BM^^': 
 
 -t^ ^ .^[. 
 
 ■#*'# 
 
<^ 
 
The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028652414 
 
^aMn*s ^tpxints, 
 
 QUARTO SERIES 
 
 No. III. 
 
FARTHER DISCOVERY 
 
 JPpFSFnt %Hh of t|F Iniiens 
 
 JVEW EJVGL AJsfD, 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL AMONG THEM, 
 
 MANIFESTED BY 
 
 LETTERS FROM SUCH AS PREACHED TO THEM THEN. 
 
 By henry WHITFIELD. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 PRINTED FOR J. SABIN. 
 . 1865. 
 
I He Lord, who is wonderful in Councel, 
 and excellent in workings hath fo 
 wrought, that the fcorching of fome 
 of his people with the Sun of perjecu- 
 tion, hath been the enlightning of thofe who 
 were not his people, with the Sun of righteouj- 
 nejfe. This prefent Narrative gives teftimony. 
 That our dear Brethren who with-draw from 
 the heat of trouble in Old England, have been 
 ufed as Inftruments in the Lords hand to draw 
 fom (I might fay many) of the poor Heathens 
 to behold and rejoyce in the light of the ever- 
 lafting Gofpel in New England. Surely 'tis 
 caufe of greater glorying that any of thofe 
 Heathens have found the way of life and 
 falvation among our brethren, then that our 
 brethren have found place and fafety (yea, 
 then though they fhould finde the richeft mer- 
 chandize of gold and filver) among thofe 
 Heathens. And how much doth it become 
 Chriftians to let Heathens fee that they feek 
 them more then theirs ; That the gaining of 
 them to Chrift is more in their eye, then any 
 worldy gain. 
 
 Jqfep.h Caryl, 
 
i New-En 
 
 g|The Light appearing more and more&g 
 ^ towards the perfefl: Day. |g 
 
 ^ ^^' • So- 
 
 SI A farther Difcovery of the prefent ftate|g 
 
 ^ of the / A^ D / ^ iV ^ ^ 
 
 -0^ IN g^ 
 
 &^ 
 
 ^Concerning the Progrefle of the Gq/jiel^ 
 31 amongft them. ||! 
 
 ^)^ Manifefted by Letters from fuch as preacht |3» 
 SI to. them there. ||^ 
 
 ^Publiflied by ii/"^;^ry Whitfeld^ late Paftor to the&g 
 •9J Chuch of Chrift at Gilford in New-England^^ij^ 
 •O^ who came late thence. 9^ 
 
 ^^Zeph. 2. 1 1. TTi^ Z»r^ will famijh all the gods of the earthy and menQ-^ 
 ^t§ Jhall worjhip him, every one from his place, even all the lies of thi^^ 
 
 -^ 9^ 
 
 ^O^ London, Printed by T. R. Sc E. M. for John Bartlet, and are to heQ^ 
 
 ^^ fold at the Gilt Cup, neer St. Aufiins gate in Pauls 8^ 
 
 "y^ Church-yard, i 6 s i- §^ 
 
 ^^S ^_^ . 8^^ 
 
 Vi KJXi^q^ iQy i/j^ xju «9i* >4v i/$4«<ita«$i ^ ^^1 i<iu«$*. ^ ti^ M|!dk 4^ *g;!4 1^ «! 
 
To the Right Honorable 
 THE 
 
 PARLIAMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 England, 
 
 And the 
 
 COUNCEL of STATE. 
 
 Right Honorable, 
 
 Ow abundantly the Lord hath enlarged 
 the hearts, and raifed the refolutions of 
 this prejent Parliament toferve him, 
 the many good things, and great things 
 done by you, fujiciently witnejfe, and 
 will be acknowledged, at leaji in an- 
 other generation. It is not the fmallejl in the eyes ofthofe 
 that look up to God for you, both in Old England and 
 New, that you have fo readily contributed your power, 
 upon the firjl notice of the manifeftation of Gods gracious 
 work upon the. Indians, by an A8t publijhed by you, for 
 
 promoting the fame. 
 
 In 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 In order njohereunto I crave leave in all humility to 
 
 reprefent {having lived fome years in the Countrey, 
 
 and lately came thence") how happily the Lord carrieth on 
 
 his work there, which I have done in this f mall Treatife 
 
 following. 
 
 And fof your more full fatisfaBion, give leave to 
 remove fuch falfe furmifes and afperfons, fuggejied on 
 purpofe to retaed the work. Some are heard to quejiion 
 the affeBions of New-England towards the Parliament, 
 and prefent Jiate ; To which I mujl anfwer, that the 
 Magijirates, Minijiers, and generally the people of New- 
 England, fo farre as I know or have obferved, or can 
 learn, have been faithful and cordial to the Parliament 
 from the firji, and do own this prefent Government, and 
 Common-wealth, giving in this as a reall argument, in 
 being your Honours ^remembrancers at the throne of grace, 
 both praying to God for you in your Jiraits, and prafing 
 God for the enlargment of his good hand upon you. Others 
 endeavour more direSily to prejudice the work, byfuggeji- 
 ing that the charity of the wel-afeBed hath been abufed, 
 in that there is no fuch work, or that there is a greater 
 noife made of it in the world then there if caufe ; To this 
 I canfafely anfwer, that there hath been, I beleeve in no 
 mans obfervation, greater faithfulnejfe found in any buf- 
 nejfe, both for truth of relation in what hath pajfed, or 
 difpojing what hath been contributed ; the perfons that are 
 
 concerned 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 concerned in it, whether they be the Corporation eftablijhed 
 by you, or that have the manageing of it in New- 
 England, being perfons of known integrity, and much 
 honoured of all that know them, in this very refpeB ; Mojl 
 of thefe accounts I have feen, both what monies have been 
 received and dijburfed, both what, how, and to whom. 
 'Thefe alfo are ready to give your Honours fatisfadiion 
 about this, if need require, and it will be an eafe, and an 
 honour to them to be called tofuch an account. 
 
 And now the way being thus cleared, I proceed to make 
 it my humble requejl to your Honours, that you would be 
 pleafed to accept of this my humble acknowledgment, and 
 thankful remembrance of what you have already done ; 
 and that it would not be troublefome to you to be intreated, 
 and ftirred up by meanejfe, to proceed in the continuance 
 of your favour, as to the whole country, fo efpecially to- 
 wards this work, that your hands may be Jiill held up to 
 the farther advance, and perfeSiing thefe happy begin- 
 nings. And as you have given it feet,fo you would give 
 it wings, that it may get above al difficulties, which may 
 be caji in the way. Truly the, work is honorable, and 
 worthy your care, and inmoft affeStions, and to be laid in 
 your bofomes, that it may feel the warmth and influence of 
 your favour, and beft refpeSis, it tending fo much to the 
 good of the fouls of thefe poor wild creatures, multitudes of 
 them being under the power of Satan, and going up and 
 
 downe 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 downe with the chains of darknejfe rattling at their heels. 
 This I may alfo fay for your Honours encouragement, 
 there is farre greater caufe of promoting this work then 
 formerly, there being more perfons, and places which have 
 received the G of pel amonji them. Our Lord Chriji and 
 his truth gets ground, and the J^evil lofeth, they daily 
 break from him, and renounce him, and all his curfed 
 works of darknejfe, as y ou will find in this following 
 Narrative. And lafily, let me adde but this. The Lord 
 hath given the utter moft ends of the earth to fefus Chrifi 
 for his inheritance, let therefore y our hands go on (Noble 
 Worthies) to help him in taking the pojfej/ion of his own, 
 who hath kept you in yours with an out-firetched arme. 
 But I Jhall be no farther troublefome to your Honours ; 
 The mofi wife andftrong God, for Chrifisfake,firengthen 
 your hearts and hands, ft amongfi you in your daily af- 
 femb lings, and help you to guide the Ship of this Common- 
 wealth, under y our care, in thefe tofjing and troublefome 
 times, that there may be peace and fafety found for fuch 
 as are quiet in the Land, and let me have the favour 
 to be looked upon by you, as 
 
 Your Honours to ferve you 
 
 in the things of Jefus Chrift, 
 
 Henry Whitfield. 
 
 Chrifiian 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 Chrijiian Reader, 
 
 I Have adventured to put this fmal Treatife in thy hand, 
 and to give feme account of the puhlijhing of it, con- 
 ceiving it a means to advance that common comfort, 
 which all good Chrijlians do Jhare in with the Angels 
 of heaven, about the converfton offtnners to God. This 
 will appear by /hewing there is a doore of hope opened 
 for the poore Indians, of whom it may he thou hajl 
 not yet heard ; I thought alfo by relating the truth of things, as they 
 Hand at prefent, concerning the Indians you have heard of, and Gods 
 dealing with them, I might undeceive fuch as are either apt, or do be- 
 leeve, that things reported of them are but a fable, and a device or engine 
 ufed by feme to cheat good people of their money, and fo dif courage them 
 from yeelding any help towards this great work. The Lord forgive 
 them this great finne, that have raifed thefe evill reports. 
 
 Vnderjiand therefore {good Reader) that my felfe intending {by 
 Gods help) my returne into my native Countrey ; It pleafed the Lord 
 by his providence, before we could come to the place where we were to 
 take Jhip for England, that, by reafon of contrary winds, we were faine 
 to put in at an Hand called Martins Vineyard, which is the moji Souther- Some call !t 
 ly Hand that lies in that trail of Land called New-England, where ^f'^"" 
 there is a fmall Plantation, and a Church gathered, where we Jiayed '"'-'""' ■ 
 about ten dayes, in which time I had the more leafure and opportunity to 
 informe my felfe of the Jiate of the Indians there ; having heard former- 
 ly that divers of them began to tajie the knowledge of Chriji : For 
 this end I had recourfe to Mr. Mahu, who is the Pajior of the Church, 
 and having attained a good underjianding in the Indian tongue, and 
 can fpeak it well, hath laid the firji foundation of the knowledge of 
 ChriJI amongft the Indians there by preaching unto them ; who gave 
 me full information of what I dejired. I had alfo fpeech with feme of the 
 Indians {Mr. Mahu being my Interpreter^ Above the reji my dejire 
 was to fpeak with the Indian who now preacheth unto them every Lords 
 day twice, whofe name is Hiacoomes, who feemed to me to be a man 
 of a prompt underjianding, of a feber and moderate fpirit, and a 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 ■man well reported of for his converfation both by the Englijh and In- 
 dians. I thought him to he about -^0 yeers of age ; with this man I had 
 often fpeech^ and I ajked him divers quejiions about Chrifiian Religion, 
 and about his own ejiate before God. I remember once I ajked him thefe 
 quejiions. I. Whether he had found forrow for fin, as fin. 2. Whe- 
 ther he had forrowed for his fins as they had pierced Chrift. 3. Whe- 
 ther he had found the Spirit of God as an inward comforter to him ; 
 Vnto all which he gave me a very good fatisfa£iory and Chrijiian an- 
 fwer. After this I had the opportunity to go to a private meeting 
 of the Indians (of which you Jhall underjland more in the Letter fol- 
 lowing) with Mr, Mahu, where having fpent three or foure houres in 
 Quejiions and Anfwers, which pajfed too and fro between the Indians 
 and my felf; at our parting I de/ired that one of them would defire a 
 blejjing upon what they had heard for their edification, which was ac- 
 cordingly done ; for they chafe out a young man who prayed a quarter 
 of an houre, and fomewhat more, with great reverence and affeSiion, 
 as farre as I could judge by his voyce and outward deportment : Majier 
 Mahu alfo told me that he had many pertinent and ftgnificant exprejftons 
 in his prayer; fo that God hath poured on fome of them the gift, and I 
 hope the fpirit of prayer. 
 
 The next day we rode to the Indian Leiture, where Mr. Mahu preach- 
 ed and catechifed their children, who anfwered readily and modejily in 
 the Principles of Religion ; fome of them anfwered in the Englijh, fome 
 in the Indian tongue. Thus having feen a Jhort model of his way, and 
 of the paines he took, I made fome enquiry about Mr. Mahu himfelf, 
 and about his fubfijiance, becaufe I faw but fmall and flender appear- 
 ance of outward conveniences of life, in any comfortable way ; the man 
 himfelf was modeji, and I could get but little from him ; but after, I 
 underjiood from others how Jhort things went with him, and how he 
 was many times forced to labour with his own hands, having a wife 
 and three fmall children which depended upon him, to provide neceffa- 
 ries for them ; having not halfe fo much yeerly coming in, in a fet- 
 led way, as an ordinary labourer gets there amongfi them. Yet he is 
 chearfull amidji thefe fir aits, and none hear him to complain. The truth 
 is, he will not leave the work, in which his heart is engaged; for upon 
 my knowledge, if he would have left the work, and imployed himfelf 
 otherwhere, he might have had a more competent and comfortable 
 maintenance. I mention this the rather, becaufe I have fome hope, that 
 fome pious minde, that reads this, might be inwardly moved to conftder 
 his condition, and come to his fuccor for his encouragement in this great 
 work. As 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 At my parting from this Hand I defired Mr. Mahu ih'at he would 
 take the pains to write me the Story of Gods dealing with the Indians^ 
 from the firji time of their coming thither, to this prefent time ; which 
 he accordingly did, and I received before my going out of the Coun- 
 trey ; which Letter of his to me, finding many remarkable pajfages in 
 it, I thought fit to publijh it, that the Lord might, have the glory of 
 his free grace^ in regard of thefe poor Heathens who feeme to he the 
 dregs and refufe of Adams loji pojierity ; and to put an edge up- 
 on the prayers and prayfes of Gods people, the fruit of which will 
 returne into their owne bofomes. And if there be a right fet of fpi- 
 rit in you, you will blejfe God for fuch as prefent fuch kinde of 
 matter to you, and do put an opportunity into your hands, where- 
 by you may any way be injirumental to promote the Kingdome of our 
 Lord Chrijl. 
 
 The Letter written with his own hand followeth. 
 SIR, 
 
 • Ou being by efpecial providence of God, brought 
 amongft us, and while you were here looking into 
 the prefent mercy of God that thefe Indians were 
 bleffed with, you found an occafion farther to en- 
 quire what the former difpenfations of God have 
 beene to bring them hitherto. Now afluring my 
 fel'f that it is from your defire that the Lord may 
 be glorified in the falvation of thefe poor Indian fouls I fhall, by 
 the affiftance' of God, declare the truth, and that which fliall, by 
 his grace, adminifter alfo a ground of prayer, to be put unto the 
 God of all bleflings in Jefus Chrift for us ; and I hope, unto any, 
 whom the Lord fhall call to the like fervice, a bleffed experience of the 
 Lords workings, turning all things, yea feeming hinderances, to the 
 furtherance of the work of grace amongft them. 
 
