DAY BREAKING IF NOT THE $nn Uifmjj uf tl)c WITH THE INDIANS IN NEW ENGLAND. 1648. Q U AR TO SERIES. No. IX. THE DAY BREAKING IF NOT THE ttifwfl af WITH THE INDIANS IN NEW ENGLAND. NEW YORK: REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABIN, 1865. No. EDITION 250 COPIES, OF WHICH 50 ARE ON LARGE PAPER. MUNSELL, PRINTER. 1 In compliance with current copyright law, U. C. Library Bindery produced this replacement volume on paper that meets ANSI Standard Z39.48- 1984 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original 1999 Sfcrtfcft^^ THE DAY-BREAKING 1 IF NOT The Sun-Rifing OF THE GOSPELL With the INDIANS in New-England. Zach. 4. 10. Who bath defpifed the day off mall things ? Matth. 13. 13. The Kingdome of heaven is like to a graine of muftard seed. Ibid, verfe 33. The Kingdome of heaven is like unto Leven. LONDON Printed by Rich. Cotes, for Fulk Clifton and are to bee fold at his {hop under Saint Margaretts Church on New-iifh-ftreet Hill, 1647. r fe^^^st^^^^^^c ^^^^^^^^^ J^USJ?T?^^^^W^^ $l&$f&ffa$^^ To the Reader. Ee that perid thefe following Relations is a Minijler of Chrift in New Eng land, yi eminently godly and faithful!, that what he here reports, as an eye or an eare witneffe, is not to be queftioned; Were he willing his name Jhould be mentioned, it would bee an abundant, if not a redundant, Tejlimo- niall to all that know him. Nathan. Warde. *f^ftl^^ TRVE RELATION OF Our beginnings with the INDIANS. Pon Oftober 28. 1646. four of us (having fought God) went unto the Indians inhabiting within our bounds, with defire to make known the things of their peace to them, A little before we came to their Wigwams, five or fix of the chief of them met us with Englifh falu- tations, bidding us much welcome, who leading us unto the principall Wigwam of *Waaubon> we found *The name of many more Indians^ men women, children, gathered an Indian, together from all quarters round about, according to ap pointment, to meet with us, and learne of us. Waaubon the chief minifter of Juftice among them exhorting and inviting them before thereunto, being one who gives more grounded hopes of ferious refpect to the things of God, then any that as yet I have knowne of that forlorne generation ; and therefore fince wee firft began to deale feriouily with him, hath voluntarily offered his eldeft fon to be educated and trained up in the knowledge of God, hoping, as hee told us, that he might come to know him, although hee defpaired much concerning himfelf ; and accordingly his fon was accepted, and is now at fchool in Dedham, whom we found at this time {landing icr, (landing by his father among the reft of his Indian brethren in Englifh clothes. They being all there affembled, we began with prayer, which now was in Englifh, being not fo farre acquainted with the Indian language as to exprefTe our hearts herein before God or them, but wee hope it will bee done ere long, the Indians defiring it that they alfo might know how to pray, but thus wee began in an unknowne tongue to them, partly to let them know that this dutie in hand was ferious and facred, (for fo much fome of them underftand by what is undertaken at prayer) partly alfo in regard of our felves, that wee might agree together in the fame requeft and heart forrowes for them even in that place where God was never wont to be called upon. When prayer was ended it was a glorious affecting fpectacle to fee a company of perifhing, forlorne out- cafts, dilligently attending to the bleffed word of falva- tion then" delivered ; profeffing they underftood all that which was then taught them in their owne tongue ; it much affected us that they mould fmell fome things of the Alabafter box broken up in that darke and gloomy habitation of filthineffe and uncleane fpirits. For about an houre and a quarter the Sermon con tinued, wherein one of our company ran thorough all the principall matter of religion, beginning firft with a reptition of the ten Commandements, and a briefe ex plication of them, then mewing the curfe and dreadfull wrath of God againft all thofe who brake them, or any one of them, or the Idaft title of them, and fo applyed it unto the condition of the Indians prefent, with much fweet affection ; and then preached Jefus Chrift to them the onely meanes of recovery from finne and wrath and eternall death, and what Chrift was, and whither he was now gone, and how hee will one day come ( 3 ) come againe to judge the world in flaming fire; and of the blefled eftate of all thofe that by faith beleeve in Chrift, and know him feelingly : he fpake to them alfo (obferving his owne method as he faw moil fit to edifie them) about the creation and fall of man, about the greatnefTe and infinite being of God, the maker of all things, about the joyes of heaven, and the terrours and horrours of wicked men in hell, perfwading them to repentance for feverall fins which they live in, and many things of the like nature ; not meddling with any matters more difficult, and which to fuch weake ones might at firft feeme ridiculous, untill they had tafted and beleeved more plaine and familiar truths. Having thus in a fet fpeech familiarly opened the principal matters of Salvation to them, the next thing wee intended was difcourfe with them by propounding certaine questions to fee what they would fay to them, that fo wee might fkrue by variety of meanes fome- thing or other of God into them ; but before wee did this we afked them if they underftood all that was already fpoken, and whether all of them in the Wig wam did underftand or onely fome few ? and they an- fwered to this queftion with multitude of voyces, that they all of them did underftand all that which was then fpoken to them. We then defired to know of them, if they would propound any queftion to us for more cleare underftanding of what was delivered ; whereupon feverall of them propounded prefently feve rall queftions, (far different from what fome other In dians under Kitchomakia in the like meeting about fix The name of weeks before had done, viz. i. What was the caufe of t he chiefe In- Thunder. 2. Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea. dians about us. 3. Of the wind) but the queftions (which wee thinke fome fpeciall wifedome of God directed thefe unto) (which thefe propounded) were in number fix. B How ( 4 ) i Queft How may wee come to know Jefus Chrift ? Anfw. Our firft anfwer was, That if they were to read our Bible, the book of God, therein they mould fee mod cleerely what Jefus Chrift was ; but becaufe they could not do that ; therefore, Secondly, we wifht them to thinke, and meditate of fo much as had been taught them, and which they now heard out of Gods booke, and to thinke much and often upon it, both when they did lie downe on their Mats in their Wigwams^ and when they rofe up, and to goe alone in the fields and woods, and mufe on it, and fo God would teach them ; efpecially if they ufed a third helpe, which was, 3 Prayer to God to teach them and reveale Jefus Chrift unto them ; and wee told them, that although they could not make any long prayers as the Englifh could, yet if they did but figh and groane, and fay thus ; Lord make mee know Jefus Chrift, for I know him not, and if they did fay fo againe and againe with their hearts that God would teach them Jefus Chrift, becaufe hee is fuch a God as will bee found of them that feeke him with all their hearts, and hee is a God hearing the prayers of all men both Indian as well as Engli/Ti, and that Englifh men by this meanes have come to the knowledge of Jefus Chrift. The laft helpe wee gave them was repentance, they muft confeffe their finnes and ignorance unto God, and mourne for it, and acknowledge how juft it is, for God to deny them the knowledge of Jefus Chrift or any thing elfe becaufe of their finnes. Thefe things were fpoken by him who had preached to them in their owne language, borrowing now and then fome fmall helpe from the Interpreter whom wee brought with us, and who could oftentimes expreffe our minds more diftindly than any of us could ; but this wee perceived, that a few words from the Preacher were ( 5 ) were more regarded then many from the Indian Inter preter. One of them after this anfwer, replyed to us that 2 Qu hee was a little while fince praying in his Wigwam, unto God and Jefus Chrift, that God would give him a good heart, and that while hee was praying, one of his fellow Indians interrupted him, and told him, that hee prayed in vaine, becaufe Jefus Chrift understood not what Indians fpeake in prayer, he had bin ufed to heare Englijh man pray and fo could well enough under ftand them, but Indian language in prayer hee thought hee was not acquainted with it, but was a ftranger to it, and therefore could not underftand them. His quef- tion therefore was, whether Jefus Chrift did under ftand, or God did underftand Indian prayers. This queftion founding juft like themfelves wee Avfw. ftudied to give as familiar an anfwer as wee could, and therefore in this as in all other our anfwers, we endeavoured to fpeake nothing without clearing of it up by fome familiar fimilitude ; our anfwer fummarily was therefore this, that Jefus Chrift and God by him made all things, and makes all men, not onely Englijh but Indian men, and if hee made them both (which wee know the light of nature would readily teach as they had been alfo inftrucled by us) then hee knew all that was within man and came from man, all his defires, and all his thoughts, and all his fpeeches, and fo all his prayers ; and if hee made Indian men, then hee knowes all Indian prayers alfo : and therefore wee bid them looke upon that Indian Bafket that was before them, there was black and white ftrawes, and many other things they made it of, now though others did not know what thofe things were who made not the Bafket, yet hee that made it muft needs tell all the things in it, fo (wee faid) it was here. Another ( 6 ) Another propounded this queftion after this anfwer, 3 Quejt- Whether Engiifh men were ever at any time fo ignorant of God and Jefus Chrift as themfelves ? AJnw. When wee perceived the root and reach of this queftion, wee gave them this anfwer, that there are two forts of Englim men, fome are bad and naught, and live wickedly and loofely, (defcribing them) and thefe kind of Englimmen wee told them were in a manner as ignorant of Jefus Chrift as the Indians now are ; but there are a fecond fort of Engiifh men, who though for a time they lived wickedly alfo like other prophane and ignorant Englim, yet repenting of their finnes, and feeking after God and Jefus Chrift, they are good men now, and now know Chrift, and love Chrift, and pray to Chrift, and are thankfull for all they have to Chrift, and mall at laft when they dye, goe up to heaven to Chrift; and we told them all thefe alfo were once as ignorant of God and Jefus Chrift as the Indians are, but by feeking to know him by reading his booke, and hearing his word, and praying to him, &c. they now know Jefus Chrift and juft fo mall the Indians know him if they fo feeke him alfo, -although at the prefent they bee extremely ignorant of him. 4 Q ue ft- How can there be an Image of God, becaufe it s forbidden in the fecond Commandement ? Anfa. Wee told them that Image was all one Picture, as the Picture of an Indian, Bow and Arrowes on a tree, with fuch little eyes and fuch faire hands, is not an Indian but the Picture or Image of an Indian^ and that Picture man makes, and it can doe no hurt nor good. So the Image of Picture of God is not God, but wicked men make it, and this Image can doe no good nor hurt to any man as God can. 5 Queft. Wether, if the father be naught, and the child good, will God bee offended with that child, becaufe in the fecond ( 7 ) fecond Commandement it s faid, that hee vifits the finnes of fathers upon the children ? Wee told them the plainer! anfwerwee could thinke of, viz, that if the child bee good, and the father bad, God will not- bee offended with the child, if hee re pents of his owne and his fathers finnes, and followes not the fteps of his wicked father ; but if the child bee alfo bad, then God will vifit the fins of fathers upon them, and therefore wifht them to confider of the other part of the promife made to thoufands of them that love God and the Evangenefh Jehovah, i. e. the Commandements of Jehovah. How all the world is become fo full of people, if6 Quefl. they were all once drowned in the Flood ? Wee told them the ftory and caufes of Noabs pre- Anfw. fervation in the Arke at large, and fo their queftion- ing ended ; and therefore wee then faw our time of propounding fome few queftions to them, and fo take occafion thereby to open matters of God more fully. Our firft queftion was, Whether they did not defire Ouefl. i to fee God, and were not tempted to thinke that there was no God, becaufe they cannot fee him ? Some of them replyed thus ; that indeed they did Anfw. defire to fee him if it could bee, but they had heard from us that he could not be feene, and they did be- leive that though their eies could riot fee him, yet that hee was to bee feene with their foule within : Here upon we fought to confirme them the more, and afked them if they faw a great Wigwam, or a great houfe, would they think that *Racoones or Foxes built it that *^ beaft fome- had no wifedome ? or would they thinke that it made what like a Fox it felfe ? or that no wife workman made it, becaufe they could not fee him that made it P No but they would beleeve fome wife workman made it though they did not fee him ; fo mould they beleeve con cerning ( 8 ) cerning God, when they looked up to heaven, Sunne, Moone, and Stars, and faw this great houfe he hath made, though they do not fee him with their eyes, yet they have good caufe to beleeve with their foules that a wife God, a great God made it. Queft. 