upon the benefits which believers receive from Christ at death. The
questions were answered with great readiness and propriety; and those
who I have reason to think are the dear people of God were in general
sweetly melted. There appeared such a liveliness and vigor in their
attendance upon the word of God, and such eagerness to be made partakers
of the benefits mentioned, that they seemed not only to be ‘looking
for,’ but ‘hasting to, the coming of the day of God.’ Divine truths
seemed to distil upon the audience with a gentle but melting efficacy,
as the refreshing ‘showers upon the new mown grass.’ The assembly in
general, as well as those who appear truly religious, were affected with
some brief accounts of the blessedness of the godly at death; and most
of them then discovered an affectionate inclination to cry ‘Let me die
the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his;’ although
many were not duly engaged to obtain the change of heart that is
necessary to that blessed end.
_Lord’s day, March 30._—“Discoursed from Matt. 25:31-40. There was a
very considerable moving, and affectionate melting, in the assembly. I
hope that there were some real, deep, and abiding impressions of divine
things made upon the minds of many. There was one aged man, newly come
among us, who appeared to be considerably awakened that never was
touched with any concern for his soul before. In the evening catechised.
There was not that tenderness and melting engagement among God’s people
which appeared the evening before, and many other times. They answered
the _questions_ distinctly, and well, and were devout and attentive in
divine service.
_March 31._—“Called my people together, as I had done the Monday evening
before, and discoursed to them again on the necessity and importance of
laboring industriously in order to their living together, and enjoying
the means of grace, &c. Having engaged in a solemn prayer to God among
them for a blessing upon their attempts, I dismissed them to their work.
Numbers of them, both men and women, seemed to offer themselves
willingly to this service; and some appeared affectionately concerned
that God might go with them, and begin their little town for them; that
by his blessing it might be a place comfortable for them and theirs,
with regard both to procuring the necessaries of life and to attending
on the worship of God.
_April 5._—“Catechised in the evening. There appeared to be some
affection and fervent engagement in divine service through the assembly
in general; especially toward the conclusion of my discourse. After
public worship a number of those who I have reason to think are truly
religious came to my house, and seemed eager for some farther
entertainment upon divine things. While I was conversing with them about
their scriptural exercises; observing to them, that God’s work in the
hearts of all his children was, for substance the same; and that their
trials and temptations were also alike; and showing the obligations such
were under to love one another in a peculiar manner, they seemed to be
melted into tenderness and affection toward each other. I thought that
this particular token of their being the disciples of Christ, viz. of
their having love one toward another, had scarcely ever appeared more
evident than at this time.
_Lord’s day, April 6._—“Preached from Matt. 7:21-23. There were
considerable effects of the word visible in the audience, and such as
were very desirable; an earnest attention, a great solemnity, many tears
and heavy sighs, which were modestly suppressed in a considerable
measure, and appeared unaffected and without any indecent commotion of
the passions. Numbers of the religious people were put upon serious and
close examination of their spiritual state by hearing that ‘not every
one that saith to Christ, Lord, Lord, shall enter into his kingdom.’
Some expressed fears lest they had deceived themselves, and taken up a
false hope, because they found they had done so little of the will of
his Father who is in heaven.
“There was one man brought under a very great and pressing concern for
his soul; which appeared more especially after his retirement from
public worship. That which he says gave him his great uneasiness was,
not so much any particular sin, as that he had never done the will of
God at all, but had sinned continually, and so had no claim to the
kingdom of heaven. In the afternoon I opened to them the discipline of
Christ in his Church, and the method in which offenders are to be dealt
with; at which time the religious people were much affected; especially
when they heard that the offender, continuing obstinate, must finally be
esteemed and treated ‘as an heathen man,’ as a pagan, who has no part
nor lot among God’s visible people. Of this they seemed to have the most
awful apprehensions; a state of heathenism, out of which they were so
lately brought, appearing very dreadful to them.
“After public worship I visited several houses to see how they spent the
remainder of the Sabbath, and to treat with them solemnly on the great
concerns of their souls. The Lord seemed to smile upon my private
endeavors, and to make these particular and personal addresses more
effectual upon some than my public discourses.
_April 7._—“Discoursed to my people in the evening, from 1 Cor.
11:23-26. Endeavored to open to them the institution, nature, and ends
of the Lord’s Supper, as well as of the qualifications and preparations
necessary to the right participation of that ordinance. Numbers appeared
much affected with the love of Christ, manifested in his making this
provision for the comfort of his people, at a season when himself was
just entering upon his sharpest sufferings.
_Lord’s day, April 20._—“Discoursed, both forenoon and afternoon, from
Luke, 24; explaining most of the chapter, and making remarks upon it.
There was a desirable attention in the audience; though there was not so
much appearance of affection and tenderness among them as had been
usual. Our meeting was very full; there being sundry strangers present
who had never been with us before.
“In the evening catechised. My people answered the questions proposed to
them readily and distinctly; and I could perceive that they advanced in
their knowledge of the principles of Christianity. There appeared an
affectionate melting in the assembly at this time. Several, who I trust
are truly religious, were refreshed and quickened, and seemed by their
discourse and behavior after public worship to have their ‘hearts knit
together in love.’ This was a sweet and blessed season, like many others
with which my poor people have been favored in months past. God has
caused _this little fleece_ to be repeatedly wet with the blessed dew of
his divine grace, while all the earth around has been comparatively dry.
_April 25._—“Set apart this day, as preparatory to the administration of
the Lord’s Supper, for solemn fasting and prayer. The design was to
implore the blessing of God upon our renewing covenant with him, and
with one another, to walk together in the fear of God, in love and
Christian fellowship, and to entreat that his presence might be with us
in our designed approach to his table; as well as to humble ourselves
before God on account of the apparent withdrawment, at least in a
measure, of that blessed influence which has been so prevalent upon
persons of all ages among us; as also on account of the rising
appearance of carelessness, vanity, and vice, among some who once
appeared to be touched and affected with divine truth, and brought to
some sensibility of their miserable and perishing state by nature. It
was also designed that we might importunately pray for the peaceable
settlement of the Indians together in a body; that they might be a
commodious congregation for the worship of God; and that God would
defeat all the attempts that were, or might be, made against that pious
design.[G]
Footnote G:
There was at this time a terrible clamor raised against the Indians in
various places in the country, and insinuations as though I was
training them up to cut people’s throats. Numbers wished to have them
banished from these parts, and some gave out great words in order to
fright and deter them from settling upon the best and most convenient
tract of their own lands; threatening to trouble them in the law;
pretending a claim to these lands themselves, although never purchased
of the Indians.
“The solemnity was observed and seriously attended, not only by those
who proposed to commune at the Lord’s table, but by the whole
congregation. In the former part of the day I endeavored to open to my
people the nature and design of a fast, as I had attempted more briefly
to do before, and to instruct them in the duties of such a solemnity. In
the afternoon I insisted on the special reasons there were for our
engaging in these solemn exercises at this time; both in regard to the
need we stood in of divine assistance, in order to a due preparation for
that sacred ordinance, upon which some of us were proposing, with leave
of divine Providence, speedily to attend; and also in respect of the
manifest decline of God’s work here, as to the effectual conviction and
conversion of sinners; there having been few of late deeply awakened out
of a state of security. The worship of God was attended with great
solemnity and reverence, with much tenderness and many tears, by those
who appeared to be truly religious; and there was some appearance of
divine power upon those who had been awakened some time before, and who
were still under concern.
