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" Had this Efiay been intended for the fole Ufe of Heathens, many things might have been oniitied:— But when one fees, even amongft Profeilbrs of Chrif- tianity of all Denominations, too many who, with refpeft either to Knowledge or Pradice, are not much. better than Hcaihens Who underlland no: why they are called Chiilliar.?, or what need they h:/,e of a Saviour — But, as the Apoftle defcribes the then Pagan World, are without Chrill, expedling ro Be- nefits from his Sacrifice, and therefore ^without Hope, and twithoat God tn ths World : Upon this mounirul Confideration it was thought proper to add many things, which, through the Blefling of God, might be of \}{^ to awaken fuch miferable and unthuu^^lit(ul People." I ■ ^ a Lately PuhliJJjeJ, A Short and Flain Instruction FOR The Better Underftanding O F T H E L O R D's S U P P E Rj WI TH THE Neceflary Preparation required: For the BENEFIT of YOUNG COMMUNICANTS, AND Of fuch as have not well confidercd This Holy Ordinance. To which is Annexed) The OFFICE of the HOLY COMMUNION, With proper Helps and Directions, for joining in every Part thereof with Under- (landing and Benefit. 1———^ — — I I —fc— — — — ^i^— — »— i— i— — »— ^— »— » By the Rieht Reverend Father in GOD, T H o M A s, Lord Biihop of Sodor and Man, The Nineteenth Edition. LONDON: printed for J. F. and C. Rivington, in St. PaulU Churchyard; And Sold by all tl)e Bookfelkrs in Town and Country. THE Knowledge and Practice O F CHRISTIANITY M AD E Easy To the Meaned Capacities: O R, A N E S A TOWARDS AN INSTRUCTION FOR THE INDIANS. Which will likewife be of Ufe To all fuch who are called Christians, but have not well confidered the Meaning of the Reli- gion they profefs: Or, v/\io prof e/s to know GOD, but in IVorks to deny Him. In twenty dialogues. Together with Directions ^;/^ Prayers, FOR The Heathen World, Missionaries, Catechumens, Private Persons, . Families, Of Parents for their Children, For Sundays, ^c. The FOURTEENTH EDITION. rJy the Right Reverend Father in GUD, Thomas, Lord Bifhop of Sodor and Ma}7^ LONDON: . Printed for J. F. and C. Rivington, Bookfellers to the Society for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge, a*: the BM and Crow» (N° 62) in St. Paul'& Chunh-Tard, MDCCI.X XXVII. ■f I I TO THE Mod Reverend Father in GOD, T H M A S, Lord Archbifhop of Canterbury^ &c. P R E S I D E N T; And the reft of the Right Reverend, Right Honour- able, and Worthy Governors and Members of the T ,W O SOCIETIES, The One for the Propagation of the Go/pel in Foreign Parts^ The Other for the Promoting of Chrifiian Knowledge at Home \ This ESSAY . Is Injcrihed by The AUTHOR, A Member of both theje Societies. n 'If I ADVERTISEMENT. THIS Book, and the Bifhop's Plain ^reatife upon the Sacrament of the Lord'^ Sufper^ are in the Catalogues of fuch Books as are recommended and difperfed by the ^wo Societies for propagating the Go/pel in Fo* reign Parts > and for Promoting Chrifiian Knowledge at Home ;— And there will alio be a large Allowance made by John Rivington^ and Sons, to fuch charitable Perfons, as are difpofed to buy any Number, above Half a Dozen at a Time of thefe Books, to give away, either at Home amongft poor Families^ Children, and Servants, or to difperfe in our Plantations in America. :|i * 111 CONTENTS. PART I. Jf^kich is in ord'-r to Chrijlian Bapt'iftn, i 1) I A L O G U J.' I. ibid. DIALOG \) E II. Of the Corruption of our Nat lire t 9 DIALOG rr K III. The Proofs of the Chrijlian Reli^ion^ If. DIALOGUE IV. The 'VJonderful Succefs and Pro^refs of the GcfpeU lalen it ivas firjl preached to the IVor)d. l^ D I A L O G U R V. Ohje^iom againjl the had Lives of Chrifitans anf^vjered^ 35 DIALOGUE VI. The Holy Scriptures both necej'ary and fufficient for the Salvation of Alent 44 DIALOGUE VII. j^n Account of the Fall of Man^ and *whatfollo*wed there- upon, till the Coming ofChrijl, 54 DIALOGUE Vin. Jefus Chrijl the Mediator and Saviour of the World, and the Head of all Chrifliaru^ 6$ DIALOGUE IX. Being an Jhflra^ of the former Dialogues and InflruC' tionSf 76 PART II. OfBaptifm, and the Lord's Supper : The Creed i the Lord's Prayer, and the ten Conwtandments ^ explained, fO DIALOGUE X. OfBaptifm, ibid. D I A L O G U E XI. The Conditions required offuch as art to be baptized, 99 DIALOGUE XII. The Articles of the Chrijlian Faith praHically explained, ' DIALOGUE XIII. The Cojnmandments of Cod pradically explained ^ Part I. «37 DIALOGUE XIV. Part II. iji D I A L O G U E XV. Duty ((Kvards Cod explained^ t6s< DIALOGUE XVI. The Dutykoujards our Neighbour explained, 1 7 z\ .;i *: i" Un C O N T E N T S. * i^ D I A I, o G IT R xvif, xvnr. Oj'Prii\f> iwJTInnkf^'nhis f'i'hty the Mcjrs andConciitlous ^f obtaining theChwccandlllcJin^ofiiudt i8i, 19J DIAL O (; ir K XIX. The Scicrafuent of the Lord's Su^f^cr explained^ ft04 D I A I. O (; IT E XX. 7^/r DcUifutit the Danger ^ and the MijlhLft of helu^ Chrijlijfis ni/thout Chri'Hufiityt Si'/t-St Scfipliifcs ai:.i Prjyers, a.i7 r-j Hui;du-fltion cti Behalf of tic Heathen IVorldt ci38 ^^ MiJ/ionary\t Prayer^ 2.;9 yl r tiller proper for fuch as dcfire to he infirufled in the Chiijlian Jie/i>Jc;j, 240 Private atiJ Family Prayers, See. 245 ^ yif-afittahh' IrijlrudficfJi iliitl ■ 7l:e Duty and Benefit of Morning Prayer fir any Perfon in private, 248 Alornifrj Pr^ij/crt ibid. iif^me jhort Meditations for fach as art ivr/i difprfcd^ and have Time tofpare^ ajl The Duty and Benefit (^Evening Prayer for a Perfon in private, ^ 253 j^n Evening Prayer, ibid. Shcrt Meditations for fuch as have Tiff/e, and are ivell' dfprftd, 2SS Jylorning Pray erf or a Fav.'i/y, 257 Proper meditations for fuch as have Time, and ar^ de^ voNtly difp ofed, 261 Parents for Children, 263 Evening Prayer for a Family, ibid. Sele^ Scriptures, and Med'iations upon them ; nvhich 7nay teach us hcnv to profit by rcad:v<^ the Sci ipiiires, 267 jijijort and necejfary Injlrufiicnfor the Lord's Day in the Morning, 270 j4j/)ort Prayer at your comhig into Church, ibid , A Jh^ort Prayer before you leave the Church, '27a J[ Pra)'erfor Sunday Morning, 273 j4 plain and nfejul Jnfirurrionfor Sunday Evening, 274 A Prayer for Sunday Evening, 276 Ajhort Admonition to all, a?id efpecially to MaJIers of Fa- inilies, 278 Grace before cut Meals, and Grace after our Meals » 2791. 5. [ i ] Condi tlotiT i8i, 193 ao4 ; of helns: led in the 240 ilud \ Per/on in 248 ibid. 15 X P erf on in ibid. '^55 261 263 ibid< vhich ffia^ /, 267 270 ibid. 'i.n 274 276 rs of Fa- 278 a79». a8o P^^" It//, y/it' Lord Bljhop of London V Letter to his Clergy, recommending that Branch of the Dejign of the Society for Pro^ f/ioting Qhrijlian Kno'-Jihuige^ ic^hich ;r- ItJtes to dif[)er/ing amo?ig the Poor plain Trudfs on religious Suhjecls. TH E S II hfcr thing and Correfpondiyjg Members oF tlie Society, in Great- Britain and Foreign Parts, are about - I'll 'i II- [ ii ] * One of thefe Expedients is, the putting * into ll (!ir Hands, as Occafion fliall be * found, i'oinc /b or S and plain Tra^s upon Re- * ligiGus Subjecfs ; fuch as being ^^r/, they ' are like to read, or may eadly procure to * be read to them ; and being Mo p/aifi, they * cannot fail of underdanding; and more- ' over, being always at hand, and read over * often, they will naturally miikc di creeper Im- * prejfton upon their Minds, than Inftru6lions * and Admonitions, either from the Pulpit, ' or by Word of Mouth. * It was whh this View^ that feveral Bi- * fhops, Clergymen, and other fcrious Per- * fons among the Laity, did long fince form * themfelves into a Society, for printing and * difpcrling fuch practical Tracts in great * Numbers. And for the difperfing them * more efFc8ually, they have from time to * time admitted, and continue to admit, * feverai Perfo^is in all Parts of the King- * dom, whom they call Corresponding * Members; and who are intitled to have * a Supply of them, to be difpofed of among * fuch of the Neighbouring Clergy or Laity * as dcfire them; the Bound Books, men- * tioned in the Society's Catalogue^ at the * prime Coft in ^ires, the Society being at * the Charge of Binding; and the Stich'd * Books, at one Half of the Price there fet * down, as the prime Cofl of each j the other * Half of the Charge being born by the ftand- % * ing t t i [ ill ] ' ing Subfcrlptionsof the Members of the So- * ciety, and by other occafional Bencfa6lions., * And the Privilege of fending for and rc- * ceiving thofe Books and fmall 'rra6ts, on^ * the Terms before-mentiv:)necl, is common lo^ * all the CoK RESPONDING Me MB K us, as fuch, * whether they be Subscribers, or not; o,n^ * account of the Trouble they are content to * take, in anfwcring the great Ends of the ' Society, by conveying the I racts into many ' Hands, and en the fame eafy Terms ; wiili- * out any Advantage to themfelves^ belides- * the Pleafure of doins? Good. • This Society has fubfiftcd many Years,. * under the Name of the Society for Promoting * Chriftian Knowledge. And, as by their En-- ^ deavours in that Way, great Good has been. ' already done to Religion, fo much more ' Wiuld probably be done, if the Defign,. and their Methods of carrying it on, were more generally under flood and attended tOi And becaufe fome of the Clergy may not* know that there is fuch a Society, and many, others may be unacquainted with the true End and Manner of it; I defire that thofe in your Neighbourhood may have thisAc- count of it communicated to them, as you^ have Opportunity, — At the fame Time it is left to every one's Judgment, how far he has Occajion^ within his own Cure, for fuch. Affiftances as thefe, to co-operate with his own Failorsii Labours. A 6 « I AM C; I 11 i R" •^■ fr i i m ii!i :.!i! [ ivr J. * I AM not without Hope, that wlien this Method of doing Service to Religion is known and confidcred, Perfons who are of Ability, both among the Clergy, and Laity, will be difpofed to become Suh/cribing Mem- hersy or occafional Contributors, for the better Support of the Society in carrying on the Work, and to make the good EfFe6ls of it more and more extenfive. And {o com- mending you, and your Labours^ to the Blefling of God, I remain. SIR, Tour Faithful Friend and Brother, I I * E D M. LONDON/ N. B. "This Book, and the Bijhop of Sodor and Main's plain Account of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper y may he had by all the Cor- re/ponding as well as Subfcribing Members^ upon the ''Terms of \\\Q. Society for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge, who meet every Tucf- day, at their Houfe^ N' 5, Bartlett's-Build- mgs, Holborn. J THE Author's PREFACE. IF the following EfTay dotli in any mca- fiire anfwer its Title and Dcfigii, the Rea-» der mad know, that it was, through the divine Direction and Blelfing, owing to a lhort> but very entertainii]^ Converi'ation, which the AuthoFj and fome other Gentlemen, had .vith the Honourable General Oglethorpe^ concern- ing the '.onditioHy 'Temper ^ and Genius of the Indians in the Neighbourhood o^Gcorgia^ and thofe Parts o{ America \ who, as he alFurcd us, are a tra6lable People, and more capable of being civilized, and of receiving the Truths of Religion, than we are generally made to be- lieve ; if fome Hindrances were removed, and proper Meafures takei> to awaken in them at Senfe of their true Intereft, and of their un- happy Condition, while they continue in their prefent State. And though this may be thought a very difficult Work, yet God, who would have all Mm to bejavedy and to come to the Truth as it is, in JefiiSy hath, purfuant to his gracious Defign, made all Men capable of receiving fuch a Meafure of Chriltian Knowledge, as will be fufficient for their Salvation, S " . Accord- ' m\ V^.. ■,^l ti M VI PREFACE. . . Accordingly, fome Inftances may be given of Heathens in the darkeft Corners of the Earth, who have even at this Day, been awakened and converted, by the Bleffing of God upon the Labours and Converfation of fome very m derately learned, but pious Per- fons. Thef'e honefl and well-meaning Chrif- tians, by their good Examples and Patience in explaining the great Truths of the Golpel, have engaged Men of very brutifh Paffions, and fuch as before were fuppofed to be of an unconquerable Ignorance, notonly to acknow- ledge the true God, and his Son our Lord Je/us Chrift; but alfo join with them in endeavour- ing to convince and convert others. And how this Grain of Muftard-feed may grow^ and mcreaje and/pread, God only knows: — But blefled are they that have fown it ! As to this Performance the Author will fay- little in its p^ence ; it is called an EJay only ; —and indeed, it was finifh'd amidft other Bufinefs of Moment, which hath occafioncd fo many Defeds in it, that he has been fome- times ready almoft to wifh it had not gone Abroad. But he hopes thefe Defeats may fet fome better Hands at work, toperfe6t what hath here been attempted. — And if even that Good be done by it, the Author will be very thank- ful to God, for having enabled him, in any meafure, to promote a Work of fuch Import- ance, as is the Salvation of Souls, which Je/uf Chrift bath purchafed with his moil precious Blood, There P R E F A C R. *• va There have been, it is true, many excellent Books publiihed, which give a larger and more learned Account of the Cbrillian Religion : But then Tome of thei'e have been written in a Style above the Capacity of the lefs Learned ; and cHhers mixed with Controveriies, im- proper for fuch a Work, as being too apt to dillra61 the Mmds of both Teachers and Learners, and to divert them from attending to the great and faving Truths of Chriltianity. It will eafily be feeri that the Author's De- fign doth not lie this Way ; he has taken what Care he could, to give no Offence to any ferious Chriftian, who may have different Sentiments from himfelf ; and to exprefs his Thoughts in Terms fuited to the meaneft Capacity, And, indeed, he hath failed of his Purpofe, if the Truths, here recommended, have not been made plain even to the Underftanding of an Indian^ who Ihall be defirous to learn the things that cop'^ern his immortal Soul, and is difpojcd for eternal Life, fiis chief Aim was to follow the Example of our great Maftcr,— by giving ln(trudions fuitable to the prefent Neceffity and Strength of fuch as were to receive them. And if this (hort and pUm Attempt may but ferve for a fort ^i Index or Common-place y of the Heads that are proper to be infilled on, and which may be more largely explained, it is to be hoped it will be of fome Advantage to fuch Miffionaries^ or others, who iiiail think fit to f; , confuit it. Had VUl PREFACE. il! * Had this EfTay been intended for the fole life vi Heathens, many things nii^ht have been omitted : But when one lees, even among the Profi flbrs of Chrillianity, of ahnolt all Denominations, too many, who with rcfpcct either to Knowledge or Practice, are not much better than Heathens, — who undeifland not wliy they are called Chrifti- ans, or what Need they have of a Saviour; but as the Apo.rle defcribes the then Pa- gan World, arc without Chrilt, expecling no Benefits from his Sacrifice, and therefore without Hope and without God in the M^^orld: — Upon this mournful Confideration, it was thought proper to add many things, which, * through the Bleiring of God, might be of * Ufe to awaken fuch miferable and un- « thoughtful People.* . With refpc6l to the manner of the Per- formance ; — As the Holy Spirit, by Mojes,, did not begin the Hiftory of the Creation, nor St. Paul the Converfion of the Gentiles, with Proofs of the Being ofGod^ fuppofing, that every Man, who had the Ufe of Reafon, would acknowledge, that there muft of NecefTity be fuch a Being ; it was not thought neceifary nor convenient to begin thefe Inftructions with fuch Proofs, which might confound and have often daggered the Faith of fimple Men. There maybe in theChriftianWorldAtheifts, at lead fuch as would wifli there was no God, to punifh them for their wicked Lives : — But . . we. PREFACE, IX we have no certain Accoiini, that tl^ere arc any ihcli among the Heathens: — The very HcttentotSy who are (uppofed to he the dullell of Mankind, even thelc, as we have been in- formed by thoie who have been amongft them, do very naturally appeal to One who is above thofe who injurioufly treat them. — And we have been lately told, that fome oF thefe very People have been awakened and converted to the Chriftian Faith. The Proofs of the Chriftian Religion, made ufe of in this Effay, are not founded upon fuch Arguments as are above the Capacities and Reafouings of plain and unlearned People,— but upon what they know and feel within themfelves ; — Upon the Corruption of human Nature i — ThtxxPronene/s toEvil i-^ThzFears that attend fuch a fad State ;— And upon the Experience of their own utter Inability to de- liver themfelves out of this State of Bondage ; —Arguments which every thoughtful Man, though never fo unlearn'd, yet awakened, feels the Force of. And fuch ConviQions as thefe will very na- turally lead Men to dehre, and confequently clofe with, any reafonable Propofal of a Way to free them from the Doubts and Fears that attend them ; and difpofe them to embrace fuch Evidence, as fliall be brought to prove the Truth and the Bieffing of Chriftianity.— Indeed the Conversion of the Hea- thens may appear at firft Sight, a stry difcou- raging i i \ 'M X PREFACE. I! Hi 1 raging Undcrtakirjg, confidcring the many Difficulties fucli a Work is like io meet with. —But God, wiiofe Kingdom ruleth over all, having given his Son the He at ben for his In» beritance, and the utmqft Parts of the Earth for his Poffejfion ; — and having allured us, that all the Ends of the Earth fbouldrememher themf elves ^ and turn unto the Lord\ — as he is able, {o He will moft certainly perfect this in his own good Time, and by fuch Inftruments as fliall be moft proper for accompl idling this great Event. But whether the Churches of the Gentiles^ which at prefent are fo far departed, not only from the Zeal and Pra8ice, but many of theoi from the Truths of primitive Chriftianity, fo that even themfelves want to be converted :— Whether thefe fhall be made the Inftruments of fo glorious a Work is much to be doubted. Or whether, when the T^imes of the Gentiles Jhall he fulfilled^ Lukexxi. 24. — that is, as the leafned Grotius underftands the Prophecy, when God's Patience and Long-fuffering with the Churches of the Gentiles, whom, when he re- je6ied the Jews, he made his peculiar People, JJjall be at an End, and they fhall have filled up the Meafure of their Sins ; — Whether God will not then look upon his everlafting Covenant with Abraham and his Seed, Gen, xvii. 7. and caufe the Jews to be converted, and make Them the Inftruments of publifhing the Gofpcl to all Nations of the World, amongft whom bi^ Providence hath already fcattered w PREFACE. XL Rattcred them ; it is Matter worthy of Con- lideration, and f'eemed to the very learned Mr. Jofrph Mede no improbable Suppofition *. fie luppofcd St. Paul's Converfion to be a Type of the Calling of the Jews, when their 'JVibulation and long Difperlion (hall be ended ; and that the fame Almighty Power and Grace which converted him, and from a moft bitter Enemy and Perfecutor oVjefus Cbrifty and his Church, made him an Apoftle and Preacher of the Gofpel to the then Gentile World, — that the fame Almighty Power and Grace can, and it is probable may, after the like manner, make ihe Jews, tho' never fo great Enemies to Chrift at prefent, Preachers of the Gofpel to theyet uncorvoerted Nations ; — and endow them as he did St. Pauly with f'lfficient Powers, to convince and convert alljuch as are d'lfpjedfor eternal Life, But this muft be as it (hall pleafe God.— In the mean Time, whoever among ChriftJtns fears God, and loves the Lord Jefus Chrifi in Sincerity, cannot but defire and endeavour, that all Nations may come to the Knowledge of their Maker and Redee ne^ and adore and glorify him. This is indeed what every Chriftian prays for, when he fays, Thy Kingdom come;— hwt to how little Purpofe, if he does not, by fonie A<5ts of his own, and as far as God hath * Mr. Mede'/ WorksyfoL Booi v. Ci'a/t. 2. See then hi J Rta/om at lar^e, put 111 i\ M 11 3 M n M II Xlt PREFACE. II ; HI i III ll'll; i\ put it Into liis Power, endeavour to gather and increafc the Number of ChrilVs Subjedls, and enlarge his Kini;doin, by tlie Convcrlion of the yet unbelieving Nations ? We know it will be natural for People to afk, What can be done by mod Men, more than to pray, — That fuch as fit in Darknefs, and in the Sliadow of Death, may be delivered by what Ways God fhali think fit? More, mu^h more, mofl certainly, may be done, by almofl; all good Chriltians, towards the pro- moting of I'o glorious a Work, were they only to remove the Stumbling-blocks which lie in the Way of the Heathens, and hinder their Converfion. For Inftance; — It cannot but be acknow- ledged with Shame and Sorrow, that the little Progrefs which the Gofpel hath made among the Indians and Negroes in the Wefterri Parts of the World, had in a great meafure b|fcn owing to the bad Lives of many of thofe Chrifttstns with whom they have fo long con- vcrfed : — For let the MifTionaries, or any other good Men fay never fo many true and alFcBing things of the Excellency of Chrif- tianity, and the BleiFings attending it; thofe People will always judge of the. Religion fo zealoufly recommended to them, by the Lives of the (generality of thofe who profefs it, which, if wicked, give fuch a Wound to Chriflianity, as all the Arguments to recom- mend it cannot heal. If PREFACE. x:u if thefe poor People, inllcad of feeing the good Fruits of the holy Faith and Religion propofcd to them, fliall fee little or nothing, but a general Corruption of Manners ; fuch as Inteniperancey Injujiicey Covetoujnejs^ Oppreffion^ a Love of Plea/ures and all worldly Delights ^ a IF ant of Compajfwn for their Fellow-creatures^ — Hatred, Malice, and Revenge, — it will be almoft impofTible to reconcile them to a Re- ligion which hath no better Eifc^ls upon its Profelfors ; — or to make them fear a God who fulFcrs his Worfhippers to do fuch things, and break with Impunity thofe Laws, which they fay he hath given them for the ConduQ of their Lives. Heathens can reafon as well as Chriftians, in Matters of fo natural a Confequence; and will make this plain Conclufion; — That if fuch Chriftians as they converfe with, do really hope, as they pretend, to be happy when they die, no Pcrfons need be much con- cerned how they live here, or fear being mi- ferable hereafter. r Such Men as thefe would do well to con- fider the fad Doom pronounced by the Son of God againft thofe who give this Offence, and hereby occafion the Lofs of fo many Souls. All Chriftians, who live in the Neighbour- hood of the Heathens, ought to conclude that they ar^ placed there by a fpecial Providence, which doth nothing by chance, or in vain, to give thofe People an Opportunity of coming to y I 't m m I I Xivr PREFACE. !■(( I I M^ ^i:^::. to the KrK)wledgc of the true and only Cod ; and, by their inflrii8ivc Converfation, and good Lives, to difpofe them to receive the Gofpel that they may be faved, — that God may be glorified, and his Kingdom enlarged, and his Name become excellent in all the Earth, ' Then indeed thofe Heathens will have Rea- fon to fay, what Mo/es fuppofed the Nations would fay of i.he Ifraelites, — Surely the/e are a wife and an underjlanding People^ who have the Lord Jo nigh unto them^ in all they call upon him for ; — and what Nation is there fo great ^ that hath Statutes and Judgments Jo righteous ? It w»as certainly for fuch great Ends as thefe, that Jojeph firft, and afterwards Jacobs and his whole Family, were brought into Egypt ^ by unforefeen Providences, that the Egyptian Nation, which was given altogether to Ido- latry, might have a favourable Opportunity of coming to the Knowledge of the true and only God. For this Rcafon alfo it was, that the fame Providence of God, who alone can bring good out of Evil, did afterwards punifh the Sins of his own People, by fending them Captives in- to Babylon ; and at the fame Time that he pu- nifhed them^ and efFedtually cured them 6f the Sin of worfhipping Idols, he gave their Conquerors a merciful Occafion of coming to the Knowledge of Himfelf, and of his glori- ous Attributes; — and by the wonderful Mi- racles which he publickly viTought, delivering his 4feUl;.;j^atoBil8»%fe^H PREFACE. XV Ills faithful Servants Daniet., Siiadracit, Mi.siiACH, and Abednf.oo, from Death, he oave many Nations and Kingdoms fnfhcicnl Rcafows to fee the f'olly of their abfurd and Itupid Idolatry, when their very Kings were forced to declare, that there was no God but the God of Ifrael^ who was able to deliver after that manner; and forbad all the People of their Dominions to fpeak any thing againft the God wiio could do I'uch Wonders. And how earncftly is it to be wifhed, that Tuch Chriftians, who by the fame Providence, and by various Ways, have been fent amongfl the Heathens, in thefe latter Days, would ferioufly confider what great Good or Evil they are capable of doing, by their virtuous or vicious Behaviour, the one hardening them in their Unbelief, the other difpofmg them to receive the Gofpel ' As to the Negroes, the Defcendanls of Bam and Canaan^ who, according to one of the mofl ancient Prophecies (Gen, ix. 25. ) are become Slaves to Chriftians, the Defcendants oVjaphetb ; — furely the only righteous Recom- pence that cah be made them, for having been forced from their native Country into a ftrange Land, and for their Labours there, will be to endeavour to bring them to the Knowledge and Worfliip of the true God, the God of the Spirits of all Flefh^ who would have all Men hejaved, and with him is no Hefpedl of Perjons. \ (•fM 1 1 1 i> \\ " Ami ;%. .(,.!i J ^iii Ml XVI PREFACE. And indeed, if this is not fincerely endea- voured, it will be very difficult to juftify ibe Trade of buying, transporting, arid SELLING tbem as Becjis of Burthen, For tho' it fliould be allowed to be a Blef- fing for thefe ignorant, rude and uncivilized People, who can hardly be more miferable in any Country than in their own, to be brought even in the Condition of Slaves, into a Coun- try of civilized People, where Mens Lives and Liberties arc fccured hy Laws, and where they may be fiippofed, in time, to be qualified to receive Inflrudions of every kind, both for the Benefit of Society, and for the Salvation of their own Souls; — yet it would be great Barbarity and InjuRice, to make a gain for ever of their Labours, and thofe of their Chil- dren, and neither to take Care of their religi- ous Inftrud:ion themfelves, nor contribute to the Support of thofe who do this charitable Work for them. — This would fhew too plain- ly, that the Profits gained by the Labours of their Slaves are more valued by their Maflers, than the Glory of God^ or than the Salvation of their own, or their Servants Souls ; for- getting THAT THEY THEMSELyES HAVE A Master in Heaven. But the true Way, which all wife and good Maflers will take with their Slaves, and will recommend themfelves and their Labours to the Bleffing and Prote6lion of God, is, — To endeavour that their Slaves may have the Ties of PREFACE. xvii of Religion and Confcience, to oblige them to h^ faithful^ 'peaceable^ and contented with their Condition. — And nobody ought to quef- tion, but that thefe People are as capable of re- ceiving religiousInftruBionsas any other Gen- tiles, or even as we ourfelves were, when the Gofpel was firll preached to us. — And they who infinuate, to the Reproach of our Lord, and the Power of his Grace, that the Converfioa of the Negroes will either be impoflible, or be of no Advantage to their Mafters, have much more to anfwer for, than they feem to imagine or to apprehend. And thofe Mafters who grudge their SJaves Time fufficientfortheirlnftruftioniuthe Way of Life and Happinefs, and compel them to profane the Lord's Day, in procuring Necef- faries for their Support, in direft Oppofition to God's Command, given in Compaffion both to Man and Beaft; — fuch Mafters have no Reafon to expe6l the Blcflings of either this World or the next. ^he/e are fome of the Obftacles which lie in the Way of the Conversion of the Negroes and Indians^ and caufe that glorious Work to go on fo (lowly: And, certainly, they who are concerned to remove them, and who do not, will be looked upon as Enemies to God, and his Chrift, and as fuch fhstU be treated at • the lad Day. The Want of Missionaries, both for Number and Qualifications, to undertake * a fo 'ij-^ I ':i h ■ M i I • i li,u IP- !. ■: ' XVlll PREFACE ib difficult a Work, is another Reafon which delays their Converfion, and greatly to be la- mented.-— Thefe cannot be hoped for without Affiftances equal to the Work, In order to this, it pleafed God to put into the Hearts of our Princes, to establish, jy A Charter, a Society for propa- OATING THE GoSPEL IN FOREIGN PaRTS, which hath hitherto been encouraged, and kept Vp, by many worthy but voluntary Sub* fcriptions, and Benefa6lions. Jtid may God mrea/e tbeir Number y and blefs the Suhjlance of alljuch B^nefa5lors ! But Experience hath convinced thofe who are chiefly concerned in carrying on this good Work, that a much greater Income than they have yet had, will Be neceffary to fupply the Number of Mif? fionaries that are wanted, and are every Day pray'd fpr by fuch People as are weli-difpofed^ bMt n( t able of ibemfelves to maintain fuch as may inllruQ them. In the mean Time we hope and have Reafon tp ej^pe6t, that this excellent Undertaking, in which the Glory of God> and the Good of Men, are fo nearly concerned, will meet with fllM more and greater Encouragement from Chriflians of ail Denominations, when they confider the Obligations upon every one to put to their helping Hand, according to their i\bility, as a Proof of iheir Love for our Lord Jejus Chrift, and of their zealous Con- cern for the everlafting Salvation of the Souls of Men, Thofe m E ^afon which tly to be la- For without to put into ESTABLISH, OR PROPA- N Parts, d, and kept ntary Sub* Ind may God Suhftance of ^rience hath ^ncerned in lat a much :t had, wil) )er of Mif-? every Day li-difpofed, lain fuch as ave Reafon rtaking, in ; Good of I meet with ment from when they iry one to ng to their re for our ilous Con- f the Souls PREFACE, xjx Thofe Gentlemen are under an indifpenfible Obligation to fupport and encourage this ex- cellent Work, who draw great Riches from the Traffick and Labour of the Negroes^ and from the Nations and Countries of the Indians, , whether they live here, or in the Indies, And indeed one cannot but believe, that' thefe Gentlemen, who refide in the great and trading Towns o^ England^ and are generally of a very liberal Difpofuion, and ready to every good Work, do only want to be made fenfible of the Good they are able to do this Way, and the Obligations which lie upon them o promote fo pious a Work; — whereby they ould be mod certainly intitled to the eipecial lefli ng of God in this World upon their: raddy ihcir Ships, themjehes, and their /^^?w/-i as well as that they might have leave ta- lope for Bleflings of an higl^er and a nobler ind.' In (hort, one would hope/ that air People ho value the.Blefling of an ingenuous and hriftian Education, will countenance this • Vork,. fome by their Affiftance, aU by their >ayers:-~Efpecially when theyconfider that is very^tate otDarkne/s. di^dt deplorable Ig^ arance, m\x\i have been our own Cafe to thia ay^ ,had not God in Mercy k^^MiJionarks inftru^t the Generations before usj ^ And although there are many Chriftians> lio diflPer in Opinions from one another, metiraes in Matters of 1 I Ues a 2 le Moment ; yet lure ■;« I 1 Jr ' ( ,f I hi .1 :., Hi ,i ■t I I ■r ' il li i ' T 1 flW I i til XX PREFACE. fure all fuch as agree in the great and faving Truths of the Gofpel, will unite to weaken the Power of Salaft, who (lill exercifeth his Malice over fo great a Part of Mankind. And it will be a prevailing Motive to en- deavour this, when we confider hovr far this Charity may extend j for as we ourfelves do now enjoy the Bleflings andFruits of their Cha- ritable Labours, who fo long fince preached the Gofpel to thefe Nations, fo we have Reafon to hope and believe that the Generations to come, in the miferable Countries we are now concern'd for, will in God's good Time, and by his BlefTing upon ibis Societyy offer up many Thankfgivings to God, for having touch'd our Hearts with a Senfe of the wretched Con- dition of their Forefathers, and having helped them out of it. Thefe, and the like Confiderations will, one would hope, prevail with all fuch well-dif- pofcd Chriftians, as (hall come to the Know- ledge of this Society, to enable its Governors to fend and encourage Miffionaries, fufficiem for fo great and extenfive an Undertaking,^ and fuch as are endued with a truly Chriftiani Spirit, and with a prudent Zeal for the Glory of God, and the Salvation of Men. And indeed. If this is not to honour God' WITH our Substance, we shall be at a LOSS to find a better Way. In the mean Time it muft not be forgotten,! *-.That every pious and underftanding Chrit tianJ PREFACE. xxl .* dan, who by the Providence of God, is placed among the Heathens, or is in any Way Con- cern'd with them, may be capable, in fome meafure, of becoming a Miffionary, and may receive^ at lead from God, a Miffionary s Re- ward) by endeavouring to difpofe fuch People to bethink themfelves, why they were fent in- to the World, and what may become of them when they leave it. For Example : Every Juch/erious Chrifttan may, in his Converfation with Heathens, en- deavour to convince them,— that the Gods iheyworfhip are indeed evil Spirits, which will be their Ruin for ever, if th.y do not re- nounce and forfake them: — That they are thefe Evil Spirits ^yih'xch lead them,, and all wicked Men^ to do fuch Things as an Holy and Good God mud be difpleafed with, and which he hath declared he will punifh moft feverely in the Life which is to come, — He can further inform them. That the God we wor- fhip is he who made us, and all the World; — That he is mod worthy of their Love, and their Obedience, — fincehehath commanded nothing but what is neceffary for our Good ; —That he would have all Men, without Re- fped of Perfons, to be happy; and that he will make all Men happy, who will do what he hath commanded them. — And at the fame Time he can let them know, — That the Wrath of this Great d^nd Holy God\s greatly to be feared^ above all Things, by fuch as do not obey his Com- 1 'ii i'l 'I m .ni XXll PREFACE;. i'.i .Commands; fo that they ought not to be cafy till they know how to obtain hia^Parion, •and'to be reftored to his Favour. He can, in Gonverfing wiihthen>, let them know further,— that our God and Maker hath been fo exceeding good and kind, as to fend his own Son from HeaVen, to make himfelf, •and his Will known unto Men; — To make Atonement by his Sufferings and Death fbr their Sins, and to teach them how they ought to live, fo as to pleafe their Maker; — and how they may be reftored to his Favour, when they fliail have done any thing to difpleafe him :— And (to make ua all- more attentive to thcfe Truths) That the Son of God dad afTure us ChrilUans, — That this^ is not the only World and Life we are all made for, but that there is a. other* World after this j and that the prefent Life is only a State of Trial, which . is defigned to fit us for a much better Life^ . if we are not wanting to ourfelves : — For God hath afTured us, l/y thisMs Sony that he hath . deterp[iined to raife all Men that have ever lived, to Life again, to call them to Account, . and to judge them either ^p Happinefsor Mi- fery in the next World, according as they, have behaved in this ;— anil that all fuch as have obeyed God, believed in Ghrift, and led ; good Lives, or who, being fenfible they have done Evil, have truly repented of it, , fliall be happy for everj but that fuch whether Heathens or Cbriftians^ as haye defpifed i\\p JPropofals PREFACE xxiU propofals of the Gofpel, led carelefs and wicked Lives in this World, and have not truly repented, and amended their Ways, fliall be doom'd to cverlafting Fire. By fuch Hints as thefe, and a tboufand other Truths which the good Spirit of God will put into the Hearts of fuch pious Chrif- tians as love God, and defire to have him iknown and glorified,— by fuch Hints as thefe pt will be proper to raifein their Minds a Fear [for themfclves, and a Defire to know more of the Will of God ; To know what they jnuft believe, — and how they muft live, fa that they may be happy when they die. And certainly, they who have Negroes in Servitude, will find it the beft Way to fecure heir Fidelity; — Firfl, to convince them, that heir State of Bondage, even in a ftrange Land^ mongfl People who are governed by Laws, s far better than always to have lived in their wn Country, wher^ no Man can live in afety, except a few lawlefs People, who kill or lake Slaves of all whom they can overcome ; hereas now they may live in Security, andhave^ tin their owp Power to come to the Knowledge f the true God, who will aiTuredly make them ull amends in the next World, for what they ant or fufFer in this, if they fhall bear their ondition, in which his Providence hathplaced hem, with Patience, and obey his Commands. And now, if any thing in the following yfay fhall be of Ufe, either to fuch well-dif- pofed I! j'i Hit i Ill I II" : ^il t it II i;i I ,1 u fi^ ! i^ 111 XXIV PREFACE. pofed People as we have been fpeaking of, or to any of the MiJ/ionaries fent by the So- 1 ciety, or to thofe who have called themfelves Chriltians, tho' they have hithe:to liv'd with- I out Fear of what muft come hereafter: — In a Word, — if it may ferve in the lead Degree to enlarge the Kingdom of God, which we daily pray for: — Let all the Praife be lo .Him^ for whofe Glory it was undertaken, and who by the weakeft Means can, when he pleafes, do the greateft Good. All the Author defires for himfelf is,— - That he may have the Prayers of all fuch as fball receive any Benefit by thefe Papers; and in return he will not forget to pray for them, I'hat we may one Day meet in the ParadiJ'e of | 6W, to praife Him to all Eternity. i»' AN r I 1 E A N A TOWARDS AN NSTRUCTION foT INDIANS, P A R T !• 7jic6 is in order to Chrijlian Bapfifm, DIALOGUE I. w Indian. HY are you Jb earneft in perfuading , ^ me to become a Chriflian ?* Mijftonary. Becaufe I know for certain,that is the oniy sure Way topreferve you from [ifery, and to make you happy both here Ind hereafter, Ind. < I fhall be very thankful, if you wiU be fo kind as to explain what you fay con- cerns me fo very much.' Miffl That I will moft freely do tr For my lean's Defire is, that all Perfons may have the ^rae Knowledge of God, and his Will, as we ^ B Chrif. i|;«l ( i! il • .1 ^ jIn Instruction Dial, i. ill i I f :i! I II Chriftians have ; and befides, by inftruQing 1 you, 1 myfrlf fliall be a very great Gainer. Ind, ' I do not undcrftand what you mean ' by that.' Mijf, I will tell you then : The Great God, whom we Cliriftians worfliip, He who made the World, and all Things in it, and in whoje Hands our Breath and Life Z5*, and who % would have all his Creatures to be happy, — He has promiled an exceeding great Reward io all fuch as fhall endeavour to make Hm\ xind His glorious Perfe^ionSy and His moil gracious Furpofes, known unto men, efpeci- 1 ally to fuch unhappy People as you, who know i not for what End you were 7nade, dind Jcnl into this World ; who know not what DiUin you owe to your Maker, nor on what Condi- tions He will keep you from Mifery, and | make you for ever happy when you die. Jnd, * Be plcafed then to tell me what you know more than we do, concerning the Goa^fl you worfhip ; for "we know and believe iinil there mud be fome Great Power above| us, who made us and docs govern all things! here below.' MiJ/l But we Chriflians know much more of that Great Poiver above, than you in ynnv pre- fent State of Ignorance, can p^jflibly do. WeJ| were indeed once as ignorant of I Jim (and oi J our mo[! iihhappy Condition on that account,; as you now are ; but He has been fo good a; * Dan, V. 23. -1 ],:V V^^:! Dial. I . for the li^DiAns, 3 to make ///;»/('/ at )d his Will -cnovvnto us, to our very threat Comfort and liappincfs; and \vc canno' but deli re, that every orvc may be as happy as ah true Chrillians are in knowing their Maker's Will, and iionouring Ilini, as rcal'onable Creatures ought to do. hd. * May I a(k you one thing? — Why ' did not that good Being, whom you call- « your Cod, make all this known to us as * well as to you ?* Mijf, I mull tell you once for all, that we poor Creatures ought not to exped, that the Creat God (hould give us an Account of every thing he has thought fit to do *. It is enough for us to know for certain, that He is ^ood diudjuft in every thing he does or permits to be done. And be alfured, that fooner or later, every Tongue fhall confefs, and every Soul acknowledge, the Ji/'stice and Equity of God's Proceedings widi Mankind. — At prefent it concerns you much more to know what we Chriltians believe of God, and his Will, according to the Account which he himfelf hath given us. Ind. ^ This, Sir, is what I no'v defire you * to inftru6t me in.' Mif. That I will mod gladly do; for the Knowledge and Belief (if God is the Founda- tion of all true Religion, and of the Happi- rcfsof Men. Fn'jl then. We know the God we ferve to ♦ Jolf xxxiii. 13, B 2 be I! 1 ? ii» !• Ill |l:i HK'! 4 I 'J, Hi '! 4 -//« Instruction Dial, i, be the mod pcrfcdt of all Beings ; and that there is no other God bcfidc to he/eared^ loved, or worjhipped. That it is he who made the World ; and that hcpreferves, AnAgoverns^ and orders 'd\\ things by his wondciful Wifdom and Power. That amongd other Creatures he made 7l//^« to be Partaker of his Happinefs ; in order to which, he gave him Realbn, that he might undcrftandy and^Jt;v, and obey iiis Maker. Arid that Men might know him more per- fe6lly, and love and fear \\\\\\ as they ought, he has given an Account of his Government of the World ever fince he made it; By ■which Account it appears, — That he is At- mighty^ ^- ^' J*^ «^^^G t^^ ^^ whatever he thinks fit : That he is exceeding Wije^ and Goody and Juft ; and therefore can com- wrtw^ nothing but what is for oyr Advantage; and will moll furely reward fuch as comply with his Laws, and punijh thofe that difobey them. We thereby alfo know, that he is a molt Holy Being, and has ever been difpleafed with wicked Men. He is alfo mod kind and compajjionate to thofe, who, having offended him, are truly forry for it, and return to their Duty : That htjees and knows all the Aftions of Men, whether good or bad; and that even our very Thoughts are known to him: That he not only knows things paft and pre/ent, but even ali things which ihall ever happen hereafter : — Laftly^ That he i$l inv, Dial. I. yjr /^^ Indi AN$» g IS xx\o\i faithful to his Word, (b that whatever he has promifed he will moli furcly make good ; and whatever he has threat enedy he will as (lireiy execute. • Ind, * I coiiPefs this Account of the GnEAt ' and Good God feeins nioft agrecahle to * Keafon ; now you have put me upon confi- * dcring it fo particularly/ Mijf, But there are other Truths of the grcatcd Moment, which God has alfo in that Account made known to us, and which our Reafon could never have clearly difcovered ; fuch as thefe that follow ; — That there will be another Life after this;— and that the true Happinefs or Mifery of Men will not be fully known till after they are dead. Ind. * Till after they are dead. Sir ? * Why do you Chriftians really know what * fhall become of Men after they are dead ?' Mijf Yes, we do, and that moft certainly. — Wc know, that this fhort Life is only a Ltfe or State of Trials in order to change and mend our corrupt Nature, that we may be fit for a much better World when we die; and be for ever happy there^ if we behave ourfelves as we fhould do, while we li^'e here, — For God has made known to us, that after Death the Souls of all good People go to a Place of Refi^ and Ptfacey and Happinefs ; — and the Soulsof wicked People to a Place of Sorrow and Mifery ^ there to remain till the End of this World/and the Day of Judgment, B 3 Ind\ \ !'<■ «!! :»' J i r '» I '6 yf.*? Instruction Dial, i. Ind. * Prav, what do you mean by the End * OF THE World, and by the Day OF JuDG- * WENT?' Mijf. Why, God has aflured us, that this World fhould have an End ; — that then there will he a RefiirreBion of the Dead, both of the Juji and Unjufi *, both of good and bad Men ; that all who have ever li\ ed fliall then be rail- ed to Life, and give an Account for whatever they have done in this World, whether Good or Evil: — And that Rich as have done Good fhall be made happy for ever; and fuch as have done Evil, i hat is, have led wicked Lives, and have not repented in due Time, fhall be for ever miferable. Ind. * Thefe indeed are Truths which we know nothing of; andif they be really true, it certainly concerns me, and every Man living, to think of them in good earneft:, and to order his Life accordingly. But let me a(k you, — Do all you Chriftians know thefe things, and believe them to be true?