2. We knowing that a great block in their way to be- leiving is that there mould bee but one God, (by the profeffion of the Englifh) and yet this God in many places ; therefore we afked them whether it did not feeme ftrange that there mould bee but one God, and *^ e re o e f ln ^ c a e "yet this God in *Ma/acbufetts, at Conettacut, at Quimi- where the Eng-/^^ i n ^ England, in this Wigwam^ in the next lifh fit downe. every where. Their anfwer was by one moft fober among them, that indeed it was ftrange, as everything elfe they heard preached was ftrange alfo, and they were wonderfull things which they never heard of before ; but yet they thought it might bee true, and that God was fo big That Hee was every where : whereupon we further illuftrated what prefent every wee fai^ by wiihing them to confider of the light of where. t j le g un ^ W j 1 j c } 1 though it be but a creature made by God, yet the fame light which is in this Wigwam was in the next alfo, and the fame light which was here at Majfacbufetts was at ^uinipeiock alfo and in old Eng land alfo, and every where at one and the fame time the fame, much more was it fo concerning God. 3 Qu Jt* Whether they did not finde fomewhat troubling them within after the commiflion of fin, as murther, adultery, theft, lying, &c. and what they thinke would comfort them againft that trouble when they die and appeare before God, (for fome knowledge of the im mortality of the foule almoft all of them have.) Anfv>. They told us they were troubled, but they could not tell what to fay to it, what mould comfort them ; hee therefore who fpake to them at firft concluded with ( 9 ) a dolefull defcription (fo farre as his ability to fpeake in that tongue would carry him) of the trembling and mourning condition of every foul that dies in finne, and that fhall be caft out of favor with God. Thus after three houres time thus fpent with them, wee aiked them if they were not weary, and they an- fwered, No. But wee refolved to leave them with an appetite ; the chiefe of them feeing us conclude with prayer, defired to know when wee would come againe, fo wee appointed the time, and having given the chil dren fome apples, and the men fome tobacco and what elfe we then had at hand, they defired fome more ground to build a Town together, which wee did much like of, promifing to fpeake for them to the generall Court, that they might poffefTe all the compafTe of that hill, upon which their Wigwams then flood, and fo wee departed with many welcomes from them. A true relation of our coming to the Indians ajecond time. VPon November n. 1646. we came the fecond time unto the fame Wigwam of Waawbon^ we found many more Indians met together then the firft time wee came to them : and having feates provided for us by themfelves, and being fate downe a while, wee be gan againe with prayer in the Englifh tongue ; our beginning this time was with the younger fort of In dian children in Catechizing of them, which being the firft time of inftructing them, we thought meet to afke them but only three queftions in their own language, that we might not clog their mindes or memories with too much at firft, the queftions (aiked and anfwered in the Indian tongue) were thefe three, i. Qu. Who made you and all the world ? Anfw God. i. )u Who doe doe you looke mould fave you and redeeme you from Sinne and hell ? Anjw. Jefus Chrift. 3 ^u. How many commandments hath God given you to keepe ? Anjw. Ten. Thefe queftions being propounded to the Children feverally, and one by one, and the anfwers being fhort and eafie, Kence it came to paffe that before wee went thorow all, thofe who were laft catechifed had more readily learned to anfwer to them, by hearing the fame queftion fo oft propounded and anfwered before by their fellowes ; and the other Indians who were growne up to more yeares had per fectly learned them, whom wee therefore defired to teach their children againe when wee were abfent, that fo when we came againe wee might fee their profiting, the better to encourage them hereunto, wee therefore gave fomething to every childe. This Catechifme being foon ended, hee that preach ed to them, began thus (fpeaking to them in their owne language) viz. Wee are come to bring you good newes from the great God Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth, and to tell you how evill and wicked men may come to bee good, Jo as while they live they may be happy, and when they die they may go to God and live in Heaven. Having made this preface, he began firft to fet forth God unto them by familiar defcriptions, in his glorious power, goodnefTe, and greatneffe, and then let forth before them what his will was, and what hee required of all men even of the Indians themfelves, in the ten Commandements, and then told them the dreadfull torment and punimment of all fuch as breake any one of thofe holy commandements, and how angry God was for any finne and tranfgreffion, yet notwithftand- ing hee had fent Jefus Chrift to die for their finnes and to pacific God by his fufferings in their ftead and roome, if they did repent and beleeve the Gofpell, and that ( II ) that he would love the poore miferable Indians if now they fought God and beleeved in Jefus Chrift : threatning the fore wrath of God upon all fuch as flood out and neglected fuch great falvation which now God offered unto them, by thofe who fought nothing more then their falvation : thus continuing to preach the fpace of an houre, we defired them to propound fome quef- tions : which were thefe following. Before I name them it may not be amifTe to take notice of the mighty power of the word which vifibly appeared efpecially in one of them, who in hearing thefe things about finne and hell, and Jefus Chrift, powred out many teares and mewed much affliction without affectation of be ing feene, defiring rather to conceale his griefe which (as was gathered from his carriage) the Lord forced from him. The firft Queftion was fuddenly propounded by an i Quejl. old man then prefent, who hearing faith and repent ance preacht upon them to finde falvation by Jefus Chrift, hee afked wether it was not too late for fuch an old man as hee, who was neare death to repent or feek after God. This Queftion affected us not a little with com- Anfa. paffion, and we held forth to him the Bible, and told him what God faid in it concerning fuch as are hired at the eleventh houre of the day : wee told him alfo that if a father had a fonne that had beene difobedient many yeares, yet if at laft that fonne fall downe upon his knees and weepe and defire his father to love him, his father is fo mercifull that hee will readily forgive him and love him ; fo wee faid it was much more with God who is a more mercifull father to thofe whom hee hath made, then any father can bee to his rebellious childe whom he hath begot, if they fall downe and weepe, and pray, repent, and defire forgiveneffe for C Jefus Jefus Chrift s fake : and wee farther added that looke as if a father did call after his childe to return and repent promifing him favour, the childe might then bee fure that his father would forgive him ; fo wee told them that now was the day of God rifen upon them, and that now the Lord was calling of them to repentance, and that he had fent us for that end to preach repentance for the remiffion of fins, and that therefore they might bee fure to finde favour though they had Lived many years in finne, and that