dians at Arbcrcrofh, have formerly had Roman catholic priests with them, to whom they adhered as ftrictly as could have been expected. Another circumftance not mentioned is, the Indians in general have an idea that minifters have a power to fend diftempers or fick nefs among people, like their conjurers. And if any mortal difeafe breaks out among them while they are with them they are fuppofed to be the authors of it. The Indians, to this day, tell that the priests whom they had with them at Arborcrofh, fent fickness among them. So that though they would be more likely to prefer the Roman Catholics than us, yet it does not feem very likely that they would wish for either to come among them. But if I cannot prevail on the chiefs to receive me, I mean to infift hard on their letting me have a number of their fons to educate here on the island, whilft I am learning their language; and I fhall require them to find them food and clothes. My prefent determination is, to remain about here, till in one way or another, I get the language; and if I can get a good interpreter at a moderate expenfe, be preaching through the fummer to all the Indians who will hear Remarks on the foregoing Extract. The reader will perceive from Mr. Bacon's account of the Indians, that one of the greatest obstacles in the way of propagating the gospel among them is the influence of the conjurers. These conjurers are the fame as the Powows fpoken of in the hiftory of the NewEngland Indians which has been publifhed in feveral numbers of this Magszine. They have fenfe enough to fec that the introduction of the Chriftian religion among the Indians will deftroy their influence and endanger their craft. They will therefore exert themselves to the utmost to prevent Miffionaries being received; and as Mr. Bacon very juftly obferves they are doubtlefs the inftruments of Satan in preferving idolatry and oppofing the true God. But the failure of this firft attempt of Mr. B. ought not to difcourage the friends to the miffionary cause; it should rather ftimulate them to more vigorous exertions. The Indians on the Miami from their proximity to the white people have more free access to fpirituous liquors and are much more tribes which live more remote. There oppofed to every thing good than the is ftill reafon to hope that to fome of the tribes God will give a liftening ear, and that he will profper the labors of miffionaries that may be fent among them. It is certainly the duty of Chriftians, and it is a duty the obliga tion of which they cannot but feel, when they fee to what a deplorable ftate of fin and wretchedness the Indians are reduced, to make every pofable leaft from that ftate. They ought always to remember the promife that the fulness of the Gentiles fhall come in ;that the glorious head of the church is infinitely fuperior to Satan and all his they fhould exert themselves and fubinftruments, and believing these things miffively wait God's time to bless their exertions with fuccefs. exertion to recover fome of them at Daniel Root, Franklin, State of New-York, Donations to the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. D. 2 James W. Woodward, contributed in new fettlements, 5 41 29 N 9 54 8 FOR THE CONNECTICUT EVAN GELICAL MAGAZINE. Attempts to propagate the gospel among the Indians in New-Eng land, &c. [Continued from p. 14.] NUMBER V. A general and brief account of the any particular account of the propagation of the gofpel among the Indians on the island of Nantucket, or of the special state of religion in early times. Mr. Matthew Mayhew obferves in general, "That as in the apoftolic times, the church fent forth from among themselves [Evangelifts] for the converfion of the nations; fo thefe Indians VOL. III. No. 5. on Martha's Vineyard did to the ifland of Nantucket. Dr. C. Mather acquaints us, that after a church was embodied at Martha's Vineyard, and minifters ordained, a church of Indians was quickly gathered at Nantucket, who chofe John Gibbs, an Indian, to be their minifter.He obferves further, that these churches, viz. that on Nantucket, as well as that on the Vineyard, are fo exact in their admiffion, fo folemn in their difcipline, and fo ferious in their communion, that fome of the Chriftian English in have been loth to have mixed with the neighborhood, who would them in a civil relation, yet have gladly done it in a facred one. And it appears by a letter publifhed in 1671, that Thomas May religious concerns, not only of the Indians on his own island, but of thofe on Nantucket: "The pray ing Indians, both on the Vineyard and Nantucket, depend on him as X the great inftrument of God for their good." This is all, that I have, as yet, been able to collect. As the