 Now for your iatisfaftion you may pleafe to know that this 
 work amongft the Indians had its firft rife and beginning in the 
 yeere 1643. When the Lord ftirred up the heart of an Indian, who 
 then lived neer to the Englifli Plantation, whofe name is Hia- 
 coomes, a man of a fad & a fober fpirit, unto whofe Wigwam or houfe 
 fome of the Englifh repairing, & fpeaking to him about the way of 
 the Englifh, |he came to vifit our habitations and publike meetings, 
 3 thinking 
 
(4) 
 
 thinking that there might be better wayes and means amongft the 
 Englifli, for the attaining of the bleffings of health and life, then 
 could be found amongft themfelvs : Yet not without fome thoughts 
 and hopes of a higher good he might poffibly gain thereby, at 
 which time I took notice of him, and had oft difcourfe with him, 
 inviting him to my houfe every Lords day at night. About this 
 time 'it fo fell out, that this Indian went with fome EngUfti men 
 to a little Hand, where meeting a furly Sagamore whofe name was 
 By this name Pake Ponejfo^ who reproached him for his fellowftiip with the En- 
 Km": and S^^^j ''"'^'^ '" their civil and religious wayes, railing at him for his 
 Governors, being obedient to them : Hiacoomes replyed that he was gladly o- 
 bedient to the Englilh, neither was it for the Indians hurt he did 
 fo ; Upon which the Sagamore gave him a great blow on the face 
 with his hand ; but there being fome Englifh men prefent, they 
 would not fufFer the Sagamore to ftrike him again. The poor In- 
 dian thus wronged, made this ufe of it, and faid, / had one hand 
 for injuries^ and the other for God^ while I did receive wrong with the 
 one, the other laid, the greater hold on God. 
 
 There was a very ftrange difeafe this yeare amongft the Indians, 
 they did run up and down till they could run no longer, they made 
 their faces as black as a coale, fnatched up any weapon, fpake great 
 words, but did no hurt ; I have feen many of them in this cafe. The 
 Indians having many calamities fallen upon them, they laid the 
 caufe of all their wants, ficknefles, and death, upon their departing 
 from their old heathenifh ways, only this man held out, and conti- 
 nued his care about the things of God : and being defirous to read, 
 the Englifti gave him a Primer, which he ftil carries about with 
 him. 
 /■ Now whilft Hiacoomes was feeling after God, he met with an- 
 
 ^^' other tryall ; for going into an Indian houfe, where there "were ma- 
 ny Indians, they fcoffed at him with great laughter, faying. Here 
 comes the Englijh man, who by their noyfe awaked his old enemy 
 Pakeponejfo, who was afleep, who joyning with the other Indians, 
 told him, I wonder (faid he) that you that are a young man, having a 
 wife and two children, Jhould love the Englijh and their ways, and for- 
 fake the Pawwawes ; what would you do if any of you Jhould be fick? 
 whither would you go for help ? I fay, if I were in your cafe there 
 Jhould nothing draw me from our Gods and Pawwawes. At this 
 time he replyed nothing, but told a friend of his that he then 
 thought in his heart that the God in heaven did know and heare 
 
 all 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 all the evill words that Pakeponejfo fpake. Thus the changing of 
 his way caufed much hatred to him, neither was there fo much as 
 the leaft appearance of any outward argument amongft us, that 
 might weigh againft it. ^ 
 
 After this there fell a great judgment of God on this Sagamore ; ^.^"^^^" 
 for in the night when he and his company were in the * Wigwam, it ^^ ^,-^. 
 beginning to raine, he and a young man flood up upon the floor of -warn is 
 planks which layabout two foot from the ground, to put ^ Matt ««j^' ™»'' 
 over the Chimnie, there came a great flafll of lightning, and after-)^^ J°ll_ 
 it thunder not very loud, yet full of the Vengeance of God, which hour cov- 
 killed the young man out-right, and ftrook Pakeponejfo down dead '"d -with 
 for a long time, and he fell off from the floore of planks along up- "^^i^^"^ ,j 
 on the ground with one legge in the fire, and being much burned, hthemidji, 
 it was took out by fome that lay in the other fide of the Indian o-ver which 
 houfe. Now Hiacoomes (as himfelf faith) did remember his former '^'^/"^J^^ 
 thoughts of God, and then thought God did anfwer him, and that thtjmoak to 
 he was brought more to rejoyce in God, and reft more upon him. go out. 
 
 Now in thefe times, as I did endeavour the good of thefe Hea- 
 thens by difcourfe with diverfe of them, fo in particular with Hia- 1645. 
 coomes, who did communicate that knowledge he had amongft thofe 
 he could ; for fome of them could not endure the light he brought ; 
 fome were more attentive to hear, and more ready to follow the 
 truth, yet they did not Well behold the Majefty of the Lord by thefe 
 perfonal particular works ; at laft the Lord fent an univerfal ficknes, 
 and it was obferved by the Indians, that they that did but give the 
 hearing of good counfel, did not tafte fo deeply of it, but Hia- 1646. 
 coomes and his family in a manner not at all. This put the Indians 
 who dwell about fix miles from us, upon ferious confideration of the 
 thing, being much afFedied, that he which had expofed himfelf to 
 fuch reproaches and troubles, fhould receive more bleflings then 
 themfelves ; hereupon they fent a meflenger to Hiacoomes^ who was 
 with him about the break of day, and delivering his meflTage, told 
 him that he was come to pray him to go prefently to Myoxeo the 
 chief man of that place, and he fhould have a reward for his labour ; 
 for the Indians were very defirous to know from him all things that 
 he knew, and did, in the wayes of God ; fo he being glad of the 
 opportunity, went with the mefTenger, and when he came, there were 
 many Indians gathered together, amongft which was Towanquatick 
 the Sagamore ; then after many requefts (the general whereof was 
 this, that he would fhew his heart unto them, how it ftood towards 
 
 God, 
 
(6 ) 
 
 God, and what they muft do) he fliewed unto them all things he 
 knew concerning God the Father, Sonne and Holy Ghoft ; Myoxeo 
 alking him how many Gods the Englifli did worfliip, he anfwered 
 one God, whereupon Myoxeo reckoned up about 37. principal gods 
 he had, and fhall I (faid he) throw away thefe 37. gods for one? 
 Hiacoomes replied, what do you think of your felf ? I have throwne 
 away all thefe, and a great many more fome yeers ago, yet am pre- 
 ferved as you fee this day ; you fpeak true faid Myokeo ; therefore I 
 will throw away all my gods too, and ferve that one God with you. 
 Hiacoomes told them all, he did fear this great God only, and alfo in 
 a fpeciall manner that the Son of God did fufFer death to fatisfie the 
 wrath of God his Father, for all thofe that did truft in him, and 
 forfake their finnes, and that the fpirit of God did work thefe things 
 ' in the hearts of men, and that himfelf did feare this great God only, 
 was forry for his finnes, defiring to be redeemed by lefus Chrift, 
 and to walk in Gods commandments ; this, with many truths more 
 he fhewed unto them, As Adams tranfgreflion, and the mifery of the 
 world by it, and did conclude that if they had fuch hearts as he, 
 they fliould have the fame mercies. He reckoned up to them many 
 of their fins, as having many gods, going to Pawwawes ; and Hia- 
 coomes told me himfelf, that this was the firft tirtie that ever he faw 
 the Indians fenfible of their fins ; formerly they did but hear it as a 
 new thing, but not fo nearly concerning them, for they were exceed- 
 ing thankful, faying, alfo now we have feen our fins. Thus it pleafed 
 the Lord to give both light and courage to this poore Indian ; for 
 although formerly he had been a harmlefle man ataongft them, yet, 
 as themfelves fay, not at all accounted of, and therefore they often 
 wondered that he which had nothing to fay in all their meetings for- 
 merly, is now become the Teacher of them all ; I muft needs give 
 him this teftimony, after fome yeers experience of him, that he is a 
 man of a fober fpirit, and good converfation, and as he hath, as I 
 hope, received the Lord Jefus Chrift in truth, fo alfo I look upon 
 him to be faithful, diligent, and conftant in the work of the Lord, 
 for the good of his own foul and his neighbours with him. 
 Though I Now, after thefe things it pleafed God to move the heart of Tow- 
 ^en'h'T'' "M""*''^^-) encouraged by fome others amongft them, to defire me 
 pajage to to prcach uuto them. At my coming, this man fpake thus unto 
 our WinJ- me ; That a long time agon they had "wife men^ which in a grave manner 
 low m my taught the people knowledge ; but they are dead^ and their wijdome is 
 him"wh!ch I'uried with them ; and now men live a giddy life, in ignorance, till they 
 
(7) 
 
 are white headed, and though ripe in yeeres, yet then they go without U printed, 
 wifdome to their graves. He told me that he wondered the Enghfti -^'y',," ""' 
 fhould be almoft thirty yeers in the Country and the Indians fools jj/^ J 
 ftill ; but he hoped the time of knowledge was now come ; where- here, and, 
 fore himfelf with others defired me to give them an Indian meet- '^""^"T, 5 
 ing, to make known the word of God to them in their own i"^'" 
 tongue ; and when he came to me to accomplifli his defire there- 
 about, he told me That I jhould he to them as one that Jiands by a 
 running river filling many vejfels, even fo fhould I fill them with 
 everlafling knowledge ; So I undertook to give them a meeting once 
 a moneth ; but as foone as the firfl Exercife was ended, they defired 
 it oftner then I could v^ell attend it, but once in a fortnight in our 
 fetled courfe. He hath alfo fmce told me the reafon why he defired 
 me to preach to them, as that he was greatly defirous to have the 
 Indians grow more in goodnefTe, to have their poflerity inherit blefT- 
 ings when he was dead ; and himfelf was defirous to put the Word 
 of God to his heart, to repent, and throw away his fins, and to be 
 better, and after he was dead, to inherit a life in heaven. 
 
 Now there be three things in this beginning that were greatly 
 inquired into. i. Earthly riches, what they fhould get. 2. What 
 approbation they fhould get from other Sagamores and Governors. 
 3. How they fhould come off from the Pawwawes ; but in neither 
 of thefe could they finde that which might give motion to a carnal 
 minde ; for the firfl kept ofF many, I have had much difcourfe with 
 feveral of them about it, wherein they have flrongly ftood for their 
 own meetings, wayes and cuflomes, being in their account more 
 profitable then ours, wherein they meet w'ith nothing but talking and 
 praying. The fecond alfo remaines an obflacle, the Sagamores 
 generally are againft the way. The third is the flrongefl cord that 
 binds them to their own way, for the Pawwawes by their witchcraft 
 keep them in feare, many of the Indians got over the two firft diffi- 
 culties, and in fome meafure the third ; now there were about twelve 
 which came to the meeting as it were halting between two opinions, 
 others came to hear and fee what was done, for although they had 
 heard and feen fomethii^ of the one God of heaven, yet fuch was 
 their unfpeakable darknefle, their captivity in fin, and bondage to the 
 Pawwawes, that they hardly durfl for feare take the befl way, for 
 though a few of them were better enlightened, yet the Heathen round 
 about ftuck fafl in their old brutifhnefTe. 
 
 We had not long Continued the meeting, but the Sagamore 1647. 
 
 Towanquatick 
 
This man 
 'when 1 
 ivas in the 
 Hand I 
 often faiv 
 and fpake 
 ^th feeing 
 alfo thejkar 
 upon his 
 eye broiv 
 and nofe. 
 
 1648. 
 
 Although 
 I ivas 
 prefent at 
 this meet- 
 ing from 
 the begin- 
 ning to the" 
 end, yet it 
 nvas done 
 •without my 
 privity or 
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 Towanquatick met with a fad tryal, for he beitig at a Weare where 
 fome Indians were a fiftiing, where alfo was an Englifli man, as he 
 lay along upon a matt on the ground afleep, by a little light fire, the 
 night being very dark, an Indian came down, as being ready fitted 
 for the purpofe, and being about fix or eight paces from him, let flie 
 a broad headed arrow, purpofing by all probability to drench the 
 deadly arrow in his heart blood but the Lord prevented it ; for not- 
 withftanding all the advantages he had, inftead of the heart he hit 
 the eye-brow, which like a brow of fteele turned the point of the 
 arrow, which glancing away, flit the top of his nofe to the bottome. 
 A great ftirre there was prefently, the Sagamore fate up, and bled 
 much, but was not much hurt through the mercy of God ; the dark- 
 nefle of the night hid the murtherer, and he is not difcovered to this 
 day. The next morning I went to fee the Sagamore, and I found 
 him praifing God for his great deliverance, both himfelf and all the 
 Indians, wondering that he was yet alive. The caufe of his being 
 fhot, as the Indians faid, was for his walking with the Englifli ; and 
 it is alfo conceived, both by them and us, that his forwardnefle for the 
 meeting was one thing, which (with the experience I have had of him 
 fince) gives me matter of ftrong perfwafion that he beares in his brow 
 the markes of the Lord Jefus. 
 
 After this, through the mercy of God, we proceeded on with the 
 meeting, to the rejoycing of fome Indians, and the envie of the refl:, 
 who derided and fcofFed at thofe that did follow the Ledlure, and 
 in their way of wickednefle blafpheming the Name of God, which 
 damped the fpirits of fome of them for a time in the wayes of God, 
 and hindering others from looking thitherward, but the Lord gave 
 courage and conftancy to fome of them, efpecially to Hiacoomes and 
 Towanquatick who was hurt with the arrow, who were not aftiamed 
 of the way of God. 
 
 And hereupon they made farther progrefle in the way of God, for 
 without any knowledge thereof, they appointed a meeting, and there 
 came fome younger men, and brought with them the ancient men of 
 their kindred and acquaintance to fpeak for them, whereof the very 
 old man that your felf faw and heard at the meeting, was one, who 
 began the meeting with a relation of the old cuftomes of the ancient 
 Heathen, preferring them before thofe wayes of their owne they 
 were now in, yet acknowledging they were farre inferior to thofe 
 wayes of God they had now begun : Then twelve of the youhg men 
 went and took Sachochanimo by the hand one by one and told him that 
 
 they 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 they did love him, and go with him in Gods way, and feme of them putting 
 made a long fpeech to him to this purpofe ; and the old men encou- ''*"" "" 
 raged them in their way, & defired them never to forget thofe promifes ZiTit came 
 they had now made ; then one of the young men told me the ground meerlyfrom 
 of their meeting, viz. They were forry to fee that the meeting did go tbemjelva. 
 on no more ftrongly, and that there were no more at it, and that they y^^.^ ^^^ 
 were defirous to ftrengthen themfelves in the way of God, to have Towan- 
 good hearts, and one heart, and to walk together in love in the wayes queticks 
 of God. So after they had eaten together the victuals of their own ' 'fij'""'- 
 providing, and we had fung part of a Pfalme in their own language, 
 and I had prayed with them, they returned with the manifeftation of 
 much joy and thankfulneiTe ; and this I can fay, they are generally 
 conftant in the way of God, and I have great hopes of fome of them, 
 bleffed be his name. 
 
