N01899:158
India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel among the American Indians : which is accompanied with several instruments relating to the glorious design of propagating our holy religion, in the Eastern as well as the Western, Indies. : An entertainment which they that are waiting for the kingdom of God will receive as good news from a far country. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S.
printed by B. Green, 1721
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Antichristium sceleratissimum Dominus et Spiritu sui oris confodiet; Et illustri suo Ad•entu abolebit atque extirpabit. Quid si per Spiritum sui cris talia sui Spiritus Dona intelligamus, qualia significavit quum are suo in Discipulos olim flavit, ac dixit, Accipite Spiritum sanctum?
Fateer sane, Dona Spiritus Sancti Extraordinaria, in minori pretio esse habenda, quam illa Gratia Vivifica, per quam Omnes in libro Vitae Conscripti sunt ordinario Sanctificati, Deoque suo Vivunt. Libentissime Fateor, Animam amore Dei et Christi et Proximi Sanctificatam, Spiritus Sancti Donis Extraordinariis omnibus esse omnino Anteferendam. Lubentissime Fateor, Extraordinaria Spiritus Sancti Dona hominibus collata, per Pietatis ⟨p. 73⟩Regules esse Examinanda, et si Operationes, quae videntur Miraculosae, ad quidquam contra Pietatem ducant, has esse inter Principis Tenebrarum, see in lucis Angelum transformantis Technas, prorsus rejiciendas. Concedo etiam et semper censeo, Monito Franckiano nil quicquam salubrius unquam fuisse Inculcatum; Minus two Extraordinaria Dona affectari, quippe quae ingens periculum illis, qui firmas altasque in Humilitate Radices non Egerint, (Quis autem Istud de se spondeat?) creare, per accidens quidem possint.
Fateer sane, Dona Spiritus Sancti Extraordinaria, in minori pretio esse habenda, quam illa Gratia Vivifica, per quam Omnes in libro Vitae Conscripti sunt ordinario Sanctificati, Deoque suo Vivunt. Libentissime Fateor, Animam amore Dei et Christi et Proximi Sanctificatam, Spiritus Sancti Donis Extraordinariis omnibus esse omnino Anteferendam. Lubentissime Fateor, Extraordinaria Spiritus Sancti Dona hominibus collata, per Pietatis ⟨p. 73⟩Regules esse Examinanda, et si Operationes, quae videntur Miraculosae, ad quidquam contra Pietatem ducant, has esse inter Principis Tenebrarum, se in lucis Angelum transformantis Technas, prorsus rejiciendas. Concedo etiam et semper censeo, Monito Franckiano nil quicquam salubrius unquam fuisse Inculcatum; Minus tu•o Extraordinaria Dona affectari, quippe quae ingens periculum illis, qui firmas altasque in Humilitate Radices non Egerint, (Quis autem Istud de se spondeat?) creare, per accidens quidem possint.
Nihilominus, Quid obstat, quo minus, Pater noster coelestis, qui Spiritum Sanctum dat ab Ipso Petentibus, annuere vestrae Petitioni possit, quum ut Angelos illius habeatis in illius Opere vobis assistentes ac associatos, ab ipso rogabitis? Est hoc sane non inter Impossibilie desperandum. Quod si Precibus Jejuniisque Extraordinariis et quidem necessariis, ter et amplius, Dominum rogaveritis, En, Spiritum Sanctum in vos descendentem sentietis, qui vobis illa Antiqua, at in Venturo Saeculo Renovanda, forsan suppeditabit Charismata atque Auxilia, quibus facilem et foelicem in opere vestro progressum nacti fueritis.
An Tempus pro tali Spiritus Sancti Effusione Divinitus Praestitutum, Statim sit Venturum, et [Greek or Hebrew]. Nescio; sed appropinquare credo. An Vos qui Deo Venerationem justam castamque persolvitis, et summa cum Charitate, propriaeque Voluntatis et Utilitatis abnegatione, in Evangelii Negotio vestram guaviter navatis operam, hujus Effusionis primitias (quod opto) percepturi sitis, me nescire confiteor. Prosperos attamen vobis Deum successus largiturum, assidue ac ardenter Precor, et non sine causa Spero.
