A50170:37
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
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 was the Piety of our Eliot, that like nother M•ses, he had upon his Face a co• tinual shine, arising from his uninterrupted communion with the Father of Spirits He was ind• a Man of Prayer, and might say after the P••• mist, ⟨p. 15⟩I prayer, as being in a manner made up of it. Could the walls of his old Study speak, they would even Ravish us with a Relation of the many hundred and thousand fervent Prayers which he there poured out before the Lord. He not only made it his daily practice to enter into that closet, and shut his Door, and pray to his Father in Secret, but he would not rarely set apart whole days for prayer with Fasting, in secret places before the God of Heaven. Prayer solemnized with Fasting was indeed so agreeable unto him, that I have sometimes thought he might justly inherit the Name of, Johannes Jejunator, or, John the Faster, which for the like reason was put upon one of the Renowned Ancients. Especially, when there was any remarkable difficulty before him, he took this way to encounter and overcome it; being of Dr. Prestons mind, That when we would have an• great things to be accomplished, the best policy is to work by an Engine which the world sees nothing of. He could say as the pious Robertson did upon his Death-bed, I thank God, I have loved Fasting and Prayer, with all my heart! If one would have known what that sacred thing, The spirit of Prayer, intends, in him there might have been seen a most luculent and practical Exposition of it. He kept his heart in a frame for prayer, with a marvellous constancy; and was continually provoking all that were about him thereunto. When he heard any considerable News, his usual ⟨p. 16⟩and speedy Reflection thereupon would be• Brethren, let us Turn all this into prayer! and he was perpetually jogging the wheel of Prayer, both more privately in the Meetings, and more publicly in the Churches of his Neighbourhood. When he came to an House that he was intimately acquainted with, he could often say, Come, let us not have a visit without a prayer; let us pray down the Blessing of Heaven on your Family before we go. Especially when he came into a Society of Ministers, before he had sat long with them, they would look to hear him urging, Brethren, the Lord Jesus takes much notice of what is done and said among his Ministers when they are together; come, let us pray before we part!