Gospel; and were accepted and declared to be a Church of Jefus Chrift. These Indians being of kin to our MassachusetIndians who first prayed unto God, converfed with them, and received amongst them the light and love of the Truth; they desired me to write to Mr. Leveredge to teach them: He accepted the Motion and performed the Work with good fuccefs; but afterwards he left that place, and went to Long-Ifland, and there a godly Brother, named Richard Bourne (who purposed to remove with Mr. Leveredge, but hindered by Divine Providence) undertook the teaching of those Indians, and hath continued in the work with good fuccefs to this day; him we ordained Paftor: and one of the Indians, named Jude, fhould have been ordained Ruling-Elder, but being fick at that time, advice was given that he should be ordained with the first opportunity, as also a Deacon to manage the prefent Sabbath-day Collections, and other [4] parts of that Office in their season. The fame day also were they, and fuch of their Children as were present, baptized.

From them we paffed over to the Vineyard, where many were added to the Church both men and women, and were baptized all of them, and their Children alfo with them; we had the Sacrament of the Lords Supper celebrated in the Indian-Church, and many of the English-Church gladly joyned with them; for which cause it was celebrated in both languages. On a day of Fafting and Prayer, Elders were ordained, two Teaching-Elders, the one to be a Preacher of the Gospel, to do the Office of a Pastor and Teacher; the other to be a Preacher of the Gospel, to do the Office of a Teacher and Pastor, as the Lord fhould give them ability and opportunity; Alfo two Ruling-Elders, with advice to ordain Deacons alfo, for the Service of Chrift in the Church. Things were fo ordered by the Lord's guidance, that a Foundation is laid for two Churches more; for first, these of the Vineyard dwelling at two great a distance to enjoy with comfort their Sabbath-communion in one place, Advice was given them, that after some experience of walking together in the Order and Ordinances of the Gospel, they should iffue forth into another Church; and the Officers are so chofen, that when they fhall do fo, both Places are furnished with a Teaching and Ruling-Elder.

Also the Teacher of the Praying Indians of Nantuket, with a Brother of his were received here, who made good Confeffions of Jefus Chrift; and being asked, did make report unto us that there be about ninety Families who pray unto God in that Island,

so effectual is the Light of the Gospel among them. Advice was given, that some of the chief Godly People should joyn to this Church, (for they frequently converfe together, though the Islands be seven leagues asunder) and after some experience of walking in the Order of the Gospel, they should issue forth into Church-eftate among themselves, and have Officers ordained amongst them.

The Church of the Vineyard were defirous to have chosen Mr. Mahew to be their Paftor: but he declined it, conceiving that in his present capacity he lieth under greater advantages to stand their Friend, and do them good, to fave them from the hands of fuch as would bereave them of their Lands, &c. but they shall alwayes have his counsel, inftruction and management in all their Church-affairs, as hitherto they have had; he will die in this service of Jefus Chrift. The Praying-Indians of both these Islands depend on him, as God's Inftrument for their good. [5] Advice alfo was given for the fetling of Schools; every Child capable of learning, equally paying, whether he make use of it or no: Yet if any should finfully neglect Schooling their Youth, it is a tranfgreffion liable to cenfure under both Orders, Civil and Ecclefiaftical, the offence being against both. So we walk at Natick.

In as much as now we have ordained Indian Officers unto the Ministry of the Gospel, it is needful to add a word or two of Apology: I find it hopeless to expect English Officers in our Indian Churches; the work is full of hardship, hard labour, and chargeable alfo, and the Indians not yet capable to give confiderable fupport and maintenance; and Men have bodies, and must live of the Gospel: And what comes from England is liable to hazard and uncertainties. On fuch grounds as thefe partly, but especially from the fecret wife governance of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Harvest, there is no appearance of hope for their souls feeding in that way: they must be trained up to be able to live of themselves in the ways of the Gospel of Christ; and through the riches of God's Grace and Love, fundry of themselves who are expert in the Scriptures, are able to teach each other: An English young man raw in that language, coming to teach among our Chriftian-Indians, would be much to their lofs; there be of themfelves fuch as be more able, especially being advantaged that he speaketh his own language, and knoweth their manners. Such English as fhall hereafter teach them, must begin with a People that begin to pray unto God, (and fuch opportunities we have many) and then as they grow in knowledge, he will grow (if hẹ

be diligent) in ability of speech to communicate the knowledge of Chrift unto them. And seeing they must have Teachers amongst themselves, they must also be taught to be Teachers : for which cause I have begun to teach them the Art of Teaching; and I find some of them very capable. And while I live, my purpose is, (by the grace of Christ affisting) to make it one of my chief cares and labours to teach them some of the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the way how to analize, and lay out into particulars both the Works and Word of God; and how to communicate knowledge to others methodically and skilfully, and especially the method of Divinity. There be fundry Minifters who live in an opportunity of beginning with a People, and for time to come I fhall ceafe my importuning of others, and onely fall to perfwade fuch unto this fervice of Jefus Chrift, it being one part of our Ministerial Charge to preach to the World in the Name of Jefus, and from amongst them to gather Subjects to his holy Kingdom. The Bible, and the Catechifm drawn [6] out of the Bible, are general helps to all parts and places about us, and are the ground-work of Community amongst all our Indian-Churches and Christians.

