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Cornell University Library
E 78.M4C821

Strength out of weakness

3 1924 028 652 224

The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.

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the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028652224

Cabin's laeprintg,
Q U AR TO SERIES

No. V.

^trengtl) out of S^takntis :

GLORIOUS MANIFESTATION

OF THE

Fnrt^FP JPpogpFXX of t|F (JosppI

AMONG THE

Indians in New England.

HENRY WHITFIELD.

NEW YORK:
REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABIN.
1865.

No.

Edition 250 Copies,
of which 50 are on large paper.

MuNSELL, Printer.

NOTICE.

The following Trad: is a Reprint of One of
Three Editions of this Traft, all iflued in the fame
year, and differing in their Titles and Dedications.

The Titles and Collations of the two other
Editions are as follows :

Strength | ovt of | Weaknesse ; | Or a Glorious | Manifesta-
tion I Of the further Progrefle of | the Gofpel among the
Indians | in New-England. | Held forth in Sundry Letters |
from divers Minifters and others to the | Corporation eftab-
li{hed by Parliament for | promoting the Gofpel among the
Hea- I then in New-England ; and to particular | Members
thereof fince the laft Trea- I tife to that eiFeft, Publifhed by
Mr. Henry Whitfield late Paftor | of Gilford in New England
London; \ Printed by M. Simmons for JohnBlague and | Sam-
uel Howes, and are to be fold at their | (hop in Popes-Head-
Alley. 1652. I S prel. leaves ; viz. Title in a type metal border,
the reverfe blank ; ' To the Supreame Authoritie of this Na-
tion, The Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England.'
Signed by 'John Owen ' and 1 1 others, 4- PP S ' To the Reader.'
Signed 'W. Gouge.' and 13 others, 5 pp. ' To the Chriftian
Reader.' ^pp. Text ^o pp. ^.to.

Strength I ovt of | Weaknesse; | Or a Glorious | Manifesta-
tion I Of the further Progrefle of | the Gofpel among the
Indians | in New-England. | Held forth in Sundry Letters |
from divers Minifters and others to the | Corporation eftab-

( 4 )

liflied by Parliament for | Promoting the Golpel among the
Hea- I then in New-England ; and to particular | Members
thereof fince the laft Trea- | tife to that effefl:, formerly fet
forth by M' Henry Whitfield | late Paftor of Gilford in New-
England. I Publifhed by the aforefaid Corporation. | [Motto]
London; Printed by M. Simmons for John Blague and |
Samuel Howes, and are to be fold at their Shop in Popes-
Head- Alley. 1652 [ 8 prel. leaves; viz. Title in a metal
type border, the reverse blank; 'To the fupreame Authoritie of
this Nation, The Parliament of the Common-Wealth of
England.' w^g-w^^/, ' William Steele, Prefident.' ^pp; 'To the
Reader,' sigmd^WXam Gougt' and leathers, ^ pp. Strength
ovt of Weaknesse; Or a Glorious Manifestation Of the fur-
ther Progreffe of the Gofpel among the Indians in New-Eng-
land.' 4 pp : Text 40 pp. ^to.

JOSEPH SABIN.
New York, Auguft ift, 1865.

ll Strength out of JVeaJinefs. ||

li Or a Glorious H

II MANIFESTATION i

i» Of the further Progrefle of the

GOSPEL

«§•

■eg

3g AMONGST

«£•

ogge
«§■

««■

'3?' TT IJ £* ^1_ • /• J T "SS"

THE INDIANS

J NEW-ENGLAND

|| Held forth in flindry Letters

lU from divers Minifters and others to the
||J Corporation edablifhed by Parliament for
%% promoting the Gofpel among the Hea-
ls! then in New England, and to particular
|g Members thereof fince the late Trea-
II tife to that effedl, formerly fet

forth by M"^ Henry Whitfield

^1 iate Faftor of Gilford in

^l; New-England.

?£•

il Publiflied by the aforefaid Corporation.

^^ C A N T . 8. 8. Wee have a little Si/ier^ and Jhe hath

%^ no breajls : what Jhall we doe for our Sijler^ in the

SgJ day that Jhe Jhall befpoken for ?

11 LONDON, Printed by M. Simmons for John Blague

g&> and Samuel Howes and are to be fold at their

%%i Shop in Popes Head Alley^ 1652.

To The
SUPREAME AUTHORITIE

OF THIS NATION,
The Parliament of the Common-
wealth o/" England.

Hat the Fathers joy at the return-
ing of a Spend-thrift Sonne, ought
to have an influence upon the
whole Family of Heaven and
Earth, that is called after his
name, to worke their fuitable af-
fections, and conformity to him-
felfe, cannot be queftioned by any true childe
thereof) Behold then. Right Honourable, a call
thereunto, Poore Prodigalls, who have not only
with our felves loft that rich Treafure of grace and
holineffe, wherewith in our Common roote and
Fountaine we were entrufted, but alfo in a courfe
of Rebellion for many Generations wafted the re-
mainder of Natures Riches to the utmoft degenera-
cy that an Immortall rationall being is obnoxious
unto, not returning a farre off, but rejoycing in

the

Ihe Rpijile Dedicatory.

the imbraces of their Fathers, and entertained with
his flefh and bloud, who was flaine and facrificed
for them.

The exyme of our walking with God here is to
come up to fome conformitie to them who behold
his face and doe his Will in Heaven : amongft them
there is joye at the Repentance of one Sinner, and
(hall not wee find fweetnefTe in the firft fruits of a
barren Wildernefs in the fliinning of a beame of
Light into the darkneffe of another World, giving
hope of a plentiful] harveft, and a glorious day to
enfue. Let men take heed, left by defpifeing the
day, and oppofing the Worke of the Lord towards
thofe poore Sonnes of Adam notwithftanding all
their zealous profeffion, they proclaime theme-
felves to purfue a Carnall Intereft ; by which they
declare the enlargement of the Dominion of Jcfus
Chrift is of no Concernment unto them.

Wee are by many Pledges afTured better things
of you Right Honourable, and fuch as accompany
zeale for the Houfe of God, and therefore the en-
fuing Teftimonialls of the progrefle of the Worke
of the Gofpel being fent unto us, wee make bold
humbly to prefent them to you ; partly that we
may invite you as the friends of Jefus Chrift, to
rejoyce with him that fheepe of his, who were
loft, are found ; and partly to lay before you, as a
matter of your rejoycing, fome fuch fruits of the
putting forth of your Authoritie, and inverting us
therewith for the carrying on this moft glorious
undertaking, as may encourage your felves and all

others

The Epijile Dedicatory.

others that love the Lord Jefus, to goe on through
him who doth enable you unto future, reall expref-
fions of love and zeale thereunto. Wee ftiall not
need to draw forth any particulars from the enfu-
ing Narrative, to give you a tafte of that Spirit
whereinto thefe poore Creatures are fweetly bap-
tifed; Wee hope your delight in the Worke of
God will inforce a leafure, to view the whole, this
in Generall wee may fay, that in the Wilder nefle
are waters broken out, and ftreames in the Defert,
the parched ground is become a Poole, and the
thrifty Land-lprings of water : in the Habitation
of Dragons where each lay, there is grafle with
Reeds and Rufhes, the Lord hath powred water
upon him that is thirftie, and flouds upon the dry
ground ; He hath powred his Spirit on the feeds of
the Heathen, & his blefling on their OfF-fpring,
they fpring up as among the graffe, as willowes by
the water-courfes : One fayes I am the Lords,
and another calls himfelfe by the name of "Jacob,
and another fubfcribes with his hand unto the Lord,
and firnames himfelfe by the name of Ifrael. The
Lord hath done a new thing, and wee know it, he
hath made a way in the WildernefTe, and Rivers
in the Defert, the bead of the field doth honour
him, the Dragons, and the Owles becaufe he gives
waters in the Wildernes, and Rivers in the Defert,
to give drinke to his People his chofen. So that
upon the Report heere read unto us, wee cannot
but glorifie God with Primitive beleevers, and fay,
then hath God alfo to the poore naked Indians

granted

The Epiflle Dedicatory.

granted Repentance unto life. Their outward
wants and ftreights have often been prefented unto
you ; wee (hall not need to repeate them, blefled
be the Lord, and blefled be you of the Lord that
your hearts have been ftired up to give encourage-
ment unto this Worke, and to open a Doore for
the reliefe of thefe Eminent Inftruments in the
hand of the Lord who there carry it on, who
though they communicate to them Spiritualls, yet
are fo farre from receeving of their Temporalis,
that they impart unto them a Portion of their own
dayly bread, and provifion neceflary from their
fubfiftence.

The good Lord lay the weight and concernment
of this Worke upon fpirits, and wee no way doubt
that you will in any way be wanting to the Pub-
lique improvements of this blefl!ed opportunities
for the enlargement of the Kingdome of him whom
our Soules doe love : There is a vexation of fpirit,
which through their formalitie and unbeliefe, hath
encompaflied many Profeflbrs, that whereas they,
have with much feeming earneftnes cryed out for
mercies; when they have been beftowed, they
have thought fcorne of them ; fo did the Jewes in
the bufines of their Meflias, and many at this day
amongft ourfelves in the great works of the Pro-,
vidence of God ; It is fo with fome to this break-
ing forth of light amongfl: the Indians, defiring it
before it began, defpifing it in its very beginnings,
the Lord lay it unto charge, and keep all our
fpirits in an holy admiration and reverence of the

powerful!

The Epijile Dedicatory.

powerful! efficacy of his eternall and unchangeable
purpofes, which though fo many linfuU Genera-
tions (falling in their Rebellion) hath preferved a
feed to himfelfe, whereof he will take care that
one graine fall not to the Ground.

Your Honors to ferve you in pro-
moting the Gofpel of Chrift.

Signed in the name and by appoint-
ment of the Corporation.

William Steele, Prefident.

B To

To the Reader.

Chrijiian Reader.

Hefe enfuing Letters doe reprefeni
unto thee, and to the Churches,
the outgoings of Chrift, as a
Light to the Gentiles, that the
grace which bHngs Salvation
hath appeared untu them alfo in
the furtheft parts of the Earth,
for the accompHftiment of that
ancient and glorious Protnil'e; I will give thee
for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mafji be my
Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, (I fa. 49. 6.)
The People of God have been greatly affedted with
the appearances of Chrift, when he hath rode forth
upon a red Horje to the deftrudtion of his Enemies ;
for he is glorious in his Apparell, even when his
garments are dipt in bloud, but much more when
he rides forth upon a white Horfe, for the Con-
verlSon of Soules, and goes on Conquering and to
Conquer.

Wee

To the Chrijlian Reader.

Wee have therefore thought fit to commend
this great worke of Chrift unto the view of all the
Saints under thefe following Confiderations.
1^Zfifal't\ Fii-ft' ^'^'h the Kingdome of Chrijl is enlarged,
JideautemGen-^ndi the promife made unto him in the Covenant
utmvulnera- u^^^QQ^ him and his Father accompliflied, his
balebat,amifit. Dominion /hall be from Sea to Sea, and from the
Anb. in Pfal. foud to the Worlds end, therefore his defigne is
" ■ upon all the Kingdomes of the Earth, that he may

take pofleffion of them for himfelfe, they fhall all
become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Chriji.
Revel. II, 15. And the Kingdome and Dominion
under the whole Heaven, being fo polTeffed by
Chrift, (hall be given to the Saints of the moji High,
Deu. 7. 18. Our prayer is. Thy Kingdome come,
to fee the promife made unto Chrift fulfilled, and
the Prayers of the Saints anfwered, fhould be mat-
ter of great rejoycing unto us, and of high Praifes
unto God.

Secondly. The glorious Gofpel of Chriji is hereby
Propagated, which is the Scepter of his Kingdome,
the Rod of his Poiver, which wee pray may rurt
and be glorified. And when wee confider, by how'
many (even amongft us) the Gofpel is rejedted, fon
men rejeft the Councell of God againft themfelves ;
by how many it is refifted, for there are many ad-
verfaries, and by how many the Gofpel is perverted,
being made another Gofpel, by ftrange Interpreta-
tions ; one of the great ads oi ,Sacr Hedge of our
times, ftealing the fence of the Scripture from the
words of the Scripture, Now to fee the Gofpel

lifted

To the Chrijiian Reader.

lifted, up as an Enfigne to the Nation, and, they to
fliorjo unto it, fhould be matter of great rejoycing to
the foules of thofe who love the Gofpel in fin-
ceritie.

