Indian dialogues for their instruction in that great service of Christ, in calling home…
Indian dialogues for their instruction in that great service of Christ, in calling home their country-men to the knowledge of God, and of themselves, and of Jesus Christ.Indian dialogues for their instruction in that great service of Christ, in calling home their country-men to the knowledge of God, and of themselves, and of Iesus Christ.
John Eliot 1604–1690Printed at Cambridge : s.n., 1671
[4], 81 [i.e. 75] p. · 40k words · Wing E513 · ESTC R40409
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.
Penit. I do perceive that you take that to be a great work of grace and faith in my heart, so gladly to receive the Word of God, and submissively to give up my self to the conduct thereof. I cannot deny, but confess, that my heart is really so as I have expressed, and every thing that hath passed in this Conference hath had something in it, to strengthen that frame of heart it me: and now lastly and especially, that you do bring forth that work which is wrought in me to be an evidence of faith, this doth so much the more incline and oblige my heart to a great love and reverence to the Scriptures, and a resolution, through the grace, help and assistance of Jesus Christ, to spend the rest of my life in a more diligent and abundant attendance on the hearing, reading, meditating on, and obeying of the Word of God. If this be an act of faith, I desire to live that part of the life of faith all the days of my life. Lord help me to perform this promise unto God.
Penit. I do perceive that you take that to be a great work of grace and faith in my heart, so gladly to receive the Word of God, and submissively to give up my self to the conduct thereof. I cannot deny, but confess, that my heart is really so as I have expressed, and every thing that hath passed in this Conference hath had something in it, to strengthen that frame of heart it me: and now lastly and especially, that you do bring forth that work which is wrought in me to be an evidence of faith, this doth so much the more incline and oblige my heart to a great love and reverence to the Scriptures, and a resolution, through the grace, help and assistance of Jesus Christ, to spend the rest of my life in a more diligent and abundant attendance on the hearing, reading, meditating on, and obeying of the Word of God. If this be an act of faith, I desire to live that part of the life of faith all the dayes of my life. Lord help me to perform this promise unto God.
John. I will show you the reason why I lay so much weight upon •hat f••r of heart, to embrace the Word, to love it, to obey it, &c. first, I find that it is the character of those famous primitive Converts,
. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls: and they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine •nd fellowship. Their obedience to, and walking in the Word, is a •hief effect and Sign of the true and thorough work of grace in •hem: in that point their Conversion shined, and it seemeth to me, •hat your Conversion doth in this point shine.
Again,
. it is said, Lay aside all filthiness and superfluity •• naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Here be three things in this Text: the first •• the preparative work, to cast away all filthiness, and out boilings of naughtiness. This work God hath wrought in your di••ressed heart, which appeareth in your penitent confessions. The second work is to receive the word with meekness, and so, that it •ay appear to be an ingrafted word, connaturalized in your heart; ••d this is the work which I observe to be wrought in your heart, which is the work of faith, whereby you are united to Christ by ••e word so received, and submitted unto: The entrance of thy •ord giveth life,
. Then the third thing; this Word •• received and ingrafted, whereby you are united to Christ, this •ill save your soul; you are a ve••el of grace, and shall be a vessel •• glory, fear it not, God that cannot lie hath spoken it.
Again,
. Laying aside all malice, and all gu•le, and hy••crifies, and envies, and evil speakings; As new-born ba•es desire the […] milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Here see 1. A […] born babe, that is, a soul converted, a new creature formed
⟨p. 80⟩
in the heart by faith laying hold on Christ, and from him receiving the Spirit, to dwell in him, and to form this new creature in hi• heart. Now what acts of life doth this babe perform? they ar• two: 1. By mortification and repentance he purgeth out all hi• sins; and this act of life you effectually do by your penitent co• fessions. The second act of life is, he desires the sincere milk o• the word that he may grow thereby. The new creature is fed b• the same means by which it was begotten:
Iohn. I will shew you the reason why I lay so much weight upon •hat f••r of heart, to embrace the Word, to love it, to obey it, &c. •irst, I finde that it is the character of those famous primitive Converts, Acts 2.41, 42. Then they that gladly received his word were •aptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three •housand souls: and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine •nd fellowship. Their obedience to, and walking in the Word, is a •hief effect and Sign of the true and thorough work of grace in •hem: in that point their Conversion shined, and it seemeth to me, •hat your Conversion doth in this point shine.
