Indian dialogues for their instruction in that great service of Christ, in calling home…

Pium. Our friends at Natick were when I left them in good state of health, peace and comfort: for which we give God thanks, who is the Father of all mercies. Touching your question, Whether praying to God doth exempt us from Sicknesses, Poverty, and fills us with food and garments: I answer, If praying to God did bring with it outward plenty and worldly prosperity, then all carnal people would pray to God, not because they love God, or praying to God, but because they love themselves, and love food, clothing, and worldly pleasures; but the benefits of praying are spiritual and heavenly, it teaches us to know God, and the evil of sin; it teacheth us to repent of sin, and seek for pardon, and it teacheth us to forsake sin for ever: and if we are loth to part with sin, God will chastise us with Sicknesses, Poverty, and other worldly crosses, to call us to repentance, and therefore many times we fare worse in the world, then wicked men do, that thereby we might be weaned from the world, and brought and taught to love and long for heaven. And yet I further tell you, that Religion doth teach the right way to be rich and prosperous in this world, and many, English especially, have learned that way. For Religion teacheth us to be diligent in labour six days, and on the seventh day to rest, and keep it an holy Sabbath; and God hath promised that the diligent hand shall make rich: and when we walk with God in godliness and obedience, •e will give us the blessing of this life, so far as is best for us, he will withhold no good thing from us; if any thing be withheld from us, or taken away from us, it is because it is not good for us: Our Father better knoweth what is good for us, then we our selves know.

Pium. Our friends at Natik were when I left them in good state of health, peace and comfort: for which we give God thanks, who is the Father of all mercies. Touching your question, Whether praying to God doth exempt us from Sicknesses, Poverty, and fills us with food and garments: I answer, If praying to God did bring with it outward plenty and worldly prosperity, then all carnal people would pray to God, not because they love God, or praying to God, but because they love themselves, and love food, clothing, and worldly pleasures; but the benefits of praying are spiritual and heavenly, it teaches us to know God, and the evil of sin; it teacheth us to repent of sin, and seek for pardon, and it teacheth us to forsake sin for ever: and if we are loth to part with sin, God will chastise us with Sicknesses, Poverty, and other worldly crosses, to call us to repentance, and therefore many times we fare worse in the world, then wicked men do, that thereby we might be weaned from the world, and brought and taught to love and long for heaven. And yet I further tell you, that Religion doth teach the right way to be rich and prosperons in this world, and many, English especially, have learned that way. For Religion teacheth us to be diligent in labour six dayes, and on the seventh day to rest, and keep it an holy Sabbath; and God hath promised that the diligent hand shall make rich: and when we walk with God in godliness and obedience, e will give us the blessing of this life, so far as is best for us, he will withhold no good thing from us; if any thing be withheld from us, or taken away from us, it is because it is not good for us: Our Father better knoweth what is good for us, then we our selves know.