THE DAY-BREAKING, IF NOT The sunrising OF THE gospel With the INDIANS in New-England. Zach. 4. 10. Who bath despised the day of small things? Matth. 13. 13. The kingdom of hea●en is like to a grain of mustard seed. Ibid. Verse 33. The kingdom of heaven is like unto Leven. LONDON, Printed by Rich. Cotes, for Fulk Clifton, and are to be sold at his shop under Saint Margaret's Church on New-fish-street Hill, 1647. To the Reader. he that penned these following Relations, is a Minister of Christ in New England, so eminently godly and faithful, that what he here reports, as an eye or an ear witness, is not to be questioned; Were he willing his name should be mentioned, it would be an abundant, if not a redundant, testimonial to all that know him. Nathan. Warde. A true RELATION OF Our beginnings with the INDIANS. UPon October 28, 1646. four of us (having sought 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 * Indian h●●ses or tents made of ba●● or mats. Wigwams, five or six of the chief of them met us with English salutations, bidding us much welcome; who leading us into the principal Wigwam of * The name 〈◊〉 an Indian. Waaubon, we found many more Indians, men, women, children, gathered together from all quarters round about, according to appointment, to meet with us, and learn 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, than any that as yet I have known of that forlorn generation; and therefore since we first began to deal seriously with him, hath voluntarily offered his eldest son to be educated and trained up in the knowledge of God, hoping, as he told us, that he might come to know him, although he despaired much concerning himself; and accordingly his son was accepted, and is now at school in Dedham, whom we found at this time 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 far acquainted with the Indian language as to express our hearts herein before God or them, but we hope it will be done ere long, the Indians desiring it that they also might know how to pray; but thus we began in an unknown tongue to them, partly to let them know that this duty in hand was serious and sacred, (for so much some of them understand by what is undertaken at prayer) partly also in regard of ourselves, that we might 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 a glorious affecting spectacle to see a company of perishing, forlorn outcasts, diligently attending to the blessed word of salvation then delivered; professing they understood all that which was then taught them in their own tongue; it much affected us that they should smell some things of the alabaster box broken up in that dark and gloomy habitation of filthiness and unclean spirits. For about an hour and a quarter the Sermon continued, wherein one of our companyran through all the principal matter of religion, beginning first with a repetition of the ten commandments, and a brief explication of them, then showing the curse and dreadful wrath of God against all those who broke them, or any one of them, or the least title of them, and so applied it unto the condition of the Indians present, with much sweet affection; and then preached Jesus Christ to them the only means of recovery from sin and wrath and eternal death, and what Christ was, and whither he was now gone, and how he will one day come again to judge the world in flaming fire; and of the blessed estate of all those that by faith believe in Christ, and know him feelingly: he spoke to them also (observing his own method as he saw most fit to edify them) about the creation and fall of man, about the greatness and infinite being of God, the maker of all things, about the joys of heaven, and the terrors and horrors of wicked men in hell, persuading them to repentance for several sins which they live in, and many things of the like nature; not meddling with any matters more difficult, and which to such weak ones might at first seem ridiculous, until they had tasted and believed more plain and familiar truths. Having thus in a set speech familiarly opened the principal matters of salvation to them, the next thing we intended was discourse with them by propounding certain questions to see what they would say to them, that so we might screw by variety of means something or other of God into them; 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? and they answered to this question with multitude of voices, that they 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 clear understanding of what was delivered; whereupon several of them propounded presently several questions, (far different from what some other Indians under Kit●homakia in the like meeting The name of one of the chief Indians about us. about six weeks before had done, viz. 1. What was the cause of Thunder. 2. Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea. 3. Of the wind) but the questions (which we think some special wisdom of God directed these unto) (which these propounded) were in number six. How may we come to know Jesus Christ? Our first answer was, That if they were able to read our Bible, 1 Quest. the book of God, therein they should see most clearly what Jesus Answ. 1. Christ was: but because they could not do that; therefore, Secondly, we wished them to think, and meditate of so much 2. as had been taught them, and which they now heard out of God's book, and to think much and often upon it, both when they did lie down on their Mats in their Wigwams, and when they rose up, and to go alone in the fields and woods, and muse on it, and so God would teach them; especially if they used a third help, which was, Prayer to God to teach them and reveal Jesus Christ unto them; and we told them, that although they could not make 3. any long prayers as the English could, yet if they did but sigh and groan, and say thus; Lord make me know Jesus Christ, for I know him not, and if they did say so again and again with their hearts that God would teach them Jesus Christ, because he is such a God as will be found of them that seek him with all their hearts, and he is a God hearing the prayers of all men both. Indian as well as English, and that English men by this means have come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The last help we gave them was repentance, they must confess 4. their sins and ignorance unto God, and mourn 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 sins. These things were spoken by him who had preached to them in their own language, borrowing now and then some small help from the Interpreter whom we brought with us, and who could oftentimes express our minds more distinctly than any of us could; 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 2 Quest. 