* Mi[f. It is at the Peril of their Souls, if they do not. — But I know why you afk that Qucftion, and I promife to anfwer and fatisfy you upon that Head hereafter. In the mean time, it is certainly your befl: and wifeft Way to take care of ycurfelf, in an Afl'air of the higheft Importance to you; and not to negled this Opportunity, which God of hij Mercy and Goodnefs gives you by me, of * Afts xxiv, 15. coming Dial. r. for the Indians, /.* comincr to the Knowledge of your Maker, and of the Duties you owe to him, to yoiirfeif, and to all others, left they Ihould be hereafter for ever hid from you, to your eternal Ruin and DeftruQion. Ind, * I hope I fliall take your good Advice. * But in the mean Time will you give me • Leave to afli you, — How did God make « thefe things known unto you Chriftians ?' Miff* That you fhall know in due Time ; for you cannot know all things at once. — And thefe few Truths only I have told you, at this Time, that you may know andconlidcr what' vou have to do; — that you may in good ear- neft defire to be further taught, and told how you may be for ever happy (if it is not your own Fault;)and how you may avoid the Dan- ger and Mifery which you and all Men are ex- po fed to, who are not very ferioufly concern- ed for their own Safety. — For once and again I muft affure you, as certain as there is a God, that you and every Man living fhall be happy or miferable when they die. JVe therefore (knowing thefe things^ and that we muji all appear before the Judgment-feat of God y and re- cehe a Sentence according to what we have done in the Body^ whether it Oe good or bad*,) We, knowing thefe things, endeavour to perfuade Men t( be afraid for themfelves, and to live an holy and virtuous Life here^ fo as to efcape being miferable hereafter, * 2 Cor, V. II. B 4 What m i'l Id l\ 'i^i ftji iii iJ! 8 -^ Instruction Dial. r. What therefore I would recommend to you at prefent (for I would not overburden your Memory at once) is this: — That you would pray to God to give you an Heart difpofed to hearken to the Truth : For he has promifed to enlighten the Underftanding, and open tl>€ Hearts, of thofe who humbly and devoutly pray to him for his Dire6lion and Affiftance. Ind. * I hope I fhall follow your Advice ; • and I believe, I fliall hardly forget the things ' you have told me.* Miff'. Farewell for the prefent ; and may God keep you in this good Difpofition, and give you a teachable Temper; and for this Purpofe join with me in the following Prayer. The P R A Y E R. IN LARGE thy Kingdom, O God, and deliver the World from the Dominion and Tyranny of Satan. — Haften the Time, which thy Spirit has foretold, when all Nations, whom thou haft made, fhall worfliip thee, and glorify thy Name. — Blefs the good Endea- vours of thofe who ftrive to propagate the Truth, and prepare the Hearts of all Men to receive it. — —To the Honour of thy Holy Name. Jmen. DIA Dial. !• 1 Dial. 2. for the Indians, end to you irden your you would difpofed to >romi{ed to d open tl>€ I devoutly Afliftance. ir Advice ; ;t the things ; and may fition, and nd for this ng Prayer. God, and minion and ime, which II Nations, p thee, and )d Endea- igate the all Men to thy Holy DIA DIALOGUE IL Of the Corruption of our Nature^ Indian. i « T AM come again, kind Sir, for your < A further Inftruttion. Your laft Words • have made me very thoughtful and uneafy^ • when you told me with fo much Earneft- • nefs, That Happiness or Misery * WILL BE THE CERTAIN PoRTION OF EVERY • ONE AFTER I)eATH r Miff. I told you nothing but the Truth ^ and I am not forry for your Uneafinefs ;— fince that may prove in its Confequence the greateft Blefling of your Life. Ind, ' I do not underftand how that can be.* Miff, But this you can eafily underftand,, — That they who arc in Healthy and think them* Jelves in no D anger y will not look out for a Phyji^ dan and other Help ; but they that areftcky and Jenfible of their Difeafey will be glad of Advice and will be apt to follow it *,■ — when oncpe you are fenfible, that of yoiurfelf you are an igno-^ rant, helplefsyjinful Creature fy — incapable of either knowing or performing the Will of your Maker, or of reconciling yourfelf to him^, whenever you have offended him. Befides, I muft tell you another Truth,. "—That the more you are afraid for yourfelf^, • Matt* ix.. i2t t Hev, iii^ 17. B 5 . th9! I ill.! I' I ! , i. i^ I 'I ' i 1 m HI' li! ilijliii I ! I m ■f: i!i!! m i;i iJ i •: if! ■ < ,H I ■ :i 10 -<^« Instruction Dial. 2. the more will the Great Godbedifpofedtopity you, and to deliver you From the Danger you are juftly afraid of t; and to enable you to attain the End for which you were made, and fent into the World. Ind. * Will you bepleafed to let me know ' what the End is for which God made us, and * fent us into the World/ MiJ^, God made Man, that he might have a Creature upon Earth endued with Reafon, and capable of adoring his Maker, and of imitating his Perfeftions;. and lit to partake of his Bounty and Happinefs. hd. * Pray what is the Happinefs you ' fpeak of?' Aiijf. It is the Happinefs ofgoingtoa Place of pcrfcft Knowledge, Goodnejs^ Love^ Joy^ and Pcacey which is to lafl for ever. K"^ nothing is more defirable than Life, nothing flioi M more forcibly work upon Hu- man Nature, than the Hopes of Everlafting Life. Which Life God himfelf has fet forth to us by all fuch things as we are mod commonly alfeded with: As. a Crown, — a King- dom, a Treasure, — an Inheritance nndefiled^ ibdtfadeth not nway\ — and a State of everlafting J(^y and Pleaf'ure. Ind, ' If God originally defigned Men for ' this Happinefs, how came they to forfeit * their Title to it?' t I/a. Ixvi. 2. 'Miff. ! \ Dial. 2. m Dial. 2. for tbe Indian $. II •fed to pity anger you le you to made, and : me know de us, and light have h Reafon, :r, and of ;o partake inefs you to a Place [, Joy, and han Life, upon Hu- verlafting brth to us ommonly -a KiNG- RITANCE a State Men for to forfeit Mif, Mijf. They do it by being guilty of Sin ; (liis IS, by tranfgrefling the Law which God has given them. Ind, ' Has God given us any Law ?' Mijl, Yes, furely. He hath given you and all Men Reajon^ which is inllead of a writ- ten Law or Rule," by which ^^« ought to live, and may, infome meafure.know what is Good, and what is Evil; what will pleafe, and what will difpleaie, an holy^juft^ 2^x\(^good God. Ind. * But it is too plain, that People do * not always obferve this Rule or Law.' Miff. It is fo, and that is their Sin, by which they difpleafe God, and debar themfelves of his greater Favours, and are in Danger of be- ing miferable, even beyond what they can imagine. /W. * But is not this the Cafe of many * Chriftians, as well as of us ?' MiJf. It is furely fo, and they muft fulfer levercly for in; God having given them plainer Rules, and greater Helps, to overcome and cure that Corruption of Nature^ which is One great Occafion of all the Wickednefs which we fee in the World. Ind. * Pray what do you mean by Thb ' Corruption of our Natur^e t?' Miff, That I will now tell you; and what by your own Reafon and Experience you f // is Oijur Religion ^vhich hasfirji taught ; 77 at Man is born in Jin ; no Seii of Philo/ophers ever /aid this y and there \ fore no Sed ez/r/and over-reach one another.-— All which fhews, that our Nature is ft range ly corrupt I — fo that no Man can fay he is free from Sin, or not guilty before God. Ind, * I muft confefs, indeed, that, accord- ' ing to my beft Underftanding, there is Truth * in every thing you have told me.' Mijjf, Well then, let this Truth fink deep into your Heart; for without a firm Belief of this, you will never have any iru« Notion of tb€ * ■\ i'Pi f '.i If 4 : 1' fill! 14 An Instruction Dial. 2. ';^ the Gcodnejs^ Juftice^ or Mercy of God to Men ; nor will you ever know the Value of Chrifti- anity. Ind, ' But how Man, the Creature of Jo holy * and good a Gody fliouldcometo have a Nature * fb corrupt and dijordercdy and prone to Evil, * ■ — This indeed, furprizcs me.' M'tjf. Far be it from any Man to imagine, that a good and holy God, who hateth Sin, Ihould be the Caufe of this Corruption of our Nature, and of the Evil it occafions ! — No, — He made Man at firft upright, holy^ juji and good, and capable of doing every thing that be- came a rcafonable Creature ; but how he fell into this wretched and didempered Condition, you (hall know^ in due Time. Ind. * But fince Sin and Wickednefs are ' difpleafmg to God, why does he fuffer Sin • and Sinners to be in the World ?' Mijf. You do not confider, that, all Men being Sinners, God mult cither fufl'er Sin to be in the World, or deHroy the Sinners; that is, all the Race of Men But when you come to know the Chriftian Religiofiy and what God has done to cure this great Diforder of our Na- ture, you will find, that God can take occafion from the Sins of Men to difplay the Greatnefs of his Mercy and Compaflion for Sinners ;— . and you wiil have Reafon to admire and adore his wonderful W'ijdom and Mercy ^ and Good-^ nefs^ to all fuch as fhall lay hold on the Offers of % Dial. 2. /i^r/Z'^ Indians. 15 of Grace, — as well as dread his juft Difplea- fure againft fuch as defpife his Mercy. And this is One Reafon, that I have taken fo much Pains to convince you of the Corruption of our NaturCy and of the Danger we are in on this Account, that you may have no Eafe in your Mind, until you know how to be delivered (from fo bad a Bondage, and the Fears which ought to attend it. There is another Danger, which we are all [expofed to, and which you ought to know; I — and that is, the Power, and Malice of Evil Spirits, Ind. * What do you mean by Evil Spi- rits r Mijf. God has made known to us, that there ire Creatures, hoi\\ good dir\6. bady which we call Angels or Spirits, and which are ever about us, [hough we do not fee them, they having no lodies, as we have^ — The Good Spirits are ^p* )ointed by God, to take care of his Servants; —and the Evil Spirits are fuch as: have re- )e!Ied againft their Maker, and, having utterly loft his Favour, drive to tempt Men to all nanner of Wickednefs, that they may be as liferable as themfelves. — And through //7^/> [Temptations the Wickednefsof the World was ;rown fo great, — that God was provoked at me Time to drown all the People of the Eartli except ONE Good Man, Noah, and his [ousEHOLD t; — and at another Time, to t Gen* vi, 7, 8, i^c, deilroy ' I' J ffil ri( i6 ^« Instruction Dial. 2. Jii ;i ! I'i 'ill' deftroy feveral great Towns, Sodom and Go- MOKRAn, with Fire from Heaven, /(?r //^g Wickedmjs of them that dwelt in them t. Ind. * Thefe, indeed, are reafonable Proofs * of the Power which Evii. Spirits may have • over wicked Men, and of the great Danger * we are in of being ruined by it.' MiJJ. But it is necefTary that you fhould know thefe things; for whoever is oot a Wor- Jhipper of the only true God, whom Chriflians lerve, is a Slave to thefe evil Spirits, and too often is a IVorfijippcr of them, tho' he does not know it. — When you confider ihefe things, you will have Reafon to be concerned and afraid for yourfelf. Ind. • And fo indeed I fhall be, if this is • our Cafe/ Mijf. This is. in Truth, the Cafe of every one who is ignorant of the true God, and of the Way of Salvation which he has revealed to his unhappy Creatures, the W^ay by which they may be prevented from ruining themfelves, and lofing that Happinefs which he has pro- vided for fuch as love and obey him. Ittd, * I do mod earneflly intreat you, that ' at your Leifure you would give me an Ae- « count of the Chrillian Religion, which you * fay is the Way that God has revealed to • fave all Men from Ruin.' Mijf, That I will do, thro' the Favour of God^ the next Time^we meet: In the mean \ Gen* xviii. 19. while Dial. 3' for the Indians. 17 >vbile remember— what I afTiire you of, — that tliis Life is the Time, in which you areto thuTc whether you will be happy or mil'erable for ever; * and that your Mappinefs or Mifcry < will depend upon your embracing or rcjeQ- • ing the Offer now made you, by Almighty ' (iod, of becoming a Chriftian.' You ought therefore to pray to the Great God, to enable you to lay hold of this Opportunity of being happy. The PRAYER. OGOD, the Fountain of all Wifdom, I mod humbly befeech Thee to enlighten my Mind, that I may come to the Knowledge of thee, and of thy Goodnefs. — Give me a Serious, an Underftanding, and a Religious Heart, that as I grow in Years, I may grow in Grace. — Blefs all the Means of Salvation which Thou haft afforded me, and efpecially this Inftru^ion^ that it may fink into my Heart, and bring forth in me the Fruit of Good Liv- ing, to the Honour and Praife of thy Holy Name. Amen. J !■ — I - III I I _ ■ ■ II- |-- Lii I II - IM|-| ~ DIALOGUE HI. The Proofs of the Chriflian Religion. Indian. \ \ c c c I AM come again, Sir, to trouble you, fooner, I believe, than you expeded. — You faid, that it was good for me^ that Jivas ' in ?'!,; !tuH H,i1 HI 'l! ] i'ii ! ii mm I "I 'hi 41 38 v/-^ Instruct ION Dial. ^f. /;/ Fear for myfelf\ I cannot clnifc but be fb, lincc you told nie, " That my Happincfii or * Milcry will (Icprnd upon my tMnbnicing or * rejecting the OlFer now made me of becom- * ing a Chrillian." — I own I am not fatisficd withniyprefent Condition; — lam convinc'd by my Reafon, as well as by what you told mc, that we were made to be an Honour to the Being that made us, by living according to that Light and Reafon wliich he hath given us. For my own Part, I fear I have not done fo ; and if he (liall be difplcas'd with me, I know not how to help myieif, or make iny Mind eafy/ Miff, * AflUrc yourfclF, this is the Cafe of every thoughtful Perfon, who has no Know- ledge of Chrillianity. — And therefore our^r^^/ and good Creator, in Companion to tbofe un- happy Men who labour under fuch Doubts and Fears, has gracioufly pointed out the Way by which they may be freed from them ; viz* >^-Ry embracing the Chrijlian Religion, Ind\ * What does the Chrillian Religion * propofe to us, to cure us of thofe Fears?' MiJJ', I will firil: tell you in fliort, and after- wards explain myfelf more fully. - In the firft Place, — It w^ill lead you to the Knowledge of the true God, the Maker of the World, and convince you of his great Love for his unhap- py Creatures, and of his earned Endeavours to keep them from ruining themfelves. — It (hews * Heh, xii, 15. * ' , US I: ;1|! Dial. 3- for the In m AN s. 19 u;> alfo how vvc miifl aiifwcr the End for wliicli Gofl made us, and {ent us into ilie World.— It lets before us the miferable Circuinllances into which wc are funk by Nature, the Dangers we are liable to, and teac*» us the Way to rfcape them. It makc^ njwn to us thofe Laws by which God will jud^c the World, that Men may order their Hearts and Lives accord- ingly. It flicws us how we may be rcftorcd to the Favour of God ; — It gives us all Rules nccelfary to make us happy when wc die, and promiics us all neceffary Afriitance to obierve thofc Rules. — It dire6\s us in the Courfe of our Lives, how we may obtain the Pardon of God, whenever we fliall have been fo unhappy as to have offended him by our Sins, which we are but too apt to do. — It affures us. Thai God is a bountiful Rewarder ofall/uch asjeek topleafe him *. In fliort, — Chrijlianity is the only Remedy to cure all the Dijorders and Dangen^ and Mijeries, which we are fubje6t to in this Life ; to fupport us in the Hour of Death, and fecure our Happinefs in the future State j ifi fliort, — it is the only fure Means, where it is fcnoufly embraced, of correcting and reforming this World, and leading men to a better. Ind, *This is, Sir, a moft dcfirable Account ' you have given me of the Chriftian Religion f — Will you bepleafed, as you promifed, to * explain thefe things more fully V • tlibr xi. 6. *■ Mif. w 1. rl! n \ I ' ! ! t I! !:i 2b An Instruction Dial. 3. Miff, You muft know then that we are called Chrillians, from profefling ourfelves to be thcDifciples and Followers of a moft holy and divine Perfon Jesus Christ, who being the Son of God, was fent by him from Hea- ven, to make his Will and gracious Purpofes known unto Men. In order to this,-— He being a pure Spirit, it was neceffary, that he fliould take a Body like one of ours, that he might be feen by and converfe with Men. — He therefore fubmitted to be born of a Woman, and he took the Soul and Body of a Man, and in that Nature He lived among Men, and made known to them the things which I have already mention- ed to you. — Particularly, He gave them a clear Knowledge of their Maker ; and by his mo^ perfe^y innocent, and holy Life y fhew'd what an excellent Creature Man was, when he was firft made, before he fell into Sin, and became prone to Evil, as he now is. He afiured them that he came as a Peace^ maker betwixt God and his rebellious Crea- tures, who by their Difobedience had loft his Favour; and forfeited the Happinefs he had prepared for them. And in order to reconcile them to God and to the Duty and Obedience which they owed to him, He brought them this moft gracious Meffage ;— * That all, fuch as became fenfible • of their Error and Mifery, and were willing * to give themfclves up to the Son of God as * their Dial. 3- for /^^ India Ns. » .' 21 « their Lord and Saviour, fhould thro' his ' Merits and Mediation receive a full and < free Pardon for all their part Offences, be * reftored again to his Favour, and obtain * that Happinefs which they had forfeited by ' their Offences.' Ind, ' Thefe are indeed wonderful Proofs * of the great Goodnefs of God.' Miff* But then you are to know, that all fuch as defpife this furprihng Goodnefs of God, are not only to be deprived of his Favour, but are to bepunidied with 'Torments exquifite beyond all we can now imagine. For you niuft never forget what I told you before, and what Jesus Christ has affured us of, — * That this fhort Life is only a Paffage to f another, which is to laft for ever :' and where every Man is to be rewarded ox punijhed according to his Behaviour in this World. Ind. * 1 have not forgot that. — But give * me Leave, Sir, to a(k you one Queftion ; * — How are you Chriftians fure,— that this * EXTRAORDINARY PeRSON WaS thc SoN OF * God, and came from him with this Mef- * fage to Men ?* Mijf, It is neceir^ry, that every one who inteods to be a Chrilfian fhould hav^ the greatefl: Affurance of it; for on this Truth the Chriftian Religion is founded. You mud know then, that this Divine P£RsoN, in order to give Men all poffible Affurance, th^t he was what he declared him- 8 felf fi • A •il i '■'' ;i: irii ■-,1 4* ^- .III ■i;M 1. 1, il 11 ji: ^ ' M il i h \ i 1 • ■ ' t; 1 '1 .j' 1 \ Jii !:i 1 '^' 1 , |i ; 22 -^;7 Instruction Dial. 3. felf to be, performed before their Eyes fucb wonderful vVorks, as (hewed that in Him ^we/t all the Fulnejs of the God h e a d bodily. — ■ For Example,— He healed all manner o{Sich nefs and Difeq/es with the Word of his Mouth. — He gave Sight to fuch as were born blind»-^ To fuch as were dumb and deaf, he gave the Power of Speech and Hearing \ — and He made the Lame to walk. — He fed and fatisfied the Hunger of many "Thoufands of People more than once, with a few L^j^'yt'jandfniail Fifhes, which they faw multiplied before their Eyes, fo that 'J'hoiifands were atone Time all lye-witneffesol this Miracle^ — He commanded the Winds, the StormSy and the SeaSy and they obeyed his Word. — He raifed to Life thofe that had for fome time been dead. — He convinced thofe with whom he converfed, that he knew the very Thoughts of their Hearts, which none but God can do. — Laftly, — the great God himfelf did more than once, by a Voice from Heaven declare, — ^hat he was his beloved Son ; and commanded^ that as Juch he fhould be heard and- obeyed, . Ind, ' Indeed thefe are moft fare Proofs that * THIS Divine Person was what he faid he * was; and that whatever he taught mufl be ^* true.' Mijf, But I have other Evidences to. give •you, in order to confirm your Faith or Belief in this Divine Perjon^ and his Mejfage,- ' ' Amongft many other things, which He fore- I told Jl Dial. 3. for the Indians. 23 told his Followers, this flrange thing was one; That notwithrtandingthe rvonderful Works which he had done before their Kves, his Ene- mies would put him to Death ; iut tjut with- in 'Three Bays he jhould rife again to Lift. — ■ Accordingly, after they had treated him with all the evil Ufage that Spte and Malice ccnld invent, they did moll barbaroufly murder and crucify him. — And after Three Days he rofe again from the Dead, and converfcd with his- Difciples and Followers, — with no lels thaa Five Hundred dt one Ti me, many of whom lived very long after, and bore Witnefs of his Re^ furredion, at the Expence of their Livos. Ind. ' I fhould be glad to know fome more ' Particulars relating to fo Diviney Hclyy and * Wonderful a Per/on.* Miff, Jesus Christ, after having con- verfed with his Difciples many Weeics, and in the Sight of niany of them He qfcended into Heaven. — But, before his Departure from them, He promifed them, that He ancT his Father ^oxiXdi fend another Divine Person (not in the Form or Fafhion of a Man, but) as a pure Spirit to dwell in them ; to guide and cqmforty to in/pire them with all Truth necef- fa^y to be known by them, and to enable them, for the Confirmation of fuch Truths to Others, to do all fuch mighty Works as he had done among them : According to which Pro- mife. Ten Days after hie had afcended into Heaven, That Divine Spirit defcended upon w I ■ i 1 1 1.4. Jll' v ll- • m ''■\ 24 -^« In STRUCT ION Dial. 3. upon them after a moft wonderful Manner, and enabled them to underftand and fpeak all the Languages of the then known World, to which they went in order to carry thofe good Tidings; — whereby we and many other Na- tions were brought out of Error, Ignorance, and Darknefs, into the clear Light and true Knowledge of God, and of ^/j Son J ejus Chrifty and I { that Holy Spirit, which enabled them topreach this joyful Do6trine toall the World: — That Chrilt has made our Peace with God, if we fubttiit to be governed by him, and by his Laws, and put our whole Truft in him. Ind, • Well, Sir, you have given fome * Eafe to my Mind. 1 believe y that what * this Holy Perjon faid muft be certainly true; * and I fuppofe all that know the fe things, * are Chriftians/ Mijf, Indeed they are not ; and yoii will not wonder at it, when you confider what it is that hinders People from being Chriftians, —There are many who never think of their Maker, or what muft become of them when they die. — Many indeed hear thefe things; but their AfFe6lions are fo fet upon this Worlds its Fkajuret and Profits^ that they do not lay them ferioufly to Heart. — And too many are fo fond of their own perverfe Ways, to which they have been long accuftom'd, that they fee not the Truth of what is propofed to them. — Befides all this; — the Apostles taught many things, which wicked People would not hear Dial. 3. J Dial. 3. yj^r /^r//;f^ Indians. 27 Thousand more, immediately after; and thcfe Converts became fo many Witnejfes of thefe wonderful things to the feveral Nations, from whence they came thither to worfhip. — After this the Apoftles went into all Nations, making known this joyful MefTage of God to Men, • That he would have all Men to * be faved, and to come to the Knowledge of * the Truth, or the Chriftian Fa.tb ;' — that he was ready to be reconciled to all fuch as had offended him ; and that he would make them happy for ever, if they would be per- fuaded io forfake their evil Ways, believe in Jefus Chrift, and be governed by fuch Rules as he had given them. — So that, in all Na- tions, all fuch Perfons as were truly concern- ed for themfelves, and difpolcd to receive the Truth, became Chrilb'ans ; and very great was their Number every where. And in- deed Chrill himfelf foretold it would be fo;— - though at that tim^ it feem'd the mod uur likely thing in the World, — that all Nations fliould receive a Religion oppofed by their R u L F. Rs and Pri i losop 11 ers, upon thePreach- ing o^afew poor Strangers, who had no worldly Power, Riches^ or Learnings to in- duce People to believe and follow them ; and who at the fame time required all Men to for- fake the Cujloms and Religion of their Fore- fathers, to embrace the Salvation propofedby this divine Meflenger jefus — to refhain their Appetites, and govern their Paflions, — to C 2 leave I i \ i' I !» 1H If t. i 2% ; . i' f I' ii !|1!' :'ii! il -/f// Instruction Dial. 4. ^i;. leave their impious Ways of living, and to lead fober, honeit, and good Lives, and to fufFer Death, rather than deny the Truths they told thenn: Now does not the mira^ culous Succe/s they met with in propagating fuch a Religion under fuch Circumftances, demon- ftrate it to be the Work of the Great God? Ind, * Pray will you inform me how I may * be furethat thefe Miracles were perform- * ed by the Apostles of Chrifl:?' MiJJ'. The Miracles recorded in the New Iteftament recommend themfelves to our Belief upon many Accounts. . They were wrought by Perfons who ap- pealed to God, and declared beforehand that they vjould perform them. They were performed in a publick Manner, and by Perfons known to be of a low Con- dition, deftitute of great Friends and power- ful Patrons. . They were wrought in a learned Age, be- fore Enemies^ or Unbelievers^ who were not ^afily to be impofed upon, or deceived. The Writers of the New Teftament, when they relate the Miracles, often name the 7V;;?f, the FlacCy the Occttfiony the Difeajes that were removed, the Perfons healed or raifed frora| the Dead, the Perfons who were prefent, and the Things that were faid and done, by Friendsl and Foes, on the Occafion, giving Men a fair Opportunity to enquire into the Fa6ls,[ and to difprove them, if they were able. 7 , .^ Thefel u: i Dial. 4. for the Indians. ' 29 Thefe Mir ACLESwere wrought for no world- ly Advantage, but, on the contrary, fubje8ed the Apostles of our bleffed Lord to many /«- juries^ Affii6lions , Perjecutions^ a nd c ruel Deaihs. Hhey were wrought in Confirmation of Doctrines good and ufcful to Mankind, and were intended to deftroy. All Atheijm^ Idola^ tryy ProfanenefSy and Immorality, ^hey prevailed upon many People to quit the Religion in which they had been educated. — To forego Eaje and Pleajurey and worldly Conveniencies, and to leave then Friends, Re- lations and Country, and to fuflPer all kinds of Temporal Evils, and ofcen the Lofs of Life itfelf. Thefe Miracles were likewife attefted by proper Witneffes. — The Bi/ciples of Chrift faiv the Miracles of their Mafter, and died in Confirmation of the Truth of them, particu- larly of his Resurrection from the Dead. ihey \iQ.x^ foretold ages before by the Pro- phets, that they \itxQ fucb Miracles as the Jews expected, and had Reafon to expe8. from their Messiah, when he did appear. Lajily, the Per/on^ whofe Miracles are re- corded in the Gofpel, foretold many Events, fome of which did not come to pafs till a con- fiderable Time after the Books of the New Teftament were written, and the Writers themfelves were dead. And this is a Hill ftronger Confirmation of the Truth and Cer^ tainty of the Miracles related in thofe Books. C 3 Ind, I ^ u f i 'I I 30 ^/; In s TRiTCT ION Dial. 4. l/id, • Pray, Sir, what became of theft *{Aposti.ks after this?' AfiJ/l As they had taught all others to fuffer Death, rather than deny the Truths which they had received from God i?y Je/us Chrtft, fo mod of them laid down their Lives for ihofc Trntlis they had preached. But, be- fore they iuffered, they appointed ofbers to lucceed them in publifhing thcfe Truths to ail Nations; — by which Chriftianity has con- tinued unto this Day; — and we are afluredby Chrid himfelf, will continue unto the World's End. And a very great Change for the better has been made in all Nations where it has been received. L?ci» * You will oblige me, if you will let * me know in what the World is become bet- * t^r by this Religion?* Mif. Inthefirft Place, it gave the Thought- fid and Penitent Satisfa6lioii how their Sins might be forgiven, and their Perfons accept- ed and faved by a righteousand holy God.-— They who then embraced the Chriftian Reli- gion profefled that they were Strangers in this Worlds and therefore looked upon this Life only as a Journey to a much better, which they expelled after Death. — This made them content wuh any Condition, which God fliould think fit to place them in.— This kept them from being covetous, or over-much con- cerned for the tilings of this World;— they believed,that if they ^txcpoGr, or in Mijery, God Dial. 4» yir //v Indi ANS. 31 God would abundantly make up in tbc next Life, what was wanting, or they had fuficred /;/ //6/.f. ——Their great Rule given them by Ciirift was this, * That thky should * DEAL WITH ALL OTHI.R;:, AS THKYTHEM- * SLLV£S WOULD DF.SIKE TO UL DEALT * WITH.' — This made them very jufl: in all their Actions,- — and careful not to wrong or opprefs2iV\y Perfon. — Defrauding^ Checitingy and J.yingt were not fo much as known among them. Their Religion obliged them to be at Peace with all Men as much as poflible. ^^oihdii ^larrelst and Wars^ ^\\d Murders, they utterly abhorred. — On the contrary, they wcrey^/W and compajfionate even to their Ene- mies;— never returning Evil for Evil. They had always a tender Compaflion for fuch as were in Want, or in Mifery; — Cloathing the Nakedy feeding the Hungry y ^nd lodging thg Stranger^ according to their Ability. As to themfelves, they were exceedingyb^^r and temperate^ not given to Gluttony or Drunken* nefs^ which they knew God would be highly difpleafed with. They were chafie and modeft^ both Men and Women ; all kept ilridly to their own Wives and Hufbands, as God had appointed, who had declared, that no Adulterer or Whoremonger muft hope for Heaven or Happinels. And then in their flrideft Conformity to thefe Rules of Upright- nefs, they humbly acknowledged their many- Failings, and great Unworthinefsi and C 4 Laftly, r* ( • r,t rr 1 1 1 ' i 1 ' t 'I i Hi i' y:ii I I 3a -r^« In STR ucTiON Dial. ^, Ladly, they fuiFcred all manner of Tor- ments, and even Death itfelf, rather than they would renounce the Religion which they had embraced, on a full Convidion, that it came from God. hii. * Indeed, Sir, this is a mofl wonder- * ful Account of thofc who firfl profefled the * ChriRian Religion. — • — One cannot furely * imagine, that luch good Men fliould have * any Enemies.* Mijf> But indeed they had, and very many; i^for thofe Evii/ Spirits, which I told you of before, tempted all Sorts of wicked Peo- ple to dedroy them and their Religion, if pofifible ; and would certainly have done it, but that the great and all-powerful God hin- dered it ; — and caufed, that ibe more it was ^erfecutedy the mere it increcifed. All fuch as had been brought up in any other Religion, became their mortal Enemies, efpecially fuch as worfhipped/ij/^/jj/rt^^ Godsy or Evil Spirit s, which the greateft Part of the World then did, and too many do to this Day. — Befide thefe, Men of wicked Liveshated andperfccuted thofe vho profeffed the Chri[\ian Religion, becaufe they declared, that God would moll: furely call them to an Account, and adjudge them to a Mifery that would never end, if they did not forfake their Sins, and lead better Lives. On thefe, and on many other Accounts, Chriftians were every where perfecuted, and vaft Numbers were moft barbaroufly mur- , '- dered; Dial. 4- >r//j^ Indians. 33 (Icrcd ; which grievous Sufferings they pa- tiently endured, in a full Adurance of a bet^ tcr Life, which God, who cannotdeccive ihcm, had prom i led. Ind, ' Pray, Sir, are Chriftians ftill ufed « after this cruel manner ?' Miff. No : For in time the Kings and Princes of the World became Chrillians; and, when they favoured and protedcd that Religion, their Subjects foil ;wcd their Ex- ample, thi^' it was not always in order to fave their Souls, but for other unworthy and world- ly Ends. And it was then, that many be- gan to call themfelves Chriftians, who in their Hearts and Lives were far from being fuch : ^y which Cbriftianity became extremely corrupted, and Men outwardly profeffed the Chriftian Religion, at the fame time as they lived in thofe Sins, which it forbids on Paia of Damnation. Notwithftanding this, the Chriftian Religi- on, where it is truly profelfcd, is ftill the fame; and it is the only Method of reftoring Men to the Favour of God, and bringing them to the Happinefs which we all wifli to enjoy. We have the fame juft and holy God to worfliip, that thofe /r/? Chriftians had ; a God who loveth the G'/ Instruction Dial. 4, Jefus for a Saviour, who is able to fave us to the uttermoll ; — fo that every Man who has any concern for himfelf, and would tfcape the Anever does not do fo, is no true Chriftian in the Account of God; — and they, and they only, are true Chriftians, who not only believe the Truths, but alfo obey the Laws, of the Chriftian Re- ligion : — That is, fuch as love the God that made them with all their Hearts, ^ndfear to difpleafe and offend him; Viho love^ obeyy and truft in Jefus Chrift his Son^ their Saviour and their Lord", and bring forth the Fruits of the Holy Ghoft in all Kinds of Goodnefs, Righ- teoufnefs and Truth ; — —and laftly, fuch as, having always a Confcience void of Offence towards God and Men, dare .not for all the * 2 Tim. ii. 19. World Dial. 5. for^ //^'i? I N D I A N s. 41 World be guilty of thofe Vices which you juft now mentioned. But then, that you may not be offended with the Infirmities, Faults, and Failings, of thofe that are even good Chriftians, you mufl: remember what I have already often told you, concerning the Weaknefs and Corruption of human Nature. For the beft of Chriftians are Men of like Paflions with others, and may, thro' the Weaknefs of their Nature, or for want of Confideration, be fometimes over- taken in a Fault, of which they afterwards truly repent. — But a true Chriftian will not, cannot live or continue in diuy known Sin, or bad Way of Life. Ind, ' Pray then, good Sir, what Anfwer * fhall I give to our People, who, to be fure, * will endeavour to diflbade me again from ' hearkening to your Inftruftions, by fuch * Arguments as 1 have already mentioned?* MiJ", Afk them whether the Great God has not given every one of them Reqfon and Underftandingi in order to judge betwixt Good and Evil ?- Surely they will not fay, that Reafony the Good Gift of Gody is in fault, when many of their own People do fuch wicked things as their Reafon forbids and con- demns. No more ought they to blame the Chriftian Religion, becaufe Tome that call themfelves Chriftians lead fuch Lives as are a Reproach to Chriftianity, Ind. V\\ M: r.i: i:f ' ■'■ i >■' 1 I I' '< - i ^ ;)| irr-, t: n 42 -/^/i Instruction Dial. 5. luii, * It may be, they will tell me, That * if neither Reajon nor Chrijlianity can keep * People from being wicked, I need not be * at the Pains of learning tlie Chrillian Reli- * gion, or hearkening to Reafon.' Mijf. Well then, Twill Qiew you in a few Words, that of all Means the Chriliian Reli- gion is mod likely {even better than Reqfon it/elf ever can be in its frejent State^ to make Men wife and good, unto their Salvation and Happinefs. . ijiy Your Nature is corrupt, and prone to Evil; ia«d Experience convinces you, that your Reafon alone cannot mend and cure this Corruption :- But the Chriftian Religion, where it is fincerely embraced, will mod furc- ly do this. 2^/y, Your Reafon will indeed accufe and condemn you when you do amifs, but cannot give you any certain AfRirance of God's Pardon :-^But the Ckriftian Religion will fhew you a fure Way to h^ forgiven and reftored lo the Favour of your Maker^ whenever you have offended him. - ^dlyy We are but too apt to think every thing very reafonable to which we have a great Inclination; and this is the Occafion of very much Evil and Mi/chief in the World, when Men make their own Will the Meajure of what they ought to do ; — but the Chriftian Re- ligion, and that only, Avill inform you what ,is right in the Sight of God, and what you Tial. 5- for the Ik rn A ^s. 43 ^ou muH: do on Pain of his moft i'everc Dil- )learure. Lafily, your Reafon cannot inform you ;hat will become of you when you die; — )ut the Chrillian Religion can adiire /ou, as I lave (hewn you already, that fuch a.i live ac- :ording to the Rules of that Religion will be lappy for ever; — and that fuch as do not fo hall be moft unhappy and mifcrable; — and this will be a very powerful Means of obliging 'OU to live as becomes a good Chrillian. Jnd, ' Sir, I do moft heartily thank you. —You have gi zn me great Eafe of Mind; — and I hope I fhall meet with no more fuch Difcouragements from hearing your Inftrudlions But fome few things I have to aflc ^ou, for the Confirmation of the Truths 1 am to believe/ Mijf, Come when you will, I fliall be ready oinftrud you. And may God blefs my En- deavours with Succefs; — and do you pray for ourfelf in the following Words : ^ The PRAYER. ORD, the Frailty of Man without thee*, cannot but fail ; — In all Temptatio.n», therefore, I befeech thee to fuccour me, that Ino Sin may ever get the Dominion over me; |— Give me a falutary Dread of the Corruption jof my own Heart ; — Make me truly fenfible lof the End of Sin, and mindful of my own [Infirmities; — Make me afraid of thy judg- ments. f I ;SJ \ '! • lili 1^ 1 'i'.\ 44 yfn Instruction Dial. 6. ments, and give me Grace and Strength to break my Bonds; — Corred me in Mercy when I go adray ; — Make me ever mindful of my Latter End, and fix in my Heart al lively Senfe of the Happineis and Mifery ofl the World to come. Jlmen, DIALOG^UE VI. The Holy Scriptures both Necejfary cinli ■ Sufficient for the Salvation of Man. <> . Indian.'' YOU have convinced me, Sir, that our Reafon alone is not fufficient. to noake known to us the things which youj fay are mod furely believed among Chrilli- ans;— That Reafon cannot tell us — witi]| what Worjhip the Great God will be pleafed, —nor give us any Certainty of the Hapfi] nejs or Mifery of the Life to come j — which to be fure, makes Men lefs concerned how they lead their Lives here. — You have toldl me, and I am convinced of it, that ourl Reafon alone cannot afTure us upon wh\ Terms the Great God mWpardon us, when we have offended him, as all Men are apt to do; and we know and feel, how hard it is even to follow what our Reafon tells us we ought to do.— Of what Ufe then is Rei\ Jon to us r >Ial. 6. for fhe Ik Di AH s. 45 Mi/f. Of very great Ufe moft certainly— t will keep you from being impofed upon, hen any thing is propofed to your Belief, as :oming from God; you will be able to tiidge whether you have fulficient Proof to [receive it as fuch : — And then, if you find (you have, your Reafon will convince you, that jit mud be necefl'ary for your.Happinefs, be- [caufe a God of Truth and Goodnefs cannot [deceive his Creatures, or require any thing of Itlicm but what muft nccefl'arily be for their jGood. InJ. ' It is on this very Account, Sir, I ahi now come to you, not only to learn from yoii, by what other Ways God has made his Will known unto Chriftians; but to en- quire whether thofe Ways be fuch as no Man of common Senfe and Reafon ought to call in queftion.* Mlf, I hope I fhall give you all theSatif- fa61ion in thofe things, that unprejudiced Rea- fon can defire. — You will remember then what I told you before, — That the Great God, in Compaflionto his poor bewildered Creatures, fent his own Son to let them know how far they were departed from the Ways of Reafon and Truth ; and that they would be for ever miferable, if they did not return to the Duty they owed their Maker :— And, laftly, that Goci was in Chr'ift reconciling the World unto himjelfy and would pardon Mankind upon Condition of their Faith in him, their Repent' ance r\ ir ! ■f1 f i .J ., Ill ,;' m I t :;Mi! Ji !!i! b'L 11; 46 -/^« I N S T R U C T I o N Dial. 6. a}ice'd\M\ future Obedience, 1 told you alfoj that he gave them fuch Evidences, that ihiJ Meflkge came from God, as could not be jufily called in quellion by any Man, and, among the reft, this very extraordinary one: —He declared, and his Enemies knew it, They will put me to Death, and after Threa Days I will rife again from the Dead-, which| alio came cxa6lly to pafs. Ind, ' I do remember all all this. — But howi * can you be fure that this was really fo, it' * being fo very long fmce thcfe things wcre| * done?' Mijf. You yourfelffhall judge — You mullj knbw then. That Divine Person, when hei was on Earth, appointed fevcral Per/bns to be IVitneJfes of every thing which he did, faid\ taught, or fuffered; and that the moft neceffary of thefe things were put in Writing,! and publifhed by fome of them, even at the I Time when great Numbers were alive, who! had been Witncflcs of his Words and Actions, and while his Enemies, who had put him to' Death, were alfo alive ; and yet no one charg- ed them with having written any thing that was not true. Now, thefe fVritings we call THE Holy Scriptures of the I^'ew Tes- tament. Ind. * But how are you fure, that the Peo- * pie did fet down in Writing that Meffage * of God to Men, and all other things, juft * as iDlal. 6. for the Indians. i I 47 Y as That Divine Person had done and lokl them ? Mif, we are well afTurcd they did foj bc- 'caiilc they were directed and allilled to write lihofe things by God himfclf, who bore them IFitnefSi by Signs y and fFonders, and Min^cks^ \and other Gifts of the Holy Spirit y that he was \with them *. And they were tbemielves lb well convinced of the Truth of what they had written, and what they taught, that they chofc to fuftbr any Death, rather tiian be filent or deny what they had/^^« with their Eyes^ land heard with their Ears* hid, * Pardon me for afking you one Quef- tion more: How can you be adured, that thofe Writings, which you now have, and call the Holy Scriptures of the Ni:\v Testament, are the very fame which thofe Perfons who converfed with Chrill, did then write? May they not have been altered fince that time ? Mijf, We have this Affurance, that they arc the very fame, and that they have not been altered:— Those Writings were copied zx. that time by many Chriftians, and carried w'nh them into divers Countries, and diftant Na- tions which had no Knowledge one of anothejr, and were put into their feveral Languages ; and thty all continue to be the fame in Sub^ \ftancey where-ever they are found to this Day. • Heb. ii. 4. And m> 9^ fl ■4 M m i'^M lA V \ M fi 1 r • t i i-^i I : P I \1 48 -^« In STRUCT I ON Dial. 6. And that thefe Fa^s were (b as they are re.| ported to us, we have the credible Relation off thofe who were Eye-witnesses of them, and! who approved themfelves to be faithful Hif^ Urians, Lovers cf Truth, even where it fhewed their own great WeaknefTes; — delivering all things plainly and naturally without any thei leall Appearance of Difguife. — They men. tioned the/e Fa^s with i.\ll the Circumftances of | Time and Place, and fo foon after the Death of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ,' that if they had not been exaftly true, would! have been then contradi6led : — ^^2l&^j publifli. ed thefe Relations in the Country,where thefe mighty ' Yonder sdiUdAdiractesyNQVQ performed; and at a time when their very Profeflio!! lay underthe fevered Reproach; — when //&^^ were fo far from even the remotell ProfpeQ of Ad- vantage, that they were fure of Perjecutm^ and an ignominious and cruel Dtath ; whichi they might have avoided, if they could have prevailed upon themfelves to htftlent, or even prevaricated in the lead Degree. — The Com- mands they prefcribed ^Ntxt contrary to the pre- vailing Pajfions and corrupt Affe6iions of Man- kind ; -the Rewards they promifed were, for the mod Part, io h^ enjoyed in another] World, and therefore would not have prevail- ed much, without the drohged Evidence ofl their being ^ii;/»c';— And yet this Gospel ofI Salvation was received and believed by the World, though it was preached at firit b) mm iial. 6. for the Indiana. 49 jnean InflrumentSy and, for the mod part, un^ learned Men, who had neither Eloquence to re- :ommcnd,— — Pow^r to force, or Riches to )ribe their Followers. And what could all this be afcribed to, but to the mere ^ruth and \vidence of its Divinity, and to the mighty \Power of God ? Befides all this, — from that very Time to this, there was alfo One Day in Seven ap- lointed, and very ftriBly obferved by Chrif- lians, on purpofe, amongft other things, to read thefe Scriptures in public, and to keep [up the Memory of thefe things which I have Lold you of; fo that if any body had attempt- ed ro add or alter any thing of Moment, it io\:\di have immediately been taken notice of [by all good Chriftians. Ind, * Iiideed, Sir, a Man muft be very unwilling to believe thefe things who will not be fatisfied with this Account of the Truth of thefe Writings ; efpecially, if they coniain nothing but what is higWy worthy of the Great God to command his reafon- able Creatures.' Mijf, That you will be convinced of, when you come to know what he has commanded them to beiiev^and do. Ind, * But is it true. Sir, that Chriftians * themfelves are not agreed about them V MiJf, Pray, confider, — that as long as Men have corrupt HeartSy and different Capacities, and Inclinations, and Interejls^ they will differ D with -.. D 2 —In tU! i*iJi ;;*: i, ■It ■f I iU- 52 if /r I N s T R u .; TION Dial. 6. —In the nex^ place, be afTured — that you can havtino full and true Knowledge of ihc Great God, or of his ^/7/and Pur^o/fs, and gracious Defigns^ but from his own Son, and from what He has made known to us in thefe Scriptures*. By thefe Scriptures, as in thofe of the Old Teftament, wherein holy Men/pake diud aSlefl, as they were moved by the Holy Ghojiy we learn how Sin and Wickednefs, SicknefSy Mi/eries^ and Death itfeifcame into the World ; — and how Men loft their Innocence, and forfeited that Happinefs for which God made them.