pleased + me to read from him my case, [_my understanding faileth, my + memory faileth, my tongue faileth_,] (and my hand and pen,) + _but my charity faileth not_. That word much comforted me. I + am as zealous a lover of the New England Churches as any man, + according to Mr. Noyes’, Mr. Norton’s, Mr. Mitchel’s, and the + Synod’s model. + + I loved your father upon the letters I received from him. + I love you better for your learning, labors, and peaceable + moderation. I love your son better than either of you, for the + excellent temper that appeareth in his writings.[41] O that + godliness and wisdom (may) thus increase in all families! He + hath honoured himself half as much as Mr. Eliot. I say but + half as much; for deeds excel words. God preserve you and New + England! Pray for + + Your fainting, languishing Friend, + + RI. BAXTER.” + + _August 3, 1691._ + +In contrast with the instructions which Mr. Eliot and other Protestant +missionaries to the Indians gave the children of the wilderness, Cotton +Mather alludes to the instructions given to the Indians in some parts of +the country by the Popish missionaries. He says, + + “By an odd accident there are lately fallen into my hands + the manuscripts of a Jesuit, whom the French employed as a + missionary among the western Indians, in which papers there + are both a catechism, containing the principles which those + heathens are to be instructed in, and cases of conscience + referring to their conversations. The catechism, which is in + the Iroquois language—with a translation annexed, has one + chapter about heaven, and another about hell, wherein are such + thick skulled passages as these.” + + _Q._ How is the soil made in heaven? + + _A._ ’Tis a very fair soil, they want neither for meats nor + clothes; ’tis but wishing, and we have them. + + _Q._ Are they employed in heaven? + + _A._ No, they do nothing; the fields yield corn, beans, + pumpkins, and the like without any tillage. + + _Q._ What sort of trees are there? + + _A._ Always green, full, flourishing. + + _Q._ Have they in heaven the same sun, the same wind, the same + thunder that we have here? + + _A._ No, the sun ever shines; it is always fair weather. + + _Q._ But how are their fruits? + + _A._ In this one quality they exceed ours, that they are never + wasted; you have no sooner plucked one, but you see another + presently hanging in its room. + + Concerning hell, it thus discourses. + + _Q._ What sort of a soil is that of hell? + + _A._ A very wretched soil; ’tis a fiery pit in the centre of + the earth. + + _Q._ Have they any light in hell? + + _A._ No. ’Tis always dark; there is always smoke there; their + eyes are always in pain with it; they can see nothing but the + devils. + + _Q._ What shaped things are the devils? + + _A._ Very ill shaped things; they go about with vizards on, and + they terrify men. + + _Q._ What do they eat in hell? + + _A._ They are always hungry, but the damned feed on hot ashes + and serpents there. + + _Q._ What water do they drink? + + _A._ Horrid water, nothing but melted lead. + + _Q._ Don’t they die in hell? + + _A._ No; yet they eat one another every day; but anon, God + restores and renews the man that was eaten, as a cropt plant in + a little time repullulates. + + One case of conscience is thus resolved by the Jesuit: + + _Q._ Whether an Indian stealing a hatchet from a Dutchman be + bound to make restitution? + + _A._ If the Dutchman be one that has used any trade with other + Indians, the thief is not bound unto any restitution; for it is + certain he gains more by such a trade than the value of many + hatchets in a year. + + In the History of the Early Jesuit Missions to the Indians + of this country,[42] as well as in all other Jesuit missions, + there is a degree of zeal and devotedness which is truly + wonderful. This is not the place to discuss the motives of + these men, nor the principle in human nature which leads to + their self-sacrifice in the missionary work. The fruits of + their work, however, show that they do not promulgate the + Gospel of Christ in its simplicity, did we not know this by + more direct evidence. + +The wife of Mr. Eliot died three years before him, at the age of 84. +She had come to him across the ocean, a betrothed bride, when he had +found a home for her in this new world. During her residence here, “she +had attained unto a considerable skill in physick and chirurgery which +enabled her to dispense many safe, good, and useful medicines unto the +poor that had occasion for them; and some hundreds of sick and weak and +maimed people owed praises to God for the benefit which therein they +freely received of her.”[43] + +She managed all the private affairs of her husband for him that he +might devote his whole time and strength to his arduous public labors. +She brought up his six children of whom he beautifully said, “they are +all in Christ, or with Christ,” and then she smoothed his passage to the +tomb by going before him, and making him more willing to depart. “That +one wife,” says Mather, “which was given to him truly from the Lord, he +loved, prized, cherished, with a kindness that notably represented the +compassion which he thereby taught his church to expect from the Lord +Jesus Christ; and after he had lived with her for more than half an +hundred years he followed her to the grave with lamentations beyond those +which the Jews, from the figure of a letter in the text,[44] affirm, that +Abraham deplored his Sarah with; her departure made a deeper impression +on him than what any common affliction could. His whole conversation with +her had that sweetness and that gravity and modesty beautifying of it, +that every one called them Zachery and Elizabeth.”[45] + +The old gray haired apostle stood over her coffin, and said to the +concourse of people who had come to the funeral, “Here lies my dear, +faithful, pious, prudent, prayerful wife. I shall go to her, but she +shall not return to me.” + +Lord Bacon[46] speaking of “marriage and single life,” tells us what +wives are to young men, and that “for middle age” they are “companions,” +and “old men’s nurses.” Men generally do not wait till old age before +they experience the exquisite tenderness and assiduity of woman in +their sickness. We all subscribe to the last couplet of the following +quotation, but not to the first: + + “O woman! in thine hours of ease + Deceitful, coy, and hard to please. + ... + When pain and sickness wring the brow, + A ministering angel thou.” + +There is a beautiful passage in one of Steele’s papers in the Spectator. +It purports to be a letter to his wife. He says, + +“It is impossible for me to look back on many evils and pains which I +have suffered since we came together, without a pleasure which is not +to be expressed from the proofs I have had, in those circumstances, of +your unmeasured goodness. How often has your tenderness removed pain +from my sick head! how often anguish from my afflicted heart! With how +skillful patience have I known you comply with the vain projects which +pain has suggested, to have an aching limb removed, by journeying from +one side of a room to another! how often, the next instant, traveled the +same ground again, _without telling your patient it was to no purpose to +change his situation_. If there are such beings as guardian angels, thus +are they employed. I will no more believe one of them more good in its +inclinations, than I can conceive it more charming in its form than my +wife.” + +As Mr. Eliot became disabled by age for the ministerial work, he seemed +to have the earnest solicitude about a successor which Moses had when, +towards the close of his life, he “cried to the Lord” that he would “set +a man over the congregation.” Mr. Eliot more than once assembled the +people of the town to fast and pray with reference to a successor. The +Rev. Nehemiah Walter was by the unanimous vote of the people associated +with him in the pastoral office, after which it was with difficulty that +he could be persuaded to conduct any public religious service, saying, +“It would be a wrong to the souls of the people for him to do any thing +among them when they were supplied so much to their advantage.” The last +time that he preached is said to have been on the occasion of a public +fast, when he expounded the lxxxiii. Psalm, being, (as the caption has +it,) a complaint to God of the enemies’ conspiracies, and a prayer +against them that oppress the church. He concluded his exposition with +an apology, begging his hearers to pardon the poorness and meanness and +brokenness of his meditations, adding, “my dear brother here will by and +by mend all.” + +He once expressed the fear that his old friends and neighbors, Messrs. +Cotton, of Boston, and Mather, of Dorchester, who had gone to heaven +before him, would suspect him to have gone the wrong way, because he +staid so long behind them. + +Towards the close of his life his mind dwelt much on the coming of the +Son of Man, and whatever theme he began to converse upon, he soon fell +into a strain of remarks upon this subject. On one occasion some one +brought him intelligence of certain sad events whereby the Churches of +New England were much afflicted. His reply was, “Behold some of the +clouds in which we must look for the coming of the Son of Man.” + +Mr. Walter coming in to see him on his dying bed, Mr. Eliot said, +“Brother, thou art welcome to my very soul. Pray retire to thy study for +me, and give me leave to be gone,” meaning that he should pray for his +speedy release. + +Being asked how he did, he said, “Alas, I have lost every thing; my +understanding leaves me, my memory fails me, my utterance fails me; but +I thank God my charity holds out still; I find that rather grows than +fails.” + +Speaking of the work in which he had been engaged among the Indians, he +said, “There is a cloud, a dark cloud, upon the work of the gospel, among +the poor Indians. The Lord revive and prosper that work, and grant that +it may live when I am dead. It is a work which I have been doing much and +long about. But what was the word I spoke last? I recall that word, _my +doings_! Alas! they have been poor and small, and lean doings; and I’ll +be the man that shall throw the first stone at them all.” + +The Rev. Increase Mather had gone to England on business connected with +the ecclesiastical affairs of New England. Mr. Eliot wrote the following +letter to him, and it is the last writing of his of which we have any +account. + + “Reverend and beloved Mr. Increase Mather. + + I cannot write. Read Neh. 2:10. When Sanballat the Horonite, + and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite heard of it, it grieved + them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare + of the children of Israel. + + Let thy blessed soul feed full and fat upon this and other + Scriptures. All other things I leave to other men, and rest, + + Your loving Brother, + + JOHN ELIOT.” + +One of Mr. Eliot’s last expressions was this, Welcome joy! His last +breath was spent in calling upon those who stood around his dying bed to +“Pray, Pray, Pray.” He died in the beginning of the year 1690, in the +eighty-sixth year of his age. + +Before his death, Mr. Eliot had the pleasure of seeing several faithful +men raised up to labor among the Indians; among whom were Daniel Gookin, +James Noyce, Rowland Cotton, Peter Thacher, Grindal Rawson, Goddefred +Dettins, and M. Bondet. Mather says, “about the year 1700, through the +blessing of God in this one Massachusetts province, the Indians have +mostly embraced the Christian religion. There are I suppose, more than +thirty congregations of Indians, and many more than three thousand +Indians, in this one province, calling on God in Christ, and hearing of +his glorious Word.” + +In writing these pages, I have before me a copy of Eliot’s Indian Bible, +to which are annexed his Psalms and Hymns, in the Indian tongue, and a +short Catechism. Here is the monument of John Eliot; and what monument of +earthly greatness is to be compared with it! The kings of the earth sleep +in the great cathedral; the beautiful, ivy grown, ruined abbey crowns +the sepulchre of the novelist and poet; the marble statue immortalizes +the name and deeds of the conqueror by land or sea. They are but the +grass that withereth, and the flower which fadeth, “but the word of the +Lord endureth forever.” “Endureth”? There is not one Indian on this +continent, or on the face of the earth, that can read this book. It can +never guide another soul to God. As you look upon its title page, written +in an unknown tongue, you see these words, Up-Biblum God, the Book of +God. How significant, we may say, the appearance of those words when we +consider the condition of the book bereaved of the race who once read it. +“Up-Biblum God.” Like the man-child of the woman clothed with the sun who +fled into the wilderness, and whose child was caught up unto God, and +to his throne, this book, having done its office here, is, in a certain +sense, caught up to God; and there it “endureth forever,” in the hearts +and souls of redeemed savages. + +This book will never, of course, be reprinted, and copies of it are +becoming rare. But if we wished to send something to a desponding +missionary, or an example of condescension and love for souls to a +minister who despises and neglects his poor, humble people, no better +gift could be selected than a copy of Eliot’s Bible. What gentle rebuke, +what exhortation and encouragement, its long barbarous words would +speak oftentimes in the minister’s or missionary’s study. We might +appropriately inscribe on its cover the third reflection of Mr. Eliot +on returning from one of his visits to Nonantum, and send it to every +missionary station round the globe: “There is no need of miraculous or +extraordinary gifts in seeking the salvation of the most depraved of the +human family.” + +The mention of this Bible may lead us to think of that half million of +wild Indians and that million and a half of partly civilized Indians +who now occupy the wilderness of the west. It bids us attempt their +conversion; it shows us that no difficulties are too mighty for the +Gospel to overcome, no discouragements too great for true Christian faith +and courage. The objects of our forefathers’ zeal and hope in coming to +these shores, are now beyond the Rocky Mountains. A wilderness still +invites our increasing missionary efforts, as a wilderness once invited +the labors of the Pilgrims. Wronged and driven away by the while man, +still they cry: + +[Illustration: COME OVER AND HELP VS] + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +A.—See page 201. + +(Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. 1732.) + +“The following fabulous Traditions and Customs of the Indians of Martha’s +Vineyard, were communicated to BENJAMIN BASSET, Esq. of Chilmark, by +THOMAS COOPER, a half blooded Indian, of Gay head, aged about sixty +years; and which, he says, he obtained of his grandmother, who, to use +his own expression, was a stout girl, when the English came to the island. + +The first Indian who came to the Vineyard, was brought thither with his +dog on a cake of ice. When he came to Gay Head, he found a very large +man, whose name was Moshup. He had a wife and five children, four sons +and one daughter; and lived in the Den. He used to catch whales, and then +pluck up trees, and make a fire, and roast them. The coals of the trees, +and the bones of the whales, are now to be seen. After he was tired of +staying here, he told his children to go and play ball on a beach that +joined Noman’s Land to Gay Head. He then made a mark with his toe across +the beach at each end, and so deep, that the water followed, and cut away +the beach; so that his children were in fear of drowning. They took their +sister up, and held her out of the water. He told them to act as if they +were going to kill whales; and they were all turned into killers, (a +fish so called.) The sister was dressed in large stripes. He gave them a +strict charge always to be kind to her. His wife mourned the loss of her +children so exceedingly, that he threw her away. She fell upon Seconet, +near the rocks, where she lived some time, exacting contribution of all +who passed by water. After a while she was changed into a stone. The +entire shape remained for many years. But after the English came, some of +them broke off the arms, head, &c. but the most of the body remains to +this day. Moshup went away nobody knows whither. He had no conversation +with the Indians, but was kind to them, by sending whales, &c. ashore to +them to eat. But after they grew thick around him he left them. + +Whenever the Indians worshipped, they always sang and danced, and then +begged of the sun and moon, as they thought most likely to hear them, to +send them the desired favour; most generally rain or fair weather, or +freedom from their enemies or sickness. + +Before the English came among the Indians, there were two disorders +of which they most generally died, viz. the consumption and the yellow +fever. The latter they could always _lay_ in the following manner. After +it had raged and swept off a number, those who were well met to lay it. +The rich, that is, such as had a canoe, skins, axes, &c. brought them. +They took their seat in a circle; and all the poor sat around, without. +The richest then proposed to begin to lay the sickness; and having in +his hand something in shape resembling his canoe, skin, or whatever his +riches were, he threw it up in the air; and whoever of the poor without +could take it, the property it was intended to resemble became forever +transferred to him or her. After the rich had thus given away all their +moveable property to the poor, they looked out the handsomest and most +sprightly young man in the assembly, and put him into an entire new +wigwam, built of every thing new for that purpose. They then formed into +two files at a small distance from each other. One standing in the space +at each end, put fire to the bottom of the wigwam on all parts, and +fell to singing and dancing. Presently the youth would leap out of the +flames, and fall down to appearance dead. Him they committed to the care +of five virgins, prepared for that purpose, to restore to life again. +The term required for this would be uncertain, from six to forty-eight +hours; during which time the dance must be kept up. When he was restored, +he would tell, that he had been carried in a large thing high up in the +air, where he came to a great company of white people, with whom he had +interceded hard to have the distemper layed; and generally after much +persuasion, would obtain a promise, or answer of peace which never failed +of laying the distemper.” + + “_Inscription copied from a grave stone at Gay Head._ + + 1 2 3 + YEUUH’WOHHOK’SIPSIN’ + + 4 5 + SIL’PAUL’NOHTOBEYONTOK’ + + 6 7 + AGED’ 49: YEARS’NUPPOOP’TAH’ + + AUGUST’24TH1787. + + EXPLANATIONS. + + 1. Here. + 2. The body. + 3. Lies. + 4. Silas Paul. + 5. An ordained preacher. + 6. Died. + 7. Then, or in.” + + +B.—See page 41. + +In connection with the remarks in the foregoing pages on the climate and +soil of New England, the following extract from a piece by Rev. John +Higginson of Salem, 1629, will be read with interest. It is taken from +the Collections of the Mass. Hist. Society, 1792. + + +NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION. + +Or, a short and true DESCRIPTION of the Commodities and Discommodities +of that countrey. Written in the year 1629, by Mr. HIGGESON, a Reverend +Divine, now there resident. Whereunto is added a Letter, sent by Mr. +GRAVES, an Enginere, out of New-England. Reprinted from the third +edition, London, 1530. + +Letting passe our voyage by sea,[47] we will now begin our discourse +on the shore of New-England. And because the life and wel-fare of every +creature heere below, and the commodiousnesse of the countrey whereat +such creatures live, doth by the most wise ordering of God’s providence, +depend next unto himselfe, upon the temperature and disposition of the +foure elements, earth, water, aire, and fire (for as of the mixture of +all these, all sublunary things are composed; so by the more or lesse +enjoyment of the wholesome temper and convenient use of these, consisteth +the onely well-being both of man and beast in a more or lesse comfortable +measure in all countreys under the heavens) therefore I will indeavour +to shew you what New-England is by the consideration of each of these +apart, and truly indeavour by God’s helpe to report nothing but the +naked truth, and that both to tell you of the discommodities as well as +of the commodities, though as the idle proverbe is, _travellers may lye +by authoritie_, and so may take too much sinfull libertie that way. Yet +I may say of my selfe as once Nehemiah did in another case: _Shall such +a man as I lye?_ No verily: It becommeth not a preacher of truth to be +a writer of falshod in any degree: And therefore I have beene carefull +to report nothing of New-England but what I have partly seene with mine +own eyes, and partly heard and enquired from the mouths of verie honest +and religious persons, who, by living in the countrey a good space of +time, have had experience and knowledge of the state thereof, and whose +testimonies I doe beleeve as my selfe. + +First therefore of the earth of New-England and all the appertenances +thereof: It is a land of divers and sundry sorts all about Masathulets +Bay, and at Charles river is as fat blacke earth as can be seene any +where: and in other places you have a clay soyle, in other gravell, in +other sandy, as it is all about our plantation at Salem, for so our towne +is now named. Psal. 76:2. + +The forme of the earth here in the superfices of it is neither too +flat in the plainnesse, nor too high in hils, but partakes of both in a +mediocritie, and fit for pasture, or for plow or meddow ground, as men +please to employ it: though all the countrey bee as it were a thicke +wood for the generall, yet in divers places there is much ground cleared +by the Indians, and especially about the plantation: And I am told that +about three miles from us a man may stand on a little hilly place and see +divers thousands of acres of ground as good as need to be, and not a tree +in the same. It is thought here is good clay to make bricke and tyles and +earthen-pot as need to be. At this instant we are setting a brick-kill +on worke to make brickes and tiles for the building of our houses. For +stone, here is plentie of slates at the Isle of Slate in Masathulets +bay, and lime-stone, free-stone, and smooth-stone, and iron-stone, and +marble-stone also in such store, that we have great rocks of it, and a +harbour hard by. Our plantation is from thence called Marble-harbour. + +Of minerals there hath yet beene but little triall made, yet we are not +without great hope of being furnished in that soyle. + +The fertilitie of the soyle is to be admired at, as appeareth in the +aboundance of grasse that groweth everie where, both verie thicke, verie +long, and verie high in divers places: But it groweth verie wildly with +a great stalke and a broad and ranker blade, because it never had been +eaten with cattle, nor mowed with a sythe, and seldome trampled on by +foot. It is scarce to bee beleeved how our kine and goates, horses and +hogges, doe thrive and prosper here and like well of this countrey. + +In our plantation we have already a quart of milke for a penny: but the +aboundant encrease of corne proves this countrey to bee a wonderment. +Thirtie, fortie, fiftie, sixtie are ordinarie here: Yea Joseph’s encrease +in Ægypt is outstript here with us. Our planters hope to have more then +a hundred fould this yere: And all this while I am within compasse; what +will you say of two hundred fould and upwards? It is almost incredible +what great gaine some of our English planters have had by our Indiane +corne. Credible persons have assured me, and the partie himselfe avouched +the truth of it to me, that of the setting of 13 gallons of corne hee +hath had encrease of it 52 hogsheads, every hogshead holding seven +bushels of London measure, and every bushell was by him sold and trusted +to the Indians for so much beaver as was worth 13 shillings; and so of +this 13 gallons of corne, which was worth 6 shillings 8 pence, he made +about 327 pounds of it the yeere following, as by reckoning will appeare: +where you may see how God blessed husbandry in this land. There is not +such greate and plentifull eares of corne I suppose any where else to +bee found but in this countrey: Because also of varietie of colours, as +red, blew, and yellow, &c. and of one corne there springeth four or five +hundred. I have sent you many eares of divers colours that you might see +the truth of it. + +Little children here by setting of corne may earne much more then their +owne maintenance. + +They have tryed our English corne at New Plimmouth plantation, so that +all our several graines will grow here verie well, and have a fitting +soyle for their nature. + +Our Governor hath store of greene pease growing in his garden, as good as +ever I eat in England. + +This country aboundeth naturally with store of roots of great varitie +and good to eat. Our turnips, parsnips, and carrots are here both bigger +and sweeter then is ordinary to be found in England. Here are store +of pumpions, cowcombers, and other things of that nature which I know +not. Also divers excellent pot-herbs grow abundantly among the grasse, +as strawberrie leaves in all places of the countrey, and plentie of +strawberries in their time, and pennyroyall, wintersaverie, sorrell, +brookelime, liverwort, carvell, and watercresses, also leekes and onions +are ordinarie, and divers physicall herbs. Here are also aboundance of +other sweet herbs delightful to the smell, whose names we know not, &c. +and plentie of single damaske roses verie sweete; and two kinds of herbes +that bare two kinds of flowers very sweet, which they say, are as good to +make cordage or cloath as any hempe or flaxe we have. + +Excellent vines are here up and downe in the woods. Our Governour hath +already planted a vineyard with great hope of encrease. + +Also, mulberries, plums, raspberries, corrance, chesnuts, filberds, +walnuts, smalnuts, hurtleberies, and hawes of whitethorne neere as good +as our cherries in England, they grow in plentie here. + +For wood there is no better in the world I thinke, here being foure sorts +of oke differing both in the leafe, timber, and colour, all excellent +good. There is also good ash, elme, willow, birch, beech, saxafras, +juniper, cipres, cedar, spruce, pines, and firre that will yeeld +abundance of turpentine, pitch, tarre, masts, and other materials for +building both of ships and houses. Also here are store of sumacke trees, +they are good for dying and tanning of leather, likewise such trees yeeld +a precious gem called wine benjamin, that they say is excellent for +perfumes. Also here be divers roots and berries wherewith the Indians dye +excellent holding colours that no raine nor washing can alter. Also, wee +have materials to make sope-ashes and salt-peter in aboundance. + +For beasts there are some beares, and they say some _lyons_ also; +for they have been seen at Cape Anne. Also here are several sorts of +deere, some whereof bring three or four young ones at once, which is +not ordinarie in England. Also wolves, foxes, beavers, otters, martins, +great wild cats, and a great beast called a molke as bigge as an oxe. I +have seen the skins of all these beasts since I came to this plantation +excepting lyons. Also here are great store of squerrels, some greater, +and some smaller and lesser: there are some of the lesser sort, they tell +me, that by a certaine skill will fly from tree to tree, though they +stand farre distant. + + +_Of the waters of_ New-England, _with the things belonging to the same_. + +New-England hath water enough, both salt and fresh, the greatest sea in +the world, the Atlanticke sea, runs all along the coast thereof. There +are abundance of Ilands along the shore, some full of wood and masts to +feed swine; and others cleere of wood, and fruitful to bear corne. Also +wee have store of excellent harbours for ships, as at Cape Anne, and at +Masathulets Bay, and at Salem, and at many other places: and they are the +better because for strangers there is a verie difficult and dangerous +passage into them, but unto such as are well acquainted with them, they +are easie and safe enough. The aboundance of sea-fish are almost beyond +beleeving, and sure I should scarce have beleeved it, except I had seene +it with mine owne eyes. I saw great store of whales, and crampusse, +and such aboundance of mackerils that it would astonish one to behold, +likewise cod-fish in aboundance on the coast, and in their season are +plentifully taken. There is a fish called a basse, a most sweet and +wholesome fish as ever I did eate, it is altogether as good as our fresh +sammon, and the season of their comming was begun when wee came first +to New-England in June, and so continued about three months space. Of +this fish our fishers take many hundreds together, which I have seen +lying on the shore to my admiration; yea their nets ordinarily take more +than they are able to hale to land, and for want of boats and men they +are constrained to let a many goe after they have taken them, and yet +sometimes they fill two boates at a time with them. And besides basse wee +take plentie of scate and thornbacks, and abundance of lobsters and the +least boy in the plantation may both catch and eat what he will of them. +For my owne part I was soone cloyed with them, they were so great, and +fat, and lussious. I have seene some myselfe that have weighed 16 pound, +but others have had divers times so great lobsters as have weighed 25 +pound, as they assure mee. Also heere is abundance of herring, turbut, +sturgion, cuskes, hadocks, mullets, eeles, crabbes, muskles, and oysters. +Besides there is probability that the countrey is of an excellent temper +for the making of salt: For since our comming our fishermen have brought +home very good salt which they found candied by the standing of the sea +water and the heat of the sunne, upon a rocke by the sea shore: and in +divers salt marishes that some have gone through, they have found some +salt in some places crushing under their feete and cleaving to their +shooes. + +And as for fresh water, the countrey is full of dainty springs, and some +great rivers, and some lesser brookes; and at Masathulets Bay they digged +wels and found water at three foot deepe in most places: And neere Salem +thay have as fine cleare water as we can desire, and we may digge wels +and find water where we list. + +Thus wee see both land and sea abound with store of blessings for the +comfortable sustenance of man’s life in New-England. + + +_Of the aire of_ New-England _with the temper and creatures in it_. + +The temper of the aire of New-England is one speciall thing that +commends this place. Experience doth manifest that there is hardly a +more healthfull place to be found in the world that agreeth better with +our English bodyes. Many that have been weake and sickly in old England, +by comming hither have beene thoroughly healed and growne healthfull +strong. For here is an extraordinarie cleere and dry aire that is of a +most healing nature to all such as are of a cold, melancholy, flegmatick, +rheumatick temper of body. None can more truly speake hereof by their +owne experience then my selfe. My friends that knew me can well tell how +verie sickly I have bin and continually in physick, being much troubled +with a tormenting paine through an extraordinarie weaknesse of my +stomacke, and aboundance of melancholicke humors; but since I came hither +on this voyage, I thanke God, I have had perfect health, and freed from +paine and vomiting, having a stomacke to digest the hardest and coursest +fare, who before could not eat finest meat; and whereas my stomache could +onely digest and did require such drinke as was both strong and stale, +now I can and doe often times drink New-England water verie well; and +I that have not gone without a cap for many yeeres together, neither +durst leave off the same, have now cast away my cap, and doe weare none +at all in the day time: And whereas beforetime I cloathed my selfe with +double cloaths and thicke waistcoates to keep me warme, even in the +summer time, I doe now goe as thin clad as any, onely wearing a light +stuffe cassocke upon my shirt, and stuffe breeches of one thickness +without linings. Besides I have one of my children that was formerly +most lamentably handled with sore breaking out of both his hands and +feet of the king’s-evill, but since he came hither hee is very well ever +he was, and there is hope of perfect recoverie shortly even by the very +wholesomnesse of the aire, altering, digesting and drying up the cold and +crude humours of the body: And therefore I thinke it is a wise course for +al cold complections to come to take physick in New-England: for a sup of +New-England’s aire is better then a whole draught of Old England’s ale. + +In the summer time, in the midst of July and August, it is a good deale +hotter then in Old England: And in winter, January and February are much +colder, as they say: But the spring and autumne are of a middle temper. + +Fowles of the aire are plentifull here, and of all sorts as we have in +England, as farre as I can learn, and a great many of strange fowles +which we know not. Whilst I was writing these things, one of our men +brought home an eagle which hee had killed in the wood: They say they +are good meate. Also here are many kinds of excellent hawkes, both sea +hawkes and land hawkes: And my self walking in the woods with another +in company, sprung a patridge so bigge that through the heaviness of +his body could fly but a little way: They that have killed them, say +they are as bigge as our hens. Here are likewise aboundance of turkies +often killed in the woods, farre greater then our English turkies, and +exceeding fat, sweet, and fleshy, for here they have aboundance of +feeding all the yeere long, as strawberries, in summer al places are +full of them, and all manner of berries and fruits. In the winter time +I have scene flockes of pidgeons, and have eaten of them: They doe fly +from tree to tree as other birds doe, which our pidgeons will not doe in +England: They are of all colours as ours are, but their wings and tayles +are far longer, and therefore it is likely they fly swifter to escape the +terrible hawkes in this country. In winter time this country doth abound +with wild geese, wild ducks, and other sea fowle, that a great part of +winter the planters have eaten nothing but roast-meate of divers fowles +which they have killed. + +Thus you have heard of the earth, water and aire of New-England, now it +may bee you expect something to bee said of the fire proportionable to +the rest of the elements. Indeede I thinke New-England may boast of this +element more then of all the rest: For though it bee here somewhat cold +in the winter, yet here we have plenty of fire to warme us, and that a +great deal cheaper then they sel billets and faggots in London: Nay, all +Europe is not able to afford to make so great fires as New-England. A +poore servant here that is to possesse but 50 acres of land, may afford +to give more wood for timber and fire as good as the world yeelds, then +many noble men in England can afford to do. Here is good living for those +that love good fires. And although New-England have no tallow to make +candles of, yet by the aboundance of the fish thereof, it can afford oil +for lampes. Yea our pine-trees that are the most plentifull of all wood, +doth allow us plenty of candles which are very usefull in a house: And +they are such candles as the Indians commonly use, having no other, and +they are nothing else but the wood of the pine tree cloven in two little +slices, something thin, which are so full of the moysture of turpentine +and pitch, that they burne as cleere as a torch. I have sent you some of +them that you may see the experience of them. + +Thus of New-England’s commodities: now I will tell you of some +discommodities that are here to be found. + +First, in the summer season for these three months, June, July, and +August, we are troubled much with little flyes called musketoes, being +the same they are troubled with in Lincolneshire and the Fens; and they +are nothing but gnats, which except they bee smoked out of their houses +are troublesome in the night season. + +Secondly, in the winter season for two months space, the earth is +commonly covered with snow, which is accompanied with sharp biting +frosts, something more sharpe then is in Old England, and therefore are +forced to make great fires. + +Thirdly, the countrey being very full of woods, and wildernesses, doth +also much abound with snakes and serpents of strange colours, and huge +greatnesse: yea there are some serpents called rattle-snakes that have +rattles in their tailes, that will not fly from a man as others will, but +will flye upon him, and sting him so mortally, that hee will dye within a +quarter of an houre after, except the partie stinged have about him some +of the root of an herbe called snake-weed to bite on, and then hee shall +receive no harme: but yet seldom falles it out that any hurt is done by +these. About three years since, an Indian was stung to death by one of +them, but wee heard of none since that time. + +Fourthly and lastly, here wants as it were good company of honest +christians to bring with them horses, kine, and sheepe, to make use +of this fruitfull land: great pitty it is to see so much good ground +for corne and for grasse as any is under the heavens, to ly altogether +unoccupied, when so many honest men and their families in Old England +through the populousnesse thereof, do make evry hard shift to live one by +the other. + +Now, thus you know what New-England is, as also with the commodities and +discommodities thereof: Now I will shew you a little of the inhabitants +thereof, and their government. + +For their governors they have kings, which they call Saggamores, some +greater, and some lesser, according to the number of their subjects. + +The greatest Saggamores about us can not make above three hundred +men,[48] and other lesse Saggamores have not above fifteen subjects, and +others neere about us but two. + +Their subjects above twelve years since[49] were swept away by a great +and grievous plague that was amongst them, so that there are verie few +left to inhabite the country. + +The Indians are not able to make use of the one fourth part of the +land, neither have they any settled places, as townes to dwell in, nor +any ground as they challenge for their own possession, but change their +habitation from place to place. + +For their statures, they are a tall and strong limmed people, their +colours are tawney, they goe naked, save onely they are in part covered +with beasts skins on one of their shoulders, and weare something before; +their haire is generally blacke, and cut before like our gentlewomen, and +one locke longer than the rest, much like to our gentelmen, which fashion +I thinke came from hence into England. + +For their weapons, they have bowes and arrowes, some of them headed with +bone, and some with brasse: I have sent you some of them for an example. + +The men for the most part live idely, they do nothing but hunt and fish: +Their wives set their corne and doe all their other worke. They have +little houshold stuffe, as a kettle, and some other vessels like trayes, +spoones, dishes, and baskets. + +Their houses are verie little and homely, being made with small poles +pricked into the ground, and so bended and fastened at the tops, and on +the sides they are matted with boughs and covered on the roof with sedge +and old mats, and for their beds that they take their rest on, they have +a mat. + +They doe generally professe to like well of our coming and planting here; +partly because their is abundance of ground that they cannot possesse +nor make use of, and partly because our being here will bee a meanes +both of relief to them when they want, and also a defence from their +enemies, wherewith (I say) before this plantation began, they were often +indangered. + +For their religion they do worship two Gods, a good God and an evil God: +The good God they call Tantum, and their evil God whom they fear will doe +them hurt, they call Squantum. + +For their dealing with us, we neither fear them nor trust them, for +fourtie of our musketeeres will drive five hundred of them out of the +field. We use them kindly; they will come into our houses sometimes by +half a dozen or half a score at a time when we are at victuals, but will +ask or take nothing but what we give them. + +We purpose to learn their language as soon as we can, which will be a +means to do them good. + + +_Of the present condition of the Plantation, and what it is._ + +When we came first to Nehum-kek,[50] we found about half a score houses, +and a faire house newly built for the Governor, we found also aboundance +of corne planted by them, very good and well liking. And we brought +with us about two hundred passengers and planters more, which by common +consent of the old planters were all combined together into one body +politicke, under the same Governour. + +There are in all of us both old and new planters about three hundred, +whereof two hundred of them are settled at Nehum-kek, now called Salem: +And the rest have planted themselves at Masathulets Bay, beginning to +build a towne there which wee do call Cherton, or Charles Town. + +We that are settled at Salem make what haste we can to build houses, so +that within a short time we shall have a faire towne. + +We have great ordnance, wherewith we doubt not but we shall fortifie +ourselves in a short time to keepe out a potent adversary. But that which +is our greatest comfort, and meanes of defence above all other, is, that +we have here the true religion and holy ordinances of Almighty God taught +amongst us: Thankes be to God, wee have here plenty of preaching, and +diligent catechizing, with strict and carefull exercise, and good and +commendable orders to bring our people into a christian conversation with +whom we have to doe withall. And thus wee doubt not but God will be with +us, and _if God be with us, who can be against us?_ + +[Here ends Master Higgeson’s relation of New-England.] + + +_A letter sent from New England, by Master GRAVES, Engynere, now there +resident._ + +Thus much I can affirme in generall, that I never came in a more goodly +country in all my life, all things considered: If it hath not at any time +been manured and husbanded, yet it is very beautifull in open lands, +mixed with goodly woods, and again open plaines, in some places five +hundred acres, some places more, some lesse, not much troublesome for +to cleer for the plough to goe in, no place barren, but on the tops of +the hils; the grasse and weeds grow up to a man’s face, in the lowlands +and by fresh rivers, aboundance of grasse and large meddowes without any +tree or shrubbe to hinder the sith. I never saw, except in Hungaria, +unto which I alwayes paralell this countrie, in all our most respects, +for every thing that is heare eyther sowne or planted prospereth far +better then in Old-England: The increase of corne is here farre beyond +expectation, as I have seene here by experience in barly, the which +because it is so much above your conception I will not mention. And +cattle doe prosper very well, and those that are bredd here farr greater +than those with you in England. Vines doe grow here plentifully laden +with the biggest grapes that ever I saw, some I have seen foure inches +about, so that I am bold to say of this countrie, as it is commonly said +in Germany of Hungaria, that for cattel, corne, and wine it excelleth. We +have many more hopefull commodities here in this country, the which time +will teach to make good use of: In the mean time wee abound with such +things which next under God doe make us subsist: as fish, foule, deere, +and sundrie sorts of fruits, as musk-millions, water-millions, Indian +pompions, Indian pease, beanes, and many other odde fruits that I cannot +name; all which are made good and pleasant through this maine blessing +of God, the healthfulnesse of the countrie which far exceedeth all parts +that ever I have beene in: It is observed that few or none doe here fal +sicke, unless of the scurvy, that they bring from aboard the ship with +them, whereof I have cured some of my companie onely by labour. + + +C.—See page 204. + +See Morell’s poem on New England, Mass. Hist. Coll., 1792. + + +D.—See page 222. + +The following letter to King Charles II. accompanied the presentation of +the New Testament in the Indian tongue. The letter was written and sent +by the Commissioners of the United Colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, +Connecticut and New Haven. + + “To the High and Mighty Prince, Charles the second, by the + grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, + Defender of the faith, &c. + + “The Commissioners of the United Colonies in New England, wish + increase of all happiness. + + “Most dread Sovereign, + + “If our weak apprehensions have not misled us, this work will + be no unacceptable present to your Majesty, as having a greater + interest therein, than we believe is generally understood, + which upon this occasion we conceive it our duty to declare. + + “The people of these four colonies (confederate for mutual + defence, in the times of the late distractions of our dear + native country) your Majesty’s natural born subjects, by the + favour and grace of your royal father and grandfather of + famous memory, put themselves upon this great and hazardous + undertaking, of planting themselves at their own charge in + these remote ends of the earth; that without offence or + provocation to our dear brethren and countrymen, we might enjoy + that liberty to worship God, which our own conscience informed + us was not only our right but duty; as also that we, if it so + pleased God, might be instrumental to spread the light of the + gospel, the knowledge of the son of God, our saviour, to the + poor, barbarous heathen; which by his late Majesty, in some of + our patents, is declared to be the principal aim. + + “These honest and pious intentions have through the grace of + God and our kings, been seconded with proportionable success. + For, omitting the immunities indulged by your Highness’s royal + predecessors, we have been greatly encouraged by your Majesty’s + gracious expressions of favour and approbation, signified unto + the address made by the principal of our colonies; to which + the rest do most cordially subscribe; though wanting the like + seasonable opportunity, they have been till now deprived of the + means to congratulate your Majesty’s happy restitution, after + your long sufferings; which we implore may yet be graciously + accepted, that we may be equal partakers of your royal favour + and moderation; which hath been so illustrious, that to + admiration, the animosities of different persuasions of men + have been so soon composed, and so much cause of hope, that, + unless the sins of the nation prevent, a blessed calm will + succeed the late horrid confusions of church and state. And + shall not we, dread sovereign, your subjects of these colonies, + of the same faith and belief in all points of doctrine with + our countrymen and other reformed churches, though perhaps not + alike persuaded in some matters of order, which in outward + respects hath been unhappy for us,—promise and assure ourselves + of all just favour and indulgence from a prince so graciously + and happily endowed? + + “The other part of our errand hither hath been attended with + endeavours and blessing; many of the wild Indians being taught, + and understanding, the doctrine of the christian religion, + and with much affection attending such preachers as are sent + to teach them. Many of their children are instructed to write + and read; and some of them have proceeded further to attain + the knowledge of the Latin and the Greek tongues, and are + brought up with our English youth in university learning. + There are divers of them that can and do read some parts of + the scripture, and some catechisms which formerly have been + translated into their own language: which hath occasioned the + undertaking of a great work, viz. the printing the whole bible: + which, being translated by a painful labourer among them, who + was desirous to see the work accomplished in his days, hath + already proceeded to the finishing of the new testament; which + we here humbly present to your Majesty, as the first fruit and + accomplishment of the pious design of your royal ancestors. The + old testament is now under the press, wanting and craving your + royal favour and assistance for the perfecting thereof. + + “We may not conceal, though this work hath been begun and + prosecuted by such instruments as God has raised up here; yet + the chief charge and cost, which hath supported and carried it + thus far, hath been from the charity and piety of divers of + our well affected countrymen in England; who, being sensible + of our inability in that respect, and studious to promote so + good a work, contributed large sums of money, which were to + be improved according to the direction and order of the then + prevailing powers; which hath been faithfully and religiously + attended, both there and here, according to the pious + intentions of the benefactors. And we most humbly beseech your + Majesty, that a matter of so much devotion and piety, tending + so much to the honour of God, may suffer no disappointment + through any legal defect, without the fault of the donors, + or poor Indians, who only receive the benefit; but that your + Majesty be graciously pleased to establish and confirm the + same; being contrived and done, as we conceive, in that first + year of your Majesty’s reign, of this book was begun and now + finished the first year of your establishment: which doth not + only presage the happy success of your Highness’s government, + but will be a perpetual monument, that by your Majesty’s + favour, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ was made known to + the Indians; an honour whereof, we are assured, your Majesty + will not a little esteem. + + “Sir, the shine of your royal favour upon these undertakings + will make these tender plants to flourish, notwithstanding any + malevolent aspect from those that bear evil will to this Sion; + and render your Majesty more illustrious and glorious to after + generations. + + “The God of heaven long preserve and bless your Majesty with + many happy days, to his glory, the good and comfort of his + church and people. Amen.” + + +E.—See page 182. + +The Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians has been +mentioned several times in this work. + +About the year 1648, during the Protectorate of Cromwell, when the +Presbyterians and Independents had influence in England, a Society was +formed through the influence, it is believed, of Gov. Winslow, and called +the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in +North America. + +It is somewhere stated respecting Cromwell that he had conceived a +very extensive scheme for the universal propagation of the Gospel, +borrowing the zeal and ingenuity of the Jesuits, and intending to meet +and counteract their efforts everywhere. This scheme perished with him +in his early death. Even the Society for Propagating the Gospel among +the Indians, &c., did not long survive the restoration of royalty in +1660. But during its existence under the Commonwealth it rendered aid +to Mayhew, Eliot, and others, the funds being applied here through the +Commissioners of the four Colonies. + +The Society being dissolved at the Restoration of monarchy under Charles +II., an urgent application was soon made for another Society having the +same name and objects. The honorable and distinguished Robert Boyle was +President of the new Society. He had great wealth, and used it with +profuse liberality. The celebrated Bishop Burnet was his almoner in many +private as well as public charities. He distributed a thousand pounds +a year for several years before his death among the French refugees in +England. He also gave yearly, for a long time, the sum of three hundred +pounds for the propagation of the Gospel in North America. Mr. Eliot’s +letters to his noble benefactor, which may be found in the Collections of +the Mass. Hist. Society, will be read with interest. + +The Indian School, at Cambridge, was supported by the funds of this +Society, and a building erected for it by the same. In 1665 there were +eight Indian youths in that school. Eliot’s Indian Bible was printed at +the expense of this Society, and cost £500, or not far from two thousand +dollars. + +For a few years, the General Court of Massachusetts granted five hundred +dollars towards the object of this Society. At the suggestion of the +Society the Governor issued a request for contributions in its behalf to +the towns of the Commonwealth. About $1560 were collected. + +This Society continues to this time. In 1800, its funds amounted to +$20.000. At present they are not far from twice that sum. It is in the +hands of members of the Unitarian denomination.[51] + + +F. + +Letters of Mr. Eliot to Hon. Robert Boyle may be found in Mass. Hist. +Coll. 1792. Also two interesting letters from the same in Francis’ Life +of Eliot, pp. 250 and 267. + + +G. + +See, for an account of the Missionary Labors of the Mayhews, Wilson’s +Memoirs of Eliot, pp. 273-9. + + +H. + +See Wilson’s Memoirs of E., p. 290. + + +I. + +Mr. Eliot’s Observations on forming the Indian Alphabet, do. do., p. 284. + + +K. + +For an account of Rev. William Leverich, and some other laborers among +the Indians, see Wilson’s Memoirs, pp. 257-60, p. 278-99. + + +L.—See page 133. + +The following petitions of Mr. Eliot have been copied for this work from +the Mass. State Papers. The first is a temperance document which has not +lost any pertinency or force by age. + + _Petition of John Eliot to the —— General Court concerning the + Indians_, + + SHEWETH, + + That whereas the Indians have frequent recourse to English + townes and especially to Boston where they too often see evil + examples of excessive drinking with English who are too often + disgraced with that beastly sin of drunkenness. And themselves + many of them greatly delighting in strong liquors, not + considering the strength and evil of them, and also too well + knowing the liberty of the law which prohibiteth above half a + pint of wine to a man that therefore they may without offence + to the law have their half pint, and when they have had it in + one place they goe to another and have the like till they be + drunken. And sometime find too much entertainment that way by + such who keepe no ordinary only desire theire trade though it + be with the hurt and perdition of their soules. Therefore my + humble request unto this honored Court is this, that there may + be but one ordinary in all Boston who may have liberty to sell + wine or any strong drink unto the Indians. And that whoever + shall further them in their vicious drinking for theire own + base ends who keep no ordinary may not be suffered in such a + sinne without due punishment. And that at what ordinary soever + in any other towne as well as Boston any Indian shall be found + drunk, having had any considerable quantity of drink there, + they should come under severe censure. These things I am bold + to present unto you for the preventing of those scandalous + evils which greatly blemish and interrupt their entertainment + of the Gospel through the policy of Satan who counter worketh + Christ with not a little uncomfortable success. And thus with + my hearty desire of the gracious and blessed presence of God + among you in all your weighty affairs, I humbly take leave and + rest your servant to command in our Savour Christ, + + JOHN ELIOT. + + this 23d of the 8th 1648. + + +M.—See page 134. + +The next petition is exceedingly interesting. + + _To the Honorable the Governor and Council sitting at Boston + the 13th of the 6th, 1675. The humble petition of John Eliot_, + + SHEWETH, + + That the terrour of selling away such Indians in the Ilands + for perpetual Slaves who shall yield up themselves to your + mercy is likely to be an effectual prolongation of the warre + and such an exasperation of them as may produce we know not + what evil consequences upon all the land. Christ hath said, + “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” This + [treatment] of them is worse than death. To put to death men + that have deserved to die is an ordinance of God and a blessing + is promised to it. It may be done in faith. The design of + Christ in these last days is not to extirpate nations but to + gospelize them. He will spread the Gospel sound the world + about, rev. 11. 15. The kingdoms of the world have become the + kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. His sovereign hand + and grace hath brought the Gospel into these dark places of + the earth. When we came we declared to the world, and it is + recorded, yea we are instructed by our letters patent from the + King’s majesty that the endeavour of the Indians conversion not + their extirpation was one great end of our enterprize in coming + to these ends of the earth. The Lord hath so succeeded his work + as that (by his grace) they have the Holy Scriptures and sundry + of themselves able to teach their countrymen the good knowledge + of God. The light of the Gospel is risen among those who sat in + darkness and in the region of the shadow of death. And however + some of them have refused to receive the Gospel, and are now + incensed in their spirits unto a warre against the English, yet + by that good promise, Ps. 1:1-6, I doubt not but the meaning of + Christ is to open the door for the free passage of the Gospel + among them, and that the Lord will publish that word, v. 6. Yet + have I set my king on my holy hill of Syon, though some rage at + it. My humble request is if you would follow Christ his design + in this matter to promote the free passage of religion among + them and not destroy them. To send them away from the light + of the Gospel which Christ hath graciously given them unto a + place, a state, a way of spiritual darkness to the eternal + ruin of their souls is as I apprehend to act contrary to the + mind of Christ. God’s command is that we should inlarge the + kingdom of Jesus Christ. Esay, 54:2. Enlarge the place of thy + tent. It seemeth to me that to sell them away for slaves is + to hinder the inlargement of his kingdom. How can a Christian + [soule yield to act]—(these words are indistinct) in casting + away their soules for which Christ hath with an eminent hand + provided an offer of the Gospel. To sell soules for money + seemeth to me a dangerous merchandize. If they deserve to + dy, it is far better to be put to death under godly [rulers] + who will take care if meanes may be used that they may die + penitently. To fall away from all meanes of grace when Christ + hath provided meanes of grace for them, is for us to be active + in the destroying their soules when we are highly obliged to + seek their conversion and salvation and have opportunity in our + hands so to doe. Deut. 23:15, 16.[52] A fugitive servant from + his Pagan master might not be delivered to his master, but be + kept in Israel for the good of his soul. How much less lawful + is it to sell away souls from under the light of the Gospel + into a condition where their souls will be utterly lost, so + far as appertains unto man. All men (of reading) condemned the + Spaniard for cruelty upon this point for destroying men and + depopulating the land. The country is large enough, here is + land enough for them and us to, Prov. 14:28. In the multitude + of people is the King’s honor. It will be much to the glory + of Christ to have many brought in to worship his great name. + I beseech the honored Council to pardon my boldnesse, and let + the case of conscience be discussed orderly before the thing + be acted. Cover my weaknesse and weigh the reason and religion + that laboreth in this great case of conscience. + + +N.—See page 135. + +The following petition of Mr. Eliot illustrates the kind interest which +he took in the common and private affairs of the Indians. I have copied +it from Mass. State Papers, (Indian Papers) 30. p. 15. 1639-1705. + + PETITION THAT TWO INDIANS MAY HAVE THEIR DUE. + + _The humble petition of John Eliot to this Honorable Court._ + + First in the behalfe of Totherswompe unto whom one of Uncas his + men doth owe 18 fathom of wampompeague for 6 beare skins and + he cannot obtain justice with ease and therefore doth humbly + intreat this honored Court to procure justice for him in this + particular. Phoxon well knoweth his demand is just and true, as + Thomas and Stanton can testify. + + The other is in behalf of Anonganisch, who lost 17 fathom + which Uncas and his men tooke unjustly from him 3 years since + when they fell upon the Indians by Mr. Winthrop’s plantation, + and he saith that when his case was at this Court formerly + heard The Governour promised him that he should have justice, + and that doth embolden him to sue again in the case. The + bringing them to doe justice doth so far cause them to honour + and acknowledge God and therefore I humbly entreat your favour + in furtherance of the same, and so commending all your weighty + occasions to the blessing of the Lord. + + Your worships servant in Jesus Christ, + + JOHN ELIOT.[53] + + +O.—See page 48. + + THE CHURCH IN ROXBURY. + + (See Am. Quarterly Register, Vol. 8th.) + + THOMAS WELDE, the first Minister of Roxbury, was a minister in + Essex, England. Refusing to conform to the requirements of the + Established Church, he sought the quiet enjoyment of the rights + of conscience in this country. He arrived in Boston, June 5, + 1632, and entered upon the pastoral office in Roxbury, at which + time the Church was embodied. In 1641, he was sent as an agent, + with REV. HUGH PETERS, to England for the Province and never + returned. + + JOHN ELIOT became teacher of the Church in Roxbury, Nov. 5, + 1632. The next year he became colleague with Mr. Welde. + + SAMUEL DANFORTH was colleague with Mr. Eliot after Mr. Welde + went to England. He continued in office 24 years. + + NEHEMIAH WALTER, born in Ireland, came to Boston at the age of + 16. Graduated at Harvard College, and was the third colleague + of Mr. Eliot. He had so good knowledge of the French Language + that he preached to a society of French Protestants while + their Pastor was absent. Whitefield called him “the good old + Puritan.” A well known publication of his is called, “The + Wonderfulness of Christ.” + + THOMAS WALTER, his son, became colleague with his father, but + died 7 years after. + + OLIVER PEABODY, son of the Missionary at Natick of the same + name, succeeded Mr. Walter, but continued only 18 months, and + died when on the eve of being married, aged 27. + + AMOS ADAMS, was Pastor at Roxbury 22 years and died of the + epidemic which prevailed in the camp at Roxbury and Cambridge. + The title of one of his published Sermons was, The only Hope + and Refuge of Sinners. + + ELIPHALET PORTER succeeded him and continued in office 51 years. + + GEORGE PUTNAM, the present Pastor, was ordained colleague with + him, July 7, 1830. + +A Church was organized in Roxbury, Sept. 18, 1834, composed of Members of +Evangelical sentiments, and of the Orthodox Congregational denomination. +It took the name of “ELIOT CHURCH.” + +Rev. John S. C. Abbott was ordained Pastor, Nov. 25, 1835. + +Rev. Augustus C. Thompson was ordained Pastor, July 27, 1842. + + +P.