therefore if now they did repent it was not too late as the old man feared, but if they did not come when they were thus called, God would bee greatly angry^with them, efpecially confidering that now they muft finne againft knowledge, whereas before we came to them they knew not any thing of God at all. 2 Queft. Having fpent much time in clearing up the firft queftion, the next they propounded (upon our anfwer) was this, viz, How came the Englifh to differ fo much from the Indians in the knowledge of God and Jefus Chrift, feeing they had all at firft but one father? Anftv. Wee confefTed that it was true that at firft wee had all but one father, but after that our firft father fell, hee had divers children fome were bad and fome good, thofe that were bad would not take his counfell but departed from him and from God, and thofe God left alone in finne and ignorance, but others did regard him and the counfell of God by him, and thofe knew God, and fo the difference arofe at firft, that fome to gether with their pofterity knew God, and others did not ; and fo we told them it was at this day, for like as if an old man an aged father amongft them have many children, if fome bee rebellious againft the counfell of the father, he fhuts them out of doores, and lets them goe, and regard them not, unlefs they return ( 3 ) return and repent, but others that will bee ruled by him, they learne by him and come to know his minde; fo wee faid Englimmen feek God, dwell in his houfe, heare his word, pray to God, inftruct their children out of Gods booke, hence they come to know God; but Indians forefathers were a ftubborne and rebel lious children, and would not heare the word, did not care to pray nor to teach their children, and hence In dians that now are, do not know God at all : and fo muft continue unlefs they repent, and return to God and pray, and teach their children what they now may learne : but withall wee told them that many Englim men did not know God but were like to Kitcbamakins drunken Indians ; Nor were wee willing to tell them the Story of the fcattering of Noahs children fince the flood, and thereby to mew them how the Indians come to bee fo ignorant, becaufe it was too difficult, and the hiftory of the Bible is referved for them (if God wi 1) to be opened at a more convenient feafon in their owne tongue. Their third Queftion was, How may wee come to 3 Qu ferve God. Wee afked him that did propound it whether he did Anfw. defire indeed to ferve him ? and he faid, yes, Here upon wee faid, firft, they muft lament their blindnefle and finfulnefTe that they cannot ferve him ; and their ignorance of God s booke (which wee pointed to) which directs how to ferve him. Secondly, that they could not ferve God but by feeking forgivenefle of their finnes and power againft their finnes in the bloud of Jefus Chrift who was preached to them. Thirdly, that looke as an Indian childe, if he would ferve his father, hee muft firft know his fathers will and love his father too, or elfe he can never ferve him, but if hee did know his fathers will and love him, then he would ( 4 ) would ferve him, ancTthen if he fhould not doe fome things as his father commands him, and yet afterwards grieve for it upon his knees before his father, his father would pity and accept him : fo wee told them it was with God, they muft labour to know his will and love God, and, then they will bee willing to, ferve him, and if they mould then fin, yet grieving for it before God he would pity and accept them. 4 Queft. Their fourth Queftion was, How it comes to paffe that the Sea water was fait, and the Land water frefh. Anfw. "ris fo from the wonderfull worke of God, as why are Strawberries fweet and Cranberries fowre there is no A Berry which reafon but the wonderfull worke of God that made is ripe in the them fo : our ftudy was chiefly to make them acknow- Wmter and j ec ]pr e Q OC J j n hi s wor kes, yet wee gave them alfo the very fowre r . c r i i i /-r they are called rea ^ on * !t from naturah cauies which they lelie un- here Bear- derftood, yet did underftand fomewhat appearing by berries. their ufuall fignes of approving what they under ftand. 5 Queft. Their fifth Queftion was, that if the water was higher than the earth, how comes it to pafle that it doth not overflow all the earth ? Anfw. Wee ftill held God before them, and mewed that this muft needes bee the wonderfull worke of God, and wee tooke an apple and thereby fhewed them how the earth and water made one round globe like that apple ; and how the Sun moved about it ; and then fhewed them how God made a great hole or ditch, into which hee put the waters of the Sea, fo that though it was upon the earth and therefore above the earth, yet we told them| that by making fo deepe a hole the waters were kept within comparTe that they could not overflow, juft as if Indians making a hole to put in much water, the water cannot overflow nor runne abroad, which they would if they had no fuch hole ; fo fo it was with God, it was his mighty power that digged a hole for all Sea-waters, as a deepe ditch, and there by God kept them in from overflowing the whole earth, which otherwife would quickly drowne all. They having fpent much conference amongft them- 6 Que felves about thefe Queftions and the night haftening, we defired them to propound fome other Queftions, or if not, we would aike them fome, hereupon one of them afked us ; If a man hath committed adultery or ftolen any goods, and the Sachim doth not punim him, nor by any law is hee punimed, if alfo he reftore the goods he hath ftolen, what then ? whether is not all well now ? meaning that if Gods Law was broken and no man punimed him for it, that then no punifh- ment mould come from God for it, and as if by re- ftoring againe an amends was made to God. Although man be not offended for fuch iinnes yet Anfw. God is angry, and his anger burnes like fire againft all finners : and here wee fet out the holinefle and terrour of God in refpect of the leaft finne ; yet if fuch a (inner with whom God is angry fly to Jefus Chrift, and re pent and feeke for mercy and pardon for Chrift s fake, that then God will forgive and pity. Upon the hear ing of which anfwer hee that propounded the queftion drew fomewhat backe and hung downe his head as a man fmitten to the very heart, with his eyes ready to drop, and within a little while after brake out into a complaint. Mee little know Jefus Chrift, otherwife he thought he ftiould feeke him better : we therefore told him, that looke as it was in the morning at firft there is but a little light, then there is more light, then there is day, then the Sun is up, then the Sun warmes and heates, &c. fo it was true they knew but little of Jefus Chrift now, but wee had more to tell them concerning him him hereafter, and after that more and after that more, untill at laft they may come to know Chrift as the Englifh doe ; and wee taught them but little at a time, becaufe the could not underftand but little, and if they prayed to God to teach them, he would fend his Spirit and teach them more, they and their fathers had lived in ignorance untill now, it hath beene a long night wherein they have (lept and have not regarded God, but now the day-light began to ftirre upon them, they might hope therefore for more ere long, to bee made knowne to them. Thus having fpent fome houres with them, wee propounded two Questions. 