CLEAR SUNSHINE OF THE GOSPEL
BREAKING FORTH UPON THE
Indians in New England
1648.
Q U AR TO SERIES
No. X. -
THE
CLEAR SUNSHINE
OF THE
GOSPEL
Breaking Forth upon the Indians
IN
NEW-ENGLAND.
By THOMAS SHEPARD.
NEW YORK:
REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABIN.
1865.
>&
No.
EDITION 250 COPIES,
OF WHICH 50 ARE ON LARGE PAPER.
MUNSELL, PRINTER,
THE
I r
Clear Sunfhine of the Gofpel |
BREAKING FORTH
UPON THE
INDIANS
; I N
NEW-ENGLAND.
OR,
An Hiftoricall Narration of Godsv
Wonderfull Workings upon fundry of the
INDIANS, both chief Governors and Common
people, in bringing them to a willing and
defired fubmiffion to the Ordinances of
the Gofpel ; and framing their hearts to an
earneft inquirie after the knowledge of
God the Father, and of Jefus Chrift
the Saviour of the World.
By Mr. THOMAS SHEPARD Minifter of the Gofpel of!
Jefus Chrift at Cambridge in New-England.
Ifaiah 2. 2, 3. And it /hall come to pajje in the loft dayes, that the mountain of the
Lords houfe (ball bee ejiablijhed in the top of the mountains, and /hall bee exalted I
above the hills ; and all Nations fh all flow unto it. M |>
And many people /hall go and fay, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord I \
to the houfe of the God ofjacob, and he 'will teach us of bis wayes y and we 'will 'walk :
\ in his paths : for out of Zion Jhall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from \ y.
Jerusalem. 7? f
\ London, Printed by R. Cotes for Bellamy at the three golden
Lions in Gornhill near the Roy all Exchange, 1648.
TO THE f
RIGHT HONOVRABLE
THE i
LORDS & COMMONS
Affembled
In High Court of Parliament
Right Honorable^
Hefe few fheets prefent unto your
view &Jhort but welcome difcourfe of
the visitations of the mo ft High upon
the faddeft fpedtacles of degeneracy
upon earth. The poore Indian People : the dif-
tance of place, (if our jpirits be right) will be no
leffening of the mercy, nor of our tbankefulneffe^
That Chrift is glorified, that the Gofpel doth
any where find footing ; and fuccefle is a mer
cy as well worthy the praife of the Saints on
Earth, as theyVy of the Angels in heaven. The
report of this mercy is Jirft made to you, who
are the Reprefentative of this Nation, That
in you England might bee ftirred up, to be
Re
M881075
The Epiflle
Rejoycers in, and Advancers of thefe promi-
fing beginnings. And becaufe to You an ac
count is firft due of the fucceffe of the Gofpel
in thofe darke corners of the World, which
have been fo much enligtened by Your fa
vour, enlivened by Your refolutions, encou
raged by Your fore-paft indeavours for God,
& hope ftil being parts of Your felves, to be
further fbrengthned by Youre benigne afpetts
and bountifull influences on them.
The prefent troubles have not fo far obli
terated and worn out the fad imprejjions
which former times have made upon our fpi-
rits, but we can fadly remember thofe deftruEl-
ive defignes which were on foot, and car-
ryed on for the Introduction of fo great evils
both into Church and State; In order to
which it was the endeavour of the Contrivers
and Promoters of thofe defignes, to waft the
number of the godly, as thofe who would
never be brought to comply in fuch deftruft-
ive enterprifes ; which was attempted by
banijhing and forcing fome abroad, by bur-
thening and ajfliEling all at home. Among
thofe
Dedicatory.
thofe who tafted of the firft, I fay not the
worft fort of their cruelty, were thefe our
Brethren, who to enjoy the liberties of the
Gofpel, were content to fit downe, and pitch
their tents in the utmoft parts of the Earth,
hoping that there they might be out of the
reach of their malice, as they were aflured
they were beyond the bounds of their love.
God who doth often make mans evill of fin,
ferviceable to the advancement of the riches
of his owne Grace ; The moft horrid a6t
that ever was done by thefonnes of men, the
murther of Chrift, God made ferviceable to
the higheft purpofes of Grace and mercy
that ever came upon his breaft; That God
doth fhew that hee had mercifull ends, in
this their malicious purpofe : as hee fuffer'd
7~ 7 i n T 1 Afts 16. 30,
Paul to be calt into priion, to convert the 33 , 34 .
Jaylor, to be fhipwrackt at Melita^ to preach Aa * 2S ' 1 ' n
to the barbarians^ fo he fuffer'd their way
to be flopped up here, and their perfons to be
banifhed hence, that hee might open a paflage
for them in the Wildernefle, and make them
inftruments to draw foules to him, who had
been fo long ejl ranged from him.
It
The Epiftle
It was the end of the adverfary to fup-
preffe, but Gods to propagate the Gofpel ;
theirs to fmother and put out the light,
Gods to communicate and difperfe it to the
utmoft corners of the Earth; that as one
au/i faith of Paul^ his blindneffe gave light to the
luminado. whole tf^orld^ fo we hope God will make
their diftance and eftrangedneffe from us, a
meanes of bringing many near and in to ac
quaintance with him.
Indeed a long time it was before God let
them fee any farther end of their comming o-
ver, then to preferve their confciences, cherijh
their Graces, provide for their fuftenance :
But when Providences invited their return, he
let them know it was for fome farther Arrand
that hee brought them thither, giving them
fome Bunches of Grapes, fome Clufters of Figs
in earneft of the profperous fucceffe of their
ifa^'io', ii, endeavours upon thofe poor out cafts : The ut-
ifa^'i 10 mo ft enc ^ s f ^e earth are defigned and pro-
Luke 10. 'i. mifed to be in time the poffeffions of Chrift;
And hee fends his Minifters into every place
where he himfelfe intends to come^ and take pof-
feffion.
Dedicatory.
feffion. Where the Miniftery is the Harbinger
and goes before, Chrift and Grace will cer
tainly follow after.
This little we fee is fomething in hand, to
earneft to us thofe things which are in hope;
fomething in poffefjion^ to affure us of the reft
in promife, when the ends of the earth fhall
fee his glory, and the Kingdmes of the world
Jhall become the Kingdomes of the Lord and his
Chrift [ , when hee fhall have Dominion from Sea ^ " 2 ?*
to Sea, and they that dwell in the wilderneffe pfal - 7 2 - 8 > 9,
fhall bow before him. And if the dawn of the
morning be fo delightfull, what will the clear
day be ? If the jirft fruits be fo precious, what
wil the whole harveft be ? if fome beginnings
be fo ful of joy, what will it be when God
fhall perform his whole work, when the whole
earth Jhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord^
as the waters cover the Sea, and Eaft and
Weft fhal fing together the fong of the Lamb ?
In order to this what doth God require of
us, but that we fhould ftrengthen the hands,
incourage the hearts of thofe who are at work
for him, confliEling with difficulties, wreftling
with
The Epijlle
with difcouragements, to fpread the Gofpel,
& in that, the fame and honor of this Nation,
to the utmoft ends of the earth? It was the
defign of your enemies to make them little^ let
it be your endevor to make them great ^ their
greatneffe is your ftrength. Their enemies
threatned their hands fhould reach them for
evil, God difappointed them; And let your
hands reach them now for good; there
is enough in them to fpeak then fit
ohjSies of your incouragement, they are
men of choice fpirits, not frighted with
dangers, foftned with allurements, nor dif-
couraged with difficulties, preparing the way
of the Lord in thofe unpayable places of the
earth, dealing with fuch whom they are to
make men, before they can make them Chrift-
ians. They are fuch who are impreffed for your
fervicein the fervice of Chrift, c&nftand alone,
but defire to have dependence on you, they
feare not the malice of their enemies, but de
fer e the countenance and incouragement of
their friends; And fhal your Honors in con
federation of their former fufferings, their pre-
fent
Dedicatory.
fent fervice, and reall defervings, help the day
of f mall things among them ; fhal you intereft
them in your affiftances, as you are interefted
in their affections, you wil thereby not only
further thefe beginnings of God by incourag-
ing their hearts, and ftrengthning their hands
to work for him, but alfo (as we humbly con
ceive) much add to the comfort of your owne
accounts in the day of the Lord, and lay greater
obligations on them yet more to pray for you,
to promote your counfels, and together with
us your unworthy fervants to write down
themfelves,
Yours humbly devoted in the fervice of the
Gofpel.
Stephen Mar/hall John Downam tfho. Goodwin
Jeremy Whitaker Philip Nye Fho. Cafe
Edm. Calamy Syd. Symptfon Simeon A/he
William Greenhill William Carter Samuel Bolton.
B
TO THE
Godly and well aflfe&ed of
this Kingdome of ENGLAND;
who pray for, and rejoyce in, the
thrivings of the Gofpel of our
LORD JESVS.
Chriflian Reader,
F ever thou bad/I experience of this day of
power, thefe vifitations of Chrijt upon
thine own fpirit ; I fuppofe thee to be one
who haft embarqu'd many prayers for
the fuccefle of the Gofpel in thefe darke
corners of the earth ; to ftrengthen thy faith, inlarge
thy heart, and ajfure thy foul that God is a God hear
ing prayers: An account is here given to thee of the
conquefts of the Lord lefus upon thefe poor out- c aft s,
who have thus long been eftranged from him, fpilt like
water upon the ground and none to gather them. For
merly thou had, The Day-break, fome dawnings of
light, after a long and black night of darkenes, here thou
fee ft the fun is up, which wee hope will rejoice like
the ftrong man to run its race, fcattering thofe thick
clouds of darknej/e, and ihining brighter and brighter
till it come to a perfect day. Thefe few Jheets give
thee fome footing for fuch thoughts, and fome further
incouragements to wait & pray for the accomplifh-
ment of fuch things. Here thou mayft fee, the Miniftry
is precious, the feet of them who bring glad tidings
beautiful!. Ordinances dejired, the Word frequented
and
The Epiftlc
and attended, the Spirit alfo going forth in power and
efficacy with it, in awakening and humbling of them,
drawing forth thofe affections of for row, and exprejfions
0/^tears in abundance, which no tortures or extremities
were ever obferved to force from them, with lamenting :
we read here, their leaving of Jinne, they for fake their
former evill wayes, and fet up fences never to returne
by making lawsjfo" the punifhment of thofe Jins wherein
they have lived, and to which they have been fo much
addicted. They fet up prayers in their families morn
ing and evening, and are in earneft in them ; And with
more affection they crave Gods blejpng upon a little
parched corn, & Indian ftalks, then many of us do upon
our greateji plenty and abundance. They reft on the
Lords day, and make laws for the obfervation of it,
wherein they meet together to pray & inftrutt one
another in the things of God, which have been com
municated to them. They renounce their diabolicall
Charmes and Charmers, and many of thofe who were
practitioners in thefe finfull and foul-undoing Arts, being
made naked, convinced and afhamed af their evill, forfake
their way, and betake themf elves to prayer, preferring the
[fa. 26. 16. Chriftian Charm, before their diabolical Spells : herein
tynS God making good that promife Zeph. 2. I i. I will famifh
Incantatio, al t k e Q O( J S o f the earth, (which he doth by withdraw-
mumtatio. . / / /
Jer. 8. 17. ing the worjhippers, and throwing contempt upon the
Eccles. 10. u.<worjhip] And men ihal worfhip me alone every one
from his place, even all the Ifles of the Heathens.
