THE
DAY BREAKING
IF NOT THE
Sun Rising of the Gospel
WITH THE
INDIANS IN NEW ENGLAND.
 |
NEW YORK:
REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABIN,
DAY BREAKING
IF NOT THE
Sun Rising of the Gospel
WITH THE
1648
Sabin's Reprints, QUARTO SERIES. No. IX.
THE
DAY BREAKING
IF NOT THE
Sun Rising of the Gospel
WITH THE
|
NEW YORK:
REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABIN,
No. 133
EDITION 250 Copies,
OF WHICH 50 ARE ON LARGE PAPER.
MUNSELL, PRINTER.
In compliance with current copyright law. U. C. Library Bindery produced this replacement volume on paper that meets ANSI Standard Z39.48- 1984 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original
1999
The
DAY-BREAKING
IF NOT
THE SUN-RISING
OF THE
GOSPELL
With the
INDIANS in New-England.
Zach. 4. 10.
Who hath despised the day of small things?
Matth. 13. 13.
The Kingdome of heaven is like to a graine of mustard seed.
Ibid, verse 33.
The Kingdome of heaven is like unto Leven.
LONDON
Printed by Rich. Cotes, for Fulk Clifton and are to bee
fold at his shop under Saint Margaretts Church on
New-fifh-Street Hill, 1647.
Authors are alleged to be perhaps:
by John Wilson, John
Eliot, and/or Thomas Shepard
Ee that pen'd these
following Relations is a Minister of Christ
in New Eng
land, so eminently godly and faitlfull, that what he here reports, as an eye or an eare witnesse, is not to be questioned;
Were he willing his name should be mentioned, it would bee an abundant, if not a redundant,
Testimo
niall to all that know him.
A
TRVE RELATION
Our beginnings with the INDIANS.
Pon October 28. 1646. four of us (having fought God) went unto the Indians inhabiting
within our bounds, with desire to make known the things of their peace to them, A little before we came to their Wigwams,
five or fix of the chief of them met us with English
falu
tations, bidding us much welcome, who leading us
unto the principal! Wigwam of *Waaubon, we found *The name of many more Indians, men women, children, gathered an Indian. together from all quarters round about, according to ap-
pointment, to meet with us, and learne of us. Waaubon the chief minister of justice among them exhorting and inviting them before thereunto, being one who gives
more grounded hopes of serious respect to the things of God, then any that as yet I have knowne of that forlorne generation; and therefore since wee first began to deale seriously with him, hath voluntarily offered his eldest fan to be educated and trained up i the knowledge of God, hoping, as hee told us, that he might come to know him, although hee despaired much concerning himself; and accordingly his fan was accepted, and is now at school in Dedham, whom we found at this time
standing
( 2 )
standing by his father among the rest of his Indian
brethren in English clothes.
They being all there assembled, we began with prayer, which now was in English, being not so farre acquainted with the Indian language as to express our hearts herein before God or them, but wee hope it will bee done ere long, the Indians desiring it that they also might know how to pray, but thus wee began in an unknowne tongue to them, partly to let them know that this dutie in hand was serious and sacred, (for so much some of them understand by what is undertaken at prayer) partly also in regard of our selves, that wee might agree together in the fame request and heart sorrowes for them even in that place where God was never wont to be called upon.
When prayer was ended it was a glorious affecting spectacle to see a company of perishing, forlorne out cafts,
dilligently attending to the blessed word of salva tion then delivered; professing they understood all that which was then taught them in their
owne tongue; it much affected us
that they should smell some things of the Alabaster box broken up in that darke
and gloomy habitation of filthinesse
and uncleane spirits. For about an houre and a quarter the Sermon con
tinued, wherein one of our company ran thorough all the principall matter of religion,
beginning first with a reptition of
the ten Commandements, and a briefe ex plication
of them, then shewing the curfe and dreadfull
wrath of God against all those who brake them, or any one of them, or the leaf\: title of them, and so applied
it
unto the condition
of the Indians prefent, with much
sweet affection;
and then preached Jesus Christ
to
them the onely meanes of recovery from sinne and wrath and eternal)
death, and what Christ
was, and whither he was now
gone, and how hee will one day
come
( 3 )
come againe to judge the world in flaming fire; and of the blessed estate of all those that by
faith beleeve in Christ, and know
him feelingly: he spake to them also
(observing his owne method as he saw
most fit to
edifie them) about the creation and fall of man, about the greatnesse and infinite being of God, the maker of all things, about the joyes of heaven, and the terrours and horrours of wicked men in hell,
per[wading them to repentance for severall sins which they live in, and many things of the like nature; not meddling with any matters more difficult, and which
to such weake ones might
at first seeme ridiculous, untill they had
tasted and beleeved
more plaine and familiar truths.
Having thus in a set speech familiarly opened the principal
matters of Salvation to them, the
next thing wee intended was discourse
with them by propounding certaine questions
to fee what they would say to them, that
so wee might skrue by variety of meanes fome
thing or other of God into them; but before wee did this we
asked them if they understood all that was already
spoken, and whether all of them in
the Wig
wam did understand or onely some
few? and they an swered to
this question with multitude of voyces,
that thev all of them did understand all that which was then spoken to them. We then desired
to know of them, if they would
propound any question to us for
more cleare understanding of what was delivered; whereupon severall of them propounded presently seve
rall questions, (far different from what some other In-
dians under Kitchomakia in the like meeting about fix The name of weeks before had done, 1.:iz. I. What was the cause of the chiefe In Thunder. 2. Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea. dians about us.
3. Of the wind)
but the questions (which wee thinke
some speciall wisedome of God directed
these unto) (which these propounded) were in number
fix.
B How
I QuestAnsw
3
4
( 4 )
How may wee come to know Jesus Christ?