1 Queft. What do you remember of what was taught you iince the laft time wee were here ? Anfw. After they had fpoken one to another for fome time, one of them returned this anfwer, that they did much thanke God for our comming, and for what they heard, they were wonderfull things unto them. 2 Queft. Doe you beleeve the things that are told you, viz that God is mujquantum^ i. e. very angry for the leaft iinne in your thoughts, or words or workes ? . . They faid yes, and hereupon we fet forth the ter- rour of God againft finners, and mercy of God to the penitent, and to fuch as fought to know Jefus Chrift, and that as finners mould bee after death, Cbecbainuffan y i. e. tormented alive (for wee know no other word in the tongue to exprefTe extreame torture by) fo beleevers fhould after death P^owein wicke Jehovah, i. e. live in all bliffe with Jehovah the blefTed God : and fo we concluded conference. Having thus fpent the whole afternoon and night being almoft come upon us ; confidering that the In dians formerly defired to know how to pray, and did thinke that Jefus Chrift did not underftand Indian language, ( 7 ) language, one of us therefore prepared to pray in their owne language, and did fo for about a quarter of an houre together, wherein divers of them held up eies and hands to heaven ; all of them (as wee understood afterwards) understanding the fame ; but one of them I caft my eye upon, was hanging downe his head with his rag before his eyes weeping; at firft I feared it was fome forenefs of his eyes, but lifting up his head againe, having wiped his eyes (as not defirous to be feene) I eaiily perceived that his eyes were not fore, yet fomewhat red with crying ; and fo held up his head for a while, yet fuch was the prefence and mighty power of the Lord Jefus on his heart that hee hung downe his head againe, and covered his eyes againe and fo fell wiping and wiping of them weeping abund antly, continuing thus till prayer was ended, after which hee prefently turnes from us, and turnes his face to a fide and corner of the Wigwam, and there fals a weeping more aboundantly by himfelfe, which one of us perceiving, went to him, and fpake to him encour aging words ; at the hearing of which hee fell a weep ing more and more ; fo leaveing of him, he who fpake to him came unto mee (being newly gone out of the Wigwam) and told mee of his teares, fo we refolved to goe againe both of us to him, and fpeake to him againe, and wee met him comming out of the Wigwam, and there wee fpake again to him, and he there fell into a more aboundant renewed weeping, like one deeply and inwardly affected indeed which forced us alfo to fuch bowels of companion that wee could not forbeare weeping over him alfo : and fo wee parted greatly re- joy cing for fuch forrowing. Thus I have as faithfully as I could remember given you a true account of our beginnings with the Indians within our owne bounds; which cannot but bee matter of of more ferious thoughts what further to doe with thefe poore Natives the dregs of mankinde and the faddeft fpedlacles of mifery of meere men upon earth : wee did thinke to forbeare going to them this winter, but this laft dayes worke wherein God fet his feal from heaven of acceptance of our little, makes thofe of us who are able, to refolve to adventure thorow froft and fnow, left the fire go out of their hearts for want of a little more fewell : to which wee are the more incouraged, in that the next day after our being with them, one of the Indians came to his houfe who preacht to them to fpeake with him, who in private- conference wept exceedingly, and faid that all that night the Indians could not fleepe, partly with trouble of mind, and partly with wondring at the things they heard preacht amongft them : another Indian comming alfo to him the next day after, told him how many of tho wicked fort of Indians began to oppofe thefe be ginnings. Whence thefe Indians came here to inhabit is not certaine, his reafons are moft probable who thinke they are Tartars pafling out of Afia into America by by the Straits of Anian^ who being fpilt by fome re venging hand of God upon this continent like water upon the ground are fpread as farre as thefe Atlanticke mores, there being but few of them in thefe parts in comparifon of thofe which are more contiguous to the Anian Straits, if wee may credit fome Hiftorians herein : what ever thefe conjectures and uncertainties bee, cer taine it is that they are inheritors of a grievous and fearfull curfe living fo long without Ephod or Tera- phim, and in neareft alliance to the wilde beafts that perim ; and as God delights to convey bleflings of mercy to the pofterity of fome, in refpecl: to his pro- mife to their fathers, fo are curfes entailed and come by by naturall defcent unto others, for fome great finnes of their Anceftors, as no doubt it is in refpect of thefe. For notwithstanding the deepeft degeneracies are no flop to the overflowing grace and bloud of Chrift, when the time of love fhall come, no not to thefe poore outcafts, the utmoft ends of the earth being ap pointed to bee in time, the Sonne of Gods pofTeffion. Wee are upbraided by fome of our Countrymen that fo little good is done by our profeffing planters upon the hearts of Natives ; fuch men have furely more fplene than judgment, and know not the vaft diftance of Natives from common civility, almoft hu manity it felfe, and tis as if they mould reproach us for not making the windes to blow when wee lift our felves, it muft certainely be a fpirit of life from God (not in mans power) which muft put flefh and finewes unto thefe dry bones ; if wee would force them to bap- tifme (as the Spaniards do about Cufco, Peru, and Mexico, having learnt them a fhort anfwer or two to fome Popifh queftions) or if we would hire them to it by giving them coates and mirts, to allure them to it (as fome others have done,) wee could have gathered many hundreds, yea thoufands it may bee by this time, into the name of Churches ; but wee have not learnt as yet that art of coyning Chriftians, or putting Chrifts name and Image upon copper mettle. Al though I thinke we have much caufe to bee humbled that wee have not endeavoured more than wee have done their converfion and peace with God, who enjoy the mercy and peace of God in their land. Three things have made us thinke (as they once did of building the Temple) it is not yet time for God to worke, i Becaufe till the Jewes come in, there is a feale fet upon the hearts of thofe people, as they thinke from fome Apocalypticall places. 2 That as D in ( 20 ) in nature there is no progrefTes ab extreme ad extremum nifi per media, fo in religion fuch are fo extremely de generate, muft bee brought to fome civility before re ligion can profper, or the word take place. 