A late and further manifestation of the progress of the gospel amongst the Indians…

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. ⟨p. 3⟩And furthermore, by the blessing of God upon the work, there are People, partly prepared, and partly preparing for three Townes more. Insomuch, as that it is most evident, that had I proceeded according to my first intentions, to have called them all unto that one place, we must have been forced very quickly to have scattered again, for want of accommodations for so great a company of Inhabitants, and so have discouraged them at our first onset of drawing them from their scattered way of living, unto Co-habitation: seeing it would have brought them unto such wants and straits as they could not have grappled withal, but rather would have been occasioned to think there were insuperable difficulties in this enterprise: Whereas in lesser companies they may find a more plentiful and better course of life then they found in that former way out of which they are called;

We accordingly attended thereunto, to search for a fit place, and finally, after sundry journeyes and travells to severall places, the Lord did by his speciall 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 choyce of mine did move in the Cohannet Indians a jealousie 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 Isias, 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 Towne in that fore-mentioned place of their owne, 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 lesse.