be evident together with their liberall and enlarged care to propagate the eternall Gospell of our Lord among the Natives At the title of haeresie this is the preface Although no humane power be Lord over the faith and consciences of men and therefore may not constraine them to believe or professe against their consciences yet because such as bring in damnable heresies tending to the subversion of the Christian Faith and the destruction of the soules of men ought duly to be restrained from such notorious impiety it is therefore ordered and decreed by this Court That if any Christian within this jurisdiction shall goe about to subvert and destroy the Christian Faith and Religion by broaching or maintaining any damnable heresie as denying the immortality of the soule or the resurrection of the body or any sinne to be repented of in the regenerate or any evill done by the outward man to be accounted sinne or denying that Christ gave himselfe a ransome for our sinnes or shall affirme that wee are not justified by his death and righteousnesse but by the perfection of their owne workes or shall deny the morality of the fourth Commandement or shall endeavour to seduce others to any the heresies aforementioned every such person continuing obstinate therein after due meanes of conviction shall be sentenced to banishment 1646. And before having said that the open contempt of Gods word and the messengers thereof is the desolating sinne of civill States c. It is therefore ordered and decreed That if any christian so called within this jurisdiction shall contemptuously behave himself towards the word preached or the messengers thereof either by interrupting him in his preaching or by charging him falsely with any error which he hath not taught or like a son of Korah cast upon his true doctrine or himselfe any reproach every such person or persons whatsoever censure the Church may passe shall for the first scandall be convented and reproved openly by the Magistrate at some Lecture and bound to their good behaviour and if a second time they breake forth into the like contemptuous carriages they shall either pay five pounds to the publique treasury or stand two houres openly upon a blocke or stoole foure foot high on a Lecture day with a paper fixed on his breast written in capitall letters AN OPEN AND OBSTINATE CONTEMNER OF GODS HOLY ORDINANCES that others may feare and be ashamed of breaking out into the like wickednesse 1646. There be some in this England that account it piety and Religion to speake evill of Christs Ministers and cast off his Ordinances now blessed of God from heaven and earth be our Novangles Magistrates Ministers and people that have so seasonably witnessed against these abominations They are great lovers of peace and government these therefore be their words in another place For as much as experience hath plentifully often proved that since the first-rising of the Anabaptists about an hundred yeeres past they have bin the Incendiaries of Common-wealths and the infectors of persons in maine matters of Religion and the troublers of Churches in most places where they have been and that they who have held the baptizing of infants unlawfull have usually held other errors or heresies together therewith though as heretiques use to doe they have concealed the same untill they espied a fit advantage and opportunity to vent them by way of question or scruple and whereas divers of this kinde have since our comming into New-England appeared amongst our selves some whereof as others before them have denyed the Ordinance of Magistracy and the lawfulnesse of making warre others the lawfulnesse of Magistrates and their inspection into any breach of the first Table which opinions if connived at by us are like to be increased among us and so necessarily bring guilt upon us infection and trouble to the Churches and hazard to the whole Common-wealth It is therefore ordered by this Court and authority thereof that if any person or persons shall either openly condemne or oppose the baptizing of infants or goe about secretly to seduce others from the approbation or use thereof or shall purposely depart the Congregation at the administration of that Ordinance or shall deny the Ordinance of Magistracy or their lawfull right or authority to make warre or to punish the outward breaches of the first Table and shall appeare to the Court willfully and obstinately to continue therein after due meanes of conviction every such person or persons shall be sentenced to banishment 1644. And that wee may discerne how worthy they are that wee should doe all the good wee can for them for they love the nation where they inhabite and are very serious in preparing them for one husband to present them a pure virgin unto Christ 2 Cor. 11. 2. Severall therefore are their decrees in order to their conversion 1. Every Towne shall have power to restraine all Indians from prophaning the Lords day 1633. 1639. 1641. 