Moore_JOHN_ELIOT_MemorirsLifeandCharacter

CONTENTS. vii

The last day, and death of Eliot . 146

His general Character 152

His Character as a minister 159

His Character as a missionary 162

Conclusion 166

MEMOIRS

REV. JOHN ELIOT

CHAPTER I.

CONVERSION AND EARLY DAYS OF ELIOT.

THE REV. JOHN ELIOT was born at Nasin, Es-
sex county, England, in 1604. We have not
been able to obtain much knowledge of his an-
cestors. There is nothing related of his par-
ents except that they gave him a liberal edu-
cation and were exemplary for their piety. "I
do see." says this excellent man, "that it was
a great favour of God to me that my first years
were seasoned with the fear of God, the word
and prayer." When Mr. Eliot left the univer-
sity of Cambridge, be became a teacher of
youth; and while he led children and youth
in the paths of virtue, acquired also a know-
ledge of the human heart. In his early years
he became acquainted with Mr. Hooker* who
was instrumental in leading him into a right

* Thomas Hooker, minister of Hartford and
father of the Connecticut churches. He was pre-eminently
distinguished as a preacher, and a writer, and as a
man of piety. American Annals.

10 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

knowledge of the doctrines and duties of re-
ligion.
      In the year 1631, Mr. Eliot arrived at Bos-
ton, and the succeeding year, Nov. 5, 1632,
was settled as teacher of the Church in Rox-
bury. -- Gov. Winthrop says, "Mr. John Eliot,
a member of Boston Congregation, whom the
company intended presently to call to the of-
fice of teacher, was called to be a teacher to
the company at Roxbury; and though Boston
labored all they could, both with the congre-
gation at Roxbury and with Mr. Eliot himself,
alleging their want of him, and the covenant
between them, yet he would not be diverted
from accepting the call at Roxbury; so he was
I dismissed."*
      When Mr. Eliot came to Boston there was
no officiating minister in that place. Mr. Wil-
son had gone to England, and the religious
service was carried on by Gov. Winthrop, Mr.
Dudley, and Mr. Nowel the ruling Elder. Mr.
Hubbard says these men accepted the charge,
“knowing well that the princes of Judah, in
king Hezekiah's reign, were appointed to
teach the people out of the law of God.”
     Mr. Wilson left Boston the latter end of
March, 1631, Mr. Eliot arrived November fol-
lowing, with the Governor's Lady and sixty
other persons in the ship Lyon. He immedi-
ately joined the Boston Church and preached
with them till he settled at Roxbury. The
prior engagement of Mr. Eliot to settle with

* Winthrop'a Journal.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 11

the people at Roxbury, who came over with
him in the same ship, and to whom he was
warmly attached, was sufficient to satisfy his
friends of the Church in Boston, and they gave
him a regular dismission. He was accordingly
united with the Church at Roxbury as their
Teacher, and Mr. Welde was called the next
year to be their Pastor.*
Before Mr. Eliot left England he had engag-
ed himself to a worthy young lady, who fol-
lowed him to America, the next year, where
they were married in October, l632. "The
wife of his youth" (says Dr. Mather with his
accustomed but agreeable quaintness) “lived
with him until she became the staff of his age;
and she left him not until about three or four
years before his departure to those heavenly
regions, where they now together see light.
She was a woman very eminent both for holi-
ness and usefulness; and she excelled most of
the daughters that have done virtuously. God
made her a blessing not only to her family, but
to her neighbourhood; but when at last, she
died, I heard and saw her aged husband, who
else very rarely wept, yet new with tears

* In the early history or New England the Cburches
had two ministers, one of whom was called Pastor
and the other Teacher. The Cambridge Platform
says that "the office of Pastor and teacher seems to
be distinct. The Pastor's special work is to attend
to exhortation, and therein to administer the word of
wisdom; and the Teacher is to attend to doctrine, and
therein to administer a word of knowledge."

12 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

over her coffin, before the good people, a vast
concourse of whom had come to her funeral, I
say, ‘here lies my dear, faithful, pious, prudent,
praying wife! I shall go to her, and she shall not
return to me!' my reader will of his own ac-
cord, excuse me from bestowing any further
epitaphs upon that gracious woman."
Six children were the fruit of this marriage,
five sons and one daughter. The daughter
and one of the sons survived the parents.
Three sons died young. Their father had
dedicated them all to the work of the ministry;
and one of these three, who bore his parent's
name, had lived to become a zealous and able
preacher both to the Settlers, and the Indians,
and died in the triumph of the faith.*
All his children gave such satisfactory evi-
dence of piety, that our Eliot venerable in years
and virtues, would say, "I have had six children:
and I bless God for his free grace, they are all
either with Christ or in Christ, and my mind is
now at rest concerning them." And when

*"This son of the apostolic Eliot was the first
minister of Newton. His abilities and acceptation in
the ministry are said to be pre-eminent. Under the
direction of his father he obtained considerable pro-
ficiency in the Indian language and was an assistant to
him in the missionary employment, until be settled at
Newton. Even after his ordination there, he imitated
the manner of his father, devoted himself to the in-
struction of the Indians as well as his own flock; ac-
cordingly he preached stiltedly once in a fortnight to
them at Peguimmet (Stoughton} and sometimes at
Natick." Mr. Homer's History of Newton.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 13

some asked him, how he could bear the death
of such excellent children, he meekly replied;
“my desire was that they should serve God on
earth; but if God will choose rather to have them
serve him in heaven, I have nothing lo object
against it, his will be done." His youngest son,
Benjamin, was many years his assistant in the
ministry; and as a son with his father, served
him in the gospel. He also died before his fa-
ther. His third son, Joseph, survived him and
maintained the character of an eminent minis-
ter.

CHAPTER II.

THE DIFFICULTIES ELIOT HAD TO ENCOUNTER.

MORE than twenty years had passed from
the first landing of our fathers in New-Eng-
land, before they seriously turned their atten-
tion to the conversion of the natives. -- The
difficulties inseparable from their attempts to
establish themselves in a wild country, where
the natives were frequently hostile, had fully
engaged their cares, In the year 1646, how-
ever, the General Court of Massachusetts
Colony passed an act for the encouragement of
attempts to win over the natives to the faith
1*

14 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

of Christ. Mr. Eliot entered most readily into
these views, lo preparation for the undertak-
ing, he had been for sometime studying the
Indian language, with the assistance of a young
native who could speak English. This lan-
guage presented unusual obstacles. The enor-
mous length of many of its words, the conse-
quent slow communication of ideas, the harsh-
ness of their pronunciation, and its little affini-
ty with the European tongues, would have
discouraged any but a most determined stu-
dent. "Our readers will stand aghast," says
Mather, "at a few instances. The words 'our
lusts' are expressed in Indian by a word of
thirty two Ietters—Nummatchekodtantamoon-
ganunnonash." But this is still outdone by the
word Kummogkodonattoottummooetiteaongan-
nunnonash, where forty three letters are em-
ployed to express our question."* But the
heart of this good man was moved with com-
passion towards the forlorn heathen among
whom he lived, and inflamed with true zeal for
the glory of his heavenly master. By assidu-
ous labour he surmounted the difficulties of this
strange language; and was able in the course
of a few months, to speak it intelligibly; after
some time, by unwearied industry, he became
so complete a master of it, that he reduced it

* As a further specimen of the language we give the
title of Mr. Eliot’s Bible,--"Mamusse Wunueetupa-
natamwe up--Biblum God, raneeswe Nukkone Testa-
ment. Kah Wank Testament, Nashpe, John Eliot 4to,
Cambridge, 1680.''

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 15

to method and published a Grammar. Having
finished his Grammar, be wrote at the close,
under the full sense of the difficulties, which
he had encountered; "Prayers and pains,
through faith in Christ Jesus, will do any thing!"
It is to be hoped that other missionaries will
be stimulated to exertion by his noble exam-
ple! Thus prepared, be entered on his la-
bours in the year 1646, and in the 42d year of
his age. His friends and brethren greatly en-
couraged him in the work; the neighbouring
ministers undertaking to supply his place at
Roxbury, while he went among the heathen.
But the difficulties that he had to encounter
will not appear in their proper light unless the
wretched state of the natives be considered.
The following acount of them is abstracted
from Dr. Mather. "Know then (he says, in
his usual manner) that these doleful creatures
are the veriest ruins of mankind. They live
in a country full of metals; but these shiftless
Indians were never owners of so much as a
tugsife till we came among them; their name
the Indian Englishman was a 'Knifeman.' They
there in a country where we now have all the
conveniencies of life; but as for them, their
housing is nothing but a few mats tied about
poles fastened into the earth, where a good
fire is their bed clothes in the coldest season;
their clothing is but the skin of a beast; their
diet has not a greater dainty, than a spoonful of
parched meal with a spoonful of water, which
will strengthen them to travel for a day to-

16 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

gether. Their physic, except a few odd spe-
cifics with which some of them encounter cer-
tain cases, is scarcely any thing beyond a hot
house, or a Powaw; their hot house is a
little cave, where, after they have terribly
heated it, a crew of them go and sit and sweat
and smoke for an hour together, and then im-
mediately run into some cold adjacent brook,
without the least mischief to them; but in
most of their dangerous distempers, a Powaw
must be sent for, i. e. a Priest; who roars and
howls and uses magical ceremonies over the
sick man, and will be well paid for it when he
is done; if this does not effect the cure, ‘the
man's time is come, and there's an end.' Their
way of living is infinitely barbarous; the men
are most abominably slothful, making their
poor squaws, or wives, to plant, and dress, and
barn, and beat their corn and build their wig-
wams or houses for them. Their chief em-
ployment, when they will condescend to any,
is that of hunting; wherein they will go out
some scores if not hundreds, and drive all be-
fore them. They continue in a place till the
have burnt up all the woods thereabouts, and
then they pluck up stakes to follow the wood
which they cannot fetch home unto themselves;
hence when they inquire about the English,
'why came they hither?' they themselves
very learnedly determine the case, 'it was be-
cause they wanted firing.' No arts are under-
stood among them, unless just so far as to main-
tain their brutish conversation, which is little

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 17

more than is to be found among the very bea-
vers upon our streams.
"Their division of time, is by sleeps, moons,
and winters; and, by lodging abroad, they have
somewhat observed the motion of stars; among
which it has been surprising unto me to find that
they have always called Charles's wain by the
name of Paukunnawaw, or the Bear, which is
the name whereby Europeans also have distin-
guished it. Moreover, they have little, if any
traditions among them worthy of our notice;
and reading and writing is altogether unknown
to them, though there is a rock or two in the
country that has unaccountable characters en-
graven upon it. All the religion they have,
amounts unto thus much; they believe that
there are many gods, who made and own the
several nations of the world; of which a cer-
tain great God in the South-west regions of the
heavens, bears the greatest figure.
"They believe that every remarkable crea-
ture has a peculiar God within, or about it;
there is with them a Sun-god, a Moon-god, and
the like; and they cannot conceive bot that
the Fire most be a kind of god, inasmuch as a
spark of it will soon produce very strange ef-
fects. They believe that when any good or
ill happens to them, there is the favour or the
anger of a god expressed in it; and hence, as
in a time of calamity, they keep a dance, or a
day of extravagant, ridiculous devotions to their
God: so in a time of prosperity, they likewise

18 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

have a feast, wherein they also make present,
one to another.
        “Finally, they believe that their chief God
Kichtan, or Kautantowit, made a man and a work
man of a stone; which upon a dislike, he broke
to pieces, and made another man and a woman
of a tree, which were the fountains of all man-
kind; and, that we all have in us immortal
souls. which, if we were godly, shall go to a
splendid entertainment with Kautantowit; but
otherwise we must wander about in a restless
horror forever. But if you say to them any-
thing of a resurrection, they will reply upon
you, ‘I shall never believe it.’
       “When they have any weighty undertaking
before them, it is an usual thing for them to
have their assemblies, wherein they worship
the devil. This was the miserable people which
our Eliot propounded unto himself the saving
of! And he had a double work incumbent on
him: he was to make men of them, ere he
could hope to see them saints; they must be
civilized ere they could be christianized. He
could not as Gregory, once of our nation, see
any thing angelical to bespeak his labours for
their eternal welfare: all among them was di-
abolical. To think of raising a number of these
hideous creatures unto the elevations of our
holy religion, must argue more than common
or little sentiments in the undertaker; but the
faith of an Eliot could encounter it."
      Eliot remembered what God had done in for-
mer days; how at first, be caused the cross to

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 19

triumph over the united exertions of wicked
men and devils. He remembered that the com-
mission under which his disciples acted was ex-
ceediugly broad: “-- Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature." The In-
dians were as much the creatures of God as
the white people. They were situated in his
immediate vicinity, and he felt under solemn
obligation to declare unto them the acceptable
year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our
God. He was encouraged in view of the pro-
mise, which the great Head of the church
made to his servants who were engaged in pub-
lishing tidings of salvation, "Lo I am with you
alway even to the end of the world!" He that
made this promise still lived. He still possess-
ed almighty power, and it was as easy for him
to convert the savages of the North Amer_
ican forests, as the polite and learned inhabi-
tants of Europe. Animated by these consider-
ations, Eliot commenced his arduous undertak-
ing.

20 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER III.

THE COMMENCEMENT AND EARLY PROGRESS OF HIS
EXERTIONS TO CIVILIZE AND CHRISTIANIZE THE
INDIANS.

MR. ELIOT, having now made sufficient pro-
gress in the Indian tongue to have himself un-
derstood by them with the occasional aid of an
interpreter, entered on his labours among the
neighboring tribes. He bad but a short dis-
tance to travel, before he entered into the
wildest scenes of uncivilized life. As our fa-
thers had, at that period, done little more than
establish themselves in a few places along the
sea-coast, the whole of the interior was in the
possession of the natives.* Having given no-
tice to some natives, whose wigwams, or tents,
were pitched within a few miles of Roxbury,

* The Indians, a few years before our ancestors set-
tled New-England, were much more numerous than
they were when they came here. In the years 1612
and 1613, seven or eight years before the settlement
at Plymouth, a mortal epidemic prevailed among them
that swept off vast numbers.
Divine Providence thus made way for the quiet and
peaceable settlement of our pilgrim fathers. I have
discoursed (says Gookin) with some old Indians, that
were then youths; who say, that the bodies all over
were exceeding yellow, describing it by a yellow gar-
ment they shewed me, both before they were dead and

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 21

that he purposed to pay them a visit, he pro-
ceeded to their residence in company with three
friends, and opened his intercourse with them
on the 28th of October, 1646.*
      We shall extract the account of his first in-
terviews with the Indians, in his own simple
and expressive words, from a scarce tract pub-
lished in 1647, entitled, after the quaint fashion
of the times, "The Day-breaking, if not the
Sun-rising, of the Gospel, with the Indians in
New-England.†
     Afterwards. Gookin gives the number of Indians in
the year 1674 and their number formerly.
                           warriors formerly.   men in 1674.
1. Pequods                        4,000                        300
2. Narragansets                5,000           about 1,000
3. Pawkunnawkuts, about 3,000         nearly extinct
4. Massachusetts               3,000                        300
5. Pawtuckets         about 3,000                        250

   * The place where Eliot first began to preach to the
Indians was at Nonantum, an hill at the North-East
corner of Newton, nearly where Messers. Haven's and
Wiggin’s houses now stand.
       Gookin thus describes the hill; "The first place
he began to preach at was Nonantum, near Water-
town, upon the south side of Charles River, about four
or five miles from his own house; where lived at that
time, Waban, one of their principal men, and some
Indians with him."
     † See London Missionary Register.

22 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIANS.

     "A little before we came to their wigwams
five or six: of the chief men of them met
with English salutations, bidding us much wel-
come. Leading us into the principal wigwam,
belonging to Waaubon, we found many men,
women, and children gathered together from
all quarters; having been exhorted thereto
by Waaubon their chief minister of justice a-
mong them, who himself gives more hope of
serious respect to the things of God than any
that as yet I have known of that forlorn gen-
eration.
       "Being all there assembled, we began with
prayer, which now was in English, we being
not so far acquainted with the Indian language
as to express our hearts therein before God of
them. We hope to be able to do this ere long
the Indians desiring it, that they also may know
how, to pray; but we began thus in a tongue
unknown to them; partly to let them know
that the duty of prayer was serious and sacred;
and partly for our own sakes, that we might the
more fully agree together in the same request
and heart sorrows for them even in that place
where God was never wont to be called upon.
        "When prayer was ended it was an affect-
ing and yet glorious spectacle, to see a compa-
ny of perishing and forlorn outcasts diligently
attending to the blessed word of salvation then
delivered, and professing that they understood
all that was then taught them in their own

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 23

tongue. For about an hour and a quarter the
Sermon was continued; wherein one of our
company* ran through all the principal mat-
ters of religion; beginning first with the repe-
tition of the commandments, and a brief expli-
cation of them; then shewing the curse and
dreadful wrath of God against all those who
break them, or any of them, or the least tittle
of them; and so applying the whole unto the
condition of the Indians then present, with
much affection. He then preached Jesus Christ
unto them, as the only means of recovery from
sin and wrath and eternal death; be explained
to them who Christ was, and whither he was
gone, and bow he will one day come again to
judge the world. He spake to them of the
blessed state of all those who believe in Christ
and know him feelingly; he spake to them al-
so, observing his own method as he saw most
fit to edify them, concerning the creation and
the fall of man, the greatness of God, the joys
of heaven and the horrors of hell; and then
urging them to repentance for several known
sins wherein they live. On many things of the
like nature be discoursed: not meddling with
matters more difficult, until they had tasted
more plain and familiar truths.
"Having thus in a set discourse familiarly
opened the principal matters of salvation to
them, we next proposed certain questions, to

* In this modest manner the writer designated him-
self.--ED.

24 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

see what they would say to them; so that we
might by a variety of means, instruct them in
the things of religion. But, before we did this,
we asked them if they understood all that
which was already spoken: and whether all of
them in the wigwam did understand, or only
some few. They answered to this question
with a multitude of voices, that they all of
them understood all that which was spoken
unto them.
       "We then desired to know of them if they
would propose any question to us for the mere
clear understanding of what was delivered.
Whereupon several of them propounded pres-
ently several questions, to which we think some
special wisdom of God directed them.
     One asked, 'How may we come to know
Jesus Christ?'
     "We answered, that if they were able to
read our Bible, the Book of God, therein they
would see clearly who Jesus Christ was. But
since they could not read that book, we wish-
ed them to meditate on what they had now
heard out of God's book; and to do this much
and often, both when they laid down on their
mats in their wigwams and when they rose
up and went alone into the fields and woods;
so God would teach them. And especially if
they used a third help, which was prayer to
God; we told them, that although they could
not make long prayers, as we English could,
yet if they did hut sigh and groan, and say
thus,--'Lord, make me to know Jesus Christ,

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 25

for I know him not' -- and if they did so again
and again with their hearts, that God would
teach them to know Jesus Christ; because he
is a God that will be found of them that seek
him with all their hearts; and hears the
prayers of all men, Indian as well as English;
and that Englishmen themselves did by this
means come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
And we advised them as a further help, to con-
fess their sins and ignorance unto God; and to
acknowledge how justly God might deny them
the knowledge of Christ, because of their sins.
“These things were spoken by him who
had preached to them, in their own language;
borrowing, now and then some small helps
from the interpreter, whom we had brought
with us, and who could oftentimes express our
minds more distinctly than we could ourselves;
but this we perceived, that a few words from
the preacher were more regarded than many
from the Indian interpreter.
“One of them, after this answer, replied to
us that he was a little while since praying in
his wigwam, unto God and Jesus Christ, that
God would give him a good heart; and that
while he was praying, one of his fellow Indi-
ans interrupted him, and told him, that he
prayed in vain, because Jesus Christ under-
stood not what Indians speak in prayers, be-
cause he had been used to hear Englishmen
pray, and so could well enough understand
them, but with Indian language in prayer be
thought he was not acquainted, but was a stran-

26 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

ger to it, and therefore could not understand
them. His question therefore was, 'whether
Jesus Christ did understand, or God did under-
stand Indian prayers?'
       "This question sounding just like them-
selves, we studied to give as familiar an an-
swer as we could; and therefore in this, as in
all other answers, we endeavoured to speak
nothing without clearing it by some familiar
similitude. Our answer summarily was there,
fore this; that Jesus Christ and God by him,
made all things; and make, all men, not only
English, but Indian men; and if he made them
both, then he knew all that was within man
and came from man, all his desires, and all his
thoughts and all his speeches, and so all his
prayers; and if he made Indian men, then he
knows all Indians' prayers also. He bade them
look upon that Indian basket that was before
them; there were black and white straws, and
many other things of which they made it;
now though others did not know what those
things were who made not the Basket, yet he
that made it must needs tell all the things in
it: so we said it was here.
       "Another proposed this question, after this
answer; 'Whether Englishmen were ever at
any time so ignorant of God and Jesus Christ
as themselves?'
       ''When we perceived the root and reach
of this question, we gave them this an-
swer; That there are two sorts of English-

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 27

men; some are bad and naughty, and live
wickedly and basely (describing them); and
these kind of Englishmen, we told them, were
in a manner as ignorant of Jesus Christ as the
Indians now are; but there are a second sort
of Englishmen, who though for a time they
lived wickedly also, like other profane and
wicked English, yet, repenting of their sins
and seeking after God and Jesus Christ, they
are good men now, and know Christ and love
Christ and pray to Christ, and are thankful for
all they have to Christ, and shall at last, when
they die, go up to Heaven to Christ; and we
told them that all these also were once as ig-
norant of God and Jesus Christ as the Indians
are, but by seeking to know him, by reading
his book, and hearing his word and praying to
him, they now know Jesus Christ; and just so
shall the Indians know him, if they so seek
him also, although at the present they be ex-
tremely ignorant of him.
       "After some other questions respecting the
commandments, one of them asked, 'How is
all the world become so full of people, if they
were all once drowned in the flood?'
       "We told them at large the story and caus
es of Noah's preservation in the ark; and so
their questioning ended.
      "We then saw it to be our time to propose
some few questions to them, and so to take oc-
casion thereby lo open the things of God more
fully.
     “Our first question was, whether they did

