Worshipfull and much honoured in the LORD.

IT is through the grace of Christ, who hath called you into the fellowship of his Kingdome, that you are willing to take such care and paines for the advancement and furtherance of his King­dome, and the Lord fill your hearts with the Consolations of his holy Spirit, whose spirit hee hath set to seeke his glory in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and because the fruite of our Labours coming in with a bles­sing, is a great meanes to quicken the heart to be constant in that worke which the Lord delighteth to prosper and blesse. It is my duty to let you understand how it pleaseth the Lord to prosper and proceed in this worke of his among the Indi­ans; for the promoting vvhereof you travaile with care and paines, that so you may goe on with the more Comfort, and the better know how to direct your prayers unto the Lord in that behalfe. I will not trouble you with rehearsall of such things as I have already this yeare written about unto our honoured Friend M ^r Winslowe, so farre as I can call to minde vvhat I wrote, hoping in the Lord that the Ships are safely ar­rived, and my Letters come unto his hands. I know not whe­ther I have yet mentioned our Schoole, vvhich through the [Page 7]Lords mercy vvee have begun, though vvee cannot yet be con­stant in it, vvee have two men in some measure able to teach the youth vvith my guidance, and inspection. And thus vvee order the Schoole: The Master daily prayeth among his Schollers, and instructeth them in Catechisme, for which pur­pose I have compiled a short Catechisme, and vvrote it in the Masters booke, vvhich he can reade, and teach them; and also all the Copies he setteth his Schollers vvhen he teacheth them to write, are the Questions and Answers of the Catechisme, that so the Children may be the more prompt and ready there­in: wee aspire to no higher learning yet, but to spell, reade, and vvrite, that so they may be able to vvrite for themselves such Scriptures as I have already, or hereafter may (by the blessing of God) translate for them; for I have no hope to see the Bible translated, much lesse printed in my dayes. Therefore my chiefe care is to Communicate as much of the Scriptures as I can by vvriting: and further, my scope so to traine up both men and youths, that when they be in some measure instructed themselves, they may be sent forth to other parts of the Countrey, to traine up and instruct others, even as they themselves have been trained up and instructed. This consideration doth make mee very carefull to put on the Schoole, and attend it with what diligence I can, although I cannot as yet doe in it, what I desire. There be severall provi­dences of God appearing to worke, which make mee thinke that the most effectuall and generall way of spreading the Go­spel will be by themselves, when so instructed as I have above­mentioned; [...] for my preaching, though such whose hearts God hath bowed to attend, can picke up some knowledge by my broken expressions, yet I see that it is not so taking, and effectuall to strangers, as their owne expressions be, who natu­rally speake unto them in their owne tongue. To the end therefore that they may be the better able to teach others, I doe traine them up, and exercise them therein: vvhen I am among them on the Lords dayes, appointing two, each Sab­both to exercise, and when they have done, then I proceed, and assuredly I finde a good measure of abilitie in them, not onely in prayer (wherein they exceed my expectation) but [Page 8]in memory to rehearse such Scriptures as I have read unto them and expounded; to expound them also as they have heard mee doe, and apply them. And now also the Schoole-Master taking the care of catechizing the Children, I leaving that to him doe catechize the men, examining and trying their knowledge, which yet I am wary in doing, least I should dampe and discourage the weake. These things I attend with the more intention, because it seemeth to mee God will im­ploy these first instructed to instruct others, of which I have had sundry experiences, some I shall instance; it pleased M ^r Winthrop (son unto our late Honoured Governour now at rest) to advise mee to send two discreete men to the greatest and most potent Sachem among the Naragansets, to answer such Questions as they might propound, and to stirre them up to call on God. I did accordingly, and sent him a Present by them; but the proud Sachem did little lesse then despise the offer, though hee tooke the Present; So they thought they should have returned without successe; but when they came among the people, especially such as were a little more re­mote from the great and proud ones, they received them with great gladnesse; one Company taking one of ours among them, others taking the other of our men amongst them; they asked them many Questions, expressed their readinesse to call upon God, if they had any to teach them: expressing like­wise that they did not expect their Sachems would pray to God, because they vvere so proud: by which I doe perceive that the Lord is preparing a plentifull harvest, and not onely by this, but by many other Evidences. There is a great Countrey ly­ing betweene Conectacott and the Massachusets, called Nipnet, where there be many Indians dispersed, many of which have sent to our Indians, desiring that some may be sent unto them to teach them to pray unto God. And sometimes some of our best men doe goe to severall places for a little while, and re­turne againe, and not without successe. These things being so, the worke which vvee now have in hand will be as a pat­terne and Copie before them, to imitate in all the Countrey, both in civilizing them in their order, government, Law, and in their Church proceedings and administrations; and [Page 9]hence great care lyeth upon mee to set them right at first, to lay a sure foundation for such a building, as I foresee will be built upon it, and in this matter I greatly need pray: The or­der of proceeding with them, is first to gather them together from their scattered course of life, to cohabitation and civill order and Government, and then to forme them (the Lord having fitted them) into visible Church-state, for the gui­dance whereof, I have instructed them, that they should looke onely into the Scriptures, and out of the word of God fetch all their Wisedome, Lawes, and Government, and so shall they be the Lords people, and the Lord above shall Reigne over them, and governe them in all things by the word of his mouth. Sundry of these which pray unto God have formerly subjected themselves unto the English; So that in this Govern­ment among themselves they doe reserve themselves in that poynt to owne them as their superiours, to make appeales unto them as neede may require, and experience for these many yeares shew, that though they have so subjected them­selves, yet the onely benefit they have is protection: as for hearing and determining their causes, the difference of lan­guage, and paucitie of Interpreters prohibits, and if their cau­ses come, they be so longsome, and yet of small importance, that it is of necessitie, that either they must have no govern­ment, as hitherto it hath been, or else they must have it among themselves. Besides, all or many of their differences and cau­ses they usually brought to mee, which was not convenient, and I was willing to avoyde: themselves also found great need that some should be over them, to judge their causes, and end differences, and much desired it. Therefore upon the sixt day of the sixt Moneth of this present yeare (their Pallizadoe Fort being finished) they had a great meeting, and many came together from diverse parts, though sundry were hindred and came not at that time, where, with prayer to God I read and expounded to them the 18 ^th of Exodus, (which I had done severall times before) and finally they did solemnly choose two Rulers among themselves, they first chose a Ruler of an Hundred, then they chose two Rulers of Fifties, then they chose Ten or Tithing Men (so I call them in English) for so [Page 10]they were called (as is reported) in England, vvhen England did flourish happily under that kinde of Government. And lastly, for that dayes worke every man chose who should be his Ruler of ten, the Rulers standing in order, and every man going to the man he chose, and it seemed unto mee as if I had seene scattered bones goe, bone unto his bone, and so lived a civill politicall life, and the Lord was pleased to minister no small comfort unto my spirit, when I saw it. After this worke was ended, they did enter into Covenant with God, and each other, to be the Lords people, and to be governed by the word of the Lord in all things. The words of which Covenant are these in English. Wee doe give our selves and our Children unto God to be his people, Hee shall rule us in all our affaires, not onely in our Religion, and affaires of the Church (these wee desire as soone as wee can, if God will) but also in all our workes and affaires in this world, God shall rule over us. Isa. 33.22. The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, Hee will save us; the Wise­dome which God hath taught us in his Booke, that shall guide us and direct us in the way. Oh Jehovah, teach us wisedome to finde out thy wisedome in thy Scriptures, let the grace of Christ helpe us, because Christ is the wisedome of God, send thy Spirit into our hearts, and let it teach us, Lord take us to be thy people, and let us take thee to be our God.