Our first answer was, That if they were to read our
Bible, the book of God, therein they should see most cleerely what Jesus Christ was; but because they could
not do that; therefore, Secondly, we wisht them to thinke, and meditate of so much as had been taught them, and which they now heard out of Gods booke, and to thinke much and often upon it, both when they did lie downe on their Mats in their Wigwams, and when they rose up, and to goe alone in the fields and woods, and muse on it, and so God would teach them; especially if they used a third helpe, which was,
Prayer to God to teach them and reveale Jesus
Christ unto them; and wee told them, that although they could not make any long prayers as the English
could, yet if they did but sigh
and groane, and say
thus; Lord make mee know Jesus
Christ for I know
him not, and if they did say so againe and againe with
their hearts that God would teach them
Jesus Christ, because hee is such a
God as will bee found of them
that seeke him with all their hearts, and hee is a God hearing the prayers of all men both Indian as well as English, and that English men by this meanes have
come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The last helpe wee gave them was repentance, they must consfesse their sinnes and ignorance unto God, and mourne for it, and acknowledge how just it is,
for God to deny them the knowledge of Jesus Christ
or any thing else because of their sinnes.
These things were spoken by him who had preached to them in their owne language, borrowing now and then some small helpe from the Interpreter whom wee brought with us, and who could oftentimes expresse our minds more distinctly than any of us could; but this wee perceived, that a few words from the Preacher
were
( 5 )
were more regarded then many from the Indian Inter preter.
One of them after this answer, replyed to us that Quest.
hee 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 hee was praying, one of his fellow Indians interrupted him, and told him, that
hee prayed in vaine, because Jesus Christ understood
not what Indians speake in prayer, he had bin used to heare English man pray and fa could well enough under- stand them, but Indian language in prayer hee thought hee was not acquainted with it, but was a stranger to it, and therefore could not understand them. His ques-
tion therefore was, whether Jesus Christ did under-
stand, or God did understand Indian prayers.
This question founding just like themselves wee Answ.
studied to give as familiar an answer as wee could, and therefore in this as in all other our answers, we endeavoured to speake nothing without clearing of it
up by fame familiar similitude; our answer summarily was therefore this, that Jesus Christ and God by him made all things, and makes all men, not onely English
but Indian men, and if hee made them both (which wee know the light of nature would readily teach as they had been also instructed by us) then hee 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 hee made Indian men, then hee knowes all Indian prayers also: and therefore wee bid them looke upon that Indian Basket that was before them, there was black and white strawes, and many other things they made it of, now though others did not know what those things were who made not the Basket, yet hee that made it must needs tell all the things in it, so (wee said) it was here.
Another
3 Quest.
Asnw.
4 Quest.
Answ.
5 Quest
( 6 )
Another propounded this question after this answer, Whether English men were ever at any time so ignorant of God and Jesus Christ as themselves?
When wee perceived the root and reach of this question, wee gave them this answer) that there are two forts of English men, fame are bad and naught, and live wickedly and loosely, (describing them) and these kind of Englishmen wee told them were in a
manner as ignorant of Jesus Christ as the Indians now
are; but there are a second sort of English men, who though for a time they lived wickedly also like other prophane and ignorant English, yet repenting of their sinnes, and seeking after God and Jesus Christ, they are good men now, and now know Christ, and love Christ, and pray to Christ, and are thankfull for all they have to Christ, and shall at last when they dye, goe up to heaven to Christ; and we told them all these also were once as ignorant of God and Jesus Christ as the Indians are, but by seeking to know him by reading his booke, and hearing his word, and praying to him, &c. they now know Jesus Christ and just so fuall the Indians know him if they so seeke him also, although at the present they bee extremely ignorant of him.
How can there be an Image of God, because it's forbidden in the second Commandement?
Wee told them that Image was all one Picture, as the Picture of an Indian, Bow and Arrowes on a tree, with such little eyes and' such faire hands) is not an Indian but the Picture or Image of an Indian, and that Picture man makes, and it can doe no hurt nor good. So the Image of Picture of God is not God, hut wicked men make it, and this Image can doe no good nor hurt to any man as God can.
Wether, if the father be naught, and the child good, will God bee offended with that child, because in the
second
( 7 )
second Commandement it's said, that hee visits the sinnes of fathers upon the children?
Wee told them the plainest answer wee could thinke . Answ.
of, viz, that if the child bee good, and the father bad, God will not· bee offended with the child, if hee repents of his owne and his fathers sinnes, and followes not the steps of his wicked father; but if the child bee also bad, then God will visit the sins of fathers upon them, and therefore wisht them to consider of the other part of the promise made to thousands of them that love God and the Evangenesh Jehovah, i. e. the Commandements of Jehovah.
How all the world is become so full of people, if 6 Quest.
they were all once drowned in the Flood?
Wee told them the story and causes of Noahs pre- Answ.
servation in the Arke at
large, and so their question-
ing ended; and therefore
wee then saw our time of
propounding fame few questions to them, and
so take occasion thereby to open matters
of God more fully.
Our first question was, Whether they did not desire Quest. 1
to see God, and were not tempted to thinke that there was no God, because they cannot see him?
Some of them replyed thus; that indeed they did Answ.
desire to see him if it
could bee, but they had heard from
us that he could not be seene, and they did be-
leive that though their eyes
could not fee him, yet that hee was
to bee seene with their foule within: Here
upon we fought to confirme them the
more, and asked them if they saw a great Wigwam,
or a great house,
would they think that *Racoones or Foxes built it that *A beast some had no wisedome? or would they thinke that it made what like a Fox it selfe? or that no wise workman made it, because
they could not see him that made it? No but they would beleeve same wise workman made it though they did not fee him; so should they beleeve con-
cerning
( 8 )
cerning God, when they looked up to heaven, Sunne, Moone, and Stars, and saw this great house he hath made, though they do not fee him with their eyes, yet they have good cause to beleeve with their soules that a wise God, a great God made it.