—See page 51. + + ROXBURY “ELIOT SCHOOL FUND.” + + “Eliot School Fund had its origin in the donation of Rev. John + Eliot, of Roxbury, well known as the Apostle to the Indians, + who, in the year 1689, conveyed an estate of about seventy-five + acres of land to certain persons and their heirs, as Trustees + for ‘the maintenance, support and encouragement of a school and + school master at that part of Roxbury, commonly called Jamaica + or the Pond Plain, for the teaching and instructing of the + children of that end of the town (together with such Indians + and negroes as shall or may come to the said school) and to no + other use, intent, or purpose whatever. This is the language of + the deed.’ (The fund was afterwards increased by donations.) + + “The Eliot school fund consists (1840) of 89,699.94. The School + also possesses some real estate, which yields an annual income + of 8381.” + + Report of the Committee on the School Fund, Roxbury. Auditor’s + Reports, 1831-1846. + +The following are the principal of Mr. Eliot’s publications. It is +remarkable that no entire Sermon of his has been preserved. + +Answer to Norcott’s book against Infant Baptism. + +The Harmony of the Gospels in the Holy History of Jesus Christ. + +The Christian Commonwealth. + +The Divine management of Gospel Churches by the Ordinance of Councils, +constituted in order according to the Scriptures, which may be a means +of uniting those two holy and eminent parties, the Presbyterians and the +Congregational. + +Indian Bible, Catechism, and Psalms of David in metre. + +Baxter’s “Call to the unconverted,” translated into the Indian Tongue. + +The Practice of Piety, translated into the Indian Tongue. This book was +written by Lewis Bayly, for some time Chaplain to James the First. In +1792, it had reached the _seventy-first_ edition. The author was promoted +to the see of Bangor, 1616. See Lib. Am. Biog. V. 245. Francis’ Life of +Eliot. BIOG. BRITAN. Art. BAYLY. + +Thomas Shepard’s Sincere Convert, translated into the Indian tongue. + +Thomas Shepard’s Sound Believer, translated into the Indian tongue. + +Indian Primer. + +This little book has been of great help to linguists by the division of +syllables in it for children, thereby giving learners of a larger growth +some insight into the formation of Indian words. + + + + +NOTE. + + +The following appropriate conclusion to this volume came to hand just as +the last pages were going to press. + + THE CHOCTAWS TO THEIR WHITE BRETHREN OF IRELAND.—A meeting for + the relief of the starving poor of Ireland was held at the + Choctaw agency, on the 23d ult. Maj. William Armstrong was + called to the chair, and J. B. Luce was appointed secretary. A + circular of the “Memphis committee” was read by Maj. Armstrong, + after which the meeting contributed $170. All subscribed, + agents, missionaries, traders and Indians, a considerable + portion of which fund was made up by the latter. The “poor + Indian” sending his mite to the poor Irish! + + [_Arkansas Intelligencer, April 3_.] + +[Illustration: THE END OF VOL III.] + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[1] See Laws of Mass. I., page 77, Sect. 8, 9. + +“_Whereas one end in planting these parts was to propagate the true +religion unto the Indians_, and that divers of them are become subject +unto the English, and have engaged themselves to be ready and willing to +understand the law of God: It is therefore ordered that such necessary +and wholesome laws which are in force, and may be made from time to time, +to reduce them to civility of life, shall be once a year, if the times be +safe, made known to them by such fit persons as the general court shall +appoint.” + +[2] + + “Venient annis + Secula seris, quibus Oceanus + Vincula rerum, laxet, et ingens + Pateat tellus, Typhis que novos + Deteget orbes; nec sit terris + Ultima Thule.” + + _Medea, Act. 3, v. 375._ + +[3] “America known to the Ancients.” Boston, 1773. + +[4] Mather. + +[5] Governor Bradford’s History of Plymouth. + +[6] Mass. Hist. Soc., Coll. 1794., p. 206. + +[7] Key, p. 213. + +[8] See Appendix, B. + +[9] See Appendix, C. + +[10] Roger Williams’ Key, p. 26. + +[11] Mag. B. III. Life of Eliot. Art. 1. + +[12] Sparks’ Lib. Am. Biog. V. 9. Francis’ Life of Eliot. + +[13] Mag. Book III., 499. + +[14] Vol. III., p. 15. + +[15] Book III. Art. IV. + +[16] Jefferson’s “Notes on Virginia.” + +[17] Newton. Dr. Homer, in his History of Newton says, “This son of +the apostle Eliot was the first minister of Newton. His abilities +and occupation in the ministry are said to be pre-eminent. Under the +direction of his father, he obtained considerable proficiency in +the Indian language, and was an assistant to him in the missionary +employment, until he settled at Newton. Even after his ordination there, +he imitated the manner of his father, devoting himself to the instruction +of the Indians, as well as his own flock. Accordingly he preached +statedly once in a fortnight to them at Pequimet, (Stoughton,) and +sometimes at Natick.” + +[18] Now owned and occupied by Warren Dutton and Horace Gray, Esqrs. + +[19] “The first place he began to preach at was Nonantum, near Watertown, +upon the south side of Charles River, about four or five miles from his +own house; where lived at that time, Wabon, one of their principal men, +and some Indians with him.” Gookin, Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll, for 1792. Vol +I. + +“The place where Eliot first began to preach to the Indians, was at +Nonantum, a hill at the northeast corner of Newton, nearly where Messrs. +Haven’s and Wiggin’s houses now stand.” Moore’s Life of Eliot. + +[20] Mag. Book III., Part IV. See Appendix, C. + +[21] He who thinks that a belief in witchcraft, &c., was a peculiarity of +New England, should look into Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials. + +[22] He was not a Sachem, as frequently stated. See Mass. Hist., Col. +IV., 19. + +[23] The Day Breaking &c., p. 15. + +[24] Shepard’s Clear Sunshine, p. 39. Hist. Coll. Vol. IV. 3d series. +Shattuck’s Hist. Concord. + +[25] Shepard’s Clear Sunshine, &c., p. 41. + +[26] See page 19. + +[27] See Bancroft’s History of the United States, Vol. I. + +[28] See Sir Walter Scott’s “Demonology and Witchcraft,” Letter II. + +[29] “Cleare Sunshine of the Gospel,” p. 46. + +[30] Shepard’s “Cleare Sunshine.” + +[31] See the Memorial of Mr. Eliot to the General Court, on this subject, +Appendix L. + +[32] Fast enough, if well enough. + +[33] See Appendix, E. + +[34] I. 172. Note. 1715. + +[35] Mag. II, 511. _Philemon Holland._ See Rees’ Encyc., Aiken’s Biog. +Mem. of Medicine. He was the _translator general_ of his age, a man +of incredible industry. In Fuller’s Worthies of England we learn that +Holland, having written several translations with one pen, made the +following stanza: + + “With one solo pen I writ this book, + Made of a gray goose quill; + A pen it was when I it took, + And a pen I leave it still.” + +A familiar story is told of Gibbon, in writing the “Decline and Fall,” +and that he presented the pen to the Duchess of Devonshire, who honored +it with a silver case. These stories are probably fabulous. The +contrivances which these men must have used to make one pen, or even one +quill, do so much work, would deserve the appellation above quoted from +Douglass, “otiosorum hominum negotia,” or, the notions of men who had +plenty of leisure. + +[36] II. 94. + +[37] Magnalia I, 516.—See Appendix, G. + +[38] Cotton Mather’s mother was the daughter of Mr. Cotton. + +[39] See Appendix, M. + +[40] Mass. Hist. Coll. 1802. + +[41] This testimony from Richard Baxter, in favor of the Mathers, is +valuable to those who have seen them decried by some modern writers. + +[42] See Early Jesuit Missions, &c., by Wm Ingraham Kip. + +[43] C. Mather. + +[44] Mather’s allusion is probably this: In Gen. 23:2, where it is said +that Abraham came to weep for Sarah, a letter, smaller than the rest, in +the Hebrew word _to weep for her_ is believed by the Jewish critics to +intimate that his grief was somewhat composed; (—“_luctum Abrahæ fuisse +moderatum_.”—Poole’s Synopsis.)—ED. + +[45] Magnalia I. 495. + +[46] Essays, VIII. + +[47] For the Journal of Mr. Higginson’s Voyage, see Hutchinson’s +Collection of Papers, page 32. + +[48] That is fighting men. + +[49] 1617. + +[50] Or Naumkeag. Salem. + +[51] See Smith & Choules’ Hist. Miss. 1832, Vol. II. + +[52] “Thou shall not deliver unto his master the servant which is +escaped,” &c. + +[53] Those who are interested in the subjects referred to in other +petitions of Mr. Eliot may find those petitions as follows: + +Petition that the Indians may have more land, Mass. State Papers, 30, +page 31. + +Petition in relation to exchange of land with the Indians, do. do. page +81. + +Statement of John Eliot respecting lands, do. do. pp. 99, 100. + +Complains of wrong done to the Nipmucks by the Narragansetts, do. do. +page 138. + +Gookin’s and Eliot’s petition for lands for the Christian Indians, do. +do. p. 286. + +There are also some original MSS. of Mr. Eliot’s in the Hutchinson papers +in the Library of the Mass. Historical Society, but they are somewhat +illegible and of no special pertinency to the present work. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79004 *** diff --git a/79004-h/79004-h.htm b/79004-h/79004-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2df96b --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-h/79004-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10284 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + The life of John Eliot | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +a { + text-decoration: none; +} + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h2.nobreak { + page-break-before: avoid; +} + +hr.chap { + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + clear: both; + width: 65%; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +img.w100 { + width: 100%; +} + +div.chapter { + page-break-before: always; +} + +.chapter p { + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; + font-size: 90%; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; +} + +ul { + list-style-type: none; +} + +li { + margin-top: .5em; + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; +} + +p { + margin-top: 0.5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 0.5em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +table { + margin: 1em auto 1em auto; + max-width: 40em; + border-collapse: collapse; +} + +td { + padding-left: 0.25em; + padding-right: 0.25em; + vertical-align: top; + text-align: center; +} + +blockquote { + margin: 1.5em 10%; +} + +.center { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; +} + +figcaption p { + text-align: center; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.footnotes { + margin-top: 1em; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + +.footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; +} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + +.hanging { + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -2em; +} + +.larger { + font-size: 150%; +} + +.max30 { + margin: auto; + max-width: 30em; +} + +.mt2 { + margin-top: 2em; +} + +.noindent { + text-indent: 0; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: 4%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; +} + +.poetry-container { + text-align: center; +} + +.poetry { + display: inline-block; + text-align: left; +} + +.poetry .stanza { + margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; +} + +.poetry .verse { + padding-left: 3em; +} + +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;} +.poetry .indent16 {text-indent: 5.0em;} + +.right { + text-align: right; +} + +.smaller { + font-size: 80%; +} + +.smcap { + font-variant: small-caps; + font-style: normal; +} + +.allsmcap { + font-variant: small-caps; + font-style: normal; + text-transform: lowercase; +} + +.spacer1 { + margin-left: 3.5em; + margin-right: 3.5em; +} + +.spacer2 { + margin-left: 6em; + margin-right: 2.5em; +} + +.spacer3 { + margin-left: 9em; + margin-right: 3.5em; +} + +.titlepage { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 3em; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.transnote { + background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + text-align: center; + font-size: smaller; + padding: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker img { + max-width: 100%; + width: auto; + height: auto; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .poetry { + display: block; + margin-left: 1.5em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker blockquote { + margin: 1.5em 5%; +} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp65 {width: 65%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp65 {width: 100%;} +.illowp63 {width: 63%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp63 {width: 100%;} +.illowp100 {width: 100%;} + </style> + </head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79004 ***</div> + +<main> + +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="center"><b>Transcriber’s Note:</b> There are two Chapter VIIs.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span></p> + +<div class="max30"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 33.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/line.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +</div> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="larger">LIVES</span><br> +OF THE<br> +<span class="larger">CHIEF FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND.</span></p> + +<p class="mt2">The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: +let him not leave us, nor forsake us.</p> + +<p class="right">1 Kings 8:57.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">VOL. III.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 33.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/line.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage larger">THE LIFE<br> +<span class="smaller">OF</span><br> +<span class="larger">JOHN ELIOT:</span><br> +<span class="smaller">WITH AN ACCOUNT</span><br> +OF THE EARLY MISSIONARY EFFORTS<br> +<span class="smaller">AMONG</span><br> +THE INDIANS OF NEW ENGLAND.</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smcap">By NEHEMIAH ADAMS</span>,<br> +<span class="smaller">PASTOR OF ESSEX STREET CHURCH, BOSTON.</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage"><i>Written for the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and<br> +approved by the Committee of Publication.</i></p> + +<p class="titlepage">BOSTON:<br> +MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY,<br> +<span class="smaller">Depository, No. 13 Cornhill.</span><br> +1847.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage">Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847,<br> +<span class="smcap">By CHRISTOPHER C. DEAN</span>,<br> +In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="ADVERTISEMENT">ADVERTISEMENT<br> +<span class="smaller">BY THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.</span></h2> + +</div> + +<p>The substance of this book is a Lecture delivered in +1842, before the Young Men’s Missionary Association +of Boston. On application of the Publishing Committee, +the author has consented to enlarge it for +publication, as one of the Series of the Lives of the +New England Fathers.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="SEAL">SEAL OF THE<br> +MASSACHUSETTS (OR SALEM) COLONY.</h2> + +</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp65" id="seal1" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/seal1.jpg" alt="SIGILLVM:GVB:ET:SOCIET:DE:MATTACHVSETS:BAY:IN:NOVA:ANGLIA"> +<p class="center">TRANSLATION.</p> +<p>Seal of the Governor and Colony of Massachusetts +Bay in New England.</p> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p> + +<h1>LIFE OF JOHN ELIOT.</h1> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="INTRODUCTORY_CHAPTER">INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.</h2> + +<p>Missionary object of the Pilgrims. Seal of Massachusetts Colony. +Reasons with the Pilgrims for leaving Holland. Extract from the +Royal Charter of the Plymouth Colony. Charter of the Salem +Company. Thoughts on this Continent as a field for Missionary +efforts. Account of the landing at Plymouth, and the first meeting +with the Indians. First Missionary efforts among them. Manners +and habits of the New England Indians. Numbers in the +various tribes. Reflections on the Missionary character and efforts +of the Pilgrims. The May-flower.</p> + +</div> + +<p>A prominent object with the Pilgrim fathers in +coming hither, was, to preach the Gospel to the +Indians of this Continent.</p> + +<p>Many popular orators and writers represent +them, as it were, following and worshiping a +goddess of liberty. But it was not for the mere +liberty of believing and doing what they pleased +that they braved the ocean and the perils of this +wilderness. Two great motives influenced +them. For the liberty of worshiping God according +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>to their own consciences, they “went +out not knowing,” as the event proved, “whither +they went.” But this was not all; they had a +missionary object in coming here.</p> + +<p>It is an interesting fact that the original seal +of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, who arrived +and settled at Salem in 1628, had on it a North +American Indian, with these words proceeding +from his mouth, “Come over and help us.” +This device on the seal of their colony published +to the world the fact that they regarded +themselves as foreign missionaries to North +America. This was also the case with their +brethren of the Plymouth Colony, who arrived +eight years before.</p> + +<p>The Pilgrims had fled to Holland, from the +persecutions of the English Church. In the +account of their residence in Holland we find +some records which establish beyond a doubt +the fact of their missionary intentions in coming +to these shores. Governor Bradford, in his History +of Plymouth, speaking of the Pilgrims +while yet in Holland, says, “This year, (1617,) +Mr. Robinson and his Church begin to think of +a remove to America, for several weighty reasons, +as (1.) The difficulties in Holland discouraged +many from coming to them out of +England, and obliged many to return. (2.) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>By reason of these difficulties with the licentiousness +of the youth, and temptations of the +place, many of their children left their parents, +some of them becoming soldiers, others taking +to foreign voyages, and some to dissoluteness +and the danger of their souls, to the great grief +of their parents, and fear lest their posterity +through these temptations and examples should +degenerate, and religion die among them. (3.) +From an inward zeal and great hope of laying +some foundation or making way for propagating +the kingdom of Christ to the remote ends of the +earth, though they should be but as stepping +stones to others.”</p> + +<p>They obtained letters patent from the crown +authorizing them to settle in North Virginia. +The following is an extract from the Royal +Charter, and is of the same purport with the +third reason assigned by Governor Bradford for +their removal to America. The Royal Charter +says,—“We have thought it fit, according to +our kingly duty—to second and follow God’s +holy will, by which means we may with boldness +go on to the settling of so hopeful a work +which tendeth to the reducing and conversion of +such savages as remain wandering in desolation +and distress, to civil society and Christian religion.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span></p> + +<p>It is well known that the Colonists who +received this Charter, and sailed for North Virginia, +were driven into the waters of Cape +Cod, and thus unintentionally landed and settled +at Plymouth.</p> + +<p>The Charter of “the Colony of Massachusetts +Bay,” who settled a few years after at +Salem, says, “To win and incite the natives of +that country to the knowledge and obedience of +the only true God and Saviour of mankind and +the Christian faith, is, in our royal intention and +the adventurer’s free profession, the principal +end of the plantation.”</p> + +<p>The Committee of the “Massachusetts” +Company, in their letter dated at Gravesend, +and addressed to Mr. Endicott, the leader, and +afterward the Governor, of the Massachusetts or +Salem Colony, say, “For that the propagating +the Gospel is the thing we profess above all in +settling this plantation, we have been careful to +make plentiful provision of good ministers.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>⁠</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span></p> + +<p>It is interesting to think of this Continent as +having been the object of missionary zeal and +efforts with the pilgrim fathers. The place +which this continent occupies on the globe is +peculiar and interesting. The numerous nations +of the old world are crowded together in one +hemisphere, and this continent is the prominent +object of the other. It did not seem presumption +to the pilgrims to believe that God laid its +deep foundations by itself, in the midst of the +oceans rolling between it and the rest of the +globe, for some purpose as singular as its position. +In the writings of ancient poets there are +remarkable allusions to this continent, when as +yet it was undiscovered. Seneca, a Latin writer, +who lived at the beginning of the Christian era, +has in his “Medea” this declaration: “The +time will come in remote years when the ocean +will unloose the present boundaries of nature, +and a great country will appear. Another Typhis +will discover new worlds, and Thule will +no longer be the limit of the earth.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> Homer +and Horace had sung of Islands west of Africa, +the Atlantides, which were “the Elysian fields.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>Hanno, the Carthaginian general and great +navigator, had sailed from the pillars of Hercules, +(the straits of Gibraltar,) westward, thirty +days. Some suppose that he must have seen +America, or some of the neighboring islands.⁠<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +Columbus verified the dreams and surmises of +the world; the Cabots pursued his sublime discoveries, +and they, with their Bristol crews, +long accustomed to Icelandic fisheries, found +this continent. New adventurers carried home +some of the native Indians; and, at length, a +new Continent, inhabited by wild men, became +the subject of intense interest to the civilized +world. Our pious forefathers, while yet in the +old world, fancied that they heard the Macedonian +cry from the Indians here, and it quickened +their flight, as they say, “to follow Christ +into a waste howling wilderness.”</p> + +<p>Having been driven into the waters of Cape +Cod, instead of North Virginia, and making a +safe harbor on Saturday, the Pilgrims fell on +their knees and blessed the God of heaven. The +Sabbath came; the Mayflower riding at anchor, +and the exploring party in the shallop, kept the +first Sabbath of the Lord which, perhaps, had +ever been recognized in this region, since God +rested from his works.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span></p> + +<p>“Monday,” says Prince, in his New England +Chronology, “the people go ashore to refresh +themselves;—the whales play round about +them, and the greatest store of fowl they ever +saw. But the earth here a company of sand +hills, and the water so shallow near the shore, +they were forced to wade a bow-shot or two to +get to land, which being freezing weather, +affecteth them with grievous coughs and colds, +which after proves the death of many. When +they had marched a mile southward, they see +five or six savages whom they follow ten miles +till night, but could not overtake them, and +lodge in the woods. The next day they come +to a place of graves, then to some heaps of sand, +when they dig into them, and find several baskets +full of Indian corn, and take some, for +which they purpose to give the natives full satisfaction +as soon as they could meet with any of +them.” Two days after, they returned to borrow +more corn; the ground had frozen a foot +deep, but they made up their corn, says Governor +Morton, to ten bushels; the next day some +of the party, having spent the night there, dug +again into some little hillocks, but they found +that instead of being cornhills they were graves. +By the overruling providence of God, the corn +which they had thus borrowed with such good +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>intent to repay, furnished them with seed for the +ensuing spring. Here we have the first scene +of their approach to the wild objects of their +pious and benevolent endeavors.</p> + +<p>During the month of February, after their +arrival, the colony were afterwards informed +that the Indians assembled all their Powwaws, or +the conjurers of the country, to curse them with +their horrid ceremonies and incantations. They +held their assembly for this purpose in a dark +and dismal swamp.</p> + +<p>On the morning of March 16th, however, +they say a savage boldly came alone along the +houses straight to the rendezvous, and surprised +them with calling out, “Welcome, Englishmen! +Welcome, Englishmen!” It seems that he had +learned some broken English from the fishermen +of Nova Scotia. He said that his name was +Samoset, that he was sagamore or lord of a +country “a day’s sail thence with a great +wind,” or five days land travel. He told them +that four years ago all the inhabitants of the +place where they then were, (now Plymouth,) +died of an extraordinary plague; that there was +neither man, woman, nor child remaining. At +night they lodged and watched him. A few +days after he returned with an Indian named +Squanto, whom a man by the name of Hunt had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span>carried to Spain with nineteen others, and who +by some means went to England, and lived in +Cornhill, London, with Mr. John Slanie, merchant. +He could speak a little English, and +thus he was extremely useful to the colonists in +assisting them to trade and make treaties with +the surrounding Indians. They endeavored to +conciliate the natives, but wisely mingled intimations +that they were prepared to resist them +if attacked.</p> + +<p>The treacherous tribe of Narragansett Indians, +with five thousand fighting men, who at first +made a treaty with the settlers, showed signs on +one occasion of hostility. Canonicus, their chief +Sachem, sent a bundle of arrows, tied with a +snake’s skin, which Squanto told them meant a +challenge. Governor Bradford and his Council +sent them word that if they had rather have war +than peace, they might begin when they would; +they had done the Indians no wrong, nor did +they fear them; nor would the Indians find +them unprepared. Then, with some wit, the +Governor sent them, by another messenger, the +snake’s skin filled with powder and bullets; but +they refused to receive it, and sent it back.</p> + +<p>Thus, after various alarms, and treaties, the +pilgrims had fortified themselves in the country, +and individuals among them had begun the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>pious work of instructing some of the young +Indians in the Christian religion.</p> + +<p>In 1621, one year after the arrival at Plymouth, +Elder Robert Cushman sent word to his +friends in England that many of the Indians, +especially the younger of them, were teachable; +that if the Colony had means they would bring +up hundreds of them to labor, and learning, and +that young men in England who desired to further +the Gospel among these poor heathen, +would do well to come over and spend their +estates, time, and labor, in so doing.</p> + +<p>During the few first years after the settlement +at Plymouth, several of the natives gave evidence +of conversion, and instances of happy +death occurred among them. But the hardships +and trials incident to a removal into this wilderness +delayed the systematic and general efforts +of the settlers to convert the Indians. Individuals, +however, were laboring among them +with success. In 1636, the Plymouth Colony +enacted laws to provide for the preaching of the +Gospel among the Indians, and ten years after, +the Massachusetts Colony passed a similar act.</p> + +<p>In 1675, it was ascertained that the whole +number of Indians in New England, beginning +as far east as the St. Croix River, was about +fifty thousand. Of these, about twelve thousand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>were in the neighborhood of the Massachusetts +and the Plymouth Colonies.</p> + +<p>At the settlement of this country there were +five principal nations, or sachemships, of Indians, +in this part of New England, viz, 1. The Pequots; +2. The Narragansetts; 3. The Pawkunnawkuts; +4. The Pawtucketts; 5. The Massachusetts. +Each of these nations included several +tribes, governed by sagamores.</p> + +<p>The Pequots formerly had 4000 warriors; in +1674, 300.</p> + +<p>The Narragansetts formerly had 5000 warriors; +in 1674, 1000.</p> + +<p>The Pawkunnawkuts formerly had 3000 warriors; +in 1674, nearly extinct.</p> + +<p>The Pawtuckets formerly had 3000 warriors; +in 1674, 250.</p> + +<p>The Massachusetts formerly had 3000 warriors; +in 1674, 300.</p> + +<p>The <i>Pequots</i> inhabited the most southerly +parts of New England, their country for the +most part fell under the Connecticut jurisdiction. +Their principal sachem lived at or near +New London, called, in their language Pequot.</p> + +<p>The <i>Narragansetts</i> occupied Rhode Island, +and other islands in Narragansett bay.</p> + +<p>The <i>Pawkunnawkuts</i> inhabited the region of +the Plymouth Colony, and their sachem held +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>sway over the Sagamores of Nantucket, Martha’s +Vineyard, and neighboring places. A few years +before the arrival of the Pilgrims, a great number +of this nation of Indians as before stated, +were swept away by a plague, and thus the +way was opened for the entrance of the Pilgrims.</p> + +<p>The <i>Pawtuckets</i> lived to the north, and +northeast of the Massachusetts Indians. They +were almost wholly destroyed by the plague +just mentioned.</p> + +<p>The <i>Massachusetts</i> Indians dwelt principally +about the parts of Massachusetts bay which +were first settled by the English, and bordering, +some of them, on the region of the Pawkunnawkuts. +They were very numerous and powerful. +Their chief sachem held rule over many petty +chiefs. This people was also visited by the +plague in 1612-13, which destroyed the most +of them, and prepared the way for the English +settlers.</p> + +<p>This fact has often brought to mind these +words of David: “We have heard with our +ears, O God, our fathers have told us what +work thou didst in their day, in the times of +old. How thou didst drive out the heathen +with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou +didst afflict the people and cast them out. For +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>they got not the land in possession by their own +sword, neither did their own arm save them; +but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the +light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a +favor unto them.”</p> + +<p>An early New England writer⁠<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> says, that he +had not been able to learn accurately the nature +of the disease or plague which depopulated the +Indian tribes in the remarkable manner already +described; but that he had “discoursed” with +some old Indians, who told him that the patients +were “all over exceedingly yellow,” and this +they described by showing him a yellow garment +which the bodies of the victims resembled +in color, both before and after death. There is +a tradition that a Frenchman, who not long +before this plague, had fallen into their hands +by shipwreck, told them, as some of the surviving +shipmates reported, just before he died by +their hands, that “God was angry with them +for their wickedness, and would not only destroy +them all, but would also people their country +with men who would not live after their brutish +manners.” Those infidels then blasphemously +replied, that God could not kill them; which +blasphemous mistake was confuted by an horrible +and unusual plague, whereby they were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>consumed in such vast multitudes, that our first +planters found the land almost covered with their +unburied carcases, and they that were left alive +were smitten into awful and humbler regards of +the English by the terrors which the Frenchman’s +prophecy had imprinted on them.</p> + +<p>When the Pilgrims in Holland thought of +coming to this country, some of them hesitated +for several reasons, and among others through +their fear of the savages, who they heard were +“cruel, barbarous, and treacherous, being most +furious in their rage, and merciless where they +overcome, not being content only to kill and +take away life, but delight to torment men in +most bloody manner that may be, flaying men +alive with the shells of fishes, cutting off the +points and members of others by piecemeals, +and broiling them on the coals, and causing +men to eat the collops of their flesh in their +sight whilst they live; with other cruelties horrible +to be related.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> Some were therefore in +favor of settling in Guiana, in South America. +But they feared the jealousy of the Spaniards, +and finally concluded to settle within the jurisdiction +of the company of Virginia, where the +English, in 1607, had made a settlement. In +this way, they supposed that they could also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>have better access to the savages, “to reduce +them to civil society, and the Christian religion.” +But God brought them by a way they knew not, +having first in part cut off the heathen nations +to bring them in.</p> + +<p>The May-flower sailed from Holland, September +6, 1620, for the Hudson River. But +they were driven into the waters of Cape Cod, +and it was a current belief that the shipmaster +was bribed by the Dutch to change her course, +because the Dutch wished to settle in the region +for which the Pilgrims embarked. But some of +the best authorities deny this, and say that the +change of their course was accidental.</p> + +<p>There is so much connection between climate +and characters that we may reasonably suppose +it to have been the intention of Providence to +plant the Pilgrims in this cold region, and on +this hard soil, that they might be and do that +which is proved to have been their high destiny +to be and to accomplish. Whereas, had they +settled in a warmer and more enervating latitude, +we cannot believe that such a New England +as we now behold would have arisen; it +would have been easier for the settlers to have +borne the imposition of slavery from the mother +country, whereas here in Massachusetts the sturdy +vigor and independence which were borne and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>nourished on this rocky and sandy soil, grew +impatient of slavery, and soon threw it off, and +hence in part the present difference between the +North and the South, in some of the essential +elements of natural prosperity. God brought +the Pilgrims into these bays and harbors, and to +this northern soil, because here the qualities +necessary to their future usefulness and greatness +as a nation could be most successfully +developed and strengthened. Instead of reducing +the savages to slavery as they might have done +had the institution of slavery been fastened upon +them in southern regions, they “reduced the +savages to civil society, and the Christian religion.” +Let us return for a moment to the +landing of the Pilgrims.</p> + +<p>When the May-flower had cast anchor, the +Pilgrims fitted up the little shallop which they +had brought in their vessel, and coasted the +Cape for about a month to determine on the best +place for landing and settlement. Having at +length fixed on a place, the shallop, with the +exploring party came to anchor on Saturday, the +9th of December, corresponding to December +20, New Style. The Sabbath dawned upon +them, but the exploring party remained on +board, notwithstanding the inmates of the May-flower +were still at anchor, waiting to know the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>result of the exploration. How beautiful and +striking was the coincidence of their arriving at +Plymouth on the eve of the Sabbath. What a +Sabbath it must have been to them. Not only +was their comfortless and perilous voyage in a +crowded vessel, and their anxious search for a +landing place now over, but their persecutions +in the old world, their oppressive treatment from +the Established Church for not conforming to +rites and practices which they could not observe, +had now come to an end. Now they had found +a new world where they might believe and worship +as they pleased. Now they would no +longer be taxed for the support of worship in +which they had no share. Now their ministers +would no longer be ill-used or nick-named, for +not conforming to unscriptural practices; now +they would not be obliged to keep Lent, and +Ash-Wednesday, Candlemas, Christmas, and +All-Saints’-day, in a manner repugnant to their +consciences. As they looked on this great wilderness, +free from all corruptions of man in the +worship of God, and pure in that respect as the +virgin snows that covered the evergreens, and +sheeted the old sand wastes, and shone on +the distant hills, they could breathe freely, as +they said in the words which indicate the essential +spirit of their faith, God is a spirit, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span>they that worship him, must worship him in +spirit and in truth. The world has never seen +such a sight, before or since, as that shallop and +the May-flower in Plymouth Bay, with the progenitors +of this great and glorious New England; +fleeing from the old world, arriving at +this new world and keeping Sabbath at anchor +in these waters. What has ever happened to +be likened to it since the time when Noah and +his family sailed away from the old world, +which had corrupted itself before God, and +transplanted the religion of the true God for a +new beginning? It would have been interesting +to have heard the prayers, and songs of praise, +and words of Scripture, with which they kept +the Sabbath in their floating Bethels. We notice +here that Puritan regard for the Sabbath +which has ever characterized New England, and +on which her safety so much depends. How +natural it would have been for the voyagers to +have leaped ashore at the first moment of their +arrival in the harbor which they had concluded +to make their home. How many passengers +now in similar circumstances, would deny themselves +the pleasure of exchanging the wearisome +confinement on ship-board, for the excitement +and satisfaction of exploring their new home? +But the Pilgrims would not begin the work of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>their settlement, of removing any of their effects +from the vessel, on the Lord’s day, and since +the time when God rested from his work on the +Sabbath, there has not been a more sublime act +of rest and of worship, than was observed by +that Pilgrim band.</p> + +<p>All this was in accordance with their character +and intentions as a missionary band, and for +its relation to this view of their character we +have dwelt at large upon this incident in their +history.</p> + +<p>It cannot be impressed too deeply upon our +minds that our forefathers did not come here +merely to “enjoy their liberty,” not merely to +flee from persecution, not to increase their +worldly estate; they came here, among other +good reasons, as they expressly declare, to extend +the kingdom of Christ, and the Royal +Charter professed that the royal object in granting +it was that they might reduce such savages +as they found wandering in desolation and distress +to civil society and the Christian religion. +Does any one cherish a feeling of reverence and +love for these pilgrims in view of their sacrifices +and efforts to found these institutions which we +possess, who yet feels no interest in the work of +propagating the gospel to the ends of the earth? +Let him consider that a company of Christian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>missionaries going from this land and settling in +India, or Africa, or Oceanica, may be the +founders of just such institutions as we enjoy, +among the people to whom they are sent. Let +every missionary consider that in distant years +he may be justly regarded as a pilgrim-father to +some portion of the earth for whom he may +have done as much as the New England Pilgrims +have done for New England. The object +of Christian missions is to re-produce and multiply +our Christian institutions in heathen and +pagan lands. The opportunity of laying foundations +in heathen wilds, similar to those which the +Pilgrims laid here, has not come to an end. +Many a missionary bark may yet be, essentially, +a May-flower to distant parts of the earth. +Some islands which were filled with savages as +barbarous as our Indians, have had their independence +recognized by Christian nations, and +have taken their place among the nations of the +earth; and that band of American missionaries +who left these shores for the Sandwich Islands in +1820, and who went round Cape Horn singing +the old hymn in the tune of Melton Mowbray,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Head of the church triumphant,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">We cheerfully adore thee,” &c.,</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">and who planted the Gospel on those islands, +will no doubt in after times have their names +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>enshrined by a grateful posterity in those distant +seas. The little schooner which the Rev. +John Williams, the martyr of Rarotonga, built +with his own hand, to visit the islands of the +Harvey group, was a real “May-flower.” +Prophetic visions of the effects of the Gospel +we see fulfilled on these shores and around the +globe. Here, emphatically, “instead of the +thorn has come up the fir-tree, and instead of +the brier the myrtle-tree.” In what way can +we cherish the memory of our Pilgrim fathers +better than to keep alive in us and our children +that zeal to spread the Christian religion and +Christian institutions, which was one of the +strong impulses that bore them across the flood? +As the missionary spirit was the native air in +which the pilgrim faith was born and nurtured, +we may believe that the same spirit will most +effectually cherish those institutions and laws +which are the fruit of their wisdom. That spirit +is a sincere desire to see the glory of God +promoted in the world, a willingness to make +efforts and sacrifices “that his way may be +known on earth, his saving health among all nations.”</p> + +<p>“The May-flower”! That name must have +been proposed by some gentle wife, or by some +sweet child, to the man who built that favored +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>vessel! She was, in her seasonableness, more +than a <i>May-flower</i>; she was the Crocus among +the eternal snows and the dreary winter of this +western savage world. In the selection of her for +the great mission which she accomplished, angels +might have said to her, as they came to be ministering +spirits to those in her who were to be, +in more than one sense, “heirs of salvation,” +as Gabriel said to Mary, “Hail, thou that art +highly favored—the Lord is with thee!” The +name of this vessel is one of those instances, of +which we see so many in the word, the providence +of God, in which “the beauty of the +Lord our God” appears in connection with his +acts of renown. To the cold eye of reason that +name was only a mercantile accident; the eye of +faith is willing to be accounted visionary while it +sees in it that same hand which, after the deluge, +selected the rainbow instead of a periodical tempest, +or a Dead Sea, as the memorial of a covenant +with the earth.</p> + +<p>The painting of the Landing of the Pilgrims, +by Weir, justly represents some of the pilgrim +company as of cultivated and even polished appearance +and manners; they were not the +offscouring of the earth. They were men and +women of whom, in their day, the world was +not worthy. For scholarship, intelligence, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>moral worth, the Pilgrims and their associates +in the old countries would have been ornaments +to the land which chased them away. The +reader will find this illustrated in a satisfactory +manner in the Life of the Rev. John Cotton, by +the Rev. A. W. M’Clure, in the first two volumes +in this series of the Lives of eminent N. +E. Puritans.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p>Description of the Indians. Their manners, habits, mode of life, &c. +Efforts to convert them, previous to Eliot’s labors.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Some account of the manners and habits of +the Indians, as our forefathers and their successors +found them, will be necessary that we may +appreciate the labors and self-denial which were +required of those who instructed these sons of +the forest in religion and civilization. A correct +knowledge of their original condition dispels +the romantic associations which many have with +the name of a North American Indian. The +lowest degradation had been reached by these +savages. The laws of a people are a true picture +of the people, and some of the laws which +the Indians enacted when they began to be civilized, +reveal the misery and filthiness from which +they began at last to be recovered. This will +be illustrated as we proceed.</p> + +<p>We will speak first of the personal appearance +of the Indian.</p> + +<p>Their skin was of a tawny color, a yellowish, +dark complexion. Their form and limbs were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>well proportioned, and it was seldom that a +crooked person was found among them. Their +hair was long, black, and coarse, without curling; +their eyes black, without lustre. In their +general appearance they were so much like +the Moors of Africa, that many have supposed +them to have come originally from that part of +the world.</p> + +<p>They had many wives, but one of them was +chief in her husband’s regard. They put away +their wives, and the wife also left her husband +when offended with him.</p> + +<p>Their revengeful disposition is proverbial. +The relatives of an injured or murdered Indian +regarded his wrong as done to them, and they +sought satisfaction in the death of the offender, or +in the payment of wampum, (or shells,) which +passed with them for money.</p> + +<p>They were an idle race, especially the men. +Tillage was chiefly performed by the women, +though to but little extent. The women also +carried burdens, as in removing from place to +place. They also prepared the food.</p> + +<p>Their wigwams were made with slim poles +fixed in the ground, bent, and fastened at the +top with the bark of trees. The best of them +were made tight and warm with the whole +barks of trees, pressed when green by a heavy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>weight of timber. A common sort of bulrushes +woven together, made mats for the covering of +the poorer houses. The houses varied in size, +from twenty to forty feet square, and some were +from sixty to a hundred feet long, and thirty feet +broad. In the smaller houses a fire was kindled +in the centre, but in the larger, several fires +were made for the convenience of the inmates. +A hole in the top of the house served the place +of a chimney, and on the top of the house a mat +was suspended, to serve the purpose of a ventilator +to the smoke, being set to the windward +side. Their bedsteads were made of rude boards +split from the tree, and raised about a foot from +the ground, covered with skins, or with mats of +woven grass, or bulrushes.</p> + +<p>Their principal food was a kind of pottage in +which it would be difficult to say what article +prevailed. Indian corn, kidney beans, all kinds +of flesh and fish, cut in small pieces with the +bones, many kinds of roots, artichokes, ground-nuts, +squashes, oak acorns, walnuts, and chestnuts, +were boiled together. The nuts being +dried, and powdered, were used as flour to +thicken the mess. They made a cake of parched +corn, which they called nokake. This they +took with them in their travels, and is said +to have been so hearty a kind of food, that they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span>subsisted on it many days in their wanderings +from place to place.</p> + +<p>Their household utensils corresponded in +simplicity to their food, and mode of cooking. +The pots were made of clay, in the shape of an +egg without the top. They were glad to receive +pots of metal, as the earth of which they made +their brittle vessels was scarce and dear. They +used a kind of wood which was not liable to +split, for dishes, spoons, and ladles. Their +water pails were made of birch bark, folded +square, with a handle or bail. Some of them +held two or three gallons, and they could make +one of them in the space of an hour. They +wrought pictures of birds, beasts, fishes and +flowers of divers colors in their baskets, which +were made of corn husks, silk grass, and wild +hemp.</p> + +<p>They formerly used no drink but water, +though they soon learned from the settlers the +manufacture and use of cider. When they became +acquainted with intoxicating drinks, they +showed a violent love for them, by which their +savage passions and propensities were fearfully +excited.</p> + +<p>Their clothing was, at first, of skins, and some +had mantles of birds’ feathers, twilled together. +Even the most barbarous of them were decent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>in covering their persons, and were never seen +naked in public.</p> + +<p>One of their principal remedies in sickness +was, to put the patient, and sometimes several +patients together, in a rude stone house, which +they would heat by building fires round it, and +having thus put the sick into a violent perspiration, +they would plunge them into a neighboring +brook.</p> + +<p>They divided time into sleeps, and moons, +and winters. It is a curious fact that they called +the Constellation, Charles’ Wain, by the same +name with the English, the Bear. Like the +early eastern nations, they seem to have pondered +the face of the heavens, and to have made +figures of the stars.</p> + +<p>Their money consisted of shells, or strings of +shells, the black being double in value to the +white. The <i>mints</i> of their money seem to +have been at Block Island, and Long Island, +upon whose sandy flats and shores, these welk +shells were chiefly found. It was called wompompeague, +or, wompeague, and by contraction, +wompum, or, wampum. They redeemed +captives, paid tribute, made satisfaction for +wrongs, and murders, and purchased peace of +their more powerful neighbors, with strings of +this wampum.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span></p> + +<p>Their weapons were bows and arrows, clubs, +tomahawks, made of wood like a pole axe, with +a sharp stone in the head. They used targets +or shields of bark.</p> + +<p>They formerly smeared their skin with bears’ +grease, but when the English swine afforded +them lard, they used it as a substitute, and thus +having anointed themselves, they painted their +faces with vermilion, or red, and powdered +their heads. Sometimes they painted one half +of the face black, and the other white, and so, +with various colors, deformed their visages, the +women, especially, doing this, and the warriors +thereby making themselves hideous in battle. +Widows, mourning for their husbands, painted +their faces wholly black. The men preparing for +war put their hair in a roll, and surmounted it +with turkey’s or eagle’s feathers, with other fantastic +and showy decorations.</p> + +<p>They took great pleasure in dancing, the +men only dancing, and they singly, (except in +the war dance,) with uncouth and antic gestures +and movements of the whole body, the spectators +singing or whooping. The dancer took off +his ornaments one by one as he danced, and +gave them away to those who looked on, and +when he had given away all that he had upon +him, and was weary, another would succeed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>him, and thus succeeding each other they would +spend the nights of a whole week together, +sleeping by day. At such dancings accompanied +with revelings, chiefly held after harvest, +they were addicted to many evil practices.</p> + +<p>They were a hospitable race. Strangers +were furnished with the best food and lodging, +and were served before themselves.</p> + +<p>Their government was for the most part +monarchical, the chief sachem or sagamore making +his will the law, though there were chief men +associated with him as counselors. In some of +the tribes the influence of the head men was +greater than in others, making the government +a mixture of monarchy and aristocracy.</p> + +<p>They had no idols made with hands, but +being ignorant of the true God, they adored +natural objects; the sun, the moon, the earth, +fire, and other things. They supposed that +every thing in nature has a god in it, or belonging +to it, but fire they believed to be itself a +god. They believed that there was one god in +the southwest, who was the chief deity.</p> + +<p>The Indians had priests or powows, or, +powaws, who were conjurers, who, with horrid +rites and incantations, told their fortunes, advised +them in their affairs, yelled over them in their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>sick and dying moments, and performed religious +worship with terrific noises and actions,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Like stabled wolves or tigers at their prey,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Doing abhorred rites to Hecate.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The Indians believed in the immortality of +the soul, that the good are admitted to a splendid +entertainment, and the wicked wander in +agony forever, and that there is no resurrection +of the body for good or bad.</p> + +<p>As to the origin of the Indians, Roger Williams +has well expressed the truth on the subject, +in his Key into the language of the Indians +of New England.⁠<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>“From Adam and Noah that they spring, it +is granted on all hands. But for their later +descent, and whence they came into these parts, +it seems hard to find, as to find the well-head +of some fresh stream which running many miles +out of the country to the salt ocean, hath met +with many mixing streams by the way.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Williams gives many particulars of their +manners and customs; some of which are here +added.</p> + +<p>Their nokake, or nokehick, parched meal, was +carried by each man on a journey, or in war, in +a basket, fastened to his back, or in a hollow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span>belt. With a spoonful of this meal, and a +spoonful of water from the brook, Mr. Williams +says he has many a time made a good supper. +This parched meal, boiled with water, he says, +is the wholesomest diet they have. <i>Nawsaump</i> +was a kind of meal pottage unparched, and +from this the English derived their <i>samp</i>, or +Indian corn, broken and boiled, and eaten, hot +or cold, with milk or butter; “which are mercies +beyond the natives’ plain water, and which +is a dish exceeding wholesome for the English +bodies.”</p> + +<p>Tobacco was in general use among them, and +was the only plant which the men cultivated, +the women attending to the rest. The following +remark, by Mr. Williams, is in good illustration +of former views and feelings with regard +to the use of spirituous liquors. “I never see +any take tobacco so excessively as I have seen +men in Europe; and yet excess were more +tolerable in them, because they want the refreshing +of beer and wine, which God had +vouchsafed Europe.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>They made up a fire, when they were lying +down to sleep, summer and winter. “Their +fire,” says Williams, “is instead of our bed +clothes. And so themselves, and any that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>have occasion to lodge with them, must be content +to turn often to the fire, if the night be +cold; and they who first wake must repair the +fire.”</p> + +<p>Bad dreams they considered as threatenings +from God; and when they happened to them, +they would engage in prayer at all times of the +night. An Indian once dreamed that the sun, +whom they worship as a god, darted a beam into +his breast. This he took for an admonition of +his death. He called his friends and neighbors +together, and prepared some refreshment for +them; but himself remained awake, and fasting, +for ten days and nights in great humiliation and +distress.</p> + +<p>“The women nurse all the children themselves; +yet a rich or high woman maintains a +nurse to tend the child.”</p> + +<p>“They have amongst them natural fools, either +so born, or accidentally deprived of reason.”</p> + +<p>“The toothache is the only pain which will +force their stout hearts to cry. I have never +heard any cries among them like those of men +in the toothache. In this pain they use a certain +root dried, not much unlike our ginger.”</p> + +<p>“They are most skillful in cutting off the +heads of their enemies in fight. I know the +man, yet living, who pretended to fall from his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>own camp to the enemy, proffered his service in +the front with them against his own army. He +drew them out to battle, keeping in front; but, +on a sudden, shot their chief leader and captain, +and, in a trice, fetched off his head, and returned +immediately to his own again. His act was +false and treacherous; yet herein appear policy, +stoutness, and activity.”</p> + +<p>“Their desire of and delight in news, is great +as the Athenians. A stranger that can relate +news in their own language they will style him +manittoo, a god.”</p> + +<p>In hearing news they sit in a circle, two, +three, or four deep. “I have seen near a thousand +in a round where English could not well +near half so many have sitten.”</p> + +<p>They frequently inquired “Why came the +Englishmen hither?” The explanation most +commonly believed among themselves at first +was, that the English wanted fire-wood, and so +removed to these parts, as the Indians remove +when they have used up the wood around them.</p> + +<p>They kept the time of the day and the night +with great accuracy, by observing the sun, moon, +and stars. Living abroad in the fields and +sleeping much out of doors, even the young +children were expert in telling the time. The +Indians were punctual in their promises as to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>time. Mr. Williams says they once charged +him with lying for not being punctual, though +necessarily delayed.</p> + +<p>English travelers were struck with the paths +which the bare and tough feet of the Indians had +made in stony places. One writer says that he +has known many of them to run between eighty +and a hundred miles in a summer’s day, and +return within two days. He says they were so +thoroughly acquainted with the interior of the +country by means of hunting, that they have +guided travelers forty miles without any path. +They coveted horses above other beasts, preferring +the ease of riding even to the comfort of +milk and butter from the cow. On meeting +with one another in travel, they were very +happy and joyful; and striking fire, with stones +or sticks, took tobacco, and set down to talk. +It was quite rare to meet an old man or a lame +man with a staff, their constitutions being generally +robust.</p> + +<p>The English settlers were greatly struck with +the purity of the air and of the water in New +England.⁠<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> But as New England is about +twelve degrees south of England, the greater +cold of this region is explained, Mr. Williams +thinks, by the fact that main lands and continents +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>are colder than islands. “England’s +winds are sea winds, which are commonly more +thick and vapory, and warmer winds. The +northwest wind, which occasioneth New England +cold, comes over the cold, frozen land, and +over many millions of loads of snow. And yet +the pure wholesomeness of the land is wonderful, +and the warmth of the sun such in the +sharpest weather, that I have often seen the natives’ +children run about stark naked in the +coldest days, and the Indian men and women +lie by a fire in the woods in the coldest nights; +and I have often been out myself such nights +without fire, mercifully and wonderfully preserved.”</p> + +<p>It is observed by many writers that the Indians +had a considerable mixture of sadness in +their disposition. Though nature here was +profuse in wild animals for food, and fish, and +fowl, and fruits, the savages were subject to +much suffering from causes which they had no +knowledge to understand nor skill to prevent. +Their superstitions joined with their savage +vices made them afraid. It would seem also, in +noticing the proofs of this disposition to melancholy, +that the coming event of their disappearance +as a race had cast its shadow upon their +spirits. Mr. Williams says that they dislike +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>cloths inclining to white, “but preferred to +have a sad color, without any whitish hairs, +suiting with their own natural temper, which +inclines to sadness.