This Act of forming themselves into the Government of God, and entring into this Government is the first publique Record among the Indians, and for ought I know the first that ever was among them: and now our next worke is to prepare them for Church-estate, to which end I doe instruct them, that the Visible Church of Christ is builded upon a lively confessi­on of Christ, and Covenanting to walke in all the Admini­strations of the publique worship of God, under the Govern­ment and Discipline of Jesus Christ. I doe therefore exhort them to try their hearts by the word of God to finde out what change the Lord hath wrought in their hearts, and this is the present vvorke vvee have in hand.

Give mee leave (much honoured Friends) to goe a little backe in my relation, that I might be more particular, because these Letters I prepared in the sixt Moneth after they had cho­sen [Page 11]their Officers, as I was propounding and teaching them the above-written Covenant, for that I did often before wee did solemnely accomplish it, that so they might doe it as an Act of knowledge and faith. Now let mee relate the order of our proceeding: Having againe and againe read this Covenant to them, and instructed them in the meaning of it, it pleased God to wrack M ^r Webbers Ship at Conahasset, though the Lord dealt favourably; most goods were saved, though much spoyled: this was on the first day of the 7 ^th Moneth, wherefore at a Lecture at Natik on the 10 ^th of the same Moneth, I informed them of the plentifull supply which the Lord had made your selves his instruments to send unto them for the furtherance of this our worke, and also how the Lord had frowned upon it, and undoubtedly it was a fruit of sinne, and therefore the Lord called them to repentance, and make peace with God: besides wee were beginning a great worke of civill Cohabita­tion and Government, and they wanted wisdome to carry on such a worke, and the Lord had promised, if any want wisdome aske it of God, who gives liberally, citing that of James which I had formerly preached on. Moreover, wee were in preparation for a Church-state, and that was a great matter to seeke the Lord in; and lastly, they having chosen Rulers, and intend­ing to enter into a Covenant, to promise unto God to be his people, and to be ruled in all things by his Word. Gods ap­pointment is that such a Covenant should be entred into, in a solemne day of fasting and prayer, and all these causes con­curred, to put us on unto that worke. Now though wee ne­ver yet had kept such a day unto the Lord, yet I had instructed them therein, for in the Spring wee had a generall day of hu­miliation in all the Churches; and thereupon they moved this question; Why the English often fasted and prayed, and I never yet taught them so to doe: to which I did answer, by that of Christ unto the Disciples, but told them, that when wee set upon the great vvorkes of God to be his people, governed by his Word, and to gather a Church, then they should be called of God unto it, &c. and now it came to passe, my motion they deliberated on with some conference (as their manner is) and finally did consent unto it, then I told them, it was needfull [Page 12]they should pray and teach that day; sundry of them and wee agreed, that all such as vvere called to be Rulers should exer­cise that day, or so many as wee had time for their exercise. Before that day came, even then when it was appointed Cut­shamoquin, the chiefe Sachem, and therefore chosen the chiefe (for hee is constant in his profession, though doubtfull in re­spect of the throughnesse of his heart) was in the Countrey neere Narraganset, about appeasing some strife among some Sa­chems. In which Journey some of those bad Indians and Cut­shamoquin with them did buy much strong Water at Gortons Plantation, and had a great drinking, from which the wiser sort did withdraw themselves, but Cutshamoquin was in it, though not unto drunkennesse, yet his Act was scandalous. Before vvee solemnly appeared before God, and made the a­bove-written Covenant, I advised with M ^r Cotton about it, and his Counsaile was to add these words in the beginning: Wee are the sonnes of Adam, wee and our forefathers have a long time been lost in our sinnes, but now the mercy of the Lord beginneth to finde us out againe; therefore the grace of Christ helping us, wee doe give our selves and our Children, &c.

When the day came, this Act of Cutshamoquin being broken out, wee suffered not him to teach; onely he began the day with confession of his sinne, and made a short prayer, wherein he confessed, Satan acted in his heart, begged pardon, and that the Spirit of God might dwell in him, and act in him for time to come, and so ended.

Then another of them began with prayer, and for his Text tooke that in the 7 ^th of Luke 36. to the end, (though they doe not know the Booke, Chapter, or Verse, but distinguish my Lectures by the first materiall word in it) Christ being invited by Symon the Pharisee, the Woman washt his feete with her teares, &c. At vvhich Symon stumbling, Christ spake the parable of the two Debtors, both freely forgiven, with the application, all which he repeated pretty well, and after his teaching he pray­ed againe and ended. The second tooke for his Text the Lords Prayer because it is, said he, a day of prayer. The third tooke for his Text the 7 ^th of Matthew 19. to the end, Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is cut downe, &c. And upon that pa­rable [Page 13]of the two Builders, on the rocke the first, the other on the sand, &c. By this time the day was well up, then I taught out of the 9 ^th of Ezra 3. & 9. where I described a day of fasting, and the right carriage of it; yet by the parable of a Nut, I shew­ed that outward acts are as the shell, which is necessary, but a broken and believing heart is the kernell, and so ended the fore­part of the day. After a little respite (in which time a Question came to mee, if it were lawfull to take a pipe of Tobacco?) we met againe, the first took his Text, Joh. 3.16.22. and his Pre­face was, I reade or rehearse this, and let every one reade it in his owne heart. The second took his Text, Matth. 13.24. to 31. from the parable of him that sowed good seed, and the enemie came and while they slept sowed tares, &c. The third took his Text, Luke 3 ^d. 4, 5, 6. ver. Prepare yee the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, &c. By this time night drew on, then I took for my Text, Deut. 29. and the 1. to 16. where Israel entred into Covenant with the Lord: and finally our Covenant in the forerecited words I expressed, and they joyntly consented un­to; first the Rulers, then all the people, then was the Collecti­ons for the poore, and by dark night wee finished our worke. Thus have I briefly described that blessed day wherein these poore soules solemnely became the people of the Lord: this was on the 24 ^th day of the 7 ^th Moneth, 1651.