2. The English shall not destroy the Indians corne but shall help them to fence in their grounds 3. Considering one end in planting these parts was to propagate the true Religion unto the Indians and that divers of them are become subjects to the English and have engaged themselves to be willing and ready to understand the Law of God It is therefore ordered and decreed that such necessary and wholesome Lawes which are in force and may be made from time to time to reduce them to civility of life shall be once in the yeer if the times be safe made knowne to them by such fit persons as the generall Court shall nominate having the helpe of some able Interpreter 4. Considering also that interpretation of tongues is appointed of God for propagating the truth It is therefore decreed that two Ministers shall be chosen every yeer and sent with the consent of their Churches with whomsoever will freely offer themselves to accompany them in that service to make knowne the heavenly counsell of God among the Indians and that something be allowed them by the Generall Court to give away freely to those Indians whom they shall perceive most willing and ready to be instructed by them 5. They decree further that no Indian shall at any time Powaw or performe outward worship to their false gods or to the devill and if any shall transgresse this law the Powawer shall pay 5 l. the procurer 5 l. c. 1646. Their love to learning also is meet to be remembred and encouraged wherein they have observed a chief project of that old deluder Satan to keepe men from the knowledge of the Scriptures as in former times keeping them in an unknowne tongue so in these latter times by perswading from the use of tongues that so at least the true sense and meaning of the originall might be clouded with false glosses of saint-seeming deceivers and that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers in Church and Common
Moses to his Israell Onely take heed to your selves and keepe your soules diligently Deut. 4. 9. make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. and because you are the children of faithfull Abraham command your children and families that they walke in the waies of the Lord Gen. 18. 9. and let who will serve themselves follow lying vanities and set up their owne lusts let every one of us say and do as Ioshua I and my house will serve the Lord Josh 24. 15. And not onely serve the Lord with and in our housholds but in furthering the common good of others and t is considerable God is pleased to owne publique interests though in civill things with the name of his owne inheritance But this is the sinne this is the misery of these times All seek their owne not the things of Iesus Christ Even regulated charity may beginne at home it may not it must not end there it is the onely grace that is sowne on earth it growes up to heaven and continues there it goes with us thither and there abides to all eternity and t is therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 greater then faith and hope not from continuance onely but its extensivenesse it delights to be communicative it reacheth an hand of helpe one way or other to every one that needs though at never so great a distance after the cloven tongues as of fire had warmed the affections of the holy Apostles they had so much love to soules that they forgat their fathers house discipled all Nations and preached the Gospel to every creature Their line went through all the earth and their words to the ends of the world that former known world the same spirit hath warmed the hearts of our Countreymen and they are busie at the same worke in the other the new-found world For behold a white horse and he that sate on him had a bow and a Crown was given unto him and hee went forth conquering and to conquer so the Lord Christ shall be light to that world also and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Britain hath woon the Gospel-glory from all other Countries not onely imbracing it with the formost as old Gildas testifieth but it was the first of all the Provinces that established Christianity by a law saith Sabellicus our Lucius was the first Christian King that Annales make mention of and venerable Bede out of Eutropius declareth that Constantine the first Christian Emperour was created to that dignity in this Island Sozom. l. 9. c. 11. saith that so were Marcus Gratian also But Constantine brought further honour to the Nation Religion For the Saxon Bede and Ponticus Virunnius affirme expresly that Constantine was born in Britaine after this ingemuit orbis videns se totum Romanum All the world wondred after the Beast groaned under the Papall servitude and our K. Henry the eight was the first of all the Princes who brake that yoke of Antichrist but neerer yet to our purpose The Inhabitants of the first England so Verstegan calls that part of Germany whence our Ancestors came hither with the Saxons and Iutes derive their Christianity from Iewry Ad nos doctrina de terra Iudaeorum per sanctos Apostolos qui docebant gentes pervenit as that great linguist learned and laborious Mr Wheelocke hath observed and translated out of the old Saxon Homilies t is but just therefore lege talionis that we repay what we borrowed and endeavour their conversion who first acquainted us with the eternall Gospell and if it be probable that providence honoured this Nation with the prime discovery of that New World as is intimated hereafter it is true without all controversie that from this second England God hath so disposed the hearts of many in the third New England that they have done more in these last few yeares towards their conversion then hath been effected by all other Nations and people that have planted there since they were first known to the habitable world as if that Prophesie were now in its fulfilling Behold I will doe a new thing now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it I will even make a way in the Wildernes and rivers in the desart c. When our Ancestors lay also in darkenesse and the shadow of death Gregory wrote divers Epistles to severall Noblemen and Bishops yea and to some Kings and Queenes of France and England these Sir H. Spelman that famous Antiquary your noble Countreyman and of alliance to divers of you calls epistolas Britannicas which are also mentioned afterwards in these he gives God thankes for their forwardnesse to further the worke of grace and desires earnestly the continuance of their bountifull and exemplary encouragement of such as were zealously employed in that Soule-worke and that is one of the two businesses entended in the following