Thirdly. Hereby the foules of men are refciied.out
of the fnare of the Devill, in which they were be-
fore held captive at his will ; the Lord hath mani-
fefted that there is a feed according to the Election of
grace, even amongft thefe alfo as well as other
Gentiles, that the Lord hath vifited them to take
out of them a people for his Name, yea that even
they who in a more immediate manner among
them worfhipped the Devill, their Witches call'd
in their language Pawwawes, that even thefe fliould
be deliver'd, Satan falling from Heaven like light-
ning before the Gofpel, (hould greatly exalt free
grace in our hearts ; the great Love of God, is
Love to Soules, and our tendered companion rtiould
be manifefted in pittying of Soules, neither know
wee any other ordinary way that the Lord has
appointed but the preaching of the Gofpel for the
winning of Soules to himfelfe : That being the,
•Power of God to Salvation,

Fourthly. Hereby the fullnes of the Gentiles draws
neere to be accomplijhed, that the callings of the
Jews may be haftened ; the Scripture fpeaks of a
double converfion of the Gentiles the firft before the
converfion of the Jews, they being Branches wilde
by nature grafted into the True Olive Tree in ftead
of the naturall Branches which are broken off.
This fullnes of the Gentiles Ihall come in before

the

To the Chrijitan Reader.

the converfion of the "Jews, and till then blindnes
hath hapned unto Ifrael, Rom. 1 1 . 25. The Second,
after the converfion of the Jewes, as appears AB
Cant!"i"%! 15. 16, 17. After this I iDtll returne and will build
Mede in Apoc agaim the 'Tabernacle of David which is now fallen
'■"/• 7- p- 56- ^(jww, and I will build againe the ruines thereof, and
I will fet it up \ that the refdue of men might feek
after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my
Isfame is called fayth the Lord, Hence it appears
that there are fome Gentiles upon whom the Lords
Name is called that are a people to him, even
whilft the Tabernacle of David lyes in its ruines;
and when he hath built againe this Tabernacle of
David that there are a refidue of men, the remain-
der of the Gentiles, that (hall enquire after the
Lord, and worfhip him, together with thofe Gen-
tiles that were formerly converted, and upon whom
his Name was called. The firft converfion of the
Gentiles in its fullneffe makes way for the coming
in of the fewes, the King of the Raft, therefore to
fee this Worke goe on, {hould caufe the people of
God to lift up their heads, and expedl that the
time of the fullfiUing of that Promife is neere.

Fifthly, That the Lord hath blefl!ed the labours
of our Brethern, who were driven out from among
us. A gracious heart as he prayes for, fo he can-
not but rejoyce in the fuccefi!e of other mens labours
as well as his owne, fo the worke which is Gods
may profper, who ever be the Inftrument, 'tis
enough to him. When Peter gave an account to
the Apoftles and Brethren of the Converfion of

Cornelius

To the Chriftian Reader.

Cornelius and his family, who were, as it were the
firji fruits of the Gentiles, they all glorified God,
faying ; Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted
Repentance unto life. Ad:, ii. 18, And if they
could rejoyce in the Converfion of the Gentiles
which they knew would be with the rejection of
the fewes, how much more (hould wee rejoyce in
this great worke, who may grow together upon
the fame good Olive Tree 1 That when other
Nations who have planted in thofe furtheft parts
of the Earth, have onely fought their owne advan-
tage to poflefl'e their Land, Tranfport their gold,
and that with fo much covetoufnefle and cruelty,
that they have made the name of Chriftianitie and
of Chrift an abomination, that the Lord Ihould
be pleafed to make ufe of our Brethren that went
forth from us to make manifeft the favour ofChriJi
among the people, and to winne their Soules to
him ; How (hould wee rejoyce that the Lord hath
fo farre profper'd fuch an undertaking. It was a
holy ambition in Paul to preach the Gofpel where
Chriji nvas not named, that he might not glory in
another mans line : it is certainly a great honour
to be Inftrumentall to bring foules to Chrift, who
before never heard of his Name.

Sixthly, This wee hope may be the firjl fruits of
thofe great Nations unto ChriJI ; The Lord doth
not ufually caufe to bring forth and then Jhut the
wombe, Ifa. 66. 9. Let no man defpife the day of
fmall things, the Lord hath opened a great doore,
which we hope Satan (hall never be able to (hut.

Such

To the Chrifiian Reader.

Such Gonfiderations as thefe, have filled and
afFedled our hearts, in the reading and meditation
of this great worke of the Lord, and wee hope
being communicated, may be a good means to
awaken the godly and faithfull of this Nation, to
obferve the Prefence and appearances of God
amongft his People tliere, that wee alfo may fay;
What Jhall we doe for our Sifter in the day that Jhee
Jhall be Jpoken for F Shall we not be abundant in
Prayer, that the Lord would yet further bleffe
their holy endeavours ? Shall we not labour to
Strengthen their hands by miniftering to them of
our abundance ? that they may not be difcouraged
in fo eminent a fervice, one of the greateft workes
that hath been upon the wheele in this latter age,
for to Contribute to the offering up of Soules to
Chrift, muft needs be a Sacrifice of a very fweet
fmelling favour unto God. This wee humbly
offer unto all thofe that love the Lord Jefus in fin^
ceritie, and remaine.

Thine in the furtherance of the Gofpel.

tf^illiam Gouge. Henry Whitfield.

Tho : Goodwin. Will: Spurfiowe,

Lazarus Seaman. William Bridge.

John Owen. Simeon Ajhe.

Edm: Calamy. Sidrach Simpfon.

Jojeph Caryl. William Strong.

Jer : Whittaker. Phillip Nye.

Will : GreenhilL William Carter.

George Griffith, Ralph Venning.

To the Chriftian Reader.

Chriftian Reader

S every worke of God tending to the
ref cuing of deluded Souks out of the
fnares of the Devill, fo even this
Glorious worke of Gods grace hath
met with many difcouragements by
various kinds ofobjeSiions caji abroad
by divers forts of people, and even
by fome from New England it felfe, who having
lived remote from the worke /kne, and either not
affeBing the injiruments therein imployed, or not go-
ing to the places of their Exercife, that they might
fee and heare the gracious operations of the Spirit of
God amongft them, may eajily mifreport the proceed-
ings of Gods goodneffe therein. Tet neverthelejfe
God having called us to be exercifed in a worke of
this Nature, wherein his Glory and the Salvation of
fo many of the loji fonnes of Adam are concerned;
wee have taken up a Refolution by his gracious
Affijiance to improve the power and truji by Au^
thoritie of Parliament committed to us to the utmoji,
leaf it be laid to our Account am'ongji others the
obJlruBors of it in the great day of the Lord.

But as wee meete with difcouragements, fo, through
C mercy ,

To The Chrijlian Reader.

mercy, wee are not without incouragements of many
forts, viz

1. This worke of Gods grace grows in New
England, not onely in the places where the Gofpel
was formerly preached to the Indians But God hath

Jiirred up two Eminent Minijiers in two other parts
of the Countrey, to labour in the worke, not without

fuccejfe anfwerable, as Mr. William Leveridge
neere Sandwich in the Goverment of ^tvf Plyaiouth,

fxtie miles from the place where Mr- Eliot teacheth,
and Mr. Richard Blindman at Pecoat, a place

formerly fubdued by the Englifh, and is a place
about the fame dijiance from Sandwich another way,
an account whereof you will have in the following
Treatife.

2. Where the AEi of Parliament for the Collec-
tion meets with Gofpel fpirited Minijiers and people,
there wee finde a gdod account of it comparatively ;
God having Jiirr'd up the hearts of fome Eminent
Chrijiians to contribute in a confiderable manner.
Some by charging their Lands with a yearly Revenue
to the Corporation for that end for ever ; and others
by fending in good fummes of money, fubfcribing to
pay yearely fo much whilji they live. And one

Gentleman [leaving two fonnes of tender age) having
appointed by his Will, in cafe they dye without ijfue
that an ejiate of two hundred pound per annum,
Jhould be fetled upon the Corporation forever, and
the reji of ejiate for the like ufes in the four e Northern
Counties o/' England.

3. That God hath wrought a refolution in us of

the

T "Th Chiian Rad.

the Corporation [wherein wee truji hee will inable
us to perjiji (viz) to contribute our labour and
paines freely to this worke, without the leaji diminu-
tion of the Stocke. And if any defre to be fatisfied
what our receipts, difburfements, or manner of pro-
ceedings are, our Books are open at Coopers Hall,
London, between the houres of Tenne and 'Twelve
every Saturday, where they may without offence fee
what is given, and by whom, W)hen brought in, and
how imploy ed or improved.

Tis very Jlrange to fee what a multitude of ob-

jeBions are darted againji this pure piece of Chriji-

ianitie, yea by fome, whom otherwife wee have

charitable thoughts of, and how exceedingly the

worke is impeded thereby, and however through

mercy wee are able to anfwer every one of them

fufficiently , yet wee for bear e to particularize them,

leaf wee Jhould refeB too much on fome ; our Con-

fciences telling us, that as the worke is of God, and

really fuch as is held forth, fo he only can fatisfie

the fpirits of men, and will doe it in due feafon, and

in the meane time bleffe his owne worke being able to

carry it on, who delighted oft times in fmall meanes,

that his gracious operations may the more be feene.

'This is the fifth Treatife hath been publijhed to
the world in this kinde [but the firfi by the Corpora-
tion) every one of them exceeding each other, wherein
a moft apparant growth and progreffe among fi the
pQore Natives, 'That we have now to offer to the
publique view is a farther account of that living,
growing, fpreading power of Godlines among fi them.

And

'To The Chrijiian Reader.

Andjirjl wee Jhall begin with fame remarkeable paf-
fages of divine providence in a Letter received from
Mr. John Eliot [who was the firft Minijier the
Lord Jlirred up to promote this worke) bearing date
the 28'* of February 1651. to one of our f elves.

Much

Much Honored and

Beloved in Christ.

He Providence of God giving
this unexpedled opportunity of
fending, I thought it my duty
not to omit it, that fo the Saints
and people of God with you,
efpecially your felfe, with the
reft of the Worfhipfull Corpo-
ration, might underftand the
progrefle and prefent ftate of this worke of the
Lord among the Indians, for wee meete changes
of providence and tryalls in this our day of fmall
things. It hath pleafed the Lord to try them, fo
foone as they have but tafted of. his holy wayes.
For our natures cannot live without Phylicke, nor
grace without afflidlion, more or lefle, fooner or
later. The winter before this kft paft it pleafed
God to worke wonderfully for the Indians, who
call upon God in preferving them from the Pox,
when their prophane Neighbors were cut of by it.
This winter it hath pleafed God to make lefle dif-
ference, for fome of ours were alfo vifited with the
difeafe, yet this the Lord hath done for them, that
fewer of them have dyed thereof, then of others

who

{ 2 )

who call not upon the 'Lord. Onely three dyed
of it, (but five more young and old) of other dif-
cafes : Now (through the Lords mercy) they are
well, though not without ordinary infirmities,
which befall Mankinde. In matters of Regilion
they goe on, not onely in attendance on fuch means
as they have, not onely in knowledge, which begin-
neth to have fome clearenefTe in the Fundamentall
poynts of Salvation : but alio in the pradlice and
power of Grace, both in conftant care in attend-
ance on the worrtiip of God on Sabbath dayes and
Ledlure dayes, elpecially profitting in the gift of
prayer, and alfo in the exercife of love to fuch as
be in affliftion, either by ficknefle or povertie. I
have feene lively Adiings of Charitie out of Rever-
ence to the Command of the Lord, when fuch as
had not that principle were farre from fuch works
of mercy, it pleafed God to try them in the time
of the Pox. for fome of them did hazard their
owne lives (for to them it is very mortall) in obe-
dience to the Command of the Lord, to (hew
mercy to them that were ficke, and fome were in-
fed:ed thereby, and fell ficke and lay with much
chearefullnefle and patience under Gods hand, and
through the Lords mercy are well againe, others
who did fhew mercy in that cafe efcaped the fick-
nefle to the praife of God. Likewiie God is pleafed
to try their Charitie by an old Paraliticke or Palfie
ficke-man, who owne Children being prophane
and tyred with the burthen of him (his retentive
power of houlding excrements being loofened) and

having

( 3 )

