N01899:65
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.
The Joyful Sound reaching to both the INDIA's. › APPLICATION.
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.
This Good Man had the Hand of the Lord with him; & his Evangelical Attempts were so blessed of GOD, that anon (beyond what any Xavier could pretend unto!) Churches were formed among these Indians, and in an Holy Covenant they gave themselves unto the LORD, and then unto one another, Engaging to Live in the Service of GOD, and carry on together the Worship of our SAVIOUR, according to the Directions of the Gospel. This was done, after Synods of English Churches had seen Strict Examinations passed upon their Improvements in Experimental Piety, as well as their Knowledge in the Mystery of CHRIST. And an Eminent Person present at these Examinations, did then Publish to ⟨p. 31⟩the World this Testimony concerning it. His words were these; There is so much of GOD's Work, as that I cannot but count it a Great Evil, Yea, a Great Injury to GOD and His Goodness, for any to make light of it. To see and hear Indians, opening their Mouths, and lifting up their Hands & Eyes in Prayer to the Living GOD, calling on Him by His Name JEHOVAH, in the Mediation of JESUS CHRIST, and this for a good while together; to see and hear them Exhorting one another from the Word of GOD; to see and hear them Confessing the Name of CHRIST JESUS, and their own Sinfulness! Sure, this is more than usual! — We that were present that day, saw and heard them perform the Duties mentioned, with such Grave and Sober Countenances, with such Comely Reverence, in their Gesture, and whole Carriage, and with such Plenty of Tears, as did argue to us, that they spake with the Holy Fear of GOD, and it much affected our Hearts.
BUT then, the Early Care of SCHOOLS, having brought these Uncultivated Salvages unto the skill of Reading and Writing, this indefatigable Doer of the Work of an EVANGELIST, with an immense [ANAGR.] Toil, produced a Library of ⟨p. 32⟩Christian Piety for them. First, he Translated the whole BIBLE into their Language; (And a Translation of the PSALMS into Metre, whereof the Indians are Notable Singers, accompanied it:) which has been Twice Printed here; and is the only BIBLE that ever was Printed on the Western side of the Atlantic. A work for, Thy Land, O IMMANUEL!