N00107:321
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.
Penit. OH my friend, I am glad I have met you in so opportune a time and place. My heart is broken with griefs, I am ready to •ink into the ground because of my distressed mind. I desire to pour out my melted heart into your loving bosom; it may be you may give me Counsel what I shall do in my distress, and advise me if there be any way or means to comfort this distressed soul of mine.
John. Alas, your sorrowful countenance doth indeed discover, that your mind is oppressed with grief, and in such cases men are miserable comforters; God only knoweth how to speak a word of Comfort to the heart, he made the heart of man, he knoweth all the sorrows and griefs thereof; and usually God doth afflict the heart with grief, out of great love, that he might call the distressed soul to come to him, and to make its griefs known to him, and he is very gracious and pitiful to such afflicted souls: for Christ hath said▪ Mat. 11.28. Come unto me ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. My first Counsel therefore is, that you would pray unto God, and believe in Jesus Christ, and he will surely give you rest. But as for man, especially such a poor creature as I am, I cannot help you, nor is there any help for you in the hand of man.
Iohn. Alas, your sorrowful countenance doth indeed discover, that your minde is oppressed with grief, and in such cases men are miserable comforters; God onely knoweth how to speak a word of Comfort to the heart, he made the heart of man, he knoweth all the sorrows and griefs thereof; and usually God doth afflict the heart with grief, out of great love, that he might call the distressed soul to come to him, and to make its griefs known to him, and he is very gracious and pitiful to such afflicted souls: for Christ hath said▪ Mat. 11.28. Come unto me ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. My first Counsel therefore is, that you would pray unto God, and believe in Jesus Christ, and he will surely give you rest. But as for man, especially such a poor creature as I am, I cannot help you, nor is there any help for you in the hand of man.
Penit. But the words of a true-hearted loving friend may minister some comfort, and I do already feel that your words have relief in them, in that you tell me Jesus Christ is so tender-hearted towards those that are of an afflicted spirit.
John. True it is, that God hath said, The Priests l•ps shall preserve knowledge, and thou shalt enquire the Law at his mouth; I am very weak, but I am willing to help your afflicted soul to go to Jesus Christ, who will not fail to comfort you. Seeing therefore it is your desire, let me hear your griefs and troubles, it may please God to put a word into my mouth, whereby the good Spirit of God may speak comfort to your sorrowful heart.
Iohn. True it is, that God hath said, The Priests l•ps shall preserve knowledge, and thou shalt enquire the Law at his mouth; I am very weak, but I am willing to help your afflicted soul to go to Jesus Christ, who will not fail to comfort you. Seeing therefore it is your desire, let me hear your griefs and troubles, it may please God to put a word into my mouth, whereby the good Spirit of God may speak comfort to your sorrowful heart.
Penit My outward condition is full of affliction, and those frowns in the brow of Providence do make me fear, that the wrath of God is set against me, and will wear away my life with grief, and then cast me away into hell among the damned, where I shall perish for ever.
Penit My outward condition is full of affliction, and those fro•ns in the brow of Providence do make me fear, that the wrath of God is set against me, and will wear away my life with grief, and then cast me away into hell among the damned, where I shall perish for ever.
John. This is a wholesome fear, and you shall find it will end ⟨p. 73⟩well. My Counsel is, mingle hope with your fear, viz. that God doth outwardly afflict you, that he might drive your distressed soul into the bosom of Jesus Christ, who will graciously pardon all your sins, and save your soul from those eternal flames, which you so much dread. It is Gods usual way of grace, to put his Lambs into distress, that he might cause them to •ly for refuge into his bosom; and I hope that it is his meaning so to deal with you, because I see that his afflicting hand doth so kindly melt your heart, and causeth you to seek refuge to save you from those everlasting burnings. These distresses will make the salvation of Christ precious unto you. Consider that Text, Eccles. 7 3, 4. Sorrow is better then laughter; for by the sorrow of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. But what are those outward distresses which do so afflict you?
Iohn. This is a wholesome fear, and you shall finde it will end ⟨p. 73⟩well. My Counsel is, mingle hope with your fear, viz. that God doth outwardly afflict you, that he might drive your distressed soul into the bosome of Jesus Christ, who will graciously pardon all your sins, and save your soul from those eternal flames, which you so much dread. It is Gods usual way of grace, to put his Lambs into distress, that he might cause them to •ly for refuge into his bosome; and I hope that it is his meaning so to deal with you, because I see that his afflicting hand doth so kindly melt your heart, and causeth you to seek refuge to save you from those everlasting burnings. These distresses will make the salvation of Chr•st precious unto you. Consider that Text, Eccles. 7 3, 4. Sorrow is better then laughter; for by the sorrow of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. But what are those outward distresses which do so afflict you?
