out by some that lay in the other side of the Indian house. Now Hiacoomes (as himself saith) did remember his former thoughts of God, and then thought God did answer him, and that he was brought more to rejoyce in God, and rest more upon him.

1645.

1646.

Now in these times, as I did endeavour the good of these Heathens by discourse with diverse of them, so in particular with Hiacoomes, who did communicate that knowledge he had amongst those he could; for some of them could not endure the light he brought; some were more attentive to hear, and more ready to follow the truth, yet they did not well behold the Majesty of the Lord by these personal particular works; at last the Lord sent an universal sicknes, and it was observed by the Indians, that they that did but give the hearing of good counsel, did not taste so deeply of it, but Hiacoomes and his family in a manner not at all. This put the Indians who dwell about six miles from us, upon serious consideration of the thing, being much affected, that he which had exposed himself to such reproaches and troubles, should receive more blessings then themselves; hereupon they sent a messenger to Hiacoomes, who was with him about the break of day, and delivering his message, told him that he was come to pray him to go presently to Myoxeo the chief man of that place, and he should have a reward for his labour; for the Indians were very desirous to know from him all things that he knew, and did, in the wayes of God; so he being glad of the opportunity, went with the messenger, and when he came, there were many Indians gathered together, amongst which was Towanquatick the Sagamore; [p. 6.] then after many requests (the general whereof was this, that he would shew his heart unto them, how it stood towards God, and what they must do) he shewed unto them all things he knew concerning God the Father, Sonne and Holy Ghost; Myoxeo asking him how many Gods the English did worship, he answered one God, whereupon Myoxeo reckoned up about 37. principal gods he had, and shall I (said he) throw away these 37. gods for one? Hiacoomes replyed, what do you think of your self? I have throwne away all these, and a great many more some yeers ago, yet am preserved as you see this day; you speak true said Myoxeo; therefore I will throw away all my gods too, and serve that one God with you. Hiacoomes told them all, he did fear this great God only, and also in a speciall manner that the Son of God did suffer death to satisfie the wrath of God his Father, for all those that did trust in him, and forsake their sinnes, and that the spirit of God did work these things in the hearts of men, and that himself did feare this great God only, was sorry for his sinnes, desiring to be redeemed by Iesus Christ, and to walk in Gods commandments; this, with many truths more he shewed unto them, As Adams transgression, and the misery of the world by it,

written this passage to Mr. Winslow in my

and did conclude, that if they had such hearts as he, they should have the same mercies. He reckoned up to them many of their sins, as having many gods, going to Pawwawes; and Hiacoomes told me himself, that this was the first time that ever he saw the Indians sensible of their sins; formerly they did but hear it as a new thing, but not so nearly concerning them, for they were exceeding thankful, saying, also now we have seen our sins. Thus it pleased the Lord to give both light and courage to this poore Indian ; for although formerly he had been a harmlesse man amongst them, yet, as themselves say, not at all accounted of, and therefore they often wondered that he which had nothing to say in all their meetings formerly, is now become the Teacher of them all; I must needs give him this testimony, after some yeers experience of him, that he is a man of a sober spirit, and good conversation, and as he hath, as I hope, received the Lord Jesus Christ in truth, so also I look upon him to be faithful, diligent, and constant in the work of the Lord, for the good of his own soul and his neighbours with him. Now, after these things it pleased God to move the heart of Towanquatick, encouraged by some others amongst them, Though I have to desire me to preach unto them. At my coming, this man spake thus unto [p. 7.] me; That a long time agon they had wise men, which in a grave manner taught the people knowledge; but they are dead, and their wisdome is buried with them, and now men live a giddy life, in ignorance, till they are white headed, and though ripe in yeeres, yet then they go without wisdome to their graves. He told me that he wondered the English should be almost thirty yeers in the Country and the Indians fools still; but he hoped the time of knowledge was now come; wherefore himself with others desired me to give them an Indian meeting, to make known the word of God to them in their own tongue; and when he came to me to accomplish his desire thereabout, he told me That I should be to them as one that stands by a running river filling many vessels, even so should I fill them with everlasting knowledge; So I undertook to give them a meeting once a moneth; but as soone as the first Exercise was ended, they desired it oftner then I could well attend it, but once in a fortnight in our setled course. He hath also since told me the reason why he desired me to preach to them, as that he was greatly desirous to have the Indians grow more in goodnesse, to have their posterity inherit blessings when he was dead; and himself was desirous to put the Word of God to his heart, to repent, and throw away his sins, and to be better, and after he was dead, to inherit a life in heaven.