“After repeated prayer, and attendance upon the word of God, I proposed
to the religious people, with as much brevity and plainness as I could,
the substance of the doctrine of the christian faith, as I had formerly
done; and had their renewed cheerful assent to it. I then led them to a
solemn renewal of their covenant, wherein they had explicitly and
publicly given up themselves to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
avouching him to be their God; and at the same time renouncing their
heathenish vanities, their idolatrous and superstitious practices;
solemnly engaging to take the Word of God, so far as it was or might be
made known to them, for the rule of their lives; promising to walk
together in love, to watch over themselves and one another, to lead
lives of seriousness and devotion, and to discharge the relative duties
incumbent on them respectively, &c. This solemn transaction was attended
with much gravity and seriousness; and at the same time with the utmost
readiness, freedom and cheerfulness; and a religious union and harmony
of soul seemed to crown the whole solemnity. I could not but think in
the evening, that there had been manifest tokens of the divine presence
with us in all the several services of the day; though it was also
manifest that there was not that concern among Christless souls which
has often appeared here.
_April 26._—“Toward noon prayed with a dying child, and gave a word of
exhortation to the bystanders to prepare for death; which seemed to take
effect upon some. In the afternoon discoursed to my people from Matthew,
26:26-30; of the author, the nature, and designs of the Lord’s supper;
and endeavored to point out the worthy receivers of that ordinance. The
religious people were affected, and even melted with divine truth,—with
a view of the dying love of Christ. Several others, who had been for
some months under convictions of their perishing state, appeared now to
be much moved with concern, and afresh engaged in seeking after an
interest in Christ; although I cannot say that the word of God appeared
so quick and powerful, so sharp and piercing to the assembly, as it had
sometimes formerly done.
“In the evening I catechised those who were designed to partake of the
Lord’s supper the next day, upon the institution, nature and end of that
ordinance; and had abundant satisfaction respecting their doctrinal
knowledge and fitness in that respect for an attendance upon it. They
likewise appeared in general to have an affecting sense of the solemnity
of this sacred ordinance, and to be humbled under a sense of their own
unworthiness to approach to God in it; and to be earnestly concerned
that they might be duly prepared for an attendance upon it. Their hearts
were full of love one toward another, and that was the frame of mind
they seemed concerned to maintain and bring to the Lord’s table with
them. In the singing and prayer after catechising, there appeared an
agreeable tenderness and melting among them; and such tokens of
brotherly love and affection as would even constrain one to say, ‘Lord,
it is good to be here;’ it is good to dwell where such an heavenly
influence distills.
_Lord’s day, April 27._—“Preached from Tit. 2:14; ‘Who gave himself for
us,’ &c. The word of God, at this time, was attended with some
appearance of divine power upon the assembly; so that the attention and
gravity of the audience were remarkable; and especially toward the
conclusion of the exercise, many persons were much affected.
Administered the Lord’s supper to _twenty three_ persons of the Indians,
the number of the men and women being nearly equal; several others, to
the number of _five_ or _six_, being now absent at the Forks of
Delaware, who would otherwise have communed with us. The ordinance was
attended with great solemnity, and with a most desirable tenderness and
affection. It was remarkable that during the administration of the
ordinance, especially in the distribution of the bread, they seemed to
be affected in a most lively manner, as if Christ had been really
crucified before them. The words of the institution, when repeated and
enlarged upon in the season of the administration, seemed to meet with
the same reception, to be entertained with the same free and full belief
and affectionate engagement of soul, as if the Lord Jesus Christ himself
had been present, and had personally spoken to them. The affections of
the communicants, although considerably raised, were, notwithstanding,
agreeably regulated and kept within proper bounds. So that there was a
sweet, gentle, and affectionate melting, without any indecent or
boisterous commotion of the passions.
“Having rested sometime after the administration of the Supper, being
extremely tired with the necessary prolixity of the work, I walked from
house to house, and conversed particularly with most of the
communicants, and found they had been almost universally refreshed at
the Lord’s table, ‘as with new wine.’ Never did I see such an appearance
of Christian love among any people in all my life. It was so remarkable,
that one might well have cried with an agreeable surprise, ‘Behold how
they love one another.’ I think there could be no greater tokens of
mutual affection among the people of God, in the early days of
Christianity, than what now appeared here. The sight was so desirable,
and so well becoming the gospel, that nothing less could be said of it
than it was ‘the doing of the Lord,’ the genuine operation of Him, ‘who
is Love.’
“Toward night discoursed again on the forementioned text, Tit. 2:14; and
insisted on the immediate end and design of Christ’s death: viz. That he
might redeem his people from all iniquity, &c. This appeared to be a
season of divine power among us. The religious people were much
refreshed, and seemed remarkably tender and affectionate, full of love,
joy, and peace, and desirous of being completely ‘redeemed from all
iniquity;’ so that some of them afterward told me that ‘they had never
felt the like before.’ Convictions also appeared to be revived in many
instances; and several persons were awakened whom I had never observed
under any religious impressions before.
“Such was the influence which attended our assembly, and so unspeakably
desirable the frame of mind which many enjoyed in divine service, that
it seemed almost grievous to conclude the public worship. The
congregation, when dismissed, although it was then almost dark, appeared
loth to leave the place and employments which had been rendered so dear
to them by the benefits enjoyed, while a blessed quickening influence
distilled upon them. Upon the whole, I must say, I had great
satisfaction relative to the administration of this ordinance in various
respects. I have abundant reason to think, that those who came to the
Lord’s table had a good degree of doctrinal knowledge of the nature and
design of the ordinance, and that they acted with understanding in what
they did.
“In the preparatory services I found, I may justly say, uncommon freedom
in opening to their understandings and capacities, the covenant of
grace, and in showing them the _nature_ of this ordinance. They were
likewise thoroughly sensible that it was no more than a _sign_, and not
the _real_ body and blood of Christ; that it was designed for the
refreshment and edification of the _soul_, and not for the feasting of
the _body_. They were also acquainted with the end of the ordinance,
that they were therein called to commemorate the dying love of Christ.
“This competency of doctrinal knowledge, together with their grave and
decent attendance upon the ordinance, their affectionate melting under
it, and the sweet and Christian frame of mind which they discovered
after it, gave me great satisfaction respecting my administration of it
to them. O, what a sweet and blessed season was this! God himself, I am
persuaded, was in the midst of his people. I doubt not but many, in the
conclusion of the day, could say with their whole hearts, 'Verily, a day
thus spent in God’s house is better than a thousand elsewhere.' There
seemed to be but _one heart_ among the pious people. The sweet union,
harmony and endearing love and tenderness subsisting among them was, I
thought, the most lively emblem of the heavenly world which I had ever
seen.
_April 28._—“Concluded the solemnity of the Lord’s supper with a
discourse upon John, 14:15. ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’ At
this time there appeared a very agreeable tenderness in the audience in
general, but especially in the communicants. O, how free, how engaged
and affectionate did these appear in the service of God! they seemed
willing to have their ears bored to the door posts of God’s house, and
to be his servants for ever.