 After this it pleafed the Lord to ftirre up the hearts of the Indians 1649, 
 to appoint another meeting, and many Indians being met, they fell to 
 a great difcourfe about the Pawwawes power to kill men, and there 
 were many flories told of the great hurt they had done W their 
 witchcraft many wayes (here you muft know, that though the Indiians . 
 many of them were brought by the knowledge they had of God, to 
 renounce the Pawwawes help in time of ficknelTe or otherwife, yet 
 they found it hard to get from under the yoake of cruelty that they 
 and their forefathers had fo long groaned under ; for I know fome, 
 that then groaned under it, acknowledged they did fee that in God 
 which would free them from it, if they had but confidence to truft in 
 him. Then the queftion was afked. Who is there that doth not fear 
 the Pawwawes ? anfwer was made by fome who favoured them, there 
 is not any man which is not afraid of the Pawwawes ; then looking 
 upon Hiacoomes, who was one that protefted moft againft them, told 
 him that the Pawwawes could kill him ; he anfwered they could not ; 
 they aiked him againe, why ? he told them, becaufe he did beleeve in 
 God and truft in him, and that therfore all the Pawwaws could not 
 do him any hurt ; Then they all wondered exceedingly when he fpake 
 thus fo openly. Then divers of them faid one by one, though before 
 I was afraid of the Pawwawes, yet now, becaufe I hear Hiacoomes his 
 words, I do not fear them, but beleeve in God too. Then the meet- 
 ing at this time was carried on, and Hiacoomes is defired by the 
 Indians to reckon up their fins unto them ; he prefently found 45. 
 or 50. and as many good duties ; his work was very well liked, and 
 in the conclufion twenty two Indians were found to refolve againft 
 thofe evils, and to walk with God, and attend the word of God. But 1650. 
 
 I 
 
( lo ) 
 
 I may not here forget an Indian called Hummanequem, who exceeded 
 all the reft, to the wonderment of the Indians ; he with much forrow, 
 hatred, and courage, related about twenty of his own fins, and pro- 
 feffed to follow the one God againft all oppofition ; He told them he 
 was brought into this condition by Hiacoomes his counfel from the 
 Word of God, which at firft he faid he liked not, afterwayes laid it 
 by him as a thing to be confidered, not knowing well what to do ; at 
 laft, looking over things again, he came to this refolution which 
 you have now heard ; I confefle this a£tion makes me think he 
 fpake more then from a natural principle, confidering that the man 
 hath been fince an earneft feeker of more light both publike and pri- 
 vate ; as alfo for refufing the help of a Pawwaw which lives within a 
 bow flioot of his doore, when his wife was three days in travel, and 
 waited patiently upon God, till they obtained a merciful deliverance 
 by prayer. 
 
 And whilft we were making progrefle in the work of the Lord on 
 a Lefture day, an Indian ftood up, and faid he had been a finner, and 
 committed many evill things, but now was forry for them, and did re- 
 pent, defired to forfake his fins, and to walk in Gods way. ' Then he 
 went to the Sagamore Towanquetick, and took him by the hand, 
 faying, I do love you, and do greatly defer e you to go along with you for 
 Gods fake; the like he alfo faid to fome others, and then came to me 
 in like manner, faying, / pray love me, and I do love you, and am de- 
 ferous to go with you for Gods fake ; fo he was received with many 
 thanks, and fince I have known him to be diligent and laborious. I 
 confefle I marvelled to fee them a£l with fuch a fpirit, but I con- 
 fidered, it was futable to their own meeting in 48. 
 
 Now the Indian accompanied his friend that fuddenly loft his two 
 fons ; he I fay remaining ftill in his obftinacy, is alfo found out, and 
 feeles the wrath of God, being ftricken with a dead Palfie, all one 
 fide of him, but his eye and eare ; The dead Palfie is a ftrange and 
 unwonted difeafe amongft the Indians ; I have beene fometimes with 
 him ; when I fpake to him, he fetched many fighs ; he is at this day 
 a living and a dead monument of the Lords difpleafure, having hurt 
 himfelf moft, and done them moft good he hated. 
 
 Another thing is a remarkable combate between two Indians and a 
 Pawwaw, who, on the Lords day after meeting, came in very angry, 
 faying, I know the meeting Indians are lyars ; you fay you care not 
 for the Pawwawes ; then calling two or three of them by name, and 
 raiUng at them, told them that they were deceived, for the Pawwawes 
 
 could 
 
( " ) 
 
 could kill all the meeting Indians if they did fet about it ; with that 
 one of the young men replyed with much courage, faying, it is true, 
 I do not fear the Pawwawes, neither do I defire any favour at their 
 hands, pray kill me if you can. And Hiacoomes told him alfo that he 
 would be in the midft of all the Pawwawes of the Hand that they 
 could procure, and they fhould do their utmoft they could againft 
 him, and when they did their worft by their witchcrafts to kill him, 
 he would without feare fet himfelf againft th^m, by remembring 
 "Jehovah ; he told him alfo that he did put all the Pawwawes under his 
 heel, pointing unto it ; which anfwers did prefently filence the Paw- 
 wawes devillifh fpirit, and had he nothing to fay, but that none but 
 Hiacoomes was able fo to do. 
 
 I have obferved the wife difpofing hand of God in another Provi- 
 dence of his ; there have not as I know, any man, woman or child 
 died of the meeting Indians fmce the meeting began, untill now of 
 late the Lord took away Hiacoomes his child which was about five 
 dayes old ; he was beft able to make a good ufe of it, and to carry 
 himfelf well in it, and fo was his wife alfo ; and truly they gave an 
 excellent example in this alfo, as they have in other things ; here 
 were no black faces for it as the manner of the Indians is, nor goods 
 buried with it, nor hellifli bowlings over the dead, but a patient re- 
 figning of it to him that gave it ; There were fome Englifh at the 
 burial, and many Indians to whom I fpake fomething of the Refur- 
 reftion, and as we were going away, one of the Indians told me he 
 was much refrefhed in being freed from their old cuftomes, as alfo to 
 hear of the Refurredlion of good men and their children to be with 
 God. 
 
 There are now by the grace of God thirty nine Indian men of this 
 meeting, befides women that are looking this way, which we fuppofe 
 to exceed the number of the men, though not known by open entrance 
 into Covenant as the men, but are now near it. Thefe in general 
 have the knowledge of the fundamental points of Religion ; your felf 
 when you were with us, had fome tryal of it ; it was a great while my 
 maine work to adminifter light in general to them ; and there now, 
 through mercy, appears fome life, hoping that fome of them have re- 
 ceived this great mercy of God in Chrift. This is a great incourage- 
 ment to me, as alfo that their hearts are engaged in the way of the 
 Lord for the falvation of their own fouls upon Gods ends. One of 
 thefe meeting Indians faid (and I hope feelingly) that if all the world, 
 the riches, plenty, and pleafures of it were prefented without God, or 
 C God 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 God without all thefe, I would take God. And another faid, that if 
 the greateft Sagamore in the Land fliould take him in his armes, and 
 proffer him his love, and riches and gifts to turn from his way, he 
 would not go with him from this way of God. I heard one of them 
 of his own accord (and to the fame purpofe) in complaining againft head 
 knowledge and lip prayers, without heart holinefle, loathing the con- 
 dition of fuch a man, faying, I defire my heart may tafte the word of 
 God, repent of my fmnes, and leane upon the Redemption of the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift. Some of them having a difcourfe with Vzzame- 
 quin a great Sachem or Governour on the maine land (coming amongft 
 them) about the,wayes of God, he enquired what earthly good things 
 came along with them, and demanding of them what they had gotten 
 by all they had done this way .? one of them replyed, we ferve not 
 God for cloathing, nor for any outward thing. I have obferved many 
 fuch like paiTages ; but my occafions at prefent will not permit me to 
 fet them down, I only bring you thofe things which are moft ready in 
 my minde. 
 
 The laft thing that I took fpecial notice of, is the receiving of the 
 five men when your felf was prefent, into the meeting Indiaji number, 
 one of them (the young man you faw) was fent at firft about two or 
 three months before by one of the greateft Pawwawes upon the Hand 
 to learn and fpy what was done at the meeting, and carry him word, 
 but at the laft he learned fo much as he then openly profeft to hate 
 the Pawwawes and their witchcrafts, and that he did repent of his 
 finnes, and defired to go with the meeting Indians in Gods ways ; 
 another faid he defired to joyn with the meeting Indians that he might 
 have a renewed good heart, the other were much like afFefted, only 
 one of them reckoned up the commandments, and as he proceeded he 
 protefted againft the fins forbidden, and profefled obedience to the 
 duties commanded ; the laft anfwered the queftion put to him by your 
 felf, viz,, by what power they did think to do this ? who anfwered, 
 Firft, by his good defire ; and fecondly by the help and bleffing of 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Juft now whilft I am a writing, there comes an Indian unto me, 
 and tels me his minde in thefe words, I flialJ long for your returne 
 back again out of the Bay, that we may hear the good word of God ; 
 the former fins of my heart in the time of my youth I now remem- 
 ber ; when I hear the word of God, and when I walk in the woods 
 alone, I have much talk with God, and great repentance for my fins, 
 
 and 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 and now I throw behind me all my ftrange gods, and my heart goes 
 right to God in prayer. 
 
 The way that I am now in (through the grace of God) for the 
 carrying on of this great work, is by a Lefture every fortnight, where- 
 unto both men women and children do come ; and firft I pray with 
 them, teach thehi, chatechife their children, fing a Pfalm, and all in 
 their own language. I conferre every laft day of the week with 
 Hiacoomes about his fubjedl matter of preaching to the Indians the next 
 day, where I furnifh him with what fjjiritual food the Lord is pleafed 
 to afford me for them, wherein God hath much affifted him for his 
 own and their fpiritual good and advantage, who is diligent and con- 
 fcionable to hold forth the grace of Chrift to the Indians. For this 
 purpofe your fervent and frequent prayers together with all thofe who 
 rejoyce in advancing the Scepter of Chrift, are by me earneftly defired, 
 and for me that I may preach him amongft the Heathen, to the praife 
 of the excellency of his own power, &nd not mine ; and that the In- 
 dians in this fmall beginning, being Gods huft)andry, and Gods build- 
 ing, may be a fruitful glorious fpreading' Vine, and builded together 
 for an habitation of God through tlie Spirit, unto whom I commend 
 you in Jefus, and in him reft 
 
 From Great Harbor ToUVS in the Lord tO 
 
 in Martins Vineyard 
 
 Sept. 7. 1650. he commanded^ 
 
 Thomas Mayhow. 
 
 Now 
 
( H ) 
 
 NOw to fpeak fotnewhat farther of the proceeding of the things of 
 Chriji amongji the Indians of Mattacufets and thereabouts fmce 
 the lajt books came forth ; Somewhat I faw and underfiood con- 
 cerning thofe Indians which are under the care of Mr. Eliot, unto whom 
 I repaired at my coming from Martins Vineyard, who acquainted me 
 with the Jiate of things amongji the Indians as they were at prefent ; at 
 which time I rode with him to the Water town Indians^ and heard him 
 preach to them and catechize their children in the Indian tongue ; who 
 wrote alfo by me to Mr. Winflow, the Agent of the Couritrey ; which 
 Letter., together with feme other fent fmce the laji publication by the 
 Prejfe., the Corporation of New-England deftred me that they might be 
 joyned and printed with this written by Majier Mahu ; which let- 
 ters here follow- 
 
 Much honoured Sir, 
 
 YOur very loving acceptance of tfiy Letters doth engage me very 
 much unto you, but efpecially your cordial rejoyeing in the 
 progreffe of this work of the Lord among thefe poor Indians. 
 Sir, I fliall firft anfwer fome material things in your Letter. Firft, 
 for that opinion of Rabbi-ben-Ifrael which you mention, I would in- 
 treat you to requeft the fame godly Minifter (nay I hope he hath 
 already done it) to fend to him to know his grounds, and how he came 
 to that Intelligence, when was it done, which way were they tranf- 
 ported into America^ by whom, and what occafion, how many, and to 
 what Parts firft, or what fteps of intimation of fuch a thing may there 
 be. I had fome thoughts in my heart to fearch the Original of this 
 People, that I might finde under what Covenant and Promife their 
 fore-fathers have been, for the help of my faith ; for Jehovah remem- 
 bers and giveth being to ancient Promifes, What had become of us 
 fonnes of Japhet, if the Lord had not remembred that (and fuch like 
 ancient Promifes) God Jhall perjwade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of 
 Shem. If thefe people be under a Covenant and Promife as an- 
 cient as Shem and Eber., it is a ground of faith to expe£t mercy fof 
 them. 
 
 Now this I have thought, that it feemeth to me as clear in the 
 Scripture, that thefe are the children of Shem as we of faphet., and 
 Shem was a great man in the Church, and to whom Abraham paid 
 Tythes ; for I beleeve he was Melchifedeck ; yea it feemeth to me 
 probable that thefe people are Hebrews, of Eber^ whofe fonnes the 
 
 Scripture 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 Scripture fends fartheft Eaft (as it feemeth to me) and learned 
 Broughton put fome of them over into America^ and certainly this 
 country was peopled Eaftward from the place of the Jrks refting, 
 feeing the finding of them by the Weft is but of yefterday ; Now 
 Eber was alfo a great man in the Church ; Abraham the Hebrew, 
 faith the text ; and how often in the Scriptures doth the Lord ufe that 
 bleffed word of Grace and Covenant, I am the God of the Hebrewes f 
 befides there be fundry Prophefies in Scripture, unto the goings down of 
 the Sunne ; and let it be confidered ■w\\tt\\e:x America be not to be ac- 
 counted among the places that are the goings down of the Sunne unto 
 thofe places where thofe Promifes were promulgated ; and when the 
 Lord inlarged the Promife to facoh (as the light and extent of grace 
 hath ever been encreafing and enlarging) he promifed to make him a 
 Nation and a multitude of Nations, which fo farre as we regard a 
 litterall accomplifliment, is in part accompliflit in the Nation of the 
 Jewes, and the other part remaineth (as it may feem) to be accom- 
 pliflit in the loft Ifraelites fcattered in the world, principally, if not 
 wholly, amongft the fons of faphet and Shem ; and our God who can 
 and will gather the fcattered and loft duft of our bodies at the Refur- 
 redlion, can and will finde out thefe loft and fcattered Ifraelites, and in 
 finding up them, bring in w^ith them the Nations among whom they 
 were fcattered, and fo fliall facobs Promife extend to a multitude of 
 Nations indeed ; and this is a great ground-~of faith for the con- 
 verfion of the Eafterne Nations, and may be of help to our faith for 
 the Indians efpecially if Rabbi Ben-Ifrael can make it appeare that 
 .fome of the Ifraelites were brought into America, and fcattered 
 here, or if the Lord ftiall by any meanes give us to underftand the 
 fame. 
 