discourse which begs your assistance in your Spheres and cordiall concurrence to promote a designe of so much glory to the Lord of glory This is no new notion or motion all the royall Charters required the Gospellizing of the Natives and in the beginning of this Parliament there was an Ordinance of Lords and Commons appointing a Committee of both and their worke was among other things to advance the true Protestant Religion in America and to spread the Gospell among the Natives there and since very lately there is an Act for the promoting and propagating the Gospell of Iesus Christ in New-England I wish prosperity to all the Plantations but those of New-England deserve from hence more then ordinary favour because as by an Edict at Winchester about eighth hundred yeeres since King Ecbert commanded this Country should be called Angles-land so these your Countreymen of their owne accord and alone were and are ambitious to retain the name of their owne Nation besides this England had once an Heptarchate and then your Countrey was the chiefe of that Kingdome called Anglia Orientalis and these are the neerest of all the seven to you in name Nov-angles East-angles I pray that you would be nearest and most helpefull to them in this most Christian and Gospel-like designe which I leave with you and two or three Petitions at the throne of grace for you one is that of Moses Yee shall not doe after all the things that wee do heare this day every man whatsoever is right in his owne eyes but that ye walk by rule and not by example this is an age much enclining to Enthousiasmes and Revelations men pretend to externall and inward impulses but wee must remember though wee had a voice from heaven yet having the Scriptures wee have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure Propheticall word whereunto yee doe well that yee take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place untill the day dawne and the day starre arise in your hearts
yea in Hispaniola alone scarce one hundred and fifty of two millions were left alive In another place hee professeth their tyranny was so cruell and detestable that in fourty six yeeres space they caused he verily believed more than fifty millions of them to pay their last debt to nature for I speak saith hee the truth and what I saw they dealt with the poore Indians not as with beasts hoc enim peroptarem but as if they had bin the most abject dung of the earth and is this the way saith Benzo to convert Infidels Such kindnesse they shewed to other places also Cuba Iamaica Portu ricco c. It was said against Israell Cursed shall thy basket be and thy store ver 17. the fruit of thy land the encrease of thy cattle ver 18. all shall be devoured by enemies and other Nations c. ver 30 c. For very much is said of their suffering in riches and honour c. And the Spanish Christians that brake into America shewed themselves so covetous of their treasure that the Natives with wonder said surely gold is the Spaniards God they broiled noble Indians on gridirons to extort from them their hidden wealth giving no respect at all to their Caciques or Kings Memorable in many respects is the History of Attabaliba the great King of Peru who being conquered and captivated by Francis Pizarro redeemed his liberty by the promise of so many golden and silver vessels as should fill the roome where they were so high as one could reach with his hand and they were to take none away till he had brought in the whole summe expecting thereupon according to covenant his freedome and honour he dispatched his officers and servants with great care and diligence and did faithfully performe his bargaine in bringing that vast heape of treasure together but they resolve neverthelesse most impiously to murder him though with many arguments and tears he pleaded for his life desiring sometime to be sent unto Caesar then expostulating with them for their perfidiousnesse and falsehood but neither words nor weeping nor their owne inward guilt could mollifie those hard hearts they sentence him to death by a rope and the cruell execution followed but Benzo observed a miraculous hand of vengeance from heaven upon all that gave consent thereto so that as Suetonius records of Caesars stobbers Nullus corum sua morte defunctus est every one of them found that consultation and contrivance fatall Almager is hanged Didacus his sonne is slaine by Vacca de Castro the Indians kill Iohn Pizarro at Cusco who fell upon Fryar Vincent also of the green valley and slew him with clubs in the Isle Puna Ferdinandus Pizarro was sent into Spain where he consumed his daies in a prison Gonsallus Pizarro was taken by Gasca and hewen in pieces and Francis Pizarro that was the President and gave judgement died an evill death also being slaine by his owne Countrey men in that strange land so just was God in avenging so perfidious a regicide and King-murder so ominous was their presumption against the honourable vile swine-herds sentencing so great a King to so foule a death those are his words in whom and his interpreter he that please may read further those murderers were base in birth and life and they instance in despicable particulars It were endlesse to mention all the parallels that the Spaniards have drawne upon the poore Indians according to the threats of God upon the sinning Jewes Deut. 28. 