“Observing numbers in this excellent frame, and the assembly in general
affected, and that by a divine influence, I thought it proper to improve
this advantageous season as Hezekiah did the desirable season of his
great passover, 2 Chron. 31, in order to promote the blessed reformation
begun among them; and to engage those that appeared serious and
religious to persevere therein. Accordingly I proposed to them, that
they should renewedly enter into covenant before God, that they would
watch over themselves and one another, lest they should dishonor the
name of Christ by falling into sinful and unbecoming practices; and
especially that they would watch against the sin of drunkenness, ‘the
sin that easily besets them,’ and the temptations leading thereto, as
well as the appearance of evil in that respect. They cheerfully complied
with the proposal, and explicitly joined in that covenant; whereupon I
proceeded in the most solemn manner of which I was capable, to call God
to witness respecting their sacred engagements, and reminded them of the
greatness of the guilt they would contract to themselves in the
violation of it, as well as observed to them that God would be a
terrible witness against those, who should presume to do so in the great
and notable day of the Lord. It was a season of amazing solemnity; and a
divine awe appeared upon the face of the whole assembly in this
transaction. Affectionate sobs, sighs and tears were now frequent in the
audience; and I doubt not but that many silent cries were then sent up
to the Fountain of grace for supplies of grace sufficient for the
fulfilment of these solemn engagements.
_Lord’s day, May 4._—“My people being now removed to their lands,
mentioned in my diary of March 24, where they were then and have since
been making provision for a compact settlement, in order to their more
convenient enjoyment of the Gospel and other means of instruction, as
well as of the comforts of life; I this day visited them; being now
obliged to board with an English family at some distance from them; and
preached to them in the forenoon from Mark, 4:5. Endeavored to show them
the reason there was to fear, lest many promising appearances and
hopeful beginnings in religion might prove abortive, like the seed
dropped upon stony places.
“In the afternoon discoursed upon Rom. 8:9. ‘Now, if any man have not
the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’ I have reason to think this
discourse was peculiarly seasonable, and that it had a good effect upon
some of the hearers. Spent some hours afterward in private conference
with my people, and labored to regulate some things which I apprehended
amiss among some of them.
_May 5._—“Visited my people again, and took care of their worldly
concerns; giving them directions relating to their business. I daily
discover more and more of what importance it is likely to be to their
religious interests, that they become laborious and industrious,
acquainted with the affairs of husbandry, and able in a good measure to
raise the necessaries and comforts of life within themselves; for their
present method of living greatly exposes them to temptations of various
kinds.
_May 9._—“Preached from John, 5:40, in the open wilderness; the Indians
having as yet no house for public worship in this place, nor scarcely
any shelters for themselves. Divine truths made considerable impressions
upon the audience, and it was a season of great solemnity, tenderness,
and affection.
“This day received into communion the conjurer, murderer, &c. mentioned
in my diary of August 8, 1745, and February 1, 1746, who appears to be
such a remarkable instance of divine grace that I cannot omit to give
some brief account of him here. He lived near, and sometimes attended my
meeting at the Forks of Delaware, for more than a year; but was, like
many others of them, extremely attached to strong drink, and seemed to
be in no degree reformed by the means which I used with them for their
instruction and conversion. At this time he likewise murdered a likely
young Indian, which threw him into some kind of horror and desperation,
so that he kept at a distance from me, and refused to hear me preach for
several months together, until I had an opportunity of conversing freely
with him, and giving him encouragement, that his sin might be forgiven,
for Christ’s sake. After this he again attended my meeting sometimes.
“But that which was the worst of all his conduct, was his _conjuration_.
He was one of those who are sometimes called powaws among the Indians;
and, notwithstanding his frequent attendance upon my preaching, he still
followed his old charms and juggling tricks, ‘giving out that himself
was some great one, and to him they gave heed,’ supposing him to be
possessed of great power. When I have instructed them respecting the
miracles wrought by Christ in healing the sick, &c. and mentioned them
as evidence of his divine mission, and the truths of his doctrine; they
have quickly observed the wonders of that kind which this man had
performed by his magic charms. Hence they had a high opinion of him and
his superstitious notions; which seemed to be a fatal obstruction to
some of them in regard to their receiving the Gospel. I had often
thought that it would be a great favor to the design of evangelizing
these Indians, if God would take that wretch out of the world; for I had
scarcely any hope of his ever becoming good. But God, whose thoughts are
not as man’s thoughts, has been pleased to take a much more desirable
method with him; a method agreeable to his own merciful nature, and I
trust advantageous to his own interest among the Indians, as well as
effectual to the salvation of his poor soul. To God be the glory of it.
“The first genuine concern for his soul was excited by seeing my
interpreter and his wife publicly profess Christ, at the Forks of
Delaware, July 21, 1745; which so prevailed upon him, that with the
invitation of an Indian who was a friend to Christianity, he followed me
down to Crossweeksung, in the beginning of August, in order to hear me
preach; and there continued for several weeks in the season of the most
remarkable and powerful awakening among the Indians; at which time he
was more effectually awakened, and brought under great concern for his
soul. And then, he says, upon his ‘feeling the word of God in his
heart,’ as he expresses it, his spirit of _conjuration_ left him
entirely, so that he has had no more power of that nature since, than
any other man living. He also declares, that he does not now so much as
know how he used to charm and conjure, and that he could not now do any
thing of that nature if he were ever so desirous of it.
“He continued under convictions of his sinful and perishing state, and a
considerable degree of concern for his soul, all the fall and the former
part of the winter past; but was not so deeply exercised until some time
in January. Then the word of God took such hold upon him that he was
brought into deep distress, and knew not what to do, nor where to turn
himself. He then told me, that when he used to hear me preach from time
to time in the fall of the year, my preaching pricked his heart, and
made him very _uneasy_, but did not bring him to so great distress,
because he still hoped he could do something for his own relief; but
now, he said, I drove him up in such a sharp corner, that he had no way
to turn, and could not avoid being in distress. He continued constantly
under the heavy burden and pressure of a wounded spirit, until at length
he was brought into the acute anguish and utmost agony of soul,
mentioned in my Journal of February 1, which continued that night and
part of the next day. After this he was brought to the utmost calmness
and composure of mind; his trembling and heavy burden were removed; and
he appeared perfectly sedate, although he had to his apprehensions
scarcely any hope of salvation.
“I observed him to appear remarkably composed; and therefore asked him
how he did? He replied, ‘It is done, it is done, it is all done now.’ I
asked him what he meant? He answered, ‘I can never do any more to save
myself; it is all done for ever. I can do no more.’ I queried with him,
whether he could not do a little more, rather than go to hell? He
replied, ‘my heart is dead. I can never help myself.’ I asked him what
he thought would become of him then? He answered, ‘I must go to hell.’ I
asked him if he thought it was right that God should send him to hell?
He replied, ‘O it is right. The devil has been in me ever since I was
born.’ I asked him if he felt this when he was in such great distress
the evening before? He answered, ‘No; I did not then think it was right.
I thought God would send me to hell, and that I was then dropping into
it; but my heart quarrelled with God, and would not say it was right he
should send me there. But now I know it is right; for I have always
served the devil; and my heart has no goodness in it now, but it is as
bad as ever it was,’ &c. I thought I had scarcely ever seen any person
more effectually brought off from a dependance upon his own contrivances
and endeavors for salvation, or more apparently to lie at the foot of
sovereign mercy, than this man did under these views of things.
