that by converfing with the In- |
dian he hired, and compiling
fome difcourfes by his affiftance,
he quickly became mafter of this
difficult language: And after
fome time, by the help of the fame
Indian, and by his own indefati-
gable pains and industry, he be-
came fo complete a' mafter of it,
as to be capable of reducing it to
a method, which afterwards he
publifhed to the world under the
title of the Indian grammar.
Having finished his grammar, at
the close he writes thus; "Pray.
ers and pains, thro' faith in Chrift
Jefus, will do any thing.*

"In the year 1646, the general court of Maffachusetts paffed the first act, or order to encourage the carrying the gospel to the Indians; and it was recommended to the elders to confider how it might best be done." I have never met with any account of their convention (as doubtlefs they formed one) nor of the anfwer they gave to the queftion propofed by the affembly. Doubtlefs many valuable fentiments were communicated by fo judicious an affembly as that compofed of the firft minifters who came over, many of whom were gentlemen of distinguished abilities, and of as good an education as could be obtained, at that day, in the univerfities in England.

There was a concurrence of many things to encourage Mr. Eliot in the benevolent defign he had formed to gofpelize the Indians; and to profecute the work with vigor when he had undertaken it. All the good men in the country were glad of his engaging in fuch an undertaking: The ministers especially encour

* Dr. C. Mather-Mr. Neale.

+ Hutchinson's Hift. v. i. p. 161,

aged him; and when he had entered upon his Miffionary la bors, thofe in the neighborhood kindly supplied his place, and per. formed, in part, his work for him at Roxbury, while he was abroad, laboring among the heathen, or those that had embraced Chriftianity, but needed further inftructions from him: And it was an happy circumftance, that fo many churches in that neighborhood had each a pastor and teacher, so that more could be done in fupplying Mr. Eliot's place than otherwife.

He was further awakened by thofe expreffions in the royal charter, which have been already mentioned.

And the remarkable zeal of the Romish Miffionaries, compaffing fea, and land, that they might make profelytes, made his devout mind think of it with difdain, that we fhould be lefs zealous and diligent in evangelizing the Indians, among whom we dwell.

He was further encouraged by the notice, which was taken of this good work in England, foon after it was begun-by the contributions raised, and the fociety formed to afford pecuniary aid; a more particular account of which will be given in its place.

Nor was he a little animated to purfue his laborious fervices, by the divine promise made to the Meffiah" I fhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for thy poffeffion."*

Having prepared himself for going forth as a public inftructor of the Indians, he made his firft effay on the 28th of O&. 1646, accompanied by three others, having given previous notice to the

Magnalia, B. iii.

neighboring Indians of his defire | Indians, and defired them to pro

At this firft conference, the following queftions were pue this poor people. One ftood, and afked, "How he might come to know Jefus Chrift?" Another enquired," Whether Englishmen were ever fo ignorant of Jefus Chrift as themselves?" A third (probably in the fimplicity of his heart) "Whether Jefus Chrift

to inftruct them in the Chriftian pofe fuch queftions as they tho't faith. Wauban, a wife and grave proper refpecting the fermon, or man, and in other refpects, a any other point not contained in perfon of diftinction, with five or it; and it became the general, if fix of the Natives, met them at not conftant practice, after a fersome distance from their wigwams, mon, for as many of the Indians and bidding them welcome, con- as defired it, to ftand up, and producted them into a large apart- pofe queftions to the preacher. ment, where a great number of Some of their questions would be the Indians were collected to hear philofophical, fome upon abftrufe this new doctrine, which the Eng-points in divinity, &c. fo that no lifh proposed to teach them. Af- fmall acquaintance with theology, ter a folemn prayer, Mr. Eliot philofophy, and other sciences, delivered a difcourfe to them in was requifite to give just and fathe Indian tongue, which contin- tisfactory anfwers.* ued fomewhat more than an hour, comprehending many of the moft important articles of natural and revealed religion. In this difcourse he rehearsed and explained the ten commandments; informing therm, at the fame time, of the dreadful curfe of God, that would fall upon all thofe that break them. He then informed them of the coming of Jefus Chrift into the world, to recover * Gov. Hutchinfon quotes the folmankind from fin, and the pun-lowing questions from the journal of ifhment of it. He told them who Jefus Chrift was; where he was gone; and how he would come one day again to judge the world in flaming fire. He informed them likewife of the bleffed ftate of all thofe, who believe in Chrift, and obey his gofpel. He fpake alfo of the creation and fall of man-of the infinite greatness of God, the maker of all things of the joys of heaven, and the torments of hell; perfuading to repentance and holy practice. He applied all to the condition of the Indians prefent. Having finifhed his difcourfe, he afked them, Whether they understood? And with a general voice they faid, that they understood all.-Mr. Eliot and his companions entered into a free converfation with the VOL. III. No. 10.

