To the Right Worshipful the Commiffioners under his Majefties Great-Seal, for Propagation of the Gospel amongst the poor blind Indians in New-England.

RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND CHRISTIAN GENTLEMEN :

THAT brief Tract of the present state of the Indian-Work in my hand, which I did the last year on the fudden present you with when you call'd for fuch a thing; That falling fhort of its end, and you calling for a renewal thereof, with opportunity of more time, I shall begin with our laft great motion in that Work done this Summer, because that will lead me to begin with the state of the Indians under the hands of my Brethren Mr. Mahew and Mr. Bourn.

Upon the 17th day of the 6th month, 1670, there was a Meeting at Maktapog near Sandwich in Plimouth-Pattent, to gather a Church among the Indians: There were present six of the Magiftrates, and many Elders, (all of them Meffengers of the Churches within that Jurifdiction) in whofe prefence, in a day of Fafting and Prayer, they making confeffion of the Truth and Grace of Jefus Chrift, did in that folemn Affembly enter into Covenant, to walk together in the Faith and Order of the

*The full title of this tract was as follows:

A Brief Narrative of the Progrefs of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New England, in the Year 1670, given in by the Reverend Mr. JOHN ELLIOT, Minifter of the Gofpel there, in a LETTER by him directed to the Right Worshipfull the COMMISSIONERS under his Majefties Great-Seal for Propagation of the Gofpel amongst the poor blind Natives in those United Colonies. LONDON, Printed for John Allen, formerly living in LittleBritain at the Rifing-Sun, and now in Wentworth Street near Bell-Lane, 1671.

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Gofpel; and were accepted and declared to be a Church of Jefus Chrift. These Indians being of kin to our MassachusetIndians who first prayed unto God, converfed with them, and received amongst them the light and love of the Truth; they defired me to write to Mr. Leveredge to teach them: He accepted the Motion and performed the Work with good fuccefs; but afterwards he left that place, and went to Long-Ifland, and there a godly Brother, named Richard Bourne (who purposed to remove with Mr. Leveredge, but hindered by Divine Providence) undertook the teaching of those Indians, and hath continued in the work with good fuccefs to this day; him we ordained Paftor: and one of the Indians, named Jude, should have been ordained Ruling-Elder, but being fick at that time, advice was given that he should be ordained with the first opportunity, as also a Deacon to manage the prefent Sabbath-day Collections, and other [4] parts of that Office in their feason. The fame day also were they, and such of their Children as were present, baptized.

From them we paffed over to the Vineyard, where many were added to the Church both men and women, and were baptized all of them, and their Children alfo with them; we had the Sacrament of the Lords Supper celebrated in the Indian-Church, and many of the English-Church gladly joyned with them; for which cause it was celebrated in both languages. On a day of Fafting and Prayer, Elders were ordained, two Teaching-Elders, the one to be a Preacher of the Gospel, to do the Office of a Paftor and Teacher; the other to be a Preacher of the Gospel, to do the Office of a Teacher and Paftor, as the Lord fhould give them ability and opportunity; Alfo two Ruling-Elders, with advice to ordain Deacons alfo, for the Service of Chrift in the Church. Things were fo ordered by the Lord's guidance, that a Foundation is laid for two Churches more; for first, these of the Vineyard dwelling at two great a distance to enjoy with comfort their Sabbath-communion in one place, Advice was given them, that after fome experience of walking together in the Order and Ordinances of the Gospel, they should iffue forth into another Church; and the Officers are fo chofen, that when they shall do so, both Places are furnished with a Teaching and Ruling-Elder.

Also the Teacher of the Praying Indians of Nantuket, with a Brother of his were received here, who made good Confeffions of Jefus Chrift; and being asked, did make report unto us that there be about ninety Families who pray unto God in that Island,

fo effectual is the Light of the Gospel among them. Advice was given, that fome of the chief Godly People should joyn to this Church, (for they frequently converfe together, though the Islands be feven leagues afunder) and after some experience of walking in the Order of the Gospel, they should iffue forth into Church-estate among themselves, and have Officers ordained amongst them.

The Church of the Vineyard were defirous to have chosen Mr. Mahew to be their Paftor: but he declined it, conceiving that in his present capacity he lieth under greater advantages to ftand their Friend, and do them good, to fave them from the hands of fuch as would bereave them of their Lands, &c. but they shall alwayes have his counsel, instruction and management in all their Church-affairs, as hitherto they have had; he will die in this fervice of Jefus Chrift. The Praying-Indians of both these Islands depend on him, as God's Inftrument for their good. [5] Advice alfo was given for the fetling of Schools; every Child capable of learning, equally paying, whether he make use of it or no: Yet if any should sinfully neglect Schooling their Youth, it is a tranfgreffion liable to censure under both Orders, Civil and Ecclesiastical, the offence being against both. So we walk at Natick.

