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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 *** |