N00107:8
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.
The Preface.
These Dialogues are partly Historical, of some things that were done and said; and partly Instructive, to show what might or should have been said, or that may be (by the Lords assistance.) hereafter done and said, upon the like occasion. It is like to be one work incumbent upon our Indian Churches and Teachers, for some Ages, to send forth Instruments to call in others from Paganry to pray unto God: Instructions therefore of that nature are requisite; and what way more familiar, then by way of Dialogues? For sundry weighty Reasons I desire and endeavour, that our Learned Indians should learn at least the English Tongue; our Indian Churches holding Communion with the English Churches, must perform that Service in the English Tongue. If the Lord give life, and length of days, I may hereafter put forth these or the like Dialogues in the Indian Tongue; but what I shall live to do, is known to God. While I live, I desire to follow this Work, and serve the Lord with all my might, according to my poor measure of Ability, and wait upon the Lord for his Blessing, by the concurrent prayers of the faithful.
THese Dialogues are partly Historical, of some things that were done and said; and partly Instructive, to show what might or should have been said, or that may be (by the Lords assistance.) hereafter done and said, upon the like occasion. It is like to be one work incumbent upon our Indian Churches and Teachers, for some Ages, to send forth Instruments to call in others from Paganry to pray unto God: Instructions therefore of that nature are requisite; and what way more familiar, then by way of Dialogues? For sundry weighty Reasons I desire and endeavour, that our Learned Indians should learn at least the English Tongue; our Indian Churches holding Communion with the English Churches, must perform that Service in the English Tongue. If the Lord give life, and length of dayes, I may hereafter put forth these or the like Dialogues in the Indian Tongue; but what I shall live to do, is known to God. While I live, I desire to follow this Work, and serve the Lord with all my might, according to my poor measure of Ability, and wait upon the Lord for his Blessing, by the concurrent prayers of the faithfull.