A39229:23
A late and further manifestation of the progress of the gospel amongst the Indians…
A late and further manifestation of the progress of the gospel amongst the Indians in New-England declaring their constant love and zeal to the truth : with a readiness to give account of their faith and hope, as of their desires in church communion to be partakers of the ordinances of Christ : being a narrative of the examinations of the Indians, about their knowledge in religion, by the elders of the churches / related by Mr. John Eliot.A late and further manifestation of the progress of the gospel amongst the Indians in Nevv-England declaring their constant love and zeal to the truth : with a readiness to give accompt of their faith and hope, as of their desires in church communion to be partakers of the ordinances of Christ : being a narrative of the examinations of the Indians, about their knowledge in religion, by the elders of the churches / related by Mr. John Eliot.
London: printed by M. S., 1655
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.
When they understood the mind of God in this matter, they were desirous to set upon the work: The reality of which desires, the living have actually expressed, by their performance thereof (in some poor measure) and some of them dying, left their earnest affections and desires with the rest, to set upon that work; especially Wampocas, a godly man, of whose death and exhortations that way, I have made some mention in some former Letters.
When they understood the mind of God in this matter, they were desirous to set upon the work: The reallity of which desires, the living have actually expressed, by their performance thereof (in some poor measure) and some of them dying, left their earnest affections and desires with the rest, to set upon that work; especially Wampocas, a godly man, of whose death and exhortations that way, I have made some mention in some former Letters.
We accordingly attended thereunto, to search for a fit place, and finally, after sundry journeys and travels to several places, the Lord did by his special providence, and answer of prayers, pitch us upon the place where we are at Natick. Unto which place my purpose at first was to have brought all the Praying Indians to Co-habit together: But it so fell out (by the guidance of God, as it now appeareth) that because the Cohannet Indians desired a place which they had reserved for themselves, and I finding that I could not at that time pitch there without opposition from some English, I refused that place, and pitched at Natick, where I found no opposition at present. This choice of mine did move in the Cohannet Indians a jealousy that I had more affection unto those other Indians, then unto them. By which occasion (together with some other Providences of God, as the death of Cutshamoquin, and the coming of I•sias, to succeed in the Sachemship in that place) their minds were quite alienated from the place of Natick, though not from the work, for they desire to make a Town in that fore-mentioned place of their own, named Ponkipog, and are now upon the work. And indeed, it now appeareth to be of the Lord, because we cannot have competent accommodations at Natick, for those that be there, which are about fifty Lots, more or less.