43 The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high and thox shalt come downe very low 48. Thou shalt serve thine enemy in hunger and thirst and nakednesse and in want of all things and he shall put a yoake of iron upon thy necke till he have destroyed thee 59. The Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull c. 61. And every plague which is not written in this Law will the Lord bring upon thee untill thou be destroyed Their Kings and Caciques were no more regarded by them than the meanest they enthralled all the Natives in most woefull servitude and captivity their sufferings have bin most wonderfull such as the Book of the Law hath not registred nor any other record they spared no age nor sex not women with childe they laid wagers who could digge deepest into the bodies of men at one blow or with most dexterity cut off their heads they tooke infants from their mothers breasts and dash'd their innocent heads against the rockes they cast others into the rivers with scorne making themselves merry at the manner of their falling into the water they set up severall gallowses and hung upon them thirteen Indians in honour they said of Christ and his twelve Apostles And yet further the same Bishop mervailes at the abominable blindnesse and blasphemy of his Countrymen impropriating their bloudy crimes unto God himselfe giving him thanks in their prosperous tyrannies like those thieves and Tyrants he sayth spoken of by the Prophet Zachary 11. 5. They kill and hold themselves not guilty and they that sell them say Blessed be the Lord for I am rich And now if all these parallels will not amount to a probability one thing more shall be added which is the dispersion of the Jewes t is said The Lord shall scatter thee among all people from one end of the earth even to the other c. Deut. 28. 64. The whole remnant of thee I will scatter into all winds Ezek. 5. 10 12 14. Zach. 2. 6. I have spread you as the foure winds of heaven Now if it be considered how punctuall and faithfull God is in performing his promises and threats mentioned in the Scripture of truth wee shall have cause to looke for the Jewes in America one great very great part of the earth Esay had said 1. 8. The daughter of Syon shall be left as a lodge in a garden of Cucumbers and as Helena found it in her time pomorum custodium an Apple-yard so Cyrill affirmeth in his daies it was a place full of Cucumbers Ieremies prophecies of Babylons destruction even in the circumstances thereof are particularly acknowledged and related by Xenophon The Lord had threatned to bring a Nation upon Israell swift as the Eagle flieth Deut. 28. 49. Iosephus saith this was verified in Vespatians Ensigne and the banner of Cyrus was an Eagle also as the same Xenophon relateth and if the Jewes bee not now never were in America how have they been dispersed into all parts of the earth this being indeed so large a portion of it how have they bin scattered into all the four windes if one of the foure did never blow upon them Much more might be said of their sufferings from the Spaniards whom the barbarous Indians thereupon counted so barbarous and inhumane that they supposed them not to come into the world like other people as if it were impossible that
Ievves in America OR PROBABILITIES That the AMERICANS are of that Race With the removall of some contrary reasonings and earnest desires for effectuall endeavours to make them Christian Proposed by THO THOROVVGOOD B. D. one of the Assembly of Divines CANT 8. 8. We have a little sister and she hath no breasts what shall we doe for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for MAT. 8. 11. Many shall come from the East and from the West and shall sit downe with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of Heaven Aethiopes vertuntur in filios Dei si egerint paenitentiam filii Dei transeunt in Aethiopes si in profundum venerint peccatorum Hieronym in Esai London Printed by W. H. for Tho. Slater and are be to sold at his shop at the signe of the Angel in Duck lane 1650. TO THE HONOVRABLE Knights and Gentlemen that have residence in and relation to the County of Norfolk Peace from the God of Peace WHen the glad tidings of the Gospels sounding in America by the preaching of the English arrived hither my soule also rejoyced within me and I remembred certaine papers that had been laid aside a long time upon review of them and some additions to them they were privately communicated unto such as perswaded earnestly they might behold further light being thus finished and licenced also to walke abroad as they were stepping forth that incivility charged upon Chrysippus occurred that he dedicated not his writings to any King or Patron which custome presently seemed not onely lawfull but as ancient as those Scriptures where Saint Luke in the history of the Acts of the Apostles applies himselfe to Theophilus Act. 1. 1. And Saint Iohn to the Elect Lady so named some thinke or for her graces so entituled I was easily induced to follow this fashion and my thoughts soone reflected upon you Who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lovers of God and choice men of your Countrey I may be censured for this high generall and ambitious dedication but I doe freely publish my own utter unworthinesse t is true my respects and love be very much to you all and my native soile yet in this I doe not drive any private designe I looke beyond my selfe at your honour the honour of the Nation yea the glory of God and the soule-good of many millions that are yet in darkenesse and out of Christ By you is the following tract communicated to the world I wish and pray that the designe bespoken in it may be cordially furthered by you and all that read or heare thereof t is like you will finde in the probabilities so many Iudaicall resemblances in America that as it was said of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either Plato writes like Philo the Iew or Philo is become Platonicke so the Jewes did Indianize or the Indians doe Judaize for surely they are alike in many very many remarkable particulars and if they bee Iewes they must not for that be neglected visible comments indeed they are of that dismall Text Thou shalt become an astonishment a proverbe and a by-word to all Nations c. Deut. 20. 