great design of the Evangelical Magazine is to pro mote religious knowledge, piety, | general. Confidering their difadand morality And as one de- vantages in refpect to education, fign of the prefent compilation is it may be allowed, that the fimto exhibit traits of the religious plicity of their style and manner, character of fome of thofe among rather adds grace to their perthe Indians who embraced Chrif- formances. tianity, especially of fome of their public teachers, for the good of others; I fhall, before I enter upon the hiftory of Mr. Eliot's labors, communicate fomething of this kind in the prefent fection. In the introduction it was propofed to include in this work an epitome of the life and character of diftinguifhed miffionaries. As fome of the first ordained Indian ministers were alfo miffionaries to their countrymen, and honored by the Great Head of the church as inftruments of fpecial good to them, and furnished very fatisfactory evidence, that they were endowed with a rational, Christian zeal in the caufe; it may be proper in itfelf, ufeful to fome, and grateful to ferious readers to give fome brief account of their lives and characters, and a fpecimen of the fpeeches of fome of them upon fpecial occafions. A few anecdotes may be added, which, to fome perfons, may not be wholly unentertaining. It will be pleafing to discover the great and happy change made by Christianity, refpecting their fentiments, temper, manners, and future profpects. OF HIACOOMES.. As a general account of the converfion, and public, as well as private evangelic labors of Ha coomes, the firft Chriftian Indian and minifter on Martha's Vineyard, has been communicated already, I may be more brief in the account of him. What is written is abridged mainly from Rev. Experience Mayhew's Indian converts. The defcent of this man was efteemed by his countrymen as mean-his speech was flow, and his countenance not very promis ing: He was therefore, by the Indian Sachems, and others of their principal men, viewed as a low perfon, fcarcely worthy of their notice and regard: However, to the English he foon difcovered himfelf to be of a friendly, modeft, and inquifitive turn of mind, difpofed to improve his knowledge from his new neighbors, by learning fomething which might be advantageous to him; and they thought him very wor thy of their notice. In the fpeeches of Indian minifters, and other Chriflians of their nation, the pious reader will difcover, and be pleafed with a vein of ferioufnefs, and many pertinent thoughts, calculated to imprefs the minds of the hearers with things of the last importance: In their difcourfes they difcover a mind deeply impreffed with a fenfe of the reality and infinite value of religion, and of the confummate folly and danger of its contrary-of all vice and impiety-the means ufed for his conver -A mind fraught with benevo- fion, and the divine bleffing aclence to their families, to their companying them, have been briefneighbors, and countrymen in ly related in the firft number. Soon after an acquaintance with the English had been formed, he went to their religious affembly, and was obferved by Mr. Mayhew. The fteps taken by this gentlemen for his inftruction His following conduct, through a long life, left no doubt on the minds of his religious acquaintance of his being a real Christian; and indeed he was generally efteemed one of diftinguished rank. Soon after his converfion to Christianity, he expreffed an earneft defire to learn to read, that he might be in a better way to increase in knowledge; and being prefented with a fuitable book, he carried it about with him, till, by the affiftance of fuch as were willing to inftruct him, he attained to what he had in view.* And now the Indians began, not only to give fome credit to the truths communicated by Hiacoomes; but were alfo awakened by what they heard, and believed, fo as humbly to confefs their fins, and to be concerned how they fhould obtain the pardon of them; and alfo to renounce their own gods and powows, and promise to ferve the true God only. Hia coomes could now tell Mr. Mayhew, That this was the first time, that ever he faw the Indians fenfible of their fins. | Asfoon as Mr. Mayhew found, that Hiacoomes had gained a competent knowledge of Chriftianity, he employed him, as he had opportunity, to inftruct, info for this work; and the Indians private, as many of his countrymen, as would give him a hearing. Some foon began to hearken to him, yet did not feem to be duly affected with the truths taught by him; and many utterly rejected them; however he perfevered, notwithstanding all difcourage ments. then faid of him, "That though formerly he had been a harmless man among them, yet he