Quest. 2. We knowing that a great block in their way to be- leiving is that there should bee but one God, (by the profession of the English) and yet this God in many places; therefore we asked them whether it did not
seeme strange that there hould bee but one God, and
*Three Indian yet this God in *Massachusetts, at Conectacut, at Quimi-
Peiock, in Old England, in this Wigwam, in the
next
every where.
Their answer was by one most sober among them, that indeed it was strange, as everything else they heard preached was strange also, and they were wonderfull things which they never heard of before; but yet they thought it might bee true, and that God was so big
That Hee was
every where:
whereupon we further illustrated what present every wee said, by wishing
them to consider of the light of where. the Sun, which though
it be but a creature
made by
God, yet the fame light which is in this Wigwam was
in the next also, and the fame light which was here at Massachusetts was at Quuinipeiock also and in old Eng land also, and every where at one and the fame time the fame, much more was it fo concerning God.
3 Quest. Whether they did not finde omewhat troubling them within after the commission of sin, as murther, adultery, theft, lying, &c. and what they thinke would comfort them against that trouble when they die and appeare before God, (for fame knowledge of the immortality of the soule almost all of them have.)
Answ. They told us they were troubled, but they could not tell what to fay to it, what should comfort them; hee therefore who spake to them at first concluded with
( 9 )
a doleful! description (so farre as his ability to speake in that tongue would carry him) of the trembling and mourning condition of every foul that dies in sinne, and that shall be cast out of favor with God.
Thus after three houres time thus spent with them, wee asked them if they were not weary, and they answered, No. But wee resolved to leave them with an appetite; the chiefe of them seeing us conclude with prayer, desired to know when wee would come againe, so wee appointed the time, and having given the children some apples, and the men some tobacco and what else we then had at hand, they desired some more ground to build a Town together, which wee did much like of, promising to speake for them to the generall Court, that they might possesse all the compasse of that hill, upon which their Wigwams then stood, and so wee departed with many welcomes from them.
A true relation
of our coming to the Indians second time.
P on November
11, 1646. we came the second time
unto the
fame Wigwam of Waawbon, we found many more
Indians met together then the first
time wee came to them: and
having seates provided for us by themselves, and being sate downe a
while, wee began againe with prayer in the English
tongue; our beginning
this time was with the younger fort of Indian children in
Catechizing of them, which being the first
time of instructing them, we thought meet to
aske them but only three questions
in their own language, that we might not clog their mindes or memories
with too much at first, the questions
(asked and answered in the Indian
tongue) were these three, 1. Qu. Who made you and all the world? Answ God. 2. Qu Who doe
( IO )
doe you looke should save you and redeeme you from Sinne and hell? Answ. Jesus Christ. 3 Qu. How many commandments hath God given you to keepe? Answ. Ten. These questions being propounded to the Children severally, and one by one, and the answers being short and easie, hence it came to passe that before wee went thorow all, those who were last catechised had more readily learned to answer to them, by hearing the fame question so oft propounded and answered before by their fellowes; and the other Indians who were growne up to more yeares had perfectly learned them, whom wee therefore desired to teach their children againe when wee were absent, that so when we came againe wee might see their profiting, the better to encourage them hereunto, wee therefore gave something to every childe.
This Catechisme being soon ended, hee that preach ed to them, began thus (speak ing to them in their owne language) viz . Wee are come to bring you good newes from the great God Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth, and to tell you how evil/ and wicked men may come to bee good, Jo as while they live they may be happy, and when they die they may go to God and live in Heaven. Having made this preface, he began first to set forth God unto them by familiar descriptions, in his glorious power, goodnesse, and greatnesse, and then set forth before them what his will was, and what hee required of all men even of the Indians themselves, in the ten Commandements, and then told them the dreadfull torment and punishment of all such as breake any one of those holy commandements, and how angry God was for any sinne and transgression, yet notwithstanding hee had sent Jesus Christ to die for their sinnes and to pacifie God by his sufferings in their stead and roome, if they did repent and beleeve the Gospell, and
that
( 11 )
that he would love the poore miserable Indians if now they fought God and beleeved in Jesus Christ threatning the fore wrath of God upon all such as flood out and neglected such great salvation which now God offered unto them, by those who fought nothing more then their salvation: thus continuing to preach the space of an houre, we desired them to propound fome questions: which were these following. Before I name them it may not be amisse to take notice of the mighty power of the word which visibly appeared especially in one of them, who in hearing these things about sinne and hell, and Jesus Christ, powred out many teares and shewed much affliction without affectation of being seene, desiring rather to conceale his griefe which (as was gathered from his carriage) the Lord forced from him.
The first Question was suddenly propounded by an I Quest.
old man then present, who hearing faith and repentance preacht upon them to finde salvation by Jesus Christ, hee asked wether it was not too late for such an old man as hee, who was neare death to repent or seek after God.
This Question affected us not a little with com- Answ.
passion, and we held forth to him the Bible, and told him what God said in it concerning such as are hired at the eleventh houre of the day: wee told him also that if a father had a sonne that had beene disobedient many yeares, yet if at last that sonne fall downe upon his knees and weepe and desire his father to love him, his father is so mercifull that hee will readily forgive him and love him; so wee said it was much more with God who is a more mercifull father to those whom hee hath made, then a y father can bee to his rebellious childe whom he hath begot, if they fall downe and weepe, and pray, repent, and desire forgiveneisse for
C Jesus
( 12 )
Jesus Christ's sake: and wee farther added that looke as if a father did call after his childe to return and repent promising him favour, the childe might then bee fore that his father would forgive him; so wee told them that now was the day of God risen upon them, and that now the Lord was calling of them to repentance, and that he had fent us for that end to preach repentance for the remission of fins, and that therefore they might bee fore to finde favour though they had Lived many years in sinne, and that therefore if now they did repent it was not too late as the old man feared, but if they did not come when they were thus called, God would bee greatly angry , with them, especially considering that now they must sinne against knowledge, whereas before we came to them they knew not any thing of God at all.