“In this frame of mind he continued for several days, passing sentence
of condemnation upon himself, and constantly owning that it would be
right he should be damned, and that he expected this would be his
portion for the greatness of his sins. Yet it was plain that he had a
secret hope of mercy, though imperceptible to himself, which kept him
not only from despair but from any pressing distress: so that, instead
of being sad and dejected, his very countenance appeared pleasant and
agreeable.
“While he was in this frame he several times asked me ‘When I would
preach again?’ and seemed desirous to hear the word of God every day. I
asked, ‘Why he wanted to hear me preach, seeing his heart was dead, and
all was done; that he could never help himself, and expected that he
must go to hell?’ He replied, ‘I love to hear you speak about Christ for
all.’ I added, 'But what good will that do you, if you must go to hell
at last?'—using now his own language with him, having before from time
to time labored in the best manner I could to represent to him the
excellency of Christ, his all-sufficiency and willingness to save lost
sinners, and persons just in his case; although to no purpose, as to
yielding him any special comfort. He answered, ‘I would have others come
to Christ, if I must go to hell myself.’ It was remarkable, that he
seemed to have a great love for the people of God; and nothing affected
him so much as the thought of being separated from them. This seemed to
be a very dreadful part of the hell to which he saw himself doomed. It
was likewise remarkable, that in this season he was most diligent in the
use of all the means for the soul’s salvation; although he had the
clearest view of the inefficiency of means to afford him help. He would
frequently say, that all he did signified nothing at all; and yet was
never more constant in doing; attending secret and family prayer daily,
and surprisingly diligent and attentive in hearing the word of God; so
that he neither despaired of mercy, nor yet presumed to hope upon his
own doings, but used means because appointed of God in order to
salvation; and because he would wait upon God in his own way.
“After he had continued in this frame of mind more than a week, while I
was discoursing publicly, he seemed to have a lively soul-refreshing
view of the excellency of Christ and the way of salvation by him, which
melted him into tears, and filled him with admiration, comfort,
satisfaction and praise to God. Since then he has appeared to be a
humble, devout and affectionate Christian; serious and exemplary in his
conversation and behavior, frequently complaining of his barrenness, his
want of spiritual warmth, life and activity, and yet frequently favored
with quickening and refreshing influences. In all respects, so far as I
am capable of judging, he bears the marks of one ‘created anew in Christ
Jesus to good works.’
“His zeal for the cause of God was pleasing to me when he was with me at
the Forks of Delaware in February last. There being an old Indian at the
place where I preached who threatened to bewitch me, and my religious
people who accompanied me there; this man presently challenged him to do
his worst, telling him that himself had been as great a conjurer as he;
and that notwithstanding, as soon as he felt that word in his heart
which these people loved, meaning the word of God, his power of
conjuring immediately left him. ‘And so it would you,’ said he, ‘if you
did but once feel it in your heart; and you have no power to hurt them,
nor so much as to touch one of them,’ &c. So that I may conclude my
account of him by observing, in allusion to what was said of St. Paul,
that he now zealously ‘defends and practically preaches the faith which
he once destroyed,’ or at least was instrumental in obstructing. May God
have the glory of the amazing change which he has wrought in him.
_Lord’s day, May 18._—“Discoursed both parts of the day from Rev. 3:20,
‘Behold I stand at the door and knock.’ There appeared some affectionate
melting toward the conclusion of the forenoon exercise, and one or two
instances of fresh awakening. In the intermission of public worship I
took occasion to discourse to numbers in a more private way, on the
kindness and patience of the blessed Redeemer in standing and knocking,
in continuing his gracious calls to sinners, who had long neglected and
abused his grace; which seemed to take some effect upon several.
“In the afternoon divine truth was attended with solemnity, and with
some tears; although there was not that powerful awakening and
quickening influence which in times past has been common in our
assemblies. The appearance of the audience was comparatively
discouraging, and I was ready to fear that God was about to withdraw the
blessed influence of his Spirit from us.
_May 19._—“Visited and preached to my people from Acts, 20:18, 19, and
endeavored to rectify their notions about religious affections; showing
them on the one hand the desirableness of religious affection,
tenderness and fervent engagement in the worship and service of God,
when such affection flows from a true spiritual discovery of divine
glories, from a just sense of the transcendant excellence and
perfections of the blessed God, and a view of the glory and loveliness
of the great Redeemer; and that such views of divine things will
naturally excite us to ‘serve the Lord with many tears, with much
affection and fervency, and yet with all humility of mind.’ On the other
hand, I observed the sinfulness of seeking after high affections
immediately and for their own sakes; that is, of making them the object
which our eye and heart is first and principally set upon, when the
glory of God ought to be that object. Showed them, that, if the heart be
directly and chiefly fixed on God, and the soul engaged to glorify him,
some degree of religious affection will be the effect and attendant of
it. But to seek after affection directly and chiefly; to have the heart
principally set upon that; is to place it in the room of God and his
glory. If it be sought, that others may take notice of it, and admire us
for our spirituality and forwardness in religion, it is then abominable
pride; if for the sake of feeling the pleasure of being affected, it is
then idolatry and self-gratification. Labored also to expose the
disagreeableness of those affections which are sometimes wrought up in
persons by the power of fancy, and their own attempts for that purpose,
while I still endeavored to recommend to them that religious affection,
fervency and devotion which ought to attend all our religious exercises,
and without which religion will be but an empty name and lifeless
carcase. This appeared to be a seasonable discourse, and proved very
satisfactory to some of the religious people who before were exercised
with some difficulties relating to this point. Afterward took care of,
and gave my people directions about their worldly affairs.
_May 24._—“Visited the Indians, and took care of their secular business;
which they are not able to manage themselves without the constant care
and advice of others. Afterward discoursed to some of them particularly
about their spiritual concerns.—Enjoyed this day somewhat of the same
frame of mind which I felt the day before.
_Lord’s day, May 25._—“Discoursed both parts of the day from John,
12:44-48. There was some degree of divine power attending the word of
God. Several wept, and appeared considerably affected, and one, who had
long been under spiritual trouble, now obtained clearness and comfort,
and appeared to rejoice in God her Savior. It was a day of grace and
divine goodness; a day wherein something I trust was done for the cause
of God among my people; a season of comfort and sweetness to numbers of
the religious people; although there was not that influence upon the
congregation which was common some months ago.
_Lord’s day, June 1._—“Preached both forenoon and afternoon from Matt.
11:27, 28. The presence of God seemed to be in the assembly; and numbers
were considerably melted and affected under divine truth. There was a
desirable appearance in the congregation in general, an earnest
attention and an agreeable tenderness; and it seemed as if God designed
to visit us with further showers of divine grace. I then received into
communion _five_ persons; and was not a little refreshed with this
addition made to the church of such as I hope will be saved. I have
reason to hope that God has lately, at and since our celebration of the
Lord’s supper, brought home to himself several persons who had long been
under spiritual trouble and concern; although there have been few
instances of persons lately awakened out of a state of security. Those
comforted of late seem to be brought in, in a more _silent_ way; neither
their concern, nor consolation being so powerful and remarkable as
appeared among those more suddenly wrought upon in the beginning of this
work of grace.
