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POETRY.

COMMUNICATED AS ORIGINAL.

The Birth and Kingdom of Chrift.
Luke ii. 9-14. Ifa. ix. 6, 7.

O! Jefus comes, with men to dwell,

Th' angelic hosts their God attend,

His government shall peace extend,
And blefs the earth's remotest end;
His praife be fung, in climes unknown,
And diftant realms his empire own;
And thro eternal ages stand!
His kingdom fpread thro' every land,

TROPHIMUS.

The New Jerufalem,

height,

Where boundless space lay ftretch'd be fore the fight,

Fair in my view the heavenly Salem ftood,

Array'd in beauty like the Bride of God. Her form was square—a wall of jalper rose,

And with him from his throne defcend. BORNE by the Spirit to amountain's
The' enraptured Seraph speeds his way,
To where the flocks in Bethlem ftray,
While glories bright around them blaze,
And fill the shepherds with amaze.
Fear not, faith he, for lo! I bring
The joyful tidings of your King!
Tidings of joy, to latest time,
To every land, and every clime.
To you is born, the heavens record,
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this the pledge to you affign'd,
The babe in Bethlem you fhall find,
In fwaddling clothes, behold him dreft,
And lowly in a manger reft.

The fignal given, the theme divine,
The angelic hofts the herald join,
In heavenly ftrains, begin the fong,
And notes fublime the praise prolong.
Glory to God, in realms above,
His wifdom vaft, immense his love!.
On earth let heavenly peace prevail,—
Good will to mortals never fail.

Behold the faints, in glad amaze,
Refpond the notes, which angels raife.
To us, to us, a child is born,
All hail the day! th' aufpicious morn !
To us, to us, a Son is given,
The Son of God, the.Heir of Heaven!
With him the government accords,
Great King of Kings, & Lord of Lords!
Seraphs must own his fovereign sway,
And all the hofts of heaven obey;
To him muft earth fubmiffive lie,
And every creature bow the knee.
Let heaven and earth with joy proclaim,
His wondrous, his adored name!
Great Counsellor! whofe plans of old,
His wildom, grace, and truth unfold :
The mighty God! the God above!
The fource of being, life, and love!
At his command, the beauteous frame
Of worlds immenfe, from nothing came.
To him belongs the throne of heaven,
To him be power and glory given :
The Prince of Peace, to whom pertain
Dominion and the right to reign.

To guard herfubjects from external foes, Around her, gates of pearl in fplendor fhone,

And her light mock'd the radiance of

the fun.

Beneath her, glowing streets lay ftretch'd immenfe,

And pav'd with gold, reflected light intenfe,

On every fide the pureft gems were found,

And dazzling diamonds fparkled on the ground.

Before the throne feven lamps refulgent glow'd,

And from the midft a living fountain

flow'd.

There cloth'd in white the great Af
fembly flood,

And fhouted praifes to the Lamb of
God,

Crowns of pure gold their radiant
heads adorn,

And palms of triumph in their hands are borne.

High in the midft, and circling round the Throne,

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Donations to the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. From a Friend of Missions, -5 Dollars

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FOR THE CONNECTICUT EVAN-
GELICAL MAGAZINE.

Attempts to propagate the gofpel
among the Indians in New-En-
gland and parts adjacent.

(Contin. from p. 370.)

NUMBER III.

Concerning the propagation of the gofpel among the Indians, parti cularly on Martha's Vineyard, by the miniftry of the Rev. Thomas Mayhew, jun. &c.

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BSTACLES being, in fome degree, removed, the gofpel made much greater progrefs, than it had done before. In each year, for many in fucceffion, natives of the island were coming in, and making profeffion of the Chriftian faith; in fome years a very confiderable number, till at length, very few fpeculative infidels remained upon this, and the neighboring iflands.

converts among men in power.Their example was followed with only embraced the gofpel them happy confequences: They not felves but encouraged others, particularly their dependents, to attend upon the means of inftruction, that they alfo might be led to the truth Like good Cornelius, they called together their relations, intimate friends, and neighbors, that they alfo might partake of thofe important bleffings, which they themselves were defirous of enjoying.

In the year 1648, there was a general meeting of all who were inclined for Chriftianity, to confirm, and affift one another in adhering to it. This affembly was held in Mr. Mayhew's prefence; and he obferved, that twelve of the young men went and took Sacochanimo, the eldest son of Taw anquatuck, the Chriftian Sachem, by the hand, telling him, they lov ed him, and would go with him in God's way; and the elder men encouraged them, and defired, that they would never forget these promifes; and fo after they had fung part of a pfalm, in their own lan guage, they returned home with Hhh

We have already taken notice of Mioxoo, and Tawanquatuck; the former; a man of diftinction; the latter a principal Sachem in that

part

of the ifland where he lived. Thefe appear to have been the firft

VOL. II. No. 12.

expreffions of great joy, and thank-foon began to refort to him, when fulness.

In the year 1649, there was a confiderable acceffion to the number of praying Indians at one time. In this year Hiacoomes preached a fermon at a place called Nunpaug, in which difcourfe he reckoned up many of the great fins, of which the Indians were guilty; and as many good duties which ought to be performed by them, (but were neglected.) Upon his finishing this difcourfe, no lefs than twenty-two of his hearers, at this time, profeffed their refolutions against the fins mentioned, and that they would walk with God in newnefs of life: Of this number Momonequem, a man of no small note among his countrymen, was one; and seemed, above all the reft, to be exceedingly affected; for to the great admiration of all the Indians then prefent, with much apparent forrow of heart, and indignation against fin, he did now enumerate twenty of his own fins; manifefting his repentance of them, and profeffing his refolution to follow the only living, and true God against all oppofition: Mr. Mayhew, from what he obferved of him after this, was perfuaded that he was a real Chriftian.

About this time, a famous powow, called Tequanonim, entertaining thoughts of turning from his falfe gods, to the one only true God and Jefus Chrift, the only Saviour of finful men, providentially meeting with Momonequem in the woods, opened his cafe to him, and took his advice upon it; and the effect was, that this powow became, as there was reafon to believe, a fincere convert and good Chriftian.

Momonequem being esteemed by the praying Indians, as a man of wisdom, and prudence, they

they wanted counsel and encouragement in any of their difficulties; and fuch as inclined to become Christians, did fo too.

After this, he became a minif ter, and preached every Lord'sday to his countrymen; and that he might be the better prepared to addrefs his hearers, he waited on Mr. Mayhew the last day of the week, in order to his assisting him in his preparation for the work of the enfuing day*.

And now in the year 1650, comes on the critical point of the credit of the powows among them: For Hiacoomes, as we have feen, openly renouncing and protefting against the falfe gods, which he had worshipped, and all the pow. ows, whom he viewed as their familiar minifters; and with a furprifing courage, under all circumftances, defpifing and defying their power; they were greatly enra ged, and threatened his utter deftruction; but to the furprife of the people, and their own confufion, they were unable to hurt him.

Soon after this, God was pleafed to give growing fuccefs to the zealous and laborious fervices of the miffionaries. For in a little

time after, an Indian ftanding up at Mr. Mayhew's lecture, confef. fed his fins, declared his repent. ance, and defire to forfake them; and then going to Tawanquatuck, before mentioned, and fome other Chriftian Indians, and then to Mr. Mayhew, he expreffed the warm affection he had for them; and in his native fimplicity added, “I greatly defire to go along with you for God's fake." Upon which they received him with much pleafAfter this there came five

ure.

* Indian Converts, p. 12, 13.

men more; and by the end of the fummer, there were thirty-nine Indian men of this meeting, who had the knowledge of the main points of religion, profeffed their belief of them, and folemnly engaged to live agreeably to them; befide the well-inftructed and believing women, who were fuppofed to exceed the number of the

men.

Within this year an event took place, which furprised the whole Ifland, and turned to the great and speedy advancement of the Chriftian religion.

For it pleafed God, who had drawn a confiderable number of the Indians from the powows to worship Himself, at which the powows were very much offended, yet now, even to perfuade two of themselves, to go after thofe, who fought Him, and defire that they might walk with them, in the ways of that God, whofe name is Jehovah. They came under deep convictions of the fins they had lived in, and efpecially powowing; revealing the myfteries of their unlawful profeffion; and expreffing the most fincere repentance, and utmost deteftation of them; entreating, that God would have mercy upon them, pardon their fins, and teach them His ways for Chrift Jefus' fake. And very af And very affecting it was to Mr. Mayhew, and all who were prefent, (to ufe his own words) "To fee thefe poor, naked fons of Adam, and flaves to the devil from their birth, to come towards the Lord, as they did, with their joints fhaking, and their bowels trembling, their fpirits troubled, and their voices, with much fervency, uttering words of fore difpleasure against fin and Satan, which they had embraced from their childhood with great delight: And now accounting it

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alfo their fin, that they had not the knowledge of God; that they had served the devil, the great enemy both of God and man, and had been fo hurtful in their lives; but yet being very thankful, that thro' the mercy of God, they had an opportunity of being delivered out of their dangerous condition."*

The Christian Indians exceedingly rejoiced to fee the powows begin to turn from their wicked ways to the Lord. In a little time after, on a lecture day, at the clofe of the exercise, there were feveral more of the natives, who expreffed their defire to become the fervants of the most high God; among whom was Tequanonim, before mentioned, another powow of great efteem, and very notori

ous.

At the fame time came in about fifty Indians more in one day, defiring to join with the worshippers of God in his fervice; confefling their fins; fome those actual fins they had lived in; and others, the wickedness of their hearts, defiring to be made better; and for this end, to attend on the word of God, and look only to Jefus Chrift for falvation. And upon this occafion Mr. Mayhew observes, that they generally came in by families; the parents bringing their children with them, introducing them with this fhort fpeech, "I have brought my children too: I would have my children ferve God with us: I defire that this fon and this daughter would ferve Jehovah." And if the children could but speak, the parents would have them fay fomething to fhow their willingness to ferve the Lord: And when the commandments were repeated, they all acknowledged them to be good,

* Letter, Oct. 1651, published in London, 1652.

and made choice of Jehovah to be their God; promifing, by his help, to walk according to his counfels: And when they were received by thofe, who were before in a general covenant of which we fhall give an account foon) it was by chearful voices, and giving thanks to God, that they were met together in the ways of Jehovah.

Thefe additions to the number of praying Indians were all made before the end of the year 1650.

By the midft of the year 1651, there were 199 men, women, and children, who had profeffed themfelves to be worshippers of the great, and everliving God. And now there were two meetings kept every Lord's day, the one three miles, the other about eight miles from Mr Mayhew's houfe. Hiacoomes taught every Lord's day at the nearest, and Momonequem as often at the furtheft. On every Saturday they both came to Mr. Mayhew to be informed and inftructed in the fubject they wer to treat of; and God greatly af fifted them: And Mr Mayhew had then undertaken, by divine affiftance, to keep two feveral lectures, which would be, at each affembly, once a fortnight.

By the end of the year 1652, there were 282 Indians, not counting young children in the number, who were brought to renounce their falfe gods, and powows, and publicly, in fet meetings, before many witneffes, had freely difclaim ed, and defied their tyrannical power. Even eight of the powows, had now forfaken their wicked craft, and profitable trade, as they held it; and now made profeffion of their willing fubjection to the true God. And as not any of these were compelled thereto by power; fo neither were they allur

ed by gifts, having received none from the very beginning.*

Mr. Mayhew, this worthy fervant of Christ, continued his almost inexpreffible labor, and vigilant care for the good of the Indians, whom he justly esteemed his joy and crown. And God was pleaf to give fuch a victorious fuccefs to his unwearied labors, that by the year 1657, many hundred men, and women were added to the Christian fociety of fuch as might truly be faid to be holy in their converfation; and for knowledge, fuch as need not to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God; befides the many hundreds of loofer, and more fuperficial pro feffors.

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Proteftants could not approve of fome methods, which have been made ufe of by Roman Catholics for the converfion of the Indians, or inducing them to make profeffion of Christianity. “In Maryland a great number of Indians tized by the Popish Miffionaries, for in ancient times, fubmitted to be bapthe fake of fome new fhirts prefented to them, to encourage them to receive the ordinance. But the poor creatures not knowing how to wash them, when

foul, came, after a little time, and made

a motion, that the Roman Catholics would give more fhirts, or elfe they would renounce their baptifm."+

Some Catholic Miffionaries to Indian tribes in the Province of Maine, in the last century, used, after public inftructions were clofed, to encourage

them to attend again, by giving them a liberal draught of ardent spirits! Proteftant Miflionaries take no fuch ways to gain profelytes: Nor, when they can do it, do they ever ufe force, to accomplish this end; fenfible, that fuch a procedure is in direct oppofition to the example and precepts of Jefus, and to the whole fyftem of Christianity.

Magnal. B. III. p. 204.-Neal, Vol. I. p. 284.

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