— And in the Scriptures we have alfo a moft par- ticular .Account, how God in Mercy to his unhappy Creatures, in his own good Time, fent HIS OWN Son, to fhew poor Sinners their miferable Condition ; to deliver them out of it ; and by a molt wonderful Way, as I (hall fhew you hereafter, to reconcile God to them,| and them to God. — And in order to awaken f all who come to the Knowledge of thefe things, and engage their Attention to chcm, thefe Scriptures give them the utmod Affurance,— that God has prepared for them who believe in his Son, and are willing to receive Salvation at his Hands, and who can make this appear by loving him, and obeying his Commands, an Happinefs which paffeth Man's Underftand- ing ; and that fuch as will not regard th( things, fha llbe miferable for ever.^ — And for- *Matt. xi. 27, afmudl ■II Dial. 6.|p pi^j, |5^ Jor the Indt a n s, 53 afmuch as in the Iffue, this Happinefi^nd Ml- fcry will depend upon Men's good 01 bad Be- haviour in this Life,— thefe Scriptun:^ coniam that Law hy which God has deternMP d 10 judge the World, that all Men may order their Lives accordingly. — They teach us what Service is due from reafonable Creatures to their Maker ; — how we mufl Live fo as to plcafe him ; — what is truly juit, and good, and ac- ceptable to his Divine Majefty ; — asalfo, what is wrong, and what he has forbidden upon Pain oF his everlalting Difpleafure. — They conlain many wonderful Examples of Cod's Caie of thole that love and obey him, and of his Dif- plcafiire againft fuch as negled or defpife his Commands. — In (horr, thefe Scriptures are a moft invaluable Bleffing, without which we fliould be ignorant of thole things that are of the greateft Concern to the Glory of the great and eternal God, and our own everlafting Welfare. hid, * Well iSir, you ha^ raifed in me a ' very great Defire of knowin.^ more of thefe * Scriptures, which contains thin^ V7onderful * and unknown to us indeed.' Miff. Yon mufl: give God the Thanks for that Dcfire, if it be fincere — I can only fpeak to your Ears\ it is God alone that can fpeak to your //'} !,;,'■ irjijr 54- ^)^/ Instr ucTiON Dial. 7I The PRAYER. [^Lo^cd Lord, who haft caufed all Holy: Scriptures to be written for our Learnitij, (^rant that I may in fuch wife hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digcft them, tbiit, by Patience and Comfort of thy Holy Word, I may embrace, and ever hold fad, the bkl fed Hope of everlafting Life, which thou bad given me, in my Saviour JefusChrift. Aa DIALOGUE Vir. j^n Account of the Fall of Man, and what I followed thereupon J till the Coming fl/i Chrijl. India n. * "XT OU afTured me, Sir, when I was lad! * JL with you, that God had .nade known * to you many things, which our Reafon can- ' not account for : — I am now come to putl * you in Mind of one Difficulty, which I beg * you would explain to me : — " How Man, the Creature of an Holy and Good God, came to have fuch a ftrangely diforderc(l| Nature, and fo prone to P>il ?" Mijf. I am obliged to do fo; for, without the Knowledge of this, you can have no true| Notions of the Juftice and Mercy, and Good- nefs of God. (( «f ■ 1 Dial. 7. for the Indians. 55 What therefore he has made known to us ia the Holy Scriptures, is : — That after he had made this World, and all things in it, in Sijc Days, and that he might have Creatures ca- pable of praifing him for his wonderful Works, he made one Man and one Woma^i, called Adam and Evk, determining to make of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell upon all the Face of the Earth'^ -, all which are the ofF- fpring of that one Man and Woman.— He has alfo made known to us, That thefe Tzvo Perfects were at fn-fl: made after the Likenefs oF their Creator, being endued with Reafoii in Perfeftion, and other heavenly GiftSv — We learn alfo, that thefe our Firjl Parents, being thus mdidc f erf eof dind good, and capable ofliv^ ifjgforeverfj were placed in an happy State called Paradtfe, with a Promife of Life, and Happinefs, as long as they continued obedieiu to their Maker's Commands. Now thefe Tzco Perfons were in a State of Trial and Probation, as we all are at this Day, though in a Manner quite different from ours :— For they^ coming out of their Maker's Hands perfeif^ that is, endued with clear and (^rong Apprehenfions of their indifpenfable Obligation to perform all the great Points of Morality, could not well be fuppofed to lie under any Temptation of violating that chief Part of their Duty. - It was therefore neceffary, that fome other Tk^t, fuitable to the Place and Circumftances they * Aifls xvii. 26. f Wifd. ii. 23. D 4 . were l;=i \'r li i , \ :< :tl ' III t- s^ H 1 :i' "';] 1 :|. ri i 1 : 1 i ' ; ', 1 1 56 ^;^ Instruction Dial. 7. were in, fhoiild be required of them, to prove what was in their Hearts; and whether they would chufe, under the molt tempting Offers, to break an exprefs Commandment of God, their Creator, Pi^eserver, and Gover- nor, even tho' the Reafon ofjuch a Com- mandment was not made known unto them. A fofitive Injun^ion of this kind, God was pleafed to give them ; — at the fame time en- forcing their Obedience to it, by Threats of a moil dreadful Penalty^ if they fhould ever iranfgrefs it. And we are to confider the Command given to Adam concerning the Forbidden Tree, not as if God only fpoke concerning That, but he herein commanded him this One thing, Obey my Voice: — That is, You are to do whatever I fhall declare to be the Duties of your Life:— For it was neceffary that Man ihould obey the Divine Being, and never be left to his own Guidance, but to be always kept in the Hand of God's Counfel, How long our Firft Parents continued in their Duty, we are no-where told , but at length by yielding to theTemptationofan Evil Spirit, and not regarding the Command of iheir Maker *, they d'ldfaii from that holy and hap- py Condition they were in ; and by that moft grievous Crime (for fo it appears hy the Pu- nifhment a molt righteous Go^j inflidcd on them for it] they highly difplcafcd their Maker, * Gen. iii, who Dial. 7- /or /^x Dial. 7. for the Indians. ^3 not make any vifible Image or Reprejcntj^tion of him : That they fhould not profane his holy Name : That they fliould keep holy one Day in Seven, to preferve the Remembrance of him and his Works ; That they fliould love and to(?«r their Parents *; — That they fhould love one another, as being all the Creatures of a good God ; — andneither^^/^ nor murder any one, — that they fhould not commit Adultery^ or be guilty of any Lewdnefs : — That they fhould v\oi fteal, or lye, or bearfalje Witnej!, or covet, ox Jet their Hearts upon what was another Man's — And remember what I tell you, — The Subftance of thefe Laws was given foon after the Flood to Noah and his Family from whom the prefent Race of Mankind is derived, tho' the greateft Part of their Pofteriiy foon forgot them. Soon after God had given his peculiar Peo- ple diefe Laws, he fettled them after a moft wonderful Manner, and in a fruitful Ijand, which hp had long Wfore promifed to Abra- ham their great Forefather, and bleffed them exceedingly, while they obfervcd his Laws. — But even theTe People, through the Corruption of Nature, often tranfgrcfled his Comnumcfs, and were as often punifhed, and upon their Repentance pardoned; till at lad, they growing incurably wicked, he permiued their Enemies to deflroy moft of them, their Cities^ thtir Lundf and their Place of Hforfrjip -, * £xod, XX. i2. and iti, ■! t '■'> I' 64 yf;; I N s T R u c T 1 o N Dial. 7. and they are at this Day difperfed over the Face of the Earth, without any fure Settle- ment. Now, a few Years before this happened, the Time was come when the Great God was pleafed to fend into the World — * That * Person or Prophet, whom he had pro- * mifcd to our firfl: Parents, and who had en- * gaged to make Satisfaction to the Divine * J u (lice, for their great Offence/ — Byt a particular Account of this Person and Bles- sing will take up more Time than I believe you have now to fpare : I fhall therefore defer it till you come next to me. In the mean Time pray earneftly to God, that he may not fuffcr your Heart to be hardened, but that you may ever believe his Promifes, and ftand in awe of his Judgments. The. P R A Y E R. I Believe : Lord, increafe my Faith, and give me Grace that with a holy Life I may adorn the Religion I profefs. — Keep me fled- fad in this. Faith, that no Errors may feparate me from thee; — But that thy love, O merci- ful God J — Thy Grace, O bleffed Jefus ; — Thy Fellowfhip, O Holy Gholl, may defend and comfort me in all Dangers and Adverfi- tieS) until I attain the End of my .Faith, ?ven the Salvation of my Soul. /Imen. . DI A- ^^ Dial. 8. for //6e? In Di ANs. 6S DIALOGUE VIIL Jesus Christ, the Mediator and S Aviov R of the World, and the Head of all Chrijlians, Indian, « * T7" O U (hewed me. Sir, when I waited on < X y^^^ ^^^* ^^^ ^^" came to fall from ' that upright and happy Condition in which * he was created; and how he, and all his « Pofterity, became fubjed to Sin^ to Mifery^ ' and to Death : — As alfo, how their Maker < fpared the Lives of our Firft Parents, al- « though they had deferved immediate Death, * on account of One who was engaged to fatif- * fy the Divine juftice for their Tranfgreffion, * and for the Offences of all their Pofterity, ' upon the mod merciful Conditions. — And I * lefc you with a more earned Defire of know- * ing more of that Sacred Person, who was * to come into the World for that End; — ' and, as you intimated to me, did come about * that Time, when God had, for their Sins, ■ cafl off that People, whom he had fo long ' and fo remarkably, favoured and proted:ed, * above the other Nations of the World/ -^ Mijf, I told you before, That this Di- vine Perfon knowing into what a miferable Condition ihe twofirfi Parents of Mankind h3id brought in '^^ 1,^1 66 An Instruction Dial. 8. brought themfclves and their Pofterity, by their Difobediencc to their Maker j — how dreadfully fad their Puniflimcnt would be, and of what an invaluable Happinefs they would be deprived; — He, by God's mod gracious Appoiutment, undertook to fatisfy the Divine Jultice by fubmitting to fuch Sufferings as God was plcafcd to accept by way of Atone- ment for the Sins of Men. Ind. * Pray, Sir, how did Jefus Chrift do ' this ?• Mijf. As I told you before, he, out of Love to his otherwife loft Creatures, took the per* fedl Nature of a Man, both Body and Soul, into Union with his Divine Nature, and was born of a pure Virgin that he might befeen, and converfe with Men, and in their Nature be capable of fufFering for the Sins of Men, Now, in that Body, here upon Earth, in the Firft Place, he let Mankind know God's wonderful Goodnefs, and his Readincfsto for- give Offenders, even the greateft Offenders, upon their Repentance, Belief in him and his Undertaking, and Return to their Duty ; as alfo, how they ought to live fo as to pleafe God, and be an Honour to their Maker.— And by his moft wife and holy Life, and Do8rine, and Example, — He fhewed what an Excellent Creature Man was, before he loft his Innocence, and fell into a State of Sin and Corruption ; as alfo how hateful to God Sin mult be, fince fo Divine a Perfon, which, you willl Dial. 8. ■ pjai^ g. yj,^ /^(j Indians. 67 will fee hereafter, was the Son of the Mod High God, was obliged to come down from Heaven, to fatisfy God's Juftice, and to fave Men from the Punifhment it deferved. — For his DivineNature, tho' it could not fufl'cr, yet being thus divinely united to his Humanity, gave fuch ^ Virtue and Value to the Sacrifice, as rcnder'd it a proper and fufficient Atone- ment to the Divine Juflicc for our Sins. After he had in his public Miniilry fully de- clared the Defign of his Coming and perform- ed fuch miraculous things as were fufficient ^0 convince all well-difpofed People, that he was the Son of God, and fent by him to declare his Father's Will to Men;— after this, that, as Son of God, he might make full Satisfa6ti- on to the Divine Juftice, fince no lefs a Sacri- fice could do it, He willingly laid down his own Life, for his otherwife undone Creatures, Ind, * I begin now to underftand what be- * fore I was amazed at, fVhy God would Juffer * his own Son to be put to Death by wicked Men ; ' and why his Son would chufe to be fo dealt ' with, when he could have hindered it : I * fuppofed it was becaufe he had undertaken ' the Caufe of Sinners, and fufFered Death to ' make an Atonement for them, and to fatif- * fy the Juftice of his oflPended Father, who * therefore permitted him to be put to Death.* Mijf» You underftand it right. — And the Great God, to convince the World, that his Juftice was fatisfied by this moft worthy Sacri- ^ fice. ^ y \i v. pi !!• I ♦ I H V-. t ' si 68 yln Instruction Dial. 8. fice,rairc(i him from the Dead, the Third Day after he had heeji crucified and buried ; — ly ivhich he was in the moft convincing and power- ful manner i declared to be the Son of God * \ of all which the Floly Scriptures give us a parti- cular Account, — and, for our Comfort, de- clare, — that God had laid on him the Iniquity of us aU t i that he tafted Death for every Man f, J. e. for ev(?ry penitent Sinner, from the Firft Man that was made to the lafl. that Ihall be born into the World ; — laftly, that he hasfav- ed us by his Bloody out of every Kindred^ and Tongue, and People, and Nation J. Ind, ' It feems then, that we alfo have an * Intcreft and Riglit in the Bleffings which he * has purchafed by his Death.* Mijf, Moft certainly you*have; — for fohe hath declared, — that the Gentiles Juih as were Strangers to the true Godyfhouldbe Fellow-heirs with his chofen People, and of the fame Body^ and Partakers of his Promife. in Chriji \, Ind, * Pray what is meant by the Gentiles * being of the fame Body ?* Mijf, The Meaning is this: That you fhould be of the fame holy Society with God's chofen People; and that as we are the Crea- tures of one and the fame God, and Children of one and the fame Father, — and redeemed by the fame Saviour, you fliall now be made Members of the fame Body, an holy Society, * Rom. i. 4. t Ifa. liii. 6. |j Heb. ii. 9. I Rev. V. 9. J Eph. iii. 6. which Dial. 8. I Di^'' ^' yir //>.* Indi ANs. 69 which is called the Church of God, oF which Jesus Christ is the Hf.ad and Governor. bid, * I (hould be very thankful if you * would explain that to me more pariicu- « larly/ Mijf, You muft know then, — That after the Son of God had by his Death made an A- tonement for the Sins of Mankind, he com- manded his Apoftles to offer the BlefTings he had purchafed unto all the Nations of the Earth, in order to take out of them a People for the Glory of God * i — and to let all Men know the merciful Favours which the Great God offered them by his Son, which were,— i^^- fentance on Mens Party and Forgivenefs of Sins on the Part of God ; and that this fhould be preached in bis Nnme among all Nations t ; and that all fuch as would receive him as their Re- deemer and Lawgiver, fhould be entered into One Society, called the Church or Body of Chrifly becaufe he is the Head of this Body, and Governor of this Society, which is made up of all true Believers in all Nations of the World; that as he had redeemed them, he mx^iprote^y 2iX\^ govern y and i:i,v^ them in the Way of Life and Happinefs; and laftly, that the great Truths of Chriftianity, and the holy Scriptures, in which they are contained, might be preferved, being to be conflantly read, explained, and preached among them. * Aftsxv. 14. f Lukexxlv. 47. Jnd, ' !( *l t u - iWH yo -^;; Instructi ON Dial. 8. Ifid, ' Jiiit, good Sir, — how can People of * fb many dillant Nations, and different Laws * and Languages, be One Society ?* Mijf. They are ail of Orte Society ^d^s they all agree in One Faith, and profefs to be govern- ed by One Law of Jefus Chrift ; — as they all engage to renounce the Z)m/,an Jail the fp^ays of an evil World, and to worjhip the One and only true God ; — as they all profefs to receive the holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of both their Faith and Manners ; as they all are re- deemed by the fame Sacrifice ;— as they all pray to One and ihe/ame God, in the Name, and for the Sake of the fame Mediator and Advocate ; — as they are all received into the fame Society, by one and the fame Ordinance of Baptifm ; and are under the Dire^ion and Influence of the fame Holy Spirit ; — and as they all hope to meet together hereafter in the fame Place of Joy and Felicity, the Kingdom of Heaven. Ind, ' I thhik I underfland you very well. * — I fhould be thankful therefore, if you * would let me know what are the Privileges * or Bleffings of being a Member of this * Society.' MiJ^. The Bleffings are many and great, — fuch as thefe following: — You will be enabled to anfwer the End for which we were made, and fent into the World. — If you enter into this Society with true Repentance of your Sins, true Faith in Jcfus Chrift, and a fincere Pur- pofe Dial. 8. for the Ik Di ASi. 71 pofc of living as a Chiiftian oiiglit to do, all your paft Sins will he forgiven you ; — and, if you afterwards fall into Sin (as you will be but 100 apt to do,)^^« will have Je/us thrift an Advo- cate with bis Father for your Pardony upon your Repentance and Return to your Duty *. — liefide this, you will be under ihe/pecial Care and Pro- tecfion of God ; — you will have the Miniftcis ofChrill toinftrud you, and God's all-power- ful Spirit to dire5i^Jupport, and comfort you in all your Diftreffes. — You will have an Interell in all the Prayers and Bleffings of that Society tb.roiighout the World ; every Memberof that Society being bound to feek the good of the whole Body, to relieve the NecefTuies of fuch as are in VVant, or in Miferics, and all being mutually obliged to pray for each other. — Laftly, you will have a moll fure Title to eternal Life and Happinefs aticr Death. Ind, * There is no Man, fure, who is in his ' right Mind, but would mod earnefUy defire * to be a Member of fuch a Society if he could * hope to do what will be required of him as a ' Chriflian. — For, as I remember, you told ' me, that a Chriftian has many Enemies and ' Difficulties to flrive with.' Miff, That is true. — But then take this mod certain Triith along with you, — That a rights ous and good Godwin not require anything of his Creatures^ but what he will enable them to do^ if tbeywillbut uje their own Endeavours ;— every • 1 John i. 9. ii. i. Perfo.n, 4\\ ' M w \ i' '■: ! 1< 72 ^« Instruction Dial. 8. Perfon, who fincerely propofes to become a Chriftian, having a moft fure Promife of be- ing aflifted by God's Holy Spirit to pleafe his Maker, and to keep his Commands. And, forafmuch as we muft be made holy, as ever we hope to be happy, it is this Good and Holy Spirit, that mull make us fo. — Which he doth,— by putting into our Hearts good Defires and Purpofes of pleafing God, and a Fear of offending him ; — by convincing us, that nothing is required of us but what is ab- folutely neceflary for our Good and Happinefs, —by helping our good Endeavours, and de- fending us againft the Malice and Power of evil Spirits ;— i)y fetting home upon our Hearts the Joys and Happinefs that are propofed to us, and the dreadful Mifery which will be the Portion of fuch as defpife them : — All which that Holy Spirit doth perform in us by a fure, tho' an invifible power. Ind. ' How can we be fure of this, fincc * you fay he is not to be Teen ?' Mif, Can you fee the Wind ? hd. * No.'' Mijf. How can you be fure there is fuch a thing ? Ind. ' Becaufe I hear the Sound of it, and • feel the Force of it upon myfelf.' Miff. Are you fure that you have a Soul or Spirit within you, which governs all your Anions ? I In^, Dial. 8. for the III DiAVs. 73 Jnd, * I cannot but be fenfiblc and fure of « that, becaufe I feel fonnething within me, * fometimes accu{inj_,, fomctimes excufing, * according as I do what is good, or other- * wife.' Miff* Yet you never faw that Power ; you arc fure of it only by its EfFeQs. Ind, ^ Pray make that plain to me/ Mijf. Do not you know a Tree by the Fruit it bears ? — Doth not a good Tree bring forth good Fruit ? — Doth not a corrupt Tree bring forth bad Fruit*} — Juft fo, when a good Spi- rit governs any Perfon, you fee it plainly by his Life and Converfation ; — as alfo, when you fee any Man lead an evil Life, you may be fure he is governed by an evil Spirit. Tnd. ' I underftand you very well ; — and ' would be thankful, if you would let me * know what are the Fruits which diftinguifh * a good Spirit from one that is evil ?' Miff. The fure Signs, that the Holy Spirit of God governs any Man, are thefe following Fruits: J Love of God, and of Men for his Sake; — Living in Peace as much as poflible, with all otherst; — Forgiving thofe that have injured us, as we hope to be forgiven ourmany Offences againft God ; — A Readinejs to do gO((od to all -Men,;— A conftant Endeavour to mortify oi^r corrupt Affetlions, our Lufts, and evil Defires ;— Being content with our Condi- tion; — Being huipiiey ineek^ d^ud. temperate \—^ * Matt, vii! 17. t Gal, v. 22. . r ' E And \ ■^. ■. ,1 p* '\{m ''^'\ t '1 rm 74 -/^« Instruction Dial. 8. And in all Improvements in Knowledge, Faith, Holinefs and Obedience, making an humble Acknowledgment of our Unworthinefs, giv- ing Chrift the Glory of our Salvation, and the Holy Spirit the Honour of our Improvement in thefe Things :— Thefe, and fuch as thefe, are fure Signs that a Man is governed by the Holy Spirit of God *. On trie other Hand,— the fure Signs of a Mah*s not being under the Influence of the good Spirit, are fuch evil Fruits as thefe fol- lowing : Adultery^ Fornicrtion, Idol&iry^ JVitch €raft^Envyy Hatred^ and Malice \ a Difpofition to Revenge and Murder^ 'Dirunkennejsy Revel- ings, Hardnefs of H^art, Unbelief, and Contempt of the Gofpel, and fuch Sins as thefe;— God having exprefsly declared, that they who do fuch Things (hall never be happy, but fhall have their Portion with thofe evil SpintSy by whofe wicked Suggeftions they had been feducedto commit them. ind. * phe would think thk Rich as know ' the (drfeadfulPtinifhrnent denounced againft • Wickednefs, would never perfift in it, but • immediately endeavour to efcape from fo • dangerous a condition/ Mtjf' They certainly would do fo;— butj liavihg wiiuilly forfaken the Ways of God, ttiey have grieved the Holy Spirit, and forced him to depart from them, and to leave them to themfdvesi -fo that their Hearts are| • Rom. Vii. 14. hardened, % Dial* 8. for /A^ I n d i A n s. 7 J hardened, and their Minds are void of Undcr- (tanding. Ind, * If I remember well, you told me, * that all Men are fubjeft to Sin, even Chrif- * tians, as well as others, tho* they have re- * ceived that holy Spirit for a principle of a ' new Life.' MiJJ', I told you fo, and I told you nothing but tiie Truth ; for fo they are, until, by the Influence of that good Spirit, they are made completely holy, which is not to be expeded till we die, and go to Heayen.^-^I told yo^ alfo another Truth : — That a Chriflian is UQt one who has no Failings;- — but he is one, who, by the Power and Favour of that Holy Spirit, watches and ftrives againft the Cor- ruption of his Nature continually, fo as never to live in any known Sin .whatever. Ind, * I remember you told me fo before ; * and I am convinced of the Tniths you have ' now explained to me. And I muft beg of ' you, at your Leifiire, to let me know, what * will he Pequired of me in order to my being * baptized, and made a Member of that So- ' ciety, to which you have convinced me fo ' many Bieffings have been promifed by the * Great God.' Mtjf, That I will very willingly endeavour to do the next time *you come to me. — In the mean time, forget not to beg of God to give his Bleffing and Succefs to fuch as de- sire and drive to itiltrudl you in the Ways of E a Life m ii'a^' i • 76 -^/? Instruction Dial. 9. Life and Happinefs, and to give you Grace to follow their godly Inftrudions and Admo- nitions, in words to the following Purpofe. The PRAYER. O Merciful God, and Lover of Souls, blefs the pious Endeavours of fuch as are ap- pointed to inftrufl me in the Ways of Truth and Godlinefs: — Leave me not to my own Choice, but give me a Heart always open to receive the Truth, and a conftant Refolution to obferve and obey it : And that 1 may re- member thee my Creator all my Days, chear- fully embrace Salvation by thy Son our Lord, and fubmit to his Government, let thy JjhIoLY Spirit ever accompany me, and in- Ipire me with found Principles of Virtue, Re- ligion, and Holinefs, for thy Mercy's Sake in Chrift Jefus. Amen, H<\\\ DIALOGUE IX. Being an Ahjlra5t of the former Dialogues and Infirudiionsn Indian. * 'TT IND Sir, I ^m come to put you in * JX. "^"^^ of your Fromife to inftrud me, * how I may become a Member of that * Society^ to which you told me Jo many Bleffings * do belong,* 7 Mijftonar^. f ^i '^ 'I Dial. 9. for the Indians. 77 MiJJionary, I would now do it, but upon fecond Thoughts I am of Opinion, it will be belt for you, that I put you again in mind of the Truths you have already learned, and aflented to, that you may be able to anfwer it to your own Reajon^ and to every one who (hall afk you, — * Why you chufe to be a * Chriftian ?' And that your Faith being furely eftablifhed, you may be convinced, that it is your Intereft^ as well as Duty to make fuch a Choice ; and that you may not here- after become a Scandal to the Chriftian Reli- gion, or be tempted to forfake it, on account of any Difficulties you may meet with, or the bad Examples of wicked Men who profefs it. Ind, * I heartily thank you for fo kind a * Propofal: and I will hear you moll wiU « lingly.' Miff. You have declared already that you are fully convinced, that there is but one God of all the Nations of the World ;^that is — a Being moft wijey mod -powerful^ mod holy^ moft juft and good^ — who after he had made the World, and all things in it, by his great Power, made Man, and endued him with Reajon and Underftanding^ to the end he might have a Creature on Earth capable of knowing and honouring his Maker. Ind, * I am moft fully convinced of this, * and do rrioft firmly believe it.' Mijf, How then do you think it comes to pafs, that fo many People endued wjth Rea- E 3 ion ':;■ ■ '\ 1 'f I i ■ m I ti r ,« i% Ii-il^:;: 78 ^« Instruction Dial. 9. fon arc fo far from being an lionour to that God on whom they depend for Life and Breath, and all things which they enjoy, or hope for,— *that they neither ftar^ r>or love^ lior honour y nor are concerned to pleafe him ? Ind. ' I have not, Sir, forgot the Account you gave me, — bow this came to pafs;~- how the firft Parents of Mankind came to fall from that happy Temper and Condition in which they were made, — by yielding to the Temptalioti of an evil Spirit, and break- ing a ftritl Command which their Maker had given them for a Trial of their Obe- dience : — And what a fad Change and Dif- order was thereby made in their Nature, and in the World, infomuch that both they, and their Pofterity, which inherited their cor- rupt Nature, became prone to Evil, and fubjeft to Sin and l^eathy and to all the Sor» rows^ Miferies, and JJIi^idHs which lead to Death ;— ^and that this was the true Occa- fion of all the Mifchiefs and Wickedneft which we fee and hear of in the World/ MiJ^. I am very glad you remember this lb wel!.-*^For indeed, without the Knowledge of this unhappy Fall of Man, and the Cor-.' f-option of our Nature, which followed, you can never fully underftand, nor truly value, the ^yi/demy the Jujlice, the Mercy, and the Goodnefs of God \ nor would the Chriflian Re- figioti appear to you fo great a Blcffing as it really fe* Ind, Dial. 9. I Dial. 9. for /^^ Indi A N s. 7.9- Ind. * You will be {o kind as to explain- ' this to mc a little more particularly ; thai « 1 may embrace it with full SatisfaQion, and ' never forfake it/ Miff* You will remember then what I told vou before : That we know and are afTured of this, by a Writing which came from God^ of which we have mod undoubted Proofs^ and by which we are informed, how merciful Cod was in fparing the Lives of thefe our unhappy Parents which they had forfeited by their great Offence, and this for the Sake of his b(?loved Sqn, who undertook to fee his juftice fully faiisfied, and to ufe all proper i>!eans to make Men fenfible of their Oftendes, and bring them back to the Duty they owe 10 their Maker. That, in order to this, Hrs Sow, who 13 called Christ, and/r^Jw whom we Cbriftians have our Name, came down from Heaven to Earth, and was made Man, and converfed with Men ;— and declared unto them,, as he was the Son of the Mod High Godi, and had a tender Compaffion for poor Sinners, fo he had undertaken to be a Peace-Maker between God and them ;— — -and that he was a Mef- fenger fent from him (om^ke his Will known unto Men ; — and that Gbd had committed the Government of all Mankind to him. All which God himfelf confirmed by a Voice from Heaven *. — And bis Son. wncn f Matt, in* 17. £,4: Oh ■^,|:ll : f '■ il? ' i« '^ ®' ^&^' S! ,5 i. n' 8 o jIn Instruction Dial. 9. on Earth, convinced all whowcre difpofcd to receive the Truth, that thefe things were true, by his doing fuch wonderful Works as none but God could do ;— by the Holinefs of his Life; by the moft righteous Laws which he gave unto Men ; — and above all, by his Rifing again from the Dead, after he had, by wicked Hands, been murdered, /W. • All this I remember, and only de- * fire you will repeat the Mejfage which this * Wonderful P£rson brought from God to * Men: Mijf. In the Firft Place, he made known to them their miferahle Condition by Nature and Praftice : /ind that it was yet a Condi- tion not without Hope. — That as his Juftice could not let Sin go unpunifhcd, — fo his Goodnefs would not let his unhappy Crea- tures be ruined, except they obftinately re- fufed to accept of the merciful Terms pro- pofed to tli^m. That therefore God had been pleafed, for his Son's Sake, to promife, — that all fuch as fhould be made fenfible of their bad Condi- tion, and would return to the. Duty which they owe to their Maker, fhall have all their paft Offences pardon'd, fhall be received into his Favour again, and be made for ever happy with him : — But that all who know this, and .would not receive, and thankfully comply with, fo kind an Offer, fhall die in their Sins, and be puniflied without Mercy. In a Word, * ■ - that Dial. 9- yir //^^ Indians; 8r that the4r Happincfsor Mifery would depend upon their good or bad Behaviour in this World. For tliat God had appointed a Day in which he would judge the World moft righteoufly, — reward the truly penitent and good, and punifh thofe that continue obfli- nate and wicked *. Ind, * Will y^ou now, Sir, be fo good as to ' let me know die Way which this Wonder- * ful Perfon did make ufe of to prevail with * Men to embrace this mod kind MelFage of ' God to Men ?' Mijf* In the firfl; Place, — he (hewed them, what a tender CompafTion God had for his unhappy Creatures, who were wilfully going on in the Way of Ruin, without perceiving it : — And that he was fo good as to fend his own Son from Heaven to fave them from Deftrudion. He told them further,— That the Sins of Men were fo many, fo great and univerfal, that no lefs a Satisfa6lion would be accepted for their Pardon than the Death of his own Son; that therefore he had taken upon him- fclfthe Caufe of Sinners, and put hiinfelf in their Place and Stead, that he might fufFe and die br them. And God, to fhew Men how well he wai fatisfied with his Son's Sufferings fqr the Sins of Men, raifed him from Death, and fet him at his own Right-hand; where he liveth for • A*^s vii. 31, E 5 ' . even y< ,i 1 il '« * I ' 'I i ft i ' i A):;: 8a ^Instruction Dial. o. ever, to nake Inter ceji(fn for alljuch as come un- to God by -^ ♦. Ind, * i* ihrs I remember, and I cannot * but admire the great Love of God and Chrilt * for fuch unworthy Creatures.— Pray, have * any other Ways been taken of bringing Men * to a Senfe of the Duty they owe to their * Maker, and of promoting their Happinefs ?' Miff, I hope you have not forgot what I told you, — that Chrifl, after his Afcent into Hea- ven, fent down the Holy Ghoft upon his Apoftles in a moft wonderful Manner, who •cftabliftied that Society which we call the Church ofChrift, as the mofl proper Means of bringing Men to the Knowledge of the true God, — of Salvation by his Son, — and of en- gaging in the regular and faithful Difcharge of ihe feveral Duties they owe to God, to ibemfelves, and to all Mankind. For in that Society he has appointed certain 'Perfons his Minifters^ who are to watch for the Souls of Men, as they that mttfi give account of them t ; — to let them know what they muft do to be faved;— to minifter to Men the Means of Grace and Salvation ; —to inftruSf the Ignorant; — to comfort Sind help the fFeak, and ratfe up them that fall •,— to offer up to Co(4 Supplications, Prayers, Inter cejftons, and 'V!'banks for all Men; — and, in one Word, to endeavour that all Men may attain that Hap- pinefs, which Jejus Chrifi has purchafed by his moft precious Blood. ♦ Heb. vii. 25* t Heb. xiii. 17. Ind. Diivl. 9% for //&^ In p I A N 8 . 8y W. * This I have not forgot : — Nor what ' you told me further, — That forafmuch as * .God .had determined to judge Mankind ac- * cording to their Behaviour in this Life, he ' has given to ChriQians certain Laws and « Rules, by which they fhall be judged lo» * Happinefs or Alifery, at that great Day; * and that thefe Laws and Rules are to DC « found in that Book which you call The Word « of Godt becaufe it was written by Men ap- * pointed of God. May I beg yoa to give- * me a (hort account of that Book ?' Mijf In the Firft part of thofe Scriptures,, called The Old Teftament^ we have an Account of the Creation of the World, and of GodV infinite Power, Wifdom, Juftice, and Good- aefs in the Government of it : — We have there an Account, as I told you, of the original Happinefs of aur Firft Parents, and of their finful Fall from that Condition ; — we have al- fo encouraging Notices of the Recovery of Mankind from this fad. Condition ;—aiid are- informed how, in all Ages, God has often protefled and bleffed the Good and punifhcd the Wicked ; — ^^in order to convince Men, tha^ he fees and ordereth all things for hisowni Glory, and the Good of his Creatures. In that Part pf the Scriptures which we call The Gofpely — we have a particular Account of the Life of thrift ; —his moft perfedt Exam-^ pie; — his mod holy Precepts; — fome of his; uumbcrlefs and wonderful Mir^ples;— how he , E 6 wa* I '^ 1 : ! •:« 1r 84 -/^« Instruction Dial. 9. vras approved of God to be his Son, and the Mcflcnger of his Will to Men; — how he was by wicked Hands crucified and (lain : That he died, was buried, and that all thefe his Suffer- ings were a proper Atonement for our Sins;— that he rqfe again the 'Third Day from the Dead', '^converjed with his Followers, and in their Sight afcended into Heaven ; from whence he fent down the Holy Ghofl, who enabled them to fpeak all Manner of Languages; — that they might by this aftonifliing Miracle prove their Million, and be able to teach all Men thefc V'onderful Things, and bring them to the Knowledge of the Truth, that they might be faved ; — and laflly, how great Numbers of all the then known World embraced the Chriftian Religion ; — that is, all fuch as feared God, and were concerned to fave themfclves from that wicked Generation, faw plainly, that the Chriftian Religion was moft agreeable to Rea- fon i and the Bleflings it propofed to Men, greater than all the World befides could give them. Ind* * Will you be fo good as to repeat • again the chief of thofc great Truths, and * the Bleffing you fpeak of ?' MiJ]', The Truths which concern us to know, and which the Chriftian Religion, and that only, teaches us, are fuch as thefe : — That we are fallen under God's Difpleaflire, and yet may be reftored to his Favour, and have all our Ofi'ences pardoned thro' the Satisfaction «►!.- «J Dial. 9. for thel'^Tii ky\%. 85 of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; — that our Life here is only a State of Trial, and a PalFage to a Life cither of llappinefs or Mil'ery, which is to la(i for ever ; — ihat this llappinefs or Mife- ry will be according to our Hchavioiir here ; » and that we fliould (b live, as to glorify God, and be HicflTings to ouri'elves and others; In Oioft, — ThcChritlian Rcligi:)n propofes a Remedy for ail tlie Evils we are fubjed to, which we either feel or fear ; — and is defigned to reftore Men to that holy Temper which is abfolutely necefTary tofitthem for Heaven and Happinefs ; — that is, to make them truly good ^wdijufty wife for thcmfelves,yt/W,/-^^r, chafte^ and temperate y peaceable and ufeful in their Generation. — And it will be purely their own Fault if they are not fuch j — for this Religion affords them all the Kncouragement and Af- fiftance, that their Cafe can pollibly demand, or their Hearts can reafonably defire. Ind, * You have. Sir, fully convinced me * of the great Blelfing of being a Chriftian ; * for which I heartily thank you.* ■' Mijf, Give God the Thanks ; 'tis he only can open your Eyes, to fee both your Danger, and your Interelt. Ind, 'Mf 1 (hall not be too troublefome, ' I would only afk you at prefent, what An- * fwer I fhall give to fuch of our People as * fhall prefs me to tell them, — Why I am re-^ * Joived to become a Chriftian ^' It' Hi > < i Mi^. '■gi -V i 1 1. ^\ 84 ^« Instruction Dial. g. was approved of God to be his Son, and the McfTcnger of his Will to Men; — how he was by wicked Hands crucified and (lain : That he ^/W, was buriedf and that all ihefe his Suffer- ings were a proper Atonement for our Sins;— . that he ro/e again the 'ThirdDay from the Dead-; ^ — converjed with his Followers, and in their Sight afcended into Heaven ; from whence he fent down the Holy Ghoil, who enabled them to fpeak all Manner of Languages ; — that they might by this aftonifliing Miracle prove their Miifion, and be able to teach all Men thefc wonderful Things, and bring them to the .Knowledge of the Truth, that they might be faved ; — and laftly, how great Numbers of all the then known World embraced the Chriftian ^ Religion ; — that is, all fuch as feared God, and were concerned to fave themfclves from that wicked Generation, faw plainly, that the Chriftian Religion was moft agreeable to Rea- fon i and the Bleffings it propofed to Men, greater than all. the World befides could give them. Ind^ * Will you be fo good as to repeat * again the chief of thofc great Truths, and * the Bleffing you fpeak of ?* Mijf. The Truths which concern us to know, and which the Chriftian Religion, and that only, teaches us, are fuch as thefe : — That we are fallen under God's Difpleaftire, and yet may be reftored to his Favour, and have all our Offences pardoned thro' the Satisfaction Dial. 9. for thel'iikTM K'ti^. 85 of our Lord Jcfus Chrift ; — that our Life here is only a State of Trial, and a Palfage to a Life cither of Happinefs or Mifery, which is to lafl for ever ; — that this Happinefs or Mife- ry will be according to our Ikhaviour here ; . and that we fliouUl (b live, as to glorify God, and be Blcffings to ourlelvcs and others, , In (lioft, — ThcCliritlian Rciigicm propofes a Kennedy for all the Evils we are fubjed to, which we either feel or fear ; — and is defigned to reftore Men to that holy Temper which ia abfolutely necefTary to fit them for Heaven and Happinefs ; — that is, to make them truly good zndjufiy wife for themfelves,y(r/W,/i<^^r, cbafie, and temperate^ peaceable and ufeful in their Generation. — And it will be purely tKeir own Fault if they are not fuch ; — for this Religion affords them all the Encouragement and Af- fiftance, that their Cafe can poflibly demand, or their Hearts can reafonably defire. Ind, * You have, Sir, fully convinced nie ' of the great Bleffing of being a Chriftian ; * for which I heartily thank yOu.* Mijf, Give God the Thanks ; 'tis he only can open your Eyes, to fee both your Danger, and your Interelt. Ind, * If 1 (hall not be too troublefome, ' I would only afk you at prefent, what An- * fwer I fhall give to fuch of our People as ' fhall prefs me to tell them, — fVby I am re^ ^ Joived to become a Chrijlian V ■' ■ Mijf. \T\ \ ';,«: Vi \ ' Jb) ;i 'I ii ' :, i 'n\- 'H JB6 ^» Instruction Dial. g. MiJ\ After what you have already learned, you can tell them y^hh Truth,— That you jfound you wanted fonaething which you had not in yourfeif, to make your Mind eafy, and your Condition fafe; — thatyourown Reafon convinced you, —that fuch a Creature as Man could not be made, and fent into the World, pnly to eat and drink, and live and die, as the Beafts of the Field; — that you had often ,wiflied to 1^ now for what End the Great God made Men ; — What Service they owe him ; — whether the Way you were in waspleafing or difpleafing to him;— and often )viftied to know;— >!5^rf/ kecomes of I4^n after they dky ^d leave this IVorld. Yqu can teU them, that none wi^h whom you hadcpnverfed, cpuld give you any reafon- able Satisfa ii* 'ii* lition^^ .',Jt Dial. 9- for ilje Indians. «7 fitions, to fomany Miferi^s^nd Affliftvons as now we fee they are. — By thofe Writings you can tell them,.ChTiftians are afTured how won- derfully goodand kind God will be tojuch as diligently Jeekhim'\ tVcx^ defire to pleafe him ; — and that all who are not Enemies to themielvevS, may be as happy a&their own Hearts can wifh. You can tell them moreover, —That God has made known in thefe Writings, what Men endued with Reafon ought lo doy and what to avoids if they hope to pleafe their Maker, and their Lord ; — what great Happinefs they ,will deprive themfelves of, if they ftrive npt to knew, and do his Will j-^for that fuch .as repent of their Sins, believe in the Saviour be has fent, and obey his Commands, will, when they die, be happy forever; — free frojii Fear\> — from the Malice of iheir Enemies,— from Ptf/», from Sorrow, from Cares , from Oppreffion, from Sickne/s, and from Mi/sry af* ter Death) and enjoy all the Blefledneifs of .which their Nature is capable.— »— And tjh^t fuch as have not been careful to pleafe their Maker, iliall be condemned to everlaftipg Mifery. If they afk you, as to be fure they will,— . howChriilians can be affur^d, that the^fe Writ- ings and Truths came from Godirr^you noay afiiire ihQm,'r^tbat if any Manfimevely defires to know God's Will he /ball find Juch Proofs y ai Jhall convince bimythat thefe Writings, .and the •f H i i n% m m P'fl n 'i: ■.t\ 88 ^//Instruction Dial. 9. DoSfrines they contain are from God^ and not of Men t. If they tell you, as they did before, that many who call themfelves Chriftians live as if not one Word of thofe Scriptures were true; youmay afTure them, — that all good Chriftians are much concerned for the Offence thefe give to you, and to others; — That indeed they are not true Chriftians, but fuch as, being un- willing to forfake their Sins, and refolved to follow their Lufts without Difturbance,- — ftrive to forget the Truths they have learned, be- caufe the Remembrance of them makes them uneafy;— arid being by a juft Judgment of God left to themfelves, they have at laft loll all Senfe of the dreadful Puniftiment which hangs over their Heads : — That thisfallingaway of Chriftians from their Holy profeffion, and turning the Grace of God which teaches them to deny all UngodlineJSy and worldly Luftsy into IVantonnefs^ is fo far fronn being an Ob- je6lion to the Truth of Chriftianity, that it is an Argument for it; — fince this was fore- told by the divinely infpired Penmen of the Holy Scriptures, — that there would h^fome^ who would hold the^Truth in Unrighteoulbefs, *—air\d others that would draw back to Perdition^ and quite forfake the Holy Commandments. Ind* * Kind Sir, your Repetition of thefe * things, for which 1 am moft thankful, has * confirmed me in my earnelt Defire and * Furpofe to become a Chriftian. — And I i. f John vii. 17. * befeech for the Indians. 89 Dial. 9. « befeech you once more, to inflruQ me, — « what will be required of me in order to be « made a Member of that Society which you « call THE Church of Christ/ MiJJ' That I will gladly do when you come io me a^ain. — And may that Good Spirit^ which has put this Purpofe into your Heart, keep you in this good Difpofition ! — And do not yourfelf forget to beg of God — That He may perfe6i the good Work which he has begua in you. The P R A Y E R., >.