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>In the spirit with which our forefathers came +hither, seeking the conversion of the red race, +good men from time to time pursued different +measures for their spiritual good. But while +other men deserve great praise for their zeal and +industry in this benevolent work, it was reserved +to <span class="smcap">John Eliot</span> to gain for himself the name of +the Apostle to the Indians. The way in which +he obtained it will now appear, and also some +account of his life and character, with further +notices respecting the Indians.</p> + +<p>Though individuals had incidentally labored +among the Indians for their spiritual good before +the Apostle Eliot began his efforts to give them +the Gospel, and some useful impressions had +been made on some of their minds, the first systematic +efforts for their conversion were made +by him. Roger Williams’ narrative was printed +in London, in 1643. Eliot began to preach in +the Indian tongue in 1646. Mr. Williams says,</p> + +<p>“Many solemn discourses I have had with +all sorts of nations of them, from one end of +the country to the other, so far as opportunity, +and the little language I have, could reach.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span></p> + +<p>“I know there is no small preparation in the +hearts of multitudes of them. I know their +many solemn confessions to myself, and one to +another, of their last wandering conditions.</p> + +<p>“I know not with how little knowledge and +grace of Christ the Lord may save; and therefore +neither will despair, nor report much.</p> + +<p>“Two days before the death of Wequash, the +Pequot captain, as I passed up to Quunnihticut +(Connecticut) river, it pleased my worthy friend, +Mr. Fenwick, whom I visited at his house in +Saybrook fort, at the mouth of that river, to tell +me that my old friend Wequash lay very sick. +I desired to see him, and himself was pleased to +be my guide two miles where Wequash lay.</p> + +<p>“Amongst other discourses concerning his +sickness and death, in which he freely bequeathed +his son to Mr. Fenwick, I closed with him concerning +his soul. He told me that some two or +three years before, he had lodged at my house, +where I acquainted him with the condition of +all mankind, and his own in particular; how +God created man and all things; how man fell +from God, and his present enmity against God +and the wrath of God against him till repentance. +Said he, your words were never out of +my heart to this present; and, said he, ‘Me +much pray to Jesus Christ.’ I told him so did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span>many English, French, and Dutch, who had +never turned to God nor loved him. He replied +in broken English: ‘Me so big naughty heart: +me heart all one stone!’ Savoring expressions +using to breathe from compunct and broken +hearts, and a sense of inward hardness and unbrokenness. +I had many discourses with him +in this life; but this was the sum of our last +parting, until our general meeting.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>We now come to the history of the man by +whom the work of converting and civilizing the +Indians was carried out with the most signal +success.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p>John Eliot. Birth and Education. Associated with Rev. Thomas +Hooker. Arrives at Boston. Settles in Roxbury. Anecdote. +Discovery of Spot Pond. Marriage. Christian and Ministerial +character. His zeal for common School Education. Notices of +his personal character. His Congregational Sentiments. Remarks +upon them. Mr. Eliot’s children. His prayers. His preaching. +Infant Baptism.</p> + +</div> + +<p>John Eliot was born in Nasing, Essex, England, +in the year 1604. All that is known of +his parents is, that they were eminently pious, +to which Mr. Eliot bore testimony, when he +wrote in after life these words: “I do see that +it was a great favor of God unto me to season +my first years with the fear of God, the word, +and prayer.”</p> + +<p>He was educated in England at the University +of Cambridge, and was distinguished for his +love of the languages, in which he attained uncommon +skill, especially in Hebrew and Greek. +There is a connection between this fact and his +labors in New England in acquiring the Indian +tongue and translating the Bible and other books +into it.</p> + +<p>The Rev. Thomas Hooker, afterwards the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>first Pastor of the Church in Cambridge, New +England, who afterwards removed with his +Church to Hartford, Connecticut, had been silenced +for his conscientious scruples at certain +rites and observances in the Church of England, +after exercising the ministry four years. At the +suggestion and request of distinguished individuals, +he established a school in the town of +Little Braddow, near Chelmsford, in the county +of Essex, England. Mr. Eliot was an usher in +this school. In this school several individuals +were trained up who became eminently useful. +Mr. Eliot wrote an account of this school; and +says of it, and of his connection with the family +of Mr. Hooker, “To this place was I called +through the infinite riches of God’s mercy in +Christ Jesus to my poor soul; for here the Lord +said unto my dead soul, Live; and, through the +grace of Christ, I do live, and I shall live forever. +When I came to this blessed family, I +then saw, and never before, the power of godliness +in its lively vigor and efficacy.”</p> + +<p>By the influence of Mr. Hooker, Mr. Eliot +was led to devote himself to the Christian ministry. +Seeing the corruptions of the Church of +England, and the oppressive spirit of those in +authority towards all who would not conform to +the ceremonies and practices of the Established +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>Church, he resolved that he would go to America, +that he might preach the gospel without +restraint.</p> + +<p>He came to Boston in November, 1631, in +the ship “Lyon,” with Governor Winthrop’s +lady and children, and sixty others. There was +then no minister at the Church in Boston, Rev. +Mr. Wilson, their pastor, having gone to England +to settle his affairs. Mr. Eliot joined the +Church at Boston, and preached to them a part +of a year, till the return of Mr. Wilson, when +the Church wished to make him colleague and +teacher with Mr. Wilson. But he had engaged +with several individuals, in England, that if they +should remove to America, he would be their +minister. They came the year after his arrival, +and settled at Roxbury; and having formed a +Church there, secured the services of Mr. Eliot. +He was then twenty-eight years old, and he +continued as Pastor of the Church in Roxbury +nearly sixty years. His meeting-house +was on the hill where the present meeting-house +of the First Church in Roxbury (unitarian) +now stands. Cotton Mather has preserved an +anecdote connected with this hill, illustrating the +art which Mr. Eliot had at spiritualizing. Going +up the hill to his meeting-house, in his old +age, with much feebleness and weariness he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>said to the one who led him, “This is very like +the way to heaven, ’tis up hill; the Lord by his +grace fetch us up.” Spying a bush near him +he instantly added, “And truly there are thorns +and briars in the way too!” which instance, +Mather says, “I would not have singled out +from the many thousands of his occasional reflections, +but only that I might suggest unto the +good people of Roxbury something for them to +think upon when they are going up to the house +of the Lord.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>In February of the year after his arrival, Mr. +Eliot is mentioned as one of the company who, +with the governor, made an excursion into the +vicinity of Boston, and discovered a pond to +which they gave its present name of “Spot +Pond.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> This pond has of late been a prominent +candidate for the privilege of supplying this +city with water.</p> + +<p>In 1632, Mr. Eliot was married to the pious +young lady to whom he was betrothed in England, +and who came to America by appointment +the year after Mr. Eliot’s arrival. We shall +have occasion to speak of her in the sequel of +this history.</p> + +<p>In the exercise of the Christian ministry, Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>Eliot was remarkable for a deep sense of the great +responsibleness of his work. It made him humble; +he seemed to have a peculiar fear of the +temptations incident to his profession, and to be +deeply impressed with the weight of its duties. +His brethren in the ministry were struck with +this characteristic of his ministerial deportment.</p> + +<p>He bestowed much labor and diligence upon +his preparations for the pulpit. It is said that +when he listened to a discourse which seemed +to have had care and attention bestowed upon it, +he was accustomed to express his approbation +and thanks to the preacher. But while his discourses +showed him to be a student, he placed a +higher value on spiritual gifts in preaching than +upon the greatest accomplishments of art or labor. +He frequently exhorted young preachers to make +Christ prominent in their discourses and in all +their ministrations.</p> + +<p>He had an elevated sense of the meaning and +privilege of church-membership. With affection, +but also with plain and faithful words, he never +ceased to rebuke the inconsistencies of professors +of religion. Mather says of him, “He +would sound the trumpet of God against all vice +with a most penetrating liveliness, and make his +pulpit another Mount Sinai, for the flashes of +lightning therein displayed against the breaches +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>of the law given from that burning mountain. +There was usually a special fervor in the rebukes +which he bestowed on carnality. When he was +to brand the earthly mindedness of Church members +and the allowance and indulgence which +they often give themselves in sensual delights, +he was a right Boanerges. He spoke as many +thunderbolts as words!”</p> + +<p>He paid particular attention to the young people +of his charge, gave them instruction in public +and private with the help of catechisms composed +by him especially for their use. It was +his familiar habit, when he visited a family, to +call the young around him and lay his hands on +their heads with words of kindness and prayer.</p> + +<p>He showed his love of learning in his zeal for +the establishment of common schools. The +grammar School at Roxbury owed much to his +care. At the meeting of a Synod in Boston, he +made the schools of the country a special subject +of prayer, beseeching God that he would cause +them to be established everywhere, that schools +might flourish, that every member of the Synod +might go home to procure and encourage a good +school in his town; and that before they should +die, they might be so happy as to see a good +school established in every part of the country.</p> + +<p>“God so blessed his endeavors that Roxbury +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>could not live quietly without a free school in +the town, and the issue of it has been one thing +that has almost made me put the title of Schola +Illustris upon that little nursery; that is, that +Roxbury has afforded more scholars first for the +College and then for the public than any town +of its bigness, or, if I mistake not, of twice its +bigness in all New England. From the spring +of the school at Roxbury, there have run a large +number of the streams which have made glad +the whole city of God. I persuade myself that +the good people of Roxbury will forever scorn to +begrudge the cost, or to permit the death of a +school which God has made such an honor to +them; and thus the rather because their deceased +Eliot has left them a fair part of his own estate +for the maintaining of the school in Roxbury; +and I hope, or at least I wish that the +ministers of New England may be as ungainsayably +importunate with their people as Mr. Eliot +was with his for schools which may seasonably +tinge the young souls of the rising generation. +A want of education for them is the blackest and +saddest of all the bad omens that are upon us.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>One result of his interest in schools was that +many individuals were raised up under his eye +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>who became ministers of the gospel, and some +of them were eminently useful.</p> + +<p>He was so engrossed in the affairs of his ministry +that he hardly paid sufficient attention to +his worldly affairs, never being anxious about +his support, depending wholly on the temporary +and voluntary offerings of his people, which varied +with the times. Dr. Dwight, in his Travels +in New England and New York,⁠<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> relates +an anecdote to illustrate his generous and +somewhat improvident disposition and habits. +“The parish treasurer having paid him his salary, +put it into a handkerchief, and tied it into +as many hard knots as he could make to prevent +him from giving it away before he reached +his own house. On his way he called on a poor +family, and told them that he had brought them +some relief. He then began to untie the knots, +but finding it a work of great difficulty, he gave +it to the mistress of the house, saying, ‘Here, +my dear, take it, I believe the Lord designs it +all for you.’”</p> + +<p>Like many other ministers, he owed much to +the care which his wife took of him and his +worldly affairs. She of course did not commend +him for such reckless acts of charity as the one +just named. One day some cattle stood before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>their door. His wife, to try him, asked him to +whom they belonged, and though they were his +own, he did not know them.</p> + +<p>His influence upon his brethren in the ministry +seems to have been eminently spiritual. He +once said in a company of them, “The Lord +Jesus takes much notice of what is said and done +among his ministers when they are together. +Let us pray before we depart.” His advice to +some who complained of the conduct of Church +members towards them, was, “Bear, forbear, +forgive.” On one occasion he came into a +meeting of ministers who had met as referees on +some difficulties between two parties. A large +bundle of papers lay on the table, containing the +correspondence and other documents relating to +the quarrel. He put them all into the fire, and +said, “You need not be astonished at what I +have done, for I did it on my knees before I +came here.”</p> + +<p>He loved to attend upon the ministry of his +brethren when they lectured during the week. +It used to excite surprise, that, with his many +labors and studies, he could find so much time +to do this. His appearance in the house of God +as a hearer was noticeable, being always wakeful +and watchful, turning the pages of a Bible +to find the texts referred to by the preacher, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>on returning to his home, he would preach the +sermon over again to those who walked with +him.</p> + +<p>He is mentioned as remarkable for the value +which he seemed to set on the Sabbath, and for +the high spiritual enjoyment which its return +brought with it. Of every Sabbath it might +almost be said with regard to his enjoyment of the +sacred hours, “That Sabbath was a high-day.”</p> + +<p>He was eminently a man of prayer, setting +apart whole days for special supplication and +communion with God, to which he frequently +added fasting. When he had any special difficulty +in his private, or in public affairs, he devoted +himself to special, secret prayer for some +time together, on the principle related of another, +“That when we would have any great things to +be accomplished, the best policy is to work by +an engine which the world sees nothing of.” +When he heard any special news he would +sometimes say, “Brethren, let us turn all this +into prayer.” When he paid a visit to a family +with which he was familiar, he would sometimes +say, “Come, let us not have a visit without a +prayer; let us pray down the blessing of heaven +on your family before we go.”</p> + +<p>A pious woman, afflicted with a wicked husband, +complained to him that she was greatly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>troubled by the bad company which her husband +brought with him into the house, and asked him +what she should do. He said to her, “Take the +holy Bible into your hands when they come, and +you will soon drive them away.” The experiment +is said to have been successful.</p> + +<p>One day walking in his garden with a friend, +he began to pluck up the weeds. His friend +pleasantly said to him, “Sir, you tell us we +must be heavenly-minded,” as though he would +draw from Mr. Eliot some remarks on the consistency +of heavenly-mindedness with attention +to things about us. Mr. Eliot replied, “It is +true; and this is no impediment unto that; for +were I sure to go to heaven tomorrow, I would +do what I do to-day.”</p> + +<p>He went into a merchant’s counting room, +where he saw his mercantile books on the table, +and some books of devotion on the shelf. Upon +which he said, “Sir, here is earth on the table, +and Heaven on the shelf. Pray don’t sit so +much at the table as altogether to forget the +shelf.”</p> + +<p>Preaching once on holiness in all manner of +conversation, he said, “In the morning if we +ask, Where am I to be to-day? our souls must +answer, In heaven. In the evening if we ask, +Where have I been to-day, our souls may answer, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>In heaven. If thou art a believer thou art no +stranger to Heaven while thou livest; and when +thou diest, Heaven will be no strange place to +thee: no, thou hast been there a thousand times +before.”</p> + +<p>He would say to students, “I pray look to it +that you be morning birds.”</p> + +<p>A few years before his death, he pressed his +people to obtain another pastor, and said, “’Tis +possible you may think the burden of maintaining +two ministers may be two heavy for you; +but I deliver you from that fear; I do here give +back my salary to the Lord Jesus Christ, and +now, brethren, you may fix that upon any man +that God shall make a pastor for you.” But his +Church kindly and generously told him that they +should count his very presence worth a salary, +when he should be so superannuated as to do no +further service for them.</p> + +<p>He was an abstemious man, and yet far from +being morose or censorious, but when invited to +a large dinner, it is said that while he eat but +very little he would indulge in pleasant and +grateful remarks with respect to the plenty with +which God had furnished his people in this +wilderness. Having been invited at a stranger’s +house to take some drink, which he was told +was wine and water, he replied, “Wine! ’tis a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span>noble, generous liquor, and we should be humbly +thankful for it; but, as I remember, water was +made before it,” and water was his drink, to a +degree which was far from being common even +in those days.</p> + +<p>He was greatly displeased with the increasing +attention in his day among the men to the wearing +of the hair, the length of it growing to effeminacy, +and false hair frequently being added, +when there was no necessity for it to cover the +head. He finally despaired of changing or +checking the custom, and said, “The lust is become +insuperable.”</p> + +<p>It is said of him that no man ever had fewer +enemies than he, but still there were those who +privately disliked him, and he charged his wife +in her visits among the people to do good in a +special manner to any whom she found disposed +to speak against him, or to entertain unkind +feelings towards him. Having once displeased +a hearer by something in a sermon, the man +abused him publicly by words and by printing +something to his injury. The man soon after +was wounded. Mrs. Eliot had considerable +skill in medicine and the treatment of wounds, +and Mr. Eliot sent her to cure the man, which +she did, and upon his recovery the man called +to thank her, but she took no reward, and Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>Eliot kept him to dine, and took no notice of his +evil conduct, whereupon the man was deeply +affected and subdued.</p> + +<p>He had much tact and wit in suiting his benedictions +to the conditions and circumstances of +different people.</p> + +<p>In the days of affliction he showed exemplary +resignation to the will of God. He followed to +the grave two or three of his sons, who were +ministers of the Gospel. But his patience and +submission under these trials are spoken of with +great commendation.</p> + +<p>His love for the Hebrew tongue is seen in the +following enthusiastic words: “O that the Lord +would put it into the heart of some of his religious +and learned servants to take such pains +about the Hebrew language as to fit it for universal +use! Considering that above all languages +spoken by the lip of man, it is most +capable to be enlarged, and fitted to express all +things, and motions, and notions that our human +intellect is capable of in this mortal life, considering +also that it is the invention of God himself; +and what one is fitter to be the universal language, +than that which it pleased our Lord Jesus +to make use of when he spake from heaven unto +Paul!”</p> + +<p>In the government of his family, it is said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span>that there might have been seen a perpetual +mixture of a Spartan and a Christian discipline, +and that whatever decay there might have been +in family religion generally, the people ‘knew +how that he would command his children and +his household after him, that they should keep +the way of the Lord.’</p> + +<p>He was remarkable for the efforts he employed +to instruct the children, making catechisms +for them having reference to any prevailing errors. +The effect of this is certified in a remark +of Cotton Mather, that it is a well-principled +people that he has left behind him. “As when +certain Jesuits were sent among the Waldenses +to corrupt their children, they returned with +much disappointment and confusion, because the +children of seven years old were well-principled +enough to encounter the most learned of them +all; so, if any seducers were let loose to wolve +it among the good people of Roxbury, I am confident +they would find as little prey in that well +instructed place as in any part of the country. +No civil penalties would signify so much to save +any people from the snares of busy heretics, as +the unwearied catechising of our Eliot has done +to preserve his people from the gangrene of ill +opinion.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a>⁠</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span></p> + +<p>It is said of Mr. Eliot that he was not only an +evangelical minister, but a Protestant and a Puritan. +“He was a modest, humble, but very +reasonable non-conformist unto the ceremonies +which have been such unhappy apples of strife +in the Church of England; otherwise the dismal +thickets of America had never seen such a person +in them.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot was strongly attached to the Congregational +form of Church order. He spoke of +it as the special gift of Christ to his people who +followed him into the wilderness with an earnest +zeal for communion with Him in a pure worship. +He regarded Congregationalism as a happy medium +to “rigid Presbyterianism” on the one +hand, and “leveling Brownism” on the other, +the liberties of the people not being disregarded, +nor the authority of the elders rendered insignificant, +but a due balance kept between them +both. He regarded the Platform of Church Discipline +“as being the nearest of what he had yet +seen to the directions of heaven.”</p> + +<p>By this it is not to be understood that Mr. +Eliot as a true Congregationalist, supposed that +any form of Church government was imposed +by Christ or the Apostles upon the Christian +Church, as being in any way essential to the +existence of a true Church of Christ. With regard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>to the appointment of any special form of +Church Government, it would seem that there is +a wise silence in the New Testament. The +genius of Christianity forbids an adherence to +any form of ecclesiastical order as essential to +the existence of a Church of Christ. This truth +was declared by Christ at Jacob’s well to the +Samaritan woman. The Jews insisted on Jerusalem +as the place where men ought to worship. +The Samaritans as strenuously maintained +that acceptable worship could be performed only +in their mountain.</p> + +<p>Christ said, The hour cometh when ye shall +neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem +worship the Father; that is, no place in preference +to another shall be essential to acceptable +worship. God is a Spirit, and they that worship +him need not restrict themselves to any hallowed +place, but may worship him any where acceptably, +if they worship Him in spirit and in truth.</p> + +<p>But if so great a change was allowed as the +abolition of sacred places, which once were essential +to acceptable worship, and notwithstanding +all that had been done to make men feel that +Jerusalem and the Temple were the places to +which the true worshipers must of necessity resort, +it follows that no forms, any more than +places, are essential to the true worship of God. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span>We may infer what form of Church government +prevailed under the Apostles, though different +readers of the New Testament will draw different +inferences. This shows that no form is +prescribed as being essential, otherwise we should +not have been left in the dark in so important a +subject. The body of Moses and the place of +his sepulchre were hidden, because as we generally +suppose the Israelites would have paid an +idolatrous reverence before such a shrine as the +tomb of their illustrious leader, and in the Jewish +Church the solemn farce of a Holy Sepulchre +would have been enacted, in anticipation and in +countenance of the subsequent follies which have +been connected with the Sepulchre of Christ. +We may say of any supposed form of Church +government as being in any way essential, as is +said of the body of Moses, and for a similar +reason, “The Lord buried it,” and “no man +knoweth of its sepulchre to this day.”</p> + +<p>Our preference for the Congregational form +of Church government is not properly founded +on any prescriptions in the New Testament, but +on our convictions that this form is most accordant +with the genius of Christianity and of republican +institutions. But so surely as we insist +on Congregationalism as having any “divine +right,” or authority, and we seek to propagate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>Congregationalism with such convictions, we are +as surely High Churchmen and Puseyites as +can any where be found. To insist on the absence +of all forms and on the perfect simplicity +of worship, with a sectarian spirit, shows as great +an attachment to <i>a form of worship</i> as though +we urged the adoption of all the ceremonies of +the Cathedral. We may be as bigoted in favor +of simplicity as of any thing else, and a Quaker +and a Congregationalist may be as much a formalist +and a Churchman as any other. At the +same time we may believe that the Congregational +form of government is nearer to the Spirit +of the New Testament than any other, and this +is what Mr. Eliot probably meant when he said +that Congregationalism was nearest in his view +to the directions of heaven.</p> + +<p>The influence which was exerted upon the +mind of Thomas Jefferson, and which he exerted +in the framing of the Constitution, by observing, +as he did, an illustration of democracy in a Congregational +Baptist Church in Virginia, is well +known.⁠<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>We ought to carry out the true Puritan doctrine +of liberty of conscience by not despising +any who choose to worship under a different +form and order from our own. It is an interesting +illustration of the noble spirit in our Puritan +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>institutions that all sects have liberty here to +worship God with any forms or in any manner +they please; and he who tries to hinder +them any further than by convincing them, or +feels sourly towards them in the enjoyment of +their liberty of conscience and religious preferences, +has not yet learned all that he may of the +nature and spirit of religious liberty. But if we +profess to be in the true succession from the Puritans +and Pilgrims as to doctrine and Church +order, let us not mix any of those things with +our worship from which the Pilgrims fled to +this wilderness, that they might be rid of them. +We can live peaceably and freely in the midst +of such corruptions and not be persecuted. +They could not. Let us not abuse our liberty, +by turning again to those beggarly elements of +human appointments in Church government and +worship which corrupt the religion of Christ. +Let us not begin to do so by cultivating the +spirit of bigoted attachment to our simple order +and forms, for thereby we as truly violate the +spirit of Christianity as though we insisted on a +multitude of ceremonies and a hierarchy, as essential +to a Church. He who says “No Church +without simplicity in worship,” and he who +says, “No Church without a Bishop,” are two +extremes which meet. At the same time, we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>shall be the degenerate sons of men who made +such sacrifices for purity in worship as did the +Pilgrims, unless we adhere to our simple and +beautiful mode of Church government and worship +as preferable to any other.</p> + +<p>The practice of examining persons who seek +admission to the Church, was much insisted on +by Mr. Eliot. The relation of their experience +he says, “is an ordinance of wonderful benefit. +The devil knows what he does when he thrusts +so hard to get this custom out of our churches. +For my part I would say in this case, Get thee +behind me Satan; thou givest an horrible offence +to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us keep up this +ordinance with all gentleness; and where we +see the least spark of grace held forth, let us +prize it more than all the wit in the world.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot had six children, a daughter and +five sons. The daughter became exemplary for +her piety and matronly deportment. His first +son, John, was “a lively, zealous, acute preacher, +not only to the English at New Cambridge,⁠<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>but also to the Indians thereabout.” He died +early, and upon his death-bed uttered many +remarkable things. The third child, Joseph, +was pastor of the Church in Guilford, Conn. +The fourth child, Samuel, was a candidate for +the ministry, but died young. The fifth was +Aaron, who also died very young. The last +was Benjamin, who became his father’s assistant +in the ministry at Roxbury, but died before his +father. Of these six children, Mr. Eliot said, +“<span class="smcap">They are all either with Christ, or in +Christ.</span>”</p> + +<p>Mather speaks of the singular and surprising +successes of Mr. Eliot’s prayers; ‘for they were +such that in our distresses we still repaired to +him under that encouragement.’ “He is a prophet, +and he shall pray for thee, and thou shall +live.” He mentions the following fact. They +who are displeased at David’s imprecations +against his enemies, may see in it that a good man +may pray for the destruction of the incorrigibly +wicked, when great and good ends will be accomplished +by it, leaving it submissively to the +appointments of the all-wise God. A good man +never ventures to pray in this manner, except +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>when he is under a strong influence, drawing +him very near to God with holy freedom and +boldness. At such times his feelings are eminently +pure; and it is in such times that good +men feel impelled to pray for the removal of +those who oppose God, and hinder others in +their salvation. No doubt if there were more of +ardent piety, there would be more of righteous +indignation against the obstinate opposers of +religion, and we should find ourselves better +able to understand the feelings and language of +David, when praying against the enemies of his +throne and of the God who ruled by him. +That language will come into more familiar use +by the people of God, in their nearest approaches +to him, as they go forth with their King and +Saviour in his conflicts with his enemies.</p> + +<p>The fact to which the allusion has been made +was this:</p> + +<p>There was a pious gentleman of Charlestown +by the name of Foster, who, with his son, was +taken prisoner by the Turks. The news being +spread in this vicinity, the good people offered +up many prayers for his deliverance. But it +was reported that the prince, within whose authority +he was a prisoner, had resolved that +during his reign, no captive should be set free. +The friends and acquaintances of this man then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>concluded that his captivity was hopeless. Soon +after, Mr. Eliot on some public and solemn +occasion, used these direct and forcible petitions. +“Heavenly Father! work forth deliverance of +thy poor servant, Foster; and if the prince +which detains him, will not, as they say, dismiss +him so long as himself lives, Lord, we pray thee +to kill that cruel prince; kill him, and glorify +thyself upon him.” Soon after the prisoners +returned and brought news that in consequence +of the untimely death of the prince they had +been set at liberty.</p> + +<p>There was one thing which seems to have +pressed very heavily on the mind and heart of +Mr. Eliot in his ministerial office. It was the +care of a Church. “He looked upon it,” says +one, “as a thing no less dangerous than important, +and attended with so many difficulties, +temptations, and humiliations, as that nothing +but a call from the Son of God could have encouraged +him unto the susception of it. He +saw that it was no easy thing to feed the souls +of such a people, to bear their manners with all +patience, not being by any of their infirmities +discouraged from teaching of them, and from +watching and praying over them, to value them +highly as the flock of God, which he hath purchased +with his own blood, notwithstanding all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>their miscarriages, and in all to examine the +rule of Scripture for the warrant of whatever +shall be done, and to remember the day of +judgment wherein an account must be given of +whatever shall be done, having in the meantime +no expectation of the riches and grandeurs +which accompany a worldly domination.” This +seemed to be characteristic of the spirit with +which Mr. Eliot discharged his duties as the +pastor of a Church.</p> + +<p>An observation of Rev. Samuel Ward has +been quoted as applicable to him: “In observing +I have observed and found that divers great +clerks have had but little fruit of their ministry, +but hardly any truly zealous men of God, though +of lesser gifts, but have had much comfort of +their labors in their own and bordering parishes, +being in this likened by Gregory to the iron on +the smith’s anvil, sparkling round about.”</p> + +<p>Mather says, “The Lord Jesus Christ was +the load-stone which gave a touch to all the +sermons of our Eliot; a glorious, precious, lovely +Christ, was the point of heaven to which they +still verged unto.” It is said, that though he +printed many books or pamphlets, his heart +seemed to be in none of them so much, as in +his ‘Harmony of the Gospels, in the holy History +of Jesus Christ.’ It was a standing piece of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>advice with him to young ministers, “Pray let +there be much of Christ in your ministry.” On +hearing a sermon in which the Saviour had been +made prominent, he would say, O, blessed be +God, that we hear Christ so much and so well +preached in poor New England.</p> + +<p>On coming out of the meeting-house where he +had been listening to a sermon, he said to the +preacher, “Brother, there was oil required for +the service of the sanctuary; but it must be +beaten oil; I praise God that I saw your oil so +well beaten to-day; the Lord help us always by +good study to beat our oil that there may be <i>no +knots in our sermons left undissolved</i>, and that +there may a clear light be thereby given in the +house of God.” Still it is observed that he looked +for something more than mere study in a sermon; +he required those things in it which +would make the hearer feel that the Spirit of God +was in the sermon and with the preacher, and he +was once heard to complain, “It is a sad thing +when a sermon shall have that one thing, The +Spirit of God, wanting in it.”</p> + +<p>He had eminently spiritual views of the duty +and privilege of infant baptism. On giving the +Rev. Cotton Mather the Right Hand of Fellowship +at his ordination, he said to him, “Brother, +art thou a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>Then I pray, feed his lambs.” He was careful +to have the lambs pass under the “Lord’s +tything rod.” One Mr. Norcott, a truly pious +man, published a book against the baptism of +infants, which being circulated in Boston and +the vicinity, Mr. Eliot answered it in a brief publication, +beginning with these words: “The +book speaks with the voice of a lamb, and I +think the author is a godly though erring brother; +but he acts the cause of a roaring lion, +who by all crafty ways, seeketh to devour the +poor lambs of the flock of Christ.” He then +speaks “in the behalf of those who cannot +speak for themselves.”</p> + +<p>On one occasion, speaking of the Saviour’s +directions to Peter, John 21:15, he observed, +That <i>the care of the lambs is one third part of +the charge over the house of God</i>.</p> + +<p>The title of one of Mr. Eliot’s publications, +“The Divine Management of Gospel Churches, +by the Ordinance of Councils, constituted in +order according to the Scriptures, which may +be a means of uniting those two holy and eminent +parties, the Presbyterians and the Congregational,” +shows that a plan of union between +these two sister denominations is not wholly of +modern origin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span></p> + +<p>But reserving many things respecting Mr. +Eliot’s character and opinions for another place +in this book, let us now look at him in that remarkable +work to which God appointed him +among the Indians of this vicinity.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p>Nonantum. Mather’s description of the natives. The Lost Tribes +of Israel. Specimen of Indian words. Eliot’s first religious exercise +at Nonantum. Indian Questions. Second visit to the Indians. +Indian Questions. Eliot’s reflections on his interviews. Anecdotes.</p> + +</div> + +<p>The old turnpike road to Worcester, in Brighton, +leaves Nonantum hill on the left, and a +private road conducts to the summit of the +hill which is crowned by two mansions.⁠<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> The +scenery from that hill has a rare combination of +still life and of the busy world. The Charles River, +seen from a distant part of the hill, meanders +to the sea; the quiet, classic scenes of Cambridge +are before the eye; soft undulations of hill and +dale, winding roads and aboriginal woods, and +the quiet waters of the estuary, impress the +mind with sensations of repose which are pleasantly +broken by the distant noise of travel upon +the bridges, the sudden whistle of the locomotive, +and an impressive view of the neighboring +city. That hill, extending as far as Watertown, +and Newton, was once the favorite residence of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>the Indians, in this vicinity,⁠<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> and thither Eliot, +the pastor of the neighboring Church in Roxbury, +directed his way, to give the Indians the +word and ordinances of the Gospel in their own +language.</p> + +<p>Cotton Mather says, “The natives of the +country now possessed by the New Englanders, +had been forlorn and wretched heathen ever +since their first herding here; and though we +know not how these Indians first became inhabitants +of this mighty continent, yet we may +guess that probably the devil decoyed these +miserable savages hither, in hopes that the gospel +of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would +never come here to destroy or disturb his absolute +empire over them. But our Eliot was in +such ill-terms with the devil, as to alarm him by +sounding the silver trumpets of heaven in his +territories, and make some noble and zealous +attempt towards ousting him of his ancient possessions +here. There were, I think, twenty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>several nations, if I may call them so, of Indians, +upon that spot of ground which fell under the +influence of our Three United Colonies; and +our Eliot was willing to rescue as many of +them as he could from that old usurping landlord +of America, who is, by the wrath of God, +the prince of this world.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>Some of the interest and zeal which many of +the first planters and their successors felt with +regard to the Indians, was owing to their belief +that they were the Ten Tribes of Israel. Cotton +Mather enumerates “some small reasons,” as he +calls them, which led the English to suspect +that they might be Israelites. He adds, “They +have, too, a great unkindness for our swine;”—but +he does not seem to place much reliance on +that coincidence with the Jewish antipathy to +swine, for he adds, “but I suppose that is because +our swine devour their clams, which are +a great dainty with them.”</p> + +<p>This supposition that the North American Indians +are the Ten Tribes of Israel, has seemed +even more probable to many modern writers +than it did to the first settlers of the country. +Mr. Catlin, in his interesting and valuable work +on the North American Indians, mentions many +curious facts in the history, manners and customs +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>of the present race of red men, in favor of +this supposition. But there are so many theories +on the subject of the Lost Tribes of Israel, +and it is so easy for an ingenious mind to discover +or invent resemblances, that neither this +theory nor any other on the same subject has +ever obtained general belief.</p> + +<p>It was to a people of rude speech and fierce +countenance that Mr. Eliot endeavored to give a +knowledge of the Gospel and the institutions of +civilized life. His first labor of course was to +acquire their language. It was the language of +the Massachusetts Indians to which he applied +himself. He found an old Indian who could +speak English, took him into his family, and by +finding out one word, and expression, and sentence +after another, he soon was able to converse +in that tongue, and finally understood it so well +that he reduced it to rules, and made an Indian +grammar. One glance at this language will +show that it must have been no easy task for a +stranger to learn it well enough to converse in +it. Some of the words are of enormous length, +one of them sometimes filling a whole line. +The word for “our loves,” is <i>noowoomantammoorkanunornash</i>. +“Our question” is <i>Kummogkodonnattootummooetiteaongannunnarash</i>. +“One would think,” says Mather, “that these +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span>words had been growing ever since Babel unto +the dimensions to which they are now extended.” +Another remark of his on this subject, though it +may seem to us to be somewhat in a trifling +mood, was undoubtedly written with sober feelings, +considering the prevalent superstitions of +those times—superstitions with regard to which +we greatly err if we suppose them to have been, in +those times, peculiar to America.⁠<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> “I know not,” +this writer adds, “what thoughts it will produce +in my reader, when I inform him that once finding +that the demons in a possessed young woman +understood the Latin and Greek and Hebrew +languages, my curiosity led me to make trial of +this Indian language, and the demons did seem +as if they did not understand it.”</p> + +<p>The reason of the great length of these Indian +words is understood to be, that instead of having +separate words for pronouns and adjectives, the +noun or verb expresses them by adding syllables +to itself. Mather, who was ready at anagrams +and puns, says that the name <i>Eliot</i> read backwards, +is <i>t o i l E</i>, and he thinks that the name +corresponds well with the toil of reducing such +a language to a grammar. At the close of his +Grammar Eliot wrote these words: “Prayers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span>and pains through faith in Christ Jesus, will do +any thing.”</p> + +<p>We have from Eliot’s own pen a narrative, +called “A true relation of our beginnings with +the Indians.” It was published in London, in +1647, under this title, “The Day breaking, if not +the Sun-rising, of the Gospel, with the Indians +in New England.”</p> + +<p>In October, 1646, Eliot, with a few others, +having sought the blessing of God, went to Nonantum, +for the purpose, as he says, of making +known to the Indians the things of their peace. +As they approached the wigwams, five or six of +the Chiefs met them with English salutations +and bid them welcome. The principal wigwam +had been previously prepared for the meeting, +and many of the Indians were assembled. Eliot +and his companions then began with prayer in +the English language, not being sufficiently acquainted +with the Indian tongue to make suitable +religious impressions at first with it upon the +minds of the Indians, and besides they wished +to let the Indians see that they felt the duty in +hand to be serious and sacred, and they had a +desire, moreover, as missionaries to offer up a +united supplication to God, “with the same request +and heart sorrowes,” in that place where +God was never wont to be called upon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span></p> + +<p>It was an affecting sight, as we may suppose, +to Eliot and his friends, when they ceased from +prayer and looked upon the company of Indians +sitting in silence, with a mixture of curiosity +and seriousness and wildness in their faces. To +such an audience Eliot preached in the Indian +tongue from Ezekiel 37:9. “Prophesy, son +of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the +Lord, Come from the four winds, O breath, and +breathe upon these slain that they may live.”</p> + +<p>It is a curious fact that the name of the man⁠<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> +in whose wigwam they were assembled was +Waban, and Waban is the Indian name for the +wind, so that it seemed to Waban that the message +was sent to him, and it proved a means in +his conversion. The text from which Mr. Eliot +preached on this occasion, was not one which +his hearers could at first understand, and therefore +some have expressed surprise at the selection +of it. But in reply to this, it may be asked, +what passage of the Word of God would have +been immediately intelligible to those ignorant +hearers? Besides, the text seems to have been +chosen by Mr. Eliot for a purpose which is certainly +proper on special occasions, viz., as a +warrant and encouragement to his own soul and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>that of his helpers, in preaching in that valley +of dry bones. Yet, after suitable religious impressions +had been made, and the hearers had +felt their lost and wretched state, and their need +of divine power, in reflecting upon the text it +must have seemed to the hearers peculiarly appropriate +to the occasion and to their condition.</p> + +<p>An hour and a quarter was occupied in the +discourse. Mr. Eliot gave the Indians first a +brief exposition of the ten commandments, showing +the wrath and curse of God against those +who break the least one of them. The subject +was then applied, and the law having been +brought to do its work in their hearts, and their +sins being pointed out to them, as Mr. Eliot +says, with much sweet affection, Jesus Christ +was preached to them as the only Saviour. He +told them who Christ was, and what he did, and +whither he had gone, and how he will come +again to judge the wicked and burn the world. +The creation and fall of man, the greatness of +God, heaven and hell, the pleasures of religion +and the miseries of sin were then explained in +language and with illustrations suited to their +capacity.</p> + +<p>The sermon being finished, Mr. Eliot proposed +some questions to them, and first inquired +whether they understood what had been said, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>and whether all or only some of them understood +it? A multitude of voices exclaimed that they +all understood every thing which had been spoken. +Leave was then granted them to put +questions, and it is interesting to notice the first +questions which these children of the wilderness +proposed. The first questions were,</p> + +<p>“What is the cause of thunder?”</p> + +<p>“What makes the sea ebb and flow?”</p> + +<p>“What makes the wind blow?”</p> + +<p>But there were some questions proposed by +them which Mr. Eliot says some special wisdom +of God directed them to ask, as, for example,</p> + +<p><i>How may we come to know Jesus Christ?</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot told them that if they could read +the Bible they would see clearly who Jesus +Christ is, but inasmuch as they could not then +read, he desired them to remember what he had +told them out of the Bible, and to think much +and often upon it, when they lay down on their +mats in their wigwams and when they rose up, +and to go alone in the fields, and woods, and +muse on it, and so God would teach them.</p> + +<p>He told them that if they would have help +from God in this thing, they must begin to pray, +and though they could not make long prayers as +the English did, yet if they did but sigh and +groan, saying, “Lord, make me to know Jesus +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>Christ for I know him not,” and if with all their +hearts they persisted in such prayers, they might +hope that God would help them. But they were +especially to remember that they must confess +their sins and ignorance to God and mourn over +them and acknowledge how just it would be in +God to withhold from them any knowledge of +Christ, on account of their sins.</p> + +<p>This instruction was communicated to them +by Mr. Eliot through the Indian interpreter +whom he had brought with him, but he says he +was struck with the fact that a few words from +the Preacher had much greater effect than many +from the interpreter.</p> + +<p>One of them asked, whether Englishmen were +ever at any time so ignorant of God and Jesus +Christ as they themselves?</p> + +<p>Another put this question: Whether if the +father be naught and the child good, will God be +offended with that child? because in the second +commandment it is said that he visits the sins +of the fathers upon the children.</p> + +<p>They were told in reply to this that every +child who is good will not be punished for the +sins of his father, but if the child be bad, God +would then visit his father’s sins upon him, and +they were bid to notice that part of the second +commandment which contains a promise to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>thousands of them that love God and keep his +commandments.</p> + +<p>One of them asked, How is all the world now +become so full of people, if they were all once +drowned in the flood? This led to the story of +the ark and the preservation of Noah.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot then proposed some questions to +them, for example, Whether they did not desire +to see God, and were not tempted to think there +is no God because they could not see him?</p> + +<p>Some of them answered, They did desire to +see Him if it could be, but they had heard from +Mr. Eliot that he could not be seen, and they +did believe that though their eyes could not see +him, he was to be seen with their soul within.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot endeavored to confirm them in this +impression, and asked them if they saw a great +wigwam or a great house, would they think that +racoons or foxes built it? or would they think +that it made itself? or that no wise builder made +it, because they could not see him who made it?</p> + +<p>Knowing that the doctrine of one God was a +great stumbling block to them, Mr. Eliot asked +them if they did not think it strange that there +should be but one God, and yet this God be in +Massachusetts, and in Connecticut, in Old England, +in this wigwam, and the next, and every +where at the same time?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span></p> + +<p>One of the most sober of them replied that it +was indeed strange, as every thing else they had +heard preached was strange, and they were +wonderful things which they never heard of before, +but yet they thought “it might be true, and +that God was so big every where.” Mr. Eliot +illustrated the truth by the light of the sun, +which, though it was but a creature of God, shed +its light into that wigwam, and the next, in Massachusetts +and Old England, at once.</p> + +<p>He inquired of them if they did not find something +troubling them within after the commission +of murder, theft, adultery, lying; and what would +comfort them, and remove that trouble of conscience +when they should die and appear before +God?</p> + +<p>They replied that they were thus troubled, +but they could not tell what they should say +about it, or what would remove this trouble of +mind, whereupon Mr. Eliot enlarged upon the +evil of sin and the condition of the soul which is +cast out of the favor of God.</p> + +<p>Having spent three hours in this interview, +Mr. Eliot asked them if they were not weary, +and they said, no. But thinking it best to leave +them with an appetite, Mr. Eliot concluded +the meeting with prayer, but before he departed +the principal Indian expressed a desire for more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>land to build a Town upon, and Mr. Eliot promised +to speak for them to the General Court, +“that they might possess all the compass of that +hill upon which their wigwams then stood.”</p> + +<p>In the second visit which Mr. Eliot made to +the Indians at Nonantum, he began to catechise +the younger children. He framed three questions +only, that their memories might not be +overloaded. The questions and answers were +these:</p> + +<p>1. Who made you and all the world. Ans. +God.</p> + +<p>2. Who do you think should save you and +redeem you from sin and hell? Ans. Jesus +Christ.</p> + +<p>3. How many commandments hath God given +you to keep. Ans. Ten.</p> + +<p>By the time that the questions reached the +smaller children, they had learned the answers +perfectly, from hearing the others repeat them, +and the parents had become familiar with them, +and they were requested to use this <i>Shorter</i> +Catechism of three questions, in teaching their +children, against the next visit.</p> + +<p>The substance of Mr. Eliot’s address to the +Indians on this occasion was this: “We are +come to bring you good news from the great +God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>to tell you how evil and wicked men may come +to be good, so that while they live they may be +happy, and when they die may go to God and +live in heaven.”</p> + +<p>He then endeavored to give them just impressions +concerning God, his power, greatness, and +goodness, his will, what he required of all men, +even of the Indians, in the ten commandments, +the dreadful punishment of all who break one of +these commandments, the anger of God at sin, +and yet his compassion for sinners in sending +Christ to die for wicked men. He taught them +that if they would repent and believe, God would +love the poor miserable Indians, but that the +wrath of God would burn against all who neglected +so great salvation as was now offered to +them by those whose only desire was their salvation.</p> + +<p>The power of these words was manifestly felt +by one of the Indians, who at the thought of his +sins and of the danger to which they exposed +him, wept aloud, yet without affectation, but +striving to conceal his emotions.</p> + +<p>Perhaps in no way can we communicate religious +instruction in a more simple and effectual +way to the young who may read this book, than +to record here the questions and answers which +Mr. Eliot has preserved in his several interviews +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>with the Indians. Other writers who +lived at that time have also recorded questions +and answers which they heard. But it will not +be necessary to state the times, or places, or the +hand by which they were recorded.</p> + +<p>An old man rose up after Mr. Eliot had finished +his sermon, and asked whether it was not +too late for such an old man as he, who was +near death, to repent or seek after God.</p> + +<p>This question affected Mr. Eliot and his companions +with compassion. They told him what +is said in the Bible about those who were hired +at the eleventh hour, and drew a parallel to +his case by describing a son who had for very +many years been disobedient, and afterwards +penitent, and the feelings of his father towards +him.</p> + +<p>Question. How came the English to differ +so much from the Indians in the knowledge of +God and Jesus Christ, seeing they all had at +first one father?</p> + +<p>Question. How may we come to serve God?</p> + +<p>Question. How comes it to pass that the sea +water is salt and the land water fresh?</p> + +<p>Answer. This is one of the wonderful works +of God. As strawberries are sweet and cranberries +sour, by the appointment of God, so was +it in this case. To this was added some account +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span>of natural causes and effects in connection +with this subject, “which they less understood, +yet did understand somewhat, as appeared by +their usual signs of approving what they understand.”</p> + +<p>Question. If the water is higher than the +earth, how comes it to pass that it doth not overflow +all the earth?</p> + +<p>The missionary took an apple and illustrated +the shape of the earth, the motion on its axis, +and round the sun; then showed them how God +made a great hollow ditch for the waters, which +was so deep as to hold the waters by the attraction +of gravitation, so that notwithstanding their +convexity, they could not overflow the earth.</p> + +<p>During a recess in this interview, the Indians +were busily employed in discussing these several +subjects among themselves, their minds being +evidently excited by them, through the effect of +new ideas upon subjects which were new or had +always been incomprehensible to them. Being +afterwards asked if they wished to propose any +further questions, one asked,</p> + +<p>If a man has committed some great sins, (stolen +goods, &c.,) and the Sachem does not punish +him, and he is not punished, but he restores the +goods, what then? is not all well now? meaning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>to ask whether restoration made sufficient amends +to the law of God.</p> + +<p>He was told that though men be not offended +at such sins, yet God is angry. The holiness of +God was here illustrated. Such a sinner should +seek forgiveness as much as any other sinner +through the blood of Christ.</p> + +<p>Upon hearing this answer, the Indian who +proposed the question drew back and hung down +his head, with an appearance of great sorrow +and confusion, and finally broke out saying, +“Me little know Jesus Christ, or me should seek +him better.” Mr. Eliot comforted him by telling +him that as it is early dawn at first when +there is but little light, but the sun rises to perfect +day, so it would be with him and his people +with regard to a knowledge of the favor of God +if they would seek Him.</p> + +<p>One of the Indians who had received religious +impressions in his acquaintance with the colonists, +said he would propose this question. A +little while since he said he was praying in his +wigwam to God and Jesus Christ, that God +would give him a good heart; that in his prayer +another Indian interrupted him and told him +that he prayed in vain, because that Jesus Christ +could not understand what Indians speak in +prayer; he had been used to hear Englishmen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>pray, and so could well enough understand them, +but Indian language in prayer he was not acquainted +with. His question therefore was, +“Whether God and Jesus Christ did understand +Indian prayers?”</p> + +<p>At the close of one interview, Mr. Eliot prayed +for above fifteen minutes in the Indian tongue, +that they might feel that Christ understood such +prayers. The Indians stood about him in grotesque +figures, some of them lifting up their eyes +and their hands to accompany the prayer, and +one of them holding a rag to his eyes and weeping +violently, and after prayer retiring to a corner +of the wigwam to weep in secret; which +one of Mr. Eliot’s companions observed and +spoke with him, and found him to be deeply +affected with a sense of his guilt.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot makes several useful observations +in view of his first two visits to the Indians.</p> + +<p>1. None of them slept in sermon or derided +God’s messenger.</p> + +<p>2. That there is need of learning in ministers +who preach to Indians more than to gracious +Christians, in order to answer their philosophical +questions.</p> + +<p>3. That there is no need of miraculous or +extraordinary gifts in seeking the conversion of +the most depraved of the human family.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span></p> + +<p>4. If Englishmen despise the preaching of +faith and repentance and humiliation for sin, the +poor heathens will be glad of it, and it shall do +good to them.</p> + +<p>He adds to this, The Lord grant that the +foundation of our English woe be not laid in the +ruin and contempt of those fundamental doctrines +of faith, repentance, humiliation for sin, +but rather relishing the novelties and dreams of +such men as are surfeited with the ordinary +food of the Gospel of Christ. Indians shall +weep to have faith and repentance preached, +when Englishmen shall mourn, too late, that are +weary of such truths.