All thefe are hopefull prefages that God is going out
Ads 17* 30! * n hi* power and grace to conquer a people to himfelf-,
That he begins to caji an owning look on them, whom he
hath
To the Reader.
hath fo long neglected & defpifed. And indeed God
may we! feek out for other ground to fow the feed of his
Ordinances upon, feeing the ground where it hath been
fown hath brought forth no better fruit to him ; he may
may well befpeak another people to himfelf, feeing he
finds no better entertainment among the people he hath
efpoufed to him, and that by fo many mercies, privi-
ledges, indeerments, ingagements. We have as many
fad fymptomes, of a declining, as thefe poor out c aft s
have glad prefages of a Rifing Sun among them. 'The
Ordinances are as much contemned here, as frequented
there ; the Miniftery as much difcouraged here, as em
braced there ; Religion as much derided, the ways of
godlinefs as much fcorned here, as they can be wifhed
and dejired there ; generally wee are fick of plenty, wee
furfet of our abundance, the worft of Surfets, and with
our loathed Manna and difdained food, God preparing
them a Table in the wildernes ; where our fatieties, wil
be their fufficiencies ; our complaints, their contents ;
our burthens, their comforts ; if he cannot have an
England here, he can have an England there ; & bap
tize & adopt them into thofe priviledges, which wee
have looked upon as our burthens. We have fad de-
cayes upon us, we are a revolting Nation, a people
guilty of great defection from God. Some fall from the
worfhip of God so their old fuperftitions, and corrupt
worjhip, faying with thofe in leremy, It was better with
us then now. Some fall from the doctrin of grace to
errors, fome to damnable, others to defiling, fome to
deftrucldve, others to corruptive opinions. Some fal
from proferTed feeming holynes, to Jin & profanenes ;
who
The Epiftle
who like blazing comets did Jhine bright for a time, but
after have fet in a night of darknes. We have many
fad fymp tomes on us, we decay under all the means of
nourifhment, are barren under all Gods fowings, dry
under al the dews, droppings Jhowres of heaven, like
that Country whereof Hiftorians fpeak, where drought
Siccitas dat lu- r . t . J , % r j \ ' n M , & 7
mm, imbres cauleth dirt, and ihowers cauieth dult. And what
pulverem. doth God threaten herein, but to remove the Candle-
flicks, to take away the Gofpel, that pretious Gofpel,
the ftreams whereof have brought Jo many mips laden
with blejjings to our jhoar, that Gofpel under the fhadow
whereof we have fate down and been refreshed thefe
many years ? where the power is loft, God will not long
continue the form, where the heat is gone, he wil not
long continue the light. TAe temple did not preferve
the lews when their hearts were the Synagogues of
Satan, nor Jhall any outward priviledge hold us up,
when the inward power is down in our fpirits. God
hath forfaken other Churches as eminent as ever Eng
land was : where are the churches 0/^Afia, once famous
for the gofpel, for general Councels, now places for Zim
tf/fc/Ochim, their habitation defolate? where are thofe
ancient people of the lews who were (fegulla micol
hagnamim] his peculiar and chofen people of al na
tions ? they are fcattered abroad as a curfe, and their
place knows them no more. And Jhall 1 1 el you? God
hath no need of us, he can cal them Gnammi, his people,
who were Lo gnammi, not his people, and them beloved,
who were not beloved. Indeed he hath held up us, as if
he had not known where to have another people, if he
Jhould forfake us, we have been a Gofhen, when others
have
To the Reader.
have been an Egypt, a Canaan, when others an Akelda-
ma, the garden of God, when others have been a wilder-
nejje, our fleece hath been wet, when others have been
dry : But know, God hath no need of us, he can want
no people if he pleafe to call; If he fpeake, all the ends Pfal. 22.27,28.
of the world fhall remember and turn unto the Lord, i ^ IQ
and all the kindreds of the Nations fhall worfhip
before him. If he fet up his ftandard, to him fhal
the Gentiles flock, and the earth fhall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea.
It is not for need but for love that God abides with
England, and there is nothing out of himfelfe the incen- Amatdeus,non
tive of this love : there can be no reafon given why God^^ e f ^? fe
Jhould fence us, and fuflfer other places to lye waft, that Eft undeamat.
we Jhould bee his Garden, and other places a Wildernes, Au g-
that he Jhould feed us with the bread of Heaven, and
fuffer others to ftarve, men of the fame mould, his ofF-
fpring as well as we, and fuch (did he conquer to him
felfe] were likely to doe him more fervice, bring him
more glory then we have done. We fee fomething here
done in order to fuch a work, our Harveft is much over,
we fee little incomes, there we fee the fields are ripe for
harveft ; here the miniftry is contemned, there the feet
of them that bring glad tydings are beautifull ; we
have outlived the power and efficacy of Ordinances,
there God goes forth with life and power ; we can outfit
the mo ft fpeaking and winning difcoveries of Chrift,
there every notion, breeds motion in them ; the glory of
the Lord is much departed from us, there his rifing is
confpicuous and glorious. The blind man found it good
to be in the way where Chrift came : And who would be
in
The Epiftle
in ^Egypt when there is light in Gofhen ? Oh that
England would be quickned by their rijings, and weep
over her own declinings ! What a wonder is it that they
Jhould doe fo much, and we fo little, that they Jhould be
men in their infancy , and we fuch children in our
manhood, that they fo active, we fo dead? That which
was Hieroms complaint may be ours, O that Infidelity
mould do that which thofe who profeffe thenmfelvs
Heu! quod pra- belecvers cannot do! We have the light of former
JSd^^-AWfj but want the heat, knowledge abounds as the
ftitit fides. waters cover the fea, but we want the fait ; we have a
Ignis qui in pa- form r G JH ne fr e b u t want the power : And it wil be
rentibus fun / *' f >, . r r j
Colidus, in no- imal comfort Jhould God continue to us the form, and
bis Lucidus. ca ry to others the power, to fuffer us to waft our f elves
with unneceffary brangles (which are the fweat of the
times] and in the mean to cary the life and power of
Religion unto others.
Let thefe poor Indians Jiand up incentives to us, as
the Apoftle Cet up the Gentiles a provocation to the
Rom. 11. 14. _ * J 7 J 7 r j ^ j j. r r XT .
lews : who knows but God gave lye to New England,
to quicken Old, and hath warmed them, that they
might heat us, raifed them from the dead, that they
might recover us from that confumption, and thofe fad
decay es which are come upon us ?
This fmal Treatife is an EiTay to that end, an Indian
Sermon, though you will not hear us, pojjibly when fome
rife from the dead you will hear them. The main
Doctrin it preacheth unto all, is to value the Gofpel,
prize the Miniftry , loath not your Manna, furfet not
of your plenty, be thankfull for mercies, fruitful! under
means: Awake from your Jlumber, repair your decay es,
redeem
To the Reader.
redeem your time, improve the feafons of your peace ;
anfwer to cals, open to knocks, attend to whifpers, obey
commands ; you have a name you live, take heed you bee
not dead, you are Chriftians in mew, be Jo indeed :
leajl as you have loft the power, God take away from you
the form alfo.
And you that are Minifters learn by this not to de-
fpond though you fee not prefent fruit of your labors,
though you rim all night and catch nothing. God
hath a fullnefTe of time to perform all his purpofes.
And the deepeft degeneracies, & wideft ejlrangements
from God, Jhall be no bar or obftacle to the power and
freenejfe of his owne grace when that time is come.
And you that are Merchants, take incouragement
from hence to fcatter the beames of light, to fpread and
propagate the Gofpel into thofe dark corners of the earth ;
whither you traffick you take much from them, if you
can carry this to them, you wil make them an abundant
recompence. And you that are Chriftians indeed, rejoice
to fee the Curtaines of the 'Tabernacle inlarged, the
bounds of the Sanctuary extended, Chrift advanced, the
Gofpel propagated, a?id fouls faved. And if ever the
love of God did center in your hearts, if ever the fenfe
of his goodnefs hath begot bowels of compaffion in you,
draw them forth towards them whom God hath fingled
out to be the objects of his grace and mercy; lay out
your prayers, lend your ajfiflance to carry on this day of
the Lord hegun among them. They are not able (as
Mofcsyi/W) to bear the burthen of that people alone,
to make provifion/ir the children whom God hath given
them; & therefore it is requifite the fpiritual community
C Jhould
The Epiftle, &c.
Jhould help to bear part with them. Many of the young
ones are given and taken in, to be educated & brought
up in Schooles, they are naked and mujt be clad, they
want al things, and muft be fupplyed. The Parents
alfo, and many others being convinced of the evill of an
idle life, dejire to be employed in honeft labor, but they
want inftruments and tooles to fet them on work, and
caft-garments to throw upon thofe bodies, that their
loins may blefle you, whofe fouls Chriji hath cloathed.
Some worthy perfons have given much ; and if God fh all
move the heart of others to offer willingly towards the
building of Chriji a Spirituall temple, // will certainly
remain upon their account, when the fmalleft rewards
from God, jhall be better than the. great eft layings out
for God. But we are making a relation, not a collection ;
we leave the whole to your Chriftian conjideration, not
doubting but they who have tafted of mercy from God, will
Tit. 9. 14. fc rea( fy to exercife compajjion to others, & commend you
unto him who gave himfelf for us, that hee might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie as well as pur-
chafe unto himfelf a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.
Stephen Marjhall lobn Downam ^Tbo. Goodwin
ler. Whitaker Philip Nye Tbo. Cafe
Edmund Calamy Sy. Simpfon Simeon A/he
William Greenbill Williamet Cart. Samuel Bolton.
THE
THE
CLEAR E SVNSHINE
OF TH E
G O S P E L L,
Breaking forth upon the INDIANS
in New-England.
Much Honored and deare Sir,
Hat glorious and fudden riling of
Chrift Jefus upon our poore Indians
which began a little before you fet
faile from thefe fhores, hath not beene
altogether clouded iince, but rather
broken out further into more light
and life, wherewith the moft High
hath vifited them ; and becaufe fome may call in
queftion the truth of the firft relation, either becaufe
they may thinke it too good newes to be true, or be
caufe fome perfons maligning the good of the Coun-
trey, are apt, as to aggravate to the utmoft any evill
thing againft it, fo to vilifie and extenuate any good
thing in it : and becaufe your felfe defired to heare
how
2 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
how farre fince God hath carried on that worke,
which yur owne eyes faw here begun ; I fhall there
fore as faithfully and as briefly as I can, give you a
true relation of the progrefTe of it, which I hope may
be a fufficient confirmation of what hath been pub-
limed to the world before, having this as the chiefe
end in my owne eye, that the precious Saints and
people of God in England, beleeving what hath been
and may bee reported to them, of thefe things, may
help forward this work together with us by their
prayers and prayfes, as we defire to doe the like for
the worke of Chrift begun among them there. I
dare not fpeake too much, nor what I thinke about
their converfion, I have feen fo much falfenefle in
that point among many Englifh, that I am flow to
beleeve herein too haftily concerning thefe poore
naked men ; onely this is evident to all honeft hearts
that dwell neer them, and have obferved them, that
the work of the Lord upon them (what ever it bee)
is both unexpected and wonderfull in fo fhort a time ;
I fhall fet down-e things as they are, and then your
felfe and others to whom thefe may come, may judge
as you pleafe of them.
Soon after your departure hence, the awakening
of thefe Indians in our Towne raifed a great noyfe
among all the reft round about us, efpecially about
*An inferiour Concord fide where the *Sacbim (as I remember) and
one or two more of his men, hearing of thefe things
and of the preaching of the Word, and how it wrought
*An Indian amon g them here, came therefore hither to *Noona-
town fo called, netum to the Indian Lecture, and what the Lord fpake
to
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New- England. 3
to his heart wee know not, only it feems hee was fo
farre affe&ed, as that he deiired to become more like
to the Englifh, and to caft off thofe Indian wild and
finfull courfes they formerly lived in ; but when
divers of his men perceived their Sachims mind, they
fecretly oppofed him herein ; which oppofition -being
known, he therefore called together his chiefe men
about him, & made a fpeech to this effect unto them,
" viz. That they had no reafon at all to oppofe thofe
" courfes the Englifli were now taking for their good,
" for (faith hee) all the time you have lived after the
" Indian faihion under the power and protection of
" higher Indian Sachems, what did they care for you ?
" they onely fought their owne ends out of you, and
" therefore would exact upon you, and take away
" your fkins and your Kettles & your Wampam from
" you at their own pleafure, & this was al that they re-
" regarded: but you may evidently fee that the
" Englifh mind no fuch things, care for none of your
" goods, but onely feeke your good and welfare, and
" in ftead of taking away, are ready -to give to you ;
with many other things I now forget, which were
related by an eminent man of that town to me.