- ALmighty God, who alone canft order the unruly Wills and AfFe6lions of finful Men, grant me Grace to withftand the Temp- tations of the Devrl, the Worlds and the Flefh, that T may nevef follow, i^or^be led by them ; — Keep it ever in the Heart of thy Ser- vant,- — That it is indeed an evil and bitter thing to forfajce the: Lord, that I may never return to the Sins I have repented of. — Make me ever mindful of my infirmities, that I may look up to Thee for Help and Afliftance ;■ and grant that we, to whom Thou haft giveVi an hearty Defire to pray, may, by thy mighty Aid, be defended and comfortea in all Dan- gers and Adverfities, — through Jefus Chrift, our Saviour and Redeemer, Jmen, 'm ^ i !': il> '' A N go yf«.lN8TRUCTlON Dial. lo, ■ D»^'* ^^ A N E S A TOWARDS AM Instruction for INDIANS. 1 ■\l.i \: \'\ PART II. O/'Baptism, and the Lord's Supper; ^bcQK%ii^, /i^^LoRP's f.SihYE'ki^nd the Ten Commandments, e^plamd, DIALOGUE X. ©/"Baptism. Missionary. I A M gUd to fee you here again fo foom 'Tis a good Sign you are in earnei|, and ^ncerply qkfirou^ of becoming a Chriftiap. Jttd. * Indee,4, Sir, fo I am.— You have « ppnyinced me, th^t it is ray Intercft as I yit\\ as Duty to be a Chriftian.' MiJ, I muft notXuffer you to be under fuch a Miltake; it was not I alone that could convince you ;-i-it was the Good Spirit ofGod^ who Dial. 10, I Dial. I o. /or //&^ Indians. 91 who is always ready to enlighUn the Minds, and cpen the Hearts, of flich as are in Fear for themfelves, and would gladly know the Will of God, and the Way to pleafe him.— 1 am only his Meffenger to you, and, I hop^, for your everlafting Good. Jnd. * I hope fo too. — And therefore am « now come to be ia(lru61ed, — '^* How I may " be admitted in^o the Society of Chrillian « People." Mijf* You muft know then, that Christ, the Son of God, and the Head and Governor of that Society, has appointed Two Holy Ordinances, which we call Sacraments, to be of perpetual Ufe in his Church, — as Signs, Seals, and Pledges of God's ftjl- filling his Proroifes of Blefling upon ouf CovD« pliance with the Rules of our Duty ; and by which he has determined to bef^ow his Fsi* vours and Bleilings on fugh as are worthy of them !'— The one is called Baptism, or the Wajhing of Water, a Figure of Rfi^emr^h^% by which all that are well difpofed and qua*' lifted are to be received into bi^ Cbufch, which is the Society of all Chrifti^n People throughout the World :-^The other Sacra* ment is caJilcd— Th^ l»oiiii*s Supper, ^fi4 appointed by Chrift hiipfelf as an efpcci^l Means, by which that Society is tp keep up the Remembrance of whai he has doije and fufllred to redicem them from Mifcry. w !':< i'i; 1 a 4 t' ill:;-;! 1 1> ! m 92 jIn Instruction Dial. 10. By the Sacrament of Bapti/m, God is gra- cioufly plealed to enter into Covenant with his poor Creatures, whereby he promifes, on bis Party to take them under his efpecial Pro. te6tion, and to give them all that is neceffarv to fit them for Pleaven and Happinefs, when they die ;— and ChriftianSy on their Party bind themfelves to become ChriIVs faithful Ser- vants unto their Lives End. Ind, * Sir, you often mention our being * God's Servants y 2Lnd/ervittg God ;— Does God * want any Service that we can do him ?' Miff'. No, truly : he ftands in no need of our Prayers, our Prai/eSy or our Services.^ They cannot jr(?^/ him : — But he having given us certain Commands about our addrelTing ourfelves to Him in Adorations y Supplications^ and Thankfgivings ; when we obey thefe Com- tnands (tho* purely for our own Good) He is gracioufly pleafed to deem it ferving, ho- nouring, and glorifying him, tho' in Truth we only />r^/ ourfelves hereby. Ind. * You will be pleafed to let me know * when and hozv Chrift appointed the Sacra- * ment of Baptifm ?' Mi(f, Juft before he left this World, he gave his Aportles, who were -his Minifters, this Command: — * Go ye, and make Difciples * of all Nations, baptizing them in the Name < of the Father, and of the Son, and of the c Holy Ghoft; — teaching them to obferve all « things whatfoever I have commanded you \,' X * . § Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. Now Dial- I o . for the Jnoi AKS. 93 Now here are feveral things, which I would have you carefully to obferve and remember : 'Firjty — the abfoUite Neceffity of believing and receiving the MefTage, which God fent to the World by his Son : — Secondly^ — The Ne- ceffity of being joined to his Church by Bap- tifm, when that Bleffing can be obtained:—. thirdly^ — The dreadful Condition of fuch as obftinately continue in their Unbelief, when the Gofpel is preached to them : — And laftly^ —Obferve the very ftrift Command of ChrHl to his Minifters, firft to teacby but then to teach only, whatever he has commanded ; by which true Minifters of Chrift are to be known from falfe Teachers. Ind. * How is Baptifm adminiftered ?' Miff. By dipping the Perfon under Water, or pouring or fprinkling Water upon him, at the fame Time pronouncing thefe Words ; I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, hid, * What do you mean by being bap- * tized in the Name of the Father, Son, and ' Holy Ghoft ?* Miff. It is to fhew that Men, who through the Corruption of their Nature are no more worthy to be called the Children of God, are, by the Wafhingof Regeneration, and Renew- ing of the Holy Ghoft, born as it were again, made new Creatures, and thus admitted into a new Covenant, on Condition of their en- tering into a folemn Engagement, to believe an4 li lit ^1*1 ( ,: 94 -^« Instruct ION Dial. lo. | Dial. lo and obey 'whatever is commanded in the Gof. pel of Chriftjin the Name, or hy fhe Amlk). riiy, of Ood the Father ivlio created them; of God the Son^ who redeemed them ; and of God the Holy Ohoji.yfho enlightens and fanQi- fies them. Ind, * Are dll Perfons capable of Baptifm ?* Mijf. Yes:— Both :/«/}?/;/i and grown Per- Tons. Ind. ' What is required of thofe Perfons • who are. grown to years of Difcrction, in • order to their Baptifm ?' Mijf. FaUh^ and Repentance ithsX is, to believe fincerely all the Daftrinesof the Gof. pel, and to repent of allforoier Sins. Irtd, * But what if he fall again into Sin?' Mijf. It is then neccflary that he fhould reltore himfelf to the Benefits of his Baptifm by 2i Renewal of his Repentance. Ind, * But why are /;;/^/j baptized, who • are not capable of thefe Qualifications?* ^Mtjf' Tho' they are not capable of Faith zud^Repentance^ they are capable of being ad- mitted into Covenant with God, as the Chil- dren of the y^wj were, by the efpecial Ap. pointment of God, by Circumcifion. /«^inful Dufi and Afhes pretend to Hea- venly Privileges — The Favour of God, and the Graces of his Holy Spirit? Can corrupt Nature think o{ de/erving^ or be capable of Qlory^ and Honour y and Immortality ? Erideavour to know your/elf better, that, being truly humbled with a Senfe of your § Rom. iii.-23. . . ' own Dial. 10. yir //6^ Indians. 97 ow^^Vilcnefs and Mifery, you may tbank- fully accept of Help and Mercy from God.— yor they that are whole need not a Phyjuian^ but they that areftck *. And feeing God has promifed to do fo much for you, be perfuaded to do fomething for yourfelf. Ind. * What can fo mifcrable a Creature < do for himfelf?* Mijf* You can lament your own Unworthi- nefs, and pray God to pity, you. — You can ufe the Graces he belloweth upon you, and be thankful for his Favours.— You can do your Bed, and his Goodnefi will expe6l no more. Ind, * Was the Sacrament of Baptifm or- « dainedbyChrifthimfelf?' Miff, It was, in thefe Words — Go yCy and teach all Nations i baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghoft t, —Which Command the Apoftles of Chrift obfervedj — They preached the Gofpel, and as many as believed, them they baptized X, — By this Sacrament, adding to the Church fuch as Jhould ^tf/r that glorious Place: — Remembering, — 77^^/ without Holt- nejs no Man jh all fee the Lordf, The fure Promife of God will not fuffer you to defpair: — And the Joy that is fet before you will encourage you to prefs forwards. You will be thankful to God for tailing you to this State of Salvation : — And gladly • Matt. vi. 21. t Heb. xii. 14. undertake ( >! Dial. II. for t/je In D I AtJS. 99 undertake the Conditions he requires of you. What thefe Conditions are, you flull know the next time I fee you. But firft, with a thank- ful Heart, fay, The P R A Y E R. ALmighty and cverlafting God, heavenly Father, I give Thee humble Thanks that Thou haft vouchfafed to call me to the Know- ledge of thy Grace and Faith in Thee : In- creafe this Knowledge, and confirm this Faith in me evermore. Heal all the Evil Inclina- tions of ray Soul ; and create in me an hearty Love unto Holinefs, that continuing thy Ser- vant, I may attain thy Promifcs, and be made a Partaker of thine cverlalling Kingdom, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. ■ ■ ■ I . I DIALOGUE. Xr. ^he Conditions required of fuch as are to . be baptized. Indian. * fTTlHE laft Time I waited upon you, * X y^^ were plcafed to piomife to in- * ftru6l me in thofe Conditions that Perfons * are required to know, and promife to per- * form, in order to be baptized/ Mijjionary. I fhall gladly do this. — AsChrift villmoft furely keep the Promife he has made F 2 of 1. ' i« \-\% •, '.t 1 1- 96 -^« Instkucti ON Dial. 10. vour to live in Obedience to the Commands of your Heavenly Father, it will be no Profit to you at all to be called the Child of God.-^ Laftlyy By Baptifm you are admitted into the Hope of evcrlafting Happinefs, and to a ^itle to the Inheritance of the Saints, upon your believingi embracing^ and obeying the gra- cious Terms of the Gofpel of the Bleffed Jefus, — God will then treat you, as a Father does the Child he loves: — He will, upon your hearty Repentance and fincereRetuwi to your Duty, pity your manifold Infirmities, and forgive all your pafl Offences. He will corre^ you in Mercy when you do what would hurt yourfelf • and will upon your Prayers, for the Sake of his Son Jejus Chriji^ give you the Grace of his All-powerful Spirit, to giiids^ ajfiji, comfort y dind/upport you in the Way ' leading to everlafting Life. Inr^, ' Had I no jRight to thefe Bleffings, , * before I was baptized ?' Mijf. — Confider what Favours they are, and you will find nothing in yourfelf that can deferve fuch §. Can :^inful Dufi and AJhes pretend to Hea- venly Privileges — The Favour of God, and thei Graces of his Holy Spirit ? Can corrupt Nature think o{ deferving^ or be capable o{Q lory ^ and Honour ^ Sind Immortality^ Endeavour to know your/e/f better, that, being truly humbled with a Senfe of your § Rom. iii.-23, own if' ' '. Dial. 10. yir /A^ Indians. 97 owrb Vilcnefs and Mifery, you may thank* fully accept of Help and Mercy from God.— For they that are whole need not a Phyfuiani but they that areftck *. And (being God has promifed to do fo much for you, be perfuaded to do fomething for yourfelf. Ind. * What can fo miferable a Creature « do for himfelf?* Miff* You can lament your own Unworthi- nefs, and pray God to pity, you. — You can ufe the Graces he beftoweth upon you, and be thankful for his Favours. — You can do your Bed, and his Goodnefi will expe6l no more. Tnd, * Was the Sacrament of Baptifm or- « dainedbyChrifthimfelf?' Miff\ It was, in thefe Words — Go ye^ and teach all Nations^ baptizing them in the Name of the Fat her y and the Son, and the Holy Ghoft t. —Which Command the Apoftles of Chrift obferved ; — They preached the Gofpel, and as many as believed^ them they baptized \, — ^y this Sacrament, adding to the Church fuch as Jhould ^ Indians. loi love, honour i and ohey him, — that he may make them fit for the Reward he intends them, he hath determined to try their FaM, their Love^ and their Obedience.^^^ot that he\s ignorant of their Hearts, and their Sincerity ; — but his Defign is by thefe Trials to (hew them to them- felves, and to humble them by feeing how much they mud depend upon his Grace and Help; — and to fhew the Power of his Grace over the greateft Adverfaries of their Souls. — He has therefore permitted svilSpiritsio make this Trial, by tempting Men to the Sins which they renounced ^t their Baptifm. Ind, * I rem;2mber what you told me con- < cerning the D£vil, and his evil Spirits; « — ^that they were fuch as rebelled againft their « Maker, and for that Sin were caft out of * Heaven ;^rthat their evil Nature leads them * to tempt and draw Men from the true God ; * —and thj^t God permits them to try the * Faith of Chriftians, and to execute his Judg- * ments upon Sinners. — Befides thefe Enemies * of our Souls, I remember what you told * me, and what I find true by Experience, * that we have an Enemy within ourfelves, * even our own corrupt Nature, very prone to * Evil ; and that we have alfo an evil World, * and evil Examples, to lead us to forget or * to negleft God, and our own Promife.' Mijf, I am glad you remember thefe things fo well.— I muft therefore now give you the nscejfary Advice^ which oyr Lord Chrift has F 3. ^iven |i, ( .■ , )■ 1 ii ; 102 jAn Instruction Ibial. ir. given to all fuch as defign to become Chrif. tians ; — that is, — to do what all wife Men will do, who have any thing of Moment to un- dertake, — * To fit down and confider, what ' it is to be a Chriftian *.' — Left afterwards you exp6fe yourfelf to Shame, and difgrace the Religion you profefs, as too many do. Ind, • I heartily thank you. Sir, for this ' Caution and Advice ;— and beg you will let * me know the Sins I may be tempted to; * — and how I may oppofe and avoid falling * into them.' Mtjf. The Sins to which the Devil and his evil Spirits are moft eagerly bent to tempt Men, — are firft of all, to forfake the true and only GoH, to truft in themfelves, and X.ofear and worjbip other Beings. — This is called I dot* LATRY, and provokes God to give fuch Per- fons up — to a Mind void of Judgment ^^^to commil all Iniquity with Greedinejs t.— This is the fad Cafe of all the Nations of the World, who worfhip not the .true God. — They are under the Power ol'Satany his Angels^ and his Agents ; and fo are you, until through the Fa- vour and Mercy of God, and in the proper Exercife of Faith and Obedience, you are re- ceived into his Church and Family. • Revenge, and Murder that too often follows it, arc Satan's darling Temptations; by which Millions of Souls have been fent out of this World, — This is what you muft refolve ♦ Luke xi V. 2 8. f. Rom. i . againft, !:i the Indians. Dial. II. for tfoe Indians. 103 againft, as aSin more efpecially hated of God. —If you diV^ injured, or opprejfed, you muft leave your Caufe to God: — He, and be only, knows what Punifhment every Injury and /«- jujlice require ; and will call Oftenders to arfc Account in his own proper Time. — It is true,. Revenge isfweetand tempting to our corrupt Nature ; but corrupt Nature you muft not follow, if you refolve to be the Servant of God* Another Sin, which the Devil tempts Men? to, is Lying : He is tjie Father of Lies, and would have all Men like himfelf ; becaufe he knows that God has declared, that/uch as love and make Liesf, fiiall have no Inherit- ance in his Kingdom. This you will confider and refolve againft, as you hope for the Fa- ^vour of God. There is another very dangerous Error, to which Men are ftrongly tempted; — that is, to be proud, and to have an high Conceit of their own Reajon^ Wijdom, and Ability to know ?nd to do what is good, and beft for them- felves. Now this Pride and Self-Conceit takes Men off from their Dependance upon God, his PFill 2ind fVordy by which alone we can know what we mujl do to bejaved; — upon what Terms God will pardon a Sinner ; and what will become of us when we die. Now nothing can provoke God more, than for us poor Creatures to think„that we want not his Help^ his Grace, and Light. f Rev. xxii. i^. F 4 Lajiln. \ >l I 1 r 'It f 104 -^« Instruction Dial. ii. Laftlyy You muft know,— that the Devil hath his Agents in every Place : — Thefe arc Men o^ wicked Lives ^ and wicked Principles ;— who make a Mock of Sin ; who fear not to blafpheme that God, who can deftroy both Body and Soul in HelL — Now the Spirit of God has afTured us, that Converfation withjuch Perfons will corrupt gcod Manners t . — Here then will be your Trial ; — and you ought to confider before hand, whether the Pleafure of fuch Company fhould prevail with you to negle6i the Counfel of God ; which is, to avoid them as you would avoid your own De(lru6tion : — Or whether you will run the Hazard of being ruined for ever, by converfing with fuch wicked Perfons. The next thing, which at your Baptifm, you promife to renounce, is — -* the World, • and all its evil Cuftoms and Manners i-^— as • alfo, all the Sinful Lufts of the Flefh, fo tl at * you will not follow nor be led by them.' Ind, * I am afraid. Sir, that without your •' Inftruftions, I fliall not underftand this as I * ought.* Miff. You will remember, — that this is not the World for which you were chiefly made; •—nor muft you look for any true and lafting Happinefs here.— -Nor will you meet with many things in the World which wilj tempt you with an appearance and fliew of Hap- pinefs; and if you are not refolved to avoid t I Cor. XV, 33. them. Dial. J I. forfieliJViAus. 105 them, they will turn your Heart from the Love of God and the Care of your Soul, Ind. • You will be fo kind as to let me * know what thefe are.' Mtf. The Spirit of God will tell you :— They are * The Lufts of the Flefh/— that is, —all linful, unchafte, and impure Pleafurcs, and whatever leads to fuch Sins. — Secondly,'--^ * The Luft of the Eyes,' — -that is — all finful and covetous Defires, and Love of Riches.— And, Thirdly,--' The Pride of Life t; —or an exceffive Value of themfelves, accompanied with an unreaforfable Defire of the Efteem of the World. Ind, * Pray let me know more particularly * what are the Lufts " of the Fiefli," which * I am to refolve a.^ainft.' MiJ[, I will repeat to you the very Words of God, that you may be convinced I do not tell you any thing but what will be iieceffary to your Salvation. — Now thefe JVorks of the Flejh are mamfeft ) tb^t is, they may eafily be known by any confidering Perfon, tho' never fo unlearned, to be difpleafing to a good and holy God.-r-Such are Adult ery^ Whoredom ^ Idolatry, Witchcraft, Drunk^nnefs, Hatred^ Malice y- Revenge, Strife, Seditions, Murders, Revelliugs J, and Juch-like, — Now however tempting many of thefe Sins may be, — you muft fit down, confider, and refolve againlt them, or never hope for the Favour of GocJ. t I John ii. i6, X Gal. v. 19* 20» 21. F 5 Ind. ;i \ "m^' , N I /\ w ( n n ^■i^^m io6 An Instruction Dial, u, Ind. * You will now let me know what is * meant by— " The Luft oftheE>;cs/' MifJ, I told you before, that it is the eager and covetous Defire of Riches, And that you may be convinced how dangerous a Sin this is, you (hall hear what Chrifl himfelf has faid,-^Ti^/ it is very hard for rich Men to be good Chrijiians *; becaufe they are fb much expofed to many Evils and Temptations, — . fuch as thefe following: They that have Riches are ?pt to loveihtm too much,^ — to put their ^rufi in theniy and io for get their Depend- ance upon God ; to Lord it over and ofprefs their Inferiors ; — and to make Provijion for the Flefhy tofidfilthe Lufls thereof* — And this may be the trtre Reafbn, why our bleffed Saviour fays // is Jo hard for a rich Man to enter into the^ Kingdom of God \ — becaufe, being exempted from all the Toil and Care of Life, he is apt to enter too far into the P^eafures of it, and to /ay to his Soul, Soul, take thine Ea/eySund enjoy the good Things before thee ; — whereas our Portion here is Labour and Exercije, not full Enjoyment, The Buiinefs of our Salvation is a great Work, which cannot be efFefted without Dili- gence, and Zeal, and earneft Contention ; but he that is unacquainted with Labour, will fcarce take the Pains that is required, towards working out his Salvation, and making his Call- ingand EUQionJure. ' f Matt. xix. 25. Befides Dial, r I . for the Indian s. 107 Befides all thefe. — Great Wealth is often at- tended with fuchCares as choak the Good* Seed ibwn in the Hearts of Men, that is, the holy Defires, and good Refolutions, which are wrought in Men by the Spirit of God, fo that this good Seed becometh unfriHtful. And tho* Riches may be made ufe of to good Purpofes, yet it will require a more than or- dinary Grace of God fo to ufe them; — which extraordinary Grace is feldom aiked by, and therefore feldoni given, to fuch whofe Hearts are poffeffed with the Love of Riches* Ind, * One would conclude theni that * Chriftians ought not po defire Riches fo ea- ' ger as generally they do; — nor ought they * who want them to think themfelves unhap* * py or not beloved by God.' Mijl That is very true. And they who will not be convinced of thefe Truths, by what God has declaredun his Word, will one Day be convinced:by fad Experience, when.it may be too late to do them any. Service. Ind. * Mull then, every Man who would * fave his Soul, renounce the Thoughts of * Riches-?- MiJ\ No: Riches may be ufed to many good Purpofes. A great Apoftle of Jefus Chrift tells you how ; — * Charge (fays he) them * who are rich in this World, that they he not ' high' minded i nor truft in uncertain Riches ^ but * in the Living ^ God, who gives us Richly all} • Miltt. xUi. 22. E 6 *• thingsy- i ! 1+ I '.■-I I'll' il > a il ^% )!' 108 j^n Instruction Dial. n. * things to enjoy: — That they do Goody that they * l^e richingoodlVorkSy ready to difiril^ute, will- * ing to communicate ; laying up in Store for * themjehes a good Foundation againft the ' Time to come^ that they may lay hold on eternal * Life *.'— But ftill they are dangerous things ; — They are flu6luating and precarious ;— the Means not the End of Happinefs:-— — They may be Inflruments of giving large Scope to Virtue ; Great BIcffings in the Hands of the Upright ; to the Good of his own Soul, and the Welfare of Mankind;— —But They are Thorns and Snares in the Way of the Froward t. Ind, * What Advice will you give me, that * I may neither deftre nor enjoy them too ' eagerly ?' Mijf, That you may not endeavour by un- juft Ways to better your Condition, you will find thefe Words of Jefus Chrifl in his Gof- pelj— ^/6tf/ will it profit a Man if he fhould gain the whole World and loje his own Soul ||. To moderate your Defires, confider that //^^ more you have^ the more you mufl account for. To make you more contented^ you muft know, that Men are not happy, becaufe they have a great deal, but becaufe God gives them Power to enjoy what they have, be that more or lefs. That the Favours of God may not tempt you to Idlenefs, remember, — That Slothfulnejs • I Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19. il Mark viii. 36. 3 f Prov. xxii. _J. ^fleth il. II. I Dial. II. for the Indians. 109 tafitth into a deep Sleep ; that is, it makes Men infenfible of what concerns the next World, and in this World— f^T;^rj them with Rags *. And, laftly, If you let no worldly Bulinefs hinder you from ferving God daily, it will keep in your Mind a conftant Senfe of your De- pendence upon him, and make you fet your Thoughts upon another World, to which tbis is only a Pajfage, Ind, * Pray inftru6l me how I may beft • avoid Temptations.' Miff. The Diredions I give you fhall be Ihort and plain, and fuited to your Condition. Let this be ever in your Mind, that Sin is the word of all Evils: — For all other Evils will have an End, at fartheft when you dies but Sin will make you miferable for ever. Remember that you are naturally inclined to Sin, that the Devil will tempt you to it, and that God only can fave you. And then you will never truft in your own Strength, but in the living God. To him therefore you will conftantly pray for Help ; ahd if you draw nigh to bim^ he will draw nigh to you t. And yet you muft not expeft God's Aflift- ance without ufing your own Endeavours; for that is to tempt the Lord. If Sinners entice you ^ you mujl not conjent unto them X • Foi they are the Devil's Inftruments, * Frov. xxiii, 21. f James iv. 8. J Pfov. i. 10. If I'! !■; iio An Instruction Dial. rr. | pial. i If you fall into evil Company, you muft go out of it immediately, and not walk in the Way with them, left God forfake you; When the Holy Spirit o^ God puts into your Mind good Defires, or checks you for doing 111, you mud obey the Voice of God ; and he will love you, and preferve you from your fpiritual Enemies, and from everlafting Death. Ind, * You will now be pleafed to explain • to me THAT Pride of Life, which a Chrif- * tian renounces at his Baptifm.' Miff'. By the Pride of Life is meant, — that . great Opinion, which through the Corruption of Nature, all People are apt to have of them- felves; — with an eager, reftlefs, and immo- derate Defire after every Thing that may c|if- ringuifh them from others, which may fet them high in the Efteem of the World. Now this Pride of Life is the Occafion of many Evils, which are highly difpleafing to God, and rauft be refolved againft by every good Chriftiam The£'o//j are thcfe that follow : — They who are under the Power of this Vibe, are more con» cerned forth^fteem of the World,than how to pkafe God : — They are therefore too often tempted to fupport the good Opinion of the World, by laying that out on Vanity, which fhould be the Support of their Families, or of the Poor : — And they are too apt to defpife tho Poor, as if thjsy were not Creatures of the fame Kind with thcmfelves, — They look upon all the iai. Ill, I Dial. II. for the iNDiAiiS. iii the Advantages or Blcffings they have, whe- ther in their Per/orts, or in their PoJfeJ/tons, as their Due ; and are therefore general \y unthank- ful to God, and roif him of the Honour of hiis own Gifts;— In fhort, they are angry, when they are not valued as they think they defervc ; —they are apt to be di/contented^ and to think that they deferve more than they have; — to repine at their Misfortunes ; and overlook their own Infirmities ; and are therefore utter Stran- gers to that Humility y which mud recommend them to the Grace and Favour of God :-— For he reftfteth the Proud, and giveth Grace ta the Humble t. Jnd, * Since this Pride of Life and Heart • is fo natural to us, what can cure tis of it ?' Miff. Nothing but the Grace of God, and pofTeffing your Heart with Thing.s of g.reatej: Moment. Confider, that you are Hable to Eternal Miferyt' That your great Bufinefs in this muft go t in the ito your )r doing ; and he m your I Death, explain a Chrif. t, — that ruptioji )f them, immo- nay dif- may fet d. afion of afing to ( every ley who )recon» an how ►o often I of the which :s, or of pife tho le fame pon all the World ia to prepare for a happy Death^ and the Day of Judgment; and you will bq very indifferent about feveral things, which;, you now take too much Pleafure in. For which Reafon you will neither ftudy to be vainy 2iX\dfoolij[h In your Drefs, nor fmgular and conceited rn your Opinions, but imitate fiich a& are fobi^r-minded ; as knowings ^bat' the OrnamtW^ptt^iUheM and bumble Spirit J is in- f I Pec. V. 5. X Ibid. iii. 4. the .< •! ft J -\% i i% ! 1 i;!i: f1 PI u 112 -/^« Instruction Dial. n. the Sigh/ of God of great Price, and fliould therefore be your great Concern. And then, ifyou remember, — that you have nothing that you have not received *, — nothing tut what you mud give an Account for, you will have more Realbii iofear^ than he proud of your AcH'antagcs. ind, « Well. Sir, I fee fufficient Rcafon, why every one, who purpofes to become a C\\v'\^\i\v\,J}jould renoynce the Devil^ and all his WorkSy — the P aniiies of the Worlds — and the Lufts of the Flefh.- I am alfo convinced of the great Advantage thofe will reap, who are able to overcome thefe Difficulties.- . But then I am difcouraged exceedingly, when I fee fo many, who have undertaken to be Chriflians upon thefe Conditions, in a manner renounce that Religion afterwards, — either finding it impoflible to obferve thefe Conditions, or thinking that they are not fo very neccffary to Salvation as you ■ f^y they are/ \ MiJJ. Believe not this, becaufe pf our/ay^ ittgjo only ; but becaufe the God of 'Truth and Mercy hath fo faid, who would have all Men come to the Knowledge of the Truth, and re- quires nothing to be done or avoided by Chrif- tians, but what is abfolutely neceflary to their Salvation ; — and which he will enable them to perform, if it is not plainly tlidirMi^n i-Ault. * I Cojs iv. 7, Dial. II. j^r //;^ Indians. 113 As for fuch as call themfelves ChriflianSt but do not the things which Chrift has com- manded, you mull not judge of the Chridian Religion iy thenty but by your own ^enfe, and IVant of a Redeemer, — The Chriftians you fpeak of have never truly confidercd the ex- treme Danger they are in ; — nor what the Son of God has declared ; — That it were better for tbem, that a Mill-Jione was banged about their Necks, and they cafl into the Sea, than they jhould be the Occafion of Offence to well-difpojei People f.-^And indeed none ferve the Defigns of Satan more thaw fuch fort of Chriftians ; i— and who have no other Choice, but a true and timely Repentance, or everlajling Mijery* ' And Repentance, one would hope, they would chufe, ii they would confider the great Patience of God, which ought to fill their Eyes with Tears and their Hearts with that Shame and Sorrow, which is the Work of true Repentance. Do but remember what I have told you be-»* fore, that a true Faith in God, and in his Word^ will enable you to overcome all the Difficul- ties you can poffibly meet with. It is for this Reafon that every one, before he takes upon himfelf the Chriftian Profeffion, is obliged to give an Account of his Faith, without which it is impoffible to pleaje God, Ind, * Having given you fo much Trouble • already, I muft now afk you to explain to f Luke xvii. z% • me 1 '\ ?7 1 .! \ 1 i' " t 1 11', , \ 1 i ■,:l '' In! ; ■' 1 . ^1 j / lljttj ; ily.^fBfa ! n Br l'''t l l#i' 1 '"" ■ r . * V \- H ^ '■ '^ jfe^,;V \M\' * w ffii^r^ 1 ■i ||.||ll' '' • 1 ^ 1 hi) 1 i 1 il''l^ H . \ ft / i '' :|v' jl 1 A t , ' ' 'i'/ k ij i- 'f>J'Vv' 1 ' ' ' ^^'11 1 1 ^''^Mii' i ( ,', II I '^ ' • • - ii ■ < iW^ ■' '■' ' ) ' ' f "i } " s i ' V 1, , % .*'■ ' ' .{M . si'. ■1: ' .i P. J 1 ' uim •d'4i J •A h 108 j^n Instruction Dial. 11, * things to enjoy: — I'hat they do Goody that they * be rich in good JVorks, ready to dijlributey will- * ing to communicate; laying up in Store for * themfehes a good Foundation againft the ' Time to come J that they may lay hold on eternal * Life *.' — But ftill they are dangerous things ; — They are flufluating and precarious ;-— the Means not the End of Happinefs:-p- — They may be Inflruments of giving large Scope to Virtue ; Great BIcffings in the Hands of the Upright ; to the Good of his own Soul, and the Welfare of Mankind;— But They are Thorns and Snares in the Way of the Froward t. Ind. * What Advice will you give me, that * I may neither deftre nor enjoy them too * eagerly ?* Mijf, That you may not endeavour by un- juft Ways to better your Condition, you will find thefe Words of Jefus Chrifl in his Gof- ptli-^What will it profit a Man if he fhould gain the whole World and loje his own Soul ||. To moderate your Defires, confider that /i^^ more you have^ the more you mufl account for. To make you more content ed^ you muft know, that Men are not happy, becaufe they have a great deal, but becaufe God gives them Power to enjoy what they have, be that more or lefs. That the Favours of God may not tempt you to Idlenefs, remember, — That Slothfulnefs • I Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19, II Mark viii* 36' I Prov. xxii. ^. cafletb m al. 11. I Dial. II* for the Indians. 109 (ofleth into a deep Sleep ; that is, it makes Men infenfible of what concerns the next World, and in this World — covers them with Rags *. And, laftly, If you let no worldly Bufinefs hinder you from ferving God daily, it will keep in your Mind a conftant Senfe of your De* pendence upon him, and make you fet your Thoughts upon another World, to which this is only a Pajfage, Ind, * Pray inftru£l me how I may beft • avoid Temptations/ Mijff'. The Direftions I give you fhajl be fhort and plain, and fuited to your Condition. Let this be ever in your Mind, that Sin is the worft of all Evils: — For all other Evils will have an End, at farthefl: when you dies but Sin will make you miferable for ever. Remember that you are naturally inclined to Sin, that the Devil will tempt you to it, and that God only can fave you. And then you will never truft in your own Strength, but in the living God. To him therefore you will conftantly pray for Help ; and if you draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to you t. And yet you muft not expeft God's Affift- ance without ufing your own Endeavours; for that is to tempt the Lord. If Singers entice you, you mujl not confent unto them X : For they are the Devil's Inftruments. * Pfov. xxiii, 21. t James iv. 8. % Prov. i. lo. If f|!' «• i m K \y' 114 ^^ Instruction Dial. n. * me the Particulars of the Chriftian Fahh.\ * but with your Leave I will' wait on you * again very Toon/ MiJJ', As foon as you can. — In the meao time, I mud put you in Mind To beg of God to deliver you from the Attempts of the Devil and his wicked Agents, who wilJ try all Ways to divert you from your good Purpofes -— — And may God keep you \xt the good Difpofition you feem to be in ! The P R A Y E R. ALmighty and moil merciful Father, prc- ferve me from all the Temptations of my Adverfary the Devil, who goeth about fe^king whom he may be permitted to devour. — Give me holy Refolutions, and a watchful Spirit, that I may perfevere in the Way of Go^linefs, and my Life correfpond with the Purity of my Faith. — Oh I Let me never difhonour fo excellent a Title as that of a Chrifiian ; but do thou reign in my Heart, by the Spirit of Grace guiding all my A6lions, and diredling my In- tentions, that I may be the Servant of thy di- vine Will here, and be admitted to the Holi- nefs and Glories of that State, where thou reigned for ever and ever, and art All in all Amen. DI A- Dial. 1 2. for /Z'^ I n d i a N s. 1x5 DIALOGUE XII. T[he Articles of the Chrijlian Faith praSii^ cally explained. .HT-- Indian. . YO U told me. Sir, when I left you lafl^ ^•^That without Faith no Man canpleafe God*, nor ought to be admitted into the Society of Chriftians,- — I am therefore now come to learn of you, Pf^hat that Faith isy»^ which Chriftians profefs to believe^ before they are baptized.' MiJ/iotiary, You mull know then, that there are many things which Chriftians believe, and which you will know hereafter, when you hear the Holy Scriptures read and explained.— In the mean time there are certain Truths neceflary to be known and believedj before you can be baptized. Ind. ' How ihall I know what thefe Truths * are?' « ^ » MiJ", For the Benefit of young Beginners, and for fuch as cannot read or remember many things. Truths of the greateft Moment are contained in this following ftiort Account, which we call the Creed, or the Articles OF THE Christian Faith ; and I muft pre- vail with you fo to fix them in your Memory, ♦ Heb. xi. 6* ' ' ■ that \ ' 1 ' ?! r t . 1' ■ 1 |.^! T ,4 •j!i M \^ ( I ■'■A . iiiJi:; I i ii6 -/f« Instruction Dial, i 2, that you may not forget them as long as you live : For the Belief of thefe will be a powerful Means to make you holy^ righteous and happy^ Tie CREED, or The Articles of the Christian Faith. I believe In God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth : — And in Jefus Chrill his only Son our Lord, — who was con- ceived by the Holy Ghoft, — born of the Virgin ikf^iry,— ^fufFered un-' ^tx Pontius P/7^/^,--^was crucified, dead and. buried ; — he defcended Jnto Hell ;-^the third Day he rofe ■ again from the Dead ; — he afcend- ed into Heaven ; — and fitteth at the Right-hand of God the Fa- ther Almighty ; — from thence he fhall come to judge the Quick and the Dead. I believe in the Holy Ghoft ;— the Holy Catholic Church ; — the Com- plal. 12. yir/^^ Indians. 117 Communion of Saints ; — the For- givcnefs of Sins; — theRefurredion of the Body ; — and the Life ever- lafting. Ajnen* Ind. * I will endeavour to learn them by < Heart;— and I hope I fliall remember them * as long as I live.— And now 1 fhall be very * thankful, if you will ihew me,— How the * Knowledge and Belief of thefe things are ' neceffary to make Men good, as you very « juftly fay, all Chriftians ought to be ?' M^f. Remember then,— 2i&^/ to believe in God, is not only to profefs, that there is fuch a glorious Beingy who made the World, and all things in it; — but-alfo to believe whatever he hath made known to us, either concerning himfelf, or the Duties we owe to Himy our^ JelveSy and others ; which is all contained in the Holy Scriptures, written by the Infpiration of God *, who can neither be deceived, nor deceive us,' Now in thefc Scriptures he hath made known to us,— T^to he never left himfelf with" out Witnejs t ; bm hath given fufficient Proofs of his Almighty Power, H^ifdom, Juflice, Good- nefsy and ^ruth, in all Ages of the World. — He hath made known to us^ — that by bis Jlmighty Power he created the World and all things in it ; — and that, by his mojl wonderful * z Tim. iii. 6. f Ads xiv. x;. IFifdom, «i ^ h' ^' 'I H Il p '•'I I ii8 -^;: Instruction Dial. 12, Wifdonu lie hsis governed and frejerved it ever fince it was made. That he is the Aulhur af our Being, and of all the Good we do, or ever can enjoy *. That he is perfeftly Holy, and requires all his Servants to be Holy t. ' That he fees us where-ever we are, and whatever we do, fo that i^ we pJray to Him we are fure to be heard ; if ive fin we are fure to be punifhed f|. For his Power is mhhty to reward his faith- ful Serv: nts, and punilhthe Difobedient J. That he isjufl in all his Ways ; command- cth nothing but what is for the GocJ of his Creatures: and never punifheth, but when they truly deferve his Difpleafure §. That he is Long-Juffering, and ready to re* ceive all that are fenfible of their Mifery 4,, And, That he is difaithfulOod ; whatever he has promifed, will certainly be performed; whatever he has threatened, will furely come to pafs ||||. ^ , ^ For he governeth all things, both in Hea- ven and Earth; and notbingis too hard for him that he thinks Jit to do J J. Now the Belief o^ thefe Truths is neceflary to give us fuch worthy Thoughts of the Great and Glorious God, as may humble us in our own Eyes ; — and make w^ fearful oi offending, aiid * Afts xvii. 28. t I Pet. i. 15, 16. || Prov. xv. 3. X Gen. xvii, i. § Ibid, xviii. 15, \ z Pet. iii. 6. illl Peuf. vii. 9. \X Jer. xxxii. J7. Dial. 12. for the iKDlAiiS. 119 ffjad to pleafe, one who has Power to reward oxfunijh fuch 2iS pleafe or offendhm, — On the other Hand, — we fliall be difpofed to Jove him above all things, becaufe we believe him to be the Giver of all the Good we either enjoy ^ or ever hope for, And he having made known to us, That his Eyes are in every Placey beholding the Evil and the Good * ; and that from him no Secrets are hid j— this Con- fideration is proper to make us careful of our Words and Aftions, andjifraid o^ doing or fay-^ r ing any *hing which may difpleafe fo great and holy a Being. — And as for his Juftice, we have the greateft Reafon to fear it ; becaufe he has in the Holy Scriptures, made known to us many dreadful Examples of his Difpleafure againft thofe who have no Regard to Reafon, or his Commands ; by which we learn what we muft exped, if we provoke him by our Sins. — Lajilyy — when we fee, as we find it in his Word, that this Great God has been fp good as to fpare Men, even when they have deferved Punifhment, we are hereby power- fully led to adore and admire his Goodnefs and Patience, which doth^ or ought to lead Men to Repentance, Ind, * Why is God called the Father ?* MiJ'. Becaufe he is the Maker a|id Preferver of all Creatures, which, with the Care and AflPeftion of a Father, he watches over con- tinually. ■ • PfOV. XV. 3. 4 • He vm :| S n^\ ■m\\\ *H ll. ) v^M^ H'ii; 4w I* -^ I20 ^« Instruction Dial. 12. He is the Father of Man, hecaufe He created him, after his own Image, Becaufe he teacheth Man Knowledge ;— ^ corrects him when he does amifs; — amdrewards him when he does well. Ind. * What is meant by God's Providence^ Mijf. The Wijdom and Power of God, by which he knows and appoints how every thing in the World fhall be, fo that the whole Crea- tion is taken care of: — Not the meaneft Creature can Juffer without God's Leave, either by Malice or Accident *. Ind. * Why then do Evils befal Men ?* MiJf, Very often io punijh them, and tobring them to Repentance ; but efpecially to wean our Hearts from being too fond of this Life ; and that we may think of, delight in, and prepare fof a better. ' Ind. * Doth God govern the Seafons ? D^ * not Summer and Winter^ Spring and Harveft^ * return certainly at their appointed Time ?' MiJf, — They do : — But then, to put Men in mind that they depend upon God only, and not upon the Seafons, for their daily Bread,— the Summer fometimes returns without its ufual Heaty and the Harveft without \is Fruitfulnefs"^, Ind, * Have not wicked Men, and wicked ' Spirits great Power of doing Mifchief?' Miff, 'Tis true-^God hath given them great Power both to punifh the Wicked, and to try the P'aith of the Righteous J : — But the Word * Matt. X. 29. f Hag. i. 9. lo, ii. J 2 Sam. xvi. 10. of Dial. 12. for the In DiAtJS. 121 of God afTures us. That neither Men nor De- vils can do the lead Hurt, without the Leave of God: — and this is the Reafon that there is not more Mifchief in the World, and that all thiiigs are not every-where fn Confufion *. /W, * Of what Ufe is it to believe, that < God is our Father ?' Mfjf, If you indeed believe this, you will take your Fathei*s Word for what he promif- eth ; be pleafed for what he ordereth •, — Caft /ill your Care upon bim,forhe carethforyou "f-. You will never abufe his Goodnefs and Long- fuffering ; — for tho' he hath the Compaffion of a Father y yet if his Children are obftinately dij- obedient^ he ha God terrible in Judgment J, ^ In all your Afiiict^ns you will have this Comfort ; *fis good for a Man to he in Trou- ble\y and to hear Chafiening^ if it {ojeemetb good to his all-wife and gracious Father ; not for his own Plea/tire^ but our Profit^ as it may make us Partakers of his Holinefs, and yield the peaceable Fruit of Righteoufnefs to them that are exercifed thereby \\. Lafily^ U God is y our Fat hef\ your Inheri- tance is in Heaven ; which you ought fre-- quently and ferioufly to think of, — • That * where your Treafure is^ there may your Heart kalfoj^.* ' V Ind. * I am Convinced, and do believe thefe ' Perfeftions of God ; and I fee how necefiary •Job I. II. f I Pet. V. 7. X P^*l* xlvii. z« §Ibicl. cxix, 71. II Hcb, xii. 5, 8cz. 4- Matt. vi. 21. 'G they : i\ •1 i' )\' I -W i't I \ -< '^'k |t a i m hJirr^i ll W'l'i I'iiar % ■II 122 -/4« Instruction Dial. 12, loial. n * they arc to be known and believed, in order ? to make Men /^^r before him,— and to love * and olfey him.' Miff'. But you have not perhaps confidered — what little Comfort the Belief of thcfe things will be to a Man who knows himfelf to be a Sinner, and that as fuch he mud needs be under the Difpleafureof this holy,jufi,2L\\d powerful God ; — and yet knows not how to be reftored to his Favour, Ind, * That is indeed a perplexing, tor- * meriting Thought ; — and I remember what * you told me before, — That until God was * pleafed to let Men know upon what Terms * he would accept of their Repentance, and * pardon them, the wifeft Men on Earth could * not find it out, fo a^o make the Minds of * Sinners eafy.* Miff* This will convince you of the great BleJJjng of Chrijlianity^ — and the great Good- neJs and Mercy of God in delivering Man- kind from the fear of Deaths and what will certainly follow ; — which without the Gofpel was the Torment of Sinners, and kept them in Bondage all their Life long *.— How God has delivered us from this Bondage, you will un- derftand in the next Article of the Chrijiian Faith, Ind. * You will be fo kind as to explain * that to me/ * Heb. ii. 15. Miff. Dial. 12. y^r /A^ Indians. ' 123 Miff. That I will do.— But I muft be oblig- ed to repeat fome Truths of Moment, which I have told you before : — That after the First Parents of Mankind had loft their Ma- ker'sFavourbylheirDifobedience,andbrought Siriy and Mifery^ SindDeath^ into the World,— God in great Pity promifedthem a Saviour ; one who would fatisfy his Juftice, for the; Dilhonour done to. him by their Sins, and would reftrain the Power of that evil Spirit^ which had tempted them to fo great a Sin, Now this promi/ed S a v i o u r is the very Per" Jon, in whom we Chriftians profefs to believe, when we fay, -IVe believe in Jefus Cbrift, the mly Son of God our Lord. For when the World was grown exceeding wicked, and ignorant of the only true God, this his Son took upon himfelf the Nature of Man, by%being born of a Firgin, that as a Man he might be capable of fuffering for the Sins of Men for which from the Beginning of the World he had engaged to Juffer t, to fave iks from being loft for ever. Accordingly, the Rulers and the Generality of the Peopleof the Jews^ amongft whom he was born and lived, being grown very corrupt and wicked, did not only reje6l HiM,and the Mes- sage of Salvation that he brought them from God, and the Holy Rules of Living which he afllired them were neceflary to pleafe God ; but they alfo ufed him moft barbaroufly, and at f Rev. xiii, 8« ' G 2 laft !!