_June 7._—“Being desired by the Rev. WILLIAM TENNENT to be his assistant
in the administration of the Lord’s Supper, I this morning rode to
Freehold to render that assistance. My people also being invited to
attend at that solemnity, they cheerfully embraced the opportunity, and
this day attended the preparatory services with me.
_Lord’s day, June 8._—“Most of my people, who had been _communicants_ at
the Lord’s table, before being present on this occasion, communed with
others in the holy ordinance, at the desire, and I trust to the
satisfaction and comfort of numbers of God’s people, who had longed to
see _this day_, and whose hearts had rejoiced in _this_ work of grace
among the Indians, which prepared the way for what appeared so agreeable
at this time. Those of my people who communed, seemed in general
agreeably affected at the Lord’s table, and some of them considerably
melted with the love of Christ, although they were not so remarkably
refreshed and feasted at this time, as when I administered this
ordinance to them in our own congregation only. Some of the
_by-standers_ were affected with seeing those who had been ‘aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise,’
who of all men had lived ‘without hope and without God in the world,’
now brought near to God, as his professing people, by a solemn and
devout attendance upon this sacred ordinance. As numbers of God’s people
were refreshed at this sight, and thereby excited to bless God for the
enlargement of his kingdom in the world; so some others, I was told,
were awakened by it, apprehending the danger they were in of being
themselves finally _cast out_; while they saw others from the east and
west preparing, and hopefully prepared in some good measure, to sit down
in the kingdom of God. At this season others of my people also, who were
not communicants, were considerably affected; convictions were revived
in several instances; and one, the man particularly mentioned in my
journal of the 6th instant, obtained comfort and satisfaction; and has
since given me such an account of his spiritual exercises, and the
manner in which he obtained relief, as appears very hopeful. It seems as
if He, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, had now ‘shined
into his heart, and given him the light of,’ and experimental ‘knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’
_June 9._—“A considerable number of my people met together early in a
retired place in the _woods_, and prayed, sang, and conversed of divine
things; and were seen by some religious persons of the white people to
be affected and engaged, and some of them in tears in these religious
exercises.
“After they had attended the concluding exercises of the Lord’s Supper
they returned home; many of them rejoicing for all the goodness of God
which they had seen and felt: so that this appeared to be a profitable
as well as comfortable season to numbers of my congregation. Their being
present at this occasion, and a number of them communing at the Lord’s
table with other Christians, was, I trust, for the honor of God and the
interest of religion in these parts; as numbers, I have reason to think,
were quickened by means of it.
_June 13._—“Preached to my people upon the _new creature_, from 2 Cor.
5:17. The presence of God appeared to be in the assembly. It was a sweet
and agreeable meeting, wherein the people of God were refreshed and
strengthened; beholding their faces in the glass of God’s word, and
finding in themselves the marks and lineaments of the new creature. Some
sinners under concern were also renewedly affected; and afresh engaged
for the securing of their eternal interests.
“_Three_ Indians were at this time received into communion. One of them
was the very _aged woman_ of whose exercises I gave an account in my
diary of Dec. 26. She now gave me a very punctual, rational, and
satisfactory account of the remarkable change which she experienced some
months after the beginning of her concern, which I must say, appeared to
be the genuine operations of the Divine Spirit, so Air as I am capable
of judging. Although she was become so childish, through age, that I
could do nothing in a way of questioning her, nor scarcely make her
understand any thing that I asked her; yet when I let her alone to go on
with her own story, she could give a very distinct and particular
relation of the many and various exercises of soul she had experienced;
so deep were the impressions left upon her mind by that influence and
those exercises which she had experienced. I have great reason to think
that she is born anew in her old age: she being, I presume, upward of
_eighty_.
_June 19._—“Visited my people with two of the Reverend correspondents.
Spent some time in conversation with some of them upon spiritual things;
and took some care of their worldly concerns.
“This day makes up a complete year from the first time of my preaching
to these Indians in New-Jersey. What amazing things has God wrought, in
this space of time, for this poor people! What a surprising change
appears in their tempers and behavior! How are morose and savage Pagans,
in this short period, transformed into agreeable, affectionate, and
humble Christians! and their drunken and Pagan howlings turned into
devout and fervent praises to God! They ‘who were sometimes in darkness
are now become light in the Lord.’ May they ‘walk as children of the
light and of the day!’ And now to Him that is of power to establish them
according to the gospel, and the preaching of Christ—to God only wise,
be glory through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever, Amen.”
GENERAL REMARKS
ON THE PRECEDING NARRATIVE.
“AT the close of this Narrative I would make a few GENERAL REMARKS upon
what, to me, appears worthy of notice, relating to the continued work of
grace among my people.
I. “I cannot but take notice, that I have in general, ever since my
first coming among the Indians in New-Jersey, been favored with that
assistance which to me is uncommon, in preaching _Christ crucified_, and
making him the _centre_ and _mark_ to which all my discourses among them
were directed.
“It was the principal scope and drift of all my discourses to this
people, for several months together, (after having taught them something
of the being and perfections of God, his creation of man in a state of
rectitude and happiness, and the obligations mankind were thence under
to love and honor him,) to lead them into an acquaintance with their
deplorable state by nature, as fallen creatures; their inability to
extricate and deliver themselves from it; the utter insufficiency of any
external reformations and amendments of life, or of any religious
performances, of which they were capable, while in this state, to bring
them into the favor of God, and interest them in his eternal mercy;
thence to show them their absolute need of Christ to redeem and save
them from the misery of their fallen state;—to open his all-sufficiency
and willingness to save the chief of sinners;—the freeness and riches of
divine grace, proposed ‘without money, and without price,’ to all that
will accept the offer; thereupon to press them without delay to betake
themselves to him, under a sense of their misery and undone state, for
relief and everlasting salvation;—and to show them the abundant
encouragement the gospel proposes to needy, perishing, and helpless
sinners, in order to engage them so to do. These things, I repeatedly
and largely insisted upon from time to time.
“I have oftentimes remarked with admiration, that whatever subject I
have been treating upon, after having spent time sufficient to explain
and illustrate the truths contained therein, I have been naturally and
easily led to Christ as the substance of every subject. If I treated on
the being and glorious perfections of God; I was thence naturally led to
discourse of Christ, as the only 'way to the Father.'—If I attempted to
open the deplorable misery of our fallen state; it was natural from
thence to show the necessity of Christ to undertake for us, to atone for
our sins, and to redeem us from the power of them.—If I taught the
commands of God, and showed our violation of them; this brought me, in
the most easy and natural way, to speak of, and recommend the Lord Jesus
Christ as one who had ‘magnified the law’ which we had broken, and who
was ‘become the end of it, for righteousness, to every one that
believes.’ Never did I find so much freedom and assistance in making all
the various lines of my discourses meet together, and centre in Christ,
as I have frequently done among these Indians.