Upon the 8 ^th of the Oct. Moneth, which was our next Lec­ture (for it is in that place but once in a fortnight, I houlding a Lecture each other weeke still at any other place) it pleased our Governour with many others attending him, to visit our poore workes and day of small things, where they viewed our house, our Fort, our Bridge, advised about a place for a Mill, &c.) At the season they came unto our Lecture, and observed the carriage and behaviour of things and men: among other things one of our Indians did (as we are wont) exercise, which they tooke so much notice of, and were so farre affected with, as that it pleased the Governour to advice me to write the sub­stance of that which he spake, which is as followeth; his Text was Matth. 13.44, 45, 46▪ Againe, the Kingdome of heaven is like vnto treasure hid in a feild, the which when a man hath found, he hi­deth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth [Page 14]the feild: 45. Againe, the Kingdome of heaven is like unto a Mar­chant-man seeking goodly pearles: 46. Who when he had found one pearle of great price, he went and sould all that he had and bought it. The substance of these words he did twice rehearse, then for in­struction he first propounded what is this treasure which is hid in a field? he answered it is Repentance for sinne, faith in Christ, and pardon of sinne and all grace, as also praying to God, the worship of God, and his appointments, which are the meanes of Grace, on which he dilated, shewing what ex­cellent pearles these are, exhorting all to account so of them, and on this point he did much insist: secondly, he asked what is the Feild where these pearles are to be found? he answered the Church of Christ, which they did desire to constitute in this place, and to that end come thither to dwell: Thirdly, he asked what is it to sell all that a man hath to buy this Feild? He answered, to part with all their sinnes, and to part with all their old Customes, and to part with their friends and lands, or any thing which hindereth them from coming to that place, where they may gather a Church, and enjoy all these pearles; and here he insisted much to stirre them up, that nothing should hinder them from Gathering together into this place where they might enjoy such a mercy.

Then he proceeded to the second parable, and his first Que­stion was, Who is the Marchant man, that seeketh goodly pearles? he answered, it is all you Indians which pray to God, and repent of sinne, and come to heare the word of God, you come to seeke for excellent pearles; and here also he insisted: his second Question was, What is this pearle of great price? now in answer to this Question he did not pitch it on Christ alone, and shew the worth and price of Christ: but he did pitch it on faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance for sinne, and stood upon the excellency and necessitie thereof. And this was the greatest defect I observed in his Exercise, which seeing I un­dertake to relate that which none but my selfe understood, I dare not but truely relate, because the Lord heard all, and I must give an account of this relation before him: His next que­stion was, What is meant by all the Riches he had? he answe­red; his sinnes, his evill Customes, his evill manners, in which [Page 15]he formerly tooke much pleasure; And here he dilated also: Lastly he asked how did he sell them all, and buy the pearle? he answered, by casting away & forsaking all his sinnes, mour­ning and repenting of them, praying to God, and believing in Jesus Christ. And here he fervently dilated, and so ended; and this according to the best of my memory and observation, is the substance of what he delivered. Whereby you may ob­serve the manner of my teaching them, for they imitate mee, as for our method of preaching to the English by way of Do­ctrine, reason, and use, neither have I liberty of speech, for that way of teaching being very unskilfull in their Language, nor have they sufficient abilitie of understanding to profit by it, so well as by this way, whereof you have herein a little Taste.

Honoured and ever deare Sir.

