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FOR THE CONNECTICUT EVAN-
GELICAL MAGAZINE.

Attempts to propagate the gospel

converts among men in power.Their example was followed with happy confequences: They not

among the Indians in New-En-only embraced the gofpel them

gland and parts adjacent.

(Contin. from p. 370.)

NUMBER III. Concerning the propagation of the gofpel among the Indians, particularly on Martha's Vineyard, by the miniftry of the Rev. Thomas Mayhew, jun. &c.

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BSTACLES being, in fome degree, removed, the gofpel made much greater progrefs, than it had done before. In each year, for many in fucceffion, natives of the island were coming in, and making profeffion of the Chriftian faith; in fome years a very confiderable number, till at length, very few fpeculative infidels remained upon this, and the neighboring iflands.

felves; but encouraged others, particularly their dependents, to attend upon the means of inftruetion, that they alfo might be led to the truth: Like good Cornelius, they called together their relations, intimate friends, and neighbors, that they alfo might partake of thofe important bleffings, which they themselves were defirous of enjoying.

In the year 1648, there was a general meeting of all who were inclined for Chriftianity, to confirm, and affist one another in adhering to it. This affembly was held in Mr. Mayhew's prefence; and he obferved, that twelve of the young men went and took Sacochanimo, the eldest fon of Tawanquatuck, the Chriftian Sachem, by the hand, telling him, they lov ed him, and would go with him in God's way; and the elder men encouraged them, and defired, that they would never forget thefe mifes; and fo after they had fung part of a pfalm, in their own lan guage, they returned home with Hhh

We have already taken notice of Mioxoo, and Tawanquatuck; the former, a man of diftinction; the latter a principal Sachem in that part of the island where he lived. Thefe appear to have been the first VOL. II. No. 12.

pro

expreffions of great joy, and thank- | foon began to refort to him, when

fulness.

In the year 1649, there was a confiderable acceffion to the number of praying Indians at one time. In this year Hiacoomes preached a fermon at a place called Nunpaug, in which difcourfe he reckoned up many of the great fins, of which the Indians were guilty; and as many good duties which ought to be performed by them, (but were neglected.) Upon his finishing this difcourfe, no lefs than twenty-two of his hearers, at this time, profeffed their refolutions against the fins mentioned, and that they would walk with God in newnefs of life: Of this number Momonequem, a man of no fmall note among his countrymen, was one; and feemed, above all the reft, to be exceedingly affected; for to the great admiration of all the Indians then prefent, with much apparent forrow of heart, and indignation against fin, he did now enumerate twenty of his own fins; manifefting his repentance of them, and profeffing his refolution to follow the only living, and true God against all oppofition: Mr. Mayhew, from what he obferved of him after this, was perfuaded that he was a real Chriftian.

About this time, a famous powow, called Tequanonim, entertaining thoughts of turning from his falfe gods, to the one only true God and Jefus Chrift, the only Saviour of finful men, providentially meeting with Momoncquem in the woods, opened his cafe to him, and took his advice upon it; and the effect was, that this powow became, as there was reafon to believe, a fincere convert and good Christian.

Momonequem being esteemed by the praying Indians, as a man of wildom, and prudence, they

they wanted counsel and encourage. ment in any of their difficulties; and fuch as inclined to become Chriftians, did fo too.

After this, he became a minif ter, and preached every Lord'sday to his countrymen; and that he might be the better prepared to address his hearers, he waited on Mr. Mayhew the laft day of the week, in order to his affifting him in his preparation for the work of the enfuing day*.

And now in the year 1650, comes on the critical point of the credit of the powows among them: For Hiacoomes, as we have seen, openly renouncing and protefting against the falfe gods, which he had worshipped, and all the pow ows, whom he viewed as their familiar minifters; and with a furprifing courage, under all circumtances, defpifing and defying their power; they were greatly enra ged, and threatened his utter deftruction; but to the furprise of the people, and their own confufion, they were unable to hurt him.

