GELICAL MAGAZINE.

Attempts to Chriftianize the Indians in New-England, Sc.

[Continued from p. 14.]

CHAPTER II.

At length they were incorporated into a church, after the man. ner of New-England, giving themselves first to the Lord, and then

* Catechumens.] Perhaps some young readers need to be informed, that this word, as here used, signifies perfons under instruction in the principles, and duties of Chriftianity, in order to their being admitted to baptifm, when it shall appear, that they have, according to Christ's institution, competent qualifications for this facred ordinance.

the

Poffibly our predecessors might keep Indians, who appeared serious, and were well intructed in the doctrines of Chriftianity, too long a time in the Rate of Catechumens: Perhaps, that might be applied to them, in respect to admission to church privileges, which was said by a Roman historian in another cafe. "Nocuit antiquus Rigor, et nimia Severitas." It may be, they insisted upon terms bigher in degree, than the inspired apostles did, in admitting adules, converted among the heathen, to the positive institutions of Christianity-At least we do not learn from the history of the New Testament, that the apostles kept their proselytes so lang from the enjoyment of the special sacred ordinances of the gospel. However, this may be alledged in apology for Mr. Eliot, and other ancient divines in NewEngland, that the casy terms, upon

L

one to another in an holy covenant; promifing to walk together in all the ordinances, and inftitutions of the gospel; and Mr. Eliot first baptized, and then administered the Lord's supper to them. Thus was the first Indian church formed about the year of our Lord 1660, or 1661.‡ The same spirit, which actuated Mr. Eliot, excited others elfewhere to profecute the fame excellent work: One of these was the pious Richard Bourne, who foon faw a great effect of his labors.

In the year 1666, about the middle of July, the Hon. Thomas Prince, Efq. Gov. of the jurifdiction of New-Plymouth, Mr.

which perfons, in' too many of the eftablished churches in England in their day, were admitted to special ordinances, might lead them to an opposite extreme: For in too many instances, very scandalous persons were admitted to the Lord's Supper, as members of the national church, with little, or no restriction. However, they must be commended in general, for using caution in their admiffions: And if they exceeded due limits in their caution, it discovered a defire in them to avoid making the fpecial inftitutions of Christianity common to the qualified, and unqualified, as had been done in too many churches in Christendom.

† Magnalia, B. III. p. 198. Neal Vol. I. p. 258.

# I have not yet learned the precise time of forming the church at Natick. Gov. Hutchinfon places it in 1651; but this seems to be a mistake in chronology: For Dr. Increase Mather, who flourished in the 17th century, and began his career of public service but a few years after the middle of it, places this transaction several years later: In his letter to Professor Leusden of Utrecht, dated July 12, 1687, he thus writes, "Above 26 years ago, he [Mr. Eliot] gathered a church of converted Indians in a town, called Natick." According to Dr. Mather, this church was formed about the year 1660, or 1661.

Thomas Southworth, one of the magiftrates, Mr. John Eliot, fen. Mr. John Eliot, jun. Mr. Samuel Arnold, Mr. John Holmes, Mr. William Brimsmead, and Mr. Thomas Cushman, went to Sandwich to have an interview with Mr. Bourne, who lived there, and had been instructing the In. dians in that vicinity, in the Chriftian faith; and to make enquiry into the progress they had made in knowledge, and virtue. Most, or all of these gentlemen, except the two Mr. Eliots, were inhabitants of Plymouth colony-fome in the civil, and others in the Ecclefiaftical department. At their motion a large assembly was convened at Mashippaug [Mashpee]: At this meeting a good number of the Indians, whom Mr. Bourne had been instructing, were examined: They gave such an account of their knowledge, and belief, and of the impreffion the gospel had made upon their hearts; and gave their relations with such affection, as was extremely grateful to the pious auditory. The magiftrates and minifters, convened upon the occafion, received much fatisfaction in what they observed and heard: Yet such was the strictness of those who conducted the business of the meeting, that before they would countenance the advancement of these Indians to church fellowship, they concluded, that their confeffions should be written, and a copy sent to each church in the colony for their inspection, and approbation, if they law fit; fo that if no objections should be offered, they might, at a suitable time, be permitted, and encouraged to enter into church fellowship. The confeffions, and relations were very agreeable to the churches, to which they were communicated. Afterwards, the messengers of all the churches being present, and giving their confent, these Indians were formed into a church, and chose Mr. Bourne to be their paftor, who was then by Mr. Eliot, and Mr. John Cotton of Plimouth ordained to that office over them. The ordination was performed in the year 1670. Mr. Bourne continued in office for fun. dry years.*

He was an early settler in Plimouth colony, and a most zealous, and indefatigable promoter of the gofpel among the Indians.†

Befides Mr. Bourne, Mr. Eliot had the fatisfaction of having fundry fellow-laborers in his miffionary work: Most of those, who officiated ftatedly, survived him, and faithfully pursued the service after he had finished his course, and refted from his labors.

