A39226:73
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
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.
But afterward, I began to think; it may be they say true, that speak of God; it may be it is true, that God is in heaven; and should any teach me in my language, I might know God: but if I should pray, it may be it is in vain to pray in my language; could I speak English, I might learn to pray. And I see the English love us, and therefore it is like, that is true which they say of God, and I desire to live for ever where they do. When I first heard the Word, it said, God is good; a little I believed it, but I did more doubt.
Mr Jackson asked me if I did pray to God: I asked him whether God understood our language, if I prayed to him: He said, yea, all things God doth know, and all languages. Then my heart said, It may be I may attain to pray. But my heart was hard, and therefore I could not pray, afterwards it may be I may. Sometime I thought if we did not pray, the English might kill us; but if I prayed, I thought I did not pray right. When I saw, and considered, that all men in the world dyed, I knew not how I might come to live for ever, how my soul might live, and therefore I desired I might pray to God aright; because they that so pray, are all one as if they dyed not, but live for ever. I wished I could pray aright, ⟨p. 32⟩but could not tell how to do it. I did in my heart love wandering about, and our wild courses always; and when I did pray, it was but out-side praying, for in my heart I understood not right praying to God; I understood not how to pray, and I regarded not my weariness of that which was good, many things hindered my heart; I was ashamed, because my heart was full of evil. Sometimes I thought of my sins, but it was but a little, and I was soon weary of any good. I did not think God was not merciful, but I saw my heart was naught, and very little did I know the evils of my heart. No humility was in my heart, and to this day my heart is evil, and hard is my heart, When you taught us the Word of God, my heart did not believe, but went contrary to the Word of God. I saw my mourning for sin was not good: I do confess my heart did not submit to God, only I hoped I might might learn the Word of God, which you taught us. My heart did afore love praying to the Devil, but I do not find that I so love praying to God: therefore I did pray, Lord break my heart, that I may pray to God aright. My heart was weary of praying quickly; and therefore my heart said, Surely my heart is nought, and I am like a dead man: and therefore I prayed, Lord help me now to pray aright to God. Now I knew that God knoweth all the thoughts of my heart, and my many sins, and contrary doings, and how little I know of God. Surely I am a great sinner, and this I do throughly know, that great are my sins, and that my heart is contrary to praying to God, and my heart desired wild courses, and I see that my heart loveth not praying to God.