*• 1 . iJ-M i ■If i ' ;! \ 124 -/?/? Instruction Dial. j?,. iaft prevailed wkh Pontius Pilate^ the /^ow^;: Governor, to pur him to Death, eveji agnhfi Ms Confcience;^-' Inch Death the Son of;., d fubmitted to j for he could eafily have delivered him/elf out of the Hart/is of his tnemies, — Nfow, by mWxn^Y offering himfelf to Death, he be- came a Sacrifice acceptable to God for the Sim of the -whole World ;— and reftdred Mankind to the Faivour of thei-r Maker, upon mod rea- Jonahle Conditions. ^^PiwA that all fuch as do believe in him might be aCTured of this — Qoi raifed him the third Day from the Dead, and Jhewedhim openly, — And by this moft powerful Fvoa^— 'declared him to he his Son; — and that whatever he had/^iV, or done^ or taught, was agreeable to his Will and Appointment. After this, in the Sight of many. He afcend- £d into Heaven, and ^z^fet at the Right-hand 4)f God^ having ail Power granted him for the Benefit of his Church, to give eternal Life to all fuch as Jh ail believe in^ and obey him t.— And Jaft, We believe that this our Saviour Jhall come again at the End of the Worlds to judge the laving and the Dead, ■ ' Ind, * You will now be fo good as to (hew ^ me, — what EfFefts this Belief ought to have * upon thofe that know thefe things/ Miff* You cannot but perceive the powerful Influence, which the Belief of thefe things mult flieeds have upon ev^ry thoughtful Chriftian. The Perfon in whom we believe is the Son of jhe Most High God ; his jirue, and t John xvii, 2, proper, Pial. 12. for the Indianjt^ 125^ proper, his only begotten^ and dearly beloved So>i — Surely, TaidGod himfelF, ihey ivill re- verence my Son t. — And have not Men all the- Reafon in the World, to reverence and obey him, iince, for us Men, and for our Salvati- on, he came down from Heaven,— /^r^^^^/;^: fis^ — iojuffer for our Sins, to declare to us his Father's Reaninefs to pardon Sinner*, — and to put us in the Way of Salvation ? In the next place, — we receive Jefus Chrift for our Lord; — we are therefore no longer our cwn Majlers ;— but we are to do what he hathr commanded. — Nor muft we pretend to Jerv^ iwo Maftersy that is, our Lord^ and our own corrupt Inclinations. Our Lordy is the Son of God, an J as fuch bar all Power given him in Heaven and in Earth i ^He is therefore able to defend us in all Af- feuUs-of OUT Enemie*; nor needwc fear the. Power of any Adverfaries of our Souls. He was made Man ;— he knows therefore^, the Temptations^ the WeakneJfeSy the Miferies we are fubjcft to; and will pity us, being as willing, as he is able, to help us in all our Diftrefs, when we call upon him. By his being obliged to/uffer Death in the Place of Sinners, — we learn how fad the Condition of Mankind was, fincc ihzjuftice of God would, not be fatisfied with a lefs^ Sacrifice. — ^By this alfo we fee the dreadful Nature of Sin, how f , Matt. xxi. 37. h^' ■k ! M ■• i i G 3^ dir- 126 Jin Instruction Dial. rz. I pial. difplcafing it is to God, and what Punifhmcni I able t< it muft have, if it be not repented of. I jjjj^j [^ But then, for our Comfort, we have this AfTurance, that tho' our Sin.H be never To great, they cannot be greater than the Price the Son of God has paid for our Pardon, if wc do repenty and return to our Duty. Ey the Rejurre^ion of Chrid, and his AJ- cenfion into Heaven, our Belief in him is con- firmed beyond any Doubt; — and he having all Power with God — (for that is the Meaning of Jilting at his Right-hand) he is able to do for us more tha, we can ajk or think. You believe thai he died^ was buried^ androje the third Day from the Dead. Then you are fure, that God can raife the Dead ; and therefore we hope, both for our- felves and Friends, that we fhall live again :-^ For them that Jleep in Jefus^ fhall God brini with him J. If God raijed Chrififrom the Dead, then arc "we moft fure, that whatever he taught was true ;-^whatever hepromifed, will be perform- ed i — whatever he threatened, will come to pafs ; — Otherwife God would not have raifed him from Death to Life ; — for that would have been to have deceived his Creatures. — But further, the Belief 0/ his Return from Heaven to judge the World in Right eoufnefs, is a moft powerful Motive to awaken Chriftians, and oblige them to endeavour to live anfwer- X I Theff. iv. 14, able at the Anc you fe timely Can come^ a ingyo Iftl clofcd, Thouo the Li Anc then b things, there f( accord Cufton Laji as Ten to a f heard pafTion knows us, is t In o OF Go fon to have i\ in' him by doii fZ' I Dial. 12 for //6(f Indians. 127 able ^to their Profeffton and Belief-, that their Sins may not rife up in Judgment againft them at the great Day of Account. And will not this awaken you, and make you ferioufly prepare for that^reat Day, by a limely Repentance ? Can you think o^ Judgment y and JVrath to come, and will not this terrify you from follow- ing your Sins ? If the Secrets of all Hearts will then be dif- clofcd, will not you be afraid to indulge fuch Thoughts, and fuch Defigns, as will not bear the Light, and Judgment of God ? And, above a)l, confider thj^t you muft then be judged, not as the World judgeth of things, but by the Word of God ; by which, therefore, you muft refolve to live, and not according to the foolifh Opinions, and finml Cuftoms of the World. Laftly, — This belief hath Comforts as well as Terrors ; for tho' we (hall indeed be called to a ftrift Account, yet we are fure to be heard with Favour, and treated with Com- paflTion, if our Cafe will bear it : — For He who knows our Infirmities, — He that died to fave us, is to be our Judge. In one Word, you may fee, that the Soh OF God has given Chriftiansthe greateftRea- fon to love and adore him, that they might have the greateft Reafon to obey him, and truft in- him as their Lord and Redeemer, and by doing fo, by him be made happy for ever. G 4 t Ind» i^ W I jftf' Ml, li-' • ^ fj'. t 11 120 ^» Instruction Dial. 12. He is the Father of Man, becau/e He created him after bis own Image* Becaufe he teacheth Man Knowledge ; — ^ correSfs him when he does amifs; — ^indrewards him when he does well. */W. * What is meant by God's Providence^' Mijf. The Wijdom and Power of God, by which he knows and appoints how every thing in the World fhall be, fo that the whole Crea- tion is taken care of: — Not the meaneft Creature can Juffer without God's Leave, either by Malice or Accident *, Jnd. ' Why then do Evils befal Men ?' MiJ^, Very often io punijh them, and tobring them to Repentance ; but efpecially to wean our Hearts from being too fond of this Life ; and that we may think of, delight in, and prepare fof a better. ' Ind. * Doth God govern the Seafons ? Bo * not Summer and Winter^ Spring and Harveft^ *■ return certainly at their appointed Time ?' Mijf, — They do : — But then, to put Men in mind that they depend upon God only, and not upon the Seafons, for their daily Bread, — the Summer fometimes returns without its ufual Heat, and the Harvejl without lis Fruitfulnefs t. Ind» * Have not wicked Men, and wicked * Spirits great Power of doing Mifchief?* MiJf, 'Tis true-^God hath given them great Power both to punifh the Wicked, and to try the P'aith of the Righteous J : — But the Word * Matt. X. 29. t Hag. i. 9. lo, ii. % z Sam. xvi. 10. of Dial. 12. for the In DiAtJB. I2t of God afTures us. That neither Men nor De- vils can do the lead Hurt, without the Leave of God: — and this is the Reafon that there is not more Niifchief in the World, and that all thiiigs are not every-where fn Confufion *. In^, * Of what Ufe is it to believe, that * God is our Father ?' Mijf, If you indeed believe this, you will take your Faihei*s Word for what he promif- eth ; be pleafed for what he ordereth •, — Caji nil your Care upon him , for he car eth for you \. You will never abufe his Goodnefs and Long- fuffering ; — for tho' he hath the Compaffion of a Father^ yet if his Children are obdinately dij- obedient^ he is /j God terrible in Judgment J. In all your Afflict^ns you will have this Comfort • 'lis good for a Man to be in Trou- ble\y and to bear Chaftenhg^ if it (o/eemet/j good to his all-wife and gracious Father ; not for his own Plea/ure^ but our Profit^ as it may make us Farittkers of his Holinefs, and yield the peaceable Fruit of Righteoufnefs to them that are exerci/ed thereby \l Lafily^ U God hyour Father, your Inheri- tance is in Heaven ; which you ought fre- quently and ferioufly to think of, — • That * where your Trea/ure is^ there may your Heart bealfoj^: . - ^ .- Ind. * I am Convinced, and dobeliqve thefc ' Perfcftions of God ; and I fee how necefiary • Job i. II. f I Pet. V. 7. X P^*l* xlvii. 2* ^Ibid. cxix. 71, II Hcb. xii. 5, &c. 4- Matt. vi. 21. 'G .V,, they 1 > if^' i r HI ^m 1 1 1 ^K hU K i. i!p i i ! ,> -i'-,^ 128 An Instruction Dial. 12, Ind. ' I am very thankful forwhat you have • now told me. — But may I afk you this^uef- • tion ; — If Chrift has fedeefhed Chriftians, are • they not then Jafey and out of Danger ?' Mijf, Yes, moft furely, if it is not their own Fault. Ind. * I wifli you would explain to me • what you meant ki-^ that/ Miff. It is very true, — Jesus Christ has redeemed us, and reftored us to the Favour of God. But then it is upon Condition, thai flnce we know God, and what he has done for us, we glorify him by our Deeds, as well as by our tTords ; — but if Men call themfelves Chriftians, and yet will r>ot obey him in their Pra6lice he deals with them as he did with the Heathens i he gives them up to a Mind void of Judgment *, to IbUow the Defires of their own Hearts, by which they wiii be riiined for ever. And this is the Reafon why ydu fee fo many even amoi!ig Chriftians, — upon whom neither the Fearoi an Almighty and jull God, - nor the Lfive of Chrift his Son, who has faved them, has any Power to keep them in their D.uty.. And altho' they have had the Holy Spirit to direSiyJan^ifyy and govern them, yet him they grieved by their wilful Sins, and forced him to forfake them, fo that they com- mit all Iniquity with Greedinejs t* lnd» • You will now b^ fo good as to let me • Rom. i. 28. t Ibid. * know II Dial. 12. y^r/^^ Indians. 123 Mijf* That I will do.— But I muft be oblig- ed to repeat fome Truths of Moment, which I have told you before : — That after the First Parents of Mankind had loft their Ma- ker'sFavourbylheirDifobedience,andbrought 5/>/, and Mifery^ Sind Deat/\ into the World,— God in great Pity promifedthem a Saviour ; one who would fatisfy his Juftice, for the Difhonour done to. him by their Sins, and would reftrain the Power of that evil Spirit^ which had tempted them to Co great a Sin, Now this promi/ed S a v i o u r is the very Per- fin, in whom we Chriftians profefs to believe, when we fay, -fFe believe in J^Jus Cbrift^ the mly Son of God our Lord, For when the World was grown exceeding wicked, and ignorant of the only true God, this his Son took upon himfelf the Nature of Man, by*being born of a Virgin^ that as a Man he might be capable of fuffering for the Sins of Men for which from the Beginning of the World he had engaged to Juffer t, to fave iks from being loft for ever. Accordingly, the Rulers and the Generality of the Peopleof the y^ze;/, amongft whom he was born and lived, being grown very corrupt and wicked, did not only rejed Him, and the Mes- sage of Salvation that he brought them from God, and the Holy Rules of Living which he afllired them were neceffary to pleafe God ; but they alfo uied him moft barbaroufly, and at f Rev. xiii, 8. G 2 laft ^mm » • . )m 'I !? >; I and are called the Holy Ca- T«H0Lic& Church, becaufe it conlifts of Chriftians of all Nations and Languages, who ought all of them to be holy. All Chriftians, thus dedicated to God, are me Body, under one Head, the Lord Christ ; and, as fuch, are obliged to hold Communion one with another, . as Members of the fame Body ought to do. To every Member of this Society is pro- mifed the Forgivenefs of Sins, upon his true Repentance, and Return to hrs Duty. To this Church the fame Holy Spirit has made known, rhat all Men fliall rije again from the Deadmth theirown Bodies, and give Ac- count of their own Works ;— ^nd that after '^ G 5 * this 4 li il 1, -»r i . * : .,;r' I i •X I , \W>-\ I f riM] it pial. 12. for the Indiana. r2'5^ proper, his only begot t en ^ and dearly beloved So>i — Surely, faid God himfelf, they ivill re- verence my Sonf, — And have not Men all the Reafon in the World, to reverence and obey him, (ince, for us Men, and for our Salvati- on, he came down from Heaven, — ta redeem usy — to/uffer for our Sins, to declare to us his Father's Reaninefs to pardon Sinner*, — and to put us in the Way of Salvation ? In the next place, — we receive Jefus Chrift for our Lord; — we are therefore no longer our own Majlers ;•— but we are to do what he hatb commanded. — Nor muft we pretend to Jerve iwo Maftersy that is, our Lord, and our owtS' (orrupf Inclinations. Our Lordy is the Son of God\ and" as fucb har all Tower given him in Heaven and in Earth i •—He is therefore able to defend us in all Af- feuUs-of ou» Enemie*; nor ncedwc fear the^ Power of any Adverfaries of our 5ouls. He was made Man ;— he knows therefore^, tfee temptations, the JVeakneJfes, the Miferies we are fubjc6l to; and will pity us, being ai willing, as he is able, to help us in all our Diftrefs, when we call upon him. By his being obliged to/uffer Death in the Place of Sinners y — we learn how fad the Condition of Mankind was, fincc the Juftice of God would, not be fatisfied with a lejs^ Sacrifice. — -By this alfo we fee the dreadful Nature of Sin, how^ •f-, Matt. xxi. 37» dif- m W '^V'H i'^ aM r.\ i \ 1h! 4 . ■*- .1 V i 1 130 J^n INSTRUCTION Dial. 12, this will follow an everlafiing Life of Happi, nefs or Mifery. Ind. * Will you, Sir, now be pleafed to * ir.ake me und^rftand, what are the natural ' Fruits of fuch a Faith, and what fuch a Be* • lief obliges Chriftians to do ?* Mijf, Remember then, — That the Holy Ghost is he, to whom, with the Father and the Son, all Chriftians are dedicated in Bap- tifm ; — that it W this Holy Spirit who is to fit Men for Heaven and Happinefs; — which he does, — by convincing all fuch as are difpoj' ed for eternal Life, and will attend to his holy Motions, — by convincing them that they are ■Sinners^ that, as fuch, they ftand in Need(?/^ Redeemer: As alfo, by putting into theip Hearts the Fear ofGod^-^a Love for bis LawSy ^—and ajtrious Concern for their Souls; — by refiraining them from Evil, — artd changing their Difpofitions from Evil to Good, Ini. ' But it is plain> Sir, that this Holy • Spirit doth not thus govern and direct all * Chriftians.' Miff. That is too trae ; — but then, as I told you before, the Fault is purely in.themfelves. —They neglect to ufe the Means God has be- ftowed upoa them, and the Graces he has pro- vided for them ; and then they become ufelefs,, and he often takes them away t . Too many grieve the Holy Spirit by their evil Deeds, and force him to forfake them : — And very many, f Mate. XXV. zgt* i who ■\i Dial. 12. y^r /^^ Indians. 131 who are not fo wicked, do yet never lay Claim to that Promife of God, — that he will give the Holy Spirit to them that ajk him t ; — Whereas- all good Chriftians do pray for this Holy Spi- rit, and do find the wonderful Effefts and Bleffing of his Guidance and Affiftance. And here take notice of a Truth I now tell you, that every Soul of Min is under the In* fluence either of good or evil Spirits : — But then ih^^t good Spirits rr^ay be provoked by our evil Lives toforfake us; and then the evil Spirits are always ready to take Poffeffion of fuch as thev find ^orfaken of God, and not under his immecnate Proteftion. Ind, * And pray. Sir, how is this to be r^rt-* * vented?' Miffl Every Chriftian muft keep in his^ Mind the Promife he made when he was B^p<«^ tized ; and, in every thing wherein he fails, he ought forthwith to beg Forgivenefs of God, left, continuing in Sin* wilfully y he become a Slave to Satnn aiKl his^ Angek, inflead of be- ing a Servant of God. I (hall only mention»anot!icr Bleffing which we receive from the Holy Ghoft, and the EfFeB it ought fo have upon UiS.— It is^ from- him we have the Holy Scriptures, which are therefore very truly called the Word of God ; — and the V\?ord o» our Salvation. Thefe Scriptures^ therefore, every one who would coiuinue in the Favour of God, muft f Luke xi. i j. G 6> read ii. ^^^:i|rl; .!. vi ; 1 m \ 132 An Instruction Dial. 12. | Dial. \ read, or hear them read with the greateft Re- verence and Attention, and conform his Be- lief and PraQice ftri6ily to them. Ind. * I defire you would explain more parti- * cularly what you mean by the Holy Ca- * THOLicK Church,— *arid the Communi- * ON OF Saints/ Mi/f. It is plain from the Holy Scripture^ That it was the Defign of our Lord Jejus Chrifl to deliver to Mankind the whole Will of God, fo far as their Salvation was concern- ed in it. — All thefe things which were thus revealed, is called the Chnftian Religion : — And this Religion was taught to the World by our Saviour, and by his Apostles ; and this Religion was put into Writing by infpired Men, and is now extant amongil us in the Books of the New Teftament.— It was our Lord's Defign, that all who ihould embrace this Religion of his, fhould be united among themfelves, and with this Head Jesus Chr i st, and fo become One Body by the Means of One Holy Spirit, which fhould aftuate and in- fluence them. — And it was our Lord's Defign, that all Believers y all that profeffed his Religi- on» fhould be admitted to the Participation of this Sfirfty and fo be made Members of this Common Body, by the Sacrament of Bap- tism, and receive continual Influence from the fame Spirit, by eating and drinking in the Sacrament of the Communion of his Body and Blood '^ or what we call the LokdVSupper. By Dial. 12. j^r /^^ Indians. 133 Bv the Church then is meant the whole Multitude of thofe Perfons, whether Jews, or Centiles, that do embrace and profefs the Chrif- tian Religion, and are join'd together by the Means of thefe Sacraments, in one Body or Society, under one Head Jesus Christ.— This Church was to extend throughout all the World, and to be made up of all Nations. Ind. ' Pray what is meant by the Catholick < Church?' Miff", By Catholick is meant Univer- SA L, fo that whenever we name or fpeak of the Catholick Churchy we mean by thofe Words, the whole Multitude of Chriftians throughout the World, that profefs the common Faith, and enjoy the Adminiftrationof the Word and Sacraments. — All thefe People wherever they live, or by wl atJf^ame foever they call them- kWtSy make up iogtihtv that one Body of Chrift, which we call the Catholick Church. The Church is called holy^ becaufe every Member of that Society obliges himfelf, by the gracious AfTiftance of Gods Holy Spirit, — /i? be holy, — He that is not fo, or does not immediately repent, and become fuch, is but a rotten Member, and is in Danger of being cut off. As to the Communion of Saints : — As every Perfon owes fomethingtothe Society of which he is a Member, fo efpecially in the Society of Chriftians, every one is bound, by the Laws of the Gofpel, to ufe the Talents and Advan- tages ilk ^ t h ! I lifl :' K'H 'i ■ ill M2I ill 134 An Instruction Dial. 12, tages which God has given him, whether of Knowledge and Learning, or Powers or Riches, or Grace, for the Good of the whole Body : — To pray for them ; — to aflTift thofc that are irv Want ; — to inftru6l the Ignorant, and them that are out of the Way; — and t9 Jludy the things that make for Peace^ and for mutual Edi* fication t. Ind. ' You told me before, that in the * Church of Chrift there is a Promife of the * p'oRGivENESs OF Sins/ Mijl And a mighty Bleffing fure it is,-— That Men, who on account of their nfiany Sins, are liable to the Difpleafure of God,— may be aflured, that in the Church of Chrift they will obtain the Forgivenefs of their Sins upon mod merciful Conditions; — upon a true Repentance, and Return. to their Duty; —and a ready Difpofition to forgive others,, as they themfeJves do hope for Forgivenefs from God. The Resurrection of the Body, and AN EVERLASTING LiFE AFTER DsATH Thefe are Truths which Jefus Chrift has made known to his Church : — And they are as cer- tain as God hfmfelf is true. And that thev may make the greater Impreflion upon youc Heart,, I will repeat to you. the very Words of Chrift : — * The Hour is^ coming, in which • all that are in the Graves fhall hear his Voice ♦ and comeibrth I they that have done Good,, •J; Rom. xiv. 19. * unto Dial. 12. for /^^ Indians. 135 * unto the Refurreftion of Life ; and they that « have done Evil, unto the Refurreftion of * Damnation */ — So that all Chriftians who know this, may be affured, that this Life is the only Time to chufe where and what they are to be for ever j and may learn not to trifle away that precious Time, which is Chiefly al- lowed them to prepare for Eternity. , Ind, ^ Well, Sir, I fee plainly the Reafon ' why every one who defires 10 be a Chriftian, * ftiould believe thefe Truths.* Mijf^ Thefe things are true, and^ will at laft be found to be fo, whether Men believe them or not. — And if a Man is loft for ever, for want of giving Credit to them, or for not confidering them, it will fignify little whether he was called a Chriftiariy or an Heathen* Ind, * Indeed one would wonder, that fa * many Chriftians, who know thefe things, * can be fo eafy, and focarelefsof their Sal- * vation.' Miff. Be you careful for yoiirfelf, and con-- tinue fo, when you are a Chriftian. — In the mean time, I tell you again, — the true Rca- fons,j why ib many among Chriftians forget, the Promifes they made at their Baptifm, are thefe : — Through the Corruption of Nature ihey fall into Sin; — ^^they do not what they ought to do, that is, repent and turn to their Duty immediately ; — and continuing in Sin, theje Truths are uneafy to them, hecaufe they • John V. 28, 29. put I ; 1, Mm ' I tin f!:r'! m lir'ill 136 Ah Instruction Dial. 12; put them in mind of their Ingratitude to the God who made them;—- to God the Sont who died for them; — and to God the Holy Ghost, whom they had grieved by obftinate- ly perfifting in a vicious Courfe of Life.-— —, They will not confider, that without- HoHnefs^ i. e. without keeping the Commands of God, and doing his Will, no Man can be. favedj and:, befides this, thefe Truths put them in irvMi- of an endle/s Life of Happinefs, which I ry fc/e not difpofed to prepare for, — and of a miferuok Eternity ^ which they have Reafon to fear above all things: — Therefore they ftrive to forget the Truths they have known and believed: — and if the Goodnefs and Long- fufFering of God does not lead them to Re- pentance, — " Thefe Articles of their Faith will •* he the Articles of their Condemnation,'* ^' Ind, • I am convinced, Sir, that thefe * Truths are moft powerful Motives, where « they are known and believed, to oblige Men « to keep the holy Will and Commands of God, * and to walk in the fame all the Days of their c Life : — Which you told me was another ' Part of that Promife which Chriftians make * at their Baptifm, and which I hope you will * explain to me when I come again.' — — Mtjf, That I will gladly do. — And ^or your Part^ I exhort you to beg of God to confirm your Faith in him, and in his Son Jefus Chiift, and caufe it to bring forth in you the Fruit of good 5ial. e to THE HE Son, «E Hoi.Y )bftinate- Jfe.— — , Holinejsy of God, e. faved; them ia >, which — and of 2 Reafon bre they lownand d Long- 1 to Re- aitb will r. > at thefe 5, where ige Men ; of God, of their another ns make you will ^oryour confirm ; Chiift, Fruit of good ^^' B 0ial. ij* y^r /^^ Indians. 137 good Living, to his Glory and ^cur ozvn Sal-* nation* Amen, The PRAYER- Saviour of the World, who by thy Crofs and .precious Blood haft redeemed us, fave us, we moft humbly befeech thee.-^ Grant that the Belief of thefe great Truths may ever bcprefent in our Minds,— That we may die from Sin, and rife again unto Righte- oufnefs; — That we may with joyful Hearts afcend to thee, and with thee ccv jnually dwell ; — That we may judge ourfelvc . and that we may not be condemned, when Thou comeft to judge the World in Righteoufnef^. — O Lord grant that we may exped thy Coming' with Joy, a:nd find Mtrcy lA the Great Day of Jlecompence. Amen, • mmmim ^mAt I> I A L O G U £ XlII. lihe C0MMAN1>MENTS of Gotk pfadlf'^ cally explained. PARTI. I N D I AN. * "VT O U told me, Sir, that my believing; ' X ^^^ Truths of the Gpfpel will not qua* * lity me to become a Chrillian, unlefs I pro- * mife to obey the Will of God, and endea- * vour to keep his Commands.' Mif. t- ■ :u A ' 138 ^//Instruction t)ial. 13. Mijf, I told you the Truth :— For aliho' we firmly believe, that it is only on the Ac- count of what his Son Jefus Chrift has done and fuffered for us, that God will pardon our Sins, and receive us into Favour; — yet it is on this Condition, that we repent and forfakc our Sins and obey his Commands. Irtd, * I hope you will continue your kind * In(lru6lions, and let me know what his IVill • and Commands are.' Mijf* We learn from the Holy Scripture^?, that when almoft all Mankind had loft the Knowledge of the true and only God, and the "Way of worfhipping him, "which he had ap. pointed, it pleafed him to make himfelf and his Will known again, at firft to one Man, whofe Name was Abraham *, and afterwards to his moil numerous Pofterity, after he had convinced them, that he was the true and only^ God, by many amazing Miracles and Judg- ments upon their Oppreffors, and by deliver- ing them out of a moft cruel Bondage and Slavery. — After which, in order to preferve this Kno.wledge among them, ,and to keep them from being corrupted, he gave them certain Commands, in a manner fo dreadful^ arid aftonijhingy that they could not but be con- vinced, that they were the Commands of a moft holy, and an all-powerful God, in dif- obeying of whom they were fure of expofing themfelves to the greateft punilhments* • Gen. XX. And Dial. 13. for the IsDiAHS. 139 And that thefc Commands belong to us Chrifiians, as well as unto the People of J/raei^ we may be fure of, — becaufe Je/us Cbrt/i has confrmed, explained^ and inforced them in the Gofpel. — He is the Lord our God, as well 2iS theirs *, — He brought tbem out of the Houfe of Bondage : — ^nd he brought us from Darknejs to Lights and from the Power of i^atan unto Godf, Jnd. * You will be pleafed to let me know ' thefe Commands/ Miff, They were Ten in Number.-— The firft of which was this : I. I am the Lord thy God.— Thou fhalt have none other Gods but me. Ind, * Why do thefe Commands begin with « thefe Words, — lam tbe Lord tby God ?' Mijf, That we may prepare our Hearts to receive his Commands, with the greatell Con" cern. At tent ion y and Reverence, , When the Lord of Heaven and Earthy of Lifey and Deaths fpeaks, fure his Creatures will beary and obey^ for Confcience-fake — that is — becaufe God commands them— The Defign of this Firft Command was,— to rif/^ipr^and^r^r'z;^ the Knowledge of the true God; He having a right to be honour ed ^ fear- edy and loved, as the Author of all the Good • Mdtt. V, vi. t Afts xxvi. 18. we m ! I i, fHf^ 5 . .r. I 'll|'^^'■' .t*'i ,<* e: any other Being in Heaven, or on Earth. The full Import of this grand Firfll: Com- mand is, — That we (bould have the Lord for our God ; and that wc fhould have no other befides him. Ind. • What is it to have the Lord for our • Go 1 ?* A^iff, It is to think of him, and to worjkip him, as God. JfiJ. Haw oug^t we to think of God ?' Miffl AsofdinEiernaldLnd^ll'perfeff Being, the Marbr and Preserver of all things^ and our mod Gracious and Merciful Father^ in and through his Son J ejus Chrift our Lord, You are forbidden by this Law t6 dfepend \x^ox\yourjelf^ upon yotfr own Labour and Cart for Pr$/perity,^^uipon your Friends for Secu- rity ; upon your JVealth for Hapfinejs : — For thefe are Bleffings, only when God is pleafed to make them fo. You are al fo, by this Command, forbidden to murmur at God's Dealings with yourfelf or others ;/tfr he is Lord of All, Ind, * What is further commanded in this « Law?' MiJ\ You are hereby commanded to live always /7J in the Sight of God; --To pray for bis Bleffing, in puhlick and in ^rii^afe, upon ever'/. Dill. 13* y^r /A^ Indians. 141 every tiling y< u undertake ; — And to give him I hankh for ail his Favours; — And to do all this with the [leart^ as well as the Lfps and homily Gejiures : — For whatever you /,6;«^, is known to him, as weU as what yaw/peak. Ind. * What is the other ihing included in * this Commandment V Miff* You are forbid having any other, be- fides the Lord, for your God. Ind. ' Is there any other God, befivles the * Lord?' Miff'. —No, there is not; nor does this Commandment at all fuppofe that there is. But, when thcfe Commandments were deli- vered, the World generally believed in, and vvorfliipped, other Gods befide$ the Lord« who was almoft utterly forgotten by them.— And therefore it wa« highly necelFary, that the Great God of HcaVen and Earth fhould, in the Firft Place, caution his People, and, in them, all future Generations, againft (his Folly, Impiecy, and Idolatry, This following was the Second Command: II. Thou flialt not make to thy- ftlf any graven Image, nor thq Likenefs of any thing that is in Heaven above, or in tne Earth be- neath, or in the Water under the S Earth : ifl ■^f1 N \',L oil Hi' i'iiV'' Is ' m , 1 'H ,1 1 1 1 1 ' I t ,.l 142 -^-^Instruction Dial, 13. Earth : Thou fhalt not bow down to them, nor worfliip them ; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and vifit the Sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them tliat hate me ; and fhew Mercy unto Thoufands, in them that love me and keep my Commandments. Ind* * You will be fo good as to let me * know the Meaning and Reafon of this Com- * mand.' Mijf. You muft know then, through the Suggeftions of the Deviiy moft Nations had been led into a vile Cuftom of reprefenting and worfhipping God by Images; by which they came to have mean and unworthy Thoughts of the Divine Majefty, as if he were like any of his Creatures. Now, by this Command, God has forbid all that love and fear him, even to attempt to reprefent him by any Image or Pidure, or to worfhip him before fuch ; and this on Pain of his moft high Difpleafure upon them, and ^their Pofterity, who Ihall difobey this Com- mand ;— promifing anefpecialBIeffing to them and Dial. 13* Jbr the It^DiAi^s. 143 and their Children, who (hall take care to wor(hip him aa he has commanded. InJ. * What is the pqfilive Duty required of « us in this Commmandment ?' Mijf* You arc to worjhip God^ after a Man- ner fuitable to his Spiritual Nature ; — God is a Spirit, and they that worjhip him muft worjhip him in Spirit and in 'Truth * ; — That is to fay, —with Sincerity i Love^ and Purity of Heart i^^ with the Inward Devotion and Fervor of the Mind, without which the Outward Exercifes of Prayer and Adoration will be of no Worth. Ind, ^ How muft I behave myfelf in God*s ^ Houfe^ndPrefence?* Mijf. Confide rferioufly — That you go to Church to a^ fuch things, which you can- not want without being miferable, — Therefore your Behaviour m' ft be fuch, as may be apt to procure in yourfelf and others a great Regard for God, and an humble Opinion of yourfelf. — You muft with great Humility afk God'a Pardon and Bleffing, and praife him for his Works and Favours. You muft carefully attend to what is read and explained to you out of the Scripture—* For it is the JVord of God, And then you will return home with God*s Bleffing upon your Self^ your Family ^ and your Labours,-'^ Vr'im i \<. John iv. 24. Ind. I, 144 i.^« Tnstructiom Dial. I ^. Ltd * Doth the Coimnand afford any fur- * ther lnf>ru6li(>n ?' . Mtjf, Yes. — it fliews us, That the Piety of Parents fhaiFbe remembered for the Good of their Children, to many Generations : That ine beft Portion Children can receive from their Parents, is God's Bleffing : And that fuch Parents as are not careful to love God, and to keep his Commandments, do leave Calamities to their Pofterity, The Third- Command is this : III. Thou (halt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltlefe, that takethhis Name in vain. The Intent of this Command is, — to pre- ferve the great Regard which all Men ought 10 have for God, forbidding them to fpeak of him, or even to ufe his Holy Name, without Fear and Confideration. hd. ' What are the necefTary Occafions * which Men -^ave to make of the Name of ^ God?' Mijf, Ftrft when they worfliip him, which they (hould ftrive to do with Reverence and Attention. — Secondly, when by a lawful Au- thority they are obliged to take an Oath.— And :an receive Dial. 13. yir//^^ Indians. 145 And laflly, when they fpeak of God, or of any thing that belongs to him, upon any ferious Occafion. Ind. * Why are People obliged to take an < Oath before a Magiftrate ?* Mijf* It is to put an End to Strife among fi Men-, it being God's Pleafure, that the 'Truth fliould appear, and Juftice be done to every one. — Now the likeliell Way to come to the Truth is this, — To put Men in mind, when they are going to fwear, — That they are in the Prefence of that Great God, who has declared, — That a Curjejh all enter into the Houfe cf him that Jwe are thfaljly by his Name to con- fume it *. Whicn is, furely Ihfficient to oblige every Man, who beiiev. and fears God, t9 Jpeakfhe whole Truth y and nothing but the Truths as ihey hope to efcape that Curfc, and God's Vengeance. — As for thofe who out of an ejril Cudom do/zvear or curje^ blqfpheme, or fpeak lightly of God, fach Perions have no other Choice, but Repentance and Amendment^ or D^rmnatiC':, And where thefe Sins are be- come common, and are not punifhed, that Nation and People may ey.pQEi public and heai^y u dgments to fall upon them t. hd. * Wiiat is the Meaning of that Ex- ' preffion, The Lord will not hold him guilt'* iVLiJf. The Meaning is, that this Sin fliall certainly be punifned, and that in a Manner * Zech. V. 4.. f jer. xxiii. lo. Mai, ii. 2. H more . 1 m lih 14-6 ^« In STRUCT iON Dial I J, •more dreadful than Words ran cxprefs; hov^. ever comnioii it is, and little rcg:-».rle':.. /;?<^. ' What are we commanded in this * Law ?' Mijf. 1 o fpeak of God, and of religious Matters, after Juch ajerious Manner, that Peo- ple may learn to have the mofl devout and re- verent Thoughts of Him, and his Service. W'e come now to the Fourth Command: IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-Day ; Six Days flialt thou labour, and do all that thou haft to do ; but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God ; in it thou fhalt do no Man- ner of Work, thou, and thy Son, and thy Daughter, thy Man-fer- vant, an ' .hy Maid-fervant, thy Cattle,and theStranger that is with- in thy Gates ; — for in Six Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is, and refted the Seventh Day ; Where- fore the Lord bleffed the Seventh Diy^ and hallowed it. hi Wi ni:i1. 13. ^or ^/^^ InDI AN3. I47 Ind. * You will be fo good as to fliev nic « the Rcafon and intciit oitliis Command.' Mijf. Remember what I told you before, —That after God had made this World in Six Days, and Man the Governor of it, he ordained by a perpetual Law, That the 5^- venth Day fhould be fet apart, and kept holy in Memory and Honour of him, the Creator and Maker of all Things. Now, in Procefs of Time, this Command, through the Corruption of Man's Nature, became negledted, and the true God forgot- ten, and Wickednefs and Idolatry increafed every where, which is the miferable Cafe of very many Nations to this Day, But when God feparated the People of ^- rael from the reft of the Nations, he renewed this Command, fo that the Knowledge of the only true God, the great Creator of Heaven and Earth, has been prefervcd among them through all Ages. Ind * Do Chriftians obferve that Day ?* MiJf. Chriftians do, according to the Defign of the Law, obferve One Day in Seven, which we call the Lord's Day, becaule on that Day the Lord Chrill our Redeemer rofe from the Deadi — And on the fame Day fent down the Holy Ghojly to guide his Church unto the World's End; — The Apojlles of Jefus Chrift therefore fet apart that Day, calling it — The Lord's Day, Since which Time all good Chriftians do or fliould lay alide all worldly H 2 Bulinci^^ 'mi ^m^,. n m^: ■' i3'h ,1 , .. ^ £i ^i H k'l ¥ 1' .' ff Hi i,i i if } « 148 jift Instruction Dial. 13, Bufin.efs, Cares and Pleafures, and meet to- gether — to give public Honour to God, to acknowledge his Power^ IVifdomy Juftice^ and Goodnejsy — to frai/e him for the Bleffings he has given them, — and to.^r^jyfor the BleJJings they want. Ind. * Why are we bid in an efpecial Man- ' Jier to keep this Law ?' M///. Becaufe if this Holy Day fhould be forgotten, all Religion would foon be forgot- ten with it, and the very Knowledge of the true God (as it is in many Nations) would be lofl amongft us, were not this Day fet apart, and Ferjons appointed to bring to our Re- membrance Truths of the higheft Confe- quence both to out prefcnt and everlalling Interefts. Ind, * Arc all bound to obferve this Day ?' Mijf. Yes — all that can be fpared from the NECESSARY Bufinefs of the Family. Children^ — That they may learn their Duty, and from their Infancy to fear God. Servants y — That they may not forget, that they have a Mafter in Heaven. And the very Beajis are to reft, unlefs Ne- ceffity requires it to be otherwife, that the WHOLE Creation may rejoice in the Mer- f;ies of God, Ind. * Why is it faid — Six Days fhalt thou labour ?' Mijf, To put us in mind, that it is Gocl| vbo gives ui> all our Time, That! Dial. 13, for the Indians. 149 That we are Fallen from a State of IXappi- nefs, and mufl labour for.our Daily Hrc^Ud : Laftl)\ — That it is purely by God's Per- miirion, that we projpcr in our daily Labours ; —That therefore wc ought to ferve him truly all our Days. Ind. * Mow is the Lord's Day profim'd ?* M'ljf, By negleding to go to the Place where the Great God\s publickly worfhipped ; by ne- glecting Family and private Devotion; by not meditating upon, and recollecting in pri- vat<^i what we arc taught, or pray for, in pub" lie; — by Idlenefs^ and trifling Converfation -, — unneccirary Bujinefsy and Jo urn ies ; — and by vain Sports and Gaming^ unbecoming the SC'* rioujnefs of the Day, and of Chriftianity. Ind» * It is well, if too many Chriftians ' will not think this a hard Command, and * neglect: it, when they mufl: lofe fo much * Time, in which th^y might increafe their * Wealth, or enjoy their Pleafures.' Miff, They muft be Chriftians then of very little Knowledge and Faith ; — and do not con- fider the Power and the Promifes of God, and- of his Son *, to make them fufficient Amends^ for the Lofs of their own and their Servants Labour, And efpecially when the Refpite of One Day in Seven would enable their Servants to perform the Bufinefs of the other Six Days 'with more Chearfulnejs and Vigour, * Matt. vi. 33. H 7 "Theje ■lA nl ■1} ^ !l I: i ■)■ ' ■ f ifi 150 jin Instruction Dial, m, -rhefe four Commands have refpeB. io Cod^ nn.l the Honour clue to hitn. — The Sixfvlhw* irg concern our Neighbour y and the Peace and h i If dre o^ Mankind u\ g<^\\ii\'d\, hid. * You will be plcafcd to let me know * what they arc.' Mijj\ Remember what I have atprelcni told you, and the next 1 ime you come, I will ex- plain to you the reft of the Commands: — In the mean Time pray to God in the following Words. The P R A Y E R. OG O D, who alone art worthy of our Love, give me Grace that I may never forget Thee, nor thy glorious Perfedions; but that I may ferve Thee according to thy Word, in Sincerity and godly Fear; — That 1 may never mention thy facred Name without Reverence; — That I may not fpend thy Holy Day in Vanity and Idlenefs, nor in a cuftom- ary Attendance at thy Houfe only; — but that 1 may ferve Thee with my Soul as well as with my Body, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. iii ^ D I A Dial. 14- ^r /^if Indians, 15! DIALOGUE XIV. Part II. I N D I A Nr ' T A Ivt come to dcfire you to explain to * X me thofc Commands that relate to my ' Duty to my Neighbour. ' MiJJionary, The Fifth Command is this : V. Honour thy FatRer and thy Mother, that thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee* Ind, ^ I beg you will exjplain thefe Com* ' mands to me, and let me know the Defign ' of them.' Mijf* The Defign of this Fifth Command \s\ — to teach us, from our very Childhood, to flicw Honour 2^x\diObedienceioour^diXtv\{s\ that when we grow up, we may know how to rc- fpedl and honour all who are our Belters ; — i\\?iiSuhje 51 sm-eiy\\ox\om'i\\^\x Governors; — Ser^ vants may obey tlieir Maflers-y and all may love andefteem their Spiritual Paf};ors'diX\A 'Teachers* — And the Peace and Goodo^\.\\Q: World do fo much depend on the Difcharge of thefe Obli- gations, that God for Encouragement haih H 4 promiied i.,1 ' ;li , [ ''1' ' :■ '.>«!!!' i' 'N' < I 1^ I' I I' It \H 152 y^// In STR UCT ION Dial. 14. proniifcd an rfpecial BlcfTing to fach as HmU oblcrve them faithfully. I/i^, * Why is ihc Duty of Children to their • Parents only mentioned ?' Mijf, Becaufe that is a Duty Jirft learned, and i^ejl underftood : — Children very naturally iove their Parents, and are generally kept in Subjedion by them ; and therefore when they are commanded/o to honour Others, as they do their Parents, they eafily know what That meaneth, and will more readily pay the Duties owing io all their Superiors* Ind, ' How mu(t I honour my Father and • Mother r Mijf, You muft in all lawfuV things chear- fully fubmit to them, be careful not to grieve them by ftubborn or evil Courfes : — Y(m iniift fhcw them all due Refpe61, and thank- fully acknowledge their Kindnefs to you ;— hear with their Infirmities, — hide their Fail- iv\g'&y''^/upply their Wants, — zndpray for their prcfent and everlaiiing Happinefs: — W^hich if you do, in Obedience tu tl.e Command of God, you may expedl to live to be a happy Parent yourfelf. Ind. * What would then be my Duty ?' Mi^, The Duty of Parents is, to bring up their Children in Obedience, and in the Fear of God ; — To take care that they be inftniB- ed in true Religion ; — To provide for them by all lawful Ways; — To admonifh and corred them when they fay or do things which are amils; Dial. 14- Jor f/je Indi Aiis. 153 amifs; — To be Examples to them of P/V/y, Sobriety y and DiU;jencc ; —And, ladly, to bl^Js them, and pray for them. All wliich— Parents will be careful to do, if they confidcr uhat a dreadful thing it will be Iliould their Children be miferablc in ihis World, and the next, through their Negligence, Countenance,, or Example. hd, * What is the Duty of Servants P* Mijf, The Duty of Servants is, to be obe* dientto theirMafters,<^/7/^^;7^in their Bufinefs; — Not with Eye-/ervice, as Men pleajers.-^- liut to ufe the fame Induflry and Integrity in their Matter's Abfence, as they would do if he was prefcnt with them ; — To be as careful of their Mailer's Goods, as if they were their own; — Neither wcfting them, nor luflTcring Others to do fo : — To be no Tale-bearers ; but above all, to be honejly not only for ConJciencCy but for Credit's, fake ; — Deceit and Pilfering^ and Stealingy being abominable Qualities, never forgotten by others, and very hardly left off* by thofe who give Wa)^ to them. lud, * What is our Duty towards them that ' have the Rule and Government over us ?' Miff, Your Duty is to obey them, not only for Fear of Punifliment, but for Confcience- lake *; — Not to fpeik Evil of them, but to fliew them all becoming Refpe6l; — And to pray that God may blefs them, and make them Inilruments of eieat Good to the World. * Jiom. xiii. 5. 2 Pel. ii. 10. II i For 1 1 r 1 I 1 i fil' 1 1 1 * 1' I, t IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 11.25 -121 Hi lis 2.2 u ■ 40 2.0 UiSi u 1^ ^ 75 ^/ ^^^*' ■> HiotQgraphic Sdences Corporation 23 WfST MAIN STRUT WiBSTH.N.Y. 14SS0 (/16) S72-4S03 4^ a 154- ^^^ Instruction Dial. 14, For Men in Authority, fearing God, are a great Bleffing ; — Thur "Duty being to keep the People in Peace ^xx^^iietnefs ; — To defend\\\t Perjons and Rights ol honeft Men ; — To^imijh the Unruly ; — To advife them that have no Counfcllors; — And in all things to promote the Glory of God, and the Welfare of all be- low them. Ind. * What is the Duty of People to their * Minifters and Pafiors ?