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 Indians interrupted him, and told him, that he prayed in vain, because Jesus Christ understood not what Indians speak in prayer, he had been used to hear English man pray and so could well enough understand them, but Indian language in prayer he thought he was not acquainted with it, but was a stranger to it, and therefore could not understand them. His question therefore was, whether Jesus Christ did understand, or God did understand Indian prayers. This question sounding just like themselves, we studied to Answ. give as familiar an answer as we could, and therefore in this as in all other our answers, we endeavoured to speak nothing without clearing of it up by some familiar similitude; our answer summarily was therefore this, that Jesus Christ and God by him made all things, and makes all men, not only English but Indian men, and if he made them both (which we know the light of nature would readily reach as they had been also instructed by us) than 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 prayer; and if he made Indian men, than he knows all Indian prayers also: and therefore we bid them look upon that Indian Basket that was before them, there was black and white straws, and many other things they made it of, 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 propounded this question after this answer, Whether English men were ever at any time so ignorant of God and Jesus 3 Quest. Christ as themselves? When we perceived the root and reach of this question, we Answ. gave them this answer, that there are two sorts of English men, some are bad and nought, and live wickedly and loosely, (describing them) and these kind of English men we 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 profane and ignorant English, yet repenting of their sins, 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 thankful for all they have to Christ, and shall at last when they die, go up to heaven to Christ and we told them 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 book, and hearing his word, and praying to him, &c. 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 extrmely ignorant of him. How can there be an Image of God, because it's forbidden in 4 Quest. the second commandment▪ We told them that Image was all one Picture, as the Picture of an Indian, Bow and arrows on a tree, with such little eyes Answ. and such fair hands, is not an Indian but the Picture or Image of an Indian, and that Picture man makes, and it can do no hurt nor good. So the Image or Picture of God is not God, but wicked men make it, and this Image can do no good nor hurt to any man us God can. Whether, if the father be nought, and the child good, will God be offended with that child, because in the second 5 Quest. commandment it's said, that he visits the sins of fathers upon the children? We told them the plainest answer we could think of, via that Answ. if the child be good, and the father bad, God will not be offended with the child, if he repents of his own and his father's sins, and follows not the steps of his wicked father; but if the child be also bad, than God will visit the sins of fathers upon them, and therefore wished 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 Commandments of Jehovah. How all the world is become so full of people, if they were all 6 Quest. once drowned in the Flood? We told them the story and causes of Noabs' preservation in Answ. the ark at large, and so their questioning ended; and therefore we then saw our time of propounding some 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 to see God, Quest. 1. and were not tempted to think that there was no God, because they cannot see him? Some of them replied thus; that indeed they did desire to see Answ. him if it could be, but they had heard from us that he could not be seen, and they did believe that though their eyes could not see him, yet that he was to be seen with their soul within: Hereupon we sought to confirm them the more, and asked them if they saw a great Wigwam, or a great-house, would they think that * A beast somewhat like a Fox. Racoones or Foxes built it that had no wisdom? or would they think that it made itself? or that no wise workman made it, because they could not see him that made it? No but 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, sun, moon, and Stars, and saw this great house he hath made, though they do not see him with their eyes, yet they have good cause to believe with their souls that a wise God, a great God made it. We knowing that a great block in their way to believing is that Quest. 2. there should be but one God, (by the profession of the English) and yet this 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 in * Three Indian names of places where the English sit down. Massachusets, at Concetacut, at Quimipeiock, in old England, in this Wigwam, in the next everywhere. 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 wonderful things which they never heard of before; but yet they thought it might be true, and that God was so big everywhere: whereupon we further illustrated what That he was present everywhere. 