hour, the bereaved father lookson | of a miffionary, tho' at his fon's the more difconfolate and bereaved natives; & with the most tender pity, he confiders what he fhould do. He fees no probability of obtaining a ftipend fufficient to fupport an English minifter in the fervice of the Indians: And he has little, or no hopes of finding any of the fpirit of his deceafed fon, to bear the burden, attending fo toilfome a work: He confidered, that it was highly probable, that not many could be found, who would be able, or willing to purfue the work, as his excellent fon had done, who had spent his ftrength, and yet rejoiced in the midst of thefe many aches, pains, and diftempers contracted by his often lodging on their hard matts, in their expofed wigwams, and enduring wet and cold in faith of God's accepting, and profpering him in that painful work, to which he could fee no earthly advantage, that might rationally move, or encouragehim: And when he looked on the Indians, he could not bear to think, that the work fo happily begun, and fo far advanced by his fon, fhould now expire with him.* death he was in his feventieth year. Love to Jefus, and to fouls pur. chafed by his blood, incited him to do all that he was able, even to fpend and be fpent in the pious, and benevolent work.. He had indeed fome special advantages, which facilitated, in fome measure, his miffionary fervices. He had learned so much of the language of the natives, as was needful to understand, and difcourfe with them: And upon his undertaking to instruct them publicly, he took pains to acquire a more accurate knowledge of it. This alfo was of special benefit, that as a magiftrate, and a neighbor, he was in high esteem among them. They generally admired, revered, and loved him for his wisdom, integrity, impartial juftice, and philanthropy. They heard his words with attention: And tho' what he said, in fome cafes, might be contrary to the notions they had heretofore entertained; yet they would not immediately reject his fentiments, but weighed them in their minds, and confidered them without that prejudice, which would have arifen against the fame things, if propofed by many others. Under given circumftances, he viewed himself as called upon in Providence to water what his fon Before the particulars of this had planted; and to carry on the Mr. Mayhew's miffionary services plantation to as great an extent, be related, it may be very proper as he fhould be enabled. He was to obferve, that prior to his fon's of opinion, that extraordinary oc-deceafe, and even from the begincafions warranted extraordinary ning of his miffion, he did much, measures; and therefore foon came in various ways, to encourage him to a refolution to do what he could and to promote the great and good himself. work, which, with fuch pious zeal, and affiduity he was purfuing. His heart was in the work, and he rofe fuperior to all difcouragements. He did not contider his age as a bar to the toilfome labor Mat. Mayhew's Triumph's of Grace-Indian Converts. Notice has already been taken, of his wife and prudent measures to prevent the Indians from imbibing prejudices against the English, and their religion, and to remove am, which they had taken in. Thus this pious gentleman was a fellow-helper to the truth with his amiable fon; and did much to promote his fuccefs among these heathens. Particularly, he took pains with Upon the decafe of his fon, he foon enters upon his miffionary la bors. An holy zeal for the glory of God, and a compaffionate charity to the fouls of this bereaved, and perishing people, animate him in his endeavors to promote their fpiritual good. He refolves to do his utmoft, both to preferve this moft important work, and to car nal difficulties, and difcourage ments. This good gentleman did alfo no little fervice, while his fon was living, by privately converfing with many of the Indians upon moral, and religious fubjects. As foon, as he had acquired a tolerable acquaintance with their language, his pious difpofition, and great pity for that miferable peo-ry it on, tho' under many exterple, led him to improve this advantage, in taking all proper occafions to tell them of their deplorable state, and to point them to the way of deliverance: His words were fo wife and weighty, and expreffed with fo much concern and ferioufnefs, as, by the bleffing of God, made fuch deep impreffions on many, that they could never lofe. Among the reft, the forementioned famous Powow Tequanonim was a memorable inftance, who was taken off from his unlawful trade, and became a Christian in 1650: He declared, that his converfion was chiefly owing to fome things, which he had heard from this Mr. Mayhew, who took occafion to difcourfe with him about true happiness, and the way to it, which this Indian faid, he could never forget.