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obftruct the propagation of Christianity among the Indians -What conduced to remove the obftacles-Of Mr. Mayhew's fuccefs at different periods in bringing the natives to the knowledge and profeffion of the Chriftian faith-Of the method he took to fettle civil order, and fome degree of gofpel, difcipline among the Indians by their exprefs defire-Who and how qualified thofe were who were esteemed Chriftians Of the moral and religious conduct of the Indians, who profaffed Chriftianity under the miniftry of Mr. Mayhew, and his fucceffors-On his fetting fail for England to folicit help in carrying on the good work he had begun-Of his premature death, and the pungent grief it excited in Mr. Eliot, and others; and very particularly in the minds of thofe Indians, whom he had been an inflrument of converting to the Christian faith-Some traits of his character by the Rev. Hen-compaffion, faw perifhing for lack ry Whitefield.

his qualifications for the work of the miniftry, foon called him to this fervice.

But his English congregation being then but small, he was earneftly defirous of being more extenfively useful. With great compaffion he beheld the natives, confifting of feveral thousands on this and the adjacent iflands, perithing in utter ignorance of the true God and eternal life; laboring under ftrange delufions; worshipping for Deities creatures of their own imagination, or of that of their anceftors; and in fuch a miferable fituation as the apoftle reprefents the Ephefians before their converfion," Without Chrift, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, and ftrangers from the Covenants of promife, having no hope, and without God in the world."

IN 1642, Thomas Mayhew, Efq. fends his only fon, Mr Thomas Mayhew, jun. with a few other perfous, to fettle at Martha'sVineyard. This young gentleman was about 21 years of age, when he first took up his refidence on the island. He was favored with a good education-was efteemed a perfon of very good mental powers, and was viewed as a man of real and diftinguifhed piety.

Soon after his fettlement at this place, his father removed to it, and became the governor of the illand.

The fmall plantation of EngHfh, fenfible of the worth of Mr. Mayhew, jun. and fatisfied with

It must be spoken to the lafting honor of Mr. Mayhew, that he fo early, and diligently thought upon this question, "What can be done in order to the falvation of the miferable Indians," whom he, with

of vifion—that he began fo foon, after his fettlement on the Ifland, to make attempts to bring them to an acquaintance with the gospel. His heart was in the work; and we shall obferve in the sequel, that he purfued it with unremitting diligence, and fervent zeal.

He first endeavors to gain fome acquaintance with them, and by a friendly behaviour to conciliate their affections.

That he might be more useful to them on fpiritual accounts especially, as well as for other reasons, he foon fet himself to learn their language, and with diligent application became a good master of it.-He was fenfible, that it was of great confequence to become well acquainted with it, that he might more ef

fectually teach them Chriftianity, and have a fairer profpect of fuccefs. Every one must be fenfible, that he judged wifely in this matter.

Indians ask questions, as has been cuftomary after the fermon, and public prayers are finished, the preacher will be under fuperior advantages to understand and answer them; and much time may also be faved in this way. Mr. David Brainerd regretted, that he had not been able to gain a better knowl.

Mr. Sergeant, the firft miffionary at Stockbridge, found that his acquaintance with it was of very great

It was doubtlefs then, as well as now, difficult to obtain interpreters with requifite qualifications, men, who are not only well acquainted with both languages, and have quick nefs of thought and ready utter-edge of the Indian tongue. And ance; but perfons of prudence, of fortitude, and of engaging manners, by which they may ingratiate themselves with the heathen-per-ule to him in his miffion. fons of a pious mind, and zeal in the caufe-men of an exemplary life, and good proficients in facred fcience, fo that they will eafily apprehend the meaning of the inftructor, and communicate his ideas readily, clearly, and with precifion. However, on fuppofition fuch interpreters could be obtained, (not to mention the expence of fupporting them) yet it must be obvious to all, that religious inftructions cannot be given to fo good advantage in this way, as by an immediate addrefs by a well qualified Miffionary, who is competently acquainted with the language of thofe, whom he is teaching. In the former method doctrinal knowledge will, in a comparative view, be gained but flowly. There is greater danger that the fpeaker will be mifunderstood in the former, than in the latter way. Befides the Indian language is faid to be deftitute of many terms, by which fome of the peculiar doctrines of Chriftianity could be directly communicated; and it requires particular fkill, and attention in a millionary to convey tolerably juft ideas concerning thefe points. An understanding of the language of his hearers maft evidently be of particular benefit in this cafe.