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 also, and the same light which was here at Massachusets was at Quinipeiock also and in old England also, and everywhere at one and the same time the same, much more was it so concerning God. Whether they did not find somewhat troubling them within 3. Quest. after the commission of sin, as murder, adultery, theft, lying, &c. and what they think would comfort them against that trouble when they die and appear before God, (for some knowledge of the immortality of the soul almost all of them have.) They told us they were troubled, but they could not tell what Answ. to say to it, what should comfort them; he therefore who spoke to them at first concluded with a doleful description (so far as his ability to speak in that tongue would carry him) of the trembling and mourning condition of every soul that dies in sin, and that shall be cast out of favour with God. Thus 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 them seeing us conclude with prayer, desired to know when we would come again, so we 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 we did much like of, promising 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 welcomes from them. A true relation of our coming to the Indians the second time. Upon November 11. 1646. we came the second time unto the same Wigwam of Waawbon, where we found many more Indians met together then the first time we came to them: and having seats provided for us by themselves, and being sat down a while, we began again with prayer in the English tongue; our beginning this time was with the younger sort of Indian children in catechising of them, which being the first time of instructing them, we thought meet to ask them but only three questions in their own language, that we might not clog their minds 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 do you look should save you and redeem you from sin and hell? Answ. Jesus Christ. 3. Qu. How many commandments hath God given you to keep? Answ. Ten. These questions being propounded to the Children severally, and one by one, and the answers being short and easy, hence it came to pass that before we went thorough all, those who were last catechised had more readily learned to answer to them, by hearing the same question so oft propounded and answered before by their fellows; and the other Indians who were grown up to more years had perfectly learned them, whom we therefore desired to teach their children again when we were absent, that so when we came again we might see their profiting, the better to encourage them hereunto, we therefore gave something to every child. This catechism being soon ended, he that preached to them, began thus (speaking to them in their own language) viz, 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 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, goodness, and greatness, and then set forth before them what his will was, and what he required of all men even of the Indians themselves, in the ten commandments, and then told them the dreadful torment and punishment of all such as break any one of those holy commandments, and how angry God was for any sin and transgression, yet notwithstanding he had sent Jesus Christ to die for their sins and to pacify God by his sufferings in their stead and room, if they did repent and believe the gospel, and that he would love the poor miserable Indians if now they sought God and believed in Jesus Christ: threatening the sore wrath of God upon all such as stood out and neglected such great salvation which now God offered unto them, by those who sought nothing more than their salvation: thus continuing to preach the space of an hour, we desired them to propound some questions; which were these following. Before I name them it may not be amiss to take notice of the mighty power of the word▪ which visibly appeared especially in one of them, who in hearing these things about sin and hell, and Jesus Christ, poured out many tears and showed much affliction without affectation of being seen, desiring rather to conceal his grief which (as was gathered from his carriage) the Lord forced from him. The first Question was suddenly propounded by an old man 1 Quest. then present, who hearing faith and repentance preached upon them to find salvation by Jesus Christ, he asked whether it was not too late for such an old man as he, who was near death to repent or seek after God. This Question affected us not a little with compassion, and we Answ. held forth to him the Bible, and told him what God 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 that had been disobedient many years, yet if at last that son fall down upon his knees and weep and desire his father to love him, his father is so merciful that he will readily forgive him and love him; so we said it was 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 whom he hath begot, if they fall down and weep, and pray, repent, and desire forgiveness for Jesus Christ's sake; and we farther added that look as if a father did call after his child to return and repent promising him favour, the child might then be sure that his father would forgive him; so we 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 sent us for that end to preach repentance for the remission of sins, and that therefore they might be sure to find favour though they had lived many years in sin, 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 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 2. Quest. next they propounded (upon our answer) was this, viz. How come 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 father? We confessed that it was true that at first we had all but one Answ. 