37. and so they are every where to this day what more reproachfull obloquy is there among men then this Thou art a Jew Oh the bitter fruits of disobedience and t is high time for us Gentiles to lay up that example in the midst of our hearts Pro. 4. 21. remembring alwaies because of unbeliefe they were broken off and if God spared not the naturall branches take heed lest hee spare not thee Rom. 11. 21. It was a suddaine sentence Tam viles inter Christianos Iudaei ut inter mundum triticum mures Jewes are as bad and vile among Christians as Mice in cleane wheate for glorious were their privileges and we have a share in some of them that last especially of whom concerning the flesh Christ came who is God over all blessed for ever Rom. 9. 4 5. and for another thing they have highly merited our regard To them were commited the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 9. The holy Scriptures were concredited to them and they have faithfully preserved them for us and conveyed them to us Former times indeed found cause to exterminate them these dominions I say nothing for such their reintroduction which must be with sacred and civill cautions that the svveet name of our dearest Lord be not blasphemed nor the Natives robbed of their rights but when will Christians in earnest endeavour their conversion if the name of Jevv must be odious everlastingly I speak for their Gospelizing though some suspect they are never likely to come again under that covenant as if the Liber repudii the bill of divorce mentioned by the Prophet did put them away from God for ever Esa 50. 1. as if they should return to their Spouse no more but that there is for them a time of love and that they shall be grafted in Rom. 11. 23. is manifested afterwards upon Scripture grounds and if the period of their wandering be upon its determination and their recovery approching how may wee rejoyce in the returne of that Prodigall It is meet that wee should make merry and be glad for our brother that was dead is reviving againe Luk. 15. 32. How should wee beg for them that God would poure upon them the spirit of grace and supplication that they may looke upon him whom they have pierced and mourne for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne Zach. 12. 10. Or if the lost Tribes are not to be found in America of whatsoever descent and origination the poore Natives be if they finde the Lord Christ and the Nov-angles be the Wisemen guiding them unto their peace great cause shall wee have to lift up the high praises of our God in spirituall exultation how should wee cast our mite into this treasury yea our Talent our Talents if wee have them for certainely the time is comming That as there is one Shepherd there shall be one Sheepfold Io. 10. 16. It is true our owne Countrey in many respects stands in need of helpe wee are fallen into the last and worst times the old age of the world full of dangerous and sinnefull diseases Iniquity is encreased and if ever if to any people the saying of that Torrent of Tullian eloquence so Ierome calls Lactantius be applicable it is to poore England that is not onely in the gall of bitternesse but in the very dregs of error and ungodlinesse Ideo mala omnia rebus humanis ingravescunt quia Deus hujus mundi effector ac gubernator derelictus est quia susceptaesunt contra quam fas est impiae religiones postremo quia ne coli quidem vel à paucis Deus sinitur But O my soule if thou be wise be wise for thy selfe Pro. 9. 12. and give mee leave to say to you as
expressing more than wee can read was done either when the Chaldees or Romans begirt their City And the glosse of St. Ierome strengthens this conjecture When the Fathers saith he did eate the Sonnes or the Sonnes their Fathers is not related in any History and yet it was to be done openly in the midst of them and as it were in the sight of the Sunne But if the Jewes bee planted in that Westerne World we shall soone find the accomplishment of that Prophecie from Heaven for there be Caniballs and Man-eaters in great multitudes some whose trade is Homo cupium Homo capium hungring and hunting after Mans flesh and devouring it whose greedy bellies have buried Millions of them these Carybes are scattered all the Countrey over the Mauhacks are such and so neare they are or were to some of our Planters that finding an Englishman they eate one part of him after another before his face while he was yet alive If it be said they eate none but strangers or enemies not Fathers their Sonnes à contra Peter Martyr removes that scruple by affirming if they want the flesh of Foes and Forraigners they eate then one another even their owne kinred allies as he writes that added the Centons to Solinus If it be objected those Caniballs are of a different Nature and Nation from the rest Peter Martyr answers that also supposing all the Inhabitants to bee of one stock because they use all one and the same kind of Bread every where called Maiiz and their Cymbae Uni-ligneae their Canoes and Boats are in all places alike and as those Western Nations generally call their Boats Canoes and their Bread Maiiz so their common word for wine is Chichia for swords Macanas for Kings Caciques And if the Americans bee Jewish the Spaniards have yet in another sense fulfilled that Prediction of Ezekiel for their owne Bishop Bartholomeus de las Casas writes how they tooke Indians 10000 sometimes 20000 abroad with them in their Forragings and gave them no manner of food to sustaine them but the Flesh of other Indians taken in Warre and so Christian-Spaniards set up a shambles of mans flesh in their Army children were slaine and roasted men were killed for their hands and feet sakes for those they esteemed the onely delicate parts this was most hideous and most barbarous inhumanity the Tidings whereof was soone carryed through the Land and overwhelmed the Inhabitants with Horror and Astonishment CHAP VII Fifth Conjecture THE people that have not yet received the Gospell of Jesus Christ are Jewes but the Americans have not yet been gospelized and here three things come to consideration 1. All other nations at first received the Gospell 2. The Jewes before the end of the world shall be converted 3. These Indians have not yet heard of Christ 1. As the Scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the Gentiles through faith preached before the Gospell unto Abraham saying in thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed Gal. 3 8. Gen. 12. 