Penit. I know not where to begin or end. The world hath always promised me fair, but it hath ever failed me; my mornings have had some brightness, but my rising day is always clouded, and full of darkness, and I know not but my Sun will set in thick darkness and despair. You know my Father was a Sachem of the Blood, & I was brought up under such high Capacities & Expectations; I have been Chosen and Advanced, as you know, to the degree of a Sachem, but so filled with Crosses and Distresses, that I never enjoy my self, nor one quiet day, my griefs are multiplied like the waves of the Sea, they break in upon me, and are ready to overwhelm me.
Penit. I know not where to begin or end. The world hath alwayes promised me fair, but it hath ever failed me; my mornings have had some brightness, but my rising day is alwayes clouded, and full of darkness, and I know not but my Sun will set in thick darkness and despair. You know my Father was a Sachem of the Blood, & I was brought up under such high Capacities & Expectactations; I have been Chosen and Advanced, as you know, to the degree of a Sachem, but so filled with Crosses and Distresses, that I never enjoy my self, nor one quiet day, my griefs are multiplied like the waves of the Sea, they break in upon me, and are ready to overwhelm me.
John. You say the world hath ever failed you, and so it always dealeth with Gods children: but I will show you who will never fail you; Psal 73.26. My flesh and my heart fa•leth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Let your soul ponder and feed upon this Promise. See also Heb. 13.5. He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Mark that word, Never leave thee nor forsake thee; the word will hold both in this life, and to eternity. You further say, that your bright mornings prove black and cloudy days. It hath been so with other of Gods Children. Read the 88 Psalm, and you shall find the Prophet just in your case in many verses of that Psalm: I will mention some of the words, ver. 6, 7, 8, 9. Thou hast laid me in the lowest p•t, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them. I am ••ut up, and I cannot come forth; mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction Lord, I have called daily upon thee; I have stretched out mine hand unto thee, &c. And ver. 15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up; while I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted, &c. Behold a dear child of God in as bitter distresses as you are, yet the first sentence ⟨p. 74⟩of this Psalm is a word of Faith, he s•ith▪ O Lord God of my salvation. I• is some com•ort to a distressed soul, to […] with them; you have the best company in the world, for you have the company of Jesus Christ. See Isa. 53 3. He is despised and rejected of m•n, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs; and […] it were our faces from him: he was de•p••ed, and we esteeme• him not. W•en yu are alone by your self, read all this Chapter you shall find that Christ ws in greater distresses then you are which he suffered patiently, to procure for us pardon and salvation, and by his suffering he had experience of sufferings, that he might pity us in our gers; and therefore it is said, Heb. 1.15. For we ve nt an high Priest which cannot be […] the feelings […] our […] in all points […] lke a we are et without […] Our […], but in […] case also Christ is very pitiful and gracious, he remembereth that we are but du, Psal 10.14. You dde You fear that your Sun will st in darkness and despair.
I •nsw•r to you, Consider that future things belong to God. D• not […] your self with future things; Su••i•ient for the day is the evil thereof. Mat. 6.34. Let •he n•rr•w care for it self. But suppose y•u should have no comfort ••ll y•u die, it is the case of m•ny of G•ds children to die in a dark cloud; and Christ himself […] 27.46, 50 He cried with a loud voice▪ Eli, Eli […]. V•r 50. Jesus when he had […] with a […] up the gh•st. […] •ome o• Gods […] should […] be […] to Jesus Christ? do not add to y••r sorrows, fears of a sad condition which Christ hath sanctified Touching your Parentage, and present state, I know how it is very well. In this case I advise you to consider, that if your worldly Cup had been filled with such sweetness •s flesh and blood desire, it might have been much worse for your soul. A soul drowned in earthly pleasure is rarely saved: but a soul drowned in worldly sorrows and griefs▪ (if instructed in the knowledge of Jesu• Christ) […] never be lost, because the sorrows and crosses of the world will keep him from surfeiting upon the Creature, and drive […] to […] himself in Christ by the promises of the Gospel. Thus have I answered to the chief points in your Complaint.
I nswr to you, Cosider that future things belong to God. D not your self with future things; Suiient for the day is the evl thereof.