 Thefe meditations upon Scripture grounds do minift^er comfort & 
 encouragement to my heart with others alfo, as, That all Languages 
 /hall fee his Glory, and that all Nations and Kingdoms jhall become the 
 Kingdoms of the Lord lefus ; and this I defire to do, to look unto 
 Scripture grounds only ; Oh this precious this perfeSt Word of God ! 
 You intimate alfo how zealoufly worthy Mr. Owen did profecute 
 this work ; the Lord reward him, and the Lord accept him in all his 
 holy labors. Likewife you intimate how acceptable this work is to 
 the Parliament, that bleffed Affembly, whom the Lord Chrift hath 
 delighted to make inftrumental to begin to fet up the longed for, 
 prayed for, and defired Kingdome of the Lord Jefus ; for "me may fee 
 in fome meafure the accomplifliment of that Prophefie of Chrift, 
 
 Luke 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 Luke 21 . 25. The peaceable fummer beginning to arife out of thefe 
 diftrefled times of perplexity, all thofe fignes preceding the glorious 
 coming of Chrift are accomplifhing, and S thick black cloud is 
 gathered, a cloud of blood, confufion, Herefies and Errors, and the! 
 thickeft and moft portentous black part of that cloud is the Toleration 
 of the moft groffe and convicted impieties under the pretence of con- 
 fcience, which mifapplication of the Sword of Authority (if it fliould 
 awhile prevaile) cannot be innocent, and will undoubtedly prolong the 
 ftorme and delay of the reigne of Chrift ; But notwithftanding all 
 this black cloud, who feeth not the glorious coming of the Lord 
 Jefus breaking through this cloud, and coming with power and great 
 glory ? He is King of Kings and reigneth over Kings ; for where 
 Juftice reignes, Chrift doth reigne and that Antichriftian principle foi" 
 man to be above God, whether the Pope in the Church, or Monarches 
 in the Common-wealth, is thrown to the ground. He that is above 
 the Law, is above the Word ; and he that is above the Word is above 
 Chrift ; Chrift reigneth not over fuch as be above his Law ; But be- 
 hold, now Chrift reigneth, and glorioufly breaks forth in the bright- 
 nefle of his coming, and will in his time fcatter all this thick black 
 yea, the thickeft of it. Now this glorious work of bringing in and 
 fetting up the glorious kingdome of Chrift, hath the Lord of his free 
 grace and mercy put into the hands of this renowned Parliament and 
 Army ; Lord put it into all their hearts to make this defigUe of' Chrift 
 their main firft and chiefeft endeavour, according to the Word, Seek 
 firji the Kingdom of heaven and the righteoufnejfje thereof ^ and all other 
 things Jhall be added. And when the Lord Jefus is about to fet up 
 his bleffed Kingdome among thefe poore Indians alfo how well doth 
 it become the fpirit of fuch inftruments in the hand of Chrift to 
 promote that work alfo, being the fame buiinefle in fome refpe^ 
 which themfelves are about by the good hand of the Lord. 
 
 Surely Sir, your chief work of this nature now is to follow this 
 Indian work which fticks in the birth for want of means. You 
 would marvel if I fliould tell you how they long to come into a way 
 of civility by co-habitation, and by forming governinent among 
 themfelves, that fo they being in fuch order might have a Church 
 and the Ordinances of Chrift among them ; but want of a Magazine 
 of all forts of tools and materials for fuch a work, is the prefent im- 
 pediment. 
 
 The Lord is wifer than man, and his time is beft ; I will not lay 
 any thing now for farther direftion about what is requifite for the work 
 
 which 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 which the Lord is preparing their hearts unto ; my former Letters have 
 faid enough that way, partly to you, and partly to Mr, Pelham, whofe 
 Letters I hope you have feen as containing fundry things neceffary 
 for your view ; and I doubt not but your wifdome will readily adde 
 what is taking in what I have projected ; only let me fay this, that I 
 dayly ftill fee more evidence that that is the very way which the 
 Lord would have us take at prefent. 
 
 Let me, I befeech you, trouble you a little farther with fome con- 
 ' fiderations about this great Indian work which lyeth upon me, as my 
 continual care, prayer, defire and endeavour to carry on, namely for 
 their fchooling and education of youth in learning, which is a princi- 
 pal means for promoting of it for future times ; If the Lord bring us 
 to live in a Towne and Society, we muft have fpecial care to have 
 Schools for the inftrudlion of the youth in reading, that they may be 
 able to read the Scriptures at leaft. And therefore there muft be fome 
 Annual revenew for the maintaining of fuch Schoolmafters and 
 Dames ; Befides, I do very much defire to tranllate fome parts of the 
 Scriptures into their language, and to print fome Primer in their 
 language wherein to initiate and teach them to read, which fome of 
 the men do much alfo defire, and printing fuch a thing will be trou- 
 blefome and chargable, and I having yet but little fkill in their lan- 
 guage (having little leafure to attend it by reafon of my continual at- 
 tendance on my Miniftry in our own Church) I muft have fome In- 
 dians, and it may be other help continually about me to try and 
 examine Tranflations, which I look at as a facred and holy work, and 
 to be regarded with much fear, care and reverence ; and all this is 
 chargable ; therefore I look at that as a fpecial matter on which coft is 
 to be beftowed, if the Lord provide means, for I have not means of 
 my own for it. I have a family of many children to educate, and 
 therefore I cannot give over my Miniftry in our church whereby my 
 family is fuftained to attend the Indians to whom I give, and of 
 whom I receive nothing, nor have they any thing to give : fo that 
 want of money is the only thing in view that doth' retard a more full 
 profecution of this work unto which the Lord doth ripen them 
 apace. 
 
 Moreover, there be fundry prompt, pregnant witted youths, not 
 vitioufly inclined, but well difpofed, which I defire may be wholly fe- 
 queftred to learning, and put to Schoole for that purpofe, had we 
 means ; and I fuppofe ten pounds per Annum to be paid in England^ 
 will maintaine one Indian youth at Schoole,'and halfe a fcore fuch Gifts 
 
 or 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 or Annuities would by the bleffing of God greatly further this work 
 fo farre as concerns that particular, 
 
 I had thought to have fet down fome of their Queftions, whereby 
 you might perceive how thefe dry bones begin to gather flefli and 
 finnews ; but partly I have theni not ready, for I have not leafure to 
 fet them down at prefent, and they foone flip my memory, and I did 
 it in all my laft Letters, and may do it again, if the Lord will, here=- 
 after. And therefore thus much at prefeiit, being cald off to haften 
 to feale up my Letters, the Lord Jefus bleffe you, fanftifie and keep ' 
 you in all your labours and travels, and accept you, and all your 
 works, and return you again unto us in due feafon here to fee Gods 
 bleffing with your eyes upon thofe poore fouls, for whofe fakes you 
 have laboured, and the Lord fupply your abfence to all yours ; and fo 
 commending you to the Lord and to the word of his grace which is 
 able to fandtihe and faye you, I reft 
 
 Roxburgh this 8. Tour Lordjhips Brother and 
 
 of the 5. 49. fellow labourer for the good 
 
 of the poor Indians. 
 
 John Eliot 
 
 Worthy and much efteemed in the Lord. 
 
 IT is no fmall encouragement unto my fpirit, not only to go on 
 unweariably in this enterprize which the Lord hath fet my heart 
 upon, but alfo to expeft a great bleffing therein ^ only I muft in- 
 timate two Redundances^ one is page 8. where there is a great (I) re- 
 dundant which maketh the fence untrue ; but if left out, the fence is 
 good and true ; for (/) was not the Nominative cafe or efficient of 
 that Verb, or A£t of intreating Mr. Mahu to teach them, but it was 
 the Indians Aft, and fo I faid, and fo is the fence if that (great I) be 
 let out. A fecond Redundancie is page 17. (though misfigured and no 
 matter) where you put the title of Evangeliji upon me, which all men 
 take, and you feeme fo to put it for that extraordinary office mentioned 
 in the New Teflament ; I do befeech you to fuppreffe all fuch things, 
 if ever you fliould have occafion of doing the like ; let us fpeak and 
 
 do 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 do, and carry all things with all humility ; it is the Lord who hath 
 done what is done, and it is moft becoming the fpirit of Jefus Chrft to 
 lift up Chrift, and our felves lie low ; I wifli that that word could be 
 obliterated if any of the books remain. 
 
 Now feeing it is fo great a comfort to you to hear how the Lord is 
 pleafed to carry on this work, I (hall relate unto you fome pafTages, 
 whereby you may fee in what frame they be ; I had, and ftill have, a 
 great defire to go to a great fiihing place, Namajke upon Merimak ; 
 and becaufe the Indians way lyeth beyond the great River which we 
 cannot pafle with our horfes, noi' can we well go to it on this fide 
 the river, unleffe we go by Najhaway^ which is about, and bad way, 
 unbeaten, the Indians not ufing that way ; I therefore hired a hardy 
 man of Najhaway to beat out a way and to 'mark trees, fo that he 
 may Pilot me thither in the fpring, and he hired Indians with him 
 and did it ; and in the way pafTed through a great people called 
 Sowahagen Indians^ fome of which had heard me at Pautuket and at 
 Najhaway^ and had carried home fuch tydings, that they were gene- 
 rally flirred with a defire that I would come and teach them ; and 
 when they faw a man come to cut out a way for me that way, they 
 were very glad ; and when he told them I intended to come that way 
 the next fpring, they feemed to him full of joy, and made him very 
 welcome. But in the Spring, when I fhould have gone, I was not 
 well, it being a very fickly time, fo that I faw the Lord prevented 
 me of that journey ; yet when I went to Pautuket another fifliing 
 place, where from all parts about they met together, thither came 
 divers of thefe Sowahagen Indians, and heard me teach, and I had 
 conference with them ; and among other things, I aflced whether 
 Sowahegan Indians were defirous to pray to God ; they anfwered ; 
 yea, I afked how many defired it ; they anfwered wamu, that is, Jll, 
 and with fuch afFedlion as did much affedl thofe Chriftian men that I 
 had with me in company. 
 
 The chief Sachim of this place Pautuket^ and of all Mermak in 
 Papajfaconnoway, whom I mentioned unto you the lafl: yeere, who 
 gave up himfelf and his fonnes to pray unto God, this man did this 
 yeer fliew very great afFeftion to me, and to the word of God ; he 
 did exceeding earneftly, importunately invite me to come and live 
 there and teach them ; he ufed many arguments, many whereof I 
 have forgotten : but this was one, that my coming thither but once in a 
 yeere^ did them but little good, becaufe they foone had forgotten what I 
 taught, it being fo feldome, andfo long betwixt the times; further he faid. 
 That he had many men, and of them many nought, and would not be- 
 D leeve 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 leeve him that praying to God was fo good, but if I would come and 
 teach them, he hoped they would beleeve me ; He farther added, that I 
 did, as if one Jhould come and throw a fine thing among them, and they 
 earnejily catch at it, and like it well, becaufe it looks finely, but they 
 cannot look into it to fee what is within it, and what it is within, they 
 cannot tell whether fomething or nothing, it may be a Jiork or a Jione is 
 within it, or it may be a precious thing; but if it be opened, and they fee 
 what is within it, and fee it precious, then they Jhould beleeve it (fo faid 
 he) you tell us of praying to God-, (for fo they call all Religion) and we 
 like it well at the firji fight, and we know not what it is within, it may 
 be excellent, or it may be nothing, we cannot tell, but if you would come unto 
 us, and open it unto us, and Jhew us what it is within, then we Jhould beleeve 
 that it is fo excellent as you fay, when we fee it opened; Such elegant argu- 
 ments as thefe did he ufe, with much gravity, wifdome and aiFe<Si:ion ; and 
 truly my heart much yearneth towards them, and I have a great 
 defire to make our Indian Towne that way ; yet the Lord by the 
 Eye of Providence feemeth not to look thither, partly becaufe there 
 is not a competent place of due encouragement for fubfiftence ; which 
 would fpoyle the work; and partly becaufe our Indians which are 
 our firft and chief materials in prefent view, are loth to go North- 
 ward, though they fey they will go with me any whether ; but it 
 concerneth me much not to lead them into temptation of fcarcity, 
 cold and want, which may damp the progrefle of the Gofpel ; but I 
 rather think where ever I begin the firft Towne, (if I live) I muft 
 begin more townes then one, or oh that the Lord would raife up 
 more and more fit labourers into this harveft. 
 
 Another Indian, who lived remote another way, afked me if I 
 had any children ? I anfwered yea ; he afked how many ? I faid fixe ; 
 he afked how many of them were fonnes ? I told him five ; then he 
 afked whether my fonnes fhould teach the Indians to know God a^ 
 I do ? at which queftion I was much moved in my heart, for I have 
 often in my prayers dedicated all my fonnes unto the Lord to ferve 
 him in this fervice, if he will pleafe to accept them therein ; and my 
 purpofe is to do my uttermoft to traine them up in learning, whereby 
 they may be fitted in the beft manner I can to ferve the Lord herein, 
 and better preferment I defire not for them then to ferve the Lord 
 in this travel ; and to that purpofe I anfwered him, and my anfwer 
 feemed to be well pleafing to them, which feemed to minifter to my 
 heart fome encouragement, that the Lords meaning was to improve 
 them that way, and he would prepare their hearts to accept the fame. 
 
 There is another aged Sachem at ^abagud threefcore miles Weft- 
 ward, 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 ward and he doth greatly defire that I would come thither and teach 
 them, and live there ; and 1 made a journey thither this fummer, 
 and I went by Najhaway ; but it fo fell out that there were fome 
 ftirres betwixt the Nazaganfet and Monahegan Indians, fome murder 
 Committed, &c. which made our Church doubtful at firft of my 
 going, which when the Najhawny Sachem heard, he commanded 
 twenty armed men (after their manner) to be ready, and himfelf with 
 thefe twenty men, befides fundry of our neer Indians went along with 
 me to guard me, but I took fome Englifli along with me alfo, fo that 
 hereby their good affedlion is manifefted to me, and to the work I 
 have in hand ; here alfo I found fundry hungry after inftruftion, but it 
 pleafed God to exercife us with fuch tedious raine, and bad weather, 
 that we were extreme wet, infomuch that I was not dry night nor 
 day from the third day of the week unto the fixth, but fo travelled, 
 and at night pull off my boots, wring my ftockins, and on with them 
 again, and fo continued ; the rivers alfo were raifed, fo as that we were 
 wet in riding through ; but that which added to my afflidtion was, 
 my horfe tyred, fo that I was forced to let my horfe go empty, and 
 ride on one of the mens horfes which I took along with me, yet God 
 ftept in and helped ; I confidered that word of God, 2 Tim 2, 3. 
 Rndure hardjhip as a good Souldter of Chriji; with many other fuch 
 like meditations, which I think not nieet to mention now. And I 
 thank the Lord, neither I nor my company took any hurt, but the 
 Lord brought us in fafety and health home again. 
 
