the Word of God and to open my Eyes and to help me to cast away all sins and Christ hath deserved for me eternall life I have deserved nothing my self Christ hath deserved all and giveth me faith to beleeve it Willam of Sudbury His Indian Name is NATAÔUS The Confession which he made on the fast day before the great Assembly was as followeth BEfore I prayed to God I commited all sins and serving many gods I much despised praying unto God for I beleeved the Devil and he did dayly teach me to sin and I did them somtimes hearing of God my heart did hate it and went to my own house because I did love to commit all sin there About Six years ago a little I liked to hear of God and yet I hated that which was good hearing that Cutshamoquin prayed then I thought I will pray also a year after I heard of praying to God and I went to Mr. Browns house and told him I will pray to God as long as live he said I doubt of it and bid me cut off my hair and I did so presently and then I desired to be like God and Jesus Christ and to call on him but I found it very hard to beleeve yet I thought I wil pray as long as I live Hearing that Word That Christ dyed for us was buried rose again and hearing of that Word also Seek peace imbrace the Word then I began to beleeve that Christ died for us for sin and I saw my heart very full of sin And hearing that word That Christ went to the Mount Olives and ascended I beleeved and thought Oh that God would pardon me but I fear he will not because I have been so long time a sinner Somtime I am angry with my self for my many Evil thoughts in my heart and to this day I want grace and cannot confess because I have been so great a sinner and this day I confess a little I pray and that I can pray but a little and weakly When I heard that word of God That all from the rising to the setting Sun shall pray I first under stood it it not and wondered how it should be after I saw that when they beleeve and obey God then he will teach them to do right things and God will teach us to do al things for God sleeping and waking to be with God But still do foolishly and not according to my prayer I cannot get pardon of my sins for my sins are great in thought word and deed and no man can cast off his own sins but that is the work of Christ only to work it in us a man cannot make a right prayer but when Christ assisteth him then we shall do all things well I beleeve that Christ is God and the Son of God because when he dyed he rose again and he dyed for our sins and I beleeve he is in Heaven and ever prayeth for us and sendeth his gospel unto us and I am angry with my self because I do not beleeve the word of God and gospel of Jesus Christ The next which was called forth was Monequassun who is our School-master whose former Confession read before the Elders was as followeth I Confess my sorrow for all my sins against God and before men When I first heard instruction I beleeved not but laughed at it and scorned praying to God afterward when we were taught at Cohannet that is the place where he lived I still hated praying and I did think of running away because I cared not for praying to God but afterwards because I loved to dwell at that place I would not leave the place and therefore I thought I will pray to God because I would still stay at that place therefore I prayed not for the love of God but for love of the place I lived in after that I desired a little to learn the Catechisme on the Lecture daies and I did learn the ten Commandements and after that all the points in the Catechisme yet afterwards I cast them all away again then was my heart filled with folly and my sins great sins afterwards by hearing I began to fear because of my many sins lest the wise men should come to know them and punish me for them and then again I thought of running away because of my many sins But after that I thought I would pray rightly to God and cast away my sins then I saw my hypocricy because I did ask some questions but did not do that which I knew afterward I considered of my question and thought I would pray to God and would consider of some other Question and I asked this Question How should I get Wisdom and the Answer to it did a little turn my heart from sin to seek after God and I then considered that the Word of God was good then I prayed to God because of the Word of God The next Lecture day you taught that word of God If any man lack Wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth freely to them that ask him and upbraideth no man James 1. 5. Then again a little my heart was turned after God the Word also said Repent mourn and beleeve in Jesus Christ this also helped me on Then you taught That he that beleeveth not Christ and repenteth not of sin they are foolish and wicked and because they beleeve not they shall perish then I thought my self a fool because I beleeved not Christ but sinned every day and after I heard the Word I greatly broke the Word But afterward I heard this promise of God Who ever repenteth and beleeveth in Christ God will forgive him all his sins he shall not perish then I thought that as yet I do not repent and beleeve in Christ then I prayed to God because of this his Promise and then I prayed to God for God and for Christ his sake after that again I did a little break the Word of Christ And then I heard some other words of God which shewed me my sins and my breakings of Gods word and sometimes I thought God and Christ would forgive me because of the promise to them that beleeve in Christ and repent of sin I thought I did that which God spake in the Promise Then being called to confess to prepare to make a Church at Natick I loved Cohannet but after hearing this instruction That we should not only be Hearers but Doers of the Word then my heart did fear And afterward hearing that in Matthew Christ saw two brethren mending their Nets he said Follow me and I will make you Fishers of men presently they followed Christ and when I heard this I feared because I was not willing to follow Christ to Natick they followed Christ at his Word but I did not for now Christ saith to us follow Me then I was much troubled and considered of this Word of God Afterward I heard another word the blind men cryed after Christ and said Have mercy on us
thou Son of David but after they came to Christ he called them and asked them What shall I do for you they said Lord open our eyes then Christ had pity on them and opened their eyes and they followed Christ when I heard this my heart was troubled then I prayed to God and Christ to open mine eyes and if Christ open my eyes then I shall rejoyce to follow Christ then I considered of both these Scriptures and I a little saw that I must follow Christ And now my heart desireth to make confession of what I know of God and of my self and of Christ I beleeve that there is only one God and that he made and ruleth all the World and that he the Lord giveth us al good things I know that God giveth every day all good mercies life and health and all I have not one good thing but God it is that giveth it me I beleeve that God at first made man like God holy wise righteous but the first man sinned for God promised him If thou do my Commandements thou shalt live and thy children but if thou sin thou shalt die thou and thy children this Covenant God made with the first man But the first man did not do the Commandements of God he did break Gods Word he beleeved Satan and now I am full of sin because the first man brought sin dayly I am full of sin in my heart I do not dayly rejoyce in Repentance because Satan worketh dayly in my heart and opposeth Repentance and all good Works day and night my heart is full of sin I beleeve that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary God promised her she should bear a Son and his Name should be JESUS because he shall deliver his people from their sins And when Christ came to preach he said Repent because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand again Christ taught Except ye repent and become as a little child ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven therefore humble your selves like one of these little children and great shall be your Kingdom in Heaven Again Christ said Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden with sin and I will give you rest take up my Cross and Yoak learn of me for I am meek and ye shall find rest to your souls for my yoak is easie and burden light these are the Words of Christ and I know Christ he is good but my works are evil Christ his words are good but I am not humble but if we be humble and beleeving in Christ he pardons all our sins I now desire to beleeve in Jesus Christ because of the word of Christ that I may be converted and become as a little Child I confess my sins before God and before Jesus Christ this day now I desire all my sins may be pardoned I now desire repentance in my heart and ever to beleeve in Christ now I lift up my heart to Christ and trust him with it because I beleeve Christ died for us for all our sins and deserved for us eternal life in Heaven and deserved pardon for all our sins And now I give my soul to Christ because he hath redeemed I do greatly love and like repentance in my heart and I love to beleeve in Jesus Christ and my heart is broken by repentance al these things I do like wel of that they may be in my heart but because Christ hath all these to give I ask them of him that he may give me repentance and faith in Christ and therefore I pray and beseech Christ dayly for repentance and faith and other good waies I beg of Christ dayly to give me and I pray to Christ for al these gifts and graces to put them in my heart and now I greatly thank Christ for all these good gifts which he hath given me I know not any thing nor can do any thing that is a good work even my heart is dark dayly in what I should do and my soul dyeth because of my sins and therefore I give my soul to Christ because I know my soul is dead in sin and dayly doth commit sin in my heart I sin and all the members of my body are sinful I beleeve Jesus Christ is ascended to Heaven through the clouds and he will come again from Heaven Many saw Christ go up to Heaven and the Angels said even so he will come again to judg all the world and therefore I beleeve Gods promise That all men shall rise again when Christ cometh again then all shall rise and all their souls comes again because Christ is trusted with them and keeps their souls therefore I desire my sins may be pardoned and I beleeve in Christ and ever so long as I live I will pray to God and do all the good waies he commandeth Monequassun The Confession which he made on the Fast day before the great Assembly was as followeth I Confess my sins before the Lord and before men this day a little while since I did commit many sins both in my hands and heart lusts thefts and many other sins and that every day and after I heard of praying to God and that others prayed to God my heart did not like it but hated it yea and mocked at it and after they prayed at Cohannet I stil hated it and when I heard the Word I did not like of it but thought of running away because I loved sin but I loved the place of my dwelling and therfore I thought I wil rather pray to God and began to do it a little I desired to learn the ten Commandements of God and other points of Catechisme and then a little I repented but I was quickly weary of repentance and fell again to sin and full of evil thoughts was my heart and then I played the Hypocrite and my heart was full of sin I learned some things but did not do what God commanded but I sinned and playd the Hypocrite some things I did before man but not before God But afterward I feared because of my sins and feared punishment for my sins therefore I thought again I would run away yet again I loving the place would not run away but would pray to God and I asked a Question at the Lecture which was this How I should get wisdom the Answer made me a little to understand but afterward I heard the word If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally to all that ask and upbraideth none But then I did fear Gods anger because of all my sins because they were great Afterward hearing that Word That Christ is named Jesus because he redeemeth us from all our sins I thought Christ would not save me because I repent not for he saveth only penitent Beleevers but I am not such an one but still a dayly sinner Afterward hearing that Word Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled then I