2 Quest. Having spent much time in clearing up the first
question, the next they propounded (up on our answer) was this, viz. How came the English to differ so much
from the Indians in the knowledge of God and Jesus
Christ, feeing they had all at first but one father?
Answ. Wee confessed that it was true that at first wee had all but one father, but after that our first father fell, hee had divers children fame were bad and fame good, thofe that were bad would not take his counsell but departed from him and from God, and those God left alone in sinne and ignorance, but others did regard him and the counsell of God by him, and those knew God, and fa the difference arose at first, that fame 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 fame bee rebellious against the counsell of the father, he shuts them out of doores, and lets them goe, and regard them not, unless they
return
( 13 )
return and repent, but others that will bee ruled by him, they learne by him and come to know his minde; s o wee said Englishmen seek God, dwell in his house, heare his word, pray to God, instruct their children out of Gods booke, hence they come to know God; but Indians forefathers were a stubborne and rebellious children, and would not heare the word, did not care to pray nor to teach their children, and hence Indians that now are, do not know God at all: and so must continue unless they repent, and return to God and pray, and teach their children what they now may learne: but withall wee told them that many Englishmen did not know God but were like to Kitchamakins drunken Indians; Nor were wee willing to tell them the Story of the scattering of Noahs children since the flood, and thereby to shew them how the Indians come to bee so ignorant, because it was too difficult, and the history of the Bible is reserved for them (if God wil) to be opened at a more convenient season in their owne tongue. _
Their third Question was, How may wee come to 3 Quest.
serve God.
Wee asked him that did propound it whether he did Answ desire indeed to serve him? and he said, yes, Here upon wee said, first, they must lament their blindnesse
and sinfulnesse that they cannot serve him; and their ignorance of God's booke (which wee pointed to) which directs how to serve him. Secondly, that they could not serve God but by seeking forgivenesse of
their sinnes and power against their sinnes in the bloud of Jesus Christ who was preached to them. Thirdly, that looke as an Indian childe, if he would serve his
father, hee must first know his fathers will and love his father too, or else he can never serve him, but if hee did know his fathers will 'and love him, then he
would
( 14 )
would serve him, and then if he should not doe fame things as his father commands him, and yet afterwards grieve for it upon his knees before his father, his father would pity and accept him: so wee told them it was with God, they must: labour to know his will and love God, and ..then they will bee willing to serve him, and if they should then sin, yet grieving for it before God he would pity and accept them.
4 Quest. Their fourth Question was, How it comes to passe that the Sea water was salt, and the Land water fresh.
Answ. 'Tis so from the wonderfull worke of God, as why are Strawberries sweet and Cranberries sowre there is no
A Berry which reason but the wonderfull worke of God
that made
is ripe in the them so: our study was
chiefly to make them acknow Winter and ledge God in his workes,
yet wee gave them also the
And
very reason so it from naturall
causes which they lesse un-
fowre they are derstood, yet did
underfl:and fomewhat appearing by
here called their
usuall signes of approving
what they under
Bear-berries stand.
5 Queft. Their fifth Question was, that if the water was higher than the earth, how comes it to passe that it doth not overflow all the earth?
Answ. Wee still held God before them, and shewed that this must needes bee the wonderfull worke of God, and wee tooke an apple and thereby shewed them how the earth and water made one round globe like that apple; and how the Sun moved about it; and then shewed them how God made a great hole or ditch, into which hee put the waters of the Sea, so that though it was upon the earth and therefore above the earth, yet we told themij that by making so deepe a hole the waters were kept within compasse that they could not overflow, just as if Indians making a hole to put in much water, the water cannot overflow nor runne abroad, which they would if they had no such hole;
( 15 )
so it was with God, it was his mighty power that digged a hole for all Sea-waters, as a deepe ditch, and there by God kept them in from overflowing the whole earth, which otherwise would quickly drowne all.
They having spent much conference amongst them- 6 Quest.
selves about these Questions and the night hastening, we desired them to propound fame other Questions, or if not, we would aske them fame, hereupon one of them asked us; If a man hath committed adultery or stolen any goods, and the Sachim doth not punish him, nor by any law is hee 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 broken and no man punished him for it, that then no punishment should come from God for it, and as if by restoring againe an amends was made to God.
Although man be not offended for such sinnes yet Answ.
God is angry, and his anger burnes like fire against all sinners: and here wee set out the holinesse and terrour
of God in respect of the least sinne; yet if such a sinner with whom God is angry fly to Jesus Christ, and repent and seeke for mercy and pardon for Christ's sake, that then God will forgive and pity. Upon the hearing of which answer hee that propounded the question drew somewhat backe and hung downe his head as a man smitten to the very heart, with his eyes ready to
drop, and within a little while after brake out into a complaint. Mee little know Jesus Christ, otherwise he thought he should seeke him better: we therefore told
him, that looke as it was in the morning at first there is but a little light, then there is more light, then there is day, then the Sun is up, then the Sun warmes and
heates, &c. so it was true they knew but little of Jesus
Christ now, but wee had more to tell them concerning
him
( 16 )
him hereafter, and after that more and after that more, untill at laft they may come to know Christ as the English doe; and wee taught them but little at a time, because the could not understand 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 untill now, it hath beene a long night wherein they have slept and have not regarded God, but now the day-light began to stirre upon them, they might hope therefore for more ere long, to bee made knowne to them.