</p> + +<p>5. That the deepest estrangement of man +from God is no hindrance to his grace, nor to +the Spirit of grace. What nation or people +ever so deeply degenerated since Adam’s fall, +as these Indians, and yet the Spirit of God is +working upon them.</p> + +<p>“It is very likely if ever the Lord convert any +of these natives, they will mourn for sin exceedingly, +and consequently love Christ dearly; for +if by a little measure of light such heart-breakings +have appeared, what may we think will be +when more is let in?”</p> + +<p>“They are some of them very wicked, some +very ingenious. These latter are very apt and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>quick of understanding, and naturally sad and +melancholy, (a good servant to repentance) and +therefore there is the greater hope of heart-breakings +if ever God brings them effectually +home, for which we should affectionately pray.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot says, “It is wonderful to see what +a little leaven and that small mustard-seed of +the Gospel will do, and how truth will work +when the spirit of Christ hath the setting of it +on, even upon hearts and spirits most incapable.” +The night after the Indians had heard the Gospel +preached for the third time, an English +youth lodged in Waban’s tent. He said that +Waban instructed his companions with regard +to the things which they had heard that day, +and prayed with them, and that he awoke several +times that night and began to pray and +speak to one and another of the Indians of the +things which they had heard. Mr. E. says, +This man, being a man of gravity and chief +prudence, a counsel among them, although no +Sachem, is like to be a means of great good to the +rest of his company, unless cowardice or witchery +put an end, as usually they have done, to +such hopeful beginnings.</p> + +<p>Two young Indians being at an Elder’s house +one Sabbath evening, having been previously +affected under Mr. Eliot’s preaching, one of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>them began to confess to the elder how wicked +he had been, and declared that God could never +look upon him with love. The elder opened to +him in a familiar manner the truth of God’s +love to the guilty, his willingness to pardon the +vilest through the redemption made by Christ, and +illustrated his instructions by the discourse of +Christ to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, +and how Christ forgave her though she was living +in sin at the moment when he began to +speak to her. Whereupon the young man began +to weep bitterly, and the other youth, his +companion, disclosing his own guilt, burst out +into loud weeping in which they both continued +for half an hour.</p> + +<p>An old man told Mr. Eliot at one of the meetings +that he was fully purposed to keep the +Sabbath, but still he was in fear whether he +should go to heaven or hell. This was a case +in which reliance on good works gave as usual +no peace to the conscience. It led Mr. Eliot to +speak fully of the way of justification by Christ +without works, “as the remedy against all fears +of hell.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot was interested in the fact that some +of the Indians who seemed to receive the Gospel +most readily, and feel its power, were able +to use “gracious expressions,” as he calls them, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>which he was confident they had not heard +from him, nor from his assistants. He gives a +specimen of them with the corresponding Indian +words:</p> + +<table> + <tr> + <td>Amanaomen</td> + <td>Jehovah</td> + <td>tabassen</td> + <td>metagh.</td> + <td>Checheson</td> + <td>Jehovah</td> + <td>kekowhogkow.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Take away,</td> + <td>Lord,</td> + <td>my stony</td> + <td>heart.</td> + <td>Wash,</td> + <td>Lord,</td> + <td>my soul.</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>“What are these,” he says, “but the sprinklings +of the spirit and blood of Christ Jesus on their +hearts? and ’tis no small matter that such dry, +barren, and long accursed ground should yield +such kind of increase in so small a time. I +would not readily commend a fair day before +night, nor promise much of such kind of beginnings, +in all persons, nor yet in all of these, for +we know how the profession of many is but a +mere paint, and their best graces nothing but +mere flashes and pangs which are suddenly kindled, +and as soon to go out, and are extinct +again; yet God doth not usually send his +plough and seeds-men to a place but there is at +least some little piece of good ground, although +three to one be naught; and methinks the Lord +Jesus would never have made so fit a key +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>for their locks unless he had intended to open +some of their doors, and so to make way for his +coming in.”</p> + +<p>At the fourth meeting with the Indians, the +children having been catechised, and the vision +of the dry bones, which seems to have impressed +Mr. Eliot from the first in speaking to the +Indians, being explained, they offered all their +children to the English to be educated by +them.</p> + +<p>At this time one of them being asked, What +is sin? he answered, A naughty heart. He did +not seem to feel that sin consists only in outward +acts.</p> + +<p>One of them complained that some of the +Indians reviled him and the more serious Indians, +calling them rogues, and otherwise insulting +them for cutting off their long locks and arranging +their hair in a modest manner, for, Mr. +Eliot says, “since the word hath begun to work +upon their hearts they have discerned the vanity +and pride which they placed in their hair, and +have therefore, of their own accord (none speaking +to them that we know of) cut it modestly.” +They said that some Indians who had heard the +news of the great attention to religion among +them, would come from a distance and stay +with them three or four days, and one Sabbath, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>and then they would go from them, (implying +that they did not like the Sabbath), but as for +themselves, they said they were fully purposed +to keep the Sabbath.</p> + +<p>Some of the Indians who heard the Gospel, +despised and rejected it. So it has always been +and is now, wherever the Gospel is preached. +Some have their hearts opened to attend to the +things of their peace, and others are hardened. +Mr. Eliot’s assistant, learning that some Indians +had discouraged and threatened others with regard +to their attendance on the preaching, spoke +to them on one occasion about the temptations of +Satan. After sermon they proposed these questions:</p> + +<p>1. Some Indians say we must pray to the +devil for all good, and some to God; may we +pray to the devil or no?</p> + +<p>2. What does <i>humiliation</i> mean, which we +hear used so often by the English?</p> + +<p>3. Why do the English call us Indians, for +before they came here we had another name?</p> + +<p>4. What is a spirit?</p> + +<p>5. May we believe in dreams?</p> + +<p>6. How did the English come to know God +so much, and we so little?</p> + +<p>At the close of this interview they said that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span>their great desire was to have a town and to +learn to spin.</p> + +<p>They believed in the existence of an evil +spirit, whom they called <span class="smcap">Chepian</span>, and who they +thought corresponded to the devil in Scripture. +They gave the following account of their way +in which conjurers or Powows were made: +Whenever an Indian had a strange dream in +which Chepian appeared to him as a serpent, +he would make it known to the rest, and for two +days the Indians would dance and rejoice for +what the serpent had told him, and he then became +a Powow, or one whom the devil favored +with his communications. The reader will notice +the identity of the form in which they made +the devil to appear to them, with the form in +which he appeared to our first parents.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p>Nonantum granted to the Indians by the General Court. First Indian +Laws. Eliot’s and Shepard’s account of the progress of the Gospel +among the Indians. Concord Indians. Their laws. Nonantum. +Questions and anecdotes. Cape Cod Indians. The Synod at +Cambridge, 1648, examine the Christian Indians. “Who made +Sack?” Anecdotes and Questions. Order of the General Court, +1647. Regard for the Sabbath. Power of conscience. Questions. +Burial of a child. Settlement of Natick. Questions.</p> + +</div> + +<p>The Indians were desirous of obtaining a +grant of land for a permanent settlement, that +they might enter upon civilized life. They had +bartered their principal places to the English. +The General Court purchased of some of the +planters, who had bought it of the Indians, the +place where their meeting was held, and gave it +to them. The Indians inquiring what the name +of the place should be they were told it should +be Noonatomen (afterwards Nonantum) which +signifies <i>rejoicing</i>, “because they did rejoice at +the word of God, and God did rejoice over them +as penitent sinners.”</p> + +<p>The following is a specimen of their first +laws:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span></p> + +<p>1. If any man be idle a week, or at most a +fortnight, he shall pay five shillings.</p> + +<p>3. If any man shall beat his wife, his hands +shall be tied behind him, and he shall be carried +to the place of justice to be severely punished.</p> + +<p>4. Every young man, if not another’s servant, +and if unmarried, shall be compelled to set up a +wigwam, and plant for himself, and not live +shifting up and down to other wigwams.</p> + +<p>5. If any woman shall not have her hair +tied up, but hang loose or be cut as men’s hair, +she shall pay five shillings.</p> + +<p>7. All those men that wear long locks, shall +pay five shillings.</p> + +<p>Most of the facts above narrated are contained +in a piece written by Mr. Eliot, entitled The +Day Breaking if not the Sun Rising of the Gospel +with the Indians in New England. It was +printed in London, “by Richard Cotes, for +Fulk Clifton, and are to be sold at his shop +under Saint Margaret’s Church, on New-fish +Street Hill, 1647.”</p> + +<p>The same printer in 1648, issued another +piece, written by Mr. Thomas Shepard, minister +of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, at Cambridge, +in New England, called, “The Clear sun-shine +of the Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>of New England; or, An Historical Narrative +of God’s Wonderful Workings upon sundry of +the Indians, both Chief Governors and common +people, in bringing them to a willing and desired +submission to the Ordinances of the Gospel; +and framing their hearts to an earnest +inquiry after the knowledge of God the father +and of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world.” +This piece was dedicated by Stephen Marshall, +Jeremy Whitaker, Edmund Calamy and nine +others, in England, “to the Right Honorable +the Lords and Commons assembled in High +Court of Parliament, That in you the Representatives +of this nation, England might be stirred +up to be Rejoycers in and advancers of these +promising beginnings.” They looked upon the +success of the Gospel among the Indians as a +fulfillment in part of the promise of God the +Father to the Son, “Ask of me, and I will give +thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the +uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” +Psalm 2. They remind the Parliament that +“God makes man’s will of sin serviceable to the +advancement of the riches of his own grace. +The most horrid act that was ever done by the +sonnes of men, the murther of Christ, God made +serviceable to the highest purposes of Grace and +mercy that ever came upon his breast. Hee +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>suffered Paul to be cast into prison to convert +the Jaylor, to be shipwrackt at Milita to preach +to the barbarous. So he suffered their (the +Pilgrims’) way to be stopp’d up here, (in England) +and their persons to be banished hence, +that hee might open a passage for them in the +wilderness, and make them instruments to draw +soules to him, who had been so long estranged +from Him. The end of the adversary was to +suppresse, but God’s to propagate, the Gospel, +as one saith of Paul, his <i>blindnesse gave light to +whole world</i>. ‘Cœcitas Pauli totius orbis illuminatio.’ +Acts 9:9. It was a long time before +God let them (the Pilgrims) see any further end +of their coming over than to preserve their consciences, +cherish their Graces, provide for their +sustenance. But hee let them know it was for +some farther arrand that he brought them here, +giving them some Bunches of Grapes, some clusters +of Figs in earnest of the prosperous successe +of their endeavours upon these poor out casts. +If the first fruits bee specimens, what will the +whole harvest bee? When the East and West +shal sing together the song of the Lamb.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Shepard says that the news of what had +been done for the Indians at Nonantum, by the +preaching of the Gospel, had reached the Concord Indians, +and their Sachem was so much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span>affected by it, that he made application to have +the Gospel and its ordinances made known to +them. “They craved the assistance of one of +the chiefe Indians of Noonanetum (Nonantum,) +a very active Indian, to bring in others to the +knowledge of God.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot had already expressed his views⁠<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +on the subject of a native ministry in these +words,—“Nor doe I expect any great good will +bee wrought by the English, (leaving secrets to +God,—although the English surely begin and +lay the first stones of Christ’s Kingdom and +Temple amongst them) because God is wont ordinarily +to convert Nations and peoples by some +of their owne country men who are nearest to +them, and can best speake, and most of all pity +their brethren and countrimen.”</p> + +<p>A native ministry among the Indians began, +in an informal way, much earlier than we have +seen it begin among other heathen nations. +The North American Indians, though sunk in +superstition and wickedness, retained much +more of intellectual strength, were more shrewd, +and sooner became fit to teach their countrymen +than has been the case elsewhere in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>history of modern missions. No doubt the climate +had much to do with the vigor of mind +which the Indians have exhibited. They were +far removed from the effeminateness of Eastern +nations, and though indolent in their dispositions +and habits, their minds when roused by the +truth of the Gospel, rose to greater intellectual +efforts than have been commonly seen in tribes +exposed to the enervating influences of warmer +latitudes.</p> + +<p>Some quotations from the introduction by +Calamy and others, to Mr. Shepard’s piece above +referred to, will show the spirit of those good +men, as well as confirm the fact that the Gospel +had done wonders in a short time among the +Indians. It was published in 1648, two years +after Mr. Eliot had begun his labors with them.</p> + +<p>They tell the readers of the effects which the +Gospel had wrought among the Indians. “They +set up prayers in their families morning and +evening, and are in earnest in them. And with +more affection they crave God’s blessing upon a +little parched corn, and Indian stalks than many +of us do upon our greatest plenty, and abundance. +God is making good that promise, +Zeph. 2:11. I will famish all the gods of the +earth, (which he doth by withdrawing the worshipers, +and throwing contempt upon the worship,) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span>and men shall worship me alone, every +one from his place, even all the isles of the +heathens.”</p> + +<p>They call upon the people of England to read +and ponder this remarkable narrative of the +work of grace among the North American +Savages. “Let these poor Indians stand up +incentives to us, as the Apostle set up the Gentiles +a provocation to the Jews; who knows but +God gave life to New England to quicken Old, +and hath warmed them that they might heat us; +raised them from the dead, that they might +recover us from that consumption, and those sad +decays which are come upon us.”</p> + +<p>“This small Treatise is an Essay to that end, +an Indian Sermon; though you will not hear us, +possibly when some rise from the dead you will +hear them. The main Doctrine it preacheth +unto all is to value the Gospel, prize the ministry, +loath not your manna, surfeit not of your +plenty, be thankful for mercies, fruitful under +means: Awake from your slumber, repair your +decays, redeem your time, improve the seasons +of your peace, answer to cals, open to knocks, +attend to whispers, obey commands; you have +a name you live, take heed you be not dead, +you are Christians in shew, be so in deed: least +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>as you have lost the power of religion, God take +away from you the form also.”</p> + +<p>“And you that are ministers learn by this not +to despond, though you see not present fruit of +your labors; though you fish all night and catch +nothing. God hath a fulness of time to perform +all his purposes. And the deepest degeneracies +and the widest estrangements from God shall be +no bar or obstacle to the power and freeness of +his own grace when that time is come.”</p> + +<p>“And you that are merchants, take incouragement +from hence to scatter beams of light, to +spread and propagate the Gospel into those dark +corners of the earth; whither you traffick you +take much from them; if you can carry this to +them, you will make them an abundant recompense. +And you that are Christians indeed, +rejoice to see the Curtains of the Tabernacle +inlarged, the bounds of the Sanctuary extended, +Christ advanced, the Gospel propagated, and +souls saved. And if ever the love of God did +centre in your hearts, if ever the sense of his +goodness hath begot bowels of compassion in +you, draw them forth towards them whom God +hath singled out to be the objects of his grace +and mercy; lay out your prayers, lend your +assistance to carry on this day of the Lord begun +among them. The Parents also and many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>others being convinced of the evil of an idle life, +desire to be employed in honest labor, but they +want instruments and tools to set them on work, +and cast garments to throw upon those bodies +that their loins may bless you whose souls +Christ hath cloathed. Some worthy persons +have given much; and if God shall move the +heart of others to offer willingly towards the +building of Christ a Spiritual temple, it will +certainly remain upon their account when the +smallest rewards from God shall be better than +the greatest layings out for God.”</p> + +<p>It will be perceived that this is an appeal in +behalf of foreign missions. We will consider +some of the facts which Mr. Shepard relates, +and to which this appeal is an introduction.</p> + +<p>“The awakening of the Indians in our Towne,” +says Mr. Shepard, “raised a great noyse among +all the rest round about us, especially about +Concord side, where the Sachim and one or two +more of his men hearing of these things, and of +the preaching of the Word, and how it wrought +among them here, came therefore hither to +Noonanetum, (Nonantum,) to the Indian Lecture, +and what the Lord spake to his heart wee know +not, only it seems he was so farre affected as +that he desired to become more like to the English, +and to cast off those Indian wild and sinfull +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>courses they formerly lived in; but when divers +of his men perceived their Sachim’s mind, they +secretely opposed him herein, which opposition +being known, he therefore called together his +chief men about him, and made a speech to this +effect unto them, viz.: That they had no reason +at all to oppose those courses the English were +now taking for their good, for saith hee, all the +time you have lived after the Indian fashion, +under the power and protection of higher Indian +Sachims, what did they care for you? They +onely sought their owne ends out of you, and +therefore would exact upon you and take away +your skins, and your kettles, and your wampam +from you at their own pleasure, and this was all +that they regarded: but you may evidently see +that the English mind no such things, care for +none of your goods, but onely seek your good +and welfare, and instead of taking away all, +are ready to give to you.”</p> + +<p>The effect of this speech seems to have been +happy. The Indians sought the assistance of a +discreet and active Indian at Nonantum, “in +making certain lawes for their more religious +and civill government, and behaviour.” It will +interest the reader to observe the fruit of this +half civilized legislator’s advice and labors. Mr. +Shepard gives us the “Conclusions and Orders +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>made and agreed upon by divers Sachims and +other principall men amongst the Indians at +Concord, in the end of the eleventh moneth, +An. 1646.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> The following are a good specimen +of the whole:</p> + +<p>1. Every one that shall abuse themselves +with rum or strong liquors, shall pay for every +time so abusing themselves twenty shillings.</p> + +<p>2. There shall be no more Powwowing +amongst the Indians. And if any shall hereafter +Powwow, both he that shall Powwow, and +he that shall cause him to Powwow shall pay +twenty shillings apiece.</p> + +<p>3. They do desire that they may be stirred +up to seek after God.</p> + +<p>4. They desire they may understand the +wiles of Satan, and grow out of love with his +suggestions and temptations.</p> + +<p>5. That they may fall upon some better +course to improve their time than formerly.</p> + +<p>6. That they may be brought to the sight of +the sin of lying, and whosoever shall be found +guilty herein, shall pay for the first offence five +shillings, the second ten shillings, the third +twenty shillings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span></p> + +<p>7. Whosoever shall steale any thing from +another, shall restore fourfold.</p> + +<p>8. They desire that no Indian hereafter shall +have any more but one wife.</p> + +<p>9. They desire to prevent the falling out of +Indians, one with another, and that they may +live quietly one by another.</p> + +<p>10. That they may follow after humility, +and not be proud.</p> + +<p>11. That when Indians doe wrong, they +may be liable to censure by fine or the like, as +the English are.</p> + +<p>12. That they pay their debts to the English.</p> + +<p>13. That they doe observe the Lord’s day, +and whosoever shall prophane it, shall pay +twenty shillings.</p> + +<p>14. This order refers to the disgusting practice +of eating vermin gathered from their persons; +“and whosoever shall offend in this case +shall pay for every louse a penny.”</p> + +<p>15. They will weare their haire comely as +the English do, penalty five shillings.</p> + +<p>16. They intend to reforme themselves in +their former greasing themselves, penalty five +shillings.</p> + +<p>17. They do all resolve to set up prayer in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>their wigwams, and to seek God both before and +after meate.</p> + +<p>20. Whosoever shall play at their former +games shall pay ten shillings.</p> + +<p>22. Wilful murder shall be punished by +death.</p> + +<p>23. They shall not disguise themselves in +their mournings, as formerly; nor shall they +keep a great noyse by howling.</p> + +<p>25. No Indian shall take an Englishman’s +canooe without leave, penalty five shillings.</p> + +<p>26. No Indian shall come into any Englishman’s +house, except he first knock; and this +they expect from the English.</p> + +<p>27. Whosoever beats his wife, shall pay +twenty shillings.</p> + +<p>28. If any Indian shall fall out with and +beate another Indian, he shall pay twenty shillings.</p> + +<p>29. They desire they may be a towne, and +either to dwell on this side the Beare swamp, or +at the East side of Mr. Flint’s Pond.</p> + +<p>These orders were put into form by Captain +Simon Willard, of Concord, whom the Indians +chose to be their Recorder. They were very +solicitous that what they agreed upon might be +faithfully preserved without alteration. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>narrative of these conclusions and orders is +signed by Thomas Flint, and Simon Willard.⁠<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>Mr. Shepard says that on the 3d March, +1647, he and the Rev. Messrs. Wilson of Boston, +Allen, of Dedham, and President Dunster, +and many Christian friends, attended the Indian +Lecture at Nonantum. “On which day,” he +says, “perceiving divers of the Indian women +well affected, and considering that their soules +might stand in need of answer to their scruples +as well as the mens, and yet because we knew +how unfit it was for women so much as to ask +questions publicly immediately by themselves, +wee did therefore desire them to propound any +questions they would be resolved about by +first acquainting either their Husbands or the +Interpreter privately therewith; whereupon we +heard two questions orderly propounded; which +because they are the first ever propounded by +Indian women in such an ordinance that ever +wee heard of, and because they may bee otherwise +useful, I shall therefore set them down.”</p> + +<p>The first question was proposed by the wife +of one Wampooas, a serious Indian, and was to +this effect:</p> + +<p>“Do I pray when my husband prays, if I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>speak nothing as he doth, yet if I like what he +says, and my heart goes with it?”</p> + +<p>The second was by the wife of one Totherswampe, +viz., “Whether a husband should do +well to pray with his wife, and yet continue in +his passions and be angry with his wife?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Shepard says, he had “heard few +Christians when they begin to look towards +God, make more searching questions than these +Indians.”</p> + +<p>An old Indian had an unruly, disobedient +son. He asked, “What should one do with +him, in case of obstinacy and disobedience, and +that will not hear God’s word, though his father +command him, nor will not forsake his drunkenness, +though his father forbid him.”</p> + +<p>Rev. Mr. Wilson was much moved at this +question, “and spake so terribly yet so graciously +as might have affected a heart not quite +shut up, which this young desperado hearing, +(who well understood the English tongue,) instead +of humbling himself before the Lord’s +Word, which touched his conscience and condition +so neare, hee was filled with the Spirit of +Satan, and as soone as ever Mr. Wilson’s +speech was ended, he brake out into a loud contemptuous +expression. ‘So!’ saith he; which +we passed by without speaking againe, leaving +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>the Word with him, which wee knew would +one day take its effect one way or other upon +him.”</p> + +<p>In 1647, Messrs. Eliot, Wilson and Shepard, +were sent for to Yarmouth, to arbitrate in some +difficulties, by means of which “not only that +bruised Church, but the whole Towne” was +restored to peace. “But Mr. Eliot, as hee takes +all other advantages of time, so hee took this, of +speaking with, and preaching to the poore Indians +in these remote places about Cape Cod.”</p> + +<p>The Indian dialect varied in forty or sixty +miles, and on this account, and because the Indians +at Cape Cod “were not accustomed to +sacred language, about the holy things of God, +wherein Mr. Eliot excels any other of the English, +who in the Indian language about common +matters excell him,” it was difficult to make +them understand, yet by the help of one or two +interpreters, they succeeded.</p> + +<p>There was a Sachem among them of a very +furious spirit, whom the English for that reason +called Jehu. He promised to attend the preaching +on the day appointed, and to bring his men +with him, but that very morning he sent his men +to sea for fish, and although he came late to +hear the Sermon, his men were absent. Yet he +feigned that he did not understand what was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>said, though the others said that he did understand, +and Mr. Eliot by privately questioning +him found out that he did. He heard, however, +“with a dogged look, and a discontented countenance.” +How curious the uniform resemblance +of the human heart in different classes of hearers +in every age and place, under the preaching +of the Gospel. Who in preaching has not seen +a face answering to this Jehu’s face, and the +heart of man to that of this man?</p> + +<p>It was found on this visit to the Indians of +Cape Cod, that there was some tradition among +them of the Gospel having been preached in +those parts before. An aged Indian told the +ministers that the very things which Mr. Eliot +had taught them as the Commandments of God, +and concerning God, and the making of the +world by one God, they had heard from some +old men now dead. A French ship was wrecked +upon that coast many years before, and among +the passengers and crew was the Frenchman +who, the Indian tradition said,⁠<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> while the +Indians were putting him to death, told them +that God was angry with them for their sins. +Mr. Shepard speaks of “the French preacher +cast upon those coasts many years since.” This +man may have been a French Catholic Priest, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span>on his way to the French possessions in +Canada.⁠<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>The presence of this preacher among them +will account for a dream which one of the Indians +related to Mr. Shepard and his companions, +as having occurred to him some time +ago. The tradition of what the preacher had +said, and the account of his appearance was +strongly impressed upon his imagination,⁠<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> as we +may suppose, without resorting to any other +explanation of the dream which nevertheless is +curious and interesting.</p> + +<p>He said that two years before the arrival of +the English, there was a great mortality in that +region, and one night when he was much disturbed +and broken of his rest, he dreamed that +he saw many men arrive upon the coast, dressed +in such clothes as the English wear. Among +them there was a man wholly in black, with a +thing in his hand which he now saw was an +Englishman’s book; that the man in black stood +on a place higher than the rest, with the English +around him, before a great number of the Indians. +This man told the Indians that God was +<i>moosquantum</i>, or angry with them, and would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>kill them for their sins. He said, that he himself +then stood up, and asked the man in black +what God would do with him and his Squaw +and Papooses. The man would not answer him +the first nor the second time, but the third time +he proposed the question, the man smiled upon +him, and told him that he and his papooses +would be safe, and that God would give them +victuals and other good things.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may seem, this dreamer who +seemed thus to have had his dream fulfilled, +would not come to the sermon till it was nearly +finished, and then finding that the man in +black was yet speaking, “away he flung,” and +was seen no more by the ministers till the next +day. Whether Satan, or fear, or guilt, or the +world prevailed, Mr. Shepard says he could not +say.</p> + +<p>The next year this writer says, he was much +surprised in attending an Indian Lecture at +Nonantum, to see so many Indian men, women, +and children, in English apparel, so that they +were scarcely known from the English people. +Partly by gifts, and partly by their own labors, +some of them had obtained means by which +they were even handsomely dressed.</p> + +<p>June 9, 1648, was the first day of the Synod’s +meeting at Cambridge. The forenoon was spent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span>in hearing a sermon preparatory to the work of +the Synod, and the afternoon was occupied in +hearing an Indian Lecture. “There was a great +gathering of Indians from all parts to hear Mr. +Eliot, which we conceived not unseasonable at +such a time; partly that the reports of God’s +worke begun among them might be seen and +believed of the chief who were then sent, and +met from all the churches of Christ in this country, +who could hardly believe the reports they +had heard concerning these new stirs among the +Indians, and partly hereby to raise up a greater +spirit of prayer, for the carrying on the work +begun upon the Indians among all the churches +and servants of the Lord Jesus. The sermon +was spent in showing them their miserable condition +without Christ, out of Ephes. 2:1, that +they were dead in trespasses and sinnes, and in +pointing unto them the Lord Jesus who onely +could quicken them.”</p> + +<p>After sermon, opportunity was given for the +Indians to ask questions. Some of them were +these:</p> + +<p>What countryman was Christ, and where was +he born?</p> + +<p>How far off is that place from us here?</p> + +<p>Where is Christ now?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span></p> + +<p>How may we lay hold on Christ, and where, +he being now absent from us?</p> + +<p>Mr. Shepard continues, “But that which I note +is this, that their gracious attention to the Word, +the affections and mournings of some of them +under it, their sober propounding of divers and +spirituall questions, their aptnesse to beleeve +and understand what was replyed to them; the +readiness of divers poore naked children to answer +openly the chief questions in the Catechism, +which were formerly taught them, and +such like appearances of a great change upon +them did marvellously affect all the wise and +godly ministers, magistrates and people, and did +raise their hearts up to great thankfulnesse to +God; very many deeply and abundantly mourning +for joy to see such a blessed day, and the +Lord Jesus so much known and spoken of +among such as never heard of him before: So +that if any in England doubt of the truth of +what was formerly writ; or if any malignant +eye shall question and vilifie this work, they +will now speak too late, for what was here done +at <i>Cambridge</i>, was not set under a Bushell, but +in the open Sunne; and what <i>Thomas</i> would +not beleeve by the reports of others, he might be +forced to beleeve by seeing with his own eyes, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>and feeling Christ Jesus thus risen among them +with his own hands.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>An old Indian came to Mr. Eliot’s house, as +Mr. Eliot told Mr. Shepard, and Mr. Eliot told +him that because he brought his wife and children +to meeting so constantly, he would give +him some clothes, for it was cold weather, and +the old man was quite destitute. He did not +understand this term which Mr. Eliot used for +clothes, and enquired of Mr. Eliot’s Indian domestic, +and when he understood that it was +clothing which was promised, he broke out with +much feeling, saying, “God is merciful:”—“a +blessed, because a plainhearted, affectionate +speech,” says Mr. Shepard, “and worthy of Englishmen’s +thoughts when they put on their +clothes; to think that a poor blind Indian that +scarce ever heard of God before, that hee should +see not only God in his clothes, but mercy also +in a promise of a cast off worne sute of clothes, +which were then given him, and which he now +daily wears.”</p> + +<p>Mr. S. says that “Mr. Edward Jackson one of +our Towne, constantly attended Mr. Eliot’s +Lectures, and took down the questions and answers, +and having sent me his notes, I shall +send you a taste of some of them,” viz.:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span></p> + +<p>1. Why are some so bad that they hate those +men that would teach them good things?</p> + +<p>2. Was the devil or man made first?</p> + +<p>3. If a father prays to God to teach his sons +to know him, and he doth teach them himself, +and they will not learn to know God, what +should such fathers do? This question was put +by an old man that had rude children.</p> + +<p>4. A Squaw asked this question: Whether +she might not go and pray in some private +place in the woods, when her husband was not +at home, because she was ashamed to pray in +the wigwam before company?</p> + +<p>5. How may one know wicked men, who are +good, and who are bad?</p> + +<p>6. To what nation did Jesus Christ come +first unto, and when?</p> + +<p>The following question illustrates the old saying, +that a child or fool may ask a question +which a philosopher cannot answer. It relates +to the solemn and fearful subject of the dissolution +of the body and soul. Who has not, at least +in his earlier years, puzzled himself with questions +about the passage of a departing spirit +from the chamber of death? The question referred +to was this:</p> + +<p>7. If a man should be inclosed in iron a foot +thick, and thrown into the fire, what would become +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>of the soul? Could the soul come out +thence or not?</p> + +<p>8. Why did not God give all men good +hearts, that they might be good?</p> + +<p>9. If one should be among strange Indians +that know not God, and they should make him +to fight against some whom he ought not to +fight against, and he should refuse, and for his +refusal they should kill him, what would become +of his soul in such a case? This question was +asked by a “stout fellow,” whose mind was +interested in religion, and was connected with +the notion of the Indians that all their valiant +men have a reward after death. He seemed to +think that his refusal to fight in the case supposed, +might prejudice his chance of reward +hereafter.</p> + +<p>10. How long is it before men believe who +have the word of God made known unto them?</p> + +<p>11. How may we know when our faith is +good, and our prayers good prayers?</p> + +<p>12. Why did not God kill the devil, that made +all men so bad, God having all power?</p> + +<p>13. If we be made weak by sin in our hearts, +how can we come before God to sanctify the +Sabbath?</p> + +<p>An amusing incident took place at one of the +public meetings. A drunken Indian cried out, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>“Mr. Eliot, who made sack? Who made +sack?” This, it will be perceived, was a cavil +about the “origin of evil.” It is said that “he +was soon snib’d by the other Indians, who cried +out that it was a papoose question. Mr. Eliot +seriously answered him; which hath cooled +his boldness ever since.”</p> + +<p>The man who took down these questions says +that “he had some occasion to speak to Waban, +(one of the chief men at Nonantum,) about the +time of sun-rising, and staying about half an +hour, as he came back by one of the wigwams, +the man of that wigwam was at prayer, at which +he was so much affected that he stopped under +a tree to listen; and these passages of Scripture +came to his mind while listening to the voice of +devotion from the wigwam: ‘All the ends of +the earth shall remember and turn unto the +Lord.’ ‘O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee +shall all flesh come.’”</p> + +<p>He says that he had seen an Indian call his +children in from the field where they were +gathering corn, when he asked a blessing upon +the food before them, “with much affection, +having but a homely dinner to eat.” Mr. +Shepard adds, “I wish the like hearts and +wayes were seen in many English who professe +themselves Christians, and that herein and many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>the like excellencies they were become Indians, +excepting that name, as he did, in another case, +except these bonds.”</p> + +<p>The following is the substance of an order +passed by the General Court at Boston, May +26, 1647, concerning the Indians.</p> + +<p>“Upon information that the Indians dwelling +among us, and submitted to our government, +being by the ministry of the Word brought to +some civility, are desirous to have a course of +ordinary judicature set up among them:</p> + +<p>“It is ordered, therefore, by authority of this +Court, that some one or more of the magistrates, +as they shall agree among themselves, shall, +once every quarter, keep a Court at such place +where the Indians ordinarily assemble to hear +the Word of God, and may then hear and determine +all causes civill and criminall, not being +capitall, concerning the Indians only; and that +the Indian sachims shall have libertie to take +order in the nature of summons or atachments, to +bring any of their own people to the said Courts, +and to keep a Court of themselves every moneth, +if they see occasion, to determine small causes +of a civill nature, and such smaller criminall +causes, as the said magistrates shall refer to +them: and the said sachims shall appoint officers +to serve warrants, and to execute the orders +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>and judgements of either of said Courts, which +officers shall from time to time bee allowed by +the said magistrates in the quarter Courts, or by +the Governour: And that all fines to bee imposed +upon any of the Indians, in any of the said +Courts, shall goe and bee bestowed towards the +building of some meeting-houses, for education +of their poorer children in learning, or other publick +use, by the advice of said magistrates, and +of Master Eliot, or of such other elder, as shall +ordinarily instruct them in the true Religion. +And it is the desire of this court that the said +magistrates, and Master Eliot, or such other +elders as shall attend the keeping of the said +Courts, will carefully indeavour to make the Indians +understand our most usefull Lawes, and +the principles of reason, justice, and equity, +whereupon they are grounded; and it is desired +that some care may be taken of the Indians on +the Lord’s dayes.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Shepard speaks of his brother Eliot as a +man “whom, in other respects, but especially +for his unweariednesse in this work of God, +going up and down among them, and doing +them good, I think we can never love nor +honor enough.” Mr. Eliot says, “That which +I first aymed at was to declare and deliver +unto them the law of God, to civilize them; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span>which course the Lord took by Moses, to +give the law to that rude company, because +of transgression, Galatians 3:19, to convince, +bridle, restrain, and civilize them, and also +to humble them. But when I first attempted +it they gave no heed unto it, but were weary, +and rather despised what I said. A while +after God stirred up in some of them a desire +to come into the English fashions, and live +after their manner, but knew not how to attain +unto it; yea, despaired that it should ever +come to passe in their dayes; but thought that, +in 40 yeears more, some Indians would be all one +English, and in an hundred yeears all Indians +hereabout would so bee: which when I heard, +(for some of them told me they thought so, and +that some wise Indians said so,) my heart moved +within me, abhorring that wee should sit still +and let that work alone, and hoping that this +notion in them was of the Lord, and that this +mind in them was a preparation to embrace the +law and Word of God; and therefore I told +them that they and wee were all one save in two +things, which make the only difference betwixt +them and us: First, wee know, serve, and pray +unto God, and they doe not. Secondly, we labor +and work in building, planting, clothing ourselves, +&c., and they doe not; and would they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>but doe as wee doe in these things they would +bee all one with Englishmen. They said they +did not know God, and therefore could not tell +how to pray to him nor serve him. I told them +if they would learn to know God, I would teach +them; unto which they being very willing, I +then taught them, (as I sundry times had indeavored +afore,) but never found them so forward, +attentive, and desirous till this time; and then I +told them I would come to their wigwams and +teach them, their wives and children, which +they seemed very glad of; and, from that day +forward, I have not failed to doe that poore little +which you know I doe.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot says that he found the usual opposition +to religion among Indians which he found +among white men. The Indians of “Dorchester +Mill,” for example, would not, at first, regard +his instructions; “but the better sort of them perceiving +how acceptable this was to the English, +both to magistrates, and all the good people, it +pleased God to step in and bow their hearts, to +desire to be taught to know God.” “The <i>Linn</i> +Indians,” Mr. Eliot said, “are all naught save +one.” This was owing to the opposition of +their sachem.</p> + +<p>A sober Indian going up into the country +with two of his sons, prayed as he used to do at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>home, and talked to the Indians about God and +Jesus Christ; whereupon they mocked, and +called one of his sons Jehovah, and the other +Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>The Nonantum Indians early began to observe +the Lord’s day. They fined every violator +of the Sabbath ten shillings. One Sabbath +morning the sachem’s wife went to fetch water, +when, meeting with other Indian women, she +fell into worldly conversation with them, but +they reproved her. She insisted that it was not +improper, but the other women informed the +native Indian preacher who was to address them +that day, and he discoursed to them upon the +sanctification of the Sabbath, and in his discourse +related what he had heard about the +sachem’s wife. After sermon they had much +conversation on the subject, in which the sachem’s +wife insisted that, inasmuch as her conversation +was in private, and early on the +Sabbath morning, there was no harm in it; and +then she retorted upon the preacher by telling +him that he had sinned much more than she in +giving occasion to so much talk about this subject +on the Sabbath. The whole matter was, by +common consent, referred to Mr. Eliot for his +arbitration.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, on another Sabbath, two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>strangers came to Waban’s tent (Nonantum); +and when they came in, they told him that, +about a mile off, they had chased a racoon into +a hollow tree, and that if he would send his servants +to fell the tree, they might catch him, +which Waban, in his desire to entertain the +strangers with fresh game, accordingly did. +Whereupon the Indians were much displeased, +and this case was, by request, made the subject +of discourse on the next lecture day.</p> + +<p>Another case was this. “Upon a Lord’s day +their public meeting holding long, and somewhat +late when they came at home, in one wigwam +the fire was almost out, and therefore the +man of the house, as he sat by the fireside, took +his hatchet and split a little dry piece of wood, +which they reserve on purpose for such use, and +so kindled his fire, which, being taken notice of, +it was thought to bee such a worke as might not +lawfully bee done upon the Sabbath day, and +therefore the case was propounded the lecture +following for their better information.”</p> + +<p>A great improvement was soon visible among +them in their treatment of their wives. A man +who had offended in this respect was brought +before the assembly at a time when the governor +and many of the colonists happened to be present. +The man being publicly accused of beating his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>wife, made no defence, but confessed his sin, +and being kindly admonished and instructed, he +turned his face to the wall and wept; “and such +was the modest, penitent, and melting behaviour +of the man that it much affected all to see it in +a barbarian, and all did forgive him; onely this +remained, that they executed their law notwithstanding +his repentance, and required his fine, +to which he willingly submitted, and paid it.”</p> + +<p>The power of conscience among them is illustrated +by Mr. Eliot in the two following anecdotes.</p> + +<p>The son of a sachem, 14 or 15 years old, had +been intoxicated; and being reproved by his +father and mother for disobedient and rebellious +conduct, he despised their admonition. Before +Mr. E. heard of it, he had observed that on +being catechised, the fifth commandment being +required of him, he reluctantly said, “Honor thy +father,” but left out “mother.”</p> + +<p>George, the Indian, who asked, in a public +meeting, “Who made sack?” killed a cow, and +sold it at the college for a moose. President +Dunster was unwilling that he should be directly +charged with it, but wished Mr. Eliot to inquire +of him as to the crime. But being brought before +the assembly, he freely confessed his sin.</p> + +<p>The Indians were never weary of asking +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>questions in the public meetings. An old Powaw +once demanded, Why, seeing the English +had been in the land twenty-seven years, they +had never taught the Indians to know God till +now? He added, many of us have grown old +in sin, whereas had you begun with us earlier, +we might have been good.</p> + +<p>The answer was that the English did repent +that they were not more earnest at the first to +seek their salvation, but the Indians were never +willing to hear till now, and as God has now +inclined their hearts to hear, the English were +striving to redeem the time.</p> + +<p>Another question was of deep interest. One +of them said, That before he knew God, he +thought he was well, but since, he had found +his heart to be full of sin, and more sinful than +it ever was before; and that this had been a +great trouble to him; that at that day his heart +was but little better than it was at first, and <i>he +was afraid it would be as bad as it was before, +and therefore he sometimes wished that he might +die before he should be so bad again</i>! Now, +said he, my question is, Is this wish a sin? +Mr. E. says this question was evidently the +result of his own experience and seemed to be +sincere.</p> + +<p>Another question was this:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span></p> + +<p>Whither do our little children go when they +die, seeing they have not sinned?</p> + +<p>This led to an exposition of the depravity of +man’s nature, and of the part which it is hoped +dying infants have in the redemption made by +Christ, and the covenant relation of the children +of believers, which last doctrine Mr. Eliot says, +“was exceedingly grateful unto them.”</p> + +<p>The whole assembly at one time united and +sent a question to Mr. Eliot by his man, as their +united question, viz:</p> + +<p>“Whether any of them should go to heaven, +seeing they found their hearts full of sin, and +especially full of the sin of lust?” At the next +lecture held at “Dorchester mill,” occasion was +taken to preach to them from Matt. 11:28, 29. +“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy +laden,” &c., when the justifying grace of Christ +to all who are weary and sick of sin was fully +and earnestly set forth. But at this time they +repeated their fearful apprehension that “none +of them would go to heaven.”</p> + +<p>A question which uniformly troubled all who +began to think of embracing religion was this:</p> + +<p>“If we leave off Powawing and pray to God, +what shall we do when we are sick?” For +though they had some knowledge of the medicinal +qualities in certain roots and herbs, they of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>course had no knowledge of the human system, +and hence no skill in applying their remedies, +but relied on the antics and unearthly gestures +and incantations of their Powaws to make the +medicines take effect. Mr. Eliot expressed the +desire that the Lord would stir up the hearts of +some people in England to give some maintenance +towards a school or academy, wherein +there should be “Anatomies, and other instructions +that way.” Mr. E. had himself showed +them an anatomy, the only one he says the +English had ever had in the country. By a +course of instruction in medicine Mr. E. believed +that he could most effectually, and perhaps, in +the only way, “root out their Powaws.”</p> + +<p>The Indians proposed this question to Mr. +Eliot:</p> + +<p>“What shall we say to some Indians who +say to us, What do you get by praying to God, +and believing in Jesus Christ? You go naked +still, and are as poor as we. Our corn is as +good as yours; and we take more pleasure than +you; if we saw that you got any thing by praying +to God, we would do so.”</p> + +<p>Mr. E. answered to them on this point as +follows: “First, God gives two sorts of good +things; 1. little things, which he showed by +his little finger, (‘for they use and delight in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>demonstrations;’) 2. great things, (holding up +his thumb). The little mercies he said are +riches, clothes, food, sack, houses, cattle, and +pleasures, all which serve the body for a little +while, and in this life only. The great mercies +are wisdom, the knowledge of God, Christ, +eternal life, repentance and faith; these are for +the soul, and eternity. Though God did not +give them so many little things, through the +knowledge of the Gospel, he gave them the +greater things which are better. This he +proved by an illustration: when <i>Foxun</i>, the +Mohegan Counselor, who is counted the wisest +Indian in the country, was in the Bay, I did on +purpose bring him unto you; and when he was +here, you saw he was a fool in comparison of +you, for you could speak of God, and Christ, +and heaven, &c.; but he sat and had not one +word to say unless you talked of such poor +things as hunting, wars, &c.”</p> + +<p>He also told them that they had some more +clothes than the wicked Indians; and the reason +why they had so few, was because they had so +little wisdom; but if they were wise to obey +God’s commands, for example, “Six days shalt +thou labor,” they would have clothes, houses, +cattle, and riches, as the English have.</p> + +<p>Many questions and cases of dispute arose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span>out of their old practice of gaming, to which +they were greatly addicted. The irreligious +Indians demanded the old stakes of some who +had been convinced of the sin of gaming, and +had declined to pay their forfeits. The winners +however, insisted on being payed. Mr. Eliot +had no little trouble in settling the matters of +casuistry and conscience which thus occurred. +But he took this method in many cases. He +prevailed on the creditor to accept one half +of his demand, having first showed him the +sinfulness of gaming. He then told the debtor +in private that God requires us to fulfill our +promises though to our hurt, and then asked +him if he would pay half. In this way such +cases were many of them settled, for the creditors +refused Mr. Eliot’s proposition, that whoever +challenged a debt incurred by gaming should +go before the Governor with his demand.</p> + +<p>The demand upon Mr. Eliot for agricultural +and other implements soon increased beyond +his ability to supply them. The women were +desirous of learning to spin; wheels were procured +for them. The men began to supply the +English market all the year round, in the winter +with brooms, staves, eel-pots, baskets, and +turkies; in the spring with cranberries, fish, and +strawberries; in the summer, with whortleberries, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>grapes and fish; and in the autumn, with +cranberries, fish and venison. Some of them +worked with the English in haying time, and +harvest; but it was hard work for them with +their old habits of indolence. “Old boughs,” +says Mr. Eliot, “must be bent a little at once; +if we can set the young twigges in a better bent, +it will bee God’s mercy.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot fell in with a Narragansett Sachem, +and having spoken to him on the subject of +religion, asked him if he did not believe such +things? The Sachem seemed averse to answer, +and Mr. E. asked him why he had not profited +more by the instructions of a Mr. Williams, +their teacher? He answered that the Indians did +not care to learn of him, because he is no good +man, but goes out and works upon the Sabbath +day. “I name it,” says Thomas Shepard, “not +to show what glimmerings nature may have +concerning the observation of the Sabbath, but +to show what the ill example of the English +may do, and <i>to show what a stumbling-block to +all religion the loose observation of the Sabbath +is</i>.”</p> + +<p>In a few years Mr. Eliot says a visible improvement +had taken place in many of the +domestic habits of the Indians, indicating an +advancement in the principles and sentiments +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>of civilization. Not only were they as a general +thing respectably clothed, but the common +wigwams at Nonantum equalled those of Sachems +in other tribes, and instead of herding +together in one room they made divisions and +apartments in their houses from feelings of +propriety and modesty.</p> + +<p>Questions relating to the plurality of their +wives perplexed them, and gave occasion for the +same judicious decisions on this delicate and +trying subject which are now made by our wise +and discreet missionaries in lands where the +same practice exists. While some good men +are in favor of driving the ploughshare at once +among the roots of this and every other evil +in the institutions and customs of corrupt society, +it is found impracticable to do so, by those +who see the complicated nature of these practices, +without occasioning still greater evils. +Remedial measures are in operation among the +converts from heathenism and paganism by +which caste and polygamy and other social +evils will in time, but not in a day or year, be +done away. The process of cure was more +rapid among the Indians, than it is among the +Oriental tribes, for reasons connected with the +character of the people, the ascendency which +religion soon had among them, and the absence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>of opposing influences in the government of the +tribes.</p> + +<p>The text from which Mr. Eliot preached his +first sermon at Nonantum, (“Prophesy to the +wind,” &c.) and which made Waban, whose +name translated, is, the wind, had produced a +decided effect on him, and he became useful in +diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel to other +tribes, at Concord, at places on the Merrimack, +and elsewhere. He remained steadfast in the +faith, and never ceased to think that the Word +of God was directed specially to himself in that +first sermon of Mr. Eliot, though Mr. E. says +that he had no design in the coincidence between +the text and the Indian’s name.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot once preached to the Indians from +these words, Ephes. 5:11, “Have no fellowship +with the unfruitful works of darkness,” &c. +One of the questions proposed after sermon was +this:</p> + +<p>What do Englishmen think of Mr. Eliot, +because he comes among wicked Indians to +teach them?</p> + +<p>Another question was as follows:</p> + +<p>Suppose two men sin. The one knows he +sinneth, and the other doth not know sin, will +God punish both alike?</p> + +<p>Another asked, Suppose there should be one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>wise Indian that teacheth good things to other +Indians, whether should not he be as a father or +brother unto such Indians he so teacheth in the +ways of God?</p> + +<p>One of the Indians at Nonantum had a child +sick of consumption. When it was dead some +of the Indians came to one of the English and +asked him the proper manner of burial. Whereupon +the father procured some pieces of board +and nails, and made a decent coffin; and about +forty of the tribe went with the body to the +grave. There having laid the body in the +earth, in a solemn and suitable manner, without +any howlings, or heathenish rites, or savage +gesticulations, they made up the mound, and +then of their own accord, for it was not the English +custom, they assembled for prayer near the +grave, and requested one of their number, a +serious Indian by the name of Totherswamp, to +pray with them, which he did, “with such zeal +and variety of gracious expressions, and abundance +of tears, both of himself and most of the +company, that the woods rang again with their +sighs and prayers.”</p> + +<p>Thomas Shepard says, “I know that some will +think that all this work among them is done +and acted thus by the Indians to please the +English, and for applause from them; and it is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>not unlikely but ’tis so in many, who doe but +blaze for a time; but certainly ’tis not so in all, +but that the power of the Word hath taken place +in some, and that inwardly and effectually, but +how far savingly time will declare. Some may +say that if it be so, yet they are but few that +are thus wrought upon. Be it so; yet so it +hath ever been, many called, few chosen, and +yet withal, I believe the calling in of a few +Indians to Christ, is the gathering home of +many hundreds more, considering what a vast +distance there hath been between them and +God so long, even dayes without number; considering +also, how precious the first fruits of +America will be to Jesus Christ, and what seeds +they may be of harvests in after times; and yet +if there was no great matter seen in those of +grown years, their children, notwithstanding, +are of great hopes, both from English and +Indians themselves, who are therefore trained +up to schoole, where many are very apt to +learne, and who are also able readily to answer +to the questions propounded, containing the +principles and grounds of all Christian religion +in their own tongue. I confesse it passeth my +skill to tell how the Gospel should be generally +received by these American natives, considering +the variety of languages in small distances of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span>places; onely hee that made their cares and +tongues can raise up some or other to teach +them how to heare, and what to spake; and if +the Gospel must ride circuit, Christ can and will +conquer by weake and dispicable meanes, +though the conquest perhaps may be somewhat +long.