 Becaufe, both Mr. Pelham and your felf do fo heartily, and with 
 fuch good affeSion fend commendations and greetings unto our 
 Indians which pray unto God, I will tell you what JV,good occafion 
 Was miniftred unto me, through the goodneffe of God, by a queftion 
 which one of them propounded the next meeting as I remember) 
 after I had received my Letters, and I muft tell you the occafion of 
 the queftion. 
 
 There had been at that time fome ftrange Indians among them 
 which came to fee them who prayed to God, as one from Martins 
 Vineyard^ who is helpful to Mr. Mahu to tell him words, &c. and 
 I think fome others, when thofe Jirangers came, and they perceived 
 them to a^e£l Religion, and had mutual conference about the fame, 
 there was very great gladneffe of heart among them, and they made 
 thefe ftrangers exceeding welcome ; Hereupon did the Queftion 
 arife, namely what is the reafon, that when a ftrange Indian comes 
 among us whom we never faw before, yet if he pray unto God, we 
 do exceedingly, love him : But if my own Brother, dwelling a great way 
 
 off. 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 off^ come unto us, he not praying to God, though we love him, yet nothing 
 Jo as we love that other Jlr anger who doth pray unto God. 
 
 This queftion did fo clearly demonftrate that which the Scripture 
 calleth love of the Brethren, that I thought it was ufeful ; firft, to try 
 others of them, whether they found the fame in their hearts ; I 
 therefore alked them, how they found it in their hearts ? And they 
 anfwered, that they all found it fo in their hearts, and that it had 
 been a matter of difcourfe among themfelves, wondring at it, what 
 the reafon of it Jhould be, which was no fmall comfort and encourage^ 
 ment unto my fpirit ; Then in my anfwer I afked them what fliould 
 be the reafon that the godly people in England, 3000. miles ofF, who 
 never faw them, yet hearing that they pray to God, do exceedingly 
 rejoyce at it, and love them, and fend them tokens of their love, and 
 then I reckoned up what had been fent them, and mentioned fome 
 names to them, and farther told them that their love was fo great 
 unto them, that they would fend them over a great deale more ; and 
 in fpecial, I hoped' they Would fend us fuch materials as be requilite: 
 to make a Towne, and mentioned fome fuch things as I have named 
 in the Catalogue I fent to you, and afked them if they could tell the 
 reafon of it ; they anfwered no ; this being the fame with their quef- 
 tion ; and then I fhewed the unity of fpirit, &c. And thus you fee 
 the occafion and way of communicating the good will and love of the 
 Saints in England, unto them, fo as that they might tafte a fpiritual 
 bleiEng, and finde fome edification of their fouls by thofe outward 
 bleffings which they received. And whereas fome, (as I am in- 
 formed) who came from us to England, are no better friends to this 
 wbrk then they fliould, and may fpeak flightly of it : I do intreat 
 that fuch may "be afked but this queftion ; Did they fo much regard 
 to look after it here, as to go three or four miles to fome of our 
 meetings, and to obferve what was faid and done there ? if not, how 
 can they tell how things be ? if they fay they were, I defire to know 
 what they except againft? If they fay the Indians be all nought 
 becaufe fuch as come loytering and filtching about in our Townes are 
 fo ; Wifli them to confider how unequal that judgment is, if all the 
 Englifli fliould be judged by the worft of thedi ; and any fhould fay 
 they be all fuch, this were to condemne the righteous with the 
 wicked. Had I leafure, I would infert a few more of their queftions, 
 that you might perceive how flefh and finewes begin to gather upon 
 thefe dry bones ; but I cannot at this time attend it ; the prefent 
 work of God among them is to gather them together to bring them 
 to Political life, both in Ecclefiaftical fociety and in Civil, for which 
 
 they 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 they eameftly long and enquire, and fome aged ones fay, Oh that 
 God v)oUld let me live to fee that day ; I allude to that in Ezekiel, not 
 becaufe I have any light to perfwade me thefe are that people there 
 mentioned, only they bs dry and fcattered bones, if any be in the 
 world ; and the work of God upon all fuch dry bones I beleeve will 
 be in many things Symmetrically But the work of the day is to civilize 
 ihem, and it will be very chargeable, and becaufe in your Letters to 
 Mr. Cotton, you defired that he and I fliould fpeak with the Com- 
 miffioners what was fitting to fend over for this work, we could not 
 fpeak with the Commiflioners of other Colonies, nor write to have 
 any feafonable return, nor could we communicate the ftate of the 
 bufineffe unto them, but what was feafible we have done. 
 
 Now dear Sir, it may be you will defire to know what kinde of 
 Civil Government they Ihall be inftruded in ; I acknowledge it to 
 be a very weighty confideration ; and I have advifed with Mr. Cotton 
 and others about it, and this I propound as my general rule through 
 the help of the Lord ; they fhall be wholly governed by the Scrip- 
 tures in all things both in Church and State ; they {hall have no 
 other Law-giver ; the Lord (hall be their Law-giver, the Lord fliall 
 be their Judge, the Lord fliall be their King, and he will fave them ; 
 and when it is fo the Lord reigneth, and unto that frame the Lord 
 will bring all the world ere he hath done, but it will be more difficult 
 in other Nations who have been adulterate with their Antuhr'iftian 
 or humane wifdome ; they will be loth to lay downe their imperfeft 
 own Star-light of excellent Lawes, in their conceits, for the perfefl: 
 Sun-light of the Scripture ; which through blindnefle they cannot fee. 
 
 England long fince had happy experience of it, and it is often in 
 my heart to defire they would pitch there in this prefent great change 
 they are about ; this is certaine, that all formes and Lawes of mans 
 invention will fllake, be unfettled ; and many will doubt of fubjedl- 
 ing to any way man can devife ; and they will never reft till they 
 come up to the Scriptures, and when they produce Scripture grounds 
 for all they do, it will anfwer and (atisfie all godly confclences, and 
 awe the reft, and ftop their mouths unleffe they will cavill againft 
 divine wifdome. It is the very reafon why the Lord in this houre 
 of temptation will bring Nations into diftreue and perplexity, that fo 
 they may be forced to the Scriptures ; the light whereof hath fole 
 authority to extricate them out of their deep perplexities ; and there- 
 fore all Governments are and will be fliaken, that men may be forced 
 to pitch upon the firme and unfliaken foundation, the Word of God ; 
 this is doubtleffe the great defigne of Chrift in thefe later dayes ; Oh 
 
 that 
 
( ^4 ) 
 
 that mens eyes Were open to fee it, and when the World is bi'oilght 
 into this frame, then Chrift reigrieth ; and when this isj Government 
 Ihall be in the hands of the Saints of the moft high. 
 
 But I forget my felf ; this is not rty prefent work, it is my defirci 
 and prayer ; my Wofk is td endeavour the fetting up Chrift King-' 
 dome among the Indians. 
 
 Sir, you tell me of one that will publifh reafons to prove (at leaft) 
 fome of the ten Tribes are in America^ it would be glad tydings to 
 my heart ; and when Mr. Dudley heard of it, he faid that Captaine 
 Cromwell^ who lately dyed at Bojlon^ told him that he faw many 
 Indians to the Southward Circumcifed, and that he was oft converi- 
 ant among them, and faw it with his eyes, and was undoubtedly 
 certaine of it ; this is Captaine Cromwels teftimony, and it feemeth to 
 be one of the moft probable arguments that ever I yet heard of; 
 unlefle the Lord fliall pleafe to clear it up that they are fome of thofe 
 dry bones which Ezekiel fpeaketh of. 
 
 Mr. Mahew who putteth his hand unto this Plough at Martini 
 Vineyard^ being young, and a beginner here, hath extreme want of 
 books ; he needeth Commentaries artd Common Places for the body of 
 Divinity, that fo he might be well grounded and principled ; if there- 
 fore the Lord bring any meanes into your hand, I defire you would 
 (by the help of foffle godly Divine) fend him over fuch books as may 
 be neceffary for a young Scholer ; I will name no books, he needs 
 all ; I befeech you put fome weight Upon it, for I defire he might 
 be furnilhed in that kinde, and other fupplies will be needful for him. 
 
 And for my feilf I have this requeft (who alfo am (bort enough in 
 books) that I might be helped to purchafe my brother Weld his 
 books, the fumme of the purchafe is (3:4. li.) I am loth they fliould 
 come back to England when W6 have fo much need of them here, 
 and without ready money there I cannot have them ; if therefore fo 
 much money might be difburfed for me, it would be a blefling to me, 
 but it is on condition that all his books here be comprehended, elfe 
 I will not give fo much for them. 
 
 One thing more I (hall mention, viz. if the work go on, and you 
 fend us means, then this may be confiderable, which fome have ad- 
 vifed me, whether it might not be good to fend me over a carpenter 
 or two young men-fervants ; but if you fhould approve it, I defire 
 they may be godly and well conditioned, of a good fpirit, for they 
 muft be imployed among the Indians, and if they fhould be naught, 
 and of an ill difpofition they might do a great deal of hurt, but if they 
 be honeft & meek and well fpirited, it may be a great furtherance of 
 the work, I wholly leave it to your wifdom. Having 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 Having fome leafure by the Ships delay I will infert a few queftions 
 which they have propounded, viz. 
 
 If a man know Gods Word, but beleeve it not ; and he teach others, 
 is that good teaching ? and if others beleeve that which he teacheth, is 
 that good beleeving, or faith ? upon this queftion I a(ked them, how 
 they could tell when a man knoweth Gods Word that he doth not 
 beleeve it ? They anfwered me, When he doth not do in his pra£iice. 
 tinfwerable to that which he knoweth. 
 
 If I teach on the Sabbath that which you have taught us, and 
 forget fome. Is that a fm ? and fome I mijiake and teach wrong. Is that 
 a fin ? 
 
 Do all evill thoughts come from the Devill, and all good ones from 
 God? 
 
 What is watchfulneffe ? 
 
 How Jhall I finde happinejfe ? 
 
 What Jhould I pray for at night, and what at morning, and what on 
 the Sabbath day? 
 
 What is true Repentance, or how jhall I know when this is true ? 
 
 How mufi I wait on God ? 
 
 Shall we fee Chriji at the day of Judgment ? 
 
 Can we fee God? 
 
 When I pray for afoftheart, why is itflill hard? 
 
 Can one be faved by reading the book of the creature ? This quef-^ 
 tion was made when I taught them. That God gave us two books, 
 and that in the book of the creature, every creature was a word or 
 fentence, &c. 
 
 You faid God promifed Mofes to go with him, how doth he go 
 with us ? 
 
 When fuch die as never heard of ChriJl, whether do they go ? 
 
 When the wicked die, do they firfi go to heaven to the judgment feate 
 of Chriji to be judged, and then go away to hell ? 
 
 What is the meaning of the word Hebrews ? 
 
 Why doth God fay, I am the God of the Hebrews ? 
 
 When Chriji arofe, whence came his foul? When I anfwered from 
 heaven ; It was replyed, How then was Chriji punijhed in our Jiead ? 
 Or when did he fuffer in our Jiead, afore death or after ? 
 
 When I pray every day, why is my heart fo hard Jiill, even as a 
 Jione ? 
 
 How 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 How doth God arife, and we worjhip at his feet^ what meaneth it ? 
 This was when I preached out of Pfal. 132. 
 
 Why did they eate the Pajfeover^ with loynes girt, and Jhooes on their 
 feet? 
 
 What meaneth, arije O Lord into thy rejiing place ? 
 
 What meaneth, hunger and thirji after righteoufnejfe, and they 
 blejed? 
 
 What meaneth, thou Jhalt not covet any thing that is thy neigh- 
 bours ? 
 
 If one purpofeth to pray, and yet dieth before that time, whether goeth 
 his foul? 
 
 If I teach on the Sabbath fomething that fome other Englijhman 
 taught me, the Indians do not like it, if it be not' that which you have 
 taught, is this well ? 
 
 Why muji we be like Salt ? 
 
 If I do not love wicked men, nor good men, am I good? 
 
 What meaneth that, love enemies and wicked men ? 
 
 Doth God know who Jhall repent, and beleeve, and who not ? When 
 I anfwered in the affirmative, then it was replyed. Why then did God 
 ufe to much meanes with Pharoah ? 
 
 What meaneth that his wife Jhall be like a Vine, and his children like 
 young plants ? 
 
 What meaneth, that bleffed are they that mourn ? 
 
 When I fee a good example, and know that it is right, why do I not 
 do the fame ? 
 
 What meaneth lifting up hands to God? , 
 
 What anger is good, and what is bad ? 
 
 Do they dwell in fever all houfes in heaven, or altogether, and what do 
 they? 
 
 How do you know what is done in heaven ? 
 
 If a child die before he Jinne, whether goeth his foul? By this quef- 
 tion, it did pleafe the Lord, clearly to convince them of original fin, 
 bleffed be his name. 
 
 If one that prayes to God, fins like him that prayes not, is not he 
 worfe ? And while they difcourfed of this point, and about hating of 
 wicked perfons, one of them fhut it up with this. They muJl love the 
 man and do him good, hut hate his fin. 
 
 Why do Englijhmenfo eagerly kill allfnakes ? 
 
 May a man have good words and deeds and a bad heart, and another 
 bad words and deeds, and yet a good heart? 
 
 What 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 What is it to eate Chri/i his fiejh and drink his blood, what mean- 
 eth it? 
 
 What meaneth a new heaven and a new earth ? 
 
 Much honoured and refpedted in the Lord Jefus. 
 
 YOur faithful and unwearied paines about the Lords work for 
 the good of his dear children here, and for the furtherance 
 of the Kingdome of Chrift among thefe poor Indians, fhall 
 doubtlefle be had in remembrance before the Lord, not through merit, 
 but mercie. 
 
 By former Letters fent by Mr. Saltonjiall ; I informed you of the 
 prefent ftate of the Indian work, and though I might adde farther 
 matters, yet I flial forbear, only this, ftill they continue conftant, 
 and earneftly defire to fet upon the way of cohabitation & prepare for 
 their enjoyment of that great blelHng to gather a Church of Chrift, 
 among them ; and fince the writing of my laft a Nipnet Sachem hath 
 fubmitted himfelf to pray unto the Lord, and much defireth one of 
 our chief ones to live with him and teach him and thofe that are 
 with him. 
 
 You wrote (I thank you) much encouraging to lofe no time, and 
 follow the work, though I borrow materials, but I durft not do fo, 
 the work is great, as I informed you in my former Letters ; and I 
 fear, left it fliould difcourage you, nor would I be too hafty to run 
 before the Lord do clearly (by Scripture rules) fay go ; nor on the 
 other fide would I hold them too long in fufpence, there may be 
 weaknefle that way to their difcouragement, but it is the Lords work, 
 and he is infinite in wifdome, and he will fuit the work in fuch a 
 time and place as ihall beft attain his appointed ends and his great 
 glory. 
 