TOuching the worke of God among the Indians, for ought I heare or see from them that are most con­versant therein, as M ^r Eliot, M ^r Mahew, and M ^r Le­verich, with whom I have made diligent enquiry; It doth prosperously succeed to their great encouragement, [Page 16]and ours in the Lord. There was here some few weekes since, the prime Indian at Marthas Vineyard with M ^r Mahewe (Humane­quinn) a grave and solemne Man, with whom I had serious dis­course, M ^r Mahewe being present as Interpreter between us, who is a great proficient both in knowledge and utterance, and love, and practice of the things of Christ, and of Religion, much honoured and reverenced, and attended by the rest of the Indians there, who are solemnely Covenanted together, I know not how many, but between thirtie or fortie at the least, and receive none into their Fraternitie, or Combination, but those which give good proofe of their upright desires, to their Con­science, in their professions and Conversations, who when M ^r Mahewe cannot be with them (as at many set times he is) doth in the weeke time instruct himselfe from M ^r Mahews mouth, and prepare for their instruction on the Lords day, which they conscionably observe, and have their constant solemne meet­ings together: This man where he was, had communion on the Lords day with M ^r Eliots Indians neere Dorchester Mill, unto whom he preached or declared what he had learned himselfe from the Scripture, some two houres together, with solemne prayer before and after, and then ended with a Psalme, such as at home is wont to be sung among his usuall hearers. The Lords day after he was in our Assembly, the Boate then being ready to carry him home by the next opportunitie, and truely my reverence to him was such, as there being no roome I pray­ed our brethren to receive that good Indian into one of their pewes, which they did forenoone and afternoone, and at meale, I perceived by him that he had understanding of what he heard. M ^r Leverich being lately here and at my house, (who also prea­ched at our new Church) I conferred with him about the be­ginnings and progresse of the Lords worke, among his neigh­bouring Indians at Sandwich, and did heare from him, what did my heart good. And therefore when he tooke his leave of me I requested him that he would doe me the favour at his returne home, to send me a briefe story of that good hand of God which was there upon them, ab origine, which I thanke him he did soone after, and I thought not amisse to inclose it, as it came to me, being written with his own hand, not doubting [Page 17]but it would adde unto your rejoycing in the Lord. About a fortnight since, there was a Lecture to be of M ^r Eliot, at Naticke, the new Indian Towne, where he useth frequently to preach to them, besides what he doth neere home (on either side) and many times doth keepe the Lords day with them, whereof ha­ving some notice, and that the Governour M ^r Endicot intend­ed then to be there, my Cosin Rawson and I with some other, did prepare to ride thither, the Governour and his Sergeants lying at Dedham, which is within seaven or eight miles of the Towne, and we at M ^r Jacksons neere Watertowne Mill) in like distance in the next morning after we had been some houres there where we found M ^r Eliot, and by that time we bad view­ed all things, the Governour came with about twentie horse­men from Dedham, and made a like view, after which the Lec­ture or Sermon began in the Fort, which the Indians have made of whole trees very hansome and firme, which is neere a faire house which the Indians have built after the English manner high and large (no English-mans hand in it, save that one day or two they had an English Carpenter with them to direct a­bout the time of rearing, with chimneys in it: In which M ^r E­liot & those which accompany him use to lye, and the Indian Schoole-Master was there teaching the Children who doth reade and spell very well himselfe, and teacheth them to doe the like (besides writing) and as there is a large Roome be­low, so there is a like chamber above, in a Corner whereof M ^r Eliot hath a little Roome inclosed, and a bed & bed-sted there­in, and in the same Chamber the Indians doe as in a Wardrope hang up their skinnes, and things of price, as counting them there to be very safe, as well when the dores be open, as when they be locked; they have laid out three long faire streets there, two on this side the River, and one on that, and have severall house-lots apportioned severally to every one, which doe or be to inhabite there, and in many of them there are fruit-trees already planted, and they are building English houses for them­selves, meane while living in Wigwams, whereof there is good store neere the hill side, at present there being a goodly plaine from the Towne towards Dedham) over the River (that is, Charles River) they have made a firme high foote-bridge arch-wise [Page 18]to walke to and fro, having heaped on the bottome tym­bers huge stones, the more to fortifie it, and it was a great en­couragement to them, that the last yeare, (when a like bridge made by the English in the new Dedham Village called Medefield, some foure or five miles from them) was throwne downe by the force of the flouds or Ice, yet theirs did stand firme and up­right. But to returne to the Fort, and to the busines of the day, that is Round and Capacious, and they have prepared there a large Canopie of Matts upon poles for M ^r Eliot and the chiefe of his Company to sit under, and other sorts for themselves and other hearers. The Saneps or men by themselves and the Squaes or women by themselves, besides the English then present, (which were about thirtie) there were I thinke not fewer then a hundred men women and young ones; among the Indians there be some greater proficients in knowledge, and of better utterance by farre then their fellowes, Grave and serious men, whom M ^r Eliot hath trained up (or the Lord rather by his instructions and directions) to instruct and exhort the rest of the Indians in their Lords day and other meetings, when he cannot come to them himselfe. There be some five of these, one of them was prepared before we came, and appointed to begin this Exercise; the further relation of the manner of this Indians behaviour in preaching, together with the substance of that Sermon being before set downe by M ^r Eliot may be never omitted: other particulars in order to the exact description of the Indian Fort and buildings in M ^r Eliots Letter is defective are here supplyed. This man being of middle age, and clad all in English apparell (as most if not all others of them are) sit­ting in the midst, on a stoole, under the shelter, did begin with prayer very solemnely, standing up for some halfe quarter of an houre, then sitting downe spake unto them of the two Para­bles, concerning the Feild wherein the treasure hid, and the wise Marchant selling all for the pearle; wee understood him not (save M ^r Eliot) excepting now and then a word or two, he discoursed to them some three quarters of an houre at the least, with great devotion, gravitie, decency, readines and af­fection, and gestures very becomming, and sundry mentions he made of Jesus Christ, specially in the beginning, and to­wards [Page 19]the ending, as if he were the scope of all, and the rest of the Indians; diverse old men and women, and the younger did joyne and attend with much Reverence, as if much affected therewith; then he ended with prayer as he beganne. Then M ^r Eliot prayed and preached in the Indian Language for some houre more, about coming to Christ, and bearing his yoake. This Text was translated by him from the Scripture into Eng­lish, speaking with much authoritie, and after his latter prayer the Indian Schoole-Master read out of his Booke one of the Psalmes in meeter, line by line, translated by M ^r Eliot into Indi­an, all the men and women, &c. singing the same together in one of our ordinary English tunes melodiously. I should have said that after M ^r Eliots Sermon there were two or three grave Indians that propounded to M ^r Eliot, each of them a Question, very pertinent to the matter he handled about the yoake of Christ, and coming to Christ, which he answered, interpre­ting unto us both their Questions, and the summe of his owne Answers. After this the Lord did stirre up my heart to make an Exhortation to the Indians, which M ^r Eliot expounded to them, and also the Governours Speech, which God did stirre him up too unto the same purpose, declaring our joy to see such beginnings, and warning them of the great danger if they should decline from what they had already come unto, either in their knowledge, affection, or Christian practice, incoura­ging them against what might dampe or deterre.

Then all of us taking us to our horses left M ^r Eliot and them together, the Governour and his Company to lye at Dedham, and the rest of us when wee had rid two or three miles with them did returne into our owne way towards our former lod­ging, having been every one of us much refreshed in our spi­rits in what we saw, & were informed of, viz. of God amongst them. Not long before this, travelling with M ^r Eliots brother I conferred in the way seriously with him about these Indians, for he useth to accompany his brother, and is a right godly and diligent man, desiring to know what solidity he found by experience in them. Who did acquaint mee that there was difference between them as between the English, some being lese serious then others, and lesse spirituall; but that there was a [Page 20]considerable Company of solide ones that were constant and forward in good duties, as well on the weeke dayes as on the Lords. And that he had purposely sometimes in the darke walked the Round, as it were alone, and found them in their severall Families as devout in prayer, &c. as if there had been any present to observe: and that carried it very modestly, utterly refusing to receive any reliefe from M ^r Eliots Table, choosing rather to live on the provisions at home, which came in by their owne labour; and when once M ^r Eliots owne pro­visions failed (hee being detained among them sundry dayes beyond his intent) they soone tooke notice, and of their owne accord did bring unto him varietie of the best which they had themselves, and he professed unto mee that upon all his best observation, there was a very hopefull beginning amongst them of the Grace & Kingdome of our Lord Jesus. The Lord vouch­safe to be the Omega among them as well as the Alpha of this blessed change.

Reverend Sir.