having a loofenefle, fometimes he is very noyfome
and burthenfome) they forfooke him, and he had
perifhed, but that the Lord ftirred up (by the word
of his grace) their hearts to fhew mercy to him,
for he -while he was ficke at fix fhillings a weeke
charge, for wee offered twelve-pence a night to
any to tend him, and for meere hyre none would
abide it, but out of mercy and Charity feme of the
Families did take of him, and gave freely fome
weeks, and others were paid out of their publique
money, namely, fuch as hath been taken off, fuch
as have been Tranfgreflbrs by Fine or Muldt : and
flill he is at fome {hillings a weeke charge being
better in health, in fo much that all their publique
money is fpent, and much more, and wee have
Colledions among them for the fame ufe. The.
old man who hath been and ftill is wife, doth
wifely teftifie that their love is fincere, and that they
truely pray to God, and I hope fo doth hee, and (hall
be faved, I could with a word fpeaking in our
Churches have this poore man relieved, but I do
not, becaufe I think the Lord hath done it, for the
tryall of their grace and exercife of their love, and
to traine them up in works of Charitie, and in the
way of Chrift to make Collections for the poore.
I fee how the Lord provideth to further the pro-
grefle of the Gofpel, by thefe tryalls afflidtions, yea
there be more paflages of this winters worke,
wherein the Lord hath taught us by the CrofTe.
For one of our firfl: and principall men is dead,
which thought it be a great blow and damping to

our

{ + )

our workein fome Refpedls, yea the Lord hath not
left the reft to difcouragement thereby, nay the
worke is greatly furthered, for he made fo gracious
an end of his life, and imbraced death with fuch
holy fubmiffion to the Lord, and was fo little terri-
fied at it, as that it hath greatly ftrengthened the
Faith of the living to be conftant, and not to feare
death, greatly commending of the death oi Wam-
poras, for that was his name, I thinke he did more
good by his death, than he could have done by his
life ; one of his fayings was, That God giveth us
three mercies in this world ; the firft is health and
ftrength : the fecond is food and cloaths : the thii;d
is ficknefle and death ; and when we have had our
fhare in the two firft, why fhould wee not be will-
ing to take our part in the third? for his part he
was; I heard him fpeake thus, and at other times
alfo, and at his laft he fo fpake, and it fo tooke with
them, that I obferve it in their prayers, that they
fo reckon up Gods difpenfation to them, his laft
words which he fpoke in this world were thefe ;
yehova Anunnumah °Jefus Chriji (that is) Oh,
Lord, give mee Jefus Chrift ; and when he could
fpeake no more, he continued to lift up his hands
to Heaven, according as his Strength lafted, unto
his laft breath; fo that they fay of him he dyed
praying; when I vifited him the laft time that I
faw him in this world (not doubting but I fhall fee
him againe with Chrift in Glory) one of his fay-
ings was this : Foure yeares and a Quarter fince, I
came to your houfe, and brought fome of our

( 5 )

Children to dwell with the Etiglifh, now I dye, I
ftrongly entreat you (for that is their phrafe) that
you would ftrongly intreate Elder Heath (with
whom his Sonne liveth) and the reft, which have
our Children, that they may be taught to know
God, fo as that they may teach their Countrymen,
becaufe fuch an example would doe great good
among them, his heart was much upon our in-
tended worke, to gather a Church among them, I
told him I greatly defired that he might live if it were
Gods will) to be one in that worke, but if he fhould
now dye he ftiould goe to a better Church, where
Abraham, and Ifaac, and "Jacob, and Mofes, and all
the dead Saints were with Jefus Chrift in the pre-
fence of God in all his hapinefle and Glory ; he
faid he feared not death, he was willing to dye, and
turning to the Company which were prefent, he
fpake unto them thus; I now Jhall dye, but Jefus
Chriji calleth you that live to goe to Naticke, that
there the Lord might rule over you, that you might
make a Church, and have the Ordinance of God
among you, believe in his Word, and doe as hee com-
mandeth you: With many fuch words exhorting
them, which they could not hear without weeping.
A little before his death he fpake many gracious
words unto them, wherein our paflage was this :
Some delight to heare andfpeake idle andfoolijh words,
but I dejire to heare and fpeak onely the words of
God, exhorting them fo to do likewife : his gracious
words were acceptable and affedling, that whereas
they ufed to fly and avoyd with terrour fuch as lye
D dying.

( 6 )

dying, now on the contrary they flocked to gether
to heare his dying words, whofe death and burial!
they beheld with many teares ; nor am I able to
write his Storie without weeping.

Another affliftion and damping to our worke
was this, that it hath pleafed God to take away
that Indian who was mod adlive in Carpentery,
and who had framed mee an houfe with a little
directions of fome Englijh, whom I fometimes
procured to goe with mee to guide him, and to
fet out his worke ; he dyed of the Pox this winter,
fo that our houfe lyeth, not yet raifed, which
maketh my aboade amongft them more difficult,
and my tarriance fhorter than elfe I would, but the
Lord helpeth mee to remember that he hath (aid,
Endure thou hardnejfe as a good Souldier of Jefus
Chriji. Thefe are fome of the gracious tryalls and
Correftions the Lord hath exercifed us withall, yet
he hath mingled them with much Love and favor
in other refpedis; for it hath pleafed God this
winter much to inlarge the abilitie of him whofe
helpe I ufe in tranflating the Scripture, which I
account a great furtherence of that which I moft
defire, namely, to communicate unto them as much
of the Scriptures in their owne language as I am
able. Befides, it hath pleafed God to ftir of the
hearts of many of them this winter, to learn to
read and write, wherein they doe very much
profit with a very little help, efpecially fome of
them, for they are very ingenious. And whereas
I had thought that we muft have an Englijhman

to

( 7 )

to be their Schoole-Mafter, I now hope that the
Lord will raife up foine of themfelves, and enable
them unto that worke, with my care to teach
them well in the reafon of the i'ounds of Letters
and fpelling, I truft in the Lord that wee (hall
have fundry of them able to read and write, who
(hall write every man for himfelfe fo much of the
Bible as the Lord (hall pleafe to enable me to
Tranflate, Befides thofe works which concerne
Religion and Learning, we are alfo a doing (accord-
ing to the meafure of our day of fmall things) in
the civill part of this work, we have fet out fome
part of the Town in feveral ftreets, meafuring out
and dividing of Lots, which I fet them to doe, and
teach them how to doe it : many have planted
Apple-Trees, and they have begun divers Orchards,
it's now planting-time, and they be full of bufi-
neffe, yet wee are doing fome publick works, the
laft week I appointed our Led:ure to be at a
Water which is a common pa(rage, and where the
Fi(h wee call Alewives come there wee built a
Bridge, and made a wyre to catch Fifh, and being
many of them, Come we appointed to one work,
and fome to another, through the blefling of God
we brought both thefe works to perfection : we
alfo have begun a Pallizadoe Fort, in the midft
whereof we intend a meeting-houfe and School-
houfe, but we are in great want of Tooles, and
many nece(raries, and when we cannot goe we
muft be content to creep, this prefent week I am
going to Pawtucket, the great Fi(hing place upon

Merimak,

( 8 )

Merimak, where I hear fundry doe expedt my
coming, with a purpofe to fubmit themfelves unto
the Lords hand. Sir, I doe earneftly beg your
prayers both for me and for this work of the Lord
which he hath (et me about.

John Eliott.
Roxbury, the 28"* of
the 2"^ : 1 65 1

The former Letter of Mr. ElHots came to hand
about fix Moneths before the latter, and that's the
reafon you have another of his followeth next after
his former, whereby the Reader may fee and obferve
the conjiant goodnejfe of God in carrying on his owne
worke, notwithjlanding all the oppoftion of men.
Every day bringing forth as it were additionall im-
provements to the praife of God, who delighteth fo
much in this his day of Small things.

JVorJhijifull and much Honored
in the Lord.

>T is through the grace of Chrift who
hath called you into the .fellowfhip
of his Kingdome, that you are will-
ing to take fuch care and paines for
the advancement and furtherance of
his Kingdome, and the Lord fill your hearts with
the Confolations of his holy Spirit, whofe fpirit he
hath fet to feek his glory in promoting the Gofpel
of Jefus Chrift, and becaufe the fruit of our La-
bours coming in with a blefling, is a great means
to quicken the heart to be conftant in that worke
which the Lord delighteth to profper and bleffe.
It is my duty to let you underftand how it pleafeth
the Lord to profper and proceed in this work of
his among the Indians ; for the promoting whereof
you travaile with care and paines, that fo you may
goe on with the more Comfort, and the better
know how to diredr your prayers unto the Lord in
that behalfe. I will not trouble you with rehear-
fall of fuch things as I have already this year writ-
ten about unto our honoured Friend Mr. Winjiowe,
fo far as I can call to minde what I wrote, hoping
in the Lord that the Ships are fafely arrived, and

my

(, 1°. ) .

my Letters come unto his hands. I know not
whether I have yet mentioned our Schoole, which
through the Lords mercy we have begun, though
we cannot yet be conftant in it, we have two men
in fome meafure able to teach the youth with my
guidance, and infpediion. And thus we order the
Schoole: The Mafter daily prayeth among his
Schollers, and inftrufteth them in Catechifme, for
which purpoCe I have compiled a fhort Catechifme,
and wrote it in the Mafters Book, which he can
read, and teach them, and alfo all the Coppies he
fetteth his Schollers when he teacheth them to
write are the Queftions and Anfwers of the Cate-
chifme, that fo the children may be the more
prompt and ready therein : we afpire to no higher
learning yet, but to fpell, read, and write, that fo
they may be able to write for themfelves fuch
Scriptures as I have already, or hereafter may (by
the bleffing of God) tranflate for them ; for 1 have
no hope to fee the Bible Tranflated, much lefle
printed in my dayes. Therefore my chiefe care is
to communicate as much of the Scriptures as I can
by writing : and further, my fcope fo to train up
both men and youths, that when they be in fome
meafure inftrudted themfelves, they may be fent
forth to other parts of the Countrey, to train up,
and inftruft others, even as they themfelves have
been trained up and inftru6ted. This confidera-
tion doth make mee very carefull to put on the
Schoole, and attend it with what diligence I can,
although I cannot as yet doe in it, what I defire.

There

( " )

There be feverall providences of God appearing to
worke, which make me thinke that the moft
effedtuall and generall way of fpreading the Gofpel,
will be by themfelves, when fo inftrudted as I have
above mentioned ; as for my Preaching, though
fuch whofe hearts God hath bowed to attend, can
pick up fome knowledge by my broken expreffions,
yet I fee that it is not fo taking and efFedtuall to
ftrang^rs, as their owne expreffion be, who natu-
rally fpeak unto them in their owne tongue. To
the end therefore that they may be the better able
to teach others, I doe train them up, and exercife
them therein : when I am among them on the
Lords dayes, appointing two each Sabbath to exer-
cife, and when they have done, then I proceed,
and affuredly I find a good meafure of ability in
them, not only in prayer (wherein they exceed my
expeftation) but in memory to rehearfe fuch Scrip-
tures as I have read unto them and Expounded ; to
Expound them alfo as they have heard me do, and
apply them. And now alfo the Schoole-Mafter
taking the care of Catechifing the Children, I
leaving that to him doe Catechife the men, ex-
amining and trying their knowledge, which yet I
am wary in doing, leaft I fhould dampe and dif-
courage the weak. Tbefe things I attend with
the more intention, becaufe it feemeth to me God
will imploy thefe firft inftrudted to inftrudl others,
of which I have had fundry experiences, fome I
{hall inflance it pleafed Mr. Winthrop (Son unto
our late Honored Governour now at refl) to advife

me

( '2 )

me to fend two difcreet men to the greateft and
moft patent Sachem among the Naraganjets, to
anfwer fuch Queftions as they might propound,
and to ftirre them up to call on God. I did ac-
cordingly, and fent him a prefent by them ; but
the proud Sachem did little lefle then defpife the
offer, though he took the prefent; So they thought
they fhould have returned without fuccefl'e ; but
when they came among the people, efpecially fuch
as were a little more remote from the great and
proud ones, they received them with great glad-
nefle, one Company taking one of ours among
them. Others taking the other of our men amongft
them : they afked them many Queftions, exprefled
their readineffe to call upon God, if they had any to
teach them : expreffing likewife that they did not
expect their Sachems would pray to God becaufe
they were fo proud : by which I doe preceive that
the Lord is preparing a plentifuU Harveft, and
not onely by this, but by many other Evidences.
There is a great Countrey lying between Cone5ltCQtt
and the Majfachufets, called Nipnet, where there
be many Indians difperfed, many of which have fent
to our Indians, defiring that feme may be fent unto
them to teach them to pray unto God. And fome-
times fome of our beft men doe goe to feverall places
for a little while, and returne againe, and not with-
out fuccefle, Thefe things being fo, the work
which we now have in hand, will be as a patterne
and Copie before them, to imitate in all the Coun-
trey, both in civjllizing them in their Order,