Penit. Oh the power of the word of God, aptly applied unto the case of a distressed soul! The sweet experience that I have now found in those scriptures which you have produced, and applied to my case▪ ••all ••ke me, hereafter, to search and re•d• the Scriptures more then I h•ve done. I do, like Hagar complain for water, when it is ju•t by me, if I would search. I hope I shall read the Scriptures more then ever I have done.
Penit. Oh the power of the word of God, aptly applied unto the case of a distressed soul! The sweet experience that I have now found in those •criptures which you have produced, and applied to my case▪ ••all ••ke me, hereafter, to search and re•d• the Scriptures more then I h•ve done. I do, like Hagar complain for water, when it is ju•t by me, if I would search. I hope I shall reade the Scriptures more then ever I have done.
John. You have prevented me, or rather the Spirit of God hath put into your heart by power and grace, that which I intended to have presented to you by way of Advice and Counsel, namely, To be frequent and abundant in reading the Scriptures, for you see that all Soul-cordials are laid up there, fetch them out therefore from that divine Treasury, and make use of them for your comfort. I know the Devil will oppose you in this matter, and keep you from conversing in the Scriptures, because they are the sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6.17. whereby we resist his temptations, as Christ himself hath set us an example, Mat. 4.4, 7, 10. when the Devil assaulted him with a temptation, he drew forth the sword of the Spirit, a Text of Scripture, and opposed the temptation thereby, and that presently conquered the Tempter. Do you the same, you cannot imitate a better pattern then our Lord Jesus Christ; and it is his Command also that we should so do, John 5.39. Search the Scriptures: and David made them his meditation day and night, Psal. 1.2. and he had the like experience that you now have found, and came to the like resolution, Psal. 119.93. I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me.
Iohn. You have prevented me, or rather the Spirit of God hath put into your heart by power and grace, that which I intended to have presented to you by way of Advice and Counsel, namely, To be frequent and abundant in reading the Scriptures, for you see that all Soul-cordials are laid up there, fetch them out therefore from that divine Treasury, and make use of them for your comfort. I know the Devil will oppose you in this matter, and keep you from conversing in the Scriptures, because they are the sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6.17. whereby we resist his temptations, as Christ himself hath set us an example, Mat. 4.4, 7, 10. when the Devil assaulted him with a temptation, he drew forth the sword of the Spirit, a Text of Scripture, and opposed the temptation thereby, and that presently conquered the Tempter. Do you the same, you cannot imitate a better pattern then our Lord Jesus Christ; and it is his Command also that we should so do,
Penit. I feel much tranquility in my mind, in this way of seeking Soul-comfort in the Scriptures. Oh I have found out a way of refuge, comfort and rest in a stormy time, I hope the Lord will give me grace and wisdom to make more use thereof then ever I have done in my life. But still my soul is in great doubts and fears about my eternal condition: if I spend this life in griefs and sorrows, and when I finish here, I go away to eternal misery, Oh what a lamentable case is that! and my fear is, that this will be my condition: my griefs indeed are many, but they are worldly sorrow, I cannot say that I am converted. I desire to know what it is to be converted.
Penit. I feel much tranquility in my minde, in this way of seeking Soul-comfort in the Scriptures. Oh I have found out a way of refuge, comfort and rest in a stormy time, I hope the Lord will give me grace and wisdome to make more use thereof then ever I have done in my life. But still my soul is in great doubts and fears about my eternal condition: if I spend this life in griefs and sorrows, and when I finish here, I go away to eternal misery, Oh what a lamentable case is that! and my fear is, that this will be my condition: my griefs indeed are many, but they are worldly sorrow, I cannot say that I am converted. I desire to know what it is to be converted.
