First, That God would slay the Rebellion of their hearts. Next, that they might love God and one another. Thirdly, that they might withstand the Temptations of wicked men, so that they might not be drawn back, from God Fourthly, that they might be Obedient unto the counsels and commands of their Rulers. Fifthly, that they might have their sins done away by the Redemption of Jesus Christ; And lastly, that they might walk in the good ways of the Lord. I must here embrace my opportunity to tell the world, that our Cautious Eliot, was far from the opinion of those who have thought it not only warrantable, but also commendable to Adopt some Heathenish Usages into the Worship of God, for the more easy and speedy gaining of the Heathen to that Worship. The policy of treating the Pagan Rites as the Jews were to do Captives, before they married them, to shave their Hair, and pare their Nails, our Eliot counted as ridiculous as pernicious. He knew that the Idolatries and Abominations of Popery, were founded, in thi• way of Proselyting the barbarous Nations, which made their Descent upon the Roman Empire and he looked upon the like methods which the Protestants have used, that they might ingratiate ⟨p. 123⟩themselves with the Papists, and that our Separation from them should become the less dangerous and sensible, to be the most sensible and dangerous wound of the Reformation. Wherefore, as no less a man than Dr. Henry Moor says about our Compliances with the Papists, which are a sort of Pagans, Their Conversion and Salvation being not to be compassed by needless Symbolizing with them, in any thing, I conceive our best policy is studiously to imitate them in nothing; but for all indifferent things, to think rather the worse of them for their using of them. As no person of Honour, would willingly go in the known Garb of infamous persons. Whatsoever we Court them in, they do but turn it to our scorn and contempt, & are the more hardened in their own wickedness. To act upon this principle, is the design and glory of New-England! And our Eliot was of this persuasion, when he brought his Indians to a pure, plain, Scripture Worship. He would not gratify them with a Samaritan sort of blended, mixed Worship;
First, That God would slay the Rebellion of their hearts. Next, that they might love God and one another. Th•rdly, that they might withstand the Temptations of wicked men, so that they might not be drawn back, from God Fourthly, that they might be Obedient unto the counsils and commands of their Rulers. Fifthly, that they might have their sins done away by the Redemption of Jesus Christ; And lastly, that they might walk in the good wayes of the Lord. I must here embrace my opportunity to tell the world, that our Cautious Eliot, was far from the opinion of those who have thought it not only warrantable, but also commendable to Adopt some Heathenish Usages into the Worship of God, for the more easy and speedy gaining of the Heathen to that Worship. The policy of treating the Paegan Rites as the Jews were to do Captives, before they married them, to shave their Hair, and pare their Nails, our Eliot counted as ridiculous as pernicious. He knew that the Idolatries and Abominations of Popery, were founded, in thi• way of Prosely•ing the barbarous Nations, which made their Descent upon the Roman Empire and he look'd upon the like methods which the Protestants have used, that they might ingratiate ⟨p. 123⟩themselves with the Papists, and that our Separation from them should become the less dangerous and sensible, to be the most sensible and dangerous wound of the Reformation. Wherefore, as no less a man than Dr. Henry Moor says about our Compliances with the Papists, which are a sort of Pagans, Their Conversion and Salvation being not to be compassed by needless Symbolizing with them, in any thing, I conceive our best policy is studiously to imitate them in nothing; but for all indifferent things, to think rather the worse of them for their using of them. As no person of Honour, would willingly go in the known Garb of i•famous persons. Whatsoever we Court them in, they do but turn it to our scorn and contemp•, & are the more hardened in their own wickedness. To act upon this principle, is the design and glory of New-England! And our Eliot was of this perswasion, when he brought his Indians to a pure, plain, Scripture Worship. He would not gratify them with a Samaritan sort of blended, mixed Worship;