Goverment,

( 13 )

Goverment, Law, and in their Church proceed-
ings and adminiftrations and hence great care lyeth
upon me to fet them right at firft, to lay a fure
foundation for fuch a building, as I forefee will be
built upon it, and in this matter I greatly need
pray : The Order of proceeding with them, is
firft to gather them together from their fcattered
courfe of life, to cohabitation and civill order and
Goverment, and then to forme them (the Lord
having fitted them) into vifible Church ftate, for
the guidance whereof, I have inftrufted them,
that they (hould look onely into the Scriptures,
and out of the word of God fetch all their Wife-
dome, Lawes, and Goverment, and fo fliall they
be the Lords people, and the Lord above fliall
Reigne over them, and govern them in all things
by the word of his mouth. Sundry of thefs which
pray unto God have formerly fubjedled themfelves
unto the Englijh fo that in this Government among
themfelves they doe referve themfelves in that
poynt to owne them as their fuperiours, to make
appeales unto them as need may require, and ex-
perience for thefe many yeares ftiew, that though
they have fo fubjedted themfelves, yet the onelv
benefit they have is protedtion : as for hearing and
determining their caufes, the difference of language,
and paucity of interpreters prohibits, and if their
caufes come, they be fo longfome, and yet of fmall
importance, that it is of necefilty, that either they
muft have no government, as hitherto it hath been,
or elfe they muft have it among themfelves. Be-
E fides

( H )

fides all or many of their differences and caufes
they ufually brought to me, which was not con-
venient, and I was willing to avoid : themfelves
alfo found great need that fome fhould be over
them; to judge their caufes, and differences, and
much defired it. Therefore upon the fixt day of
the fixt Moneth of this prefent year (their Palli-
fadoe Fort being finiftied) they had a great meet-
ing, and many came together from diverfe parts,
though fundry were hindred and came not at that
time, where, with Prayer to God I read and Ex-
pounded to them the i8'^ oi Exodus, which I had
done feverall times before) and finally they did
folemly choofe two Rulers among themfelves, they
firft chofe a Ruler of an Hundred, then they
chofe two Rulers of Fifties, then ihey chofe Ten
or Tithing Men (fo I call them in Englifti) for fo
they were called (as is reported) in England when
England did flourifti happily under that kind of
Government. And laftily, for that dayes work
every man chofe who fhould be his Ruler of ten,
the Rulers ftanding in order, and every man going
to the man he chofe, and it feemed unto me as if
I had feen fcattered bones goe, bone unto his bone,
and fo lived a civil politicall life, and the Lord was
pleafed to minifter no fmall comfort unto my
fpirit, when I faw it. After this worke was ended,
they did enter into Covenant with God, and each
other, to be the Lords people and to be governed
by the word of the Lord in all things. Tihe words
of which Covenant are thefe in Englijh. We doe

give

( -5 )

give our f elves and our Children unto God to be his
people, he Jhall rule us in all our affaires, not onely
in our Religion, and affaires of the Church [thefe
we dejire as foone as we can, tf God will) but alfo
in all our "Works and affaires in this World, God
Jhall rule over Us. If a 33. 22. The Lord is our
fudge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our
King, He will fave us ; the Wifedome which. God
hath taught Us in his Booke, that Jhall guide us and
difeSi us in the naay. Oh Jehovah, teach us wife-
dome tofinde out thy wifedome in thy Scriptures, let
the grace of Chriji helpe us, because Chriji is the
•wifedome of God, fend thy fpirit into our hearts, and
let it teach us. Lord take us to be thy people, and
kt us take thee to be our God.

This Adt of forming themfelves into the Govern-
ment of God, and entring into this Government,
^is the firft publique Record among the Indians,
lind ought I know the firft that ever was among
them : and now our next worke is to prepare them
for Church -eftate, to which end I do inftrudt
them, that the vifible Church of Chrift is builded
upon a lively confeffion of Chrift, and Covenanting
to w'^alk in all the Adminiftrations of the publique
worfhip of God, under the Government and Dif-
cipline of Jefus Chrift. I doe therefore exhort
them to try their hearts by the Word of God, to finde
out what change the Lord hath wrought in their
hearts, and this is the prefent work we have in hand.

Give me leave (much honored Friends) to goe
a little back in my relation, that I might be more

particular.

{ '6 )

particular, becaufe thefe Letters I prepared in the
fixt month after they had chofen their Officers,
as I was propounding and teaching them the above-
written Covenant, for that 1 did often before we
did folemnly accompHfh it, that fo they might doe
it as an Aft of knowledge and faith. Now let
me relate the order of our proceedings : Having
again and again read this Covenant to them, and
inftrudted them in the meaning of it, it pleafed
God to wrack Mr. Webbers Ship at Conahajfet,
though the Lord dealt favourably ; moft goods
were faved, though much fpoyled : this was on the
firft day of the j^^ Moneth, wherefore at a Ledlure
at Natik on the lo'^ of the fame Moneth, I in-
formed them of the plentifuU i'upply which the
Lord had made your felves his inftruments to fend
unto them for the furtherance of this our worke,
and alfo how the Lord hath frowned upon it, and
undoubtedly it was a fruit of fin, and therefore the
Lord called them to repentance, and made peace
with God ; befides we were begining a great
worke of civill Cohabitation and Government, and
they wanted wifdome to carry on fuch a work,
and the Lord had promifed, If any want wifdome,
afk it of God, who gives liberally, citing that of
James, which I had formerly preached on. More-
over, we were in preparation for a Church -ftate,
and that was a great matter to feek the Lord in ;
and laftly ; they having chofen Rulers, and intend-
ing to enter into a Covenant, to promife unto God
to be his people, and to be ruled in all things by

his

( 17 )

his Word. Gods appointment is that fuch a Cove-
nant fhould be entred into in a iblemne day of
fafting and prayer, and all thefe caufes concurred,
to put us on unto that work. Now though we
never yet had. kept fuch a day unto the Lord, yet
I had inftrufted them therein ; for in the Spring
we had a generall day of Humihation in all the
Churches, and thereupon they moved this Queftion,
Why the Englijh often fafied and prayed, and I never
yet taught them fo to do f To which I did anfwer
by that of Chrift unto his difciples, but told them,
that when we fet upon the great works of God, to
be his people, governed by his Word, and to
gather a Church, then they fhould be called of
God unto it, &c. and now it came to pafle, my
motion they deliberated on with fome conference
(as their manner is) and finally did confent unto it;
then I told them it was needfull they fhould pray
and teach that day; fundry of them and we agreed,
that all fuch as were called to be Rulers fliould
exercife that day, or fo many as we had time for
their Exercife. Before that day came, even then
when it was appointed Cutjhamoquin, the chief
Sachem, and therefore chofen the chief, (for he is
conflant in his profeflion though doubtfuU in re-
fpedt of the throughneffe of his heart) was in the
Countrey near Narraganfet, about appeafing fome
flrife among fome Sachems, Im which Journey
fome of thofe bad Indians and Cutjhamoquin with
them did buy fome fhrong water at Gortons Planta-
tion, and had a great drinking, from which the

wifor

( '8 )

wifor fort did withdraw themfelves, but Cutjhamo-
quin was in it, though not unto drunkennefle, yet
his adt was fcandalous. Before we folemnly ap-
peared before God, and made the above- written
Covenant, I advifed with Mr. Cotton about it, and
his Counfell was to add thefe words in the begin-
in g: JVe are the Sonnes of Adam, ivee and our fore-
fathers have a long time been lofi in our fns, but
now the mercy of Lord beginneth to finde us out
againe ; therefore the grace of Chriji helping us, wee
doe give our f elves and our Children, &

When the day came, this Adt of Cutjhomquin
being broken out, we fufFered not him to teach ;
onely he began the day with confeffion of his fin,
and made a (hort Prayer, wherein he confeffed
Satan adled in his heart, begged pardon, and that
the Spirit of God might dwell in him, and adl in
him for time to come, and fo ended.

Then another of them began with prayer, and
for his Text that in the 7^^ of Luke 36, to the end
(though they doe not know the Book, Chapter, or
Verfe, but diftinguifli my Ledtures by the firft
materiall word in it) Chriji being invited by Simon
the Pharifee, the Women wajht his feet with her
teare, &c. At which Simon flumbling, Chrift
fpake the Parable of the two Debtors, both freely
forgiven, with the Application, all which he re-
peated pretty well, and after his teaching he prayed
againe and ended. The fecond took for his Text
the Lords Prayer, becaufe it is, faid he, a day of
prayer, the third took for his Text the j^^ of

MattheiD

( '9 )

Matthew 1 9, to the end, Every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit, is cut downe, &c. And upon
that parable of the two Builders, on the rock the
firft, the other on the fand, &c. By this time the
day was well up, then I taught out of the 9'^ of
Ezra 3, & 9. where I defcribed a day of Fafting,
and the right carriage of it ; yet by the parable of
a Nut, I (hewed that outward adls are as the (hell, ,
which is neceflary, but a broken and believing
heart is the kernell, and fo ended the forepart of
the day. After a little refpite (in which time a
Queftion came to me, if it were lawfull to take a
pipe of Tobacco ? ) we met again, the firft took
his Text fob 3. 16. 22. And his Preface was,
I read or rehearfe this, and let every one read it in
his owne heart. Thefecond took his Text Matth.
13. 24. to 31. from the Parable of him that fowed
good feed, and the enemy came and while they Jlept
fowed tares, &c. The third took his Text, Luke
3, 4, 5, 6, ver. Prepare yee the way of the Lord,
make his paths Jlraight, Sec. By this time night
drew on, then I tooke for my Text, Deut, 29. and
the I to 16. where Ifrael entred into Covenant
with the Lord : and finally our Covenant in the
fore cited words I exprefl^ed, and they joyntly con-
fented unto ; firft the Rulers, then all the people,
then was the Colledtions for the poor, and by dark
night we finifhed our work. Thus have I briefly
defcribed that blefled day wherein thefe poor fouls
folemnly beccame the people of the Lord : this
was on the 24'^^ day of the 7'*^ Moneth, 1651.

Upon

( 20 )

Upon the 8'^' of the 0£i. Moneth, which was
our next Ledlure (for it is in that place but once
in a fortnight, I holding a Ledture each other week
ftill at another place) it pleafed our Governour
with many others attending him, to vifit our poor
works and day of fmall things, where they viewed
our Houfe, our Fort, our Bridge, advifed about a
place for a Mill, &c.) At the feafon they came
unto our Lefture, and obferved the carriage and
behaviour of things and men: among others things
one of our Indians did fas we are wont) exercife,
which, as that it pleafed the Governour to advife
me to write the fubftance of that which he fpake,
which is as foUoweth : his Text was Math. 13, 44,
45, 46. Again, the Kingdome of Heaven is like
unto treafure hid in a field, the which when a man
hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and
felleth all that he hath, and buy eth the field: 45.
Againe, the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Mar-
chant-man feeking goodly Pearles : 46. Who when
he had found one Pearle of great price, he went and
fold all that he had, and bought it. The fubftance
of thefe words he did twice rehearfe, then for in-
ftrudlion he firft propounded what is the treafure
which is hid in a field ? He anfwered, it is Re-
pentance for fin. Faith in C hrift, and pardon of
fin, and all grace, as alfo praying to God, the
worfhip of God, and his appointments, which are
the means of Grace, on which he dilated, {hewing
what excellent Pearles thefe are, exhorting all to
account fo of them, and on this point he did much

infift :

( 21 )

infift ; fecondly, he afked what is the Field where
thefe Pearles are to be found ? He anfwered, the
Church of Chrift, which they did defire to con-
ftitute in this place, and to that end come thither
to dwell; thirdly, he afked what it is to fell all that
a man hath to buy this Field? He anfwered, to
part with all their (iris, and to part with all their
old Cuftomes, and to part with their Friends and
Lands, or any thing which hindereth them from
coming to that place, where they may gather a
Church, and enjoy all thele Pearles; and here he
infifted much to ftir them up, that nothing fhould
hinder them from gathering together into this
place where they might enjoy fuch a mercy.