Soon after entering upon his mission he found, as might be expected, the need of more laborers in this extensive, and arduous work. The ministers indeed in his neighborhood gave him occafional assistance; but their advantages for instructing the Indians in Chriftianity were, in one respect at least, much inferior to his own, as they could instruct them only by the help of an interpreter; while he, being mafter of their language, did preach to them in their own tongue. It was his earnest prayer, that God would fend forth still more laborers into this harvest: And he was the more importunate, as he was sensible, that but few fecular advantages and encouragements attended the fervice, and much toil and self denial,

* Magnal. B. III. p. 199. Morton's Memorial under the year 1666. + Hutchinson's Hift. Maffa, V. II. P. 462.

if not personal danger, must be expected; so that a special, divine influence upon the mind was necessary to incite a man to en gage in it, and pursue it with refolution, and persevering fidelity. He had the pleasure to find, that a gracious answer was returned to his petitions: He faw generous, and vigorous attempts made by several other most worthy preachers of the gospel in several places (some of them remote from him). to Christianize the perishing Indians.

After some years, his eldest fon Rev. John Eliot of Cambridge Village, [now Newtown] and Rev. John Cotton, of Plimouth, learned the language of the natives, and were able to preach to them in their own tongue, and did fo for a confiderable time -Mr. John Eliot, jun. I presume till his decease in 1668-and Mr. John Cotton till 1690, if not fome years after.*

A brief account of the other ministers, except two, will be given in the words of Dr. C. Mather. The epithets he affixes to their names show in what estimation he held them.

" In Connecticut the holy and acute Mr. Fitch has made noble essays towards the converfion of the Indians: But, I think, the Prince he has to deal with, being an obftinate infidel, gives unhappy hindrances to the successes of his ministry.-Godly Mr. Pierson has, in that colony, deserved well, if I mistake not, upon the fame account."

"In Massachusetts we fee, at this day, the pious Mr. Daniel Gookin, the gracious Mr. Peter Thacher; the well-accomplished, and industrious Mr. Grindal Rawe

* Magnal. B. III. P. 201.

turn these poor creatures from darkness to light, and from fatan unto God."

" In the colony of Plimouth we have the most active Mr. Samuel Treat laying out himself to save this generation. And there is one Mr. Tupper, who uses his laudable endeavors for the inftruction of them."

" Such as these are the perfons, whom Mr. Eliot left engaged in the work of gospelizing the Indians, when he departed from his employment to his recompence, And these gentlemen are so indefatigable in their labors among the Indians, as that the most equal judges must acknowledge them worthy of much greater Stipends, than they are generously content ed with."+

Mr. Morton, in his memorial, makes mention of two others, who were teachers of the Indians in early times, viz. Mr. Brown and Mr. James: But I do not learn where they refided; nor what tribes of Indians they instructed.

It is not necessary to mention, in this place, the worthy family of Mayhew, on Martha's Vineyard, as a particular account has been given, in the former part of this work, of their unwearied, and fuc

cefsful labors.

The compiler is not able to give biographical sketches of more than two, who have been now mentioned, as Mr. Eliot's fellowlaborers viz. Mr. John Eliot, jun. and Mr. John Cotton.

Mr. John Eliot, jun. was eldest son of Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury: He was born Aug. 31ft, 1636.-Was educated at Harvard College, and was admit

† Magnalia B. III. p. 200, 201.

He is represented by writers in that century, as a man of an amiable character; in high esteem with the learned, the virtuous and the pious. He was happily accomplished with gifts of nature, learning and grace. His external appearance was very pleasing: but the qualities of his mind commanded particular respect.-He was a person of a quick apprehenfion, solid judgment, and diftinguished prudence-well acquainted with the learned languages, the arts, and sciences, for one of his time, age, and advantages; and applied himself, with great diligence, to his studies, that he might make further progress in useful literature. But those things which finished his character were his piety, faith, love, humility, self-denial, and zeal; these eminently shone upon all occafions. He was a lively, zealous, and ingenious preacher; and his accерtance with the public, as a preacher, was in proportion to his accomplishments. After preaching for some time, he was called to the pastoral office and ordained at Cambridge village; lince that time incorporated as a distinct town by the name of Newtown. He was filled with a laudable and pious zeal to promote the gospel among the Indians; and by the assistance of his father, and his own diligent application, he gained such a knowledge of their language, that he preached to them in it for several years, and I fuppose, till his decease. He travelled many miles in a day, once a fortnight, to dispense the gospel to them. He was high in their esteem and affection. They often said, his preaching to them was precious and desirable. They, as well as his numerous English ac