Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[graphic][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

MEMOIR OF REV. JOHN ELIOT.
Missionary among the Indians.
(Concluded.)

verted. He also published a Grammar of the Indian language; and at the close of it wrote those memorable words: "Prayers and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus, will do any thing."

SOON after the formation of the church at Natick, Mr. Eliot had the pleasure of completing a work on which his heart had long been set, and which was intimately connected with the success of his labours, the translation of the Holy Besides instituting schools, where Scriptures into the Indian lan- many of the Indians learned to read guage. In 1661, the New Testa and write, Mr. Eliot and the other ment, dedicated to his Majesty gentlemen who had the superinCharles the Second, was printed at tendence of the mission, were at Cambridge in New-England; and much expense in educating some about three years after, it was fol- of them to the work of the minislowed by the Old Testament. This try, with the view of employing was the first Bible ever printed in them as preachers among their own America, and though the impres- countrymen. The plan, certainly, sion consisted of two thousand was laudable, but it was not effectcopies, it was sooner exhausted ual, at least to the extent that was than might have been expected. A expected or desired. Several of second edition of the whole was the youths died, after being some published in 1685, in correcting years at their education; others which Mr. Eliot was much assisted were disheartened and relinquished by his friend Mr. John Cotton of the pursuit, when they were nearly Plymouth.. Besides this great work, ready for the college; some, howhe translated into the Indian lan-ever, persevered in their studies, guage various other useful books, acquired considerable knowledge as Primers, Catechisms, the Prac- || of the Latin and Greek languages, tice of Piety, Shepard's Sincere and were qualified for being emConvert, Shepard's Sound Believer, ployed as schoolmasters and teachand Baxter's Call to the Uncon-ers among their own countrymen, MARCH, 1825.

9

following year, many of the towns of praying Indians being broken up in consequence of it. In 1684, Mr. Eliot informs us, that their stated places of worship were re

At Cambridge in New-England, a building was erected at an expense of between three and four hundred pounds, under the name of the Indian College. It was large enough to accommodate about twenty per-duced to four; but, besides these, sons with convenient lodgings; but there were some other places, where for some years at least, it was they occasionally met for divine chiefly occupied by English stu- service. dents, on account of the death and failure of the Indian youths.

Notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, Mr. Eliot persevered in his labours among the Indians, as long as his health and

With the view of supplying, as far as possible, the want of native preachers, Mr. Eliot, besides visit-strength would permit ; but being, ing the Indians frequently during the week, encouraged the most judicious of them to give their countrymen a word of exhortation on the Sabbath.

In 1674, the number of towns, within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts colony, inhabited by praying Indians, as they were called, had increased to no fewer than fourteen, to all of which Mr. Eliot appears, in a greater or less degree, to have extended his evangelical labours. Of these, seven were of considerable standing; the other seven had begun to listen to the gospel only within the last three years. It is necessary, however, to remark, that under the appellation of Praying Indians were included all who merely submitted to be catechised, attended public worship, read the scriptures, and prayed in their family morning and evening, even though they were not able, or not willing to profess their faith in Christ, and of course were not admitted either to Baptism or the Lord's Supper. Estimating each family in these towns to consist on an average of five persons, the whole number of individuals enjoying the means of Christian instruction was supposed to amount to about eleven hundred; but among these there were as yet only two churches; and, indeed, the further progress of the gospel among the Indians was greatly interrupted by the war with Philip, a celebrated chief, which began the

at length, worn out with the infirmities of age, he was scarcely able to visit them oftener than once in two months, instead of every fort

night, as had been his usual practice. Even at Roxbury he was no longer able to perform the duties of the pastoral office to his own satisfaction; and, therefore, he very disinterestedly importuned his people to call another minister, because he could not die with comfort till he saw a good successor settled among them. "It is possible," said he, " you may think the burden of maintaining two ministers too heavy for you; but I deliver you from that fear. I do here give back my salary to the Lord Jesus Christ; and, now, Brethren, you may fix it on any man whom God shall make your pastor." But his church, with a handsome reply, assured him that they would consider his very presence among them worth a salary, when he should be unable to do any further service among them. Having, at length, obtained an excellent young man for his colleague, the venerable Mr. Eliot cherished him with all the care and affection of a father toward a child. After this, for a year or two before his death, he could scarcely be persuaded to undertake any public service in the congregation, humbly pleading, what none but himself ever thought even for a moment, that it would be wrong to the souls of the people, for him to do any thing among

so much supplied to their advantage. One day (Dr. Mather thinks it was the last he ever preached,) after a very distinct and useful exposition of the eighty-third Psalm, he concluded with an apology to his hearers, begging them," to pardon the poorness, and meanness, and brokenness of his medi tations;" but, added he, with singular humility, "My dear brother, here, will by and by mend all."

them, when they were otherwise || order, combined with the infirmities of old age. During his illness, when speaking about the evangelizing of the Indians, he said, "There is a dark cloud upon the work of the gospel among them. The Lord revive and prosper that work, and grant that it may live when I am dead. It is a work I have been doing much and long about. But what was the word I spoke last ? I recal that word, My doings. Alas! they have been poor, and small, and lean doings; and I will be the man who will cast the first stone at them all." One of the last expressions which were heard to drop from his lips were those emphatic words: "Welcome joy." He at length expired in the beginning of 1690, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and has since been known by the honourable, yet well earned title of THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIANS.

But though this excellent man imagined he could no longer be useful to the English, he thought he might yet, perhaps, do some good among the negroes. He had long lamented the deplorable condition of these poor creatures, dragged from their native land, carried to a foreign shore, and reduced to slavery among strangers. He now, therefore, requested the English, within two or three miles of his house, to send their negroes to him once a week, that he night catechise and instruct them in the things which belonged to their everlasting peace. He did not live, however, to make much progress in this humble, yet disinterested undertaking. Even when he was able to do but little without doors, he tried to do something within. There was a young boy in the neighbourhood, who, in his infancy, had fallen into the fire, and burned his face in such a manner, that he was now totally blind. The good old man therefore, took him home to his house, with the view of teaching him; and he was so far successful, that the youth, in a short time, could repeat many chapters of the Bible from memory, and was able to construe with ease an ordinary piece of Latin. Such was the manner in which this venerable saint spent the evening of life. With him there was no day sine linea.

Being at length attacked with some degree of fever, he rapidly sunk under the ravages of his dis

He

He was a man of prayer. not only made it his daily practice to enter into his closet, and shut his door, and pray to his Father in secret; but he would often set apart days for fasting and prayer. Especially when there was any remarkable difficulty before him, he took this way to encounter and overcome it; being of Dr. Preston's mind, that when we would accomplish any great things, the best policy is to work by an engine which the world sees nothing of." He kept his heart in a frame for prayer with a marvellous constancy; and was continually provoking thereto all that were about him.

"When he heard of any considerable news, his usual and speedy reflection thereon would be, Brethren, let us turn all this into prayer!" When he entered a house where he was familiar, he would often say, 'Come, let us not have a visit without a prayer; let us pray down the blessing of Heaven on your family before we go. Where especially he came into the company of minis

« PreviousContinue »