Then he proceeded to the fecond Parable, and
his firft Queftion was. Who is the Marchant man
that feeketh goodly Pearls ? He anfwered it is all
you Indians which pray to God, and repent of fin,
and come to hear the Word of God, you come to
feek for excellent Pearls ; And here alfo he infifted :
his fecond Queftion was, What is this Pearle of
great price ? Now in anfwer to this Queftion he
did not pitch it on Chrift alone, and ftiew the
worth and price of Chrift : but he did pitch it on
Faith in Jeius Chrift, and Repentance for Sin, and
ftood upon the excellency and neceflity thereof.
And this was the greateft defedt I obferved in his
Exercife, which feing I undertake to relate that
which none but myfelft. underftood. I dare not
but truly relate, becaufe the Lord heard all, and I
muft give an account of this relation before him :

F his

( 22 )

his next queftion was. What is meant by all the
Riches he had ? He anfwered, his Sins, his evil!
Cuftomes, his evill manners, in which he formerly
took much pleafure ; and here he dilated alfo ;
Laftly, he afked how did he fell them all, and buy
the Pearle ? He anfwered, by cafting away and
forfaking all his fins, mourning and repenting of
them, praying to God, and believing in Jefus Chrift.
and here he fervently dilated, and fo ended : and
this accordingly to the beft of my memory and ob-
fervation, is the fubftance of what he delivered.
Whereby you may obferve the manner of my
teaching them, for they imitate me, as for our
method of preaching to the Eng/ijh by way of
Dodlrine, Reafon, and Ufe, neither have I liberty
of fpeech for that way of teaching, being very un-
fkilfull in their Language, nor have they fufficient
ability of underftanding to profit by it, fo well as
by this way, whereof you have herein a little Tafte.

Jo Eliot.

The next Letter good Reader [for we place them
according to their J'everall dates) is one that came from
Mr John Wilfon that reverend holy man who is
Pajior of the Church of Chrijl at Bofton in New
England, who accompanying the Governour, together
with Mr Eliot andjundry others, to their new Towne
built by the Converted Indians, where they purpofe by
Gods permijjion to cohabife^ together, that fo they may
enjoy all thofe Ordinances the Lord Jefus hath left

unto

( 23 )

unto his Church. Now what Mr Wilfon there f aw,
heard and obferved, that he hath written over to us,
and we have publtjhed for thy information and Con-
folation.

Honoured and ever deare Sir.

sOuching the Work of God among
the Indians, for ought I heare or
fee from them that are moft con-
verfant therein, as Mr E/iot, Mr
Mahew, and Mr Leverich, with
whom I have made diligent en-
quiry ; it doth profperoiifly fuc-
ceed to their great encourage-
ment, and ours in the Lord. There was here fome
few weeks fince, the prime Indian at Marthas Vine-
yard with Mr Mahewe [Huntanequinn) a grave and
folemn Man, with whom I had ferious difcourfe,
Mr Mahewe being prefent as Interpreter between
us, who is a great proficient both in knowledge
and utterance, and love, and pradiice of the things
of Chrift, and of ReHgion, much honoured and
reverenced, and attended by the reft of the Indians
' there, who are folemnly Covenanted together, I
know not how many, but between thirty and forty
at the Leaft, and receive none into their Fraternity
or Combination, but thofe which give good proof
of their upright defires, to their Confcience, in their
profeffions and converfations, who when Mr Ma-
hewe

( 24 )

hewe cannot be with them (as at many fet time he
is) doth in the week time inftru6t himfelfe from
Mr. Mathewe mouth, and prepare for their in-
flrudtion on the Lords day which they confcionably
oblerve, and have their conftant folemne meetings
together : This man where he was, had commun-
ion on the Lords day with Mr Eliots Indians neer
Dorchejier Mill, unto whom he Preached or de-
clared what he had learned himfelfe from the
Scripture, fome two hours together, with folemne
prayer before and after, and then ended with a
Pfalme, fuch as at home is wont to be fung among
his ufuall hearers. The Lords day after he was in
our AfTembly, the Boat being ready to carry him
home by the next opportunity, and truly my rev-
erence to him was fuch, as there being no room I
prayed our brethren to receive that good Indian
into one of their pewes, which they did forenoon
and afternoon, and at meale, I perceived by him
that he had underftanding of what he heard Mr
Leverich being lately here and at my houfe (who
alfo Preached at our new Church) I conferred with
him about the beginnings and progrefs of the Lords
work, among his neighbouring Indians at Sand-
wich, and did hear from him, what did my heart ,
good. And therefore when he took his leave of
me I requefted him that he would doe me the fa-
vour at his return home, to fend me a brief Story
of that good hand of God which was there upon
them ab orgine, which I thank him he did foon
after, and I thought not amifTe to inclofe it, as it

came

( 25 )

to me, being written with his own hand, not
doubting but it would add unto your rejoycing in
the Lord. About a fortnight fince, there was a
Ledlure to be of Mr Eliot at Natick the new In-
dian Towne, where he ufeth frequently to Preach
to them, befides what he doth neer home (on either
fide) and many times doth keep the Lords day with
them, whereof having fome notice, and that the
Governour Mr Endicot intended then to be there,
my Coufin Raw/on and I with fome other, did
prepare to ride thither, the Governour and his Ser-
geants lying at Dedham, which is within (e\tx\ or
eight miles of the Towne, and we at Mr °Jackfons
neer Watertown Mill (in like diftance in the next
morning after we had been fome hours there
where we found Mr Eliot, and by that time we
had viewed all things, the Governour came with
about twenty Horfemen from Dedham and made a
like view, after which the Lediure or Sermon be-
gan in the Fort, which the Indians have made of
whole trees very handfome and firmej which is
neer a faire houfe which the Indians have built
after the Englijh manner high and large (no Eng-
lijhmans hand in it, fave that one day or two they
had an Englijh Carpenter with them to diredt about
the time of rearing, with chimneys in it. In which
Mr Eliot and thofe who accompany him ufe to lye,
and the Indian School-Mafter was there teaching
the Children, who doth read and fpell very well
himfelfe, and teacheth them to doe the like (be-
fides v^rriting) and as there is a large Roome below,

fo

( 26 )

fo there is a like Chamber above, in a Corner
whereof Mr Eliot hath a little Room inclofed, and
a bed and bed-fted therein, and in the fame Cham-
ber the Indians doe as in a Wardrope hang up their
fkins and things of price, as counting them there
to be fafe, as well when the doors be open, as when
they be locked, they have laid out 3 fair long
ftreets there, two on this fide the River, and one
on that, and have feverall houfe-lots apportioned
I'everally to every one, which doe or be to inhabite
there, and in many of them there are fruit-trees
already planted, and they are building Englijh
houfes for xhcmfelves, mean while living in JVig-
nvams, whereof there is good ilore neer the hill
fide, at prefent there being a goodly plaine from
the Towne towards Dedham, over the River (that
is, Charles River) they have made a firme high
foot-bridge archwife to walk to and fro, having
heaped on the bottome tymbers huge ft:ones, the
more to fortifie it, and it was a great encourage-
ment to them, that the laft year (when a like
Bridge made by the Englijh in the new Dedham
Village called Medefield, fome four or five miles
from them) was throwne downe by the force of
the flouds of Ice, yet theirs did fl:and firme and
upright. But to returne tc the Fort, and to the
bufines of the day, that is Round and Capacious,
and they have prepared there a large Canopie of
Matts upon poles for JVlr Eliot and the chief of his
Company to fit under, and other forts for them-
felves and other hearers. The Saneps or men by

themfelves

( 27 )

themfelves and the Squades or women by them-
felves, befides the Englijh then prefent (which were
about thirty) there were I think, not fewer than a
hundred men women and young ones ; among the
Indians there be fome greater proficients in know-
ledge, and of better utterance by far than their
fellows, grave and ferious men, whom Mr Eliot
hath trained up (or the Lord rather by his inftruc-
tions and direftions) to inftrud: and exhort the reft
of the Indians in their Lords day and other meet-
ings, when he cannot come to them himfelfe.
There be fome five of thei'e, one ot them was pre-
pared before we came, and appointed to begin this
Exercife : the further relation of the manner of
this Indians behaviour in Preaching, together with
the fubftance of that Sermon being before fet downe
by Mr Eliot may be never omitted : other particu-
lars in order to the exaft defcription of the Indian
Fort and buildings in Mr Eliots Letter is defedlive
are here fupplyed. This man being of middle age,
and clad all in Englijh apparell (as moft if not all
others of them are) fitting in the midft, on a ftoole,
under th° flielter did begin with prayer very fo-
lemnly, ftanding up for fome halfe quarter of an
houre, then fitting downe fpake unto them of the
two Parables, concerning the Feild wherein the
treafure hid, and the wife Marchant felling all for
the Pearle; we underftood him not (fave Mr Eliot)
excepting now and then a word or two, he dif-
courfed to them fome three quarters of an hour at
the leaft, with great devotion, gravity, decency,

readines.

( 28 )

readines, and afFedtion, and geftures very becom-
ming, and fundry mentions be made of Jefus Chrift,
efpecially in the beginning, and towards the end-
ing, as if he were the fcope of all, and the reft of
the Indians ; diverfe old men and women, and the
younger did joyne and attend with much Rever-
ence, as if much afFedted therewith ; then he ended
with prayer as he beganne. Then Mr Eliot Prayed
and Preached in the Indian Language for fome
hour more, about coming to Chrift, and bearing
his Yoke. This Text was tranflated by him from
the Scriptures into Englijh, fpeaking with much
authority, and after his latter Prayer the Indian
School-Mafter read out of his Book one of the
Pfalmes in meeter, line by line, tranflated by Mr
Eliot into Indian, all the men and women, &c fing-
ing the fame together in one of our ordinary Eng-
lijh tunes melodioufly. I fhould have faid that
after Mr Eliots Sermon there were two or three
grave Indians that propounded to Mr Eliot each of
them a Queftion, very pertinent to the matter he
handled about the yoke of Chrift, and coming to
Chrift, which he anfwered, interpreting to us both
their Queftions, and the fumme of his owne An-
fwers. After this the Lord did ftir up my heart to
make an Exhortation lo the Indians, which Mr
Eliot Expounded to them, and alfo the Governours
Speech, which God did ftir him up too unto the
fame purpofe, declaring our joy to fee fuch begin-
nings, and warning them of the great danger if
they fliould decline from what they had already

come

( 29 )

come unto, either in their knowledge, affedlion, or
Chriftian praftice, incouraging them againft what
might damp or deter.

Then all of us taking us to our horfes left Mr Eliot
and them together ; the Governour and his Company
to lye at Dedham, and the reft of us when we had
rid two or three miles with them did returne into
our own way towards our former lodging, having
been every one of us much refreshed in our fpirits
in what we faw & were informed of, viz. of God
amongft them. Not long before this, travelling
with Mr Elliots brother I conferred in the way
ferioufly with him about thele Indians, for he ufeth
to accompany his brother, and is a right godly and
dilligent man, defiring to know what folidity he
found by experience in them. Who did acquaint
me that there was difference between them as be-
tween the Englijh, fome being lefs ferious then
others, and lefle fpirituall ; but there was a con-
liderable Company of folide ones that were conftant
and forward in good duties, as well on the week
dayes as on the Lords, And that he had purpofely
fometimes in the dark walked the Round, as it
were alone, and found them in their feverall Fami-
lies as devout in Prayer, &c. as if there had been
any prefent to obferve : and that carried it very
modertly, utterly refufing to receive any reliefe from
Mr Eliot 'Table, choofing rather to live on the
provifions at home which came in by their owne
labour; and when once Mr Eliots owne provifions
failed (he being detained among them fundry dayes

G beyond

( 3° )

beyond his intent) they foon took notice, and of
their own accord did bring unto him variety of
the beft which they had themfelves ; and he pro-
feffed unto me that upon all his beft obfervation,
there was a very hopefull beginning amongft them,
of the Grace and Kingdome of our Lord Jefus,
The Lord vouchfafe to be the Omega among them
as well as the Alpha of this blefled change.

Bojion ; 27 : ^ber Tour moji Loving Friend

5 1 . and Brother in Chriji,

John Wilfon.

As Mr Wilfon was Jiirred up in himfelfe to fend
us the delation of his oivne Obfervations upon his
Journey with Mr Eliot, fo he having received fome
precious lines from an able Minifier of the Gofpel,
viz, Mr Leverich of Sandwich in the Government
of New Plymouth, whom the Lord hath jiirred up
to labour alfo in the Converfion of the Indians : the
ears feeming as it were white unto Harveji, and the
Labourers but very few, he adventures to put in his
fckle, not without hopefull fuccejfe, as will appear in
his following lines. And for the difcouragements
mentioned in his Letter, know that divers of his people
having caji off all the Ordinances of God in his
Church, at laji came to be f educed by every idle fpirit
that came amongji them, to be led into fuch fancies as
we are ajhamed to mention. And fo this good man
upon this occafion turned to the Lidians, where he
meets with an abundant blefpng upon his endeavours.