28 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

not desire to see God, and were not tempted to
think that there was no God, because they
could not see him?
"Some of them replied thus: That indeed
they did desire to see him, if it could be; but
they had beard from us that he could not be
seen; and they did believe, though their eyes
could not see him, yet he was to be seen with
their soul within. Hereupon we fought to
confirm them the more; and asked them if
they saw a great wigwam, or a great house,
would they think that Racoons or Foxes built
it, that had no wisdom; or would they think
that it made itself; or that no wise workmen
made it, because they could not see him that
made it. No; they would believe some wise
workman made it, though they did not see him
so should they believe concerning God, when
they looked up to heaven, the sun, moon and
stars, and saw this great house which he hath
made; though they do not see him with their
eyes, yet I hey have good cause to believe with
their souls, that a wise God, a great God, made
it.
"We know that n great block in their way
to believing, is, that there should be but one
God and yet this one God in many places;
therefore we asked them, whether it did not
seem strange that there should be but one God,
and yet, this God be in Massachusetts, at Con-
necticut, at Quinipeioche, in old England, in
this wigwam and in the next, every where?
Their answer was by one most sober among

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 29

them; that indeed it was strange, as every
thing else which they beard preached was
strange also; and they were wonderful things
that they never heard of before; but yet they
thought it might be true, and God wait so big
every where; whereupon we further illustrated
what we said, by wishing them to consider
of the light of the sun, which though it be but
a creature made by God, yet the same light
which is in this wigwam was in the next al-
so, and the same light which was here at Mas-
sachusetts was at Quinipeioche also, and in old
England also, and every where at one and the
same time: much more was it so concerning
God.
      "We asked them also, whether they did not
find somewhat troubling them within, after the
commission of sin, as murder, adultery, theft,
lying, &c. and what they thought would com-
fort them against that trouble when they come
to die and appear before God?
      "They told us that they were troubled;
but they could not tell what to say to it, what
should comfort them; be therefore who spake
to them at the first concluded with a doleful
description (so far as his ability to speak in
that tongue would permit) of the trembling
and mournful condition of every soul that dies
in sin, and is cast out of favour with God.
      “After three hours' time thus spent with
them, we asked them if they were not weary,
and they answered, no. -- But we resolved to
leave them with an appetite. The chief of

30 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

them seeing us conclude with prayer; desire
to know when we would come again; so we
appointed the time; and having given the
children some apples, and the men some to-
bacco and what else we then had at hand, they
desired some more ground to build a town on
together; which we did much like of, promis-
ing to speak for them to the General Court,
that they might possess all the compass of that
hill,* upon which their wigwams then stood;
and so we departed with many welcome from
them."
Waaubon, in whose wigwam this interesting
scene took place, had readily received the pre-
vious overtures of Mr. Eliot, and had volunta-
rily offered his eldest son to be educated and
trained up in the knowledge of God; hoping as
he told Mr. Eliot, that his son might come to
know God, although he despaired much con-
cerning himself. His son hart been according-
ly placed under his instruction; and was found,
at his first interview, standing by his father
among his Indian brethren, dressed him in
English clothes.

SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIANS

Encouraged by the reception which had
been given to his first serious attempt to in-
struct the natives in Christianity, Mr. Eliot de-

* Nonantum before described.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 31

terrnined to pursue his object On the 14th of
November be met, in the wigwam of Waau-
bon, a still larger number of Indians than be-
fore.
       After prayer in the English tongue, and
catechising the children on a few of the most
important points of religion, he addressed the
assembly in their own language, to the follow-
effect:
      "We are come to bring you good news from
the great God Almighty, maker of heaven and
earth; and to tell you how evil and wicked
men may come to be good; so as, while they
live, they may he happy, and when they die,
they may go to God and live in heaven."
       “He discoursed to them, with much affec-
tion for about an hour, concerning the charac-
ter of God, and the way of reconciliation by
Jesus Christ. The whole assembly appeared
very serious; one man in particular poured
out many tears; and shewed much affliction,
without any affectation of being seen.
      "When Mr. Eliot ceased, an old Indian ask-
ed 'whether it was not too late for one so
near death to repent or seek after God?'
     "This question (says Mr. Eliot) affected us
not a little with compassion. We held forth
to them the Bible; and told him what God had
said in it concerning such as are hired at the
eleventh hour of the day; we told him also
that if a father had a son who had been diso-
bedient many years, yet if at last that son fall
down on his knees and weep and desire his fa-

32 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

ther to love him, his father is so merciful that
he will readily forgive him; so we said it is
much more with God, who is a more merciful
father to those whom he hath made, than any
father can be to his rebellious child, if they
fall down and weep and pray and repent and
desire forgiveness for Jesus Christ's sake. And
we further added, that, like as if a father did,
call after his child to return and repent, prom-
ising him favour, the child might then be sure;
that his father would forgive him; so now, the
day of God was risen upon them, and he had
sent us to preach repentance for the remission
of sins; and that they might be sure to find fa-
vour, though they had lived many years in sin;
and that therefore, if now they did repent, it
was not too late, all the old man feared; but
if they did not come when they were thus
called, God would be greatly angry with them,
especially considering that now they must sin
against knowledge, whereas before we came
to them they knew not any thing of God at all.
Having spent much time in clearing up the
first question, the Indians next asked, ‘How
came the English to differ so much from the
Indians in the knowledge of God and Jesus
Christ, seeing they had all at first but one fa-
ther?'
"We confessed (says Mr. Eliot) that it was
true that, at first, we had hut one father; but
after that our first father fell, he had divers
children, some were bad and some good. Those
that were bad would not take his counsel, but

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 33

departed from him and from God; and those
God left alone in sin and ignorance; but oth-
ers did regard him and the counsel of God by
him; and these knew God; and so the differ-
ence arose at first, that some, together with
their posterity, knew God and others did not.
"And so we told them it was at this day;
for like, as if an old man, an aged father
amongst them, have many children, if some of
them be rebellious against the counsel of the
father, he shuts them out of doors and lets
them go and regards them not, unless they re-
turn and repent; but others that will be ruled
by him, come to know his mind; so we said
Englishmen seek God, dwell in his house, hear
his word, pray to God, and instruct their child-
ren out of God's word; hence they come to
know God; but Indians' fore-fathers were
stubborn and rebellious children, and would not
hear the word, did not care to pray, nor teach
their children; and hence Indians that now
are, do not know God at all; and so must con-
tinue unless they repent, and return lo God
and pray, and teach their children what they
now may learn. But withal we told them,
that many Englishmen did not know God, but
were like to Kitchamakins (drunken Indians.)
"Nor were we yet willing to tell them the
story of the scattering of Noah's children since
the flood, and thereby to show them how the
Indians came to be so ignorant, because it was
too difficult, and the history of the Bible is re-
served for them (if God will) to be opened at

34              MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

a more convenient season in their own tongue.
--Their third question was; 'How may we
come to serve God?'
     "We asked him that proposed it, whether
he did desire indeed to serve God; he replied
'yes.' Hereupon we said, first, they must
lament their blindness and sinfulness, that they
cannot serve him; and their ignorance of God's
book (which we pointed to) which directs
how to serve him. Secondly, that they could
not serve God, but by seeking forgiveness of
their sins, and power against their sins, through
Jesus Christ, who was preached, to them."
Thirdly, that like as an Indian child, if he
would serve his father, must know his father's
will and love his father too, or else be could
never serve him; but if he did know his fa-
ther's will and love him, then he could serve
him; and then, if he should not do some things
which his father commands him and yet after-
wards grieve for it upon his knees before his
father, his father would pity and accept him;
so we told them it was with God; they must
labour to know his will and love him: and then
they will be willing, to serve him; and if they
should then sin, yet grieving for it before God,
he would pity and accept them.
      "One of them asked, 'if a man has com-
mitted adultery or stolen any goods, and the
Sachem doth not punish him, nor by any law
he is punished, if also he restore the goods he
hath stolen, what then? whether is not all
well now?' meaning, that if God's law was

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 35

broken and no man punished him for it, that
then no punishment should come from God
for it; as if, by restoring again, an amends
were made to God.
"Although man be not offended (we repli-
ed) for such sins, yet God is angry; and his
anger burns like fire against all sinners.
"And here we set out the holiness and ter-
ror of God, in respect of the least sin. Yet if
such a sinner with whom God is angry fly to
Jesus Christ, and repent and seek for mercy
and pardon for Christ's sake, then God will
forgive and pity. Upon the hearing of which
answer, he, who proposed the question, drew
somewhat back and hung down his head as a
man smitten to the very heart; and, within a
little while after he broke out into a complaint,
‘me little know Jesus Christ.’ We therefore
told him, that, like as it was in the morning,
at first there was but a little light, then there
was more light, then there is day, then the
sun is up, then the sun warms and heats, &c.
So it was true that they knew but little of Je-
sus Christ now, but we had more to tell them
concerning him hereafter, and after that more,
until at last they may come to know Jesus
Christ as the English do; nod we taught them
but a little at a time, because they could un-
derstand but little; and if they prayed to God
to teach them, he would send His Spirit and
teach them more; they and their fathers had
lived in ignorance until now; it had been a
long night wherein they had slept, and had not

36              MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

regarded God; but now the light of day be-
gan to break in on them."
      Having thus spent the whole afternoon,
and night coming on, Mr. Eliot, considering
that the Indians formerly desired to know how
to pray, and thought that Jesus Christ did not
understand Indian language, prepared to pray
in their own tongue, and did so for above a
quarter of an hour. Several of them were
much affected, lifting up their eyes and hands
to heaven. Concerning one of them in par-
ticular, the following interesting account
given.
       "I cast my eye on one that was hanging down
his head weeping. He held up his head for a
while; yet such was the power of the word
on his heart, that he hung down his head
again, and covered his eyes again, and so fell
weeping abundantly, continuing thus till prayer
was ended; after which he presently tarns from
us and turns his face to a side and corner of the
wigwam and there falls a weeping more abun-
dantly by himself, which one of us perceiving
went to him and spake to him encouraging word
at the bearing of which be fell weeping more
and more; so leaving of him, be who spake unto
him came unto me (being now gone out of the
wigwam) and told me of his tears; so we
solved to go again both of us to him, and speak,
to him again; and we met him coming out of
the wigwam and there we spake again to him,
and he there fell into more abundant renewed
weeping, like one deeply and inwardly affect

MEMOIES OF ELIOT. 37

ed indeed, which forced us also to such bowels
of compassion that we could not forbear weep-
ing over them also; and so we parted, greatly
rejoicing, for such sorrow."
      "Thus I have, as faithfully as I could re-
member, given you a true account of our be-
ginnings with the Indians within our bounds;
which cannot but furnish matter of serious
thought what further to do with these poor
natives, the dregs of mankind, and the saddest
spectacles of misery of mere men upon earth.
We did think to forbear going to them this
winter, but this last day's work, wherein God
set his seal from heaven of acceptance of our
little, makes those of us who are able, to re-
solve to adventure through frost and snow, lest
the fire go out of their hearts for want of a lit-
tle more fuel; to which we are the more en-
couraged, in that the next day after being with
them, one of the Indians came to his house who
preached to them to speak with him; who in
private conference wept exceedingly, and said
all that night the Indians could not sleep, part-
ly with trouble of mind, and partly with won-
dering at the things which they heard preach-
ed among them; another Indian coming also to
him the next day after, told him how many of
the wicked Indians began to oppose these be-
ginnings.
      "Some hours having been thus passed with
them Mr. Eliot asked, 'what do you remem-
ber of what was taught you since the last time
we were there?'
                                    3*

38 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

       "After they had spoken one to another for
some time, one of them returned this answer,
that they did much thank God for our coming,
and for what they heard; they were wonder-
ful things unto them."

THIRD INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIANS.

      "On the 26th of the same month, Mr. Eliot's
friends met the natives again, he himself being
unable to join them on this occasion.
     "'The assembly was not so numerous as be-
fore, the Powaws, or priests having dissuaded
them from hearing the English ministers, and
deterred others by threateniug them with death.
The preacher noticed these things and dis-
coursed to the Indians on the temptations of
Satan, and that the evil heart closed with them,
while a good heart would abhor them. They
were more serious than they yet had been, and
proposed various grave questions.
     "At this interview, the natives expressed an
earnest desire to be brought out of their vagrant
way of life, and to have a portion of land al-
lotted to them for a town; that they might
live together in a fixed place, and be taught
spinning and other useful arts.
     "A few days after this third meeting, Wam-
pas, a wise and grave Indian, came to the En-
glish, as a messenger from his brethren to of-
fer them his son, and three other Indian chil-

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 39

dren, that they might be educated in the chris-
tian faith.
"This Wampas came also accompanied with
two more Indians, young and vigorous men,
who offered themselves voluntarily to the ser-
vice of the English, that, by dwelling in some
of their families, they might come to know Je-
sus Christ: these were two of those men whom
they saw weeping, and whose hearts were smit-
ten at the second meeting above mentioned. It
is wonderful (says Mr. Eliot) to see what a lit-
tle leaven will work, when the spirit of Christ
hath the setting of it on, even upon hearts and
spirits most incapable! An English youth of
good capacity, who lodged in Waaubon's wig-
wam on the night after the third meeting, as-
sured us, that the same night Waaubon instruct-
ed all his company out of the things that they
had heard that day from the preacher, and pray-
ed among them; and waking often that night,
continually fell a praying, and speaking to some
or other of the things which he had heard; so
that this man (being a man of gravity and chief
prudence and counsel among them, although no
Sachem or King) is like to be a means of great
good to the rest of his countrymen, unless cow-
ardice or witching put an end (as they usually
have done) to such hopeful beginnings."

40 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

FOURTH INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIANS.

     After the interview which took place on the
9th of December, the Indians offered all their
children for christian education. As their pov-
erty rendered it necessary to give instruction
freely, preparations were made for establish-
ing a school among them.
      Various questions were proposed, as usual,
on the part both of the Indians and the Eng-
lish. The following extract marks the lively
influence of christianity on the heart.
      "One of them complained of other Indians,
that revile them, and call them rogues, and
such like names, for cutting off their locks, and
for cutting their hair in a modest manner, as
the New-English generally do; for since the
word begun to work upon their hearts, they
have discerned the vanity and pride which they
placed in their hair; and have therefore of
their own accord (none speaking to them that
we know of) cut it modestly. They were
therefore encouraged by some there present of
chief place and account with us, not to fear the
reproaches of, wicked Indians, nor their witch-
craft and powaws and poisonings; but were as-
sured that if they did not dissemble, but would
seek God unfeignedly, they would stand by
them, and that God also would be with them."
     "We have given ( says the Missionary Reg-
ister) these details of Mr. Eliot's first attempts

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 41

among the natives somewhat at large, as they
furnish an excellent example of wisdom and
piety to other missionaries. His success was
beyond his hopes. His heart was much set on
bringing the Indians to live together in a civil-
ized community; and it is worthy of remark
how soon they themselves began to feel the ad-
vantage of doing so. The General Court of
Massachusetts allotted to them at his request, a
portion of land for the erection of a town; and
while the court were deliberating on the choice
of a convenient spot, the Indians, not aware of
the intention of the English towards them, were
consulting on the adoption of laws for their
own improvement and civilization, the princi-
pal of which were intended to encourage in-
dustry and cleanliness, and to prevent immor-
alities and indecencies, before common among
them. The reports made by Mr. Eliot and his
friends of the effect of their labours, were very
encouraging. Waaubon and his companions
would utter such expressions as the following
in prayer:
      Amaoaomen, Jehovah, tahassen metagh!
      "Take away, Lord, my stony heart!"
     Chechesom, Jehovah, kekowhogkan!
       "Wash,        Lord,       my soul !"

"Lord, lead me, when I die, to heaven!"
"Many more petitions of this nature, and some-
times much enlarged, indicated an awakened
state of mind. --It is no small matter," adds the
narrator, “that such dry, barren, and long ac-

42 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

cursed ground should yield such kind of in-
crease in so short a time.*

      * Mention is made of Indians at an earlier period:
than these noticed by Mr. Eliot, who apparently em-
braced Christianity. An Indian seeing a profane Eng-
lishrnan fall a tree on the Sabbath said to him, "Do
you not know that this ie the Lord's day in the Massa-
chusetts, much matchet man, (i. e. much wicked
man.) what, break you God's day?"
      "The same Indian coming a little while after into
an Englishman's house thereabouts, where a man and
his wife were chiding and contending with angry words
one against the other, when they intermitted their
brawlings so far as to bid him sit down and tell him he
was welcome, (possibly they might be in expectation
of traffick, wherein they both were well agreed,) he
answered he would not stay there, because God no
dwell there, but rather Holbomack, i. e. with them
the devil.
      "A Pequod Indian named Waquash, is characterized
by Hubbard 'as a proper man, and of good courage,
and a captain 11moog them in the wars they had with the
English in 1637, yet was so smitten with the terrors of
God upon the taking of their fort and killing so many
hundreds of the Indiana in an hour's tune, he was from
that moment so awakened in his conscience, to think
that the Englishman's God was a great God, which
did so pursue and follow him, that he could have no
rest till he came to the knowledge of the Englishman's,
God; and was so importunate that way, that he would
occasion the English (amongst whom be came after-
wards) to spend more than half the night in conversing
with him. Afterwards coming to live with the Eng-
lish at Connecticut, he would often sadly smite on his
breast and complain of his naughty heart, adding,
'Waquash no know God, Waquash no know Jesus
Christ;' but afterwards it pleased the Lord so to
move on his heart, that he throughout reformed his

                MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.                  43

       "When the place was chosen for the erec-
tion of their first town, the Indians wished to
affix an appropriate name. It was suggested
to them that they should call it Noonanctum,
'Rejoicing,' as their friends sincerely rejoiced
that now the Indians heard the word of God,
and were disposed to seek the knowledge of
him. This name greatly delighted them, and
by it therefore their first place of assembling
was distinguished."*
      "Our principal guide (says the Register) in
this part of the narrative, is a Tract, printed in
London in 1648, entitled, 'The clear Sun-shine

life, confessing his dearest sins, lust and revenge, many
testifying his unfeigned return from the same. After-
wards he went among the Indians like the woman of
Samaria, proclaiming Christ and warning them to fly
from the wrath to come, by breaking off their sins and
wickedness.
      "Some of the Indians were, like the children of the
devil, as Paul speaks, so filled with rage, that they
gave him poison, which he took without suspicion;
when the Indians wished him to send for the powaws,
who with them are their physicians and their priests,
he only told them," if Jesus Christ say that Waquash.
shall live, then Waquash live; if Jesus Christ say Wa-
quash shall die, then Waquash: is willing to die, and will
not lengthen out hi, life by any such means;" and so
he bequeathed his only child to the care of the Eng-
lish. He died, as was charitably hoped, a martyr for
Christ, rejoicing in this hope, that the child should
know more of Christ than its poor father did."
                  Hubbard's, Hist, New Eng. pp. 651, 652.
   * This was situated on the hill before mentioned, in
the east part of Newton.

44 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

of the gospel breaking forth upon the Indians
in New England.' Mr. Eliot advised the In-
dians to surround their town with ditches and
stone walls upon their banks: promising to sup-
ply them with needful tools for that purpose. To
encourage them in this unaccustomed labour,
he offered them rewards; and found them so
ready to listen to his counsel, that they called
for tools faster than be could supply them. By
these exertions, Noonanetum was soon enclos-
ed: and the wigwams of the lowest class among
them rivalled those of the Sachems, or chiefs
in other places; they were here built, not of
mats, but with the bark of trees; and were divid-
ed into several apartments, whereas they for-
merly had but one room for all purposes. But
Mr. Eliot had not assembled his Indians togeth-
er to expose them to the evils of an idle com-
munity. It was necessary to find occupation
for their vagrant minds and their active hands.
The women were taught to spin; and they
soon found something to bring to market all
the year round. Io winter they sold brooms,
staves, baskets and turkeys: in spring, cran-
berries, strawberries and fish; in summer,
whortleberries and grapes; and, in hay time
and harvest, several of them assisted the Eng-
lish in the field; they were neither so indus-
trious, nor so capable of hard labour, as those
who had been habituated to it from early life.
"While this servant of God with his zeal
ous friends, were rejoicing in the success of
their labours at Noooanetum, the Indians near

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 45

Concord, some miles further in the interior, in-
timated a wish to be united in a regular com-
munity, and to receive the christian faith.--
They had beard what was passing among their
countrymen; and in consequence, the Sachem,
with a few of his men, had attended the preach-
ing at Noonanetum. He seemed to be deeply
impressed with what be beard and witnessed,
and expressed his desire to become more like
the English, and to abandon those wild and sin-
ful courses, wherein they had lived.
     "When his people discovered their Sa-
chem's mind, some of them began to oppose
him, but he reasoned with them, and succeed-
ed in bringing them to a better temper. At an
assembly of Sachems and other principal In-
dians, held towards the end of November, they
agreed to repress by heavy fines all intemper-
ance, conjuring, falsehood, theft, profanation of
the Lord's day, impurity, gambling and quar-
relling; they determined to punish adultery
and murder with death; they resolved to aban-
don their old practices of bowling for the dead,
and of adorning their hair and greasing their
bodies; and to adopt the customs of the Eng-
lish; they expressed their desire and resolu-
tion to seek after God, to understand and es-
cape the temptations of Satan, to improve their
time, to live peaceably one with another, to
labour after humility, to pay their debts, and
to establish prayer in their wigwams.
       "These regulations were adopted by the
whole assembly, and a respectable Englishman
                         4

46                 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

appointed as their Recorder to see them put
into execution. They entreated Mr. Eliot to
visit and instruct them; and applied to the
government for a grant of land whereon they
might build themselves a town.
     “An affecting scene was exhibited at Cam-
bridge, in June, this year, 1647, at the annual
meeting of the Synod. Mr. Eliot preached
there an Indian Lecture, which was attended
by a great confluence of Indians from all quar-
ters. From Eph. ii. 1, the preacher opened to
them their miserable condition without Christ,
dead in trespasses and sins; and directed them
to that Saviour, who alone could quicken them
from their spiritual death. When the sermon
was finished, there was a convenient space of
time spent in hearing and answering such ques-
tions as the Indians proposed. We will give
the narrator's description in his own words.
      "That which I note is this; that their gra-
cious attention to the word, the affections and
mournings of some of them under it, their so-
ber propounding of divers questions, their apt-
ness to understand and believe what was appli-
ed to them, the readiness of divers poor naked
children lo answer openly the chief questions
in the Catechism, which had been taught them,
and such like appearances of a great change
upon them, did marvellously affect all the wise
and godly ministers, magistrates and people,
and did raise their hearts up to great thankful-
ness to God; very many deeply and abundant-
ly mourning for joy to see such a blessed day,

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 47

and the Lord Jesus so much known and spoken
of among such as never heard of him before."
      Mr. Eliot's labours among the Indians began
now to be widely extended. On occasion of
a journey with some friends, towards the end
of the year as far as Cape Cod, on some oth-
er business, be embraced the opportunity of
preaching to the poor Indians in his way.
      "He found, however, much difficulty in
making himself understood, the dialect vary-
ing materially every forty or fifty miles, and
these Indians being wholly unused lo hear any
thing on the subject of religion. By the aid,
however, of interpreters, and by circumlocu-
tion and variation of expression, he contrived
to become intelligible. He had indeed an ad-
mirable talent of adapting himself to his hear-
ers; and excelled, as his friends testify, all oth-
er Englishmen, in the explanation of sacred
truths to the Indians, as much as they excelled
him in the utterance of common matters in
the Indian tongue. In Mr. Eliot's customary in-
structions of the Indians, after fervent prayer
for the divine blessing on his labours, he at-
tended in their regular order,
      1. To the catechising of the children; by
which the adults themselves were greatly ben-
efitted and enabled to teach their Indian chil-
dren at home.
      2. To the preaching of the word, in all
plainness and brevity; to which many became
very attentive.