I find a bleffing, when our Church of Natick doth fend forth fit Perfons unto fome remoter places, to teach them the fear of the Lord. But we want maintenance for that Service; it is a chargeable matter to fend a Man from his Family: The Labourer is worthy of his Hire: And when they go only to the High-wayes and Hedges, it is not to be expected that they fhould reward them: If they believe and obey their Meffage, it is enough. We are determined to fend forth some (if the Lord will, and that we live) this Autumn, fundry ways. I fee the best way is, up and be doing: In all labour there is profit; Seek and ye shall find. We have Christ's Example, his Promise, his Prefence, his Spirit to affift; and I truft that the Lord will find a way for your encouragement.

Natick is our chief Town, where most and chief of our Rulers, and most of the Church dwells; here most of cur chief Courts are kept; and the Sacraments in the Church are for the most part here adminiftred: It is (by the Divine Providence) feated well near in the center of all our praying Indians, though Westward the Cords of Christ's Tents are more enlarged. Here we began Civil Government in the year 1650. And here ufually are kept the General-Trainings, which feven years ago looked so big that we never had one fince till this year, and it was at this time but a small appearance. Here we have

two Teachers, John Speen and Anthony; we have betwixt forty and fifty Communicants at the Lord's Table, when they all appear, but now, fome are dead, and fome decriped with age; and one under Cenfure, yet making towards a recovery; one died here the last Winter of the Stone, a temperate, sober, godly man, the firft Indian that ever was known to have that disease; but now another hath the fame disease: Sundry more are propofed, and in way of preparation to joyn unto the Church.

Ponkipog, or Pakeunit, is our fecond Town, where the Sachems of the Bloud (as they term their Chief Royal-Line) had their Residence and Rights, which are mostly Alienated to the English Towns: The laft Chief Man, of that Line, was last year flain by the Mauquzogs, against whom he rafhly (without due Attendants and Affiftance, and against Counsel) went; yet all, yea, his Enemies fay, He died valiantly; they were more afraid to kill him, than he was to die; yet being de- [7] ferted by all (fome knowingly fay through Treafon) he ftood long, and at laft fell alone: Had he had but 10 Men, yea 5 in good order with him, he would have driven all his Enemies before him. His Brother was refident with us in this Town, but he is fallen into fin, and from praying to God. Our Chief Ruler is Ahauton, an old stedfast and trufty friend to the English, and loveth his Country. He is more loved than feared; the reins of his bridle are too long. Wakan is fometimes neceffarily called to keep Courts here, to add life and zeal in the punishment of Sinners. Their late Teacher, William, is deceased; He was a man of eminent parts, all the English acknowledge him, and he was known to many: He was of a ready wit, found judgment, and affable; he is gone unto the Lord; And William, the Son of Ahauton, is called to be Teacher in his ftead. He is a promifing young-man, of a single and upright heart, a good judgment, he Prayeth and Preacheth well, he is ftudious and industrious, and well accounted of among the English.

Haffunnimefut is the next Town in order, dignity, and antiq uity; fundry of our chief Friends in the great work of Praying to God, came from them, and there lived their Progenitors, and there lieth their Inheritance, and that is the place of their defires. It lieth upon Nichmuke River; the people were well known to the English so long as Connecticot Road lay that way, and their Religion was judged to be real by all that travelled that journey, and had occafion to lodge, especially to keep a Sabbath among them. The Ruler of the Town is Anuweekin, and his brother Tuppukkoowillin is Teacher, both found and

godly Men. This Ruler, laft Winter, was overtaken with a Paffion, which was so obfervable, that I had occafion to speak with him about it; he was very penitent; I told him, That as to man, I, and all men were ready to forgive him. Ah ! said he, I find it the greatest difficulty to forgive myself. For the encouragement of this place, and for the cherishing of a new Plantation of Praying Indians beyond them, they called Monatunkanet to be a Teacher alfo in that Town, and both of them to take care of the new Praying-Town beyond them. And for the like encouragement, Captain Gookins joyned Petahheg with Anuweekin. The aged Father of this Ruler and Teacher, was last year Baptized, who hath many Children that fear God. this place we meditate ere long (if the Lord will, and that we live) to gather a Church, that fo the Sabbath-Communion of our Christian Indians may be the more agree- [8] able to the Divine Institution, which we make too bold with while we live at fuch distance.

In

Ogquonikongquamefut is the next Town; where, how we have been afflicted, I may not fay. The English Town called Marlborough doth border upon them, as did the lines of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin; the English Meeting-house standeth within the line of the Indian Town, although the contiguity and co-habitation is not barren in producing matters of interfering; yet our godly Indians do obtain a good report of the godly English, which is an argument that bringeth light and evidence to my heart, that our Indians are really godly. I was very lately among them; they defired me to fettle a stated Lecture amongst them, as it is in fundry other Praying Towns, which I did with fo much the more gladness and hope of bleffing in it, because through Grace the Motion did firft fpring from themselves. Solomon is their Teacher, whom we judge to be a serious and found Chriftian; their Ruler is Owannamug, whose grave, faithful, and discreet Conversation hath procured him real respect from the English. One that was a Teacher in this place, is the man that is now under Cenfure in the Church; his fin was that adventitious fin which we have brought unto them, Drunkenness, which was never known to them before they knew us English. But I account it our duty, and it is much in my defire, as well to teach them Wisdom to Rule fuch heady Creatures, as skill to get them to be able to bridle their own appetites, when they have means and opportunity of high-fpirited enticements. The Wisdom and Power of Grace is not so much seen in the beggarly want of these things, as in