A50170:151
The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John…
The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John Eliot, a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian and an excellent minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist among the Indians of New-England : with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel in those parts of the world which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance / written by Cotton Mather.The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John Eliot, a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian and an excellant minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist amoung the Indians of New-England : with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel in those parts of the world which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance / written by Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris and John Allen for Joseph Brunning, 1691
Part 3 › Annotation d: (d) His Gathering of a Church at NATICK
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.
Such an opinion about the perfection of the Scripture had he, that he thus expressed himself upon this occasion, God will bring Nations into Distress and Perplexity, that so they may be forced unto the Scriptures; all Governments will be shaken, that men may be forced at length to Pitch upon that firm foundation, The Word of God.
Such an o•inion about the perfection of the Scripture had he, that he thus expressed himself upon this occasion, God will bring Nations into Distress and Perplexity, that so they may be forced unto the Scriptures; all Governments will be shaken, that men may be forced at length to Pitch upon that firm foundation, The Word of God.
The Little Towns of these Indians being pitched upon this foundation, they utterly abandoned that Polygamy which had heretofore been Common among them; they made severe Laws ⟨p. 102⟩against Fornication, Drunkenness, and Sabbath-breaking, and other Immoralities; and they next began to Lament after the Establishment of a Church-order among them, and after the several Ordinances and Privileges of a Church-Communion. The Churches of New-England have usually been very strict in their Admissions to Church-Fellowship, and required very signal demonstrations of a Repenting and a Believing Soul, before they thought men fit subjects to be entrusted with, The Rights of the Kingdom of Heaven. But they seemed rather to Augment than Abate their usual Strictness, when the examination of the Indians was to be performed. A Day was therefore set apart, which they called, Natootom•threack•suk, or, a Day of Asking Questions, when the ministers of the Adjacent Churches, assisted with all the best Interpreters that could be had, publicly examined a good Number of these Indians, about their Attainments both in Knowledge and in Virtue. And notwithstanding the great satisfaction then received, our Churches being willing to proceed Surely, and therefore Slowly, in Raising them up to a Church-State which might be Comprehended in our Consociations, the Indians were afterwards called in Considerable Assemblies convened for that purpose, to make open Confessions of their Faith in God and Christ, and of the Efficacy which his word had upon them for their Conversion to Him; which Confessions being taken in writing