_Your publishing the following extract from a letter said to be
from a trader among the Indians to a friend, may amuse some of
your customers for the Gazette._
A few days ago one of the Indians paid me a visit. After some
conversation, he said that a minister from the United States had been with
his tribe to teach them the Christian religion. He says that there is but
one only living and true God, who is a good, wise, and powerful spirit
(this Indian say too) and that there are three persons in the god head,
of one substance and power, God the father, God the Son and God the Holy
Ghost, that the Father is of none, neither begotten, or proceeding,
the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, the Holy Ghost eternally
proceeding from the Father and the Son, and that the Holy Ghost visited
a virgin, and conveyed the Son into her; where he continued nine moons
and then was born like other children, was born God and man, that when
he was about thirty years old began to preach, but the great men no like
his preaching, sent their warriors, who took and killed him.
Indians ask what all this talk mean, he say that the first man and woman
broke God's law in eating what God had forbidden, that therefore they and
all the children that should proceed from them must die, and be punished
after death forever; that the Son came and died to save some of mankind
from being punished after death. Oh! 'trange that man could kill God
the Son, and that his death be of service to mankind--great many people
die before the Son of God, and did not know any thing about him--it was
then asked whether his dying would do poor Indians any good; he say yes,
if they believe; then me say that pappoose no believe them do no good;
he say you must leave that with God, and believe for yourself--one say
it is hard to believe such 'tories; if Indian tell such 'trange things,
the white people no believe um.
_A curious Sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Hyberdin, which he made at
the request of certain thieves that robbed him on a hill near
Hartlgrow, in Hampshire, (England) in their presence and at
that instant._
I greatly marvel that any man will disgrace thieving, and think that
the doers thereof are worthy of death, considering it as a thing that
cometh near unto virtue, being used in all countries, and allowed by
God himself; the thing which I cannot compendiously show unto you at so
short a warning, and on so sharp an occasion. I must desire you, gentle
audience of thieves, to take in good part what at this time cometh into
my mind, not doubting but that you, through your good knowledge, are
able to add much more unto it, than this which I shall now offer unto you.
First, Fortitude and stoutness of courage, and also boldness of mind,
is commended of some men to be a virtue; which being granted, who is
there then that will not judge thieves to be virtuous? For they are of
all men the most stout and hardy, and the most void of fear; for thieving
is a thing usual among all men; for not only you that are here present,
but also many others in divers places, both men, women and children, rich
and poor, are daily of the faculty, as the hangman at Newgate can testify;
and that it is allowed of by God himself is evident from Scripture; For
if you examine the whole course of the Bible you will find that thieves
have been beloved of God; for Jacob, when he came out of Mesopotamia,
did steal his uncle Laban's kids. The same Jacob did also steal his
brother Esau's blessing; and yet God said, _I have chosen Jacob and
refused Esau_. The children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt,
did steal the Egyptian's jewels of silver and jewels of gold, as God
commanded them to do.
David, in the days of Abiathar, the high priest, came into the temple and
stole the hallowed bread; and yet God said, "David is a man after my own
heart." Christ himself, when he was here on earth, did take an ass and
colt that was none of his; and yet God said, "This is my beloved son,
in whom I am well pleased." _Thus you see that God delighted in thieves._
But most of all I marvel that men can despise thieves, whereas in many
points you be like Christ himself; for Christ had no dwelling place no
more than you--Christ at length was caught, and so will you--he went to
hell and so will you. In this you differ from him, for he rose and went
into heaven--so you will never do without God's great mercy, which God
grant you. To whom with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, be all honor
and glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.
* * * * *
From the Providence Phoenix of December, 1804.