Letter to him, which is print ed, yet it is not so full a story

as here, and therfore I have added it.

Now there be three things in this beginning that were greatly inquired into. 1. Earthly riches, what they should get. 2. What

approbation they should get from other Sagamores and Governors, 3. How they should come off from the Pawwawes; but in neither of these could they finde that which might give motion to a carnal minde; for the first kept off many, I have had much discourse with, several of them about it, wherein they have strongly stood for their own meetings, wayes and customes, being in their account more profitable then ours, wherein they meet with nothing but talking and praying. The second also remaines an obstacle, the Sagamores generally are against the way. The third is the strongest cord that binds them to their own way, for the Pawwawes by their witchcraft keep them in feare, many of the Indians got over the two first difficulties, and in some measure the third; now there were about twelve which came to the meeting as it were halting between two opinions, others came to hear and see what was done, for although they had heard and seen something of the one God of heaven, yet such was their unspeakable darknesse, [p. 8.] their captivity in sin, and bondage to the Pawwawes, that they hardly durst for feare take the best way, for though a few of them were better enlightned, yet the Heathen round about stuck fast in their old brutishnesse.

1647.

We had not long continued the meeting, but the Sagamore Tow¬ anquatick met with a sad tryal, for he being at a Weare where some Indians were a fishing, where also was an English man, as he lay along upon a matt on the ground asleep, by a little light fire, the night being very dark, an Indian came down, as being ready fitted for the purpose, and being about six or eight paces from him, let flie a broad headed arrow, purpos¬ ing by all probability to drench the deadly arrow in his heart blood, but the Lord prevented it; for notwithstanding all the advantages he had, instead of the heart he hit the eye- This man when brow, which like a brow of steele turned the point of Iland I often the arrow, which, glancing away, slit the top of his saw and spake nose to the bottome. A great stirre there was pres- with, seeing ently, the Sagamore sate up, and bled much, but was upon his eyenot much hurt through the mercy of God; the dark- brow and nose, nesse of the night hid the murtherer, and he is not dis

I was in the

also the skar

covered to this day. The next morning I went to see the Sagamore, and I found him praising God for his great deliverance, both himself and all the Indians, wondering that he was yet alive. The cause of his being shot, as the Indians said, was for his walking with the English; and it is also conceived, both by them and us, that his forwardnesse for the meeting was one thing, which (with the experience I have had of him since) gives me matter of strong perswasion that he beares in his brow the markes of the Lord Jesus.

After this, through the mercy of God, we proceeded on with the meeting, to the rejoycing of some Indians, and the envie of the rest, who derided and scoffed at those that did follow the Lecture, and VOL. IV. THIRD SERIES,

15

in their way of wickednesse blaspheming the Name of God, which damped the spirits of some of them for a time in the wayes of God, and hindering others from looking thitherward, but the Lord gave courage and constancy to some of them, especially to Hiacoomes and Towanquatick who was hurt with the arrow, who were not ashamed of the way of God.

1648.

Although I was present at this meeting from the beginning to the end, yet

it was done without my pri

it, but it came meerly from themselvs.

eldest sonne.