An Tempus pro tali Spiritus Sancti Effusione Divinitus Praestitutum, Statim sit Venturum, et 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Nescio; sed appropinquare credo. An Vos qui Deo Venerationem justam castamque persolvitis, et summa cum Charitate, propriaeque Voluntatis et Utilitatis abnegatione, in Evangelii Negotio vestram guaviter navatis operam, hujus Effusionis primitias (quod opto) percepturi sitis, me nescire confiteor. Prosperos attamen vobis Deum successus largiturum, assidue ac ardenter Precor, et non sine causa Spero.
Sed Manum de Tabula. Epistolam Scribere volui, non volumen. Haae Indigitare satis est; Amplificare, nimium foret. De nobis plane jam cernit R. V. quales revera simus; — Animis juncti; Secernimur undis; Unaque Mens, Tellus non habet una duos. Mutuis apud Clementissimum nostrum Deum ac Patrem nos precibus adjuvate jam Restat.
Salve, ac Vive, ac Vale; Semper Bonus, semper Foel•x, semperque Christo Vivens; et non tantum dico Meum, sed et Christiani Orbis, imo et astantium Angelorum, Delicium.
Sum Tuus ex Animo et in Domino, Cottonus Matherus, S.T.P. et V. D. M. Bostonensis, Nov-Anglus, Americanus Bostonae Nov. Anglor•• Die Decembris XXXI. Annoque Domini M DCC XVII.
That Evangelical and indeed Angelical work, in which (Reverend Sirs, You and your Colleagues) We with a Joyful & Grateful Mind, see you Engaged with such a toilsome Labour; 'Tis truly, the most Noble of all that are or ever can be undertaken among the Children of Men. Than this most Holy Work, there can be Invented, Nothing more Heavenly, Nothing more Gracious, Nothing more Agreeable & Subservient unto the First and Main End, and Chief Good, of Men; There can be nothing more Profitable to Mankind; or more worthy of Emulation even among the very Angels of GOD.
THat Evangelical and indeed Angelical work, in which (Reverend Sirs, You and your Collegues) We with a Joyful & Grateful Mind, see you Engaged with such a toylsome Labour; 'Tis truly, the most Noble of all that are or ever can be undertaken among the Children of Men. Than this most Holy Work, there can be Invented, Nothing more Heavenly, Nothing more Gracious, Nothing more Agreeable & Subservient unto the First and Main End, and Chief Good, of Men; There can be nothing more Profitable to Mankind; or more worthy of Emulation even among the very Angels of GOD.
It is a GOD full of Mercy, for ever darting out the Beams of His Love to Mankind, who has first Excited you, and thereupon Assisted you, for the Propagation of His Religion ⟨p. 63⟩which wherever it is Preached & owned, it fetches out of the Grave, a World buried in its truly Miserable Corruption and Perdition, and Restores it unto that Life Eternal, which we have lost by the Apostasy of our First Parents, and our own.
It is a GOD full of Mercy, for ever darting out the Beams of His Love to Mankind, who has first Excited you, and thereupon Assisted you, for the Propagation of His Religion ⟨p. 63⟩which wherever it is Preach'd & own'd, it fetches out of the Grave, a World buried in its truly Miserable Corruption and Perdition, and Restores it unto that Life Eternal, which we have lost by the Apostasy of our First Parents, and our own.
'Tis the Religion which brings the chosen of GOD into the Blessedness unto which He has Chosen them; and opens & sets up the Kingdom of GOD among the Nations. 'Tis the Religion that brings in Faithful Subjects and Soldiers for the Lord of Hosts, and builds up Living Temples for GOD, which are far more precious than any that are but Artificial and Inanimate. This Religion it is, that Invites and fetches down Heaven to the Earth, and prepares the Inhabitants of the Earth to be received into the most Blessed Mansions of Heaven.