“Sometimes when I have had thoughts of offering but a few words upon
some particular subject, and saw no occasion, nor indeed much room, for
any considerable enlargement, there has appeared such a fountain of
gospel-grace shining forth in, or naturally resulting from a just
explication of it; and Christ has seemed in such a manner to be pointed
out as the substance of what I was considering and explaining; that I
have been drawn in a way not only easy and natural, proper and
pertinent, but almost unavoidable, to discourse of him, either in regard
to his undertaking, incarnation, satisfaction, admirable fitness for the
work of man’s redemption, or the infinite need that sinners stand in of
an interest in him; which has opened the way for a continued strain of
gospel invitation to perishing souls, to come empty and naked, weary and
heavy laden, and cast themselves upon him.
“As I have been remarkably influenced and assisted to dwell upon the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation by him, in the general
current of my discourses here, and have been, at times, surprisingly
furnished with pertinent matter relating to him, and the design of his
incarnation; so I have been no less assisted oftentimes in an
advantageous manner of opening the mysteries of divine grace, and
representing the infinite excellencies, and ‘unsearchable riches of
Christ,’ as well as of recommending him to the acceptance of perishing
sinners. I have frequently been enabled to represent the divine glory,
the infinite preciousness and transcendant loveliness of the great
Redeemer, the suitableness of his person and purchase to supply the
wants, and answer the utmost desires of immortal souls;—to open the
infinite riches of his grace, and the wonderful encouragement proposed
in the gospel to unworthy, helpless sinners;—to call, invite, and
beseech them to come and give up themselves to him, and be reconciled to
God through him;—to expostulate with them respecting their neglect of
one so infinitely lovely, and freely offered;—and this in such a manner,
with such freedom, pertinency, pathos, and application to the
conscience, as, I am sure, I never could have made myself master of, by
the most assiduous application of mind. Frequently, at such seasons, I
have been surprisingly helped in adapting my discourses to the
capacities of my people, and bringing them down into such easy, and
familiar methods of expression, as has rendered them intelligible even
to Pagans.
“I do not mention these things as a recommendation of my own
performances; for I am sure I found, from time to time, that I had no
skill or wisdom for my great work; and knew not how ‘to choose out
acceptable words’ proper to address to poor benighted Pagans. But thus
God was pleased to help me, ‘not to know any thing among them, save
Jesus Christ and him crucified.’ Thus I was enabled to show them their
misery without him, and to represent his complete fitness to redeem and
save them.
“This was the preaching God made use of for awakening sinners, and the
propagation of this ‘work of grace among the Indians.’ It was
remarkable, from time to time, that when I was favored with any special
freedom, in discoursing of the ‘ability and willingness of Christ to
save sinners,’ and ‘the need in which they stood of such a Savior;’
there was then the greatest appearance of divine power in awakening
numbers of secure souls, promoting convictions begun, and comforting the
distressed.
“I have sometimes formerly, in reading the Apostle’s discourse to
Cornelius, (Acts, 10,) wondered to see him so quickly introduce the Lord
Jesus Christ into his sermon, and so entirely dwell upon him through the
whole of it, observing him in this point very widely to differ from many
of our modern preachers; but latterly this has not seemed strange, since
Christ has appeared to be the substance of the gospel and the centre in
which the several lines of divine revelation meet. Still I am sensible
that there are many things necessary to be spoken to persons under Pagan
darkness, in order to make way for a proper introduction of the name of
Christ, and his undertaking in behalf of fallen man.
II. “It is worthy of remark, that numbers of these people are brought to
a strict compliance with the rules of morality and sobriety, and to a
conscientious performance of the external duties of Christianity, by the
_internal power and influence of divine truth_—the peculiar doctrines of
grace upon their minds; without their having these moral duties
frequently repeated and inculcated upon them, and the contrary vices
particularly exposed and spoken against. What has been the general
strain and drift of my preaching among these Indians, what were the
truths I principally insisted upon, and how I was influenced and enabled
to dwell from time to time, upon the peculiar doctrines of grace, I have
already stated. Those doctrines, which had the most direct tendency to
humble the fallen creature; to show him the misery of his natural state;
to bring him down to the foot of sovereign mercy, and to exalt the great
Redeemer—discover his transcendant excellency and infinite preciousness,
and so recommend him to the sinner’s acceptance—were the subject-matter
of what was delivered in public and private to them, and from time to
time repeated and inculcated.
“God was pleased to give these divine truths such a powerful influence
upon the minds of these people, and so to bless them for the effectual
awakening of numbers of them, that their lives were quickly reformed,
without my insisting upon the precepts of morality, and spending time in
repeated harangues upon external duties. There was indeed no room for
any kind of discourses but those which respected the essentials of
religion, and the experimental knowledge of divine things, while there
were so many inquiring daily—not how they should regulate their external
conduct, for that, persons who are honestly disposed to comply with
duty, when known, may in ordinary cases be easily satisfied about,
but—how they should escape from the wrath they feared, and felt that
they deserved,—obtain an effectual change of heart,—get an interest in
Christ,—and come to the enjoyment of eternal blessedness? So that my
great work still was to lead them into a further view of their utter
undoneness in themselves, the total depravity and corruption of their
hearts; that there was no manner of goodness in them; no good
dispositions nor desires; no love to God, nor delight in his commands;
but, on the contrary, hatred, enmity, and all manner of wickedness
reigning in them:—and at the same time to open to them the glorious and
complete remedy provided in Christ for perishing sinners, and offered
freely to those who have no goodness of their own, no works of
righteousness which they have done, to recommend them to God.
“This was the continued strain of my preaching; this my great concern
and constant endeavor, so to enlighten the mind, as thereby duly to
affect the heart, and, as far as possible, give persons a _sense_ and
_feeling_ of these precious and important doctrines of grace, at least
so far as means might conduce to it. These were the doctrines, and this
the method of preaching, which were blessed of God for the awakening,
and I trust, the saving conversion of numbers of souls; and which were
made the means of producing a remarkable reformation among the hearers
in general.
“When these truths were felt at heart, there was now no vice
unreformed—no external duty neglected. Drunkenness, the darling vice,
was broken off, and scarce an instance of it known among my hearers for
months together. The abusive practice of _husbands and wives_ in putting
away each other, and taking others in their stead, was quickly reformed;
so that there are three or four couples who have voluntarily dismissed
those whom they had wrongfully taken, and now live together again in
love and peace. The same might be said of all other vicious practices.
The reformation was general; and all springing from the _internal_
influence of divine truth upon their hearts, and not from any _external_
restraints, or because they had heard these vices particularly exposed,
and repeatedly spoken against. Some of them I never so much as
mentioned; particularly that of the parting of men and their wives, till
some, having their conscience awakened by God’s word, came, and _of
their own accord_ confessed themselves guilty in that respect. When I at
any time mentioned their wicked practices, and the sins they were guilty
of contrary to the _light of nature_, it was not with a design, nor
indeed with any hope, of working an effectual reformation in their
external manners by this means, for I knew, that while the tree remained
corrupt, the fruit would naturally be so. My design was to lead them, by
observing the wickedness of their lives, to a view of the corruption of
their hearts, and so to convince them of the necessity of a renovation
of nature, and to excite them, with the utmost diligence to seek after
that great change, which, if once obtained, I was sensible, would of
course produce a reformation of external manners in every respect.
