An earnest exhortation to the inhabitants of New-England, to hearken to the voice of…

Whether my defective manner of management in this History renders in uprofitable, I know •or, Considering the other employments that are always upon me, together ⟨image ?⟩[…] personal inabilities, I have cause to suspect it may be so, in a great measure. If any one shall hereby be incited to do better, I hope I shall rather thank then envy h•m. [Greek or Hebrew]. And I earnestly with that some effectual course may be taken (before it be too late) that a just History of New-England, be written and published to the world. That is a thing that hath been often spoken of, but was never done to this day; and yet the longer it is deferred, the more difficulty will there be in effecting of it.

Whether my defective manner of management in this History renders in uprofitable, I know •or, Considering the other employments that are alwayes upon me, together ⟨image ?⟩〈…〉 personal inabilityes, I have cause to suspect it may be so, in a great measure. If any one shall hereby be incited to do better, I hope I shall rather thank then envy h•m. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. And I earnestly with that some effectu•l course may be taken (before it be too late) that a just History of New-England, be written and published to the world. That is a thing that hath been often spoken of, but was never done to this day; and yet the longer it is deferred, the more difficulty will there be in effecting of it.

Moreover, the thing which I mainly designed, was the subsequent Exhortation which is annexed herewith, wherein I have desi•ed to approve my self as in the sight of God, speaking what I believe God would have me to speak, without respect to any person in this world: And there is one thing insisted on therein, concerning which I could wish that I had said more, I mean that which doth respect endeavours for the Conversion of the Heathen nto Christ. There are some that make a wrong use of a Notion of Mr. Cottons touching this matter, alleging that he taught that a general Conversion of Indians is not to be expected before the seven Vials are poured forth upon the Antichristian state, no before the conversion of the Jewish nation. It is far from my purpose to Contradict that Great Author, unto whose dust (in respect of near Affinity as well as on the account of his eminency in Grace and spiritual Gifts) I owe a sacred Reverence, & it is known that I have my self asserted the same notion both in Sermons, and in a printed Discourse concerning the Salvation of the tries of Israel. But it was never intended that that Assertion should be improved, so as to discourage from the prosecution of that which was the professed, pious, and a main design of the Fathers of this Colony; viz. To propagate the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ among these Indians, who in former Ages had not eard of his same and Glory. It is indeed true, that although a Fullness of the Gentiles in respect of Apostasy, shall be accomplished (so most they fulfil their Times ) before the calling of the Jews, yet the fullness of the Gentiles in respect of Conversion, will not come in before that. Nevertheless a glorious Sprinkling, and great Success of the Gospel, may be in particular places at present, even amongst Heathen. And the Salvation of a few immortal Souls is worth the labour of many, all their lives. And happy experience hath confirmed this; for here in New-England, six Churches have been constituted amongst the Indians.