48 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

      3. To admonition and censure, if any occa-
sion thereof bad arisen.
      4. To the bearing and answering of their
questions: which was a great means of instill-
ing into them the accurate knowledge of divine
truth.
      The regular use of admonition and censure,
as a means of instruction and conviction, de-
serves a particular notice. Its greatest effica-
cy should awaken others, whether among
christian or heathen people, to the proper use
of it. We will give Mr. Eliot's own account.
of his success therein.
       "If there be any occasion, we go to admo-
nition and censure; unto which they submit
themselves reverently and obediently, and some
of them penitently confessing their sins with
much plainness, and without shiftings and ex-
cuses. I will instance in two or three partic-
ulars.
      "A man named Wampoowas, being in a pas-
sion on some light occasion, beat his wife;
which was a very great offence among them
now (though in former times, it was very usu-
al) and they had made a law against it and set
a fine upon it. Hereupon he was publicly
brought before the assembly, which was great
that day, for our Governor and many other
English were then present. The man whol-
ly condemned himself, without any excuse;
and when he was asked what provocation his
wife gave him, he did not in the least blame
her, but himself; and when the quality of the

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 49

sin was opened, that it was cruelty to his own
body, and against God's commandment; and
that passion was a sin, and much aggravated by
such effects, yet God was ready to pardon it
in Christ, he turned his face to the wall and
wept, though with modest endeavour to hide
it; and such was the penitent and melting be-
haviour of the man, that it much affected all
to see it in a Barbarian, and all did forgive
him; only this remained, that they executed
their law, notwithstanding his repentance; and
required his fine, to which be willingly sub-
mitted.
"Another admonition was this; Cutshamaquin
the Sachem, had a son of about fourteen or fif-
teen years of age, who bad behaved himself
disobediently and rebelliously against his fa-
ther and mother; for which sin they did blame
him, but he despised their admonition. Be-
fore I knew it, I observed, when I catechised
him, that when he should say the fifth com-
mandment, he did not freely say, 'Honor thy
father,' but wholly left out 'mother;' and
so he did the Lecture-day before; but when
this sin of his was produced, he was called be-
fore the assembly, and be confessed what was
said against him was true; but he fell to accuse
his father of sundry evils, as that he would
have killed him in his anger, and that be forc-
ed him to drink saik, and I know not what else;
which behaviour we greatly disliked, shewed
him the evil of it, and laboured much with him;
but all in vain; his heart was bard and hope
4*

50 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

less for that time. Using therefore due per-
suasions, we did sharply admonish him of his
sin, and required him to answer further next
Lecture-day, and so left him; and so stout was
he, that when his father offered to pay 10s. for
bill drunkenness, according to their law, he
would not accept it at his hand. When the
next day was come and other exercises finish-
ed, I called him forth, and be willingly came;
but stilt in the same mind as before. Then we
turned to his father, and exhorted him to re-
move that stumbling block out of the son's
way, by confessing his own sins, whereby he
had given occasion of hardness of heart to his
son; which thing was not sudden to him, for
I had formerly in private prepared him there-
unto, and be was very willing to hearken to
that counsel, because his Conscience told him
that he was blame-worthy; and accordingly
he did; he confessed his main and principal
evils of his own accord. Upon this advantage,
I took occasion to put him upon confession of
sundry other vices, of which I knew be had
in former times been guilty, and all the Indi-
ans knew it likewise; and I put it after this
manner; 'are you now sorry for your drunk-
enness, filthiness, false dealing, lying, &c, which
sins you committed before you knew God?'
unto all which cases he expressed himself sor-
rowful, and which example of the Sachem was
profitable to all the Indians: When he had
thus confessed his sins, we turned again to his
son, requiring him to confess his sin and en-

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 51

treat God to forgive him for Christ's sake, and
acknowledge his offence against his father and
mother, and beg-them to forgive him; but he
still refused. And now the other Indians spake
unto him affectionately and soberly; divers
of them one after another, and some several times.
"At last be did bumble himself, confessed
all, and entreated his father to forgive him and
took him by the hand; at which his father
burst forth into great weeping; he did the
same also to his mother, who wept also, and
so did divers others; and many English be-
ing present, fell a weeping on every side,
and then we went to prayer, in all which time
Cutshamaquin wept, in so much that when we
had done, the board he stood upon was all drop-
ped with tears."

52 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER IV.

HIS LABOURS AND SUFFERINGS,

      MR. ELIOT continued his pastoral charge at
Roxbury; and laboured much with the Indians
in his immediate vicinity, at Noonanetum and
about Concord. His exertions were not how-
ever confined to a few places, He generally
took a missionary journey once a fortnight;
travelling into all parts of Massachusetts, and
of the surrounding country, every where de-
claring the glad tidings of salvation.
      Having thus engaged in the instruction of In-
dians, he pursued his object with unwearied
zeal through difficulties almost incredible. On
one occasion, which may be taken as a speci-
men of the dangerous journeys which he made
through the dreary wilderness to his scattered
Indians, he says, "I was not dry night nor day,
from the third day to the sixth; but so travelled;
and, at night I pull off my boots; wring my stock-
ings, and on with them again, and so continued;
yet God helped. I considered that word, 2 Tim.
ii. 3; Endure hardness a, a good soldier of Je-
sus Christ."
      But these perils of water, and peril, in the
wilderness were far less trying to him than
those perils by the heathen he had to encounter.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 53

When travelling through the wild parts of
the country, without any English friend, or
companion, he has been often barbarously
treated by the natives. The Powaws and Sa-
chems were alike enemies of the truth; both
Priests and Princes being fearful of losing
their influence and their gain.

CHAPTER V.

OPPOSITION FROM POWAWS, OR PRIESTS.

THE POWAWS held the people in great sub-
jection. They professed themselves Physi-
cians for soul and body; they both administer-
ed medicine, and addressed their deities for a
blessing. They bowled and danced, and em-
ployed a multitude of charms, for the recovery
of the sick; and it was the common belief of
the poor natives, that by their familiar con-
verse with the invisible world, they could heal
or destroy, some particular cases excepted,
wherein the Deity was inexorable. Even the
new converts retained this persuasion; believ-
ing, however, that the God of the christians
was a being of superior power to the God of
the Powaws.

54 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

Some of these men threatened with death
Hiacoomes, a Christian convert under Mr. May-
hew, in the Island called Martha's vineyard.
They reminded him that he knew their witch-
crafts would destroy him; and declared that,
they would exercise them on him lo the utmost
unless he returned to the religion of his fa-
thers. In the midst of a great assembly of In-
dians, the power assumed by the Powaws be-
came a subject of debate. After many stories
had been told in proof of their power, an In-
dian called out, "Who is there that does not
fear the Powaws?"--Another replied, "There
is not a man on earth who is not afraid of the
Powaws." The eyes of all present were in-
stantly fixed on Hiacoomes, who rose from his
seat, and undauntedly set their power at de-
fiance, declaring his firm trust in God who con-
trolled them all. The whole assembly waited
in dread suspense, looking for signal vengeance
to overtake him; but seeing that he remained
unhurt, they changed their minds, and began
to congratulate him on being delivered from
the power of the Powaws. Hiacoomes avail-
ed himself of their favourable disposition; and
exhorted them to repent and turn to God with
such effect, that more than twenty renounced
their superstitions and embraced the faith.
The Powaws were enraged at these pro-
ceedings, and threatened the praying Indians
with death; but Hiacoomes challenged them
to do their worst. "Let all the Powaws," said
he, "in the bland come together, I will venture

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 55

myself in the midst of them. Let them use all
their witchcrafts, with the help of God I will tread
upon them all." Yet this fancied power of the
priests was a great hindrance to the progress
of christianity.
Though some of the converts had courage
like Hiacoomes, to set it at defiance, others
were afraid to appear openly against them.
Mr. Eliot observed a remarkable difference
in their looks, when the Powaws were present,
and when they were out of the way.

CHAPTER VI.

OPPOSITION FROM THE SACHEMS OR CHIEFS.

THE adversaries of this work were, at first,
found chiefly among the Powaws and profane
men. But a more determined opposition soon
arose from another quarter: the Princes began
to take alarm for their authority and their rev-
enues.
Mr. Eliot's statement of this matter places
his difficulties in a striking light, and marks his
wisdom and firmness in encountering them.
"The Sachems of the country are generally
set up against us; and keep off their men from

56 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

praying to God, as much as they can. They
see that religion will make a great change
among them, and cut them off from their for-
mer tyranny; for they used to hold their peo-
ple in absolute servitude, inasmuch as whatev-
er they had, and themselves too, were at their
command.
     “The language of the Sachem was 'all
mine!' Now they see that religion teaches
otherwise, and puts a bridle on such usurpa-
tions.
     "His former manner was, if he wanted mo-
ney, or desired any thing from any man, he
would take occasion to rage and be in great
anger; which when his men did perceive, they
would give him all they had to pacify him;
else his way was to suborn some villain to kill
him who refused.
     "This keeps them in great awe of their
Sachems; and is one reason why none of them
desire any wealth, because they get it not
themselves. But now, if their Sachem so rage,
and give sharp and cruel language, they will
admonish him of his sin; and, as for tribute,
some they are willing to pay, hut not as form-
erly. These are great temptations to the Sa-
chems, which require in them a good measure
of wisdom and grace. Hence it is, I suppose,
that (having requested the Court of Commis-
sioners that a general plan might be formed
for the instruction of all Indians in all parts,
and having told the Indians that I had done so,
and still in my prayers, praying for the Mono-

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 67

hegeos, Narragansets, &c.) the Mooohegen In-
dians were much troubled lest the Court should
take some course to teach them to pray to God.
      "Unkus, their Sachem, accordingly went to
Hartford, where the Court sat, and expressed
his fears of such a thing, and manifested great
unwillingness thereunto.
    "This temptation hath much troubled Cuts-
hamaquin, our Sachem. His spirit was raised
to such a hight, that, at a meeting after Lec-
ture, he openly contested with me against our
proceeding to erect a town, and plainly told
me that all the Sachems in the country were
against it.
     "When he did so carry himself, all the Indi-
ans were filled with fear; their countenances
grew pale, and most of them slunk away. A
few staid, and I was alone, not any Englishmen
with me; but it pleased God to raise up my
spirits; not to passion but to a bold resolution;
so that I told him it was God's work in which I
was engaged, that he was with me, and that I fear-
ed not him nor all the Sachems in the country, and
that I was resolt1ed to go on, do what they might.
     "It pleased Gori that his spirit shrunk and
fell before me; which when those Indians that
tarried saw, they smiled as they durst out of
his sight; and have been much strengthened
ever since. I have since understood, that, in
such conflicts, they account him that shrinks to
be conquered, and the other to conquer;
which, alas, I knew not, nor did I aim at such

58 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

a matter, but the Lord carried me beyond my
thought and habit.
       “After this brunt was over, I took my leave
to go home, and Cutshamaquin went a little
way with me. He told me that the reason of
his trouble was, because the Indians, who pray
to God, do not pay him tribute, since they
have so done, as formerly they did. I answer-
ed him, that, once before when I heard of his
complaint that way, I preached on that text,
Render unto Cesar the things, that are Cesar's,
and unto God the things that are God's.
       "He said it was true that I taught them
well, but that they would not in that point do as
I had taught them; and he assured me that on
this account all the Sachems set themselves
against praying to God."
      Alarmed at this declaration, lest the pray-
ing Indians, by unjustly withholding what was
due to their rulers, should dishonor christiani-
ty, Mr. Eliot investigated the matter, and found
the complaint utterly groundless.
     "But the bottom of this complaint (says Mr.
Eliot) lieth here; formerly he had all, or
what he would; now he hath but what they
will, and admonitions also to rule better; and
he is provoked by other Sachems, and by ill
counsel, not to suffer this, and yet be doth not
know how to help it. Hence arise his temp-
tations in which I do very much pity him.
       "Having this information bow causeless his
discontent was, I thought it a difficult thing to
ease his spirit, and yet to clear and justify the

              MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.                  59

people. On the next day of our meeting, I
preached on Satan's temptation of Christ by
the love of the world, and applied it wholly to
his case. Afterwards we had a conference on
the matter, and gave him the best counsel we
could.
      "A great change took place in him, and his
spirit was very much lightened. This appear-
ed both in his countenance and behaviour, and
he hath carried all things fairly ever since.
      "But the temptation still doth work strong-
ly in the country; the Sachems opposing any
who desire to submit themselves to the service
of the Lord. Some who began to listen, are
quite gone back; and some, who are inclined
to attend, are kept away. Last Lecture-day
one came in, and submitted himself to call up-
on God, and said that he had been kept back
half a year by opposition, but now at last God
had emboldened him to break through."
     Innumerable were the affronts that Mr. Eliot
met with in his missionary work. Sometimes
the Sachems would thrust him out from among
them, telling him he was impertinent to trou-
ble himself with them, or their religion, and
that if he came again it was at his peril; but
his usual reply was; "I am about the work of
the great God; and my God is with me; so that
I fear neither you nor all the Sachems in the coun-
try; I will go on, and do you touch me if you
dare!"
     The stoutest of them have, on these occa-
sions, shrunk and fallen before him.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 75

derstanding, and enable others also to do as he
doth; and if I once had some of them who
were able to spell aright, and read and write,
it would further the work exceedingly, and in
the most speedy manner."
      "It hath pleased God this winter, (he writes
at the beginning of 1651,) much to enlarge the
ability of him whose help I use in translating
the scriptures. Besides, it hath pleased God
to stir up the hearts of many of them to learn
to read and write, wherein they do much prof-
it with little help, for they are very ingenious.
And whereas I had thought that we must have
an Englishman to be their school-master, I now
hope that God will raise up some of them-
selves, and enable them unto that work. With
my care to teach them well the sound of let-
ters and spelling, I trust we shall have sundry
of them who will write every man for himself
so much of the Bible as God shall enable me
to translate.
      "I have no hope. to see the Bible translated,
much less printed, in my days. My chief care
therefore is, to communicate as much of the
scriptures as I can by writing: and my scope
is, so to train up both men and youths, that
they may be sent forth to other parts of the
country to train up and instruct others.
       "The most effectual and general way of
spreading the gospel will be by themselves.
As for my preaching, though those whose
hearts God hath bowed to attend can pick up
some knowledge by my broken expressions;

76 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

yet I see that it is not so taking and effectual
to strangers as their expressions be who natu-
rally speak to them in their own tongue. To
the end therefore, that they may be the better
able to teach others, I train them up and ex-
ercise them therein; appointing two to this
exercise each Sabbath; when they have fin-
ished, I proceed. And assuredly I find a good
measure of ability in them, not only in prayer,
wherein they exceed my expectation, but in
the rehearsing such scriptures as I have ex-
pounded, and in expounding and applying them
as they have heard me do."
Mr. Eliot's views of raising up Indian teach-
ers and preachers were just. An Indian preach-
er was accustomed to the Indian mode of liv-
ing; he could with more ease than an English-
man accommodate himself to their savage man-
ner of livelihood. The sons of the wilderness
in communicating their ideas one to another,
dealt much in figurative language; a native
preacher must possess many advantages over
an English preacher from his knowledge of
their manner of communicating their thoughts.
Mr. Eliot judged accurately in placing his prin-
cipal dependence in raising up native preach-
ers. In the missionary exertions of the pres-
ent day, the friends of Zion hope ultimately to
spread the gospel, principally, by the instru-
mentality of native preachers. Missionary sta-
tions are now formed in various parts of the
heathen world. At some of these stations God
has already raised up native preacher. Fifty

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 77

native preachers have already been raised up
by the Baptist mission at Serampore, who
preach to their kinsmen according to the flesh
the unsearchable riches of Christ. At various
other stations God has raised up from among
the heathen those that "proclaim the accepta-
ble year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of
our God." God is preparing the way for the
universal spread of his kingdom. Let every
friend of Zion say in his heart and in his life,
"thy kingdom come." Let his alms, his prayers,
and his exertions all contribute to accomplish this
desirable end. Were Eliot now on earth, how
would his holy soul rejoice in the present pros-
pects of the Church! Especially would he re-
joice to hear that the same gospel which he
preached upon the banks of the river Charles,
around Massachusetts Bay, and in the interior
of the ancient state of Massachusetts, is now
preached to the Indian tribes upon the tribute-
ry streams of the Ohio, upon the banks of the
Mississippi, on the Missouri, and around the
Lakes. It would afford him additional satisfac-
tion to see the hand of the national govern-
ment extended to grant relief to these poor ig-
norant sons of the forest. It would add to his
enjoyment when he saw the anxiety of the In-
dians themselves, in so many instances, to be
taught both the arts of civilized life, and the
christian religion.*

* The Compiler think, it unnecessary to inform the
reader of the labors and success of Kingsbury, Hoyt,

78 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER XII.

HIS SUCC'ESS IN THE INSTRUCTION OF THE
INDIANS.

Mr. ELIOT'S care of the new converts was not
confined to his own personal instruction; he
took Monequeesun, an ingenious Indian, into his
house; and having taught him to read and
write, made him a School-Master at Natick.
He translated into the Indian language Prim-
ers, Catechisms, the Practice of Piety, Bax-
ter's Call to the unconverted, several of Mr.
Shepard's pieces, and at length the Bible it-
self.
Some of the more promising Indians were
admitted into the College, and had a liberal
education bestowed upon them.* The native
congregations were quickly furnished in this
way, with ministers of their own. In the mean
time Mr. Eliot visited them, as often as he
could on the week days, and encouraged the
most judicious among them to accustom them-

and others at the West among the Indians, for he per-
sumes, that every well informed Christian knows these
things already.
* In 1665, a brick edifice was erected at Cam-
bridge, thirty feet long and twenty feet wide for an In-
dian College.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 79

selves to exhort their brethren on the Lord's
day. A day of fasting and prayer, on account
of excessive rains, being held November 15,
1658, various exhortations were addressed by
them to their countrymen. Two of these ex-
hortations here follow. They bear no feeble
testimony to the success of their teacher.

THE EXHORTATION OF WABAN, AN INDIAN.

     Matthew ix. 12, 13. When Jesus beard that,
he said, they that be whole, need not a phy-
sician, but they that are sick. But go ye and
learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy
and not sacrifice; for I came not to call the
righteous but sinners to repentance.
     "I am a poor weak man, and know bot lit-
tle, and therefore I shall say but little.
     "These words are a similitude; that, as some
be sick and some well; and we see in experi-
ence, that when we be sick, we need a Physi-
cian, and go to him and make use of his phys-
ic; but they that be well need not do so, they
need it not and care not for it; so it is with
soul sickness. And we are all sick of that sick-
ness in our souls, but we know it not. We
have many at this time, sick in body; for
which cause we do fast and pray this day, and
cry to God, but more are sick in their souls,
as idlenes, neglect of the Sabbath, passion, &c.
Therefore, what should we do this day, but go
to Christ, the Physician of souls? He healed

80 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

men's bodies; but he can heal souls also. He
is a great Physician; therefore, let all sinners
go to him; therefore, this day know what
need we have of Christ, and let us go to Christ
to heal us of our sins, and he can heal us both
in soul and body. Again, what is that lesson
which Christ would have us to learn, that he
came not to call the righteous, but sinners to re-
pentance! What! doth not God love them
that be righteous? Doth he not call them to
him? Doth not God love righteousness? Is
not God righteous? Answer, The righteous
here are not meant those that are truly right-
eous, but those that are hypocrites; that seem
righteous and are not; that think themselves
righteous, but are not so indeed; such God
calleth not, neither doth he care for them.
But such as see their sins and are sick of sin,
them Christ calleth to repentance and to be-
lieve in Christ; therefore, let us see our need
of Christ to heal all our diseases of soul and
body."*

* Waban, it will be recollected, was the first Indian
that embraced the gospel at Noonanetum, and at his
wigwam the first interview with the Indians was held.
He removed to Natick with his brethren, and was one
of the rulers of fifty when the Indians first organized
their civil government. There are anecdotes respect-
ing this worthy Indian still preserved among the peo-
ple in Natick. "Mr. Eliot gave this testimony of Wa-
ban, that he had approved himself to be a good chris-
tian in Church order; and in civil order, a zealous,
faithful and steadfast ruler to his death." At his death
he expressed an animating, joy in the hope of heaven,

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 81

THE EXHORTATION OF NISHOKOU.