I have sinned I beleeve that if I repent and be humbled and pray not only outwardly but inwardly and beleeve in Christ then God will pardon all my sin but I cannot get pardon of sin I cannot deserve pardon but only Christ hath merited pardon for us I cannot deliver my self from all my sins but Christ redeemeth and delivereth from all sin I deserve not one mercy of God but Christ hath merited all mercies for us The next are the Confessions of Robin Speene who three several times came forth and confessed as followeth His first Confession I Was ashamed because you taught to pray to God and I did not take it up I see God is angry with me for all my sins and he hath afflicted me by the death of three of my children and I fear God is still angry because great are my sins and I fear lest my children be not gone to Heaven because I am a great sinner yet one of my children prayed to God before it died and therefore my heart rejoyceth in that I remember my Panwaning for he was a Panwan my lust my gaming and all my sins I know them by the Commandements of God and God heareth and seeth them all I cannot deliver my self from sin therefore I do need Christ because of all my sins I desire pardon and I beleeve that God calls all to come to Christ and that he delivereth us from sin Robin Speen His Second Confession I Have found out one word more great are my sins and I do not know how to repent nor do I know the evil of my sins only this one word now I confess I want Christ this day I want him I do not truly beleeve nor repent I see my sin and I need Christ but I desire now to be redeemed and I now ask you this Question What is Redemption I answered him by shewing him our estate by Nature and desert the price which Christ paid for us and how it is to be applied to every particular person which done he proceeded in his Confession thus I yet cannot tell whether God hath pardoned my sins I forget the Word of God but this I desire that my sins may de pardoned but my heart is foolish and a great part of the Word stayeth not in my heart strongly I desire to cast all my sins out of my heart but I remember my sins that I may get them pardoned I think God doth not yet hear my prayers in this because I cannot keep the Word of God only I desire to hear the Word and that God would hear me Robin Speen His Third Confession ONe word more I cal to mind Great is my sin this saith my heart I have found this sin when I first heard you teach that all the world from the rising to the sitting Sun should pray to God I then wondered aâ— it and thought I being a great sinner how shal I pray to God and when I saw many come to the Meeting I wondred at it But now I do not wonder at that work of God and therefore I think that I do now greatly sin and now I desire again to wonder at Gods Works and I desire to rejoyce in Gods good waies Now I am much ashamed and fear because I have deserved eternal wrath by my sins my heart is evil my heart doth contrary to God and this I desire that I may be redeemed for I cannot help my self but only Jesus Christ hath done al this for me and I deserve no good but I beleeve Christ hath deserved all for us and I give my self unto Christ that he may save me because he knoweth eternal life and can give it I cannot give it to my self therefore I need Jesus Christ my heart is full of evil thoughts and Christ only can keep my soul from them because he hath paid for my deliverance from them The next are the Confessions of Nishohkou who twice made preparitory Confessions the first of which only was read before the Elders GOD in Heaven is merciful and I am sinful when I first heard the Word of God I neither saw nor understood but after when you taught these words Be wise Oh all ye people and beleeve in Jesus Christ then I prayed unto God yet afterwards I sinned and almost forsook praying to God Afterward I understood That God who made all the World was merciful to sinners and truly I saw my heart very sinful because I promised God to pray as long as I live but my heart hath not so done Again I promised God I will follow Christ in al things and now I find my heart backward and not so forward to make a Church God promiseth If foolish ones pray to God for Wisdom he will give it this Promise I beleeve but I find my heart full of temptations but now I promise God as in the Psalm * All my works shal be done in wisdom for I confess al my works and words have been foolish God is wise and good but I am foolish God who hath made the World sent his own Son Jesus and Jesus Christ hath died for us and deserved for us pardon and life this is true and he hath done for me all Gods Commandements for I can do nothing because I am very sinful God in Heaven is very merciful and therfore hath called me to pray unto God God hath promised to pardon al their sins who pray unto God and beleeve in the Promise of Christ and Christ can give me to beleeve in him When he had made this Confession he was much abashed for he is a bashful man many things he spoke that I missed for want of through understanding some words and sentences therfore before the Fast day he made another Confession which was not read before the Elders which was as followeth Nishohkou I am dead in sin Oh! that my sins might die for they cannot give life because they be dead before I prayed to God I did commit all filthynesse I prayed to many gods I was proud full of lusts adulteries and all others sins and therefore this is my first Confession that God is mercifull and I am a sinner for God have given unto me instruction and causeth me to pray unto God but I only pray words when I prayed I somtimes wondered and thought true it is that God made the world and me and then I thought I knew God because I saw these his works and then I was glad somtimes and gave thanks yet presently again I did not rejoyce in it Again somtimes I thought now I do wel because I pray and work not on the Sabbath daies but come to the Meetings and hear the Word of God But afterward again I thought I do not wel because true it is That yet I do not truly pray for now I see I sin when I pray because there is nothing but sin in my mouth or hand or heart and all sins are there for of these my sins my heart is full
because my heart doth sometimes lust and steal and the like Again I was not only proud before I prayed but now I am proud Again sometimes my heart is humbled and then I pray Oh God have mercy on me and pardon these my sins yet sometimes I know not whether God did either hear my prayer or pardon my sins Again afterwards I thought I had greatly sinned because I heard of the good way of praying unto God but I do wickedly because I pray not truly yea sometimes I have much ado to pray with my mouth and therfore I sin I heard of that good way to keep the Sabbath and not to work on that day and I did so but yet again I sinned in it because I did not reverence the Word of God yea and sometimes I thought that working on the Sabbath was no great matter Again I heard it was a good way to come to the Meetings and hear the word of God and I desired to do it but in this also I sinned because I did not truly hear yea sometimes I thought it no great matter if I heard not and cared not to come to hear and still I so sinned Then I thought God was angry because I have greatly sinned desiring to do well and yet again to sin When I desired to do well then I sinned and in all things I sinned But afterward I was angry with my self and thought I will not sin again and what God saith is good but I am sinful because I have done all these evils Again sometimes my heart is humbled and then I repent and say Oh God and Jesus Christ have mercy on me and pardon my sins Now I desire truly to pray now I desire to reverence the Word every Sabbath day now I desire to hear the Word of God truly now I desire to bend my heart to pray and it may be God will hear me but quickly after a temptation cometh to my heart and I did not desire it Again sometimes I did think true it is I can do nothing of my self but Jesus Christ must have mercy on me because Christ hath done for me all Gods Commandements and good Works therfore my heart saith Oh Jesus give me desires after thee sometimes I think it is true I have greatly sinned against God but great are his mercies sometimes I hear the Word on the Sabbath day and he giveth it me that is maketh it my own sometimes I say the great and mighty God is in Heaven but these are but words because I do not fear this great and mighty God and I sometimes regard not Gods Word and make it of none effect because I do not that which is good but commit sin sometimes I say I know Christ because I know he died for us and hath redeemed us and procured pardon for us yet again I say I sin because I beleeve not Christ for that only is right to beleeve in Christ and do what he saith but I think I do this in vain because I yet do not truly beleeve in Jesus Christ nor do what he commandeth and therefore my heart plays the hypocrite and now I know what is hypocrisie namely when I know what I should do and yet do it not Sometimes I think I am like unto Satan because I do al these sins and sin in all things I do if I pray I sin If I keep Sabbath I sin if I hear Gods Word I sin therefore I am like the Devil Now I know I deserve to go to Hell because all these sins I have committed then my heart is troubled and I say Oh God and Christ pardon all my sin for I cannot pardon my sins my self for the first man brought sin into the world and therfore I am sinful therfore I pray thee O Lord pardon all the sins which I have done Again sometimes my heart is humbled and I desire to fear God because he is a great God and I desire to do what he saith and now I desire to do the right way and now I desire to beleeve Jesus Christ and sometimes I think it may be God will hear me it may be he will pardon me yet again I think I cannot be ashamed of sin but now I am ashamed of all my sins and my heart is broken and all these my sins I cast off and take heed of yet then again I sometimes say to God I cannot my self be humbled or break my heart or cast off sin but I pray thee O Jesus help me to do it Again sometimes I confess this is true I cannot redeem my self nor deliver my self because of all these my many sins truly full is my heart of sin in every thing all my thoughts my words my looks my works are full of sin true 〈◊〉 therefore I cannot deliver my self from sin Oh redeem thou my soul from Hel and torment for I like not to do it with my own hand therfore I desire Jesus Christ that I may delight in him take thou me and my soul because thou hast done Gods word and all good works for me and hast procured pardon for all my sins and hast prepared pardon in Heaven therfore I desire Oh I desire pardon but I somtimes think Christ doth not delight in me because I do much play the hypocrite but if I truly beleeve then he will pardon but true faith I cannot work Oh Jesus Christ help me and give it me Another who made Confession is named Magus which is as followeth HEretofore I beleeved not that God made the world but I thought the world was of it self and all people grew up in the world of themselves When any bid me pray to God I said I cannot and none of our Rulers beleeve or pray to God yet I went about to seek how to pray to God I told the wise men I seek how to pray to God and all of them could not find how to pray to God Afterward I had a desire to pray God lest I should lose my soul but my heart run away and I could not find how to pray to God and therefore I thought of going away yet I also thought if I do go away I shall lose my ground But after this I heard of Gods anger against me and I beleeved it for God made the first man good and told him if he did well he should live and this day I beleeve all men should do so and then I thought I will pray as long as I live and I will labor because Gods promise is If we labor we shall eat and I see that that is a true word for they that do labor do eat that is have wherewith to be fed I see that sin alwaies hath continued from the beginning of the world I beleeve that word which God told Eve That in sorrow she should bring forth Children and I see it dayly to be true I beleeve that word of God that sin brings misery and all shall die because by sin we break all
to return from Babylon the Spirit by the word of Prophesie raised up such actings of Faith as were put forth in the exercise of all gifts necessary for the accomplishment thereof Daniel prayeth Zerubbabel hath a Spirit of Ruling the peoples affections are loose from their dwellings and have a Spirit of Traveling Ezra Nehemiah and all the rest of the Worthies of the Lord are raised at that time to accomplish what is Prophesied In these times the Prophesies of Antichrist his down fall are accomplishing And do we not see that the Spirit of the Lord by the word of Prophesie hath raised up men instruments in the Lord hand to accomplish what is written herein And the Spirit of Prayer and expectation of Faith is raised generally in all Saints by the same word of Prophesie In like manner the Lord having said That the Gospel shall spread over all the Earth even to all the ends of the Earth and from the riseing to the setting Sun all Nations shal become the Nations and Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Such words of Prophesie hath the Spirit used to stir up the servants of the Lord to make out after the accomplishment thereof and hath stirred up a mighty Spirit of Prayer and expectation of Faith for the Conversion both of the Jewes yea all Israel and of the Gentiles also over all the world For this Cause I know every beleeving heart awakened by such Scriptures longeth to hear of the Conversion of our poor Indians whereby such Prophesies are in part begun to be accomplished Yea the Design of Christ being to erect his own Kingdom in the room of all those Dominions which he doth and is about to overturn You shall see a Spirit by such words of Prophesie powred forth upon the Saints into whose hands Christ will commit the manageing of his Kingdom on Earth that shall carry them forth to advance Christ to rule over men in all affairs by the word of his mouth and make him their only Law-giver and supream Judge and King It is a day of small things with us and that is Gods season to make the single beauty of his humbling Grace to shine in them that are the veriest ruines of mankind that are known on earth as Mr. Hooker was wont to describe the forlorn condition of these poor Indians I see evident demonstrations that Gods Spirit by his word hath taught them because their expressions both in Prayer and in the Confessions which I have now published are far more and more full and spiritual and various then ever I was able to express unto them in that poor broken manner of Teaching which I have used among them Thēir turning Doctrins into their own experience which you may observe in their Confessions doth also demonstrate the Teachings of Gods Spirit whose first special work is Application Their different Gifts likewise is a thing observable in their Confessions wherein it is not to be expected that they should be all Eminent it is not so in any Society of men but in that there be some among them that are more eminent it is a sign of Gods favor who is raising up among themselves such as shall be his instruments to conveigh a blessing unto the rest Their frequent phrase of Praying to God is not to be understood of that Ordinance and Duty of Prayer only but of all Religion and comprehendeth the same meaning with them as the word Religion doth with us And it is observable because it seemeth to me That the Lord will make them a Praying people and indeed there is a great Spirit of Prayer powred out upon them to my wonderment