N00446:141
The triumphs of the reformed religion, in America. The life of the renowned John…
The triumphs of the reformed religion, in America. The life of the renowned John Eliot; a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian, and an excellent Minister, among the English, but also, as a memorable evangelist among the Indians, of New-England; with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel, in those parts of the world, which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance. / Written by Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines from Luke]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris for Joseph Brunning i.e, 1691
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.
For instance, 'tis particularly affirmed, That the Indians in their Wars with us, finding a sore inconvenience by our Dogs, which would make a sad yelling if in the Night they scented the approaches of them, ⟨p. 83⟩they sacrificed a Dog to the Devil; after which no English Dog would bark at an Indian for divers months ensuing. This was the miserable people, which our Eliot propounded unto himself, the saving of! And he had a double work incumbent on him; he was to make Men of them, ere he could hope to see them Saints; they must be civilized ere they could be Christianized; he could not, as Gregory once of our Nation, see any thing Angelical to bespeak his Labours for their eternal Welfare; all among them was Diabolical. To think on Raising a number of these hideous Creatures, unto the Elevations of our Holy Religion, must argue more than common or little Sentiments in the Undertaker; but the Faith of an Eliot could encounter it!
For instance, 'tis particularly affirmed, That the Indians in their Wars with us, finding a sore inconvenience by our Dogs, which would make a sad yelling if in the Night they scented the approaches of them, ⟨p. 83⟩they sacrificed a Dog to the Devil; after which no English Dog would bark at an Indian for divers months ensuing. This was the miserable people, which our Eliot propounded unto himself, the saving of! And he had a double work incumbent on him; he was to make Men of them, ere he could hope to see them Saints; they must be civilized er'e they could be Christianized; he could not, as Gregory once of our Nation, see any thing Angelical to bespeak his Labours for their eternal Welfare; all among them was Diabolical. To think on Raising a number of these hideous Creatures, unto the Elevations of our Holy Religion, must argue more than common or little Sentiments in the Undertaker; but the Faith of an Eliot could encounter it!
I confess, there was one, I cannot call it so much guess as wish, wherein he was willing a little to indulge himself; and that was, That our Indians are the posterity of the dispersed and rejected Israelites, concerning whom our God has promised that they shall yet be saved, by the Deliverer coming to turn away ungodliness from them He saw the Indians using many Parables in their Discourses; much given to Anointing of their Heads; much delighted in Dancing, especially after Victories; computing their Times by Nights and Months; giving Dowries for Wives and causing their Women to dwell by themselves at certain seasons, for secret causes; and accustoming