* Miff, To ref^e^f them *, for their Mafter^ fake, and for their Work's fake. Your Duty it is to attend at the public Service of the Church, and hearken to their Inflrudlions ; — and to pray that God may blcfs their Labours, For it is their BufineivS and Duty, to ftudy all Ways o{ leaching yow hoiv you fljould walk und fleoje Gcd ; — To reprove you when you do amifs ; — To pray that you may do well ; -—To be whole/ome Examples in Word and Deed: — And they have much to anfwcr for, if they are not fuch. Ind. * Whom elfe mufl I honour?' MiJ, All. that are your Superiors, by rea- fon of their greater Age^ — their Learnings — their Places and StaiionSy — to whom you muft fhew a juft Regard. ■ Ar:d it is their Duty^ not to be high-minded, but to be grave, courteous, eajy to be fpoke to, and ready to help all that want their Affiftance, • iTheir. V. 13. Ind. Dial. J4* Jor /ie Indiaks. 155 Ind, • What is the Meaning of the Pro- * nilfe which God hath made to fuch as keep ' this Command ?' Mi/f, That God will blefs them in the Way they fliall go, wliich will be a Means o{' pro^ longing their Lives: — On the Contrary, — He that dejpijeth his Father and Mother the Ravens Jhall pick out his Eyes *; — that is, this Sin has a Tendency to lead Men into fuch Practices as will bring them to an unnatural, untimely, and ignominious Death. VI. Thou (halt do no murder. This is the Sixth Command \ — and is intend- ed to fecure the Life of every Man from the^ Malice^ Revenge^ and Violence of others. — This- is a Sin moit odious to God, and a fuve Venge- ance has been frequently obferved to foUow thofc who fend Men out of the Wo-rld^ by a violent Death, fooncr than God and Nature intended. — And. for the fame Rcafon we are not to fliorten iMcns Lives by Oppreffion^ In- juftice^ or any other evil Dealings^ — for a Man may be )nurder\dy and his Heart hroken^ by thefe, as well as by Violence ; — as alfo by Jnlempa^ ranee. Gluttony ^ and Drunkennefs, — By ihefe we may fhorten our own, or other Peoples Lives, which isabfolutely forbidden by this Precept. Self-murder is alfo forbid by this Command, For conhder, That the Great God, the Maker of all things^ has ajfiimed to Hiwjelf the Poiver and Lordjhip of Life and Death, — * 1 kill, and I * Prcv. XXX. I J, H 6 * make '^ t - . I 1 1 1 i , i; J i !'■ t 1- r ■H ■ ; - t J : jiB I^H^Hf || fflli ffl'll ^HHj^^H 'f'll ^^^■SiWE 156 -^« Instruction Dial. 14, f make alive *.' — 'Tis God fends us into the World, and He expedls that we fhould wait his Will, to lend us out of it. — He has the only Right to determine the Time of our Coin tinuance in it, and when we fhall remove out of it : — And it is a grofs Invafion of that D/. 'uine Right and Prerogative^ for us to appoint the Time for ourfelves, without his Order, and contrary to the Rules He has given us for our Government. — As this A6tion is highly criminal in the Sight of God, fo remember^ that whoever is fo hardy as to commit it, fends himfelf out of the World with the Guilt of a wilful Sin.— -And a wilful Sinner^ thus dy^ ing iwpenitent^ has no hopes of Salvation : And this is a dreadful Confideration. There are federal other PraClices, too com- mon in the World, which have a Tendency to this Sin of Murder, and which, in fome mea- fure, partake of the Guilt of it, tho' the Sin- ner himfelf dcies not intend Violence againll his own Life : Particularly that pernicious and /^/^/Cuftom of drinking Rum, Gin, and other Spirituous Liquors, which kills, every Year, many Thoufands of the lower Part of Mankind. This is a Pradice which you mufl: ablior, as you would do Poifon itfelf ; for fo it adually is in its Confequence. It is highly to be wiflied, that the Governors of every Country would have a ftrift Eye to the bold Encroachments of this terrible Dcftroyer, by * Deut. xxxii. 39. ft which Dial. 14- for the Inviaks. ^57 ivhich/o many make them/elves away^ and re- move it at leaft out of tlie Reach of" the lahori-» ciiSy induJlricuSy and ufeful Part of Mankind. ' Ind, * What is the Duty required in this < Commandment ?' Mijf* It is your Duty, as much as in you ^ lleth, — To live peaceably with all Men * ; — — To avoid the Company of angry, paiTionate and contentious People; — To deliver the Op- p-efldd t i To he merciful tojiich as are in Mijery ; — To forbear and forgive one another J ; .—And be well pleafed with the Welfare and Happinefs of all Men. VII. Thou {halt not commit Adultery. - This is the Seventh Command, In order to underftand the Reafon of this, you muft Icnow that God, at the Beginning of the World, did appoint Marriage^ for the Increafe of Man* kind, and for the Society, Help, and Comfort of a Man and his Wife. — Now you cannot butobferve the'grea^ Goodnefs of God in com-» manding, on Pain of his Difpleafure, That neither the Man, nor his W^ife, fhould be un- faithful to the Marriage-bed; — which would occafion infinite I'roubles and Calamities in. Families, and, after all, a very bitter Repent- ance, or Damnation. — By Virtue of this Com- mand we are likewife bound to abftain from * Rom. xii. 18. f P''^^* ''^ii* ^2. f Ephef. iv. 33, Forni* *■ il ! ,!.,• .11 158 ^n Instruction Dial. i^. Fornication y and from all manner o^LewdneJs^ Wantonnejs^ and Debauchery ; from all la/ctvi. ous /IBions^ immodeft IVords^ and impure Be- fires ^ and whatever elfe has any Tendency towards the heinous Vices of Whoredom and Adultery, VIII. Thou flialt not fteal. This is the Eighth Command: — And is in« tended by a Righteous Cod, to fccure to every Man what is his own; — He having declared, ^hat a Cur Je fld all enter into the ILuJcof a Thief end a Rchher^ even to conj'ume it * ; and which is worit of all, fuch Perfons mull not expcc\ to go to Heaven, but to Hell. Ind. * How is this Command further tranf^ * grefs'd ?• Mijf, Not only by Theft which is a bafe Vice, and openly abhorred; but by Op. prejpony Deceit^ Concealing ^A'{o\\uQ\Goo(^^^ — receiving Goods knowing them to be ftolen ;-— defrauding the Public by Running of Goods, and buying or receiving fuch as we know are run, and for which the King's Cullom is not ^2i\d I'^wearying Men out of their Rights by vexatious LawJuitSy by Fower^ Inter efl^ Bri- heryy or Crafty- which are Crimes too often committed by thofe who never expeQ to be punilhed for the Breach of this Command; * ZecK. V. 4« I Cor. vi. 10. a anj •il Dial. 1 4- for the Indians. 159 and yet God is mofl furely the Avenger of all Juch Deeds *. Ind, * What is required of us, that we may < keep this Law ?' Miff. It is your Duty to be diligent in your Calling, that you may be able to live without taking unlawful Ways ; to be careful of what God has given you, left, having vainly or wickedly thrown it away, you be tempted to live by Deceit : To be contented with your Condition, be- lieving, ^at better is a little with Righteouf^ riejs, than great Revenues without Right t ; Laftlyy to depend upon God's gf)od Pro- vidence, which takes Care of all Creatures, and will certainly reward the honeft 'poor Man ^ who chufes to heg^ if he cannot labour ^ rather than Steal Ind, ^ What is the Duty of one who is fen» * fible of his Sin, and forry that he hath * broken this Law ?' Mijf, He mull confefs his Sin unto God, and, if he can pofTibly do it, he muft make Amends to the Per/on he has %vrongd X* And this is that which makes this Sin fo very hard to be repented of; becaufe, thro* ' Shame, and Stubbornne/s, People will not make Restitution of what they have got by Fraud, Injujiice, Violence, and Oppreffioni — > • 1 Thcff. iv. 6. t Prov. xvi. 8. vi. 2. Ezek. xxxiii. 15. X Lcviu and l| ! I \ ► Ji» m <■.,] I « I 3* i!!,i i6o -^;; Inst RUCTION Dial. 14. and yet they hope to be faved : —But this is the Hope of IlypocriieSy zvhich Jhall pcrijh *. IX. Thou {halt not bear falfe Witnefs againft thy Neighbour. This is the Ninth Command : — And who- ever confidcrs the Mifchiefs Men are capahle of doing to the Lives and the EJlates of their Neighbours, hy fal/c Oaths and Perjuries^ or concealing or dijguijing the Triuli, when they are lawfitlly called upon to declare or attcll it; mud fee how kind and good God has been to Men, to forbid, on Pain of his Dif- pleafure, fuch Sins as thefe, which are the Occafion of fo much Sorrow and Lofs to the unhappy Sufferers. hid, * Is any thing more forbidden, than * the being a falfe Witnefs?' Mijf, Yes: You are hereby forbidden to fay any thing of other Men, which may hurt them, unlefs it be with an honefl: Dcfign, to bring them to Refentance^ or to hinder them from doing great Mifchiefs to others. Therefore to invent Stories, to add to them,, and to Jet them abroad \ To encourage 'Tale- bearers ; — To give Men ill Names \ — To puh- lilh their Infirmities', — To make their Faults ivoy'Je than they are ; are all condemn'd by this Law, and in many other Places of the Holy Scriptures; as the very Work of an evtl * Job viii, I.J. S^iriti Dial. 1 4* /i>r /Z)^ Indi ANs. j6i Fpirft*, as tl:e DcftriiBion of all good Ncigh- boiirliood, and Chridiaii Charity. 1'his Sin proceeds from a bafe Difpofition; ^fome People love Milchier, and are pleafed, the more there is of it in the World: — Some- times from a l^ujy Temper; from Pride \ from evil Defigns: — i\n^ /ome times People do it for Diver/ton. — Biitfrom whencefoever it proccHs it is a Sign of a very evil Heart, to fpeak III of others, as if fuch Men had no Faults of their own-, — to jed with a Man's good Name, which is more valuable than his Efiatefi'^To fet Friends /»/ Variance^ and to didurb the Peace and Hafpinefs of Families; — and there- fore Revilers ar€ reckoned amongft thofe, that, >vithout Repentance, mufi not go to HeavenX' Ind. * What is further required of us by * this Law?* Mijf. It is your Duty to fpeak the Truth, when it is fit and proper^ as well as when you are upon your Oath\ — To be tender of your Neighbour's Reputation; — To be difpofed to hear, to believe, and to fpeak the beft, arid never to take Pleafure xnfoolifh^ malicious , and wicked Stories: — And we fliall be difpofed to obferve thei'e good Rules the better, if we con- fider — * What a fore Grief it is to ourfelves * to be abufed, by Lies^ Calumny and Defa^ ' mation/ ^ John viii. 44. f Pfov. xxii. I. X Cor. vl. 10 X. Hi ; ' ( • ift^ ^/Instruction Din!, i^, I Oi^xi- i4» X, Thou flialt not covet thy Neighbour's Houfe; thou flialt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife, nor his Servant, nor liis Mai J, nor his Ox, nor his Afs, nor any thing that is his. *i ;■ This is tlie 7'enth and la^ oftheje Ccmmands, fc— Now the gracious Delign of God, in this Command, is to lay a Keftraint upon the very D (fires of our Hearts, which arc all known to him, forbidding us to covety that is, to fel our Hearts upon, thatwhich is another's Right, and which he is not willing to part with— — for an unjujt Defire, through the Temptation of the Devil, has too often been followed by an unjuji Attempt to get what we defire, either by Fraud or Violence. — So kind is God in putting a Stop to the very Beginning of Sin, which is in the Heart *. Ind. * But may not a Man deure to buy * what belono[s to another ?' Mijf. Yes, no doubt of it, provided the other can lawfully difpofe of it, and that he is willing to do {o; But if he is not willing, then to continue to defire it, is a Siu agaiiiit this Law., * Matt. XV. 19. ' Gaming Dial. 14* for f/je Indi ASS. 163 Gaminc; is ccrt..Inly a Violation of tlie fiv;//^ Command. — It is a Vice that has always its Root in Covctoiifners, and which in its greedy Wifhcs devours — it.sXcighbour*s//(?//A'j' and Landsy amt every tbi)i my Duty to God.' Mijftonary, Your Duty to God is. To believe in him, to fear him, to love him, with all your Heart, with all your Mind, with all your Soul, and with all your Strength: To worfhip him, to give him Thanks, to put your whole Truft in him, to call upon him, to ho- nour his Holy Name, and his Word, and to ferve him truly all the Days of your Life. Now this fhould be fix'd ftrongly in your Memory, fo as never to be forgot; and it will dired you, on all occafions, how to live fo as to pleafe God:— — Thefe Words often repeated, and imprinted upon your Memory, will alfo awaken your Confcience, when at any Time you do amifs, that you may repent, and 'lif w f^ t i»*! ' Ill !||i 1 \i !!l 'I i66 -^« Instruction Dial, ir and amend, and obtain Forgivcnefs of your Sin, through God's infinite Goodnefs and Mercy, and the Merits of our, Lord Icfus Chrift. J/jd. * — Is a Chrillian's Duty hard to be • underflood?' MiJ\ By no means; — Religion being the Bulinefs o^ali Men. — A plain Man^ if he is well difpofed, may know his Duty, and be able to perform it, as well as the grcatefl Scholar. Ind, * This is a comfortable Truth: Pray * make me fenhble of it.* Mijf. Do not you fee, that all neceffary Knowledge lieth in a very narrow Compafs ?— i YourDuty to God, — andxo your Neigh- bour; is contained in a few Words, very eafy to be underftood and remembered, where People truly believe in God, and heartily defire to be faved. Ind, ' Then I truft I fliall not perifh; for ^ I do believe in God^ — and I heartily wifla to « be faved.' Mijf, You mufl: not be deceived lu a Matter of fo great Moment. — It may be you do 7iot believe in y nor fear, nor love God with all your Hearty tho' you are perfuaded you do. Ind, * Can you. Sir, direft me how' to * know for certain, when I do, or do not my • Duty?' Miff, You muft confult your Life to know this, — and compare your Way of Living with thefe Rules of your Duty. Jnd. Dial. 15. for th* Indians, 167 Ind. ' I vs'id-j you would fliew me Iiow, by ( fome Inftanccs.' Mijf' Your Dufy is to believe in God;— that is, to keep thefe great T^-'iths in your Mind, — That God is mod Powerful, moft Holy, Juji, Merciful, and Good; and that none of our 'Thoughts, Words, or A5iions, can be hid from him; — that therefore his Difpleafure \^ more to be feared than all things; — and that his Love and Goodnefs to us require all poi- fible Acknowledgments on our Part. Now you will very eafily fee, that you do not fear God as you ought, if you are more afraid of Men than of God\ —or if you wil- fully do any thing which he hzs^ forbidden, or which you know will difpleqfe him; — or laftly, —if you do not immediately repent when you have done amifs, and return to your Duty.— Nor muft you fay, that you love God, — if you do not often think of him, of his Mercy and Goodnefs, and of the Happinefs he has promifed to them thap love him^ — if you do not take Delight in doing what you believe will pleafe him — rejoice to fee him obeyed and honoured, and be troubled to fee him dif- honoured by his own Creatures. It may be you think Tou love God above all things ;-~bal if you are not concerned to keep his Laws, and angry with yourfeif when you break any of them; — then you do not love God; — For this (fays the Apoftle St. John) \h I I . i.M i I I' ii - r 168 yin Instruction Dial. i^. John) — is the Love of Gody that we keep his Commandments,* Ind, ' I fee it is my Duty to put my whole < 'Truft in God; bul is it poffible for mc to * do fo, when he fuff'ers me to fall into Af- « fliaion?' Mi[f. Good Men have always done fo;^ though he flay me^yet will I truft in him, faith Holy Job, Remember — That it is good to he in 'Trouble^:y when God fees meet^ who otherwife doth not delight in the Mifery of any of his Creatures. It is therefore your Duty to be patient under Affli8i6ns; — To conhder your Ways; — To turn to God i im- mediately, and pray that he may make the Troubles of this Life a means to bring you to a better, Ind, ' Mud I iruftin God, and believe that ' he careth for me, tho* I am in Poverty ?' Mijf. You mufl: do fo: — -For Riches are not always a ?\gn of God's Favour, nor Po- ^fr/yof his Difpieafure. — To comfort yourfelf, and confirm your Faith, confider, that this is the Will of God; — 'ITiat he can make you fufficient Amends in the next World, . for what you want in this. Think of thefe things, and you will be Content with your Condition, and never defire to better it by unjuft ^ r wicked Ways. — * I John V. 3, f Pfal. cxix. 71. You I Dial. 15. y^r //^t' Indians. 169 You will therefore neither envy the Rich or Great, nor queftion the Goodnefs of God, under the greateft Difficulties of Life. • Again, You will not fay, that you truft in God, if you are not well pleafed with his Pro- vidence, fo far, at leaft, as chearfully to fub- mit to what his infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs order asthe very bed for you, and for all other* You will not imagine, that you worfbip God as you ought to do, if you content your- felf with having an high Efteem for him in your Heart, without paying him the Honour due unto his Divine Majelly, both in your Jecret RetiremenlSy as well as in the public AJ- jmhlies of ChrifiiaHS^ — acknowledging before the World, that you arc a miferable Sinner, and daily (land in need of his Mercy and Par- don ; — that you owe him all poffible Thanks for the Bleffings you have received from him ; —and that you want his Grace and Help every Day of your Life. Laftly, Y^ou yourfelf will not fay, — That you honour God's Name and his iVordy ii you take ah Oath without Thought and Fear ; or fpeak of God, and of what belongs to \\\\x\^ after an idle Manner, and without Reverence ; —or delight in the Company of fuch as do io. — You cannot but know, that this is not the proper Behaviour of one who purpofes to fcrvc God all the Days of his Life. Ind, * I find it is my Duty to honour God*s * Holy Name and his PForJ.-^^llow fliall I * bring fnyfelf to do fo ?' X Mif H r1 r..i • Dial. 15- yir//j^ Indians. 171 Ind. * You fay it is my Duty to ferve him ' truly all the Days of my X//J?.— But will not « necefTary Bufinefs hinder me from doing fp * much as is required of me V Miff No: — Whatever God requireth of any Man may be done without neglctling his worldly Bufinefs. One Dav in Seven, you are forbid to labour : — Do what you are commanded on that Dayy and fpare a^ew Moments, in the Morning and Evening of every other Day, to praife God, and to alk his Bleffing : — And then, when in the Fear of God, and a jufl: Senfe of your Duty, you are employed with honefl Induftry in your daily Labours, you are ferving God as truly, and you are as cer- tainly in the Way to Heaven, — as they who are at their Prayers. — And this you may do all the Days of your Life, Ind, * Pray will you fhew me my Duty to- wards my Neighbour ?' Miff, When you come next, I will e'ndea- vour to explain it fully to you.— *-In the mean Time pray to God to enable you to perform your Duty to him. The P R A Y E R* I' f^ R'acious God, who alone art worthy of I i^X ^^^ ^^^ Service, grant that 1 may ferve and pleafe thee according to my Duty, with all my Heart and Strength ;-^^ — That I may > l:i' I2 U IH! '"' ' 'IT'' • I !l i.kv .1 give 173 -^« Instruction Dial. 16. give thee Thanks, and do thee Honour; and that continuing in the Faith, and Fear, and Love of God, unto my Life's End, I may be made by him eternally happy, thro* ihe| Merits of Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen, DIALOGUE XVI. T'he Duty towards our Neighbour cxplairid. Indian. « T A M come now to beg that you would| * jI^ teach me my Duty towards my Neighs * hour.' ' MiJ]\ Your Duty to your Neighbour isJ To love him as yourfelf, and toj do unto all Men as you would the) fliould do unto you; — to love, honour, and fuccour your Father and Mother; — to honour and obe) the King, and all that are put ii Authority under him; to fubmil yourfelf to all your GovernorsJ Teachers, SpiritualPaftorsandMaf] ters J— to order yourfelf lowly am revej Dial. 1 6. for the Indians. 173 reverently to all your Betters ; — to hurt nobody by word or Deed ; — - to be true and juft in all your Deal- ings ; — to bear no Malice nor Ha- tred in your Heart ; — to keep your Hands from Picking and Stealings —•your Tongue from Evil-fpeak- ing, Lying, and Slandering; — to keep your Body in Temperance^ Sobernefs, and Chaftity; — not to covet or defire other Men's Goods,, but to Icafn and labour to get your ownLivingj^ — -and to dp your Duty in that State of Life, unto which it fhall pleafe God to call you. hd. * Now Sir, if it would not be too * much Trouble, I would beg you would ex- * plain to me that Love which Chriftians owe * to them/elves and to their Neighbour^ that is, as you told me, all Mankind.' Mi[f. In the firft Place obferve, — That this is a Rule to fuch only d^sjirfi love and fear God : — Hhoujhalt love thy Neighbour ^ as Men fearing God love themfelves'y — that is, • to do to others as \ we think they ought to- do to us in the like Cafe.* I 3 Now ■* Il;< ),..' r m 1*1 1^4 -^« Instr ucTioN Dial. i6. Now God being the God and Father ofMan- kind^ he would have every one to be fecuro in his Life and Kflate^ caly in bis Mind, good and holy while he lives, a id happy when he dies. — For this Realbn he has given this Command, ^—'Ibou /halt love thy ISIeigbhoiir as thyjelf\ — which, if truly obfcrvcd, would have a moft happy and blefTed EfFeSi, and be a DireOion to the mod unlearned, how to behave himfelf to others, fo as to pleale God *. Ind, * You will, I hf pe, explain this a lit- * tie more particularly/ Mijf, Confult th^nyour own Reajon^ and you will acknowledge the Jufticeo{\}[\\^ Command —That Men fhould love and deal with others as fincerely as they would have others to love and deal with them : — And that they fliould do nothing which they themfelves would con- demn as hard and unjufl, if done by another Perfon. For Example ; — your own Defire is, that all fhould r^/p^^/ and love you; — that none fhould opprefs, wrong or deal deceitfully with you; — fliould take Advantage of your Jgno- rancCy or NeceJJities ; — or fhould take tedious^ Jpiteful or expenfive Ways to keep you fn)m your Rights. You would have nobody to hear Malice, or imagine Evil in their Hearts againll you: — You are concerned for your own good Name and Credit ; — you grieve to be defpifcd by thofc above you, as well as to be * Rom. xiii. lo. dif. Dial. i6. Jor the Indians. 175 difrcgardcd by your Inferiors ; — you carncdl/ (Jelirc your own IVclfare and Prof-pcrity^ and ?eace of Mind ^ and Health of Body, Now a* you, and every Man living, is thus afl'cded towards himrelf, To will every Man living be condcm/icd by God, and his own Confeiencc, who does not thus deal with others, and all by this fhort and plain Rule. Men cannot live without the Afliflance and Support oFone another.- Their Gi^'y^rwi^A'X pro- tect them. — The Concern oF Parents for their Children^ — the Care of Mafiers for their 5^r- '\jc.nts, — the Account' t!uu Pajlors mu(t give of their Flock are great and ncceffary ; and if all thefe are not honoured 2iX\A obeyed^ the Wqrld would every Day grow more and more wild and wicked, and we ourfelves, as well as others, Ihould be Sufferers, and miferable. Ind, * Are Chriftians obliged to love thofe * that do not love them ?' MijJ\ Yes, moft certainly, or they are no better than Unbelievers — for the/e love thofe that love them* —V^Mi God iO loved uSy when we were Enemies to him by our evil Deeds, as to give his only-begotten Son to die for us; and therefore he molt reafonably requires, that we fliouid Icve one another. hid. * How rray we attain to fuch a Chrif- * tian Temper ?* Mifj'. You muft take all Occafions of widi- iiig well, and doing Good to others, con- tiimally exercifing your Compaflion by reliev- I 4 ing I- y < '■:\. I ; \y6 An Instruction Dial. i6. ■ ^^^^' ' i) ii: U! ing the Poor, helping fuch as are in Diltrcfs, romf(jrting the Afliided, and mourning mlh them that mour -, which will fiveeten your Temper, and in * you to this happy Dil'- pofition. You mufl: beware of taking Pleafure in the Calamities of other Men, tho' your grcatcil Enemies: For that would make you inhu- man and hard-hearted. But, above all, confider that this is God's exprefs Command,— That we love one another ; And it is greatly enforced by his amazing and condefcending Love to us. When you have gain'd thefe good Difpofi- tions, you will find, that being obedient and dutiful to your Governors, Majlers, and Betters^ dvil to your Equals , and kind to your Inferior s, is the true Way of being cafy and happy yourfelf. Ind, * W' hat is my Duty, if my Neighbour * fpeakcth 111 of me?* Miff. If you are indeed abufed, you ought privately to reprove him that hath done it ; and if he fliould not amend, your Duty is to bear the Injury patiently, to return Good for Evil, to forgive and to pray for him. — For fo hath Chrifl exprefly commanded *, And for your Comfort confider, that, by thus freely forgiving him, you may with the more Courage and Comfort plead the gracious Promife God has made of the Pardon of your * Matt. V. 44. • ' own own Sin Gainer b Ind, ' f to abul Miff, that be, \ our own and Com ft us an E who who committee teou/ly t. Ind.' * me at Mif. fpeak of good De — by brir Authority wife you fuch, rec fenders J Ind, ' ' ings, ar ' as I ca deal witl: Ignorance wicked t tho' you arkfwer ii * Roro Dial. 1 6. jOr //5^ Indians. 177 own Sins, fo that you become the grcatcft Gainer by the Wrong that was done you. hid. * But will not this encourage bad Men ' to abufe their innocent Nciirhbours V Miff, It is probable it will not *. — However that be, we arc not to be more concerned for our own Reputation, than for the Honour and Commands of jcfus Chrift ; ''jubo hath alfo Jet us an Ex ample t that we Jhould follow his Steps , who when he was reviled^ reviled not again ^ hut committed his Cauje to llim that judgeth righ- teou/ly t. Ind, ' Will my Duty tomy Neighbour oblige * me at all times to conceal his Faults V Miff, No : Sometimes it is your Duty to fpeak of them ; — but then it muft be with a good Defign of leading them to Repentance, — by bringing him before fuch Pcrfons as have Authority to call him to an Account ; — other- wife you are a Slanderer or Backbiter y and, as fuch, reckoned amongft the mofi Jcandalous Of- fenders J. Ind, ' May I not he true andjufl in my "Deal- * ingSy and yet make my felf as good a Bargain * as I can V Miff. Only confider, that if the Perfon you deal with makes himfelf an ill Bargain, out of Ignorance^ Neceffjy^ or out of Fcar^ it is a wicked thing to take Advantage of him ; and tho* you may defend it by Law, you cannot aikfwer it to God. * Rom. xii. 20. f i Pet. ii. 23. % Rom. 1.3. I 5 * hid. J I t^ : ' r: !. 178 -^/i Instr ncTioN Dial. 1 6. Lid, ' What is my Duty if I have wrong. cd my Nci^^hhour ?' Mijf, You are bound to acknowledge your Fauh, and make him what Amonds you can, to afkGod's Pardon, and then you may hope for Forgivenefs ; for this is what you would exped from others. — And this is the great Rule of the Gofpcl : — * Whatfoeverye im t ; that is, his Lov^ will always dirc(:k him what to do, and will not fuffer him to do Wrong to others, either in Word or Deed. — jFor Love worketh no III to his Neighbour -, ihinketh no Evil, and therefore Jfeaks none; heareth all things^ helieveth all things, hopeth all things y endureth all things J. Ind, * Muft I always fpeak the Truth ?* Miffl Yes, fttre; for if you confider what Mifchief is done by Falfehood,— how ill you ' take it to be deceived yourfelf,--you will be convinced, that L\ing is a bafe Vice, and that there is great Realon for thofe terrible Threat- enings ||, which we find in God*s Word againlt luch as are guilty of this Sin. * Matt. vi. iz, \ I Joluiii, lo. % i Cor. xiii. {I Revr. xxi. 8, 27. lnd\ Dial. i6. Jbr f/je IsDiA^B. 179 /;/<:/. * What arc the Rules of Temperance, ' Sohernejs and CbaJlUy, which a Chriltian is * to zvalk hyV ' Miff. IVhclheryoti eat or drhik, do all to the CloryofGod* y — that is, — Take care that the Name of God, and the holy Religion you p.'ofcfs, be not evil fpokcn of by your Exccfs in thcfc thin^^s. Let us ii}alk honeftly as in the Day^ not in Rioting and Drunkennefs t. I'or no Man that doth fo habitually y can with any true Delight think of the Joys of I leaven, Bcfidcs, furc it is, that they who give them- fclves up to Intemperance^ arc in great Danger of dying fuddcnly in their Sins unrcpented of* AVhat was inflitled upon Man for the Pu- nifhinent of his (irft TranCgrcfTion \^ihat in the Szveat of his Face he Jljould cat Bread^ is now become the mod likely Means of prcferving us from all other Sin. — For our Souls are as ac- tive and inquifitive as ever, and muft always he employed one Way or other: — And there- fore, if we don't conftantly find fome proper Bufinefs fc>r them — The Thoughts and Imagina" tions of our Hearts will be only evil continually^ hid. * — What reafon have we to be con- tented^ and not to define other Mens Goods f Miff. Becaufe our own Condition is cer- tainly the bed for us, being the Appointment of a wife, jufl, and good God, - who will liipply us with every thing needful here, and •iCor. X. 31. f Rom. xiii. 15. 16 give i'-.-*j ;"' \m.^ ! i i . :!i r 180 jin Instruction Dial. j6. I Dial, it- give us our Portion in a better World, where we fhall not need thefe things. Ind, * But may we not endeavour to bet- * ter our Conditions ?* Mijf. Yes, by God*s Bleffing upon your honeft Induftry; but no Man fhould defire to live in Plenty here, and hazard his Salva- tion for it; nor flrive to leave his Family a great deal, and be miferable for ever in ano- ther Life, for his Covetoufnefs, OpprefTion, and ill Dealing here. Ind. * May I do what I pleafe with what is * juftly my own ?* . MiJf* No : — But you mufl do good with it. — Firfl, live decently yourfelf ; provide for your own Houfe^ that is, fuch of your Rela- tions as are in Want; and then relieve the Poor with what you can well fpare* — And fo you will (hew your Thankfulnefs to God — and be will rezvardyoufor it ^, And this is the heft Serurity you can have, that you Ihall never want. He that giveth unto the Poor, lendeth unto the Lord', and that which he hath given^ will hs fay him again t. Ind. * Sure, Sir, Chriftians do not believe * thefe Duties to God and Man to be fo ne-- * cejfary as you fay they are, or elfe they think * it impojjible to obferve them.* Miff, AfTure yourfelf they are the Duties and Conditions, on which their Happinefs or • Matt. XXV. 34. f Prov. xix. \j. ' Mijery Dial. i6. for the Indians. i8i M'ljcry everlafting depends ; and they know this ; but too many will not lay it to Heart. . — They know alfo, that God, to whom all things are poffible, will not let them want any Afliftance, which they fincerely defire, and aflc for. ^ut they who are not willing to forfake their Sins, are not difpofed to beg that Help of God which is necefTary to enable them to break their Bonds; and fuch Per- Tons, by a juft Judgment of God, are often Icfc to their own evil Difpofitions; — and this is the great Occafion of fo much Wickednef* as is feen among Chriftians. Therefore, as ever you hope to do the Will of God, and by him.be made happy, keep thefe Truths in your Mind and Memory;—- * That fuch is the Corruption of our Nature, * and Pronenefs to Evil; — that we cannot of ' ourfelves, without God's fpecial Grace and * Help, keep his Commands, and ferve him * as we ought to do; — That when we have * done our beft, we are but unprofitable Ser- * vants; and that it is only through the Sa- * tisfaftion of Chrift we can be juftified;— * and that God is fo good and merciful, that * he has promifed upon our fincere Defires ' and Prayers, to give us all the Help we ' fhall want to do our Duty, fo as to pleafe * him, and to fecure our Happinefs for ever.' Prayer, therefore, beingappointed by God himfelf as a Means of obtaining all theBlef- fings. . in' I m ^ ,|:'ir i II m'; i- \ 182 ^n Instruction Dial. 17. fmgs we (land in need of, you muft be irv ftrut^ed in that Duty, how to afk of God, fo as to obtain his Grace and Help. hJ, * Icannot in Reafonexpcft that Favour • from you now ; but I will wait on you as * foon as I can hope you will have Leifure.' MiJf,M will be a great Pleafure and Blef- fing to me, to be made an Inftrument in the Hand of God, to bring you from Darknefs t$ Light y dindifrom the Power of Satan unto God *, that you may be made happy for ever. The PRAYER. OL O R D Jefus Chrift, who haft loved us, and given thyfclf for us, give U3 Grace to love, and to forgive, and to do l^ood ; — And that, running the Way of thy Commandments, I may live and die thy Ser- vant, and find Mercy at the great Day, when we muft all appear before the Judgment-feat ofChrift. Amcn^ D I A L Q G U E. XVII. Of Prayer afid Thanksgiving, being the Means ^//^ Conditions of obtain- ing /fe G R A e E s and B l e ssing s of God, Indian.. AM come again, good Sir, for your fur- ther InftruQion.-— You have explained * Ad.z xxvi. 18. I Dial. 1 7. for //5> I N D I A N s.. 183 < to me the Commands of God, and con- ' vinced me of the NecefTity of obferving f them in order to be happy.— At the fame < Time you told me, l!hat we cannot ohferve ' them as we ought to do^ without the Grace of * Gody which Imuftjeek by diligent Prayer* MiJJionary. So indeed it is : — For fuch is the Diforder and Weaknefs of our Nature, and the Temptations to Sin fo many, that neither our Reajon^ — nor the Gocdnejso^ God's Com- mands, — nor the Authority of fo powerful a Being, — nor the Happinejs which he propofes, —nor the Danger o{ our Difobedience, are fufficient to'keep us within- the Bounds of Duty without God's efpecial Graces which he is fo good as to promife to all fuch, as being fenfi- ble of their Wants, do pray for his Grace and Afliftance. Ind. ' Pray Sir, what do ycHj mean by the * Grace of God '^* Miff, We mean every Favour which God freely beftows on us, in order to make his Ordinances and Commands effeclual for oar Salvation. For Example God gives us his Holy Spirit to be the Author of a new and holy Life. — This Holy Spirit has made known to us in the Scriptures the Ways of Life and of Death, — the Bleiling and Happinefs of fuch as love and obey God, — andthemiferable P>id of the WicKed and Difobedient — Thefe are the firft Graces and Favours of God. Befides klr^ r 1' jK r'< 184 An Instruction Dial. 17. Befides tKefe, — to all fuch as are well dif- pofed, and receive thefe Truths, the Spirit cf GoienlightenstheirUnderflandings; — touches their Hearts with a Fear of God and with a Fear for themfelveSy on account of their Sins, and the Corruption of their Nature; he fhews them the Neceflity of a Saviour^ and what he has done to deliver them from Mifery, and to make them happy for ever. In (hort, whatever faving Truths Men know, whatever Goedihty do, whatever Evils they avoid, — thefe and many, very many more, are the Effe8softhe Grace 2Lnd FavourofGody and the effeBual Workings of his Good Spirit on our Hearts and Minds. Jnd. * What do you mean by Prayer ?* Mijf. We mean, — the laying our Wants and Defires before God^ and begging of him to hear and help us, and particularly to give us the AfTiftanccs of his Holy Spirit. Ind. * Doth not God know all our Wants, * before we lay them before him ? — And doth * not he give his Bleffings to many that never * pray for them ?' Miff, God doth mod furely know our Wants much belter than we ourfelves do ; — He alfo often gives us thofe things which we lieithcr deftre nor dejerve \ — and yet he has command- ed us to pray, and hath made it a Part of the Duty we owe to him ; — and that for our own Sake, and that we may be made more worthy cf the Favours which he defignsus, and that wc Dial. i7« for the li^jyiAiis. 185 we may not forget (as too many do) our De- pendance upon him for Life, ^nd Breafb, and all things. "- For, being obliged to pray to God daily, we can hardly chufe but think of Him often ; —of his Power to help us ; of his Goodnefs and Promife to do fo ;— of his Wifdom to give what is bed for us; — and of his Juftice to punifh thofe that live without God in the World: We can hardly help thinking of our own Sinfulnefs and Unworthinefs of any Fa-. vour at the Hand of God ; — and we are led to remember the only Way bywhich every Mercy is to be obtained; even through the Merit and Mediation of our Lord Jefus Chrift. — By ail which we are taught to knowy to love, to ho- nour, to oi^ey, to rely upon, and to praife our Maker every Day more and more perfedly, in all our Ways to acknowledge him, and live in an entire Dependence upon him ; — which is the fure Way to be happy for ever. Ind. * Hath God promifed to give Chrif- * tians w^hat they pray for ?' Mijf, He hath promifed to give them what- ever they aflv agreeable to his Will, and what- foever he in his infinite Wifdom fhall think pro- per for them *. — And becaufe through our Ignorance^ and the Corruption of our Nature, were we left to ourfelves, we fhould be tempted to pray for fuch things as might hurt both our- felves and others, and which would not be for John xiv. 14. Ibid. xvi. 23. Matt. xxt. 22. ■^i'iiir-r YlX^ \ the i ■ 186 An Instruction Dial. 17. the flonour of God, or For his Goodnt^fs, to grant, therefore his Soriy and our merciful 6*^- vioicry hath given u^ a Pattern of Prayer^ in order to direct us wiiat to pray for, fo as to pleafe God. — And this Prayer is lO fhort, that the inoft unlearned Ch'ridian may get it by heart, and, by a very little Help and Atten- tion, may underfland it fo well, as never to be at a Lois what to afkof God. Ind, * I hope you will be fo good as to teach • me that Prayer, and to explain it to me.' Miff'. I will* do fo, and endeavour to make you underdand the Reafon and Meaning of every Petition: — You mud know then, that it is called the Lord's Prayer, becaufe it was gi>'en by our Lord Chrift to his Difciples, for the Ufe of them and his Followers ; and it is in thefe Words : The Lord's Prayer. Our Father which art in Heaven ; — Hallowed be thy Name. — Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven, -—Give us this Day our daily Bread. And forgive us ourTrefpaffes, as we forgive them that trefpafs againft us. — And lead us not into Tempta- tion, ' I Dial. 1 7. for //:?^ I N I) I A N s. 187 tion, but deliver us from Evil. — For thine \? the .Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, tor ever and ever. Arnen. Ind, * I (hould be much to blame, indeed, ' if I fliould not get To fhort a Prayer by heart, * You will now be fo kind as to explain it to * mc.* Mijf. Before I do that, I mud fir ft obfervc to you. That we are not taught to lay my Fa- ther^ but Our Father y* — becaufe God, who is the God of all Mankind, would have all of us to love and to be concerned for one another ; — and to increafe and confirm our Love, he hath taught us, when we beg any Favour for ourfelves, to pray for all others^ that he may be glorified by themy as well as by us ;— and that none may be deprived of thoi'e Bleffings which Jejus Chrijl hath pirchajed for Man- kind. - ' You will alfo obferve, that God hath per- mitted us to call him our Father y to the end that we may pray with an humble Confidence of being kindly received : Being afliired, ^hat as a Father pitieth his own ChildrcUyJo the Lord pitieth them that fear him *'. But then we are to confider,^-~That this Father, is the God of Heavkn, who fees • Pfal. ciii. 13. our !'•( H m "! 1I ^. t i J, If M I i I! 188 -^« Instruction Dial. 1 '^ our Behaviour, and the very l*hougbts of our Hearts; v:hich (hould oblige us to approach him with Reverence, and go^Iy Fear, — becaufe He is in Heaven, and ^e are upon Earth, which is his Footftool. Laflly, — obfcrve — That in the Hhree firft Petitions \SQ. pray for the Glory of God; that we, and iill People, may know him, worjhip and obey him, as we ought to do.— And/;/ the Three laft Petitions we pray forourfelves, — for the Neceffhries of Life, — for the Pardon of our Sins, and Grace to do our Duty, and for God's Prote^ion and Deliverance homihQ Evils we cither fi/ffer, ox fear. * And therefore 1 befeech Thee, O Hea- venly Feather, not for rnyfelf only, but for all thy Children, That we may all live wor- thy of the Relation which we bear to Thee ; — That we may not fin, knowing that we are accounted thine, nor wilfully offend fo great, fo good, fo tender a Father : — But that we may love Thee not as Slaves, but as Children i That we may put our whole Truft in Thee, and depend upon thine in- finite Power, Wifdom, Goodnejs, and Promife to take Care of us : — That we may leave it to Thee to chufe what is befl for us, and bear with Patience and Refignation all thy Fatherly Corre6lions. — And that we may ferve Thee with Comfort and Pleafure all our Days, in Hopes of the everlafting In- * heritance Dial- 1 7* yir/^tf Indians. 189 * heritance which thou haft promifed to thy * obedient Children/ Hallowed be thy Name. Now in this firft Petition we pray,— -That all Men may have a very high Regard for the Divine Majefty of God, and for his Ho- nour:— And efpecially, that all Chriftians, to whom he has made Himfelf and his Will known by no lefs a Perfon than his own Son, may honour him, by a firm Faith in him, and by \e2idingjufi and holy Lives, as becomes the Children of God, that others, feeing their good Works, may be converted, and glorify their Father which is in Heaven, — And, for their Encouragement in doing this, God hath declared, — That them who honour him he will honour * ; that is, — he will blefs them, and make them happy. * Let us ever remember, O God, That * thou art our great Creator^ our abfolute * Lordy our merciful Saviour, and our all^ * feerng Judge. May we ftand in Awe of * thy almighty Power, thine all-feeing Provi-^ * dentin and thine angry Jujiic€y and love thy * houndlefs Goodnefs, and be always thankful * for thine innumerable Benefits, and truft in ' thy JVifdom and Truth, and call upon thy * Name, as long as we live 1* Thy Kingdom come. f I Sam. ii. 30, Ib m ! n r \i 'i . I 190 -/^« In STRUCTioN Dial. 17, In order to underftand this Petition, you muft know, — That wherever the C4iri{iian Religion is received, there is the Kingdom cf Gody becaufe God is there obeyed, feared, and loved. — Wc pray, therefore, in thefe Words, That all the Nations of the Earth may come to the Knowledge of the true and only God, the Creator and Preferver of all things; — and that the Gofpcl of his Son, which con- tains the Laws of his Kingdom, may every- where be received to the Glory of God, and the Good of Mankind; — and that every one of us may labour to advance the Kingdom of God and his Honour. ' And thus, O Lord, ^Let thy Kingdom * come, — Let it be as univerfal, as the Pro- * piiETS foretold it fliould be, and extend to * every Corner of the Earth, and reach every Man's Heart and Soul : And may the Days come, when no Perfecution, Divifion, or Schifm, no Evils or Troubles of any kind * fhall be known in it ! — And may none who * are called by thy Name, oppofe this Coming ' of thy Kingdom by any Scandal, or by refift- * ing the Power and Efficacy of it in himfelf T How meanly and bafely do thofe a8;, who profefs themfelves Members of this Kingdom, and yet have no Care or Concern for the Con- duQ of it ; — but withal how inconfiftently, while they are bidding open Defiance to their Lord, to wifli, as they do in this Prayer— for his Coming. S . We Dial. 17* for the I^ Di ASS, 191 We arc alfo fuppofccl to pray in tiiis Peli- tidn, — That (}od would be plcafed to remove whatever hinders fo glorious a Work ; — That he would reftrain tlie Power of the Devil, who leads fo many Nations captive at his IVill : —That all fuch as are yet ignorant of the true God, may no longer want the neceifary Means of their Converiion ; — and that all Chrillians may, by their good Lives, convince Unbe- lievers, bow happy they are in being under the Laws and Government of their Maker, Ind, * Bui pray. Good Sir, how can that he * called the Kingdom of God, in which there • are fo many wicked Siibje8s?' MiJIf, God permits it to be ib for the pre- fcnt, in this Sate of Trials to make all Men fee what they would be without the AiriRance and Help of his Grace; to fliew his Good- nefs and Patience, by which many of the Wicked are brought to Repentance \ whereby alfo the Power of his Grace is both feen and glorified. < — By thef? alfo he tries the Sincerity of his fai:hful Subjeds. — But a. Time is coming, when a Separation will be made of the Wheat from the Ta^eSy the good Seed from the bad/ and the Juftice of God will appear in the dreadful Punifliment of all fuch as now give Offence to his good Subjefts', and hinder the propagating the G of pel. Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven, This •n m !', it m. M a. if '^ I r. il^i^ m'W 111' mV: \ it! 'i ,1 'I'' igi -^« Instruction Dial. 17. This is the next Petition ; by which wc pray, — That God by his Grace may difpoio the Hearts of all his Subjects to a chcarfnl Obedience to his Laws, and an entire Sub- mifTion tQ his Will and Dire8ion ;— and to a Performance of their Duty in that State o{ Life, in which his Providence hath placed them; — and this as chearfuliy as his Angels do their Duty and obey his Will in Heaven; •—by which God will be greatly glorified, — his Kingdom enlarged, — his Angels delighted, and all who obey him will be prepared for eternal Happinefs, Now we come to the three laft Petitions which concern our own Wants, and which none but God can fupply. — And thefe i fliall explain to you the next Time you com \^ — In the mean Time addrefs yourfelf to the Throne of. Grace in the following: Words. iiit" n The PRAYER. DIfpofc me, and all thy Children, O Lord and Father, to fubmit chearfuliy to what- ever thy Providence (hall order for us :— • Hearken not to the corrupt Defircs of our own Hearts, but to the Voice of thine own Wifdom, Goodnefs, and Mercy. — Give us a true Knowledge of our Duty, and an Heart (lifpofed to clofe with thy Will, whenever it fliall be made known to us, and to obey it with Pleafure. — Subdue in us whatever is contrary 3 ^0 Dial. 1 8. y^r /A/^ Mtferyt\^\c mod dreadful of all EviU Whatever* And the Realbn why this Defire is^ by ou,r Lord exp relied in thefe Words — And lead tis not into Temptation^ hut deliver us from Evilj. is ihis : To admonifh iis, that even the beft of us are in Danger of falling into the fanw Sins, that v/e have once, much more that we have often, been guilty of; and that, becaufe there are feveral Temptations^ which in the Courfe of our Lives we (hall furcly meet with ; and therefore, that none of us are to be fecure, but ought always to watcb and pray^ and A K J Hand ftfi ii ■ 'V \ i 1 1 1 • 1 !