CHAPTER IV.

The Indians at Concord adopt a code of laws for their civil government, and desire Eliot to preach to them-He extends his labours to Yarmouth, Pantucket, and other places-Extract from one of his letters-Account of some of the difficulties with which he had to contend-Interest excited in England by his missionary labours The Corporation for Propagating the Gospel in New-England formed by act of parlia ment-Eliot's gratitude for the exertions of parliament -He protests against his being spoken of as the Indian Evangelist.

THE awakening of the Indians at Nonanetum and Neponsitt, raised a great noise among their brethren, in different parts of the country; and Mr Eliot, who was unwearied in his endeavours to promote their salvation, was desirous that his labours should be extended as widely as possible.

A Sachem, from Concord, having attended one of the lectures, was so much affected by it as to desire to forsake his barbarous habits, and to conform to the manners of the English. He informed his chief men with his intentions on this subject,

pointed out the increased comfort which might be expected from the change which he contemplated, and entreated them to support his views. He was so far successful in his endeavours, that they requested one of the most active and intelligent Indians at Nonanetum, to assist them in forming á code of laws for their civil and religious government,—expressed a desire to have a town granted to them, in which they might settle,and entreated Mr Eliot to preach to them as often as he could find opportunities.

The regulations which they adopted for the management of their affairs, and which were dated at Concord," in the end of the eleventh month, 1647,” were on the whole very judicious. They strictly prohibited intemperance, impurity, powawing, falsehood, gambling, and quarrels, under severe fines; threatened murder and adultery, with death; and enjoined neatness, cleanliness, industry, the payment of debts, and the observance of the other duties of morality.

The Indians at Concord, however, did not rest satisfied with consenting to observe these regulations. They appointed a respectable Englishman as a recorder, to see them carried into execution; and they generally abandoned their savage habits. They established the worship of God in their

expressing their fears that none of them should be saved; which did draw forth my heart to preach and press the promise of pardon to all that were weary and sick of sin; and this doctrine some of them, in a special manner, did receive in a very reverend manner. This very day I have been with the Indians, and one of their questions was, to know what to say to such Indians as oppose their praying to God, and believing in Jesus Christ. What get you,' say they, by praying to God, and believing in Jesus Christ? you go naked still, and you are as poor as we, and our corn is as good as yours, and we take more pleasure than you. Did we see that you got any thing by it, we would pray to God and believe in Jesus Christ also. I answered them, First, God giveth unto us two sorts of good things: one sort are little things,-the other sort are great ones. The little mercies are riches, as clothes, food, sack, houses, cattle, and pleasures; these are little things which serve but for our bodies a little while in this life. The great mercies are wisdom,the knowledge of God,-Christ,-eternal life,repentance, faith; these are mercies for the soul and for eternal life. Now, though God do yet give you the little mercies, he giveth you that which is a great deal better, which the wicked.

Indians cannot see. And this I proved to them by this example:-When Foxun, the Mohegan counsellor, who is counted the wisest Indian in the country, was in the Bay, I did on purpose bring him unto you,-and when he was here, you saw he was a fool in comparison of you; for you could speak of God and Christ, and heaven and repentance, and faith, but he sat and had not one word to say, unless you talked of hunting, wars, &c. Secondly, you have some more clothes than they; and the reason why you have no more, is, because you have but a little wisdom. If you were more wise, to know God, and obey his commandments, you would work more than you do, for God commandeth, Six days shalt thou work.—

"There do sundry times fall out differences among them, and they usually bring their cases to me, and sometimes such as it is needful for me to decline. Their young men, who of all the rest live most idly and dissolutely, now begin to go to service. They moved for a school, and through God's mercy a course is now taken, that there be schools at both places where their children are taught.”

"Dear brother, I can go no further; a weary body, and sleepy eyes, command me to conclude, and desiring your prayers for God's grace and blessing upon my spirit, and poor endeavours, I

take leave at this time, and rest your loving brother in our Saviour Christ.f

JOHN ELIOT.

Though Mr Eliot," to use the words of one of his brethren in the ministry, when he referred to the letter from which the preceding extracts are taken," writes as his spirit is, modestly and sparingly, and speaks the least in sundry particulars ;" yet he adduces very satisfactory proofs that the divine blessing had accompanied his labours. As illustrative of this interesting subject, however, we shall here subjoin a few facts related on the authority of the Rev. Thomas Shepard.

On the 3rd of March, 1647, Messrs Shepard, Wilson, Allen, and Dunstar, four of the ministers in New-England, accompanied by many Christian friends, went to Nonanetum with the view of attending Mr Eliot's Indian lecture. They had the pleasure of witnessing this interesting service, and engaging in conversation with the converts who were present. The questions proposed on this occasion, both by the men and the women,* evinced a progress in the divine life,

Shepard's Clear Sun-Shine of the Gospel, p. 18-29. • Because we knew how unfit it was for women so