      Gen. viii. 20, 21. And Noah built an altar
to Jehovah; and be took of every clean beast
and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-of-
fering on the altar. And the Lord smelt a
sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I
will not again curse the ground, &.c.
      A little shall I say according to that little I
know.
     In that Noah sacrificed, he shewed himself
thankful; in that Noah worshipped, he shew-
ed himself godly; in that he offered clean
beasts, he shewed that God is a holy God, and
that all that come to God must be pure and
clean. I know, that we must by repentance
purge ourselves, which is the work we are to
do this day. Noah sacrificed and so worship-
ped. This was the manner of old time. But
what sacrifices have we now to offer? I shall
answer by that in Psalm iv. 5. Offer to God
the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust
in the Lord. These are the true spiritual sa-

where he should unite with the souls of departed be-
lievers. He charged his children and friend, not to
mourn at his departure, and urged them all to confess,
to repent of their sins, and believe in Jesus Christ, in
whom he trusted for the resurrection of his body. His
last words, immediately before he expired, were, "I
give my soul to thee, 0 my Redeemer, Jesus Christ,
Pardon all my sins, and deliver me from hell. Help
me against death and then I am willing to die, and when,
I die, O help me and relieve me.” – History of Newton.

82 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

crifices which God requires at our hands, the
sacrifices of righteousness; i. e. we must look
to our hearts and ways, that they may be right-
eous, and then we shall be acceptable to God
when we worship him; but if we be unright-
eous, unholy, ungodly, we shall not be accept-
ed, our sacrifices will be stark nought. Again:
we are to put our trust in the Lord. Who else
is there for us to trust in? We must believe
in the word of God. If we doubt of God, or
doubt of his word, our sacrifices are little
worth; but if we trust steadfastly in God, our
sacrifices will be good.
Once more; what sacrifices must we offer?
my answer is, we must offer such as Abraham
offered; and what a sacrifice that was, we are
told, Gen. xxii. 12; Now I know chat thou fear-
est me, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy
only son from me. It seems he had but one
dearly beloved son, and offered that son to God,
and so God said, I know thou fearest me. Be-
hold a sacrifice in deed and truth! Such an
one we must offer; only God requires us not
to offer our sons, but our sins, our dearest sins.
God calls us this day to part with all our sins,
though never so beloved; and we must not
withhold any of them from him; if we will
not part with all, the sacrifice is not right. Let
us part with such sins as we love best, and it
will be a good sacrifice.
God smelt a sweet savor in Noah's sacrifice,
and so will God receive our sacrifices, when
we worship him aright.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 83

But how did God manifest his acceptance of
Noah's offering? It was by promising to drown
the world no more: but to give us fruitful sea-
sons. God has chastised us of late, as if he
would utterly drown us, and he has drowned
and spoiled, and rained a great deal of our hay,
and threatens to kill our cattle. It is for this
that we fast and pray this day. Let us, then,
offer a clean and pure sacrifice, as Noah did;
so God will smell a savor of rest, and he will
withhold the rain and bless us with such fruit-
ful seasons as we are desiring of him."

CHAPTER XIII.

HIS TRANSLATIONS.

WE have seen Eliot's anxious wish to trans-
late the scriptures into the tongue of his
Indians, and the great pains to which he
submitted that he might accomplish his desire.
Herein God blessed him beyond his hopes, as
he lived to publish, in 1661, the New Testa-
ment in the Indian tongue. It was dedicated
to Charles II. and was followed, in about three
years by the Old Testament. This first edi-
tion consisted of two thousand copies, and was
much sooner exhausted than could be expect-
ed. A second edition of the whole Bible fol-
lowed in 1685, in the correction of which Eli-
ot received great assistance from Mr. John Cot-
ton, of Plymouth.

84                  MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

       "Behold, ye Americans" (exclaims Dr. Ma-
ther) "the greatest honor that ever you were
partakers of! The Bible was printed here
at our Cambridge; and it is the only Bible
that ever was printed in all America, from the
very foundation of the world. The whole
translation be writ with but one pen: which
pen, had it not been lest, would certainly have
deserved a richer case than was bestowed upon
that pen which Holland writ his translation of
Plutarch with. The Bible being justly made
the leader of all the rest, a little Indian libra-
ry quickly followed; for, besides Primers and
Grammars, and some other such composures,
we had the 'Practice of Piety' in the Indian
tongue; and the Reverend Richard Baxter's
"Call to the unconverted."
     "He also translated some of Mr. Shepard's
composures; and such Catechisms likewise, as
there was occasion for. It cannot but be hop-
ed that some fish will be made alive, since the wa-
ter, of the Sanctuary thus come unto them."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE FELLOW LABORERS OF ELIOT, WlTH AN
ACCOUNT OF THEIR SUCCESS.

THE reader may form a judgment of the
progress of the gospel, among the Indians, by

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 85

the following extract of a letter written by Dr.
Increase Mather, Rector of the College of Cam-
bridge, in New-England, to Dr. John Leusden,
Hebrew Professor in the University of Utrecht.
It is dated Boston, July 12, 1687.
      After stating the entrance of Mr. Eliot on
the great work of converting the Indians, above
forty years before, and his administration of
the Lord's Supper, first to the Indian Church
at Natick, he proceeds, "The Pastor of that
Church now is an Indian; his name is Daniel.*
Besides this Church at Natick among our in-
habitants of the Massachusetts Colony, there
are four Indian assemblies, where the name of
the true God and Jesus Christ is solemnly call-
ed upon.
     "These assemblies have some American
Preachers. Mr. Eliot formerly preached unto
them once every fortnight; but now he is
weakened with labors and old age, being in the
eighty fourth year of his age, and preacheth
not to the Indians oftener than once in two
months.
      "There is another Church consisting only
of converted Indians, about fifty miles from
hence, in an Indian town called Mashippaug;
the first Pastor of that Church was an English-
man: who being skilful in the American lan-
guage preached the gospel to them in their

     *This was undoubtedly Daniel Takewambait
whose tomb-atone is still standing near the place where
the Indian meeting-house formerly stood. -- He died in
1716.

896 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

own tongue. This English Pastor is dead;
and, instead of him, that Church has an Indian
Preacher.
     “There are besides that, five assemblies of
Indians professing the name of Christ, not far
distant from Mashippaug, which have Indian
Preachers. John Cotton, Pastor of the Church
at Plymouth, (son of my venerable father-in-
law, John Cotton formerly the famous teacher
of the Church at Boston) hath made very great
progress in learning the Indian tongue, and is
very skilful in it; he preaches in their own
1anguage, to the aforementioned five congre-
gations, every week.
      "Moreover, of the inhabitants of Saconet,
in Plymouth Colony, there is a great congre-
gation of those who for distinction's sake are
called praying Indians, because they pray to
God in Christ.
      ''Not far from a promontory called Cape
Cod, there are six assemblies of heathens, who
are to be reckoned as Catechumens, amongst
whom there are six Indian Preachers. Sam-
uel Treat, Pastor of a Church at Eastham,
preacheth to those congregations in their own
language. There are likewise among the Isl-
anders of Nantucket a Church, with a Pastor
who was lately a heathen, and several meetings
of Catechumens, who are instructed by the con-
verted Indians.
    "There is also another island, about seven
leagues long, called Martha's Vineyard, where
are two American Churches planted, which

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 87

are more famous than the rest; over one of
which there presides an ancient lndian as Pas-
tor, called Hiacoomes. John Hiacoomes, son
of said Indian Pastor, also preacheth the gos-
pel to his countrymen. In another Church in
that place, John Tockinosb, a converted Indian,
teaches. In these Churches, ruling Elders of
the Indians are joined to the Pastors. The
Pastors were chosen by the people; and when
they had fasted and prayed, Mr. Eliot and Mr.
Cotton laid their bands on them, so that they
were solemnly ordained.
"In short, there are six Churches of baptiz-
ed Indians in New-England, and eighteen as-
semblies of Catechumens, professing the name
of Christ. Of the Indians, there are four and
twenty, who are the Preachers of the word of
God; and, besides these, there are four Eng-
lish ministers, who preach the Gospel in the
Indian tongue."

88 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER XV.

OF THE INTEREST WHICH ELIOT TOOK IN THE
SUCCESS OF HIS FELLOW LABORERS.

MR. ELIOT was anxious to excite his breth-
ren to take their share in the great work which
occupied his own soul. Speaking in 1648, of
some of Cutshamaquin's subjects in Martha's
Vineyard, he says, ''I hue entreated Mr. May-
hew (the young scholar, son of old Mr. May-
hew) who preacheth to the English, to teach
them; and he doth take pains in their lan-
guage, and teacheth them not without success,
blessed be God! And truly I think all the min-
isters who live near them would do well to do
the like. I have earnestly solicited many so
to do; and I hope God will, in his time, bow
their hearts thereunto. Nor was he satisfied
with rousing his brethren to assist him in the
work; he laid himself out to procure for them
such requisites for their meet discharge of
their labor.
"Mr. Mayhew, (says he, when writing to a
friend in authority) who putteth his hand unto
this plough at Martha's Vineyard, being young
and a beginner hath extreme want of books.
He needeth Commentaries and common places
for the body of divinity, that so be may be
well grounded and principled. Send him over
such books as may be necessary for a young

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 89

scholar. I will name none; he needs them all.
I beseech you put some weight upon it, for I
desire that he may be furnished in that kind;
and other supplies will be needful for him."
Nor did he look with envy at the suc-
cess with which God favored these fellow la-
borers.
"The blessing of God, (he says) doth hope-
fully and successfully appear in the labors of
my brother Mayhew; insomuch I hope his In-
dians also will be after a while; ripe for this
work of civilization, if once they see a suc-
cessful pattern of it. The cloud increaseth,
and God seemeth to be coming in among them.
They are very desirous to have their children
taught, and it is a pity that this care of theirs
should not be furthered by all means. I have
entreated a woman living near where they
dwell, to do that office for their children, and I
pay her for it."

90 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER XVI.

OF THE NUMBER, NAMES ANO SITUATION OF THE IN-
      DIAN PRAYING TOWNS WITHIN THE COLONY OF
      MASSACHUSETTS, WITH THE CHURCHES GATHERED
      IN SOME OF THEM, THE QUANTITIES OF LAND BE-
      LONGING TO THEM &c.

THE first town of praying Indians in Massa-
chusetts is Natick. The name signifieth a
place of hills.*

* Our authority for this was Deacon Ephraim, a
Natick Indian lately deceased. The Indian name for
hills in the Ma88acbusetts Psalter is Wadokwash. In
Roger Williams' Key into the language of America,
we find the word Nittauke, which signifies my land.
The following chapter is taken from Gookin's His-
torical Account of Indians, written in 1674.† “Major
General Gookin, of Cambridge, the author of this ac-
count of praying towns, was the superintendant of all
the Indians that had subjected themselves to the pro-
vincial government. He was accustomed to accompa-
ny Mr. Eliot in his missionary tours. While Mr. Eliot
preached the gospel to the Indians, General Gookin
administered civil affairs among them. In 1675, when
Philip's war broke out, the English inhabitants gene-
rally were jealous of the praying Indians, and would
have destroyed them, had not General Gookin and Mr.
Eliot stepped forth in their defence. The Christian
Indians were for a while kept on one of the islands
in Boston harbour through fear of their becoming traitors

† See Collection, of Mass. Hist. Society, Vol. I.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 91

      It lieth upon Charles river, eighteen miles
south-west from Boston, and ten miles north-
west from Dedham. It hath twenty nine fam-
ilies, which computing five persons to a fami-
ly, amount to one hundred and forty five per-
sons. The town contains about six thousand
acres. The soil is good and well watered, and
produceth plenty of grain and fruit. The land
was granted to the Indians at the motion of Mr.
Eliot, by the General Court of Massachusetts:
and in the year 1651, a number of them com-
bined together and formed a town, which is
the place of the greatest name among Indians
and where their principal courts are held.
      (The form of government which they adopt-
ed, the manner of its organization, the way in
which the town was laid out and built, have
been before described, so that we shall omit
this part of Gookin's account of Natick, and
relate only those particulars that have not been
noticed.)
   In this town was the first Church of Indians
embodied, in the year 1660. Unto this Church
some pious Indians of other places, both men
and women, are since joined. The number of

and going over to the enemy. The issue proved that
these fears were entirely groundless. Not a single
praying Indian went over to the enemy. This fact
affords abundant encouragement to civilize and chris-
tianize the savages of our western forests. This is the
most effectual way to preserve our frontier settlements
from savage butchery. General Gookin died in 1687,
an old man whose days were tilled with usefulness."

92 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

men and women in full communion with this
Church were in 1670, between forty and fifty.
We are to consider, that all those we call
praying Indians are not all visible Church mem-
bers, or baptized persons; which ordinance of
baptism is not to be administered unto any that
are out of the visible Church until they pro-
fess their faith in Christ and obedience to him,
but the infants of such as are members of the
visible Church, are to be baptized. Here I
shall take the liberty, though it be a digres-
sion, to relate a story of remark concerning a
child at Natick, a youth of about eleven years
of age, who was of a sober and grave carriage,
and an attentive hearer of the word consider-
ing his age and capacity, but he had a weak
body and was consumptive. This child hear-
ing Mr. Eliot preach upon a time at Natick
when the ordinance of baptism was to be ad-
ministered unto some children, whose parents
had made profession of their faith and were
joined to the Church: upon which occasion
Mr. Eliot said, that baptism was Christ's mark,
which he ordered to be set upon his lambs, and
that it was a manifest token of Christ's love to
the offspring of his people to set this mark upon
them. This child taking special notice of this
passage, did often solicit his father and moth-
er, that one or both of them would endeavour
to join to the Church, that be might be mark-
ed for one of Christ's Lambs before he died.
The parents, who were well inclined, espe-
cially the mother, and being also very affec-

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 93

tionate to their child, as the Indians generally
are, did seriously ponder the child's reiterated
intreaties; aad not long after, first the mother
and then the father of the child, joined to the
Church. Soon after the lad was baptized: in
which he did greatly rejoice and triumph, that
he was now marked for one of Christ's Lambs;
now said be to his father and mother, I am will-
ing to die; which shortly after came to pass;
and l doubt not, but as the child had Christ's
name set upon him in baptism and by faith, so
his immortal soul is now in glory, rejoicing in
communion with Christ.
      There are many Indians that live among
those that have subjected themselves to the
gospel, that are catechised; who attend public
worship, read the scriptures, pray in their fam-
ilies morning and evening, who have not yet
attached themselves to the visible Church.
     The manner practiced by these Indians in
the worship of God is thus. Upon the Lord's
days, fast days, and lecture days, the people
assemble together at the sound of a drum, (for
bells they yet have not) twice a day, in the
morning and afternoon, on Lord's days, but on-
ly once upon lecture days, when one of their
teachers begins with a solemn and affectionate
prayer.
      In these acts of worship, for I have often
been present with them, they demean them-
selves visibly with reverence, attention, mod-
esty and solemnity; the men-kind sitting by
themselves, and the women-kind by themselves,

94 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

according to their age, quality and degree in
comely manner. And for my own part, I have
no doubt, but am fully satisfied, according to
the judgment of charity, that divers of them do
fear God and are true believers; but yet I will
not deny, but there may be some of them hypo-
crites, that profess religion, and yet are not
sound hearted. But things that are secret be-
long to God; and things that are revealed, un-
to us and our children.
Their teachers are generally chosen from
among themselves, except some few English
teachers of the most pious and able men among
them.
Mr. Eliot hath of late years fallen into a
practice among the Indians, the better to pre-
pare and furnish them with abilities to expli-
cate and apply the scriptures, by setting up a
lecture among them in Logick and Theology,
once every fortnight all the summer, at Na-
tick: whereat he is present and ready, and
reads and explains to them the principles of
those arts. And God hath been pleased gra-
ciously so to bless these means, that several of
them especially young men of acute parts, have
gained much knowledge and are able to speak
methodically and profitably unto any plain text
of scripture, yea, as well all you can imagine
such little means of learning can advantage
them unto. From this Church and town of Na-
tick hath issued forth, as from a Seminary of
virtue and piety, divers teachers that are em-
ployed in several new prying towns.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 95

      In this town they have residing some of their
principal rulers, the chief whereof is named
Waban,* who is now above seventy years of
age. He is a person of great prudence and
piety. I do not know any Indian that excels
him. Other rulers there are living there, as
Nattous and Piam, Boohan and others. These
are good men and prudent, but inferior to the
first. The teachers of this town are Anthony
and John Speen, who are grave and pious men.
They have .two constables belonging to this
place chosen yearly; and there is a Marshal-
General belonging to all the praying Indian
towns, called Captain Josiah, or Pennahanit.
He doth attend the chief courts kept here, but
he dwells at another place, Nashobah.†
     I have been the longer in speaking of this
place, because it is the chiefest town and the
eldest Church; and what is said of this doth
agree in divers things to all the rest.‡
      The next town is Pakemitt or Punkapoag.§
The signification of the name is taken from a
spring, that ariseth out of red earth. This
town is situated south of Boston about fourteen
miles. There is a great mountain called the
Blue Hill lieth north-east from it two miles;

    * Waban's seat was about half a mile south of the
place where the meeting house in Natick now stands.
                              † Littleton.
     ‡ Natick was incorporated into an English District
in the year 1761, and into a town in 17821
     § Within the limits or Stoughton.

96 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

and the town of Dedham about three miles
north-west from it. This is a small town and
hath not above twelve families in it; and so
about sixty souls. This is the second praying
town. The Indians that settled here, removed
from Neponset Mill. The quantity of land be-
longing to this village, is about six thousand
acres; and some of it is fertile, but not gene-
rally so good as in other towns. Here they
worship God and keep the Sabbath, in the same
manner as is done at Natick, before declared.
They have a ruler, a constable, and a School-
master. Their ruler's name is Ahawton; an
old and faithful friend to the English. Their
teacher is William Ahawton, his son; an in-
genious person and pious man, and of good
parts. Here was a very able teacher that di-
ed about three years since. His name was
William Awinian. He was a very knowing
person, and of great ability and of genteel de-
portment, and spoke very good English. His
death was a very great rebuke to this place.
This town hath within this ten years, lost by
death several honest and able men; and some
have turned apostates, and removed from them:
which dispensations of God have greatly damp-
ed the flourishing condition of this place. Here
it was that Mr. John Eliot jun. before men-
tioned, preached a lecture once a fortnight, for
sundry years until his decease. In this village,
besides their planting and keeping cattle and
swine and fishing in good ponds and upon Ne-
ponset river which lieth near them; they are

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 97

also advantaged by a large Cedar swamp;
wherein such as are laborious and diligent, do
get. many a pound, by cutting and preparing
cedar shingles and clapboards, which sell well
at Boston and other English towns adjacent.
Hassanamessit,* is the third town of praying
Indians. This name signifieth a place of small
stones. This place lieth about thirty eight
miles from Boston, west-southerly; and about
two miles east of Nipmuck river;† and near
unto the old road-way to Connecticut. It hath
not above twelve families; and so, according to
our computation, about sixty souls; but is ca-
pable to receive some hundreds, as generally
the other villages are, if it shall please God to
multiply them. The dimensions of this town
are about four miles square; and so about eight
thousand acres of land. This village is not in-
ferior unto any of the Indian plantations for
rich land and plenty of meadow, being well
tempered and watered. It produceth plenty
of corn, grain, and fruit: for there are several
good orchards in this place. It is an apt place
for keeping of cattle and swine; in which re-
spect this people are the best stored of any In-
dian town of their size. Their ruler is named
Anaweakin; a sober and discreet man. Their
teacher's name is Tackuppa-willin, his broth-
er; a pious and discreet man, and apt to teach.
Their aged father, whose name I remember
not, is a grave and sober christian, and deacon

* Grafton.
† Blackstone river.