“And as all vice was reformed upon their feeling the power of these
truths upon their hearts, so the external duties of Christianity were
complied with, and conscientiously performed from the same internal
influence; family prayer set up, and constantly maintained, unless among
a few who had more lately come, and had felt little of this divine
influence. This duty was constantly performed, even in some families
where there were none but females, and scarce a prayerless person was to
be found among near an hundred of them. The Sabbath was seriously and
religiously observed, and care taken by parents to keep their children
orderly upon that sacred day; and this, not because I had driven them to
the performance of these duties by frequently inculcating them, but
because they had felt the power of God’s word upon their hearts,—were
made sensible of their sin and misery, and thence could not but pray,
and comply with every thing which they knew to be their duty, from what
they felt within themselves. When their hearts were touched with a sense
of their eternal concerns, they could pray with great freedom, as well
as fervency, without being at the trouble first to learn set forms for
that purpose. Some of them, who were suddenly awakened at their first
coming among us, were brought to pray and cry for mercy with the utmost
importunity, without ever being instructed in the duty of prayer, or so
much as once directed to a performance of it.
“The happy effects of these peculiar doctrines of grace upon this
people, show, even to demonstration, that, instead of their opening a
door to licentiousness, as many vainly imagine, and slanderously
insinuate, they have a directly contrary tendency; so that a close
application, a _sense_ and _feeling_ of them, will have the most
powerful influence toward the renovation, and _effectual_ reformation
both of heart and life.
“Happy experience, as well as the word of God and the example of Christ
and his apostles, has taught me, that the very method of preaching which
is best suited to awaken in mankind a sense and lively apprehension of
their depravity and misery in a fallen state,—to excite them so
earnestly to seek after a change of heart, as to fly for refuge to free
and sovereign grace in Christ as the only hope set before them,—is
likely to be most successful in the reformation of their external
conduct. I have found that close addresses, and solemn applications of
divine truth to the conscience, strike at the root of all vice; while
smooth and plausible harangues upon moral virtues and external duties,
at best are like to do no more than lop off the branches of corruption,
while the root of all vice remains still untouched.
“A view of the blessed effect of honest endeavors to bring home divine
truths to the conscience, and duly to affect the heart with them, has
often reminded me of those words of our Lord, which I have thought might
be a proper exhortation for ministers in respect to their treatment of
others, as well as for persons in general with regard to themselves.
‘Cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may
be clean also.’ Cleanse, says he, the inside that the outside may be
clean. As if he had said, the only effectual way to have the outside
clean, is to begin with what is within; and if the fountain be purified,
the streams will naturally be pure. Most certain it is, if we can a
weaken in sinners a lively sense of their inward pollution and
depravity—their need of a change of heart—and so engage them to seek
after inward cleansing, their external defilement will naturally be
cleansed, their vicious ways of course be reformed and their
conversation and behavior become regular.
“Now, although I cannot pretend that the reformation among my people
does, in every instance, spring from a saving change of heart; yet I may
truly say, it flows from some _heart-affecting_ view and sense of divine
truths which all have had in a greater or less degree. I do not intend,
by what I have observed here, to represent the preaching of morality and
pressing persons to the external performance of duty, to be altogether
unnecessary and useless, especially at times when there is less of
divine power attending the means of grace, when, for want of internal
influences, there is need of external restraints. It is doubtless among
the things that ought to be done, while others are not to be left
undone. But what I principally designed by this remark, was to discover
a plain matter of fact, viz. That the reformation, the sobriety, and the
external compliance with the rules and duties of Christianity, appearing
among my people, are not the effect of any mere doctrinal instruction,
or merely rational view of the beauty of morality, but from the internal
power and influence which the soul-humbling doctrines of grace have had
upon their hearts.
III. “It is remarkable, that God has so _continued and renewed_ the
showers of his grace here; so _quickly_ set up his visible kingdom among
these people; and so smiled upon them in relation to their acquirement
of knowledge, both divine and human. It is now nearly a year since the
beginning of this gracious outpouring of the divine Spirit among them;
and although it has often seemed to decline and abate for some short
space of time—as may be observed by several passages of my Journal,
where I have endeavored to note things just as from time to time they
appeared to me—yet the shower has seemed to be renewed, and the work of
grace revived again. A divine influence seems still apparently to attend
the means of grace, in a greater or less degree, in most of our meetings
for religious exercises; whereby religious persons are refreshed,
strengthened, and established,—convictions revived and promoted in many
instances, and some few persons newly awakened from time to time. It
must be acknowledged, that for some time past there has, in general,
appeared a more manifest decline of this work; and the divine Spirit has
seemed, in a considerable measure, withdrawn, especially with regard to
his awakening influence; so that the _strangers_ who come latterly, are
not seized with concern as formerly; and some few who have been much
affected with divine truths in time past, now appear less concerned.
Yet, blessed be God, there is still an appearance of divine power and
grace, a desirable degree of tenderness, religious affection and
devotion in our assemblies.
“As God has continued and renewed the showers of his grace among this
people for some time, so he has with uncommon _quickness_ set up his
visible kingdom, and gathered himself a church in the midst of them.
_Fifteen_ individuals, since the conclusion of my last Journal, have
made a public profession of their faith, making _thirty-eight_ within
the space of _eleven_ months, all of whom appear to have had a work of
special grace wrought in their hearts; I mean, to have had the
experience not only of the awakening, but, in a judgment of charity, of
the renewing influences of the divine Spirit. There are many others
under solemn concern for their souls, and deep convictions of their sin
and misery, but who do not yet give that decisive evidence which could
be desired, of a saving change.
“From the time when, as I am informed, some of them were attending an
_idolatrous feast_ and _sacrifice_ in honor to _devils_, to the time
when they sat down at the Lord’s table, I trust to the honor of God, was
not more than a _full year_. Surely Christ’s little flock here, so
suddenly gathered from among Pagans, may justly say, in the language of
the church of old, ‘The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we
are glad.’
“Much of the goodness of God has also appeared in relation to their
acquisition of knowledge, both in religion and in the affairs of common
life. There has been a wonderful thirst after _Christian knowledge_
prevailing among them in general, and an eager desire of being
instructed in Christian doctrines and manners. This has prompted them to
ask many pertinent as well as important questions; the answers to which
have tended much to enlighten their minds and promote their knowledge in
divine things. Many of the doctrines which I have delivered, they have
queried with me about, in order to gain further light and insight into
them; and have from time to time manifested a good understanding of
them, by their answers to the questions proposed to them in my
catechetical lectures.
“They have likewise queried with me respecting a proper _method_, as
well as proper _matter of prayer_, and expressions suitable to be used
in that religious exercise; and have taken pains in order to the
performance of this duty with understanding.—They have likewise taken
pains, and appeared remarkably apt in learning to sing _psalm-tunes_,
and are now able to sing with a good degree of decency in the worship of
God.—They have also acquired a considerable degree of useful knowledge
in the affairs of common life; so that they now appear like rational
creatures, fit for human society, free of that savage roughness and
brutish stupidity which rendered them very disagreeable in their Pagan
state.
“They seem ambitious of a thorough acquaintance with the English
language, and for that end frequently speak it among themselves. Many of
them have made good proficiency in acquiring it, since my coming among
them; so that most of them can understand a considerable part, and some
the substance of my discourses, without an _Interpreter_, being used to
my simple and familiar methods of expression, though they could not well
understand other ministers.