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot wrote an interesting letter to a +friend in England, dated Roxbury, this 12th of +Nov. 1648, and sent it <i>by the way of Virginia, +and through Spain</i>.</p> + +<p>He says that the Indians used to abhor the +remembrance of their dead friends, but that now +they had begun to receive profit from the recollection +of their dying counsels, and hope from +their confidence in the safety of the pious dead. +The woman who asked the question, whether, +when her husband prayed, if she prayed in her +heart, but did not speak, yet her heart liked +what he said, it was prayer; called her two +grown up daughters to her when she was dying +and said to them: “I shall now die, and when I +am dead, your grand-parents and uncles will +send for you to come live among them and +promise you great matters, and tell you what +pleasant living it is among them. But do not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>believe them, and I charge you never hearken +unto them, nor live among them; for they pray +not to God, keep not the Sabbath, commit all +manner of sins, and are not punished for it. +But I charge you live here, for here they pray +unto God, the Word of God is taught, sins are +suppressed and punished by laws, and therefore +I charge you live here all your days.” Soon +after it came to pass as she had said, and the +case was propounded to Mr. Eliot, and the +father-in-law opposed the removal of the children, +on the ground of their mother’s charge.</p> + +<p>The settlement of Natick took place in the +following way. Many Indians in the country +were desirous of hearing the Gospel, but they +would not remove into the neighborhood of the +English, “because they had no tools or skill, or +heart to fence their grounds,” and so their corn +was spoiled by the English cattle, and the English +refused to pay for it, because the Indians +would not build fences. “Therefore,” Mr. E. +says, “a place must be found (both for this and +sundry other reasons) somewhat remote from +the English;—but I feare it will bee too chargeable, +though I see that God delighteth in small +beginnings that his name may be magnified.”</p> + +<p>There was a great fishing place at the falls of +the Merrimack where the Indians assembled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>every spring, and Mr. E. visited them. They +put a question to him after one of his sermons, +which all who are interested in the conversion +of the heathen often find occurring to them +with painful interest. “If it be thus as you +teach, then all the world of Indians are gone to +hell, to be tormented forever, until now a few +may go to heaven and be saved; is it so?”</p> + +<p>In the letter which went so far in getting to +England, Mr. Eliot records some further questions +from his Nonantum Indians, viz:</p> + +<p>How many good people were in Sodom when +it was burnt?</p> + +<p>Doth the devil dwell in us as we dwell in a +house?</p> + +<p>When God saith, Honor thy father, doth he +mean three fathers, our father, our Sachem, and +our God?</p> + +<p>When the soul goes to heaven, what doth it +say when it comes there. And what doth a +wicked soul say when it cometh into hell?</p> + +<p>If one sleep on the Sabbath at meeting, and +another awaketh him, and he be angry at it, +and say it’s because he is angry with him that +he so doth, is not this a sin?</p> + +<p>If any talk of another man’s faults and tell +others of it when he is not present to answer, is +not that a sin?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span></p> + +<p>Why did Christ die in our stead?</p> + +<p>Seeing Eve was first in sin, whether she did +die first?</p> + +<p>Why must we love our enemies, and how +shall we do it?</p> + +<p>When every day my heart thinks I must die +and go to hell for my sins, what shall I do in +this case?</p> + +<p>May a good man sin sometimes? Or may +he be a good man and yet sin sometimes?</p> + +<p>If a man think a prayer, doth God know it, +and will he bless him?</p> + +<p>Who killed Christ?</p> + +<p>If a man be almost a good man and dieth, +whither goeth his soul?</p> + +<p>How long was Adam good before he sinned?</p> + +<p>Seeing we see not God with our eyes, if a +man dream that he seeth God, doth his soul +then see him?</p> + +<p>Did Adam see God before he sinned? Shall +we see God in heaven?</p> + +<p>If a wicked man pray, whether doth he make +a good prayer? Or when doth a wicked man +pray a good prayer?</p> + +<p>Whether God did make hell before Adam +sinned?</p> + +<p>If two families dwell in one house, and one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span>prayeth and the other not, what shall they that +pray do to them that do not?</p> + +<p>Did Abimelech know Sarah was Abraham’s +wife?</p> + +<p>Did not Abraham sin in saying she was my +sister?</p> + +<p>Seeing God promised Abraham so many +children, like the stars for multitude, why did +he give him so few? And was it true?</p> + +<p>If God made hell in one of the six days, why +did God make hell before Adam sinned?</p> + +<p>How shall I bring mine heart to love prayer?</p> + +<p>If one man repent and pray once in a day, +another man often in a day, whether doth one +of them go to heaven, the other not? Or what +difference is there?</p> + +<p>I find I want wisdom, what shall I do to be +wise?</p> + +<p>Why did Abraham buy a place to bury in?</p> + +<p>Why doth God make good men sick?</p> + +<p>How shall the Resurrection be, and when?</p> + +<p>Do not Englishmen spoil their souls to say a +thing cost them more than it did? and is not all +one as to steal?</p> + +<p>You say our body is made of clay; what is +the sun and moon made of?</p> + +<p>If one be loved of all Indians, good and bad, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>another is hated of all, saving a few that be +good, doth God love both these?</p> + +<p>I see why I must fear hell and do so every +day. But why must I fear God?</p> + +<p>How is the tongue like fire, and like poison?</p> + +<p>What if false witnesses accuse me of murther, +or some foul sin?</p> + +<p>What punishment is due to liars?</p> + +<p>If I reprove a man for sin, and he answer, +“Why do you speak thus angrily to me? Mr. +Eliot teacheth us to love one another?”—is this +well?</p> + +<p>Why is God so angry with murtherers?</p> + +<p>If a wife put away her husband because he +will pray to God and she will not, what is to be +done in this case?</p> + +<p>If there be young women pray to God, may +such as pray to God marry one that will not +pray to God, or what is to be done in this case?</p> + +<p>Whether doth God make bad men dream +good dreams?</p> + +<p>What is salvation?</p> + +<p>What is the Kingdom of Heaven?</p> + +<p>If my wife do some work in the house on the +night before the Sabbath, and some work on the +Sabbath night, whether this is a sin?</p> + +<p>If I do a sin, and do not know it is a sin, what +will God say to that?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span></p> + +<p>Is faith set in my heart or in my mind?</p> + +<p>Why have not beasts a soul as man hath, +seeing they have love, anger, &c., as man hath?</p> + +<p>How is the Spirit of God in us, and where +is it?</p> + +<p>Why doth God punish in hell for ever? man +doth not so, but after a time lets them out of +prison again. And if they repent in hell, why +will not God let them out again?</p> + +<p>How shall I know when God accepts my +prayers?</p> + +<p>How doth Christ make peace between man +and God? and what is the meaning of that +point?</p> + +<p>Why did the Jews give the watchmen money +to tell a lie?</p> + +<p>If I hear God’s word when I am young, and +do not believe, but when I am old I believe, +what will God say?</p> + +<p>In wicked dreams doth the soul sin?</p> + +<p>Doth the soul in heaven know things done +here on earth?</p> + +<p>Doth the soul in heaven remember what it +did here on earth before he died?</p> + +<p>If my heart be full of evil thoughts, and I repent +and pray, and a few hours after it is full +again, and I repent and pray again; and if after +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>this it be full of evil thoughts again, what will +God say?</p> + +<p>Why did the earth shake at Christ’s resurrection?</p> + +<p>What if a minister wear long hair, as some +other men do, what will God say?</p> + +<p>If a man will make his daughter marry a +man whom she doth not love, what will God +say?</p> + +<p>Why doth Christ compare the kingdom of +heaven to a net?</p> + +<p>Why doth God so hate them that teach others +to commit sin?</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p>Letters respecting the Indians, from individuals in New England, to +their friends in Old England. Speculations about the lost tribes of +Israel. Remarks. Questions. Samuel Gorton, the Familist. Two +Indians controvert his opinions. Interesting conversation. Labors +of the Mayhews on Martha’s Vineyard. Covenant of the Indians +of Martha’s Vineyard. Questions. Merrimack Indians. Accounts +by the Mayhews of their labors. Questions.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Some of Mr. Eliot’s letters respecting the Indians +were published in London, with an appendix +by Rev. “J. D.” As we are interested and +entertained occasionally by a supposed discovery +of the lost tribes of Israel, it may not be useless +to give here some of the speculations and reasonings +of this good man, on this subject as +relating to the North American Indians. He +begins his appendix with the following words:</p> + +<p>“The works of the Lord are great, sought +out of all them that love them, saith the Psalmist; +Ps. 111:3. The word which we, render +<i>sought out</i>, hath a mighty emphasis in it: +’Tis a word used sometimes to denote the elaborate +care of digging and searching into mines. +And sometimes it’s made use of to expresse the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>accurate labors of those who comment upon +writings. Indeed, there is a golden mine in +every work of God; and the foregoing letters to +a gracious eye, are as a discovery of a far more +precious mine in America, than those gold and +silver mines of India: For they bring tidings of +the unsearchable riches of Christ, revealed unto +poore soules in those parts.... I could not +pass over so rich a mine without digging....</p> + +<p>“The general consent of many +judicious and godly divines doth induce considering +minds to believe that the conversion of +the Jews is at hand. It’s the expectation of +some of the wisest Jews now living, that about +the year 1650, Either we shall be Mosaick or +else that themselves Jews shall be Christians.... +There may be at least a remnant of +the generation of Jacob in America, (peradventure +some of the Ten tribes dispersions.) And +that those sometimes poor now precious Indians +may be as the first fruits of the glorious harvest +of Israel’s redemption. The observation is not +to be slighted, (though the observer, Mr. Shepard, +said it was more cheerful than deep) that +the first Text out of which Mr. Eliot preached, +was about the dry bones.... Why may we +not at least conjecture, that God by a special +finger pointed out that text to be first opened, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span>which immediately concerned the persons to +whom it was preached?”</p> + +<p>He then states the reasons why the Indian +tribes may be of Jewish descent, viz:</p> + +<p>“1. They have at least a traditional knowledge +of God, as the Maker of heaven and +earth.</p> + +<p>2. Whatever they attribute unto others, this +they peculiarly attribute unto God, viz: that +all things, both good and evil, are managed by +his Providence.</p> + +<p>3. Before they had received any instruction +from the English, upon observation of a bad +year, or other ill success, they did meet and +weep as unto God, and on the other side, upon +a good year, or good success in any business, +as of War, they used to meet and make a kind +of acknowledgement of thanks to God in it.</p> + +<p>4. They are careful to preserve the memory +of their families, mentioning Uncles, Grandparents, +&c. A thing which had a great tang +of, and affinity to, the Jews’ care of preserving +the memorial of their Tribes.</p> + +<p>5. Those of them who have been wrought +upon, tell of some face of Religion, wisdom and +manners which long agoe their ancestors had, +but that it was lost.</p> + +<p>6. The better and more sober of them delight +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>much to expresse themselves in parables, +a thing peculiar to the Jews.</p> + +<p>These and the like considerations prevail +with me to entertain (at least) a conjecture that +these Indians of America may be Jews, especially +of the Ten Tribes. And therefore to hope +that the work of Christ among them may be as +preparatory to his own appearing.”</p> + +<p>Some of these reasons appertain with equal +force to other tribes of the earth who have been +supposed by different writers to be remnants of +the house of Israel. While we should respect +the interest and zeal of those who study the +providence of God, with a view to finding out +his designs, and to be prepared for the fulfillment +of his promises, we should not easily yield our +confidence to any hypothesis which rests merely +on conjecture, or depends for support in reasons +which apply equally well to theories inconsistent +with it. This is not the place to remark at +large on the interesting subject of the Jews and +their conversion, but the impression seems happily +to be extending that the sooner we cease to +regard them as destined to a national conversion, +and look at them as sinners of the human +family, like Mohammedans and Papists, and refrain +from efforts and a treatment which foster +their spirit of separation and their assumption +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>of superior dignity and special claims to respect +and favor, the sooner we shall employ ourselves +in efforts to address them in a way which will +be far more likely to humble their pride, and +prepare them to submit to the Gospel, than the +somewhat adulatory and flattering method of +approaching them and speaking of them will +ever be.</p> + +<p>The improvement which the writer above +named makes of Mr. Eliot’s letters in the following +exhortations is far more obviously correct +than his speculations about the origin and destiny +of the Indians. He says the work of grace +among them should lead the people of England,</p> + +<p>“First, To study and search into the works of +the Lord, to see how he counter plots the enemy +in his designs; In making the late Bishops +persecuting of the godly tend to the promoting +of the Gospel.</p> + +<p>Secondly, To take heed of despising the day +of small things.</p> + +<p>Thirdly, To be ashamed of and bewail our +want of affection to and estimation of that glorious +Gospel, and those great things of Christ, +which these poor Heathens upon the little Glymmerings +and tasts so exceedingly value and +improve.</p> + +<p>Fourthly, Doth not the observation of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>preceding reports clearly confirm the doctrine of +the Sabbath, and the practice of prayer. O +tremble, ye Sabbath slighters and duty despisers, +Christ hath witnesses against you in America.... +The converted Heathen in New +England goe beyond you, O ye Apostolic +Christians in England.</p> + +<p>Arise ye heads of our Tribes in Old England, +and extend your help to further Christ’s labourers +in New England.</p> + +<p>Rouse up yourselves, my Brethren! ye +preachers of the Gospel, this work concerns you. +Contrive and plot, preach for and presse the advancement +hereof.</p> + +<p>Come forth ye masters of money, part with +your gold to promote the Gospel. If you give +any thing yearly, remember Christ will be your +Pensioner. If you give any thing into banke, +Christ will keep account thereof and reward it.”</p> + +<p>The reader, it is to be hoped, will not be +weary of the Indian questions, which Mr. Eliot +sent to his friends in England as often as he +wrote to them. These questions are not only +curious, but they suggest valuable thoughts and +lead to profitable reflections.</p> + +<p>If a man know God’s Word, said one of +them at the Indian lecture, but believe it not, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>and he teach others, is that good teaching? and +if others believe that which he teacheth, is that +believing or faith? Upon this question Mr. +Eliot asked them how they could tell when a +man knoweth God’s Word, that he doth not believe +it? They answered, When he doth not +do in his practice answerable to that which he +knoweth.</p> + +<p>If I teach on the Sabbath that which you have +taught us, and forget some, is that a sin? and +some I mistake and teach wrong, is that a sin?</p> + +<p>Do all evil thoughts come from the devil, and +all good ones from God?</p> + +<p>What is watchfulness?</p> + +<p>What should I pray for at night, and what +at morning, and what on the Sabbath day?</p> + +<p>What is true Repentance? or how shall I +know when this is true?</p> + +<p>How must I wait on God?</p> + +<p>Shall we see Christ at the day of judgment?</p> + +<p>When I pray for a soft heart, why is it still +hard?</p> + +<p>You said, God promised to go with Moses; +how doth he go with us?</p> + +<p>When such die as never heard of Christ, +whither do they go?</p> + +<p>When the wicked die, do they first go to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>heaven to the judgment-seat of Christ to be +judged, and then go away to hell?</p> + +<p>Why doth God say, I am the God of the +Hebrews?</p> + +<p>When Christ arose, whence came his soul? +When it was replied, From heaven; they said, +How then was Christ punished in our stead? +or when did he suffer in our stead, afore death, +or after?</p> + +<p>When I pray every day, why is my heart so +hard still, even as a stone?</p> + +<p>If one purposeth to pray, and yet dieth before +that time, whither goeth his soul?</p> + +<p>Why must we be like salt?</p> + +<p>Doth God know who shall repent, and who +not?—why then did God use so much meanes +with Pharaoh?</p> + +<p>What meaneth that ‘blessed are they that +mourn’?</p> + +<p>When I see a good example, and know that +it is right, why do I not do the same?</p> + +<p>What anger is good, and what is bad?</p> + +<p>Do they dwell in separate houses in heaven, +or all together, and what do they?</p> + +<p>If a child die before he sin, whither goeth his +soul? ‘By this question,’ says Mr. E., ‘it did +please the Lord to convince them of original sin, +blessed be his name.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span></p> + +<p>If one that prays to God sins like him that +prays not, is not he worse? ‘And while,’ says +Mr. Eliot, ‘they discoursed of this point, and +about hating wicked persons, one of them shut +it up with this: They must love the man and +do him good, but hate his sin.’</p> + +<p>Why do Englishmen so eagerly kill all +snakes?</p> + +<p>May a man have good words and deeds, and +a bad heart, and another have bad words and +deeds, and yet a good heart?</p> + +<p>What is it to eate Christ’s flesh, and drink his +blood; what meaneth it?</p> + +<p>What meaneth a new heaven and a new +earth?</p> + +<p>If but one parent believe, what state are our +children in?</p> + +<p>How doth much sinne make grace abound?</p> + +<p>What meaneth that, We cannot serve two +masters?</p> + +<p>Can they in Heaven see us here on earth?</p> + +<p>Do they see and know each other? Shall I +know you in heaven?</p> + +<p>If all the world be burnt up, where shall hell be?</p> + +<p>Do they know each other in Hell?</p> + +<p>What meaneth, that Christ meriteth eternal +life for us?</p> + +<p>What meaneth that, The woman brought to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span>Christ a box of oyle, and washt his feet with +tears, &c.?</p> + +<p>What meaneth that of the two debtors, one +oweth much, another but little?</p> + +<p>What meaneth God when he sayes, yee shall +be my jewels?</p> + +<p>If so old a man as I repent, may I be saved?</p> + +<p>When we come to believe, how many of our +children doth God take with us, whether all, +only young ones, or at what age?</p> + +<p>What meaneth that, Let the trees of the wood +rejoice?</p> + +<p>What meaneth that, The Master doth not +thank his servant for waiting on him?</p> + +<p>When Englishmen choose magistrates and +ministers, how do they know who be good men +that they dare trust?</p> + +<p>Seeing the body sinneth, why should the soul +be punished, and what punishment shall the +body have?</p> + +<p>If a wicked man prayeth and teacheth, doth +God accept, or what saith God?</p> + +<p>If a man be wise and his Sachem weak, must +he yet obey him?</p> + +<p>We are commanded to honour the Sachem, +but is the Sachem commanded to love us?</p> + +<p>When all the world is burnt up, what shall +be in the room of it? (By an old woman.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span></p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot says, in a letter containing these +questions,</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“You may perceive many of the +questions arise out of such texts as I handle, and +do endeavour to communicate as much Scripture +as I can. The word of the Lord converteth, +sanctifieth, and maketh wise the simple; +sometimes they aske weaker questions than +these, which I mention not; you have the best, +and when I am about writing, I am careful in +keeping a remembrance of them; it may be the +same question may be again and again asked at +several places and by several persons. The +Lord teach them to know Christ, whom to know +is eternal life. I shall entreat your supplications +at the throne of grace, under the tender +wing whereof I now leave you, being forced by +the time, and rest,</p> + +<p>Your respectful and loving +brother and fellow-laborer +in the Indian work,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">John Eliot</span>.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>Samuel Gorton, charged with being a Familist +and Antinomian, was banished from +Plymouth, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. +The Familists were an Anabaptist sect, founded +in Holland, in 1555, by Henry Nicholas, a +Westphalian. They held that the essence of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span>religion consists in the feelings of divine love, +(and hence they were called the Family of love, +and familists), that all other religious tenets, +whether relating to matters of faith or modes of +worship, are of no consequence, and that it +is indifferent what opinions Christians entertain +concerning God, provided their hearts are +filled with the emotions of piety and love. +They were confuted by Dr. Henry More, and +by George Fox, the Quaker. A proclamation +was issued against them by Queen Elizabeth in +1580.</p> + +<p>This Gorton in 1650 was in Rhode Island. +Two of the Nonantum Indians made a visit to +Providence and Warwick, and spent a Sabbath +and heard Gorton and his followers explain their +views, and afterwards had some conversation +with them.</p> + +<p>Upon their return, on a lecture day, before the +people had fully assembled, these two Indians +addressed a question to Mr. Eliot; and the conversation +which ensued is recorded by him as +illustrating the proficiency in Christian knowledge +to which some of the Indians had attained, +and their ability to withstand false teachers.</p> + +<p>The question was this: What is the reason +that seeing those English people, where they had +been, have the same Bible that Mr. Eliot has, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>yet do not speak the same things? Being asked +the reason of his question, they said, They had +been at Providence and Warwick, and they +perceived by conversation with them that they +differed from Mr. E.; they heard their public +exercises, but did not understand what they +meant, though they understood the English +language well. Being asked what they said, +they replied, they said thus:</p> + +<p>They (that is Mr. Eliot and his friends) teach +you that there is a heaven and a hell, but there +is no such matter.</p> + +<p>Mr. E. asked them what reason they gave for +this assertion.</p> + +<p>Because there is no other heaven but what is +in the hearts of good men, and no other hell but +what is in the hearts of bad men.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What did you say to that?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> We told them we did not believe +them, because heaven is a place where good +men go when this life is ended, and hell is a +place where bad men go when they die, and +cannot be in the hearts of man.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> approving this answer. What else +did they say?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> They spake of Baptism, and said, +they teach you that infants must be baptized, +but that is a very foolish thing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span></p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What reason did they give?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> Because infants neither know God +nor baptism, nor what they do, and therefore it +is a foolish thing to do it.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What did you say to that?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> I could not say much; but I thought +it was better to baptize them while they be +young, and then they are bound and engaged; +but if you let them alone till they be grown up, +it may be they will fly off, and neither care for +God nor Baptism.</p> + +<p>Mr. E. commended this reply. What further +did they say?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> They spake of ministers, and said, +they teach you that you must have ministers, +but that is a needless thing.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> Why?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> They gave these reasons: First, +ministers know nothing but what they learn out +of God’s book, and we have God’s book as well +as they, and can tell what God saith. Again, +ministers cannot change men’s hearts, God must +do that, therefore there is no need of ministers.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What did you reply?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> I told them that we must do as +God commands us, and if he commands us to +have ministers we must have them. And further, +I told them I thought it was true that ministers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>cannot change men’s hearts; but when we do as +God bids us, and hear ministers preach, then +God will change our hearts.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What else did they speak of?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> They said, they teach you that +you must have magistrates, but that is needless.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What reason did they give?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> They said, Because magistrates +cannot give life, therefore they may not take +away life; besides, when a man sinneth, he doth +not sin against magistrates; and therefore why +should they punish them? but they sin against +God, and therefore we must leave them to God +to punish them.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. E.</i> What answer did you make?</p> + +<p><i>Indians.</i> I said to that as to the former, we +must do as God commands us. If God commands +us to have magistrates, and commands +them to punish sinners, then we must obey.</p> + +<p>In answer to the question, Why all who have +the Bible do not speak the same things. Mr. +E. preached on that occasion from 2 Thes. 2:10, +11. “Because they believed not the truth +that they might be saved; for this cause God +shall send them strong delusions that they might +believe a lie,” &c.</p> + +<p>The Rev. Thomas Mayhew, and his son the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>Rev. Experience Mayhew, prosecuted the work +of evangelizing the Indians of Martha’s Vineyard +with signal success. As the relations +which they give respecting the Indians, and the +progress of the Gospel among them, correspond +so nearly with the foregoing narratives, it is not +thought necessary to speak of them at large. +Some idea of the principles which were inculcated +by the Mayhews, and of the influence +which they exerted upon the natives, may be +derived from the following covenant which Mr. +Thomas Mayhew wrote for them, and in which +they all with free consent willingly and thankfully +joined.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">COVENANT OF THE INDIANS OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD.</p> + +<p>“Wee, the distressed Indians of the Vineyard, +(or <span class="smcap">Nope</span>, the Indian name of the Island,) that +beyond all memory have been without the true +God, without a Teacher, and without a Law, +the very servants of sin and satan, and without +peace, for God did justly vex us for our sins; +having lately, through his mercy, heard of the +name of the True God, the name of his Son +Christ Jesus, with the holy Ghost, the Comforter, +three Persons, but one most Glorious God, +whose name is <span class="smcap">Jehovah</span>; wee do praise His +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>Glorious Greatness, and, in sorrow of our hearts, +and shame of our faces, we do acknowledge +and renounce our great and many sins, that +we and our Fathers have lived in, do run unto +him for mercy and pardon for Christ Jesus’ +sake; and we do this day, through the blessing +of God upon us, and trusting to his gracious +help, give up ourselves in this Covenant, Wee, +our wives and children, to serve <span class="smcap">Jehovah</span>: And +we do this day chuse Jehovah to be our God in +Christ Jesus, our Teacher, our Lawgiver in his +Word, our King, our Judge, our Ruler by his +magistrates and ministers; to fear God Himself, +and to trust in Him alone for salvation, both of +Soul and Body, in this present Life, and the +Everlasting Life to come, through his mercy in +Christ Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer, and +by the might of his Holy Spirt, to whom, with +the Father and Son, be all Glory everlasting, +Amen.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Mayhew says, “I observed that the Indians, +when they chose their Rulers, made +choyce of such as were best approved for their +godliness, and most likely to suppress sin, and +encourage holiness. There was an Indian that +was well approved for his Reformation, that was +suspected to have told a plain Lye for his Gain; +the business was brought to the public Meeting, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>and there it was notably sifted with zeal and +good affection; but at length the Indian defending +himself with great disdain and hatred of +such evil, proved himself clear, and praised God +for it.”</p> + +<p>He also relates the following anecdote:</p> + +<p>“My Father and I were lately talking with an +Indian who had not long before almost lost his +life by a wound his Enemies gave him in a +secret hidden way, the mark whereof he had +upon him, and will carry it to his grave. This +man understanding of a secret Plot that was to +take away his Enemies life, told my Father and +I, That he did freely forgive him for the sake of +God, and did tell this Plot to us that the man’s +life might be preserved. This is a singular +thing, and who among the Heathen will do +so?”</p> + +<p>Again: “<i>Myoxeo</i> also lately met with an +Indian which came from the <i>Mayn</i>, (the mainland,) +who was of some note among them. I +heard that he told them of the great things of +God, the sinfulness and folly of the Indians, the +pardon of sin by Christ, and of a good life; and +so they were both affected, that they continued +this discourse two half nights and a day, until +their strength was spent. He told him in particular +how a Beleever did live above the world, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>that he did keep worldly things alwaies at his +feet, (as he shewed him by a sign,) That when +they were diminished or increased, it was neither +the cause of his sorrow or joy, that he should +stoop to regard them, but he stood upright with +his heart Heavenward, and his whole desire was +after God, and his joy in Him.”</p> + +<p>He says, “Within two or three weeks (1652) +there came an Indian to me in business, and by +the way he told me that some Indians had lately +kept a day of Repentance to humble themselves +before God in prayer, and that the word of God +which one of them spake unto for their Instruction, +was Psal. 66: 7. ‘He ruleth by his +Power forever, his eyes behold the nations, let +not the rebellious exalt themselves.’ I asked +him what their end was in keeping such a day? +He told me these six things. ‘1. They desired +that God would slay the rebellion of their hearts. +2. That they might love God and one another. +3. That they might withstand the evil words of +wicked men, and not be drawn back from God. +4. That they might be obedient to the good +words and commands of their Rulers. 5. That +they might have their sins done away by the +Redemption of Jesus Christ. And Lastly, That +they might walk in Christ’s way.’”</p> + +<p>In 1651, thirty Indian children were at school +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>which began in November, 1651. “They are +apt to learn,” says Mr. M., “and more and more +are now sending in unto them.”</p> + +<p>“I was once,” says Mr. M., “down towards +the further end of the Island, and lodged at an +Indian’s house, who was accounted a great man +among the Islanders, being the friend of the Sachem +on the <i>Mayn</i>. At this man’s house where I +sate awhile, his son being about thirty years old, +earnestly desired me, in his Language, to relate +unto him some of the ancient stories of God. I +then spent a great part of the night (in such discourse +as I thought fittest for them) as I usually +do when I lodg in their houses; what he then +heard did much affect him. And shortly after +he came and desired to joyn with the praying +Indians to serve Jehovah.” He was persecuted +for this; but he told Mr. M. “That if they +should stand with a sharp weapon against his +breast, and tell him that they would kill him +presently if he did not turn to them; but if he +would, they would love him; yet he had rather +lose his life than keep it on such terms.”</p> + +<p>A Powaw once told Mr. M. that after he had +forsaken his powawing, and had begun to serve +God, and to renounce his Imps, which he did in +a public manner, the Imps still remained with +him tormenting him, so that he could never be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>at rest, sleeping or waking. At a Lecture, +sometime after, he asked Mr. M. this question: +If a Powaw had his Imps gone from him, what +he should have instead of them to preserve him? +He was told if he believed in Christ “he should +have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in him, which +is a good and strong Spirit, and will so keep +him safe, that all the Devils in Hell, and Powaws +on earth, should not be able to do him any +hurt; and that if he did set himself against his +Imps by the strength of God, they should all +flee away like muskeetooes.” He replied, That +soon after he had believed he was not troubled +with any pain as formerly in his bed, nor dreadful +visions of the night, but lay down with ease, +slept quietly, waked in peace, and walked in +safety; “for which he is very glad and praises +God.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Mayhew also relates a fact, like the one +already given respecting the feelings and conduct +of the Christian Indians at the death and +burial of their children. The case already mentioned, +it will be remembered, occurred at Nonantum; +this, at Martha’s Vineyard. Mr. +Mayhew says,</p> + +<p>“I have observed the wise disposing hand of +God in another providence of his. There have +not, as I know, any man, woman, or child, died, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>of the meeting-Indians, since the meeting began, +until now of late the Lord took away Hiacoomes, +his child, which was about five days +old. He was best able to make a good use of +it, and to carry himself well in it, and so was his +wife also; and truly they gave an excellent example +in this also as they have in other things; +here were no black faces for it as the manner of +the Indians is, nor goods buried with it, nor +hellish howlings over the dead, but a patient +resigning of it to him that gave it. There were +some English at the burial, and many Indians +to whom I spake something of the Resurrection; +and as we were going away, one of the Indians +told me he was much refreshed in being freed +from their old customes, as also to hear of the +Resurrection of good men and their children to +be with God.”</p> + +<p>One of the ‘meeting-Indians’ said that ‘if all +the world, the riches, plenty, and pleasures of it +were presented without God, or God without all +these, I would take God.’</p> + +<p>Another said, ‘If the greatest Sagamore in +the land should take him in his arms, and +proffer him his love, his riches and gifts, to turn +him from his ways, he would not go with him +from the way of God.’</p> + +<p>One of them was heard, of his own accord, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>in complaining against head knowledge and lip +prayers, without heart holiness, loathing the +condition of such a man, saying, I ‘desire my +heart may taste of the word of God, repent of +my sins, and lean upon the Redemption of the +Lord Jesus Christ.’</p> + +<p>The following is a letter from a good man in +this country to a friend in England, written +about the year 1650.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>‘The best News I can write you from <i>New-England</i> +is, the Lord is indeed converting the <i>Indians</i>, +and for the refreshing of your heart, and the +hearts of all the godly with you; I have sent +you the Relation of one <i>Indian</i> of two yeares +profession, that I took from his owne mouth by +an Interpreter, because he cannot speak or understand +one word of <i>English</i>.</p> + +<p class="center">THE FIRST QUESTION WAS;</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How did you come first to any sight of +sinne?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> His answer was, Before the Lord did +ever bring any <i>English</i> to us, my Conscience +was exceedingly troubled for sin, but after Mr. +<i>Mayhew</i> came to preach, and had been here +some time, one chiefe <i>Sagamore</i> did imbrace +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span>the Gospel, and I hearing of him, I went to him, +and prayed him to speake something to me concerning +God, and the more I did see of God, the +more I did see my sinne, and I went away +rejoycing, that I knew any thing of God, and +also that I saw my sinne.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> I pray what hurt doe you see in sinne?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Sin, sayth he, is a continuall sicknesse in +my heart.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What further evill doe you see in sinne?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> I see it to be a breach of all Gods Commandements.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Doe you see any punishment due to man +for sinne?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Yea, sayth he, I see a righteous punishment +from God due to man for sinne, which +shall be by the Devills in a place like unto fire +(not that I speake of materiall fire, saith he) +where man shall be for ever dying and never +dye.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Have you any hope to escape this punishment?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> While I went on in the way of <i>Indianisme</i> +I had no hope, but did verily believe I should +goe to that place, but now I have a little hope, +and hope I shall have more.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> By what meanes doe you look for any +hope?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Sayth he, by the satisfaction of Christ.</p> + +<p>I prayed the Interpreter, to tell him from mee +that I would have him thinke much of the satisfaction +of Christ, (and so he told him) I prayed +him to returne mee his Answer.</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> I thanke him kindly for his good Counsell, +it doth my heart good, sayd he, to heare +any man speake of Christ.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What would you thinke if the Lord should +save you from misery?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> If the Lord, said he, would save me from +all the sinne that is in my heart, and from that +misery, I should exceedingly love God, and, saith +he, I should love a man that should doe mee any +good, much more the Lord, if he should doe this +for mee.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Doe you thinke that God will doe you +any good for any good that is in you?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Though I beleeve that God loves man that +leaves his sinne, yet I beleeve it is for Christ’s +sake.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Doe you see that at any time God doth +answer your prayers?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Yea, sayth he, I take every thing as an +Answer of prayer.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> But what speciall answer, have you taken +notice of?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Once my wife being three dayes and three +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>nights in labour, I was resolved never to leave +praying till she had deliverance, and at last God +did it, and gave her a sonne, and I called his +name <i>Returning</i>, because all the while I went +on in <i>Indianisme</i> I was going from God, but +now the Lord hath brought mee to him backe +againe.</p> + +<p class="hanging">By this time Captaine <i>Gooking</i> came to us, +and he asked him this Question:</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What he would thinke if he should finde +more affliction and trouble in God’s wayes, than +he did in the way of Indianisme.</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> His answer was, when the Lord did first +turne me to himselfe and his wayes, he stripped +mee as bare as my skinne, and if the Lord +should strip me as bare as my skinne againe, +and so big <i>Saggamore</i> should come to mee, and +say, I will give you so big Wampom, so big +<i>Beaver</i>, and leave this way, and turne to us +againe: I would say, take your riches to your +selfe, I would never forsake God and his wayes +againe.</p> + +<p>This is a Relation taken by my selfe,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">William French</span>.’</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>There was a great fishing place at one of the +falls of the Merrimack, where the Indians assembled +in great numbers in the spring of the year, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>and Mr. Eliot went to meet them. He hired a +Nashaway or Lancaster Indian to beat down a +path for him from Roxbury through the woods, +and to notch the trees that he might find his +way through. His Church were concerned for +his safety, on account of difficulties between two +tribes through which his path lay. A Sachem +with twenty men did escort for him, and the +journey occupied three days. “It pleased God,” +he says, “to exercise us with such tedious rain +and bad weather, that we were extreme wet, insomuch +that I was not dry night nor day from +the third day of the week to the sixth, but so +traveled, and at night pull off my boots, wring +my stockings, and on with them again. My +horse was tired, so that I was forced to let him +go without a rider and take one of the men’s +horses, which I took along with me. Yet God +stept in and helped. I considered that word of +God, ‘Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus +Christ.’”</p> + +<p>It is not surprising that the questions proposed +by the Indians should have excited so much +interest among their English teachers, and the +friends in England to whom they were communicated. +Should similar questions be reported +to us from a tribe of people among whom our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>missionaries had effected an entrance, we should +feel that there was great promise of success +among that people. It seems that many in +England doubted the practicability of converting +the North American savages. They were +greatly surprised at the communications from +Mr. Eliot; they saw that nothing was too hard +for the Almighty, that Christ could save unto +the uttermost, all who come unto God by him, +that the Gospel was suited to the nature of man +in every condition, that the story of the cross +moved the heart of the savage as well as the +civilized, and that Mr. Eliot’s reflection after +his first efforts in preaching at Nonantum was +true, “That there is no need of miraculous or +extraordinary gifts in seeking the salvation of +the most depraved of the human family.”</p> + +<p>The Sudbury, Concord, Lancaster, Medford, +and Dedham Indians had all in a few years received +the Gospel from Nonantum. In visiting +that interesting spot we cannot but say, “From +you sounded out the word of the Lord.”</p> + +<p>A pious Indian from Martha’s Vineyard visited +the Indians of Merrimack weare. After he had +been there, the Merrimack Indians stated this +case to Mr. Eliot, for an explanation. ‘If a +strange Indian comes among us whom we never +saw before, yet if he pray unto God we do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span>exceedingly love him. But if my own brother, +dwelling a great way off, come unto us, he not +praying to God, though we love him, yet nothing +so as we love that other stranger who doth +pray unto God.’</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p>Natick. The Indians build a bridge. Scenery of Charles River. The +Arsenal at Watertown. Indian names. Mrs. Sigourney’s Lines. +Gov. Endicott’s Letter. Proceedings preparatory to forming an +Indian Church. Confessions of several Indians. Indian Catechism. +Number in the Indian Church at Natick. Eliot’s Indian Grammar. +His Indian Bible. Remarks upon it. A copy sent to Charles II. +Richard Baxter’s remark. Further observations on the Indian +Bible. 14 places of praying Indians, in 1660. Mr. Bancroft’s +testimony. Indian Youths at Harvard College.</p> + +</div> + +<p>We come now to another stage in the history of +the Indian mission.</p> + +<p>It has already been said that in 1650 Mr. Eliot +obtained a grant of land for the Indians, for the +purpose of building houses and organizing a +town government. The place selected was called +<span class="smcap">Natick</span>, which means <i>a place of hills</i>. There +the Indians began to build houses, each house +having a piece of land attached to it for agriculture. +One large building was erected to be the +property of the town, the lower part to be used +for a school-room and place of worship, the upper +room to be a place of deposit for skins and +articles of public property, with a bed for Mr. +Eliot.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span></p> + +<p>In one of his letters to friends in England, +Mr. Eliot says,</p> + +<p>“There is a great river which divideth +between their planting grounds and dwelling +place, through which they easily wade in summer, +yet in the spring it is deep and unfit for +daily passing over, especially of women and +children.” He proposed to the Indians that they +should make a foot bridge over it, which was +accordingly built, and was ninety feet long and +nine feet high. When it was finished, Mr. Eliot +called the Indians together, prayed, and gave +thanks to God, and taught them out of a portion +of Scripture. He then told them that as it had +been hard and tedious labor in the water, if any +of them desired wages for their work he would +give it to them, yet considering the work +was for their own use, if they should do all that +labor in love, he should take it well and remember +it.</p> + +<p>They replied that they were far from desiring +any wages for doing their own work, and on the +contrary were thankful for their employment,—at +which Mr. Eliot praised them for their readiness +and ingenuity at such work. This bridge +is said to have lasted longer than one which the +English built about the same time at Dedham.</p> + +<p>It would be interesting if we could identify +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>some of the favorite places of the Indians in +this vicinity. It is pleasant to think that they +were often grouped together at that most charming +point where the Charles River bends round +the arsenal at Watertown. No one who has +stood on the bridge at that place on a summer +morning when the mists were rising from the +stream, or in the after part of the day, when the +sun was in the right position over the curving +parts of the stream to make their outlines brilliant +as gold in the green meadow, can have +failed to think that had such scenery occurred +to him in Italy or Scotland, he would have +found it celebrated in the works of the poet and +painter. We have only to take journeys about +home to find in the part of the country where +we live, views and scenes both natural and historical +of thrilling interest. It is easy to imagine +the light canoe borne rapidly along the +winding vales of the Charles River; we meet +with Indian names in almost every village +which is watered by that interesting stream, as +well as in other places. Wrentham has its Nuckup +hill; Norwich its Quenaboag and Shetucket +river; Auburn its Boggachoog brook; Lancaster +its Weshakum ponds; and Natick its Pegan +plain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span></p> + +<p>The following lines by Mrs. Sigourney may +appropriately be introduced here.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">INDIAN NAMES.</p> + +<p>“How can the red man be forgotten, while so +many of our states and territories, bays, lakes and +rivers, are indelibly stamped by names of their +giving?”</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Ye say, that all have passed away,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">That noble race and brave,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">That their light canoes have vanished</div> + <div class="verse indent2">From off the crested wave;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">That ’mid the forests where they roamed,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">There rings no hunter’s shout;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But their name is on their waters,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Ye may not wash it out.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">’Tis where Ontario’s billow,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Like Ocean’s surge is curled,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where strong Niagara’s thunders wake</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The echo of the world,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where red Missouri bringeth</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Rich tributes from the west,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And Rappahannock sweetly sleeps,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">On green Virginia’s breast.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Ye say their cone-like cabins,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">That clustered o’er the vale,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Have fled away like withered leaves,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Before the autumn gale;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But their memory liveth on your hills,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Their baptism on your shore,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Your everlasting rivers speak</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Their dialect of yore.</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Old Massachusetts wears it</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Within her lordly crown,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And broad Ohio bean it</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Amid her young renown;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Connecticut hath wreathed it,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Where her quiet foliage waves,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And bold Kentucky breathes it hoarse,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Through all her ancient caves.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Wachuset hides its lingering voice,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Within his rocky heart,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And Alleghany graves its tone</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Throughout his lofty chart;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Monadnock on his forehead hoar,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Doth seal the sacred trust;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Your mountains build their monuments,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Though ye destroy their dust.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +</blockquote> + +<p>The Society for Propagating the Gospel +among the Indians of North America, an account +of which will be found in the appendix to this +volume, published a letter addressed to them by +Governor Endicott, of Massachusetts. It is interesting +as a testimony to the advancement which +the Indians had made in religion and civilization, +and as a specimen of the personal interest +which good rulers in former times took in the +promotion of the kingdom of Christ in the earth. +The letter is here printed as it is written, with +the Introduction by the Society:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“The next Letter you meet withall came from +the present Governour of the <i>Massachusets</i>, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>directed to the President of our Corporation, +and another of the Members thereof, which +wee thought good to publish, that every +Christian Reader may partake in the same +consolation, wherewith he and we are comforted; +and joyne with us in prayer to the +Lord of the Harvest, that he would provide +more Labourers to enter upon this soul-saving +worke, and enlarge the hearts of all his people +in this Nation towards the same.”</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“<i>Much honoured and beloved in the Lord Jesus</i>:</p> + +<p>I Esteeme it not the least of God’s mercies +that hath stirred up the hearts of any of the people +of God to be instrumentall in the inlarging +of the Kingdome of his deare Sonne here +amongst the Heathen <i>Indians</i>, which was one +end of our comming hither, and it is not frustrated. +It was prophesied of old, and now begins +to be accomplished, <i>Psal.</i> 2:8. Neither +can I but acknowledge the unspeakable goodnesse +of God that gives us favour in the sight +of our Countreymen to helps on with so large a +hand of bounty, so glorious a work, provoked +thereunto by your worthy selves, the chiefs +Actors of so good a designe, let me (with leave) +say confidently, you will never have cause to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>repent it; For the work is Gods and he doth +owne it, the labour there hath been yours, and +your Master will reward it. I think Religion +and Conscience binde me to seek unto God for +you, and to praise him with you, for what is already +begun. The Foundation is laid, and such +a one that I verily beleeve the gates of Hell shall +never prevaile against. I doubt not but the +building will goe on apace, which I hope will +make glad the hearts of Thousands. Truly +Gentlemen, had you been eare and eye-witnesses +of what I heard and saw on a Lecture-day +amongst them about three weeks since, you +could not but be affected therewith as I was. +To speak truly I could hardly refrain tears from +very joy to see their diligent attention to the +word first taught by one of the <i>Indians</i>, who +before his Exercise prayed for the manner +devoutly and reverently (the matter I not so +well understanding) but it was with such reverence, +zeale, good affection, and distinct utterance, +that I could not but admire it; his Prayer +was about a quarter of an houre or more, as we +judged it; then he took his Text, and Mr. <i>Eliot</i> +their Teacher told us that were <i>English</i>, the +place (there were some Ministers and diverse +other godly men there that attended me thither) +his Text was in, <i>Matth.</i> 13:44, 45, 46. [The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure, &c. +And to a merchant man, &c.] He continued in +his Exercise full halfe an houre or more, as I +judged it, his gravity and utterance was indeed +very commendable; which being done Mr. <i>Eliot</i> +taught in the <i>Indian</i> tongue about three quarters +of an hour as neer as I could guesse; the <i>Indians</i> +which were in number men and women +neer about one hundred, seemed the most of +them so to attend him, (the men especially) as +if they would loose nothing of what was taught +them, which reflected much upon some of our +<i>English</i> hearers. After all there was a <i>Psalme</i> +sung in the <i>Indian</i> tongue, and <i>Indian</i> meeter, +but to an <i>English</i> tune, read by one of themselves, +that the rest might follow, and he read it +very distinctly without missing a word as we +could judge, and the rest sang chearfully, and +prettie tuneablie. I rid on purpose thither being +distant from my dwelling about thirty eight, or +forty miles, and truly I account it one of the best +Journeyes I made these many years. Some few +dayes after I desired Mr. <i>Eliot</i> briefly to write +me the substance of the <i>Indians</i> Exercise, which +when he went thither again, namely to <i>Naticke</i>, +where the <i>Indians</i> dwell, and where the <i>Indian</i> +taught, he read what he remembered of it first +to their School-Master who is an <i>Indian</i>, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>teacheth them and their Children to write, and +I saw him write also in <i>English</i>, who doth it +true and very legible, and asked him if it were +right, and he said yea, also he read it unto +others, and to the man himselfe, who also +owned it. To tell you of their industry and ingenuitie +in building of an house after the <i>English</i> +manner, the hewing and squaring of their +tymber, the sawing of the boards themselves, +and making of a Chimney in it, making of their +ground-sells and wall-plates, and mortising, and +letting in the studds into them artificially, there +being but one <i>English</i> man a Carpenter to shew +them, being but two dayes with them, is remarkeable. +They have also built a Fort there with +halfe trees cleft about eight or ten inches over, +about ten or twelve foot high, besides what is +intrencht in the ground, which is above a quarter +of an acre of ground, as I judge. They have +also built a foot bridge over <i>Charles</i> Rivers, with +Groundsells and Spurres to uphold it against the +strength of the Flood and Ice in Winter; it stood +firme last Winter, and I think it will stand many +Winters. They have made Drummes of their +owne with heads and brases very neatly and +artificially, all which shews they are industrious +and ingenuous. And they intend to build a +Water-Mill the next Summer, as I was told +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>when I was with them. Some of them have +learnt to mow grasse very well. I shall no +further trouble you with any more Relation at +this time concerning them. But a word or two +further with your patience concerning other <i>Indians</i>. +The work of God amongst the <i>Indians</i> +at <i>Martins Vineyard</i>, is very hopefull and prosperous +also. I mist of Mr. <i>Mayhew</i> their +Teacher, who was lately at <i>Boston</i>, and therefore +cannot give you a particular account thereof +at this present time; yet I cannot but acquaint +you what other motions there are touching other +<i>Indians</i>. There came to us upon the 20th of +this instant Moneth, at the Generall Court one +<i>Pummakummim</i> Sachem of <i>Qunnubbagge</i>, +dwelling amongst or neer to the <i>Narragansets</i>, +who offered himselfe and his Men to worship +God, and desired that some <i>English</i> may be +sent from the <i>Massachusets</i> Government to plant +his River, that thereby he may be partaker of +Government, and may be instructed by the <i>English</i> +to know God. We shall I hope take some +care and course about it, and I hope we shall +have more help to carry on that work also; +For there are some Schollers amongst us who +addict themselves to the study of the <i>Indian</i> +Tongue. The Lord in mercy recompence it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span>into your Bosomes, all that labour of love vouchsafed +to the poor <i>Indians</i>, which are the hearty +prayers, and earnest desire of, much honoured,</p> + +<p><i>Boston the 27th of +the Eight. 1651.</i> +Your loving Friend in all +service of Christ.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">John Endecott.</span>”</p> + +</blockquote> +</blockquote> + +<p>The prudence and caution of Mr. Eliot in his +proceedings with regard to the formation of a +Church among the Indians are not a little remarkable. +He says,</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“In way of preparation of them thereunto, I +did this Summer call forth sundry of them in +the dayes of our public Assemblies in Gods +Worship; sometimes on the Sabbath when I +could be with them, and sometimes on Lecture +daies, to make confession before the Lord of +their former sins, and of their present knowledg +of Christ, and experience of his Grace; which +they solemnly doing, I wrote down their Confessions: +which having done, and being in my +own heart hopeful that there was among them fit +matter for a Church, I did request all the Elders +about us to hear them reade, that so they might +give me advice what to do in this great and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span>solemn business; which being done on a day +appointed for the purpose, it pleased God to give +their Confessions such acceptance in their hearts, +as that they saw nothing to hinder their proceeding, +to try how the Lord would appear +therein. Whereupon, after a day of Fasting +and Prayer among ourselves, to seek the Lord, +in that behalf, there was another day of Fasting +and Prayer appointed, and publick notice thereof, +and of the names of Indians were to confess, and +enter into Covenant that day, was given to all +the Churches about us, to seek the Lord yet +further herein, and to make solemn Confessions +of Christ his Truth and Grace, and further to try +whether the Lord would vouchsafe such grace +unto them, as to give them acceptance among +the Saints, into the fellowship of Church-Estate, +and enjoyment of those Ordinances which the +Lord hath betrusted his Churches withal. That +day was the thirteenth of the eighth month.