Reverend

( 31 )
Reverend Sir,

Salute you in the Lord, I (hall trouble
you only with two things, firft, the
n:ioving caufes inducing me to fet
upon this worke ; Secondly, with
'what luccefTe I have hitherto been en-
tertained, by the bleffing of God upon my weak
endeavours. For the firft of thefe, I fuppofe its
not unknown to your felfe, amongft rnany others,
what Angular exercife I have had in thefe parts,
and what iSngular Conflidts I have met withall in
my travails amongft our owne Countreymen, divers
of them tranfported with their (though not Angu-
lar) Fancies, to the rejedting of all Churches and
Ordinances, by a new cunning, and I perfwade
my felfe one of the laft but moft pernicious plot of
the Devill to undermine all Religion, and introduce
all Atheifme and profanenefle, if it were poffible,
together with which, I have obferved a fpirit of
Pharifaifme and formility too, too evediently creep-
ing upon and ftrongly poflefling others generally,
belides other difcouragements I (hall forbear to
mention, which confidered divers of our brethren,
together with my felfe, upon confultation, where
we might hope for more and better encourage-
ment, as touching our Communion, if God fo
pleafed : but were diflwaded by divers our hon-
oured Freinds, both by their Letters and more
private Councels, unto whom we gave way, at leaft
for the prefent ; not long after having an hopefull

Indian

( 32 )

Indian in my houfe, he propounds to me a motion
of teaching the Indians neer iis. And fometimes
after Mr Eliot invites me to the fame work by his
Letters : then I thought with my feif I muft ftay,
and began to taft the motion with more afFedtion,
refolving, that if God would pleafe to fit up the
room of others with the accefs of fuch forlorne
Creatures, and bring in fuch as wandered in the
high wayes, lanes, and hedges ; and Call in the
lame, and halt, and blind, in ftead of thofe Con-
temners, it would be a mercey ; and by no other
refpedts in this world, was my bread inclined unto
this work and to attend God in it. As touching
the lecond, for matter of fucceffe and incourage-
ment, I cannot but reckon this one, and that not
the leaft, that though the Indians tongue be very
difficult, irregular, and anomalous, and wherein I
cannot meet with a Verb Subftantive as' yet, nor any
fuch Particles as Conjnndlions, &c. which are eflen-
tiall to the feverall forts of axioms, and confequently
to all rationall and perfedt difcourfes, and that though
their words are generally very long, even fefquipedaha
verba, yet I find God helping, not onely my felfe to
learne and attaine more of it in a fhort time, then
I think I could or did Latine, Greek, or Hebrew,
in the like fpace of time, when my memory was
ftronger, and when all known rules of Art are
helpfull to faften fuch notions in the mind of the
learner; but alfo the Indians to underftand me
fully as they acknowledge, fo far as I have gone.
I am conftrained by many ambages and circumlo-
cutions

( 33 )

cutions to fupply the former defedt, to exprefs my
felfe to them as I may. The next encouragement
I may not without ground omit to mention is this,
that it pleafeth God to help Ibme of thefe poor
Creatures to look over and beyond the Examples
of fome of our looler fort of Englijh, which I look
upon as a great ftumbling block to many. It's to
be lamented that the name of God fo generally
profeffed by thofe loofer fort of Englijh, fhould be
lo generally polluted by them, and blafphemed by
Heathens, though the occafion of their loofenes
and deniall of the power of godlinelTe, yet God
gives fome of theirs a fpirit of difcerning between
precious and vile, and a fpirit of Convidtion, to ac-
knowledge (oh that ours would lay it to heart)
there is no difference between the worft Indians
and fuch Englijh faying, they are all one Indians,
yea and further, to put a little difference between
fuch Indians amongfl themfelves here and elfe-
where, as appear to be more (erious in their In-
quiries after God, and confcientious according to
their light, and fuch others as are more flight and
meer pretenders to Religion. Thirdly for more
particular obfervations. i. God has brought fome
of them to a fence of their finnes, and a fear of his
juflice. Here I fhall infert an example or two,
one of them being to repeat fuch Principles I had
begun to train them in, in a Catechiflacall way
(for my penury confines me to this method at pre-
fent, and I hope it may be never the worfe for
them) was a good while before he could fpeak,

having

( 34 )

having his countenance fad before (and as I have
underftood fince a week together after our former
Exercife) and in fpeaking the teares all the while
trickling downe his Cheeks : After being demanded
by me what was the matter of his fadnefle, he an-
fwers me, he did now underftand that God was a
juft God, and for himfelf he had been very wicked,
even from a child. And another, whom I ufed as
my Interpreter now and then in teaching them,
falls fuddenly and publiquely into a bitter paffion,
crying out, and wringing his hands, out of the like
apprehenfion of his Condition, as he told me after-
wards, and I find no one of them (daring men) to
fpeak of their good hearts, but fome more fome
lefle fenfible of the contrary. Secondly, God hath
brought fome of them to fome Evangelical! Con-
viction, one acknowledging that though he and
others leave their former evils, and fliould keep
Gods Commandments, yet without Chrift" they
muft goe to hell. Thirdly, Two or three of them
have complained of the hardnefTe of their hearts,
and are queftioning of Remedies. Fourthly, Speak-
ing to them of the mercy of God in Chrift, one
of them tells publiquely, it did him more good to
hear of Chrift, then to hear of all earthly good
things, I would fain hope for feeds of Faith in fuch.
Fifthly. Two of them I deal withall particularly
for perfonal evils, by name for the finne of Forni-
cation, which they were carried away into, vs^hich
my Indian acquainting my felfe with after our
Exercife I fpake unto, ftiewing them the evills of

this

( 35 )

this finne, and aggravating of it by the knowledge
they now had of God, &c and exhorting them to
Repentance, and to feek mercy in Chrift; where-
upon one of them fell into bitter weeping, pre-
(ently the other though his heart was fhut up at
prefent, yet not long after, and with longer con-
tinuance faid, I have obferved in others a fence of
temptations, fpirituall bondage, which they ex-'
prefied naturally thus ; one faith that he and the
Devill were all one Souldiers, and this in fadnefle of
fpirit, and fpeech : another laying his hands upon
his knees and hams, complains he was as a man
tyed in Cords, and prays to God to be unloofed,
and in generall they are obferved divers of them
to pray with much affedtion, mourning ; in fo
much that they are in this refped; a wonderment
to their Companions, who enquired what is the
matter why they doe fo, &c.

A fourth encouragement to me is this, I find the
Devill beftirring himfelfe, and betaking of himfelf to
his wonted praftice of ftirring up oppofitions againft
this work by his Inftruments, as fearing the ruine
of his Kingdome, their Countreymen manifefting
their hatred, threatning they fhall not plant, hunt,
&c. as befoe ; yea the Controverfie or enmity
rather arifes between Parents and Children, &c
Laftly, and not long before I was laft with you
in the Bay upon a fecond day in the morning
before they went away, there came to me to the
number of twenty of them, voluntarily profeffing
one by one there defire to feare God, promifing that

they

( 36 )

they would leave their fins, (fome intermixing ac-
knowledgements of their fins and ignorance : and
one that Englijh and Indians knew fhe had been
very wicked) hereunto calling 'Jehovah to witnes;
and this to doe all their dayes, as long as they live;
fome bringing their Children, and caufing them to
make the like profeffion ; whereupon I was the more
ftirred towards them in my fpirit (though I acknow-
ledge I was loath to make an abfolute engagement)
to pt-omife them I would endeavor to be as helpful]
to them as I could in teaching them : which when I
had done, they gave me thanks publiquely; and
fince this, they living fome feven miles from us,
have built a Wigwam of purpofe neer our Town to
receive them when they come on the Lords dayes ;
and truly Sir, they are fo attentive in hearing, that
it grieves me I cannot fpeak to them as I deiire,
they feeming to be hungry, and I wanting bread
for them. And thus Sir, you have a naked Nar-
ration of our proceedings, with the events fallen
out by Gods providence within not many moneths.
It is I believe a day of fmall things, and fo lookt at
by our Englijh many of them, who furely would
have perifhed in their darkneffe, if all others (hould
have contemned them as they thefe, I pray God
they perifti not in the light, however I am refolved
to bable to them as I may, confidering that out of
the mouths of babes God ordaines praiie, and found
ftrength to ftill the Enemy, &c the beginings of
Gods great works are often in great obfcurity, where
he appoints the end to be glorious. Alfo I re-
member

( 37 )

member one fowes and another reaps, which were
ever they be, fuch as are faithfull ftiall rejoyce to-
gether. I doubt not Sir, of your fervent prayers
(which I doe further beg of you and others that
know how to pity loft ones) for my felfe and poor
Indians, that the Lord will profper our indeavours
this way, and water them with his abundant bleff-
ings in Jefus Chrift, that the day-fpring from on
high may vifit fuch poor fouls as are in darknefle,
and the fliadow of death, and bring them to life in
Jefus Chrift.

Sandwich, this 22"^ of William Leverich.

the jth, 1651.

The next Letter is a tejiimoniall from a private
hand of what Mr Leverich mentions in his to Mr
Wilfon where we may fee fame fruits of his labours
tejiifed by a neighbour, of his at Sandwich, which is
fiftie miles from that place, where Mr Eliot hath
taught other Indians /or divers years : but we doe
not a little rejoyce to hear that Mr Leverich is en-
gaged in this worke, becaufe he is a grave learned
knowing and a prudent Chrijiian, one indeed from
whom by Gods bleffing we may expeSl much good.

Concerning the Indians I have feen and heard
more this Summer then ever I did before,
I have feen fome Indians crave a bleffing
before meat, and returne thanks after meat, pray
morning and evening, fome of them do frequent

H our

( 38 )

our meetings, they come conftantly eight or ten
miles every Saturday, and the Monday they returne
home againe, while our Exercife doth laft, they
doe attend dilligently, but underftand but little, but
when that is done Mr L£verich and they doe put
queftions one to another, as Mr Leverich hath an
Indian that fpeaks good Englijh, and he is Inter-
preter. There is a man that lives neer us, that
comes from an Ifland that is Martin's Vineyard^
where is a Minifter that fpeaks good Indian^ he
doth preach to them every week, he hath told me
that that Minifter told him, that there are fome of
them Indians that are able to give a better reafon
of their Faith, then fome of the members of their
Church; fome of them will Preach, and they have
private meetings, and keep very good orders.

Sandwich, ^^^ Sep- Ant honey Bejfey.

t ember 1651.

The next Letter we prejent thee withall good
Reader, is one from Mr Mayhew, whom God hath
honoured with abundant fuccejfe in making his labours
the infirumentall meanes to turne many of the Hea-
then from their evill wayes to the Lord our God.
This he not only wrote to Mr Henry Whitfield, who
is a Minifter in Winchefter, but alfo to a Member of
our Corporation, being the fame Narrative word for
word, for ought we difcerne, wherein appeareth a
mighty progrejfe in godlines fnce our laft Treatife
publijhed by Mr Henry Whitfield upon his comming

hither

( 39 )

hither from New England. God not onely adding
to their number Juch as in Charity we conceive ap-
pertain to his EleSlion : but Jiirred them up [being
neer two hundred perfons) to enter into a more clofe
way of the Gofpel, declaring themfehes to be the wor-
Jhippers of the ever living God, With many other
things minijiring much confolation to every Chrijiian
heart, to fee thefe very Powwawes fall off from the
worjhip of Devills, and embrace the glad tidings of
Salvation.

Reverend and dearly beloved in
Chrifi Jejus.