John. All Mankind are once born, by natural birth they come into this world; but all Gods children are born again, John 3, 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven: and this is a spiritual birth, ver 5. Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, &c. Baptism is an outward sign of it, but the inward grace is a work of the Spirit, and the Spirit worketh by the Word of God, James 1.18, 21. Of his own will bega• he us •y the word of truth; and ver. 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. By faith in the Promise the soul is united to Christ, and he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. When an afflicted soul doth venture it self and its All, upon the faithful word of Promise, and says to God, as Job said, Job 13.15. Though he kill me, yet I will trust in him; this is the new-born soul, and this believing soul shall be surely saved at last, whatever sorrows and afflictions it goes through in this life. ⟨p. 76⟩And whereas you say that your sorrows and griefs are but worldly sorrow: I answer, That the question is not what kind of sorrow it is, so much, as what the effects of it is; for no matter what the sorrow is, if it drive the soul to Christ; our salvation is by Christ, and not by sorrow: the use of sorrow is to embitter sin, and the world, and to drive the soul to Christ for relief and rest; if worldly sorrow, or rather sorrow about worldly things do this, it hath its end, and proves to be a godly sorrow. Sorrows are not to merit any thing from God, but to force the afflicted soul to fly to him for refuge. We shall find examples in Scripture, where sorrows about worldly things have effectually driven the soul to fly to God for refuge. Psal 88.18. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. This was an outward affliction, and yet in the first verse of that Psalm, it drives him to fly and cry to the God of his salvation; and this is an act of faith. So
Iohn. You say the world hath ever failed you, and so it alwayes dealeth with Gods children: but I will shew you who will never fail you; Psal 73.26. My flesh and my heart fa•leth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Let your soul ponder and feed upon this Promise. See also Heb. 13.5. He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Mark that word, Never leave thee nor forsake thee; the word will hold both in this life, and to eternity. You further say, that your bright mornings prove black and cloudy dayes. It hath been so with other of Gods Children. Reade the 88 Psalm, and you shall finde the Prophet just in your case in many verses of that Psalm: I will mention some of the words, ver. 6, 7, 8, 9. Thou hast laid me in the lowest p•t, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lyeth hard upon me, and thou hast affl•cted me with all thy waves. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them. I am ••ut up, and I cannot come forth; mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction Lord, I have called daily upon thee; I have stretched out mine hand unto thee, &c. And ver. 15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up; while I suffer thy terrours, I am distracted, &c. Behold a dear childe of God in as bitter distresses as you are, yet the first sentence ⟨p. 74⟩of this Psalm is a word of Faith, he s•ith▪ O Lord God of my salva•ion. I• is some com•ort to a di•tressed soul, to 〈…〉 with them; you have the best company in the world, for you have the company of Jesus Ch•ist. See Isa. 53 3. He is despised and rejected of m•n, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs; and 〈…〉 it were our faces from him: he was de•p••ed, and we esteeme• him not. W•en y•u are alone by your s•lf, reade all this Chapter▪ you shall finde that Christ w•s in greater distresses then you are▪ which he suffered patie•tly, to procure for us pardon and salvation, and by his su•feri•g he had ex••rience of su••erings, that he m•ght pity us in our g••ers; and therefore it is said, Heb. 1.15. For we ••ve n•t an high Priest which cannot be 〈…〉 the feelings 〈…〉 our 〈…〉 in all points 〈…〉 l•ke a• we are •et without 〈…〉 Our 〈…〉, but in 〈…〉 case also C•rist is very pitiful and gr•cious, he remembreth that we are but du••, Psal 10•.14. You •dde▪ You fear that your Sun will s•t in darkness and despair.
Iohn. All Mankinde are once born, by natural birth they come into this world; but all Gods children are born again, Iohn 3, 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven: and this is a spiritual birth, ver 5. Ex•ept a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, &c. Baptism is an outward sign of it, but the inward grace is a work of the Spirit, and the Spirit worketh by the Word of God, Iames 1.18, 21. Of his own will bega• he us •y the word of truth; and ver. 21. Wherefore lay apart all fil•hiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. By faith in the Promise the soul is united to Christ, and he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. When an afflicted soul doth venture it self and its All, upon the faithful word of Promise, and sayes to God, as Iob said, Iob 13.15. Though he kill me, yet I will trust in him; this is the new-born soul, and this believing soul shall be surely saved at last, whatever sorrows and afflictions it goes through in this life. ⟨p. 76⟩And whereas you say that your sorrows and griefs are but worldly sorrow: I answer, That the question is not what kinde of sorrow it is, so much, as what the effects of it is; for no matter what the sorrow is, if it drive the soul to Christ; our salvation is by Christ, and not by sorrow: the use of sorrow is to imbitter sin, and the world, and to drive the soul to Christ for relief and rest; if worldly sorrow, or rather sorrow about worldly things do this, it hath its end, and proves to be a godly sorrow. Sorrows are not to merit any thing from God, but to force the afflicted soul to fly to him for refuge. We shall finde examples in Scripture, where sorrows about worldly things have effectually driven the soul to fly to God for refuge. Psal 88.18. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. This was an outward affliction, and yet in the first verse of that Psalm, it drives him to fly and cry to the God of his salvation; and this is an act of faith. So Psal. 35.15. But mine adversaries they rejoyced, they gathered themselves together, yea the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not. With hypocritical meekers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their •eeth;
