A further accompt of the progresse of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England, and of the means used effectually to advance the same set forth in certaine letters sent from thence declaring a purpose of printing the Scriptures in the Indian tongue into which they are already translated : with which letters are likewise sent an epitome of some exhortations delivered by the Indians at a fast, as testimonies of their obedience tot he Gospell : as also some helps directing the Indians how to improve naturall reason unto the knowledge of the true God.

Here followes another Letter from M^r Iohn Eliot of New-England, directed to the Corporation, viz.

To the Honourable Corporation for spreading the Gospell among the Poor Indians in New England. these present.

Christian Gentlemen, and much honoured in the Lord.

YOur constant prayers and paines for the pro∣moting of the Kingdome of Christ Jesus in these ends of the earth, among these our poor Indians, is a work of sweet favour unto the Lord: and your labour of love bestowed therein; shall be assuredly rewarded, when the Lord shall say unto you (out of the riches of his free Grace) Come ye blessed of my Father, &c. and, what you did unto them, you did it unto me, and in that day, Blessed is the man who hath his hands full of such free will offerings. The Lord hath given us this amazing blow to take a∣way my brother Mayhew. His aged Father doth his endeavour to uphold the worke among the poor Indians, whom by letters I have incouraged what I can, and moved in his behalfe, our Commissioners, and they have given him some incouragement, so that the work in that place is not fallen to the ground, I blesse the Lord for it. As for the work among us, I shall for the present be silent, for severall Reasons, only let the work it selfe speake. I am bold to present you here inclosed, with a few notes which my Sonne and I ga∣thered up, which were delivered by the persons here

named, in a day of fasting and prayer; out of which short notes you may see what life is in the work. The very reason of my gathering up these notes; was be∣cause my Sonne (who had not been at a fast among us before) was very much affected with what they deli∣vered, so far as he understood them, and when I had communicated these notes to some, they were very well relished, & thereby I was imboldened to present them to your selves, not knowing, but (if the Lord please) thereby you may have more reall informati∣on of their state and progresse, then by any thing which were meet for me to say. For my selfe I feele my strength to decay, and I am not able to doe and bear what I have done, and although temptation may sometime breed waverings, yet my soul doth desire & beleeve, that I shall live and dye in the work. And as I have dedicated my sons to serve the Lord in this work (if he please to accept them) so I doe it as they come up; and this yeare my second son having taken his first degree in the Colledge, I presented him also unto our Commissioners, and he is accepted unto the work: which mercy my soul doth greatly rejoyce in, and I humbly beg your prayers for them, that the Lord would bow their green spirits unto the worke, and inable them to overlooke the difficultyes and discou∣ragements which lye in the way, and thus committing you unto the Lord, and to the guidance of his holy Word, I rest

Yours to serve you in the Service of our dear Saviour. John Eliot.

Roxbury this 10^th of the 10^th, 1658.

Notes

• Mr Mayhew was cast away ceming over from New-England, with an Indian who was a Preacher a∣mongst the In∣dians.