it may be added, that when the

Mr. Mayhew, having acquired the neceffary knowledge of the Indian language, immediately applied himself to the miffionary work. He well knew, that it was of the utmost importance, in order to obtain defired fuccefs, to ingratiate himfelf with the natives, and gain a paffage to their hearts. He converfed with them in a pleasing and affable manner, by which means he wrought himself into their affections and thus had the eafier access to their minds. He treats them in a friendly and condefcending manner; denies himfelf, and does his utmoft to oblige and help them. He takes all fitting occafions to infinuate and fhow the fincere and tender love, and good will he bare them: And as he grows in their acquaintance and affection, he proceeds to exprefs his great concern and pity for their immortal fouls. He tells them of their deplorable condition under the power of Satan, that envious and malicious fpirit, who not only kept them in ignorance of thofe earthly good things, which might render their lives in this world much more comfortable; but of thofe alfo which might bring them to eternal happiness in the world to come; what a kind and powerful God the English ferved, and how the Indians might happily

come into his favor, and protec- | a firm and refolute adherence to it, tion.*

inceffant in his pious endeavors. I made but flow progrefs among the

He does not spare his body either by day, or by night. He readily travels and lodges in their fmoky wigwams; and chearfully fubmits to felf-denial, and fach hardships to which heretofore he was a firanger.

His way in public then was, by preaching a lecture every fortnight, to which both men, women, and children came. He first prayed, then preached, then catechifed, then fang a pfalm, and all in their own language. After fermon, he generally spent more time than in the fermon itself; reafoning with them in a more familiar manner, anfwering their questions, removing their doubts, filencing their cavils, and refolving cafes put to him.

Every Saturday morning he confers with Hiacoomes more private ly about his fubject matter of preaching to the natives on both parts of the following day; Mr. Mayhew directing him in the choice of his text, and in the management of it.

natives. Mr. Mayhew, as well as other miffionaries, before and fince, found many obftacles. Various things tended to obftru&t the good work.

The Indians, in common with other Heathens, must be suppofed to have been prejudiced in favor of, and firmly attached to the religion, in which they had been educated. "All men have naturally a veneration for the religion of their ancestors; and the prejudices of education in a falfe religion are commonly infuperable without the extraordinary grace of God." "Hath a nation changed her Gods, which are yet no Gods."*

They would reafon, as many in heathen countries had done before them; " Shall we forfake the Gods, whom our forefathers, from time immemorial have worshipped, Gods who have been kind to us, for a ftrange God, utterly unknown to us Shall we abandon a religion, which our ancestors embraced-A religion venerable for antiquity-a religion, which ap proves itself to our minds: Shall we forfake this for one to which we are entire strangers, which is brought to us by foreigners, with whofe character we are not fufficiently acquainted; and who, for ought we can tell, may have fome finifter end in view, in propofing to us to receive it ; and may not, in the leaft degree, have our good at heart?

When abroad upon his miffion, and obliged to lodge in their wigwams, he usually spent a confide rable portion of the night, partly in relating the ancient hiftories in the holy fcriptures, a fubject with which the natives were at first greatly furprized, and not a little entertained; and partly in difcourfing upon fuch other topics, as he judged most conducive to promote their benefit: He particularly propofes to their confideration, fuch "Thus many flood strongly for things, as he thinks requifite in the their own meetings, ways, and cuffirst place: He fairly folves their toms, as being in their account fubtle objections; and tells them much more advantageous and athat they might plainly fee, that greeable, than ours, in which, as it was purely in good will to them, they faid, there is nothing but prayfrom whom he could expect no re-ing, and talking, and this, in a ward, that he spent so much time, manner too fill and fober for them. and pains, and endured fo much This attachment to their own cold and wet, fatigue and trouble.

For feveral years the gospel

* Jer. ii. 11