I Salute you in the Lord, I shall trouble you onely with two things, first, the mooving causes inducing mee to set upon this worke: Secondly, with what successe I have hitherto been entertained, by the blessing of God upon my weake endeavours. For the first of these, I suppose its not unknowne to your selfe, amongst many others, what singular exercise I have had in these parts, and what sin­gular Conflicts I have met withall in my travails amongst our owne Countreymen, divers of them transported with their (though not singular) Fancies, to the rejecting of all Churches and Ordinances by a new cunning, and I perswade my selfe one of the last but most pernicious plot of the Devill to under­mine all Religion, and introduce all Atheisme and profane­nesse, if it were possible, together with which, I have observed a spirit of Pharisaisme and formalitie too, too evidently creep­ing upon and strongly possessing others generally, besides other discouragements I shall forbeare to mention, which considered divers of our brethren, together with my selfe, upon consulta­tion had together, were resolved to moove together else whe­ther, where wee might hope for more and better encourage­ment, as touching our Communion, if God so pleased: but were disswaded by divers our honoured Friends, both by their Letters and more private Councells, unto whom we gave way, at least for the present: not long after having an hopefull Indi­an [Page 22]in my house, he propounds to mee a motion of teaching the Indians neere us. And sometime after M ^r Eliot invites mee to the same worke by his Letters: then I thought with my selfe I must stay, and began to tast the motion with more affection, resol­ving, that it God would please to fit up the roomes of others with the accesse of such for lorne Creatures, and bring in such as wandred in the high wayes, lanes, and hedges; and Call in the lame, and halt, and blind, in stead of those Contemners, it would be a mercy; and by no other respects in this world was my breast inclined unto this worke, and to attend God in it. As touching the second, for matter of successe and incou­ragement, I cannot but reckon this one, and that not the least, that though the Indian tongue be very difficult, irregular, and anomalous, and wherein I cannot meete with a Verbe Substan­tive as yet, nor any such Particles, as Conjunctions, &c. which are essentiall to the severall sorts of axioms, and consequently to all rationall and perfect discourses, and that though their words are generally very long, even sesquipedalia verba, yet I finde God helping, not onely my selfe to learne and attaine more of it in a short time, then I thinke I could or did of La­tine, Greeke, or Hebrew, in the like space of time, when my memory was stronger, & when all known rules of Art are help­full to fasten such notions in the minde of the learner; but al­so the Indians to understand mee fully (as they acknowledge) so farre as I have gone. I am constrained by many ambages and circumlocutions to supply the former defect, to expresse my selfe to them as I may. The next encouragement I may not without ground omit to mention is this, that it pleaseth God to helpe some of these poore Creatures to looke over and be­yond the Examples of some of our looser sort of English, which I looke upon as a great stumbling blocke to many. It's to be lamented that the name of God so generally professed by those looser sort of English, should be so generally polluted by them, and blasphemed by Heathens, through the occasion of their loosenes and deniall of the power of godlinesse, yet God gives some of theirs a spirit of discerning between precious and vile, and a spirit of Conviction, to acknowledge (oh that ours would lay it to heart) there is no difference between the worst [Page 23] Indians, and such English, saying, they are all one Indians, yea and further, to put a like difference between such Indians a­mongst themselves here and elsewhere, as appeare to be more serious in their Inquiries after God, and conscientious accord­ing to their light, and such others that are more slight, and meere pretenders to Religions. Thirdly, for more particular observations. 1. God hath brought some of them to a sence of their sinnes, and a feare of his justice. Here I shall insert an example or two, one of them being to repeate such Principles I had begun to traine them in, in a Catechisticall way (for my penury confines mee to this method at present, and I hope it may be never the worse for them) was a good while before he could speake, having his countenance sad before (and as I have understood since a weeke together after our former exercise) and in speaking the teares all the while trickling downe his Cheekes: After being demanded by mee what was the matter of his sadnesse, he answers mee, he did now understand that God was a just God, and for himselfe he had been very wicked, even from a childe. And another, whom I used as my Inter­preter now and then in teaching them, falls suddenly and pub­liquely into a bitter passion, crying out, and wringing his hands, out of the like apprehension of his Condition, as he told mee afterwards, and I finde no one of them (daring men) to speake of their good hearts, but some more some lesse sensi­ble of the Contrary. Secondly, God hath brought some of them to some Evangelicall Conviction, one acknowledging that though he and others leave their former evills, and should keepe Gods Commandements, yet without Christ they must goe to hell. Thirdly, Two or three of them have complained of the hardnesse of their hearts, and are questioning of Reme­dies. Fourthly, Speaking to them of the mercy of God in Christ, one of them tells publiquely it did him more good to heare of Christ, then to heare of all earthly good things, I would faine hope for seeds of Faith in such. Fifthly, Two of them I deale withall, particularly for personall evills, by name for the sinne of Fornication, which they were carried away into, which my Indian acquainting my selfe with after our exercise I spake unto, shewing them the evills of this sinne, [Page 24]and aggravating of it by the knowledge they now had of God, &c. and exhorting them to Repentance, and to seeke mercy in Christ; whereupon one of them fell into bitter weeping, pre­sently the other though his heart was shut up at present, yet not long after, and with longer continuance sayd, I have obser­ved in others a sence of temptations, spirituall bondage, which they expressed naturally thus; one saith that he and the De­vill were all one Souldiers, and this in sadnesse of spirit and speech: another laying his hands upon his knees and hammes, complaines he was as a man tyed in Cords, and prayes to God to be unloosed, and in generall they are observed divers of them to pray with much affection, mourning; in so much that they are in this respect a wonderment to their Compani­ons, who enquired what is the matter, why they doe so, &c.

A fourth encouragement to mee is this, I finde the Devill bestirring himselfe, and betaking of himselfe to his wonted practice of stirring up oppositions against this worke by his Instruments, as fearing the ruine of his Kingdome, their Coun­trymen manifesting their hatred, threatning they shall not plant, hunt, &c. as before; yea the Controversie or enmitie rather arises between Parents and Children, &c. Lastly, and not long before I was last with you in the Bay upon a second day in the morning before they went away, there came to me to the num­ber of twentie of them, voluntarily professing one by one their desire to feare God, promising that they would leave their sins (some intermixing acknowledgements of their sins and ignorance: and one that English and Indians knew shee had been very wicked) hereunto calling Jehovah to witnes; and this to doe all their dayes, as long as they live: some bringing their Children, and causing them to make the like profession; where­upon I was the more stirred towards them in my spirit (though I acknowledge I was loath to make an absolute en­gagement) to promise them I would endevour to be as help­full to them as I could in teaching them: which when I had done, they gave mee thankes publiquely; and since this, they living some seaven miles from us, have built a Wigwam of pur­pose neere our Towne to receive them when they come on the Lords dayes; and truely Sir, they are so attentive in hearing, [Page 25]that it grieves me I cannot speake to them as I desire, they seeming to be hungry, and I wanting bread for them. And thus Sir, you have a naked Narration of our proceedings, with the events fallen out by Gods providence within not many moneths. It is I believe a day of small things, and so lookt at by our English many of them, who surely would have perished in their darknesse, if all others should have contemned them as they these, I pray God they perish not in the light, however I am resolved to bable to them as I may, considering that out of the mouthes of babes God ordaines praise, and found strength to still the enemie, &c. the beginnings of Gods great works are often in great obscuritie, where he appoints the end to be glorious. Also I remember one sowes and ano­ther reaps, which where ever they be, such as are faithfull shall rejoyce together. I doubt not Sir, of your fervent prayers (which I doe further beg of you and others that know how to pitty lost ones) for my selfe and poore Indians, that the Lord will prosper our endeavours this way, and water them with his abundant blessings in Jesus Christ, that the day-spring from on high may visit such poore soules as are in darknesse, and the shadow of death, and bring them to life in Jesus Christ.