98 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

of the Church. They have a brother that lives
in the town called James, that was bred among
the English and employed as a press-man
in printing the Indian Bible; who can read well
and as I take it write also. The father, moth-
er, brothers, and their wives, are all reputed
pious persons, and the principal studs of the
town. Here they have a meeting-house for
the worship of God after the English fashion of
building, and two or three other houses after
the same mode; but they fancy not greatly to
live in them. Their way of living is by hus-
bandry, and keeping cattle and swine; where-
in they do as well, or rather better, than any
other Indians, but yet are very far short of the
English both in diligence and providence.
In this town wa11 the second Indian Church
gathered, about three years since, in summer
1671. The Pastor of this Church is Tackup-
pa-willin; the ruling elder Piambow; the dea-
con, father to the Pastor. There are in full
communion in this Church, and living in the
town, about sixteen men and women; and about
thirty baptized persons; but there are several
others, members of this Church, that live in
other places. This is a hopeful plantation.
The Lord gave his blessing to it. The way of
their worship and civil order is here as in oth-
er Indian towns before mentioned.
Okommakamesist, alias Marlborough, is sit-
uated about 12 miles north-north-east from Has-
sanamessit, about thirty miles from Boston west-
erly. This village contains about ten families,

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 99

and consequently about fifty souls. The quan-
tity of land appertaining to it, is six thousand
acres. It is much of it good land, and yieldeth
plenty of corn, being well husbanded. It is
sufficiently stored with meadow, and is well
wooded and watered. It hath several good or-
chards upon it, planted by the Indians; and is
in itself a very good plantation. This town
doth join so near to the English of Marlbor-
ough, that it was spoken of David in type, and
our Lord Jesus Christ the anti-type, under his
shadow ye shall rejoice; but the Indians here
do not much rejoice under the Englishmen's
shadow; who do so overtop them in the num-
ber of their people, stocks of cattle, &c. that
the Indians do not greatly flourish, or delight
in their station at present. Their ruler here
was Onomog, who is lately deceased, about two
months since; which is a great blow to the
place. He was a pious and discreet man, and
the very soul, as it were, of that place. Their
teacher's name is Solomon.* Here they ob-
serve the same decorum for religion and civil
order, as is done in other towns. They have
a constable, and other officers as the rest have.
The Lord sanctify the present affliction they
are under by reason of their bereavements;
and raise up others and give them grace to pro-
mote religion and good order among them.
Wamesit† is the fifth praying town, and this

* See Hutchinson.
† Tewksbury

100 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

place is situated upon Merrimack river, being
a neck of land, where Concord river falleth
into Merrimack river. It is about twenty miles
from Boston, N.N.W. and within five miles
of Billerica, and as much from Chelmsford; so
that it hath Concord river upon the W. N. W.
and Merrimack, upon the N. N. E. It hath
about fifteen families; and consequently sev-
enty five souls. The quantity of land belong-
ing to it, is about twenty five hundred acres.
The land is fertile, and yieldeth plenty of corn.
It is excellently accommodated with a fishing
place , and there is taken a variety of fish in
their seasons, as salmon, shad, lamprey eels,
sturgeon, bass, and divers others. There is a
great confluence of Indians, that usually resort
to this place in the fishing seasons. Of these
strange Indians, divers are vicious and wicked
men and women, which Satan makes use of
to obstruct the prosperity of religion here.
The ruler of this people is called Numphow.
He is one of the blood of their chief Sachems.
Their teacher is called Samuel; son to the ru-
ler, a young man of good parts and can speak,
read and write English, competently. He is
one of those that was bred up at school, at the
charge of the Corporation for the Indians.
These Indians, if they were diligent and indus-
trious, to which they have been frequently
cited, might get much by their fish, especially
fresh salmon, which are of esteem and a good
price at Boston in the season; and the Indians
being stored with horses of a low price, might

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 101

furnish the market fully, being but a short dis-
tance from it. And divers other sorts of fish
they might salt or pickle, as sturgeon, and
bass; which would he much to their profit.
But notwithstanding divers arguments used to
persuade them, and some orders made to en-
courage them; yet their idleness and improve-
idence doth hitherto prevail.
     At this place, once a year, at the beginning
of May, the English magistrate keeps his court,
accompanied with Mr. Eliot, the minister; who
at this time takes his opportunity to preach,
not only to the inhabitants, but to as many of
the strange Indians, as can be persuaded to
hear him; of which sort, usually in times of
peace, there are considerable numbers at that
season. And this place being an ancient and
capital seat of Indians, they come to fish; and
this good man takes this opportunity to spread
the net of the gospel, to fish for their souls.
Here it may not be impertinent to give you
the following relation.
     May fifth, 1674, according to our usual cus-
tom, Mr. Eliot and myself took our journey to
Wamesit or Pawtucket: and arriving there
that evening, Mr. Eliot preached to as many
of them as could be got together, out of Mat.
xxii. 1-14, the parable of the marriage of the
king's son.
     We met at the wigwam of one called Wan-
nalancet, about two miles from the town, near
Pawtucket falls, and bordering upon the Mer-
timack river. This person, Wannalancet, is

102 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

the eldest son of old Pasaconaway, the chiefest
Sachem of Pawtucket. He is a sober and grave
person, and of years, between fifty and sixty.
He hath been always loving and friendly to
the English. Many endeavours have been used
several years to gain this Sachem to embrace
the christian religion; but he hath stood off
from time to time, and not yielded up himself
personally, though for four years past, he hath
been willing to hear the word of God preach-
ed, and to keep the Sabbath. A great reason
that hath kept him off, I conceive, hath been
the indisposition and aversion of sundry of his
chief men and relations to pray to God; which
he foresaw would desert him, in case he turn-
ed christian. But at this time, May 6, 1674,
it pleased God so to influence and overcome
his heart, that it being proposed to him to give
his answer concerning praying to God, after
some deliberation and serious pause, he stood
up and made a speech to this effect.
Sirs, you. have been pleased for four years
last past, in your abundant love to apply your-
selves particularly to me and my people, to
exhort, press, and persuade us to pray to God.
I am very thankful to you for your pains. I
must acknowledge, said he, I have all my days,
used to pass in an old canoe, ( alluding to his
frequent custom to pass in a canoe upon the
river) and now you exhort me to exchange and
leave my old canoe, and embark in a new ca-
noe, to which I have hitherto been unwilling;
but now I yield up myself to your advice, and

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 103

enter into a new canoe, and do engage to pray
to God hereafter.
This his professed subjection was well pleas-
ing to all that were present, of which there
were some English persons of quality; as Mr.
Richard Daniel, a gentleman that lived in Bil-
lerica, about six miles off; and Lieutenant
Henchman, a neighbour at Chelmsford; be-
aides brother Eliot and myself, with sundry
others, English and Indians. Mr. Daniel be-
fore named, desired brother Eliot to tell this
Sachem from him, that it may be whilst he
went in his old canoe, be passed in a quiet
stream; but the end thereof was death and de-
struction to soul and body; but now he went
in a new canoe, perhaps he would meet with
storms and trials; but yet be should be en-
couraged to persevere, for the end of his
voyage would be everlasting rest. Moreover,
he and his people were exhorted by brother
Eliot and myself, to go on and sanctify the Sab-
bath, to hear the word and use the mean, that
God had appointed, and encourage their hearts
in the Lord their God. Since that time I hear
the Sachem doth persevere, and is a constant
and diligent hearer of God's word, and sanc-
tifieth the Sabbath, though he doth travel
to Wamesit meeting every Sabbath, which is
above two miles; and though sundry of his
people have deserted him, since he subjected
to the gospel, yet he continues and persists.
Nashobah* is the sixth praying Indian town.

* Littleton.

104 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

This village is situated in a manner in the cen-
tre between Chelmsford, Lancaster, Groton and
Concord. It lieth twenty live miles W. N. W.
from Boston. The inhabitants are about ten
families, and consequently about fifty souls.
The dimensions of this village is about four
miles square. The land is fertile, and well
stored with meadows and woods, It hath good
ponds for fish adjoining to it. The people live
here as in other Indian villages, upon planting
corn, fishing, hunting, and sometimes labouring
with the English. Their ruler of late years
was John Ahatawance, a pious man. Since his
decease, Pennakenet, is the chief. Their teach-
er is named John Thomas, a sober and pious
man. His father was murdered by the Maquas
in a secret manner, as he was fishing for eels
at his wear some years since, during the late
war. He was a pious and useful person; and
that place sustained a great loss in him. In
this village as well all in other Indian planta-
tions, they have orchards of apples, whereof
they make cider; which some of them have
not the wisdom and grace to use for their com-
fort, but are prone to abuse unto drunkenness
And although the laws be strict to suppress this
sin; and some of their own rulers are very
careful and zealous in the execution of them;
yet such is the madness and folly of man natu-
rally, that he doth eagerly pursue after that
which tendeth to his own destruction.
I have often seriously considered what course
to take, to restrain this beastly sin of drunken

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 105

sees among them; but hitherto cannot reach
it. For if it were possible, as it is not, to pre
vent the English selling them strong drink;
yet they having a native liberty to plant orch-
ards, and sow grain, as barley and the like, of
which they may and do make strong drink that
doth inebriate them; so that nothing can over-
come and conquer this exorbitancy, but the
Sovereign grace of God in Christ, which is the
only antidote to prevent and mortify the poi-
son of sin.
Magonkaquog* is the seventh town where
praying Indians inhabit. The signification of
the place's name is a place of great trees. It
is situated partly within the bounds of Natick
and partly upon the hinds granted to the coun-
try. It lieth west southerly from Boston about
twenty four miles, near the mid way between
Natick and Hassanamessit. The number of
their families is about eleven, and about fifty
five souls. There are men and women, eight
members of the Church at Natick, and about
fifteen baptised persons. The quantity of the
land belonging to it is about three thousand
acres. The Indians plant upon a great hill
which is very fertile. These people worship
God and keep the Sabbath, and observe civil
order, as do the other towns. They have a
Constable anti other officers. Their ruler's
name is Pamphaman; a sober and active man
and pious. Their teacher's name is Job; a

* Hopkinton, 9

106 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

person well accepted for piety and abilities
among them. This town was the last settling
of the old towns. They have plenty of corn,
and keep some cattle horses and swine, for
which the place is well accommodated.
      Having now spoken briefly of the seven old
towns of praying Indians, I shall endeavour
more briefly to give an account of seven towns
more of praying Indians, within the jurisdic-
tion of Massachusetts; which, for distinction's
sake, we call the new praying towns in the
Nipmuck country. The Indians of some of
these towns began to hearken unto the gospel
about three years since, or thereabouts. In July
1673, Mr. Eliot and myself made a journey to
visit some of them, and to encourage and ex-
hort them to proceed in the ways of God.
       This year in the 14th of September last,
1674, we both took another journey. Our de-
sign was to travel further among them, and to
confirm their souls in the christian religion,
and to settle teachers in every town, and to es-
tablish civil government among them, as in
other praying towns. We took with us five or
six godly persons, whom we intended to pre-
sent unto them for ministers.
       The first of these new praying towns is
Manchage,* which lieth west of Nipmuck riv-
er, about eight miles; and is from Hassana-
messit west by south, ten miles; and is from
Boston about fifty miles, on the same rhomb.

* Oxford.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 107

It is seated in a fertile country for good land.
To it belongeth about twelve families and
about sixty souls; but people were generally
from home, though we spoke with some of
them afterwards. For this place we appoint-
ed Waabesktamin, a hopeful young man, for
their minister, whom the people, with whom
we spake afterwords, accepted.
      There is no land yet granted by the General
Court to this place, nor to any other of the
new praying towns. But the Court intendeth
shortly, upon the application and professed
subjection of these Indians unto the yoke of
Christ, to do for them as they have for other
praying Indians.
       About five miles distant from hence is a se-
cond town called Chabanakongkomun.* It
hath its denomination from a very great pond,
about five or six miles long, that borders upon
the south-ward of it. This village is fifty five
miles southwest from Boston. There are about
nine families and forty five souls. The people
are of sober deportment, and better instructed
in the worship of God, than any of the new
praying towns. Their teacher's name is Jo-
seph, who is one of the Church of Hassanames-
sit; a sober, pious and ingenious person, and
speaks English well, and is well read in the
scriptures.
       He was the first that settled this town, and
got the people to him about two years since.

              * Dudley.

108 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

It is a new plantation and is well accommodate-
ed with uplands and meadows. At this place
dwells an Indian called Black James, who
about a year since was constituted Constable of
all the praying towns. He is a person that
hath approved himself diligent and courageous,
faithful and zealous to suppress sin; and so he
was confirmed in his office another year. Mr.
Eliot preached unto this people, and we pray-
ed and sung psalms with them, and we exhort-
ed them to stand fast in the faith. A part of
one night we spent in discoursing with them,
and resolving a variety of questions propound-
ed by them, touching matters of religion and
civil order, The teacher Joseph and the Con-
stable James went with us unto the next town
which is called Maanexit,* is a third village,
and lieth about seven miles westerly from
Chabanakongkomun. It is situated in a very
fertile country and near unto a fresh river up-
on the west of it, called Mohegan river.† It
is distant from Boston about sixty miles west,
and by south, The inhabitants are about
twenty families, as we compute one hundred
souls. Mr. Eliot preached unto this people
out of the 24th Psalm, seven to the end; Lift
up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall
come in, &c.

* The northwest part of Woodstock.
† Now called Quinaboag river, which falls into She-
tucket river two mile above Norwich landing.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 109

     After Sermon was ended, we presented unto
them John Moqua, a pious and sober person
there present, for their minister, which they
thankfully accepted. Then their teacher nam-
ed and set and rehearsed, a suitable psalm,
which being sung, and a conclusion with prayer,
they were exhorted, both the teacher to be
diligent and faithful, and to take care of the
flock, whereof the Holy Ghost had made him
overseer, and the people also to give obedi-
ence and subjection to him in the Lord.
      Quantisset* is a fourth village, which lieth
six miles to the south of Maanexit, and within
four miles of the south line of Massachusetts
Colony. This place bath about twenty fami-
lies and one hundred souls. We went not to
it, being straitened for time; but we spake with
some of the principal people at Wabquissit.
For whom we appointed a sober and pious
young man of Natick, called Daniel.† to be
minister, whom they accepted in the Lord.
      Wabquissitt‡ is a fifth town which lieth about
nine or ten miles from Maanexit, upon the west
side of Mohegan river; and is distant from
Boston west and by south, about seventy two

     * The southeast part of Woodstock.
      † This was probably Daniel Takewambit whose
tomb-stone is still standing in Natick near by where
the Indian meeting-house formerly stood.
     ‡ The southwest part of Woodstock. Woodstock
is in Connecticut; but it was formerly considered as
within the limits of Massachusetts.

                             9*

110 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

miles. It lieth about four miles. within the
Massachusetts south line. It hath about thirty
families and one hundred and fifty souls. It is
situated in a very rich soil, manifested by the
goodly crop of Indian corn then newly gather-
ed, not less than forty bushels upon an acre.
We came thither fate in the evening upon the
fifteenth of September, and took up our quarters
at the Sagamore's wigwam, who was not at
home; but his squaw courteously admitted
and provided liberally in their way, for the In-
dians that accompanied us. This Sagamore
inclines to religion, and keeps the meeting on
Sabbath-days at his house, which is spacious,
about sixty feet in length, and twenty in width.
The teacher of this place is named Samp-
son; an active and ingenious person. He
speaks good English and reads well. He is
brother unto Joseph, before named, teacher at
Chabanakoogkomun; being both the only sons
of one Petavit, alias Robin, one of the late rul-
ers of Hassanamessit, who died not above three
days before our coming thither, after about a
year's sickness of the stone. He was in his
time a courageous and stout man for God and
religion; and was one that stood in the gap
against the pride and insolence of wicked In-
dians, although Sagamores, who sometimes
would ruffle against religion and good order in
his presence. He would venture him to op-
pose them, to good success. I remember sun-
dry years since, a Sagamore, that lived up in
the inland country, came to Hassanamessit and

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 111

brought with him a rundlet of strong liquors;
and lodging in his house, Petavit in the morn-
ing sent for the Constable, and ordered him,
and according to law seized the rundlet of
liquors. At which act the Sagamore drew his
long knife, and stood with his foot at the rundlet,
daring any to seize it. But Petavit thereupon
rose up and drew his knife and set his foot al-
so at the rundlet, and commanded the Consta-
ble to do his office. Some other actions of the
like kind he did. In truth God has magnified
his grace to his two sons; being both hopeful,
pious, and active men; especially the young-
est before named, Sampson, teacher at Wab-
quisset, who was a few years since a dissolute
person, and I have been forced to be severe in
punishing him for his misdemeanors formerly.
But now he is, through grace, changed and be-
come sober and pious; and he is now very
thankful to me for the discipline formerly ex-
ercised towards him.
And besides his flagitious life heretofore, he
lived very uncomfortable with his wife: but
now they live very well together. I confess
this story is a digression. But because it tend-
eth to magnify grace and that to a prodigal,
and to declare how God remembers his cove-
nant unto such, as are faithful and zealous for
him in their time and generation, I have men-
tioned it.
We being at Wabquissit, at the Sagamore's
wigwam, divers of the principal people that
were at home came to us, with whom we spent

112 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

the principal part of the night in prayer, sing-
ing psalms, and exhortations. There was a
person among them who sitting mute a great
space, at last spake to this effect; that he was
agent for Unkas the Sachem of Mohegan, who
challenged right to and dominion over, this
people of Wabquissit. And, said he, Unkas is
not well pleased, that the English should pass
over Mohegan river, to call his Indians to pray
to God.
Unto which speech Mr. Eliot first answered,
that it was his work to call upon all men every
where, as he had opportunity, especially the
Indians, to repent and embrace the gospel; but
he did not meddle with civil right, or jurisdic-
tion.
When he had done speaking, then I declar-
ed to him and desired him to inform Unkas
what I said, that Wabquissit was within the
jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and that the gov-
ernment of that people did belong to them;
and that they do look upon themselves con-
cerned to promote the good of all people with-
in the limits, especially if they embrace chris-
tianity; yet it was not hereby intended to
abridge the Indian Sachems of their just and
ancient right over the Indians in respect of
paying tribute or any other dues. But the
main design of the English was to bring them
to the good knowledge of God in Christ Jesus;
and to suppress among them those sins of
drunkenness, idolatry, powawing or witchcraft,
whoredom, murder, and like sins. As for the

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 113

English, they had taken no tribute from them,
nor taxed them with any thing of that kind.
      Upon the 16tb of September, being at Wab-
quissit as soon as the people were come to-
gether, Mr. Eliot first prayed, and then preach-
ed to them in their own language, out of Matt.
vi. 33. "First seek the kingdom of heaven,
and the righteousness thereof, and all other
things shall be added unto you. Their teach-
er Sampson first reading and setting the 119th
Psalm, first part, which was sung. The exer-
eise was concluded with prayer.
      Then I began a Court among the Indians,
and first I approved of their teacher Sampson,
and their Constable black James; giving each
of them a charge to be diligent and faithful in
their places, also I exhorted the people to
yield obedience to the gospel of Christ, and to
these set in order there. Then published a
a Warrant, or order I had prepared, empowering
the Constable to suppress drunkenness, Sab-
bath-breaking, especially powawing and idola-
try. After warning given, to apprehend all
delinquents, and bring them before authority
to answer for their misdoings; the smaller
faults to bring before Wattasacompanum, rul-
er of the Nipmuck country; for idolatry, and
powawing to bring them before me. So we
took leave of the Wabquissit country and about
eleven o'clock returned back to Maanexit and
Chabanakongkomun, where we lodged this
       We took leave of the Christian Indians at

114 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

Chabanakongkomun and took our journey 17^th
of the seventh month, by Manchage to Paka-
choog; which lieth from Manchage north-
west, about 12 miles. We arrived there about
noon. This village lieth about three miles
south of the new roadway that leadeth from
Boston to Connecticut; about west southerly
from Marlborough, and from Boston about forty
four miles. It consists of twenty families and hath
one hundred souls. This town is seated upon
a fertile hill,* and is denominated from a del-
icate spring water that is there.
We repaired to the Sagamore's house; call-
ed John, alias Horowanninit, who kindly enter-
tained us.
There is another Sagamore belonging to this
place, of kindred to the former, whose name
is Solomon, alias Wooanaskochu. This man was
also present, who courteously entertained us.
As soon as the people could be got together,
Mr. Eliot preached unto them; and they at-
tended reverently. Their teacher, named
James Speen, being present, read and set the
tune of a psalm, that was sung affectionately.
Then was the whole duty concluded with
prayer. After a short respite, a court was
kept among them. My chief assistant was
Wattasacompanum, ruler of the Nipmuck In-
dians, a grave and pious man, of the chief Sa-
chem's blood of the Nipmuck country. He

* This hill it it supposed is situated partly in Wor-
cester and partly in Ward, and is called Boggachoag.
Boggachoag brook runs on the west side of it.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 115

resides at Hassanamessit; but by former ap-
pointment calleth here, together with some
others. The principal matter done at this
court, was, first to appoint John and Solomon
to be rulers of this people and co-ordinate in
power, clothed with authority of the English
government, which they accepted; also to al-
low and approve James Speen for their minis-
ter. This man is of good parts and pious. He
hath preached to this people almost two years;
but he yet resides at Hassanamessit, about seven
miles distant. Also they chose and the court
confirmed, a new constable, a grave and sober
Indian, called Mattoonus.
Then I gave both the rulers, teacher, con-
stable and people, their respective charges;
to be diligent and faithful to God, zealous
against sin, and careful in sanctifying the Sab-
bath. Moreover at this court, it was agreed
to send a grave and pious Indian there present,
called Jethro, belonging to Natick, to be a
teacher unto a people living about ten miles
more to the southward, at a place called Wes-
hakim,* alias Nashaway, near unto an English
town called Lancaster. These have been a
great people in former times; but of late
years, have been consumed by the Maquas'
wars and other ways; and are not above fifteen

* Weshakim ponds are in the southeast part of Ster-
ling, which was at that time included in Lancaster.
The compiler of this work was born and educated near
these ponds, and on his father's farm were numerous
vestiges of the aboriginal inhabitants.

116 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

or sixteen families. I gave this Jethro a letter
or order of the purport following.

For the Sagamore Shasharim and Indian people
that live with him at Weshakim,

Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied.
Whereas the Hon. General Court of Massa-
chusetts, hath appointed and authorised me to
rule and govern the Indians within this juris-
diction; and in a special manner to endeavor
the promoting of religion and civility among
them. I have thought it expedient with the
concurrence of Mr. John Eliot, principal teach-
er unto the Indians, and approbation of several
of the rulers and teachers belonging to the
Churches of Natick and Hasaanamessit to send
unto you Jethro, a man approved in Natick, to
be a minister and teacher among you, and to in-
struct you in the good knowledge of the Lord
God, and in the gospel of his Son, our Lord Je-
sus Christ. We pray you therefore to receive
him in the Lord and yield ready obedience to
the word of the Lord dispensed by him. And
in a special manner, we exhort you, to keep
the Sabbath carefully, and abstain from drunk-
enness, whoredom and powawing and all other
evils. In ready compliance herewith, you will
promote your own temporal and eternal hap-
piness. So committing you to the Lord and
the word of his grace; praying for a blessing

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 117

upon the means, for God's glory and your good;
I remain your loving and affectionate friend
for promoting your everlasting welfare.
DANIEL GOOKIN.