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 departed from him and from God, and those God left alone in sin and ignorance, but others did regard him and the counsel of God by him, and those knew God, and so the difference 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 return and repent, but others that will be ruled by him, they learn by him and come to know his mind; so we said English men seek God, dwell in his house, hear his word, pray to God, instruct their children out of God's book, hence they come to know God; but Indians forefathers were a stubborn and rebellious children, and would not hear 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 learn: but withal we told them that many English men did not know God but were like to Kitchamakins drunken Indians; Nor were we willing to tell them the story of the scattering of Noabs' children since the flood, and thereby to show them how the Indians come to be so ignorant, because it was too difficult, and the history of the Bible is reserved for them (if God will) to be opened at a more convenient season in their own tongue. Their third Question was, How may we come to serve 3. Quest. God? We asked him that did propound it whether he did desire indeed to serve him? and he said, yes. Hereupon we said, first, Answ. 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 in the blood of Jesus Christ who was preached to them. Thirdly, that look as an Indian child, if he would serve his father, he must first know his father's will and love his father too, or else he can never serve him, but if he did know his father's will and love him, than he would serve him, and then if he should not do some 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 we told them it was with God, they must labour to know his will and love God, 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 of them. Their fourth Question was, How it comes to pass that the Sea water was salt, and the Land water fresh. 4 Quest 'Tis so from the wonderful work of God, as why are Strawberries sweet and Cranberries sour, there is no reason but the Answ. A Be●ry which is r●pe in the Winter and very sour, they are called here Bea●berries. wonderful work of God that made them so: our study was chiefly to make them acknowledge God in his works, yet we gave them also the reason of it from natural causes which the less understood, yet did understand somewhat appearing by their usual signs of approving what they understand. Their fifth Question was, that if the water was higher than 5 Quest. the earth, how comes it to pass that it doth not overflow all the earth? We still held God before them, and showed that this must Answ. needs be the wonderful work of God, and we took an apple and thereby showed them how the earth and water made one round globe like that apple; and how the Sun moved about it; and then showed them how God made a great hole or ditch, into which he put the waters of the Sea, so that though it was upon the earth and therefore above the earth, yet we told them that by making so deep a hole the waters were kept within compass that they could not overflow, just as if Indians making a hole to put in much water, the water cannot overflow nor run abroad, which they would if they had no such hole; so it was with God, it was his mighty power that digged a hole for all Sea-waters, as a deep ditch, and thereby God kept them in from overflowing the whole earth, which otherwise would quickly drown all. They having spent much conference amongst themselves about 6 Quest. these Questions and the night hastening, we desired them to propound some other Questions, or if not, we would ask them some, 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 he 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 again an amends was made to God. Although man be not offended for such sins yet God is angry, Answ. and his anger burns like fire against all sinners: and here we set out the holiness and terror 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, that then God will forgive and pity. Upon the hearing of which answer he that propounded the question drew somewhat back and hung down his head as a man smitten to the very heart, with his eyes ready to drop, and within a little while after broke out into a complaint, me little know Jesus Christ, otherwise he thought he should seek him better: we therefore told him, that look as it was in the morning at first there is but a little light, than there is more light, than there is day, than the Sun is up, than the Sun warms and heats, &c. so it was true they knew but little of Jesus Christ now, but we had more to tell them concerning him hereafter, and after that more and after that more, until at last they may come to know Christ as the English do; and we taught them but a little at a time, because they could 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 until now, it hath been a long night wherein they have slept and have not regarded God, but now the daylight began to stir upon them, they might hope therefore for more ere long, to be made known to them. Thus having spent some hours with them, we propounded two Questions. What do you remember of what was taught you since the last time we were here? 1 Quest. After they had spoken one to another for some time, one of them returned this answer, that they did much thank God for Answ. our coming, and for what they heard, they were wonderful things unto them. Do you believe the things that are told you, viz, that God is musquantum, i. e. very angry for the least sin in your thoughts, 2 Quest. or words, or works? They said yes, and hereupon we set forth the terror of God against sinners, and mercy of God to the penitent, and to such as Answ. sought to know Jesus Christ, and that as sinners should be after death, Chechainuppan, i. e. tormented alive, (for we know no other word in the tongue to express extreme torture by) so believers should after death Wowein wick Jehovah, i. e. live in all bliss 