</p> + +<p>When the Assembly was met, the first part of +the day was spent in Prayers unto God, and +exercise in the Word of God; in which my self +first and after that two of the Indians did Exercise; +and so the time was spent till after ten or +near eleven of the clock. Then addressing our +selves unto the further work of the day, I first +requested the reverend Elders (many being present) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span>that they would ask them Questions touching +the fundamental Points of Religion, that +thereby they might have some tryal of their +knowledg, and better that way, than if themselves +should of themselves declare what they +beleeve, or than if I should ask them Questions +in these matters: After a little conference hereabout, +it was concluded, That they should first +make confession of their experience in the Lords +Work upon their hearts, because in so doing, it +is like something will be discerned of their +knowledg in the Doctrines of Religion: and if +after those Confessions there should yet be cause +to inquire further touching any Point of Religion +it might be fitly done at last. Whereupon we +so proceeded, and called them forth in order to +make confession. It was moved in the Assembly +by Reverend Mr. <i>Wilson</i>, that their former +Confessions also, as well as these which they +made at present, might be read unto the Assembly, +because it was evident that they were +daunted much, to speak before so great and +grave an Assembly as that was, but time did not +permit it so to be then: yet now in my writing +of their Confessions I will take that course, that +so it may appear what encouragement there was +to proceed so far as we did; and that such as +may reade these their Confessions, may the better +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span>discern of the reality of the Grace of Christ +in them.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>He afterwards says,</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“In the year 52 I perceiving the grace of God +in sundry of them, and some poor measure of +fitnesse (as I was perswaded) for the enjoyment +of Church-fellowship, and Ordinances of Jesus +Christ, I moved in that matter, according as I +have in the Narration thereof, briefly declared. +In the year 53 I moved not that way, for these +Reasons.</p> + +<p>I having sent their Confessions to be published +in <i>England</i>, I did much desire to hear what acceptance +the Lord gave unto them, in the hearts +of his people there, who daily labour at the +Throne of grace, and by other expressions of +their loves, for an holy birth of this work of the +Lord, to the praise of Christ, and the inlargement +of his Kingdome. As also my desire was, +that by such Books as might be sent hither, the +knowledge of their Confessions might be spread +here, unto the better and fuller satisfaction of +many, then the transacting thereof in the presence +of some could doe. These Books came by +the latter Ships (as I remember) that were bound +for <i>New England</i>, and were but newly out +when they set saile, and therefore I had not that +answer that year, which my soule desired, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span>though something I had which gave encouragement, +and was a tast of what I have more fully +heard from severall this year, praised be the +Lord.</p> + +<p>Besides there fell a great damping and discouragement +upon us by a jealousie too deeply +apprehended, though utterly groundlesse, <i>viz.</i> +That even these praying <i>Indians</i> were in a conspiracy +with others, and with the <i>Dutch</i>, to doe +mischief to the <i>English</i>. In which matter, +though the ruling part of the People looked otherwise +upon them, yet it was no season for me +to stir or move in this matter, when the waters +were so troubled. This businesse needeth a +calmer season, and I shall account it a favour of +God when ever he shall please to cause his face +to shine upon us in it. Yet this I did the last +year, after the Books had been come a season, +there being a great meeting at <i>Boston</i>, from other +Colonies as well as our owne, and the Commissioners +being there, I thought it necessary to +take that opportunity to prepare and open the +way in a readinesse against this present year, by +making this Proposition unto them; namely, +<i>That they having now seen their confessions, if +upon further triall of them in point of knowledge, +they be found to have a competent measure +of understanding in the fundamentall points of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span>Religion; and also, if there be due testimony +of their conversation, that they walke in a +Christian manner according to their light, so +that Religion is to be seen in their lives; +whether then it be according to God, and acceptable +to his people, that they be called up unto +Church estate?</i> Unto which I had I blesse the +Lord, a generall approbation.</p> + +<p>Accordingly this year 54 I moved the Elders, +that they would give me advice and assistance +in this great businesse, and that they would at a +fit season examine the <i>Indians</i> in point of their +knowledge, because we found by the former +triall, that a day will be too little (if the Lord +please to call them on to Church-fellowship) to +examine them in points of Knowledge, and hear +their Confessions, and guide them into the holy +Covenant of the Lord. Seeing all these things +are to be transacted in a strange language, and +by Interpreters, and with such a people as they +be in these their first beginnings. But if they +would spend a day on purpose to examine them +in their knowledge there would be so much the +more liberty to doe it fully and throughly, (as +such a work ought to be) as also when they may +be called to gather into Church-Communion, it +may suffice that some one of them should make +a Doctrinall Confession before the Lord and his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>people, as the rule of faith which they build +upon, the rest attesting their consent unto the +same: And themselves (the Elders I mean, if +the Lord so far assist the <i>Indians</i>, as to give +them satisfaction) might testifie that upon Examination +they have found a competency of +knowledge in them to inable them unto such a +work and state. And thus the work might be +much shortned, and more comfortably expedited +in one day. I found no unreadinesse in the +Elders to further this work.</p> + +<p>They concluded to attend the work, and for +severall Reasons advised that the place should +be at <i>Roxbury</i>, and not at <i>Natick</i>, and that the +<i>Indians</i> should be called thither, the time they +left to me to appoint, in such a season as +wherein the Elders may be at best liberty from +other publick occasions. The time appointed +was the 13 of the 4 moneth; meanwhile I dispatched +Letters unto such as had knowledge in +the Tongue, requesting that they would come +and help in interpretation, or attest unto the +truth of my Interpretations. I sent also for my +Brother <i>Mayhu</i>, who accordingly came, and +brought an Interpreter with him. Others whom +I had desired, came not. I informed the <i>Indians</i> +of this appointment, and of the end it was appointed +for, which they therefore called, and still +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span>doe, when they have occasion to speak of it +<i>Natootomuhteáe kesuk, A day of asking Questions, +or, A day of Examination</i>. I advised +them to prepare for it, and to pray earnestly +about it, that they might be accepted among +Gods people, if it were the will of God.</p> + +<p>It pleased God so to guide, that there was a +publick Fast of all the Churches, betwixt this our +appointment, and the accomplishment thereof: +which day they kept, as the Churches did, and +this businesse of theirs was a Principall matter +in their Prayers.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>It will be useful, as well as interesting, to +give some of the “Confessions of Indians” +which were made and considered in preparation +for their entering into the Church state.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">CONFESSION OF TOTHERSWAMP.</p> + +<p>“Before I prayed unto God, the English, when +I came unto their houses, often said unto me, +Pray to God; but I having many friends who +loved me, and I loved them, and they cared not +for praying to God, and therefore I did not: But +I thought in my heart, that if my friends should +die, and I live, I then would pray to God; soon +after, God so wrought, that they did almost all +die, few of them left; and then my heart feared, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>and I thought, that now I will pray unto God, +and yet I was ashamed to pray; and if I eat and +did not pray, I was ashamed of that also; so +that I had a double shame upon me: Then you +came unto us, and taught us, and said unto us, +<i>Pray unto God</i>; and after that, my heart grew +strong, and I was no more ashamed to pray, but +I did take up praying to God; yet at first I did +not think of God and eternal Life, but only that +the English should love me and I loved them: +But after I came to learn what sin was, by the +Commandments of God, and then I saw all my +sins, lust, gaming, &c. (he named more.) You +taught, That Christ knoweth all our hearts, and +seeth what is in them, if humility, or anger, or +evil thoughts, Christ seeth all that is in the +heart; then my heart feared greatly, because +God was angry for all my sins; yea, now my +heart is full of evil thoughts, and my heart runs +away from God, therefore my heart feareth and +mourneth. Every day I see sin in my heart; +one man brought sin into the World, and I am +full of that sin, and I break Gods Word every +day. I see I deserve not pardon, for the first +mans sinning; I can do no good, for I am like +the Devil, nothing but evil thoughts, and words, +and works. I have lost all likeness to God, and +goodness, and therefore every day I sin against +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>God, and I deserve death and damnation: The +first man brought sin first, and I do every day +add to that sin, more sins; but Christ hath done +for us all righteousness, and died for us because +of our sins, and Christ teacheth us, That if we +cast away our sins, and trust in Christ, then +God will pardon all our sins; this I beleeve +Christ hath done, I can do no righteousness, but +Christ hath done it for me; this I beleeve, and +therefore I do hope for pardon. When I first +heard the Commandments, I then took up praying +to God and cast off sin. Again, When I +heard, and understood Redemption by Christ, +then I beleeved Jesus Christ to take away my +sins: every Commandment taught me sin, and +my duty to God. When you ask me why do I +love God? I answer, Because he giveth me all +outward blessings, as food, clothing, children, all +gifts of strength, speech, hearing; especially +that he giveth us a Minister to teach us, and +giveth us Government; and my heart feareth +lest Government should reprove me; but the +greatest mercy of all is Christ, to give us pardon +and life.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span></p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“TOTHERSWAMP</p> + +<p><i>The Confession which he made on the Fast day +before the great Assembly was as followeth:</i></p> + +<p>I Confess in the presence of the Lord, before +I prayed, many were my sins, not one good +word did I speak, not one good thought did I +think, not one good action did I doe: I did act +all sins, and full was my heart of evil thoughts; +when the English did tell me of God, I cared +not for it, I thought it enough if they loved me: +I had many friends that loved me, and I thought +if they died I would pray to God: and afterward +it so came to pass; then was my heart ashamed, +to pray I was ashamed, and if I prayed not, I +was ashamed; a double shame was upon me: +when God by you taught us, very much ashamed +was my heart; then you taught us that Christ +knoweth all our hearts: therefore truly he saw +my thoughts, and I had thought, if my kindred +should die I would pray to God; therefore they +dying, I must now pray to God; and therefore +my heart feared, for I thought Christ knew my +thoughts: then I heard you teach, <i>The first +man God made was named</i> Adam, <i>& God made +a Covenant with him, Do and live, thou and thy +Children; if thou do not thou must die, thou +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>and thy Children</i>: And we are Children of +<i>Adam</i> poor sinners, therefore we all have sinned, +for we have broke Gods Covenant, therefore evil +is my heart, therefore God is very angry with +me, we sin against him every day; but this +great mercy God hath given us, he hath given +us his only Son, and promiseth, That whosoever +beleeveth in Christ shall be saved: for Christ +hath dyed for us in our stead, for our sins, and +he hath done for us all the words of God, for I +can do no good act, only Christ can, and only +Christ hath done all for us; Christ hath deserved +pardon for us, and risen again, he hath +ascended to God, and doth ever pray for us; +therefore all Beleevers Souls shall goe to Heaven +to Christ. But when I heard that word of +Christ, Christ said <i>Repent and Beleeve</i>, and +Christ seeth <i>who Repenteth</i>, then I said, dark +and weak is my Soul, and I am one in darkness, +I am a very sinful man, and now I pray to +Christ for life. Hearing you teach that Word +that the Scribes and Pharisees said <i>Why do thy +Disciples break the Tradition of the Fathers</i>? +Christ answered, <i>Why do you make void the +Commandments of God?</i> Then my heart feared +that I do so, when I teach the Indians, because +I cannot teach them right, and thereby make +the word of God vain. Again, Christ said <i>If +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span>the blind lead the blind they will both fall into +the ditch</i>; Therefore I feared that I am one +blind, and when I teach other Indians I shal +caus them to fall into the ditch. This is the +love of God to me, that he giveth me all mercy +in this world, and for them al I am thankfull; +but I confess I deserve Hell; I cannot deliver +my self, but I give my Soul and my Flesh to +Christ, and I trust my soul with him for he is +my Redeemer, and I desire to call upon him +while I live.</p> + +<p>This was his Confession which ended, Mr. +<i>Allin</i> further demanded of him this Question, +How he found his heart, now in the +matter of Repentance?</p> + +<p>His answer was; I am ashamed of all my +sins, my heart is broken for them and melteth +in me, I am angry with my self for my sins, +and I pray to Christ to take away my sins, and +I desire that they may be pardoned.</p> + +<p>But it was desired that further Question +might be forborn, lest time would be +wanting to here them all speak.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>The following is the Confession of Waban, +(or the wind,) the man in whose wigwam +Mr. Eliot preached to the Indians in the +beginning of his ministry among them, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>who, from Mr. Eliot’s text, “Prophesy unto the +wind,” &c., supposed that the message of God +was specially directed to himself.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">CONFESSION OF WABAN.</p> + +<p>“Before I heard of God, and before the English +came into this Country, many evil things my +heart did work, many thoughts I had in my +heart; I wished for riches, I wished to be a +witch, I wished to be a Sachem; and many such +other evils were in my heart: Then when the +English came, still my heart did the same +things; when the English taught me of God (I +coming to their Houses) I would go out of their +doors, and many years I knew nothing; when +the English taught me I was angry with them: +But a little while agoe after the great sikness, I +considered what the English do; and I had some +desire to do as they do; and after that I began +to work as they work; and then I wondered +how the English come to be so strong to labor; +then I thought I shall quickly die, and I feared +lest I should die before I prayed to God; then I +thought, if I prayed to God in our Language, +whether could God understand my prayers in +our Language; therefore I did ask Mr. <i>Jackson</i>, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>and Mr. <i>Mahu</i>, If God understood prayers in +our Language? They answered me God doth +understand all Languages in the World. But I +do not know how to confess, and little do I know +of Christ; I fear I shall not beleeve a great +while, and very slowly; I do not know what +grace is in my heart, there is but little good in +me; but this I know, That Christ hath kept all +Gods Commandements for us, and that Christ +doth know all our hearts; and now I desire to +repent of all my sins: I neither have done, nor +can do the Commandements of the Lord, but I +am ashamed of all I do, and I do repent of all +my sins, even of all that I do know of: I desire +that I may be converted from all my sins, and +that I might beleeve in Christ, and I desire him; +I dislike my sins, yet I do not truly pray to God +in my heart: no matter for good words, all is +the true heart; and this day I do not so much +desire good words, as throughly to open my +heart: I confess I can do nothing, but deserve +damnation; only Christ can help me and do for +me. But I have nothing to say for my self that +is good; I judg that I am a sinner, and cannot +repent, but Christ hath deserved pardon for us.”</p> + +<p>This Confession being not so satisfactory as +was desired, Mr. <i>Wilson</i> testified, that he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span>spake these latter expressions with tears, +which I observed not, because I attended to +writing; but I gave this testimony of him, +That his conversation was without offence +to the English, so far as I knew, and among +the Indians it was exemplar: his gift is not +so much in expressing himself this way, +but in other respects useful and eminent; it +being demanded in what respects, I answered +to this purpose, That his gift lay in +Ruling, Judging of Cases, wherein he is +patient, constant, and prudent, insomuch +that he is much respected among them, for +they have chosen him a Ruler of Fifty, and +he Ruleth well according to his measure. +It was further said, they thought he had +been a great drawer on to Religion; I replyed, +so he was in his way, and did prevail +with many; and so it rested.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“CONFESSION OF WILLIAM, OF SUDBURY.</p> + +<p>I confess that before I prayed, I committed all +manner of sins, and served many gods: when +the English came first, I going to their houses, +they spake to me of your God, but when I heard +of God, my heart hated it; but when they said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span>the Devil was my god, I was angry, because I +was proud: when I came to their houses I hated +to hear of God, I loved lust in my own house +and not God, I loved to pray to many gods. +Five years ago, I going to English houses, and +they speaking of God, I did a little like of it, +yet when I went again to my own house, I did +all manner of sins, and in my heart I did act all +sins though I would not be seen by man. Then +going to your house, I more desired to hear of +God; and my heart said, I will pray to God so +long as I live: then I went to the Minister Mr. +<i>Browns</i> house, and told him I would pray as +long as I lived: but he said I did not say it from +my heart, and I beleeve it. When <i>Waban</i> +spake to me that I should pray to God, I did so. +But I had greatly sinned against God, and had +not beleeved the Word but was proud: but then +I was angry with my self, and loathed my self, +and thought God will not forgive me my sins. +For when I had been abroad in the woods I +would be very angry, and would lye unto men, +and I could not find the way how to be a good +man: then I beleeved your teaching, That when +good men die, the Angels carry their souls to +God; but evil men dying, they go to Hell, and +perish for ever. I thought this a true saying, +and I promised to God, to pray to God as long +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span>as I live. I had a little grief in my heart five +years ago for my sins: but many were my +prides; sometime I was angry with my self, and +pityed my self; but I thought God would not +pardon such a proud heart as mine is: I beleeve +that Christ would have me to forsake my anger; +I beleeve that Christ hath redeemed us, and I +am glad to hear those words of God; and I desire +that I might do al the good waies of God, +and that I might truly pray unto God: I do now +want Graces, and these Christ only teacheth us, +and only Christ hath wrought our redemption, +and he procureth our pardon for all our sins; +and I beleeve that when beleevers dy, Gods +Angels carry them to Heaven; but I want faith +to beleeve the Word of God, and to open my +Eyes, and to help me to cast away all sins; and +Christ hath deserved for me eternall life: I have +deserved nothing my self: Christ hath deserved, +all, and giveth me faith to beleeve it.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“CONFESSION OF MONEQUASSUN, THE SCHOOLMASTER.</p> + +<p>I Confess my sorrow for all my sins against +God, and before men: When I first heard instruction, +I beleeved not, but laughed at it, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span>scorned praying to God; afterward, when we +were taught at <i>Cohannet</i> (that is the place where +he lived) I still hated praying, and I did think +of running away, because I cared not for praying +to God; but afterwards, because I loved to dwell +at that place, I would not leave the place, and +therfore I thought I will pray to God, because I +would still stay at that place, therefore I prayed +not for the love of God, but for love of the place +I lived in; after that I desired a little to learn +the Catechisme on the Lecture daies, and I did +learn the ten Commandements, and after that, all +the points in the Catechisme; yet afterwards I +cast them all away again, then was my heart +filled with folly, and my sins great sins, afterwards +by hearing, I began to fear, because of my +many sins, lest the wise men should come to +know them, and punish me for them; and then +again I thought of running away because of my +many sins: But after that I thought I would +pray rightly to God, and cast away my sins; +then I saw my hypocricy, because I did ask +some questions, but did not do that which I +knew: afterward I considered of my question, +and thought I would pray to God, and would +consider of some other Question, and I asked +this Question, <i>How should I get Wisdom?</i> and +the Answer to it did a little turn my heart from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>sin, to seek after God; and I then considered +that the Word of God was good; then I prayed +to God because of the Word of God. The next +Lecture day you taught that word of God, <i>If any +man lack Wisdom, let him ask it of God, who +giveth freely to them that ask him, and upbraideth +no man</i>, <i>James</i>, 1:5. Then again a little +my heart was turned after God, the Word also +said, <i>Repent, mourn, and beleeve in Jesus Christ</i>: +this also helped me on. Then you taught, <i>That +he that beleeveth not Christ, and repenteth not of +sin, they are foolish and wicked; and because +they beleeve not, they shall perish</i>: then I +thought my self a fool, because I beleeved not +Christ, but sinned every day, and after I heard +the Word greatly broke the Word. But afterward +I heard this promise of God, <i>Who ever repenteth +and beleeveth in Christ, God will forgive +him all his sins, he shall not perish</i>; then I +thought, that as yet, I do not repent, and beleeve +in Christ: then I prayed to God, because +of this his Promise; and then I prayed to God, +for God and for Christ his sake: after that again +I did a little break the Word of Christ. And +then I heard some other words of God, which +shewed me my sins, and my breakings of Gods +word; and sometimes I thought God and Christ +would forgive me, because of the promise to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>them that beleeve in Christ, and repent of sin, I +thought I did that which God spake in the +Promise. Then being called to confess, to prepare +to make a Church at <i>Natick</i>, I loved <i>Cohannet</i>; +but after hearing this instruction, <i>That +we should not only be Hearers, but Doers of the +Word</i>, then my heart did fear. And afterward +hearing that in <i>Matthew</i>, Christ saw two brethren +mending their Nets, he said, <i>Follow me and +I will make you Fishers of men</i>, presently they +followed Christ; and when I heard this, I feared, +because I was not willing to follow Christ to +<i>Natick</i>; they followed Christ at his Word, but +I did not, for now Christ saith to us, <i>follow Me</i>: +then I was much troubled, and considered of this +Word of God. Afterward I heard another word, +the blind men cried after Christ and said, <i>Have +mercy on us thou Son of David</i>, but after they +came to Christ he called them, and asked them, +<i>What shall I do for you?</i> they said, <i>Lord open +our eyes</i>; then Christ had pity on them, and +opened their eyes, and they followed Christ; +when I heard this, my heart was troubled, then +I prayed to God and Christ, to open mine eyes, +and if Christ open my eyes, then I shall rejoyce +to follow Christ: then I considered of both these +Scriptures, and I a little saw that I must follow +Christ. And now my heart desireth to make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span>confession of what I know of God, and of my +self, and of Christ: I beleeve that there is only +one God, and that he made and ruleth all the +World, and that he the Lord, giveth us al good +things: I know that God giveth every day all +good mercies, life, and health, and all; I have +not one good thing, but God it is that giveth it +me, I beleeve that God at first made man like +God, holy, wise, righteous; but the first man +sinned, for God promised him, <i>If thou do my +Commandements, thou shalt live, and thy Children; +but if thou sin, thou shalt die, thou and +thy children</i>; this Covenant God made with the +first man. But the first man did not do the +Commandements of God he did break Gods +Word, he beleeved Satan; and now I am full of +sin, because the first man brought sin; dayly I +am full of sin in my heart: I do not dayly rejoyce +in Repentance, because Satan worketh +dayly in my heart, and opposeth Repentance, +and all good Works; day and night my heart is +full of sin. I beleeve that Jesus Christ was born +of the <i>Virgin Mary</i>; God promised her she +should bear a Son, and his Name should be +<i>JESUS</i>, because he shall deliver his people +from their sins: And when Christ came to +preach, he said, <i>Repent, because the Kingdom of +Heaven is at hand</i>; again Christ taught, <i>Except +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>ye repent and become as a little child, ye shall +not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven</i>; therefore +humble your selves like one of these little +children, and great shall be your Kingdom in +Heaven. Again Christ said, <i>Come unto me all +ye that are weary and heavy laden with sin, and +I will give you rest: take up my Cross and +Yoak, learn of me for I am meek, and ye shall +find rest to your souls, for my yoak is easie and +burden light</i>: these are the Words of Christ +and I know Christ he is good, but my works are +evil: Christ his words are good, but I am not +humble; but if we be humble and beleeving in +Christ, he pardons all our sins. I now desire +to beleeve in Jesus Christ, because of the word +of Christ, that I may be converted and become +as a little Child. I confess my sins before God, +and before Jesus Christ this day; now I desire +all my sins may be pardoned; I now desire repentance +in my heart, and ever to beleeve in +Christ; now I lift up my heart to Christ, and +trust him with it, because I beleeve Christ died +for us, for all our sins, and deserved for us eternal +life in Heaven, and deserved pardon for all +our sins. And now I give my soul to Christ +because he hath redeemed: I do greatly love, +and like repentance in my heart, and I love to +beleeve in Jesus Christ, and my heart is broken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>by repentance: al these things I do like wel of, +that they may be in my heart, but because +Christ hath all these to give, I ask them of him +that he may give me repentance, and faith in +Christ, and therefore I pray and beseech Christ +dayly for repentance and faith; and other good +waies I beg of Christ dayly to give me: and I +pray to Christ for al these gifts and graces to +put them in my heart: and now I greatly thank +Christ for all these good gifts which he hath +given me. I know not any thing, nor can do +any thing that is a good work: even my heart +is dark dayly in what I should do, and my soul +dyeth because of my sins, and therefore I give +my soul to Christ, because my soul is dead in +sin, and dayly doth commit sin; in my heart I +sin, and all the members of my body are sinful. +I beleeve Jesus Christ is ascended to Heaven +through the clouds, and he will come again from +Heaven: Many saw Christ go up to Heaven, +and the Angels said, even so he will come again +to judg all the world; and therefore I beleeve +Gods promise, That all men shall rise again +when Christ cometh again, then all shall rise, +and all their souls comes again because Christ +is trusted with them, and keeps their souls, +therefore I desire my sins may be pardoned; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>and I beleeve in Christ; and ever so long as I +live, I will pray to God, and do all the good +waies he commandeth.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“CONFESSIONS OF ROBIN SPEENE.</p> + +<p>I was ashamed because you taught to pray to +God, and I did not take it up; I see God is angry +with me for all my sins, and he hath afflicted +me by the death of three of my children, and I +fear God is still angry, because great are my +sins, and I fear lest my children be not gone to +Heaven, because I am a great sinner, yet one of +my children prayed to God before it died, and +therefore my heart rejoyceth in that. I remember +my Pawwawing [for he was a <i>Pawwaw</i>] my +lust, my gaming, and all my sins; I know them +by the Commandements of God, and God heareth +and seeth them all; I cannot deliver my self +from sin, therefore I do need Christ, because of +all my sins, I desire pardon, and I beleeve that +God calls all to come to Christ, and that he delivereth +us from sin.”</p> + +<p class="center">“<i>His Second Confession.</i></p> + +<p>I have found out one word more: great are +my sins, and I do not know how to repent, nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>do I know the evil of my sins; only this one +word, now I confess I want Christ, this day 1 +want him; I do not truly beleeve nor repent: I +see my sin, and I need Christ, but I desire now +to be redeemed: and I now ask you this Question +<i>What is Redemption?</i> I answered him, +by shewing him our estate by Nature, and +desert, the price which Christ paid for us, and +how it is to be applied to every particular +person; which done, he proceeded in his confession +thus: I yet cannot tell whether God hath +pardoned my sins, I forget the word of God; +but this I desire, that my sins may be pardoned, +but my heart is foolish, and a great part of the +Word stayeth not in my heart strongly. I desire +to cast all my sins out of my heart: but I +remember my sins, that I may get them pardoned, +I think God doth not yet hear my prayers +in this, because I cannot keep the Word of God, +only I desire to hear the Word, and that God +would hear me.”</p> + +<p class="center">“<i>His Third Confession.</i></p> + +<p>One word more I cal to mind, Great is my +sin! this saith my heart, I have found this sin, +when I first heard you teach, that all the world +from the rising to the sitting Sun should pray to +God, I then wondered at it, and thought, I being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span>a great sinner, how shal I pray to God; and +when I saw many come to the Meeting, I wondred +at it: But now I do not wonder at that +work of God, and therefore I think that I do +now greatly sin: and now I desire again to +wonder at Gods Works, and I desire to rejoyce +in Gods good waies. Now I am much ashamed, +and fear because I have deserved eternal wrath +by my sins: my heart is evil, my heart doth +contrary to God: and this I desire, that I may +be redeemed, for I cannot help my self, but only +Jesus Christ hath done al this for me, and I deserve +no good, but I beleeve Christ hath deserved +all for us: and I give my self unto Christ, that +he may save me, because he knoweth eternal +life, and can give it; I cannot give it to my self, +therefore I need Jesus Christ, my heart is full +of evil thoughts; and Christ only can keep my +soul from them, because he hath paid for my +deliverance from them.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“CONFESSION OF ANTONY.</p> + +<p>Another who made his Confession is named +<i>Antony</i>, upon whom the Lord was pleased +the last Winter to lay an heavy stroke; for he +and another Indian being at work sawing of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span>Board, and finishing the Peece, they laid it so +short, and the Rowl not so stedfast, insomuch +that this man being in the Pit directing to lay +the Piece, and the other above ordering thereof, +it slipped down into the Pit upon this mans +head, brake his neather Chap in two, and +cracked his Skull, insomuch that he was taken +up half dead, and almost strangled with blood; +and being the last day of the week at night I +had no word until the Sabbath day, then I +presently sent a Chyrurgion, who took a discreet +order with him; and God so blessed his +indeavors, as that he is now well again, +blessed be the Lord: and whereas I did fear +that such a blow in their Labor might discourage +them from Labor, I have found it by +Gods blessing otherwise; yea this man hath +performed a great part of the sawing of our +Meeting-House, and is now sawing upon the +School-house, and his recovery is an establishment +of them to go on; yea, and God +blessed this blow, to help on the Work of +Grace in his soul; as you shall see in his +Confession, which followeth.</p> + +<p>Before I prayed to God I alwaies committed +sin, but I do not know all my sins, I know but a +little of the sins I have committed, therefore I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span>thought I could not pray to God, because I knew +not al my sins before I prayed to God, and since +I heard of praying to God: formerly when the +English did bid me pray unto God I hated it, +and would go out of their houses, when they +spake of such things to me. I had no delight +to hear any thing of Gods Word, but in every +thing I sinned; in my speeches I sinned, and +every day I broke the Commands of God. After +I heard of praying to God, that <i>Waban</i> and my +two brothers prayed to God, yet then I desired +it not, but did think of running away; yet I +feared if I did run away some wicked men +would kill me, but I did not fear God. After +when you said unto me, pray, my heart thought, +I will pray; yet again I thought, I cannot pray +with my heart, and no matter for praying with +words only: but when I did pray, I saw more of +my sins; yet I did but only see them, I could +not be aware of them, but still I did commit +them: and after I prayed to God, I was still full +of lust, and then a little I feared. Sometimes I +was sick, and then I thought God was angry, +and then I saw that I did commit all sins: then +one of my brothers died, and then my heart was +broken, and after him another friend, and again +my heart was broken: and yet after all this I +broke my praying to God, and put away God, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span>and then I thought I shall never pray to God: +but after this I was afraid of the Lord, because +I alwaies broke my praying to God and then my +heart said, God doth not hear my prayer. +When I was sick, and recovered again, I thought +then that God was merciful unto me. Hearing +that word of God, <i>If you hear the Word of God, +and be forgetful hearers, you sin against God</i>; +then I thought God will not pardon such a sinner +as I, who dayly did so, and broke my +praying to God. When I heard the Commandements, +I desired to learn them, and other +points of Catechism, but my desires were but +small, and I soon lost it, because I did not desire +to beleeve: then sometimes I feared Gods anger +because of al my sins; I heard the Word and +understood only this word, <i>All you that hear this +day, it may be you shall quickly die</i>, and then I +quickly saw that God was very angry with me. +Then God brake my head, and by that I saw +Gods anger; and then I thought that the true +God in Heaven is angry with me for my sin, +even for al my sins, which every day I live, I +do. When I was almost dead, some body bid +me now beleeve, because it may be I shal quickly +die, and I thought I did beleeve, but I did not +know right beleeving in Christ: then I prayed +unto God to restore my health. Then I beleeved +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span>that word, <i>That we must shortly appear +before Jesus Christ</i>; then I did greatly fear lest +if I beleeved not, I should perish for ever. When +I was neer death, I prayed unto God, <i>Oh Lord +give me life, and I will pray to God so long as I +live</i>, and I said, <i>I will give my self, soul, and body +to Christ</i>: after this, God gave me health, and +then I thought, truly, God in Heaven is merciful; +then I much grieved, that I knew so little +of Gods Word. And now sometimes I am +angry, and then I fear because I know God +seeth it; and I fear, because I promised God +when I was almost dead, that if he giveth me +life, I will pray so long as I live; I fear lest I +should break this promise to God. Now I desire +the pardon of all my sins, and I beg faith in +Christ, and I desire to live unto God, so long as +I live; I cannot myself get pardon, but I dayly +commit sin, and break Gods Word, but I look to +Christ for pardon.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">“CONFESSION OF EPHRAIM.</p> + +<p>All the daies I have lived, I have been in a +poor foolish condition, I cannot tell all my sins, +all my great sins, I do not see them. When I +first heard of praying to God, I could not sleep +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span>quietly, I was so troubled, ever I thought I would +forsake the place because of praying to God, my +life hath been like as if I had been a mad man. +Last yeer I thought I would leave all my sins, +yet I see I do not leave off sinning to this day; +I now think I shall never be able to forsake my +sins. I think sometimes the Word of God is +false, yet I see there is no giving over that I +might follow sin, I must pray to God; I do not +truly in my heart repent, and I think that God +wil not forgive me my sins: every day my heart +sinneth, and how will Christ forgive such an +one? I pray but outwardly with my mouth, not +with my heart; I cannot of my self obtain pardon +of my sins: I cannot tell all the sins that I +have done if I should tell you an whol day together: +I do every morning desire that my sins +may be pardoned by Jesus Christ; this my heart +saith, but yet I fear I cannot forsake my sins, +because I cannot see all my sins: I hear, That +if we repent and beleeve in Christ, all our sins +shall be pardoned, therefore I desire to leave off +my sins.</p> + +<p class="hanging">This poor Publican was the last which made +his Confession before I read them unto the +Elders, and the last of them I shall now +publish. I will shut up these Confessions +with the Confession (if I may so call it) or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span>rather with the Expression, and manifestation +of faith, by two little Infants, of two +yeers old, and upward, under three yeers +of age when they died and departed out of +this world.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>The Story is this</i>,</p> + +<p>This Spring, in the beginning of the yeer, 1652, +the Lord was pleased to afflict sundry of our +praying Indians with that grievous disease of +the Bloody-Flux, whereof some with great torments +in their bowels died; among which were +two little Children of the age above-said, and at +that time both in one house, being together taken +with that disease. The first of these Children +in the extremities of its torments, lay crying to +God in these words, <i>God and Jesus Christ, God +and Jesus Christ help me</i>; and when they gave +it any thing to eat, it would greedily take it (as +it is usual at the approach of death) but first it +would cry to God, <i>Oh God and Jesus Christ, +bless it</i>, and then it would take it: and in this +manner it lay calling upon God and Jesus Christ +untill it died: The mother of this Child also +died of that disease, at that time. The Father +of the Child told me this story, with great wonderment +at the grace of God, in teaching his +Child so to call upon God. The name of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span>Father is <i>Nishohkou</i>, whose Confession you +have before.</p> + +<p>Three or four daies after, another Child in the +same house, sick of the same disease, was (by a +divine hand doubtless) sensible of the approach +of death, (an unusual thing at that age) and +called to its Father, and said, <i>Father, I am going +to God</i>, several times repeating it, <i>I am going +to God</i>. The mother (as other mothers use to +do) had made for the Child a little Basket, a little +Spoon, and a little Tray: these things the +Child was wont to be greatly delighted withal +(as all Children will) therefore in the extremity +of the torments, they set those things before it, a +little to divert the mind, and cheer the spirit: +but now, the child takes the Basket, and puts it +away, and said, <i>I will leave my Basket behind +me, for I am going to God, I will leave my +Spoon and Tray behind me</i> (putting them away) +<i>for I am going to God</i>: and with these kind of +expressions, the same night finished its course, +and died.</p> + +<p>The Father of this child is named <i>Robin +Speen</i>, whose Confessions you have before, and +in one of them he maketh mention of this child +that died in Faith. When he related this story +to me, he said, He could not tell whether the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span>sorrow for the death of his child, or the joy for +its faith were greater, when it died.</p> + +<p>These Examples are a testimony, That they +teach their children the knowledg and fear of +God, whom they now call upon; and also that +the Spirit of God co-worketh with their instructions, +who teacheth by man, more than man is +able to do.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot says, ‘I have now finished all that I +purpose to publish at this time; the Lord give +them Acceptance in the hearts of his Saints, to +engage them the more to pray for them; and +Oh! that their judgings of themselves, and +breathings after Christ, might move others (that +have more means than they have, but as yet +regard it not) to do the like, and much more +abundantly.’</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>A meeting of the Elders of the Churches was +requested by Mr. Eliot, as before stated, to give +advice in view of these Confessions, and upon +further personal examination of some of the Indians, +as to the next step to be taken in organizing +the Indian Church. But Mr. E. says,</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“There fell out a very great discouragement a +little before the time, which might have been a +scandall unto them, and I doubt not but Satan +intended it so; but the Lord improved it to stir +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span>up faith and Prayer, and so turned it another +way: Thus it was. Three of the unsound sort +of such as are among them that pray unto God, +who are hemmed in by Relations, and other +means, to doe that which their hearts love not, +and whose Vices Satan improveth to scandalize +and reproach the better sort withall; while +many, and some good people are too ready to +say they are all alike. I say three of them had +gotten severall quarts of strong water, (which +sundry out of a greedy desire of a little gaine, +are too ready to sell unto them, to the offence +and grief of the better sort of <i>Indians</i>, and of the +godly English too)⁠<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> and with these Liquors, did +not onely make themselves drunk, but got a +Child of eleven years of age, the Son of <i>Toteswamp</i>, +whom his Father had sent for a little +Corne and Fish to that place near <i>Watertowne</i> +where they were. Unto this Child they first +gave too spoonfuls of Strong-water, which was +more then his head could bear; and another of +them put a Bottle, or such like Vessel to his +mouth, and caused him to drink till he was very +drunk; and then one of them domineered, and +said, <i>Now we will see whether your Father will +punish us for drunkennesse</i> (for he is a Ruler +among them) <i>seeing you are drunk with us for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>company</i>; and in this case lay the Child abroad +all night. They also fought, and had been severall +times Punished formerly for Drunkennesse.</p> + +<p>When <i>Toteswamp</i> heard of this, it was a great +shame and breaking of heart unto him, and he +knew not what to doe. The rest of the Rulers +with him considered of the matter, they found a +complication of many sins together.</p> + +<p>1 The sin of Drunkennesse, and that after +many former Punishments for the same.</p> + +<p>2 A willful making of the Child drunk, and +exposing him to danger also.</p> + +<p>3 A degree of reproaching the Rulers.</p> + +<p>4 Fighting.</p> + +<p>Word was brought to me of it, a little before +I took Horse to goe to <i>Natick</i> to keep the Sabbath +with them, being about ten dayes before the +appointed Meeting. The Tidings sunk my +spirit extreamly, I did judge it to be the greatest +frowne of God that ever I met withall in the +work, I could read nothing in it but displeasure, +I began to doubt about our intended work: I +knew not what to doe, the blacknesse of the +sins, and the Persons reflected on, made my +very heart faile me: For one of the offendors +(though least in the offence) was he that hath +been my Interpreter, whom I have used in Translating +a good part of the Holy Scriptures; and +in that respect I saw much of Satans venome, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span>and in God I saw displeasure. For this and +some other acts of Apostacy at this time, I had +thoughts of casting him off from that work, yet +now the Lord hath found a way to humble him. +But his Apostacy at this time was a great Triall, +and I did lay him by for that day of our Examination, +I used another in his room. Thus Satan +aimed at me in this their miscarrying; and +<i>Toteswamp</i> is a Principall man in the work, as +you shall have occasion to see anon God-willing.</p> + +<p>By some occasion our Ruling Elder and I being +together, I opened the case unto him, and +the Lord guided him to speak some gracious +words of encouragement unto me, by which the +Lord did relieve my spirit; and so I committed +the matter and issue unto the Lord, to doe what +pleased him, and in so doing my soul was quiet +in the Lord. I went on my journey being the +6 day of the week; when I came at <i>Natick</i>, the +Rulers had then a Court about it. Soon after I +came there, the Rulers came to me with a +Question about this matter, they related the +whole businesse unto me, with much trouble +and grief.</p> + +<p>Then <i>Toteswamp</i> spake to this purpose, <i>I am +greatly grieved about these things, and now +God tryeth me whether I love Christ or my Child +best. They say, They will try me; but I say, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span>God will try me. Christ saith, He that loveth +father, or mother, or wife, or Child, better than +me, is not worthy of me. Christ saith, I must +correct my Child, if I should refuse to doe that, +I should not love Christ. God bid Abraham kill +his Son, Abraham loved God, and therefore he +would have done it, had not God with-held him. +God saith to me, onely punish your Child, and +how can I love God, if I should refuse to doe +that?</i> These things he spake in more words, +and much affection, and not with dry eyes: Nor +could I refraine from teares to hear him. When +it was said, The Child was not so guilty of the +sin, as those that made him drunk; he said, +<i>That he was guilty of sin, in that he feared not +sin, and in that he did not believe his counsells +that he had often given him, to take heed of evill +company; but he had believed Satan and sinners +more then him, therefore he needed to be punished.</i> +After other such like discourse, the Rulers +left me, and went unto their businesse, +which they were about before I came, which +they did bring unto this conclusion, and judgement, +They judged the three men to sit in the +stocks a good space of time, and thence to be +brought to the whipping-Post, & have each of +them twenty lashes. The boy to be put in the +stocks a little while, and the next day his father +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span>was to whip him in the School, before the Children +there; all which Judgement was executed. +When they came to be whipt, the Constable +fetcht them one after another to the Tree (which +they make use of instead of a Post) where they +all received their Punishments: which done, +the Rulers spake thus, one of them said, <i>The +Punishments for sin are the Commandements of +God, and the worke of God, and his end was, to +doe them good, and bring them to repentance.</i> +And upon that ground he did in more words +exhort them to repentance, and amendment of +life. When he had done, another spake unto +them to this purpose, <i>You are taught in Catechisme, +that the wages of sin are all miseries and +calamities in this life, and also death and eternall +damnation in hell. Now you feele some smart +as the fruit of your sin, and this is to bring you +to repentance, that so you may escape the rest.</i> +And in more words he exhorted them to repentance. +When he had done, another spake to this +purpose, <i>Heare all yee people</i> (turning himselfe to +the People who stood round about, I think not +lesse then two hundred, small and great) <i>this is +the Commandement of the Lord, that thus it +should be done unto sinners; and therefore let +all take warning by this, that you commit not +such sins, least you incur these Punishments</i>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span>And with more words he exhorted the People. +Others of the Rulers spake also, but some things +spoken I understood not, and some things slipt +from me: But these which I have related remained +with me.</p> + +<p>When I returned to <i>Roxbury</i>, I related these +things to our Elder, to whom I had before related +the sin, and my grief: who was much +affected to hear it, and magnified God. He said +also, That their sin was but a Transient act, +which had no Rule, and would vanish. But +these Judgements were an ordinance of God, +and would remaine, and doe more good every +way, then their sin could doe hurt, telling me +what cause I had to be thankfull for such an issue: +Which I therefore relate, because the Lord +did speak to my heart, in this exigent, by his +words.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>This difficulty being thus settled, the time +came for the meeting of the Elders. Mr. Eliot +observes,</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“When the assembly was met for Examination +of the <i>Indians</i>, and ordered, I declared the end +and Reason of this Meeting, and therefore declared, +That any one, in due order, might have +liberty to propound any Questions for their satisfaction. +Likewise, I requested the Assembly, +That if any one doubted of the Interpretations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span>that should be given of their answers, that they +would Propound their doubt, and they should +have the words scanned and tryed by the Interpreters, +that so all things may be done most +clearly. For my desire was to be true to Christ, +to their soules, and to the Churches: And the +trying out of any of their Answers by the Interpreters, +would tend to the satisfaction of such +as doubt, as it fell out in one Answer which they +gave; the Question was, <i>How they knew the +Scriptures to be the word of God?</i> The finall +Answer was, Because they did find that it did +change their hearts, and wrought in them +wisedome and humility. This Answer being +Interpreted to the Assembly, my Brother <i>Mahu</i> +doubted, especially of the word [<i>Hohpoóonk</i>] +signifying <i>Humility</i>, it was scanned by the Interpreters, +and proved to be right, and he rested +satisfied therein. I was purposed my selfe to +have written the Elders Questions, and the <i>Indians</i> +Answers, but I was so imployed in propounding +to the <i>Indians</i> the Elders Questions, +and in returning the <i>Indians</i> Answers, as that +it was not possible for me to write unlesse I had +caused the Assembly to stay upon it, which had +not been fitting; therefore seeing Mr. <i>Walton</i> +writing, I did request him to write the Questions +and Answers, and help me with a Copy of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span>them, which I thank him, he did, a Copy whereof +I herewith send to be inserted in this place, on +which, this only I will animadvert, That the Elders +in wisdome thought it not fit to ask them in +Catechisticall method strictly, in which way +Children might Answer. But that they might +try whether they understood what they said, +they traversed up and downe in Questions of +Religion, as here you see.</p> + +<p class="center">POSTSCRIPT.</p> + +<p>Let the Reader take notice, That these questions +were not propounded all to one man, but +to sundry, which is the reason that sometime +the same Questions are propounded againe +and againe. Also the number Examined +were about eight, namely, so many as might +be first called forth to enter into Church-Covenant, +if the Lord give opportunity.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>We have a Catechism, entitled “The Examination +of the Indians at Roxbury, the 13th day +of the 4th month, 1654.” The following are +some of the questions and answers.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Have not some Indians many Gods?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> They have many Gods.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span></p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How doe you know these Gods are no +Gods.</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Before the English came we knew not +but that they were Gods, but since they came +we know they are no Gods.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How doe you know the word of God is +Gods word?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> I believe the word that you teach us, was +spoken of God.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why doe you believe it?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Therefore I believe it to be the word of +God, because when we learn it, it teacheth our +hearts to be wise and humble.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Whether are not your sins, and the +temptations of <i>Hobbomak</i> more strong since, then +before you prayed to God?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Before I prayed to God, I knew not what +Satans temptations were.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Doe you know now?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Now I have heard what Satans temptations +are.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What is a temptation of the Devill in +your heart, doe you understand what it is?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Within my heart there are Hypocrisies, +which doe not appear without.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Whether doe not you find this a principall +temptation from the wickednesse of your +heart, to drive you away from Christ, and not to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>believe the gracious Promises in Jesus Christ? +Or whether when you find wickednesse in your +heart, you are not tempted that you cannot believe?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> My heart doth strongly desire to goe on +in sin, but this is a strong temptation, but Faith +is the work of Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What doe you believe about the immortality +of the soule, and resurrection of the body? +doth the soule dye when the body dyeth?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> I believe, when the body of a good man +dyeth, the Angels carry his soule to heaven, +when a wicked man dyeth, the Devills carry his +soule to hell.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How long shall they be in that state?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Untill Christ cometh to Judgement.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> When Christ cometh to judge the world, +what then shall become of them?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The dead bodies of all men shall rise +againe.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Whether shall they ever dye any more?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Good men shall never dye any more.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Whether doe you believe that these very +bodies of ours shall rise againe?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> This body which rots in the earth, this +very body, God maketh it new.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Who is Jesus Christ?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Jesus Christ is the Son of God, yet borne +man, and so both God and man.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span></p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why was Christ Jesus a man?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> That he might dye for us.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why is Christ Jesus God?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> That his death might be of great value.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Why doe you say, Christ Jesus was a +man that he might dye, doe onely men dye?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> He dyed for our sins.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What reason or justice is there, that +Christ should dye for our sins?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> God made all the world, and man sinned, +therefore it was necessary Christ should dye to +carry men up to Heaven. God hath given unto +us his Son Jesus Christ, because of our sins.</p> + +<p class="hanging">The Question being put to another for further +Answer, his Answer was, <i>That God so +loved the world, that he gave his onely begotten +Son, that whosoever believeth in him +should not perish, but have everlasting life</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> When you heare that <i>Adam</i> by his sin +deserved eternall death, and when you hear of +the grace of God sending Jesus to save you, +which of these break your heart most?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Pardon of sin goeth deepest.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>With regard to the formation of the church, +one writer says;</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“This great and solemne work of calling up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span>these poor Indians unto that Gospel light and +beauty of visible Church-estate, having now +passed through a second Tryall: In the former +whereof, they expressed what experience they +had found of Gods grace in their hearts, turning +them from dead works, to seek after the living +God, and salvation in our Saviour Jesus Christ. +In this second they have in some measure declared +how far the Lord hath let in the light of +the good knowledge of God into their soules, +and what tast they have of the Principles of +Religion, and doctrine of salvation. Now the +Question remaineth, <i>What shall we further doe? +And when shall they enjoy the Ordinances of +Jesus Christ in Church-estate?</i></p> + +<p>“The work is very solemne, and the Question +needeth a solemne Answer. It is a great +matter to betrust those with the holy priviledges +of Gods house, upon which the name of Christ +is so much called, who have so little knowledge +and experience in the wayes of Christ, so newly +come out of that great depth of darknesse, and +wild course of life; in such danger of polluting +and defiling the name of Christ among their +barbarous Friends and Countrey-men; and under +so many doubts and jealousies of many people; +and having not yet stood in the wayes of +Christ so long, as to give sufficient proof and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>experience of their stedfastnesse in their new +begun profession. Being also the first Church +gathered among them, it is like to be a pattern +and president of after proceedings, even unto +following Generations. Hence it is very needfull +that this proceeding of ours at first, be with +all care and wearinesse guided, for the most effectuall +advancement of the holinesse and honour +of Jesus Christ among them.