* Such inftances afford much encouragement to Chriftians, whether in public, or private ftations is the church, to introduce religious difcourfe in private converfation, as often as it can be done with propriety, and a profpect of being heard with candor; especially to take pains with thofe, who have not the knowledge of God, and are estranged from him. Tho' preaching the word is the moft ufual way, which God takes to bring men to the faith of the He determines frequently to vifit, and encourage this poor people. He goes once every week to fome of their plantations. At fo advanced an age, he fets himfelf, with diligence, to perfect himself in their difficult language: And the the chief English magiftrate on the Ifland, does not difdain to commence a preacher to the Indians. He ordinarily preached to fome of their affemblies one day every week, as long as he lived: And his heart was fo exceedingly engaged in the fervice, that he fpared no pains, nor fatigues in it, tho' at fo great an age. He fometimes travelled on foot near 20 miles, through the woods, to preach and vifit, when there was no English houfe near, to lodgeat in his abfence from home. Nor does he content himfelf with the progrefs which his fon gofpel; yet fometimes he is pleafed to make ufe of other methods to promote the fame important end. Sometimes a few pious and pertinent words, dropged in familiar, private converfation, make fuch a favorable, and deep impreffion, as is never effaced. had happily made before him; but I came to the Vineyard, and preachlabors indefatigably to carry on ed to the English at the east end the work to a much greater extent. of the Island; and having gained a And in a few years time, with the confiderable knowledge of the affiftance of thofe religious In- Indian language, he also preached dians, who taught on the Lord's to the natives for about two years. day, he perfuaded the natives on But in Nov. 1667, upon a repeatthe west end of the Inland to re- ed invitation, he removed to Plymceive the gofpel, who had been outh, near fifty miles to the northmany years obftinately refolved a- ward; and in June 1669, was gainft it, being influenced to op-ordained the pastor of the church pose it by the neighboring Sa- there. chems on the fhores of the continent. Indeed Mittark, their prince, embraced Chriftianity about the year 1663; but his people being, on that account, difaffected to him, he removed to the eaft end of the Ifland: After he had continued there about three years he returned home, and fet up a meeting among his own people, he himself difpenfing the word to as many as would come to hear him; by which means, in connexion with the exertions of Mr. Mayhew, it pleafed God to bring over all that people to the profeffion of Chriftianity. Mittark's return, and the beginning of his miniftry feems to have been about the year 1666. His people appear to have been the last on the Ifland, who received the Christian faith. During the miniftry of this Mr. Mayhew, or within a few years after his decease, the Indians on the Ifles of Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, might justly bear the name of Chriftian, the number of their Adults, on both these Islands, being, upon careful computation, about three thoufand.* About the year 1664, Mr. Mayhew was greatly relieved, and affifted by Mr. John Cotton, who Mat. Mayhew's Triumphs of grace, He was fon of the celebrated Mr. John Cotton, teacher of the first church However, Mr. Mayhew, far from being difcouraged, goes on again, without any English Affiftant in this laborious work. He earneftly defires, and endeavors to carry it to an higher degree. And now the natives being generally brought over to the Christian faith, and a confiderable number of them defirous of being formed into a church by themfelves, that they might walk together in all the ordinances, & commands of Christ, this honored gentleman, with Mr. Cotton above-mentioned, who made a journey from Plymouth on purpofe, being fully fatisfied, that they had fuitable qualifications, after mature advice, and confideration concluded to give their affistance in the folemn tranfaction. Mr. Mayhew being a person of fuch eminent wifdom, and piety, and full of inftructive, and devout discourses, the Indians were fo edified, and pleafed with his labors, that they defired him, tho' now above eighty years of age, to accept the paftoral charge over them: But he thought this would not fo well confift with the prime place he held in the civil government, wherein they alfo greatly wanted him; and therefore advifed in Boston, and was graduated at Harvard College in the year 1657. Mat. Mayhew's triumphs of graceHitory of the church of Plymouth. them to choofe fuch Indian paf-trecht, acquaints us, that when tors, as he thought would do good the people had fafted and prayed, fervice among them; which they Mr. Eliot of Roxbury, and Mr. accordingly did, making choice of John Cotton of Plymouth, laid Hiacoomes, and John Tackanafh their hands on the minifters elect, for their minifters. According to and they were folemnly ordained.* the ancient diftinction, the former was chofen paftor, and the latter teacher.* The day appointed being come, which was August 22, 1670, an Indian church was completely formed and organized, to the fatisfaction of the English church, and other religious people on the ifland; who by advantage of many years acquaintance, obtained fatisfactory proof of their qualifica tions. At this folemnity the famous Mr. Eliot was prefent, and affift ing. Dr. Increase Mather, in his letter to profeffor Leufden of U A great part of the ancient churches of New-England, foon after the arrival of the main body of the fettlers, were fupplied with two minifters each, who were diftinguished by the names of paftors and teachers: And they were fuppofed to be in fome refpects, diftinct officers in the church. It is thus expreffed in Cambridge Platform, Chap. vi. Sec. 5. "The office of paftor and teacher appears to be diftinct. The paftor's fpecial work is to attend to exbortation; and therein to administer a word of wisdom: The teacher is to attend to a word of doctrine, and