2 3. 18. 8. In like manner the glorious Gospell was soon conveyed to them soon after the comming of Christ even before the death of the Apostles holy David spake of this promulgation when he said Psal 19. 1. The Heavens i. e. the Apostles did declare the glory of God c. For the fourth Their line is gone out into all Lands and their words into the end of the world is applied by Saint Paul to this very purpose Rom. 10. 18. It was the command of their Master Goe teach all Nations c. Mat. 28. 19. and preach the Gospell to every creature Mar. 16. 15. and they gave hereto most willing obedience which we must have believed though it had not bin so exactly recorded in undoubted ecclesiasticall Histories There we read often that they divided the world into 12 parts every Apostle accepting that which fell to his lot but first they compiled the Creed called therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Collation saith Cassian who was Chrysostomes Scholar because that which was at large expressed in the severall volumes of the Bible was by them briefly contracted into that forme and to this he applieth that of the Apostle Rom. 9. 28. a short worke we read it now but of old it was rendred verbum abbreviatum a short word a short rule to which all of them were to conforme their doctrine and the fifteenth of Iuly was afterwards and is still celebrated by some Christians in memory of their thus going to Gospellize the world and it is called Festum divisionis Apostolorum yea and the place is yet shewed to Travellers at this day where they are said to assemble upon this occasion Very many ancient writers historicall and others agreeing with Vigilius in this Authenticum symbolum quod Apostoli tradiderunt and a little before he blameth some for venting such doctrines as were neither delivered by the Prophets nor had the authentique authority of the Apostles Creed and yet suppose it dubious whether that Symboll be indeed of Apostolicall constitution and that they did not so divide the world to further their worke which is so confidently avouched by the ancient together with the Countries where each of them had their portion yet we are sufficiently assured such was their commission which they pursued with exactnesse and successe so that in their life time by their diligence the whole earth was enlightned Thus Saint Paul tell his Romans 1. 8. Their faith was published through the whole world the same is said to the Collossians also 1. 6. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used in neither place lest curiosity should restraine it to the Roman World but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the former expression and the latter is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the whole and every part of the world and is it not considerable as the injunction was preach the Gospell to every creature as was before remembred from Saint Marke 16. 5. So Saint Paul avoweth that in his time it was preached to every creature Col. 1. 23. such was then the use of that word the name creature was especially given to man the chiefe of all creatures below And this is unanimously acknowledged by the next writers Ignatius thought to be that little child called by Christ Mat. 18. 1. hath this expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is one Church which the Apostles setled from one end of the earth to another in the bloud of Christ by their sweat and labour Tertullian in the following Century affirmes that the Gospel in those very first times went beyond the Roman Monarchy even to us Britons and Eusebius sheweth how the doctrine of salvation by divine power and cooperation was carried into all the world and Iulius Firmicus Maturnus professeth that in his time 1300 yeeres since there was no Nation under Heaven East West North or
Wigwam before company To what Nation Iesus Christ came first and when If a man should be inclosed in iron a foot thicke and thrown into the fire what would become of his soul would it come forth thence Why did not God give all men good hearts How long is it before men believe that have the word of God made knowne unto them How they should know when their faith and prayers bee good Why did not God having all power kill the devill that made all men so bad If we be made so weake by sinne in our hearts how can wee come before God and sanctifie a sabbath They propounded three cases about the Sabbath In the exercises besides prayer for a blessing Mr. Elliot doth four things 1. He catechizeth the children and youth by which the aged learne 2. He preacheth out of some Scripture plainely and briefely 3. If there be cause admonition follows 4. They aske us questions and we answer them Some cases and admonitions are there mentioned 1. Wampoonas upon a light occasion beat his wife for this hee was brought before the Assembly where the quality of the sinne was opened as against Gods command cruelty to his owne body c. hee turned his face to the wall and wept hee was so penitent and melting that all forgave him but the Indians would have