and you may easily apprehend That they who are assisted to express such Confessions before men are not without a good measure of inlargement of Spirit before the Lord The points of Doctrine that are here and there dropped in their Confessions may suffice at present for a little taste to the Godly discerning Saints That they are in some measure instructed in the chief points of Salvation though there be no Doctrinal Confession on purpose set down to declare what they have learned and do beleeve If any should conceive that that word which they so often use I thought or I think should need explication as a godly Brother did intimate to me on the Fast day let this suffice That it is to be Construed by the present Matter For sometimes it is a thought of Faith sometime of Fear sometime of Vnbelief sometime of Carnal Reason and sometime of Ignorance Lastly It is plainly to be observed That one end of Gods sending so many Saints to NEW-ENGLAND was the Conversion of these Indians For the Godly Counsels and Examples they have had in all our Christian Families have been of great use both to prepare them for the Gospel and also to further the Lords work in them as you may evidently discern in most of their Confessions Beloved Reader I have no more to say as necessary to Prepare for the following Matter only to beg yea earnestly to beg the continuance of all your Prayers by the power whereof through the Grace and Intercession of Christ I beleeve this wheele of Conversion of these Indians is turned and my Heart hath been alwayes thereby encouraged to follow on to do that poor little I can to help forward this blessed Work of Spreading and Exalting the Kingdom of our dear Savior Jesus Christ under the direction and protection of whose Word and Grace by Faith committing you I rest Your unworthy Brother in our dear Savior JOHN ELIOT To the Christian Reader THE Amplitude and large Extent of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ upon Earth when the Heathen shall be his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth his Possession and when all Kings shall fall down unto him and all Nations do him service all contrary Kingdoms and Powers being broken in pieces and destroyed is a thing plainly and plentifully foretold and promised in the Holy Scriptures Psal. 2. 8. and 22. 27. and 72. 11. and 86. 9. Dan. 2. 35. 44 45. and 7. 26 27. Zech. 14. 9. And although as yet our Eyes have never seen it so nor our Fathers afore us many Nations and People having hitherto been overspread and overwhelmed in Pagan Blindness and Ignorance having scarce ever heard of Christ or of His Name and many others that in some sort have heard of Him having no more Grace but to make and maintain Opposition against Him and against His Kingdom some more professedly and others more covertly and under fairer pretence as in the great Dominions of the Turk and of the Pope is apparent yet the time is coming when things shall not thus continue but be greatly changed and altered because the Lord hath spoken this Word and it cannot be that his Word should not take effect And if the Lord have spoken it his People have good ground and reason to beleeve it and to say as the holy Apostle
Therfore I feared that I am one blind and when I teach other Indians I shal caus them to fall into the ditch This is the love of God to me that he giveth me all mercy in this world and for them al I am thankfull but I confess I deserve Hell I cannot deliver my self but I give my Soul and my Flesh to Christ and I trust my soul with him for he is my Redeemer and I desire to call upon him while I live This was his Confession which ended Mr. Allin further demanded of him this Question How he found his heart now in the matter of Repentance His answer was I am ashamed of all my sins my heart is broken for them and melteth in me I am angry with my self for my sins and I pray to Christ to take away my sins and I desire that they may be pardoned But it was desired that further Question might be forborn lest time would be wanting to here them all speak Then Waban was called forth whose Confession was as followeth no former confession of his being read unto the Elders BEfore I heard of God and before the English came into this Country many evil things my heart did work many thoughts I had in my heart I wished for riches I wished to be a witch I wished to be a Sachem and many such other evils were in my heart Then when the English came still my heart did the same things when the English taught me of God I coming to their Houses I would go out of their doors and many years I knew nothing when the English taught me I was angry with them But a little while agoe after the great sikness I considered what the English do and I had some desire to do as they do and after that I began to work as they work and then I wondered how the English come to be so strong to labor then I thought I shall quickly die and I feared lest I should die before I prayed to God then I thought if I prayed to God in our Language whether could God understand my prayers in our Language therefore I did ask Mr. Jackson and Mr. Mahu If God understood prayers in our Language They answered me God doth understand all Languages in the World But I do not know how to confess and little do I know of Christ I fear I shall not beleeve a great while and very slowly I do not know what grace is in my heart there is but little good in me but this I know That Christ hath kept all Gods Commandements for us and that Christ doth know all our hearts and now I desire to repent of all my sins I neither have done nor can do the Commandements of the Lord but I am ashamed of all I do and I do repent of all my sins even of all that I do know of I desire that I may be converted from all my sins and that I might beleeve in Christ and I desire him I dislike my sins yet I do not truly pray to God in my heart no matter for good words all is the true heart and this day I do not so much desire good words as throughly to open my heart I confess I can do nothing but deserve damnation only Christ can help me and do for me But I have nothing to say for my self that is good I judg that I am a sinner and cannot repent but Christ hath deserved pardon for us This Confession being not so satisfactory as was desired Mr. Wilson testified that he spake these latter expressions with tears which I observed not because I attended to writing but I gave this testimony of him That his conversation was without offence to the English so far as I knew and among the Indians it was exemplar his gift is not so much in expressing himself this way but in other respects useful and eminent it being demanded in what respect I answered to this purpose That his gift lay in Ruling Judging of Cases wherein he is patient constant and prudent insomuch that he is much respected among them for they have chosen him a Ruler of Fifty and he Ruleth well according to his measure It was further said they thought he had been a great drawer on to Religion I replyed so he was in his way and did prevail with many and so it rested The next that was called was William of Sudbury his Indian Name is Nataôus his former Confession read before the Elders was as followeth I Confess that before I prayed I committed all manner of sins and served many gods when the English came first I going to their Houses they spake to me of your God but when I heard of God my heart hated it but when they said the Devil was my god I was angry because I was proud when I came to their houses I hated to hear of God I loved lust in my own house and not God I loved to pray to many gods Five years ago I going to English houses and they speaking of God I did a little like of it yet when I went again to my own house I did all manner of sins and in my heart I did act all sins though I would not be seen by man Then going to your house I more desired to hear of God and my heart said I will pray to God so long as I live then I went to the Minister Mr. Browns house and told him I would pray as long as I lived but he said I did not say it from my heart and I beleeve it When Wahan spake to me that I should pray to God I did so But I had greatly sinned against God and had not beleeved the Word but was proud but then I was angry with my self and loathed my self and thought God will not forgive me my sins For when I had been abroad in the woods I would be very angry and would lye unto men and I could not find the way how to be a good man then I beleeved your teaching That when good men die the Angels carry their souls to God but evil men dying they go to Hell and perish for ever I thought this a true saying and I promised to God to pray to God as long as I live I had a little grief in my heart five years ago for my sins but many were my prides somtime I was angry with my self and pityed my self but I thought God would not pardon such a proud heart as mine is I beleeve that Christ would have me to forsake my anger I beleeve that Christ hath redeemed us and I am glad to hear those words of God and I desire that I might do al the good waies of God and that I might truly pray unto God I do now want Graces and these Christ only teacheth us and only Christ hath wrought our redemption and he procureth our pardon for all our sins and I beleeve that when beleevers dy Gods Angels carry them to Heaven but I want faith to beleeve
thought I am a poor sinner and poor is my heart then I prayed to God to teach me to do that which he requireth and to pray aright Afterward hearing that word Who ever looks upon a Woman to lust after her hath already committed Adultry with her in his heart then I thought I had done all manner of sins in the sight of God because he seeth lust in the heart and knoweth all the evil thoughts of my heart and then I did pray unto God Oh! give me Repentance and Pardon Afterwards when I did teach among the Indians I was much humbled because I could not reade right and that I sinned in it for I saw that when I thought to do a good work I sinned in doing it for I knew not what was right nor how to do it In the night I was considering of my sins and could not find what to do three nights I considered what to do and at last God shewed me mercy and shewed me what I should do And then I desired to learn to read Gods Word and hearing that if we ask wisdom of God he will give it then I did much pray to God that he would teach me to reade After a years time I thought I did not rightly seek and I thought I sinned because I did not rightly desire to read Gods Word and I thought my praying was sinful and I feared how should I my wife and child be cloathed if I spend my time in learning to reade but then God was merciful to me and shewed me that Word Say not what shall I eat or drink or wherewith shall I be cloathed wicked men seek after these but first seek the Kingdom of Heaven and these things shall be added to you then I prâ—yed God to teach me this word and that I might do it and then I desired to read Gods word what ever I wanted Afterward hearing that we must make a Town and gather a Church at Natick my heart disliked that place but hearing that word That Christ met two Fishers and said follow me and I will make you fishers of men and they presently left all and followed him hearing this I was much troubled because I had not beleeved Christ for I would not follow him to make a Church nor had I done what he commanded me and then I was troubled for all my sins Again hearing that word That the blind man called after Christ saying thou Son of David have mercy on me Christ asked him what he would have him do he said Lord open my eyes and presently Christ gave him sight and he followed Christ then again my heart was troubled for I thought I still beleeve not because I do not follow Christ nor hath he yet opened mine eyes then I prayed to Christ to open mine eyes that I might see what to do because I am blind and cannot see how to follow Christ and do what he commandeth and I prayed to Christ Teach me Lord what to do and to do what thou sayest and I prayed that I might follow Christ and then I thought I will follow Christ to make a Church All this trouble I had to be brought to be willing to make a Church and quickly after God laid upon me more trouble by sickness and death and then I much prayed to God for life for we were all sick and then God would not hear me to give us life but first one of my Children died and after that my Wife then I was in great sorrow because I thought God would no hear me and I thought it was because I would not follow him therefore he hears not me then I found this sin in my heart That I was angry at the punishment of God but afterward I considered I was a poor sinner I have nothing nor Child nor Wife I deserve that God should take away all mercies from me and then I repented of my sins and did much pray and I remembred the promise to follow Christ and my heart said I had in this sinned that followed not Christ and therefore I cryed for pardon of this sin and then hearing of this Word Who ever beleeveth in Christ his sins are pardoned he beleeving that Christ died for us and I beleeved Again hearing that Word If ye be not converted and become as a little Child you cannot go to Heaven then my heart thought I do not this but I deserve Hell fire for ever and then I prayed Christ Oh! turn me from my sin and teach me to hear thy Word and I prayed to my Father in Heaven and after this I beleeved in Christ for pardon Afterward I heard that Word That it is a shame for a man to wear long hair and that there was no such custom in the Churches at first I thought I loved not long hair but I did and found it very hard to cut it off and then I prayed God to pardon that sin also Afterward I thought my heart cared not for the Word of God but then I thought I would give my self up unto the Lord to do all his Word Afterward I heard that word If thy right foot offend thee cut it off or thy right hand or thy right eye its better to go to Heaven with one foot or hand or eye than having both to go to Hell then I thought my hair had been a stumbling to me therefore I cut it off and grieved for this fin and prayed for pardon After hearing that word Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavie laden with your sins and I will give rest to your souls then my heart thought that I do dayly hate my sins Oh! that I could go to Christ and Christ looketh I should come unto him therfore I will go unto him and therfore then I prayed Oh! Christ help me to come unto thee and I prayed because of all my sins that they may be pardoned For the first man was made like God in holiness and righteousness and God gave him his Covenant but Adam sinned beleeving the Devil therefore God was angry and therefore all we Children of Adam are like the Devil and dayly sin and break every Law of God full of evil thoughts words and works and only Christ can deliver us from our sins and he that beleeveth in Christ is pardoned but my heart of my self cannot beleeve Satan hath power in me but I cry to God Oh! give me faith and pardon my sin because Christ alone can deliver me from Hell therefore I pray Oh! Jesus Christ deliver me Christ hath provided the new Covenant to save Beleevers in Christ therefore I desire to give my soul to Christ for pardon of all my sins the first Covenant is broke by sin and we deserve Hell but Christ keepeth for us the new Covenant and therfore I betrust my soul with Christ Again I desire to beleeve in Christ because Christ will come to judgment and all shall rise again and all Beleevers in this life shall then be saved