therein to administer a word of knowledge; and either of them to adminifter the feals of that covenant, unto the difpenfation whereof they are alike called; as alfo to execute the cenfures, being but a kind of application of the word; the preaching of which, together with the application thereof, they are alike charged withai. The moderns, perhaps in general, view the terms as applicable to one church officer only, defignated by two names, implying the duties of government and inftruction. If any choose to confider them, as diftinct, they will yet allow, as nothing forbids, that one man may be invefted with both offices. VOL. III. No. 1. B In a letter of Sept. 20, 1670, published the year after at London, in a tract entituled, "A brief narrative of the progress of the gospel among the Indians in New-England," the author gives an account of the ftate of the natives under the inftruction of this Mr. Mayhew," That (Mr. Eliot) paffing over to the Vineyard, many were added to the church of that place, both men and women, and were all of them baptized, and their children alfo with them." (So, it seems, many of the Chriftianized Indians were in the ftate of catechumens till this time.) "And that the church was defirous to have chofen Mr. Mayhew for their paftor; but he waved it; conceiving, that in his present capacity, he has greater advantages to ftand their friend, and do them * In Dr. Mather's Magnalia, B. III. p. 199, there is a chronological mistake; alfo a fimilar one in Mr. Neal who took his account from Dr. Mather; fee his history of New-England, Vol. I. p. 269. They place the gathering of the church and ordination of the minifters on the vineyard under the year 1666. Doubtlefs Dr. Mather knew what year thefe events took place. But either, thro' inadvertence, he made a mistake in the manuscript he fent to London for publication; or the printer committed an error: For Mr. Matthew Mayhew, an inhabitant of the island, and arrived at adult years at the time of these transactions places them in the year 1670. So does Gov. Hutchinfon in an extract from Mr. El iot's journal. Mr. Experience Mayhew does the fame in his life of Hiacoomes. And fo does Mr. Prince, celebrated for his accuracy in chronology. The ordination fpeedily followed the gathering of the church, good; to fave them from the hands of fuch as would bereave them of their lands, &c.But they should always have his counfel, inftruction, and management in their Ecclefiaftical affairs, as they hitherto had; that he would die in the fervice of Chrift; and that the praying Indians, both of the Vineyard and Nantucket depend on him, as the great inftrument of God for their good." The fettlement of a church, with paftors among them, does not produce an abatement of his minifterial care, or pains for thefe aboriginal natives; but this honorable, and ancient gentleman proceeds in the laborious work. not withstand their importunity, even tho' his much honored grandfather was a laborious, acceptable, and fuccefsful preacher among them. He began his miffionary labors foon after his pastoral relation to the church in Tisbury commenced; and continued in the work of the gofpel among them, till his death; laboring, in connection with his grand-father, to their mutual fatisfaction, and indeed with great joy to the venerable old gentleman, who, when his grandfon was associated with him, as a preacher to the Indians, was probably, at least, 85 years of age. Mr. Mayhew, fen. proceeds in his toilfome, but, in one most im A few years before his death, he experienced very great pleaf-portant view, pleasant work among ure, and much affiftance, by the the Indians, even to the ninetyintroduction of his grandfon, Mr. third year of his age, and twentyJohn Mayhew, into the gofpel fer- third of his Ministry. He device among the Indians. parted this life in 1681, to the fincere grief, both of the Eng This gentleman was the youngeft fon of Rev. Thomas May-lish and Indians. hew deceased. He was born in the beginning of the year 1652. Having applied himself diligently to the ftudy of divinity; and fupporting an amiable character for piety and benevolence, as well as knowledge, about the year 1673, when he was but twenty-one years of age, he was first called to the miniftry among the English, at a place called Tifbury, near the middle of the ifland, where he preached to great acceptance, not only of the people under his care, but of very good judges, who accidentally heard him. Not long before his death, he had fevere illnefs, which his relations thought would prove fatal: But he told them, "The time was not yet come, and he should not die with that ficknefs." He recovered, and again preached feveral times. Understanding the Indian language well, even when he was a youth; and being arrived at the age abovementioned, the natives would not be contented, till he became a public teacher of them likewife: So earnest and urgent were their defires, that he could After this, he told one of his defcendents, “That the time of his departure was near at hand; but he earnestly defired that God would give him one opportunity more in public, to exhort the English of the town where he lived, whom he had been obliged, for fome time to teach, for want of a regular, fixed minifter. God granting his defire, he taught them the following Lord's day; and then took an affectionate and folemn leave of them; and falling ill, the fucceeding evening, he affured his friends, that his ficknefs would |