'Tis the Religion which brings the chosen of GOD into the Blessedness unto which He has Chosen them; and opens & sets up the Kingdom of GOD among the Nations. 'Tis the Religion that brings in Faithful Subjects and Souldiers for the Lord of Hosts, and builds up Living Tempels for GOD, which are far more precious than any that are but Artificial and Inanimate. This Religion it is, that Invites and fetches down Heaven to the Earth, and prepares the Inhabitants of the Earth to be received into the most Blessed Mansions of Heaven.
A Work, How Illustrious! How Celestial! How Sublime! Oh! Thrice and four times Happy they, who are Ministers of GOD in such a Work! Happy, tho' never so much harassed with Labours, and Watchings, and Perpetual Troubles! Happy beyond all Expression, did they but know their own Happiness!
A Work, How Illustrious! How Celestial! How Sublime! Oh! Thrice and four times Happy they, who are Ministers of GOD in such a Work! Happy, tho' never so much harass'd with Labours, and Watchings, and Perpetual Troubles! Happy beyond all Expression, did they but know their own Happiness!
This Ministry, Suppose it a Load which even the Backs of Angels may tremble at; yet it is a work, which the Wings of Angels would ⟨p. 64⟩be with the highest Flights and Joys applied unto: Yea, and a work, in which the Ministers who Execute the Pleasure & Command of GOD, with Essays to have His Kingdom ruling over all; These not only are a sort of Competitors with the Angels, but also in these Essays Enjoy them for their Companions and Coadjutors.
Great and Grievous and never enough to be bewailed, has been the Scandal given in the Churches of the Reformation; in that so very little, yea, next to nothing, has been done in them, for the Propagation of a Faith, which breathes nothing but the most unexceptionable Wisdom and Goodness; and by which the Kingdom of GOD comes down into a World, which Satan Reigning every where in it, Possesses and Oppresses, with how direful Chains of his upon it! While at the same time, the Church of Rome, strives with an Unwearied and Extravagant Labour, to Propagate the Idolatry and Superstition of Antichrist, and advance the Empire of Satan. And the Missionaries and Brokers of that Harlot, are indeed more than can be numbered. The Zeal of those Panders, how Ardent is it! Their Attempts, how never tired! Their Travels how very tedious! And with what an Ardour are they Ambitious of a Crown, which appears to them a True Martyrdom, & for the Truth.
Great and Grievous and never enough to be bewailed, has been the Scandal given in the Churches of the Reformation; in that so very little, yea, next to nothing, has been done in them, for the Propagation of a Faith, which breathes nothing but the most unexceptionable Wisdom and Goodness; and by which the Kingdom of GOD comes down into a World, which Satan Reigning every where in it, Possesses and Oppresses, with how direful Chains of his upon it! While at the same time, the Church of Rome, strives with an Unwearied and Extravagant Labour, to Propagate the Idolatry and Superstition of Antichrist, and advance the Empire of Satan. And the Missionaries and Brokers of that Harlot, are indeed more than can be numbred. The Zeal of those Panders, how Ardent is it! Their Attempts, how never tired! Their Travels how very tedious! And with what an Ardour are they Ambitious of a Crown, which appears to them a True Martyrdom, & for the Truth.
But Blessed be the Name of our GOD, in that He hath inclined the Minds of some Eminent Persons, to take away such a Scandal, and instigated them to roll off this Reproach from us. And among these, if any have done virtuously, You, O Malabcrian Missionaries, (which I would Speak, not for the Flattering of you, but as Admiring the Divine Grace which has assisted you!) You have excelled them all.
But Blessed be the Name of our GOD, in that He hath inclined the Minds of some Eminent Persons, to take away such a Scandal, and instigated them to roll off this Reproach from us. And among these, if any have done vertuously, You, O Malabcrian Missionaries, (which I would Speak, not for the Flattering of you, but as Admiring the Divine Grace which has assisted you!) You have excelled them all.
The Report of your Mission and of your Diligence, hath reached from the Eastern even to the Western Indies. And what the Grace of Heaven has helped you to do, towards the producing of a Christian People among the Indians, is heard among the American Christians, with the highest Praises offered up to GOD on the occasion, and as cool waters to our Thirsty Souls is the Good News from a far Country.
