N00107:345
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.
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 Crist 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 Idians and in my heart have adered to you, and it may be that I have oud the less acceptation for it; but I leave that God. I mu do and perform the trust, chrge and duty that my Lord Jesus hath committed to me. My question therefore is, How shall I