Again, Iam. 1.21. it is said, Lay aside all filthiness and superfluity •• naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is •ble to save your souls. Here be three things in this Text: the first •• the preparative work, to cast away all filthiness, and out boil•ngs of naughtiness. This work God hath wrought in your di••ressed heart, which appeareth in your penitent confessions. The •econd work is to receive the word with meekness, and so, that it •ay appear to be an ingrafted word, connaturalized in your heart; ••d this is the work which I observe to be wrought in your heart, •hich is the work of faith, whereby you are united to Christ by ••e word so received, and submitted unto: The entrance of thy •ord giveth life, Psal. 119.130. Then the third thing; this Word •• received and ingrafted, whereby you are united to Christ, this •ill save your soul; you are a ve••el of grace, and shall be a vessel •• glory, fear it not, God that cannot lie hath spoken it.
Again, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. Laying aside all malice, and all gu•le, and hy••crifies, and envies, and evil speakings; As new-born ba•es desire the 〈…〉 milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Here see 1. A 〈…〉 born babe, that is, a soul converted, a new creature formed ⟨p. 80⟩in the heart by faith laying hold on Christ, and from him receiving the Spirit, to dwell in him, and to form this new creature in hi• heart. Now what acts of life doth this babe perform? they ar• two: 1. By mortification and repentance he purgeth out all hi• sins; and this act of life you effectually do by your penitent co• fessions. The second act of life is, he desires the sincere milk o• the word that he may grow thereby. The new creature is fed b• the same means by which it was begotten:
the word of God is t•• seed of God to beget the new creature, 1 John 3.9. and then t•• word of God is milk to feed and nourish the new creature. No• this is the thing that I observe in you, that as a new •orn babe yo• desire the milk of the word: and note this word, Sincere milk; • living babe of Christ cannot abide humane mixtures added to t•• word of God; he loves the pure word, he cannot relish mixtures.
the word of God is t•• seed of God to beget the new creature, 1 Iohn 3.9. and then t•• word of God is milk to feed and nourish the new creature. No• this is the thing that I observe in you, that as a new •orn babe yo• desire the milk of the word: and note this word, Sincere milk; • living babe of Christ cannot abide humane mixtures added to t•• word of God; he loves the pure word, he cannot rellish mix•tures.
Penit. My dearest friend, God hath made you an instrument •• his hand to lay before me unspeakable consolation; and I cann•• deny but I feel it in my heart, I am another man then what I wa• I looked on my self the most miserable of men, I now am hap•• being united to Christ. O blessed change! I am in admiration […] this, I admire the grace of Christ to a dead, lost, damned sinn•• I am come into a new world, I have other desires then I had, […] other purposes; I see things in another frame then I was wont see them. I must live a new life, and steer a new course.
But in this point my soul desires to begin, I am not mine own▪ am the servant of Jesus Christ, he died for me, and by his grace de•••e to live unto him. And now I find my self greatly to […] Counsel how to order my self in my future course; what sha•• do for the Lord, who hath done so much for me? My dear frie•• your Counsel hath been greatly owned and blessed by the Lord my new birth, I desire to have great respect to your Counsel for ordering of my ways in my new life.
You do partly know that my people, and some chief ones amo•• them, have had but a final measure of respect for me, but I have gr••• reason to overlook it, and bury it, because in his infinite […] Christ hath turned it about for my better good; my heart tell• me that I must seek the good of my people, how to manage […] work wisely, is my difficulty, wherein I need your Counsel. • would to God that all my people were as I am, and tasted and […] what I have found; but that is not yet so. I desire to bring t•• to be the Lords people, how I shall accomplish that, is my gr••• difficulty. You know I have been frequently among you pr•• Indians, and in my heart have adhered to you, and it may be […] have found the less acceptation for it; but I leave that God▪ must do and perform the trust, charge and duty that my Lord […] hath committed to me. My question therefore is, How […] ⟨p. 81⟩comport with the present affairs, and state of things? how shall I bring the matter about, to bring about my people to pray to God?
Penit. My dearest friend, God hath made you an instrument •• his hand to lay before me unspeakable consolation; and I cann•• deny but I feel it in my heart, I am another man then what I wa• I looked on my self the most miserable of men, I now am hap•• being united to Christ. O blessed change! I am in admiration 〈…〉 this, I admire the grace of Christ to a dead, lost, damned sinn•• I am come into a new world, I have other desires then I had, 〈…〉 other purposes; I see things in another frame then I was wont see them. I must live a new life, and steer a new course.
