N01899:256
India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel…
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.
In the Theological Exercise, we show them first the Fundamental Theses, in all the Articles of our Faith: And then we bring the strongest Proofs for them, from Sentences of the Scripture. And that we may serve this End the better, we have written a certain Compendium of Divinity, of an Octavo form, in the Tongue of this Damulic Nation.
May our most Gracious GOD, the Father of Mercies, Grant that these Catechists may in this way be so prepared, that even from These there may be chosen those, who may hereafter in the quality of Missionaries, take the work of this Mission into their management.
Our Main Study is of this Tendency; That the Number of these may increase more and more; Upon which we enter into a most certain Hope, that in the Church, and among the Nations, by their Means, we shall one day see much Advantage and a mighty Harvest.
Of these, there is One already placed as a Ruler to a little Church in a certain Village. To Others we have given the Denomination of Elders; to others that of Exhorters; whose Office 'tis often to Visit the Members of the Church from House to House; Instruct them, Advise them, and join in Prayers with them; And finally, the Office of others, is, That upon such as are to be Converted, and upon the Catechumens, they may Viva Voce, inculcate the most Substantial Foundations of Christianity; and so, having first laid those Foundations, then strive to get up higher with them.