N00446:153
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
Letter: A LETTER Concerning the Success of the Gospel, amongst the INDIANS in New-England.
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.
There are besides that, five Assemblies of Indians Professing the Name of Christ, not far distant from Mathipp••g, which have Indian Preachers: (g) John Cotton, Pastor of the Church at Plymouths (Son of my venerable Father-in Law John Cotton, formerly the famous Teacher of the Church at B […] ) hath made very great progress in learning the Indian Tongue, and is very skilful in it; he Preaches in their own Language to the last five mentioned Congregations every Week Moreover of the Inhabitants of Sacone in […] Colony there is a great Congregation of those who for distinction sake are called Praying Indians, because they Pray to God in Christ.
There are besides that, five Assemblies of Indians Professing the Name of Christ, not far distant from Mathipp••g, which have Indian Preachers: (g) John Cotton, Pastor of the Church at Plymouths (Son of my venerable Father-inLaw John Cotton, formerly the famous Teacher of the Church at B 〈…〉 ) hath made very great progress in learning the Indian Tongue, and is very skifull in it; he Preaches in their own Language to the last five mentioned Congregations every Week Moreover of the Inhabitants of Sacone in 〈…〉 Colony there is a great Congregation of those who for distinction sake are called Praying Indians, because they Pray to God in Christ.
Not far from a promontory called Cape Cod, there are six Assembles of Heathens who are to be reckoned as Catechumens, amongst whom there are six Indian Preachers: Samuel Treat, Pastor of a Church at Eastham, Preacheth to those Congregations in their own Language. There are likewise amongst the Islanders of Non•ucket a Church, with a Pastor who was lately a Heathen, and several Meetings of […] who are instructed by the Converted ⟨p. 91⟩Indians. There is also another Island about seven Leagues long (called Martha's Vineyard) where are two American Churches planted, which are more famous than the rest, over one of which there presides an ancient Indian as Pastor, called Hacooms: John Hiacoomes, Son of the said Indian Pastor, also Preacheth the Gospel to his Country-men. In another Church in that place, john Tockinosh a Converted Indian teaches. In these Churches ruling Elders of the Indians are joined to the Pastors: The Pastors were chosen by the people, and when they had fasted and prayed, Mr. Eliot and Mr. Cotton laid their Hands on them, so that they were solemnly Ordained. All the Congregations (h) of the Converted Indians (both the Catechumens and those in Church Order) every Lords-day meet together; the pastor or Preacher always begins with Prayer, and without a Form, because from the Heart; when the Ruler of the Assembly has ended Prayer, the whole Congregation of Indians Praise God with singing; some of them are excellent Singers: After the Psalm, he that Preaches reads a place of Scripture (one or more verses as he will) and expounds it, gathers Doctrines from it proves them by Scriptures and Reasons, and infers uses from them after the manner of the English, of whom have been taught; then another prayer to God in the Name of Christ concludes the whole Service. Thus do they meet together twice