N01899:272
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.
I shall begin my Account of the State of the Indians from the time the said Book was first Published, that being about the time that I first began to Preach to them.
The Number of Indians on these Islands is very much diminished, since the English first settled on Martha's Vineyard, which was in the Year 1642, there being then as was supposed on that Island about 1500 Souls. At present there are in the Vineyard six small Villages, containing in all of them, about 155 Families, and the Number of Souls may be about eight hundred.
Each of these Villages is provided with an Indian ⟨p. 89⟩Preacher to dispense the Word to them on the Lord's Days, when I am not with them. They meet for the Worship of GOD twice a Day on the Sabbath, and after Prayer, sing a Psalm; then there is a Sermon Preached on some Portion of Scripture, which being ended, they sing again, while the Days be of a sufficient length; and then conclude with Prayer.
Each of these Villages is provided with an Indian ⟨p. 89⟩Preacher to dispence the Word to them on the Lord's Days, when I am not with them. They meet for the Worship of GOD twice a Day on the Sabbath, and after Prayer, sing a Psalm; then there is a Sermon Preached on some Portion of Scripture, which being ended, they sing again, while the Days be of a sufficient length; and then conclude with Prayer.