What the effect of this fpeech was, we can tell no
otherwife then as the effects mewed it ; the firft thing
was, the making of certain Lawes for their more re
ligious and civill government and behaviour, to the
making of which they craved the affiftance of one of
the chiefe Indians in Noonanetum, a very active Indian
to bring in others to the knowledge of God ; deiiring
withall an able faithfull man in Concord to record
and
4 The clear e Sun-fhine of the Gofpel,
* Teach f and ^ ee P * n writing what they had generally agreed
the Church in upon. Another effect was, their defire of *Mr. Eliots
Roxbury, that coming up to them, to preach, as he could find time
/^1n t the h ir am n g them 5 and the laft effe6t WaS > their defire f
own Language having a Towne given them within the bounds of
Concord neare unto the Englim. This latter when it
was propounded by the Sachim of the place, he was
demanded why hee defired a towne fo neare, when
as there was more roome for them up in the Coun
try. To which the Sachim replyed, that he therefore
defired it becaufe he knew that if the Indians dwelt
far from the Englim, that they would not fo much
care to pray, nor would they be fo ready to heare the
Word of God, but they would be all one Indians ftill ;
but dwelling neare the Englim he hoped it might bee
otherwife with them then. The Town therefore was
granted them ; but it feemes that the oppofition made
by fome of themfelves more malignantly fet againft
thefe courfes, hath kept them from any prefent fetling
downe : and furely this oppofition is a fpeciall finger
of Satan refilling thefe budding beginnings ; for what
more hopefull way of doing them good then by co
habitation in fuch Townes, neare unto good exam
ples, and fuch as may be continually whetting upon
them, and dropping into them of the things of God ?
what greater meanes at leaft to civilize them ? as is
evident in the Cufco and Mexico Indians, more civill
then any elfe in this vaft Continent that wee know
of, who were reduced by the politick principles of
the two great conquering Princes of thofe Countries
after their long and tedious wars, from thefe wild and
wandring
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 5
wandring courfe of life, unto a fetling into particular
Townes and Cities : but I forbear, only to confirme
the truth of thefe things, I have fent you the orders
agreed on at Concord by the Indians, under the hand
of two faithfull witnefles, who could teflifie more, if
need were, of thefe matters : I have fent you their
owne Copy and their own hands to it, which I have
here inferted.
Conclusions and Orders made and agreed upon by
divers Sac Aims and other principal! men among ft the
Indians at Concord, in the end of the eleventh moneth, An. 1646.
1. ^ I^Hat every one that fhall abufe themfelves with
A wine or ftrong liquors, {hall pay for every
time fo abufing themfelves, 2os.
2. That there fhall be no more Pawwwvirig amongft
the Indians. And if any fhall hereafter *Pawwow, *p aw wows
both he that fhall Powwow, & he that fhall procure Witches or
him to Powwow, fhall pay 2os. apeece.
3. They doe defire that they may be ftirred up to feekthe devill.
after God.
4. They defire they may underftand the wiles of Satan,
and grow out of love with his fuggeftions, and
temptations.
5. That they may fall upon fome better courfe to im
prove their time, then formerly.
6. That they may be brought to the fight of the
finne of lying, and whofoever fhall be found faulty
herein fhall pay for the firft offence 5 s. the fecond
IO.T. the third 20 j.
7. Whofoever
are
6 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
7. Whofoever (hall fteale any thing from another,
fhall reftore fourfold.
8. They defire that no Indian hereafter fhall have any
more but one wife.
9. They defire to prevent falling out of Indians one
with another, and that they may live quietly one
by another.
10. That they may labour after humility and not be
proud.
1 1 . That when Indians doe wrong one to another,
they may be lyable to cenfure by fine or the like,
as the Englijh are.
1 2. That they pay their debts to the Englijh.
13. That they doe obferve the Lords-Day, and who-
foever fhall prophane it fhall pay 20 s.
14. That there fhall not be allowance to pick Lice,
as formerly, and eate them, and whofoever fhall
offend in this cafe fhall pay for every loufe a penny.
15. They will weare their haire comely, as the Eng
lijh do, and whofoever fhall offend herein fhall
pay 5r.
1 6. They intend to reforme themfelves, in their
former greafiing themfelves, under the Penalty of
$s. for every default.
17. They doe all refolve to fet up prayer in their
A Wigwam is wigwams, and to feek to God both before and after
fuch a dwelling
houfe as they meate.
live in. " 1 8. If any commit the finne of fornication, being
fingle perfons, the man fhall pay 20 s. and the wo
man IOJ.
19. If any man lie with a beaft he fhall die.
20. Whofoever
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New- England, j
20. Whofoever (hall play at their former games fhall
pay ioj\
21. Whofoever (hall commit adultery fhall be put to
death.
22. Wilfull Murder fhall be punimed with death.
23. They (hall not difguife themfelves in their mourn
ings, as formerly, nor mall they keep a great noyfe
by howling.
24. The old Ceremony of the Maide walking alone
and living apart fo many dayes 20 s.
25. No Indian (hall take an Englifh mans *Canooe*
without leave under the penaltie of 5 s. fmail Boate.
26. No Indian fhall come into any Englifh mans
houfe except he firft knock : and this they exped:
from the Englifh.
27. Whofoever beats his wife fhall pay 20 s.
28. If any Indian fhall fall out with, and beate an
other Indian, he fhall pay 20 s.
29. They defire they may bee a towne, and either to
dwell on this fide the Beare Swamp, or at the Eaft
fide of Mr. Flints Pond.
Immediately after thefe things were agreed upon,
moft of the Indians of thefe parts, fet up Prayer morn
ing and evening in their families, and before and
after meat. They alfo generally cut their haire, and
were more civill in their carriage to the Englifh then
formerly. And they doe manifeft a great willing-
neffe to conform themfelves to the civill fafhions of
the Englifh. The Lords day they keepe a day of reft,
and minifter what edification they can to one another.
Thefe former orders were put into this forme by
D Captaine
is a
8 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
Captaine Simond Willard of Concord, whom the In
dians with unanimous confent intreated to bee their
Recorder, being very folicitous that what they did
agree upon might be faithfully preferved without
alteration. Thomas Flint. Simon Willard.
Thefe things thus wrought in a fhort time about
Concord fide, I looke upon as fruits of the miniftery
of the Word ; for although their high efteem bred
lately in them, efpecially the chief and beft of the
Englifh, together with that mean efteem many of
them have of themfelves, and therefore will call
themfelves fometimes poore Creatures, when they fee
and heare of their great diftance from others of the
Englifh ; I fay, although thefe things may be fome
caufes of making thefe orders and walking in thefe
courfes, yet the chiefe caufe feemes to bee the power
of the Word, which hath been the chiefe caufe of
thefe Orders, and therefore it is that untill now of
late they never fo much as thought of any of thefe
things.
I am not able to acquaint you very much from my
owne eye and eare witnefle of things, for you know
the neare relation between me and the fire fide ufually
all winter time, onely I mall impart two or three
things more of what I have heard and feen, and the
reft I mall relate to you as I have received from
faithfull witneffes, who teftifie nothing to me by
their writings, but what is feene in the open Sun, and
done in the view of all the world, and generally
known to be true of people abiding in thefe parts wee
live in. As
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 9
As foone as ever the fiercenefle of the winter was
paft, March. 3. 1647. I went out to Noonanetum to
the Indian Lefture, where Mr. Wilfon, Mr. Allen, of
Dedham, Mr. Dunjler, befide many other Chriftians
were prefent ; on which day perceiving divers of the
Indian women well affedted, and confidering that
their foules might ftand in need of anfwer to their
fcruples as well as the mens ; & yet becaufe we knew
how unfit it was for women fo much as to afke quef-
tions publiquely immediatly by themfelves ; wee did
therefore defire them to propound any queftions they
would bee refolved about by firft acquainting either
their Hufbands, or the Interpreter privately there
with : whereupon we heard two queftions thus or
derly propounded ; which becaufe they are the firft
that ever were propounded by Indian women in fuch
an ordinance that ever wee heard of, and becaufe they
may bee otherwife ufefull, I mall therefore fet them
downe.
The firft queftion was propounded by the wife of
one Wampooas a well afFedted Indian, viz. " Whether
" (faid fhe) do I pray when my huiband prayes if I
" fpeak nothing as he doth, yet if I like what he faith,
" and my heart goes with it ? (for the Indians will
many times pray with their wives, and with their
children alfo fometime in the fields) fhee therefore
fearing left prayer mould onely be an externall action
of the lips, enquired if it might not be alfo an inward
action of the heart, if me liked of what he faid.
The fecond queftion was propounded by the Wife
of one Totherfwampe, her meaning in her queftion
(as
io The clear e Sun-Jhme of the Gofpel,
(as wee all perceived) was this, viz. " Whether a huf-
" band fhould do well to pray with his wife, and yet
" continue in his paffions, & be angry with his wife ?
But the modefty and wifdome of the woman diredled
her to doe three things in one, for thus fhee fpake to
us, viz. " Before my hufband did pray hee was much
" angry and froward, but fince hee hath begun to
" pray hee was not angry fo much, but little angry :
wherein firft fhee gave an honorable teftimony of her
hulband and commended him for the abatement of
his paffion ; fecondly, fhee gave implicitly a fecret
reproofe for what was paft, and for fomewhat at pre-
fent that was amiffe ; and thirdly, it was intended by
her as a queflion whether her hufband fhould pray
to God, and yet continue in fome unruly paffions;
but me wifely avoyded that, left it might reflecl: too
much upon him, although wee defired her to exprefTe
if that was not her meaning.
At this time (befide thefe queftions) there were
fundry others propounded of very good ufe, in all
which we faw the Lord Jefus leading them to make
narrow inquiries into the things of God, that fo they
might fee the reality of them. I have heard few
Chriftians when they begin to looke toward God,
make more fearching queftions that they might fee
things really, and not onely have a notion of them :
I forbeare to mention any of them, becaufe I forget
the chiefe of them; onely this wee tooke notice of
at this dayes meeting, that there was an aged Indian
who propofed his complaint in propounding his
queftion concerning an unruly difobedient fon, and
" what
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New -England. 1 1
" what one fhould do with him in cafe of obftinacy
" and difobedience, and that will not heare Gods
" Word, though his Father command him, nor will
" not forfake his drunkennerTe, though his father
" forbid him ? Unto which there were many an-
fwers to fet forth the finne of difobedience to pa
rents; which were the more quickned and marpned
becaufe wee knew that this rebellious fonne whom
the old man meant, was by Gods providence prefent
at this Lecture : Mr. Wilfon was much inlarged, and
fpake fo terribly, yet fo gracioufly as might have af
fected a heart not quite (hut up, which this young
defperado hearing (who well underftood the Englifh
tongue) inftead of humbling himfelf before the Lords
Word, which touched his confcience and condition
fo neare, hee was filled with a fpirit of Satan, and as
foone as ever Mr. Wilfons fpeech was ended hee brake
out into a loud contemptuous expreffion ; So, faith he :
which we pafled by without fpeaking againe, leaving
the Word with him, which we knew would one day
take its effect one way or other upon him.
The latter end of this yeare Mr. Wilfon, Mr. Eliot,
and my felfe were fent for by thofe in Yarmouth to
meet with fome other Elders of PHmouth pattent, to
heare and heale (if it were the will of Chrift) the
difference and fad breaches which have been too long
a time among them, wherein the Lord was very mer-
cifull to us and them in binding them up beyond our
thoughts in a very fhort time, in giving not only that
bruifed Church but the whole Towne alfo a hopefull
beginning of fetled peace and future quietnefle ; but
Mr.
12 * The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
Mr. Eliot as hee takes all other advantages of time, fo
hee tooke this, of fpeaking with, and preaching to the
poore Indians in thefe remote places about Cape Cod :
in which journey I (hall acquaint you with what all
of us obferved.
Wee firft found thefe Indians (not very farre from
ours) to underftand (but with much difficulty) the
ufuall language of thofe in our parts, partly in regard
to the different dialed: which generally varies in 40.
or 60. miles, and partly and efpecially in regard of
their not being accuftomed unto facred language
about the holy things of God, wherein Mr. Eliot ex-
cells any other of the Englifh, that in the Indian lan
guage about common matters excell him : I fay there
fore although they did with much difficulty under
ftand him, yet they did underftand him, although by
many circumlocutions and variations of fpeech and
the helpe of one or two Interpreters which were then
prefent.
Secondly, wee obferved much oppofition againft
him, and hearing of him at the day appointed, efpe
cially by one of the chiefeft Sachims in thofe parts, a
man of a fierce, ftrong and furious fpirit whom the
Englijh therefore call by the name Jehu : who although
before the day appointed for preaching, promifed
very faire that he would come and bring his men
with him ; yet that very morning when they were to
bee prefent, he fends out almoft all his men to Sea,
pretending fifhing, and therefore although at laft he
came late himfelfe to the Sermon, yet his men were
abfent, and when he came himfelf, would not feem
to
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 1 3
to underftand any thing, although hee did underftand
as fome of the Indians themfelves then told us, when
Mr. Eliot by himfelf and by them inquired of him if
he underftood what was fpoken : yet he continued
hearing what was faid with a dogged looke and dif-
contented countenance.