</p> + +<p>“Upon such like grounds as these, though I +and some others know more of the sincerity of +some of them, than others doe, and are better +satisfied with them: Yet because I may be in a +temptation on that hand, I am well content to +make slow hast in this matter, remembring that +word of God, <i>Lay hands suddenly on no man</i>. +Gods works among men doe usually goe on +slowly, and he that goeth slowly, doth usually +goe most surely, especially when he goeth by +counsell. <i>Sat cito si sat bene</i>,⁠<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> the greater proof +we have of them, the better approbation they +may obtain at last. Besides, we having had +one publick meeting about them already this +summer, it will be difficult to compasse another, +for we have many other great occasions, which +may hinder the same, and it is an hard matter +to get Interpreters together to attend such a +work, they living so remote. The dayes also will +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>soon grow short, and the nights cold, which will +be an hindrance in the attendance unto the accomplishment +of that work, which will most fitly +be done at <i>Natick</i>.</p> + +<p>“But above all other Reasons this is greatest, +that they living in sundry Towns and places remote +from each other, and labourers few to take +care of them, it is necessary that some of themselves +should be trained up, and peculiarly +instructed, unto whom the care of ruling and +ordering of them in the affaires of Gods house +may be committed, in the absence of such as +look after their instruction. So that this is now +the thing we desire to attend, for the comfort of +our little <i>Sister that hath no breasts</i>, that such +may be trained up, and prepared, unto whom +the charge of the rest may be committed in the +Lord. And upon this ground we make the +slower hast to accomplish this work among +them. Mean while I hope the Commissioners +will afford some encouragement for the furtherance +of the instruction of some of the most godly +and able among them, who may be in a speciall +manner helpfull unto the rest, in due order and +season.</p> + +<p>“And thus have I briefly set down our present +state in respect of our Ecclesiasticall proceedings. +I beg the prayers of the good people +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span>of the Lord, to be particularly present at the +Throne of Grace, in these matters, according as +you have hereby a particular Information how +our condition is. And for me also, who am the +most unfit in humane reason for such a work as +this, but my soule desireth to depend and live +upon the Lord Jesus, and fetch all help, grace, +mercy, assistance, and supply from him. And +herein I doe improve his faithfull Covenant and +Promises, and in particular, the Lord doth cause +my soule to live upon that word of his, <i>Psal.</i> +37:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, wherein I have food, rayment, +and all necessaries for my selfe and children +(whom I have dedicated unto the Lord, to serve +him in this work of his, if he will please to +accept of them) and this supply I live upon in +these rich words of gracious Promise, <i>verse</i> 3. +<i>Trust in the Lord, and doe good, dwell in the +Land, and verily thou shalt be fed.</i></p> + +<p>“Herein also I find supply of grace to believe +the conversion of these poor Indians, & that not +only in this present season, in what I doe +already see, but in the future also, further then +by mine eye or reason I can see. Which supply +of grace, I live upon in those words of his +gracious Promise, which I apply and improve in +this particular respect, <i>verse</i> 4. <i>Delight thyselfe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span>also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the +desires of thy heart</i>.</p> + +<p>“Herein also I find supply of grace to believe, +that they shall be in Gods season, which is the +fittest, brought into Church Estate; faith fetching +this particular blessing out of the rich +Fountaine of those gracious words of Promise, +<i>Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in +him, and he shall bring it to passe</i>.</p> + +<p>“Herein also my soule is strengthened and +quieted, to stay upon the Lord, and to be supported +against all suspitious jealousies, hard +speeches, and unkindnesses of men, touching +the sincerity and reality of this work, and about +my carriage of matters, and supply herein. +Which grace my soule receiveth by a particular +improvement of that rich treasury of the Promise +in these words, <i>verse</i> 6. <i>And he shall bring +forth thy righteousnesse as the light, and thy +judgement as the noon day.</i> And herein likewise +I find supply of grace, to wait patiently for the +Lords time, when year after year, and time after +time, I meet with disappointments. Which +grace I receive from the commanding force of +that gracious Promise, <i>verse</i> 7. <i>Rest in the +Lord, and wait patiently for him, fret not thy +selfe</i>, either for one cause, or another. Thus I +live, and thus I labor, here I have supply, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>here is my hope, I beg the help of prayers, that +I may still so live and labour in the Lords work, +and that I may so live and dye.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>In 1670, the number of men and women in +full communion at Natick, was between forty +and fifty, and more than three hundred and fifty +had renounced their savage practices and open +sins, and gave heed to the instructions of the +Gospel.</p> + +<p>Their meetings were notified by the drum. +In their assemblies they were attentive and reverent. +A native teacher commenced worship +with prayer, and the English Christians assisted +in the business of instruction. There, as at +other times, and in other places among civilized +people God poured out his Spirit upon the young. +Several cases of hopeful piety in young children +are mentioned. The most interesting of them +have already been given.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot having made a grammar of the Indian +tongue, and a catechism, was proceeding +with his Indian Bible. In 1649, he said it was +his earnest wish to translate some parts of the +Scriptures for the Indians. He probably labored +at this work, at intervals, for twelve years, and +he was at least forty-five years of age when he +began it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span></p> + +<p>It should be remembered that this work, unlike +the same employment of our foreign missionaries +at their first arrival at new stations, +was wholly in addition to his labors as Pastor of +another people,—the congregation at Roxbury. +It was of no direct use to him in his ministerial +work, any farther than investigation and study +is always profitable to the mind. It was a labor +superadded to the cares and toil of his pastoral +and ministerial office.</p> + +<p>A man who has a taste for languages is generally +repaid for the labor of acquiring them, by +the stores of learning which they contain. Cato +learned Greek at the age of eighty, and the literary +world mention it to his praise. But here +is a man learning a language which has no literature. +No tragic or heroic muse had left her +inspired strains in it. No beautiful old ballads +or legendary songs repaid his labor,—no Canterbury +Tales, or Children in the Wood, or Chevy +Chase, or Fairy Queen, hymns of devotion, +nor martial songs; the language could only +whoop and powaw; the great word, gathering +subjunctives and adjuncts into itself, like a +crowded wigwam, was savagely ignorant of the +graces, or the concise, vigorous expressions of +some barbarous tongues, and Eliot’s researches +into it were like digging, as the Plymouth settlers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>did, into the mounds for corn, and finding +nothing but skulls. But nothing could repress +the ardor of his benevolent mind. He was determined +that the Indians should have the word +of God in their own tongue, and the work drew +near to its accomplishment.</p> + +<p>But how could it ever be printed? His slender +salary could not pay for it; the planters +could not subscribe an adequate sum. In a letter +to England in 1651, he says, with much +sorrow, “I have no hope to see the Bible printed +in my days.”</p> + +<p>The Society for Propagating the Gospel came +to his help.⁠<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> In September, 1661, the New Testament +in the Indian tongue was published at +Cambridge. Three years after this, the Old +Testament was added, and the whole Bible, +with a Catechism and the Psalms of David in +metre, was thus given to the Aborigines of this +desert, in their own tongue, in forty years after +the settlement of the country.</p> + +<p>This was the first Bible printed on this Continent. +It was printed at Cambridge, by Samuel +Green and Marmaduke Johnson. A copy +handsomely bound, was sent to King Charles II., +and the Rev. Richard Baxter says of it, “Such +a work and fruit of a plantation was never before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span>presented unto a king.” Two hundred +copies, in plain and strong leather, were immediately +put in circulation for the use of the +Indians. An angel would almost have exchanged +his heavenly joy for the happiness of +Eliot, when he visited Natick, and saw the Bible +in the hands of the natives. Like old +Jacob, strengthening himself upon his dying +bed, he might then have said, “I have waited +for thy salvation, O Lord;” or, like Simeon, +“Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in +peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”</p> + +<p>Douglass, in his History of America,⁠<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> says, +“Mr. Eliot with immense labor translated and +printed our Bible into Indian. It was done with +a good pious design, but it must be reckoned +among the <i>otiosorum hominum negotia</i>, (works +of men of leisure). It was done in the Natick +(Nipmuck) language. Of the Naticks, at present, +there are not twenty families subsisting, +and scarce any of these can read. <i>Cui bono?</i>” +(To what profit?)</p> + +<p>Those who know how far Mr. Eliot was +from being a man of leisure, will smile at the +suggestion that the translation of the Bible into +the Indian tongue was the work of an idle amateur. +The disappearance of the race for whom +this translation was designed, so unexpected, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span>and indeed so contrary to the fond hopes of our +forefathers, is very far from showing the futility +of Mr. Eliot’s pious labor. Many of the Indians +were made wise unto eternal life by the translated +Bible. The good which it accomplished +was more than an equivalent for the labor which +it cost.</p> + +<p>Cotton Mather says, “Behold, ye Americans, +the greatest honour that ever you were partakers +of. This Bible was printed here at our Cambridge, +and it is the only Bible that ever was +printed in all America, from the very foundation +of the world. The whole translation he writ +with but one pen; which pen, had it not been +lost, would have certainly deserved a richer +case than was bestowed upon that pen with +which Holland writ his translation of Plutarch.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a>⁠</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span></p> + +<p>The New Testament was published first, and +then the whole Bible, Primers, Grammars, +Psalters, Catechisms, The Practice of Piety, +Baxter’s Call, Shepard’s sincere Convert and +Sound Believer, soon appeared in the Indian +tongue, from the pen of Mr. Eliot.</p> + +<p>By this time there were fourteen places of +praying Indians under the care of Mr. Eliot, +and about eleven hundred souls who were apparently +converted. Natick, Stoughton, Grafton, +Tewksbury, Hopkinton, Oxford, Dudley, +Woodstock (three villages), Uxbridge and Marlboro’, +all had communities of praying Indians.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bancroft, in his History of the United +States,⁠<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> says, “No pains were spared to teach +them to read and write, and in a short time a +larger proportion of the Massachusetts Indians +could do so, than recently of the inhabitants of +Russia.” The Indians of Cape Cod, Martha’s +Vineyard, and Nantucket, amounting to about +twenty-nine hundred, also were, by the labors +of the Mayhews and others, partly evangelized. +Mr. Eliot says, in 1673, that there were six +churches gathered among the Indians, one at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span>Natick, one at Grafton, one at Marshpee, two at +Martha’s Vineyard, and one at Nantucket. All +these had religious teachers devoted exclusively +to them, except the church at Natick, of which +Mr. Eliot says, “In modesty they stand off, because +they say that so long as I live, there is no +need.” They could not be prevailed upon to +have another teacher even with the advantages +of his entire devotion to them, while Mr. Eliot +was alive.</p> + +<p>Cotton Mather says,⁠<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> “The number of +preachers to the Indians increases apace. At +Martha’s Vineyard, the old Mr. Mayhew and +several of his sons, or grand-sons, have done +very worthily for the souls of the Indians; there +were fifteen years ago by computation about fifteen +hundred souls of their ministry, upon that +one island. In Connecticut, the holy and acute +Mr. Fitch has made noble essays towards the +conversion of the Indians; but I think the sinner +he has to deal withal, being an obstinate infidel, +gives unhappy rumor as to the successes of +his ministry. And godly Mr. Pierson has, if I +mistake not, deserved well in that colony upon +the same account. In Massachusetts we see at +this day the pious Mr. Gookin, the gracious Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span>Peter Thacher, the well accomplished and industrious +Mr. Grindal Rawson, all of them hard +at work, to turn these poor creatures from darkness +to light, and from Satan unto God. In +Plymouth we have the most active Mr. Samuel +Treat laying out himself to save this generation, +and there is one Mr. Tupper, who uses +his laudable endeavours for the instruction of +them.</p> + +<p>“’Tis my relation to him⁠<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> that causes me to +defer unto the last place the mention of Mr. +John Cotton, who hath addressed the Indians in +their own language with some dexterity. He +hired an Indian after the rate of twelve pence +per day, for fifty days, to teach him the Indian +tongue; but his knavish tutor having received +his whole pay too soon, ran away before twenty +days were out; however, in this time he had +profited so far that he could quickly preach unto +the natives.”</p> + +<p>Two Indians from Martha’s Vineyard were +entered at Harvard College. Their names were +Joel and Caleb. Joel was lost on his voyage +from Boston to Nantucket just before taking his +degree. Caleb was graduated, but soon died of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span>consumption at Charlestown. His name now +stands on the College Catalogue in this form: +“1665, Caleb Cheesehahteaumuck, Indus.” He +composed a Latin and Greek Elegy on the +death of an eminent minister, and subscribed +them, “Cheesehahteaumuck, Senior Sophista.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII_1">CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p>Disturbance of Missionary efforts. Philip’s war. Removal of the +Indians to Deer Isle. Return. Conclusion of the History of Missionary +efforts among the Indians of this neighborhood. Reflections.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Civilization and the influence of the Gospel, +however, had their limits. The Narraganset +Indians, situated between the Connecticut and +Plymouth Colonies, refused the Gospel, and the +benevolent intentions of the English. King +Philip, the famous warrior of Mount Hope, (now +Bristol) whose name was terrible to our forefathers, +scorned the doctrines of the cross. Mr. +Eliot once had an interview with him, explained +the way of salvation, and exhorted him to repent. +The Indian chieftain rose, took hold of +Mr. Eliot’s button, and told him, that he cared +no more for his Gospel than he did for that button.</p> + +<p>The Indians under Philip were growing jealous +of English encroachments upon their hunting +fields. Petty depredations were made by the +Indians upon the English settlements, then followed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span>a summons to court, which, in process of +time, became exceedingly annoying to proud, +untamed savages. They had bartered their +lands for English implements and toys; the +tools and the toys were gone, and the savage +could not be satisfied to abide by a paper, call it +treaty, bond, or contract, on which he had +scratched his mark. He sighed for his old domains; +the waves of civilization were coming +round him like a flood; his people were artfully +crowded by the English into narrow inlets between +the settlements, that they might be +watched on all sides.</p> + +<p>King Philip was summoned to Court in 1674, +for some offence committed by his tribe. The +informer was murdered by the angry savages. +The murderers were hanged by the English. +The massacre of eight or nine of the English at +Swansey was the consequence. Philip wept +when he heard that the blood of a white man +had been shed. The Colonists began to arm, +and a universal panic prevailed. The superstition +of those days added much to the general +terror. Signs in the heavens were reported to +have been seen, a scalp on the disc of the moon +in an eclipse; an Indian bow was imprinted on +the sky. Troops of horses were heard rushing +through the air. The horrors of an Indian war +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span>made their faces pale and their hearts faint. +The scenes at Bloody Brook, the burning of +Lancaster, Medfield, Brookfield, Weymouth, +Groton, Marlborough, the ambushments rising +on the congregation as they returned from public +worship, the massacre of wives and children +at home, and the scalping of husbands and +brothers in the field, roused the colonies of +Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to an +exterminating war.</p> + +<p>It is easy to see that the communities of praying +Indians could not escape the influence of the +general excitement against the Indians. Some +of them were accused, justly or unjustly, of favoring +the designs of the enemy. The Colonists +were all the time afraid that the instinctive +love of war and carnage in the Indian bosom +would break through the restraints of religion, +and that all which had been done for the Indians +would be only a qualification of them as more +successful traitors and expert butchers.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, King Philip was jealous +of the praying Indians. He used every means +of persuasion and fear to enlist them on his side. +Their situation was trying in the extreme. In +the excited state of mind which an Indian war +created among the English, a war on the part of +the savages of stratagem, and treachery, it was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span>natural that the Christian Indians should be +trusted and feared. Some of them enlisted with +the English and did good service, and some deserted +to Philip.</p> + +<p>In 1675, a number of the Christian Indians +were brought to Boston on a charge of being +concerned in a murder at Lancaster. Mr. Eliot +and his friends interposed to save them, and +succeeded in showing that the accusation was +false and malicious. In so doing, they incurred +the popular resentment, and were suspected and +accused of bad motives and treasonable conduct.</p> + +<p>The feelings of the people were now so unreasonable +that the worst consequences to the +praying Indians were apprehended. In this state +of things the General Court, as a means of protection +to themselves and to the Indians, passed +an order that the Natick Indians should be removed +to Deer Island, in Boston harbor, between +four and five miles from shore. They came to +the place called the Pines, near Cambridge, on +Charles River, and were thence conveyed by +water to Deer Island. Mr. Eliot met them at +the Pines, and endeavored to soothe and cheer +them. He was then seventy years old. One +might question whether he or the Indians suffered +most in their removal.</p> + +<p>A party of Indians had fired a barn at Chelmsford. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span>The English imputed it to the praying +Indians at Tewksbury. A party of the English +went to their wigwams, called them out and shot +one lad, and wounded several women and children. +The murderers were tried, but the jury +were overawed by the public sentiment and +cleared them. The Tewksbury Indians fled +into the wilderness; messengers were sent to +them inviting them to return, but they gave this +answer: We are not sorry for what we leave +behind, but we are sorry that the English have +driven us from praying to God, and from our +leader. We did begin to understand a little of +praying to God. When the winter season came, +their sufferings forced them back to their wigwams, +and the English endeavored in various +ways to atone for the injuries they had suffered.</p> + +<p>The Stoughton Indians, for some suspicion, +were also removed to Deer Island, and the whole +number there amounted to five hundred. Mr. +Eliot and his friends visited them, and found +them patient and meek, exhibiting the true influence +of the Gospel in a satisfactory degree. +But they were exposed to want and suffering of +various kinds. The ill-treatment of other communities +of Indians followed in rapid succession, +and it was in vain that they sought in moments +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span>of contention, to repair the injuries which they +had inflicted. One party of Indians, for example, +had been taken by a Narraganset Sachem, +and had escaped, and were wandering in the +woods, when an English scouting party met +them, taking from them, among other things, a +pewter cup which Mr. Eliot had given them for +their communion service, and which they had +kept and carried with them with the reverence +of a Jew for his sacred vessels of gold and +silver. This party were also carried to Deer +Island.</p> + +<p>Philip, the terror of the English Colonies on +this continent, was finally destroyed. The war +subsiding, the Deer Island Indians, with the +permission of the General Court, and by the +funds of the society in England for propagating +the Gospel, were removed to Cambridge, and +were permitted to choose their places of settlement. +Some of them went to the various falls +of Charles River, some to Brush Hill in Milton, +some settled at Nonantum, and many of them +went to Natick.</p> + +<p>But the efforts to Christianize the Indians +were never resumed with the interest and zeal +which were formerly felt. On the part of the +English, there was conscience of wrong, and on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span>the part of the Indians a remembrance of injustice, +and thus a breach was made between them +which was never healed. Some of the Indians +had been made slaves. King Philip’s wife and +son had been sold in the West Indies.⁠<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> Mr. +Eliot followed with his prayers and efforts those +of his Christian Indians who had been sold into +bondage. He wrote to the celebrated and honorable +Robert Boyle to use his efforts in redeeming +some who had been left at Tangier.</p> + +<p>By various means the praying towns had been +reduced in 1684, to four. The tribes have dwindled +and finally disappeared, till a few years +since one poor hut in Natick, inhabited by a +family of Indian and Negro blood, and the gravestone +of Daniel Takawambait in the stone wall, +were the most prominent of the memorials +which they have left behind them. Fragments +of their language are imperishably associated +with many places and scenes throughout the +land. The rural retreat, the new town, the +gallant ship, are emulous of their names; while +the tavern sign, the bank note, the omnibus, +and the tobacconist, grace themselves with their +faces and implements. The New England poet, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span>historian, and orator, draw thrilling incidents +from Mount Hope and Bloody Brook, and the +Christian and the philanthropist will enshrine +the names of Nonantum and Natick. Westward +and still westward, the New England +tribes have receded. Civilization has had more +repulsion and injury for the savage than Christianity +has been able to overcome. There is a +law of progress in the affairs of nations expressed +in the prophetic language of the patriarch +Noah; “God shall enlarge Japhet, and he shall +dwell in the tents of Shem.” The savage +retreats before the civilized man, and while we +mourn over the ruin of individual tribes, we +cannot but stand in awe of that resistless measure +of God’s providence by which he is forcing +the Caucasian race to fill the earth, and suffering +uncivilized nations to melt away like the +snow in spring.</p> + +<p>But that same vigorous faith which brought +the Pilgrims here as missionaries to the Indians, +has followed the red man in his wanderings +over this vast continent. The names of David +Brainard, Samuel Kirkland, and Gideon Blackburn, +are identified with the history of Indian +missions. The American Board has pursued +the work of evangelizing them with much success. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span>The history of the Cherokees, the mountaineers +of America, is of itself a tale of romantic +and thrilling interest. The sketches of the +present North American Indians by Mr. Catlin, +in his valuable work, show that a large field for +missionary effort on this continent is yet spread +before the American churches.</p> + +<p>When the workmen were digging for the +foundation of some new houses at the corner of +Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston, several +years ago, they found the skeleton of an +Indian. He had been buried on his side, reclining +on his arm, and was found in that +posture. Christian faith and hope, mingled +with a little fancy, would fain lead us to hail +this incident as a sign that the Indian race are +not yet recumbent in hopeless degradation; that +though seemingly buried in the great wilderness, +they are buried in the posture of rising. Many +interesting recollections, and our natural feelings +towards an oppressed people, make us wish +that this was more than fancy, and, as the Indian +on the seal of the Massachusetts colony had a +passage of Scripture proceeding from his mouth, +Come over and help us, would we gladly put +another passage into the mouth of that resurrection +Indian above mentioned, making him say, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span>with prophetic ecstasy, as he looks towards +Nonantum and surveys the scenes of his ancient, +and apparently lost race, “Thy dead men shall +live, together with my dead body shall they +arise; awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, +for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the +earth shall cast out her dead.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p>Mr. Eliot’s avowal of republicanism, and his retraction of it. His +connection with the controversy about Mrs. Hutchinson. Richard +Baxter’s Testimony about Mr. Eliot. Roman Catholics instructing +the Indians. Mrs. Eliot. Close of Mr. Eliot’s life. Conclusion.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Two events in the life of Mr. Eliot must necessarily +be noticed in giving a complete account of +him. One is the publication and subsequent +retraction of a book called the Christian Commonwealth, +and the other is his connection with +the controversy raised by that notorious woman, +Mrs. Anne Hutchinson.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot wrote a book about the year 1650, +called the Christian Commonwealth. It was +carried to England in manuscript and printed. +In 1660, the Governor and Council of Massachusetts +condemned this book as being “full of +seditious principles and notions in relation to all +established governments in the Christian world, +especially against the government established in +their native country.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Eliot wrote an acknowledgment of error +as the author of the book, and presented his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span>recantation to the General Court. He speaks in +it of Cromwell and his friends as “the late innovators” +in the government of Great Britain, +and of the monarchy as restored under Charles +II., “as not only a lawful but eminent form of +government.” The book was suppressed, and +Mr. Eliot’s recantation was published through +the colony.</p> + +<p>This incident has been considered as reflecting +on Mr. Eliot’s character for discretion, or +for decision. The book does not survive in this +country to speak for itself. The facts in the +case seem to be that during the success of Cromwell, +Mr. Eliot composed his book in accordance +with what seemed to be the tendency in England +towards a settled republican form of government. +But upon the restoration of Charles +II., the provincial government of Massachusetts +felt in duty bound to show their allegiance to +the crown by protesting against the sentiments +of a book which favored republicanism. How +often it is the case that success is regarded as +settling the question of right. Had Cromwell’s +plan succeeded, the Massachusetts government +would not have felt obliged to condemn Mr. +Eliot’s book. We may perhaps reflect upon +him for not maintaining and defending the +principles of his book; but to have done so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span>would have been treason, seeing that monarchy +had again become the established form of government +in the mother country. Mr. Eliot, +perhaps, felt that it was right for him to find +reasons for that permanent change in the government +of Great Britain which in the providence +of God seemed to be at hand. When the +event proved otherwise than he expected, loyally +being then so much a part of religion, and “the +powers” in the government of the mother +country being, according to the received opinions +of Christians, and like all other powers “that +be,” “ordained of God,” it was a question with +Mr. Eliot between decision and boldness, +amounting to a treasonable spirit, and submission +to constituted authority. The ill success +of Cromwell no doubt made Eliot think +that he had misinterpreted the purposes of +God. Men are apt to feel and reason in this +manner. If a colony, or province, or a number +of men make insurrection, and succeed in overthrowing +the government, men call it a revolution, +and the independence of the new state or +nation is acknowledged. If they do not succeed, +the attempt is called a plot, conspiracy, insurrection, +and the actors who in the event of success +would have been “the fathers of their +country,” “the founders of a nation,” are gibbeted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span>by their generation, and regarded as +traitors by the next, and by the world. While +a revolution is pending, a man may say many +things as an observer and theorizer, which, +when events contradict them, he will do his best +to retract, or cover up. It cannot be wondered +at, that, amid the enthusiasm which attended +the Restoration, and the implicit submission of +the Colonial government to the restored king, +and influenced by the loyal spirit of his times, +Mr. Eliot should have deemed it a Christian +duty to confess and retract that which the providence +of God seemed to indicate was an error. +He was not prepared to lift up a standard against +the government of Great Britain; the appeal +which Cromwell and his friends had made to +the God of nations and of battles, had not been +answered in his favor, and Mr. Eliot was meek +enough to yield submission to that which, in the +circumstances, seemed to be a Christian obligation. +What should he have done? Had he +still believed that Cromwell was the anointed of +the Lord, and that Charles was the usurper, he +should have suffered any punishment rather +than falsify his sentiments. It may be charitably +supposed, however, that the events of the +Restoration changed his opinion, and made him +satisfied to be still a royalist. We have no evidence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span>in any part of his life, that Mr. Eliot was +a time-server, or coward; on the contrary, he +was remarkable for decision of character and independence.</p> + +<p>In confirmation of what has now been said +respecting Mr. Eliot’s decision and firmness, we +may allude to the part he took in opposing the +sentiments and influence of that notorious disturber +of the churches in his day, Mrs. Anne +Hutchinson. She was of the sect of Antinomians, +who abused the doctrines of free grace, +maintaining that the law is of no use or obligation +under the dispensation of the Gospel, while +the doctrines they taught superseded the necessity +of good works. Mrs. Hutchinson pretended +to immediate impressions from heaven as the +rule of conduct, saying that she knew God +“spake to her, just as Abraham knew that it +was the command of Heaven to sacrifice Isaac.” +The Governor, Vane, who was an enthusiast, +countenanced this woman, and Rev. Mr. Cotton, +who took Mr. Eliot’s place in the church at +Boston, when Mr. Eliot removed to Roxbury, +was also infected by her influence so far as to +oppose his colleague, the Rev. Mr. Wilson, and +the other ministers, who were generally opposed +to her. Had Mr. Eliot remained the teacher of +the church in Boston, it would have prevented +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span>that church from being divided as it was with +regard to Mrs. Hutchinson, through the influence +of his successor, Mr. Cotton. Mr. Eliot, +with several other ministers, visited her, conversed +with her upon religious subjects to +ascertain her sentiments and spirit, and remonstrated +with her for her bold denunciation of all +the Plantation except Messrs. Cotton and Wheelright. +Mr. Eliot appeared as a witness against +her on her trial before the magistrates, and with +Hugh Peters and Mr. Weld, testified that she +said to them that “Mr. Cotton preached a covenant +of grace, and the other ministers a covenant +of works.” Mr. Eliot added, “I do remember +this also, that she said we were not able and +faithful ministers of the new covenant, because +we were not like the apostles before the ascension.” +Mr. Eliot took occasion on this trial to +bear testimony against yielding to <i>impressions</i> +as a rule of faith and duty. A passage from +Mr. Hooker’s sermons was quoted in justification +of Mrs. Hutchinson’s statements. But Mr. +Eliot who had been brought up at the feet of +Mr. Hooker, and knew his opinions well, insisted +that the construction given to the passage +was contrary to Mr. Hooker’s mind and judgment. +His old friend, Gov. Winthrop, gently +dissented from Mr. Eliot’s strong testimony +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span>against impressions. Mr. Eliot said, “I say +there is an expectation of things promised; but +to have a particular revelation of things, as they +shall fall out, there is no such thing in the +Scripture.” Gov. Winthrop replied, “We must +not limit the word of God.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> Mrs. Hutchinson +was condemned and banished. Her end softened +the feelings of those who condemned her, +and made them reflect upon the inexpediency of +proceeding so strenuously as they did against +her. Such feelings always arise in the minds +of good men who have withstood prevailing +errors, not to make them regret the testimony +they bore for the truth, but to mourn over hasty +and excessive zeal, when patience, and perhaps +a measure of neglect, might sooner have ended +a controversy, or have prevented it altogether. +But it is easier for those who are removed, by +time or place, from the excitements of a controversy, +to moralize upon the best way of conducting +it, than it would have been for them to exercise +the judicious temper which they recommend +and praise, had they themselves partaken in the +strife. Mr. Eliot showed himself in this controversy +to be no fanatical enthusiast, and gave +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span>evidence that he was a man of decision and +courage.</p> + +<p>The following characteristic letter was written +by the famous Rev. Richard Baxter to Dr. Increase +Mather then in London. It was occasioned +by the receipt of Cotton Mather’s Life of +Eliot.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="noindent">“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>:</p> + +<p>I thought I had been near dying at 12 +o’clock, in bed; but your book revived me. I +lay reading it until between one and two. I +knew much of Mr. Eliot’s opinions, by many +letters which I had from him. There was no +man on earth whom I honoured above him. It +is his evangelical work that is the apostolical +succession that I plead for. I am now dying, I +hope, as he did. It pleased me to read from +him my case, [<i>my understanding faileth, my +memory faileth, my tongue faileth</i>,] (and my +hand and pen,) <i>but my charity faileth not</i>. +That word much comforted me. I am as zealous +a lover of the New England Churches as +any man, according to Mr. Noyes’, Mr. Norton’s, +Mr. Mitchel’s, and the Synod’s model.</p> + +<p>I loved your father upon the letters I received +from him. I love you better for your +learning, labors, and peaceable moderation. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span>love your son better than either of you, for the +excellent temper that appeareth in his writings.⁠<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> +O that godliness and wisdom (may) thus increase +in all families! He hath honoured himself +half as much as Mr. Eliot. I say but half +as much; for deeds excel words. God preserve +you and New England! Pray for</p> + +<p class="center">Your fainting, languishing Friend,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Ri. Baxter</span>.”</p> + +<p><i>August 3, 1691.</i></p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>In contrast with the instructions which Mr. +Eliot and other Protestant missionaries to the +Indians gave the children of the wilderness, +Cotton Mather alludes to the instructions given +to the Indians in some parts of the country by +the Popish missionaries. He says,</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>“By an odd accident there are lately fallen +into my hands the manuscripts of a Jesuit, +whom the French employed as a missionary +among the western Indians, in which papers +there are both a catechism, containing the principles +which those heathens are to be instructed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span>in, and cases of conscience referring to their +conversations. The catechism, which is in the +Iroquois language—with a translation annexed, +has one chapter about heaven, and another +about hell, wherein are such thick skulled passages +as these.”</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> How is the soil made in heaven?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> ’Tis a very fair soil, they want neither +for meats nor clothes; ’tis but wishing, and we +have them.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Are they employed in heaven?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No, they do nothing; the fields yield corn, +beans, pumpkins, and the like without any tillage.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What sort of trees are there?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Always green, full, flourishing.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Have they in heaven the same sun, the +same wind, the same thunder that we have here?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No, the sun ever shines; it is always +fair weather.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> But how are their fruits?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> In this one quality they exceed ours, +that they are never wasted; you have no sooner +plucked one, but you see another presently +hanging in its room.</p> + +<p>Concerning hell, it thus discourses.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What sort of a soil is that of hell?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> A very wretched soil; ’tis a fiery pit in +the centre of the earth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span></p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Have they any light in hell?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No. ’Tis always dark; there is always +smoke there; their eyes are always in +pain with it; they can see nothing but the +devils.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What shaped things are the devils?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Very ill shaped things; they go about +with vizards on, and they terrify men.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What do they eat in hell?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> They are always hungry, but the damned +feed on hot ashes and serpents there.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What water do they drink?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Horrid water, nothing but melted lead.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Don’t they die in hell?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No; yet they eat one another every day; +but anon, God restores and renews the man that +was eaten, as a cropt plant in a little time repullulates.</p> + +<p>One case of conscience is thus resolved by the +Jesuit:</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Whether an Indian stealing a hatchet +from a Dutchman be bound to make restitution?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> If the Dutchman be one that has used any +trade with other Indians, the thief is not bound +unto any restitution; for it is certain he gains +more by such a trade than the value of many +hatchets in a year.</p> + +<p>In the History of the Early Jesuit Missions to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span>the Indians of this country,⁠<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> as well as in all +other Jesuit missions, there is a degree of zeal +and devotedness which is truly wonderful. +This is not the place to discuss the motives of +these men, nor the principle in human nature +which leads to their self-sacrifice in the missionary +work. The fruits of their work, however, +show that they do not promulgate the Gospel of +Christ in its simplicity, did we not know this by +more direct evidence.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>The wife of Mr. Eliot died three years before +him, at the age of 84. She had come to him +across the ocean, a betrothed bride, when he had +found a home for her in this new world. During +her residence here, “she had attained unto a +considerable skill in physick and chirurgery +which enabled her to dispense many safe, good, +and useful medicines unto the poor that had occasion +for them; and some hundreds of sick +and weak and maimed people owed praises to +God for the benefit which therein they freely +received of her.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>She managed all the private affairs of her husband +for him that he might devote his whole +time and strength to his arduous public labors. +She brought up his six children of whom he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span>beautifully said, “they are all in Christ, or with +Christ,” and then she smoothed his passage to +the tomb by going before him, and making him +more willing to depart. “That one wife,” says +Mather, “which was given to him truly from +the Lord, he loved, prized, cherished, with a +kindness that notably represented the compassion +which he thereby taught his church to expect +from the Lord Jesus Christ; and after he +had lived with her for more than half an hundred +years he followed her to the grave with +lamentations beyond those which the Jews, from +the figure of a letter in the text,⁠<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> affirm, that +Abraham deplored his Sarah with; her departure +made a deeper impression on him than +what any common affliction could. His whole +conversation with her had that sweetness and +that gravity and modesty beautifying of it, that +every one called them Zachery and Elizabeth.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>The old gray haired apostle stood over her +coffin, and said to the concourse of people who +had come to the funeral, “Here lies my dear, +faithful, pious, prudent, prayerful wife. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span>shall go to her, but she shall not return to +me.”</p> + +<p>Lord Bacon⁠<a id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> speaking of “marriage and single +life,” tells us what wives are to young men, and +that “for middle age” they are “companions,” +and “old men’s nurses.” Men generally do +not wait till old age before they experience the +exquisite tenderness and assiduity of woman in +their sickness. We all subscribe to the last couplet +of the following quotation, but not to the first:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“O woman! in thine hours of ease</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Deceitful, coy, and hard to please.</div> + <div class="center">...</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When pain and sickness wring the brow,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">A ministering angel thou.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>There is a beautiful passage in one of Steele’s +papers in the Spectator. It purports to be a +letter to his wife. He says,</p> + +<p>“It is impossible for me to look back on many +evils and pains which I have suffered since we +came together, without a pleasure which is not +to be expressed from the proofs I have had, +in those circumstances, of your unmeasured +goodness. How often has your tenderness removed +pain from my sick head! how often anguish +from my afflicted heart! With how skillful +patience have I known you comply with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span>vain projects which pain has suggested, to have +an aching limb removed, by journeying from +one side of a room to another! how often, the +next instant, traveled the same ground again, +<i>without telling your patient it was to no purpose +to change his situation</i>. If there are such +beings as guardian angels, thus are they employed. +I will no more believe one of them +more good in its inclinations, than I can conceive +it more charming in its form than my wife.”</p> + +<p>As Mr. Eliot became disabled by age for the +ministerial work, he seemed to have the earnest +solicitude about a successor which Moses had +when, towards the close of his life, he “cried to +the Lord” that he would “set a man over the +congregation.” Mr. Eliot more than once assembled +the people of the town to fast and pray +with reference to a successor. The Rev. Nehemiah +Walter was by the unanimous vote of the +people associated with him in the pastoral +office, after which it was with difficulty that he +could be persuaded to conduct any public religious +service, saying, “It would be a wrong to +the souls of the people for him to do any thing +among them when they were supplied so much +to their advantage.” The last time that he +preached is said to have been on the occasion +of a public fast, when he expounded the lxxxiii. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span>Psalm, being, (as the caption has it,) a complaint +to God of the enemies’ conspiracies, and +a prayer against them that oppress the church. +He concluded his exposition with an apology, +begging his hearers to pardon the poorness and +meanness and brokenness of his meditations, +adding, “my dear brother here will by and by +mend all.”</p> + +<p>He once expressed the fear that his old friends +and neighbors, Messrs. Cotton, of Boston, and +Mather, of Dorchester, who had gone to heaven +before him, would suspect him to have gone the +wrong way, because he staid so long behind them.</p> + +<p>Towards the close of his life his mind dwelt +much on the coming of the Son of Man, and +whatever theme he began to converse upon, he +soon fell into a strain of remarks upon this subject. +On one occasion some one brought him +intelligence of certain sad events whereby the +Churches of New England were much afflicted. +His reply was, “Behold some of the clouds in +which we must look for the coming of the Son +of Man.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Walter coming in to see him on his +dying bed, Mr. Eliot said, “Brother, thou art +welcome to my very soul. Pray retire to thy +study for me, and give me leave to be gone,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span>meaning that he should pray for his speedy +release.</p> + +<p>Being asked how he did, he said, “Alas, I +have lost every thing; my understanding leaves +me, my memory fails me, my utterance fails +me; but I thank God my charity holds out still; +I find that rather grows than fails.”</p> + +<p>Speaking of the work in which he had been +engaged among the Indians, he said, “There +is a cloud, a dark cloud, upon the work of the +gospel, among the poor Indians. The Lord +revive and prosper that work, and grant that it +may live when I am dead. It is a work which +I have been doing much and long about. But +what was the word I spoke last? I recall that +word, <i>my doings</i>! Alas! they have been poor +and small, and lean doings; and I’ll be the man +that shall throw the first stone at them all.”</p> + +<p>The Rev. Increase Mather had gone to England +on business connected with the ecclesiastical +affairs of New England. Mr. Eliot wrote +the following letter to him, and it is the last +writing of his of which we have any account.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="noindent">“Reverend and beloved Mr. Increase Mather.</p> + +<p>I cannot write. Read Neh. 2:10. When +Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, +the Ammonite heard of it, it grieved them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span>exceedingly that there was come a man to seek +the welfare of the children of Israel.</p> + +<p>Let thy blessed soul feed full and fat upon +this and other Scriptures. All other things I +leave to other men, and rest,</p> + +<p class="center">Your loving Brother,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">John Eliot</span>.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>One of Mr. Eliot’s last expressions was this, +Welcome joy! His last breath was spent in +calling upon those who stood around his dying +bed to “Pray, Pray, Pray.” He died in the +beginning of the year 1690, in the eighty-sixth +year of his age.</p> + +<p>Before his death, Mr. Eliot had the pleasure +of seeing several faithful men raised up to labor +among the Indians; among whom were Daniel +Gookin, James Noyce, Rowland Cotton, Peter +Thacher, Grindal Rawson, Goddefred Dettins, +and M. Bondet. Mather says, “about the year +1700, through the blessing of God in this one +Massachusetts province, the Indians have mostly +embraced the Christian religion. There are +I suppose, more than thirty congregations of +Indians, and many more than three thousand +Indians, in this one province, calling on God in +Christ, and hearing of his glorious Word.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span></p> + +<p>In writing these pages, I have before me a +copy of Eliot’s Indian Bible, to which are annexed +his Psalms and Hymns, in the Indian +tongue, and a short Catechism. Here is the +monument of John Eliot; and what monument +of earthly greatness is to be compared with it! +The kings of the earth sleep in the great cathedral; +the beautiful, ivy grown, ruined abbey +crowns the sepulchre of the novelist and poet; +the marble statue immortalizes the name and +deeds of the conqueror by land or sea. They +are but the grass that withereth, and the flower +which fadeth, “but the word of the Lord endureth +forever.” “Endureth”? There is not +one Indian on this continent, or on the face of +the earth, that can read this book. It can never +guide another soul to God. As you look upon +its title page, written in an unknown tongue, +you see these words, Up-Biblum God, the +Book of God. How significant, we may say, +the appearance of those words when we consider +the condition of the book bereaved of the race +who once read it. “Up-Biblum God.” Like +the man-child of the woman clothed with the +sun who fled into the wilderness, and whose +child was caught up unto God, and to his throne, +this book, having done its office here, is, in a +certain sense, caught up to God; and there it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span>“endureth forever,” in the hearts and souls of +redeemed savages.</p> + +<p>This book will never, of course, be reprinted, +and copies of it are becoming rare. But if we +wished to send something to a desponding +missionary, or an example of condescension and +love for souls to a minister who despises and +neglects his poor, humble people, no better gift +could be selected than a copy of Eliot’s Bible. +What gentle rebuke, what exhortation and encouragement, +its long barbarous words would +speak oftentimes in the minister’s or missionary’s +study. We might appropriately inscribe +on its cover the third reflection of Mr. Eliot on +returning from one of his visits to Nonantum, +and send it to every missionary station round +the globe: “There is no need of miraculous or +extraordinary gifts in seeking the salvation of +the most depraved of the human family.”</p> + +<p>The mention of this Bible may lead us to +think of that half million of wild Indians and +that million and a half of partly civilized Indians +who now occupy the wilderness of the west. It +bids us attempt their conversion; it shows us +that no difficulties are too mighty for the Gospel +to overcome, no discouragements too great +for true Christian faith and courage. The objects +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span>of our forefathers’ zeal and hope in coming +to these shores, are now beyond the Rocky +Mountains. A wilderness still invites our increasing +missionary efforts, as a wilderness once +invited the labors of the Pilgrims. Wronged +and driven away by the while man, still they +cry:</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp63" id="seal2" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/seal2.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>COME OVER AND HELP VS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="APPENDIX">APPENDIX.</h2> + +</div> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_A"><b>A.</b>—<a href="#Page_201">See page 201.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">(Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. 1732.)</p> + +<p class="hanging">“The following fabulous Traditions and Customs +of the Indians of Martha’s Vineyard, were +communicated to <span class="smcap">Benjamin Basset</span>, Esq. of +Chilmark, by <span class="smcap">Thomas Cooper</span>, a half blooded +Indian, of Gay head, aged about sixty years; +and which, he says, he obtained of his grandmother, +who, to use his own expression, was +a stout girl, when the English came to the +island.</p> + +<p>The first Indian who came to the Vineyard, was +brought thither with his dog on a cake of ice. +When he came to Gay Head, he found a very +large man, whose name was Moshup. He had +a wife and five children, four sons and one +daughter; and lived in the Den. He used to +catch whales, and then pluck up trees, and make +a fire, and roast them. The coals of the trees, +and the bones of the whales, are now to be seen. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span>After he was tired of staying here, he told his +children to go and play ball on a beach that +joined Noman’s Land to Gay Head. He then +made a mark with his toe across the beach at +each end, and so deep, that the water followed, +and cut away the beach; so that his children +were in fear of drowning. They took their sister +up, and held her out of the water. He told +them to act as if they were going to kill whales; +and they were all turned into killers, (a fish so +called.) The sister was dressed in large stripes. +He gave them a strict charge always to be kind +to her. His wife mourned the loss of her children +so exceedingly, that he threw her away. +She fell upon Seconet, near the rocks, where +she lived some time, exacting contribution of all +who passed by water. After a while she was +changed into a stone. The entire shape remained +for many years. But after the English +came, some of them broke off the arms, head, +&c. but the most of the body remains to this +day. Moshup went away nobody knows whither. +He had no conversation with the Indians, but +was kind to them, by sending whales, &c. +ashore to them to eat. But after they grew +thick around him he left them.</p> + +<p>Whenever the Indians worshipped, they always +sang and danced, and then begged of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span>sun and moon, as they thought most likely to +hear them, to send them the desired favour; +most generally rain or fair weather, or freedom +from their enemies or sickness.</p> + +<p>Before the English came among the Indians, +there were two disorders of which they most +generally died, viz. the consumption and the +yellow fever. The latter they could always <i>lay</i> +in the following manner. After it had raged +and swept off a number, those who were well +met to lay it. The rich, that is, such as had a +canoe, skins, axes, &c. brought them. They +took their seat in a circle; and all the poor sat +around, without. The richest then proposed to +begin to lay the sickness; and having in his +hand something in shape resembling his canoe, +skin, or whatever his riches were, he threw it +up in the air; and whoever of the poor without +could take it, the property it was intended to resemble +became forever transferred to him or her. +After the rich had thus given away all their +moveable property to the poor, they looked out +the handsomest and most sprightly young man +in the assembly, and put him into an entire new +wigwam, built of every thing new for that purpose. +They then formed into two files at a +small distance from each other. One standing +in the space at each end, put fire to the bottom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span>of the wigwam on all parts, and fell to singing +and dancing. Presently the youth would leap +out of the flames, and fall down to appearance +dead. Him they committed to the care of five +virgins, prepared for that purpose, to restore to +life again. The term required for this would be +uncertain, from six to forty-eight hours; during +which time the dance must be kept up. When +he was restored, he would tell, that he had been +carried in a large thing high up in the air, where +he came to a great company of white people, +with whom he had interceded hard to have the +distemper layed; and generally after much persuasion, +would obtain a promise, or answer of +peace which never failed of laying the distemper.”</p> + +<p class="center">“<i>Inscription copied from a grave stone at Gay Head.</i></p> + +<p class="center">1 <span class="spacer1">2</span> 3<br> +YEUUH’WOHHOK’SIPSIN’</p> + +<p class="center">4 <span class="spacer2">5</span><br> +SIL’PAUL’NOHTOBEYONTOK’</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="spacer3">6</span> 7<br> +AGED’ 49: YEARS’NUPPOOP’TAH’</p> + +<p class="center">AUGUST’24<sup>TH</sup>1787.</p> + +<p class="center mt2 allsmcap">EXPLANATIONS.</p> + +<ul> + <li>1. Here.</li> + <li>2. The body.</li> + <li>3. Lies.</li> + <li>4. Silas Paul.</li> + <li>5. An ordained preacher.</li> + <li>6. Died.</li> + <li>7. Then, or in.”</li> +</ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span></p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_B"><b>B.</b>—<a href="#Page_41">See page 41.</a></h3> + +<p>In connection with the remarks in the foregoing +pages on the climate and soil of New England, +the following extract from a piece by Rev. +John Higginson of Salem, 1629, will be read +with interest. It is taken from the Collections +of the Mass. Hist. Society, 1792.</p> + +<h4>NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION.</h4> + +<p class="hanging">Or, a short and true <span class="smcap">Description</span> of the Commodities +and Discommodities of that countrey. +Written in the year 1629, by Mr. <span class="smcap">Higgeson</span>, +a Reverend Divine, now there resident. +Whereunto is added a Letter, sent by Mr. +<span class="smcap">Graves</span>, an Enginere, out of New-England. +Reprinted from the third edition, London, +1530.</p> + +<p>Letting passe our voyage by sea,⁠<a id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> we will now +begin our discourse on the shore of New-England. +And because the life and wel-fare of +every creature heere below, and the commodiousnesse +of the countrey whereat such creatures +live, doth by the most wise ordering of God’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span>providence, depend next unto himselfe, upon the +temperature and disposition of the foure elements, +earth, water, aire, and fire (for as of the +mixture of all these, all sublunary things are +composed; so by the more or lesse enjoyment of +the wholesome temper and convenient use of +these, consisteth the onely well-being both of +man and beast in a more or lesse comfortable +measure in all countreys under the heavens) +therefore I will indeavour to shew you what +New-England is by the consideration of each of +these apart, and truly indeavour by God’s helpe +to report nothing but the naked truth, and that +both to tell you of the discommodities as well as +of the commodities, though as the idle proverbe +is, <i>travellers may lye by authoritie</i>, and so may +take too much sinfull libertie that way. Yet I +may say of my selfe as once Nehemiah did in +another case: <i>Shall such a man as I lye?</i> No +verily: It becommeth not a preacher of truth to +be a writer of falshod in any degree: And +therefore I have beene carefull to report nothing +of New-England but what I have partly seene +with mine own eyes, and partly heard and enquired +from the mouths of verie honest and religious +persons, who, by living in the countrey a +good space of time, have had experience and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span>knowledge of the state thereof, and whose testimonies +I doe beleeve as my selfe.