Thus having spent some houres with them, wee propounded two Questions.
1 Quest. What do you remember of what was taught you since the last time wee were here?
Answ. After they had spoken one to another for some time,
one of them returned this answer, that they did much thanke God for our comming, and for what they heard, they were wonderfull things unto them.
2 Quest. Doe you beleeve the things that are told you, viz that God is musquantum, i. e. very angry for the least sinne in your thoughts, or words or workes?
Answ
They said yes, and hereupon we set forth the terrour of God against sinners, and mercy of God to the penitent, and to such as fought to know Jesus Christ,
and that as sinners should bee after death, Chechainuppan,
i. e. tormented alive (for wee know no other word in the tongue to expresse extreame torture by) so beleevers should after death Wowein wicke Jehovah, i. e. live in all blisse with Jehovah the blessed God: and so we concluded conference.
Having thus spent the whole afternoon and night being almost come upon us; considering that the Indians formerly desired to know how to pray, and did
thinke that Jesus Christ did not understand Indian
language,
language, one of us therefore prepared to pray in their owne language, and did so for about a quarter of an houre together, wherein divers of them held up eies and hands to heaven; all of them (as wee understood afterwards) understanding the fame; but one of them I cast my eye upon, was hanging downe his head with his rag before his eyes weeping; at first I feared it was some soreness of his eyes, but lifting up his head againe, having wiped his eyes (as not desirous to be seene) I easily perceived that his eyes were not fore, yet somewhat red with crying; and so held up his head for a while, yet such was the presence and mighty power of the Lord Jesus on his heart that hee hung downe his head againe, and covered his eyes againe and so fell wiping and wiping of them weeping abundantly, continuing thus till prayer was ended, after which hee presently turnes from us, and turnes his face to a side and corner of the Wigwam, and there fals a weeping more aboundantly by himselfe, which one of us perceiving, went to him, and spake to him encouraging words; at the hearing of which hee fell a weeping more and more; so leaveing of him, he who spake to him came unto mee (being newly gone out of the Wigwam) and told mee of his teares, so we resolved to goe againe both of us to him, and speake to him againe, and wee met him comming out of the Wigwam, and there wee spake again to him, and he there fell into a more aboundant renewed weeping, like one deeply and inwardly affected indeed which forced us also to such bowels of compassion that wee could not forbeare weeping over him also: and so wee parted greatly rejoycing for such farrowing.
Thus I have as faithfully as I could remember given you a true account of our beginnings with the Indians within our owne bounds; which cannot but bee matter
of
( 18 )
of more ferious thoughts what further to doe with these poore Natives the dregs of mankinde and the faddest spectacles of misery of meere men upon earth: wee did thinke to forbeare going to them this winter, but this last dayes worke wherein God set his seal from heaven of acceptance of our little, makes those of us who are able, to resolve to adventure thorow frost and snow, left the fire go out of their hearts for want of a little more sewell: to which wee are the more in ouraged, in that the next day after our being with them, one of the Indians came to his house who preacht to them to speake with him, who in private· conference wept exceedingly, and said that all that 11ight the Indians could not sleepe, partly with trouble of mind, and partly with wondring at the things they heard preacht amongst them: another Indian comming also to him the next day after, told him how many of to wicked fort of Indians began to oppose these be ginings.
Whence these Indians came here to inhabit is not certaine, his reasons are most probable who thinke they are Tartars passing out of Asia into America by by the Straits of Anian, who being spilt by fame revenging hand of God upon this continent like water upon the ground are spread as farre as these Atlanticke shores, there being but few of them in these parts in comparisan of those which are more contiguous to the Anian Straits, if wee may credit fame Historians herein: whatever these conjectures and uncertainties bee, certaine it is that they are inheritors of a grievous and fearfull curse living fa long without Ephod or Teraphim, and in nearest alliance to the wilde beasts that perish; and as God delights to convey blessings of mercy to the posterity of fame, in respect to his promise to their fathers, so are curses entailed and come
by
( 19 )
by naturall descent unto others, for fame great sinnes
of their Ancestors, as no doubt it is in respect
of these. For notwithstanding the deepest degeneracies are no stop to the overflowing grace and bloud of Christ,
when the time of love shall come, no not to these poore outcasts,
the utmost ends of the earth being ap pointed
to bee in time, the Sonne of Gods
possession. Wee are upbraided by fame of our Countrymen
1 that fa little good is
done by our professing planters upon the hearts of
Natives; such men have surely more splene than judgment and know not the vast distance of Natives from common civility, almost humanity it selfe, and
'tis as if they should reproach us for
not making the windes to blow when
wee lift our selves, it must
certainely be a spirit of life from God (not in man's power) which must put flesh
and sinewes unto these dry bones; if
wee would force them to baptisme (as the Spaniards do about Cusco, Peru, and Mexico, having learnt them a short answer or two to fame Popish questions) or if
we
would hire them to it by giving them coates
and shirts, to allure them to
it (as same others have
done,) wee could have gathered many
hundreds, yea thousands it may bee by this time, into the name of Churches; but wee have not learnt as yet that art
of coyning Christians, or putting
Christs name and Image upon copper mettle. Although
I thinke we have much cause to bee humbled
that wee have not endeavoured more than wee have done
their conversion and peace with God,
who enjoy the mercy and peace of God in their land. Three things have made us thinke (as they
once did of building the Temple) it is not yet time
for God to worke, 1 Because till the
Jewes come in,
there is a seale set upon the hearts of those people,
as they thinke
from same Apocalypticall places.
