A39225:64
A further account of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England,…A further accompt of the progresse of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England,…
A further account of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England, and of the means used effectually to advance the same set forth in certain letters sent from thence declaring a purpose of printing the Scriptures in the Indian tongue into which they are already translated : with which letters are likewise sent an epitome of some exhortations delivered by the Indians at a fast, as testimonies of their obedience tot he Gospel : as also some helps directing the Indians how to improve natural reason unto the knowledge of the true God.A further accompt of the progresse of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England, and of the means used effectually to advance the same set forth in certaine letters sent from thence declaring a purpose of printing the Scriptures in the Indian tongue into which they are already translated : with which letters are likewise sent an epitome of some exhortations delivered by the Indians at a fast, as testimonies of their obedience tot he Gospell : as also some helps directing the Indians how to improve naturall reason unto the knowledge of the true God.
London: printed by M. Simmons for Corporation of New England, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Scripture wch he grounded his exercise upon was Matth. 6. 16, 17, 18. 16. Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the Hypocrites, of a sad Countenance, for they disfigure their face, that they may appear unto m•n to fast: Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. 17. But thou when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face. 18. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy father that is in secret, and thy Father that seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. A little I'll speak, according to that poor little I know The Doctrine that Christ teacheth us in these words, is the Doctrine of fasting and prayer; and the duty we do this day, is to practice this Doctrine, for God calleth us this day to fasting and prayer. There be many causes of prayer to God this day; as to prepare our hearts for Church, covenant, and Ordinances, and to pray for the taking away our sickness, and these great rains [here he did enumerate sundry causes of seeking God] But why must we fast? Answ. That we might the more effectually mourn for sin. If any of you bury a child or a friend, then you will mourn, and fast too, for if we offer you meat, you will refuse it, yea you cannot eat, because your heart is so full of sorrow: no matter for meat then, your tears, and sighs, and sorrows fill you ⟨p. 13⟩so, that you cannot eat; so that fasting is an help to mourning. Now this day is a day of mourning, and what do we mourn for? not for a child or a friend, but a greater matter; we must mourn for our sins, and we should be so filled, and possessed with mourning for our si•s, that we should forget hunger, yea so afflicted in our hearts, that we cannot eat though it should be offered to us: our hearts should be so full of sorrow, that we cannot be an hungry nor eat. Again we fast that we might repent of our sins, and amend our lives, according to that Matth. 3. 8. bring forth therefore fruits meet for Repentance. This is a day of Repentance, we must therefore fast this day, so as becometh Repentance, therefore we must confess our sins, and we must mourn for our sins, and we must forsake our sins, for these are works meet for Repentance.
The Scripture wch he grounded his exercise upon was