A50170:154
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 e: (e) The Hindrances and Obstructions, that the DEVIL. gave unto HIM.
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.
(e) The Hindrances and Obstructions, that the DEVIL. gave unto HIM.
WE find four Assemblies of Praying Indians besides that of Natick, in our Neighbourhood. But why no more? Truly, not because our Eliot was wanting in his Offers and Labours for their good; but because many of the obdurate Infidels would not receive the Gospel of Salvation. In one of his Letters, I find him giving this ill report, with such a good reason for it; Lin-Indians are all naught, save one, ⟨p. 105⟩who sometimes comes to hear the Word; and the reason why they are bad, is, principally because their Sachem is naught, and careth not to pray unto God. Indeed the Sachems, or the Princes, of the Indians generally did all they could that their Subjects might not entertain the Gospel; the D• vils having the Sachems on their side, thereby kept their possession of the people too. Their Pauwaws or Clergy-men, did much to maintain the Interest of the Devils in this Wilderness, those Children of the Devil; and Enemies of all Righteousness, did not cease to pervert the Right ways of Lord; but their Sachems or Magistrates did M•re towards it; for they would presently Raise a Storm of Persecution upon any of their vassals that should Pray unto the Eternal God. The ground of this conduct in them, was, an odd Fear, that Religion would abridge them of the Tyranny which they had been used unto; they always like the Devil held their people i• a most absolute servitude, and Ruled by no Law but their Will, which left the poor Slaves nothing that they could call their Own. They now suspected that Religion would put a Bridle upon such usurpations, and oblige them to a more Equal and Humane way of Government; they therefore some of them, had the Impudence to Address the English, that no motions about the Christian Religion might ever he made unto them; and Mr. Eliot sometimes in the Wilderness, without the Company ⟨image 58⟩or Assistance of any other Englishman, has been treated in a very Threatening and Barbarous manner by some of these Tyrants; but God inspired him with so much Resolution as to tell them, I am about the work of the Great God, and my God is with me; so that I fear neither you, nor all the Sachems in the Country; I'll go on, and do you Touch me, if you dare! upon which the Stoutest of them have shrunk and fell before him. And One of them he at length Conquered by preaching unto him a Sermon upon the temptations of Our Lord;