2 That as
D in
( 20 )
in nature there is no progresses ab extreme ad extremum niji per media, so in religion such are so extremely de generate, must bee brought to some civility before religion can prosper, or the word take place. 3 Because we want miraculous and extraordinary gifts without which no conversion can bee expected amongst these; but me thinkes now that it is with the Indians as it was with our New-English ground when we first came over, there was scarce any man that could beleev that English graine would grow, or that the Plow could doe any good in this woody and rocky soile. And thus they continued in this supine unbeliefe for some years, till experience taught them otherwise, and all fee it to bee scarce inferiour to Old-English tillage, but beares very good burdens: so wee have thought of our Indian people, and therefore have been discouraged to put plow to such dry and rocky ground, but God having begun thus with some few it may bee they are better soile for the Gospel than wee can thinke: I confesse I think no great good will bee done till they bee more civilised, but why may not God be gin with some few, to awaken others by degrees? nor doe I expect any great good will bee wrought by the English (leaving secrets to God) (although the English shall surely begin and lay the first stones of Christ Kingdome and Temple amongst them) because God is wont ordinarily to convert Nations, and peoples by some of their owne country men who are nearest to them, and can best speake, and most of all pity their brethren and countrimen, but yet if the least beginnings be made by the conversion of two or three, its worth all our time and travailes, and cause of much thankfulnesse for such seedes, although no great harvests should immediately appeare; surely this is evident, first that they never heard heart-breaking prayer and preaching before now
in
( 21 )
in there owne tongue, that we know of, secondly, that there were never such hope of a dawning of mercy toward them as now, certainly those abundant teares which we faw fhed from their eies, argue a mighty and blessed presence of the spirit of Heaven in their hearts, which when once it comes into such kinde of spirits will not easily out againe.
The chiefe use that I can make of these hopefull beginnings, besides rejoycing for such shinings, is from Eesy 2. 5. Oh hoese of Israel, let us walke in the light of the Lord; Considering that these blinde Natives beginne to look towards God mountaine now
The observations I have gathered by conversing with them are such as these.
That none of them slept Sermon or derided Gods I,
messenger: Woe unto those English that are growne bold to doe that, which Indians will not, Heathens dare not.
That there is need of learning in Ministers who 2 preach to Indians, much more to English men and gracious Christians, for these had sundry philosophicall questions, which fame knowledge of the arts must
helpe to give answer to; and without which these would not have beene satisfied: worse then Indian ignorance hath blinded their eies that renounce learning as an enemy to Gospell Ministeries.
That there is no necessity of extraordinary gifts nor 3· miraculous signes alway to convert Heathens, who being manifeft and professed unbeleevers may expect them as
soone as any; (signes being given for them that beleeve not I Cor. 14- 22.) much lesse is there any need of such gifts for gathering Churches amongst prosessing Christians, (figues not being given for them which beleeve,) for wee fee the Spirit of God working mightily upon the hearts of these Natives in an ordinary
( 22 )
dinary way, and I hope will; they being but a remnant, the Lord using to !hew mercy to the remnant; for there bee but few that are left alive from the Plague and Pox, which God fent into those parts, and if one or two can understand they usually talke of it as wee doe of newes, it flies suddainely farre and neare, and truth scattered will rife in time, for ought we know.
4 If English men begin to despise the preaching of faith and repentance, and humiliation for sinne, yet the poore Heathens will bee glad of it, and it shall doe good to them, for so they are, and foe it begins to foe; the Lord grant that the foundation of our English woe, be not laid in the ruine and contempt of those fundamentall doctrines of faith, repentance, humiliation for sin, &c. but rather relishing the novelties and dreames of such men as are surfetted with the ordinary food of the Gospell of Christ. Indians shall weepe to heare faith and repentance preached, when English men shall mourne, too late, that are weary of such truths.
5 That the deepest estrangements of man from God is no hindrance to his grace nor to the Spirit of grace, for what Nation or people ever so deeply degenerated since Adams fall as these Indians, and yet the Spirit of God is working upon them?
6 That it is very likely if ever the Lord convert any of these Natives, that they will mourne for fin exceed ingly, and confequently love Christ dearely, for if by a little measure of light such heart-breakings have ap peared, what may wee thinke will bee, when more is let in? they are some of them very wicked, some very ingenious, these latter are very apt and quick of un derstanding and naturally fad and melancholly (a good servant to repentance,) and therefore there is the greater
( 23 )
greater hope of great heart-breakings, if ever God brings them effectually home, for which we should af fectionately pray.
A third meeting with the Indians.
Ovember 26. I could not
goe my selfe, but heard from those who went of a third meeting;
the Indians having built more Wigwams in the wonted place of meeting to attend upon the Word the more readily. The preacher understanding how many of the Indians discouraged their fellows in this worke, and threatning death to Come if they heard any more, spake therefore unto them, about temptation of the Devil!, how bee tempted to all manner of sinne, and how the evil! heart closed with them, and how a good heart abhorred them; the Indians were this day more serious than ever before, and propounded divers questions againe; as I. Because fame Indians fay that we must pray to the Devil! for all good, and fame to God; they would know whether they might pray to the Devil! or no. 2 They said they heard the word humiliation oft used in our churches, and they would know what that meant? 3 'Why the English call them Indians, because before they came they had another name? 4 What a Spirit is ? 5 Whether they should beleeve Dreames? 6 How the English come to know God of much and they so little? To all which they had fit answers; but being not present I shall not set them downe: onely their great desire this time was to have a place for a Towne and to learn to spinne.
Sir, I did thinke I should have writ no more to you
concerning the Indians; but the Ship lingers in the Harbour, and the Lord Jesus will have you see more
of
The name of
an Indian.