■ ' ;) ; J i i i 1 ■-;i !■ ii 1 ■ i '^ m I ''• i i 198 ^« Instruction Dial. 18. | Dial. 1 Hand upon our Guard, and to look, well to ourfelves, that we be not overcome. And you will be further convinced of the abfolute Neceility of this Petition, when you ieefo many, even amongft thofe who bear the Name of Chriftians, running headlong into cverlafting Ruin, for want of God's gracious Affiftance, which can only be obtained by conftant and diligent Prayer. * O God, who hateft Iniquity, and knowefl • our Infirmities,— leave us not to the Malice • and Power of the Evil one the Devil^ to deal • with us as he pleafeth; — Leave us not, O ^ merciful Father, to ourfelves, and to, our • own corrupt Hearts and Lufts, left we rafh- • ly run into Temptations i — Keep us always • under the Proteftion of thy Good Spirit; . * fuffer us not to be furprifed, nor off our • Guard, nor tempted above what we are able • to bear;— Give us Grace to refill the World, ' the Flefh, and the Devil, and to watch and • pray daily, that we enter not i«to Tempta- ' tion.' We conclude this Prayer with thefe follow- ing Words; which are a folemn Form of Praife^ and an Acknowledgment to Him to whom we have been praying. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever, Amen. That !• Dial. i8. for fht\lsDi AN s. 199 That is, in other VVord^-— We prai/e, and worjhip, and depend upon Thee, ihc greats and true, and only God; — whofe Kingdoin ruleth over all the World ; — whofe Power nothing can refift ;— whofe Glory ought to be cur chief Aim and Define ; — who alone can give us what we want and pray for; — who alone can for- give us our Sins, and difpofe us to forgive one another ; — who can help, Jecure, and Jave us in the Hour of Temptation, and deliver ua from the Evils to which we are daily expofcd, . — To Thee, therefore, wc give all Honour^ Praifey and Thanks , and wifli that all th^ World would do the fame. Amen. Jnd. * I obferve, that you conclude all your • Prayers with that Wor-^ —Amen.' Mijf. We do fo.^-By which we exprefs our mod earned Defire, that God would grant us what we have prayed for;— which we firmly believe he will do, fo far as may really pro- mote his Glory and oxxr beft Intereft -, — foraf- much as we are alTured, That no Man did ever truft in the Lord, and was confounded *, or dif- appointed of his Hopes ; and therefore we con- clude all our Prayers with faying /fmen^ or Sa he ity let it be as we have prayed, and do de^ fire:— ^ . Ind, ^ Can it be expe6ted, that the Igno- * RANT and-UNLEAiR.NED,(hould pray?* Mijf, It is mofl furely the Duty of every Man, however ignorant aijd unlearned^ to pray . * Eccks. ii. 10. ' K 4 and it j m ^ I vimi m 200 ^n Instruction Dial. 18. | Dial. and give Praife to God; whereby he owns his ■ owing Dependence upon him, for every thing he | fee ib wants, and returns bis Thanks for all the Blef- fjngs he receives. Now every Man, even the moft unkarnedy cannot but know, that he is Jubjeil to he tempted to Sin, and that God only can deliver him from it,— Every one knows, that it is God only that can l^Ie/s his honeft Endeavours for a Livelihood ; — that God therefore ought to be fought to for thefe Bleffings, and that every ime is obliged to be thankful to him when he receives them. A very Child can tell his Father what he wants ; and you fee God permits us to call liim Our Fathhr, that we may hy our De*- fires and Wants before him aft^r the bcft man- ner we are able> and leav^e it to him to help IIS ;-^He knows our Wants, however imp^r^ feftly we e;fprefs them with ouir Tongues,-** And we B)a>; be affured, th>t, when we de- voutly ufe this very Prayer, God will hear and anfwer us, no^ according to our weak Under*- Handings; but m^ manner fuitable to our real Neceffities, and ^((urding tQ the Love of a pather for his Children^ Ind, * Do Chriftians think, that they grc * bound to pray every Day ?' MiJJ, They fhould do fo; and every good Chriitian will do (o; becaufe he knows he wants God's Help ajid Pardon, and BUJingSt ^very Day of his Life,--^^-r-And it is chiefly : - \ :\ owing among Dav in and or ginga often li deliver the fa( iA>hen a Jleepeth Ind. * read, ■ MHJ not rea ihem ft kno'v i God's can.— his Ne in : — I think c will W2 fully. - bis Ml with tl- Mifer) Requ€ Ind. •- owe >ial. j8. J Dial. i8f. for j^he InDt An $. j2<5i owing to the Omiirion of this Duty, that we fee fo much VVickednefs and Mifchiefs even armongft Ghriftians. People venture every Day into a World full of Temptations to Sirr^ and of Dangers innumerable, without beg- ging the Protedion of God : — And they too often lie down to fleep, without praying to her dolivered from the Powers of Darknefs, and the fad Accidents which may befal them, 'U^hen all Eyes are Jhut^ but His only who never Jleepetb, Ind, * Is It expe£^ed, that fuch as carrnot ♦ read, (hould pray ?' Alijf. Ix is an Unhappinefs that People can- not read ; but God forbid, that fhould hinder ihem from praying ! — Whoever hatbSenfc to kno'7 that he is a Sinner, or that he wants God's Help, is bound to pray as well a;s he can. — If fuch a Perfon wants a Kindnefs from his Neighbour, he will find Words to a(l< it in : — If he i^ to afk it of his Betters, he will think of doing it in a becoming Maniner, and will wait with Patience, and receive it thank- fully. — Let him fb behave himfelf towards his Maker I and God, who is always pleafcd with the Defires of a Heart truly fenfible of its Mifery and Wants,, will favourably anfwer his Requefts. ■iV- Ind, * I obferve that you make Than * i«^ alfo a Duty,, and a Service, which y(ja ^ owe to God.' K. 5 \} 1 ' li" ''- r^ :* >-■'-• ^ i I .' I y" •iipi^ii ,1' 'I I :; aoz -^/i Instruction Dial, i 5, Mijf, God himfdfhas made it Jo *, — and it is agreeable to our Reafop.— We expe6l Thanks from one another, when we have done a Kind- Defs. — And if Chriilians would take Notice of, and give God shanks for, the Mercies and BleJ-^ fings they receive daily from his Bounty, they would engage the Divine Goodnefs to multiply his Favours, which they often hinder by their Ingratitude,'^* But then they muft fliew their ^ Thankfulnefs, not only with their Lips but * by their Lives.' Jnd^ * How often fhould we pray ?*^ Mijj^ We fliould fray without ceafing t • that is, we fhould let no Day pafs without beg* ging God's Blefling; and giving him Thanks for his Mercies; — for tv^xyBleffing we receive ; for every Danger we efcape; — and for every i\ffli6lion we meet with, and are fupported under. Our Meals fliouId put us in mind,—- that vie do not live hy Bread.alone; that there- fore God's Bleffing muft make our Meat to do us good'l^.'^ln our Bufinefswe fhould remem- ber, that it is but loft Labour, to rije early^ md take little Reft^-^il God bleflcs not our Endeavours ||, — In the Mornings we fhould pray to God toblefs our Labours all the Day; and^in the Evenings return our humble Thanks for all the Mercies of the foregoing Day; and pray for Prefervation, and the other Mercies of the Night. • 1 Theff. V. i8, f Ibid, v. !;• % Dent. viii. 3. fl Pfal. cxxvii. 3. Tnd, Dial. 1 8. for /^^ In D I A N s. zoj Ind, * Are there any further Inftruftiong • that you think necelFary to give me, con- * cernihg this Duty of Prayer?' Mijf^ Only remember,— That wheneveryou fay this Prayer, or beg any Favour from God, you do it with the Humility of one who isy^»- ftbk of his Wants Sind Mi/ery; — with Submiffion to God's Will ; with great Reverence^ Atten^ tion of Mind, and Deliberation^ that your Heart may go along with your iL//>j.— And laftly, which you muft never forget,— you mult afk every Bleffingyou wantof God, for THE Sake of his Son Jesus Christ ; it be- ing on i&fV Account alone, 2iV\d for what he has done and/ufferedi that God will own us for his Children, or grant us what we pray for. Ind. ' I hope I (hall always remember to Miff. Indeeditisoffo very great Moment, that Jesus Christ himfelf has appointed arx Holy Ordinance to be obferved by all Chriftians, on purpofe that they may always remember the wonderful things he has done, and the great Bleffing^ he hath obtain'd for them :-«-.Particularly the Sacrifice of his Deaths and the Benefits which we receive by it ; viz. the Pardon of our Sins, and the fur6 and cer- tain Hopeof everlafting Life. — When, there- fore, you come ag.un to me, I will explain this to you more fully, than I can do at pre- ftm for want of Tinf>e. K 6 Jni. i;i h '. \ ' i |!i' VI' i« :hi 204- ^n Instruction bial. 15, Ind, * You havefaid enough. Sir, to make * rue return to you as foon as poffibly I can/ The P R A Y E R. BLeffedbe thy Name O God, for this great Privilege of layinj; our Wants before Thee, and for the great Hopes we have of be- ing heard.— Make me ever fenfible of my Wants, and of thy Power and Goodneftto help me, that at all Times I may call upon Thee, by diligent Prayer. — And hear mc, O King of Heaveti, when I call upon Thee, in the Name of our Lordje/tij Ci^rift; that Itnay effe^ually Obtain the Relief of my NeceflHties, and ever ^ive Thee Praife fpr tlic fame. Jtntn. I " w m DIALOGUE XIX. ^^Hh Sacrament oi^ the Lord's S«p« Indian. . YOUR Promiff, Sir, to explam to me an Holy Or1)inance, which, ycu toki me, aH Chrii^ians a^6 bound to obferve ibr a continual Remembrance of the Sacri- fice of the Death of Ch rift, ever finc^ that Sacrifice was ofiered, this has broughi m^ to you now, as foon as I could hope you would^ iiave Time to inftruft me/ t f « « « i:'l »1. 15. I DUI. 19- for //^tf Indians. 20*5 Af/^. I have now Time to do it.— You remember, I hope, what I have told you be- fore ;— that there arc twofpecial Ordlmnces of the Chriftian Religion, which wc call S a e u a- M E N Ts, appointed by Chrift himfelf as necef- fary Means of Salvation, when they may be regularly had»..^There are Baptism, and the Lord's Suffer.^— By Bapti/m wc arc intro-i duced into the Chriftian Charafter;— at which Time we enter into a Covenant tvitb Godi wherein, on our Part, wc promile,.— to^^//W# in him, to fear ^ to love^ and obey him all our Days :-^ And God, on his Part, receives us- kite his Family, which is his ChuiKih, and promifeth to treat us as his ChiWren, — to^ro- teSf U6y while we live, and, when we die, to make us happy, if we have behaved ourfelve* as his dutiful Children ouglit to do; andtbus^ we give ourfelves up unta Chrift. Ind, • This I have not forgot/ Miff, But then, forafmueh as this high Fsi*» vour hath been beftowed u»pon Chriftians^ to he called and treated a f the Children of Gedy not f^r any thing they have done to deferve it,. but purely /(j'r the Sake of what his Son Je/ux Chrift hath done andjuffered for them^ * He hath appointed anot ^er Sacrament. whrch we call the Lord's Supper, in-order; to keep up the Remembrance of what he hatfe ^owt for us : -*-His laying down his Life for. Us to redeem us from the Wrath of Godt to ^urchajt i '•» :• n \ l!l , 1 ll I I'ill !'!i 1 * ' MnHl^Ba 1 1 WW Jl ti ill 1 |i' ^H s; ' flH II* lilii ||lflHi| lai:Mll!! 1 im 1 ■ H^HI 'i if 1 b'^ri IXM 1 ^ i IN 1 iPs^n 'i' !.' f 1 ' 1 "in . j i .'i'llH' ^'' i ; ■BiW . ; t 'fffl^ 1 : :I1W !' 1- ' 1 Iflffl : ' t 1 1 iHiil ! 1 '■^H 'P ' wK » '' fl^R i ■' 1 1 ' 1 .^B fl^^H i Mti !■ lIHH W H 1 ■ iflil : 1 1 1 ■ 1 2c6 j4n Instruction Dial, k^; furchnfe us to himfelf to be a People zealous of good fVorks.* Ind, * Why do you call this Sacrament • by the Name of the Lord's Supper ?' Miff* Becaufe our Lord Chrill did appoint THIS Ordinance at his Laft Supper with his Difciples, the Eveningbefore he was crucified, to preferve the Memory and the Reafonso{ his Death ; the A'w^w/^^^^ of which is the Founda- tion of the Chriftian Religion, and that on which the Happlnejs and Salvation of all Men doth depend. Ind, * You will not wonder, if I am very * defirous to know all that is necelTary con- * cerning this Ordinance.' Mijf, That you may do fo, you muft carry your Thoughts back to what I have already told you of, the firft Parents of Mankind i that they rebelled againil their Maker s Command ;— that they loft his Favour, and all Right and Title to the Happinefs which he had promifed them ; — that this very Nature became prone to Evil ;— and both they and their Pofterity became fubjeft to Sin, to Mi* Jery^ and to Death: — And laftly that the Son of God, pitying their Calamity, undertook to redeem them, — xafattsfy his Father's Juftice, and to fuffer in his own Perfon for their Sins j as alfo to impart to them a Spirit and Prin* ciple of a new Life, in order to renew that Nature which they had fo fadly fpoiled#— • Is, Dial. 19- yir /^^ Indians. 207 In order to which he was made Man ; and^ having put himfelf in the Place of Sinners, he ottered himfelf to fuller Death for their Redemption ; by which he reltored them to his Father s Favour, and to a Polfibility of obtaining the Happinefs for which they at firll were made. By which wonderful Goodnefs, and mod worthy Sacrifice^ God was fo well pleafed,— that he hath, for his Sons Sakcy promifed to pardon all penitent Sinners, and to make them happy for ever, Ind, • All this I now remember you ex- ^ plained to me ; and I thank you for putting * me again in mind of it : and I hope now I « fhall never forget it.' Mijf. It will certainly be your Intereft to remember it ; for indeed your Happinefs de* pends upon it. Ind. Is it fufficient for me to remember * in this Sacrament y that there was fucha Per- * fon as Jefus Chrift ?' AGJf. No, furely ; much more is contained in it. — We are to call to mind his wonderful Love to Mankind, which engaged him to take our Nature upon him, and to fubmit to ;the Infirmities and Miferies of it ; which made him content to live amongft us, and to die for us : It is to call to mind his un ; \iQ3incdFatience and Diligence in doing Good; —healing the Di/ea/es, and inftru6ling the Ignorance^ of Men ; arid particularly his molt % grievous ^ \ .. , r I <\\ w\ •i'-' ;5 *^ftcn as ye ftiajl * drink it^ in Remembrance of mer— For a^ ' oft as ye flialj cat this Bread, and drink this ' Cup, ye do fliew the Lord> Death till he * come/ ln4." 'You will iiow, Sir, kt me know * how this Sacraipent is obferved amongft * Chrilllans.* Miff, They do it after this Manner : — Firft, the Miniller of Chrid placeth, or caufeth to be placed, upon a Table in our Churches, a Portion of Bread^iMd fViM^ iu the Sight of all :.^Vn the h 1. i( '.1 ! J '! M Iff III m !t I 210 jin Instruction Dial. 19. the People. Th\s Brea^^ and /F/»^, which are to reprejent the Sacrifice of Chrift's Body and Blood, ^xc/an^tfiedy or fet apart y for this holy Ufe, by giving Thanks to God for all his Fa* vours, and efpecially for having fent his only Son to redeem us by his Death ; and by beg- ging of him, that when we receive, and eat and drink this Bread and Wine, we may be fo far made Partakers of the Sacrifice of his mod bleffed Body and Blood, a^ to fhare in all the Benefits which he hath obtained for us by his Death. At the fame Time he break eth the Bread into Pieces, andpoureth the Wine into a Cup, to reprefent unto our Senfes, by thefe eutward^ndiviJibleS\gx\s^ the Death of Chrift, whofe Body was broken, and Blood poured out, upon the Crofs. Jnd. * Pray, Sir, how doth he, after this, * difpofe of this Bread and Wine?' . MiJ\ This Bread and Wine, being/j«^/- Jled by the Word of God and Prayer, he dif- tributes among thofe who are there prefent ;-— putting them in mind, that Jefus Chrift died for them, and for their Salvation ; — preferring their Happinefs to his own Life; — that there- fore they ought never to forget fo great a Kindnefs, but to keep up the Remembrance of him, after this Manner, which he hath appoint- ed, UNTIL HIS Coming again. /W. * Is this all that is required of Chrif- • tians, — '^ To keep up the Remembrance « of Chrift, and of his Death ?" Mif. Pial. ip. for the ItiUlAVS^ 21 1 Mijf. No, furely;— no ferious Chriftians think ^bal hlone fufficient. — They know that it is an humble Heart in which Chrill delights to dwell ;•— they therefore look upon this Sa- crament as a proper Occafjon of humbling themfelves before God, and of abhorring thofc Sins which coft Jefus Chriit his Life and Blood. They know a)fo, that the Bleffings obtained for us by Chrift's Death, of which this Sacra- ment is a Remembrance, are as much the Food of the Soul, as Bread din^ Wine are of the Body — that this Food ox Support we receive by a lively Faith in his Merits ; and do therefore, at this Time, more efpecially acknowledge the Efficacy of his Death. — This is the true Bread, which nourijheth to eternal Life *»'^nat God who/pared not his own Son, but gave him up for us ally will he not with him freely give us all things? Befides this, every penitent Chriftian will look upon this as a proper Time to remember and comfort himfelf with the great Extent of God*s Mercy declared iy his Son, and this even with an Oath, — « That all Sins Ihall be for- * given unto the Sons of Men t.* Every humble Chriftian alfo, who feels in his Soul the Want of God's Help to fupport him againft the Temptations of the World, the Flefh, and the Devil, will think this a very proper Time to beg of God his Son's Promife, * John vi^ f Mark iii, 28. —« That f: ■) ■ '\ ■! I. < ■ !! . Si- la .512 yf/> Instruction Dial. 19, #^* That h? will give the holy Spirit to them * that afli him/ Laftly, — Every Chriflian mufl be fuppofed to receive this Sacrament in Token that he ac- knowledgeih Jefus Chrift to be his Lord and Saviour — to Be hi* Lawgiver bere^ and his Judge hereafter, Ind, * I remark, that Chrifl commanded * this Ordinance to be obrervc'.c World— TO JwDOjB THE Living and thi Df A^ 5-^o call aii Meo that ever have lived to an Account for the Ufe they havemadeof cfee Favours which God has given them; and 10 rjsward or pu^fjb xk^m, a» tliey have livtdi well or ill in this World. And ih\$ Ifitiffiatiori be gave his Followers, when he appointed th'\$ Ordinance, that they may confider, every Time they go to this Sa- crament, what Account they will be able to give of themfelves, * when he (liall come to * judge the World in Rightcoufnefs/ Ind. ^ Is there any thing elfe required of ^ Chriftians, before they go to this Sacra- * mcnt ?' Mif. Yes :— They ought, in the firft Place, to coiifider what Sort of Life they have led fince they took on them the Clixiftian Charac- / tcr; \ e End of»'.c Dial. 19. for the I HDi ASS. 213 ter; — at which Time they obliged themfelves < to make the Laws of God the Rule of their « Faith, and Life, and Adions:' — And to examine themfelves, whether they have not led a wicked, at leatt an idle, ujelejs Life ; — 6r whether they now live in any known Sin;— becaufe they are bound, when they go to that Sacrament,— ferioudy to acknowledge their Offences and Sins before God, and to beg his Pardon, with a full Purpofe of Amendment of Life ; otherwife they will receive nothing there, but their own Condemnation. A Chriftian'is obliged alfo to have a grate- ful Senfe of God's Goodnefs^ by confidering his Mercy in fending his own Son to redeem us, whom by his Death he hath reconciled to his Father, and pat us in a Way to be for ever happy, if it is not merely our own Fault* And laftly, Jejui Chrifi having expretly commanded, ^ That all his Difciples (hould « love one another, as he hath loved theni, • and given his Life for them *,' — every Chrif- tian is bound, before he goeth to this Sacra- ment (the chief End of which is to put hira in Mind of this great Inftance of Chrift's Love, every Chrrftian, I fay, is bound), to confider whether he hath any thing in his Heart, contrary to this Pattern of true Love> and Command of his Saviour. Lid, * Do you believe, that Chriftians are • generally careful to prepare themfelves for • this Ordinance after this manner ?* • J«lin xiii. 34. Mijf. 'U^i H • \ <• ', t I] >; t m : if Nt kll ' •l!' 214 ^« Instruction Dial. 19. Miffl All Jeriom Chriftians are fo : — But, too many, it fs to be feared, are not. — And this is the Reafon why fo many receive no Benefit from this Sacrament \ — for otherwife, THIS Ordinance would be a moft powerful Reftraint to keep them from leading a thoughu lefs and an evil Life, — by affording them fo many blelTed Occafions of remembering and renewing their Covenant with God, laying them under continual Obligations of leadins a new and Chriftian Life, and obtaining Grace from God to do fo. Ind, * What do you think of thofe Chrif- * tians that never go to this Sacrament ?* Miff, Why they are generally to be efteem- cd in the Way of Ruin, without feeing their Danger. — They do not confider, that, as they are Sinners, God cannot be pleafed with them ; —and that there is no Pardon for Sinners, no Salvation to be hoped for, but only through the Merits of Chrift's Death, which is comtne* morated'in this Sacrament. Ind. * But fure. Sir, all Chriftians are not * fo thoughtlefs ; — they mufl have fome Rea- ^ fons for negleding fo neceffary a Duty, as * you feem to reprefent it.' Miff. There may be Reajons and Scruples for isibfenting/(?r a Time; but, generally fpeaking, fome of ihefe following are the true Req/bns, why Men turn their Backs upon the Lord's Supper when invited to it, let them pre- tend what they pleafe. Either Dial. I9» for the liiDiAUS, 215 Either they liVe in fome known Sin, which they will not at prefent refolve to forfake; — or this Worldy its Bufinejs or Pleafures^ have taken fuch PolFtffion of their Hearts, that they have no Time- even to think of their Souts, or of what muft come hereafter : — Or ]a(lly» they delude themfelves with a faint Pur- pofe, that thus it (hall not always be with them ; that fome Time or other they will make the Care of their Souls their great Con- zttxip But fuch Perfons (hould confider, that while they thus defpife one of the gr^ateil In- ftances of God's Love, they continue in a Sin which too nearly refembles the Denial o^ their Lord and Saviour: More particularly they (hould refledt, that by perfifting in fuch a wil- ful Difobedience toChrift'spofitive CommancJ, they have no well-grounded AfTurance that any of their Prayers will be granted : For as Ghrift's Death is the only folid Foundation of Favour with God, fo his Mediation is the only Channel, through which it is to be con- veyed toChriftians. Whether, therefore,thofe who refufe to commemorate the oney can lay any juft Claim to the ofber, is left to every Man's ferious Meditation : — And they fhould confider with what Face they can hereafter ap- pear before their Saviour in Judgment, whom they refufed to remember in his Ordinance here on Earth \ — it having been obferved,— ^hat whatever keeps a Man from the Sacrament^ after he has been inflru^edin the true Nature of i',' '!'. !''. ft; '! '/f' I :'■'■ 1 it tl r-s If" '\i i ■ tfi6 -/^« Instruction Dial. 19. i7, w/7/, generally Jpeaking^ binder bim fmm going to Heaven. Ind. * Can a Chriftian know whether he ^ hath gone to this Sacrament as he ought to * have done, fo as to hope for the Bleffings * attending it ?* Mijf. That will beft be known by the Man- rter of his Life afterwards :— If a Perfon went as a true Penitenty he Will be very careful of falling into the Sins he hafh repented of,— If he was indeed grieved with the Remembrance of his Sins, and fhe Burthen of them was in- tolerable ;*-**if he did in good earneft furfoje to lead a new Life^ he will be nwre careful to beg of God to enable him i& do lo.-*— If he went with a lively Faifb in God*s Mercy tbrough Cbriji, that Faith will appear m a better Obe- dience tO' God's Laws.— If i>/ bad a (bankful Remembrance of Cbrtft*s Death y-^xht grateful Acknowledgment of that invaluable Bleffing Ivill conflrain him to live fo as to pleafe his merciful Redeemer.-— Laftly, If he went ^k\i a truly €haritaMe Di/pofif ion fo the Sacra - fnent, he wiH afterwards make the Love of Chrift the Pattern of his Love to all others, — he vf^lforgi'vey and give^ and love as becomes a Difciple of Jefas Chrift. Irrd. * Wilt not the Bleffings which Chrift * hath obtained by his Death > as repr^fented * by this Sacrament, encourage Chriftians to * hope for Salvation without Amendment of * Life?' MiJ/. Dial. I9» for the In Di AVIS. 217 Afif. Ignorant and unthoughtful People may delude themfelves with fuch vain Hopes; but all well-inflrufted Chriftians fliould know,— that tho' Chrift died for the Salvation of all, yet thoje only fhall a6lually enjoy the Benefits of his Death, who live according to the Will and Commands of him who died for them; that there will be no Forgivenefs of Sins without Repentance, and a thorough Reformation of Life J and that the ftrifteft Adherence to this or any other pofitive Ordinance of God will not avail, without an earncfl and fincere En- deavour to perform the whole Will of God, as it refpefts Him, our Neighbour, and Ourselves. Ind^ ^ I cannot. Sir, but be very thankful * for the great Pains you have taken to in- * ftruQ me, and to make me undcrftand the * Nature and Benefit of the Sacrament of the * Lord's Supper; and indeed, Sir, I am * very defirous to be baptized, if you know ' of nothing that ought to hinder me.' Mijf, I would not hinder you one Moment; — but that I have one thing more to make you fenfiWe of, before I would encourage you to be baptized. — And this is — * The Delufion, * the Danger, and the Mifchief, of being a ' Chriftian without Chrillianiry/ Ind, * Indeed, Sir, 1 do not underftand you/ Mijf. I will explain to you what I mean, when you come to me again. — In the mean Time, I fhall pray God to keep you in this L. - good n i^ M f i!? ;• \''\i 'itl m ! s ; ai8 ^n Instruction Dial. 20. good Difpofition, and >Vom every thing that may any Way hinder your true Conveifion, The P R A Y E R. ALMIGHTY God, who gaveft thine only Son jfe/us Chrift to fuffer Death for our Redemption, give me Grace to keep up the Remembrance of this great Mercy. Grant that I may never be afhamed to confefs the Faith of Chrift crucified; — That I may never clefpife the Bleflings he has purchafed for me, nor the Means of Grace which he hath or- dained ; which I moft humbly beg for the Sake of the fame Jejus Chrift our Lord. Amen. DIALOGUE XX. STiS^ Delusion, /^^ Danger, and the Mischief, of being Chrift ians without Chriflianity^ Indian. * TVT^-^T ^^"^^ Sir, I left you with a * IVJL very earneftDefire of being baptized; * but you faid you bad fomething of Moment * to fay to me, before I was to take upon me * the Chara6ler of a Chriftian : P'or that Rea- * fon I am now come to wait on you.' Miffionary, To tell you the Truth, then, notwithftanding the Pains I have taken to in- (Irud Dial. 20. yir//6tf Indians, - 219 flru6l yoUj and fhcw you both your true Inter eft , and your great Danger in not follow- ing ir, I cannot but be afraid, led, when you come to be more converfant with the World, and inftead of finding the good Fruits which you might naturally expeQ from fo excellent a Religion, you fiiould find amongll too many profeffing that Religion, little or no Fear of God, nor any true Concern for thcmfelves, or for what muft come hereafter; — I cannot but be afraid therefore, lell, feeing this, you fliould be tempted to Jujpe5l the Truths I have told you, and fo either r^;/i5i«w^^Chrillianity,or elle content ypurfelf, as too many do, with the borrowed Name of a Chriftian, and with mere •Shadows of Religion, without endeavouring after that Juhftantial Hclinefs^ without which no Man muft ever hope to be happy. Ind, * I am very thankful for your Con- ' cern for me, and I fhall hear with Attention * the Inftrudions you will bepleafed to give, * for preventing my Fall.' Mif. You muft know then^ that the Chriftian Religion is intended by God to cure the Corruption of our Nature, and to make us happy y by making us holy, juft, and g^di —by making Chriftians the be ft -^^(gMlifcf* the trueft Friends ^—iht kindeft Mnfter^^0op' moft faithful Servants, the beft Hwfbands and IFiveSy — the moft careful and tender Parents^ and the moft dutiful Children, -the jufteft Magiftratesy and th^ moft faithful and obedi- L 2 €nt ,1 jl a I >^> :|5.. 22.0 -^« Instruct ION Dial, 20. eni StibjeS^s; — And, above all, the dcvouteft JVorJhippers of the true and only God, anddriQ Ohfervers of his I aws. — Now my Fears are, — That when you fhall fee too many Chrillians Jive without any Regard to ihefe Duties, pro^ fejftng to know God^ but in their 14^'crks denying him*', — I fay again, 1 cannot but be afraid for you,— left you fhould forget the Holy Cove- nant you made witli God, when you were baptized, — and fall infenfibly into the way of ^ihe World/ which leads to Deftrudion. Jnd» * Pray, Sii , what do you mean by the * IVay of the World r Mijf, I mean, ^ that fad, but too common * Dclufion, of being Chrifiians without Chrijli- * anity:* — That is^—of prefejing to obey the Laws, and to follow the Example of Chrift, and at the fame Time leading carelefs and un^ chriftian Lives; by which God is exceed- ingly difhonpured; the Gofpel defpifcd; — and too, too many deceived to their ever- lafting Ruin; — the ill Confequences of which can never be fufficiently lamented : For the poor Heathens obferving, that thefe Peo- ple call themfelves Chriftians; and yet feeing ihem corrupt m their Manners, Contemners of the God they wc^rfhip, and his Laws; — mind- ing neither his Promifes nor Threats; — but having their Hearts wholly fet upon their worldly Interefts or Pleafures ; — they, feeing this, do very . naturally conclude,— that if * Rom. i. 21. .fuch Dial. 20. for the luDiAiiS. 221 fucli People as thcfe can think tliemfelves fc- cure of Happinefs in the next Life, no one needs to be concerned whether he bc.an He a- TiiKN or a Christian in this. IrtcL * You remember, Sir, what I told you * before, that this very thing had once made ' me refolve never to think of becomin,] a * Chriftian ; till you afTured me that fuch as * thefeare no true Christians; — but are « either wholly ignorant of what they profefs, ' or deceive themfelves with the Thoughts, * that there is fomething in the very Name of a * Chriftian^ which may recommrnd them to * the Favour of God, and fave them from his * ^ifp^f^re^ and their own Ruin.* A/i^ I told you the Truth, and what the Son of God liath convmanded all Mankind to take Notice of; — * That not every one who * calls himfelf a Chriftian, fhall enter into the * Kingdom of Heaven, but fuch only as do « the Will of his Father which is in Heaven, * and obferve his Laws*.' Ind, * I (hall be very thankful, if you will * let me know who they are that thus delude * and deceive themfelves that I may not fol- * low them to rhy Ruin.' Mijf, 1 mud firft tell you, that there are thofe amongft us, who, being wife in their own Conceits f, will not receive the Son of God as their Teacher, nor his G off el as the i^«/^ of their Faith and Manners : — Now thefe Men • MatL.vii. 21. t Rom. xii. 16. L ^ . oftea Mi' lii* ' r< illp'-'.ij ' J ■ t{i I l«ff J 222 -^;f Instruction Dial. 20. ften lead into very dangerous Errors fuch People as do not know or confider, upon what certain Proofs the Truths of the Gofpel are mcft Jurely hdieved amongfi us. Ind, * I hope my Belief in the Gofpel is * confirmed fufficiently, both by tlie many * and wonderful Miracles of Chrift, efpecialiy * ly hh Refurre^im from the Dead^,' Mijf, But you muft not forget, '^hat ycur Faith, and the Increafe and Contitiuance of /)?, is the Gift of God-, vvhich you muft pray for, as ever you hope to be preferved free from Error. Ind^ * Well, it is flrange, however, that ' People of Underftandin^ in other things, * who cannot but fee how much we are apt to * be miftaken in the common Affairs of Life, * fhould, in Matters of th€ greateil Concern, * wholly depend upon their own fViJdom and * Power y even wheire God hath undertaken to * dir€(fl and affifl us.' MiJf. You will not xvonder at this, if you remember, what hath been fo often repeated and proved ; — that fuch is the Corruption of our Nature, that when any Man, through U proud Conceit of his own Wifdom and Strength^ ihall provoke God to forfake and leave him lo himfelf, that Man will be capable of believing and doing the moft unreafonable things, to which an evil Spirit, or his own corrupt Hearty can tempt him. « Adts ii. 22. Rojn. il. 4. Ind. Dial. 20, Jor the Indians, 223 Ind, * Pray, Sir, what other Miftakes are * there amongft Chriftians, which endanger • their Salvation ?' Mijf, There are too many, who, for want of Attention to the good Inftruflions which are given them,con(ider not how they live^ nor what will become of them when they ^/>;-— who know not the Evil of Sin, nor the Mil- chiefs it has brought into the World; — how hateful it is to an holy God, — how (IriB his Commands are to avoid it, and what the Por- tion of Sinners in the next Life is to be ; — and therefore propofe no other End to themfelves, in this Life, but only to live and die as eafy as they can. — Beftde tkoje who walkin Darknefsy and know not whither they go*, and are fecure,, becaufe ignorant; — there are others,, that are even afraid of being inftrufted. Ind, * That is ftrange indeed/ MiJ/". But rt is true: And the Re^fon is,. becaufe, if we deal faithfully with Sinners, we muft tejlify againfi themy that their Deeds are evil t, and that they are in very great Danger, if they do not for fake their beloved Sins; and then they will hate both m., and thofe unwel- come 7V«//?^x, which condemn them,, and their Way of Life: — No wonder therefore, that both thefe Sorts of Chriftians, by tbeir un- righteous LiveS) ftirnifh* Unbelievers with Ar- guments for perfi^ing, in their Obftinacy, — 9nd hazard their own Salvation. • Xohnxii. 35, L 4 f Johnvii, 7. There- li^ ■it, i '< i, '; MU ii .1 1* 3 till 1 ' 224. -/^/^Instruction Dial. 20. There are others alfo, who have been better informed, and perhaps well inclined; but, fuffering tiicir Hearts to be pofTefTed with the Love o{^ the World*, its Bufinefsy Riches^ or Pleafures ^i\\ty lofe thereby the Knowledge and Remembrance of the Truth, and forget their good Purpofes, and fall into the Way of Liv- ing which the Chrittian Religion condemns, and which will be punifhed with the Lofs of Heaven and Happinefs. And there are too many, who, having not caft off all Fear of God,' and Concern for their Souls, do yet con- tent themfelves with a pundlual Performance of the external Part of Religion, vainly think- ing that an outward Shew of religious Wor* fliip will atone for the Want of that inward Purity of Heart, which is indifpenfibly re- quired from every Chriftian. Ind, * I would be glad to know wbo this * Sort of miftaken Chriftians are.' Mijf. Befide thofe already mentioned, there are many, who, tho* they know themfelves not to be in the Way of Salvation, make their Minds eafy, by purpofing to repent, and be converted) foolifhly {ui^^oiing that Repentance is abjolutely in their own Power i-^Sit the fame Time provoking God, who alone can give them the Grace of Converfion, to leave them to their own Choice and Deftruftion. Others flatter themfelves, that Repentance, and a Change oiLi^c, are only required, where * Matt. xiii. 22. People Dial. 20. Jbr fheliJDi AN s. 225 People have been guilty o? great and/candalous Sins, fuch as Murder, Adultery, dtnd the like* —not confidering that a Man, who is inno- cent of great Crimes, may be far from being a true Chriilian,and in the Way of Salvation; ' the bed of Men (landing in need of Re- pentance and Pardon, and of the Mercy of God. Ind, * I have heard, that Chriftians do de- ' pend very much upon the Goodnefs and * Mercy of God.' Miff", And fo they may, and ought to do, provided they do '- t deceive themfelves, by abufing his Mercy, which is intended to le:d Men to Repentance, and Amendment of Lij . Ind, ' Pray, how do Men abufe this Mercy * of God ?* MiJJ, When they continue to live in any known Sin, or wilfully negled any Duty ; and yet hope, that God of his great Mercy will forgive them. Ind. * You have often mentioned the Cor'* * ruption and Weaknejs o^ human Nature; * will not this plead our Excufe, and prevail * with fo good and merciful a Being to pardon * fuch ay have not done what he hath com- * manded ?* Mijf, Yes: And he hath faithfully promif- ed, that iipon Condition of their R^.pentance^ and Amendment of Life (according to the Terms and Conditions in the Gofpel) he will pardon the greateft Sinners. J L 5 Ind^ \\ %,.,it Nf'^' M' I ■ill- '' il Si; I li K 226 yf« iNBTItU'CTION Dial. 20. JnL * Perhaps they will fey, that they are • not able to perform thefe Conditions / Mijf, What would you think of one who fliould make that an Excufe, and yet would be forry to be made able^ only becaufe he is unwilling to part with his Sins ? Ind, ^ Such an one, to be fure^ complaint • without Reafon^ and his Ruin will be from • himfelf.' MiJ^. And yet this is the Cafe of ail carele/s and wicked Chriftians. — God would have all his Creatures happy; — he knows that Man cai* never be happy, till his corrupt Nature be mended ; — he has therefore, as I tokl you be- fore, appointed the Chrijiian Religion^ as the inoft elle^iual Means of our Recovery fror"^ Sin unto HoirBefs.— By which we are taught to depend upon the Almighty Power 6f God> evvn that Almighty Fewer which raijed Je/us Chrift frmn the Dead *y— to raife us froin thfe Death of Sin^ unto the Life of Righteoufnefs;. by enabling us toy^^, to rejift, to overcome, and to root out whatever i«s evil ii> us, and to re- ftore us to the Image of God, in which Maa was at firft created. — Chriftian«, therefore, do- but delude them felves, and blafphemc God^ when they pretend they cannot do what he re- quires of them, in order to their Happinefs. And to name no more Way* at prefent, by which Men deceive themfelves to their Ruin: *— Very great is the Number of fucb as depend * Rom. vi. '4:. upon DiaU 2cr. for the Indians. ^zay^ upon 2L Deaf h-l^ed Repentance,. for the making their Peace with God, and fitting themlielves. for Heaven ; — living in the mean Time witJb* out God in the World, neither fearing his An* ger, nor regarding his Pramj/es^ Jnd, * Indeed, Sir, thefe are all fad Mif- * takes; and I hope 1 fhall not fall intb^any^ ** of them.' • ' : ^ Mijf, I hope fo too ;— but then you tnuft be very humbhy and always/^^r for yourfelf, and* beg of God to keep you from fuch Miftakes,. which are the Ruin of fo many,, who yet call-r and think themfelves to beChriftians; — other- wife your being made a Chriltian'will not fe-- eure you from Danger, Ind, * Pray, Sir, what are the things which? ** are moft likely to offend the good Spirit of * God, and force him to forfake fuch as arc * dedicated to himj. and. put under his Pro— «• teaion ?' • Miff, In the firft Place, Chriftians do grieve- that good Spirit, — by negle6ling,,to improve- tlie Graces beftowed upon thenrr ;— ^for^ as 11 told you before, this is a. Rule of the Gofpel^, — 'I- hat to him who makes good Ufe of the Fa-' vours which God hath given him^ God wUlgi'Oe^ more; and he that wiHnot dofo,Jhall loje what he had *. ' * > hid, * I hope I fhall not forget this Rule dfi' « Truili/ * Matt. xiii. I2i L 6 Mjf.: .Jii I ill •\\ ill i ' lit :.!it B ^^' '„' !- . M m ,1 tfr m i i A. ,i»; i it"! t, J 228 jin Instruction Dial. 20. Mijf, In the next Place, a Chriftian runs the Hazard of lofing the Help and Comfort of the Spirit of God, by returning into that Way of Life, and to thofe Sins, which he re^ flounced at his Baptifm ; — efpecially when he falls into, and continues in, any known and wilful Sin ; — for then he will naturally hate God, and God will forfake him. Ind, * Hate the God that made us!* MiJf. Why, as monftrous a Sin as you think that is, it is certainly true : — For any Man, whofe Confcience tells him, that he is always doing that which muft offend an holy^juft^ and powerful God, cannot but wifli there was no fuch Being to call him to an Account, and to punifh him ^ nor can he poffibly love fuch a Being. Thirdly; — Another Way of grieving the Holy Spirit is by negle6ling, which in Truth is defpifing, thofe Means of Grace, which Jefus Chrilt hath appointed to bring Men into^ and to keep them /«, the Way of Salvation. Ind. * 1 have not forgot what you have * formerly told me ; — That the hearing and * ferioufly thinking of the Word of God, in * which d Chriftian's Duty is contained, as * well as the Promifes to encourage^ and the * Punifliments to deter us, is one of thofe * Means you fpeak of, mod proper to con- ' vert Men, and tp keep them in the Favour * of God; 4 MiS al. 20. I Dial. 20. for the Indians. 229 Mijf, And the others are,— The Holy Or* dinances which Chrift himfelf hath appointed ; the one to receive Men into his Church, and the other to enable them to grow in Grace. Now, as the Ufe of thefe Means, join'd with earned Prayer to God, for Light to dif- cover what is evil in us, and for Power to root it out, is the fure Way of preferving the Fel- lowjhip of the Holy Spirit-, fo, when any Chriftian depending upon his own Reajon^ Wifdom^ or Power^ and forgetting that all our Sufficiency to do any Good is of God *, does negledl thefe Means, the good Spirit wHl for- fake fuch a Perfon, and leave him to himfelf, ind to the Delufion and Government of evil pirits, which, without a fincere Repentance, v^ill be his Ruin. And moft of all, when he trufts to any thing he has done as meritorious in the fight of God, inftead of that which Chrift has done and fufFered for him. Ind, * This, I hope, will be a Warning to ' me never to neglcQ: thefe Means of Grace * and Safety.' Mijf. And I hope too, that you will never forget to give God the Glory of all the Good you do; for be aifur'd of ihis^-^Tbat neither the Reafonablenefs of any Duty^ nor the Bajenefs of any Sin, nor any other Con fide ration, can ena^ hie you to do what is good, and well-pleajing to God, or to avoid what is evil, but only his Grace, and. that, good Spirit to whi(?h you are • 2 Cor. iii. 5. dedicated .1' !f - i^kAh Un ',i' ' ' t ;■(» i! 230 An Instruction Dial. 2tj. dedicated at your Baptifm. — To him you muIV apply for Light to fee your Duty, and for Strength to perform it; — and to him you muft give all the Glory, Ind, * Since there are fo many bad Chrif- * tians to he met with, I fhould be glad to * know who they are whofe Example 1 may * fafely follow. * . *r T would not advife you to make the Live ?nd Anions of other People altogether a Pattern for )ow to follow ; but always rather have an Eye to what you believe; will pleafe or difpleafe God, and what you^ know he has commanded or forbidden : — Altho' good and bad Chriftians, may foF the moft Part, be known by the Lives they lead,, ^i a ^ree is known hy its Fruit. - / When, therefore, you fee Men pay a great Regard to God and his Laws, honouring his Holy Name, and his Wordy and every thing belonging to him ; — when you fee theny«^, and kind, and merciful, and not given to Revenge,. but ready to forgive, and give, and love, as becomes the Followers of Chrift ; — when you. fee them temperate and chajie, modeft and hum^ ble, and dealing with others as they themf elves would he dealt with j — -you will have Reafon to take thefe for good Ghriftians, if you are con- vinced, that they do thefe things out o^ Love ?ind Obedience to GckI; and as^ the Fruit of. Faith in the Lord Jtffus ChrifU - On lal. 2tJ. I Dial. 20. for the Indiatjs. 23:1 On the other Hand^ — if you fee atnong thofe who call themfelves Chrtftians, fuch as make no Confcience of their Ways, but lead carelefSy idle, or ujelejs^ difordtrly hives ; — ex- ct^d^xxg fond of the iVorld, and its Vanities ;— and driving to he. rich and great, at any Rate ; i — if you fee any that live in Adultery ^ or For- nicatioHy or that are Drunkards, Spendthrifts^ Covetous, ox Opfrejfors ; — if you fee Parents unconcerned for their Children's eternal \Nq\^ hrt,-'^HuJbands2ii\dfVives forgetting or break- ing their Marriage Vows; — Majlers and Ser- vants aQing in the Courfe of their BeTiaviour^ as if they were infenfible that they have a Majier in Heaven ; — if you fee Men in Power regardlefs of the Honour of that God whofe Repre/entatives ihey are;— you may be fure, that /^^, andy«^i> as /i;^/?, — are Christians WITHOUT Christianity, and will be liable to a moft fevere Judgment^ for their oppofing the gracious Defigns of God, and of his Son Jefus Chrift. Ind, * Pray, Sir, what do you mean by that?' Mijf, Why, God is fo good and merciful^ ^hat he would have all Men to bejaved, and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth ^\ Now, all fuch as, ufurping the Name of ChriOians, do lead unchriftian Lives, thefe oppofe their Maker in his moft gracious De- figns^ bringing an evil Report upon Chrifti- " *ttim.ii.4 6 anitf, ri - cre/ife it in you unto your Life's F.nd. Ind. * I hope I fliall never forget to pray for ' lb neced'ary a Grace.