Col. Goffe, one of the judges of King Charles the First. This gentleman attended an Indian Lecture in 1660, after

the natives had been under instruction following queftions put by them, viz. 13 or 14 years. He takes notice of the

1. In your text are these words, "Save yourselves, from this untoward

generation." In other fcriptures is ftands, We can do nothing of ourfeives ;

how can this be reconciled?

2. You fay, "The word is the sword of the fpirit, by which their hearts were pricked." How fhall I ufe the fword of the fpirit to prick my heart?

3. What was the fin of Judas, or ing it was what God had appointed? how did he fin in betraying Christ, see

4. The answer to thofe converts was, "Repent, and be baptized, &c.; but ye do not fuffer us to be baptized therefore, I fear none of the Indians fins are forgiven; and my heart is weary with that fear; for it is faid in Matthew, Whose fins ye bind on earth are bound in heaven." Ааа

could understand prayers in the Indian language?" Another propofed this question, "How there could be an image of God, fince it was forbidden in the second commandment?" Another, "Whether if the father be naught, and the child good, God will be offended with that child, because in the fecond commandment it is faid, "He vifits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children | The laft queftion that was asked at this meeting was, "How all the world became full of people, if they were all drowned in the flood?" Mr. Eliot and his friends gave plain and familiar answers.

Anfwer to a Question. [Continued from page 338.]

I'

NUMBER II.

N anfwering this question, it has been fhewn, in a preceding number, that the atonement of Chrift is infinitely full or fufficient for the salvation of all mankind; that therefore the want of fuch an atonement cannot be the reafon why all are not faved.

It is proposed then to shew,

II. That the calls and invitations of the gofpel, and the folemn declaration, that God hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they would turn and live, are confiftent with his leaving numbers to go on in fin and perifh.

It was alfo Mr. Eliot's cuftom to put proper queftions to his Indian auditors: And by hearing their queries, and anfwering them, And in doing this it is neceffaand interrogating those under in-ry to confider the precife meaning ftruction in his turn, he not only of the declaration, that God hath made a trial of their profiting by no pleasure in the death of the his miniftry; but alfo gave an edge wicked, but that they turn and to what he delivered to them.* live. This paffage muft mean, either that God, taking all things into view, does not upon the whole choose the death or punifhment of any of the wicked, but actually chooses that they should all turn and live; or else it must mean, that he takes no direct pleafure in their death or misery, in itself confidered, but that their turning and obtaining life is in itself more pleafing and defirable. But it is evident from various confiderations, that the passage cannot be rationally understood in the fenfe firft ftated. For if the Moft High, all things confidered, did actually choose that none of the wicked fhould go on in fin and perifh, but that all should turn and live; then he must be greatly disappointed in his real choice and

This conference lafted about three hours; and after it was clofed, Mr. Eliot and his companions returned home; and were fo well pleased with the reception they met with among the natives, and the hopeful profpect of fuccefs, that they were encouraged to have another interview with the people, which they accomplished within a few days: account of this, together with fucceeding conferences, and feveral other interefting events refpecting Mr. Eliot's miffionary fervices, may be expected in the following number.

an

*Magnalia, B. iii. p. 193, and 196. Hutchinson's hiftory of Maffachusetts. Neale's hift. of N. England, vol. i. p.

242, 243; he made extracts from a book entitled Day-breaking of the Gofpel in New England; London 1647, fome of which have been quoted..

defire.

For the fcriptures exprefsly declare, that "wide is the gate and broad is the way which