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 think that Jesus Christ did not understand Indian language, one of us therefore prepared to pray in their own language, and did so for above a quarter of an hour together, wherein divers of them held up eyes and hands to heaven; all of them (as we understood afterwards) understanding the same; but one of them I cast my eye upon, was hanging down 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 again, having wiped his eyes (as not desirous to be seen) I easily perceived his eyes were not sore, 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 he hung down his head again, and covered his eyes again and so fell wiping and wiping of them weeping abundantly, continuing thus till prayer was ended, after which he presently turns from us, and turns his face to a side and corner of the Wigwam, and there falls a weeping more abundantly by himself, which one of us perceiving, went to him, and spoke to him encouraging words; at the hearing of which he fell a-weeping more and more; so leaving of him, he who spoke to him came unto me (being newly gone out of the Wigwam) and told me of his tears, so we resolved 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 spoke again to him, and he there fell into a more abundant renewed weeping, like one deeply and inwardly affected indeed, which forced us also to such bowels of compassion that we could not forbear weeping over him also: and so we parted greatly rejoicing for such sorrowing. Thus I have as faithfully as I could remember given you a true account of our beginnings with the Indians within our own bounds; which cannot but be matter of more serious thoughts 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 days work wherein God set his seal from heaven of acceptance of our little, makes those of us who are able, to resolve to adventure thorough frost and snow, lest the fire go out of their hearts for want of a little more fuel: to which we are the more encouraged, in that the next day after our 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 that all that night the Indians could not sleep, partly with trouble of mind, and partly with wondering at the things they heard preached amongst them; another Indian coming also to him the next day after, told him how many of the wicked sort of Indians began to oppose these beginnings. Whence these Indians came here to inhabit is not certain, his reasons are most probable who think they are Tartars passing out of Asia into America by the straits of Anian, who being spilled by some revenging hand of God upon this continent like water upon the ground are spread as far as these Atlantic shores, there being but few of them in these parts in comparison of those which are more contiguous to the Anian straits, if we may credit some Historians herein: what ever these conjectures and uncertainties be, certain it is that they are inheritors of a grievous and fearful curse living so long without Ephod or Teraphim, and in nearest alliance to the wild beasts that perish; and as God delights to convey blessings of mercy to the posterity of some, in respect of his promise to their fathers, so are curses entailed and come by natural descent unto others, for some great sins of their Ancestors, as no doubt it is in respect of these. Yet notwithstanding the deepest degeneracies are no stop to the overflowing grace and blood of Christ, when the time of love shall come, no not to these poor outcasts, the utmost ends of the earth being appointed to be in time, the son of God's possession. We are oft upbraided by some of our Countrymen that so little good is done by our professing planters upon the hearts of Natives; such men have surely more spleen than judgement, and know not the vast distance of Natives from common civility, almost humanity itself, and 'tis as if they should reproach us for not making the winds to blow when we list ourselves, it must certainly be a spirit of life from God (not in man's power) which must put flesh and sinews unto these dry bones; if we would force them to baptism (as the Spaniards do about Cusco, Peru, and Mexico, having learned them a short answer or two to some Popish questions) or if we would hire them to it by giving them coats and shirts, to allure them to it (as some others have done, we could have gathered many hundreds, yea thousands it may be by this time, into the name of Churches; but we have not learned as yet that art of coining Christians, or putting Christ's name and Image upon copper mettle. Although I think we have much cause to be humbled that we have not endeavoured more than we have done their conversion and peace with God, who enjoy the mercy and peace of God in their land. Three things have made us think (as they once did of building the Temple) it is not yet time for God to work, 1. Because till the Jews come in, there is a seal set upon the hearts of those people, as they think from some apocalyptical places. 2. That as in nature there is no progresses ab● 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 nisi per media, so in religion such as are so extremely degenerate, must be 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 be expected amongst these; But me thinks 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 believe that English grain would grow, or that the Plow could do any good in this woody and rocky soil. And thus they continued in this supine unbelief for some years, till experience taught them otherwise, and now all see it to be scarce inferior to Old English tillage, but bears very good burdens; so we 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 be they are better soil for the Gospel than we can think: I confess I think no great good will be done till they be more civilised, but why may not God begin with some few, to awaken others by degrees? nor do I expect any great good will be wrought by the