N00107:344
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.
the word of God is the seed of God to beget the new creature, 1 John 3.9. and then the word of God is milk to feed and nourish the new creature. Now this is the thing that I observe in you, that as a new born babe you desire the milk of the word: and note this word, Sin•ere milk; a living babe of Christ cannot abide humane mixtures added to the word of God; he loves the pure word, he cannot relish mixtures.
the word of God is the seed of God to beget the new creature, 1 John 3.9. and then the word of God is milk to feed and nourish the new creature. Now this is the thing that I observe in you, that as a new born babe you desire the milk of the word: and note this word, Sin•ere milk; a living babe of Christ cannot abide humane mixtures added to the word of God; he loves the pure word, he cannot rellish mixtures.
Penit. My dearest friend, God hath made you an instrument in his hand to lay before me unspeakable consolation; and I cannot deny but I feel it in my heart, I am another man then what I was, I looked on my self the most miserable of men, I now am happy being united to Christ. O blessed change! I am in admiration at this, I admire the grace of Christ to a dead, lost, damned sinner. I am come into a new world, I have other desires then I had, and other purposes; I see things in another frame then I was wont to see them. I must live a new life, and steer a new course. But in this point my soul desires to begin, I am not mine own, I am the servant of Jesus Christ, he died for me, and by his grace I desire to live unto him. And now I find my self greatly to need Counsel how to order my self in my future course; what shall I d• for the Lord, who hath done so much for me? My dear friend, your Counsel hath been greatly owned and blessed by the Lord for my new birth, I desire to have great respect to your Counsel for the ordering of my ways in my new life. You do partly know that my people, and some chief ones among them, have had but a small measure of respect for me, but I have great reason to overlook it, and bury it, because in his infinite mercy Christ hath turned it about for my better good; my heart telleth me that I must seek the good of my people, how to manage that work wisely, is my difficulty, wherein I need your Counsel. I would to God that all my people were as I am, and tasted and felt what I have found; but that is not yet so. I desire to bring them to be the Lords people, how I shall accomplish that, is my great difficulty. You know I have been frequently among you praying Indians ▪ and in my heart have adhered to you, and it may be that I have •ou•d the less acceptation for it; but I leave that God. I mu•• do and perform the trust, ch•rge and duty that my Lord Jesus hath committed to me. My question therefore is, How shall I ⟨p. 81⟩comport with the present affairs, and state of things? how shall I bring the matter about, to bring about my people to pray to God?
Penit. My dearest friend, God hath made you an instrument in his hand to lay before me unspeakable consolation; and I cannot deny but I feel it in my heart, I am another man then what I was, I looked on my self the most miserable of men, I now am happy being united to Christ. O blessed change! I am in admiration at this, I admire the grace of Christ to a dead, lost, damned sinner. I am come into a new world, I have other desires then I had, and other purposes; I see things in another frame then I was wont to see them. I must live a new life, and steer a new course. But in this point my soul desires to begin, I am not mine own, I am the servant of Jesus Christ, he died for me, and by his grace I desire to live unto him. And now I finde my self greatly to need Counsel how to order my self in my future course; what shall I d• for the Lord, who hath done so much for me? My dear friend, your Counsel hath been greatly owned and blessed by the Lord for my new birth, I desire to have great respect to your Counsel for the ordering of my wayes in my new life. You do partly know that my people, and some chief ones among them, have had but a smal measure of respect for me, but I have great reason to overlook it, and bury it, because in his infinite mercy C•rist hath turned it about for my better good; my heart telleth me that I must seek the good of my people, how to manage that work wisely, is my difficulty, wherein I need your Counsel. I would to God that all my people were as I am, and tasted and felt what I have found; but that is not yet so. I desire to bring them to be the Lords people, how I shall accomplish that, is my great difficulty. You know I have been frequently among you praying I•dians ▪ and in my heart have ad•ered to you, and it may be that I have •ou•d the less acceptation for it; but I leave that God. I mu•• do and perform the trust, ch•rge and duty that my Lord Jesus hath committed to me. My question therefore is, How shall I ⟨p. 81⟩comport with the present affairs, and state of things? how shall I bring the matter about, to bring about my people to pray to God?
John. It joys my heart to hear these gracious breathings of Gods Spirit in you. I taste in your discourse evident tokens of a living child of God. I see that my judgement about the spiritual state of your soul, was not a product of precipitate charity, but an effect of the spirit of right discerning. I will encourage you in your godly purposes, with a modest application of some of the Angels words to Gideon, Judg 6.12, 14. Go on, thou mighty man of valour, and go in this thy strength, and thou shalt save thy people. The Lord will be with thee. But for the manner of your proceeding in this matter, my thoughts incline me to propose this way: Be open to own the grace of God bestowed on you, to confess your former known crooked and dark ways, and the change which God by his grace hath wrought in you. At present, let your first motion be to stay a while at Natick, adjoin your self to the Church, who when they hear your Confession, will joyfully receive you. In due season, request of the Church to send some able, pious, and fitting Teachers with you, among your people. Prudent Counsel may be taken how to prepare and predispose your people for such a motion. I do not doubt but the Governor and Magistrates of the Massachusetts, will be easily entreated to interpose in so good a work, which may tend to the bringing in so many people to the service of Jesus Christ.
Iohn. It joyes my heart to hear these gracious breathings of Gods Spirit in you. I taste in your discourse evident tokens of a living childe of God. I see that my judgement about the spiritual state of your soul, was not a product of precipitate charity, but an effect of the spirit of right discerning. I will encourage you in your godly purposes, with a modest application of some of the Angels words to Gideon, Judg 6.12, 14. Go on, thou mighty man of valour, and go in this thy strength, and thou shalt save thy people. The Lord will be with thee. But for the manner of your proceeding in this matter, my thoughts incline me to propose this way: Be open to own the grace of God bestowed on you, to confess your former known crooked and dark wayes, and the change which God by his grace hath wrought in you. At present, let your first motion be to stay a while at Natik, adjoyn your self to the Church, who when they hear your Confession, will joyfully receive you. In due season, request of the Church to send some able, pious, and fitting Teachers with you, among your people. Prudent Counsel may be taken how to prepare and predispose your people for such a motion. I do not doubt but the Governour and Magistrates of the Massachusets, will be easily intreated to interpose in so good a work, which may tend to the bringing in so many people to the service of Jesus Christ.
Penit· I do well approve and accept of your Counsel, it savoureth of discretion and wisdom, in all things God hath guided your lips to drop like the honey-comb into my heart. And now I have one request further unto you, That while we are together in this solitary opportunity, we may spend some time in conversing with God in Prayer, turn all those things that have passed into Prayers, and the future matters also; let us spread them before the Lord, and beg his guidance and blessing.
Penit· I do well approve and accept of your Counsel, it savoureth of discretion and wisdome, in all things God hath guided your lips to drop like the honey-comb into my heart. And now I have one request further unto you, That while we are together in this solitary opportunity, we may spend some time in conversing with God in Prayer, turn all those things that have passed into Prayers, and the future matters also; let us spread them before the Lord, and beg his guidance and blessing.
John. I do greatly accept this motion; and it is another sign of the truth of the work of Gods grace in your heart, because this is the property of the new creature, a new-born babe, that he will cry Abba Father. Here we leave them at Prayer.
FINIS.