Dated at Pakachoog the
17th September, 1674.

Letters of the same import are intended to
be given to the teachers of the other new
praying towns.
After this business was over, it being night
before we had finished the court, there was an
Indian present which came into the wigwam
about an hour before. He belonged to Wes-
hakim or Nashaway. This Indian desired lib-
erty to speak; which being admitted, he made
a speech with affection and gravity to this ef-
fect; to declare that he belonged to Wesha-
kim near Nashaway; and that he was desir-
ously willing, as well as some others of his
people to pray to God; but that there were
sundry of that people very wicked and much
addicted to drunkenness, and thereby many
disorders were committed among them; and
therefore he earnestly importuned me, that I
would put forth my power to help in the case,
to suppress the sin of drunkenness. Then I
asked him if he would take upon him the of-
fice of a Constable, and I would give him pow-
er to apprehend drunkards, and take away
their strong drink from them, and bring the
delinquents before me to receive punishment.

118 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

His answer was, that he would first speak with
his friends, and if they chose him and strength-
ened his hands in the work, then be would
come to me for a black staff and power. I ask-
ed him, whether be were willing to have Je-
thro go and preach to them; to which he
readily complied and seemed joyful thereat.
After this discourse, we concluded with sing-
ing a psalm and prayer; and retired to rest.
And the next morning early, being September,
18th, we took leave of these Indians and pass-
ed to Marlborough; and from thence we re-
turned to our own habitations.
There is yet another praying town in the
Nipmuck country called Waeuntug.* This
place lieth west of Nipmuck river, against an
English town called Mendon, which is on the
east side of the river. It lieth about ten miles
from Hassanamessit, to the south of this place.
There are two teachers; the one named
James, brother to the pastor of Hassanamessit
the other called Sasamet. They both live at
Hassanamessit and are of the Church there,
and both of them preach to that people. I
never was at the place; and therefore cannot
give a particular account thereof at present.
There are two other Indian towns, viz. Wes-
hakim, Quaboog,† which are coming on to re-
ceive the gospel: and reckoning these there
are nine in the Nipmuck country. But they

* Uxbridge.

† Southeast part of Brookfield.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 119

being not fully settled, I omit them. Thus I
have endeavoured to describe the Indian pray-
ing villages within the jurisdiction of Massa-
chusetts: which are

Town, 14 Souls yielding obedience 1100*
Churches 2 to the gospel about

   * That is, in
              Natickt†                             145
              Punkapaog                           60
              Hassanamessit                     60
              Okommakamessit                50
              Wamesit                               75
               Nashobah                             50
               Maguokaquog                      55
               Manchage                             60
               Chabanakongkomun             45
              Maanexit                             100
               Quaotessit                            100
               Wabquissit                            150
               Packachoag                           100
               Waeuntug supposed,               50
                                                             ______
                                                             1100

     † Tradition says, that one hundred and twenty years
ago the Indian, in Natick were comparatively nume-
rous. Some of the oldest inhabitants of Natick have
informed the Editor that their ancestors have seen
three hundred Indians at an Indian training, paraded
on Pegan plain, where Natick meeting-house now
stands.
     Hubbard says that in 1677, two hundred or the Na-
tick warriors were sent with a party of English to
fight the Indians at the eastward.
     The war with Philip greatly interrupted the progress
of christianity among the Indians. Many praying
towns in Massachusetts were broken up. Mr. Eliot

120 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

      The harvest is ripe for many more, if God
please to thrust forth labourers. The pious

says, that in 1684, they were reduced to four. They
seem however to have increased soon after; for in the
year 1687, Dr. Increase Mather mentioned five Church-
es. They have gradually diminished since that peri-
od. In the year 1753, there were in Natick, the prin-
cipal town of Indians in this colony, twenty five fami
lies, besides several individuals. Some of the males
were soldiers in the war against the French, which
took place soon after.
      Returning from the lakes, they brought home a mor-
tal disease, of which twenty three died in the year
1759. In the year 1763, according to census then tak-
en, there were thirty seven Indians only, in Natick;
but in this return probably the wandering Indians were
not included.
     The Indiana in Natick were is 1792, reduced to one
family of five persons and two single women.
     There are besides, belonging to this place, ten adults,
some of whom have children. They lead a wandering
life, seldom residing long in one place.
      There is now (1822) only one resident Indian left at
Natick. The Indians of Grafton have not wasted so fast.
In 1746, they were eight or ten families. And there are
still about thirty persons who retain a portion of their
lands, and receive their annual quit rent from the white
inhabitants. These Indians with a few at Stoughton,
are, we believe, all the remains of the numerous tribes
who formerly inhabited the old colony of Massachu-
setts.
     It may not he uninteresting to the reader to subjoin
an account of the two missionaries, Mr. Peabody and
Mr. Badger, that laboured at Natick after the death of
Mr. Eliot.
      When Mr. Peabody came to Natick in 1721, (which
was thirty one years after Mr. Eliot's death, and sixty
after the first congregation of the Indian Church,) he

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 121

reader whose heart desires the honor of God,
and the salvation of these poor heathen, may

could find no trace, of the former Church. He thus
notes in the beginning of his Church records, (which
records are in possession of the Editor.) "It must be
observed, that after my most diligent enquiry and
search, I can find no record, of any thing referring to
the former Church in Natick; nor who were the mem-
bers of it, or baptised, till my coming to town."
     Mr. Peabody laboured among the Indians from 1721,
to 29, before be received ordination. On the 21st of
October 1729, a committee of the Hon. Commission-
ers, viz. the Hon. Adam Winthrop and Edward Hutch-
tion, Esqrs., and another from the Reverend Corpora-
tion of Harvard College, viz. Rev. Messrs. Flynt, Ap-
pleton, and Wigglesworth came to Natick in order to
consider what might be proper to be done to have a
Church gathered and a minister ordained.
      It was then thought proper, as the affairs then were,
a Church should be gathered, partly of Indians and
partly of English. A Church was gathered December
3, 1729, consisting of three Indians and five English
male members. Mr. Peabody was ordained at Cam-
bridge the 17th of December of the same year.
       Mr. Peabody did not labour wholly in vain among
the natives. In a letter to a Convention of ministers
who were assembled at Boston, from the New-England
provinces, on the 7th of July, 1743, to express their
gratitude to God for the revival of religion in this part
of the Lord's vineyard, he observes, "among my lit-
tle people, (I would mention it to the glory of the rich
grace, and of the blessed spirit of God,) there have
been very apparent strivings and operations of the Ho-
ly Ghost, among Indians and English, young and old,
male and female. There have been added to our
Church, of such as I hope shall be, saved, about fifty
persons of different nations, since the beginning of last

10*

122 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

here see some small beginnings that God hath
wrought, and what foundations, through grace,
are laid for the future good, and increasing
their numbers; for every one of the towns are
able to entertain considerable numbers of Indi-
ans, and it pleaseth God now and then to ca1l,
in some wild Indians to settle among them.

March was two years, whose lives witness in general
to the sincerity of their profession."
       Mr. Peabody's whole ministry was twenty nine
years, seven years before his ordination, and twenty
two after. He died February 2, 1752. During his
ministry there were admitted to the Church one hun-
dred and thirty English and thirty five Indians. A
writer in the Panoplist for July, 1811, gives this sum-
mary of his character, "He embraced the religious
principles of our puritanic fathers and has left us abun-
dant testimony in his publications and manuscripts,
that he had not so learned Christ as to make the pre-
cepts of the gospel bend to suit the vices of men. He
was bold and zealous in the cause of truth; but his
zeal was not that of an enthusiast. It was an ardent
desire to promote the glory of God, and the good
his fellow men. It was a fixed, uniform, benevolent
affection, which was not satisfied with moderate at
tempts to do good, in so important a cause as that of
the Redeemer.'
     Mr. Badger was ordained March 27, 1753. He
closed his public service, July, 1799. He was in the
ministry forty six years, died August 23, 1803, aged
seventy eight. After Mr. Badger's death the Indians
had become so few in number that no provision was
made for their particular instruction.
       Rev. Mr. Freeman Sears was ordained as minister
of the town of Natick January I, 1806. He died June
30, 1811.
      The Complier of this work was ordained February
16, 1814.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 123

CHAPTER XVII.

LETTERS FROM REV. JOHN ELIOT OF ROXBURY,
TO HON. ROBERT BOYLE.*

Roxbury, Sept, 30, 1670.

Right Honorable,
Your constant care of, and steadfast affect-
tion unto this Indian work (which the Lord
hath in great undeserved mercy to me, put un-
der my hand, a weak and unworthy instrument
herein) do greatly oblige my heart to honor
you, and pray that it may be remembered by
the Lord in that great day, when he will say
(come ye blessed) unto all the sincere bene-
factors unto his people. You have also added
no small encouragement unto me, in that wor-
thy gift, which your honor is pleased to bestow
upon me, viz. Poole's Synopsis, or Critica Sacra
upon the whole Bible, which though it has not

* Mr. Eliot began the work of converting the Indi-
ans unpatronized. After he had proceeded some time in
the work, the friends of religion in England, having heard
of his work, formed a Society to aid in propagating
the gospel in New-England. An act of incorporation
was obtained under the Protectorate of Oliver Crom-
well. Hon. Robert Boyle was a generous Benefactor
to this Society, and for many years its President. A
correspondence was maintained between this Philoso-
pher and Mr. Eliot.

124 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

yet come, is under the care and faithful hand
of my worthy and true friend Mr. Ashurst;
for which desirable gift I return unto your
Honor my humble thanks.
Touching the present state of this work with
the indians, I have written to our worshipful
Commissioners, who will send it unto your
Honor, governor of the Honorable Corpora-
tion; and therefore I shall keep silence of
that matter. And whereas your honor will
see, that I have begun and undertaken a kind
of academical reading unto them in their own
language, thereby to teach the teachers and
rulers, and all that are desirous of learning: I
find by experience, that it will be very neces-
sary to have some entertainment of food for all
the principal men at least, which do come;
for many are to come a great way, and had we
but food to entertain them when they come
there, it would be some encouragement. And
I have some thoughts, if God give life and
means, to read medicine and call for such roots
(for they altogether use the root and not the
herb) as they have experience of; especially
had I wherewith to recompense any, that
bring in a desirable experiment.
There hath been a rare work of God this
summer in a great pond at Watertown, where
all the fish died, and were not willing to die in
the waters, but as many as could, thrust them-
selves on shore, and there died; not less than
twenty cart loads, by estimation lying dead, all
at once, round about the pond. An eel was

             MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.              125

found alive on the sandy border of the pond
and being cast into the water, she wriggled out
again, as fast as she could, and died on the
shore. An inhabitant of the town, living by
the pond, his cattle use daily to drink there,
but then for three days together, they refused
there to drink, but after three days they drank
of the pond as they were wont to do. When
the fish began to come ashore, before they di-
ed, many were taken and eaten, both by En-
glish and Indians without any hurt and the fish
were good. *
      Now the disease of the stone groweth fre-
quent among the English, and beginneth among
Indians; which stirreth me to search, and I
clearly find, that a crude stomach provides the
matter and cold in and about the bladder and
ureters is the efficient cause of the stone, es-
pecially in those, whom I have conversed with,
as may be demonstrated. But I am over bold
to presume to meddle so far unto your honor.
I shall therefore cease to give you any further
trouble at present. So committing you to the
Lord and the word of his grace I remain
               your honor's to serve you
                      in the service of the Lord Jesus,
                                                    JOHN ELIOT.

* Sometime in June 1676, it was observed that at a
great pond in Watertown, (says Hubbard) all the fish
there (many cart loads as was thought,) swam to the
shore and died. It was considered to be the effect of
some mineral vapour, that at that time had made an
irruption into the water.

126 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

LETTER II.

Roxbury, Oct. 23, 1677.

Right Honorable nursing fathers,
The poor praying Indians do thankfully ac-
knowledge, that (under God our heavenly Fa-
ther, and under Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
who redeemeth us out of all our troubles) you
have been the means and instrument, in his
hand, to save and deliver us. God moved
your hearts to own us, in that black day, when
all were against us, and we were almost ready
to be swallowed up in destruction; which dark
time we ought not to forget, nor your owning
kindness unto us in that dark day.
And since that your charity hath greatly re-
vived and refreshed us, many of our aged,
decrepit, fatherless, and widows, still wear the
garments, not yet worn out, which you chari-
ty did, the last winter, clothe us withal. And
although we yet know not what our honored
Commissioners will do for us, whose favour we
doubt not of; yet understanding, that some
doubt is raised about year countenancing and
encouraging our rulers, who are of us; and
live among us, and without whose presence
and assistance the Lord's work of soul instruc-
tion and edification will soon faint, sink and
come to nothing; our humble petition is, first
to God, that be who hath hitherunto, will still
move your hearts for our good and welfare;
and next, our petition is unto yourselves, that
we may have the countenance of your favour

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 127

to countenance, and our own rulers among us,
without whose countenance, our teachers will
be of little power, especially among our youth
and rising generations, who do not yet favour
the things of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and
among strangers, who have not yet tasted how
good the Lord is, though for their protection
and safety they have crowded in upon us.
      Noble hearted Sir, your gift I do still reli-
giously keep, for some special and eminent
service of the Lord, in the Lord's time. In our
first war with the Indians, God pleased to show
us the vanity of our military skill, in managing
our arms, after the European mode. Now we
are glad to learn the skulking way of war.
And what God's end is, in teaching us such a
way of discipline, I know not.
      By our late eastern war it hath pleased God
to show us our weakness by sea, as formerly
by land. The Indians took many of our fish-
ing vessels and men that belonged to them, and
forced them to sail whither they desired;
many of the men delivered themselves and
their vessels; many Indians were slain, some
English. The history of these actions I have
not; others do attend that service, to whom I
leave it. The governor of New-York sent
strength this summer, and took possession of a
northern port, where they fixed and fortified
themselves; since whose coming thither, the
Indians have not stirred much. Little action
hath passed, but I bear not of any peace made.
     The Yorkers have taken in hand a charge-

128 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

able design; what profit will come of it, I
know not; time will discover that; whether
their intention be to promote religion, or only
trading I know not. It pleased the Lord very
lately to permit a small handful (not twenty)
of the late scattered nod to make a rare direp-
tion upon Hatfield and Deerfield, at Connecti-
cut; where about twelve persons were killed,
more than twenty carried away captive and
lost; seven dwellings burned and sundry barns
full of corn, and since they have appeared at
Hadley, burned the mill. They had parley
with them, treated about restoring the captives,
agreed of a time and place of meeting; but
the Indians failed to appear. The last actions
have very much discouraged our people from
repairing the destroyed towns, which some
were beginning to do.
We had a Sachem of the greatest blood in
the country, submitted to pray to God, a little
before the wars; his name is Wanalaunset; in
the time of the wars he fled by reason of the
wicked actings of some English youth who
causelessly and basely killed and wounded some
of them. He was persuaded to come in again.
But the English, having ploughed and sown
with rye all their lands, they had but little
corn to subsist by.
A party of the French Indians (of whom
some were of the kindred of this Sachem's
wife) very lately fell upon this people, being
but few and unarmed, and partly by persua-
sion, partly by force, carried them all away.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 129

One with his wife, child and kinswoman, who
were of our praying Indians, made their es-
cape, came into the English, and discovered
what was done. These things keep some in a
continual disgust and jealousy of all the Indi-
ans. I shall give your honor no further trouble
at present. We intreat your prayers, and
commit you to the Lord, and rest
                   your honor's to serve you
                         in the Lord Jesus,
                                             JOHN ELIOT.

LETTER III.

                                      Roxbury, Nov. 4, 1680.
Right Honorable, charitable, indefatigable, nurs-
      ing father.
      When good works of pure charity are sown
three hundred fold thick, and that by a living
hand, Lord, what a reaping time or harvest
will there be! Sir, you are eminently mind-
ful of that gospel charge, 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19,
Charge them, that be rich be this world that they
be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God, who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be
rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate; laying up in store for themselves a
good foundation against the time to come; a found-
ation not of grace unto justification, by way of

                                     11

130 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

merit, but a foundation of degrees of glorifica-
tion when God will in free mercy distribute
his gifts of glory, according to our improve-
ments of our talents in the exercise of grace;
he that gained ten talents, shall have ten cities.
I know it will please your charitable heart
to hear bow it fareth with those that are your
alumni. We are in great affliction by the Man-
quaoy Indians; more than sixty at several
times have been killed or captivated; a narra-
tive whereof Major Gookin presented to lord
Culpepper, who was affected with it. Also he
presented a copy thereof to Sir Edmund An-
dros, who was likewise affected with it, though
it is said he might have prevented it. We
hope he will move in it, and our Mr. Pincbeon
it is gone up to join with Sir Edmund to endeav-
our a peace. Major Gookin intendeth to pre-
sent your honor with a copy of the same nar-
rative. The eastern Indians do offer to renew
peace with us, and to submit themselves to be
taught to pray unto God. A chief Sachem
was here about it, a man of grave and a dis-
creet countenance. Our praying Indians both
on the Islands, and on the main, are consider-
ed together numerous; thousands of souls, of
whom some are true believers, some learn-
ers, and some are still infants, and all of them
beg, cry, entreat for Bibles, having already
enjoyed that blessing, but now are in great
want. Your honor's liberality in English Bi-
bles is a great favour which we all with thank-

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 131

fulness receive; but the Bible in their own
tongue must help them understand it. We are
at the 19th chapter of the Acts; and when we
have impressed the New Testament, our com-
missioners approve of my preparing and im-
pressing also the old.
      Your honor's bounty of thirty pounds to-
wards our sending the gospel to those remote
Indians, that speak the language, whereinto
the Bible is translated, I do religiously keep
it to be improved to the same end, to which
your honor gave it, of which service I am still
in hope, having more intelligence that there is
such a people.
      But by the immaturity of some occurrences
and the intentions of the ships speedily sailing,
I cannot give your honor any further diversion
at this time; entreating your prayers, I com-
mit you to God, and rest
                    your Honor's to serve you
                         in any service of Jesus Christ,
                                                    JOHN ELIOT.

132 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

LETTER IV.
Roxbury, March 15, 1682-3.

Right Honorable, charitable, nursing father,
     This winter the worshipful Mr. Stoughton
(Commissioner) delivered lo Major Gookin (a
pillar in our Indian work) and to me, the sum
of six pounds, as the product of your Honor's
gift of charity; which we did diligently dis-
tribute to christian Indians; two aged blind wo-
men, others lame in their limbs, others decript
with age; all which do bless you, the giver,
and do praise God the fountain; and we, your
dispensers of so great charity, do thankfully
accept of so good an office, as to be the dispo-
sers of so charitable gifts unto the poor ser-
vants of Jesus Christ. The Lord still goeth
on among them, and though many of the young-
er sort, since the wars (where their souls re-
ceived a wound) have declined, and too much
miscarried, yet now (through the grace of
Christ) they are on the repeating and recover-
ing hand; of which your Honor may hear
more, when the work is prosecuted, and brought
unto a good effect.
      The great work that I travel about, is, the
printing of the Old Testament, that they may
have the whole Bible. They have had the
whole in the first impression, and some of the
old they still have, and know the worth and
use of it; and therefore they are importunate-
ly desirous of the whole.
      I desire to see it done before I die, and I

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 133

am so deep in years, that I cannot expect to
live long; besides, we have but one man (viz.
the Indian printer) that is able to compose the
sheets, and correct the press with understand-
ing. For such reasons, so soon as I received
the sum of near forty pounds, for the Bible
work, presently set the work on foot; and
one tenth part or near, is done; we are in Le-
viticus. I have added some part of my Salary
to keep up the work; and many more things I
might add, as reasons of my urgency in this
matter.
Touching those remote Indians to the north-
west, whose language agreeth with ours, so
that they and we can speak to each other's un-
derstanding, we have not, as yet, so full intel-
ligence of them, as to make a report thereof.
But I do both pray and wait for some informa-
tion that way. And for the furtherance there-
of, I do carefully reserve your Honor's gift of
thirty pounds to be improved in that service,
when the Lord shall please. to open a door
thereunto. The Mauquaoy Indians have not
stirred to fall upon us this last year; but we
are not yet fully settled in peace, because they
declare the eastern Indians to be their ene-
mies; and the way unto them is through us
and our Wamesit Indians,* who are our most
northerly plantation, are in danger to be their
thorough fair. And this putteth us into many
fears; but our hope and help is in God, our
eyes are unto him, this world is a state and

* Wamesit, Tewksbury.
11*

134 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

place wherein God's people must expect no-
thing steadfast, all things are mutable and af-
flicting. But I shall cease to give your Hon-
or any further trouble at present; therefore
commending you to the Lord, and the word of
his grace, I rest
                   your Honor's to serve you
                               in Christ Jesus,
                                         JOHN ELIOT.

LETTER V.