But in this point my soul desires to begin, I am not mine own▪ am the servant of Jesus Christ, he died for me, and by his grace de•••e to live unto him. And now I finde my self greatly to 〈…〉 Counsel how to order my self in my future course; what sha•• do for the Lord, who hath done so much for me? My dear frie•• your Counsel hath been greatly owned and blessed by the Lord my new birth, I desire to have great respect to your Counsel for ordering of my wayes in my new life.
You do partly know that my people, and some chief ones amo•• them, have had but a final measure of respect for me, but I have gr••• reason to overlook it, and bury it, because in his infinite 〈…〉 Christ hath turned it about for my better good; my heart tell• me that I must seek the good of my people, how to manage 〈…〉 work wisely, is my difficulty, wherein I need your Counsel. • would to God that all my people were as I am, and tasted and 〈…〉 what I have found; but that is not yet so. I desire to bring t•• to be the Lords people, how I shall accomplish that, is my gr••••ifficul•y. You know I have been frequently among you pr Indians, and in my heart have adhered to you, and it may be have found the less acceptation for it; but I leave that God must do and perform the trust, charge and duty that my Lord hath committed to me. My question therefore is, How
John. It joys my heart to hear these gracious breathings of Gods Spirit in you. I taste in your discourse evident tokens of a living child of God. I see that my judgement about the spiritual state of your soul, was not a product of precipitate charity, but an effect of the spirit of right discerning. I will encourage you in your godly purposes, with a modest application of some of the Angels words to Gideon, Judg. 6.12, 14. Go on, thou mighty man of valour, and go in this thy strength, and thou shalt save thy people. The Lord will be with thee. But for the manner of your proceeding in this matter, my thoughts incline me to propose this way: Be open to own the grace of God bestowed on you, to confess your former known crooked and dark ways, and the change which God by his grace hath wrought in you. At present, let your first motion be to stay a while at Natick, adjoin your self to the Church, who when they hear your Confession, will joyfully receive you. In due season, request of the Church to send some able, pious, and fitting Teachers with you, among your people. Prudent Counsel may be taken how to prepare and predispose your people for such a motion. I do not doubt but the Governor and Magistrates of the Massachusetts, will be easily entreated to interpose in so good a work, which may tend to the bringing in so many people to the service of Jesus Christ.
Iohn. It joyes my heart to hear these gracious breathings of Gods Spirit in you. I taste in your discourse evident tokens of a living childe of God. I see that my judgement about the spiritual state of your soul, was not a product of precipitate charity, but an effect of the spirit of right discerning. I will encourage you in your godly purposes, with a modest application of some of the Angels words to Gideon, Judg. 6.12, 14. Go on, thou mighty man of valour, and go in this thy strength, and thou shalt save thy people. The Lord will be with thee. But for the manner of your proceeding in this matter, my thoughts incline me to propose this way: Be open to own the grace of God bestowed on you, to confess your former known crooked and dark wayes, and the change which God by his grace hath wrought in you. At present, let your first motion be to stay a while at Natik, adjoyn your self to the Church, who when they hear your Confession, will joyfully receive you. In due season, request of the Church to send some able, pious, and fitting Teachers with you, among your people. Prudent Counsel may be taken how to prepare and predispose your people for such a motion. I do not doubt but the Governour and Magistrates of the Massachusets, will be easily intreated to interpose in so good a work, which may tend to the bringing in so many people to the service of Jesus Christ.
Penit. I do well approve and accept of your Counsel, it savoureth of discretion and wisdom, in all things God hath guided your lips to drop like the honey-comb into my heart. And now I have one request further unto you, That while we are together in this solitary opportunity, we may spend some time in conversing with God in Prayer, turn all those things that have passed into Prayers, and the future matters also; let us spread them before the Lord, and beg his guidance and blessing.
Penit. I do well approve and accept of your Counsel, it savoureth of discretion and wisdome, in all things God hath guided your lips to drop like the honey-comb into my heart. And now I have one request further unto you, That while we are together in this solitary opportunity, we may spend some time in conversing with God in Prayer, turn all those things that have passed into Prayers, and the future matters also; let us spread them before the Lord, and beg his guidance and blessing.
John. I do greatly accept this motion; and it is another sign of the truth of the work of Gods grace in your heart, because this is the property of the new creature, a new-born babe, that he will cry Abba Father. Here we leave them at Prayer.
Iohn. I do greatly accept this motion; and it is another sign of the truth of the work of Gods grace in your heart, because this is the property of the new creature, a new-born babe, that he will cry Abba Father. Here we leave them at Prayer.
