N01899:196
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.
Nevertheless, What is there to hinder, but that our Heavenly Father, who gives His Holy Spirit unto them that ask Him, can grant your Petition, when you shall ask it of Him, that in His work you may have His Angels for your Assistants and Associates? Truly, 'Tis not utterly to be despaired of as a Thing Impossible. But if by the Extraordinary Prayer with Fasting that shall be Necessary, and beseeching the Lord Thrice, and oftener, you shall ask it of the Lord, Behold, You may be sensible of His Holy Spirits descending on you, who perhaps will supply you with such Gifts and Helps, as were conferred of old, and are to be Renewed in the Age that is coming on, and will procure for you an easy and speedy Progress in the Work before you.
Nevertheless, What is there to hinder, but that our Heavenly Father, who gives His Holy Spirit unto them that ask Him, can grant your Petition, when you shall ask it of Him, that in His work you may have His Angels for your Assistents and Associates? Truly, 'Tis not utterly to be despaired of as a Thing Impossible. But if by the Extraordinary Prayer with Fasting that shall be Necessary, and beseeching the Lord Thrice, and oftener, you shall ask it of the Lord, Behold, You may be sensible of His Holy Spirits descending on you, who perhaps will supply you with such Gifts and Helps, as were conferred of old, and are to be Renewed in the Age that is coming on, and will procure for you an easy and speedy Progress in the Work before you.
Whether the Time appointed by GOD for such an Effusion of the Holy Spirit may quickly come on, & the Kingdom of GOD be suddenly to appear? For my part, I do not Know. But that it is not very far off, I do Believe. Whether You, who are such Devout Worshippers of GOD, and who with so much of Charity and Self-denial, industriously prosecute the work of the Gospel, may Enjoy (what I wish for you) the First Fruits of this Effusion; I confess, 'tis what I know not. But that GOD may favour you with Plentiful Successes, This is what I constantly & fervently Pray for, and what upon some good Grounds I hope for.
But its time to have done. My design was to Write a Letter & not a Volume; 'Tis enough to Point at these things, without Amplifications upon them. Reverend Sir, You plainly see, What we are; Joined in our Minds, tho' parted by the Waters; One Soul, tho' not One Soil, Uniting of us. What remains is, that by Mutual Prayers to our most Merciful GOD and Father, we be helpful to one another.
But its time to have done. My desgin was to Write a Letter & not a Volumn; 'Tis enough to Point at these things, without Amplifications upon them. Reverend Sir, You plainly see, What we are; Joyned in our Minds, tho' parted by the Waters; One Soul, tho' not One Soyl, Uniting of us. What remains is, that by Mutual Prayers to our most Merciful GOD and Father, we be helpful to one another.
Live and Prosper; Always what you are, and what you would be; always Living to your SAVIOUR; and not only very dear unto me, but also unto the whole Christian World, yea, unto the Angels of GOD, unto whom you are a Spectacle. I am,
Live and Prosper; Always what you are, and what you would be; always Living to your SAVIOUR; and not only very dear unto me, but also unto the whole Christian World, yea, unto the Angels of GOD, unto •hom you are a Spectacle. I am,
Yours in the Lord, most Heartily, Cotton Mather. Boston, New-England, Dec. 31. 1717.
TO this Epistle, the Reverend Mr. Grundler, made the following Return; which was accompanied with a Present of the New Testament, and sundry small Treatises, in the Damul•ck Language and Letter, which were lately Printed in the East-Indies, and are the First Things that ever were so brought forth by the Press in those Parts of the World.
Viro plurimum REVERENDO, Doctissimo Ecclesiae in America Pastori, Fidelissimo ac vigilantissimo, Fautori in CHRISTO dilectissimo, Salutem dico plurimam.
EX literis tuis, Vir plurimum Reverend, quas trigesimo primo Decembris Anni 1717. ad nos exarasti, id mihi Primum observare licuit, Te esse Virum mente Jesu Christi exornatum atque in virture Ejusdem Spiritus probe incedentem, cui certe curae cordique est, ut opus illud DEI circa Conversionem et Salutem animarum non modo Tecum in India Occidentali fundetur ac in dies crescendo magis erigatur, verum etiam, ut idem nobiscum in India Orientali majora quotidie capiat incrementa, imo long lateque in omnium animas see vere insinuet, quo gens astu Satanae delusa ab idololatria sua ad verum DEI cultum brevi transferatur, atque desertis fanis, id unice curet, quomodo Sanctissimus DEUS in pectoribus fide plenis tanquam in Templo suo habitare queat.