Thirdly, notwithftanding this oppofition wee found
another Sac him then prefent willing to learne, and
divers of his men attentive and knowing what was faid :
and in the time which is ufually fet apart for propound
ing queftions, an aged Indian told us openly, " That
" thefe very things which Mr. Eliot had taught them
" as the Commandements of God, and concerning
" God, and the making of the world by one God,
" that they had heard fome old men who were now
" dead, to fay the fame things, fince whofe death there
" hath been no remembrance or knowledge of them
" among the Indians untill now they heare of them
againe. Which when I heard folemnly fpoken, I
could not tell how thofe old Indians fhould attaine
to fuch knowledge, unlelefle perhaps by means of the
French Preacher caft upon thofe coafts many yeers
fince, by whofe miniftry they might poffibly reape
and retaine fome knowledge of thofe things ; this alfo
I hear by a godly and able Chriftian who hath much
converfe with them ; that many of them have this
apprehenfion now ftirring among them, viz. " That
" their forefathers did know God, but that after this,
" they fell into a great fleep, and when they did awaken
" they quite forgot him, (for under fuch metaphori-
call language they ufually exprefTe what eminent
things
14 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
things they meane :) fo that it may feeme to be the
day of the Lords gracious vilitation of thefe poore
Natives, which is juft as it is with all other people,
when they are moft low, the wheele then turnes,
and the Lord remembers to have mercy.
Fourthly, a fourth and laft obferVation wee took,
was the ftory of an Indian in thofe parts, telling us
of his dreame many yeers fince, which he told us of
openly before many witnefles when we fate at meat:
the dreame is this, hee faid " That about two yeers
" before the Englifh came over into thofe parts there
" was a great mortality among the Indians, and one
" night he could not fleep above half the night, after
" which hee fell into a dream, in which he did think
" he faw a great many men come to thofe parts in
" cloths, juft as the Englifh now are apparelled, and
" among them there arofe up a man all in black, with a
" thing in his hand which hee now fees was all one
" Englifh mans book ; this black man he faid ftood
" upon a higher place then all the reft, and on the one
" fide of him were the Englifh, on the other a great
" number of Indians: this man told all the Indians
"that God was moof quantum or angry with them, and
" that he would kill them for their finnes, whereupon
" he faid himfelf ftood up, and defired to know of the
" black man what God would do with him ,and his
" Squaw and Papoofes, but the black man would not
" anfwer him a firft time, nor yet a fecond time, un-
" till he defired the third time, and then he fmiPd
" upon him, and told him that he and his Papoofes
" mould be fafe, and that God would give unto them
" Mitcheu,
Breaking forth upon the Indians in Ne*w -England. 1 5
" Mitcheu, (i. e.) vidlualls and other good things, and
fo hee awakened. What fimilitude this dream hath
with the truth accomplifhed, you may eafily fee. I
attribute little to dreams, yet God may fpeak to fuch
by them rather then to thofe who have a more fure
Word to direct and warn them, yet this dream made
us think furely this Indian will regard the black man
now come among them rather then any others of
them : but whether Satan, or fear, and guilt, or world
prevailed, we cannot fay, but this is certaine, that he
withdrew from the Sermon, and although hee came
at the latter end of it, as hoping it had been done, yet
we could not perfwade him then to ftay and hear,
but away he flung, and we faw him no more till next
day.
From this third of March untill the latter end of
this Summer I could not be prefent at the Indian
Lectures, but when I came this laft time, I marvailed
to fee fo many Indian men, women and children in
Englijh apparell, they being at Noonanetum generally
clad, efpecially upon Lecture dayes, which they have
got partly by gift from the Englijh, and partly by
their own labours, by which fome of them have very
handfomely apparelled themfelves, & you would fcarce
know them from Englijh people. There is one
thing more which I would acquaint you with, which
hapned this Summer, viz. June 9. the firft day of the
Synods meeting at Cambridge, where the forenoon
was fpent in hearing a Sermon preached by one of
the Elders as a preparative to the worke of the Synod,
the afterjioon was fpent in hearing an Indian Lefture
E where
1 6 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
where there was a great confluence of Indians all parts
to heare Mr. Eliot, which we conceived not unfeafon-
able at fuch a time, partly that the reports of Gods
worke begun among them, might be feen and be-
leeved of the chief who were then fent and met from
all the Churches of Chrift in the Countrey, who
could hardly beleeve the reports they had received
concerning thefe new ftirs among the Indians, and
partly hereby to raife up a greater fpirit of prayer for
the carrying on of the work begun upon the Indians,
among all the Churches and fervants of the Lord
Jefus : The Sermon was fpent in mewing them their
miferable condition without Chrift, out of Ephef. 2. i.
that they were dead in trefpafles and iinnes, and in
pointing unto them the Lord Jefus, who onely could
quicken them.
When the Sermon was done, there was a conve
nient fpace of time fpent in hearing thofe queftions
which the Indians publikely propounded, and in
giving anfwers to them ; one queftion was, What
Countrey man Chrift 'was, and 'where was he born ?
Another was, How far re off that place <w as from us
here ?
Another was, Where Chrift now was ?
And another, How they might lay hold on him, and
where, being now abfent from them ? with fome other
to this purpofe ; which received full anfwers from
feverall hands. But that which I note is this, that
their gracious attention to the Word, the affections
and mournings of fome of them under it, their fober
propounding of divers fpirituall queftions, their apt-
nefle
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 17
nefTe to underftand and beleeve what was replyed to
them, the readineffe of divers poore naked children
to anfwer openly the chief queflions in Catechifm
which were formerly taught them, and fuch like ap
pearances of a great change upon them, did marvel-
loufly affect all the wife and godly Minifters, Magif-
trates, & people, and did raife their hearts up to great
thankfulneffe to God ; very many deeply and abund
antly mourning for joy to fee fuch a bleffed day, and
the Lord Jefus fo much known and fpoken of among
fuch as never heard of him before : So that if any in
England doubt of the truth of what was formerly
writ, or if any malignant eye fhall queftion and vilifie
this work, they will now fpeak too late, for what
was here done at Cambridge was not fet under a
Bufhell, but in the open Sunne, that what Thomas
would not beleeve by the reports of others, he might
be forced to beleeve, by feeing with his own eyes and
feeling Chrift Jefus thus rifen among them with his
own hands.
I have done with what I have obferved my felf ; I
(hall therefore proceed to give you a tcue relation of
what I have heard from others, and many faithfull
witneifes have feene : and firft I {hall fpeake a little
more of the old man who is mentioned in the ftory
now in print; this old man hath much affection
ftirred up by the Word, and comming to Mr. Eliots
houfe (for of him I had this ftory) Mr. Eliot told him
that becaufe he brought his wife & all his children
conftantly to the Lecture, that he would therefore
beftow fome Cloths upon him, (it being now winter
&
1 8 The cleare Sun-Jbine of the Gofpel,
&c the old man naked :) which promife he not cer
tainly underftanding the meaning of, alked therefore
of another Indian (who is Mr. Eliots fervant and very
hopefull) what it was that Mr. Eliot promifed him ?
he told him that hee faid hee would give him fome
Cloths ; which when hee underftood, hee affe&ion-
ately brake out into thefe expreffions, God I fee is
merciful! : a bleffed, becaufe a plain hearted affection
ate fpeech, and worthy Englijh mens thoughts when
they put on their Cloths ; to thinke that a poor
blind Indian that fcarce ever heard of God before,
that he mould fee not only God in his Cloths, but
mercy alfo in a promife of a caft off worne fute of
Cloths, which were then given him, and which now
he daily weares. But to proceed ;
This fame old man (as I think a little before hee
had thefe Cloths) after an Indian Lecture, when they
ufually come to propound queftions; inftead of afk-
ing a queftion, began to fpeak to the reft of the In
dians, and brake out into many expreffions of won-
dring at Gods goodneffe unto them, that the Lord
mould at laft look upon them and fend his Word as
a light unto them that had been in darknefle andfuch
groffe ignorance fo long ; me wonder (faith he) at
God that he fhould thus deale with us. This fpeech
expreffed in many words in the Indian Language, and
with ftrong actings of his eyes and hands, being in
terpreted afterward to the Englijh, did much alfo affecfl
all of them that were prefent at this Lecture alfo.
There were this winter many other queftions pro
pounded, which were writ down by Mr. Edward
Jackfon
man.
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 1 9
Jackfon one of our Town, conftantly prefent at thefe
Ledhires, to take notes both of the queftions made by
the Indians and returned by Mr. Eliot to them ; this
man having fent me in his notes, I mall fend you a
taft of fome of them.
1 Why fome men were fo bad, that they hate thofe men
that would teach them good things ?
2 Whether the devil I or man were made fir ft ?
3 Whether if a father prayes to God to teach his fons
to know him. and he doth teach them him/elf and they
\J *J /
will not learn to know God, what jhould fuch fathers
doe? (this was propounded by an old man that had
rude children.)
4 A * Squaw propounded this queftion, Whether * Indian wo-
Jhe might not go & pray in fome private place in the
woods, when her hujband was not at home, becaufe Jhe
was ajhamed to pray in the Wigwam before company ?
5 How may one know wicked men, who are good and
who are bad?
6 To what Nation Jefus Chrift came firft unto, and
when ?
7 If a man Jhould be inclofed in Iron afoot thick and
thrown into the fire, what would become of his foule,
whether could the foule come forth thence or not?
8 Why did not God give all men good hearts that they
might bee good ?
9 If one Jhould be taken among ftrange Indians that
know not God, and they would make him to fight againft
fome that he Jhould not, and he refufe, and for his refufall
they kill him, what would become of his foule in fuch a
cafe?
20 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
* They hold cafe ? This was propounded by a *ftout fellow who
that all their was a ff e ft e d.
ftout and val- ///> //
iant men have io How long it is bejore men beleeve that have the
a reward after Word of God made known to them ?
1 1 How they Jhould know when their faith is good,
and their prayers good prayers ?
1 2 Why did not God kill the Devill that made all
men fo bad, God having all power ?
13 If we be made weak by Jinne in our hearts, how
can we come before God to fanffiifie a Sabbath ?
There were many more queftions of this kind, as
alfo many Philofophicall about the Sunne, Moon,
Stars, Earth and Seas, Thunder, Lightning, Earth
quakes, &c. which I forbear to make mention of, left
I mould clog your time with reading, together with
the various anfwers to them : by thefe you may per
ceive in what ftreame their minds are carried, and
that the Lord Jefus hath at laft an enquiring people
among thefe poor naked men, that formerly never fo
much as thought of him ; which queftionings and
enquiries are accounted of by fome as part of the
whitenings of the harveft toward, wherever they are
found among any people, the good and benefit that
comes to them hereby is and will be exceeding great.
We had this year a malignant drunken Indian, that
(to caft fome reproach, as wee feared, upon this way)
boldly propounded this queftion, Mr. Eliot (faid he)
Who made Sack ? who made Sack ? but he was foon
That is a fnib'd by the other Indians, calling it *a Papoofe quef-
tion> and ferioufl y and gravely anfwered (not fo much
to his queftion as to his fpirit) by Mr. Eliot, which
hath
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New- England. 21
hath cooled his boldneffe ever fince, while others
have gone on comfortably in this profitable and plea-
fan t way.
The man who fent me thefe and the like queftions
with their feverall anfwers in writing, concluded his
letter with this ftory, which I (hall here infert, that
you may fee the more of God among thefe poore
people : " Upon the 25. of April! laft (faith he)
" I had fome occafion to go to fpeak with *Wahun * An Indian
tf about Sun-rifing in the morning, and flaying fome Sachim -
" half an hours time, as I came back by one of
" the Wigwams, the man of that Wigwam was at
" prayer ; at which I was fo much affected, that I
" could not but ftand under a Tree within hearing,
" though I could not underftand but little of his
" words, and confider that God was fulfilling his
" Word, viz. The ends of the earth Jhall remember
" themfehes and turne unto him ; and that Scripture,
" Thou art the God that hearejt prayer, vnto thee Jhall
" all flefh come.
" Alfo this prefent September I have obferved one of
" them to call his children to him from their gather-
" ing of Corne in the field, and to crave a bleffing, with
" much affection, having but a homely dinner to eate.
Thefe things me thinkes mould move bowels, and
awaken Rnglifh hearts to be thankfull, it is no fmall
part of Religion to awaken with God in family
prayer, (as it feemes thefe doe it early) and to crave a
bleffing with affectionate hearts upon a homely din
ner, perhaps parcht Corne or Indian ftalks : I wifh
the like hearts and wayes were feen in many Englijh
who
22 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
who profefle themfelves Chriftians, and that herein
and many the like excellencies they were become
Indians, excepting that name, as he did in another
cafe, except his bonds : and that you may fee not only
how farre Religion, but civility hath taken place
among them, you may be pleafed therefore to perufe
this Court Order, which is here inferted.
