almost altogether occupied in protecting their lives, providing for their sustenance, and cherishing the divine life in their own souls. They did not lose sight, however, of the deplorable condition of the poor savages; but, as far as their intercourse with them permitted, they endeavoured to commend to them, by their lives and conversations, the religion of Jesus. In the year 1621, we find the Rev. Robert Cushman, of Plymouth colony, informing the public, in the epistle dedicatory to one of his sermons, that "the English were content to bear the intrusions of the Indians, that they might see and take knowledge of their labours, orders, and diligence, both for this life and a better;" that " many of the younger sort were of a tractable disposition, both to religion and humanity;" and that if " God would send them means," they would "bring up hundreds of them to labour and learning;" and that "ends would not fail," young men from England, "who would be content to lay out their estates, and to endure hardships and difficulties, that they might further the gospel among the heathen."b

The Indians could not view the Christian conduct of the English, without being led to inquire

b Hazard, vol. i. p. 148, 149.

into the nature of those principles in which it originated; and accordingly we find, that, the curiosity of several of them having been excited in this way, they obtained a correct idea of the scheme of salvation, and the morality of the Bible. A few of them, indeed, were deeply affected with what they had been taught concerning a future state, and the consequences of the final judgment. * The Rev. Roger Williams, minister at

c Hutchinson's History of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, p. 161. Neal's History of New-England, vol. i. p. 161.

"This year, (1622) died Squanto, the friend of the English, who merits to have his name perpetuated in history. Squanto was one of the twenty Indians whom Hunt (in 1614) perfidiously carried to Spain, whence he came to London, and afterwards to his native country with the Plymouth colony. Forgetting the perfidy of those who made him a captive, he became a warm friend to the English, and continued so to the day of his death. A few days before his death, he desired the governor to pray that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven. Morse's American Geography, p. 163. We have a similar account of John, a Sagamore in Massachusetts. It is remarked concerning him, that he "sometimes praised the English and their God;" spoke of them as "much good men, much good God;" and, on his death-bed, sent for Mr Wilson, of Boston, and desired him to "teach his son to know the God of the English."Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, p. 161.

Salem,* appears to have been instrumental, in a considerable degree, in rousing their attention to these important matters.d

In 1636, the government of Plymouth colony made several laws for preaching the gospel to the Indians,-for admitting English preachers among them,—and, with the concurrence of the principal chiefs, for constituting courts to punish misdemeanours. e About six years after this period, Mr Thomas Mayhew, jun. the son of the governor and patentee of Martha's Vineyard, Elizabeth and Natucket Isles, began to labour among the Indians in the former of these places. †

The conversion of the Indians at length attracted the attention of the General Court of Massachusetts; and, in 1646, they passed their first act, encouraging the propagation of the gospel among them. At the same time, they recommended the ministers to consult about the best

See Appendix (A.)

a Key into the Language of America, in Collections of Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. iii. p. 206, 207. e Abiel Holmes' American Annals, vol. i. p. 279.

† An account of Mr Mayhew's zealous and successful endeavours to propagate the gospel, is inserted in the Appendix (B).

means of carrying their benevolent intentions into effect, and shewed themselves disposed to countenance whatever measures they might adopt for this purpose.f

It appears that Mr Eliot, about the time when this act was passed, had been led seriously to consider the condition of the poor heathen with whom he was surrounded, and to long for their deliverance from the power of the prince of darkness. His mind must, therefore, have been cheered by the intimation of the purposes of government; and it is not to be wondered at, that, after solemnly inquiring into the duty which devolved on him as a minister of Christ, he should immediately resolve to attempt the work of propagating the gospel among the Indians to whom he had access. g

Before giving an account of his entrance on the work of a missionary, it is necessary to take a brief view of the character and circumstances of the people among whom he was called to labour. It is only in this way that a proper estimate can

f Hutchinson, p. 161.

Gookin's Historical Collections of the Indians in New-England, in Collections of Massachusetts Historical Society, vol i. p. 169.

be formed respecting the strength of the faith and love which he displayed in his future life,-that many of the occurrences which it may be proper to record can be understood,—and that the effects of his labours can be rightly appreciated.

When the British established their first colonies in New-England, there were about twenty or thirty different nations of Indians in that territory, which closely resembled one another in their external appearance, mode of living, form of government, language, religious views, and moral habits. The Indians of Massachusetts were supposed to be among the most populous of all these tribes; and though, owing to their residence on the sea-coasts, they had made some little progress in civilization, they were described by those who were acquainted with them, as "the most sordid and contemptible of the human race,” and “as the veriest ruins of mankind on the face of the earth."

The Indians were remarkable for their strength, agility, and hardiness of constitution. Their clothing, which was very imperfect, was generally formed of the skins of beasts. They were exceedingly fond of decking themselves with fantastic ornaments, and of painting their bodies with ill-shapen figures of men, trees, and other natural objects; and accustomed to respect the individual