N01899:282
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.
Some Years after I first began to Preach to the Indians, the Church on Martha's Vineyard, did on a day of Fasting & Prayer appointed for that End, solemnly renew their Covenant with GOD, engaging to endeavour to forsake those Sins with which they confessed they were too easily beset; and there was after this, for a Time, some Reformation: but I observed that two or three of the Brethren that could not be persuaded to join in the Action, soon after fell into Scandalous Misdemeanours.
Some Years after I first began to Preach to the Indians, the Church on Martha's Vineyard, did on a day of Fasting & Prayer appointed for that End, solemnly renew their Covenant with GOD, engaging to endeavour to forsake those Sins with which they confessed they were too easily beset; and there was after this, for a Time, some Reformation: but I observed that two or three of the Brethren that could not be perswaded to joyn in the Action, soon after fell into Scandalous Misdemeanours.
I also observed, That after the Church had thus renewed their Covenant, the Means of Grace offered unto the Indians, seemed for a time to be attended with more of the Presence of GOD, and the Influences of His Spirit, than they were before, or have been since.
It was then frequent to see Persons at the Hearing of Sermons, very much affected, and some times as soon as Sermon was ended, there would stand up several, one after another, and make very Penitential Confessions of their Sins, with Promises to endeavour to Live new Lives: desiring also the Prayers of the People of GOD for them.