SIR

WHat you have done in the Indian bufines,
and concerning my felfe in particular,
doe give good teftimony of your holy
defires to further the work of the Lord amongft
them. The good providence of God in bringing
you unto us, and the free engaging of your felfe in
this worke of the Lord, and that upon the beft
ground, did fully perfwade my heart of yourfaith-
fulneffe therein, and of an inward bleffing from God
upon us thereby ; although I fhould never have
feen a return in outward fupplies, as now through
mercy I have, as an acceptable and very helpful!
fruit of Chriftian gocdnes and bounty received
from your felfe and Chriftian Friends, that the
Lord hath ftirred up both to pray earheftly, and

contribute

( +0 )

contribute freely f..>r the promoting of the work of
the Lord in my hand amongft the poor Indians^
Sir, affure your felfe, and let all our beloved Friends
know, that what is done by you together in this
behalf, doth not only ftrengthen my hands, and
give me advantage to be more helpfull to the In-
dians, but alfo is a further encouragement unto my
heart from the Lord to do to the utmoft of my
power in this fervice he hath called me unto, and
wherein he hath afforded me his gracious prefence
unto this day; and not only in f'upporting me
therein, but alfo in fome remarkeable paflages of his
power and mercy amongft the Indians, thofe mif-
erable Captives, fomething whereof your felfe hath
been an eye witnes unto, and have already heard,
yet now being further advantaged through the
grace of God appearing with us, and knoviring it
will be acceptable to your felfe, and our dearly be-
loved Chriftian Friends, that long for and rejoyce
in the gracious appearance of Jelus Chrift in his
Kingly Soveraignty and power, where he hath not
formerly been known. I fliall by the help of God
certifie [to] you how the Lord hath carried on his
own work with us fince your departure from us.

It pleafe the Lord who had drawne the Indians
from the Pawwaivs to worfhip himfelf, whereat
the Pawwaws were much difcontented, yet now to
that perfwade two of themfelves to run after thofe
followed hard after God, defiring that they might goe
with them in the wayes of that God whofe name
is yehovah : and they came much convinced of their

finnes

( +' )

finnes that they had lived in, and efpecially of their
Pawwawing, faying, I throw it from me with hatred
of it being forry that ever I medled with it. And
now I have heard of yehovah, by his help I put it
under my feet, and hope to trample it down in the
duft with the Devill and Panvwawnomas (or Imps)
I throw it into the fire, and burn it. Thus they
fully made known unto all both by word and gef-
ture, and by more fuch like expreflion they then
ufed, not only their indignation againft it, but that
they would never make ufe of it more. One of
them did then difcover the bottom of his witch-
craft, confeffing that at firft he came to be a Paiv-
waw by Diabolical Dreams, wherein he faw the
Devill in the likenefle of four living Creatures; one
was like a man which he faw in the Ayre, and this
told him that he did know all things about the
Ifland, and what was to be done ; and this he faid
had its refidence over his whole bbdy. Another
was like a Crow, and did look out fliarply to dif-
cover mifchiefs coming towards him, and had its
refidence in his head. The third was like to a
Pidgcon and had its place in his breaft, and was
very cunning about any bufinefl^e. The fourth was
like a Serpent, very fubtile to doe mifchiefe, and
alfo to do great cures, and thefe he faid were meer
Devills, and fuch as he had trufted to for fafety,
and did labour to raife up for the accomplifliment
of any thing in his diabolicall craft, but now he
faith, that he did defire that the Lord would free
him from them, and that he did repent in his heart,
becaufe of his fin. The

( 42 )

The other faid his Confcience was much troubled
for his fin, and they both defired the Lord would
teach them his wayes, have mercy upon them, and
pardon their fins, for Jefus Chrift: his fake: and
truly it did give to us who were prefent a great
occafion of praifing the Lord, to fee thofe poor
naked fons of Adam, and flaves to the Devil from
their birth, to come towards the Lord as they did,
with their joynts (baking, and their bowels trem-
bling, their fpirits troubled and their voices wjth
much fervency, uttering words of fore difpleafure
againft fin and Satan, which they had imbraqed
from their Childhood with fo much delight, ac-
counting it alfo now their fin that they had not the
knowledge of God.

Secondly, that they had ferved the Devil, the
Enemy both of God and Man,

Thirdly, that they were fo hurtfull in their lives,
and were alfo thankfull that now through the bleflT-
ing of God they had an opportunity to be delivered
out of that dangerous condition. The Indians did
all much rejoyce to fee the Pawwaws turn from
their wicked wayes to ferve the Lord. Not long
after the Pawaws had forfaken their old way, on a
Ledture day after Exercife diverfe Indians defired
to become the fervants of the Lord, amongft whom
was a Pawivaw, called Tequanoninii who was of
great efteem and very notorious ; for he as they
faid, and in their ignorance conceived, never did
hurt to any, but alwayes good, endeavouring the
good and prefervation o( the Indians ; whereunto

alfo

( +3 )

alfo he was accompted by them to be ftrongly pro-
vided. And as himfelf faid he had been pofTefled
from the crowne of his head to the foal of the foot
with Pawwawnomas, not onely in the (haye of living
Creatures, as Fowles, Fifties, and creeping things,
but Braffe, Iron, and Stone, it was therefore the
more to be acknowledge the work of God, that he
fliould this way, his friends, his gain, to follow the
Lord, whofe wayes are io defpifable in the eyes of
devillifli minded men. This Pawivaw declaring
by what means the Lord took him off this devillifli
Trade, faid that he had heard fome things from
my Father, who took occafion to difcourfe with
him about the way of true happineffe, that he
fliould never forget, bleffed be God, his Councell
had fo good an efFedt, as I hope it hath on many
others. It pleafed the Lord who will have all the
gods of the earth to be terrible unto him, for he
meeting Mumanequem in the wood by accident, told
him that he was glad he had an opportunity to
fpeak his minde unto him, for he had many fearch-
ings of heart about his Pawwawing, and did think
it w^as not a good way, and that God was angry with
him for i( ; for laid he my Wife hath been a long
time fick, and the more I Pawwaw for her, the
ficker flie is ; And this doth agree with our ob-
fervations of the Indians of this Ifland, viz that
fince the Word of God hath been taught unto
them in this place, the Pawwaws have been much
foiled in their devillifli taflcs, and that infl:ead of
curing have rather killed many; but in a word,

the

( ++ )

the fruit of this and all other means was a publique
manifeftation of hatred to his former wayes, won-
dering he was yet alive who was fo iinfull, and
that he defired to be better, and to beleeve in
Chrift, for whole fake onely, he did believe his
finnes could be pardoned, and that he did defirfe to
hear the word of God. This man hereby hath
made thofe of his owne houfe to be his Enemies ;
his Wife, his Children, and moft of his friends and
kindred, who remain obftinate ftill, whereby he
meets with many troubles and temptations ; one of
his brethren being very fick did earneftly defire
that he would Pawwaw for him, which he refufed,
his brother told him that he might keep it private,
but he ftill refufed, telling him that not withftanding
that if he fhould anfwer his defire, he fhould break
his Covenant, and finne againft God ; and there-
fore would not.

There came preffing in at the fame time about
fifty Indians defiring to joyne with the Worfhip-
pers of God in his fervice. it would be too long
me to fet doune what every one faid before they
entred into Covenant, only this I may not omit,
that all of them came confeffing their finnes, fome in
fpeciall the naughtinefife of their hearts, others in par-
ticular, adtuall finnes they had lived in ; and alfo they
all defired to be made better, and to attend unto the
Word of God, to that end looking onely to Chrift
Jefus for falvation. I obfervedalfo that they generally
came in by Families, bringing alfo their Children
with them, faying I have brought my Children too, I

would

( +5 )

would have my Cliildren ferve God with us, I de-
fire that this fon and this daughter may worflip
yehovah, and if they could but fpeak, their Parents
would have them fay fomethingto ftiew their will-
ingneffe to ferve God : And when the Command-
ments were repeated, they all acknowledged them
to be good, and made choice of "Jehovah to be
their God, promifing by his help to walk accord-
ing to his Counfels : And when they were received
by them that were before in this generall Covenant,
it was by loud voices giving thanks to God that
they were met together in the wayes of yehovah,
this is all before the end of the year 1650.

And now through the mercy of God there
are an hundred ninetie-nine, men women, and
children, that have profefled themfelves to be wor-
ftiippers of the great and everliving God. There
are now two meetings kept every Lords day, the
one three miles, the other about eight miles off my
houfe : Hiacomes teacheth twice a day at the near-
eft, and Mumanequen according at the fartheft, the
laft day of the week they come unto me to be in-
formed touching the fubjedl they are to handle:
And the Lord doth much affift them, blefled be the
name of the Lord. I have alio undertaking to keep
by tiie help of God two Ledtures amongft them,
which will be at each once a fortnight : And I
hope it will be by the bleffing of God very profitable
unto them. This winter I intend, if the Lord will,
to fet up a School to teach the Indians to read, viz.
the children, and alfo any young men that are will-

I ing

( +6 )

ing to leaine, whereof they are veVy glad. I am alfo
endeavouring their cohabitation with all convenient
fpeed, that fo they may be more helpful! one to
another ; and alio the better advantaged to carry
on that work they have fet upon to Gods glory,
and their own Comfort. And what I have written
concerning the Paimvaws and the fifty Indians that
were admitted to thofe that worfhipped God in
one day : there were diverfe Englijh both eye and
ear witneffes thereof, as well as my felfe, and we
could not but acknowledge much of the Lords
power and goodneffe to be vifible amongft them,
who without being driven by power, or allured by
gifts, were fo flrongly carried againft thofe wayes
they fo much loved, to love the way that nature
hates. Let us therefore magnifie the Lord, who
alone doth this, and feek unto him to do more and
more ftill, that fo one generation may praife his
works to another, and that fo both wee and them
may abundantly utter the memory of his great
goodneffe and power, in that new Song, Revela-
tions 5. 9. untill that we all meet together in
Heaven, And Jing glorious praijes unto him that Jit-
teth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever
and ever. In whom I heartily recommend you unto
God, defiring to be recommended by you, and in
him to reft.
From the Vineyard 1 6*^

of OBober. 1 65 1 . Tours to be commended in

and for the Lord fefus

Thomas Mayhew.

The

( 47 )

The next Letter you meet withall came from the
prefent Governour of the Maffachulets, direBed to
the Prefdent of our Corporation, and another to the
Members thereof, njohich we thought good to publijh,
that every Chrijiian Reader may partake in the
fame confolation, wherewith he and we are com-
forted; and joy ne with us in preeyer to the Lord of
the Harveji, that he would provide more Labourers
to enter upon this foulfaving worke, and enlarge
the hearts of all his people in this Nation towards
the fame.

Much Honoured and beloved in the
Lord Jejus.

Efteeme it not the leaft of Gods
mercies that hath ftirred up the hearts
of any of the people of God to be
inftrumentall in the inlarging of the
Kingdome of his deare Sonne here
amongft the Heathen Indians, which was one end
of our comming hither, and it is not fruftrated. It
was prophefied of old, and now begins to be ac-
compliflied, Pfal. 2. 8. Neither can I but ac-
knowledge the unfpeakable goodnefle of God that
gives us favour in the fight of our Countrymen to
helpe on with fo large a hand of bounty, fo glori-
ous a woike, provoked thereunto by your worthy
felves, the chiefe Adtors of fo good a defigne, let
me (with leave) fay confidently^ you will never

have

( +8 )

have caufe to repent it ; For the work is Gods and
he doth owne it, the labour there hath been yours,
and your Mafter will reward it. I think Religion
and Confcience binde me to feek unto God for you,
and to praife him with you, for what is already
begun. The Foundation is laid, and fuch a one
that I verily beleeve the gates of Hell fhall never
prevaile againft. I doubt not but the building will
goe on apace, which I hope will make glad the
hearts of Thoufands. Truly Gentlemen, had you
been eare and eye- witnefle of what I heard and faw
on a Ledture-day amongft them about three weeks
fince, you could not but be afFedted therewith as I
was. To fpeak truly I could hardly refrain tears
for very joy to fee their dilligent attention to the
word firft taught by one of the Indians, who be-
fore his Exercife prayed for the manner devoutly
and reverently (the matter I did not fo well under-
ftanding) but it was with fuch reverence, zeale,
good afFedtion, and diftindt utterance, that I could
not but admire it; his prayer was about a quarter
of an houre or more, as we judge it ; then he took
his Text, and Mr Eliot their Teacher told us that
were Englijh the place there were fome Minifters
and diverfe other godly liicri there that attended
me thither, his Text was in Matth, 13, 44, 45, 46.
He continued in his Exercife full halfe an hour or
more, as I judge it, his gravity and utterance was
indeed very commendable ; which being done Mr
£//o/ taught in the Indian tongue about three quarters
of an hour as neer as I could guefle : the Indians

which

( +9 )

which were in number men and women neer about
one hundred, feemed the moft of them fo to attend
him, (the men efpecially) as if they would loofe no-
thing of what was taught them, which reflefted much
upon fome of our Engli/h hearers. After all there was
a Pfalme fung in the Indian tongue, and Indian meeter,
to an Engli/h tune, and by one of themfelves, that but
the reft might follow, and he read it very diftincSly
without miffing a word as we could judge, and the
reft fang chearfuUy, and prettie tuneablie, I rid on
purpofe thither being diftant from my dwelling
about thirty eight, or forty miles, and truly I ac-
count it of the beft Journeyes I made thefe many
years. Some few days after I defired Mr Eliot
briefly to write me the fubftance of the Indian
Exercife, which when he went thither again,
namely to Naticke, where the Indians dwell, and
where the Indian taught, he read what he remem-
bered of it firft to their School-Mafter who is an
Indian, and teacheth them and their Children to
write, and I faw him write alfo in Engli/h, who
doth it true and very legible, and a{ked him if it
were right, and he faid yea, alfo he read it unto
others, and to the man himfelf, who alfo owned it.
To tell you of their induftry and ingenuitie in
building of an houfe after the Engli/h manner, the
hewing and fquaring of their tymber, the fawing
of the boards themfelves, and making of a Chim-
ney in it, making of their groundfells and wall-
plates and mortefing, and letting in the ftudds into
them artificially, there being but one Engli/h man

a

( 50 )