“As they are desirous of instruction, and surprisingly apt in the
reception of it, so divine Providence has smiled upon them with regard
to the _proper means_ in order to it. The attempts made for establishing
a _school_ among them have succeeded, and a kind Providence has sent
them a _schoolmaster_, of whom I may justly say, I know of ‘no man like
minded, who will naturally care for their state.’ He has generally
_thirty_ or _thirty-five_ children in his school; and when he kept an
evening school, as he did while the length of the 'evenings would admit
of it, _fifteen_ or _twenty_ grown people, married and single, attended.
“The children learn with surprising readiness; so that their master
tells me, he never had an English school which learned, in general, so
fast. There were not above two in thirty, although some of them were
very small, but learned all the letters in the alphabet within three
days after his entrance upon his business; and several in that space of
time learned to spell considerably. Some of them, in less than five
months, have learned to read with ease in the Psalter or Testament.
“They are instructed twice a week in the _Catechism_, on Wednesday and
Saturday. _Some_ of them, since the latter end of February, when they
began, have committed more than half of it to memory; and _most_ of them
have made some proficiency in it.
“They are likewise instructed in the duty of _secret prayer_, and most
of them constantly attend it night and morning, and are very careful to
inform their master, if they apprehend that any of their little
school-mates neglect that religious exercise.
IV. “It is worthy to be noted, to the praise of sovereign grace, that
amidst so great a work of conviction—so much concern and religious
affection—there has been _no prevalence, nor indeed any considerable
appearance of false religion_—heats of imagination, intemperate zeal, or
spiritual pride; and that there have been very few instances of
irregular and scandalous behavior among those who have appeared serious.
“This work of grace has, in the main, been carried on with a surprising
degree of purity, and freedom from corrupt mixture. Their religious
concern has generally been rational and just; arising from a sense of
their sins, and exposure to the divine displeasure on account of them;
as well as their utter inability to deliver themselves from the misery
they felt and feared. If there has been, in any instance, an appearance
of concern and perturbation of mind, when the subjects of it knew not
why; yet there has been no prevalence of any such thing; and indeed I
scarcely know of any instance of that nature at all.—It is very
remarkable, that, although the concern of many persons under convictions
of their perishing state has been very great and pressing, yet I have
never seen any thing like desperation attending it in any one instance.
They have had the most lively sense of their undoneness in themselves;
have been brought to give up all hopes of deliverance from themselves;
have experienced great distress and anguish of soul; and yet, in the
seasons of the greatest extremity, there has been no appearance of
despair in any of them,—nothing that has discouraged, or in any wise
hindered them from the most diligent use of all proper means for their
conversion and salvation. Hence it is apparent, that there is not that
danger of persons being driven into despair under spiritual trouble,
unless in cases of deep and habitual melancholy, which the world in
general is ready to imagine.
“The comfort which persons have obtained after their distresses, has
likewise in general appeared solid, well grounded, and scriptural;
arising from a spiritual and supernatural illumination of mind,—a view
of divine things, in a measure, as they are,—a complacency of soul in
the divine perfections,—and a peculiar satisfaction in the way of
salvation by free sovereign grace in the great Redeemer.
“Their joys have seemed to rise from a variety of views and
considerations of divine things, although for substance the same. Some,
who, under conviction, seemed to have the hardest struggles and
heart-risings against the divine sovereignty, have seemed, at the first
dawn of their comfort, to rejoice in a peculiar manner in that divine
perfection:—and have been delighted to think that themselves, and all
things else, were in the hand of God, and that he would dispose of them
‘just as he pleased.’
“Others, who, just before their reception of comfort, have been
remarkably oppressed with a sense of their undoneness and poverty, who
have seen themselves, as it were, falling down into remediless
perdition, have been at first more peculiarly delighted with a view of
the freeness and riches of divine grace, and the offer of salvation made
to perishing sinners ‘without money and without price.’
“Some have at first appeared to rejoice especially in the _wisdom_ of
God, discovered in the way of salvation by Christ; it then appearing to
them ‘a new and living way,’ a way of which they had never thought, nor
had any just conceptions, until opened to them by the special influence
of the divine Spirit. Some of them, upon a lively spiritual view of this
way of salvation, have wondered at their past folly in seeking salvation
in other ways, and that they never saw this way of salvation before,
which now appeared so plain and easy, as well as excellent to them.
“Others, again, have had a more general view of the beauty and
excellency of Christ, and have had their souls delighted with an
apprehension of his divine glory, as unspeakably exceeding all they had
ever conceived before; yet, without singling out any one of the divine
perfections in particular; so that, although their comforts have seemed
to arise from a variety of views and considerations of divine glories,
still they were _spiritual_ and _supernatural_ views of them, and not
groundless fancies, which were the spring of their joys and comforts.
“Yet it must be acknowledged that, when this work became so universal
and prevalent, and gained such general credit and esteem among the
Indians that Satan seemed to have little advantage of working against it
in his own proper garb, he then transformed himself ‘into an angel of
light,’ and made some vigorous attempts to introduce turbulent
commotions of the passions in the room of genuine convictions of sin,
imaginary and fanciful notions of Christ, as appearing to the mental eye
in a human shape, and in some particular postures, &c. in the room of
spiritual and supernatural discoveries of his divine glory and
excellency, as well as many other delusions. I have reason to think,
that, if these things had met with countenance and encouragement, there
would have been a very considerable harvest of this kind of converts
here.
“_Spiritual pride_ also discovered itself in various instances. Some
persons, whose feelings had been greatly excited, seemed very desirous
from thence of being thought truly gracious; who, when I could not but
express to them my fears respecting their spiritual state, discovered
their resentments to a considerable degree. There also appeared in one
or two of them, an unbecoming ambition of being teachers of others. So
that Satan has been a busy adversary here as well as elsewhere. But,
blessed be God, though something of this nature has appeared, yet
nothing of it has prevailed, nor indeed made any considerable progress
at all. My people are now apprised of these things, are made acquainted,
that Satan in such a manner ‘transformed himself into an angel of
light,’ in the first season of the great outpouring of the divine Spirit
in the days of the apostles; and that something of this nature, in a
greater or less degree, has attended almost every revival and remarkable
propagation of true religion ever since. They have learned so to
distinguish between the gold and dross, that the credit of the latter
‘is trodden down like the mire of the streets;’ and, as it is natural
for this kind of stuff to die with its credit, there is now scarce any
appearance of it among them.
“As there has been no prevalence of irregular heats, imaginary notions,
spiritual pride, and satanical delusions among my people; so there have
been very few instances of scandalous and irregular behavior among those
who have made a profession, or even an appearance of seriousness. I do
not know of more than three or four such persons who have been guilty of
any open misconduct, since their first acquaintance with Christianity;
and I know of no one who persists in any thing of that nature. Perhaps
the remarkable purity of this work in the _latter_ respect, its freedom
from frequent instances of scandal, is very much owing to its purity in
the _former_ respect, its freedom from corrupt mixtures of spiritual
pride, wild-fire, and delusion, which naturally lay a foundation for
scandalous practices.
“May this blessed work, in the power and purity of it, prevail among the
poor Indians here, as well as spread elsewhere, till their remotest
tribes shall see the salvation of God! Amen.”