then I considered whether I should pray but I found not in my heart that all should pray but then I considered of praying and what would become of me if I did not pray and what would become of me if I did pray but I thought if I did pray the Sacbems would be angry because They did not say pray to God and therefore I did not yet pray but considering of that word that all shall pray I was troubled and I found in my heart that I would pray unto God and yet I feared that others would laugh at me and therefore I did not yet pray Afterward God was yet merciful to me and I heard that God made the World and the first man and I thought it was true and therefore I would pray to God because he hath made all and yet when I did pray I thought I prayed not aright because I prayed for the sake of man and I thought this to be a great sin But then I wondered at Gods free mercy to me for I saw God made me and giveth me all mercies and then was I troubled and saw that many were my sins and that I do not yet beleeve then I prayed yet my heart sinned for I prayed only with my mouth and then I repented of my sins and then a little I considered and remembred Gods love unto us but I was a sinner and many were my sins and a little I repented of them and yet again I sinned and quickly was my heart full of sin then again was my heart angry with my self and often I lost all this again and fell into sin Then I heard that word That God sent Moses to Egypt and promised I will be with thee that promise I considered but I thought that in vain I did seek and I was ashamed that I did so and I prayed Oh God teach me truly to pray not only before man but before God and pardon al these my sins Again I heard that word that Christ taught through every Town and Village Repent and beleeve and be saved and a little I beleeved this word and I loved it and then I saw all my sins and prayed for pardon Again I heard that word He that casteth off God him will God cast off and I found in my heart that I had done this and I feared because of this my sin lest God should cast me off and that I should for ever perish in Hell because God hath cast me off I having cast of God then I was troubled about Hell and what shall I do if I be damned Then I heard that word If ye repent and beleeve God pardons all sins then I thought Oh that I had this I desired to repent and beleeve and I begged of God Oh give me Repentance and Faith freely do it for me and I saw God was merciful to do it but I did not attend the Lord only sometimes and I now confess I am ashamed of my sins my heart is broken and melteth in me I am angry at my self I desire pardon in Christ I betrust my soul with Christ that he may do it for me By such time as this man had finished the time was far spent and he was the fift in number their speeches being slow and they were the more slow at my request that I might write what they said oft I was forced to inquire of my interpreter who sat by me because I did not perfectly understand some sentences especially of some of them these things did make the work long-som considering the inlargement of spirit God gave some of them and should we have proceeded further it would have been sun-set before the Confessions in likelyhood would have been finished besides all the rest of the work that was to be done to finish so solemn a work and the place being remote in the woods the nights long and cold and people not fitted to lie abroad and no competant lodgings in the place for such persons and the work of such moment as wonld not admit an hudling up in hast And besides all this though I had fully used all fit means to have all the Interpreters present that I could that so the intetpretation might not depend upon my single testemony yet so it was that they all failed and I was alone as I have been wont to be in this work which providence of God was not to be neglected in so solemn a business Wherfore the Magistrates Elders and Grave Men present advised together what to do and the Conclusion was Not to proceed any further at present yet so to carry the matter as that the Indians might in no wise be discouraged but encouraged to which end one of the Elders was requested to speak unto the English the two above said Reasons viz. The want of Interpreters And want of Time to finish at this time so solemn a Work but to refer it to a more fitting time And I was desired to declare it to the Indians which I did to this purpose That the Magistrates Elders and other Christian People present did much rejoyce to hear their Confessions and advised them to go on in that good way but as for the gathering a Church among them this day it could not be partly Because neither Mr. Mayhew nor Mr. Leveridg nor any Interpreter was here for whom they knew I had sent some of themselves being the Messengers to carry Letters time enough and it was Gods Ordinance That when any were to judg a Case though they could beleeve one Witness yet they could not judg under two or three Also I told them That themselves might easily see there was not time enough to finish so solemn a work this day therefore they advised and God called to refer it to a fitter season in which advice they rested And so was the Work of that day with prayers unto God finished the accomplishment being referred to a fitter season As for my self the Lord put it into the hearts of the Elders to speak unto me words of Comfort and acceptance of my poor Labor expressing their loving fear lest I should be discouraged by this disappointment I shall therefore nakedly declare and open my very heart in this Matter The Lord he knoweth that with much fear and care I went about this work even unto the sensible wasting and weakning of my natural strength knowing that the investing these young Babee in Christ with the highest and all the external priviledges of the Church the Spouse of Jesus Christ on Earth would have drawn upon me much more labor and care lest they should in any wise scandalize the same unto which I have now more time assigned me by the Lord to prepare them yea and a greater advantage than I had before because this dispensation of the Lord doth give me occasion to instruct them of their need to be filled with deeper apprehensions of the weight and solemnity of that great Work though it is most true that they also came
lose all in this world and lose my soul also because I beleeve not for all the Words of God are true which he hath taught me Now this day I think I will confess the truth Because I have sinned I want Jesus Christ and I will truly confess God because of that word of Christ He that confesseth me before men him will I confess before my Father I wonder at this Instruction I desire to confess my heart Another who made his Confession is named Antony upon whom the Lord was pleased the last Winter to lay an heavy stroke for he and another Indian being at work sawing of Board and finishing the Peece they laid it so short and the Rowl not so stedfast insomuch that this man being in the Pit directing to lay the Piece and the other above ordering thereof it slipped down into the Pit upon this mans head brake his neather Chap in two and cracked his Skull insomuch that he was taken up half dead and almost strangled with blood and being the last day of the week at night I had no word until the Sabbath day then I presently sent a Chyrurgion who took a discreet order with him and God so blessed his indeavors as that he is now well again blessed be the Lord and whereas I did fear that such a blow in their Labor might discourage them from Labor I have found it by Gods blessing otherwise yea this man hath performed a great part of the sawing of our Meeting-House and is now fawing upon the School-house and his recovery is an establishment of them to go on yea and God blessed this blow to help on the Work of Grace in his soul as you shall see in his Confession which followeth BEfore I prayed to God I alwaies committed sin but I do not know all my sins I know but a little of the sins I have committed therefore I thought I could not pray to God because I knew not al my sins before I prayed to God and since I heard of praying to God formerly when the English did bid me pray unto God I hated it and would go out of their houses when they spake of such things to me I had no delight to hear any thing of Gods Word but in every thing I sinned in my speeches I sinned and every day I broke the Commands of God After I heard of praying to God that Waban and my two brothers prayed to God yet then I desired it not but did think of running away yet I feared if I did run away some wicked men would kill me but I did not fear God After when you said unto me pray my heart thought I will pray yet again I thought I cannot pray with my heart and no matter for praying with words only but when I did pray I saw more of my sins yet I did but only see them I could not be aware of them but still I did commit them and after I prayed to God I was still full of lust and then a little I feared Sometimes I was sick and then I thought God was angry and then I saw that I did commit all sins then one of my brothers died and then my heart was broken and after him another friend and again my heart was broken and yet after all this I broke my praying to God and put away God and then I thought I shall never pray to God but after this I was afraid of the Lord because I alwaies broke my praying to God and then my heart said God doth nor hear my prayer When I was sick and recovered again I thought then that God was merciful unto me Hearing that word of God If you hear the Word of God and be forgetful hearers you sin against God then I thought God will not pardon such a sinner as I who dayly did so and broke my praying to God When I heard the Commandements I desired to learn them and other points of Catechism but my desires were but small and I soon lost it because I did not desire to beleeve then sometimes I feared Gods anger because of al my sins I heard the Word and understood only this word All you that hear this day it may be you shall quickly die and then I quickly saw that God was very angry with me Then God brake my head and by that I saw Gods anger and then I thought that the true God in Heaven is angry with me for my sin even for al my sins which every day I live I do When I was almost dead some body bid me now beleeve because it may be I shal quickly die and I thought I did beleeve but I did not know right beleeving in Christ then I prayed unto God to restore my health Then I beleeved that word That we must shortly appear before Jesus Christ then I did greatly fear lest if I beleeved not I should perish for ever When I was neer death I prayed unto God Oh Lord give me life and I will pray to God so long as I live and I said I will give my self soul and body to Christ after this God gave me health and then I thought truly God in Heaven is merciful then I much grieved that I knew so little of Gods Word And now sometimes I am angry and then I fear because I know God seeth it and I fear because I promised God when I was almost dead that if he giveth me life I will pray so long as I live I fear lest I should break this promise to God Now I desire the pardon of all my sins and I beg faith in Christ and I desire to live unto God so long as I live I cannot my self get pardon but I dayly commit sin and break Gods Word but I look to Christ for pardon Another who made His Confession is named Owussumag which is as followeth WHen I first heard that Waban prayed to God and after that many more prayed I first feared praying to God and instruction and I hated instruction by the Word of God and alwaies I laughed at them who prayed to God and I alwaies thought I will yet more commit sin and I went into the Country and there I acted much lust adultry and the like and all my Neighbors we did together seek after wickedness and every day I was proud and of high or open eyes When some of my neighbors began to pray I went away into the Country but I could find no place where I was beloved Then I heard That when beleevers die they go to Heaven when sinners die they go to Hel and my heart considered What good will it be if my soul go to Heaven But two years ago I began to think I had sinned against God and then somtimes I feared yet again sinned but my fear was of man not of God Then ever my heart said I should be better if I would pray to God and somtimes I beleeved that which I was taught yet again last year I sought to go