( 24 )
of his conquests and triumphes among these forlorne and degenerate people, surely hee heares the prayers of the destitute and that have long lien downe in the duft before God for these poore prisaners of the pit: surely fame of these American tongues and knees must confesse him, and bow downe before him: for the Saturday night after this third meeting (as I am in formed from that man of God who then preached
to them) there came to his house one Wampas a wife and sage Indian, as a messenger sent to him from the rest of the company, to offer unto him his owne sonne and three more Indian children to bee trained up among the English, one of the children was nine yeares old, another eight, another five, another foure: and being demanded why they would have chem brought up among the English, his answer was, because they would grow rude and wicked at home, and would never come to know God, which they hoped they should doe if they were constantly among the English.
This Wampas came also accompanied with two more Indians, young lusty men, who offered themselves voluntarily to the service of the English that by dwelling in fame of their families, they might come to know
Jesus Christ; these are two of those three men whom
wee saw weeping, and whose hearts were smitten at our second meeting above mentioned, and continue still much affected, and gave great hopes; these two are accepted of and received into two of the Elders houses, but the children are not yet placed out because it is most meet to doe nothing that way too suddainly, but they have a promise of acceptance and education of them either in learning or in fame other trade of life in time convenient, to which Wampas replyed that the Indians desired nothing more.
These
( 25 )
These two young men who are thus disposed of, being at an Elders house upon the Sabbath day night, upon some conference with them, one of them began to confesse how wickedly he had lived, and with how many Indian women hee had committed filthinesse, and therefore professed that hee thought God would never look upon him in love. To which hee had this answer, that indeed that sinne of whoredome was exceeding great , yet if hee fought God for Christs sake to pardon him, and confesse his sinne and repented of it indeed, that the Lord would shew him mercy; and hereupon acquainted him with the story of Christ's conference with the Samaritan woman, ]ohn 4. And how Jesus Christ: forgave her although shee lived in that sinne of filthinesse, even when Christ: began to speake to her: whereupon he fell a weeping and lamenting bitterly, and the other young man being present and conseiling the like guiltinesse with his fellow, hee burst out also into a great mourning, wherein both con tinued for above halfe an houre together at that time also.
It is wonderfull to see what a little leven and that small mustardseed of the Gospell will doe, and how truth will worke when the Spirit of Christ hath the set ting of it on, even upon hearts and Spirit's most uncapable; for the last night after they had heard the word this third time, there was an English youth of good capacitie who lodged in Waaubons Wigwam that night upon speciall occassion, and hee assured us that the fame night Waaubon instructed all his company out of the things which they had heard that day from the Preacher, and prayed among them, and awaking often that night continually fell to praying and speaking to some or other of the things hee had heard, fo that this man (being a man of gravitie and chiefe prudence and
counsell
( 26 )
That is King. counsell among them, although no * Sachem) is like to be a meanes of great good to the rest of his company unlesse cowardice or witchery put an end (as usually they have done) to such hopefull beginnings.
The old man who askt the first question the second time of our meting (viz whether there was any hope for such old men or no) hath six sonnes, one of his
That is Sorce- sonnes was a Pawwaw, and his wife a great Pawwaw, rers and and both these God hath convinced of their wicked- Witches. nesse, and they resolve to heare the word and seeke to the devill no more. This, the two Indians who are come
to us acquaint us with, and that they now say, that Chepian, i. e. the devill is nought, and that God is the author onely of all good ast hey have beene taught. Hee therefore who preacheth to the Indians desired them to tell him who were Pawwaws when hee went againe to preach amongst them; and upon speciall occasion this Decemb. 4 being called of God to another place where the Indians used to meet, and having preacht among them, after the Sermon, hee that was the Paw waw of that company was discovered to him, to whom he addresed himselfe and propounded these questions, vis 1. Whether doe you thinke that God or Chepian is the author of all good? he answered, God. 2. If God bee the author of all good, why doe you pray to Chepian the devil!? The Pawwaw perceiving him to propound the last question with a sterne countenance and unaccustomed terrour, hee gave him no answer, but spake to other Indians that hee did never hurt any body by his Pawwawing, and could not bee got by all the meanes and turnings of questions that might bee, to give the least word of answer againe; but a little after the conference was ended, hee met with this Pawwaw alone and spake more lovingly and curteously to him, and askt him why hee would not answer, he
then
( 27 )
then told him that his last question struck a terrour into him and made him afraid, and promised that at the next meeting hee would propound some questions to him as others did.
And here it may not bee amisse to take notice of what these two Indians have discovered to us concerning these Pawwaws: for they were askt how they came to be made Pawwaws, and they answered thus, that if any of the Indians fall into any strange dreame wherein Chepian appears unto them as a serpent, then the next day they tell the other Indians of it, and for two dayes after the rest of the Indians dance and rejoyce for what they tell them about this Serpent, and so they become their Pawwaws: Being further askt what doe these Pawwaws, and what use are they of; and they said the principall imployment is to cure the sick by certaine odde gestures and beatings of themselves, and then they pull out the sicknesse by applying their hands to the sick person and so blow it away: so that their Pawwaws are great witches having fellowship with the old Serpent, to whom they pray, and by whose meanes they heale sicke persons, and (as they said also) will shew many strange juglings to the wonderment of the Indians, they affirmed also that if they did not cure the sick party (as very often they did not) that then they were reviled, and sometimes killed by some of the dead mans friends, especially if they could not get their many againe out of their hands, which they receive aforehand for their cure.
Wee have cause to be very thankfull to God who hath
moved the hearts of the generall court to purchase so
much land for them
to make their towne in which the
Indians are much taken
with* and it is somewhat
observable that while
the Court were considering
*The town, the
Indians did
desire to know what name it
should have, and it was told
them it should bee called Noonatomcn,which signifies in English rejoycing, because they hearing the word, and seeking to know God, the English did rejoyce at it, and God did rejoyce at it, which pleased them much, & therefore that is to be the name of their town.
