Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

edge of God in Christ, as was published and made apparant to this Nation by a short Treatise, called, The day-breaking, if not the Sun-rising of the Gospel with the Indians in New-England.

In the year 1647. being here upon some speciall service for the Countrey, Letters came to my hands with some Papers from Mr. Tho. Shepard, Pastor of the Church at Cambridge there, which held forth a greater warmth of heavenly heat upon their (former frozen) spirits; which I communicated to some eminent Ministers of and neere the City of London; viz. Mr. Marshall, Mr. Downham, Mr. Thomas Goodwin, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Nye, Mr. Case, Mr. Calamy, Mr. Sydrack Simpson, Mr. Ash, Mr. Greenhill, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Bolton: And such was the esteem these reverend men had of it, as by two severall Epistles under their hands they recommended it to the Parliament of England, as a thing worthy their notice, care, and furtherance: And secondly, to the godly and well-affected of this Nation, who pray for, and rejoyce in the thrivings of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. This Narrative was also published, and called, The clear Sun-shine of the Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England.

In the year 1648. our Letters miscarried many of them, in that the Ship that brought them was taken by the Prince of Wales, to the Countries great prejudice, as well as many other Vessels and their lading formerly; by which miscarriage I was wholly hindred from giving any further account till this instant, 1649.

And now having received some Letters, and others brought to me by divers of quality here residing at present, that appertaine to NewEngland; and being exceedingly pressed to publish them by many godly and well-affected of the City and parts adjacent, I shall by Gods help publish them all, or so many of them as concernes the Indian work; and if any doubt my faithfulnesse herein, (as I hope none will that know me) I shall most willingly shew them the Originalls themselves. And before I come to this years Letters, I received from Mr. [p. 3.] Eliot, shall begin with one came to my hands, (dated Nov. 16. 47.) after the last Treatise was put out. And I the rather take this course, lest the young man should be discouraged in his labours so hopefully begun; his name is Mr. Mayhew, who teacheth the Word both to English and Indians upon an Island called formerly Capawack, by us Morthas Vineyard, by which you may see 'tis not one Minister alone that laboureth in this great work: His Letter followeth :

[blocks in formation]

The encouragements I met withall touching the Indians conversion, next unto Gods glory, and his gracious promises Mr. Mayhews was, the notable reason, judgement, and capacitie that Letter from God hath given unto many of them; as also their zeal- Capawack, ous enquiring after true happinesse, together with the Novemb. 18, knowledge I had of their tongue, besides severall providences which hath advantaged my progresse therein; as for in

stance:

1647.

1. There was one Ieogiscat about 60. years of age, who was years age, sick of a consuming disease, insomuch as the Indian Pawwawes gave him over for a dead man: Upon which resolution of all the * Pawwawes in the Island, the sick distressed * Such as cure Heathen upon a Lords day came unto mee (the rest of by devillish the English being then present) to desire me to pray to whom the sorcery, and unto God for him: And so when I had by reasoning devil appeares with him convinced him of the weaknesse and wicked- sometimes. nesse of the Pawwaws power; and that if health were

to be found, it must be had from him that gave life, and breath, and all things; I commended this case unto the Lord, whereof he rejoyced, gave me thanks, and he speedily recovered unto his former strength.

2. In this present year 1647. the eldest sonne of one Vakapanessue, a great Sagamore of the Island, being very sick, took occasion to send for me to come unto him; and when I came unto him, I found him not more weak in body, then strong in earnest desires, that I should pray unto God for him; so I instructed him, and prayed for him: And when I had ended, of his own accord he spake these words, Taubot mannit nuh quam Cowin. viz. I thank thee God, I am heavy to sleep; and so I left him holding forth good affections: But shortly after he was changed altogether, [p. 4.] and contrary to the perswasion of other Indians of severall Townes, sought againe unto Witches. The Heathen seeing this, they forsook the * Wigwam, saying, We leave the house for the * The Indians Devill and them that would tarry. This newes being houses. brought me, I much mervailed thereat, yet sent him this message, viz. Tell Saul, (for the sick man was by the English so called) that when I was with him, I thought as then I told him, that he would live, because he sought for life unto the living God, where if any where it was to be found: But tell him now, that I think he will dye. I also added the example of Ahaziah, who because he had the knowledge of the great God, and sought unto an inferiour God, God was angry with him and killed him: And SO for that this Saul was informed of the true God, and is fallen from him to the earthen gods here below; that God will kill him also; and so it shortly came to passe.

so call their

them.

3. Not long after a * Sagamore, called, Towanquattick had his eldest sonne, whose name is Sachachanimo, very (sick * A Prince or of a Feaver; this young man sent for me to come unto Ruler amongst him; and when I came, his father and himself desired me to pray for him, the which I did in their owne language, and promised to come againe unto him very shortly, if he mended not, and use some other meanes also for his recovery : When I came againe unto him, I found him very ill, asked him (together with his friends) whether they were willing I should let him blood? acquainting them that we used so to do in such cases. After some consideration, they consented thereunto, notwithstanding the Pawwaws had told them before, that he should dye, because he sought not unto them: so I bound his arme, and with my Pen-knife let him blood; he bled freely, but was exceeding faint, which made the Heathen very sad; but in a short time, he begun to be very cheerfull, whereat they much rejoyced, &c. So I left them, and it pleased the Lord the man was in a short time after very well.

In these providences the Lord hath manifested both mercy and judgement, and it is, that he may raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof, and raise up its ruines, and build it as in the dayes of old, that they may possesse the Covenant of Edom, and of all the Heathen which are called by my Name, saith the Lord that doth this. [p. 5.]

An Indian

our consideration.