</p> + +<p>First therefore of the earth of New-England +and all the appertenances thereof: It is a land +of divers and sundry sorts all about Masathulets +Bay, and at Charles river is as fat blacke +earth as can be seene any where: and in other +places you have a clay soyle, in other gravell, +in other sandy, as it is all about our plantation +at Salem, for so our towne is now named. +Psal. 76:2.</p> + +<p>The forme of the earth here in the superfices +of it is neither too flat in the plainnesse, nor too +high in hils, but partakes of both in a mediocritie, +and fit for pasture, or for plow or meddow +ground, as men please to employ it: though all +the countrey bee as it were a thicke wood for +the generall, yet in divers places there is much +ground cleared by the Indians, and especially +about the plantation: And I am told that about +three miles from us a man may stand on a little +hilly place and see divers thousands of acres of +ground as good as need to be, and not a tree in +the same. It is thought here is good clay to +make bricke and tyles and earthen-pot as need +to be. At this instant we are setting a brick-kill +on worke to make brickes and tiles for the building +of our houses. For stone, here is plentie of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span>slates at the Isle of Slate in Masathulets bay, +and lime-stone, free-stone, and smooth-stone, +and iron-stone, and marble-stone also in such +store, that we have great rocks of it, and a harbour +hard by. Our plantation is from thence +called Marble-harbour.</p> + +<p>Of minerals there hath yet beene but little triall +made, yet we are not without great hope of being +furnished in that soyle.</p> + +<p>The fertilitie of the soyle is to be admired at, +as appeareth in the aboundance of grasse that +groweth everie where, both verie thicke, verie +long, and verie high in divers places: But it +groweth verie wildly with a great stalke and a +broad and ranker blade, because it never had +been eaten with cattle, nor mowed with a sythe, +and seldome trampled on by foot. It is scarce +to bee beleeved how our kine and goates, horses +and hogges, doe thrive and prosper here and like +well of this countrey.</p> + +<p>In our plantation we have already a quart of +milke for a penny: but the aboundant encrease +of corne proves this countrey to bee a wonderment. +Thirtie, fortie, fiftie, sixtie are ordinarie +here: Yea Joseph’s encrease in Ægypt is outstript +here with us. Our planters hope to have +more then a hundred fould this yere: And all +this while I am within compasse; what will you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span>say of two hundred fould and upwards? It is +almost incredible what great gaine some of our +English planters have had by our Indiane corne. +Credible persons have assured me, and the +partie himselfe avouched the truth of it to me, +that of the setting of 13 gallons of corne hee +hath had encrease of it 52 hogsheads, every +hogshead holding seven bushels of London measure, +and every bushell was by him sold and +trusted to the Indians for so much beaver as was +worth 13 shillings; and so of this 13 gallons of +corne, which was worth 6 shillings 8 pence, he +made about 327 pounds of it the yeere following, +as by reckoning will appeare: where you may +see how God blessed husbandry in this land. +There is not such greate and plentifull eares of +corne I suppose any where else to bee found but +in this countrey: Because also of varietie of +colours, as red, blew, and yellow, &c. and of +one corne there springeth four or five hundred. +I have sent you many eares of divers colours +that you might see the truth of it.</p> + +<p>Little children here by setting of corne may +earne much more then their owne maintenance.</p> + +<p>They have tryed our English corne at New +Plimmouth plantation, so that all our several +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span>graines will grow here verie well, and have a +fitting soyle for their nature.</p> + +<p>Our Governor hath store of greene pease +growing in his garden, as good as ever I eat in +England.</p> + +<p>This country aboundeth naturally with store +of roots of great varitie and good to eat. Our +turnips, parsnips, and carrots are here both bigger +and sweeter then is ordinary to be found in +England. Here are store of pumpions, cowcombers, +and other things of that nature which +I know not. Also divers excellent pot-herbs +grow abundantly among the grasse, as strawberrie +leaves in all places of the countrey, and +plentie of strawberries in their time, and pennyroyall, +wintersaverie, sorrell, brookelime, liverwort, +carvell, and watercresses, also leekes and +onions are ordinarie, and divers physicall herbs. +Here are also aboundance of other sweet herbs +delightful to the smell, whose names we know +not, &c. and plentie of single damaske roses +verie sweete; and two kinds of herbes that bare +two kinds of flowers very sweet, which they say, +are as good to make cordage or cloath as any +hempe or flaxe we have.</p> + +<p>Excellent vines are here up and downe in the +woods. Our Governour hath already planted a +vineyard with great hope of encrease.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span></p> + +<p>Also, mulberries, plums, raspberries, corrance, +chesnuts, filberds, walnuts, smalnuts, hurtleberies, +and hawes of whitethorne neere as good +as our cherries in England, they grow in plentie +here.</p> + +<p>For wood there is no better in the world +I thinke, here being foure sorts of oke differing +both in the leafe, timber, and colour, all excellent +good. There is also good ash, elme, willow, +birch, beech, saxafras, juniper, cipres, cedar, +spruce, pines, and firre that will yeeld abundance +of turpentine, pitch, tarre, masts, and +other materials for building both of ships and +houses. Also here are store of sumacke trees, +they are good for dying and tanning of leather, +likewise such trees yeeld a precious gem called +wine benjamin, that they say is excellent for +perfumes. Also here be divers roots and berries +wherewith the Indians dye excellent holding +colours that no raine nor washing can alter. +Also, wee have materials to make sope-ashes +and salt-peter in aboundance.</p> + +<p>For beasts there are some beares, and they +say some <i>lyons</i> also; for they have been seen at +Cape Anne. Also here are several sorts of +deere, some whereof bring three or four young +ones at once, which is not ordinarie in England. +Also wolves, foxes, beavers, otters, martins, great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span>wild cats, and a great beast called a molke as +bigge as an oxe. I have seen the skins of all +these beasts since I came to this plantation excepting +lyons. Also here are great store of +squerrels, some greater, and some smaller and +lesser: there are some of the lesser sort, they +tell me, that by a certaine skill will fly from tree +to tree, though they stand farre distant.</p> + +<h5><i>Of the waters of</i> New-England, <i>with the things +belonging to the same</i>.</h5> + +<p>New-England hath water enough, both salt and +fresh, the greatest sea in the world, the Atlanticke +sea, runs all along the coast thereof. +There are abundance of Ilands along the shore, +some full of wood and masts to feed swine; and +others cleere of wood, and fruitful to bear corne. +Also wee have store of excellent harbours for +ships, as at Cape Anne, and at Masathulets Bay, +and at Salem, and at many other places: and +they are the better because for strangers there +is a verie difficult and dangerous passage into +them, but unto such as are well acquainted with +them, they are easie and safe enough. The +aboundance of sea-fish are almost beyond beleeving, +and sure I should scarce have beleeved +it, except I had seene it with mine owne eyes. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span>I saw great store of whales, and crampusse, and +such aboundance of mackerils that it would astonish +one to behold, likewise cod-fish in aboundance +on the coast, and in their season are plentifully +taken. There is a fish called a basse, a +most sweet and wholesome fish as ever I did +eate, it is altogether as good as our fresh sammon, +and the season of their comming was begun +when wee came first to New-England in June, +and so continued about three months space. Of +this fish our fishers take many hundreds together, +which I have seen lying on the shore to +my admiration; yea their nets ordinarily take +more than they are able to hale to land, and for +want of boats and men they are constrained to +let a many goe after they have taken them, and +yet sometimes they fill two boates at a time with +them. And besides basse wee take plentie of +scate and thornbacks, and abundance of lobsters +and the least boy in the plantation may both +catch and eat what he will of them. For my +owne part I was soone cloyed with them, they +were so great, and fat, and lussious. I have +seene some myselfe that have weighed 16 pound, +but others have had divers times so great lobsters +as have weighed 25 pound, as they assure +mee. Also heere is abundance of herring, turbut, +sturgion, cuskes, hadocks, mullets, eeles, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span>crabbes, muskles, and oysters. Besides there is +probability that the countrey is of an excellent +temper for the making of salt: For since our +comming our fishermen have brought home very +good salt which they found candied by the +standing of the sea water and the heat of the +sunne, upon a rocke by the sea shore: and in +divers salt marishes that some have gone +through, they have found some salt in some +places crushing under their feete and cleaving +to their shooes.</p> + +<p>And as for fresh water, the countrey is full of +dainty springs, and some great rivers, and some +lesser brookes; and at Masathulets Bay they +digged wels and found water at three foot deepe +in most places: And neere Salem thay have as +fine cleare water as we can desire, and we may +digge wels and find water where we list.</p> + +<p>Thus wee see both land and sea abound with +store of blessings for the comfortable sustenance +of man’s life in New-England.</p> + +<h5><i>Of the aire of</i> New-England <i>with the temper +and creatures in it</i>.</h5> + +<p>The temper of the aire of New-England is one +speciall thing that commends this place. Experience +doth manifest that there is hardly a +more healthfull place to be found in the world +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span>that agreeth better with our English bodyes. +Many that have been weake and sickly in +old England, by comming hither have beene +thoroughly healed and growne healthfull strong. +For here is an extraordinarie cleere and dry aire +that is of a most healing nature to all such as +are of a cold, melancholy, flegmatick, rheumatick +temper of body. None can more truly +speake hereof by their owne experience then my +selfe. My friends that knew me can well tell +how verie sickly I have bin and continually in +physick, being much troubled with a tormenting +paine through an extraordinarie weaknesse of +my stomacke, and aboundance of melancholicke +humors; but since I came hither on this voyage, +I thanke God, I have had perfect health, and +freed from paine and vomiting, having a stomacke +to digest the hardest and coursest fare, who +before could not eat finest meat; and whereas +my stomache could onely digest and did require +such drinke as was both strong and stale, now I +can and doe often times drink New-England +water verie well; and I that have not gone without +a cap for many yeeres together, neither durst +leave off the same, have now cast away my cap, +and doe weare none at all in the day time: And +whereas beforetime I cloathed my selfe with +double cloaths and thicke waistcoates to keep +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span>me warme, even in the summer time, I doe now +goe as thin clad as any, onely wearing a light +stuffe cassocke upon my shirt, and stuffe breeches +of one thickness without linings. Besides I have +one of my children that was formerly most +lamentably handled with sore breaking out of +both his hands and feet of the king’s-evill, but +since he came hither hee is very well ever he +was, and there is hope of perfect recoverie +shortly even by the very wholesomnesse of the +aire, altering, digesting and drying up the cold +and crude humours of the body: And therefore +I thinke it is a wise course for al cold complections +to come to take physick in New-England: +for a sup of New-England’s aire is better then a +whole draught of Old England’s ale.</p> + +<p>In the summer time, in the midst of July and +August, it is a good deale hotter then in Old +England: And in winter, January and February +are much colder, as they say: But the +spring and autumne are of a middle temper.</p> + +<p>Fowles of the aire are plentifull here, and of +all sorts as we have in England, as farre as I +can learn, and a great many of strange fowles +which we know not. Whilst I was writing these +things, one of our men brought home an eagle +which hee had killed in the wood: They say +they are good meate. Also here are many kinds +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span>of excellent hawkes, both sea hawkes and land +hawkes: And my self walking in the woods +with another in company, sprung a patridge so +bigge that through the heaviness of his body +could fly but a little way: They that have killed +them, say they are as bigge as our hens. Here +are likewise aboundance of turkies often killed +in the woods, farre greater then our English +turkies, and exceeding fat, sweet, and fleshy, for +here they have aboundance of feeding all the +yeere long, as strawberries, in summer al places +are full of them, and all manner of berries and +fruits. In the winter time I have scene flockes +of pidgeons, and have eaten of them: They doe +fly from tree to tree as other birds doe, which +our pidgeons will not doe in England: They +are of all colours as ours are, but their wings +and tayles are far longer, and therefore it is +likely they fly swifter to escape the terrible +hawkes in this country. In winter time this +country doth abound with wild geese, wild ducks, +and other sea fowle, that a great part of winter +the planters have eaten nothing but roast-meate +of divers fowles which they have killed.</p> + +<p>Thus you have heard of the earth, water and +aire of New-England, now it may bee you expect +something to bee said of the fire proportionable +to the rest of the elements. Indeede I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span>thinke New-England may boast of this element +more then of all the rest: For though it bee +here somewhat cold in the winter, yet here we +have plenty of fire to warme us, and that a great +deal cheaper then they sel billets and faggots in +London: Nay, all Europe is not able to afford +to make so great fires as New-England. A +poore servant here that is to possesse but 50 +acres of land, may afford to give more wood for +timber and fire as good as the world yeelds, then +many noble men in England can afford to do. +Here is good living for those that love good +fires. And although New-England have no tallow +to make candles of, yet by the aboundance +of the fish thereof, it can afford oil for lampes. +Yea our pine-trees that are the most plentifull of +all wood, doth allow us plenty of candles which +are very usefull in a house: And they are such +candles as the Indians commonly use, having no +other, and they are nothing else but the wood of +the pine tree cloven in two little slices, something +thin, which are so full of the moysture of +turpentine and pitch, that they burne as cleere +as a torch. I have sent you some of them that +you may see the experience of them.</p> + +<p>Thus of New-England’s commodities: now I +will tell you of some discommodities that are +here to be found.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span></p> + +<p>First, in the summer season for these three +months, June, July, and August, we are troubled +much with little flyes called musketoes, being +the same they are troubled with in Lincolneshire +and the Fens; and they are nothing but gnats, +which except they bee smoked out of their +houses are troublesome in the night season.</p> + +<p>Secondly, in the winter season for two months +space, the earth is commonly covered with snow, +which is accompanied with sharp biting frosts, +something more sharpe then is in Old England, +and therefore are forced to make great fires.</p> + +<p>Thirdly, the countrey being very full of woods, +and wildernesses, doth also much abound with +snakes and serpents of strange colours, and huge +greatnesse: yea there are some serpents called +rattle-snakes that have rattles in their tailes, that +will not fly from a man as others will, but will +flye upon him, and sting him so mortally, that +hee will dye within a quarter of an houre after, +except the partie stinged have about him some +of the root of an herbe called snake-weed to bite +on, and then hee shall receive no harme: but +yet seldom falles it out that any hurt is done by +these. About three years since, an Indian was +stung to death by one of them, but wee heard of +none since that time.</p> + +<p>Fourthly and lastly, here wants as it were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span>good company of honest christians to bring with +them horses, kine, and sheepe, to make use of +this fruitfull land: great pitty it is to see so +much good ground for corne and for grasse as +any is under the heavens, to ly altogether unoccupied, +when so many honest men and their +families in Old England through the populousnesse +thereof, do make evry hard shift to live +one by the other.</p> + +<p>Now, thus you know what New-England is, +as also with the commodities and discommodities +thereof: Now I will shew you a little of the +inhabitants thereof, and their government.</p> + +<p>For their governors they have kings, which +they call Saggamores, some greater, and some +lesser, according to the number of their subjects.</p> + +<p>The greatest Saggamores about us can not +make above three hundred men,⁠<a id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> and other +lesse Saggamores have not above fifteen subjects, +and others neere about us but two.</p> + +<p>Their subjects above twelve years since⁠<a id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> +were swept away by a great and grievous +plague that was amongst them, so that there are +verie few left to inhabite the country.</p> + +<p>The Indians are not able to make use of the +one fourth part of the land, neither have they +any settled places, as townes to dwell in, nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span>any ground as they challenge for their own possession, +but change their habitation from place +to place.</p> + +<p>For their statures, they are a tall and strong +limmed people, their colours are tawney, they +goe naked, save onely they are in part covered +with beasts skins on one of their shoulders, +and weare something before; their haire is +generally blacke, and cut before like our gentlewomen, +and one locke longer than the rest, +much like to our gentelmen, which fashion I +thinke came from hence into England.</p> + +<p>For their weapons, they have bowes and arrowes, +some of them headed with bone, and +some with brasse: I have sent you some of them +for an example.</p> + +<p>The men for the most part live idely, they do +nothing but hunt and fish: Their wives set their +corne and doe all their other worke. They +have little houshold stuffe, as a kettle, and some +other vessels like trayes, spoones, dishes, and +baskets.</p> + +<p>Their houses are verie little and homely, +being made with small poles pricked into the +ground, and so bended and fastened at the tops, +and on the sides they are matted with boughs +and covered on the roof with sedge and old mats, +and for their beds that they take their rest on, +they have a mat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span></p> + +<p>They doe generally professe to like well of +our coming and planting here; partly because +their is abundance of ground that they cannot +possesse nor make use of, and partly because our +being here will bee a meanes both of relief to +them when they want, and also a defence from +their enemies, wherewith (I say) before this +plantation began, they were often indangered.</p> + +<p>For their religion they do worship two Gods, +a good God and an evil God: The good God +they call Tantum, and their evil God whom they +fear will doe them hurt, they call Squantum.</p> + +<p>For their dealing with us, we neither fear +them nor trust them, for fourtie of our musketeeres +will drive five hundred of them out of the +field. We use them kindly; they will come into +our houses sometimes by half a dozen or half +a score at a time when we are at victuals, but +will ask or take nothing but what we give them.</p> + +<p>We purpose to learn their language as soon +as we can, which will be a means to do them +good.</p> + +<h5><i>Of the present condition of the Plantation, and +what it is.</i></h5> + +<p>When we came first to Nehum-kek,⁠<a id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> we found +about half a score houses, and a faire house +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span>newly built for the Governor, we found also +aboundance of corne planted by them, very good +and well liking. And we brought with us about +two hundred passengers and planters more, +which by common consent of the old planters +were all combined together into one body politicke, +under the same Governour.</p> + +<p>There are in all of us both old and new planters +about three hundred, whereof two hundred +of them are settled at Nehum-kek, now called +Salem: And the rest have planted themselves +at Masathulets Bay, beginning to build a towne +there which wee do call Cherton, or Charles +Town.</p> + +<p>We that are settled at Salem make what +haste we can to build houses, so that within a +short time we shall have a faire towne.</p> + +<p>We have great ordnance, wherewith we doubt +not but we shall fortifie ourselves in a short time +to keepe out a potent adversary. But that which +is our greatest comfort, and meanes of defence +above all other, is, that we have here the true +religion and holy ordinances of Almighty God +taught amongst us: Thankes be to God, wee +have here plenty of preaching, and diligent catechizing, +with strict and carefull exercise, and +good and commendable orders to bring our people +into a christian conversation with whom we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span>have to doe withall. And thus wee doubt not +but God will be with us, and <i>if God be with us, +who can be against us?</i></p> + +<p>[Here ends Master Higgeson’s relation of +New-England.]</p> + +<h5><i>A letter sent from New England, by Master +<span class="smcap">Graves</span>, Engynere, now there resident.</i></h5> + +<p>Thus much I can affirme in generall, that +I never came in a more goodly country in all +my life, all things considered: If it hath not at +any time been manured and husbanded, yet it is +very beautifull in open lands, mixed with goodly +woods, and again open plaines, in some places +five hundred acres, some places more, some +lesse, not much troublesome for to cleer for the +plough to goe in, no place barren, but on the +tops of the hils; the grasse and weeds grow up +to a man’s face, in the lowlands and by fresh +rivers, aboundance of grasse and large meddowes +without any tree or shrubbe to hinder the sith. +I never saw, except in Hungaria, unto which I +alwayes paralell this countrie, in all our most +respects, for every thing that is heare eyther +sowne or planted prospereth far better then in +Old-England: The increase of corne is here +farre beyond expectation, as I have seene here +by experience in barly, the which because it is +so much above your conception I will not mention. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span>And cattle doe prosper very well, and +those that are bredd here farr greater than those +with you in England. Vines doe grow here +plentifully laden with the biggest grapes that +ever I saw, some I have seen foure inches +about, so that I am bold to say of this countrie, +as it is commonly said in Germany of Hungaria, +that for cattel, corne, and wine it excelleth. We +have many more hopefull commodities here in +this country, the which time will teach to make +good use of: In the mean time wee abound with +such things which next under God doe make us +subsist: as fish, foule, deere, and sundrie sorts +of fruits, as musk-millions, water-millions, Indian +pompions, Indian pease, beanes, and many +other odde fruits that I cannot name; all which +are made good and pleasant through this maine +blessing of God, the healthfulnesse of the countrie +which far exceedeth all parts that ever I +have beene in: It is observed that few or none +doe here fal sicke, unless of the scurvy, that they +bring from aboard the ship with them, whereof +I have cured some of my companie onely by +labour.</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_C"><b>C.</b>—<a href="#Page_204">See page 204.</a></h3> + +<p>See Morell’s poem on New England, Mass. +Hist. Coll., 1792.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span></p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_D"><b>D.</b>—<a href="#Page_222">See page 222.</a></h3> + +<p>The following letter to King Charles II. accompanied +the presentation of the New Testament +in the Indian tongue. The letter was +written and sent by the Commissioners of the +United Colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, +Connecticut and New Haven.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="hanging">“To the High and Mighty Prince, Charles the +second, by the grace of God, King of England, +Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender +of the faith, &c.</p> + +<p class="hanging">“The Commissioners of the United Colonies in +New England, wish increase of all happiness.</p> + +<p class="noindent">“Most dread Sovereign,</p> + +<p>“If our weak apprehensions have not misled +us, this work will be no unacceptable present to +your Majesty, as having a greater interest therein, +than we believe is generally understood, +which upon this occasion we conceive it our +duty to declare.</p> + +<p>“The people of these four colonies (confederate +for mutual defence, in the times of the late +distractions of our dear native country) your +Majesty’s natural born subjects, by the favour +and grace of your royal father and grandfather +of famous memory, put themselves upon this +great and hazardous undertaking, of planting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span>themselves at their own charge in these remote +ends of the earth; that without offence or provocation +to our dear brethren and countrymen, +we might enjoy that liberty to worship God, +which our own conscience informed us was not +only our right but duty; as also that we, if it so +pleased God, might be instrumental to spread +the light of the gospel, the knowledge of the son +of God, our saviour, to the poor, barbarous +heathen; which by his late Majesty, in some of +our patents, is declared to be the principal aim.</p> + +<p>“These honest and pious intentions have +through the grace of God and our kings, been +seconded with proportionable success. For, omitting +the immunities indulged by your Highness’s +royal predecessors, we have been greatly +encouraged by your Majesty’s gracious expressions +of favour and approbation, signified unto +the address made by the principal of our colonies; +to which the rest do most cordially subscribe; +though wanting the like seasonable opportunity, +they have been till now deprived of +the means to congratulate your Majesty’s happy +restitution, after your long sufferings; which we +implore may yet be graciously accepted, that we +may be equal partakers of your royal favour +and moderation; which hath been so illustrious, +that to admiration, the animosities of different +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span>persuasions of men have been so soon composed, +and so much cause of hope, that, unless the sins +of the nation prevent, a blessed calm will succeed +the late horrid confusions of church and +state. And shall not we, dread sovereign, your +subjects of these colonies, of the same faith and +belief in all points of doctrine with our countrymen +and other reformed churches, though perhaps +not alike persuaded in some matters of +order, which in outward respects hath been unhappy +for us,—promise and assure ourselves of +all just favour and indulgence from a prince so +graciously and happily endowed?</p> + +<p>“The other part of our errand hither hath +been attended with endeavours and blessing; +many of the wild Indians being taught, and understanding, +the doctrine of the christian religion, +and with much affection attending such +preachers as are sent to teach them. Many of +their children are instructed to write and read; +and some of them have proceeded further to attain +the knowledge of the Latin and the Greek +tongues, and are brought up with our English +youth in university learning. There are divers +of them that can and do read some parts +of the scripture, and some catechisms which +formerly have been translated into their own +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span>language: which hath occasioned the undertaking +of a great work, viz. the printing the whole +bible: which, being translated by a painful labourer +among them, who was desirous to see the +work accomplished in his days, hath already +proceeded to the finishing of the new testament; +which we here humbly present to your Majesty, +as the first fruit and accomplishment of the pious +design of your royal ancestors. The old testament +is now under the press, wanting and craving +your royal favour and assistance for the +perfecting thereof.</p> + +<p>“We may not conceal, though this work hath +been begun and prosecuted by such instruments +as God has raised up here; yet the chief charge +and cost, which hath supported and carried it +thus far, hath been from the charity and piety of +divers of our well affected countrymen in England; +who, being sensible of our inability in that +respect, and studious to promote so good a work, +contributed large sums of money, which were to +be improved according to the direction and order +of the then prevailing powers; which hath been +faithfully and religiously attended, both there +and here, according to the pious intentions of the +benefactors. And we most humbly beseech your +Majesty, that a matter of so much devotion and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span>piety, tending so much to the honour of God, +may suffer no disappointment through any legal +defect, without the fault of the donors, or poor +Indians, who only receive the benefit; but that +your Majesty be graciously pleased to establish +and confirm the same; being contrived and +done, as we conceive, in that first year of your +Majesty’s reign, of this book was begun and +now finished the first year of your establishment: +which doth not only presage the happy +success of your Highness’s government, but will +be a perpetual monument, that by your Majesty’s +favour, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ +was made known to the Indians; an honour +whereof, we are assured, your Majesty will not +a little esteem.</p> + +<p>“Sir, the shine of your royal favour upon +these undertakings will make these tender plants +to flourish, notwithstanding any malevolent aspect +from those that bear evil will to this Sion; +and render your Majesty more illustrious and +glorious to after generations.</p> + +<p>“The God of heaven long preserve and bless +your Majesty with many happy days, to his +glory, the good and comfort of his church and +people. Amen.”</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[309]</span></p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_E"><b>E.</b>—<a href="#Page_182">See page 182.</a></h3> + +<p>The Society for Propagating the Gospel +among the Indians has been mentioned several +times in this work.</p> + +<p>About the year 1648, during the Protectorate +of Cromwell, when the Presbyterians and Independents +had influence in England, a Society +was formed through the influence, it is believed, +of Gov. Winslow, and called the Society for +Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and +others in North America.</p> + +<p>It is somewhere stated respecting Cromwell +that he had conceived a very extensive scheme +for the universal propagation of the Gospel, borrowing +the zeal and ingenuity of the Jesuits, and +intending to meet and counteract their efforts +everywhere. This scheme perished with him +in his early death. Even the Society for Propagating +the Gospel among the Indians, &c., did +not long survive the restoration of royalty in +1660. But during its existence under the Commonwealth +it rendered aid to Mayhew, Eliot, +and others, the funds being applied here through +the Commissioners of the four Colonies.</p> + +<p>The Society being dissolved at the Restoration +of monarchy under Charles II., an urgent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span>application was soon made for another Society +having the same name and objects. The honorable +and distinguished Robert Boyle was President +of the new Society. He had great wealth, +and used it with profuse liberality. The celebrated +Bishop Burnet was his almoner in many +private as well as public charities. He distributed +a thousand pounds a year for several years +before his death among the French refugees in +England. He also gave yearly, for a long time, +the sum of three hundred pounds for the propagation +of the Gospel in North America. Mr. +Eliot’s letters to his noble benefactor, which may +be found in the Collections of the Mass. Hist. +Society, will be read with interest.</p> + +<p>The Indian School, at Cambridge, was supported +by the funds of this Society, and a building +erected for it by the same. In 1665 there +were eight Indian youths in that school. Eliot’s +Indian Bible was printed at the expense of this +Society, and cost £500, or not far from two +thousand dollars.</p> + +<p>For a few years, the General Court of Massachusetts +granted five hundred dollars towards +the object of this Society. At the suggestion of +the Society the Governor issued a request for +contributions in its behalf to the towns of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span>the Commonwealth. About $1560 were collected.</p> + +<p>This Society continues to this time. In 1800, +its funds amounted to $20.000. At present they +are not far from twice that sum. It is in the +hands of members of the Unitarian denomination.⁠<a id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a>⁠</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_F"><b>F.</b></h3> + +<p>Letters of Mr. Eliot to Hon. Robert Boyle +may be found in Mass. Hist. Coll. 1792. Also +two interesting letters from the same in Francis’ +Life of Eliot, pp. 250 and 267.</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_G"><b>G.</b></h3> + +<p>See, for an account of the Missionary Labors +of the Mayhews, Wilson’s Memoirs of Eliot, pp. +273-9.</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_H"><b>H.</b></h3> + +<p>See Wilson’s Memoirs of E., p. 290.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[312]</span></p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_I"><b>I.</b></h3> + +<p>Mr. Eliot’s Observations on forming the Indian +Alphabet, do. do., p. 284.</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_K"><b>K.</b></h3> + +<p>For an account of Rev. William Leverich, and +some other laborers among the Indians, see +Wilson’s Memoirs, pp. 257-60, p. 278-99.</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_L"><b>L.</b>—<a href="#Page_133">See page 133.</a></h3> + +<p>The following petitions of Mr. Eliot have been +copied for this work from the Mass. State +Papers. The first is a temperance document +which has not lost any pertinency or force +by age.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center"><i>Petition of John Eliot to the —— General +Court concerning the Indians</i>,</p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Sheweth</span>,</p> + +<p>That whereas the Indians have frequent +recourse to English townes and especially to +Boston where they too often see evil examples +of excessive drinking with English who are too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[313]</span>often disgraced with that beastly sin of drunkenness. +And themselves many of them greatly +delighting in strong liquors, not considering the +strength and evil of them, and also too well +knowing the liberty of the law which prohibiteth +above half a pint of wine to a man that +therefore they may without offence to the law +have their half pint, and when they have had +it in one place they goe to another and have +the like till they be drunken. And sometime +find too much entertainment that way by such +who keepe no ordinary only desire theire trade +though it be with the hurt and perdition of their +soules. Therefore my humble request unto this +honored Court is this, that there may be but one +ordinary in all Boston who may have liberty to +sell wine or any strong drink unto the Indians. +And that whoever shall further them in their +vicious drinking for theire own base ends who +keep no ordinary may not be suffered in such a +sinne without due punishment. And that at +what ordinary soever in any other towne as +well as Boston any Indian shall be found drunk, +having had any considerable quantity of drink +there, they should come under severe censure. +These things I am bold to present unto you for +the preventing of those scandalous evils which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[314]</span>greatly blemish and interrupt their entertainment +of the Gospel through the policy of Satan +who counter worketh Christ with not a little uncomfortable +success. And thus with my hearty +desire of the gracious and blessed presence of +God among you in all your weighty affairs, I +humbly take leave and rest your servant to command +in our Savour Christ,</p> + +<p class="right">JOHN ELIOT.</p> + +<p>this 23d of the 8th 1648.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_M"><b>M.</b>—<a href="#Page_134">See page 134.</a></h3> + +<p>The next petition is exceedingly interesting.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center"><i>To the Honorable the Governor and Council +sitting at Boston the 13th of the 6th, 1675. +The humble petition of John Eliot</i>,</p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smcap">Sheweth</span>,</p> + +<p>That the terrour of selling away such Indians +in the Ilands for perpetual Slaves who shall +yield up themselves to your mercy is likely to +be an effectual prolongation of the warre and +such an exasperation of them as may produce +we know not what evil consequences upon all +the land. Christ hath said, “Blessed are the +merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” This +[treatment] of them is worse than death. To +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[315]</span>put to death men that have deserved to die is an +ordinance of God and a blessing is promised to +it. It may be done in faith. The design of +Christ in these last days is not to extirpate nations +but to gospelize them. He will spread the +Gospel sound the world about, rev. 11. 15. The +kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms +of our Lord and of his Christ. His sovereign +hand and grace hath brought the Gospel into +these dark places of the earth. When we came +we declared to the world, and it is recorded, yea +we are instructed by our letters patent from the +King’s majesty that the endeavour of the Indians +conversion not their extirpation was one +great end of our enterprize in coming to these +ends of the earth. The Lord hath so succeeded +his work as that (by his grace) they have the +Holy Scriptures and sundry of themselves able +to teach their countrymen the good knowledge +of God. The light of the Gospel is risen +among those who sat in darkness and in the region +of the shadow of death. And however +some of them have refused to receive the Gospel, +and are now incensed in their spirits unto a +warre against the English, yet by that good +promise, Ps. 1:1-6, I doubt not but the meaning +of Christ is to open the door for the free passage +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[316]</span>of the Gospel among them, and that the +Lord will publish that word, v. 6. Yet have I +set my king on my holy hill of Syon, though +some rage at it. My humble request is if you +would follow Christ his design in this matter to +promote the free passage of religion among +them and not destroy them. To send them +away from the light of the Gospel which Christ +hath graciously given them unto a place, a state, +a way of spiritual darkness to the eternal ruin +of their souls is as I apprehend to act contrary +to the mind of Christ. God’s command is that +we should inlarge the kingdom of Jesus Christ. +Esay, 54:2. Enlarge the place of thy tent. It +seemeth to me that to sell them away for slaves +is to hinder the inlargement of his kingdom. +How can a Christian [soule yield to act]—(these +words are indistinct) in casting away their +soules for which Christ hath with an eminent +hand provided an offer of the Gospel. To sell +soules for money seemeth to me a dangerous +merchandize. If they deserve to dy, it is far +better to be put to death under godly [rulers] +who will take care if meanes may be used that +they may die penitently. To fall away from all +meanes of grace when Christ hath provided +meanes of grace for them, is for us to be active +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[317]</span>in the destroying their soules when we are +highly obliged to seek their conversion and salvation +and have opportunity in our hands so to +doe. Deut. 23:15, 16.⁠<a id="FNanchor_52" href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> A fugitive servant +from his Pagan master might not be delivered +to his master, but be kept in Israel for the good +of his soul. How much less lawful is it to sell +away souls from under the light of the Gospel +into a condition where their souls will be utterly +lost, so far as appertains unto man. All men (of +reading) condemned the Spaniard for cruelty +upon this point for destroying men and depopulating +the land. The country is large enough, +here is land enough for them and us to, Prov. +14:28. In the multitude of people is the King’s +honor. It will be much to the glory of Christ +to have many brought in to worship his great +name. I beseech the honored Council to pardon +my boldnesse, and let the case of conscience +be discussed orderly before the thing be acted. +Cover my weaknesse and weigh the reason and +religion that laboreth in this great case of conscience.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[318]</span></p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_N"><b>N.</b>—<a href="#Page_135">See page 135.</a></h3> + +<p>The following petition of Mr. Eliot illustrates +the kind interest which he took in the common +and private affairs of the Indians. I +have copied it from Mass. State Papers, (Indian +Papers) 30. p. 15. 1639-1705.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">PETITION THAT TWO INDIANS MAY HAVE THEIR DUE.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>The humble petition of John Eliot to this Honorable +Court.</i></p> + +<p>First in the behalfe of Totherswompe unto +whom one of Uncas his men doth owe 18 fathom +of wampompeague for 6 beare skins and he +cannot obtain justice with ease and therefore +doth humbly intreat this honored Court to procure +justice for him in this particular. Phoxon +well knoweth his demand is just and true, as +Thomas and Stanton can testify.</p> + +<p>The other is in behalf of Anonganisch, who +lost 17 fathom which Uncas and his men tooke +unjustly from him 3 years since when they fell +upon the Indians by Mr. Winthrop’s plantation, +and he saith that when his case was at this +Court formerly heard The Governour promised +him that he should have justice, and that doth +embolden him to sue again in the case. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[319]</span>bringing them to doe justice doth so far cause +them to honour and acknowledge God and therefore +I humbly entreat your favour in furtherance +of the same, and so commending all your +weighty occasions to the blessing of the Lord.</p> + +<p class="center">Your worships servant in Jesus Christ,</p> + +<p class="right">JOHN ELIOT.⁠<a id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> + +</blockquote> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_O"><b>O.</b>—<a href="#Page_48">See page 48.</a></h3> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="center">THE CHURCH IN ROXBURY.</p> + +<p class="center">(See Am. Quarterly Register, Vol. 8th.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thomas Welde</span>, the first Minister of Roxbury, +was a minister in Essex, England. Refusing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[320]</span>to conform to the requirements of the +Established Church, he sought the quiet enjoyment +of the rights of conscience in this country. +He arrived in Boston, June 5, 1632, and entered +upon the pastoral office in Roxbury, at which +time the Church was embodied. In 1641, he +was sent as an agent, with <span class="smcap">Rev. Hugh Peters</span>, +to England for the Province and never returned.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">John Eliot</span> became teacher of the Church in +Roxbury, Nov. 5, 1632. The next year he became +colleague with Mr. Welde.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Samuel Danforth</span> was colleague with Mr. +Eliot after Mr. Welde went to England. He +continued in office 24 years.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nehemiah Walter</span>, born in Ireland, came to +Boston at the age of 16. Graduated at Harvard +College, and was the third colleague of Mr. +Eliot. He had so good knowledge of the French +Language that he preached to a society of French +Protestants while their Pastor was absent. +Whitefield called him “the good old Puritan.” +A well known publication of his is called, “The +Wonderfulness of Christ.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thomas Walter</span>, his son, became colleague +with his father, but died 7 years after.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oliver Peabody</span>, son of the Missionary at +Natick of the same name, succeeded Mr. Walter, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[321]</span>but continued only 18 months, and died +when on the eve of being married, aged 27.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Amos Adams</span>, was Pastor at Roxbury 22 years +and died of the epidemic which prevailed in the +camp at Roxbury and Cambridge. The title of +one of his published Sermons was, The only +Hope and Refuge of Sinners.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Eliphalet Porter</span> succeeded him and continued +in office 51 years.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">George Putnam</span>, the present Pastor, was ordained +colleague with him, July 7, 1830.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>A Church was organized in Roxbury, Sept. +18, 1834, composed of Members of Evangelical +sentiments, and of the Orthodox Congregational +denomination. It took the name of “<span class="smcap">Eliot +Church</span>.”</p> + +<p>Rev. John S. C. Abbott was ordained Pastor, +Nov. 25, 1835.</p> + +<p>Rev. Augustus C. Thompson was ordained +Pastor, July 27, 1842.</p> + +<h3 id="APPENDIX_P"><b>P.</b>—<a href="#Page_51">See page 51.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">ROXBURY “ELIOT SCHOOL FUND.”</p> + +<p>“Eliot School Fund had its origin in the donation +of Rev. John Eliot, of Roxbury, well +known as the Apostle to the Indians, who, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[322]</span>the year 1689, conveyed an estate of about seventy-five +acres of land to certain persons and +their heirs, as Trustees for ‘the maintenance, +support and encouragement of a school and +school master at that part of Roxbury, commonly +called Jamaica or the Pond Plain, for the teaching +and instructing of the children of that end +of the town (together with such Indians and negroes +as shall or may come to the said school) +and to no other use, intent, or purpose whatever. +This is the language of the deed.’ (The +fund was afterwards increased by donations.)</p> + +<p>“The Eliot school fund consists (1840) of +89,699.94. The School also possesses some +real estate, which yields an annual income of +8381.”</p> + +<p>Report of the Committee on the School Fund, +Roxbury. Auditor’s Reports, 1831-1846.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<p>The following are the principal of Mr. Eliot’s +publications. It is remarkable that no entire +Sermon of his has been preserved.</p> + +<p>Answer to Norcott’s book against Infant Baptism.</p> + +<p>The Harmony of the Gospels in the Holy +History of Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[323]</span></p> + +<p>The Christian Commonwealth.</p> + +<p>The Divine management of Gospel Churches +by the Ordinance of Councils, constituted in order +according to the Scriptures, which may be a +means of uniting those two holy and eminent +parties, the Presbyterians and the Congregational.</p> + +<p>Indian Bible, Catechism, and Psalms of David +in metre.</p> + +<p>Baxter’s “Call to the unconverted,” translated +into the Indian Tongue.</p> + +<p>The Practice of Piety, translated into the +Indian Tongue. This book was written by +Lewis Bayly, for some time Chaplain to James +the First. In 1792, it had reached the <i>seventy-first</i> +edition. The author was promoted to the +see of Bangor, 1616. See Lib. Am. Biog. V. +245. Francis’ Life of Eliot. <span class="smcap">Biog. Britan.</span> +Art. <span class="smcap">Bayly</span>.</p> + +<p>Thomas Shepard’s Sincere Convert, translated +into the Indian tongue.</p> + +<p>Thomas Shepard’s Sound Believer, translated +into the Indian tongue.</p> + +<p>Indian Primer.</p> + +<p>This little book has been of great help to +linguists by the division of syllables in it for +children, thereby giving learners of a larger +growth some insight into the formation of Indian +words.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[324]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="NOTE">NOTE.</h2> + +</div> + +<p>The following appropriate conclusion to this volume came to hand +just as the last pages were going to press.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Choctaws to their White Brethren of +Ireland.</span>—A meeting for the relief of the starving +poor of Ireland was held at the Choctaw agency, on +the 23d ult. Maj. William Armstrong was called to +the chair, and J. B. Luce was appointed secretary. +A circular of the “Memphis committee” was read +by Maj. Armstrong, after which the meeting contributed +$170. All subscribed, agents, missionaries, +traders and Indians, a considerable portion of which +fund was made up by the latter. The “poor Indian” +sending his mite to the poor Irish!</p> + +<p class="right">[<i>Arkansas Intelligencer, April 3</i>.]</p> + +</blockquote> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="the-end" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/the-end.jpg" alt="THE END OF VOL III."> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> See Laws of Mass. I., page 77, Sect. 8, 9.</p> + +<p>“<i>Whereas one end in planting these parts was to propagate the +true religion unto the Indians</i>, and that divers of them are become +subject unto the English, and have engaged themselves to be ready +and willing to understand the law of God: It is therefore ordered that +such necessary and wholesome laws which are in force, and may be +made from time to time, to reduce them to civility of life, shall be +once a year, if the times be safe, made known to them by such fit +persons as the general court shall appoint.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent16">“Venient annis</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Secula seris, quibus Oceanus</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Vincula rerum, laxet, et ingens</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Pateat tellus, Typhis que novos</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Deteget orbes; nec sit terris</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Ultima Thule.”</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse right"><i>Medea, Act. 3, v. 375.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> “America known to the Ancients.” Boston, 1773.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> Mather.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> Governor Bradford’s History of Plymouth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> Mass. Hist. Soc., Coll. 1794., p. 206.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> Key, p. 213.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> <a href="#APPENDIX_B">See Appendix, B.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> <a href="#APPENDIX_C">See Appendix, C.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">[10]</a> Roger Williams’ Key, p. 26.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">[11]</a> Mag. B. III. Life of Eliot. Art. 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">[12]</a> Sparks’ Lib. Am. Biog. V. 9. Francis’ Life of Eliot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">[13]</a> Mag. Book III., 499.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">[14]</a> Vol. III., p. 15.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">[15]</a> Book III. Art. IV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">[16]</a> Jefferson’s “Notes on Virginia.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="label">[17]</a> Newton. Dr. Homer, in his History of Newton says, “This +son of the apostle Eliot was the first minister of Newton. His abilities +and occupation in the ministry are said to be pre-eminent. +Under the direction of his father, he obtained considerable proficiency +in the Indian language, and was an assistant to him in the +missionary employment, until he settled at Newton. Even after his +ordination there, he imitated the manner of his father, devoting himself +to the instruction of the Indians, as well as his own flock. Accordingly +he preached statedly once in a fortnight to them at Pequimet, +(Stoughton,) and sometimes at Natick.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="label">[18]</a> Now owned and occupied by Warren Dutton and Horace Gray, +Esqrs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="label">[19]</a> “The first place he began to preach at was Nonantum, near +Watertown, upon the south side of Charles River, about four or five +miles from his own house; where lived at that time, Wabon, one of +their principal men, and some Indians with him.” Gookin, Mass. +Hist. Soc. Coll, for 1792. Vol I.</p> + +<p>“The place where Eliot first began to preach to the Indians, was +at Nonantum, a hill at the northeast corner of Newton, nearly where +Messrs. Haven’s and Wiggin’s houses now stand.” Moore’s Life +of Eliot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="label">[20]</a> Mag. Book III., Part IV. <a href="#APPENDIX_C">See Appendix, C.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="label">[21]</a> He who thinks that a belief in witchcraft, &c., was a peculiarity +of New England, should look into Strype’s Ecclesiastical Memorials.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="label">[22]</a> He was not a Sachem, as frequently stated. See Mass. Hist., +Col. IV., 19.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="label">[23]</a> The Day Breaking &c., p. 15.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="label">[24]</a> Shepard’s Clear Sunshine, p. 39. Hist. Coll. Vol. IV. 3d +series. Shattuck’s Hist. Concord.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="label">[25]</a> Shepard’s Clear Sunshine, &c., p. 41.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="label">[26]</a> <a href="#Page_19">See page 19.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="label">[27]</a> See Bancroft’s History of the United States, Vol. I.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="label">[28]</a> See Sir Walter Scott’s “Demonology and Witchcraft,” Letter +II.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="label">[29]</a> “Cleare Sunshine of the Gospel,” p. 46.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="label">[30]</a> Shepard’s “Cleare Sunshine.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="label">[31]</a> See the Memorial of Mr. Eliot to the General Court, on this +subject, <a href="#APPENDIX_L">Appendix L</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="label">[32]</a> Fast enough, if well enough.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="label">[33]</a> <a href="#APPENDIX_E">See Appendix, E.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="label">[34]</a> I. 172. Note. 1715.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="label">[35]</a> Mag. II, 511. <i>Philemon Holland.</i> See Rees’ Encyc., Aiken’s +Biog. Mem. of Medicine. He was the <i>translator general</i> of his age, +a man of incredible industry. In Fuller’s Worthies of England we +learn that Holland, having written several translations with one pen, +made the following stanza:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“With one solo pen I writ this book,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Made of a gray goose quill;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">A pen it was when I it took,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And a pen I leave it still.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>A familiar story is told of Gibbon, in writing the “Decline and +Fall,” and that he presented the pen to the Duchess of Devonshire, +who honored it with a silver case. These stories are probably fabulous. +The contrivances which these men must have used to make one +pen, or even one quill, do so much work, would deserve the appellation +above quoted from Douglass, “otiosorum hominum negotia,” +or, the notions of men who had plenty of leisure.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="label">[36]</a> II. 94.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="label">[37]</a> Magnalia I, 516.—<a href="#APPENDIX_G">See Appendix, G.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="label">[38]</a> Cotton Mather’s mother was the daughter of Mr. Cotton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="label">[39]</a> <a href="#APPENDIX_M">See Appendix, M.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="label">[40]</a> Mass. Hist. Coll. 1802.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="label">[41]</a> This testimony from Richard Baxter, in favor of the Mathers, +is valuable to those who have seen them decried by some modern +writers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="label">[42]</a> See Early Jesuit Missions, &c., by Wm Ingraham Kip.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43" class="label">[43]</a> C. Mather.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44" class="label">[44]</a> Mather’s allusion is probably this: In Gen. 23:2, where it is +said that Abraham came to weep for Sarah, a letter, smaller than the +rest, in the Hebrew word <i>to weep for her</i> is believed by the Jewish +critics to intimate that his grief was somewhat composed; (—“<i>luctum +Abrahæ fuisse moderatum</i>.”—Poole’s Synopsis.)—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45" class="label">[45]</a> Magnalia I. 495.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46" class="label">[46]</a> Essays, VIII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47" class="label">[47]</a> For the Journal of Mr. Higginson’s Voyage, see Hutchinson’s +Collection of Papers, page 32.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_48" href="#FNanchor_48" class="label">[48]</a> That is fighting men.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_49" href="#FNanchor_49" class="label">[49]</a> 1617.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_50" href="#FNanchor_50" class="label">[50]</a> Or Naumkeag. Salem.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_51" href="#FNanchor_51" class="label">[51]</a> See Smith & Choules’ Hist. Miss. 1832, Vol. II.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_52" href="#FNanchor_52" class="label">[52]</a> “Thou shall not deliver unto his master the servant which is +escaped,” &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_53" href="#FNanchor_53" class="label">[53]</a> Those who are interested in the subjects referred to in other +petitions of Mr. Eliot may find those petitions as follows:</p> + +<p>Petition that the Indians may have more land, Mass. State Papers, +30, page 31.</p> + +<p>Petition in relation to exchange of land with the Indians, do. do. +page 81.</p> + +<p>Statement of John Eliot respecting lands, do. do. pp. 99, 100.</p> + +<p>Complains of wrong done to the Nipmucks by the Narragansetts, +do. do. page 138.</p> + +<p>Gookin’s and Eliot’s petition for lands for the Christian Indians, +do. do. p. 286.</p> + +<p>There are also some original MSS. of Mr. Eliot’s in the Hutchinson +papers in the Library of the Mass. Historical Society, but they +are somewhat illegible and of no special pertinency to the present +work.</p></div> + +</div> + +</main> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79004 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/79004-h/images/cover.jpg b/79004-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dd7775 --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/79004-h/images/line.jpg b/79004-h/images/line.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..34788fe --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-h/images/line.jpg diff --git a/79004-h/images/seal1.jpg b/79004-h/images/seal1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c16848b --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-h/images/seal1.jpg diff --git a/79004-h/images/seal2.jpg b/79004-h/images/seal2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..50a9b2f --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-h/images/seal2.jpg diff --git a/79004-h/images/the-end.jpg b/79004-h/images/the-end.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d48b0f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/79004-h/images/the-end.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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