( 28 )
ing where to lay out their towne, the Indians (not knowing of any thing) were about that time consulting about Lawes for themselves, and there company who fit downe with Waaubon; there were ten of them, two of them are forgotten.
Their Lawes were these
I. That if any man be idle a weeke, at most a fort night, hee shall pay five shillings.
2 If any unmarried man shall lie with a young wo
man unmarried, he shall pay twenty shillings
3. If any man shall beat his wife, his hands shall bee tied behind him and carried to the place of justice to bee severely punished.
4 Every young man if not anothers servant, and if unmarried, hee shall be compelled to set up a Wigwam and plant for himselfe, and not live shifting up and downe to other Wigwams.
5 If any woman iliall not have her haire tied up but hang loofe or be cut as mens haire, the iliall pay five
iliillings.
6 If any woman shiall goe with naked breasts they shall pay two shillings sixpence.
7 All those men that weare long locks shall pay five shillings.
8 If any shall kill their lice betweene their teeth, they shall pay five shillings. This Law though ridiculous to English eares yet tends to preserve cleanliness among Indians.
Tis wonderfull in our eyes to understand by these two honest: Indians, what Prayers Waaubon and the rest of them use to make, for hee that preacheth to them professeth hee never yet used any of their words in his
prayers,
( 29 )
prayers, from whom otherwise it might bee thought that they had learnt them by rote, one is this.
Amanaomen Jehovah tahassen metagh.
Take away Lord my Stony heart.
Another
Cheehesom Jehovah kekowhogkew,
Waili Lord my soule.
Another
Lord lead me when I die to heaven.
These are but a taste, they have many more, and these more enlarged then thus expressed, yet what are these but the sprinklings of the spirit and blood of
Christ Jesus in their hearts? and 'tis no small matter
that such dry barren and long-accursed ground should yeeld such kind of increase in so small a time, I would not readily commend a faire day before night, nor promise much of such kind of beginnings, in all persons, nor yet in all of these, for wee know the profession of very many is but a meere paint, and their best graces nothing but meere flashes and pangs, which are suddainly kindled and as soon go out and are extinct againe, yet God doth not usually fend his Plough & Seedsman to a place but there is at least some little peece of good ground, although three to one bee naught: and mee thinkes the Lord Jesus would never have made so fit a key for their-locks, unlesse hee had intended to open fame of their doores, and so to make way for his comming in. Hee that God hath raised up and enabled to preach unto them, is a man (you know) of a most sweet, humble, loving, gratious and enlarged spirit, whom God hath blest, and surely will still delight in & do good by. I did thinke never to have opened my mouth to any, to desire those in England to further any good worke here, but now I fee so many things inviting to speake in this businesse, that it were well if
you
( 30 )
did lay before those that are prudent and able these considerations.
1 That it is prettie heavy and chargeable to educate and traine up those children which are already offered us, in schooling, cloathing, diet, and attendance, which they must have.
2 That in all probabilities many Indians in other places, expecially under our jurisdiction, will bee provoked by this example in these, both to desire preaching, and also to fend their children to us, when they fee that some of their fellows fare so well among the English, and the civill authoritie here so much favouring and couutenancing of these, and if many come in, it will bee more heavy to such as onely are fit to keepe them, and yet have their hands and knees infeebled sfo many wayes besides.
3 That if any shall doe any thing to encourage this worke, that it may be given to the Colledge for such an end and use, that so from the Colledge may arise the yeerly revenue for their yeerly maintenance. I would not have it placed in any particular mans hands for feare coufenage or misplacing or carelesse keeping and improving; but at the Colledge it's under many hands and eyes the chief and best of the country who have ben & will be exactly careful of the right and comely disposing of such things; and therefore, if any thing bee given, let it be put in such hands as may immediately direct it to the President of the Colledge, who you know will soone acquaint the rest with it; and for this end if any in England have thus given any thing for this end, I would have them speake to those who have received it to fend it this way, which if it bee withheld I thinke 'tis no lesse than sacrilege: but if God moves no hearts to such a work, I doubt not then but that more weake meanes shall have the honour of it in the day of Christ.
A
( 3 I )
A fourth meeting
with the Indians.
H is day being Decemb, 9. the children being cate chifed, and that place of Ezekiel touching the
dry bones being opened, and applyed to their condi tion; the Indians offered all their children to us to bee educated amongst us, and instructed by us, complain ing to us that they were not able to give any thing to the English for their education: for this reason there are therefore preparations made towards the schooling of them, and setting up a Schoole among them or very neare unto them. Sundry questions also were pro pounded by them to us, and of us to them ; one of them being askt what is sinne? hee answered a naughty heart. Another old man complained to us of his feares, 'Viz, that hee was fully purposed to keepe the Sabbath, but till he was in feare whether he should go to hell or heaven; and thereupon the justification of a sinner by faith in Christ: was opened unto him as the remedy against all feares of hell. Another complayned of other Indians that did revile them and call them Rogues and such like speeches for cutting off their Locks, and for cutting their Haire in a modest manner as the New-English generally doe; for since the word hath begun to worke upon their hearts, they have dis cerned the vanitie and pride which they placed in their haire, and have therefore of their owne accord (none speaking to them that wee know of) cut it modestly there were therefore encouraged by fame there present of chiefe place and account with us, not to feare the reproaches of wicked Indians, nor their witch craft and Pawwaws and poysonings, but let them know that if they did not dissemble but would seeke God unsaignedly, that they would £land by them, and that
God
God also would be with them. They told us also of divers Indians who would come and stay with them three or foure dayes, and one Sabbath, a d then they would goe from them, but as for themselves, they told us they were fully purposed to keepe the Sabbath, to which wee incouraged them, and night drawing on were forced to leave them, for this time.
F I N I S.
 |