But I pray you take notice of a speech of Towanquatticks (being the Father of the young man recovered) who lamenting the losse of their knowledge said unto me, * That a speech worthy long time agon, they had wise men, which in a grave manner taught the people knowlege, but they are dead, and their wisedome is buried with them : and now men live a giddy life in ignorance till they are white headed, and though ripe in yeares, yet then they go without wisedom unto their graves. He also told me, that he wondred the English should be almost thirty yeers in the Country, and the Indians fools still; but he hoped that the time of knowledge was now come; wherefore himself with others desired me to give them an Indian meeting, to make known the word of God unto them in their own tongue. And when he came

of such like ex

to me to accomplish his desire thereabout, he told me, The better sort that * I should be to them, as one that stands by a of them are full running River, filling many vessels: Even so should pressions, af- 1 fill them with everlasting knowledge. So I underfecting to speak took to give them a meeting once a moneth; but as in Parables. soon as the first exercise was ended, they desired it oftner then I could well attend: but once a Fortnight is our setled course. This I present to your consideration, entreating you to present us unto the Lord for wisedom, to preach unto the Heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ, that so the root of lesse standing for an Ensigne of the people, the Gentiles may seek unto it, and his

rest shall be glorious, Amen. Great Harbour in the Vineyard

18. of the 9. 1647.

Yours in the best Bonds
Tho. Mayhew, junior.

In the next place, I shall present you with some Letters of that painfull yet unwearied Minister of the Gospel, Mr. John Eliot, who notwithstanding his faithfull labours in teaching that Church or Congregation of the English, over which the Lord hath set him at Roxbury in the Government of the Massachusets, yet taketh all occasions, (neglecting no opportunity, whether more remote, or neere at hand) to advance the glory of God, in calling those poor heathen to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and satisfying those hungry soules by administring the bread of life unto them. And however I cannot give you his first large Letter (as he tearmes it) being sent by way of Spaine, and by that meanes not yet come to my hands, yet take his second in his own words, which will minister abundance of sweet consolation to every [p. 6.] Christian Reader, that God should in these latter times so magnifie his glorious grace in extending his everlasting mercies to those poor naked Indians. His Letter followeth.

Worthy Sir,

Y

Our cordiall and faithfull endeavours, &c.

I am bold now by

the way of Virginia, to trouble you with a few lines, to expresse the thankfulnesse of my heart unto Mr. Eliots 2. you, for that one part of your care, love, and labour Letter in 48. in furthering this work of preaching Christ to these concerning the poor Indians, and declaring to them the way of eternall Gospel among life and salvation; which work I blesse the Lord goeth the Indians. on not without successe, beyond the ability of the In

progresse of the

struments: It is the Lord, the Lord only who doth speak to the hearts of men, and he can speak to theirs, and doth, (blessed be his name) so effectually, that one of them I beleeve verily

Indian woman

is gone to the Lord; a * woman, who though she was A precious tesnot the first that came into the knowledge of Christ timony of an and the Gospel, yet she was the first of ripe yeares conceived to that hath dyed since I taught them the way of salva- dye a Christian. tion by Jesus Christ, and the onely one. And though

of the living I will not say much, yet of the dead I may freely speak; After I began to preach unto them, her husband and she did quickly come in; and after she came, she was a diligent hearer; and out of desire to live where the word of God was taught, they fetched all the corne they spent, sixteen miles upon their backs from the place of their planting: She was industrious, and did not goe about to

/

English houses a begging, as sundry doe, (though it is well reformed now with many of them) but kept home, kept her children to labour, making baskets to sell, &c. She quickly learned to spin well (for 1 got some wheels, but want meanes to supply them and order them.) Her life was blamelesse after she submitted to the Gospel, and was exemplary: She was the first woman that asked a question (by another man propounded for her) which was this; When my Husband prayeth in his house, my heart thinketh what he prayeth; whether is this praying to God aright or no? I thought it a fit question for a woman. She dyed of a sicknesse she took in childbed: I severall times visited her, prayed with her, asked her about her spirituall estate? She told me she still loved God, though he made her [p. 7.] sick, and was resolved to pray unto him so long as she lived, and to refuse powwawing. She said also, that she beleeved God would pardon all her sins, because she beleeved that lesus Christ dyed for her; and that God was well pleased in him, and that she was willing to dye, and beleeved to goe to Heaven, and live happy with God and Christ there.

It may be you may mervell at, and scarce credit such expressions : but they are the points of Catechisme which I constantly teach the Children; and the Children can very readily answer me in them; and they be truths now familiarly known by the attentive hearers, whereof she was one. And moreover of her own accord, she called her children to her, especially two up-grown daughters, which

man

she had before she married this man, and said to them, A precious dy- I shall now dye, and when I am dead, your Granding speech of Father and Grand-mother, and Uncles, &c. will send an Indian wo for you to come live amongst them, and promise you children. great matters, and tell you what pleasant living it is among them; But doe not beleeve them, and I charge you never hearken unto them, nor live amongst them; for they pray not to God, keep not the Sabbath, commit all manner of sinnes and are not punished for it: but I charge you live here, for here they pray unto God, the word of God is taught, sins are suppressed and punished by Lawes; And therefore I charge you live here all your dayes. And soon after this she dyed, and it fell out indeed as she had said, for there was earnest sending and soliciting for the maids to live with them: so that the case was propounded to me on a Lecture day; and their Father in law opposed it, not only as adjudging it evill, but because of their mothers charge; and by this meanes I came to know the Story. And though they doe, as you know, abhor the remembrance of their dead friends; yet when I take occasion to speak of her, and my reasons of hope that she is gone to heaven, they entertain it with joy, and sometimes with teares: I have been too tedious in this Story, yet I doubt not but it will be acceptable unto you.

« ZurückWeiter »