P

a Carpenter to fhew them, being but two dayes
with them, is remarkable, they have alfo buih a
Fdrt there with halfe trees cleft about eight or ten
inches over about ten or twelve^ foot high, befides
what is intrencht in the ground, which is about a
quarter of an acre of ground, as I judge. They
have alfo built a foot bridge over Charks River,
with Groundlefs and Spurres to uphold it againft
the ftrength of the Flood and Ice in the Winter;
it flood firme laft Winter, and I think it will ftand
many Winters. They have made Drummes of
their owne with heads and brafes very neatly and
artificiall, all which (hews they are induftrious and
ingenious. 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 graffe
very well. I fhall no further trouble you with any
more Relation at this time concerning them. But
a word or two further with your patience concern-
ing other Indians. The work of God amongft the
Indians at Martins Vineyard, is very liopefull and
profperous alfo. I mift of Mr Mayhew their
Teacher, who was lately at Bcjion, and therefore
cannot give you a particular account thereof at this
prefent time; yet I cannot but acquaint you what
other motions there are touching other Indians,
There came to us upon the ao^'^ of this inftant
Moneth, at the generall Court one Pummakummin
Sachem oi i^unnubbagge, dwelling amongft or neer
to the Narrganfets, who offered himfelfe and his
Men to worfhip God, and defired that fome Eng-

lijh

( 51 )

lijli may be fent from the Majfachufets Government
to plant his River, that thereby he may be pertake
of Government, and may be inftruded by the
Englijh to know God. We fhall I hope take fome
care and cuurfe about it, and I hope we fhall have
more help to carry on that work alfo ; for their are
fome Scholars amongfl: us who addicfl themfelves
to the Study of the Indian Tongue. The Lord in
mercy recompence it unto your Bofomes, all that
labour of love vouchfafed to the poor Indians,
which are the hearty prayers, and earneft delire of,
much honoured.

Bofton the 2y^^ of

the Eight, 1651. Tour loving Friend in all

fervice of Chrijl,
John Endecott

The next thing we pre fent the Reader wit hall, is a
private pajfage from one in New England to his
godly Friend here, who was fo much affeBed there-
with, as he found out our Treafurer of the Corpora-
tion, by name Mr. Richard Floyd at the Mermaide
in Cheapfide, and defred it might be publijhed to the
world among ft other things when we Jhould publijh
and print what we received of like nature. And bow
ever it is but brief e in it felfe, yet full of fweetnejfe,
and plainnejfe of fpirit which we offer to thy view.

The

( 52 )

I He. beft News I can write you fom
New England is, the Lord is indeed
converting the Indians, and for the re-
frefhing of your heart, and the hearts
of all the godly with you ; I have fent
you the Relation of one Indian of two yeares pro-
feffion, that I took from his owne mouth by an
Interpreter, becaufe he cannot fpeak or underftand
one word of Englijh.

The Jirji ^ejiion was ;

Q,. How did you come firft to any fight of?

A. His anfwer was, Before the Lord did ever
bring any Englilli to us, my Confcience was exceed-
ingly trouhled for Jin, but after Mr Mayhew came to
preach, and had been here fome time, one chief Saga-
more did imbrace the Gqfpel, and hearing of him, I
went to him, and prayed him to fpeak fomething to
me concerning God, and the more I did fee of God,
the more I did fee my finne and I went away rejoyc-
ing, that I knew any thing of God, and alfo that I
faw my fnne.

Q. I pray what hurt doe you fee in finne?

A. Sin fayth he, is a continuall ficknefe in my
heart.

Q. What further evil! do you fee in finne?

A. I fee it to be a hreach of all Gods Command-
ments.

Q. Doe you fee any punilhment due to man for
finne ?

A.

( 53 )

A. Tea, fayth he I fee a righteous punijhment

from God due to manforjinne, which Jh all be by the

Devills in a -place like unto fire (not that I fpeake

of materiall fire, [faith he) where man Jhall be for

ever dying and never dye.

Q. Have you any hope to efcape this punifh-
ment ?

A. While I went on in the way of Indianifme /
had no hope, but did verily believe I Jhould goe to
that place, but now J have a little hope, and hope I
Jhall have more.

Q. By what meanes doe you look for any hope ?

A. Sayth he, by the fatisfaSiion of Chrifi.

I prayed the Interpreter to tell him from mee
that I would have him thinke much of the Satis-
fadlion of Chrifi, (and fo he told him) I prayed
him to returne me his Anfwer.

A. / thanke him kindly for his good Counfell,
it doth my heart good, fayd he, to hear any man
fpeake of Chrifi.

Q. What would you thinke if the Lord fhould
fave you from mifery ?

A. If the Lord, fayd he, would fave me from all
thefinne, that is in my heart, and from that mifery ,
I Jhould exceedingly love God, and faith he, I Jhould
love a man that Jhould doe mee any good, much more
the Lord, if he Jhould doe this for me.

Q. Doe you thinke that God will doe you any
good for any good that is in you ?

A. Tea,fayth he, I take every thing as an An-
fwer of prayer.

K Q. But

( 5+ )

Q. But what fpeciall anfwer, have you taken
notice of?

A. Once my wife being three dayes and three
nights in labour I was refohed never to leave pray-
ing, till Jhe had deliverance, and at laji God did it,
and gave her afonne, and I called his name Return-
ing, becaufe all the while I went on in Indianifme /
was going from God, but now the Lord hath brought
mee to him bake againe.

By this time Captaine Gooking came to us, and
he afked him this Queftion :

Q. What he would thinke if he fliould finde
more affliftion and trouble in Gods wayes, then he
did in the way of Indianifme ?.

A. His anfwer was, when the Lord did firji
turne mee to himfelfe and his wayes, hejiripped me as
bare as my Jkinne, and if the Lord Jhouldftrip mee
as bare as my Jkinne againe, and, fo big Saggamore
Jhould come to mee and fay , I will give you fo big
Wampom,yo big Beaver, and leave this way, and
turne to us againe: I would fay, take your riches to
your f elf e, I would never forfake God and his wayes
againe.

This is a Relation taken by my felfe,

William French.

The laji Letter we offer to the Readers view, is a
Letter direBed to one of our f elves from Mr.
Thomas Allen, who came lately from New- England,

and

( 55 )

and is nons) fetled in the Minijiery at Norwitch in
Norfolke, wherein he beareth witnes to the reallitie
and truth of this noorke of the Lord in New Eng-
land begun upon the Indians, againji all fuch that
raife up falfe reports againji the fame, or fuch as
labour to weaken the fame, by lejaning the number
of fuch as are wrought upon by the .power of the
Gofpel preached to them.

Honored Sir ;

IT feems that fome of late have been lb impu-
dently bold (which I cannot f ufficiently wonder
at) as to report and publiquely affirme, that
there was no fuch thing as the preaching and dif-
perfing of the Gofpel amongfl: the Natives in New
England : Verily Sir, I doe beleeve that the Devill
himfelfe (who is the Father of Lyes) would not,
yea durft not have uttered fuch a notorious un-
truth as that was. Now although I confefle I have
not been preient at the places where the Indians
are wont to meete, to heaie fuch as dpe preach
unto them, by reafon of my bodily weaknes, and
indifpolition to travell fo farreinto the VV^ildernefle,
yet thus much I can teftific (if my Teftimony may be
of any ufe) being lately come over from New Eng-
land ; that there are divers perfons in feverall places,
who doe take paines, and labour in that Worke
there, viz not onely Mr. Eliot of Roxbury, who
hath preached among them for many yeares up &

downe

( 56 )

downe in the Jurifdidtion of the Majfachufets ; and
Mr. Mayhew, who for a good while hath taken
paines among the Indians at an Ifland called Mar-
tins Vineyard i but of late alfo Mr. Leveridge in the
Jurifdidtion of Plymouth, and Mr. Blynman, who
lives now in a new Plantation in the Pequotts
Countrey. As for the fuccefle of the Preaching
of the Gofpel unto the natives, I have heard Mr.
Eliot affirme, that he is fo well perfwaded of the
Worke of grace in fome of them, as that he could
comfortably joyne in Church fellowfliip with
them : M^'Mahew alfo (who came to fee mee a
little before my comming from thence) told me
that after Mr. Whitfeilds coming thence, (for he
had been upon that Ifland, as he came to the Bay,
and was prefent alio with Mr. Mahew among the
Indians) there were neer upon one hundred (I
think he faid Ninety and odd) perfons of them
more who came in to heare him preach unto them,
and fome Pawaws alfo, and one of fome Eminency
amongft them, who did acknowledge his Evill in
fuch doings, and made a Declaration of the man-
ner how he came at firft to be a Pawwaiv, the
which alfo Mr, Mahew did relate unto mee. Sir
that there is fuch a work in hand in New Eng-
land as the preaching of the Gofpel unto the Na-
tives there, all the Magiftrates and Minifters and
people in that place (who know any thing) will be
readie to atteft, and therefore fuch as dare affirme
the contrary, may as well fay, that the Sunne doth
not fhine at Noone day, when the fkie is cleere,

and

{ 57 )

and doc indeed deferve a Publique WitnelTe to be
borne againft them, for fuch a Publique, and no-
torious an untruth : The good Lord humble them
deeply for it, if it be his good will, and pardon it
to them through his grace in Chrift.

Thus Sir, not having further at this prefent to be
troublefome unto you, defiring an Intereft in your
earneft prayers for mee, befeeching the Lord to let
his prefence and blefling be with you, and upon
your great and weighty bufineffes, I take leave,
refting.

Norwich 8<^ 1 1™ Tour humble Servant in the Lord,
1651. Thomas Allen.

rms

( 58 )

THIS having prefented the Chriftian
Reader with a view of thofe things that
God hath brought to our hands, which we
of the Corporation conceive ourfelves bound in duty
to publijh to the world, looking upon it as one meanes
to advance the work in the hearts of Gods people,
and to Jlirre them up thereby to contribute more
freely towards the carrying on the fame : The reafon
wherefore we have publifhed fo many tejiimonialls,
and Jhall infert more, is becaufe too many that come
from thence labour to blaji the worke, by reporting
here that there is no fuch worke a foote in the
Countrey : or if it be it is but for the Loaves, &c if
any be truely converted, 'tis not above five or feven
at mofi ? Thefe things as they are very grievous
to us to heare, fo we take God to witnes, that as we
are in fincerity exercifed in a great deale of care
and travell to carry on the worke ; fo we publijh
to the world no more than what we have received,
and beleeve to be really true. And if thefe tefii-
monies related in the foregoing difcourfe, be not
fuficient to fatisfie any fill doubting Spirit, there
are fome eminent Gentlemen come from thence, who
are ready to refolve them in the truth hereof, as Mr.
Edward Hopkins, late Governour of Conedtacutt,
Mr. Francis Willoughby, [and others) a late
Magiftrate of the MafFachufets. Befides if any
Jhall repaire to Coopers Hall, we Jhall be willing to
Jhew them the origindll Copies we have received,
which we have tranfcribed for the Prejfe ; the time

for

( -59 )

for any to repaire thither is Saturday every weeke
between the houres of ten and twelve in the Morning,
where our Corporation Jit, and where we /hall
gladly take paines to fatisfie the doubts of any :
and thinke nothing too much wherein we may be
ferviceable to the Lord fefus in a worke having fo
much tendency to his glory in the propagation of his
Kingdome.

Signed in the name and by the
appointment of the faid Cor-
poration by William Steele Ef-
quire, Prefident,

FINIS

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