away afar off but I could think of no place but I should be in danger to be killed Then again I much remembred my sins and again I thought What will become of me if I die in my sins and then I thought it was good for me to pray unto God so long as I live and then my heart turned to praying unto God and I did pray and my heart feared when I heard the word read and taught and I was glad to hear the Word of God and then I purposed to pray as long as I live Sometime I did dayly see my sins and fear for I cannot get pardon only in Jesus Christ Then I heard that word I thank thee oh Heavenly father that thou hast revealed these things to babes and that word that we must forgive each other then I saw that I beleeved not one word from Christ not any word of God and dayly my heart wept that Christ might pardon all my sins against God and Christ and now unto this day my heart saith I desire the good waies of praying to God but I cannot know them of my self but Jesus Christ must teach me them When I heard That only Christ must teach me them When I heard That only Christ must pardon our sins and that for Christ God will pardon our sins this day I rejoyce to hear that word of God and all that Christ hath taught me and now I purpose That while I live I will pray unto God and Jesus Christ only and this day I see I cannot know how to find good thoughts but this day I desire pardon for all my sins and to cast them away Another who made Confession is named Ephraim his Indian Name I have forgotten It is as followeth ALL the daies I have lived I have been in a poor foolish condition I cannot tell all my sins all my great sins I do not see them When I first heard of praying to God I could not sleep quietly I was so troubled ever I thought I would forsake the place because of praying to God my life hath been like as if I had been a mad man Last yeer I thought I would leave all my sins yet I see I do not leave off sinning to this day I now think I shall never be able to forsake my sins I think sometimes the Word of God is false yet I see there is no giving over that I might follow sin I must pray to God I do not truly in my heart repent and I think that God wil not forgive me my sins every day my heart sinneth and how will Christ forgive such an one I pray but outwardly with my mouth not with my heart I cannot of my self obtain pardon of my sins I cannot tell all the sins that I have done if I should tell you an whol day together I do every morning desire that my sins may be pardoned by Jesus Christ this my heart saith but yet I fear I cannot forsake my sins because I cannot see all my sins I hear That if we repent and beleeve in Christ all our sins shall be pardoned therefore I desire to leave off my sins This poor Publican was the lâ—st which made his Confession before I read them unto the Elders and the last of them I shall now publish I will shut up these Confessions with the Confession if I may so call it or rather with the Expression and manifestation of saith by two little Infants of two yeers old and upward under three yeers of age when the died and departed out of this world The Story is this THis Spring in the beginning of the yeer 1652. the Lord was pleased to afflict sundry of our praying Indians with that grievous disease of the Bloody-Flux whereof some with great torments in their bowels died among which were two little Children of the age above-said and at that time both in one house being together taken with that disease The first of these Children in the extremities of its torments lay crying to God in these words God and Jesus Christ God and Jesus Christ help me and when they gave it any thing to eat it would greedily take it as it is usual at the approach of death but first it would cry to God Oh God and Jesus Christ bless it and then it would take it and in this manner it lay calling upon God and Jesus Christ untill it died The mother of this Child also died of that disease at that time The Father of the Child told me this story with great wonderment at the grace of God in teaching his Child so to call upon God The name of the Father is Nishohkou whose Confession you have before Three or four daies after another Child in the same house sick of the same disease was by a divine hand doubtless sensible of the approach of death an unusual thing at that age and called to its Father and said Father I am going to God several times repeating it I am going to God The mother as other mothers use to do had made for the Child a little Basket a little Spoon and a little Tray these things the child was wont to be greatly delighted withal as all children will therefore in the extremity of the torments they set those things before it a little to divert the mind and cheer the spirit but now the child takes the Basket and puts it away and said I will leave my Basket behind me for I am going to God I will leave my Spoon and Tray behind me putting them away for I am going to God and with these kind of expressions the same night finished its course and died The Father of this child is named Robin Speen whose Confessions you have before and in one of them he maketh mention of this child that died in faith When he related this story to me he said He could not tell whether the sorrow for the death of his child or the joy for its faith were greater when it died These Examples are a testimony That they teach their children the knowledg and fear of God whom they now call upon and also that the Spirit of God co-worketh with their instructions who teacheth by man more than man is able to do I have now finished all that I purpose to publish at this time the Lord give them Acceptance in the hearts of his Saints to engage them the more to pray for them and Oh! that their judgings of themselves and breathings after Christ might move others that have more means than they have but as yet regard it not to do the like and much more abundantly FINIS * Psalm 101. 2.
us but sought totall subjection and strict obedience to God yet I told them that it was a matter of great weight shewing them many things which I thought necessary for them to know but needless now to relate A day of fasting and prayer to repent of our sins and seek the gracious help of our God for Christ Jesus sake we appointed and another shortly after to finish the work in Some of the Indians spake somthing for their benefit and about ten or twelve of them prayed not with any set Form like Children but like Men indued with a good measure of the knowledg of God their own wants and the wants of others with much affection and many Spiritual Petitions savoring of a Heavenly mind and so are they streitned in respect of help from man that it appears the more plainly to be the Dictates of Gods Spirit A Platform of the Covenant in Answer to their desires I drew forth the same morning in the Indian Language which I have here sent in English Wee the distressed Indians of the Vineyard or Nope the Indian name of the Island That beyond all memory have been without the True God without a Teacher and without a Law the very Servants of Sin and Satan and without Peace for God did justly vex us for our sins having lately through his mercy heard of the Name of the True God the Name of his Son Christ Jesus with the holy Ghost the Comforter three Persons but one most Glorious God whose Name is JEHOVAH We do praise His Glorious Greatness and in the sorrow of our hearts and shame of our faces we do acknowledg and renounce our great and many sins that we and our Fathers have lived in do run unto him for mercy and pardon for Christ Jesus sake and we do this day through the blessing of God upon us and trusting to his gracious help give up our selves in this Covenant Wee our Wives and Children to serve JEHOVAH And we do this day chuse JEHOVAH to be our God in Christ Jesus our Teacher our Law-giver in his Word our King our Judg our Ruler by his Magistrates and Ministers to fear God Himself and to trust in Him alone for Salvation both of Soul and Body in this present Life and the Everlasting Life to come through his mercy in Christ Jesus our Savior and Redeemer and by the might of his Holy Spirit to whom with the Father and Son be all Glory everlasting Amen After I had often read this Covenant and expounded it unto them they all with free Consent willingly and thankfully joyned therein and desired Jehovah his blessing for Jesus Christ his sake the Lord be gracious to our beginnings Within two or three weeks there came an Indian to me in business and by the way he told me that some Indians had lately kept a day of Repentance to humble themselves before God in prayer and that the word of God which one of them spake unto for their Instruction was Psal. 66. 7. He ruleth by his Power for ever his eyes behold the nations let not the rebellious exalt themselves I asked him what their end was in keeping such a day He told me those six things First they desired That God would slay the rebellion of their hearts Secondly That they might love God and one another Thirdly That they might withstand the evil words and temptations of wicked men and not to be drawn back from God Fourthly That they might be obedient to the good Words and Commands of their Rulers Fiftly That they might have their sins done away by the Redemption of Jesus Christ And Lastly That they might walk in Christs way Now for the state of things with us we are by the help of God about to begin a Town that they may Cohabit and carry on things in a Civil and Religious way the better The praying Indians are constant attenders to the word of the Lord and some of them I hope conscionable seekers after the knowledg of God and themselves and not without obtaining by the grace of God some saving benefit to their own Souls which will by his own blessing in the best time more plainly appear About 30. Indian Children are now at School which began the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month 1651. they are apt to learn and more and more are now sending in unto them The Barbarous Indians both men and women do often come on the Lecture dayes and complaining of their ignorance disliking their sinful liberty and refusing the helps and hopes of their own power seek Subjection to Jehovah to be taught governed and saved by him for Jesus Christs sake The Name of the Lord alone be praised for what is begun What is further needfull I earnestly desire may be fervently prayed for and expected by faith to be effected and finished by the gracious hand of God who have laid the foundation and will not leave his own works unperfect which is the comfort of an unworthy Laborer in the Lords Vinyard and an earnest desirer to be remembred at the Throne of Grace Having a little more liberty I shall certifie you of somthing more which I have taken notice of amongst the poor Indians I observed that the Indians when they chose their Rulers made choyce of such as were best approved for their godliness and most likely to suppress sin and encourage holiness and since they have been forward upon all occasions to shew their earnest desire thereof There was an Indian that was well approved for his Reformation that was suspected to have told a plain Lye for his Gain the business was brought to the publick Meeting and there it was notably sifted with zeal and good affection but at length the Indian defending himself with great disdain and hatred of such an evil proved himself clear and praised God for it The same Indian was a little before very sick and he told me that when he thought he should die he did so love God that he was not unwilling to die and leave his wife and children or any thing else but that he was only desirous to live for this cause That he might be more taught by the Word of God and be helpful to teach the Indians the Way of God I have also observed how God is pleased to uphold some of these poor Indians against opposition I was once down towards the further end of the Island and lodged at an Indians house who was accounted a great man among the Islanders being the friend of a great Sachem on the Mayn this Sachem is a great Enemy to our Reformation on the Island At this mans house when I had sate a while his son being about thirty years old earnestly desired me in his Language to relate unto him some of the ancient Stories of God I then spent a great part of the night in such discourse as I thought fittest for them as I usually do when I lodg in their houses what he then heard as he