English (leaving secrets to God) (although the English shall surely begin and lay the first stones of Christ's kingdom and Temple amongst them) because God is wont ordinarily to convert Nations and peoples by some of their own country men who are nearest to them, and can best speak▪ and most of all pity their brethren and countrymen, but yet if the least beginnings be made by the conversion of two or three, its worth all our time and travails, and cause of much thankfulness for such seeds, although no great harvests should immediately appear, surely this is evident, first that they never heard heart-breaking prayer and preaching before now in their own tongue, that we know of, secondly, that there were never such hopes of a dawning of mercy toward them as now, certainly those abundant tears which we saw shed from their eyes, argue a mighty and blessed presence of the spirit of Heaven in their hearts, which when once it comes into such kind of spirits will not easily out again. The chief use that I can make of these hopeful beginnings, besides rejoicing for such shinings, is from Esay 2. 5. Oh house of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Lord; Considering that these blind Natives begin to look towards God's mountain now. The observations I have gathered by conversing with them are such as these. That none of them slept Sermon or derided God's messenger: Woe unto those English that are grown bold to do that, which 1. Indians will not, Heathens dare not. That there is need of learning in Ministers who preach to Indians, 2. much more to English men and gracious Christians, for these had sundry philosophical questions, which some knowledge of the arts must help to give answer to; and without which these would not have been satisfied: worse than Indian ignorance hath blinded their eyes that renounce learning as an enemy to gospel Ministeries. That there is no necessity of extraordinary gifts nor miraculous signs always to convert Heathens, who being manifest and ●. professed unbelievers may expect them as soon as any; (Signs being given for them that believe not 1 Cor. 14. 22.) much less is there any need of such gifts for gathering Churches amongst professing Christians, (Signs not being given for them which believe,) for we see the Spirit of God working mightily upon the hearts of these Natives in an ordinary way, and I hope will, they being but a remnant, the Lord using to show mercy to the remnant; for there be but few that are left alive from the Plague and Pox, which God sent into those parts, and if one or two can understand they usually talk of it as we do of news, it flies suddenly far and near, and truth scattered will rise in time, for aught we know. If English men begin to despise the preaching of faith and repentance, 4. and humiliation for sin, yet the poor Heathens will be glad of it, and it shall do good to them; for so they are, and so it begins to do; the Lord grant that the foundation of our English woe, be not laid in the ruin and contempt of those fundamental doctrines of faith, repentance, humiliation for sin, &c. but rather relishing the novelties and dreams of such men as are surfe●●ed with the ordinary food of the gospel of Christ. Indians shall weep to hear faith and repentance preached, when Englishmen shall mourn, too late, that are weary of such truths. That the deepest estrangements of man from God is no hin●●●nce 5. to his grace nor to the Spirit of grace, for what Nation or people ever so deeply degenerated since Adam's fall as these Indians, and yet the Spirit of God is working upon them? That it is very likely if ever the Lord convert any of these Natives, 6. that they will mourn for sin exceedingly, and consequently love Christ dearly, for if by a little measure of light such heartbreaking● have appeared, what may we think will be, when more is let in? they are some of them very wicked, some very ingenious, these latter are very apt and quick of understanding and naturally sad and melancholy (a good servant to repentance,) and therefore there is the greater hope of great heart-breakings, if everGod brings them effectually home, for which we should affectionately pray. A third meeting with the Indians. NOvember 26. I could not go myself, 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 work, and threatning death to some if they heard any more, spoke therefore unto them, about temptations of the devil, how he tempted to all manner of sin, 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 again; as 〈◊〉 Because some Indians say that we must pray to the devil for all good, and some 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 believe dreams▪ 6. How the English come to know God so much and they so little? To all which they had fit answers; but being not present I shall not set them down: only their great desire this time was to have a place for a town and to learn to spin. Sir, I did think 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 his conquests and triumphs among these forlorn and degenerate people; surely he hears the prayers of the destitute and that have long lain down in the dust before God for these poor prisoners of the pit: surely some of these American tongues and knees must confess him, and bow down before him: for the Saturday night after this third meeting (as I am informed from that man of God who then preached to them) there came to his house one Wampas a wise and sage Indian, as a messenger sent to him from the rest of the company, to offer The name o● an Indian. unto him his own son and three more Indian children to be trained up among the English, one of the children was nine years old, another eight, another five, another four: and being demanded why they would have them 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 do 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 some of their families, they might come to know Jesus Christ; these are two of those three men whom we saw weeping, and whose hearts were smitten at our second meeting above mentioned, and continue still much affected, and give 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 do nothing that way too suddenly, but they have a promise of acceptance and education of them either in learning, or in some other trade of life in time convenient, to which Wampas replied that the Indians desired nothing more. 