 Touching the way of their Government, I alfo intimated the pur- 
 pofe of my heart, that I intend to diredl: them according as the Lord 
 fhall pleafe to help and aflift to fet up the Kingdome of Jefus Chrift 
 fully, fo that Chrift fliall reigne both in Church and Common-wealth, 
 both in Civil and Spiritual matters ; we will (through his grace) fly to 
 E the 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 the Scriptures, for every Law, Rule, Direfliion, Form, or what ever 
 we do. And when every thing both Civil & Spritual are done by 
 the direftion of the word of Chrift, then doth Chrift reigne, and the 
 great Kingdome of Jefus Chrift which we weight for, it even this that 
 I do now mention ; and by this means all Kingdomes and Nations 
 fliall become the Kingdomes of Chrift, becaufe he fhall rule them in 
 all things by }iis holy word ; humane wifdome in learned Nations will 
 be loth to yeeld to Chrift fo farre, much lefle will Princes and Mo- 
 narches readily yeeld fo farre to ftoop to Chrift, and therefore the 
 Lord will ftiake all Nations, and put them into diftrefle and perplexity, 
 and in the conclufion they will be glad to ftoop to Chrift. But as 
 for thefe poore Indians thw have no principles of their own, nor 
 yet wifdome of their own (I meane as other Nations have) wherein 
 to ftick ; and therefore they do moft readily yeeld to any diredlion 
 from the Lord, fo that there will be no fuch oppofition againft the 
 rifing Kingdome of Jefus Chrift among them ; yet I forefee a cloud of 
 difficulties in the work, and much obfcurity and trouble in fome fuch 
 refpeifts, as I think not meet to mention, only by faith I do fee through 
 this cloud : I beleeve the faithful promifes of Chrift fliall be accom- 
 pliflit among them, and the Lord Jefus fliall reigne over them 
 glorioufly. Oh my heart yearneth over diftrejfed perplexed England^ and 
 my continual prayer unto the Lord for them is, that he would be 
 pleafed to open their hearts and eyes, and let them fee their opportu- 
 nity to let in Chrift, and to advance his kingdome over them ; yea, 
 my hope is, that he will not leave tampering with them untill he hath 
 brought it to pafle ; Oh the blefled day in England when the Word 
 of God fliall be their Magna Charta and chief Law Book ; and when 
 all Lawyers muft be Divines to ftudy the Scriptures ; and fliould the 
 Gentile Nations take up Mofes policie fo farre as it is morall and 
 confcionable, make the Scriptures the foundation of all their Lawes, 
 who knoweth what a door would be opened to the Jewes to come in 
 to Chrift ; I wrote likewife by my laft to intreat for fome encourage- 
 ment to Mafter Mahu who preacheth to the Indians, and that fome 
 monies may be laid out in books for him ; for young $holars in New- 
 England are very poor in books, as he is in extreme want. 
 Dear Sir, 
 Be helpful in prayer to our work, and above all gatherings, gather 
 prayers ; I mean put the Saints in minde that they pray much about 
 it, as they do both there and here. 
 
 Truly 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 Truly Sir, 
 
 The fpirit of prayer that is daily going about this matter, is a very 
 great encouragement for all our meetings, through mercie, ring of 
 it ; I would intimate fome more queftioiis which they have pro- 
 pounded fince my laft, for they are fruitful that way, but partly I 
 fear I fhall want time, yet my heart faies, it may comfort you, and 
 therefore I will fet down a few, fo many as I have noted down fince 
 my laft. 
 
 If hut one parent beleeve, what Jt ate are our children in? 
 
 Haw doth much Jinne make grace abound ? I having made ufe of 
 that Text. 
 
 Iffo old a man as I repent, may I be faved ? The wifdome of God 
 drew forth this queftion next to interpret the former. 
 
 When we come to beleeve, how many of our children doth God take 
 tuith us, whether all only young ones, or at what age ? 
 
 What meaneth that. Let the "Trees of the Wood rejoyce ? 
 
 What meaneth that. That the Majier doth not thank his fervant for 
 waiting, on him f 
 
 What meaneth that. We cannot ferve two Maflers? 
 
 Can they tn Heaven fee us here on Earth F 
 
 Do they fee and know each other? Shall I know you in heaven? 
 
 Do they know each other in Hell? 
 
 When Englijh-men choofe Magijlrates and Minijiers, how do they 
 know who be good men, that they dare truft ? 
 
 Seeing the body finneth, why Jhould the foule be punijhed, and what 
 punijhment jhall the body have? 
 
 If all the world be burnt up, where Jhall hell be ? 
 
 What is it to beleeve in Chriji ? 
 
 What meaneth, that Chriji meriteth eternal life for us ? 
 
 What meaneth that. Covet not thy neighbours houfe, isfc ? 
 
 What meaneth that. The woman brought to Chri/l a box of Oyle, and 
 wafht his feet with tears, &c ? 
 
 What meaneth that of the two debtd'rS, one oweth much ; another but 
 little? 
 
 If a wicked man prayeth, and teacheth, doth God accept, or what 
 faies God? 
 
 At what age may maids nidrry ? 
 
 If a man be wife, and his Sachem weak ynuft he yet obey him? 
 
 We are commanded to honour the Sachem, but is the Sachem com- 
 manded to love us? 
 
 When 
 
{ 30 ) 
 
 When all the world Jhall be burnt up, what Jhall be in the rootneofitj 
 an old womans queftion yefter day ? 
 
 What meaneth God, when he fayes, ye Jhall be my "Jewels ? This 
 was afked from my text laft time, Exod.if). 5. for fo I rendred the 
 word peculiar treafure. 
 
 You may perceive many of the queftions arife out of fuch texts as I 
 handle, and I do endeavour to communicate as much Scripture as I 
 can ; The word of the Lord converteth, fan£iifieth and maketh wife the 
 Jimple ; fometimes they afke weaker queftions then thefe, which I 
 mention not, you have the beft ; and when I am about writing, I am 
 more careful in keeping a remembrance of them ; it may be the fame 
 queftion may be again and again afked at feveral places, and by 
 feveral perfons ; The Lord teach them to know Chrift, whom to 
 know is eternal life ; I fliall intreat your fupplications at the throne of 
 grace, under the tender wing whereof I leave you, being forced by 
 the time, and reft 
 
 Yottr refpeliful and loving 
 Roxbury this 29. of brother and fellow-labourer 
 
 the lOth 49. in the Indian work, 
 
 John Elliot, 
 
 Much honoured and beloved in Chrift, &c. 
 
 I Heard of the health and welfare of your family not long fince, 
 though the fbarpnelFe and depth of fnowes this later part of win- 
 ter did more fliut up and hinder intercourfe then ever I knew in 
 New-England. 
 
 I fball principally attend to give you intelligence about the Indians, 
 touching whom, I know not that you are like to have intelligence by 
 others ; The Lord hath fliewed them a very great teftimony of his 
 mercy this winter, in that when formerly the Englifti had the poX 
 much, they alfo had the iame ; but now though it was fcattered in all 
 
 or 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 or moft of the Townes about them, yet the Lord hath preferved them 
 from it ; And that which maketh this favour of God the more 
 evident and confpicuous, is this ; That there is a company of profane 
 Indians that lately are come to a place near Wamouth^ not farre from 
 our Indians, who do not onely refufe to pray unto God, but oppofe 
 and apprehend that they were fent thither, if not by the policie of fome 
 Pawwaws^ yet by the inftigation of Sathan, on purpofe to feduce the 
 younger fort from their profeffion, and difcourage others ; and indeed 
 they being fo neer, had that effeft evidently in fome of the younger 
 fort. Now it pleafed God that this company of wicked Indians, 
 were fmitten with the Pox, and fundry cut ofF, and thofe which were 
 cut off, were the worft and mifchievous of them all ; which Provi- 
 dences, all the good Indians do take a great notice of, and doth fay 
 that the Lord hath wrought a wonder for them ; and it feemeth to 
 me that the Lord hath bleft this good Providence of his to be a 
 ftrong ingagement of their hearts to the Lord. 
 
 The work of the Lord through his grace doth ftill go on as for- 
 merly, and they are ftill full of queftions, and moftly they now be, 
 to know the meaning of fuch Scriptures as I have tranflated and 
 read, and in a poor meafure expounded to them, they long for to 
 proceed in that work which I have in former Letters mentioned ; 
 namely to cohabit in a Towne, to be under the government of the 
 Lord, and to have a Church and the Ordinances of Chrift among 
 them ; this Spring the Lord feemed to put fome of them upon fuch 
 ftreights, about a convenient place of planting, as if his Providence 
 had meant to call us to a prefent fetting upon the work, but partly by 
 reafon of the undetermination about the place where, but principally 
 for want of means, wherewith it is yet deferred, though I fee a necef- 
 fity to Ipeed it forward, for they have been now long in the ex- 
 pectation, and if I ihould ftill fail them, it would both difcourage 
 them, and embolden their adverfaries to defpife the work (for all the 
 Country of Indians are in an expe£lation of it) yea by this delay that 
 hath been, Sathan hath taken this advantage to my great grief ; That 
 whereas at my firft preaching at Najhawog fundry did imbrace the 
 word, and called upon God, and Pau-wauing was wholly filenced 
 among them all ; yet now, partly being forty miles of ; and princi- 
 pally by the flow progreflTe of this work, Sathan hath fo emboldned 
 the Pawwawes, that this winter, (as I hear to my grief) there hath 
 been Paw-waning again with fome of them. 
 
 The reafon why there is ftill a delay of laying the foundation of the 
 
 work 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 work is this, becaufe we muft fee firft whether any fupply is lilce to be 
 had from England (for our fins and bad times may difappoint our 
 greateft hopes) and if any, what meafure, that we may by that be 
 guided what foundation and beginning to make ; their condition and 
 the neceffary frame of this work requireth a liberall flock to begin 
 withall, and liberall fupply to carry it on ; And therefore to begin the 
 work before the Lord hath difcovered his providing providence this 
 way, by the rule of prudence may not be ; nor can I manifeft unto 
 the Church that God doth call me to that work, untill I may lay be- 
 fore them, (at leaft fome) prefent means to begin the work, and fome 
 probable hopes of fupply ; and untill that bef done, the Church hath 
 no rule to give up to that work ; nor I a rule to require it ; only I do 
 (through the Lords help) continually go on to teach them, as for thefe 
 three yeers and a half I have done, inftrudling them, and preparing 
 them as well as I can againft fuch time as the Lord, who hath pro- 
 mifed to guide us by his eye and voyce, fhall manifeftly call us to go 
 forward with that work which we wait to fee accomplimed. 
 
 I forbear to mention any thing about the materials requifite, and 
 manner of proceedings, having done that in my fdrmer Letters, by 
 the firft (hip efpecially, and alfo by the fecond ; both which Veffels 
 I truft the Lord hath brought in fafe to you long ere this time. I 
 was in great hopes to have heard fome encouragement by fiftiing fliips^ 
 but not one being this yeere come, nor tydings any other way, we 
 are put to fad thoughts how it may fare with England, but we ceafe 
 not to pray continually in that behalf, and this expedlation of mine is 
 one ingagement of my heart to be the more earneft both for England 
 and for your felf alfo, 
 
 Roxbury this l^. of Tour loving friend and brother 
 
 the a* 1650, in our Lord fefus 
 
 John Eliot. 
 
 Much refpe(Sted and beloved in our Lord Jefus. 
 
 G 
 
 Od is greatly to be adored in all his Providences, and hath 
 evermore wife and holy ends to accomplifli that which we are 
 not aware of; and therefore although he may feem to crofTe 
 
 our 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 our ends with dilappointments after all our pains and expeftations, yet 
 he hath farther and better thoughts that we can reach unto, which will 
 caufe us to admire his love and wifdome, when we fee them accom- 
 pliftied ; and yet he is gracious to accept of our fincere labours for his 
 name, though he difeppoint them in our way, and fruftrate our ex- 
 pectations in time, Yea, he will fulfill our expeftations in his way, 
 and in his time, which fliall finally appeare to the eye of faith, a 
 better way then ours, and a fitter time then ours ; his wifdome is 
 infinite. 
 
 For the work of the Lord among the Indians, I thank his Majefty 
 he ftill fmileth on it, he favoureth and blefleth it ; through his help 
 that ftrengthneth me, I ceafe not in my poor meafure to inftrudl them ; 
 and I do fee that they profit and grow in knowledge of the truth, and 
 fome of them in the love of it, which appeareth by a ready obedience 
 to it ; and to teftifie their growth in knowledge, I will not (though I 
 could do it if need were) trouble you with their queftions ; but I will 
 only relate one ftory which fell out about the fifth month of this 
 yeere ; Two of my hearers travelled to Providence and Warwick 
 where Gorton liveth, and there they fpent a Sabbath, and heard them 
 in fome exercifes, and had much conference with them ; for it feemeth 
 they perceiving that they had fome knowledge in Religion, and were 
 of my hearers ; they endeavour to pofleffe their minds with their 
 opinions. When they came home, the next Le£ture day, before I 
 began the exercife, the company being not fully come together, one 
 of them afked me this queftion ; What is the reafon, that feeing thofe 
 Englijh people^ wh^re he had heen^ had the fame Bible that we have^ 
 yet do not fpeake the fame things ? I alked the reafon of his queftion ; 
 he faid, becaufe his brother and he had been at Providence and at Warr 
 wick, and he perceived by fpeech with them^ that they differ from us ; 
 he faid they heard their publike exercife, but did not under/land what 
 they meant, (though the man underftandeth the Englifti Language 
 pretty well) But afterwards faid he, we had much fpeech ; I afked him 
 in what points ; and fo much as his brother and he could call to minde, 
 he related as followeth. 
 
