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hopes. Enough is effected to show that our labors are not in vain. Morning and evening we should sow the seed; we know not when the harvest may reward the labor; yet we are sure the joyful moment will come. Ages elapsed after the preaching of Christ and the Apostles, before the Roman Empire became christian. The divine Saviour honored his immediate disciples to do more toward enlightening and reforming the world in forty years, than was done by their successors, ministers and martyrs in two hundred and sixty. Commissioned by their Lord and Master, inspired with supernatural wisdom, endowed with the gift of speaking various languages; armed with the power of performing miracles, the humble fishermen of Galilee and their associates traversed the world; heathen oracles were struck dumb; pagan priests and philosophers were confounded; kings and rulers no longer directed the public opinion; their prisons, racks, and fires lost their terrors; villages, cities, and countries embraced the prophet of Nazareth for their Saviour and their God. The mild precepts of his gospel soon had more influence in society, than all the maxims of philosophy; all the laws of legislators, and all the vengeance of persecutors. Gross vices disappeared where the herald of the gospel came, and a new era of virtue and felicity commenced. This was not human might nor skill, but the power of God. Without the agency of the divine spirit, such is the natural opposition of the heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ, that all the miracles of the Apostles, their gift of tongues, and the thunders of their eloquence, would never have changed the heart of one pagan; would never have moved one to repent of his sins, nor to believe in Jesus Christ, as the Saviour of the world. By the omnipotence of this divine agent, the preaching of

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the cross became the wisdom of God, and the
power of God to them who believed. Yet was
it three hundred years after our Saviour, before
the christian religion was established in the Ro-
man empire. The nations which composed that
empire were civilized, and some of them, partic-
ularly the Athenians and Corinthians, the in-
habitants of Antioch and Romé, were the most
learned and refined people in the world. If with
all the advantages from the miracles and résur-
rection of Jesus Christ; if with the wonderful
success and miraculous gifts of his apostles, it
was found by their successo a work of so much
time, to turn the nations to their gracious Sa-
viour, we may not rationally expect that the be-
nighted Indians of America can be speedily or
at once brought to embrace the gospel. Before
they can enjoy the comforts and advantages of
the christian religion, they must be in some de-
gree civilized. To promote these objects, some
of the Legislatures of New England have done
much in former, as well as in later times. They
have been induced to make these sacrifices from
compassion for them in their miserable and pe-
rishing situation, and sometimes, perhaps, from
political motives. Several charitable christian
societies have been formed for the benefit of In-
dians. These have devoted much time and ex-
pence to advance their best interests. From the
'first settlement of New England to this day, this
good work has been pursued with the purest mo-
tives; a goodly number of christian ministers,
respectable for their talents, learning, and piety,
have constantly devoted themselves to the ser-
vice of the Indians. From compassion to their
souls they have lived among them, learned their
barbarous language, and cheerfully endured all
manner of self denial and hardships to bring
them to the knowledge of God and our Saviour.

Among the first and most eminent of these faithful servants of Christ, was the Rev. and renowned John Eliot, who, perhaps, has exceeded every other individual in his personal labors for the conversion of the Indians. On account of zeal and success in the good work, he has justly been called the Apostle of the Indians. He collected them together in a number of villages; he taught them husbandry; the mechanic arts, and the prudent management of their affairs. They had magistrates, judges, and courts of their own appointment. He established schools among them; he formed catechisms for children and adults; he translated the whole bible into their language, and several other pious books. He traversed the wilderness himself and preached to them in season and out of season; he formed a number of churches, who had officers and teachers of their own nation. At one time there were in Massachusetts, twenty four Indian preachers, and the same number of churches and congregations. These Indians in general prayed in their families; regularly attended public worship, and in a great degree laid aside their savage habits. The names of the venerable Mahews, father, son, and grandson, will never be forgotten in our churches.* They labored with wonderful success among the Indians of Martha's Vineyard, and the neighbouring islands. Remnants of the churches formed by them continue to this day. The Rev. Mr. John Cotton, of Plymouth, preached to the natives in their own language, had five congregations of them under his care to whom he preached every week. On Cape Cod were six congregations of Indians, who had as many preachers of their own. To these the Rev. Samuel Treat

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* History of New England, by MORSE and PARISH,

often preached in their own language. The Rev. Mr. Bourne also studied the language of the Indians, and preached to them with much success. In Connecticut, the Rev. Mr. Fitch and Pierson preached Jesus and the resurrection to the natives in their vicinity. In later times, the pious and indefatigable brothers, David and John Brainard labored among the Indians of New Jersey and the Susquehanna. The zeal and fortitude, the piety and success of the elder brother have long been known to the religious public by his printed life and journal. The pious and learned Mr. John Sargeant, amomg the Stockbridge Indians, and his son who now succeeds him in this good work, and many more that might be mentioned, appear as a cloud of witnesses that the poor heathen of this country have not been neglected. Most zealous and persevering attempts have been made for their improvement and salvation. The blessing of heaven has attended those labors to the conversion of multitudes. Much, however, remained to be done. Dr. Wheelock saw the immense field; he zealously entered on the work. No individual, no society of christians in America has done more to diffuse the gospel, and the blessings of civilization among the Indians than Dr. Wheelock. His missionary school rose like a new star to enlighten the wilderness. Many have rejoiced in its light. In his day he had the satisfaction of seeing the remnants of various tribes, which were scattered among the English settlements, instructed in the gospel by his Indian pupils.* But the two leading tribes of the Six Nations, the

*There were congregations of christian Indians at Narraganset, Montank, Mohegan, Stonington, and between Groton and Preston, and in the Jersies. In all these places Mr. Occum preached, and Doctor Wheelock supplied them occasionally with other preachers and school

masters.

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Oneidas and Mohawks, received the most permanent and conspicuous advantages from the labors of Dr. Wheelock. They were the more particular objects of his attention; to them he sent the greatest number of his school masters and missionaries; and they now in their manners approach nearer to civilized people, than any tribes in North America. Their habits of self government, their observance of social order, their religious institutions, their temperance, and particularly their cultivation of their lands, to which Indians have ever entertained an obstinate aversion, exceed every thing of the kind among the natives of this country. For these advantages they are indebted, under providence to their zealous, and persevering friend, the founder of Moor's School. In conformation of this I beg leave to introduce to the reader the following letters and extracts. The first is from a pupil of Dr. Wheelock's.

From Col. Joseph Brant, Sachem of the Mohawk Tribe, and Chief of the Five Confederate Nations in Upper Canada, to the Hon. John Wheelock, President of Dartmouth College.

DEAR SIR,

Grand River, February 9, 1801.

I have received your favor of the Sd. of November last. I have delayed answering it until the return of Capt. Brigham.

I receive an inexpressible satisfaction in hearing from you, that you have taken my sons under your protection; and also to find that you yet retain a strong remembrance of our ancient friendship. For my part, nothing can ever efface from my memory the persevering attention your revered father paid to my education, when

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