his fine notwithstanding his repentance which he paid also willingly Another case of was of Cutshamaquin a Sachim who had a son fourteen or fifteen yeeres old hee was drunk and behaved himselfe disobediently against his father and mother they rebuked him but he despised their admonition hee was brought before the Assembly stood out a long time though his father for his example confessed his owne faults the young man still persisted divers of us called upon him to acknowledge his offence against his parents and entreat their forgivenesse yet he refused the Indians also affectionately put him on divers spake one after another and some severall times at last hee humbled himselfe confessed his sinne and asked forgivenesse of his father taking him by the hand at which his father burst into teares he did the same to his mother who wept also as did divers others and many English wept also the house was filled with weeping wee went to prayer all the time thereof the Sachim wept so abundantly that the boord hee stood upon was all dropt with his teares Some questions were after this propounded An old Powoow asked Why we had not taught them to know God sooner Another said Before he knew God he was well but since I have knowne God and sin I finde my heart full of sin Whether their children goe when they die because they have not sinned If any of them shall goe to heaven seeing their hearts are so full of sin especially Nanwunwudsquas mad after women If they leave Powawing and pray to God what shall they doe when they are sicke having no skill in Physick What shall we say to such Indians as oppose our praying unto God and believing in Christ what get you say they by this you goe naked still and are as poore as we our corne is as good as yours and we take more pleasure then you c. They bring their cases to Mr. Elliot A Law is now among them against gaming other Indians demand their old debts which they refuse to pay because it was a sinne to play and they must not pay such sinnefull debts They tooke it to heart when Mr. Elliot told them he was afraid they were weary and cooled in their love to religion and enquired when they did heare and pray aright how they might know when they were weary of them what time it might be before the Lord might come and make them know him c. some other cases were moved by them A man before hee knew God had two wives the first is barren the second brought forth sweet children which of these must hee put away if the former they offended God if the latter they illegitimate their owne deare children And a Squaw leaves her husband commits adultery with remote Indians heares the word repents and returnes to her husband still unmarried is not he bound to receive her An old widdow Squaw said if when men know God God loves them why then are any afflicted after they know him Mr. Elliot preaching upon Ephes 5. 11. Have no fellowship c. They asked what Englishmen thought of him because he came among the wicked Indians and taught them Another said Suppose two men sin one knowes it the other doth not will God punish both alike Againe If a wise Indian teach good things to other Indians should not he be as a father or brother to such One Tutaswampe prayed at the buriall of an Indian child with such zeale variety of gracious expressions and abundance of tears that the woods rang with their sighs and prayers the Englishman that heard him said hee was ashamed of himselfe and some others that have had so great light but want such good affections Third Treatise THat woman that propounded the first question according to appointment by another man 2. Treatise p. 6. hujus p. 4. moved this also When my heart prayeth with my husband praying is this praying to God aright This woman kept at home learned quickly to spinne well held her children to labour after she submitted to the Gospel her life was exemplary she died of a sicknesse taken in childbed Mr. Elliot visited her severall times prayed with her asked her about her spirituall estate she said she still loved God though he made her sicke and was resolved to pray unto him as long as she lived and to refuse Powawing shee believed God would pardon all her sinnes because Jesus Christ dyed for her that God was well pleased in him that she was willing to die believed shee should goe to heaven and live happy with God and Christ of her owne accord she called her children and said to them I shall now die and when I am dead your grandfather grandmother and Unkles c. will send for you to live among them and promise you great matters but I charge you doe not believe them live not among them for they pray not to God keepe not the Sabbath commit all manner of sinnes and are not punisht but I charge you live here for they pray to God his word is taught sins are supprest and punish'd by lawes therefore I charge you live here all your daies she died and it fell out as she said T is observed many other Indians would come in but they have neither tooles nor skill to sence in their grounds if the word were constantly taught government exercised encouragements for the industrious with meanes to instruct them in letters trade and labour as building fishing flax hemp c. many well-minded Indians would thus be drawne together Mr. Elliot stirres up
