N00446:158
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.
(a) The Success of the Gospel in the EAST INDIES
After the Writing of this Letter, there came one to my Hands from the famous Dr. Le•saen, together with a new and fair Edition of his Hebrew Psalter, Dedicated unto the Name of my Absent Parent. He therein informs me, That our Example had awakened the Dutch to make some noble Attempts for the Furtherance of the Gospel in the East-Indies; besides what memorable things were done by the Excellent Robert Junius, in Formosa fifty years ago. He also informs me, That in and near the Island of Ceylon, the Dutch Pastors have Baptised about three hundred Thousand of the Eastern Indians; for although' the Ministers are utterly ignorant of their Language, yet there are School-Masters who teach them, The Lords Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, a Morning Prayer, an Evening Prayer, a Blessing before Meat, and another after; and the Minister in his Visits being assured by the Master, who of them has learned all of them seven things, he thereupon counts they have such a perfect number of Attainments, that he presently Baptises them. The pious Reader will doubtless ⟨p. 95⟩bless God for this; but he will easily see that one of our Converted Indians has cost more pains than many of those; more thorough work has been made with them.
AFter the Writing of this Letter, there came one to my Hands from the famous Dr. Le•saen, together with a new and fair Edition of his Hebrew Psalter, Dedicated unto the Name of my Absent Parent. He therein informs me, That our Example had awakened the Dutch to make some noble Attempts for the Furtherance of the Gospel in the East-Indies; besides what memorable things were done by the Excellent Robert Junius, in Formosa fifty years ago. He also informs me, That in and near the Island of Ceyln, the Dutch Pastors have Baptised about three hundred Thousand of the Eastern Indians; for altho' the Ministers are utterly ignorant of their Language, yet there are School-Masters who teach them, The Lords Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, a Morning Prayer, an Evening Prayer, a Blessing before Meat, and another after; and the Minister in his Visits being assured by the Master, who of them has learn'd all of them seven things, he thereupon counts they have such a perfect number of Attainments, that he presently Baptises them. The pious Reader will doubtless