And hereupon they made farther progresse in the way of God, for without any knowledge thereof, they appointed a meeting, and there came some younger men, and brought with them the ancient men of their kindred and acquaintance to speak for them, whereof [p. 9.] the very old man that your self saw and heard at the meeting, was one, who began the meeting with a relation of the old customes of the ancient Heathen, preferring them before those wayes of their own they vity or puiting were now in, yet acknowledging they were farre infethem on upon rior to those wayes of God they had now begun : Then twelve of the young men went and took Sacochanimo by the hand one by one and told him that they did love him, and would go with him in Gods This was Tow- way, and some of them made a long speech to him to anqueticks this purpose; and the old men encouraged them in their way, & desired them never to forget those promises they had now made; then one of the young men told me the ground of their meeting, viz. They were sorry to see that the meeting did go on no more strongly, and that there were no more at it, and that they were desirous to strengthen themselves in the way of God, to have good hearts, and one heart, and to walk together in love in the wayes of God. So after they had eaten together the victuals of their own providing, and we had sung part of a Psalme in their own language, and I had prayed with them, they returned with the manifestation of much joy and thankfulnesse; and this I can say, they are generally constant in the way of God, and I have great hopes of some of them, blessed be his name. After this it pleased the Lord to stirre up the hearts of the Indians to appoint another meeting, and many Indians being met, they fell to a great discourse about the Pawwawes power to kill men, and there were many stories told of the great hurt they had done by their witchcraft many wayes (here you must know, that though the Indians many of them were brought by the knowledge they had of God, to renounce the Pawwawes help, in time of sicknesse or otherwise, yet they found it hard to get from under the yoake of cruelty that they and their forefathers had so long groaned under; for I know some, that then groaned under it, acknowledged they did see that in God which would free them from it, if they had but confidence to trust in him.)

1649.

Then the question was asked, Who is there that doth not fear the Pawwawes? answer was made by some who favoured them, there is not any man which is not afraid of the Pawwawes; then looking upon Hiacoomes, who was one that protested most against them, told him that the Pawwawes could kill him; he answered they could not; they asked him againe, why? he told them, because he did beleeve in God and trust in him, and that therefore all the Pawwaws could not do him any hurt; [p. 10.] Then they all wondered exceedingly when he spake thus so openly. Then divers of them said one by one, though before I was afraid of the Pawwawes, yet now, because I hear Hiacoomes his words, I do not fear them, but beleeve in God too. Then the meeting at this time was carried on, and Hiacoomes is desired by the Indians to reckon up their sins unto them; he presently found 45. or 50. and as many good duties; his work was very well liked, and in the conclusion twenty two Indians were found to resolve against those evils, and to walk with God, and attend the word of God. But I 1650. may not here forget an Indian called Hummanequem, who exceeded all the rest, to the wonderment of the Indians; he with much sorrow, hatred, and courage, related about twenty of his own sins, and professed to follow the one God against all opposition; He told them he was brought into this condition by Hiacoomes his counsel from the Word of God, which at first he said he liked not, afterwayes laid it by him as a thing to be considered, not knowing well what to do; at last, looking over things again, he came to this resolution which you have now heard; I confesse this action makes me think he spake more then from a natural principle, considering that the man hath been since an earnest seeker of more light both publike and private; as also for refusing the help of a Pawwaw which lives within a bow shoot of his doore, when his wife was three dayes in travel, and waited patiently upon God, till they obtained a merciful deliverance by prayer.

And whilst we were making progresse in the work of the Lord on a Lecture day, an Indian stood up, and said he had been a sinner, and committed many evill things, but now was sorry for them, and did repent, desired to forsake his sins, and to walk in Gods way. Then he went to the Sagamore Towanquetick, and took him by the hand, saying, I do love you, and do greatly desire to go along with you for Gods sake; the like also he said to some others, and then came to me in like manner, saying, I pray love me, and I do love you, and am desirous to go with you for Gods sake; so he was received with many thanks, and since I know him to be diligent and laborious. I confesse I marvelled to see them act with such a spirit, but I considered, it was sutable to their own meeting in 48.

Now the Indian accompanied his friend that suddenly lost his two