Soon after this, God was pleafed to give growing fuccefs to the zealous and laborious fervices of the miffionaries. For in a little time after, an Indian standing up at Mr. Mayhew's lecture, confelfed his fins, declared his repentance, and defire to forfake them; and then going to Tawanquatuck, before mentioned, and fome other Chriftian Indians, and then to Mr. Mayhew, he expreffed the warm affection he had for them; and in his native fimplicity added, “I greatly defire to go along with you for God's fake." Upon which they received him with much pleafure. After this there came five

* Indian Converts, p. 12, 13

men more; and by the end of the fummer, there were thirty-nine Indian men of this meeting, who had the knowledge of the main points of religion, profeffed their belief of them, and folemnly engaged to live agreeably to them; befide the well-inftructed and believing women, who were fuppofed to exceed the number of the men.

Within this year an event took place, which furprised the whole Island, and turned to the great and fpeedy advancement of the Chriftian religion.

For it pleafed God, who had drawn a confiderable number of the Indians from the powows to worship Himself, at which the powows were very much offended, yet now, even to perfuade two of themselves, to go after thofe, who fought Him, and defire that they might walk with them, in the ways of that God, whofe name is Jehovah. They came under deep convictions of the fins they had lived in, and especially powowing; revealing the myfteries of their unlawful profeffion; and expreffing the most fincere repentance, and utmost deteftation of them; entreating, that God would have mercy upon them, pardon their fins, and teach them His ways for Christ Jesus' fake. And very affecting it was to Mr. Mayhew, and all who were prefent, (to ufe his own words) "To fee thefe poor, naked fons of Adam, and flaves to the devil from their birth, to come towards the Lord, as they did, with their joints fhaking, and their bowels trembling, their fpirits troubled, and their voices, with much fervency, uttering words of fore difpleasure against fin and Satan, which they had embraced from their childhood with great delight: And now accounting it

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alfo their fin, that they had not the knowledge of God; that they had ferved the devil, the great enemy both of God and man, and had been fo hurtful in their lives; but yet being very thankful, that thro' the mercy of God, they had an opportunity of being delivered out of their dangerous condition."*

The Chriftian Indians exceedingly rejoiced to see the powows begin to turn from their wicked ways to the Lord. In a little time after, on a lecture day, at the clofe of the exercise, there were feveral more of the natives, who expreffed their defire to become the fervants of the most high God; among whom was Tequanonim, before mentioned, another powow of great esteem, and very notorious.

At the fame time came in about fifty Indians more in one day, defiring to join with the worshippers of God in his fervice; confefling their fins; fome thofe adual fins they had lived in; and others, the wickedness of their hearts, defiring to be made better; and for this end, to attend on the word of God, and look only to Jefus Chrift for falvation. And upon this occafion Mr. Mayhew obferves, that they generally came in by families; the parents bringing their children with them, introducing them with this fhort fpeech, "I have brought my children too: I would have my children ferve God with us: I defire that this fon and this daughter would ferve Jehovah." And if the children could but speak, the parents would have them fay fomething to fhow their willingness to ferve the Lord: And when the commandments were repeated, they all acknowledged them to be good,

* Letter, Oct. 1651, published in London, 1652.

and made choice of Jehovah to be their God; promifing, by his help, to walk according to his counfels : And when they were received by thofe, who were before in a general covenant (of which we fhall give an accourt foon) it was by chearful voices, and giving thanks to God, that they were met together in the ways of Jehovah.

Thefe additions to the number of praying Indians were all made before the end of the year 1650.

ed by gifts, having received none from the very beginning.*

Mr. Mayhew, this worthy fervant of Chrift, continued his almof inexpreffible labor, and vigilant care for the good of the Indians, whom he juftly esteemed his joy and crown. And God was pleafto give fuch a victorious fuccefs to his unwearied labors, that by the year 1657, many hundred men, and women were added to the Christian fociety of fuch as might truly be faid to be holy in their converfation; and for knowledge,

firft principles of the oracles of God; befides the many hundreds of loofer, and more fuperficial profeffors.

* Indian Converts, 290.
Matthew Mayhew's Triumphs of

Grace.

By the midst of the year 1651, there were 199 men, women, and children, who had profeffed them-fuch as need not to be taught the felves to be worshippers of the great, and everliving God. And now there were two meetings kept every Lord's day, the one three miles, the other about eight miles from Mr Mayhew's houfe. Hiacoomes taught every Lord's day at the nearest, and Momonequem as often at the furtheft. On every Saturday they both came to Mr. Mayhew to be informed and inftructed in the fubject they were to treat of; and God greatly af fifted them: And Mr. Mayhew had then undertaken, by divine affiftance, to keep two feveral lectures, which would be, at each affembly, once a fortnight.

