Of the conversion of five thousand and nine hundred East-Indians, in the isle Formosa, neere China to the profession of the true God, in Jesus Christ : by meanes of M. Ro, Junius, a minister lately in Delph in Holland / related by ... M. C. Sibellius ... in a Latine letter ; translated ... by H. Jessei ... ; with a post-script of the Gospels good sucesse also amongst the VVest-Indians, in New England.

I. Of his INGRESSE.

TOuching his Ingresse,1 or his Call thither: This M. Iunius, being ordained of GOD thereunto, was Nominated by the Honou∣red and Pious Senate of the Famous Expedition of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries, for the Conversion of Easterne-Indians, for the bring∣ing them to the Knowledge and Faith of Christ, and so for the furthering the Conversion of those INDIANS in particular, in the Island called FORMOSA, who were blinde and miserable worshippers of the Devill, and slaves unto him.

This great Taske, and Charge, he readily and wil∣lingly yeelded unto; and seriously considered of the diligent and faithfull administration thereof.

And certainely, nothing is more honourable to God, nothing more acceptable to all good men, nothing more conducible to the appeasing of Con∣sciences, nothing more salutiferous to the Hea∣then, that sit in the darknesse of Idolatrie, and Er∣rors, and wofull shadow of Death; then the sending forth of faithfull▪ able, and painfull Labourers into the Harvest; for opening the eyes of the blinde, and turning them from Darknesse to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive remission of sinnes, and an Inheritance a∣mongst them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Christ.

To be an instrument of saving one soule (snatch'd out of the jawes of that infernall Wolfe) farre exceeds all other gaines. The faithfull Servant of the most High rejoyceth more in this, if he may gaine to Christ a poore wretch, that is most contemptible in the eyes of the world; then if all the Treasures of the world were offered unto him. He that shall convert one sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soule from death, and shall cover a multi∣tude of sinnes, as the Apostle Iames saith, (Iames 5.20.)

To proceed: M. Iunius being carryed by the good hand of God to the Formosan Island, in the East-Indies, preached in Dutch, his Mother Tongue, amongst them † for above two yeares together, lay∣ing open the Mysteries of Salvation.

But the Natives there not understanding Dutch, he being moved with an exceeding desire of their Conversion and Salvation, and of freeing and dis∣charging his owne Conscience, with great paines and speedie diligence, in a short time, even now in his adult age, he happily learned the barbarous Language and rude Idiome of those Heathen, who were of differing Speech and Manners; and wisely framed himselfe to speake to their Capacitie and Edification. And there they heard him speaking to them plainely in their owne Tongue, wherein they were borne, the Wonderfull Mysteries of the Gospel of Christ, for Twelve yeares toge∣ther; [viz. from the yeare 1631, to the yeare 1643.]

Notes

• 1

  Quod ad Ingressum, &c. Per Pium inclytae Bel∣garum foe∣deratorū ad infidos Ori∣entalis Ex∣peditionis Senatū con∣vertendis—
• A rare Pa∣tern for Pi∣ous States & Ministers
• Act. 26.18.
• A Note of a true Mini∣ster, that in∣deed shew∣eth love to Christ, Ioh. 21.15, 16.
• †

  Integro biennio, & quod excur∣rit.
• Indians preached unto, in their owne Language, Twelve yeares.