Boston, June 21, 1633,
Right Honorable nursing father,
Your hungry alumni do still cry unto your
Honor for the milk of the word in the whole
book of God, and for the bread of life which
they have fed upon in the whole bible, and are
very thankful for what they have, and impor-
tunately desirous to enjoy the whole book of
God. It is the greatest charity in the world
to provide for their souls. Should your Hon-
or please but to change the object of your
bountiful charity from their bodies to their
souls, here is enough already sent over to ac-
complish the work; they only stay for that
word from your Honor's flat. My age makes
me importunate. I shall depart joyfully, may
I but leave the Bible among them; for it is

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 135

the word of life; and there be some godly
souls among them, that live thereby. The
work is under great incumberments, and dis-
couragements, my heart hath much ado to hold
up my head; but doth daily drive me to
Christ; I tell the Lord, that it is his word, and
your hearts are ;n his hand, I do therefore
commit the whole to the Lord, and leave both
it and myself to the Lord, who hath not left
me wholly destitute. But I shall give your
Honor at present no farther trouble, for I am
surprised with this opportunity of writing;
therefore, committing your Honor to the Lord,
I rest
               your Honor's to serve you
                                         in the Lord,
                                              JOHN ELIOT.

136 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

LETTER VI.

                                 Roxbury, Nov. 27, 1683.
Right Honorable, right charitable, indefatigable,
       nursing father,
       Although my hasty venturing to begin the
impression of the Old Testament before I had
your Honor's (fiat) may have moved (as some
intimate) some disgust, yet I see that your love,
bounty and charity, doth still breathe out en-
couragement unto the work, by supplies of
four hundred and sixty pounds unto the work,
for which l do humble thankfulness unto your
honor, and take boldness to entreat favour for
two requests.
      First, I pray, that you would please to ac-
cept an apology for my haste. I am deep in
years, and sundry say, if I do not procure it
printed while I live it is not within the pros-
pect of human reason, whether ever, or when,
or how it may be accomplished. It is Christ's
work and for the good of souls, which is my
charge to attend, and run adventures to ac-
complish, especially when divine providence
brought into my band some small encourage-
ment to begin. But if this apology be short
(though capable of much enlargement) yet
then,
      My second humble request is, you would
please to draw a curtain of love over all my
failures, because love will cover a multitude
of transgressions. The work goeth on now,
with more comfort, though we have had many

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 137

impediments, partly by the sickness of the
workmen, for it is a very sickly and mortal
time with us, as also the rigor of the winter
doth now obstruct us. The work goeth on, I
praise God; the Sabbath is sanctified in many
places, and they have still fragments of their
old bibles which they make constant use of.
       I desire to take boldness to propose a re-
quest. A vessel carried away a great number
of our surprised Indians, in the times of our
wars, to sell them for slaves; but the nations,
whither she went would not buy them. Final-
ly, she left them at Tangier; there they be,
so many as live or learn, there. An English-
man, a mason, came thence to Boston, he told
me, they desired I would use some means for
their return home. I know not what to do in
it; but now it is ia my heart to more your
honor so to mediate that they may have leave
to get home, either from thence hither, or
from thence to England, and so to get home.
If the Lord shall please to move your charita-
ble heart herein, I shall be obliged in great
thankfulness, and am persuaded, that Christ
will at the great day, reckon it among your
deeds of charity done unto them for his name's
sake. But I shall give your honor no further
trouble at present. I humbly request your
prayers for me. So commending you to the
Lord, and to the word of his grace, I rest,
                     your Honor's to serve you
                               in our Lord Jesus,
                                                      JOHN ELIOT.

138            MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

                       LETTER VII.

                           Roxbury, April 221 1684.

Right Honorable and indefatigable benefactors,

      "This last gift of four hundred pounds for the
reimpresaion of the Indian Bible doth set a di-
adem of beauty upon all your former acts of
pious charity, and commandeth us to return
unto your honors all thankful acknowledgments
according to our abilities. It pleased the wor-
shipful Mr. Stoughton, to give me an intimation,
that your honors desired to know the particu-
lar present stale of the praying Indians;* and
also, when Moses' Pentateuch is printed, to
have some copies sent over, to evidence the
real and good progress of the work.
     "Your Honor's intimation bath the force of a
command upon me, and therefore I shall brief-
ly relate the religious walking and ways of the
praying Indians. They do diligently observe
and keep the Sabbath, in all the places of their
public meetings to worship God. The exam-
ple of the English churches, and the authority
of the English laws, which Major Gookin doth
declare unto them, together with such mulcts,
as are inflicted upon transgressors; as also
and especially, the clear and express command

      * It is hoped the reader will excuse our repeating
an account of the praying towns. Mr. Gookin’s ac-
count in the last chapter was given in 1674, this is in
1684. Mr. Eliot mentions some particular, that Goo-
kin has omitted, It also exhibits their state ten years
later. This will justify its insertion.

               MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.              139

of God which they and their children learn
and rehearse daily in their Catechisms; these
all together have fully possessed and convinced
them of their duty to keep holy the Sabbath-
day. So that the sanctifying the Sabbath is a
great eminent part of their religion. And
though some of the vain and carnal sort among
them are not so girt to it, as were to be desir-
ed, yet the grave and religious sort do con-
stantly worship God, every Sabbath-day, both
morning and evening, as the English do.
      "The acts of worship which they perform in
their public meetings are as followeth."
      The manner of conducting their public
meetings as described by Eliot and that de-
scribed by Gookin in the preceding chapter
are so similar that we shall omit this part of
the letter.
      After the letter had described their manner
of conducting their public assemblies it pro-
ceeds to state, “moreover, Major Gookin hath
dedicated his eldest son, Mr. Daniel Gookin,
unto the service of Christ; he is a pious and
learned young man, about thirty three years
old, hath been eight years a fellow of the Col-
lege; be hath taught and trained up two class-
es of young Scholars, unto their commence-
ment; he is a man, whose abilities are above
exception, though not above envy. His father,
with his inclination, advised him to Sherburne,
a small village near Natick, whose meeting
house is about three miles, more or less, from
Natick meeting-house. Mr. Gookin holdeth a

140 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

Lecture in Natick meeting-house once a month;
which many English, especially of Sherburne,
do frequent. He first preacheth in English, to
the English audience, and then the same mat-
ter is delivered to the Indians, by an interpret-
ter, whom, with much pains, Mr. Gookin hath
fore prepared. We apprehend that this will
(by God's blessing) be a means to enable the
Indians to understand religion preached in the
English tongue, and will much further Mr.
Gookin in learning the Indian tongue. Like-
wise Major Gookin holdeth and manageth his
Courts in the English tongue, which doth
greatly further the Indians in learning law and
govemment in the English tongue; which is a
point of wisdom in civilizing them, that your
honors have manifested your desires, that it
might be attained.
The places where the Indians meet to wor-
ship God and sanctify the Sabbath, are many;
the most are stated places, others are occa-
sional.
The stated places in the Massachusetts,
since the wars, are contracted into four, Na-
tick, Punkapaog, Wamesit and Chachaubunk
kakowok. The occasional meetings are at pla-
ces of fishing, hunting, gathering chestnuts in
their seasons. Also since the wars, the Mau-
quaoys, making incursions upon the praying
Indians, did cause them to make divers forts,
to live safely in, and then they did there meet
to worship God and keep the Sabbath.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 141

     In Plymouth Patent there are about ten
places where they meet to worship God.
     An intelligent person of Martha's Vineyard,
reckoned up unto me ten places, where God
is worshipped every Lord's day in that Island.
      At Nantucket there be about five places of
prayer and keeping Sabbaths.
      Thus I have briefly represented before you,
right Honorable, at your command, the pres-
ent state of praying Indians, in respect of their
religion. And, what I have here expressed,
for the substance of the things, I know them
to be true.
     By this it appeareth, that they are, in some
good measure, able, by the light of the scrip-
tures and by the examples of the churches of
Christ and by such instruction as they have
had,) to practise and manage the whole insti-
tuted public worship of God among themselves,
without the presence or inspection of any En-
glish among them, which is no small addition
and advancement of the kingdom of Christ;
and I doubt not but it shall add much comfort
and joy to your souls here, and shall add much
weight of glory hereafter, who have been so
diligent, liberal and constant in your supplies
for the encouragement of this work of Jesus
Christ. And it is no small comfort to me,
whom divine Providence and grace hath made
one of the poor instruments, to instruct and man-
age them unto this estate in Christ Jesus,
whereunto they have attained.
     As for the sending any number of Moses' Pen-

                                12

142 MEMOlRS OF ELIOT,

tateuch, I beseech you honors to spare us in
that; because so many as we send, so many
bibles are maimed, and made incomplete, be-
cause they want the live books of Moses. We
present your honors with one book, so far as
we have gone in that work and humbly be-
seech you that it may be acceptable until the
whole be finished; and then the whole im-
pression (which is two thousand) is at your
honor's command. Our slow progress needeth
an apology. We have been much hindered by
the sickness this year. Our workmen have
been all sick, and we have but few hands, one
Englishmen and a boy and one Indian; and
many interruptions and diversions do befall us;
and we could do but little this very hard winter.
But I shall give your honors no further trouble
at this time; only requesting the continuance
of your prayers and protection. So I remain,
                  your Honor's lo serve you
                          in our Lord Jesus,
                                         JOHN ELIOT.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 143

LETTER VIII.

Roxbury, August, 29, 1686,
in the third mouth of our overthrow.*

Right Honorable, unweariable nursing father,
     I have nothing new to write but lamenta-
tions, and I am loth to grieve your loving and
noble soul.
      Our Indian work yet liveth, praised be God;
the Bible is come forth, many hundreds bound
up, and dispensed to the Indians, whose thank-
fulness I intimate and testify to your honor.
The Practice of Piety is also finished, and be-
ginneth to be bound up. And my humble re-
quest to your honor is, that we may again re-
impose the Primer and Catechism; for though
the last impression be not quite spent, yet
quickly they will; and I am old, ready to be
gone, and desire to leave as many books as I
lean. I know not what to add in this distress-
ing day of our overthrow! so I commit your
honor to the Lord, and rest
                      your honor's lo serve you
                                 in Jesus Christ,
                                            JOHN ELIOT.

* This date is supposed to allude to the arrival of
Sir Edmund Andros who was appointed Governor Gen-
eral of all New England. Heretofore the governors
had been elected by the people. Now the Colonies
were required to surrender their charters and receive
such a Governor as the King was pleased to send
them.

144 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

LETTER IX.

Roxbury, July 7, 1688.

Right Honorable, deep learned, abundantly char-
itable and constant nursing father,

SIR,
I am drawing near home, and am glad of
an opportunity to take my leave of your hon-
or with all thankfulness. Sir, many years
since you pleased to commit thirty pounds into
my hand, upon a design of promoting Christ's
Kingdom among the Indians; which gift of
yours I have religiously kept, waiting for an
opportunity so to improve it; but God hath
not pleased yet to open such a door. I am old
and desire to finish that matter, and take the
boldness to request your honor that it may be
thus disposed of. It being in the hands of Ma-
jor Gookin's relict widow, and he died poor,
though full of good works and greatly benefi-
cent to the Indians, and bewailed by them to
this day; therefore let his widow have ten
pounds, his eldest son, who holds up a Lecture,
among the Indians and English ten pounds, and
the third ten pounds give to Mr. John Cotton,
who helped me much in the second edition of
the Bible. And also I must commit to him the
care and labour of the revisal of two other
small treatise, viz. Mr. Shepherd's Sincere,
Convert and Sound Believer, which I translat-
ed into the Indian language many years since;
and now I hope that the Honorable Corpora-
tion will be at the charge to print them, by

        MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.       145

your Honor's favour and countenance. But I
cannot commit them to the press without a
careful revisal, which none but Mr. Cotton is
able to help me to perform. The work in
general seemeth to my soul to be in and well
towards a revising. Many Churches of Con-
fessors of Christ are in motion lo gather into
Church estate, who do carefully keep the
Sabbath. And out of these professors of relig-
ion, we do gather up and call in such as are
willing to confess Jesus Christ, and seek salva-
tion by him. Touching other matters, what
our losses and charges be and bow trading, &c.
are spoiled, I am silent; but my prayer to God
is, Isaiah i. 25, 26, And I will put my hand up-
on thee and purely purge away thy dross, and take
away all thy sin, and I will restore thy judges as
at the first, and thy Counsellors as at the begin-
ning, &c. So do, O Lord. Sir, the Lord pro-
long your days, and fill you with all grace, un-
til you arrive at the fulness of glory, where I
leave you, and rest
                     your Honor's to serve you
                                            in Jesus Christ,
                                                     JOHN ELIOT.

12*

146 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE LAST DAYS AND DEATH OF ELIOT.

Dr. Mather give, the following account of the
close of Eliot's life and labors.

WHEN he began to draw near his end, he
grew still more heavenly, more savory, more di-
vine! As the historian observes of Tiberius,
that when his life and strength were going
from him, his vice yet remained on him, on
the contrary the grace of this excellent man
rather increased than abated, when every thing
else was dying with him.
It is too usual with old men, that, when they
are past work, they are least sensible of their
inabilities and incapacities, and can scarce en-
dure to see another succeeding them in any
point of their office; but our Eliot was of a
temper quite contrary; for finding many months
before his expiration, that he had not strength
enough to edify his congregation with public
prayers and sermons, he importuned his peo-
ple with some impatience to call another min-
ister; professing himself unable to die with
comfort, until he could see a good successor
ordained, settled and fixed among them. For
this cause, he also cried mightily unto God,
that he would give such a gift unto Roxbury;

             MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.             147

and he sometimes called his whole town to-
gether, to join with him in a fast for such a
blessing.
      As the return of their supplications, our Lord
quickly bestowed upon them a person young in
years, but old in discretion, gravity and expe-
rience; and one whom the Church at Roxbu-
ry hopes to find a pastor after God's own heart.
It was Mr. Nehemiah Waller, who. being by
the unanimous vote and choice of the Church
there, become the pastor of Roxbury, immedi-
ately found the venerable Eliot, embracing, and
cherishing him with the tender affection of a
father. The good old man, like old Aaron, as
it were disrobed himself with an unspeakable
satisfaction, when he beheld his garments put
on a son so dear to him.*
     After this, he, for a year or two before his
translation, could scarce be persuaded into any
public service, but humbly pleaded, what none
but he would ever have said, "It would be
wrong to the souls of the people, for him to do
any thing among them, when they were sup-

    * Mr. Walter was ordained Oct. 17, 1688. He con-
tinued the Pastor of this Church above sixty years, and
died Sept. 17, 1750, aged 87. Eliot said that Mr.
Walter would be a most brilliant light of the New-
England Churches. The expectations of Eliot were
realized. Dr. Colman remarked concerning him,
"When one is hearing Mr. Walter, it seems as if any
man could preach so, yet few can equal him." Mr.
Pemberton used to say, "I know no man that, in his
preaching reconciles perspicuity with accuracy like
Mr. Walter.        Eliot’s New-England Biography.

148 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

plied so much to their advantage." If I mis-
take not, the last time that ever he preached
was on a public fast; when he fed his people
with a very distinct and useful exposition upon
the eighty third psalm; and concluded with an
apology, begging his hearers to pardon tbe
poorness and meanness and brokenness (as he
called it,) of his meditations; but, added he,
"my dear brother here will by and by mend
all."
But, although be thus dismissed himself, as
one so near the age of ninety might well have
done from his public labors; yet he would not
give over his endeavours, in a more private
way, to do good unto all. He had always been
an enemy unto idleness. Any one that should
look into the little diary that he kept in his al
manacks, would see that there was "no day
without a line." And now he grew old, he
was desirous that his work should hold pace
with his life. The less time he saw left, the
less he was willing to lose. He imagined that
he could now do nothing to any purpose in any
service for God; and sometimes he would say,
with an air peculiar to himself, "I wonder for
what the Lord Jesus Christ lets me live; he knows
that how I can do nothing for him!" and yet
he could not forbear essaying to do something
for his Lord! wherefore, thought he, "what
shall I do? And he then conceived, that
though the English could not be benefitted by
any gifts which he now fancied himself to have
only the ruins of, yet who can tell but the ne-

                  MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.        149

groes might! He had long lamented, that the
English used their negroes but as their horses
or oxen, and that so little care was taken about
their souls. He looked upon it as a prodigy,
that any wearing the names of Christians,
should confine the souls of their miserable
slaves to a destroying ignorance, merely for
fear of thereby loosing the benefit of their vas-
salage. But now be made a motion to the
English, within two, or three miles of him,
that at such a time and place, they would send
their negroes once a week to him; for he
would then catechise them, and enlighten them
as the utmost of his power in the things of
their everlasting peace. However, be did not
live to make much progress in this undertak-
ing.
      At length, when he was able to do little
without doors, he tried then to do something
within. And one thing was this. A young boy
in the neighbourhood had, in his infancy, fallen
into a fire; so as to burn himself into a perfect
blindness; but this boy being now grown to
some bigness, the good old man took him home
to his house, with some intentions to make a
scholar of him.
       He first informed him from the scriptures, in
which the boy so profited, that in a little time,
he could even repeat whole chapters verbatim;
and if any ether in reading missed a word, he
would remind them of it; yea, an ordinary
piece of Latin was become easy to the lad.
But having his own eyes closed by death, he

150 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

could no longer help the poor child against the
want of his.
        "Thus, as the aged Polycarp could say,
'These eighty sill years have I served my
Lord Jesus Christ; and he has been such
a good master to me all this while, that I
will not now forsake him' -- such a Polycarp
was our Eliot! He had been so many years en-
gaged in the service of his dear Saviour, that
he would now give it over; it was his ambition
and his privilege, to bring forth fruit in old age;
and what veneration the Church of Smyrna paid
unto that angel of theirs, we were, upon the
like account, willing to give unto this man of
God.
     "While he was making his retreat out of this
evil world, his discourses, from time to time,
ran upon the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was the theme which he still had recourse
unto; and we were sure to have something
of this, whatever other subject he were upon.
On this he talked; of this he prayed; for this
he longed; and, especially when any bad news
arrived, his usual reflection thereupon would
be, "Behold some of the clouds, in which we
must look for the coming of the son of man!"
     At last, his Lord, for whom he had been long
wishing, came. 'Lord, come; I have been a
great while ready for thy coming!" -- at last his
Lord came, and fetched him away unto his
joy.
     He fell into some languishments, attended
with a fever, which in a few days brought him

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 151

into the pangs (may I say? or the joy) of
death; and while be lay in these, Mr. Walter
coming to him, he said unto him, ‘Brother,
thou art welcome to my very soul. Pray, retire
to my study for me, and give me leave to be gone;'
meaning that he should not, by petitions to
Heaven for his life detain him here. It was
in these languishments, that, speaking about the
work of the gospel among the Indians, he did
after this heavenly manner express himself;
“There is a cloud, a dark cloud, upon the work
of the gospel upon the poor Indians. The Lord
revive and prosper that work, and grant it may
live when I am dead! It is a work which I have
been doing much and long about. But what was
the word I spoke last? I recal their word 'my
doings!' alas, they have been poor and small and
lean doings, and I will be the man that shall throw
the first stone at them all.'
One of his last words was, 'Welcome, joy!'
and he departed calling upon the standers-by,
'Pray, pray, pray;' This was the peace in
the end, of this perfect and upright man. What
shall we now say? Our Eliot himself used
most affectionately to bewail the death of all
good men; yet if one brought him the notice
of such a thing with any despondencies, or
said ‘O Sir, such an one is dead, what shall we
do?' he would answer -- "Well, but God lives!
Christ lives! the Saviour of New-England yet
lives! and he will reign till all his enemies are
made his footstool.' This and only this consid-
eration have we to relieve us; and let it be

152 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

accompanied with our addresses to the God of
the spirits of all flesh, that there may be Timo-
thies raised up in the room of our departed
Pauls; and that when our Moseses are gone, the
spirit which was in these brave men, may be
put upon the surviving Elders of our Israel."
Mr. Eliot died in 1690, aged 86.

CHAPTER XIX.

HIS GENERAL CHARACTER.