By the end of the year 1652, there were 282 Indians, not counting young children in the number, who were brought to renounce their falfe gods, and powows, and publicly, in fet meetings, before many witneffes, had freely difclaimed, and defied their tyrannical power. Even eight of the powows, had now forfaken their wick ed craft, and profitable trade, as they held it; and now made profeffion of their willing subjection to the true God. And as not any of thefe were compelled thereto by power; fo neither were they allur

fome methods, which have been made Proteftants could not approve of ufe of by Roman Catholics for the con verfion of the Indians, or inducing them to make profeffion of Christianity. "La Maryland a great number of Indians tized by the Popish Millionaries, for in ancient times, fubmitted to be bapthe fake of fome new fhirts presented to them, to encourage them to receive the ordinance. But the poor creatures not knowing how to wash them, when

foul, came, after a little time, and made

a motion, that the Roman Catholics would give more fhirts, or else they would renounce their baptifm."+

Some Catholic Millionaries to la

dian tribes in the Province of Maine, in the last century, ufed, after public inftructions were clofed, to encourage them to attend again, by giving them a liberal draught of ardent fpirits! Proteftant Millionaries take no fech ways to gain profelytes: Nor, when they can do it, do they ever use force, to accomplish this end; fenfible, that fuch a procedure is in direct opposition to the example and precepts of Jefum, and to the whole fyftem of Chriftianty.

Magnal. B. III. p. 204.-Neal, Vol. I. p. 284.

After a confiderable number of the Indians had made profeffion of Christianity, being convinced, that they could not bring themfelves under too strict engagements to conform their lives to the facred precepts, enjoined by the founder of the religion they had chofen, a great part of them, in the fpring of the year 1652, of their own accord, made a motion to Mr. May. hew, that they might have fome method fettled among them, for the exercife of order and difcipline, that fo they might be obliged to live in a due fubjection to the laws of God; and they defired to enter into a covenant, that a fenfe of their duty might be more deeply impreffed upon their minds, and their obligations might not eafily be forgotten.

fet apart foon after for the fame purpofe, and to complete the work they had in view: Being then affembled, fome of them fpake for the excitation of themselves, and of others; and about ten, or twelve of them, prayed, as Mr. Mayhew defcribes their devotion, "Like men endowed with a good meafure of the knowledge of God, their own wants, and the wants of others, with much affection, and many fpiritual petitions, favoring of an heavenly mind."

The fame morning Mr. Mayhew drew up a covenant in their native language, which he often read, and made plain to them; and they all, with free confent and thankfulness, united in it, and defired the grace and affiftance of God to enable them to keep it faithfully.

When they chose their rulers, Mr. Mayhew obferved, that they

approved for piety, and most like to fupprefs all wickedness, and encourage goodness; and that afterwards they were, upon all occafions, forward to fhow their earnest defire of rulers of fuch a character.*

The praying Indians did alfo, about the fame time, earnestly defire, that Chriftian civil govern-made choice of fuch, as were best ment might be fet up over them; and that trangreffions of the law of God might be punished according to the rules of his word. They defired Mr. Mayhew to inform them, what were the punishments, which God had appointed for thofe, who break his laws, to which they were willing to fubject themselves; and that they might have fome men chofen among them, with his father and himself, to fee, that the Indians walked in an orderly manner; encouraging thofe, who did fo, and dealing with thofe, who did not, according to the word of God.

Prior to the time of their enter ing into the folemn covenant propofed; and in order to prepare their minds for that ferious, and weighty tranfaction, a day of fat." ing and prayer was appointed to promote repentance of their fins, and to implore the Divine pref ence and aid: Another day was

The praying Indians, who were in covenant, paid particular attention to the difpofition and character of thofe, who wifhed to join them. Mr. Matthew Mayhew informs us, who, and how qualified thofe were who were efteemed Chriftians; what measures they took to fatisfy the congregation, with which they were defirous of joining t

"When fuch a number profeffed the Chriftian religion, as gave occafion to the Indians in general to efteem them a fect different from themfelves, and by the de

* Indian Converts, p. 82 and 209. Triumphs of Grace.

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