*M****&***^^
The Order made lajl General! Court at Bofton the 26. of
May, 1647. concerning the Indians, &c.
VPon information that the Indians dwelling among
us, and fubmitted to our government, being by
the Miniftry of the Word brought to fome civility,
are defirous to have a courfe of ordinary Judicature
fet up among them : It is therefore ordered by au
thority of this Court, that fome one or more of the
Magiftrates, as they mall agree amongft themfelves,
fhall once every quarter keep a Court at fuch place,
where the Indians ordinarily affemble to hear the
Word of God, and may then hear and determine all
caufes both civil! and criminal!, not being capital!,
concerning the Indians only, and that the Indian
Sachims fhall have libertie to take order in the nature
of Summons or Attachments, to bring any of their
own people to the faid Courts, and to keep a Court
of themfelves, every moneth if they fee occafion, to
determine fmall caufes of a civil! nature, and fuch
fmaller criminal! caufes as the faid Magiftrates fhall
referre
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 23
referre to them ; and the faid Sachims (hall appoint
Officers to ferve Warrants, and to execute the Orders
and Judgements of either of the faid Courts, which
Officers mall from time to time bee allowed by the
faid Magiftrates in the quarter Courts or by the Gov-
ernour : And that all fines to bee impofed upon any
Indian in any of the faid Courts, mall goe and bee
beftowed towards the building of fome meeting
houfes, for education of their poorer children in learn
ing, or other publick ufe, by the advice of the faid
Magiftrates and of Mafter Eliot, or of fuch other
Elder, as mall ordinarily inftrucT: them in the true
Religion. And it is the defire of this Court, that
thefe Magiftrates and Mr. Eliot or fuch other Elders
as fhall attend the keeping of the faid Courts will
carefully indeavour to make the Indians underftand
our moft ufefull Lawes, and the principles of reafon,
juftice and equity whereupon they are grounded, &
it is defired that fome care may be taken of the Indians
on the Lords dayes.
Thus having had a defire to acquaint you with
thefe proceedings among the Indians, and being de-
firous that you might more fully underftand, efpe-
cially from him who is beft able to judge, I did
therefore intreat my brother Eliot after fome confer
ence about thefe things, to fet down under his own
hand what he hath obferved lately among them :
which I do therefore herein fend unto you in his owne
hand writing as he fent it unto mee, which I think is
worthy all Chriftian thankfull eares to heare, and
F wherein
24 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpe/,
wherein they may fee a little of the Spirit of this man
of God, whom in other refpects, but efpecially for his
un wearied neffe in this work of God, going up and
down among them and doing them good, I think we
can never love nor honour enough.
The Letter of Mr. Eliot to T. S. concerning the late
'work of God among the Indians.
Deare Brother,
AT your defire I have wrote a few things touching
thd Indians which at prefent came to my mind,
as being fome of thofe paflages which took principall
impreffion in my heart, wherein I thought I faw the
Lord, and faid the finger of God is here.
That which I firft aymed at was to declare & de
liver unto them the Law of God, to civilize them,
w ch courfe the Lord took by Mofes, to give the Law
to that rude company becaufe of tranfgreflion, GaL
3. 19. to convince, bridle, reftrain, and civilize them,
and alfo to humble them. But when I firft attempted
it, they gave no heed unto it, but were weary, and
rather defpifed what I faid. Awhile after God ftir-
red up in fome of them a defire to come into the
Englijh fafhions, and live after their manner, but knew
not how to attain unto it, yea defpaired that ever it
mould come to pafle in their dayes, but thought that
in 40. yeers more, fome Indians would be all one
Englifli, and in an hundred yeers, all Indians here
about, would fo bee : which when I heard (for fome
of
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 25
of them told me they thought fo, and that fome wife
Indians faid fo) my heart moved within mee, abhor
ring that wee mould fit ftill and let that work alone,
and hoping that this motion in them was of the Lord,
and that this mind in them was a preparative to im-
brace the Law and Word of God ; and therefore I
told them that they and wee were already all one
fave in two things, which make the only difference
betwixt them and us : Firft, we know, ferve, and
pray unto God, and they doe not : Secondly, we
labour and work in building, planting, clothing our
felves, &c. and they doe not : and would they but doe
as wee doe in thefe things, they would be all one
with Englifh men : they faid they did not know God,
and therefore could not tell how to pray to him, nor
ferve him. I told them if they would learn to know
God, I would teach them : unto which they being
very willing, I then taught them (as I fundry times had
indeavored afore) but never found them fo forward,
attentive and defirous to learn till this time, and then
I told them I would come to their Wigwams, and
teach them, their wives and children, which they
feemed very glad of; and from that day forward I
have not failed to doe that poore little which you
know I doe.
I firft began with the Indians of Noonanetum, as you
know ; thofe of Dorcbejler mill not regarding any
fuch thing : but the better fort of them perceiving
how acceptable this was to the Englifh, both to
Magiftrates, and all the good people, it pleafed God
to ftep in and bow their hearts to defire to be taught
to
26 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
to know God, and pray unto him likewife, and had
I not gone unto them alfo, and taught them when I
did, they had prevented me, and defired me fo to do,
as I afterward heard.
The effect of the Word which appears among
them, and the change that is among them is this :
Firft, they have utterly forfaken all their Powwaws,
and given over that diabolicall exercife, being con
vinced that it is quite contrary to praying unto God ;
yea fundry of their Powwaivs have renounced their
wicked imployment, have condemned it as evill, and
refolved never to ufe it any more ; others of them,
feeing their imployment and gaines were utterly gone
here, have fled to other places, where they are ftill
entertained, and have raifed lies, flanders, and an evill
report upon thofe that heare the Word, and pray unto
God, and alfo upon the Engliih that indeavour to
reclaime them and inftruc~t them, that fo they might
difcourage others from praying unto God, for that
they account as a principall figne of a good man, and
call all religion by that name, praying to God ; and
beiide they mock and fcofFe at thofe Indians which
pray, and blafpheme God when they pray ; as this is
one inftance. A fober Indian going up into the
countrey with two of his fons, did pray (as his man
ner was at home) and talked to them of God and
Jefus Chrift : but they mocked, & called one of his
fons Jehovah, and the other Jefus Chrift: fothat they
are not without oppofition raifed by the Poivwaws,
and other wicked Indians.
Againe as they have forfaken their former Reli
gion,
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 27
gion, and manner of worfhip, fo they doe pray unto
God conftantly in their families, morning and eve
ning, and that with great affection, as hath been feen
and heard by fundry that have gone to their Wigwams
at fuch times ; as alfo when they goe to meat they
folemnly pray and give thanks to God, as they fee the
Englifh to doe : fo that that curfe which God threat
ens to poure out upon the families that call not on his
name, is through his grace, and tender mercy flayed
from breaking forth againft them, and when they
come to Englifh houfes, they defire to be taught ;
and if meat bee given them, they pray and give thanks
to God : and ufually exprefle their great joy, that
they are taught to know God, and their great affec
tion to them that teach them.
Furthermore they are carefull to inftrucl: their
children, that fo when I come they might be ready
to anfwer their Catechize, which by the often repeat
ing of it to the children, the men and women can
readily anfwer to.
Likewife they are carefull to fanctifie the Sabbath,
but at firft they could not tell how to doe it, and they
afked of mee how they mould doe it, propounding it
as a queftion whether they mould come to the Eng
lifh meetings or meet among themfelves ; they faid,
if they come to the Englifh meetings they underftand
nothing, or to no purpofe, and if they met together
among themfelves, they had none that could teach
them. I told them that it was not pleafing to God,
nor profitable to themfelves, to hear and underftand
nothing, nor having any that could interpret to
them.
28 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
them. Therefore I counfelled them to meet to
gether, and defire thofe that were the wifeft and beft
men to pray, and then to teach the reft fuch things
as I had taught them from Gods Word, as well as
they could ; and when one hath done, then let another
do the like, and then a third, and when that was
done afke queftions, and if they could not anfwer
them, then remember to afke me, &c. and to pray
unto God to help them therein : and this is the man
ner how they fpend their Sabbaths.
They are alfo ftricl: againft any prophanation of
the Sabbath, by working, fifhing, hunting, &c. and
have a Law to punifh fuch as are delinquents therein
by a fine v pf los. and fundry cafes they have had,
wherein they have very ftri&ly profecuted fuch as
have any way prophaned the Sabbath. As for ex
ample, upon a Sabbath morning Cutchamaquin the
Sachim his wife going to fetch water met with other
women, and me began to talk of worldly matters,
and fo held on their difcourfe a while, which evill
came to Nahantons eare, who was to teach that day
(this Nahanton is a fober good man, and a true friend
to the Engliih ever fince our comming) fo he bent his
difcourfe to mew the fandtification of the Sabbath, &
reproved fuch evils as did violate the fame ; & among
other things worldly talk, and thereupon reproved
that which he heard of that morning. After hee
had done, they fell to difcourfe about it, and fpent
much time therein, hee ftanding to prove that it was
a finne, and me doubting of it, feeing it was early in
the morning, and in private ; and alledging that he
was
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 29
was more to blame then me, becaufe he had occa-
lioned fo much difcourfe in the publick meeting :
but in conclufion they determined to refer the cafe
to me, and accordingly they did come to my houfe
on the fecond day morning and opened all the matter,
and I gave them fuch directions as the Lord directed
me unto, according to his holy Word.
Another cafe was this, upon a Lords day towards
night two ftrangers came to Wahans Wigwam (it be
ing ufuall with them to travaile on that day, as on
any other ; (and when they came in, they told him
that at a place about a mile off they had chafed a
Rackoone, and he betook himfelf into an hollow tree,
and if they would goe with them, they might fell
the tree and take him : at which tidings, Wahan be
ing willing to be fo well provided to entertain thofe
ftrangers (a common pradife am.ong them, freely to
entertain travailers and ftrangers) he fent his two fer-
vants with them, who felled the tree, and took the
beaft. But this a6l of his was an offence to the reft,
who judged it a violation of the Sabbath, and moved
agitation among them : but the conclufion was, it
it was to bee moved as a queftion upon the next
Ledture day; which was accordingly done, and re
ceived fuch anfwer as the Lord guided unto by his
Word.
Another cafe was this, upon a Lords day their
publick meeting holding long, and fomewhat late,
when they came at home, in one Wigwam the fire was
almoft out, and therefore the man of the houfe, as he
fate by the fire fide took his Hatchet and fplit a little
dry
30 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
dry peece of wood, which they referve on purpofe
for fuch ufe, and fo kindled his fire, which being
taken notice of, it was thought to bee fuch a worke
as might not lawfully be done upon the Sabbath day,
and therefore the cafe was propounded the Lecture
following for their better information.
Thefe inftances may ferve to {hew their care of the
externall obfervation of the Sabbath day.
In my exercife among them (as you know) wee
attend foure things, befides prayer unto God, for his
prefence and bleffing upon all we doe.
Firft, I catechize the children and youth ; wherein
fome are very ready & expert, they can readily fay all
the Commandements, fo far as I have communicated
them, and all other principles about the creation, the
fall, the redemption by Chrift, &c. wherein alfo the
aged people are pretty expert, by the frequent repe
tition thereof to the children, and are able to teach it
to their children at home, and do fo.
Secondly, I Preach unto them out of fome texts of
Scripture, wherein I ftudy all plainneffe, and brevity,
unto which many are very attentive.
Thirdly, if there be any occafion, we in the next
place go to admonition and cenfure ; unto which they
fubmit themfelves reverently, and obediently, and
fome of them penitently confeffing their fins with
much plainnefle, and without fhiftings, and excufes :
I will inftance in two or three particulars ; this was
one cafe, a man named Wampooivas, being in a paflion
upon fome light occafion did beat his wife, which
was a very great offence among them now (though
in
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 3 1
in former times it was very ufuall) and they had made
a Law againft it, and fet a fine upon it ; whereupon
he was publikly brought forth before the Aflembly,
which was great that day, for our Governor and
many other Englifh were then prefent : the man
wholly condemned himfelf without any excufe : and
when he was afked what provocation his wife gave
him ? he did not in the leaft meafure blame her but
himfelf, and when the quality of the finne was open
ed, that it was cruelty to his own body, and againft
Gods Commandement, and that paffion was a finne,
and much aggravated by fuch effects, yet God was
ready to pardon it in Chrift, &c. he turned his face
to the wall and wept, though with modeft indeavor
to hide it ; and fuch was the modeft, penitent, and
melting behavior of the man, that it much affected
all to fee it in a Barbarian, and all did forgive him,
onely this remained, that they executed their Law
notwithftanding his repentance, and required his fine,
to which he willingly fubmitted and paid it.