COncerning the Indians I have seene and heard more this Sommer then ever I did before, I have seene some Indians crave a blessing before meate, and re­turne thankes after meate, pray morning and even­ing, some of them doe frequent our meetings, they come con­stantly eight or tenne miles every Saturday, and the Monday they returne home againe, while our Exercise doth last, they doe attend diligently, but understand but little, but when that is done M ^r Leverich and they doe put questions one to another, and M ^r Leverich hath an Indian, that speakes good English, and he is Interpreter. There is a man that lives neere us, that comes from an Island that is called Martins Vineyard, where is a Mini­ster that speakes good Indian, he doth preach to them every weeke, he hath told me that that Minister told him, that there are some of them Indians, that are able to give a better reason of their Faith, then some of the Members of their Church; some of them will preach, and they have private meeting, and keepe very good orders.

Reverend and dearly beloved in Christ Jesus.

WHat you have done in the Indian busines, and con­cerning my selfe in particular, doe give good testi­mony of your holy desires to further the worke of the Lord amongst them. The good providence of God in bringing you unto us, and the free en­gaging of your selfe in this worke of the Lord, and that upon the best ground, did fully perswade my heart of your faith­fullnesse therein, and of an inward blessing from God upon us thereby; although I should never have seene a returne in out­ward supplies, as now through mercy I have, as an acceptable and very helpfull fruit of Christian goodnes and bounty, re­ceived from your selfe and Christian Friends, that the Lord hath stirred up both to pray earnestly, and contribute freely for the promoting of the worke of the Lord in my hand a­mongst the poore Indians. Sir, assure your selfe, and let all our beloved Friends know, that what is done by you together in this behalfe, doth not onely strengthen my hands, and give me advantage to be more helpful to the Indians, but also is a further encouragement unto my heart from the Lord to doe to the ut­most of my power in this service he hath called me unto, and [Page 28]wherein he hath afforded me his gracious presence unto this day; and not onely in supporting me therein, but also in some remarkeable passages of his power and mercy amongst the In­dians, those miserable Captives, something whereof your selfe have been an eye witness unto; and have already heard, yet now being further advantaged through the grace of God ap­pearing with us, and knowing it will be acceptable to your selfe, and our dearely beloved Christian Friends, that long for and rejoyce in the gracious appearance of Jesus Christ in his Kingly Soveraigntie and power, where he hath not formerly been knowne, I shall by the helpe of God certifie you how the Lord hath carried on his own worke with us since your de­parture from us.

It pleased the Lord who had drawne the Indians from the Pawwaws to worship himselfe, whereat the Pawwaws were much discontented, yet now to perswade two of themselves to run after those that followed hard after God, desiring that they might goe with them in the wayes of that God whose name is Jehovah; and they came much convinced of their sinnes that they had lived in, and especially of their Pawwawing, saying, I throw it from mee with hatred of it, being sorry that ever I medled with it. And now I have heard of Jehovah, by his helpe I put it under my feete, and hope to trample it downe in the dust with the Devill and Pawwawnomas (or imps) I throw it into the fire, and burne it. Thus they fully made knowne un­to all both by word and gesture, and by more such like expres­sions they then used, not onely their indignation against it, but that they would never make use of it more. One of them did then discover the bottome of his witchcraft, confessing that at first he came to be a Pawwaw by Diabolicall Dreames, wherein he saw the Devill in the likenesse of foure living Creatures; one was like a man which he saw in the Ayre, and this told him that he did know all things upon the Island, and what was to be done; and this he said had its residence over his whole body. Another was like a Crow, and did looke out sharply to discover mischiefes coming towards him, and had its residence in his head. The third was like to a Pidgeon, and had its place in his breast, and was very cunning about any businesse. The [Page 29]fourth was like a Serpent, very subtile to doe mischiefe, and also to doe great cures, and these he said were meere Devills, and such as he had trusted to for safetie, and did labour to raise up for the accomplishment of any thing in his diabolicall craft, but now he saith, that he did desire that the Lord would free him from them, and that he did repent in his heart, because of his sinne.

The other said his Conscience was much troubled for his sinne, and they both desired the Lord would teach them his wayes, have mercy upon them, and pardon their sinnes, for Jesus Christ his sake: and truely it did give to us who were present a great occasion of praising the Lord, to see those poore naked sonnes of Adam, and slaves to the Devill from their birth to come toward the Lord as they did, with their joynts shak­ing, and their bowells trembling, their spirits troubled, and their voyces with much fervency, uttering words of sore dis­pleasure against sin and Satan, which they had imbraced from their Childhood with so much delight, accounting it also now their sinne, that they had not the knowledge of God.

Secondly, that they had served the Devill, the Enemy both of God and Man.

Thirdly, that they were so hurtfull in their lives, and were also thankfull that now through the blessing of God they had an opportunitie to be delivered out of that dangerous Condi­tion. The Indians did all much rejoyce to see the Pawwaws turne from their wicked wayes to serve the Lord. Not long af­ter the Pawwaws had forsaken their old way, on a Lecture day after Exercise diverse Indians desired to become the servants of the Lord, amongst whom was a Pawwaw, called Tequanonim, who was of great esteeme and very notorious; for he as they said, and in their ignorance conceived, never did hurt to any, but alwayes good, endeavouring the good and preservation of the Indians; whereunto also he was accompted by them to be strongly provided. And as himselfe said he had been possessed from the Crowne of the head to the soal of the foote with Pawwawnomas, not onely in the shape of living Creatures, as Fowles, Fishes, and creeping things, but Brasse, Iron, and Stone. It was therefore the more to be acknowledged the worke of God, that he should forsake this way, his friends, his gaine, to [Page 30]follow the Lord, whose wayes are so despiseable in the eyes of devillish minded men. This Pawwaw declaring by what meanes the Lord tooke him off this devillish Trade, said that he had heard some things from my Father, who tooke occasion to discourse with him about the way of true happinesse, that he should never forget, blessed be God, his Counsell had so good an effect, as I hope it hath on many others: It pleased the Lord who will have all the gods of the earth to be terrible unto him; For he meeting Mumanequem in the wood by accident, told him that he was glad he had an opportunitie to speake his minde unto him, for he had many searchings of heart about his Pawwawing, and did thinke it was not a good way, and that God was angry with him for it; for said he my wife hath been a long time sicke, and the more I Pawwaw for her, the sicker she is; And this doth agree with an observation of the Indians of this Island, viz. that since the Word of God hath been taught unto them in this place, the Pawwaws have been much foyled in their devillish taskes, and that instead of curing have rather killed many; but in a word the fruit of this and all other meanes was a publique manifestation of hatred to his former wayes, wondering he was yet alive who was so sinfull, and that he desired to be better, and to believe in Christ, for whose sake onely, he did believe his sinnes could be pardoned, and that he did desire to heare the word of God. This man hereby hath made those of his own house to be his Enemies; his wife, his children, and most of his friends and kindred, who remaine obstinate still, whereby he meets with many troubles & temp­tations: one of his brethren being very sicke did earnestly de­sire that he would Pawwaw for him, which he refused, his bro­ther told him that he might keep it private, but he still refused, telling him that notwithstanding that, if he should answer his desire, he should breake his Covenant, and sinne against God; and therefore would not.

