N00107:281
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.
Ant. We are sent by the Church in the Name of Jesus Christ, to call you up unto the way which leadeth to heaven. One part of this heavenly way, is to Keep holy the Sabbath day, by exercising our selves in the Word of God and prayer. I perceive the forwardness of your people hereunto, and your own wary condescendence unto their desires, which amounteth unto more then a calling unto us to attend the motion: it addeth encouragement and hope of good acceptance with man, and a divine blessing from heaven. ⟨p. 53⟩Philip Keitassoot. Anthony. William. Sachem.
Keit. I Have so ordered my occasions, that they will give way to •y attendance to the matter you come about, therefore this Afternoon I have set apart, that we may have further Conference about them. The former points we discoursed, I am willing they should still lie soaking in my heart and mind. I am not ready to make Replies, or to draw forth any further speech about them. I choose rather to draw forth some of my other Doubts and Objections; unto which, if your Answers be as considerable and weighty, as they were to my former doubts, I shall then see cause to lay them up also a soaking, and pondering in my heart. Know this, that in the rollings of my thoughts, the disquiet turnings and tumblings of my mind, do oft-times molest me with variety of passions. I am sometimes in grief and anguish of mind, especially when I over look my life past, and remember the many sins and follies that I have stained my life and honour withal, I think with my self, What a fool have I been, that for the love of a lust, which Dogs and brute Creatures delight in, that I, a Man, a Sachem, should be so besotted, as to stain my honour, wound my Soul, offend God, and expose my self to eternal damnation, and all this for a short delight that is gone with a blast, and leaves nothing behind but shame and sorrow; and these are durable and indelible, a sad effect of sensual pleasures. Ah what a fool have I been▪ when I should have employed my self in higher and greater matters for the honour of God, and the good of my people. I have wasted my precious time and strength to satiate my pleasures, which have left such a sting and torment in my soul, which all my Estate and Honour cannot ease me of, but they are like to torment me for ever. I am never without wicked company to draw me out unto such iniquities, but none of them can ease the torment of my mind and conscience, though some apply themselves so to do, I do find their remedies are false and uneffectual. But I have quite lost my self, I did not intend to open and pour out my mind and thoughts about these matters; but full vessels are ready to run over. I will come to that which I did intend.