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

It troubleth me, when I read how the Papists glory in that they have converted so many of the East and West Indians to the Christian Faith, and reproach Protestants because they have been no more industrious in a work of that nature. Though I know they have little cause to Glory, if the whole truth were known. For as for many of their Converts, inasmuch as they are become Vassals, not only to the Heresies, but to the Persons of those who have Proselyted them, they are as Christ said concerning the proselytes of the Scribes and Pharisees, twofold more the Children of Hell, then they were before; and many of them know little of Christianity besides the Name. Witness the celebrated Story of that Franciscan, who wrote a Letter to a Friend of his in Europe, wherein he glorieth that having lived fix and twenty years amongst the Indians, he had converted many thousands of them to the ⟨image ?⟩[…] there was such a Book in Europe which might be of some use to him. Surely Francis himself did not excel this Franciscan, in profound Ignorance. It is also true, that the Hollanders have formerly (as was in part intimated but now) done something towards the Conversion of those Indians where they have Plantations settled. For they have caused some part of the Scripture to be translated into the Indian Language, and have out of the […] Treasuries maintained some learned and meet persons, on purpose, that they might become Preachers to the Indians: Nevertheless, Vo•tius in his dissertation de plantatori•us Ecclesiarum, greatly bewaileth it, that no more care hath been taken about that concern of the Gospel and kingdom of Christ, and declareth what were the unhappy obstructions, hindering the Belgic Churches, from attaining a further progress in a work so desirable, but (as •e there speaketh) infanda illa nibil attinet hic refer. And I know not, but that the Lords Holy design in […] which he hath brought upon us, may (in part) be to punish us for our too great neglect in this matter. I would not detract from what hath been done that way, but rather with my Soul •less God for it. It is well known, that sundry of the Lords Servants in this Land, have laboured in that work: Especially Reverend Mr.

It troubleth me, when I read how the Papists glory in that they have converted so many of the East and West Indians to the Christian Faith, and reproach Protestants because they have been no more industrious in a work of that nature. Though I know they have little cause to Glory, if the whole truth were known. For as for many of their Converts, inasmuch as they are become Vassals, not only to the Herefies, but to the Persons of those who have Proselyted them, they are as Christ said concerning the proselytes of the Scribes and Pharisees, twofold more the Children of Hell, then they were before; and many of them know little of Christianity besides the Name. Witness the celebrated Story of that Franciscan, who wrote a Letter to a Friend of his in Europe, wherein he glorieth that having lived fix and twenty years amongst the Indians, he had converted many thousands of them to the