3 Becaufe we want miraculous and extraordinary gifts without which no converfion can bee expected amongft thefe ; but me thinkes now that it is with the Indians as it was with our New-Englim ground when we firft came over, there was fcarce any man that could beleeve that Englifh graine would grow, or that the Plow could doe any good in this woody and rocky foile. And thus they continued in this fupine unbeliefe for fome years, till experience taught them otherwife, and all fee it to bee fcarce inferiour to Old-Englim tillage, but beares very good burdens : fo wee have thought of our Indian people, and therefore have been dii- couraged to put plow to fuch dry and rocky ground, but God having begun thus with fome few it may bee they are better foile for the Gofpel than wee can thinke : I confefle I think no great goodwill bee done till they bee more civilifed, but why may not God be gin with fome few, to awaken others by degrees ? nor doe I expect any great good will bee wrought by the Englifh (leaving fecrets to God) (although the Englifh mall furely begin and lay the firft ftones of Chrifts King- dome and Temple amongft them) becaufe God is wont ordinarily to convert Nations, and peoples by fome of their owne country men who are neareft to them, and can beft fpeake, and moft of all pity their brethren and countrimen, but yet if the leaft beginnings be made by the converfion of two or three, its worth all our time and travailes 3 and caufe of much thankfulnefle for fuch feedes, although no great harvefts mould immediately appeare ; furely this is evident, firft that they never heard heart-breaking prayer and preaching before now in in there owne tongue, that we know of, fecondly, that there were never fuch hope of a dawning of mercy toward them as now, certainly thofe abundant teares which we faw fried from their eies, argue a mighty and blefled prefence of the fpirit of Heaven in their hearts, which when once it comes into fuch kinde of fpirits will not eafily out againe. The chiefe ufe that I can make of thefe hopefull beginnings, befides rejoycing for fuch minings, is from Eafy 2. 5. Ob houfe of Ifrael, let us walke in the light of the Lord ; Confidering that thefe blinde Natives be- ginne to look towards God mountaine now The obfervations I have gathered by converfing with them are fuch as thefe. That none of them flept Sermon or derided Gods i. mefTenger : Woe unto thofe Englifh that are growne bold to doe that, which Indians will not, Heathens dare not. That there is need of learning in Minifters who preach to Indians, much more to Englifh men and gracious Chriftians, for thefe had fundry philofophicall queftions, which fome knowledge of the arts muft helpe to give anfwer to ; and without which thefe would not have beene fatisfied : worfe then Indian ignorance hath blinded their eies that renounce learning as an enemy to Gofpell Minifteries. That there is no neceflity of extraordinary gifts nor miraculous fignes alway to convert Heathens, who being manifeft and profefled unbeleevers may expect them as foone as any ; (fignes being given for them that be- leeve not i Cor. 14. 22.) much lefle is there any need of fuch gifts for gathering Churches amongft profef- fing Chriftians, (fignes not being given for them which beleeve,) for wee fee the Spirit of God working mightily upon the hearts of thefe Natives in an or dinary z. ( 22 ) dinary way, and I hope will ; they being but a rem nant, the Lord ufing to mew mercy to the remnant ; for there bee but few that are left alive from the Plague and Pox, which God fent into thofe parts, and if one or two can underftand they ufually talke of it as wee doe of newes, it flies fuddainely farre and neare, and truth fcattered will rife in time, for ought we know. IfEnglifh men begin to defpife the preaching of faith and repentance, and humiliation for finne, yet the poore Heathens will bee glad of it, and it mall doe good to them, for fo they are, and foe it begins to doe ; the Lord grant that the foundation of our Eng- lifh woe, be not laid in the ruine and contempt of thofe fundamentall doctrines of faith, repentance, hu miliation for fin, &c. but rather relifhing the novelties and dreames of fuch men as are furfetted with the or dinary food of the Gofpell of Chriit. Indians mail weepe to heare faith and repentance preached, when Englifh men mall mourne, too late, that are weary of fuch truths. >/ That the deepefh estrangements of man from God is no hindrance to his grace nor to the Spirit of grace, for what Nation or people ever fo deeply degenerated iince Adams fall as thefe Indians, and yet the Spirit of God is working upon them ? That it is very likely if ever the Lord convert any of thefe Natives, that they will mourne for fin exceed ingly, and confequently love Chrift dearely, for if by a little meafure of light fuch heart-breakings have ap peared, what may wee thinke will bee, when more is let in ? they are fome of them very wicked, fome very ingenious, thefe latter are very apt and quick of un- derftanding and naturally fad and melancholly (a good fervant to repentance,) and therefore there is the greater greater hope of great heart-breakings, if ever God brings them effectually home, for which we mould af fectionately pray. A third meeting with the Indians. NOvember 26. I could not goe my felfe, but heard from thofe who went of a third meeting ; the Indians having built more Wigwams in the wonted place of meeting to attend upon the Word the more readily. The preacher understanding how many of the Indians difcouraged their fellows in this worke, and threatning death to fome if they heard any more, Ipake therefore unto them, about temptation of the Devill, how hee tempted to all manner of finne, and how the evill heart clofed with them, and how a good heart abhorred them ; the Indians were this day more ferious than ever before, and propounded divers questions againe ; as i. Becaufe fome Indians fay that we muil pray to the Devill for all good, and fome to God ; they would know whether they might pray to the Devill or no. 2 They faid they heard the word humilia tion oft ufed in our Churches, and they would know what that meant ? 3 Why the Englifh call them In dians, becaufe before they came they had another name ? 4 What a Spirit is ? 5 Whether they mould beleeve Dreames ? 