expressed did much affect him And shortly after he came and desired to joyn with the praying Indians to serve Jehovah but it was to the great discontentment of the Sachems on the Mayn and those Indians about him News was often brought to him that his life was laid in wait for by those that would surely take it from him they desired him therfore with speed to turn back again The man came to me once or twice and I perceived that he was troubled he asked my counsel about removing his Habitation yet told me That if they should stand with a sharp weapon against his breast and tell him that they would kill him presently if he did not turn to them but if he would they would love him yet he had rather lose his life than keep it on such terms for said he when I look back on my life as it was before I did pray to God I see it to be wholly naught and do wholly dislike it and hate those naughty waies but when I look on that way which God doth teach me in his Word I see it to be wholly good and do wholly love it Blessed be God that he is not overcome by these temptations The next thing I judg also worthy to be observed My Father and I were lately talking with an Indian who had not long before almost lost his life by a wound his Enemies gave him in a secret hidden way the mark whereof he had upon him and will carry it to his grave This man understanding of a secret Plot that was to take away his Enemies life told my Father and I That he did freely forgive him for the sake of God and did tell this Plot to us that the mans life might be preserved This is a singular thing and who among the Heathen will do so I observe also that the Indians themselves do indeavor to propagate the knowledg of God to the glory of God and the good of others I heard an Indian after I had some discourse with the Indians in the night ask the Sachem and many others together how they did like that counsel they heard from the word of God They answered very wel then said he why do you not take it why do you not do according to it He further added I can tell you why it is Because you do not see your sins and because you do love your sins for as long as it was so with me I did not care for the Way of God but when God did shew me my sins and made me hate them then I was glad to take Gods Counsel this I remember he spake with some other things with such Gravity and truth that the Sachem and all the company was not able to gain-say Myoxeo also lately met with an Indian which came from the Mayn who was of some note among them I heard that he told them of the great things of God and of Christ Jesus the sinfulness and folly of the Indians the Pardon of sin by Christ and of a good life and so were they both affected that they continued this discourse two half nights and a day until their strength was spent He told him in particular how a Beleever did live above the world that he did keep worldly things alwaies at his feet as he shewed him by a sign That when they were deminished or increased it was neither the cause of his Sorrow or joy that he should stoop to regard them but he stood upright with his heart Heavenward and his whol desire was after God and his joy in him Now Much honored in the Lord and all that love Christ Jesus in truth let me prevail with you that we may be presented by you at the Throne of Grace in his worthiness to obtain those blessings that concerns his Kingdom and Glory our comfort and Salvation And you are and shall also be ever humbly so prayed for by him who is From the Vinyard the 22. of October 1652. Yours obliged and ever to be commanded in the Work of the Lord Jesus Thomas Mayhew To His Excellency the Lord General Cromwel Grace Mercy and Peace be Multiplied Right Honorable ENvy it self cannot deny that the Lord hath raised and improved You in an Eminent manner to overthrow Antichrist and to accomplish in part the Prophesies and Promises of the Churches Deliverance from that Bondage In all which Service the Lord hath not only kept Your Honor unsteined but also caused the Lustre of those precious Graces of Humility Faith Love of Truth and Love to the Saints c. with which through His Free Grace He hath enriched You to shine forth abundantly beyond all exception of any that are or have been Adversaries to Your Proceedings Now as the design of Christ in these daies is double namely First To overthrow Antichrist by the Wars of the Lamb and Secondly To raise up His own Kingdom in the room of all Earthly Powers which He doth cast down and to bring all the World subject to be ruled in all things by the Word of His mouth And as the Lord hath raised and improved You to accomplish so far as the Work hath proceeded the first part of His Design so I trust that the Lord will yet further improve You to set upon the accomplishment of the second part of the design of Christ not only by indeavoring to put Government into the hands of Saints which the Lord hath made You eminently careful to do but also by promoting Scripture Government and Laws that so the Word of Christ might rule all In which great Services unto the Name of Christ I doubt not but it will be some Comfort to Your heart to see the Kingdom of Christ rising up in these Western Parts of the World and some confirmation it will be that the Lords time is come to advance and spread His Blessed Kingdom which shall in his season fill all the Earth and some incouragement to your heart to prosecute that part of the Design of Christ namely That Christ might Reign Such Considerations together with the Favorable Respect You have alwaies shewed to poor New-England hath imboldned me to present unto Your Hand these first Confessions of that Grace which the Lord hath bestowed upon these poor Natives and to publish them under the protection of Your Name begging earnestly the continuance of Your Prayers for the further proceeding of this gracious Work And so committing Your Honor to the Lord and to the Word of His Grace and all Your weighty Affairs to His Heavenly Direction I rest Your Honors to serve You in the Service of Christ JOHN ELIOT To the READER Christian Reader I Know thy Soul longeth to hear Tydings of Gods grace powred out upon these goings down of the Sun because the Spirit of God by the Word of Prophesie useth to raise up and draw forth such actings of Faith as accord with the accomplishment of those Prophesies when the time of their accomplishment is come When Israel was
in another case I beleeve God that it shall be even as it was told me Act. 27. 25. Yea to beleeve it and wait for it as for that which in Gods appointed and due time shall surely come to pass and not fail as Hab. 2. 3. And not only so but heartily to desire it and fervently to pray for it as a thing wherein the Glory of God and of Jesus Christ is not a little concerned and interessed for if the multitude of People be the Kings Honor Prov. 14. 28. it must needs be the Honor of Christ Jesus the King of Sion when multitudes of People do submit unto Him as to their King and therfore it should be earnestly craved of God by all his Saints in their Prayers that so it may be according as the Sanctifying of Gods Name and the coming of his Kingdom are the two first Petitions in that Rule and Pattern of Prayer commanded and taught by our Savior to His Disciples Matth. 6. 9 10. And no man needs to doubt but that those things which are matter for Faith and Prayer to be exercised about their accomplishment are matters of Thanksgiving when once they come to pass Which being so the godly Christian who shall read or hear this ensuing Relation concerning the workings of Gods Grace towards these Indians in New-England and the Confessions of sundry amongst them will I doubt not see abundant cause of thanksgiving to the Lord therein For hereby it will appear That the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus which every faithful soul doth so much desire to see enlarged is now beginning to be set up where it never was before even amongst a poor people forlorn kind of Creatures in times past who have been without Christ and without God in the world they and their Fathers for I know not how many Generations yea so far from knowing and acknowledging God in Christ that they have been little better than the Beasts that perish But now they that were far off the Lord is at work to make them neer unto himself by the Blood of Jesus as Eph. 2. 13. that they which in time past were not a People might ere long become the People of God and they be called Beloved which were not Beloved and in the place where it was said unto them Ye are not my People that there ere long they might be called The Children of the Living God as 1 Pet. 2. 10. Rom. 9. 25 26. which is the Lords doing and it ought to be marvelous in our eyes And the truth is there are many marvels in it marvelous free-grace and riches thereof to look upon a People so wretched and unworthy yea it were marvelous Grace so much as once to offer the Salvation of God in Christ to any such as they are being not only the poor and maimed halt and blind but also as it is in Luk 14. 21. ranging and roving in the High-waies and Hedges and yet behold even these are not only invited but their hearts inclined to come in Mavelous Wisdom and Power is in it also that of matter so rugged and unlikely the Lord should ever frame and fashion any gracious and holy building to Himself which I hope He is now a doing And to say no more His mervelous Soveraignty and Liberty is therein to be observed also who till now of late hath seen meet never to look after this People but hath suffered them all this while to walk in their own waies waies of Sin and waies of Death yea and though there hath been Plantations of the English in the Country now 20. years and more yea some a matter of 30. years or thereabout yet of all this time except some little workings in a few no considerable work of Grace hath appeared amongst the Indians till now of late so true is that saying The times and seasons the Father hath put them in his own Power Act. 1. 7. If any shall say Oh but we are doubtful whether any sound and saving work be yet wrought in them or no Such an one I would wish seriously to weigh and consider the ensuing Confessions and then perhaps he will be better satisfied touching this Point for there he shall find many expressions savoring of their clear sight and sence of sin and that not only of gross and external sins but also of such as are more inward in the Heart and Soul Also he shall find expressions tending to shew their expecting all righteousness and salvation by Christ alone Now considering how the Work of the Spirit of God is said by Christ Himself to consist in great part in convincing of sin and of righteousness of sin in mens selves and of righteousness in Christ Joh. 16. 9. And considering also how the least beginnings of Grace are accepted of him that would not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Matth. 12. 20. And lastly considering how it were not reasonable to expect such ripeness in these people as might be expected and found in others who have had more time and means and better help and breeding than these have had If these things I say be considered it may be an Inducement to hope the best in charity concerning the Work of Grace in their Souls as Charity hopeth all things beleeveth all things 1 Cor. 13. But thus much at the least I conceive is cleer and cannot be denied that since the Word of God hath been taught and preached among them the Spirit of the Lord hath been working thereby in the hearts of many of them such Illumination such Conviction c. as may justly be looked at if not as a full and through Conversion yet as an hopeful beginning and preparation thereto if the Lord be pleased to go on with what he hath begun as I hope he will And if there were no more but only an hopeful beginning and preparative to Conversion yet even this were matter of much comfort to the Saints and of thanksgiving to the Lord as it was in Israel at the building of the Temple when no more was yet done but only the foundation laid Ezr. 3. 10 11. yet even then they sung for joy giving praise and thanksgiving to the Lord How much more should it be so if the Work of Regeneration be already truly wrought in any of them as I hope it is in sundry In such case how ever it be with men on Earth sure there is joy in Heaven amongst the Angels of God when there is so much as one sinner that is truly brought home to God by Repentance Luke 15. 7. 10. But how shall we know that the Confessions here related being spoken in their Tongue were indeed uttered by them in such words as have the same signification and meaning with these that are here expressed for we have only the testimony of one man to assure us of it It is true we have only the testimony of one man for it but yet it is such an one as is unwillingly
therefore I desire to beleeve Christ and mortifie sin as long as I live and I pray Christ to help me to beleeve and I thank God for all his mercies every day and now I confess before God that I loath my self for my sins and beg pardon Thus far he went in his Confession but they being slow of speech time was far spent and a great assembly of English understanding nothing he said only waiting for my interpretation many of them went forth others whispered and a great confusion was in the House and abroad and I perceived that the graver sort thought the time long therfore knowing he had spoken enough unto satisfaction at least as I judged I here took him off Then one of the Elders asked if I took him off or whether had he finished I answered That I took him off So after my reading what he had said we called another The next who was called forth was Ponampam who had formerly twice made confession and both read before the Elders His first Confession was as followeth VVHen God first had mercy on us when they first prayed at Noonanetam I heard of it and the first word that I heard was That all from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof shall pray unto God and I thought Oh! let it be so After I considered what the word may be and understood by it That God was mercyfull afterwards when you alwayes came to us I only heard the word I did not understand it nor meditate on it yet I found that al my doings were sins against God then I prayed unto God Afterwards I heard That God would pardon all that beleeve in Christ and quickly after I saw my sins to be very many I saw that in every thing I did I sinned when I saw these my sins against God I was weary of my self angry with my self in my heart but the free mercy of God caused me to hear his word and then I feared because every day sin was in my heart and I thought in vain I looked to Christ Then hearing this word of Christ that Christ taught through every town and village Repent and beleeve If any one repent and mourn and beleeve I will pardon him then my heart thought I will pray to God as long as I live but somtimes my heart was ashamed and somtimes my heart was strong and God seeth my heart I now desire to repent and beleeve in Christ and that Christ will pardon me and shew mercy to us all Ponampam His Second Confession was as followeth WHen I prayed not unto God I ever sinned every day but when Noonanetam Indians first prayed I heard of it and three nights I considered whether I should pray or no but I found not how to pray unto God but how not to pray but then I heard Gods free mercy in his word call all to pray from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof yet presently I lost that word and sinned again and committed many sins Then Gods free mercy shewed me in the Catechism That God made all the World yet my heart did not beleeve because I knew I sprung from my Father and Mother I did alwaies act many sins because I was born in sin and in vain I heard Gods word Then I heard Gods Word That Christ was made man yet I did but hear it though I thought it might be true I thought I would cast off all sin but then I found that I loved them very much I heard Gods promise to Abraham To increase his Children as the Stars for