Another cafe of admonition was this, Cutjhamaquin
the Sac him having a fon of about 14. or 15. yeers old,
he had bin drunk, & had behaved himfelf difobedi-
ently and rebellioufly againft his father and mother, 1
for which finne they did blame him, but he defpifed
their admonition. And before I knew of it, I did
obferve when I catechized him, when he mould fay
the fift Commandement, he did not freely fay, Honor
thy father, but wholly left out mother, and fo he did
the Lecture day before, but when this finne of his
was produced, he was called forth before the Aflem-
G bly,
32 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
bly, and hee confefled that what was faid againft him
was true, but hee fell to accufe his father of fundry
evils, as that hee would have killed him in his anger,
and that he forced him to drink Sack, and I know
not what elfe : which behavior wee greatly difliked,
mewed him the evill of it, and Mr. Wilfon being
prefent laboured much with him, for hee understood
the Englifh, but all in vaine, his heart was hard and
hopelefle for that time, therefore ufing due loving
perfwafions, wee did fharply admonifh him of his
finne, and required him to anfwer further the next
Lecture day, and fo left him ; and fo flout he was,
that when his father offered to pay his fine of IO.T.
for his drunkennefTe .according to their Law, he
would not accept it at his hand. When the next day
was come, and other exercifes finifhed, I called him
forth, and he willingly came, but ftill in the fame
mind as before. Then wee turned to his* father, and
exhorted him to remove that ftumbling block out of
his fonnes way, by confeffing his own finnes whereby
hee had given occafion of hardnefle of heart to his
fonne ; -which thing was not fuddain to him, for I
had formerly in private prepared him thereunto, and
hee was very willing to hearken to that counfell, be-
caufe his confcience told him he was blameworthy;
and accordingly he did, he confefled his maine and
principall evils of his own accord : and upon this
advantage I took occafion to put him upon confeffion
of fundry other vices which I knew hee had in former
times been guilty of, and all the Indians knew it like-
wife ; and put it after this manner, Are you now forry
for
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New- England. 33
for your drunkenneffe, filthines, falfe dealing, lying, &c.
which finnes you committed before you knew God ?
unto all which cafes, he expreffed himfelf forrowfull,
and condemned himfelf for them : which example
of the Sacbim was profitable for all the Indians. And
when he had thus confeffed his finnes, we turned
againe to his fonne and laboured with him, requiring
him to confefTe his finne, and intreat God to forgive
him for Chrift his fake, and to confeffe his offence
againft his father and mother, and intreat them to
forgive him, but he ftill refufed ; and now the other
Indians fpake unto him foberly, and affectionately, to
put him on, and divers fpake one after another, and
fome feverall times. Mr. Wilfon againe did much
labour with him, and at laft he did humble himfelf,
confeffed all, and intreated his father to forgive him,
and took him by the hand, at which his father burft
forth into great weeping : hee did the fame alfo to
his mother, who wept alfo, and fo did divers others ;
and many Englifh being prefent, they fell a weeping,
fo that the houfe was filled with weeping on every
fide ; and then we went to prayer, in all which time
Cutjhamaquin wept in fo much that when wee had
done the board he flood upon was all dropped with
his teares.
Another cafe of admonition was this, a hopefull
young man who is my fervant, being upon a journey,
and drinking Sack at their fetting forth, he drank
too much, and was difguifed ; which when I heard I
reproved him, and he humbled himfelf, with con-
feffion of his finne, and teares. And the next Lecture
day
34 The cleare Sun-fhine of the Gofpe/,
day I called him forth before the Affembly, where
he did confeffe his finne with many teares.
Before I leave this point of admonition, if I thought
it would not bee too tedious to you, I would mention
one particular more, where we faw the power of God
awing a wicked wretch by this ordinance of admoni
tion. It was George that wicked Indian, who as you
know, at our firft beginnings fought to caft afperfions
upon Religion, by laying ilanderous accufations againft
godly men, and who afked that captious queftion,
who made^Sack ? and this fellow having kild a young
Cow at your Towne, and fold it at the Colledge in-
ftead of Moofe, covered it with many lies, infomuch
as Mr. Dunfter was loath he fhould be direcMy
charged with it when we called him forth, but that
wee fhould rather inquire. But when he was called
before the Affembly and charged with it, he had not
power to deny it, but prefently confeffed, onely hee
added one thing which wee think an excufe ; thus
God hath honored this ordinance among them.
Fourthly, the laft exercife, you know, we have
among them, is their afking us queftions, and very
many they have afked, which I have forgotten, but
fome few that have come to my prefent remembrance
I will briefly touch.
One was Wabbakomets queftion, who is reputed an
old Powwaw, it was to this purpofe, feeing the Eng-
lifh had been 27 yeers (fome of them) in this land,
why did wee never teach them to know God till
now ? had you done it fooner, faid hee, wee might
have known much of God by this time, and much
fin
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New- England. 35
fin might have been prevented, but now fome of us
are grown old in fin, &c. To whom we anfwered,
that we doe repent that wee did not long agoe, as
how we doe, yet withall wee told them, that they
were never willing to hear till now, and that feeing
God hath bowed their hearts to be willing to hear,
we are defirous to take all the paines we can now to
teach them.
Another queftion was, that of Cutfhamaqum, to this
purpofe, Before I knew God, faid he, I thought I
was well, but fince I have known God and fin, I find
my heart full of fin, and more finfull then ever it was
before, and this hath been a great trouble to mee;
and at this day my heart is but very little better then
it was, and I am afraid it will be as bad againe as it
was before, and therefore I fometime wifh I might
die before I be fo bad again as I have been. Now
my queftion is, whether is this a fin or not ? This
queftion could not be learned from the Englim, nor
did it feem a coyned feigned thing, but a reall matter
gathered from the experience of his own heart, and
from an inward obfervation of himfelf.
Another queftion was about their children, Whither
their little children goe when they dye, feeing they
have not finned?
Which queftion gave occafion more fully to teach
them originall fin, and the damned ftate of all men :
And alfo, and efpecially it gave occafion to teach
them the Covenant of God, which he hath made
with all his people, and with their children, fo that
when God choofes a man or a woman to be his fer-
vant,
36 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the G of pel,
vant, he choofes all their children to be fo alfo:
which doclirin was exceeding gratefull unto them.
Another great queftion was this, when I preached
out of i Cor. 6. 9, 10, 1 1. old Mr. Brown, being pre-
fent, obferved them to be much affe&ed, and one
efpecially did weep very much, though covered it
what hee could ; and after that there was a generall
queftion, which they fent unto mee about, by my
man, as the queftion of them all, Whether any of
them fhould goe to Heaven, feeing they found their hearts
full ofjinne, and efpecially full of the Jinne ofluft, which
they call nanwunwudfquas, that is, mad after women ;
and the next meeting, being at Dorcbejier mill, Mr.
Mather and Mr. Wareham, with divers others being
prefent, they did there propound it, expreffing their
feares, that none of them Jhould bee faved ; which quef
tion did draw forth my heart to preach and preffe
the promife of pardon to all that were weary and lick
of linne, if they did beleeve in Chrift who had died
for us, and fatisfied the juftice of God for all our
finnes, and through whom God is well pleafed with
all fuch repenting finners that come to Chrift, and
beleeve in him ; and the next day I took that Text,
Matth. ii. 28, 29. and this dodrin fome of them in
a fpeciall manner did receive in a very reverent
manner.
There is another great queftion that hath been
feverall times propounded, and much fticks with fuch
as begin to pray, namely, If they leave ^Powwawing,
and pray to God, what Jhall they do when they are Jick?
for they have no {kill in phyfick, though fome of
them
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 37
them underftand the vertues of fundry things, yet the
ftate of man's body, and fkill to apply them they
have not : but all the refuge they have and rely upon
in time of ficknefle is their Powwaws, who by antick,
foolifh and irrationall conceits delude the poore
people ; fo that it is a very needfull thing to inform
them in the ufe of Phyfick, and a moft effedtuall
meanes to take them off from their P.owwawmg.
Some of the wifer fort I have ftirred up to get this
fkill ; I have fhewed them the anatomy of mans body,
and fome generall principles of Phyfick, which is
very acceptable to them, but they are fo extreamely
ignorant, that thefe things muft rather be taught
by light, fenfe, and experience then by precepts,
and rules of art ; and therefore I have had many
thoughts in my heart, that it were a lingular good
work, if the Lord would flirre up the hearts of fome
or other of his people in England to give fome main
tenance toward fome Schoole or Collegiate exercife
this way, wherein there mould be Anatomies and
other inftrucTions that way, and where there might
be fome recompence given to any that mould bring
in any vegetable or other thing that is vertuous in the
way of Phyfick ; by this means we mould foon have
all thefe things which they know, and others of our
Countreymen that are fkilfull that way, and now their
fkill lies buried for want of incouragement, would
be a fearching and trying to find out the vertues of
things in this country, which doubtlelTe are many,
and would not a little conduce to the benefit of the
people of this Countrey, and it may bee of our native
Countrey
38 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
Countrey alfo; by this meanes wee fhould traine up
thefe poore Indians in that {kill which would con-?
found and root out their Powwaws, and then would
they be farre more eafily inclined to leave thofe
wayes, and pray unto God, whofe gift Phyfick is, and
whofe bleffing muft make it effeftuall.
There is alfo another reafon which moves my
thought and defires this way, namely that our young
Students in Phyfick may be trained up better then
yet they bee, who have only theoreticall knowledge,
and are forced to fall to praftife before ever they faw
an Anatomy made, or duely trained up in making
experiments, for we never had but one Anatomy in
the Countrey, which Mr. Giles Firman (now in Eng
land) did make and read upon very well, but no more
of that now.
This very day that I wrote thefe things unto you,
I have been with the Indians to teach them, as I was
wont to doe, and one of their queftions among many
others was to know what to fay to fuch Indians as
oppofe their praying to God, and beleeving in Jefus
Chrift, and for their own information alfo, What get
you, fay they, by praying to God, and beleeving in
Jefus Chrift? you goe naked ftill, and you are as
poore as wee, and our Corne is as good as yours, and
wee take more pleafure then you ; did we fee that
you got any thing by it, wee would pray to God and
beleeve in Jefus Chrift alfo as you doe ? Unto which
queftion I then anfwered them. Firft, God giveth
unto us two forts of good things, one fort are little
ones, which I {hewed by my little finger ; the other
fort
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New -England. 39
fort are great ones, which I fhewed by my thumbe,
(for you know they ufe and delight in demonftra-
tions :) the little mercies are riches, as cloths, food,
fack, houfes, cattle, and pleafures, thefe are little
things which ferve but for our bodies a little while
in- this life ; the great mercies are wifdome, the
knowledge of God, Chrift, eternall life, repentance,
faith, thefe are mercies for the foule, and for eternall
life : now though God do not yet give you the little
mercies, he giveth you that which is a great deale
better, which the wicked Indians cannot fee. And
this I proved to them by this example ; when Foxun
the Mohegan Counfeller, who is counted the wifeft
Indian in the Country, was in the Bay , I did on pur-
pofe bring him unto you ; and when he was here,
you faw he was a foole in comparifon of you, for you
could fpeak of God and Chrift, and heaven and re
pentance and faith, but he fate and had not one word
to fay, unlefle you talked of fuch poor things as hunt
ing, wars, &c. Secondly, you have fome more cloths
then they, and the reafon why you have no more
is becaufe you have but a little wifdome, if you were
more wife to know God, and obey his Commands,
you would work more then you do, for fo God corn-
mandeth, Six dayes thou Jhalt work, &c. and thus the
Engliih do : and if you would bee fo wife as to worke
as they do, you fhould have cloths, houfes, cattle,
riches as they have, God would give you them.
This day they told me this news, that fome of
them having been abroad in the Country at Titacut,
divers of thofe Indians would be glad to know God,
and to pray unto God, and would be glad if I would
come and teach them, but fome of them oppofed and
H would
40 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
would not. They afkt me this day, why God made
the Rainbow. Thefe things are now frefh in my
mind, that makes me fo large in them, but Fie for-
beare any more of their queftions of this nature.