6 How the Englifh come to know God fo much and they fo little ? To all which they had fit anfwers ; but being not prefent I mall not fet them downe : onely their great defire this time was to have a place for a Towne and to learn to fpinne. Sir, I did thinke I mould have writ no more to you concerning the Indians ; but the Ship lingers in the Harbour, and the Lord Jefus will have you fee more of of his conquefts and triumphes among thefe forlorne and degenerate people, furely hee heares the prayers of the deftitute and that have long lien downe in the duft before God for thefe poore prifoners of the pit : furely fome of thefe American tongues and knees muft confefle him, and bow downe before him : for the Saturday night after this third meeting (as I am in formed from that man of God who then preached The name of to tnem ) there came to his houfe one Wampas a wife an Indian. and fage Indian, as a mefTenger fent to him from the reft of the company, to offer unto him his owne fonne and three more Indian children to bee trained up among the Englim, one of the children was nine yeares old, another eight, another five, another foure : and being demanded why they would have them brought up among the Englim, his anfwer was, be- caufe they would grow rude and wicked at home, and would never come to know God, which they hoped they mould doe if they were conftantly among the Englim. This Pampas came alfo accompanied with two more Indians, young lufty men, who offered themfelves voluntarily to the fervice of the Englim that by dwell ing in fome of their families, they might come to know Jefus Chrift ; thefe are two of thofe three men whom wee faw weeping, and whofe hearts were fmitten at our fecond meeting above mentioned, and continue ftill much affecled, and gave great hopes ; thefe two are accepted of and received into two of the Elders houfes, but the children are not yet placed out becaufe it is moft meet to doe nothing that way too fuddainly, but they have a promife of acceptance and education of them either in learning or in fome other trade of life in time convenient, to which Pampas replyed that the Indians deiired nothing more. Thefe Thefe two young men who are thus difpofed of, being at an Elders houfe upon the Sabbath day night, upon fome conference with them, one of them began to confefTe how wickedly he had lived, and with how many Indian women hee had committed filthinefle, and therefore profefled that hee thought God would never look upon him in love. To which hee had this an- fwer, that indeed that finne of whoredome was exceed ing great, yet if hee fought God for Chrifts fake to pardon him, and confefTe his finne and repented of it indeed, that the Lord would mew him mercy ; and hereupon acquainted him with the ftory of Chrifts conference with the Samaritan woman, John 4. and how Jcfus Chrift forgave her although mee lived in that finne of filthinefie, even when Chrift began to fpeake to her : whereupon he fell a weeping and lament ing bitterly, and the other young man being prefent and confefling the like guiltinefle with his fellow, hee burft out alfo into a great mourning, wherein both con tinued for above halfe an houre together at that time alfo. It is wonderfull to fee what a little leven and that fmall tnuftardfeed of the Gofpell will doe, and how truth will worke when the fpirit of Chrift hath the fet- ting of it on, even upon hearts and fpirits moft un- capable ; for the laft night after they had heard the word this third time, there was an Englifh youth of good capacitie who lodged in Waaubons Wigwam that night upon fpeciall occafion, and hee arTured us that the fame night Waaubon inftrudled all his company out of the things which they had heard that day from the Preacher, and prayed among them, and awaking often that night continually fell to praying and fpeaking to fome or other of the things hee had heard, fo that this man (being a man of gravitie and chiefe prudence and counfell ( 26 ) That is King, counfell among them, although no * Sachem) is like to be a meanes of great good to the reft of his company unlefTe cowardice or witchery put an end (as ufually they have done) to fuch hopefull beginnings. The old man who alkt the firft queftion the fecond time of our meting (viz whether there was any hope for fuch old men or no) hath fix fonnes, one of his That is Sorce- fonnes was a Pawwaw, and his wife a great Pawwaw, rers and anc [ both thefe God hath convinced of their wicked- nefle, and they refolve to heare the word and feeke to the devill no more. This, the two Indians who are come to us acquaint us with, and that they now fay, that Cbepian, i. e. the devill is nought, and that God is the author onely of all good ast hey have beene taught. Hee therefore who preacheth to the Indians defired them to tell him who were Pawwaws when hee went againe to preach amongft them ; and upon fpeciall occafion this Decemb. 4 being called of God to another place where the Indians ufed to meet, and having preacht among them, after the Sermon, hee that was the Paw- waw of that company was difcovered to him, to whom he addrefTed himfelfe and propounded thefe queftions, vis i. Whether doe you thinke that God or Cbepian is the author of all good? he anfwered, God. 2. If God bee the author of all good, why doe you pray to Chepian the devill ? The Pawwaw perceiving him to propound the laft queftion with a fterne countenance and unaccuftomed terrour, hee gave him no anfwer, but fpake to other Indians that hee did never hurt any body by his Pawwawing, and could not bee got by all the meanes and turnings of queftions that might bee, to give the leaft word of anfwer againe ; but a little after the conference was ended, hee met with this Pawwaw alone and fpake more lovingly and curteoufly to him, and afkt him why hee would not anfwer, he then then told him that his laft queftion ftruck a terrour into him and made him afraid, and promifed that at the next meeting hee would propound Tome queftions to him as others did. And here it may not bee amifle to take notice of what thefe two Indians have difcovered to us concern ing thefe Pawwaws : for they were afkt how they came to be made Pawwaws, and they anfwered thus, that if any of the Indians fall into any ftrange dreame wherein Cbepian appears unto them as a ferpent, then the next day they tell the other Indians of it, and for two dayes after the reft of the Indians dance and rejoyce for what they tell them about this Serpent, and fo they become their Pawwaws: Being further afkt what doe thefe Pawwaws, and what ufe are they of; and they faid the principall imployment is to cure the fick by certaine odde geftures and beatings of themfelves, and then they pull out the ficknefTe by applying their hands to the fick perfon and fo blow it away : fo that their Pawwaws are great witches having fellowmip with the old Serpent, to whom they pray, and by whofe meanes they heale ficke perfons, and (as they faid alfo) will mew many ftrange juglings to the wonderment of the Indians, they affirmed alfo that if they did not cure the fick party (as very often they did not) that then they were reviled, and fometimes killed by fome of the dead mans friends, efpecially if they could not get their mony againe out of their hands, which they receive aforehand for their cure. Wee have caufe to be very thankfull to God who hath moved the hearts of the generall court to pur- chafe fo much land for them to make their towne in which the Indians are much taken with * and it is fomewhat obfervable *Thetownethe Indian, did i i /-, / j dejire to know ivnat name it that while the Court were connder- /bouid have, and it wat told E ing ( 28 ) them it fhouid bee called i ng w here to lav out their towne, the Noonatomen,ivhtcnjignifiei r . . / . / i \ in Engiijb rejoydng, becaufe Indians (not knowing or any thing) they hearing the -word, and were a b O Ut that time COnfulting feeking to kno-w God, the . T - , r , *? Engiijb did rejoice at it, about Lawes for thcmlelves, and and God did rejoyce at it, tne re companvwho fit downe with which pleated them much, rrr 7 A , J r \ & therefore that i 3 to be the Waaubon ; therewere ten or them, name of their toivn. twQ O f them are forgotten. Their Lawes were thefe i. That if any man be idle a weeke, at moft a fort night, hee mail pay five millings. 