An answer to some cases of conscience respecting the country. By Solomon Stoddard, A.M.…

A. 1. THERE was some part of the Land that was not purchased, neither was there need that it should; it was vacuum domicilium; and so might be possessed by virtue of GOD's grant to Mankind, Gen. 1.28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. The Indians made no use of it, but for Hunting. By GOD's first Grant Men were to subdue the Earth. When Abraham came into the Land of Canaan, he made use of vacant Land as he pleased: so did Isaac and Jacob.¹

1. 1(a) Gen. 1.28. Subdue] By keeping it in a Bats of subj•, and […] to M•n: Annot. The three first Verses of the Ninth Chapter of Genesis, are the best Commenter, on this place. And GOD Messed North and his fous, and sold unto them. Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the Fear of you, and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fi•es of the sea; into your […] are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. The Indians did out the Beasts of the •rest, and clothed themselves with their Skins. Then they used the […] Wild. Cats, and Welves, and Bears; as well as the Deer, and Beaver, and other Animals. With their Bours & Anows and divers Strstagems, they subdued them, and kept them under. By Fowling, and Fishing they got a great part of their Livelihood. The Shall Fish were their standing Dish. They also •de […] of Ches•s, […], Wa•ts, A•s, […], Whordeberties, and Ground•ts. They made themselves comfortable Houses or Tents, covering, them with Mats, or Barks of Trees. These houble Houses were adorned with the Pictures of Animals ingeniously drawn. But the chief Ornament of them was Hoslity, which was truly excellent. They were Orbicular; and the Fa being in the Middle convey'd Wth to the subabit arts round about, and […] the defects of then loathing. That they night pass the Ri, and Bays; they made themselves conomient […] or Canno with the Rind of Birch-Trees, vib'd with Cedar. Morcover they had pleasant Fields of Indian Corn and Beans, and Squashes; which being peachased by the English at their first Coming, was a Relief to them. They bad no Oxen, nor Horses, nor Iron: so that it may be rather wondered at, that they went so far in their Tillege; than that they proceeded no further. Their forrowful Circumstances demanded Pity.