 Firft, faid he, they faid thus they teach you that there is a Heaven 
 and a Hell, but there is nofuch matter ; I afked him what reafon they 
 gave ; he anfwered, that he faid there is no other Heaven then what is 
 in the hearts of good men ; nor no other Hell, then what is in the hearts 
 of bad men ; Then I afked, and what faid you to that , faith he, / told 
 them, I did not beleeve them, becaufe Heaven is a place whether good 
 men go after this life is ended ; and Hell is a place whether bad men go 
 
 when 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 when they die, and cannot he in the hearts of men ; I approved of this 
 anfwer. I a(ked what elfe they fpake ? he anfwered, they fpake of 
 Baptifm^ and faid, that they teach you that Infants muji he haptifed^ but 
 that is a very foolijb thing ; I alked him what reafon they gave ? He 
 faid, hecaufe Infants neither know God nor Baptifme, nor what they do, 
 and therefore it is a foolijh thing to do it ; I alked him what he faid to 
 that ? He faid, he could not fay much, but he thought it was better to 
 baptize them while they he young, and then they are hound and engaged; 
 hut if you let them alone till they be grown up, it may be they will fie 
 off, and neither care for God nor for Baptifme ; I approved of this an- 
 fwer alfo, and afked what elfe they fpake of? He faid farther, they 
 fpake of Minijiers, and faid, they teach you that you muJl have Minijiers, 
 hut that is a needleffe thing. I alked what reafon they gave ? He 
 faid, they gave thefe reafons, Firft, Minijiers know nothing but what 
 they learn out of Gods book, and we have Gods book as well as they and 
 can tell what God faith. Ag^n, Minijiers cannot change mens hearts, 
 God muJi do that, and therefore there is no need of Minifiers. I alked 
 him what he laid to that ? He faid, that he told them, that we muJi 
 do as God commands us, and if he commands to have Minijiers, we muJi 
 have them. And farther I' told them, I thought it was true, that Mi- 
 nijiers cannot change mens hearts ; hut when we do as God bids us, and 
 hear Minijiers preach, then God will change our hearts. I approved 
 this anfwer alfo. I alked what elfe they fpake of ? He faid. They teach 
 you that you muJi have magijirates, but that is needleffe, nor ought to be. 
 I alked what reafon they gave ? He faid. That they gave this reafon, 
 hecaufe Magijirates cannot give life, therefore they may not take away 
 life ; hefides when a man fmneth, he doth not Jinne againji Magijirates, 
 and therefore why Jhould they punijh them ? hut they Jinne againji God 
 and therefore we muJi leave them to God to punijh them. I alked him 
 what he had to fay to that, he anfwered, I faid to that as to the former, 
 we muJi do as God commands us; If God command' us to have M^iif- 
 trates, and commands them to punijh Jinners, them we muJi obey. I ap- 
 proved this alfo. 
 
 I alked farther what they faid ; then both of them confidered a 
 while, and faid, they could remember no more, only they faid fomewhat 
 of the Parliament of England, which they did not underftand. And by 
 fuch time as we had done this conference, the company was ga- 
 thered together, and we went to Prayer, and I did folemnly blefle 
 God who had given them fo much underftanding in his truth, and 
 fome ability to difcerne between Truth and Error, and an heart to 
 
 ftand 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 ftand for the Truth, and againft Error ; and I cannot but take it as a 
 Divine Teftimony of Gods blefling upon my poor labours ; I after- 
 wards gave him an anfwer to his firft queftion viz. Why they having 
 the fame Bible with us^ yet /pake not the fame things ? And I anfwered 
 him by that text, 2 Thef 2. 10, 11. Becaufe they received not the love 
 of the truth that they might be faved^ for this caufe God jhall fend them 
 Jirong deluftons that they Jhould beleeve a lye. This text I opened unto 
 them ; I will adde no more at prefent to manifeft their proficiency in 
 knowledge. 
 
 The prefent work of the Lord that is to be done among them, is 
 to gather them together from their fcattered kinde of life ; Firft, unto 
 Civil Society, then to Ecclefiaftical, and both by the Divine dire£lion 
 of the Word of the Lord ; they are ftill earneftly defirous of it ; and 
 this Spring that is paft, they were very importunately defirous to have 
 been upon that work, and to have planted corne in the place intended ; 
 but I did diflWade, and was forced to ufe this reafon of delay, becaufe 
 I hoped for tools, and meanes from England., whereby to profecute 
 the work this Summer. But when fhips came, and no fupply, you 
 may eafily think what a damping it was ; and truly my heart fmote 
 me, that I had looked too much at man and meanes, in ftoping their 
 earneft afFedlions with that barre which proved a Blank.. I began 
 without any fuch refpedt, and I thought that the Lord would have 
 me fo to go on, and only look to him for help, whofe work it is ; and 
 when I had thus looked up to the Lord, I advifed with our Elders 
 and fome other of our Church, whofe hearts confented with me ; then 
 I advifed with divers of the Elders at Bofion Lefture, and Mr Cot- 
 tons anfwer was, my heart fayeth^ go on., and look to the Lord onely for 
 help., the jeft alfo concuring ; So I commended it to our Church, and 
 we fought God in a day of fafting and prayer about it (together with 
 other caufes) and have been ever fince a doing, according to our abili- 
 ties ; and this I account a favour of God, that that very night, oefore 
 we came from our place of meeting, we had notice of a Ship from 
 England, whereby I received Letters, and fome encouragement in the 
 work from private friends ; a mercy which God had in ftore, but un- 
 known to fome, and fo contrived by the Lord, that I fhould receive 
 it as a fruit of prayer. 
 
 The place is alfo of Gods providing, as a fruit of prayer ; for when 
 I, with fome that went with me, had rode to a place of fome hope- 
 full expedtation, when we came to it, it was in no wife futable ; I 
 went behind a Rock, and looked to the Lord, and committed the 
 F matter 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 matter to him ; and while J was travelling in Woods, Chriftian friends 
 were in prayer at home ; and fo it was, that though one of our Com- 
 pany fell fick in the Woods, fo that we were forced home with fpeed ; 
 yet in the way home, the Jndians in our companyj upon enquiry 
 defcribing a place to me, and guiding us over feme part of it, the Lord 
 did both by his providence then, and by after more diligent fearch of 
 the place, difcover that there it was his pleafure we ftiould begin this 
 work. When grafle was fit to cut, J fent fome Jndians to mow, and 
 others to make fome hay at the place, becaufe we muft oft ride 
 thither in the Autumn when grafle is withered and dead, and efpe- 
 cially in the Spring before any grafle is come, and there is provifion 
 for our horfes ; this work was performed well, as I found when I 
 went up to them with my man to order it. We mufl: alfo of neceflity 
 have an houfe to lodge in, meet' in, and lay up our provifions and 
 clothes, which cannot be in Wigwams. I fet them to fell and 
 fquare timber for an houfe, and when it was ready, I went, and many 
 of them with me, and on their fhoulders carried all the timber to- 
 gether, &c. Thefe things they chearfully do ; but this alfo I do, I pay 
 them wages carefully for all fuch works I fet them about, which is a 
 good encouragement to labour. I purpofe, God willing, to call them 
 together this Autumne to break and prepare their own ground againft 
 the Spring, and for other neceflTary works, which are not a k'w, in 
 fuch an enterprize. There is a great river which divideth between 
 their planting grounds and dwelling place, through which, though 
 they eafily wade in Summer, yet in the Spring its deep, and unfit for 
 daily palling over, efpecially of women and children ; therefore I 
 thought it neceflTary, that this Auf umne we fhould make a foot Bridge 
 over, againft fuch time in the Spring as they fhall have daily ufe of 
 it ; I told them my purpofe and reafon of it, wiflied them, to go vl^ith 
 me to do that work, which they chearfully did, and with their own 
 hands did build a bridge eighty foot long, and nine foot high in the 
 midft, that it might ftand above the floods ; when we had done, I cald 
 them together, prayed and gave thanks to God, and taught them out 
 of a portion of Scripture, and at parting I told them, I was glad of 
 their readinefl"e to labour, when I advifed them thereunto and in as 
 much as it hath been hard and tedious labour in the water, if any of 
 them defired wages for their work I would give it them ; yet being it 
 is for their owne ufe, if they fliould do all this labour in love, I fliould 
 take it well, and as I may have occafion, remember it ; they an- 
 fwered me, they were farre from defiring any wages when they do 
 
 their 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 their own work ; but on the other fide they were thankful to me 
 that I had called them, and counfelled them in a work fo needful 
 for them, whereto I replyed, I was very glad to fee them fo 
 ingenuous. 
 
 This bufineffe of praying to God (for that is their general name of 
 Religion) hath hitherto found oppofition only from the Pawwawes 
 and profane fpirits ; but now the Lord hath exercifed us with another 
 and a greater oppofition ; for the Sachems of the Country are gene- 
 rally fet againft us, and counter-work the Lord by keeping off their 
 men from praying to God as much as they can ; And the reafon of it 
 is this. They plainly fee that Religion will make a great change 
 among them, and cut them off from their former tyranny ; for they 
 ufed to hold their people in an abfolute fervitude, infomuch as what 
 ever they had, and themfelves too were at his command ; his language 
 was, as one faid {omne tneum ,■) now they fee that Religion teaches 
 otherwife, and puts a bridle upon fuch ufurpations ; Befides their for- 
 mer manner was, that if they wanted money, or if they defire any 
 thing from a man, they would take occafion to rage and be in great 
 anger ; which when they did perceive, they would give him all they 
 had to pacifie him ; for elfe their way was to fuborne fome villain 
 (of which they have no lack) to finde fome opportunity to kill him ; 
 TA/x keeps them in great awe of their Sachems^ and is one reafon why 
 hone of them dellre any wealth, only from hand to mouth, becaufe 
 they are but fervants, and they get it not for themfelves ; but now if 
 their Sachem fo rage, and give (harp and cruell language, inftead of 
 feeking his favour with gifts as formerly) they will admonifli him of 
 his finne ; tell him that is not the right way to get money ; but he 
 muft labour, and then he may have money, that is Gods command, 
 &c. And as for Tribute, fome they are willing to pay, but not as 
 formerly. Now thefe are great temptations to the Sachems, and they 
 had need of a good meafure both of wifdome and grace to fwallow 
 this Pill, and it hath fet them quite off; and I fuppofe that hence it is, 
 that (I having requefted the Court of Commiffioners for a general way 
 to be thought of to inftruft all the Indians in all parts, and I told the 
 Indians that I did fo, which they would foon fpread ; and ftill in my 
 prayers, I pray for the Monohegens, Narraganfets, &c.) the Monohegen 
 Indians were much troubled left the Court of Commiffioners fhould 
 take fome courfe to teach them to pray to God ; and Unkus their 
 Sachem went to Hartford this Court (for there they fate) and expreffed 
 
 to 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 to Elder Goodwin his feare of fUch a thing, and manifefted a great url- 
 willingneffe thereunto ; this one of our Commiflioners told me at his 
 coming home. 
 
 This temptation hath much troubled Cutjhamoqutn our Sachem, and 
 he was raifed in his fpirit to fuch an height, that at~ a meeting after 
 Ledture, he openly contefted with me againft our proceeding to make 
 a Town ; and plainly told me that all the Sachems in the Countrey 
 were againft it &c. When hfe did fd carry himfelf, all the Indians 
 were filled with fear, their countenances grew pale, and moft of them 
 flunk away, a few flayed, and I was alone, not any Englifti man with 
 me -, But it pleafed God (for it was his guidance of me, and afliftance) 
 to raife up my fpirit, not to pafHon, but to a bold refolution, telling 
 him it was Gods work I was about, and he was with me, and I feared 
 not him, nor all the Sachems in the Country, and I was refolved to go 
 on do what they can, and they nor he fhould hinder that which I had 
 begun, &c. And it pleafed God that his fpirit fhrunk and fell before 
 me, which when thofe Indians that tarried faw, they fmiled as they 
 durft, out of his fight, and have been much ftrengthned ever fince ; 
 and fince I underftand that in fuch conflicts their manner is, that they 
 account him that {brinks to be conquered, and the other to conquer j 
 wnich alas I knew not, nor did I aime at fuch a matter, but the Lord 
 carried me beyond my thoughts and wont ; after this brunt was overj 
 I took- my leave to go home, and Cutjhafnoquin went a little way with 
 me, and told me that the reafon of this trouble was, becaufe the In- 
 dians that pray to God, fince they have fo done, do not pay him 
 ttibutE as formerly they have done j I anfwered him that once before 
 when I heard of his complaint that way, I preached on that text. 
 Give unto Ccefar what is Ceefars, and unto God what is Gods ; and 
 alfo on Rom. 13. naming him the matter of the texts (not the places 
 of which he is ignorant) But he faid its true, I taught them well, but 
 they would not in that point do as I taught them ; and further he 
 faid, this thing are all the Sachem fenfiole of, and therefore fet them- 
 felves againft praying to God and then I was troubled, left (if they 
 fhould be finfully unjuft) they fhould both hinder and blemifh the 
 Gofpel and Religion ; I did therefore confult with the Magiftrates and 
 Mr. Cotton and other Elders ; Mr. Cottons text by Gods providence, 
 the next Le£lure gave him occafion to fpeak to it, which I fore-know- 
 ing advifed fome that underftood Englifh beft, to be there ; and 
 partly by what they heard, dnd by what I had preached to the like 
 purpofe, and told them what Mr. Cotton faid, &c. they were trou- 
 bled. 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 bled, and fell to reckon up what they had done in two yeers paft, a 
 few of them that lived at one of the places I preached unto ; I took 
 down the particulars in writing, as followeth. At one time they gave 
 him twenty bufhels of corne, at another time more than fixe buftiels ; 
 tWo hunting dayes they killed him fifteen Deeres ; they brake up for 
 him two Acres of Land, they made for him a great houfe or Wig- 
 wam, they made twenty rod of fence for him, with a Ditch and two 
 Railes about it, they paid a debt for him of 3. li. 10. s. only fome 
 others Were (Contributors in this money ; one of them gave him a fkin 
 of Beaver of two pound, at his returne from building, befides many 
 dayes works in planting come altogether, and fome feverally ; yea 
 they faid they would willingly db more if they would govern well by 
 juftice, and as the word of God taught them ; when I heard all this I 
 wondred, for this cometh to neere 30. li. and was done by a few, and 
 they thought it not milch if he had carried matters better ; and yet his 
 complaint was, they do nothing ; But the bottome of it lieth here, he 
 formerly had all or what he would ; now he hath but what they will ; 
 and admonitions alfo to rule better, and he is provoked by other 
 Sachems^ and ill counfel, not to fufFer this, and yet doth not know how 
 to help it ; hence arife his tentatiorts, in which I do very much pity 
 him. Having all this information what they had done, and how 
 CaUfelefle his cohiplaint aiid difcontent was, I thought it a difficult 
 thing to eafe his fpirit^ and yet clear and juftifie the people, which I 
 was to endeavour the next day of our meeting after the former con- 
 teftatiohs, therefore I was willing to get fomebody with me ; and by 
 Gods providence. Elder Heath went with me, and when we came 
 there, we found him very full of difcontent, fighing, fower looks, &c. 
 but we took no notice of it. 
 
 I preached that day out of the fourth of Mattheix), the temptations 
 of Chrift ; and when I came at that teiiiptation, of the Devils Ihowing 
 Chrift the kingdomes and glorifes of the world, thereby to tempt him 
 from the fervice of God, to the fervice of the Devill ; I did apply it 
 wholly to his cafe, fhewing hihi the Devill was now tempting him, as 
 he tempted Chrift ; and Sathan flieweth him all the delights and dig- 
 nities, and gifts and greatneflTe that he was wont to have in their fin- 
 full way ; Satan alfo tels him he Ihall lofe them all if he pray to God, 
 but if he will give over praying to God he fhall have them all again ; 
 then I fhewed him how Chrift rejected that temptation, and exhorted 
 him to reject it alfo, for either he muft rejedt the temptation, or elfe 
 
 he 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 he will rejeft praying to God ; if he fliould rejeft praying to God, 
 God would rejeft him. 
 