2 If any unmarried man mail lie with a young wo man unmarried, he mall pay twenty millings 3. If any man mail beat his wife, his hands mall bee tied behind him and carried to the place of juftice to bee feverely punimed. 4 Every young man if not anothers fervant, and if unmarried, hee mail be compelled to fet up a Wigwam and plant for himfelfe, and not live mifting up and downe to other Wigwams. 5 If any woman mail not have her haire tied up but hang loofe or be cut as mens haire, me mall pay five millings. 6 If any woman mail goe with naked breafts they mall pay two millings fixpence. 7 All thofe men that weare long locks mail pay five millings. 8 If any mall kill their lice betweene their teeth, they mall pay five millings. This Law though ridicu lous to Englifh eares yet tends to preferve cleanlinefs among Indians. Tis wonderfull in our eyes to underftand by thefe two honeft Indians, what Prayers Waaubon and the reft of them ufe to make, for hee that preacheth to them profefTeth hee never yet ufed any of their words in his prayers, prayers, from whom otherwife it might bee thought that they had learnt them by rote, one is this. Amanaomen Jehovah tahajfen metagh. Take away Lord my Stony heart. Another Cheehefom Jehovah kekowhogkew, Warn Lord my foule. Another Lord lead me when I die to heaven. Thefe are but a tafte, they have many more, and thefe more enlarged then thus exprefTed, yet what are thefe but the fprinklings of the fpirit and blood of Chrift Jefus in their hearts ? and tis no fmall matter that fuch dry barren and long-accurfed ground mould yeeld fuch kind of increafe in fo fmall a time, I would not readily commend a faire day before night, nor promife much of fuch kind of beginnings, in all per- fons, nor yet in all of thefe, for wee know the profeflion of very many is but a meere paint, and their beft graces nothing but meere flames and pangs, which are fuddainly kindled and as foon go out and are extinct againe, yet God doth not ufually fend his Plough & Seedfman to a place but there is at leaft fome little peece of good ground, although three to one bee naught : and mee thinkes the Lord Jefus would never have made fo fit a key for their locks, unlefTe hee had intended to open fome of their doores, and fo to make way for his com- ming in. Hee that God hath raifed up and enabled to preach unto them, is a man (you know) of a moft fweet, humble, loving, gratious and enlarged fpirit, whom God hath bleft, and furely will Mill delight in & do good by. I did thinke never to have opened my mouth to any, to defire thofe in England to further any good worke here, but now I fee fo many things inviting to fpeake in this bufinefle, that it were well if you ( 30 ) did lay before thofe that are prudent and able thefe confiderations. 1 That it is prettie heavy and chargeable to educate and traine up thofe children which are already offered us, in fchooling, cloathing, diet, and attendance, which they muft have. 2 That in all probabilities many Indians in other places, expecially under our jurifdiction, will bee pro voked by this example in thefe, both to defire preach ing, and alfo to fend their children to us, when they fee that fome of their fellows fare fo well among the Englim, and the civill authoritie here fo much favour ing and countenancing of thefe, and if many come in, it will bee more heavy to fuch as onely are fit to keepe them, and yet have their hands and knees infeebled fo many wayes befides. 3 That if any mall doe any thing to encourage this worke, that it may be given to the Colledge for fuch an end and ufe, that fo from the Colledge may arife the yeerly revenue for their yeerly maintenance. I would not have it placed in any particular mans hands for feare coufenage or mifplacing or carelefTe keeping and improving ; but at the Colledge it s under many hands and eyes the chief and beft of the country who have ben & will be exactly carefull of the right and comely difpofing of fuch things ; and therefore, if any thing bee given, let it be put in fuch hands as may immediately direct it to the Prefident of the Col ledge, who you know will foone acquaint the reft with it; and for this end if any in England have thus given any thing for this end, I would have them fpeake to thofe who have received it to fend it this way, which if it bee withheld I thinke tis no lefle than facrilege : but if God moves no hearts to fuch a work, I doubt not then but that more weake meanes mall have the honour of it in the day of Chrift. A ( 3 ) A fourth meeting with the Indians. THis day being Decemb, 9. the children being cate- chifed, and that place of Ezekiet touching the dry bones being opened, and applyed to their condi tion ; the Indians offered all their children to us to bee educated amongft us, and intruded by us, complain ing to us that they were not able to give any thing to the Englifh for their education : for this reafon there are therefore preparations made towards the fchooling of them, and fetting up a Schoole among them or very neare unto them. Sundry queftions alfo were pro pounded by them to us, and of us to them ; one of them being afkt what is finne ? hee anfwered a noughty heart. Another old man complained to us of his feares, v/ z, that hee was fully purpofed to keepe the Sabbath, but ftill he was in feare whether he mould go to hell or heaven ; and thereupon the justification of a tinner by faith in Chrift was opened unto him as the remedy againft all feares of hell. Another complayned of other Indians that did revile them^ and call them Rogues and fuch like fpeeches for cutting off their Locks, and for cutting their Haire in a modeft manner as the New-Englifh generally doe; for fince the word hath begun to worke upon their hearts, they have dif- cerned the vanitie and pride which they placed in their haire, and have therefore of their owne accord (none fpeaking to them that wee know of) cut it mo- deftly ; there were therefore encouraged by fome there prefent of chiefe place and account with us, not to feare the reproaches of wicked Indians, nor their witch craft and Pawwaws and poyfonings, but let them know that if they did not diffemble but would feeke God unfaignedly, that they would ftand by them, and that God ( 32 ) God alfo would be with them. They told us alfo of divers Indians who would come and ftay with them three or foure dayes, and one Sabbath, and then they would goe from them, but as for themfelves, they told us they were fully purpofed to keepe the Sabbath, to which wee incouraged them, and night drawing on were forced to leave them, for this time. FINIS.