when the rest of them said they all found it so in their hearts this gave him occasion to discourse to them of the unity of the spirit They propounded questions If a man know Gods word but believe it not and yet teach others is that good teaching and if others believe that teaching is that good believing And when Mr. Elliot asked them How they could tell when a man knoweth Gods word and doth not believe it they answered When he doth not in his practise answerable to that he knoweth If I teach on the Sabbath that which you taught us and forget something is that a sin What should I pray for at night what at morning and what on the Sabbath day What is true repentance and how shall I know when it is true How must I waite on God When I pray for a soft heart why is it still hard Can one be saved by reading the booke of the creature When such die as never heard of Christ whither do they go VVhat is the meaning of the name Hebrews why doth God say he is the God of the Hebrews If one purpese to pray and die before that time wither goeth his soule Doth God know who shall repent and believe and who not why then did God use so much meanes with Pharaoh VVhat meanes that Blessed are they that mourne VVhat meaneth lifting up hands to God VVhat anger is good and what is bad If a child die before he sin whither goeth his soule If one that prayes to God sin like him that prayes not is not he worse And while they discoursed of this and about hating of wicked persons one of them said they must love the man and doe him good but hate his sin c. For I will not forestall but prepare the publication of those other remarkeable occurrences and now ex pede Herculem when this little of those many matters worthy of observation is seen together none will call it a day of small things Zach. 4. 10. Shall we call this a day of small things Shall not those poore Natives in New England rise up in judgement against Old England and condemne it they at once or twice preaching of the Law and Gospel repent and weepe and pray and heare and most earnestly enquire after God but wee when the Sunshine of truth hath been so long cleare among us degenerate into those very sinnes which they abandon and detest and with indignation say get ye hence Es 30. 22. They willingly forsake their Powawing and inchantments but the devill is broke loose among us and many desire commerce with those that have familiarity with him The Indians set a mulct upon those women that tie not up their haire that goe with naked breasts what would they say what would they doe if that sex were as immodest as some in this Nation bepainted bedaubed debauched not more with spots in their faces then stains in their glory if Christianity be to them any honour The Indians weare their haire comely as the English and punish those that doe otherwise there be among us that would account it piacular it should be said of them that in the least they looke Rome-wards yet like those locusts having the faces of men they have haire as the hair of women Rev. 9. 8. grace is pleased to borrow that from nature if a man have long haire it is a shame to him 1 Cor. 11. 14. Those Natives surely will rise up in judgement with the men of this generation and condemne them they pray in their families morning and evening and upon other occasions they sanctifie the sabbath wee have those among us that scoffe and scorne these practises of piety and call the practisers thereof Duty-mongers The Indians desire publique meetings and delight in the places where God is worship'd and his word is taught but there be those in this England that make it a great piece of religion to divide and separate though God himselfe would not have us forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Hebr. 10. 25. The Indians asked Mr. Elliot if any teach us good things should wee not love him as a father or a brother but t is now among some esteemed a signe of grace and a badge of holinesse to despise their teachers as if that Scripture of truth were never againe to be fulfilled They mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his peaple till there was no remedy 1 Chron. 36. 16. But many other be the sad symptomes of our Englands defection and danger and our God hath made himself many waies marvelous in New-England Wee cannot call it a day of small things Or if at first it was like a little cloud arising out of the sea as a mans hand 1 King 18. 44. certainely it carried with it a a sound of abundance of raine ver 41. even that raine that commeth downe from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater Gods word hath not returned unto him void it hath accomplished that which he pleased and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it Es 55. 10 11. Now the blessing of the God of Iacob be upon them and their endeavours even the blessing of Iacob upon Ioseph the God Almighty help them and blesse them with blessings of heaven above blessings of the deep that lieth under Gen. 49. 25 26. That God by their meanes may say to the North give up and to the South keepe not backe bring my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the earth Esa 43. 6. so from the uttermost parts shall we hear songs songs of praise even glory to the righteous 24. 16. and not onely glory to the Lord our righteousnesse but those that winne many to this righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for ever and ever Dan. 12. 3. and not onely hereafter in that heaven of heavens but this shall bee told as Englands memoriall in present and succeeding generations and those American Nations especially shall call them blessed Mal. 3. 12. yea the blessings of them that were ready to perish will come upon them Job 29. 13. for they have done worthily in Ephrata and are famous in Bethelem Ruth 4. 11 and when they be indeed sensible of this great mercy they will not onely say thanks be unto God for this unspeakeable gift 2 Cor. 9. 15. But they will long to require this kindnesse to the English also and as of old almost all Nations receiving from Ierusalem the first meanes of their Christianity expressed their gratefull mindes by their charitable beneficence upon all occasions to those that dwelt there this began in the Apostles daies Act. 11. 19. Rom. 15. 26. Those of Macedonia and Achaia distributed to the poor Saints at Ierusalem so