 After our exercife was ended, we had conference of the matter, and 
 we gave him the belt counfel we could (as the Lord was pleafed to 
 aflift) and when we had done, Elder Heath his obfervation of him 
 was, that there was a great change in him, his fpirit was very much 
 lightned, and it much appeared both in his countenance and carriage, 
 and he hath carried all things fairly ever fince. 
 
 But the temptation ftill doth work ftrongly, in the Countrey the 
 Sachems oppofing any that defire to fubmit themfelves to the fervice of 
 the Lord, as appeareth fundry Wayes ; fome that began to liften, are 
 gone quite back ; I meane Sachems and fome people that have a niind 
 to it, are kept back ; this laft Ledture day one carrte in and fubmitted 
 himfelf to call on God, and faid he had been kept back this half yeer 
 by oppofition, but now at laft the Lord hath helped and emboldned 
 him to break through all oppofition. 
 
 Thus Sathan feeketh to beat off thefe poore creatures from feeking 
 after the Lord by oppofing the higheft powers they have againft the 
 Lord and this work of his, knowing that the light of the Gofpel and 
 kingdome of Jefus Chrift (if it once get footing) will fcatter and diffi- 
 pate that darkneffe vvhereby his kingdome is maintained ; But I be- 
 leeve verily that the Lord will bring great good out of all thefe oppo- 
 fitions, nay I fee it already, (though I fee not all, I beleeve more then 
 I can fee ; you who can know the thoughts of Gods love to his peo- 
 ple, it is yet a fecret) but this I fee, that by this oppofition the wicked 
 are kept off from us, and from thrufting themfelves into our fociety, at 
 leaft fundry are who elfe might croud in among us and trouble us j 
 befides it is become fome tryall now, to come into our company and 
 call upon God ; for befides the forfaking of their Pau-waus^ (which 
 was the firft tryall) and their old barbarous fafhions and liberty to all 
 finne, and fome of their friends and kindred, &c. Now this is added, 
 they incurre the difpleafure of their Sachems, all which put together, 
 it cannot but appear there is fome work of God upon their hearts, 
 which doth carry them through all thefe fnares, and adde to this, that 
 if upon fome competent time of experience, we fhall finde them to 
 grow in knowledge of the principles of Religion, and to love the 
 wayes of the Lord the better, according as they come to underftand 
 them, and to yeeld obedience to them, and to fubmit to this great 
 change, to bridle luft by lawes of chaftity, and to mortifie idleneffe 
 by labour, and defire to traine up their children accordingly ; I fay if 
 
 we 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 we fliall fee thefe things in fome meafure in them, what {hould hinder 
 charity from hoping that there is grace in their hearts, a fpark kindled 
 by the Word and Spirit of God that fhall never Be quenched ; and 
 were vthefe in a fixed cohabitation, who could gain-fay their gathering 
 together into a holy Church-Covenant and ele(a:ion of Officers ? and 
 who could forbid that they fhould be baptized ? And I am perfwaded 
 that there be fundry fuch among them, whom the Lord will vouch- 
 fafe fo far to favour and ftiine upon, that they fliall become a Church, 
 and a Spoufe of Jefus Chrift, and among whom the pure and holy 
 Kingdome of Chrift fhall arife, and over whom Chrift fliall reigne, 
 ruling them in all things by his holy word. 
 
 But though this trouble and oppofition is turned (and fliall be more) 
 unto a fpiritual gaine, yet it behoveth us not to be fecure, and regard- 
 lefle of our fafety ; for if the Adverfary fliouid difcerne us naked and 
 weak, and fee an opportunity, who knoweth what their rage and 
 Sathans malice may ftirre them up unto to work us a mifchief ? Nay 
 it is our duty to be vigilant, and fortifie our felves the beft we can, 
 thereby to put the enemy out of hope to hurt us, and to prevent 
 them from attempting any evill againft us, if it be the will of God ; 
 and to that end we purpofe (if the Lord will) to make a ftrong Pali- 
 zado (wanting means of doing better) and if we cannot get any Guns, 
 Powder, Shot, Swords, &c. we will make us Slings, Bowes, and 
 other Engines, the beft the Lord will pleafe to diredl us for our 
 fafety ; and when we have ufed the beft meanes we can, I hope the 
 Lord will help us to truft in his great name, to make that our ftrong 
 Tower to flie unto. 
 
 I fee the Lord delighteth to appear himfelf in the work, and will 
 have us content our felves with little, low, poor things, that all the 
 power and praife may be given to his great name ; Our work in civi- 
 lizing them will go on the more flowly for want of tools ; for though 
 I have bought a few for them, we can do but little, for alas a few 
 will fet but a few on work, and they be very dear too ; had I ftore 
 of hofes this Autumne either to lend fhem or fell them at moderate 
 prizes, we fliould prepare (by Gods blefling) good ftore of ground 
 for come againft next yeere ; and had I, wherewith to buy corne to 
 carry up to the place, and have it in a readinefle to fupply them, 
 that fo they might tarry at their work, and not be fliut off through 
 neceffity to go get food, that alfo would be a great furtherance ; and 
 had we but means to maintaine a difcreet diligent man to work with 
 
 them, 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 them, and guide them in work, that alfo would much further the 
 work ; and many fuch things I could propound as very requifite unto the 
 work, but I lay my hand upon my mouth, I will fay no more, I have 
 left it with the Lord, who hath hitherto appeared, and he will appear 
 for his own eternal praife in fliining upon the day of our fmal things 
 in his due feafon. 
 
 The bleiling of God upon this work doth comfortably, hopefuly, 
 & fucceflefuly, appear in the labours of my brother Mahu at Mar- 
 tins Vineyard^ infomuch that I hope they alfo will be after awhile ripe 
 for this work of Civility and Cohabitation, if once they fee a fuccefle- 
 ful pattern of it, and I doubt not but they will (as thefe do) ere 
 long, defire Church-fellowfliip, and the Ordinances of Gods wor- 
 ftiip ; the cloqd increafeth, and the Lord feemeth to be coming in 
 among them, they are very defirous to have their children taught, 
 which is one argument that they truly love the knowledge of God ; as 
 on the contrary, it is a great ground of doubt of the truth of grace 
 in that mans heart, when he hath not an heart to take care to 
 traine up his children in the truth and in the pradtife of all godli- 
 nefle, but this care is in them, and it is pity it fliould not be fur- 
 thered by all meanes ; I have intreated a woman living neer where 
 they dwell, to do that office for their children, and I pay her for it ; 
 but when they go to their plantation, we fhall be in a ftreight for 
 help that way ; the Indians fo well like the parties who performeth 
 that fervice, that they intreat them to go with them, which I look at 
 as a finger of God ; they are I hope a godly couple, and might be a 
 bleffing to them, had we meanes to encourage them unto fo difficult 
 an enterprize, for it is a great matter to go and live among fuch a 
 people ; but in that cafe alfo, I look up to the Lord, and leave it with 
 his holy care and wifdome ; and if the Lord move any hearts to help 
 in this work, I defire that the care of their fchooling may be among 
 the chiefeft cares. 
 
 If the Lord pleafe to profper our poor beginnings, my purpofe is, (fo 
 for as the Lord fhal enable me to give attendance unto the work) to 
 have fchoole exercifes for all the men by daily inftructing of them to 
 read and write, &c. Yea if the Lord affords us fit inftruments, my 
 defire is, that all the women may be taught to read ; I know the matter 
 will be difficult every way, for Englifti people can only teach them to 
 read Englifh : and for their own Language we have no book ; my defire 
 therefore is to teach them all to write, and read written hand, and 
 thereby with pains taking, they may have fome of the Scriptures in their 
 
 own 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 own Language ; I have one already who can write, fo that I can read 
 his writing well, and he (with fome paines and teaching) can read 
 mine ; I hope the Lord will both inlarge his underftanding, and others 
 alfo to do as he doth and if once I had fome of themfelves able to 
 fpell aright, write and read, it might further the work exceedingly, 
 and will be the fpeedieft way. 
 
 Sir, When I had gone thus farre in my Letters, by a Ship that 
 came in, you wrote unto our Governour touching the two Libraries, 
 my brother Welds and Mr. Jenners, and of the willingneffe of the 
 Corporation to difcharge for them, for which caufe I do humbly 
 thank the Worfhipful Corporation, all the Chriftian and much 
 refpedled Gentlemen my loving friends. And Sir, I thank you for all 
 your faithful pains in this work, and the more I am obliged thereunto, 
 becaufe herein I am like to partake of the fruit of your labours, the 
 Lord Jefus give you a full reward. 
 
 Whereas you require the Catalogue of both Libraries, it fliall be 
 done (if God will) but I am to go into the Countrey to the Indians 
 now, and have much bufinefle, therefore know not whether I can do 
 it by this Ship, if I can I will. 
 
 This laft Court of Commiffioners fate at Hartford ConeSficot, fo 
 that I could not fpeak with them, but this courfe I took by our Go- 
 vernours advice ; our General Court gave him, with fome other, 
 power to give inftru^lions to our Commiflioners ; therefore all my 
 requefts I did write unto him, and he gave them in his Inftrudlions 
 to our Commiflioners, fo they went ftrong. 
 
 I have done at prefent, Mr. Whitfeld will informe you farther in 
 any particulars if need be: The Lord of heaven blefle and aflift you 
 in all your wayes, and I beg your prayers for me ftill, and fo reft 
 
 Roxbury this 211 Tours in our Lord Jefus. 
 
 of the 8'". P° 
 
 John Eliot. 
 
 The 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 The Conclufion. 
 
 ANd now [loving Reader) having brought thee along through thife 
 Divine difpenfations of Gods merciful dealing with the Indians^ I 
 Jhall briefly acquaint thee with the Workings of niy own thoughts 
 under the apprehenfon ofthefe things. 
 
 Firli^ I fee plainly the fulfilling of that Divine truth and promife 
 
 fpoken of by David, Pfal. 138. 2. Thou haft magnified thy Word 
 
 . ' . above all thy Name, /'. e. The Word in the Gofpel brought and 
 
 loco. ' preached to men. The Lord hath made this Word the only outward in- 
 
 Jirumental means to bring home thefe wandring ftnners ; to this Word 
 
 they have attended from the firji; from this they have received their 
 
 light; unto this they have given up themfelves ; without this they will not 
 
 Jlirre ; from this they will not depart ; from hence they have their 
 
 peace., and have feen good dayes under the Kingdome of our Lord 
 
 Chriji. 
 
 Secondly., the Lord hath now declared one great ind he had of fending 
 many of his people to thofe ends of the earth ; for befedes that the Lord 
 Ezek hath made that Land a place of reji^ and a little fanSiuary to them in 
 thefe troubleous times., and hath made it a place where many., very many 
 have been brought home to Chriji., even ainongfl themfelves ; fo now ap- 
 parently in the converfton of many of the Heathens., who fng and rejoyce 
 in the wayes of the Lord. 
 
 Thirdly., when I looked on my dear native Country [in the bulke and 
 majfe of them) there is one above doth know, that my heart melteth to- 
 wards it., defiring the Lord to give me grace to forrow in fecret for 
 millions of them, who were never yet acquainted with what many of 
 thefe poore Indianns have felt and found of the things of, Chriji, and 
 that multitudes of fuch who hold forth a profefiion of Chrijiian Religion, 
 yet fall Jhort of them, in regard of their belief and praiiife. Here I 
 helped my felf by comparing the one with the other, and that in divers 
 particulars. 
 
 I . Thefe Indians are found (to fpeak of fuch whofe hearts the Lord 
 hath opened by his Word and Spirit) to prize Ordinances, and fuch 
 as bring the Light to them, even that poor Indian, whofe beji clothing 
 is a ftmple Jkin about him, of whom you read in the firJi Letter, yet 
 they honour him for his works fake, and for thofe gifts, piety, and 
 
 modejiy 
 
(45 ) 
 
 modejiy they fee in him; Here Minijiers of Chriji are defpifed^ 
 though many of them are eminent for parts^ wifdome, and known in- 
 tegrity. 
 
 2. Thefe Indians are plain-hearted feekfor Chriji to enjoy him for 
 himfelf; they receive the Truth in the love of it, and obey it without 
 Jhifting or gainfaying ; Here men have their own ends to tend to in 
 matter of Religion^ take up the forme, and let the power lie, as not 
 
 ferving their turn, have evajions to get from under the authority of the 
 truth, and the Majejiy of the Rules of Chriji ; here is rending and tear- 
 ing of wits, whilji we wrangle one another out of the truth, till love and 
 peace be loji. 
 
 3. Thefe Indians are indujirious and purfue the things of their falva- 
 tion, reji they cannot, have it they muji, what ever it coji them, bearing 
 upjirongly againji all oppofition : We have weak and bed-rid difpofttions, 
 
 funk down into a fottijh and fenfuall way ; in many the kingdome of 
 Hell fuffers violence, and none can withjiand them, but thither they 
 will. 
 
 4. Thefe mourn and weep bitterly, and are pained under the fight and 
 fenfe of their fins, when convinced of them ; that fome of them have been 
 
 known to have wet with their teares the places where they have Jiood. 
 We here for the moji part, the Lord knowes, live with dry eyes, and 
 hard hearts, and fieight fpirits, 
 
 5. They are careful and conjiant in duties of worjhip, both in private 
 and family prayer, hearing the Word, obfervation of the Sabbath, meet 
 eften together, and will prqy together as occafwn ferves, converfe lovingly 
 together, are teachable, patient and contented. O that there were fuch 
 hearts in us ! O that their example did not Jhame multitudes of us who 
 are fearfully guilty of omitting what the very light of Nature cals for 
 
 from us ! For this my heart is fad, fearing that if the Lord do not 
 mightily Jiep in, the next generation will be betrayed to ignorance of the 
 Truth as it in Jefus, to DeluJiiHs and Profanenejfe, and be rendred 
 odious to all our neighbour Natitrn ; and that thefe Indians will rife up 
 in judgment againji us and our children at the laji day. Brethren, the 
 Lord hath no need of us, but if it pleafe him, can carry bis Gofpel 
 to the other fide of the world, and make it there to Jhine forth in 
 its glory, brightnejfe, power and purity, and leave us in Indian dark- 
 nejfe. 
 
 And concerning thefe Indians, who have tajied how gracious the Lord 
 is, though it cannot be expeSied but that the Devil Jhovld be like himfelf, 
 by the counter-working of this blejfed work, both by himfelf and his in- 
 
 Jiruments, 
 
(46 ) 
 
 JirumenU^fo as to caufe many of them to totter., backjlide, and fall away^ 
 from what they have profejfed ; yet I have ground to conceive and hope, 
 that there is fuch a candle lighted amongjl the Indians in thofe farts 
 which jhall not he put out till Chriji comes to judgment, for the accom- 
 plijhment of which he Jhall not ceafe to pray, who is 
 
 Your loving friend in 
 
 all Chriftian duties, 
 
 Henrv Whitfeld. 
 
 FINIS 
 
'• ^