There do fundry times fall out differences among
them, and they ufually bring their cafes to me, and
fometime fuch, as it's needfull for me to decline ;
where I may, I advife them to fome iffue. One great
cafe that hath come feverall times to mee, is about
fuch debts as they owe by gaming, for they have
been great gamefters, but have moved queftions about
it, and are informed of the unlawfulnefle of it, and
have thereupon wholly given over gaming for any
wagers, and all games wherein is a lot, onely ufe law-
full recreations, and have a Law againft unlawfull
gaming ; but other Indians that are of another mind,
come and challenge their old debts, and now they
refufe to pay, becaufe it was a finne fo to game, and
they now pray to God, and therefore muft not pay
fuch finfull debts. Now the cafe being ferious, and
fuch as I faw a fnare underneath, the firft counfaile
they had was, who ever would challenge fuch a debt
mould come to our Governor, and he would take
order to redtirie the matter. But the Creditors liked
not that way, and therefore foon after there came
another cafe of the fame kinde, an iflue was very
neceffary ; therefore I firft dealt with the creditor,
and mewed him the finfulnefTe of fuch games, and
how angry God was at them ; and therefore per-
fwaded him to be content to take half his debt, unto
which he very willingly condefcended ; then I dealt
with the debtor, and afkt him if he did not promife
to
Breaking forth upon the Indians in 'New -England. 41
to pay him all that debt ? and he anfwered yea, he
did fo ; then I {hewed him that God commands us
to performe our promifes, and though he finned in
gaming, he muft repent of that, but feeing he hath
promifed payment, he mould fin to break his pro-
mife : at which he was utterly filenced ; but then I
afked him, if hee would willingly pay half, if I mould
perfwade the other to accept it ; yea faid hee very
willingly, and fo the matter ended : and in this way
they ufually end fuch cafes fince that time. Their
young men, who of all the reft/ live moft idlely and
diflblutely, now begin to goe to fervice, fome to In
dians, fome to Englifh ; and fome of them growing
weary, broak out of their fervices, and they had no
help among them for it ; fo that fome propounded
what they mould doe to remedy that evill ; they were
anfwered, that the Englifh bring fuch fervants to the
Court, and our Magiftrates reclifie thofe evills ; then
they defired that they might have a Court among
them for government, at which motion wee rejoyced,
feeing it came from themfelves, and tended fo much
to civilize them, fince which time I moved the
Generall Court in it, and they have pleafed to order
a way for exercifing government among them : the
good Lord profper and blefle it.
They moved alfo as you know for a School, and
through Gods mercy a courfe is now taken that there
be Schooles at both places where their children are
taught.
You know likewife that wee exhorted them to
fence their ground with ditches, ftone walls, upon
the banks, and promifed to helpe them with Shovels,
Spades,
42 The chare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
Spades, Mattocks, Crows of Iron ; and they are very
defirous to follow that counfell, and call upon me to
help them with tooles fafter them I can get them,
though I have now bought pretty ftore, and they (I
hope) are at work. The women are defirous to learn
to fpin, and I have procured Wheels for fundry of
them, and they can fpin pretty well. They begin to
grow induftrious, and find fomething to fell at Mar
ket all the yeer long : all winter they fell Brooms,
Staves, Elepots, Bafkets, Turkies. In the Spring,
Craneberies, Fifh, Strawberies ; in the Summer
Hurtleberries, Grapes, Fifh : in the Autumn they fell
Craneberries, Fifh, Venifon, &c. and they find a good
benefit by the Market, and grow more and more to
make ufe thereof; befides fundry of them work with
the Englifh in Hay time, and Harveft, but yet it's
not comparable to what they might do, if they were
induftrious, and old boughs muft be bent a little at
once ; if we can fet the young twiggs in a better bent,
it will bee Gods mercy. Deare brother I can go no
further, a weary body, and fleepy eyes command me
to conclude, if I have not fatisfied your defire in this
little I have wrote, let me understand it from you,
and I mall be willing to do my indeavour : and thus
with my deare love remembred to your felf and your
beloved yoakfellow, and defiring your prayers for
Gods grace and bleffing upon my fpirit and poor
indeavours, I take leave at this time and reft
Roxbury this 24. of Tour loving brother in
Septemb. our Saviour Cbrift,
1647.
JOHN ELIOT.
Let
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 43
Let me adde this Poftfcript, that there be two rea-
fons that make me beleeve the Lords time is come
to make a preparative at leaft for the comming of. his
grace, and kingdome among them. Firft, that he
hath bowed their hearts, who were as averfe, and as
farre off from God, as any heathen in the world ; and
their hearts begin to bow more and more. Secondly,
becaufe the Lord hath raifed a mighty fpirit of prayer
in this behalfe in all the Churches.
This Relation of Mr. Eliots I know many things
therein to be true, & all the reft I have heard con
firmed by credible perfons, eye & eare witneffes of
thefe things, and they are familiarly known in thefe
parts. I know alfo that Mr. Eliot writes (as his fpirit
is) modeftly and fparingly, and fpeaks the leaft in
fundry particulars ; for in his ftory of the repentance
and publike admonition of his own mari, page 33.
hee faith he manifefted many teares in publike, but
I heard it from many then prefent that there were fo
many, as that the dry place of the Wigwam where
hee ftood was bedirtied with them, powring them
out fo abundantly. Indians are well known not bee
much fubject to teares, no not when they come to
feele the foreft torture, or are folemnly brought forth
to die; and if the Word workes thefe teares, furely
there is fome conquering power of Chrift Jefus ftir-
ring among them, which what it will end in at laft,
the Lord beft knows. If Mr. Brigbtmans interpreta
tion of Daniels prophefie be true, that Anno 1650.
Europe will hear fome of the beft tidings that ever
came into the world, viz. rumors from the Eafterne
Jews, which (hall trouble the Turkifh tyrant and
make
44 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
(hake his Pillars when they are comming to re-
poffefTe their own land, for which they will be
wraftling (if my memory failes not, according to
his notion) about 40. yeers ; I mall hope then
that thefe Wefterne Indians will foon come in,
and that thefe beginnings are but preparatives for a
brighter day then we yet fee among them, wherein
Eaft & Weft (hall fing the fong of the Lambe : but
I have no fkill in prophefies, nor do I beleeve every
mans interpretation of fuch Scripture ; but this is
certain, God is at work among thefe ; and it is not
ufual for the Sun to fet as foon as it begins to rife,
nor for he Lord to Jefus to lofe an inch of ground in
the recovering times of his Churches peace and his
own eclipfed and forgotten glory, (if thefe bee fuch
times) untill hee hath won the whole field, and driven
the Prince of darkneffe out of it, who is but a bold
ufurper of -the Lord Jefus inheritance, to whom are
given the utmoft ends of the earth. When Charles
the Great had broken the chief power of the barba
rous and fierce Saxons in Germany, he made this the
onely article of peace, that they ihould entertain fuch
a Gofpel as good then as the degenerate Chriftian
World could affoord, and for that end admit of a Mo-
naftery among them of fuch men as might inftrucT:
them, and this courfe prevailed, if wee may be-
Crantzius leeve *Crantz,ius the Hiftorian of thofe times ; and
Kb. i. cb. 1,2. (hall wee think that when the Lord Jefus hath
fet up not a Monaflery of workeslbut Churches of
Saints in thefe coafts to encourage the miniftry and
this work of Chrift, that his bleffed Gofpel cannot or
mall not in thefe dayes take fome effect fince it hath
broke fo far ? I dare conclude nothing, onely it will
be
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 45
be our comfort in the day of our accounts, that wee
have endeavored fomething this way ; and it may be
this very indeavour (hall be our peace. Gildas our
Britifh Hiftorian obferving that one caufe why God
let loofe the Saxons to fcourge and root out the Bri-
taines, was their deep careleffneffe of communicating
unto them the Chriftian Religion, when they had
their fpirits at fit advantage : but I dare not difcourfe
of thefe matters.
One thing more I remember concerning Mr. Eliots
conference with a Narraganfet Sac him a fober man
this yeer ; after that he had taught this Sacbim the
Law of God, and had fhewen him the means of fal-
vation by Chrift ; he then afked him if he did not
know and underftand thofe things ? and he faid, yes.
He then afked him if he did beleeve them ? but hee
could not get anfwer from him that way, but did
feeme to take them into more ferious thoughts. He
then afked him, why they did not learn of Mr. Wil
liams who hath lived among them divers yeers ? and
he foberly anfwered that they did not care to learn of
him, becaufe hee is no good man but goes out and
workes upon the Sabbath day ; I name it not to mew
what glimmerings nature may have concerning the
obfervation of the Sabbath, but to mew what the ill
example of Englifh may doe, and to fee what a
{tumbling block to all Religion the loofe obfervation
of the Sabbath is, however mans fhifting wits may find
out evafions, to get loofe from out of that net.
But this may ferve to fatisfie your own or others
defires concerning the progrefle of the Gofpel among
the Indians : the Lord Jefus feemes at this day to bee
turning
46 The clear e Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
turning upfide down the whole frame of things in
the world, Kings, Parliaments, Armies, Kingdomes,
Authorities, Churches, Minifters, and if out of his
free grace hee looks not upon thefe hopefull begin
nings, thefe will be fo turned alfo ; for oppofition
there is from men and devils againft it, and I have
feared in my own heart that within thefe few moneths
there hath been fome coolings among the beft of
thefe Indians ; but wee find it fo alfo among many
people that are Englijh in their firft work, but the
Lord Jefus revives again ; and therefore Mr. Eliot of
late having told them that hee was afraid that they
began to bee weary, they took it to heart, and pro
pounded in my hearing at a late Indian Lecture at
Noonanetum many profitable queftions, viz. When they
prayed and heard the Word aright ? and how they might
know when they were weary of them ? And what time it
might bee before the Lord might come and make them
know him ? And what the firjl Jinne of the Devils was ?
(Hee difcourfing to them about the danger of Apof-
tafie.) At this time they are (as you may perceive
by Mr. Eliots writings) about fencing in their ground
and Town given them fome hundreds of Acres, with
a ftone fence, for which end Mr. Eliot provides them
Mattocks, Shovels and Crowes of Iron, &c. and to
encourage their flothfulnefle, promifed to give a
groat or fix pence a rod, if they would thus farre
attend their own good, and work for themfelves : all
the poor Indians at Noonanetum are generally clad with
fuch cloths as wee can get them, and the Wigwams
of the meaneil of them equallize any Sacbims in other
places, being built not with mats but barks of Trees
in
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New -England. 47
in good bignetfe, the rather that they may have their
partitions in them for hufbands and wives togeather,
and their children and fervants in their places alfo,
who formerly were never private in what nature is
amamed of, either for the fun or any man to fee. It's
fome refreshing to thinke that there is (if there was
no more but) the name of Chrift founding in thofe
darke and defpicable 'Tartarian Tents; the Lord can
build them houfes in time to pray in, when hee hath
given unto them better hearts, and when perhaps hee
hath curfed and confumed theirs who have difdained
to give that worfhip and homage to Chrift in their
feiled houfes, which poor Indians rejoyce to give to
him in their poor Tents and Wigwams : I deiire you
to gather what ftock of prayers you can for them. I
had almoft forgot to tell you of Mr. Eliot s going up
the Country lately with Mr. Flint, Captain Willard
of Concord, and fundry others, towards Merrimath
River unto that Indian Sac him Pajfaconnaway, that
old Witch and Powwaw, who together with both his
fons, fled the prefence of the light, and durft not ftand
their ground, nor be at home when he came, pre
tending feare of being killed by a man forfooth that
came only with a book in his hand, and with a few
others without any weapons only to bear him com
pany and direcl: his way in thofe deferts ; but in it
you may fee the guilt of the man, & that Satan is
but a coward in his Lyons fkin even upon his own
dunghill, as alfo the hatred and enmity againft the
Word which is in fome, which argues that the atten
tion which others give to it, is a power of God, and
I not
48 The chare Sun-fiine of the Gofpel,
not meerly to flatter and get favour with the Englifh :
but the reft of Paffaconnaioaies men attended to the
things which were fpoken and afked divers queftions,
the Indians in our parts accompanying Mr. Eliot and
giving blefled examples to the others herein, as alfo
in faying Grace before and after meat, praying in
their Wigwams with them, and fome of them fing-
ing of Pfalmes, which they have learnt among the
Englifh : difcourfing alfo with them about the things
of God. It is fomewhat obfervable (though the ob-
fervation bee more cheerfull than deep) that the firft
Text out of which Mr. Elliot preached to the Indians
was about the dry bones, Ezek. 37. where it's faid,
Verf. 9, 10. that by prophefying to the wind, the wind
came and the dry bones lived ; now the Indian word
for Wind is Waubon, and the moft aclive Indian for
ftirring up other Indians to feek after the knowledg
of God in thefe parts, his name is Waubon, which
iignifies Wind, (the Indians giving names to their
children ufually according to appearances of provi
dences) although they never dreamt of this, that
this their Waubon fhould breathe fuch a fpirit of
life and incouragement into the reft of the Indians,
as hee hath indeavored in all parts of the Countrey,
both at Concord, Merrimeck and elfewhere ; but
fome of the Indians themfelves that were ftir'd up by
him took notice of this his name and that Scripture
together, and the Englifh alfo have much obferved
him herein, who ftill continues the fame man,
although we thinke there be now many others whom
he firft breathed encouragement into that do farre
exceed
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New -England. 49
exceed him in the light and life of the things of God :
Mr. Eliot alfo profeffing that he chofe that Text
without the leaft thought of any fuch application in
refpect of Waubon.