HE was a man of Prayer, He not only made
it his daily practice to enter into his closet, and
shut his door, and pray to his Father in secret;
but he would not rarely, set apart days for fast-
ing and prayer. Especially when there was
any remarkable difficulty before him, he took
this way to encounter and overcome it; being
of Dr. Preston's mind, that when we would
accomplish any great things, the best policy is
to work by an engine which the world sees
nothing of." He kept his heart in a frame for
prayer with a marvellous constancy; and was
continually provoking thereto all that was
about him!
“When he heard of any considerable new,

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 153

his usual and speedy reflection thereon would
be, 'Brethren, let us turn all this into prayer!'
When he entered a house where he was famil-
iar, he would often say, 'come, let us not have a
visit without a prayer; let us pray down the bles-
sing of heaven on your family before we go.'
Where especially he came into the company
of ministers, before he had sat long with them
they would look to hear him urging--'Breth-
ren, the Lord Jesus takes much notice of what is
done and said among his ministers when they are
together. Come, let us pray before we part.'
He was a mighty and a happy man, that had
his quiver full of these heavenly arrows of
ejaculatory prayer; and when he was never
to straitly besieged by human occurrences, yet
he fastened the wishes of his devout soul unto
them, and very dexterously shot them up to
heaven over the head of all.
"In serious and savory Discourse, his tongue
was like the pen of a ready writer. He was, in-
deed sufficiently pleasant and witty in conver-
sation; but he had a remarkable gravity mix-
ed with it, and a singular skill in raising some
holy observations out of whatever matter of
discourse lay before him. Doubtless he im-
posed it as a law upon himself, that he would
leave something of God and heaven and relig-
ion with all that should come near him, so that
in all places his company was attended with
majesty and reverence.
"He was a mighty Student of the Bible. It
was unto him as his necessary food; nor would

154 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

he, upon easy terms, have gone one day to-
gether without using a portion of the scrip-
tures as an antidote against the infection of
temptation, and would prescribe this to others.
"He had a high reverence for the house of
God. If ever any man could, he might pretend
unto that evidence of uprightness, Lord, I have
loved the habitation of thy house. It is hardly
conceivable, how, in the midst of so many
studies and labours as he was engaged in at
home, he could possibly repair so frequently
to the ministry of others. Here he expressed
a diligent attention by a watchful and wakeful
posture, and by turning to the texts quoted by
the preacher; and they whose good hap it
was to go home with him, were sure of hav-
ing another sermon by the way.
“His observance of the Sabbath was remarka-
ble. He knew that our whole religion fares
according to our Sabbaths; that poor Sabbath
make poor christians; and that a strictness in
our Sabbaths, inspires a vigor into all our oth-
er duties. Hence, in his work among the In-
dians, he brought them by a particular article,
to bind themselves, as a principal means of con-
firming them in christianity, ‘To remember
the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy, as long as we
live.' For himself, the sun did not set, the
evening before the Sabbath, till he had begun
his preparations for it. Every day was a sort
of Sabbath to him: but the Sabbath-day was
with him a type and foretaste of heaven;
nor would you hear any thing drop from his

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 155

lips on that day hut the milk and honey of that
country, in which there yet remaineth a rest for
the people of God.
      “His mortification was exemplary. Never
did I see a person more dead to all the sinful
pleasures of this life. He became so nailed
unto the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
the grandeurs of this world were unto him just
what they would be to a dying man. Early
from his bed, and abstemious in his diet, he
endeavoured to draw others to partake with
him in the pleasures which he derived there-
from. When especially he thought the coun-
tenance of a minister showed that he made
much of himself, he would say, 'Study mortify-
cation, brother! Study mortification!' modest
in his own apparel, when he once saw some
scholars, whom he thought a little too gaudy in
their clothes; Humiliamini, Juvenes, humilia-
mini, (away with your vanities, young men,
away with your vanities;) was his immediate
compliment to them.
     "His Charity was a star of the first magni-
tude in the bright constellation of his virtues,
the rays of it were various and exten-
sive.
      "His liberality went much beyond the pro-
portion of his little estate in the world; and
he would, with a forcible importunity, press
his neighbours to join with him in his acts of
beneficence. The poor counted him their fa-

156 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

ther;* and repaired unto him with a filial con-
fidence, in all their necessities. And when his
age had unfitted him for almost all employ-
ment, he would sometimes answer when asked
how he did; alas! my understanding leaves me;
my memory fails me; but I thank God my chari-
ty holds out still. I find that rather grow than
fail.
"His Charity led him also to peace. -- When
he heard any ministers complain, that such
and such in their flocks were too difficult for
them, the strain of his answer still was -- 'Bro-
ther, compass them!' and, 'Brother, learn
the meaning of these three little words --
‘Bear, Forbear, Forgive.’ Nay, his love of

* So great was Mr. Eliot's charity, that his salary
was often distributed for the relief of his needy neigh-
bours so soon after the period at which he received it,
that before another period arrived, his own family
were straitened for the comforts of life. One day the
Parish Treasurer on paying the money for salary due,
which he put into a handkerchief, in order to prevent
Mr. Eliot from giving away his money before he got
home, tied the ends of the handkerchief in as many
hard knots as he could. The good man received his
handkerchief, and took leave of the Treasurer. He
immediately went to the house of a sick and necessi-
tous family. On entering, he gave them his blessing,
and told them God had sent them some relief. The
sufferers with tears of gratitude welcomed their pious
benefactor, who with moistened eyes began to untie
the knots in his handkerchief. After many efforts to
get at his money, and impatient at the perplexity and
delay, he gave the handkerchief and all the money to
the mother of the family, saying with a trembling ac-
cent; "here my dear, take it; I believe the Lord de-
signs it all for you."

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 157

peace sometimes almost made him to sacrifice
right itself. When there was laid before an
assembly of ministers a bundle of papers, which
contained certain matters of contention be-
tween some persons, which our Eliot thought
should rather unite with an amnesty on all
their former quarrels he, with some imitation
of what Constantine did on a similar occasion,
hastily threw the papers into the fire before
them all, and immediately said, 'Brethren, won-
der not at what I have done, I did it on my knees
this morning before l came among you.'
      "His Resignation to the will of God was
very great. Some afflictions befel him, espe-
cially when he was called to follow his hope-
ful and worthy sons, some of them desirable
preachers, to their graves; but be sacrificed
others like another Abraham with such a sacred
indifference, as made all the spectators to say,
‘This could not be done without the fear of
God!' yea, he bore all his trials with admira-
ble patience, and seemed loth to have any will
of his own, that should not be wholly melted
and moulded into the will of his heavenly Fa-
ther.
      "When sinking at sea, the boat in which he
was having been upset by a larger vessel, and
he imagined he had but one more breath to
draw in this world, it was, 'The will of the Lord
be done!'
      "He arrived, indeed, at a remarkable health
of soul; and he was kept in a blessed measure,
clear of those distempers which too often dis-
                             13*

158 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

order the most of men. By living near to God
and dwelling as under the shadow of the Almigh-
ty, he contracted a more exquisite sense of
mind than is usual among christians. If he
said of any affair, 'I cannot bless it!’ it was
worse to it than the most inauspicious presage-
es in the world."
Such is the picture of this exalted man,
drawn by one who had the advantage of long
and intimate converse with him, and exhibited
before multitudes, who were the most compe-
tent judges of its fidelity. His attention was
wholly taken up with his professional duties.
He left the management of his temporal con-
cerns altogether with his wife.
Mather says, that one day some of his own
cattle stood before the door, his wife, to try
him, asked him whose they were, she found as
she had expected, that he knew nothing of
the matter.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 159

CHAPTER XX.

HIS CHARACTER AS A MINISTER.

      "THE grace of God, which we have seen so
illustriously endowing our Eliot, disposed him
to the sacred employment wherein he spent
about sixty years of his life. To this work he
applied himself wholly, and undertook it, I be-
lieve, (says Dr. Mather) with as right motives,
as ever actuated the mind of man.
     "He had that good measure of learning
which is needful to his rightly dividing the word
of truth, He was a very acute grammarian;
and understood well the languages in which
God first wrote the holy Bible. He had a
sharp insight into the liberal arts; and made
little systems of them for the use of certain In-
dians of whose exacter education he was de-
sirous. Above all, he had a most eminent skill
in Theology; mighty in the word, he was able
to convince gain-sayers; and on all occasions, to
show himself a workman that needed not to be
ashamed.
     "His way of preaching was very plain and
withall very powerful. His delivery was
graceful; but when he was to use reproofs
and warnings against any sin, his voice would
rise into great warmth and energy; he would

160 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

brandish the sword and sound the trumpet of
God against all vice with a most penetrating
liveliness; and I observed that there was a re-
markable fervor in the rebukes which he be-
stowed upon a carnal spirit and life in profess-
sors of religion. There was evermore much
of Christ in his preaching; and, with St. Paul
he could say, I am determined not to know any
thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him cru-
cified; from this inclination it was, that though
he printed several books, yet his heart seemed
not so much in any of them, as in that serious
and savoury book of his entitled, 'The Har-
mony of the gospels, in the Holy History of
Jesus Christ;' and hence it was that he would
give that advice to young preachers; 'Pray
let there be much of Christ in your ministry.'
Moreover; he liked no preaching, but that
which had been well studied for; and he would
very much commend a sermon, which he could
perceive required some good thinking and read-
ing in the preacher. And yet he looked for
something in the study of a sermon beyond the
mere study of man; he was for preaching from
those impressions and with those affections
which might compel the hearers to acknowl-
edge therein, the gracious influences of the
Holy Spirit.
"He was very laborious in the Catechising
of children; he kept up that great ordinance,
both publickly and privately; and spent there-
in a world of time. It would hardly be cred-
ited, if I should relate what pains be took to

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 16 l

keep up the blessed echoes of truth between
himself and the young people of his congrega-
tion; and what prudence he used in suiting his
Catechisms to the age and strength of his little
large. He composed various Catechisms,
which were more particularly designed to
guard his own people against such errors as
right threaten any peculiar danger. And the
success of this labor was in proportion to the
defatigable industry with which he prosecut-
ed it; for it is a well principled people whom
he hath left behind him. As when certain
Jesuits were sent among the Waldenses to cor-
rupt their children, they returned with disap-
pointment and confusion, because the children
of seven years old were well instructed enough
encounter the most learned of them all; so
any Seducers were let loose as wolves among
good people of Roxbury, they would find, I am
confident, as little prey in that well instructed
place as in any part of the country."

162 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT,

CHAPTER XXl.

HIS CHARACTER AS A MISSIONARY,

     We have reserved this trait in his character
till the last, because it was his missionary ex-
ertions, principally, that rendered him distin-
guished, while he lived, and has kept him in
remembrance since he died. He was eminent
as a christian, and as a christian minister: but
as a missionary he was pre-eminent. To form
a proper estimate of his character as a mis-
sionary, we must take into view the circum-
stances in which he was placed.
      Eliot had not those facilities for civilizing
and christianizing the Indians that missionaries
have at the present day. Connected with the
missionary establishments at Brainerd, Eliot,
Mayhew, &c. there is a practical farmer, and
mechanics of various descriptions, to teach,
them agriculture and the mechanic arts.
     These establishments are patronised by the
christian public and the national government
Eliot commenced his missionary work unpa-
tronised, either by civil rulers or by the Church
of God. He had no coadjutors in the work of
their civilization. He laments the want of
such assistance. "Our work of civilizing

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 163

them goes on slowly for want of tools; for
though l have bought a few for them, we can
do but little;" again, "had we but the means
of maintaining a diligent and discreet man to
work with them and guide them in their work,
that also would much promote our success." He
thought it necessary to furnish them with tools
and procure persons to reside among them to
teach them the arts of civilized life. These are
the means that are now in operation to civilize
The Indians at the missionary stations among
the Cherokees, Chickasaws and Chocktaws.
The Indians had no written language. He
had to learn their language by intercourse with
them, systematize and arrange it, and then
translate the Bible into it. He preached to
them in their own native tongue. Efforts to
convert the heathen to the Christian faith,
were in his day very rare. Eliot stands in the
same relation to the missionary exertions of
the present day, as Wickliff, John Huss and
Jerome of Prague, stood to the Reformation of
Luther. They preached essentially the same
doctrines, entertained the same views of the
corruptions of the Church of Rome that Lu-
ther and his associates did in the beginning of
the sixteenth century. Eliot's views of the
duty of christians to propagate the gospel
among the heathen and the means by which it
must be accomplished, were the same as those
now entertained by the friends of missions.
After Eliot had been some time engaged in
the missionary cause, the Provincial govern-

164 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

meat so far patronized him, as to grant land
for the settlement of his converts, and a Socie-
ty was formed in England that furnished him
with funds. By the liberality of the friends of
Christ in England, he was enabled to prosecute
his benevolent purposes with more success,
than he otherwise could have done. Mr. Eliot
began the work with a simple dependence on
God. He possessed the spirit of the apostles
and martyrs. He subjected himself to great
personal inconveniences to preach the gospel
to the heathen.
He was conscious that the cause in which
he was engaged was the cause of God. This
greatly emboldened him to persevere against
all opposition. His answer to a Sachem that
opposed his design of converting the Indians,
is the language of a christian hero; I told him
(says he) it was God's work in which I was en-
gaged, that he was with me and that I feared
not him nor all the Sachems in the country, that I
was resolved to go on, do what they might.' The
same spirit animated Eliot that did the holy
apostle. Anticipating the bonds and afflictions
which awaited him, when he said, "none of
these things move me; neither count I my life
dear unto myself so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry which l have received
of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace
of God." He was faithful unto death, and then
received from his Lord a crown of life. We
are commanded to be followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises,

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 165

     The subject of these memoirs was one of
the lights with which God illuminates a dark
and benighted world.
       His character should be carefully studied by
every missionary of the cross. They should
labor to possess the fidelity, zeal, faith and
perseverance that were such prominent traits
in the character of Eliot. May the Lord of
the harvest raise up many such laborers as was
the apostolic Eliot to enter into his harvest.
     May the Heralds of the everlasting gospel, go
forth into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature.
                         14

166 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

CHAPTER XXII.

                     CONCLUSION.

      IN drawing this work to a close, the Compil-
er thinks it important to make a few brief re-
flections,
       1. We infer from this narrative, the practi-
cability of civilizing and christianizing the In-
dians.
      It is frequently asserted, that the attachment
of Indians to their habits, is so strong, that any
efforts to civilize them are useless. It is well
known that Indians themselves feel an aver-
sion to a change, either in their habits of liv-
ing, or in their religion, This attachment is
forcibly expressed by a Pawnee chief, in a
speech made to the President of the United
States at Washington, February 4, 1822. "My
Great Father, Some of your good chiefs as they
are called (missionaries) have proposed to send
some of their good people among us to change
our habits, to make us work and live like the
white people. I will not tell a lie -- I am go-
ing to tell the truth. You love your country
you love your people--you love the man-
ner in which they live, and you think your
people brave.
      " I am like you, my great Father, I love my
country--I love my people, I love the manner

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 167

in which we live, and think myself and war-
riors brave--spare me then, my great Father,
let me enjoy my country, and pursue the buf-
falo and the beaver, and the other wild animals
of our country.
      "I have grown up and lived thus long with-
out work--l am in hopes you will suffer me
to die without it. We have plenty of buffalo,
beaver, deer, and other wild animals; we have
also an abundance of horses, we have every
thing we want--we have plenty of laud, if you
will keep your people off of it.
       "It is too soon, my great Father, to send
those good men among us--we are not starv-
ing yet--we wish you to permit us to enjoy
the chase, until the game of our country is ex-
hausted--until the wild animals become extinct.
Let us exhaust our present resources before
you make us toil and interrupt our happiness
--let me continue to live as I have done, and
after I have passed to the good, or evil spirit,
from off the wilderness of my present life, the
substance of my children may become so pre-
carious as to need and embrace the assistance
of those good people."
     The same attachment to their ancient cus-
toms was felt by the Indians in the days of Eli-
ot. Unkas, a Mohegan Sachem, was greatly
disturbed, when he heard that Mr. Eliot had
proposed to the Commissioners, a general plan
to civilize and christianize the Indians. He
went to Hartford to intreat the General Assem-
bly, that his Indians might not be taught to

168               MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

pray to God. Another Sachem told him that
all the Sachems 10 the country were against
his building a town and introducing civil order
among Indians. But the perseverance and he-
roism of this indefatigable missionary of the
cross, overcame these difficulties. Many of
the natives that had been accustomed to follow
the chase to procure their subsistence, subdue-
ed their propensity for roving, and settled down
into the habits of civilized life.
       In the year 1674, he had collected fourteen
towns of this description of Indians. In these
towns the worship of God was maintained and
civil affairs administered principally by the In-
dians themselves. He taught many of them
to read, and published two editions of the Bible
of two thousand copies each, in the native dia-
lect; and we have reason to believe that many
hundred souls of Indians, who were the fruit of
Mr. Eliot's ministry, are now rejoicing in glo-
ry. With these facts before us, how can we
doubt the practicability of civilizing and chris-
tianizing the Indians? are they attached to
their habits of living, do they love to pursue
the buffalo, the bear and beaver through their
own forests? So did the Indians, when Eliot
first began his labors among them. Do the In-
dians of the present day feel attached to their
own modes of worshiping the great Spirit? So
did the Indians in the days of Eliot.
      There is not one objection which can now
be made to engaging in this work, which was
not then made. If the faith and perseverance

             MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.             169

of Eliot overcame all difficulties in his day,
then may they be surmounted in our day.
      There was a time, when our ancestors, the
ancient Britons, were as much attached to the
Druidical rites of worship, and the savage
mode of life, as the Indians of the North Amer-
ican forests now are. When Julius Caesar in-
vaded Britain the inhabitants were as far from
civilization as the savages in our western wil-
derness are at the present day. If it was prac-
ticable to civilize ancient Britons, why is it not
practicable to civilize the red people of the
west?
     It was by means of missionary exertions, that
the light of the gospel first shone upon the
British Isles. Missionaries came from the con-
tinent and preached the unsearchable riches of
Christ to our savage heathen ancestors. They
listened to these servants of the most high God,
who showed unto them the way of salvation.
They forsook the altars of heathen idolatry;
ceased to offer human victims; and deserted
the temples erected to the worship of their idol
gods. They became the humble and devout
worshippers of the only living and true God.
God can with as much ease now soften and sub-
due the savage temper, as he did then. Eliot,
with very little assistance from others, in the
early days of New-England, accomplished great
things among the aboriginal inhabitants, and
shall not the friends of missions by their unit-
ed exertions, attempt greater things than these?
    2. We remark; that the practicability of
                               14*

170                MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

civilizing and christianizing the Indians, lays us
under obligations to do it.
      We are under no obligations to impart in-
struction to the inhabitants of distant planets;
for we have no means of holding commnnica-
tion with them. We are under no obligation
to communicate the knowledge of Christ to the
inhabitants of any undiscovered islands in the
seas; if such exist. But we have certain
knowledge of the existence of the Indian tribes.
We have the means of communicating instruc-
tion to them. We have men among us that
are willing to go to them, and spend their lives
in instructing them in the knowledge of God
and in the arts of civilized life. We cannot
plead poverty, as an excuse for not engaging
in this work. No nation is in a more prospe-
rous condition than the United States. No
people, in proportion to their number, are ca-
pable of doing more in works of religious char-
ity than the citizens of these States.
      We should ever remember, that it was the
property of the Indians that laid the founda-
tion of our prosperity. The whole land which
we occupy was the property of the Indians.
We have never paid them an equivalent for
their lands. Large tracts of land were pur-
chased of them for trifling sums, We owe ,
them a debt which we can in no way pay but
by imparting to them the blessings of civiliza-
tion and Christianity.
      3. This narrative furnishes encouragement
for us to engage in missionary enterprise.

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 171

Eliot lived at a day, in which there was lit-
tle done to propagate the gospel. He and his
fellow pilgrims, that planted the New England
Churches, were persecuted in the land of their
nativity. They fled to this new world that
they might worship God according to the dic-
tates of their own consciences. After they ar-
rived here they bad to form their system of
Church government. It was their object to
establish these Churches on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being
the chief corner stone. They desired greater
purity in worship and in practice than they
then found in the established Church. In this
western world, they established their Church-
es on what they considered the primitive found-
ation. They had also to contend with the
hardships of a new country. After they had
been here a few years, the attention of Eliot
was turned to the heathen around him. When
he saw the wretchedness of their situation; his
heart was touched with compassion towards
them. He could have no peace until he had
began his missionary labours. The success
that attended him was far greater than he had
even anticipated. The success that attended
Eliot should stimulate us to exertion, at the
present day. The slothful and unbelieving
may say, that "there is a lion in the way; there
is a lion in the streets;" but the faithful and
believing will look at obstacles only, as so
many motives to vigorous exertion. Let the
friends of Zion only persevere in their exer-

172 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

tions to convert the heathen, and speedily
"every valley will he exalted, and every
mountain and hill shall be made low; and the
crooked shall be made straight and the rough
places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed; and all flesh shall see it togeth-
er. God will give to his Son the heathen for
an inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the
earth for a possession." The Indian tribes of
our own forests are certainly included among
the heathen that are to be given to Christ.
But they can become his only through the
means of his own appointment. They are to be
saved by the instrumentality of preaching.
They must hear of Christ before they can be-
lieve on him. "How can they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and
how shall they hear without a preacher?" There
is no possibility of their believing on Christ and
being saved, unless preachers are sent to them.
The command of our dying Lord still stands
unrevoked, "go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature." Those that go forth
in obedience to this command, may still claim
the promise, “lo, I am with you alway, even to
the end of the world." There is the same en-
couragement to make exertions in the cause
of Christ now, that there was immediately
after his ascension. Yea, at no period since
the commencement of the christian era, has
there been so much encouragement to make
exertions to extend the Redeemer's kingdom, as

MEMOIRS OF ELIOT. 173

at the present time. The christian world has
awoke from the slumber of ages. Bible, Mis-
sionary, Tract and Education Societies have
risen and acquired a maturity, unparalleled in
the history of the Church. Had any man half
century ago, ventured to predict such a state
of things, his friends would have cried out in
the language of the unbelieving lord, "behold,
the Lord would make windows in heaven, might
this thing be?'' The march of this cause is
still onward. Every revolving year brings
with it new accessions of strength and num-
bers. Especially the friends to civilizing and
christianizing the Indians have greatly increas-
ed. The Congress of the United States have
appropriated ten thousand dollars a year to
assist in this cause. Some of the tribes
themselves are beginning to value the institu-
tions of religion and the arts of civilized life .
The Chocktaws have pledged the annual sum
six thousand dollars, to be received by them
from the government, during the whole time,
it shall be paid, that is, for sixteen or seven-
teen years to come, for the instruction of them-
selves and children in christianity and civiliza-
tion, The American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions, have already forty two
persons resident among them, whose lives are
devoted to civilizing and christiamzing them.
What professed follower of Christ is there,
whose heart is 110 hard, that he is unwilling to
contribute to the support of those "who have
foraaken houses and brethren, and sister, and

174 MEMOIRS OF ELIOT.

mother, for Christ's sake and the gospels?" I
any, they can have no portion of the spirit of
Christ. The spirit of Christ is a benevolent
spirit. It embraces aa the objects of its chari-
ty, both the body and the souls of men. The
soul especially it regards as of immense value.
It is charity of the highest kind to afford means
of salvation to those, who are perishing for
lack of vision. Whosoever shall contribute
only a small sum to this object from right mo-
tives, Christ will regard it as an act of kindness
done to himself, and the contributor will in the
day of judgment, in no wise lose his reward.
He shall hear his omnipotent Judge say, in-
asmuch as ye have done this, unto the least of these
ye have done it into me. Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world.

Letter	I.	125
Letter	II.	126
Letter	III.	129
Letter	IV.	132
Letter	V.	134
Letter	VI.	136
Letter	VII.	138
Letter	VIII.	143
Letter	IX.	144