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 confess how wickedly he had lived, and with how many Indian women he had committed filthiness, and therefore professed that he thought God would never look upon him in love. To which he had this answer, that indeed that sin of whoredom was exceeding great, yet if he sought God for Christ's sake to pardon him, and confess his sin and repented of it indeed, that the Lord would show him mercy; and hereupon acquainted him with the story of Christ's conference with the Samaritan woman, John 4. and how Jesus Christ forgave her although she lived in that sin of filthiness, even when Christ began to speak to her: whereupon he fell a weeping and lamenting bitterly, and the other young man being present and confessing the like guiltiness with his fellow, he burst out also into a great mourning, wherein both continued for above half an hour together at that time also. It is wonderful to see what a little leven and that small mustardseed of the gospel will do, and how truth will work when the spirit of Christ hath the setting of it on, even upon hearts and spirits most uncapable; for the last night after they had heard the word this third time, there was an English youth of good capacity who lodged in Waaubons Wigwam that night upon special occasion, and he assured us that the same 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 he had heard, so that this man (being a man of gravity and chief prudence and counsel among them, although no* Sachem) That is King. is like to be a means of great good to the rest of his company unless cowardice or witchery put an end (as usually they have done) to such hopeful beginnings. The old man who asked the first question the second time of our meeting (viz. whether there was any hope for such old men or no) hath six sons, one of his sons was a pow-wow, and his That is Sorcerers and Wit●hes. wife a great pow-wow, and both these God hath convinced of their wickedness, and they resolve to hear the word and seek to the devil no more. This, the two Indians who are come to us acquaint us with, and that they now say, that Chepian, i. e. the devil is nought, and that God is the author only of all good as they have been taught. He therefore who preacheth to the Indians desired them to tell him who were pow-wows when he went again to preach amongst them; and upon special occasion this Decemb. 4. being called of God to another place where the Indians use to meet, and having preached among them, after the Sermon, he that was the pow-wow of that company was discovered to him, to whom he addressed himself and propounded these questions, viz. 1. Whether do you think that God or or Chepian is the author of all good? he answered, God. 2. If God be the author of all good, why do you pray to Chepian the devil? The pow-wow perceiving him to propound the last question with a stern countenance and unaccustomed terror, he gave him no answer, but spoke to other Indians that he did never hurt anybody by his pow-wowing, and could not be got by all the means and turnings of questions that might be, to give the least word of answer again; but a little after the conference was ended, he met with this pow-wow alone and spoke more lovingly and courteously to him, and asked him why he would not answer, he then told him that his last question struck a terror into him and made him afraid, and promised that at the next meeting he would propound some question to him as others did. And here it may not be amiss to take notice of what these two Indians have discovered to us concerning these pow-wows: for they were asked how they came to be made pow-wows, and they answered thus, that if any of the Indians fall into any strange dream wherein Chepian appears unto them as a serpent, than the next day they tell the other Indians of it, and for two days after the rest of the Indians dance and rejoice for what they tell them about this Serpent, and so they become their pow-wows: Being further asked what do these pow-wows, and what use are they of; and they said the principal employment is to cure the sick by certain odd gestures and beatings of themselves, and then they pull out the sickness by applying their hands to the sick person and so blow it away: so that their pow-wows are great witches having fellowship with the old Serpent, to whom they pray, and by whose means they heal sick persons, and (as they said also) will slew many strange jugglings to the wonderment of the Indians. They affirmed also that if they did not cure the sick party (as they often they did not) that then they were reviled, and sometime killed by some of the dead man's friends, especially if they could not get their money again out of their hands, which they receive aforehand for their cure. We have cause to be very thankful to God who hath moved the hearts of the general court to purchase so much land for them to make their town in which the Indians are much taken with, * This town the Indians did desire to know what name it should have, and it was told them it should be called Noonatomen, which signifies in English rejoicing, because they hearing the word, and seeking to know God, the English did rejoice at it, and God did rejoice at it, which pleased them much; & therefore that is to be the name of their town. and it is somewhat observable that while the Court were considering where to lay out their town, the Indians (not knowing of any thing) were about that time consulting about laws for themselves, and their company who sit down with Waaubon; there were ten of them, two of them are forgotten. Their laws were these. 