A93076:41
The clear sun-shine of the gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. Or,…The clear sun-shine of the gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in Nevv-England. Or,…
The clear sun-shine of the gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in New-England. Or, An historical narration of Gods wonderful workings upon sundry of the Indians, both chief governors and common-people, in bringing them to a willing and desired submission to the ordinances of the gospel; and framing their hearts to an earnest inquiry after the knowledge of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. / By Mr. Thomas Shepard minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at Cambridge in New-England.The clear sun-shine of the gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in Nevv-England. Or, An historicall narration of Gods wonderfull workings upon sundry of the Indians, both chief governors and common-people, in bringing them to a willing and desired submission to the ordinances of the gospel; and framing their hearts to an earnest inquirie after the knowledge of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. / By Mr. Thomas Shepard minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at Cambridge in New-England.
London: printed by R. Cotes for John Bellamy, 1648
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.
As soon as ever the fierceness of the winter was past, March. 3. 1647. I went out to Noonanetum to the Indian Lecture, where Mr. Wilson, Mr. Allen, of Dedham, Mr. Dunster, beside many other Christians were present; on which day perceiving divers of the Indian women well affected, and considering that their souls might stand in need of answer to their scruples as well as the mens; & yet because we knew how unfit it was for women so much as to ask questions publicly immediately by themselves; we did therefore desire them to propound any questions they would be resolved about by first acquainting either their Husbands, or the Interpreter privately therewith: whereupon we heard two questions thus orderly propounded; which because they are the first that ever were propounded by Indian women in such an ordinance that ever we heard of, and because they may be otherwise useful, I shall therefore set them down.
As soone as ever the fiercenesse of the winter was past, March. 3. 1647. I went out to Noonanetum to the Indian Lecture, where Mr. Willson, Mr. Alleu, of Dedham, Mr. Dunster, beside many otherChristains were present; on which day perceiving divers of the Indian women well affected, and considering that their soules might stand in need of answer to their scruples as well as the mens; & yet because we knew how unfit it was for women so much as to aske questions publiquely immediatly by themselves; wee did therefore desire them to propound any questions they would bee resolved about by first acquainting either their Husbands, or the Interpreter privately therewith: whereupon we heard two questions thus orderly propounded; which because they are the first that ever were propounded by Indian women in such an ordinance that ever wee heard of, and because they may bee otherwise usefull, I shall therefore set them downe.
The first question was propounded by the wise of one Wampooas a well affected Indian, viz. whether (said she) do I pray when ⟨p. 7⟩my husband prays if I speak nothing as he doth, yet if I like what he saith, and my heart goes with it? (for the Indians will many times pray with their wives, and with their children also sometime in the fields) she therefore searing lest prayer should only be an external action of the lips, enquired if it might not be also an inward action of the heart, if she liked of what he said.