number but I beleeved not because he had but one Son and thus I cast off the word and committed sins I heard also from the word That all men are not alike to God some are first to God or preferred before other but I did not beleeve it because all men die alike therefore they are not the Sons of God and God is not their Father So still I beleeved not the Word but broke Gods Word dayly and in vain I heard Gods Word Afterward I heard that Word of God to Moses I 'le be with thy mouth for who maketh the seeing Eye or hearing Ear is it not I saith the Lord then I understood a little of God and of his Word but still I acted much sin Afterward I heard that Word of Free-Grace Repent and beleeve the Gospel and who ever beleeve shall be saved then my heart beleeved then I saw I had prayed but afore man so was my hearing or any other duty and I saw other of my sins against God and then I saw that my heart did not beleev as it should I desired to be open in my doings I saw I brake every command of God yet presently I lost this and the Word of Christ was of little worth unto me and I saw I loved sin very much Then again I heard that word That all shall pray from the rising to the sitting Sun then I thought I will pray to God and yet only my tongue prayed Then again I heard the Catechism That God made Adam and Eve and al the world and a little I beleeved that word Afterward I heard another word That they are Bastards not Sons whom God afflicts not I did a little think this to be a truth and then I prayed more unto God and yet I saw I feared man more than God but notwithstanding I have prayed unto God from that day unto this day yet I see I sin every day When I heard that Word that God spake to Moses in the Mount by a Trumpet and said Thou shalt not have any other God thou shalt not lust nor lye nor kill c. I saw all these I had broken I heard the Word but sinned in what I heard I heard that my heart must break and melt for sin and beleeve in Christ and that we should try our hearts if it be so yet I could try but little nor find but little but still I sinned much I heard that Word That they which cast off God God will cast off them and I feared lest God should cast me away because of my sins I was ashamed of my sins and my heart melted and I thought I wil give my self to God and to Christ and do what he will for ever and because of this promise of pardon to al that repent and beleeve my heart desireth to pray to God as long as I live Ponampam The Confession he made on the Fast day before the great Assembly was as followeth BEfore I prayed unto God I committed all manner of sins and when I heard the Catechism That God made me I did not beleeve it because I knew I sprang from my Father and Mother and therefore I despised the Word and therefore again I did act all sins and I did love them Then God was merciful to me to let me hear that Word That al shal pray from the rising to the sâ—â—ting Sun and
on unto it with many fears and questions what they should do when they should be a Church When therefore I saw the Lord by the Counsel of his Servants which is an holy reverend Ordinance of Christ and by his Providence denying me the help of all Interpreters having many witnesses how much care and pains I took every way I knew to be supplied therein and that the work it self was extended by the Lords gracious inlarging them in their Confessions so that the day was not sufficient to accomplish it I say when I saw the Lord speaking that delatory word I cannot express what a load it took off my heart and I did gladly follow the Lord therein yea and I bless the Lord for that day that it was carried so far as it was for the cause of Christ hath many waies gained by it many hundreds of the precious Saints being much comforted and confirmed in their hopes of this work of Christ among them and their faith and prayers much quickned by what they heard and saw And because all witnesses failed me let me say but this I began and have followed this work for the Lord according to the poor measure of grace received not for base ends I have been true faithful unto their souls and in writing and reading their Confessions I have not knowingly or willingly made them better than the Lord helped themselves to make them but am verily perswaded on good grounds that I have rather rendered them weaker for the most part than they delivered them partly by missing some words of weight in some Sentences partly by my short and curt touches of what they more fully spake and partly by reason of the different Idioms of their Language and ours Now follow those Preparitory Confessions which were read before the Elders most of them The first that made a publick Confession and was took in Writing was Peter a Ruler of Ten among them a Godly man who quickly after he had made this Confession fell sick and died and now injoyeth the fruit of his Faith the end of his Hope the salvaion of his Soul among the Blessed where I am perswaded he shall be found in the great day His Confession was as followeth VVHen I first prayed to God I did not fear God but I feared perdition because the English had told me that all should be damned that call not upon God But now I know that God made all the world and I fear him now I beleeve that which you teach is true Now I beleeve that God calleth us to Natik that here we may be ruled by God and gather a Church now I beleeve that it is Gods Command that we should labor Six dayes and keep the Sabbath on the Seventh day now my heart is greatly abased for all my sins for we see though we pray to God we are ready to offend each other and be angry with each other and that we love not each other as we should do and for this I grieve my heart crieth now I remember that God saith thou shalt not lust but before I prayed to God I was full of lusts God saith We must have but one Wife and at first did make but one man and one woman but I followed many women God saith Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy but I did hunt or shoot or any thing on the Sabbath day many other sins I committed but now I see them and wil cast them away because they are vile and God forbiddeth them when I prayed first my sins were not pardoned for my praying is worth nothing now I am humbled and mourn for my sins and yet cannot deliver my self nor get pardon therfore I trust Christ with my soul The next Confession was made by John Speene as followeth His first confession was this WHen I first prayed to God I did not pray for my soul but only I did as my friends did because I loved them and though I prayed to God yet I did not fear sin nor was I troubled at it I heard that when good men die their souls go to God and are there happy but I cannot say that I beleeved it Afterward my heart run away into the country after our old wayes and I did almost cast off praying to God A little while after that I saw that I had greatly sinned and then I saw all my sins afore I prayed to God and since I prayed to God and I saw that God was greatly angry for them and that I cannot get pardon for them but yet my heart saith I will pray to God as long as I live I thought God would not pardon me and yet I would cast away my sins I did greatly love hunting and hated labor but now I beleeve that word of God which saith Six dayes thou shalt labor and God doth make my body strong to labor John Speene This Confession being short in some main points he afterward made Confession as followeth WHen I first prayed I prayed not for my soul but for the sake of men I loved men and for their sakes I prayed to God Before I prayed many were my sins and my heart was heaped full and ran over in all manner of lusts and sins After I heard of praying to God I let it fall and regarded it not after I came to hear the word I sometimes feared but soon lost it again Then my heart ran away after our former courses and then what ever I heard I lost because my heart was run away and many were my sins and therfore I could not get pardon because my heart run away and many were my sins and I did indeed go into the Country But afterwards I hearing the Catechism I desired to learn it and then I beleeved that when Beleevers die their souls go to God and are ever happy when Sinners die their souls go to Hel and are ever tormented and that when Christ judges the world our bodies rise again and then we shall receive the judgment of Christ the good shal stand at his right hand the bad at his left this I beleeved was true and then I saw all my great follies and evils and now my heart desired to lay by hunting and to work every day and this is Gods Command and therfore a good way God said Thou shalt work six daies and if thou work thou shalt eat therfore I beleeve it and my heart promiseth that I will this do as long as I live Now I see I did great folly for now I hear that God saith Work and now I fear because God hath afflicted me in taking away my brother a Ruler now I am troubled I fear I sinned in not beleeving our Ruler because now God hath taken him away he taught me good words but I beleeved them not and now I repent because Christ calleth me to it great is the punishment of God in taking away our Ruler and now I pray and say to Christ Oh Jesus Christ Christ
the Commands of God I have been full of lusts and thefts c. all my life and all the time I have lived I have done contrary to the Command of God And I am now grieved now I hear of all my sins I beleeve Christ doth convert me to God and he calleth Children and old men and all men to turn unto God and from their sins he calleth to sorrow and repentance and ever to beleeve in Christ and who ever doth this shall be ever blessed in Heaven but if he do it not he perisheth if he turn not from sin dying he shall go to Hell for ever I think also that so long as I live God doth give me life I beleeve that we ought to gather into a Church to serve God as long as we live But I do not know whether yet God hath pardoned my sins or not but I know Christ and I know he hath already dyed for me because I cannot redeem my self Another who made Confession was named Poquanum which was as followeth His first Confession A Great while ago the English would tell me of God but I hated it and would go out of doors when they so spake unto me and I murmured at it When the Indians first prayed to God I did not think there was a God or that the Bible was Gods Book but that wise men made it When some prayed to God I went with them but I did not know God Afterward my mind was changed thus far That I desired to be wise as others were but yet I knew nothing of God yea after I prayed to God I still did think there was no God Afterward I found this in my heart That we pray to God for our souls then I thought all my praying was nothing because I was so foolish that I never thought of dying but after I learned That all must die and good mens souls go to Heaven and then I thought of dying and of my soul but then I thought we prayed for nothing but that our souls might go to Heaven I knew nothing of Christ But after when the Children were Catechised and taught the ten Commandements I hearkned and by them I came to know that there was a God and that there was sin against God and hereby God made me to see all my sins both before I prayed to God and since and I saw Gods anger against me for my sins before and since I prayed because sometimes I came not to the Meeting brake my word regarded not my children and I see sin in me and therfore I do greatly fear Gods anger Poquanum His Second Confession was as followeth BEfore I prayed unto God I greatly sinned I prayed to many gods and used Panwaning Adultery Lust Lying and al other sins and many were my sins evil thoughts evil words and nothing else but evil hatred and pride and all sins against God coveting other mens goods when I stole I added lying to it when I had done I was very proud I much hatred many men and loved them not because I was angry with them and thus I did every day I would slander my neighbors great was my pride I was dayly angry with my neighbors my heart was alwaies full of such waies When the English said Pray to God I cared not for God because I loved sin nor did I desire that God should forgive my sin Afterward I heard the word That if we truly pray mourn for sin cast off sin desire to hear the word and beleeve in Christ God will then pardon and when he dieth Christ will lead him to Heaven I much rejoyced to hear of this pardon but I must truly beleeve in Christ else I shal not have pardon and first I thought God will not pardon me because I still sinned But afterward I heard That though we should pray as long as we live and never sin more yet that was of no value but we must beleeve in Christ else there is no pardon and this I rejoyced at Another who made Confession is named Nookau which is as followeth His first Confession FIve years ago before I prayed I was sick I thought I should die at which I was much troubled and knew not what to do then I thought if there be a God above and he give life again then I shall beleeve there is a God above and God did give me life and after that I took up praying to God Now I beleeve God one God that made all the World and governeth it yet this I only said with my mouth I did not truly beleeve it in my heart Then I understood That God made the first man good and like God but he sinned and we have lost Gods Image and are like the Devil and deserve Hell and Damnation this I now know and see that I am foolish and sometime think not of God in an whol day sometime I do think of God every day sometime my heart greatly sinneth then sometime I presently fear but again sometimes I am slow to fear I am very foolish because I do not understand the Word but break the Word of God I beleeve the Catechism we learn to be according to the Word of God but the writings of the Bible are the very Words of God and the Spirit of God is the Word and that God giveth all things that are good I now see my sins before I prayed unto God and since and I beleeve that God seeth them all and my heart feareth because I do not yet forsake my sins and I think God will not forgive me because my heart is wicked I know not when Christ forgiveth my sins others may know but I desire that my sins may be pardoned for Christ his sake Nookau His Second Confession BEfore I prayed to God I greatly sinned every day I was proud and lived in adultery lying c. and my heart alwaies full of evil thoughts and when the English would instruct me I then thought my waies evil but the business of praying to God good then I did think if I could first understand then I would pray to God and I was glad to hear of any that did pray to God When I heard that word at Cohannet Who ever lacketh wisdom let him ask it of God let fools pray to God and he will give them wisdom I thought I was a fool and I beleeved that Word of God I heard that word of the dry bones God bid them hear and promised to put flesh and sinews and skin upon them and make them live therefore I desired to hear because I beleeved the dry bones and that I was one that did not know God afterward I was glad of praying to God Sometimes I beleeved not God and God will not look on such alwaies I thought God will not forgive me I wondred at all that prayed to God because I thought God had given them wisdom then I thought I am glad I pray to God Sometime my heart is broken because I shall