In as much as now we have ordained Indian Officers unto the Ministry of the Gospel, it is needful to add a word or two of Apology: I find it hopeless to expect English Officers in our Indian Churches; the work is full of hardship, hard labour, and chargeable alfo, and the Indians not yet capable to give confiderable fupport and maintenance; and Men have bodies, and must live of the Gospel: And what comes from England is liable to hazard and uncertainties. On fuch grounds as these partly, but especially from the secret wife governance of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Harvest, there is no appearance of hope for their souls feeding in that way: they must be trained up to be able to live of themselves in the ways of the Gospel of Chrift; and through the riches of God's Grace and Love, fundry of themselves who are expert in the Scriptures, are able to teach each other: An English young man raw in that language, coming to teach among our Christian-Indians, would be much to their lofs; there be of themfelves fuch as be more able, especially being advantaged that he speaketh his own language, and knoweth their manners. Such English as fhall hereafter teach them, muft begin with a People that begin to pray unto God, (and such opportunities we have many) and then as they grow in knowledge, he will grow (if he

be diligent) in ability of speech to communicate the knowledge of Chrift unto them. And feeing they must have Teachers amongst themselves, they must also be taught to be Teachers: for which cause I have begun to teach them the Art of Teaching, and I find fome of them very capable. And while I live, my purpose is, (by the grace of Chrift affifting) to make it one of my chief cares and labours to teach them fome of the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the way how to analize, and lay out into particulars both the Works and Word of God; and how to communicate knowledge to others methodically and skilfully, and especially the method of Divinity. There be fundry Ministers who live in an opportunity of beginning with a People, and for time to come I fhall cease my importuning of others, and onely fall to perfwade fuch unto this service of Jesus Christ, it being one part of our Ministerial Charge to preach to the World in the Name of Jefus, and from amongst them to gather Subjects to his holy Kingdom. The Bible, and the Catechifm drawn [6] out of the Bible, are general helps to all parts and places about us, and are the ground-work of Community amongst all our Indian-Churches and Christians.

I find a bleffing, when our Church of Natick doth send forth fit Perfons unto fome remoter places, to teach them the fear of the Lord. But we want maintenance for that Service; it is a chargeable matter to fend a Man from his Family: The Labourer is worthy of his Hire: And when they go only to the High-wayes and Hedges, it is not to be expected that they fhould reward them: If they believe and obey their Meffage, it is enough. We are determined to fend forth some (if the Lord will, and that we live) this Autumn, sundry ways. I fee the best way is, up and be doing: In all labour there is profit; Seek and ye shall find. We have Christ's Example, his Promise, his Prefence, his Spirit to affift; and I trust that the Lord will find a way for your encouragement.

Natick is our chief Town, where moft and chief of our Rulers, and most of the Church dwells; here most of our chief Courts are kept; and the Sacraments in the Church are for the most part here adminiftred: It is (by the Divine Providence) feated well near in the center of all our praying Indians, though Westward the Cords of Chrift's Tents are more enlarged. Here we began Civil Government in the year 1650. And here usually are kept the General-Trainings, which feven years ago looked so big that we never had one fince till this year, and it was at this time but a small appearance. Here we have

two Teachers, John Speen and Anthony; we have betwixt forty and fifty Communicants at the Lord's Table, when they all appear, but now, fome are dead, and fome decriped with age; and one under Cenfure, yet making towards a recovery; one died here the last Winter of the Stone, a temperate, sober, godly man, the firft Indian that ever was known to have that disease; but now another hath the fame disease: Sundry more are propofed, and in way of preparation to joyn unto the Church.

Ponkipog, or Pakeunit, is our fecond Town, where the Sachems of the Bloud (as they term their Chief Royal-Line) had their Residence and Rights, which are mostly Alienated to the English Towns: The last Chief Man, of that Line, was last year flain by the Mauquzogs, against whom he rafhly (without due Attendants and Affiftance, and against Counfel) went; yet all, yea, his Enemies fay, He died valiantly; they were more afraid to kill him, than he was to die; yet being de- [7] ferted by all (fome knowingly say through Treason) he stood long, and at last fell alone: Had he had but 10 Men, yea 5 in good order with him, he would have driven all his Enemies before him. His Brother was refident with us in this Town, but he is fallen into fin, and from praying to God. Our Chief Ruler is Ahauton, an old stedfast and trusty friend to the English, and loveth his Country. He is more loved than feared; the reins of his bridle are too long. Wakan is fometimes neceffarily called to keep Courts here, to add life and zeal in the punishment of Sinners. Their late Teacher, William, is deceased; He was a man of eminent parts, all the English acknowledge him, and he was known to many: He was of a ready wit, found judgment, and affable; he is gone unto the Lord; And William, the Son of Ahauton, is called to be Teacher in his ftead. He is a promifing young-man, of a fingle and upright heart, a good judg ment, he Prayeth and Preacheth well, he is ftudious and industrious, and well accounted of among the English.

Haffunnimefut is the next Town in order, dignity, and antiq uity; fundry of our chief Friends in the great work of Praying to God, came from them, and there lived their Progenitors, and there lieth their Inheritance, and that is the place of their defires. It lieth upon Nichmuke River; the people were well known to the English so long as Connecticot Road lay that way, and their Religion was judged to be real by all that travelled that journey, and had occasion to lodge, especially to keep a Sabbath among them. The Ruler of the Town is Anuweekin, and his brother Tuppukkoowillin is Teacher, both found and