A84357:99
Tears of repentance
Tears of repentance: or, A further narrative of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England: setting forth, not only their present state and condition, but sundry confessions of sin by diverse of the said Indians, wrought upon by the saving power of the Gospel; together with the manifestation of their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and the work of grace upon their hearts. Related by Mr. Eliot and Mr. Mayhew, two faithful labourers in that work of the Lord. Published by the corporation for propagating the Gospel there, for the satisfaction and comfort of such as wish well thereunto.Tears of repentance: or, A further narrative of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England: setting forth, not only their present state and condition, but sundry confessions of sin by diverse of the said Indians, wrought upon by the saving power of the Gospel; together with the manifestation of their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and the work of grace upon their hearts. Related by Mr. Eliot and Mr. Mayhew, two faithful laborers in that work of the Lord. Published by the corporation for propagating the Gospel there, for the satisfaction and comfort of such as wish well thereunto.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1653
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.
Ponampam; The Confession he made on the Fast day, before the great Assembly was as followeth:
Before I prayed unto God, I committed all manner of sins; and when I heard the Catechism, That God made me, I did not believe it, because I knew I sprang from my Father and Mother, and therefore I despised the Word, and therefore again I did act all sins, and I did love them. Then God was merciful to me, to let me hear that Word, That all shall pray from the rising to the s••ting Sun; and then I considered whether I should pray, but I found not in my heart that all should pray: but then I considered of praying, and what would become of me if I did not pray, and what would become of me, if I did pray; but I thought if I did pray, the Sachems would be angry, because They did not say, pray to God, and therefore I did not yet pray; but considering of that word, that all shall pray, I was troubled, and I found in my heart that I would pray unto God; and yet I feared that others would laugh at me, and therefore I did not yet pray. Afterward God was yet merciful to me, and I heard that God made the World, and the first man, and I thought it was true, and therefore I would pray to God, because he hath made all; and yet when I did pray, I thought I prayed not aright, because I prayed for the sake of man, and I thought this to be a great sin. But then I wondered at Gods free mercy to me, for I saw God made me, and giveth me all mercies: and then was I troubled, and saw that many were my sins, and that I do not yet believe; then I prayed, yet my heart sinned, for I prayed only with my mouth: and then I repented of my sins, and then a little I considered and remembered Gods love unto us: but I was a sinner, and many were my ⟨p. 24⟩sins, and a little I repented of them; and yet again I sinned, and quickly was my heart full of sin: then again was my heart angry with my self, and often I lost all this again, and fell into sin. Then I heard that word, That God sent Moses to Egypt, and promised I will be with thee; that promise I considered, but I thought that in vain I did seek, and I was ashamed that I did so: and I prayed, Oh God teach me truly to pray, not only before man, but before God, and pardon all these my sins. Again I heard that word, that Christ taught through every Town and Village, Repent and believe, and be saved, and a little I believed this word, and I loved it, and then I saw all my sins, and prayed for pardon.