There have been many difficult queftions pro
pounded by them, which we have been unwilling to
engage our felves in any anfwer unto, untill wee have
the concurrence of others with us.
Firft, fuppofe a man before hee knew God, hath
had two wives, the firft barren and childleffe, the
fecond fruitfull and bearing him many fweet children,
the queftion now propounded was, Which ofthefe two
wives he is to put away ? if hee puts away ; the firft
who hath no children, then hee puts away her whom
God and Religion undoubtedly binds him unto, there
being no other defed: but want of children : if hee
puts away the other, then he muft caft off all his
children with her alfo as illegitimate, whom hee fo
exceedingly loves. This is a cafe now among them,
and they are very fearefull to do any thing croffe to
Gods will and mind herein.
Secondly, fuppofe a man marry a Sqaw, and mee
deferts and flies from her huiband, and commits
adultery with other remote Indians, but afterward it
come to pafle that mee hearing the Word, and forry
for what mee hath done, me defires to come to her
hufband againe, who remaines ftill unmarried ; Whe
ther fhould this hujband upon her repentance receive her
againe ? and whether is he not bound thereunto fo to doe?
At the laft Le6ture at Noonanetum this September,
there were divers queftions afked : one was pro
pounded
50 'The chare Sun-Jhine of the Gofpel,
pounded by an old Sqaw, a Widow ; viz. If when
men know God, God loves them, why then is it that any
one are afflitted after that they know him ? I fhall
mention no more, but conclude with the folemn
fpeech of a fober and hopefull Indian at this Lecture,
whofe name is Wampooas, who in ftead of propound
ing a queftion fell into thefe expreffions, viz. " That
" becaufe wee pray to God, other Indians abroad in
" the countrey hate us and oppofe us, the Englifh on
" the other fide fufpect us, and feare us to be ftill fuch
" as doe not pray at all ; but (faith he) God who
" knowes all things, he knowes that wee do pray to
" him. To which fpeech Mr. Elliot reply ed, that it
was true indeed, that fome of the Englifh did fo far
fufpecl: them for fundry reafons ; but I doe not fo,
and others of us, who know you and fpeake with you,
we do not fo think of you ; and then gave them gra
cious and ferious incouragements to goe forward and
make more progreife in the things of God. This
their own teftimony of themfelves being propounded
with much fweetneffe and ferioufneffe of affection,
may be the laft, although it be the leaft confirmation
of fome inward worke among them ; which I looked
upon as a fpeciall providence that fuch a fpeech mould
be fpoken and come to my eare juft at fuch a time as
this, wherein I was finishing the ftory, to confirme
in fome meafure what hath been written ; the Lord
himfelf I beleeve and no man living, putting thefe
words into their own hearts, to give this modeft tef
timony concerning themfelves. The beginning of
this enlargement of Chrifts Kingdome mould inlarge
our
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New- England. 5 1
our hearts with great joy. If I fhould gather and fumme
up together the feverall gracious impreffions of God
upon them from what hath been fcattered here and
there in the ftory, I thinke It might make many
Chriftians afhamed, who may eafily fee how farre
they are exceeded by thefe naked men in fo fhort a
time thus wrought upon by fuch fmall and defpicable
means. My brother Eliot who is Preacher to them,
profeffing he can as yet but ftammer out fome peeces
of the Word of God unto them in their own tongue;
but God is with him, and God is wont to be maximus
in minimis, and is moft feene in doing great things by
fmall meanes. The Sword of Gods Word mall and will
pierce deep, even when it is half broken, when the
hand of a mighty Redeemer hath the laying of it on :
and the Scripture herein is, and muft be fulfilled,
that as foon as the heathen heare Chrift they (hall
fubmit, Pfal. 18. 43, 44. and fuch nations whom
Chrift knew not mall run unto him, Ifai. 55. 5. The
fall of the unbeleving Jewes was the rifing of the
Gentiles ; my prayer to God therefore for Europe is,
that the fall of the Churches, (little bettered by the
devouring Sword which is ftill thirfty) may not bee
the rifing of thefe American Gentiles, never pitied
till now. I wim that Alftedius prophefie herein may AljledinAp
never prove true ; but rather that the rifing of thefe
may be a provoking and raifing up of them, efpe-
cially of the Englifh, to lament after that God whom
they have forfaken ; and to lament after him, together
with us, for thefe poor Indians who never yet knew
him.
Sir,
52 The cleare Sun-Jhine of the G of pel,
Sir, I had ended thefe relations once or twice, but
the ftay of the Veflell increafeth new matter ; which
becaufe 'tis new and frem, you fhall have it as I heard of
it from a faithfull hand : There were fundry questions
propounded at the Indian Lecture at Noonanetum this
Otob. 13. by the Indians: the firft was propounded
to Mr. Eliot himfelf upon occaiion of his Sermon out
Ephef. 5. ii. Have no fellowfhip with unfruitfull work
ers of darknes, viz. What Engli/h men did thinke of Mr.
Eliot becaufe he came among wicked Indians to teach
them ?
Secondly, Suppofe two men Jinne, the one knowes he
Jinnethy and the other doth not know Jinne, will God pun-
ifh both alike ?
Thirdly, Suppofe there fhould be one wife Indian that
teacheth good things to other Indians, whether Jhould not
he be as a father or brother unto fuch Indians he fo
teacheth in the wayes of God? This laft queftion
feemes to argue fome motions ftirring in fome of
their hearts to pity and teach their poor Countrey-
men ; and furely then will bee the molt hopefull
time of doing good among them, when the Lord
fhall raife up fome or other like themfelves to go
among them and preach the Word of life unto them
with fatherly or brotherly bowels ; and yet I limit
not the moft High, who can make ufe of what In-
ftruments hee pleafeth for this work. I (hall con
clude therefore with a ftory I had both by writing
Mr. Edward and word of mouth, from a faithfull *man which hee
lack/on. f aw with his own eyes this Offiob. 7. There was one
of the Indians at Noonanetum, hath had a child fick
of
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 53
of a Confumption many a day, and at that time died
of it ; when it was dead, fome of the Indians came to
an honeft man to enquire how they mould bury their
dead ; the man told them how and what the Englifh
did when they buried theirs ; hereupon rejecting all
their old fuperftitious obfervances at fuch fad times
(which are not a few) they prefently procured a few
boards, and buy a few nayles of the Englifh, and fo
make a pretty handfome Coffin, (for they are very
dextrous at any thing they fee once done) and put
the child into it, and fo accompanied it to the grave
very folemnly, about 40. Indians of them : when the
earth was call: upon it and the grave made up, they
withdrew a little from that place, and went all to
gether and afTembled under a Tree in the Woods,
and there they defired one < Tutaf f wampe a very hope-
full Indian to pray with them ; now although the
Englifh do not ufually meet in companies to pray to
gether after fuch fad occafions, yet it feemes God ftird
up their hearts thus to doe ; what the fubftance of
their prayer was I cannot certainly learn, although I
I have heard fome things that way, which I there
fore name not, onely I have and mall indeavour
to get it, if it bee poffible for the poor Indian to
expreffe the fubftance of it, and fo mall fend it if
the (hip ftayes long, onely this is certaine by him
who was occafionally an eye and eare witneffe of
thefe things, that they continued inftant with God
in prayer for almoft half an houre together, and this
godly mans words to mee (who understands a little
of their language) are thefe ; that this Tutafwampe
did
54 The cleare Sun-Jbine of the G of pel,
did exprefle fuch zeale in prayer with fuch variety
of gracious expreffions, and abundance of teares,
both of himfelf and rnoft of the company, that
the woods rang againe with their fighes and prayers;
and (faith he) I was much amamed of my felf and
fome others, that have had fo great light, and yet
want fuch affections as they have, who have as yet fo
little knowledge. All this he faw ftanding at fome
good diftance alone from them under a Tree.
Thus you fee (Sir) that thefe old obdurate finners
are not altogether fenfelefTe of Gods afflicting hand
and humbling providences ; and though naturall
affection may be much ftirring in fuch times, yet you
fee how God begins to fanctifie fuch affections among
them : and I wim that many Englifh were not out-
ftript herein by thefe poor Indians, who have got the
ftart I feare of many Englifh, that can paffe by fuch
fad providences without laying them in this manner
to heart. I confefTe thefe and many fuch things
which wee fee in divers of them, do make fome to
thinke that there is more of God and his Spirit in
fome of their hearts then we yet can difcover, and
which they hope will break out in time.
Thus you have a true, but fomewhat rent and rag
ged relation of thefe things ; it may be moft futable
to the ftory of naked and ragged men : my defire is
that no mans Spectacles may deceive him, fo as to
look upon thefe things either as bigger or leffer, bet
ter or worfer then they are ; which all men generally
are apt to doe at things at fo great diftance, but that
they may judge of them as indeed they are, by what
truth
Breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. 55
truth they fee here expreft in the things themfelves.
I know that fome thinke that all this worke among
them is done and afted thus by the Indians to pleafe
the Englijh, and for applaufe from them ; and it is
not unlikely but fo 'tis in many, who doe but blaze
for a time ; but certainly 'tis not fo in all, but that
the power of the Word hath taken place in fome,
and that inwardly and effe&ually, but how far fav-
ingly time will declare, and the reader may judge of,
by the ftory it felf of thefe things. Some fay that if it
be fo, yet they are but a few that are thus wrought
upon ; Be it fo, yet fo it hath ever been, many called,
few chofen : and yet withall I beleeve the calling in
of a few Indians to Chrift is the gathering home of
many hundreds in one, confidering what a vaft dif-
tance there hath been between God and them fo long,
even dayes without number ; confidering alfo how pre
cious the firft fruits of America will be to Jefus Chrift,
and what feeds they may be of great harvefts in after
times ; and yet if there was no great matter feen in
thefe of grown yeers, their children notwithftanding
are of great hopes both from Englifh and Indians
themfelves, who are therefore trained up to Schoole,
where many are very apt to learne, and who are alfo
able readily to anfwer to the queftions propounded,
containing the principles and grounds of all Chriftian
Religion in their own tongue. I confeiTe it pafleth
my fkill to tell how the Gofpel fhould be generally
received by thefe American Natives, confidering the
variety of Languages in fmall diftances of places ;
onely hee that made their eares and tongues can raife
K up
56 The cleare Sun-jhine of the Gofpel, &c.
up fome or other to teach them how to heare, and
what to fpake ; and if the Gofpel muft ride circuit,
Chrift can and will conquer by weake and defpicable
meanes, though the conqueft perhaps may be fome-
what long. The beginnings and foundations of the
Spaniard in the Southerne parts of this vaft continent,
being laid in the blood of nineteene Millions of poor
innocent Natives (as Acofta the Jefuite a bird of their
own neft relates the ftory) mall certainly therefore
bee utterly rooted up by fome revenging hand ; and
when he is once difpoffeft of his Golden Manfions
and Silver Mines, it may be then the oppreffed rem
nant in thofe coafts alfo may come in. In the meane
while if it bee the good pleafure of Chrift to look
upon any of the worft and meaneft of thefe out-
cafts in thefe Coafts of Ntw-Eng/anJ, let us not
defpife this day of fmall things, but as the Jews did
of old, fo let us now cry mightily to God and fay, and
fing, Let the people praife tbee O God, yea let all the
people praife tbee, then Jhall the earth bring forth her
increafe, and God even our God will blejfe us.
I have fent you two witnej/es bejide my own
of the truth of the Indian Jtory printed,
you may publijh them if you pleafe as they
have writ, and fubf crib 'd with their own
hands.
THOMAS SHEPHARD,
FINIS.