Such an opinion about the perfection of the Scripture had he, that he thus expressed himself upon this occasion, God will being Nations into Distress and perpi•••ty, that so they may be forced unto the Scriptures; all Governments will be shaken, that men may be forced at length to Pitch upon that firm foundation, The Word of God. The Little Towns of these Indians being pitched upon this foundation, they utterly abandoned that Polygamy which had heretofore been Common among them; they made severe Laws ⟨p. 102⟩against Fornication, Drunkenness, and Sabbath, breaking, and other Immoralities; and they next began to Lament after the Establishment of a Church-order among them, and after the several Ordinances and Privileges of a Church-Communion. The Churches of New-England have usually been very strict, in their Admissions to Church-Fellowship, and required very signal demonstrations of a Repenting and a Believing Soul, before they thought men fit subjects to be entrusted with, The Rights of the Kingdom of Heaven. But the seemed rather to Augment than Abate their usual Strictness, when the examination of the Indians was to be performed. A Day was therefore set apart, which they called, Natooton•th earksuk, or, a Day of Asking Questions, when the ministers of the Adjacent Churches, assisted with all the best Interpreters that could be had, publicly examined a good Number of these Indians, about their Attainments both in Knowledge and in Virtue. And notwithstanding the great satisfaction then received, our Churches being willing to proceed Surely, and therefore Slowly, in Raising them up to a ChurchState which might be Comprehended in our Consociations, the Indians were afterwards called in Considerable Assemblies convened for that purpose, to make open Confessions of their Faith in God and Christ, and of the Efficacy which his word had upon them for their Conversion to Him; which Confessions being taken in writing ⟨p. 103⟩from their mouths by able Interpreters, were scanned by the people of God, and found much Acceptance with them.
Such an opinion about the perfection of the Scripture had he, that he thus expressed himself upon this occasion, God will being Nations into Distress and perpi•••ty, that so they may be forced unto the Scriptures; all Governments will be shaken, that men may be forced at length to Pitch upon that firm foundation, The Word of God. The Little Towns of these Indians being pitched upon this foundation, they utterly abandoned that Polygamy which had heretofore been Common among them; they made severe Lawes ⟨p. 102⟩against Fornication, Drunkenness, and Sabbath, breaking, and other Immoralities; and they next began to Lament after the Establishment of a Church-order among them, and after the several Ordinances and Priviledges of a Church-Communion. The Churches of New-England have usually been very strict, in their Admissions to Church-Fellowship, and required very signal demonstrations of a Repenting and a Believing Soul, before they thought men fit subjects to be entrusted with, The Rights of the Kingdom of Heaven. But the seemed rather to Augment than Abate their usual Strictness, when the examination of the Indians was to be performed. A Day was therefore set apart, which they called, Natooton•th earksuk, or, a Day of Asking Questions, when the ministers of the Adjacent Churches, assisted with all the best Interpreters that could be had, publickly examined a good Number of these Indians, about their Attainments both in Knowledge and in Vertue. And notwithstanding the great satisfaction then received, our Churches being willing to proceed Surely, and therefore Slowly, in Raising them up to a ChurchState which might be Comprehended in our Consociations, the Indians were afterwards called in Considerable Assemblies convened for that purpose, to make open Confessions of their Faith in God and Christ, and of the Efficacy which his word had upon them for their Conversion to Him; which Confessions being taken in writing ⟨p. 103⟩from their mouths by able Interpreters, were scanned by the people of God, and found much Acceptance with them.