evidence whereof appeal my be made to what was seen at Natick that day and is still to be seen in that place I mean the Grounds that they have fenced in and clawed and broken up and especially their capacious Meeting-house the Dimensions whereof are expressed in the Relation little did I think when I saw that Fabrick but that some English Carpenter or other had had the chief hand in the framing and erecting of it and that more hands than Indians yea and more English than one had been employed about it But now understanding that the Indians alone were the Builders of it it is a good testimony to me both of their industry and likewise of their Skill for where these are utterly wanting yea where there is not some good measure of them such a Building I conceive could never be raised It is true that considering the manner of their bringing up being little accustomed to labor but the contrary it is not much to be marveled if they be not comparable therein to some English who from their Child-hood have been trained up thereto yet we see they are coming to it and I hope will fall to it more and more let all that love their souls pray for them that they may yea let all that love the Lord Jesus Christ pray for them that the Work of God may still prosper amongst them that many more of them may be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God and that being converted they may be preserved in Christ and be built up in him to further growth and perfection from day to day And let unfeigned thanksgiving be rendred to the Lord by his Saints for all that is already wrought amongst them And Oh let the English take heed both in our dear Native Country and here lest for our unthankfulness and many other sins the Lord should take the Gospel from us and bestow our mercy therein upon them as upon a Nation that would yeeld the fruits thereof in better sort than many of us have done The sins of the Jewish Nation to whom the Gospel was first preached provoked God to take his Kingdom from them and to call in the Gentils yet it appeareth by Rom. 11. 11. 14. 31. that this mercy vouchsafed to the Gentiles shall in time provoke the Jews to an holy Jealousie and Emulation to look after that mercy again that once they refused that so through the mercy bestowed on the Gentiles they I mean the Jews might at last again obtain mercy Happy were the English if we could yeeld the fruits of Gods Gospel that it might not be taken from us and happy also if the mercy coming to these Indians though not yet taken from us might provoke us so to do that so the Kingdom of God the Gospel of Salvation being not taken from us and given to them but though given to them yet might still continue with us and with our Posterity from Generation to Generation Dorchester in New-England this 13th of 10ber 1652. RICH. MATHER A brief Relation of the Proceedings of the Lords Work among the INDIANS in reference unto their Church-Estate The Reasons of the not accomplishing thereof at present With some of their Confessions whereby it may be discerned in some measure how far the Lord hath prepared among them fit Matter for a CHURCH THese Indians the better and wiser sort of them have for some years inquired after Church-Estate Baptism and the rest of the Ordinances of God in the observation whereof they see the Godly English to walk I have from time to time delayed them upon this point That until they were come up unto Civil Cohabitation Government and Labor which a fixed condition of life will put them upon they were not so capable to be betrusted with that Treasure of Christ lest they should scandalize the same and make it of none effect because if any should through temptation fall under Censure he could easily run away as some have done and would be tempted so to do unless he were fixed in an Habitation and had some means of livelihood to lose and leave behind him such Reasons have satisfied them hitherunto But now being come under Civil Order and fixing themselves in Habitations and bending themselves to labor as doth appear by their works of Fencings Buildings c. and especially in building without any English Workmans help or direction a very sufficient Meeting-House of fifty foot long twenty five foot broad neer twelve foot high betwixt the joynts wel sawen and framed which is a specimen not only of their singular ingenuity and dexerity but also of some industry I say this being so now my argument of delaying them from entering into Church-Estate was taken away Therefore in way of preparation of them thereunto I did this Summer call forth sundry of them in the dayes of our publick Assemblies in Gods Worship somtimes on the Sabbath when I could be with them and sometimes on Lecture daies to make confession before the Lord of their former sins and of their present knowledg of Christ and experience of his Grace which they solemnly doing I wrote down their Confessions which having done and being in my own heart hopeful that there was among them fit matter for a Church I did request all the Elders about us to hear them reade that so they might give me advice what to do in this great and solemn business which being done on a day appointed for the purpose it pleased God to give their Confessions such acceptance in their hearts as that they saw nothing to hinder their proceeding to try how the Lord would appear therein Whereupon after a day of Fasting and Prayer among our selves to seek the Lord in that behalf there was another day of Fasting and Prayer appointed and publick notice thereof and of the names of Indians were to confess and enter into Covenant that day was given to all the Churches about us to seek the Lord yet further herein and to make solemn Confessions of Christ his Truth and Grace and further to try whether the Lord would vouchsafe such grace unto them as to give them acceptance among the Saints into the fellowship of Church-Estate and enjoyment of those Ordinances which the Lord hath betrusted his Churches withal That day was the thirteenth of the eighth month When the Assembly was met the first part of the day was spent in Prayer unto God and exercise in the Word of God in which my self first and after that two of the Indians did Exercise and so the time was spent till after ten or near eleven of the clock Then addressing our selves unto the further work of the day I first requested the reverend Elders many being present that they would ask them Questions touching the fundamental Points of Religion that thereby they might have some tryal of their knowledg and better that way than if themselves should of themselves declare what they beleeve or than if I
should ask them Questions in these matters After a little conference hereabout it was concluded That they should first make confession of their experience in the Lords Work upon their hearts because in so doing it is like something will be discerned of their knowledg in the Doctrines of Religion and if after those Confessions there should yet be cause to inquire further touching any Point of Religion it might be fitly done at last Whereupon we so proceeded and called them forth in order to make confession It was moved in the Assembly by Reverend Mr. Wilson that their former Confessions also as well as these which they made at present might be read unto the Assembly because it was evident that they were daunted much to speak before so great and grave an Assembly as that was but time did not permit it so to be then yet now in my writing of their Confessions I will take that course that so it may appear what encouragement there was to proceed so far as we did and that such as may reade these their Confessions may the better discern of the reality of the Grace of Christ in them The first which was called forth is named Totherswamp whose former Confession read before the Elders was as followeth BEfore I prayed unto God the English when I came unto their houses often said unto me Pray to God but I having many friends who loved me and I loved them and they cared not for praying to God and therefore I did not But I thought in my heart that if my friends should die and I live I then would pray to God soon after God so wrought that they did almost all die few of them left and then my heart feared and I thought that now I will pray unto God and yet I was ashamed to pray and if I eat and did not pray I was ashamed of that also so that I had a double shame upon me Then you came unto us and taught us and said unto us Pray unto God and after that my heart grew strong and I was no more ashamed to pray but I did take up praying to God yet at first I did not think of God and eternal Life but only that the English should love me and I loved them But after I came to learn what sin was by the Commandements of God and then I saw all my sins lust gaming c. he named more You taught That Christ knoweth all our hearts and seeth what is in them if humility or anger or evil thoughts Christ seeth all that is in the heart then my heart feared greatly because God was angry for all my sins yea now my heart is full of evil thoughts and my heart runs away from God therefore my heart feareth and mourneth Every day I see sin in my heart one man brought sin into the World and I am full of that sin and I break Gods Word every day I see I deserve not pardon for the first mans sinning I can do no good for I am like the Devil nothing but evil thoughts and words and works I have lost all likeness to God and goodness and therefore every day I sin against God and I deserve death and damnation The first man brought sin first and I do every day ad to that sin more sins but Christ hath done for us all righteousness and died for us because of our sins and Christ teacheth us That if we cast away our sins and trust in Christ then God will pardon all our sins this I beleeve Christ hath done I can do no righteousness but Christ hath done it for me this I beleeve and therefore I do hope for pardon When I first heard the Commandements I then took up praying to God and cast off sin Again When I heard and understood Redemption by Christ then I beleeved Jesus Christ to take away my sins every Commandement taught me sin and my duty to God When you ask me Why do I love God I answer Because he giveth me all outward blessings as food clothing children all gifts of strength speech hearing especially that he giveth us a Minister to teach us and giveth us Government and my heart feareth lest Government should reprove me but the greatest mercy of all is Christ to give us pardon and life Totherswamp The Confession which he made on the Fast day before the great Assembly was as followeth I Confess in the presence of the Lord before I prayed many were my sins not one good word did I speak not one good thought did I think not one good action did I doe I did act all sins and full was my heart of evil thoughts when the English did tell me of God I cared not for it I thought it enough if they loved me I had many friends that loved me and I thought if they died I would pray to God and afterward it so came to pass then was my heart ashamed to pray I was ashamed if I prayed not I was ashamed a double shame was upon me when God by you taught us very much ashamed was my heart then you taught us that Christ knoweth all our harts therefore truly he saw my thoughts and I had thought if my kindred should die I would pray to God therfore they dying I must now pray to God and therefore my heart feared for I thought Christ knew my thoughts then I heard you teach The first man God made was named Adam God made a Covenant with him Do and live thou and thy Children if thou do not thou must die thou and thy Children And we are Children of Adam poor sinners therefore we all have sinned for we have broke Gods Covenant therefore evil is my heart therefore God is very angry with me we sin against him every day but this great mercy God hath given us he hath given us his only Son and promiseth That whosoever beleeveth in Christ shall be saved for Christ hath dyed for us in our stead for our sins and he hath done for us all the words of God for I can do no good act only Christ can and only Christ hath done all for us Christ have deserved Pardon for us and risen again he hath ascended to God and doth ever pray for us therefore all Beleevers Souls shall goe to Heaven to Christ But when I heard that word of Christ Christ said Repent and Beleeve and Christ seeth who Repenteth then I said dark and weak is my Soul and I am one in darkness I am a very sinful man and now I pray to Christ for life Hearing you teach that Word that the Scribes and Pharisees said Why do thy Disciples break the Tradition of the Fathers Christ answered Why do ye make void the Commandements of God Then my heart feared that I do so when I teach the Indians because I cannot teach them right and thereby make the word of God vain Again Christ said If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch