fon, all of them hard at work to | turn these poor creatures from darkness to light, and from fatan unto God." "In the colony of Plimouth we have the moft active Mr. Samuel Treat laying out himself to fave this generation. And there is one Mr. Tupper, who ufes his laudable endeavors for the inftruction of them." "Such as thefe are the perfons, whom Mr. Eliot left engaged in the work of gofpelizing the Indians, when he departed from his employment to his recompence. And thefe gentlemen are fo indefatigable in their labors among the Indians, as that the moft equal judges must acknowledge them worthy of much greater Stipends, than they are generously content. ed with."+ Mr. Morton, in his memorial, makes mention of two others, who were teachers of the Indians in early times, viz. Mr. Brown and Mr. James But I do not learn where they refided; nor what tribes of Indians they inftructed. : It is not neceffary to mention, in this place, the worthy family of Mayhew, on Martha's Vineyard, as a particular account has been given, in the former part of this work, of their unwearied, and fuccefsful labors. ted to his firft degree, A. D. 1656. He is represented by writers in that century, as a man of an amiable character; in high efteem with the learned, the virtuous and the pious. He was happily ac complished with gifts of nature, learning and grace, His external appearance was very pleasing: but the qualities of his mind commanded particular refpect.-He was a perfon of a quick apprehen fion, folid judgment, and diftin guished prudence-well acquainted with the learned languages, the arts, and sciences, for one of his time, age, and advantages; and applied himself, with great diligence, to his ftudies, that he might make further progrefs in useful literature. But those things which finished his character were his piety, faith, love, humility, felf-denial, and zeal; thefe eminently fhone upon all occafions. He was a lively, zealous, and ingenious preacher; and his acceptance with the public, as a preacher, was in proportion to his accomplishments. After preaching for fome time, he was called to the paftoral office and ordained at Cambridge village; fince that time incorporated as a distinct town by the name of Newtown. He was filled with a laudable and pious zeal to promote the gofpel among the Indians; and by the affiftance of his father, and his own diligent application, he gained fuch a knowledge of their lan The compiler is not able to give biographical sketches of more than two, who have been now mentioned, as Mr. Eliot's fellow-guage, that he preached to them laborers viz. Mr. John Eliot, jun. and Mr. John Cotton. Mr. John Eliot, jun. was eldeft fon of Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury: He was born Aug. 31ft, 1636.-Was educated at Harvard College, and was admit † Magnalia B. III. p. 200, 201. in it for feveral years, and I fuppofe, till his deceafe. He travelled many miles in a day, once a fortnight, to difpenfe the gofpel to them. He was high in their esteem and affection. They often faid, his preaching to them was precious and defirable. They, as well as his numerous English ac quaintance fincerely lamented his death, which took place Oct. 13, 1668, when he was in the 33d year of his age. The fayings of pious men, efpecially when they are in the clofing fcene of life, are worthy of remembrance. This good man, from the afpect of things in the colonies, was led to conclude, that the people would, before long, experience fome fpecial calamities, which accordingly befel them by the general Indian war in the year 1675. Being on his death bed, he addreffed a number of perfons that were with him, with great folemnity in the following words; "My dear friends, there is a dark day coming upon New-England; and in fo dark a day, I pray, how will you provide for your own fecurity? My counsel to you is, get an interest in the bleffed Lord Jefus Chrift; and that will carry you to the world's end."* | vish inftructor, having received the ftipulated fum, for the whole term, too foon, ran away before twenty days expired however, in this time he had made fuch proficiency, that, by fuitable application afterwards, he was able, before a great while, to preach to the natives. Before he was fixed in a parish, he preached to the Indians on Martha's Vineyard about two years, as an affiftant to Mr. Mayhew, as has been already mentioned. Other evangelical fervices of his among the Indians will be related in the sequel. *Mr. Cotton was called to Plimouth, A. D. 1666; but being under engagements elsewhere, he could not then come; but the church renewing their invitation the year following, he removed to Plimouth with his family, Nov. 1667; but he was not ordained till June 30, 1669. He was a man of ftrong mental powers, and of good abilities to preach the gofpel; and appeared to be intent in performing the various duties of his station in public, and private. He was not on Mr. John Cotton was the fecond fon of Rev. John Cotton, teacher of the first church in Bofton. He was educated at Harvard College, and was graduated in the year 1657. Having finifh-ly a profitable preacher; but aped his preparatory ftudies, he com- peared to do much good by his menced preaching; and officiated private vifits, and addreffes to the in feveral places prior to his fet- people... tlement in the miniftry. Before he was introduced into the paftoral office he was defirous to learn the Indian language, with a view, as may be fuppofed, to become better qualified to inftruct the natives in the chriftian religion, if - providence should afford opportunity. He accordingly hired an Indian for fifty days to teach him the Indian language; but his kna Magnalia B. III. p. 173. Morton's Memorial under A. D. 1668. Magnalia B. III. p. 200. At an early period after his fettlement, he, and the ruling elder made it their special work to pass together, thro' the whole town, from family to family, to enquire into the ftate of fouls; and according as they found the frames, either of the children of the church, or others, so they applied counfels, admonitions, exhortations, and encouragements; which fervice was attended with a blef * Hiftory of the Church in Plimouth, p. 16, 17. pre fing For in feveral with whom God had begun his work, it vailed to ftir them up to lay hold of his covenant; and others were awakened more feriously to attend upon the means of grace, and to mind the concernments of their fouls, and practife family prayer more conftantly. The work of God feemed, in thofe days, to have a confiderable revival. Mr. Cotton, foon after his introduction into the miniftry at Plimouth, entered upon the work of catechizing the children under his paftoral care : he attended this bufinefs once a fortnight; inftru&ing the males at one time, and the females at another. He kept out a vigilant eye to difoover, if any special irregularities were prevalent among profeffors, and others of the congregation; and made ufe of fuitable measures to remove, and prevent in future, fuch evils as were found -among them; and was carneft with the church to co-operate with him, and strengthen his hands; and to take due care of the children of the church, that they might be kept from tranfgreffing the laws of God, and violating their baptifmal engagements-Indeed it must be fpoken to the honor of this ancient church, that they were very ftrict in watching over the children of the church. Mr. Cotton took much pains, in various ways, to promote Chrif tian knowlege, as well as true religion in the congregation. Some years after his fettlement, he defired all thofe baptized perfons, who were heads of families, to come to his houfe on a certain day: They generally complied with his propofal. He then gave them fundry queftions, to which he requefted that anfwers fhould be returned, at a fixed time, out of the holy fcriptures. This exercife was to be attended once in two months; and it was fo for several years, not without a bleffing, and some good fuccefs. Men of thirty, forty, and fifty years of age attended, and gave their anfwers in writing to thofe divinity questions. Then the paftor, having read all their anfwers, gave his own to each queftion, and preached upon them. The ruling elder was always prefent, and made the concluding prayer. And ordinarily many, if not moft of the church were then prefent alfo. Towards the clofe of his miniftry in Plimouth Mr. Cotton introduced a new method of catechifing (in which he ufed the affembly's fhorter catechifm) at tending it on Lord's day noons at the meeting houfe, inftructing the males one fabbath, and the females another fucceffively; and then preached on each head of divinity, as they lie in order in that cate chifm. This courfe was conftant. ly attended for more than three years, till the difmiffion of the paftor: On communion days, in the fhort winter days, and in very unfeasonable weather, there was a neceffary omiffion of this fervice. Many of the congregation ufually heard the fermons preached at the catechifings; and God ftrength ened, and encouraged the work. In the year 1694, an unhappy controverfy arofe between Mr. Cotton, and the church refpecting fome ecclefiaftical matters: And this, it feems laid the foundation for the diffolution of the relation between him and the people. Thefe affairs were in debate about three years, and occafioned fome confiderable ferment: And tho' fometimes the difference feemed to be in a measure compofed, 2 And honor; being, thro' the bleffing of Heaven, a fpiritual father to great numbers among them. The church there was at the charge of his funeral; and, in token of respect, erected a handsome monu ment over his grave.* Mr. Eliot continues his laborious fervices among the Indians does not intermit his exertions is rather invigorated by having others joined with him in the fame charitable work. In 1670 he made a vifitation to the congregations of gofpelized Indians in the Maffachusetts, Plimouth and the Vineyard; gathered fome churches, and ordained elders in them. He kept a journal of these tranfactions in this year. I have not had the pleasure to see it: But it feems Mr. Hutchinfon had, and made extracts from it, concerning the ftate of the Chriftianized churches and congregations of Indians in 1670. Some extracts from his publication will conclude this number.t it would foon break out afresh : And this difpofed the diffatisfied (as is common in fuch cafes) the more readily to liften to fuch ill reports, as fome raised of their paftor, which added fuel to the flame. At length the affair came to a crifis. A council was called by mutual confent, who took great pains for an accommodation of differences, and a complete reconciliation ; but not fucceeding, they, at laft, advised the paftor to ask a dimiffion, and the church to grant it, "with fuch expreffions of their love, and charity as the rule called for." Mr. | Cotton accordingly refigned, and at his request was difmiffed, Oct. 5, 1697, to the great grief of a number in the church and town. After this, he tarried a little more than a year in Plimouth. then having a call to Charleston, in South-Carolina, he accepted the invitation; and having composed all differences with Plimouth church, and receiving a recommendation from feveral minifters, he fet fail for Carolina, Nov. 15, 1698. Arriving there, he gathered a church, and was very diligent, and fuccefsful in his labors, as appeared from a daily journal under his hand, left among his papers, in which are the devout breathings of a pious foul, holding daily communion with God. He died there, much lamented on the 18th Sept. 1699, about 60 years of age. In the fhort time of his continuance among them, there were about 25 members added to the church, befides thofe, that were firft incorporated; and many were baptized. He had great refpect fhown him, efpecially by thofe that were good, and by fome perfons of special distinction. He was there counted worthy of, | p. 19, 20, 21, 22. and accordingly received double Mr. Eliot having given an account of his vifiting the Indians at Mahipaug and the Vineyard, and affifting in the ordination of Mr. Bourne in the former, and Hiacoomes and John Tackinafh in the latter place; (which tranfactions have been already related) goes on with his narrative: viz. The teacher of the praying Indians at Nantucket came to the Vineyard, and made report, that there were about 90 families that prayed to God in that Ifland; and advice was given, that fome of the moft godly among them fhould join to the church at the Vineyard; and after fome experience of their orderly walk, should Hift. of the church in Plimouth, Hift. Maffa. V. I. P. 166-168. iffue forth into church state. among themselves, and have officers ordained. Mr. Eliot then takes notice of the ftate of the Indians in the Maffachusetts Bay at this period. Natick was the chief town, where moft of the Indian rulers dwelt, and where their courts were held. There were two teachers, John and Anthony; and betwixt forty, and fifty communicants; and fundry more proposed to join to the church. Punkapog [now Stoughton] was the second town, where the Sachems of the blood, as they term the chief royal line, had their refidence and rights; which, in other parts, as Mr. Eliot fays, were mostly alienated to the Englifh towns. It is fuppofed, that the Indians of Naponfet, or Milton, before this time, had removed, and fettled with those of Punkapog, beyond, or about the blue hills. Their chief ruler and teacher was Ahauton. Ogguonikongquamefut was the next praying town, which bordered upon Marlborough. Solomon, judged to be a ferious, and fouud Chriftiau was their teacher. Nafhope was the next. Tahattawans was called a Sachem of the blood, a faithful, zealous Christian was their ruler. Their minifter John Thomas, a godly, understanding Christian, was their teacher. Their town lay in that part of the country where the Maquas, or Mohawks hunted, and had been much molefted, and for a time was deferted: But in 1670 the Indians returned, and dwelt there. Wamefut was another praying town upon Merrimack river, where Concord river falls into it. Their Sachem was Nomphon, a man of a noble fpirit. This place had been fo much molefted by the Mohawks, that, the year before, they joined with a body of north ern Indians, and fome of Pun kapog in an expedition against them, which proved unfuccefsful. George was their teacher. They were not, in general, much noted for their efteem for religion. Haffunimefut, or Haffanemifcot were the Indians next in order of dignity, and antiquity; from thence came fome of the chief friends to praying to God. They lay upon Nichmug river were ftrict obfervers of the fabbath; and were judged by all travellers, especially fuch who had occafion to lodge among them, to be fincere in their religious profeffions. They had two teachers, Annuweekin, and Tuppukkoow-ed in the expedition against the elin, characterized found, and godly men. I fuppofe this was the place which afterwards was called Grafton, which is near Worcester in the Maffachusetts. I recollect, that above 50 years ago, fome aged men, who were born, and bro't up near Grafton, cuftomarily called it Hafnemifk, which was doubtlefs an abbreviation of Hafferemifo. Pantucket, at the falls in Mer rimack river, was the place of another fet of praying Indians. The Pennicook Indians had come down the river, and built a fort at Pantucket, and were great oppo fers, and obftinately refused to pray to God; but being concern Mohawks, most of them were cut off; and fince that time the Pan-, tucket Indians were, at least feveral of them, become praying Indians; and Jethro was fent to preach Chrift to them. Magunhukquok, where Simon was teacher, on the weft of Natick; and Quanatuffet, which was under the care of the Haffanemifco |