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ed on the model of a religious English educa tion, on their return to their own country, he rationally thought would have a powerful and happy influence in bringing their savage brethren to the same habits of life. (e)

It-was his purpose also to educate a number of promising English youth, who would devote themselves to the service of the Redeemer, in the capacity of missionaries. He humbly besought counsel of God, and was encouraged to believe that his design was conformable to the divine will. He communicated his views to several of his christian friends and brethren in the ministry; they applauded his benevolence, but seemed generally inclined to dissuade him from the attempt, as they saw no means of accomplishing his purpose. Some, however, gave him assurances of their aid.

Mr. Wheelock's family, at this time, was young and increasing, and the pittance of salary on which he settled was inadequate to its support. He was obliged to draw assistance from the patrimony left him by his honored father.

As Doctor Wheelock was but partially supported by his people; he, therefore, inferred that they were entitled only to a corresponding part of his time and labors. From the same cause other ministers of the gospel have found themselves in the same unpleasant, discouraging dilemma. The want of honesty and fidelity on the part of their people, has induced them to exchange their study for the field, to hear the mirth of their reapers, instead of the songs of Zion, where christians meet to praise and pray; to toil with oxen, instead of listening with delight to the sublime strains of Isaiah, or the wonderful visions of St. John, revealed in the caverns of Patmos. Others engage in those philosophic or

literary pursuits, which materially interfere with their labors for their people, which abate their ministerial zeal, and weaken the force of labors, which are performed. Their situation is afflicting, and it becometh them to be vastly cautious, lest they be found unfaithful stewards of Jesus Christ. When things come to such a crisis, somewhat is dangerously wrong in the pastor or people. When a minister, like Mr. Wheelock, who understands the principles of moral obligations, and of commutative justice, who has an habitual and awful sense of his duty, as an ambassador of heaven; when such a person deliberately presumes to deprive his people of half, or any other proportion of his services, it is high time for them to be alarmed; it is time for them to make solemn scrutiny; it is time for them to examine their treatment of their minister. Has he approved himself to their consciences, as an honest man; has he appeared to love his ministerial work; has he manifested an unfeigned affection for them, a religious solicitude for their salvation; a cheerful readiness to promote their spiritual improvement? Will they not then be jealous of themselves?

Have ye, oh neglected people, faithfully observed your engagements to your pastor? or have ye muzzled the mouth of the ox, while he was treading out the corn? You are not merely abusing your minister, dissolving the bonds of his obligations to you, and justifying him in deserting your service, and neglecting your immortal interests; but you are bringing a spiritual famine upon your church, upon your dear children, and your own souls. You are extinguishing the light, ready to shine upon you, and freezing the heart glowing with zeal for your salvation; you are striking with a fatal palsy the hand, which

would be exerted for your endless felicity; you are sealing the lips which would proclaim pardon and eternal life. Like Ananias and Saphira to save for yourselves a miserable pittance, which you had professedly devoted to the gospel, you are increasing the danger of your everlasting destruction; you are depriving yourselves in part of the very means of salvation. Having suppressed a portion of your religious instructions, will God probably bless those which are continued? They are, it may be supposed, less skilfully directed; coming from a heart enfeebled with great discouragements, they are delivered with less pathos, they strike the hearers with less energy. But were the preacher's courage invincible, and his zeal for your spiritual welfare undiminished; were all his powers, all his time and talents still devoted to your service; yet if you be unfaithful to him, will God bless those labors? Will he bless sermons and sacraments, enjoyed by unfaithfulness and fraud? Will he be honored, or will he save you by those public solemnities, obtained by insincerity, and which, therefore, cost you little or nothing?

Dr. Wheelock resolved to devote a part of his time and property to the design of evangelizing the Indians, placing confidence in God, in whose hands are the hearts of all men, that he would afford sufficient aid, and raise up generous benefactors to assist him in this work. He used to say, that there always are pious and liberal persons blessed by God with ability, who are waiting for opportunities to distribute their wealth, in the manner best adapted to promote the glory of God in the salvation of men; and that he doubted not, the charitable institution, he was about to organize, would excite the liberality of many. (f)

SECTION III.

THE PROGRESS OF THE INDIAN SCHOOL-BENEFACTORS MR. MOOR-WAR WITH FRANCE-SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON-JOSEPH BRANT MR. C. J. SMITH-DESCRIPTION OF SAVAGE LIFE-REGULATION AND INSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL.

ON the eighteenth day of December, 1754, arrived John Pumpshire in the fourteenth, and Jacob Woolley in the eleventh year of his age, two Indian boys of the Delaware nation. They were sent, at the request of Mr. Wheelock, by the Rev. John Brainerd, missionary to the Indians in New-Jersey. Considering their ignorance of our language, they made as great proficiency in learning as the English boys in the same school. In two years, they became well acquainted with the English language, writing and common arithmetic, and acquired considerable knowledge of the Latin and Greek. Their health, particularly Pumpshire's, began rapidly to decline. This was attributed to the sudden change of diet and mode of living, with the sedentary employment to which they had been such total strangers. Pumpshire returned to his country and did not long survive.* Woolley appeared to be a sprightly and promising youth, and was entered at NewJersey college to complete his education. At Mr. Wheelock's request, Mr. Brainerd sent him two other lads of the same nation; Joseph Woolley and Hezekiah Calvin.

While these attempts were making, the school attracted the notice of many. Subscriptions

On this event, Mr. Wheelock remarks in his narrative, "The de"cline and death of this youth, was an instructive scene to me, and "convinced me more fully of the necessity of special care respecting "their diet, and that more exercise was necessary for them, especially "at their first coming to a full table."

were opened and circulated among the pious and charitable, and the sum of five hundred pounds, lawful money, was soon raised towards a fund for its support. The Honorable Scotch Commissioners in Boston and the vicinity, were the first public society, which gave their influence and aid to these benevolent labors of Dr. Wheelock. After examining his plan of procedure, they, in May 1763, passed a vote desiring him to send David Fowler, an Indian scholar, with Mr. Occum to the Oneidies, and if practicable, to bring three boys to be put to school at Lebanon. They voted twenty pounds for the present, and desired Mr. Wheelock to inform their treasurer, when this was expended. Fowler and Occum were successful; after a journey of a thousand miles, the former returned with three Indian lads. These were very soon as cheerful and "happy as if they had been at home." Constant care was taken, that their feelings might not be wounded. His maxim with the natives was that those, who take the direction of others' children, should treat them as their own. treat the captives whom they adopt. This parental style of government was not only agreeable to Dr. Wheelock, but absolutely necessary to the existence of his school. While other teachers appeared before their pupils as scrupulous legislators or stern judges, he was always the gentle and affectionate father of his tawny family. Had he adopted a different manner, jealousy, alienation, and desertion would have followed. His scholars would have sought their native forests, and those kindnesses received from their parents, which they consider necessary to fidelity and uprightness.

So they

In November following, the "Great and General Court of Massachusetts became the patrons

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