N00107:266
Indian dialogues, for their instruction in that great service of Christ, in calling home…Indian dialogues, for their instruction in that great sevice of Christ, in calling home…
Indian dialogues, for their instruction in that great service of Christ, in calling home their country-men to the knowledge of God, and of themselves, and of Jesus Christ. : [Seven lines from Malachi]Indian dialogues, for their instruction in that great sevice of Christ, in calling home their country-men to the knowledge of God, and of themselves, and of Iesus Christ. : [Seven lines from Malachi]
Cambridge: printed by Marmaduke Johnson, 1671
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Will. As my Brother hath said, I acknowledge this to be (in appearance at least) a strong temptation. This was the temptation of Josiah, that drew him to his Apostasy, he forsook his praying people, and adhered unto those who did not pray to God: but this was because his own heart did not love praying to God▪ and did better like of the wicked ways of the non praying Indians. But what got he at last by adhering to the worst sort of his Subjects? When he was in distress they all forsook him, which his praying Subjects would not have done, if he would have adhered unto them. Likewise this very thing which you propose, was a temptation to Cutshamoquin; His praying to God did make such of his people as loved not that way, to waver in their subjection to him, and it did begin to make him waver in the matter of praying to God: but God did mercifully preserve him, and kept him steadfast to his dying day. But this he did, he went sometimes among them, he used them kindly, •e treated them with gentle persuasion, without compulsion; by such ways be so carried the matter, that they forsook him not. And I do not doubt but that the matter may be so ordered and carried, that you may be secured from that danger, which seemeth to lie in your Objection. But indeed the true Reason why sundry of Cuts•••moquin his men left him, whereby he fell under poverty, was this, He sold unto the English all our Lands which lay by the Sea-side and Salt water▪ save only one Field; and then it was, that they went to such other places as they liked better. And this one Field also, Josiah sold away; and the Inland place, where we now live, Mr. Eliot procured ⟨p. 48⟩for us, after we prayed to God. But let the worst of your fears come to pass, suppose all your Subjects that hate praying to God should leave you, what shall you lose by it? y•u are rid of such as by their sins vitiate others, and multiply transgression, and provoke the wrath of God against you and yours. But consider what you shall gain by praying •o God: Do not trouble your self by p•ring upon what you shall lose, which at most is but a very s••ll matter Turn your eye to the other side, and look what yu shall gain; you lose a few wicked men which hate praying to Gd; bu if you pray to God, all the praying Indians will rejoice at i, and be your friends, and they are not a few, now, by the grce and blessing of Jesus Christ;