EX literis tuis, Vir plurimum Reverende, quas trigesimo primo Decembris Anni 1717. ad nos exarasti, id mihi Primum observare licuit, Te esse Virum mente Jesu Christi exornatum atque in virture Ejusdem Spiritus probe incedentem, cui certe curae cordique est, ut opus illud DEI circa Conversionem et Salutem animarum non modo Tecum in India Occidentali fundetur ac in dies crescendo magis erigatur, verum etiam, ut idem nobiscum in India Orientali majora quotidie capiat incrementa, imo longe lateque in omnium animas se vere insinuet, quo gens astu Satanae delusa ab idololatria sua ad verum DEI cultum brevi transferatur, atque desertis fanis, id unice curet, quomodo Sanctissimus DEUS in pectoribus fide plenis tanquam in Templo suo habitare queat.
Quae cum res, licet sua adhuc infantia laboret, Tibi, Vir plurimum Reverende, ex quo de iis quae DEUS hic molitur, audivisti, tantum gaudij, tantum voluptatis atque beneplaciti excitare potuerit; non possumus non Gratias DEO agere longe maximas, quod nobis talem Virum in oris Americae conciliare voluerit: imo prater Te etiam adhuc alios ejusdem mentis atque voluntatis, quorum Pietas istis nobiscum initiis, quae semper graviora sunt, valde laetatur, imo precibus atque consiliis progressui operis hujus Missionis feliciorem facilioremque viam pander satagit.
Quae cum res, licet sua adhuc infantia laboret, Tibi, Vir plurimum Reverende, ex quo de iis quae DEUS hic molitur, audivisti, tantum gaudij, tantum voluptatis atque beneplaciti excitare potuerit; non possumus non Gratias DEO agere longe maximas, quod nobis talem Virum in oris Americae conciliare voluerit: imo prater Te etiam adhuc alios ejusdem mentis atque voluntatis, quorum Pietas istis nobiscum initiis, quae semper graviora sunt, valde laetatur, imo precibus atque consiliis progressui operis hujus Missionis feliciorem facilioremque viam pandere satagit.
Direxisti, Vir plurimum Reverend, literas •as imprimis ad B. D. Ziegenbalgium ejusque Collegam. At DEO interim placuit illum ex vinea omnium Expectation citius hinc domum revocare, ita ut mihi nanc superstiti soli haec injungatur cura onus illud Missionis subeundi, Tibique de morte ejus, quae accidit die 23. Febr. Anni 1719. summa cummentis meae moestitia transscribendi. Gaudia eum caelestia cingunt, nobis hic •crymantibus. Sed quo fata trabunt, ille ⟨p. 77⟩secutus, DOMINUS Messis illum ex hoc labore Missionis satis gravi et oneroso avocavit, dimisit, acceptavit; introduxit ac aeternis solaminibus jam refocillare incoepit. Quae cum ita fint, meum jam est, tua tamen cum venia, ad literas, quas ad B. Zieganbalgium dedisti, haec nunc loco responsionis Tibi inpraesens significandi.
Direxisti, Vir plurimum Reverende, literas •as imprimis ad B. D. Ziegenbalgium ejusque Collegam. At DEO interim placuit illum ex vinea omnium Expectatione citius hinc domum revocare, ita ut mihi nanc superstiti soli haec injungatur cura onus illud Missionis subeundi, Tibique de morte ejus, quae accidit die 23. Febr. Anni 1719. summa cummentis meae moestitia transscribendi. Gaudia eum caelestia cingunt, nobis hic •crymantibus. Sed quo fata trabunt, ille ⟨p. 77⟩secutus, DOMINUS Messis illum ex hoc labore Missionis satis gravi et oneroso avocavit, dimisit, acceptavit; introduxit ac aeternis solaminibus iam refocillare incoepit. Quae cum ita fint, meum iam est, tua tamen cum venia, ad literas, quas ad B. Zieganbalgium dedisti, haec nunc loco responsionis Tibi inpraesens significandi.
Vir ille beatae memoria in Opere Missionis imprimis desideratur.
(a) Ob singularem suam industriam ac vigilantiam, qua Operi huic Missionis praeerat.
(b) Ob frequentissima illa colloquia, quae ille cum gentibus de salute in Christo unico fundamento instituebat.
(c) Ob illam translationem verbi divini in lingua gentis hujus Damulicae: utpote quem DOMINUS in hisce omnibus ad singularem usum Ecclefiae colligendae tam bonis naturae quam gratiae vel optime exornaverat.
In memoriam hujus Viri, ut testis Veri• tis, Tibi, hic offero Novum illud Testamentum in lingua Damulica, una cum aliis libellis ⟨p. 78⟩de vero Christianismo conscriptis, quae omnia aequi bonique consulas, atque instat munusculi a nobis benevole admittas, obnixe velim; utpote qui pro tuis libris ad nos missis gratias agimus maximas.
Dona illa aurea, quae a Juvenibus Tecum sunt oblata, ego hic juventati nostrae Scholasticae distribu•. DEUS Remunerator omnium Optimus rependet unicuique secundum opus suum, et ut DEUS Pectora horum juvenum aurea veste fidei magis magisque exornet, illud est, quod in precibus habet spes nostrae juventutis, gratias insuper Benefactoribus agendo maximas.