There came pressing in at the same time about fiftie Indians, desiring to joyne with the worshippers of God in his service. It would be too long for mee to set downe what every one said before they entred into Covenant, onely this I may not omit, that all of them came confessing their sinnes, some in speciall [Page 31]the naughtinesse of their hearts, others in particular, actuall sinnes they had lived in: and also they all desired to be made better, and to attend unto the Word of God, to that end looking onely to Christ Jesus for salvation. I observed also that they generally came in by Families, bringing also their Children with them, saying, I have brought my Children too, I would have my Children serve God with us, I desire that this son and this daughter may worship Jehovah, and it they could but speake, their parents would have them say something, to shew their willingnesse to serve God: And when the Comman­dements were repeated, they all acknowledged them to be good, and made choice of Jehovah to be their God, promising by his helpe to walke according to his Counsells: And when they were received by them that were before in this generall Covenant, it was by lowed voyces giving thankes to God that they were met together in the wayes of Jehovah: this is all be­fore the end of the yeare 1650.

And now through the mercy of God there are an hundred ninetie-nine men, women, and children, that have professed themselves to be worshippers of the great and everliving God. There are now two meetings kept every Lords day, the one three miles, the other about Eight miles off my house: Hi [...] ­comes teacheth twice a day at the nearest, and Mumanequem ac­cordingly at the farthest, the last day of the weeke they come unto me to be informed touching the subject they are to han­dle: And the Lord doth much assist them, blessed be the name of the Lord. I have also undertaken to keepe by the helpe of God two Lectures amongst them, which will be at each once a fortnight: And I hope it will be by the blessing of God very profitable unto them. This winter I intend, if the Lord will, to set up a Schoole to teach the Indians to reade, viz. the Chil­dren, and also any young men that are willing to learne, whereof they are very glad. I am also endeavouring their Co­habitations with all convenient speed, that so they may be more helpful one to another; and also the better advantaged to carry on that worke they have set upon to Gods glorie, and their owne comfort. And what I have written concerning the Pawwawes, and the fiftie Indians, that were admitted to those [Page 32]that worshipped God in one day: There were diverse English both eye and eare witnesses thereof, as well as my selfe, and wee could not but acknowledge much of the Lords power and goodnesse to be visible amongst them, who without being dri­ven by power, or allured by gifts, were so strongly carried a­gainst those wayes they so much loved, to love the way that nature hates. Let us therefore magnifie the Lord, who alone doth this, and seeke unto him to doe more and more still, that so one generation may praise his works to another, and that so both wee and them may abundantly utter the memory of his great goodnesse and power, In that new song, Revelations 5.9. untill that wee all meete together in Heaven, and sing glorious praises unto him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lambe for ever end ever. In whom I heartily recommend you unto God, desiring to be recommended by you, and in him to rest.

Much Honoured and beloved in the Lord Jesus.

IEsteeme it not the least of Gods mercies that hath stirred up the hearts of any of the people of God to be instrumentall in the in­larging of the kingdome of his deare Sonne here amongst the Heathen Indians, which was one end of our comming hither, and it is not frustrated. It was prophesied of old, and now begins to be ac­complished, Psal. 2.8. Neither can I but acknowledge the un­speakeable goodnesse of God that gives us favour in the sight of our Countrymen to helpe on with so large a hand of bountie, so glorious a worke, provoked thereunto by your worthy selves, the chiefe Actors of so good a designe, let mee (with leave) say confidently, you will never have cause to recent it; For the worke is Gods, and he doth own it, the labour there hath been yours, and your Master will reward it. It thinke Religion and Conscience binde mee to seeke unto God for you, and to praise him with you, for what is alreadie begun. The Foundation is layd, and such a one that I verily believe the gates of Hell shall never prevaile against. I doubt not but the building will goe on apace, which I hope will make glad the hearts of Thousands. Truely Gentlemen, had you been eare and eye-witnesses of what I heard and saw on a Lecture-day amongst them about three weekes since, you could not but be affected therewith as I was. To speake truely I could hardly refraine teares for very joy to see their diligent attenti­on to the word first taught by one of the Indians, who before his Exercise prayed for the manner devoutly and reverently (the matter I did not so well understand) but it was with such re­verence, zeale, good affection, and distinct utterance, that I could not but admire it; his prayer was about a quarter of an houre or more, as wee judged it; then he tooke his Text, and M ^r Eliot their Teacher tould us that were English, the place, [Page 34](there were some Ministers and diverse other godly men there that attended mee thither) his Text was in Matthew 13.44, 45, 46. He continued in his Exercise full halfe an houre or more as I judged it, his gravitie and utterance was indeed very com­mendable, which being done M ^r Eliot taught in the Indian tongue about three quarters of an houre as neere as I could guesse; the Indians, which were in number men & women neere about one hundred, seemed the most of them so to attend him (the men especially) as if they would loose nothing of what was taught them, which reflected much upon some of our English hearers. After all there was a Psaime sung in the Indian tongue, and Indian meeter, but to an English tune, read by one of themselves, that the rest might follow, and he read it very distinctly without missing a word as we could judge, and the rest sang chearefully, and prettie tuneablie. I rid on purpose thither being distant from my dwelling about thirty-eight or fortie miles, and truely I account it one of the best Journeys I made these many yeares. Some few dayes after I desired M ^r Eliot briefely to write mee the substance of the Indians Exercise, which when he went thither againe, namely, to Naticke, where the Indians dwell, and where the Indian taught, he read what he remembred of it first to their Schoole-Master, who is an In­dian and teacheth them and their Children to write, and I saw him write also in English, who doth it true and very legible, and asked him if it were right and he said yea, also he read it unto others, and to the man himselfe, who also owned it. To tell you of their industry and ingenuitie in building o [...] [...]n house after the English manner, the hewing and squaring of their tymber, the sawing of the boards themselves, and making of a Chimney in it, making of their groundsells and wall-plates, and mortising, and letting in the studds into them artificially, there being but one English-man a Carpenter to shew them, being but two dayes with them, is remarkeable. They have also built a Fort there with halfe trees cleft about eight or ten Inches over, about ten or twelve foote high, besides what is intrencht in the ground, which is above a quarter of an acre of ground, as I judge. They have also built a foote bridge over Charles River, with Groundsells and Spurres to [Page 35]uphold it against the strength of the Flood and Ice in the Win­ter, it stood firme last Winter, and I thinke it will stand many Winters. They have made Drummes of their owne with heads and brases very neatly and artificially, all which shewes they are industrious and ingenuous. And they intend to build a Water-Mill the next Sommer, as I was tould when I was with them. Some of them have learnt to mow Grasse very well. I shall no further trouble you with any more relation at this time concerning them. But a word or two further with your patience concerning other Indians. The works of God amongst the Indians at Martins Vineyard, is very hopefull and prosperous also. I mist of M ^r Mayhew their Teacher, who was lately at Boston, and therefore cannot give you a particular account thereof at this present time; yet I cannot but acquaint you what other motions there are touching other Indians. There came to us upon the 20 ^th of this instant Moneth, at the gene­rall Court one Pummakummin Sachem of Lunnubbágge, dwelling amongst or neere to the Narragansets, who offered himselfe and his Men to worship God, and desired that some English may be sent from the Massachusets Government to plant his River, that thereby he may be partaker of Government, and may be instructed by the English to know God. Wee shall I hope take some care and course about it, and I hope wee shall have more helpe to carry on that worke also; For there are some Schol­lers amongst us who addict themselves to the study of the In­dian Tongue. The Lord in mercy recommence it into your Bosomes, All that labour of love vouchsafed to the poore In­dians, which are the hearty prayers and earnest desire of; much honoured.