had not been at all accounted of; and therefore they wondered that he, who had nothing to fay in their meetings formerly, was now become the teacher of them all." This is very obfervable, that when he enumerated before the people the fins, of which they were guilty; inftead of being pro But after the epidemic, and fewere ficknefs among them in the year 1646, many of the people being put upon ferious confidera-voked at him for his plainnefs and tion, particularly fome men in fidelity, many of them, with tears, power, thefe, and many others confeffed their guilt, and promifdefired to be inftructed by him. ed to turn to the true God, and ferve Him only, and feek for the pardon of their fins through the blood of his Son, the only Saviour of finners. * This good man has fet a worthy example. Such examples ought to be imitated by thofe adults among the English-Americans, who, either thro' the cruel neglect of parents, or mafters, or their own negligence and obftinacy, or from fome other caufe, have not learned this ufeful and important art. Few, if any at this day need remain ignorant of it, if they are not wanting to themselves. That refolution and perfeverance, which many difcover in matters of lefs confequence, would overcome all difficulties which may appear in the way. of Hiacoomes. He was enabled to show an excellent example upon the occafion. At the funeral, none of the heathenish rites, which were once ufual among them in fimilar cafes, were to be feen, or heard no black faces, or goods buried, or howling over the dead; but instead of these things, a patient refignation of the child to Him who gave it. At the funeral, Mr. Mayhew made a speech concerning the refurrection of the godly, and their children to life eternal at the last day; which great truth this good man, and his Chriftian connexions believing, mourned not, as those who had no hope were accustomed to do. Hiacoomes evidently exhibited the amiable grace of humility. Though God gave him much fuccefs in his ministry, yet he did not appear, in any degree, to be elated on this account: Nor did he, upon this, think himself sufficient for the work of the miniftry; but thought he ftill needed the continual help of Mr. Mayhew, to whom he therefore ftill reforted, that he might gain ftill further acquaintance with the extenfive feience of theology, and be better qualified for teaching the natives in public and private.* Perhaps * It would be well, if fome English American teachers would learn wifdom, and consistency from this worthy Indian preacher-that they would use fuitable human means, as far as in their power, to gain knowledge, while they profefs to depend upon affiftance from heaven. Too many enthusiasts are to be found, who profefs to defpise fome important means for the acquifition of Christian knowledge, and to depend apon immediate teachings from above, by which they may be guided in their fentiments and words; and many declare, and wish to be believed upon the credit of their own affertions, that they have extraordinary communications of none, except near relatives, more heartily and deeply lamented Mr. Mayhew's premature death, than he. He exhibited, as occafions required, the various graces of the Christian life. He appeared to love his Redeemer with ardor of affection. In nothing did his love to his divine Saviour more appear, than in a rational and fervent zeal to promote his cause among the natives. While only a preacher a mong them, he was diligent in his work, fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord. He plainly and faithfully reproved their fins-called them to repentance, and faith in Jefus Chrift, and to holiness of heart and life; and in this caufe, did not fear the face of man; tho' at first, and for several years after, he had many inveterate and powerful enemies. After he was ordained in the year 1670, he performed all paftoral fervices with zeal and fidelity; and perfifted in the good work, till age had so reduced the vigor both of mind and body, as ro render him, in a great measure, incapable of purfuing it: How ever, when very much taken off from public fervices, he did what he could in other ways, to promote determined to do what good he the general caufe; and feemed was able as long as he lived. He furvived his colleague, John this kind. But to say the least, the public performances of many make evident, that their pretenfions are vain. A dependence upon divine teachings is an important duty, which every humble Chriftian will readily, and chearfully perform; but it ought ever to be in connexion with human means, appointed by God himself for the acquifition of the knowledge of divine things, and an ability to teach them to others with perfpicuity. |