* A'liJ', I have only a few Qucftions to afk you in order to your being baptized, which you mull anl'wer (to God) when you are call'd upon to make a public Trofclfion of Chrilli- anity. And firft,— Confider whether there are any Ways of Life, or Cuflcms, which at prefent you are fond of, which you will not utterly /! li ■ii v\ ii Id Hi 'Ml People who ftill fit in Darknefs, and want the neceflary Means of Inflru6tion : And grant that, by the Preaching of the Gofpel, they may, in thy good Time, be delivered from their Ignorance, Idolatry y and the Bondage of ^atan, in which they have been fo long enflav- ed. — And may thy good Providence reveal the Means by which thy Kingdom may be en- larged, and the whole Earth filled with the Knowledge of the Lord. Grant this, O mod merciful God, for Jefus Chrift's Sake ; To whom with Thee, and the Holy Ghoft, be all Honour, Glory, Domi- nion, and Power, for ever and ever. Amen A Supplication on Behalf of the Heathen World. Matt. ix. 2^, Jefus y feeing the Multitude was moved with Compafjion, hecaife they were as Sheep having no Shepherd, — -Pray ye the Lord of the Harvefti that he would fend Labourers into bis Harvefi, HOW many, O Jefus, of thy Sheep have noShepherct 1 — none to fhew them their Danger ! — none to keep them out of Danger I none to lead them where they may find Pafture 1 May thine Infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs, O Lords reveal to us the Means, by which thy Gofpel may be preached unto them : And pre- and pRAYEHS. 239 prepare their Hearts to receive the Truth, that they may be delivered from the Boiidage of Corruption, into the glorious Liberty oF the Children of God ! Send the . Paltors after thine own Heart; full of Knowledge, Com- paflion, and Zeal ; that pitying their fad Con- dition, they may inftruft them in the Ways of Truth, and of eternal Life. — Increafe the Number and the Graces of thy Meflengers and Miqiltcrs; and touch the Hearts of all Chrif- tians with a true Compaffion, like thine, O Lord, for all. fuch as are Strangers to Thee, and to the Merits of thy Death, by which they have been redeemed, that they may chear- fully contribute to a ¥/ork fo acceptable to the Divine Majefty. — And may thy Holy Spirit, by the Preaching of iie Gofpel, add daily to the Church fuch as fhall be faved, thro* thy Merits and Mediation, O Lord, and Lover of Souls! Amen, \ V ^if-. A iMiffionary's Prayer, John xvii. 20. Neither pray I for theje alone^ but for all thofe that fhall believe through their Word. ON this thy efficacious Prayer, O Jefus, I depend for Succefs in this my Under- taking and Miniftry.- — To this Prayer we all owe our Faith and Converfion. — In a grate- ful Senfe of which, I befeech thee O Lord, to make me an Inftruraent of ^propagating thy Gofpel, ill ■II \ III \ tf mih I ,j '? Ml it < I I mmi 'I 240 Se/e^ Scriptures Cofpcl, and of converting others, ar d of i.i!- fiiiing thy Father's Will, who would have all Men to be favcd, and to come to the Know- ledge of the Truh. Teach me, O Lord, by thy Spirit, thy Word and thy Example, how I ought to teach others : — And, by thy preventing Grace, pre- pare them for Inftru6tion ; — give them a great Concern and Fear for themfelves, that, feel- ing their own Mifery, they may feek for Help, and thankful'yaccept it, when offered to them. On thy Almighty Grace, O God, I rely for Succefs in all my Labours and Miniftry, and for a Zeal both prudent and fervent to promote thy Glory^ the Interefts of thy King- dom, and the Good of Souls, for Jcfus Chriu's Sake. Amen, A Prayer proper for fuch as delire to be inftn 5^ed in the Chris- TfAN Religion, A8s xvi. 30. SirSy what muft I do to befaved? And they Jaid^ believe in the Lord Jejus Chrift^ and thou /halt bejaved : — And theyjpake unto 'him the IVord of the Lordy &c. and he was baptized, GREAT God, have Pity on me; for I am in Didrefs and Fear for myfelf — I have been convincedj that I (hall live for ever, after and Prayers. 241 after I leave this World, in either rlappia.ifs or Mifery. — This gives me great Uneafinels, when I confider what mult become of me when I die. — My own Confcience accufeth me of having done many things, which I know muft greatly difpleafe Thee. — I find myfelf in- clined to do Evil continually, and 1 know not how to help it; fo that my Fears increafe upon me daily. — Thy People affure me, that Thou art good and merciful to fuch as call upon Thee in their Diftrefs; and that for the Sake of Jefus Chrift, thy beloved Son, Thou wilt pardon Sinners, and receive them into Fa- vour. In Confidence of this, — I befeech Thee to pity my diflrefTed Condition, and de- liver me from the Ignorance and Fears I labour under. — Caufe me to know Thee, and thy Son Chrift, more perfedlly ; and teach me how I muft live fo as to pleafe Thee. Reward the Endeavours of fuch as are fo kind as to in- llru6^ me. — Give me an underftanding Heart, a teachable Temper, and an obedient Will, that I may thankfully ufe the Means which thou haft ordained for my Salvation. — Defend me from the Power and Malice of evil Spirits, which may ftrive to hinder my Converfion.— Thefe Blcftings I beg for the Sake of thy be« loved Sony the Lord Jefus^ t'f' M Dan. 2^.2 SekJf S C R I P T tJ R E S Da n . xi 1 . 3 , They that turn mayiy to RighteouJ fiefs., Jball Jhine as the Stars for ever and ever, O Merciful God, increafe the Number and the Graces of fucli as are zealous for thy Glory, and for the Cbnverfion of Sinner:,: ■ Impart to them the true Way of Inftruc- tion, and may thy Blelling go along with their pious Endeavours ! Tit. iii. 3. For we ourf elves were/oinetimes fool' ifhy difobedienty deceived, Jerving divers Lufts and Phajure^^ living in Malice and Envy^ hatefuly and hating one another. THIS, O Jefus, hadftiil been our fad Condition, hadH. not Thou redeemed us by thy Death, and bieffed us with the Light of Ihy Gofpcl„ May this, O Lord, be the Fjruit of our Faith in Thee, and of our Graii- tude for thy Mercies to us, that we pity the Aiifisries of the Heathen World, and endea- vour to make thena Partakers of the lame Blelfings we ourfelves enjoy I ..^i els XV iii. 26. JVhen Aqui a~ and Prif cilia had ,. ^ heard ApoUosJ'peaky who knew only the Bap- tifm of John, they took him unto them^ and ex- pounded unto him the fVayof God more perfeollj, LE T ii here be obferved, - That thefe two Perfns, both of the Laity, aManandi his Wife, were^ by the Spirit of God, made Inftrumenti, I and Prayers. H 3 Inflrumcnts of perfcOing the Faith of j^pollos^ a Man of otherwife great Abilities: To fhew Chriftians the Importance of what St. Paul tells us (i Cor, xii, 21.) '^be Eye cannot fay of the Handy I have no need of thee ; nor again, the Head to the Feet, I have nonecdofyou. Grant, O Lord, that the Exemplary Zeal and Piety of thefe two Perfons may encourage all good Chriftians to put their helping Hand to promote thy Glory in the Converfion of Heathens; — and to awaken fuch Chriftians^ amongft ourfelves, as arc afleep, into a Senfe of their Danger. Grant this, O Lord, for Jefus Chrift's Sake. Tit. iii. 8. Thefe Things I will that thou ajfirni confiantly^ that theywhichhavebelievedin Gody may be careful to maintain good IForks, GOD grant that all Chriftians may, by their good Lives, fhew the Goodneis and Power of the Religion which they profefs, and would have others to embrace ! that they may add to their Faith Virtue! — And that by their Examples the Lives and Manners of Men may be reformed, this being the great Defign of the Gofpel, and the necelfary Con- dition of the future Happinefs of Believers! *i^— — i"— i— ^ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■■■■■- ■ - ■ — - - — " " .■^».^% EVERY private and wcll-difpofed Chrif- tian would do well to coiifider what a great deal of Good he may do, by fuch Hints M 2 as ! . ! % : -«-* ^44 5*^/^^ Scriptures, &c. as thefe following, to his Children, his Ser- vants, or his Slaves. The great Corruption of human Nature— The Mifery of Man, and his Danger through Sin — The utter Impoflibility of faving our- felves — The Neceffity and Bleffing of a Re- deemer — The great Love of God for his poor Creatures, in fending his Son to redeem them, —That all our Hopes of Pardon and Happi- nefs are from God's Mercy through Chrift our Saviour. — That, as ever we hope for Happi- nefs we mud live accordingto hisDoftrine and Example; endeavouring to grow every Day better, without afcribingany thing to ourfelves, but all to the Grace of God : Which Grace is fuffioient to enable us toovercome all the Diffi- .cukies we meet with. — If we add to thefe the Certainty of a future Life, and a future Judg- anent; — and the Rewards and Punifliments of another World, ^c. — fnch Hints as thefe, ferioufly and often repeated, will, through the Grace 6f God, awaken the moft Carelels and Ignorant, and force them to afk, — ■ — What mull I do lo be faved ? And th^y may be di- rected to fiiih as are fent and ordained to in- ftrud them in the Way of Salvation:-— And the merciful God give them good Succefs ! Pri-vate [ 245 J Private and Family PRAYERS, ^'c. ^i fea/onahle Instruction. JpUBLIC and Private PrayerSy and TliauLf- givings, are an Homage ^\m\ Duty, which all Men owe to God as their Creator^ tlicir Zi^r^ and King-, and by which tncv wrc. to iic- knowledge their Obedience to^ and iheir 13c- pendciice upon him, for Lile, and Breath, and all things which tliey enjoy or hope for. This, therefore, God hath made our indif- penfible Duty: — And it will be a downright Rebelliony for any Man to refufe his Homage any Day of his Life; — the wilful Neglcft of this being, in EfFefl, to difown his Power ovjer us, — His Goodnefs to help us in our Neceflities, And his Jufttce to punifh fuch as tranf- grefs his Commands; — And to queftion the Faithfulnefs of his Promije to pardon the tru- ly penitent Sinner^ and to reward all fuch as fincerely llriveto pleafe him. 1 his Negledand Difobedienceis very often punilhed by God's leaving Men tothernfelves, and to their own wicked Ways; which ever M 3 did. f' \\ i '.^ ,' l;Ml II I'MfliV ii i|Jw|| H Wm m 246 rilvate ^W Family did, and ever will, end in their Ruin,— vcrv often in this World, but always in the World to come, without a Miracle of Grace, which fiich Sinners have no Reafon to hope for. The CauCe of which is plain: — The Con- flant and wilful OmilTion of this Duty is a fure Way to lofe the Knowledge and Rcniem- brancc'of God, (tf his Word and Promifcs: — And then Men will have no Motives to fear or to love God, nor any Reafon to hope for any Good from him. It will alfo very naturally lead fuch People to depend upon themfelvesonly; — To forget their own fad Condition and Mifery; — That they are liable to God's Wrath, and even to Damnation; which Knowledge is necefTary; and for this End was revealed, even to awaken and humble Sinners, that, by a true Repent- ance, they may efcape the bitter Pains of eternal Mifery. Now the Spirit of God threatens, that fuch 9S will not retain God in their Knoiyjledge (which can be done only by praying to him daily,) Jh a II be given up by God to a reprobate Mindy that IS, to a Mind void of Judgment — To do what is right in their own Eyes, let what will follow. And the Event will certainly be this: — They will fall under the Power and Government o^ Satan, and his evil Angels, who will lead them, as he did the Heathen World, to commit all Iniquity with Greedinejs^ till they are fit for no Place but Hell. Pray ers, ^c. 247 ;Vc:t', if thefc be Truths of the Gofpcl, as rnoft furely they are, one would hope, theix: would need no other "\\'(>rds, to perfuadc every one who is inhisriqhtMir^d, and not already in the faid Condition before mentioned, — I'obcjr of God to keep him, by his Grace, from fail- ing into fuch dreadful Circumftanccs. The mod fure Way to avoid it is, — To de- dicate fonie Time every Day of our Lives to the Worfliip of God: — Humbly to acknow- ledge our Dependence upon him: — To con- fefs our own Weaknefs to help and govern ourfelves: — To beg Pardon forhaving offend- ed him:— To pray for his Grace, and Pro- te6lion, and Blelling: — And to give him Thanks for bis Mfercies and Favours to us. hy doing this, we Jhall retain God in our Knowledge: — This will be a true and folid Foundation of Peace, and Comfort, and Hap- pinefs: — Provided it be performed out of a^ deep Senfe of our own Wants and Miferies: — Witb afirm Faith in God*s Promifes to ful- fil the "Defires of them that fear him :■ — And with an Eye to the Blood of jefus our Redeemer, for whofe Sake, and thro' whofe Sufferings,, we are reconciled to God, and God. to us. The following Devotions are here added, that they who Itand in need of fuch Help^:, may^bedire6tedwhat to pray for, every Morn- ing and Evening o^ their Lives. — Not but that every ferious Chriftian will find Occafion to aflc many more Favours and. Bleffings, thaw M, 4; can. !' ,! 1 liMf IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /y 1.0 I.I ■^■2.8 >tt Itt 12.2 Ui m m III IL25 1 1.4 la 1 2.0 IJil 1.6 ''^ ">' o / Hiotographic Sciences Corporatton as WEST MAIN STMiT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) t72-4S03 248 Private and Family can be fe£ down in any Form of Prayer what- ever. For this Reafon there a re added, after every Prayer, fome fliort Inftruclions, as alfo pro- per Texts of Holy Scripture, with fhort Medi- tations upon them, to the Devotion of fuch as are welUdirpofed, and alfo to lead them into a Way of Profiting at all times, by the Holy Scriptures heard or read by them or others, which we all too often hear without being bet- tered by them% ^be Duty and Benefit of Morning PRAVER/(?r any P erf on in Private. VERV many arc the evil Confequcnces of going vi^ithout God into a World full t)f Temptations and Dangers, which of our- felves we can neither forefee norefcape. ' Whoever confiders this, and the infinite Mifchiefs which may follow, will never ven- ture abroad, without praying for God's Guid- ance, Prole^ion, 2ind Bii^ng, every Morning of his Life^ Morning PRAYER. BLESSED be the Lord for his Mercies renewed unto me every Morning; — For niy Prefervation and Refrejhment^ and for all the Bkllings of the Night pall, for which all Thanks Prayers, Gfr. 249 Thanks and Glory be to Thee, nny God and Father! Gracious God, continue to me thefe, and all other thy Bielfings, fo long, and in fuch a Meafure, as (hall be moft for thy Glory, and my Salvation. Poflefs my Soul, I befeech Thee, with a true 2 ic< faving Faith, and with fuch a Senfe of thy Goodnefsto met and of my Dependence upon T/jeey that it may be my Delight, as it is my Interefl and Duty, to ferve and obey Thee. But that I may ferve Thee with a quiet Mind, forgive me all my Sins, 1 befeech Thee, for thy dear Son's Sake, and with-hold the Judgments of which my Confcience is afraid."^ Keep it ever in the Heart of thy Servant, that it is an evil thing and bitter, to for/a ke and cfend the Lord, And, above all things, keep me from wilful and deliberate Sins, that I may w^vtr grieve thy Holy Spirit, nor provoke Thee to leave me to myfelf! Let thy reftralning Grace preferve me from the Temptationsof the^(?;7^, the Flefh, and the Devil -y — That I may fall into no Sin, nor run into any kind of Danger;^ — but that all my Doings may be ordered by The^, that I may do always that which is righteous in thy Sight; I — And that I may live and aft as having Thee, O God, the Conftant Witnefs of all my thoughts, Dejjgns, fVords, and A£fions0 M '5 May ill '!;)'■ hfcn [r-^ 250 Priv«ite and Faimly May I never render myfelf, by new Sins, unworthy of thy Guidance and Protedion! — Suffer me not to go aftray, or bring me back by fuch Ways as to Thee fhall f(?em meet. May I love Tbee with all my Heart, and all il iparc; John 'Xvi. 23. Verily I fay unto you, JVhatJoever ye Jhail ajk the Faihei^Hi'my Name^ He Jhall> giveityuu. EVERY thing:is promifed'to this Duty,. , when w€ pray as w€ ought to do; /. e, — \k\ theName, andthrough the Merits, of Jefus Chrilt; — Out of a Senfe of our own Wants and Miferics; — with the Humility of finful Creatures; — Andv;ith a full Purpofc of doing what we know will pleafe God. O Lord, vouchfafe me thefe Difpofitions,. that I may nevfir afl^ Thee any thing in -vain, ;, . M 6 or :':.;] 252 Private and Family or render myfelf unworthy to receive thy Bleifings, Prov. ii'i. 5, 6. Lean not unto thine own Under' Jlandingi in all thy Ways acknowledge God^ and hejhall dire^i thy Paths, Do Thou, O God, direft my Paths, and teach me to guide my Affairs with Charity, Difcretiony Juftice, and Fiety, Shew me the W ay that I (hould walk in, and give me Grace to follow the Conduft of thy good Spirit, for the Sake of jefus Chrift. 1 Cor. XV. 33. Evil Communications corrupt good Manners, No Man mufl fay, that he has any Refpeft for God, or Fear ibr himfelf, who chufeth the Converfation of wicked Men. Their idle and profane Difcourfes will leave evil Impref- fions upon the Mind. — Their indecent Free- dom with the Name of God, and things fa- cred, will leffen the Reverence we owe to the Divine Majefly — Their filthy and lewd 'J alk will deitroy Modefly, and every Grace and Virtue; and will not fail to wear off the Thoughts and Fears of what may come here- after. -May thy Grace, O God, keep me from a Converfation fo difpleafing to Thee, and fo dcftruBive to the Souls of Mer^; grant thi« for Chrift's bake! i I Peter Prayers, Gfc. 253 I Peter i. 17. Pajs the T"ime of your Sojourning here in Fear, Give me, O God, this mofl necefTarv and mod ufeful Fear and Dreaiof the Unrdilhfui- nefsof myown Heart. — Make me ever mind- ful of my Infirmities and Failings, that I may be more watchful over mvfelf, and more ear- neft in my Prayers for the Help uf thy Grace for the Time to come. The Duty and Benefit of Evening Prayer for a Per ion in Privaie. QLEEPy faid a great Man, is Jo like Death, that I dare not truft it witlout JcLying my Prayers, — And indeed, for fe r of the worft, a thoughtful Chriftian will take care to make his Peace with God, before he goes to deep ;— And put himfelf under God s Protedtion every Evening of his Life, that he may be laf^ from Fear of EviL '•■M l';i An Evening PRAYER. OMoft Gracious and Merciful God, I give Thee Thanks, that it has plcafed Thee to add another Dav to the Years of my Life, and that none of thy Judgments, to which for my Sins I am juftly liable, have fallen upon me. Accept, O Lord, of my unfeigned ^hanks, for this I by conftant Care over inc ; — For de- livering nlfPii :f V I ■:m 254 Private /7«^ Family iivering me from the Dangers of an evil World : And for the many undeferved Blef- fings bellowed upon me, Day after Day. Bleffcd be thy Goodnefs, that my Sins and Ingratitude have not prevented thee from bringing me fafe to the Evening of this Day? O God, infinite in Mercy, pardon my Sins of the Day paft, whether in Thought, Word, or Deed, which I have committed through the Fraud and Malice of the Devil, or thro' my own Weaknefs and Fraihy ; And grant that theymaynever rife up in Judgment againft me. Prepare me, I befeech Thee, for the Con- tinuance of thy Favours, by giving me the Gr^ce of a true Repentance^ and a thorough Amendment of Life. Mal £?r. ^ ^ 59 WcgratcfullyacknowledgcourDcpcndcnce upon thee, for all ihe Nece/faries, Convent^ endcs, and Comforts of our Life; — for all the Means of our Well-being here, and of our everlafting Happinefs hcrtafter. We give Thee Thanks for the Light of thy Gofpcl, and the Help of thy Grace, and for the Promifc Thou hafl made us of Pardon and Forgivcnefs thro' thy Son Jefus Chi ift, on our fincere Repentance and Amendment. Give us, we bcfeech Thee, fuch a Senfe of ihefe and all other thy Mercies to us, as may make us truly thankful to Thee for them. Give us Ciace that we may ever walk as in thy Sight. — Make a Confcience of all our Ways; — And, fearing to offend Thee, may never fall into the Sins we have repented of. Enable us to refift and overcome the Temp- tations of the 'World, the Flefh, and the De- vil; — To follow ,the Motions of thy good Spirit ; — to be ferious and holy in our Lives ; -—true and juft in our Dealings; — watchful over our Thoughts, our Words, and our Aftions ;-^diligent in our fiufinefs, and tem- perate in all things. Give us Grace honeftly to improve all the Talents which Thou haft committed to our Truft i and may no worldly Bufmejs^ no worldly Pleqfures^ divert us from the Concerns of the Life to come 1 May thy Blefling be upon our Perfons, upon our Labours, upon our Subftance;— And 26o Private and Family And upon all that belongs to us ! — And may wc never undertake any Work, which we dare not beg Thee to profper ! May thy Grace defend us in all Aflault.s of our Enemies: — And giant that this Day we fall into no Sin, neither run into any kind of Danger: — But that all our Doings may be 'ordered by thy Governance, to do always that which is righteous in thy Sight. Give us, gracious God, what is needful for us, and Grace not to abufe thy Favours: — Give us, we befeech Thee, contented Minds; — And make \jis ever mindful of the Wants of others. Give us, in this World, the Knowledge of thy Truth, and, in the World to come. Life cverlafting. Amen. Hear us, O merciful God, not according to our imperfed Petitions, but according to the full Meaning of that Form of grayer which Jefus Chrift hath taught us, and for his Sake. OUR Father, which art in Heaven;— Hallowed be thy Name. — Thy Kingdom come. — Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. — Give us this Day our &A\\y Bread. ^-* And forgive us our Trefpaffes, as we forgive them that trefpafs againlt us. — And lead us not into Temptation. — -But deliver us from Evil. — For Thine is the Kingdom ^ and the Power, and the Glory ^ for ever and ever. Amen, . THE Prayers, ^c. 261 THE Grace of our Lord Jefus Clirift, and the Love of God, and the Fellow- ftiip of the Holy Ghoft, be with us all, ever- more. Amen. ProperMEDiT ATioNS for fuchashave Time, and are devoutly difpofed. Pfal. cxxvii. 1. Except the Lord build the Hoiife, they labour in vain that build it* LTN happy and blind are they, who expeft J to profper without thy BleHing, O Lord, —I do therefore beg that Bleffing upon myfelf and Family f my Labours and Suhjlance, — And may I never hinder thy Bleffings, by under- taking any Work which may di (honour Thee, or my Chriftian Profeffion ! — 1 it us, O Lord, by thy Grace, for that Houje not made with Hands y eternal in the Heavens ^ prepared for them that love and fear Thee, Hab. ii. 9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil Covetoiijne/s to his Houje^ that he may Jet his Neft on highy that he may be delivered from the Power of Evil ! Deliver us, O God^ from Covetoujnejsy the Root of all Evil', — which leads Men to truft in themfelves ; — To forget their Dependence up- on Thee ; and fooliflbly to hope to be out of the ^^ U' I'l' IH I |B j^^^U wHi W llnH -^^H tf ^HHw^^H 262 Private and F-Jumly the Reach of Misfortunes, and thofe Evils and Affli6lions, which are defigned in great Mercy, for the Punifliment of Sin, and for the Salvation of Sinners. — Preferve us, O Lord, from this too common, but damnable Sin of Covctoufiiefs, for Jefus Cbrill's Sake. Amen, Luke xvii. 26, 27, 28, 29. As it was in ths Days of Noah^ and of Lot, — They did eat^ they dranky they bought ^ theyfoldy they plant- ed, theytuilded; — //// the Day that Lot went out of Sodom, when they were all dejlroyed. 'Lord open our Eyes before we are furprif- cd by Death, as thofe miferable Sinners were in the Days of Noah^ and of Zo/.— May this be a Warning to us ! — And keep us, by thy Grace, from fetting our Hearts too eagerly upon the Bufinefs^ the Cares ^ or Plea/ureSy of this Life, without confidering how foon and lliddenly v;e may be called out of it; And that Day overtake us unawares. Col . iv. T . MaJlerSy give unto your Servants that which is juji andequaly knowing that ye alfo have a Majier in Heaven, O Heavenly Mafter,-blefs me with good and faithful Servants : — And grant that I may perform all the Duties of a Chriftian Mafter ; — That I may have a tender Concern for the Welfare both of their Bodies and Souls, and be an Example to them of Sobriety, Juftice, and Piety; and thatwe may be an Houfliold fearing Prayers, Gfc. 263 Tearing God. — And may thy Bleffing be upon them, and upon all my Affairs committed to their Truft, for the Sake of thy beloved Son. Parents for Children. ^ph. vi. 4. TeParentSf bring up your Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. OG O D, the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, for his Sake, blefs my Children -with healthful Bodies,andundcrftanding Souls, and fan8ified Hearts, that they may remem- ber their Creator all their Days. — Let thy Grace preferve tliem from the Temptations of an evil World, and may I never be wanting in any Part of my Duty to theml — But inftru6l them in the Faith and Duties of a Chriftiaii Lifci — Convince them of their Faults, and correal them in Reafon and Love. O be Thou, O God, their Father and their Portion in !his World, and in the World to come! Amen, Evening Prayer for a Family. Let one of the Family read or fay diftin5lly what followeth, the r eft ferioufly attending, BY the Favour of God, we are come to the Evening of this Day ; and we are fo much nearer our latter End, 4 ' I et 264 Private and Family Let us ferioufly confider this, and pray God to prepare us for the Hour of Death. Let us, with penitent Hearts, befeech him to pardon our Offences, and to deliver us frdm the Evils which they have deferved. Let us refolve to amend whatever we have done amifs, and pray God, that his Grace may keep us from returning to thofe Sins which we have repented of: And then we may be fafe under his Protec- tion who alone can defend us from the Powers of Darknefs. , For all which Bleffings let us devoutly pray, Thetiy all devoutly kn^eling^ let one diflinSilyfay^ OLORD, and Fleavenly Father, we ac- knowledge thy great Goodnefs to us, in {paring us when we deferve Punifhment ; — in giving us the Necefl'aries of this Life, and in fetting before us the Happinefs of a better Life. O merciful God, pardon our Offences, cor- re6t and amend what is amifs in us, that as we grow in Years, we may grow in Grace, and the nearer wecome.toour latter End, the bet ter we may be prepared for it. In the Midft of Life we are in "Death, Lord, grant that thefe Thoughts may make us careful how we live, that we may efcape the bitter Pains of eternal Mifery. I Take Take Heart things Ma fubmi puttin Giv Of th( Necef from Ati( rule ii Love iireto ifigTl Sar^ •our SJ prefer Lord Coi the M the fa^ and r< Vo Pray^ Dayfc Foi give < bour, Bie whom t l! Prayers, Gfc. pray God feech him er us frdm • we have Irace may which we is Protec- e Powers utlypray, 'n5ilyfay^ r, we ac- to us, in ent ; — in 2, and in a better ices, cor- lat as we ice, and , the bet ay make / efcape Take 165 I Take from us all Ignorance, Hardnefs of Heart, and too much Carefulnefs for the things of this Life. Make us an Houfhold fearing Thee, O God, fubmitting ourfelvesto thy good Pleafure, and putting our whole Truft in thy Mercy. Give us a true Knowledge of ourfelves ;-*• Of the Corruption of our Natur-e ; — Atid the Neceffity of thy gracious fielp to fave us from Ruin. And may the Spirit of Chrift ever live and rule in us, pdiTefling our Souls with a fincere Love of Thee, O God, with an earned De- iire to plcafe Thee, and with a Dread 6f offend^ ifig Thee ! Sandify us wholly, we tefeech Thee, that our Spirits, and Souls, and Bodies, may be preferved blamelefs unto the Coming 6f otir Lord JeTtis Chrift. ^ Continue to us, and to all ChriftianCliurches, the Means of Grace and Salvation ; arid may the faving Truths of the Gofpel be publifhed and received in all the World ! Vouchsafe unto us an Intereft in all the Prayers of thy holy Church, which have this Day been oftered to the Throne oT Grace. Forgive all that have injured us, and for- give our many Offence's againft our Neigh- bour. Blefsy we befeech Thee, O God, all thofe vhom thy Providence hath fet over us, whe- N ther li i I Ml!' ^1 266 Private and Family 'thcr in Church or State.— and give us Grace ■to honour and obey them for Confcience-fake. Defend us from all Adverfities which may liappen to our Bodies, and from all evil Thoughts which may aflauh and hurt our Souls. and prepare us to receive with an humble Re;(ignation, whatever thy Providence ihall think beft for Ais. And, finally, we befeech Thee to give us •Grace, that we may lead and end our Lives in thy Faith and Fear, and to thy Glory, thro' Jefus Chrift bur Lord, /imen. Hear us^ O merciful God, for ourfelves and 'for all Mankind, not according to our weak fjnderftandings, but according to the full J^eariing of that holy Prayer, which thy be- loved Son hath taught us. o UR Father, which art in Heaven: Hallowed be thy Name. — Thy Kin^dora coniei— Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in iieaven.^-Give us this Day our daily Brfcad. —And forgive us our Trefpafles, as we for- give them that trefpafs againft us.*— And lead iis not into Temptation. — But deliver us from £vil. — For thine is the Kingdom, and the J^owcTjand the Glory, far ever and ever. Am&n^ Ti H E Grace of our Lord jefas Chrift, and the Love oi Cjod, and the Fellowftiip of the Holy GJlo(^ be with us all evermore* Sclea Pratxrs^ &r< 267 Seleft Scriptures, and Medit atiohs upon them ; which may teach us how to profit by reading the Scriptures. Matt. X. 30. The very Hairs afyoMt Jbdd are all numbered. LET this thy wonderful Providence, O God, and Care over as> be evermore our Comfort and Defente againft all the Evils which may happen to our Bodies, and all evil Thoughts which may aflault and hurt our Souls —Againft the diftrading Cares of thi« Life;— and againft the Fears and Adverfiiies which may befal us.-— Thine infinite fi-^j/c^om knows all our Wants and Dangers, and the propereft Means of conveying Relief and Suc- cour to us. — Thy Fatherly Gocdnefs cannot but pity us ;-— Thy Power is able to help us,— and \kiy Faith fulnejs can never fail us. — O may we never render ourfelves unworthy of this thy divine Protedion ! Luke ix. 23. Jejusfaidtothem all, if any Man will come after me^ let him deny himfelf and take up Ms Cro/s daily, aiid follow me, O Jefus, who hafl: made this the Rule aad Means of our Salvation, enable us by thy Spi- rit, thy Do^rine, and Example, to obferve it daily;— To wean our Hearts from a Love and Fondnefs for this World, — Its Plealiires, N 2 Profits, yj m «^ ^68 Private ^«^ Family Trofits, and all its Idols; — To mortify our corrupt AfFeftions, and to corre6l and amend what is amifs in us : — That we may be meek, and humble, and temperate ; and learn to fub- Kiit our WiHs to the Will and Law of God: — And grant, O Lord, that we may never Ijead Heathens and Unbelievers to have un- worthy Thoughts of Thee, and of thy Reli- gion, by our ungodly Lives, while we preteiul to be tny Followers. Luke xiii, 24. Strive to enter in at tbeftraight Gate ; for many, I Jay unto youy will/eek to enter in, and JImll not be able. May we never flatter ourfelves, that the Way to Heaven and I lappinefs is eafy, and that the Generality of Chriftian People are in •the Way of Salvation, when Thou haft de- clared the contrary ! — ^^O may thy Spirit con- vince us that our Salvation is not to be fecured without great Watchful nefs and Care, without Labour, Pains, and Diligence: And that, on thefe Conditions, thy Goodnefs will enable us to overcome all the Difficulties we can pof- 4ibly meet with! Luke ix. 13. If ye being evil^ know how to give good Gifts unto your Children ; how much more fballyour Heavenly Father give good things, and his Holy Spirit , to them that ajk Html O Heavenly Father, let it be unto us ac- cording to this thy Son's moft faithful* Pro- mire^-— Pr'aVers, &elight in ferving him. When therefore you come into the Houfe of God, and firit kneel dQ\in,/ay/e4:retly this Jhort Brayer. ji Jhort Prayer at your coming into Church, MAY the good Spirit of God difpofe me unto, and aflid me in, his Service I The Lord give us all a true and lively Senfe of our Wants, and of his Mercy and Prefence amongft Prayers, &c. If I amongft us, that we may ferve him with our Heart* a«> well as with our Bodies, and that our Prayers may be heard, for »liC §ake oF his Son Jefus-Chridour Lord ! Amen. After this, attend diligently to what is Paid, and pray*d for; remembering that they arc; your Prayers which arc offered up to God; but that you have no Share in them, if you- do not mind what isafked in your Name. That your Heart may go along with your Prayers, fay foftly. Amen, So be it, to every Petition. This is what the mod Unlearned . may do, and it may be the mod Learned can- not do better, to keep their Minds intent upon what they are about. When you confefs your Sins, do it with great Serioufnefs and Concern, remembering that you are for ever undone, if you are not forgiven. And then hear with Comfort upon what Condition God will pardon you : If you repent and believe the Gofpel, you are fure to be forgiven. When the JVord of God is read or preached, .. be careful to mind it, that you may know your Duty, arid the Reward of doing it ; that you may obferveihe Way of God's dealing with Mankind, in punifliingthe Wicked, and' in proteding and rewarding the Righteous; that you may know the Manner of our Re- demption, and the great Love of God in bring- ing it to pafs ; that you may fee the Dangers- N 4 you' l!i iii V 1 tfl'fj !^^nu m, v lliij i! L H '. ^H !' ffly ! Wb- i 1 H 1 272 Private ^/;^ Family you are liable to, and the Blcflbdncfs that is fet before you, ever remembering that Faith^ without which we cannct pleafe God^ comet h by Hearifig, and Hearing ly the Word of God, Rom. X. 17. And be fure to behave yourfelf with great Reverence and Devotion^ while you arc in the Hoiile and Prefence oF God ; for if, when you fhould be on your Knees, afking God's Pardon and BlcfTitigs, or Handing to prailc the Creator of Heaven and Earth ; if, inftead of doing fo, you (it and ficep away the Time, or carelcfsly gaze, and think of other Maticrs, then you will return from God's Houle with a Curfe, and not with a Blefling. And yet the very bed of us, after all our Care, have Caufe to beg Pardon even for the J'aults of our Devotions. Therefore, before you rife from your Knees, fay privately thi/ Jhort Prayer^ j^fhort Prayer before you leave the Church, - TH E good Lord accept of our Duty, and Service; pardon our Sins and In- firmities; give us what is needful for our Souls, and ifor our Bodies ; and keep us ever- more under thy Proteftion, for the Sake of Jefus Chrift our Saviour I yfmen* And now, God forbid that you fhould fpend the Remainder of this good Day, fo well begun, in Sin and Vanity ! Rather think how Prayers, Gfr. 273 hovf you may do mod Honour to your Crea- tor and Redeemer, If you can read, you can both inftruQyour- felf, and them that will hear you. If you have Children and Servants, you can teach them now to fear, and to love, and to pray to God. And if you are unlearned, you can think of what you have heard at Church, and re- folve to do, to the befl of your Knowledge, as you have been taught. Then will the Lord be with you, to blefs you in the Way you go ; to preferve and to profper you. For this is what he hath de- clared, Tbem that honour me, I will honour ; and they that defpije me^Jhall be lightly efteemedi I Sam. ii. 30. j1 Prayer for Sunday Morning. OL O R D, who haft confecrated this Day to thy Service, give us Grace fo to ob- ferve it, that it may be the Beginning of aa happy tVeek to us ; and that none of thy Judg- ments may fall upon us for profaning it. Fix in our Hearts this great Truth, that here we have no Abiding-place^ that we may ferioufly and timely provide for another Life ; and grant that this great Concern may make us very defirous to learn our Duty, and to do what Thou requireft of us. And blefled be God, that we have Churches to go to, that we have fuch Times fet apart for the more public Worfhip t; t J^ 274 Private and Family Worftiip of our Creator, and that we ha^ve Paftors to teach us ! The Lord profper their Labours, and give us Grace to profit by them, that they and we may enjoy an everlafting Sabbath with thy Saints in Heaven, for Jefus- Chrift'^ Sake, jimen. Aplain and ufeful Inftrudioii for Sunday Evening. Concerning the Providence of God, or his Wif^ dom and Goodnefs in governing the World. THAT God is great, and to be greatly feared, we know by the World he hach made, and from his dreadful Judgments. That God is good, and to be loved and' worfhipped, we are convinced from his Care of the whole Creation. For his tender M-ercies are over all bis Works r Pfal. cxly. 9. Therefore have his Creatures the Comfort of the Rain and Sun, of Food and Shelter; the Earth yields I ncreafe, and the Seas are flored with Creatures in num .Table. In the Hand of God are thefean i all other Blellings, which he with-hoWs, or giveth, ac- cording to bis good Pleafure, to teach us, that we wholly depend on him ; thoJ Man liveth not by Bread alone^ nor by his own Induftry,. but by the Providence of God, v/ho orderttht all Conditions of Life for the beft, for thofe that cannot chufe for tbcmfeLve^ And a we have •ofper their ifit by them, everlafting 1, forjefus Prayers, &c. 27s for Sunday or his WiJ^ ^e PVorld. 3 be greatly Qfld he hath gments. I loved and' 3m his Care ibis Works y is Creatures n, of Food :afe, and the lumcrable. n i all other. giveth, ac- ichus, that Man liveth n Indullry,. ho ordertthf :, for thofe And if he fufFersy^w^ to be poor ^ it is be- caufe that Condition is beft for them now ; but he will make them a great Amends in the next World for what they want in this, if they will be content and honett, neither murmur at their own Lot, nor envy that of others. When God giveth Riches ^ it is not to make them an OccaTion of our Ruin, but to try our Virtue ; for, // we are not high-minded^ if we truft not in uncertain Riches ^ tut in the liv^ ing God J // we do Good with them^ and readily difti ibute to the Necejftty of others 5 then are Riches a real BleJJingy and help to bring us to eternal Life^ i Tim, vi. 17. If he bringetb us into AffliSlion^ it is not that he ispleafed with the Miferiesof his Creatures, but be is Jhewing them their l^ranfgreffton^ he is (Opening their Ear to Di/cifliney that they may return from Iniquity ^ andfave their Souls from Death eternal^ Job xxxvi. 9. If be fuffers us to be tempted^ it is no,t that we might fall, but to make us more fcnfi^)le of our own Weaknefs, that we may come to him for Help, on whom we depend> who will not fuffer us to be tempted above what we are able to hear ; and who will reward our poor Endeavours with unfpeakable Happinefs. If we have Friends^ it is the Favour of God to us ; ?|nd, if we have Enemies^ they are Rods in his Hands, either tocorreft us, or to make us careful of our Ways. And The 276 Private and Family The Devil himfelf, that powerful Spirit, is under God's Command, to execute his. Judg- ments upon wicked Men, while they that trull in the Lord have nothing to fear, for he hath no Power to hurt Ihcra, Happy are we, »who know thefe things now ; and we fhall be for ever happy, if we live according to this Belief. For then we Jhall trujl in the Lordiuith all our Hearty and not lean unto our own Under' Jlanding, We fhall call upon htm for what we want, and thankfully receive what he is plcafed to fend. Tot Jhall we receive Good at the Hand of God, and Jhall we not receive Evil? Job ii, lO, We fhall hope for his Favour when we mean well, and never expeft his BlefEng when our Defigns are eviL. We fhall look upon God's Time as the beft, and not grow impatient when our Defires are not anfwer*d. We fliall acknowledge his Hand in every thing that befalleth us, and hope for hisMercy even when he is angry, knowing, that all things Jhall work together for Good to them that love God, Rom. viii. 28.; 'Thus Jhall we dwell under the Defence of the moji High^ and Jhall^ be fe cure from fear of EviL A Prayer for Sunday Evening. ALmighty God, by whom all things were made, and are preferved, make us truly, thankful, for ^y wonderful Works of Crea-- fion; Prayers, ^c. 77 Spirit, IS lisjudg- that trult 'he hath e things y, if we ivith all i Under' ^e want, leafed to • Ha'/id of h ii. 10, vhen vre ng when the beft, ifires are n every isMercy that all hem thai we dwell nd Jhall^ ngs were us truly, )f Crea^ tioft; — For thine adorable Providence in pre- ferving every thing that Thou haft made;— And for thine Infinite Power y Wijdomy and Goodnejsy in the Government of the World. — But above all, we acknowledge thine infinite Love in the Redemption of the World, by thy Son our Lord Jefus Chrift; and thy Goodnefs in fending by hinrt this comfortable Meffagc to thy diftrefled Creatures, — That whojoever re* ceiveth and believetb in Him Jhall notperijhy hut have everlafting Life. — We blefs Thee for his holy Do5lrine and Example ;— And for his pre- cious Death, and glorious ReJurreSiion, by which our fad Condition, and thine unfpeak- able Love, have been wonderfully fhewn to us. — We give Thee Thanks for thy Holy Wordy by which fhy Works of Mercy and Providence have been preferved, and thy Will made known unto Mankind.-— We blefs thy Holy Name, for fanftifying One Day in Seven to thy Service, to keep up the Knowledge and Re- membrance of Thee, and of our Creation and Redemption \ — And for appointing thy Minify tefs to publifh thefe Truths to us in thy Name, that we may render unto Thee that Honour, Love, and Obedience, which becometh Crea- tures to pay to their great Creator. — And we befeech Thee, O God, to give us all fuch a deep and latHng Senfe of thy great and undeferved Mercies to us, that our Hearts rftay be un- feignedly thankful, and that we may (hew forth thy Praife, not only with our Lips, l>ut in our 5 • Lives, 278 Private and Family Lives, By giving op ourfelv€s to thy Service, and by walking before Thee, in Holinefs and Righteoufnefs all our Days;-*-And as we of- ten hear how we ought to walk, and to pleaie God, we may continue to do fo unto our Lives End, thro* Jefus Chrift our Lord, y^tnen. w AJhort ADMONITION to All, and efpeciaily to Majlers of Families. A Mongft the many growing Vices of this j[\^ profane Age, one wretched and ungodly Cultom is too common ; viz, of People's fall- ing to their Meals, as Beads do to their Fod- der, without any Thoughts of God, or Thanks for his Bleffings *,— And even too many of thofe who have not quite laid afide this Chrif- tian Duty, perform it after fuch a flight and negligent Manner, as makes it as finful as the OmiiTion. When a Man, like ourfelves, beftows a Fa^ vour, we naturally give him Thanks. — Are not Food, and the Supports of Life and Health, mighty BlefSngs ? — Is not God the * Grace before Meah» the Pradlice of the Romans* Nee prius aut Epulas, aut Munera grata Lycai, Fas cuiquam tit igiffi flit tt quam multa frecatus In menjam, Sil. Italicus. « Nor touchM the Meat, nor tailed was the Wine,. * Till every Gueft iinplor'd the Powers i^ivine.' I fole Prayers, &c. 279 folc Giver of tbefe ? — Are they not worth afk- ing, and giving Thanks for?— This fhews plainly, that this Sin, being againft tl>e very natural Notions of Senfe and Gratitude, is of the Devil, who makes the Tables of too many to become a Snare and a Curfe to them, by Intemperance, Gluttony, and Drunk ennefs. AH Chriflians, who have any Regard to the Example of their Saviour, who always glori- fied God, and gave Him public Thanks for his Bleflings ;-^or to the Example of St. Paul, who would not omit this Duty, tho* m Bonds, and in the prefence of a numerous Company of Heathens ; — A41 Chriftians, feeing the Rea- fonablenefs of this Duty, and the Sin of omit- ting it;, or of not performing it after a ferious Manner, will be inexcufable before God, if tthey negle6l to glorify ftim at their Daily Meals. Now, that the moft unlearned may not want Words to exprcfs their Thanks, and beg <^od's Blefling upon tbenlfelves, and their ^aily Food, thcfe following tnay be made ufe of. Grace before our Meals. O GOD who giveth Food unto all Flefli, grant that we may receive thefe thy Gifts with thy Blefling, and ufe them with Soorietyj^ and thankful Hearts, tliro' Jefus Chrift oui^ , Lord, Amcm Grace 28o Private and Family, &c. . Gk ACE after our Mea/s. MAKE us truly thankful, O Lord, for our daily Bread, and for all other Mer- cies which we receive : And help us to love and ferve Thee, the Giver of all Good, for Jefus Chrifl s Sake. ^men. FINIS. N. B. This Book has been lately franjlated tJtto the Welfh Language, for the Ufe of the Ancient Britons j and printed for John RiymcTON and Sons, at N** 62, St. Pauls Church- Yard, and may be had upon the *Terms of the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, by any of the Members. if ^ord, for her Mer- > to love 'Ood, for ranjlated ^e of the John 62, St. ufon the i^hriftian «ri