1. That if any man be idle a week, at most a fortnight, he shall pay five shillings. 2. If any unmarried man shall lie with a young woman unmarried, he shall pay twenty shillings. 3. If any man shall beat his wife, his hands shall be tied behind him and carried to the place of justice to be severely punished. 4. Every young man if not another's servant, and if unmarried, he shall be compelled to set up a Wigwam and plant for himself, and not live shifting up and down to other Wigwams. 5. If any woman shall not have her hair tied up but hang loose or be cut as men's hair, she shall pay five shillings. 6. If any woman shall go with naked breasts they shall pay two shillings fix pence. 7. All those men that wear long locks shall pay five shillings. 8. If any shall kill their lice between their teeth, they shall pay five shillings. This Law though ridiculous to English ears yet tends to preserve cleanliness among Indians. 'Tis wonderful in our eyes to understand by these two honest Indians, what Prayers Waaubon and the rest of them use to make, for he that preacheth to them professeth he never yet used any of their words in his prayers, from whom otherwise it might be thought that they had learned them by rote, one is this. Amanaomen Jehovah 〈◊〉 metagh. Take away Lord my stony heart. Another. Chechesom Jehovah kekowhogkow, Wash Lord my soul. 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 yield such kind of increase in so small a time. I would not readily commend a fair day before night, nor promise much of such kind of beginnings, in all persons, nor yet in all of these, for we know the profession of very many is but a mere paint, and their best graces nothing but mere flashes and pangs, which are suddenly kindled and as so one go out and are extinct again, yet God doth not usually send his Plough & Seedsman to a place but there is at least some little piece of good ground, although three to one be nought: and methinks the Lord Jesus would never have made so fit a key for their locks, unless he had intended to open some of their doors, and so to make way for his coming in. He that God hath raised up and enabled to preach unto them, is a man (you know) of a most sweet, humble, loving, gracious and enlarged spirit, whom God hath blessed, and surely will still delight in, & do good by. I did think never to have opened my mouth to any, to desire those in England to further any good work here, but now I see so many things inviting to speak in this business, that it were well if you did lay before those that are prudent and able these considerations. 1. That it is pretty heavy and chargeable to educate and train up those children which are already offered us, in schooling, clothing, diet and attendance, which they must have. 2. That in all probability many Indians in other places, especially under our jurisdiction, will be provoked by this example in these, both to desire preaching, and also to send their children to us, when they see that some of their fellows fare so well among the English, and the civil authority here so much favouring and countenancing of these, and if many more come in, it will be more heavy to such as only are fit to keep them, and yet have their hands and knees enfeebled so many ways besides. 3. That if any shall do any thing to encourage this work, that it may be given to the college for such an end and use, that so from the college may arise the yearly revenue for their yearly maintenance. I would not have it placed in any particular man's hand for fear of cozenage or misplacing or careless keeping and improving; but at the college it's under many hands and eyes the chief and best of the country who have been & will be exactly careful of the right and comely disposing of such things; and therefore, if any thing be given, let it be put in such hands as may immediately direct it to the precedent of the college, who you know will soon 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 speak to those who have received it to send it this way, which if it be withheld I think 'tis no less than sacrilege: but if God moves no hearts to such a work, I doubt not then but that more weak means shall have the honour of it in the day of Christ. A fourth meeting with the Indians. THis day being Decemb. 9 the children being catechised, and that place of Ezekiel touching the dry bones being opened, and applied to their condition; the Indians offered all their children to us to be educated amongst us, and instructed by us, complaining 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 school among them or very near unto them. Sundry questions also were propounded by them to us, and of us to them; one of them being asks what is sin? he answered a naughty heart. Another old man complained to us of his fears, viz. that he was fully purposed to keep the Sabbath, but still he was in fear 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 fears of hell. Another complained of other Indians that did revile them, and call them Rogues and such like speeches for cutting off their Locks, and for cutting their hair in a modest manner as the New-English generally do; for since the word hath 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 witchcraft and pow-wows and poisonings, but let them know that if they did not dissemble but would seek God unfaignedly, that they would stand by them, and that God also would be with them. They told us also of divers Indians who would come and stay with them three or four days, and one Sabbath, and then they would go from them, but as for themselves, they told us they were fully purposed to keep the Sabbath, to which we encouraged them, and night drawing on were forced to leave them, for this time. FINIS.