_To the Allegany Indians._
_Reedy Island, May 21, 1740._
_My Dear Brethren_,
FOR so I call you, because you, and I, and all, have one common father,
ONE GOD, in whom we live, move and have our beings. We all came at
first out of the dust of the earth. For after GOD made the sun, moon,
stars, and every thing you see, he also made a creature called _man_,
and breathed into him the breath of life; he then became a living
soul. He could not only walk and speak, but he could also think, and
reason, and was full of goodness, peace, and joy. This man, this happy
creature GOD placed in a garden, which his own right hand had planted.
He then cast him into a deep sleep, and out of one of his ribs made
what we call a woman, that she might be his wife. Their names were
_Adam_ and _Eve_. With these, GOD made an agreement that they should
eat of every tree of that garden, except one; but if they ate the
fruit of that particular tree, they should die; they should return to
the dust from whence they were taken, lose the comforts they enjoyed
in their souls, and be unhappy for ever in another world. But if they
did not eat this fruit, none of these things should come upon them.
A being, which we call the _devil_, (and who for his pride had been
cast out of heaven) envying their happiness, tempted them to eat the
forbidden fruit. They consented, they ate, they died. Their bodies
became mortal, their souls were deprived of the presence and love of
GOD; and unless a way was found out to make satisfaction for what they
had done, they must have been lost for ever. These were our parents,
and GOD made this agreement with us their children, as well as with
them. For they acted in our name, as a king acts in the name of his
people, or a father in the name of a child――What therefore befel them,
befel us. We died in them; and come into this world poor and miserable,
blind and naked, as they were, when they had eaten of the forbidden
tree. Hence it is, that we are given to lust, anger, envy, hatred,
pride, and malice, and all those troublesome passions which you all
must feel in your own hearts, and cannot but see even in the hearts
of your children. If then, you only look into yourselves, you must
confess these things are so. But GOD hath given us a _book_, wherein
he assures us of the truth of all this:――And we know that book came
from GOD, because none but GOD could tell us the things therein
contained. And I speak first of this, because ’till you feel and
believe this, you cannot come to the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST; and
without the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST you cannot be saved. For after
our first parents, _Adam_ and _Eve_, had taken the forbidden fruit,
and with all their children, thereafter to be born, became guilty
before GOD, GOD out of his own free love sent his only begotten Son
into the world, to die, and so to make an atonement for the sin of
fallen man, and also to obey the law, which man had broken; so that
though fallen man had no righteousness of his own, yet upon believing
in GOD’s Son, he should find a perfect righteousness in him. This Son
is called JESUS, “A Saviour,” because he was to save us from the guilt
and power of our sins. He was truly GOD, and therefore could satisfy;
he was truly man, and therefore could obey and suffer in our stead.
He was GOD and man in one person, that GOD and man might be happy
together again. My dear brethren, (for so I must call you, though
I never saw you) these are strange things. But if you are willing to
learn, the holy spirit shall teach you. For JESUS CHRIST by dying,
and obeying GOD’s law, hath bought for us the holy spirit, who shall
change your corrupt natures, and fit you for happiness hereafter with
the ever-blessed GOD, if you do but believe in your hearts.――Thousands
of white people only believe in their heads, and therefore are no more
christians than those who never heard of JESUS CHRIST at all. They
call CHRIST, “Lord, Lord,” but they do not live as JESUS CHRIST hath
commanded. No, they curse and swear, they break the sabbath, they
get drunk, they play, they whore, they commit adultery, and have
taught many poor _Indians_ to do these abominable things as well as
themselves. Do not you therefore learn of them. For true christians
are sober, chaste and holy. They will not get drunk, they will not
play the whore, they will not cheat, lie, curse or swear; but they
will bless and praise GOD, keep the sabbath, and do all the good they
can; for thus JESUS CHRIST, their LORD and master, lived when he was
here on earth. I say, when he was here on earth; for after he died,
he rose again, and went up into heaven from whence he came, and there
he sits praying for all that shall believe on Him to the end of the
world. For as the world had a beginning, so it also will have an end.
And JESUS CHRIST will come again in the clouds to judge all mankind;
and then he that hath believed in CHRIST, and hath shewn forth his
faith by his works, shall be saved; and he that hath not believed
in CHRIST, shall be damned for ever, and be cast into a lake of fire
and brimstone. But before he comes, he hath promised that the heathen
shall be brought to believe on him, and therefore I write this letter
to you. I would come myself, and preach the glad tidings of salvation
among you, as the bearer of this could interpret for me; but my other
business will not permit. I am a minister of the same JESUS, and once
was as ignorant of Him comparatively as you may be. I once lived like
other people; but the LORD JESUS hath brought me to believe on Him,
and I now do so no more. I once was full of envy, hatred, malice, and
such like cursed tempers; but now I have love, and peace, and joy. And
because JESUS CHRIST hath shewn such mercy to me, I desire that all
others should be made as happy, nay happier than I am myself.――Hearken
therefore now to the voice of the LORD. Pray to GOD that you may feel
yourselves poor, miserable sinners, and come by a living faith to
JESUS CHRIST. Then he will pardon you of all your sins, make you holy
by his spirit here, and take you into everlasting happiness hereafter.
Your traders, some of them at least, will tell you, that you must be
miserable, if you will be christians. But these know nothing of JESUS
CHRIST; for they are ungodly men, walking after their own wicked lusts.
Whosoever will follow JESUS CHRIST, though happy in himself, must
be looked upon as a fool by others. The spirit of the world, and the
spirit of JESUS are quite contrary one to the other; and therefore if
you will live godly in Him, you must suffer persecution; you must have
all manner of evil spoken against you falsely, and be called madmen
and fools; but let not that daunt you, or make you afraid. There is
a world to come, there is a judgment-day, and then JESUS CHRIST shall
crown all those with glory, who have suffered for his name’s sake.
Once more, therefore, hearken to the voice of the LORD. For the LORD
JESUS died for you, as well as for the white men among you, and that
you might be taught the gospel; but they have made you worse than you
were before, and therefore shall receive the greater damnation. He who
brings this, no doubt, will be despised amongst them, because he will,
I hope, neither get drunk, nor curse, nor swear.――But I trust the LORD
will strengthen him, and cause him to shew many of you the true way of
salvation――I shall not fail to pray for him, and for you; for though I
know you not, yet if I could thereby save your precious souls, I think
I could die for your sake. May the LORD JESUS bless you, and bring you
out of darkness into his marvellous light, for his infinite mercy’s
sake. This is the prayer of, dear brethren,
Your soul’s well-wisher and servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._