N00446:193
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.
MY Fathers Account of the Exercises performed in the Indian-Congregations, will-tell us what a Blessed Fruit our Eliot saw of his Labours, before he went unto those Rewards which God had Reserved in the Heavens for him. Some of the Indians quickly Built for themselves, good and large Meeting-houses after the English Mode, in which also after the English Mode, they attended the Things of the Kingdom of Heaven. And some of the English were helpful to them, upon ⟨p. 116⟩this account; among whom I ought particularly to mention that Learned, Pious, and Charitable Gentleman, the Worshipful Samuel Sewal Esq who at his own charge built a Meeting house for one of the Indian Congregations, and gave those Indians cause to pray for him under that character, He loveth Our Nation, for he: hath built us a Synagogue.
MY Fathers Account of the Exercises performed in the Indian-Congregations, will-tell us what a Blessed Fruit our Eliot saw of his Labours, before he went unto those Rewards which God had Reserv'd in the Heavens for him. Some of the Indians quickly Built for themselves, good and large Meeting-houses after the English Mode, in which also after the English Mode, they attended the Things of the Kingdome of Heaven. And some of the English were helpful to them, upon ⟨p. 116⟩this account; among whom I ought particularly to mention that Learned, Pious, and Charitable Gentleman, the Worshipful Samuel Sewal Esq who at his own charge built a Meeting house for one of the Indian Congregations, and gave those Indians cause to pray for him under that character, He loveth Our Nation, for he: hath built us a Synagogue.
[…] only remains that I give a touch or two upon the Worship which as attended in the Synagogues of the Indians. And first, the very Name of Praying Indians will assure us that Prayer is one of their Devotions; be sure; they could not be our Eliot's Disciples if it were not so. But how do they Pray? We are told, it is Without a Form, because from the Heart; which is as I remember, Ltullions Expression concerning the the prayers in the Assemblies of the Primitive Christians; namely, siut […] giu deptutore. It is evident, that the Primitive Christians had no stated Languages among them; that no Forms of Prayers were in their time imposed upon the Ministers of the Gospel; that on about the platform of prayer given us by our Lord, it was the opinion of Austin himself, not-withstanding the Advances: made in his Age towards what we count […], that our Lord therein Taught […] Words we should use in prayer, but what Things we should […]. And whatever Scoffs the profanity of […] has abused that Phrase and Thing withal, […] in his days