A39226:108
A further account of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New…
A further account of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New England: being a relation of the confessions made by several Indians (in the presence of the elders and members of several churches) in order to their admission into church-fellowship. Sent over to the corporation for propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ amongst the Indians in New England at London, by Mr John Elliot one of the labourers in the word amongst them.A further account of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New England: being a relation of the confessions made by several Indians (in the presence of the elders and members of several churches) in order to their admission into church-fellowship. Sent over to the corporation for propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ amongst the Indians in New England at London, by Mr John Elliot one of the laborers in the word amonsgt them.
London: printed by John Macock, 1660
A brief Relation received from Mr John Elliott of the late Proceedi… › Confessions › Ponampiam
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.
He was next called forth, and thus spake.
I Confess my sins before the Lord, and his people this day. While my Father lived, and I was young, I was at play, and my Father rebuked me, and said, we shall all die shortly. [In private we asked him what ground or reason moved his Father so to speak? he answered, it was when the English were new come over, and he thinketh that his Father had heard that Mr Wilson had spoken of the flood of Noah, how God drowned all the world for the sins of the people.] Then I was troubled, and thought sure what God saith, shall be, and not what man saith; but I quickly forgot this, and thought not of any good. That same Winter the pox came; all my kindred died, only ⟨p. 55⟩my Mother and I lived, we came to Cohannit, by Dorchester, where I lived till I was a man, and married. All those days I sinned, and prayed to all gods, and did as others did, there I lived till the Minister came to teach us. When I heard that they prayed, my heart desired it not. Sometime I prayed among them, and sometime I neglected it. I feared to pray because of the Sachems, therefore I put it off, for the fear of man. Afterward I considered in my heart, to pray to God, not because I loved the word, but for other reasons. I heard that Word, Mal. 1. From the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Then I was troubled in my thoughts about running away, yet then I thought if I should go to another place, they must pray also, and therefore I cannot fly from praying to God, therefore I tarried, and when others prayed, I prayed with them, only I still feared man; after I heard the same word again, to persuade us to pray to God; and I did so, but not for Gods sake, only it was before man. I remembered the Sabbath, and I heard Mr Mathews also preach of it, and therefore I thought I would keep the Sabbath, but still I feared man. Upon a Sabbath, they wished me to teach what I remembered, that the Minister had taught. I did so, and we had talk about what I said, and we fell out. Thereupon I went away, and left praying to God. I went into the Country, but I remembered my wife and children, and quickly returned, but not for Gods sake. Again the Minister