THe best News I can write you from New Eng­land is, the Lord is indeed converting the Indi­ans, and for the refreshing of your heart, and the hearts of all the Godly with you. I have sent you the Relation of one Indian of two yeares profession, that I tooke from his owne mouth, by an Interpreter, because he cannot speake or un­derstand one word of English.

The first Question was;

Q. How did you come first to any sight of sinne?

A. His answer was, before the Lord did ever him any English to us, my conscience was exceedingly troubled for sinne, but after M ^r Mahew came to preach, and had been here some time, one chiefe Saga­more did imbrace the Gospel, and I hearing of him, I went to him, and prayed him to speake something to mee concerning God, and the more I did see of God, the more I did see my sinne, and I went away re­joycing, that I knew any thing of God, and also that I saw my sinne.

Q. I pray what hurt doe you see in sinne?

A. Sinne, sayth he, is a continuall sicknesse in my heart.

Q. What further evill doe you see in sinne?

A. I see it to be a breach of all Gods Commandements.

Q. Doe you see any punishment due to man for sinne?

A. Yea, sayth he, I see a righteous punishment from God due to man for sinne, which shall be by the Devills in a place like unto fire (not [Page 37]that I speake of materiall fire, (sayth he) where man shall be for ever dying and never dye.

Q. Have you any hope to escape this punishment?

A. While I went on in the way of Indianisme I had no hope, but did verily believe I should goe to that place, but now I have a little hope, and hope I shall have more.

Q. By what meanes doe you look for any hope?

A. Sayth he, by the satisfaction of Christ.

I prayed the Interpreter, to tell him from mee that I would have him thinke much of the satisfaction of Christ, (and so he told him) I prayed him to returne mee his Answer.

A. I thanke him kindly for his good Counsell, it doth my heart good, sayd he, to heare any man speak of Christ.

Q. What would you thinke if the Lord should save you from misery?

A. If the Lord, said he, would save me from all the sinne that is in my heart, and from that misery, I should exceedingly love God, and sayth be, I should love a man that should doe mee any good, much more the Lord, if he should doe this for mee.

Q. Doe you thinke that God will doe you any good for any good that is in you?

A. Though I beleave that God loves man that leaves his sinne, yet I beleeve it is for Christs sake.

Q. Doe you see that at any time God doth answer your prayers?

A. Yea, sayth he, I take every thing is an Answer of prayer.

Q. But what speciall answer, have you taken notice of?

A. Once my wise being three dayes and three nights in labour, I was resolved never to leave praying, till she had deliverance, and at last God did it, and gave her a sonne, and I called his name Returning, be­cause all the while I went on in Indianisme I was going from God, but now the Lord hath brought mee to him backe againe.

By this time Captaine Gooking came to us, and he asked him this Question:

Q. What he would thinke if he should finde more affliction and trouble in Gods wayes, then he did in the way of In­dianisme.

A. His answer was, when the Lord did first turne mee to himselfe [Page 38]and his wayes, he stripped mee as bare as my skinne, and if the Lord should strip mee as bare as my skinne againe, and so big Saggamore should come to mee, and say, I will give you so big Wampom, so big Beaver, and leave this way, and turne to us againe: I would say, take your riches to your selfe, I would never for sake God and his wayes againe.

This is a Relation taken by my selfe, William French.

IT seemes that some of late have been so impudently bold (which I cannot sufficiently wonder at) as to report and publiquely af­firme, that there was no such thing as the prea­ching and dispersing of the Gospel amongst the Natives in New England: verily Sir, I doe be­leeve that the Devill himselfe (who is the Father of Lyes) would not, yea durst not have uttered such a notorious un­truth as that was. Now although I confesse I have not been present at the places where the Indians are wont to meete, to heare such as doe preach unto them, by reason of my bodily weaknes, and indisposition to travell so farre into the Wilder­nesse, yet thus much I can testifie (if my Testimony may be of any use) being lately come over from New-England; that there are divers persons in severall places, who doe take paines, and [Page 39]labour in that Worke there, viz. not onely M ^r Eliot of Roxbury, who hath preached among them for many yeares up & downe in the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets; and M ^r Mahew, who for a good while hath taken paines amongst the Indians at an Island called Martins Vineyard; but of late also M ^r Leveridge in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth, and M ^r Blynman, who lives now in a new Plantation in the Pequotts Countrey. As for the suc­cesse of the preaching of the Gospel unto the Natives, I have heard M ^r Eliot affirme, that he is so well perswaded of the Worke of grace in some of them, as that he could comforta­bly joyne in Church-fellowship with them: M ^r Mahew also (who came to see mee a little before my coming from thence) told me that after M ^r Whitfeilds coming thence (for he had been upon that Island, as he came to the Bay, and was present also with M ^r Mahew amongst the Indians) there were neer upon one hundred (I think he said Ninety and odd) persons of them more who came in to heare him preach unto them, and some Pawaws also, and one of some Eminency amongst them, who did acknowledge his Evill in such doings, and made a Decla­ration ration of the manner how he came at the first to be a Pawaw, the which also M ^r Mahew did relate unto mee. Sir, that there is such a work in hand in New-England as the preaching of the Gospel unto the Natives there, all the Magistrates and Ministers and people in that place (who know any thing) will be readie to attest, and therefore such as dare affirme the contrary, may as well say, that the Sunne doth not shine at Noone day, when the skie is cleere, and doe indeed deserve a Publique Witnesse to be borne against them, for such a Publique, and so notori­ous an untruth; The good Lord humble them deeply for it, if it be his good will, and pardon it to them through his grace in Christ.

Thus Sir, not having further at this present to be trouble­some unto you, desiring an Interest in your earnest prayers for mee, beseeching the Lord to let his presence and blessing be with you, and upon your great and weighty businesses, I take leave, resting