Part 20 (2/2)
_Austin._ Who was the first missionary who went among the Indians?
_Hunter._ I believe the first Indian missionary was John Eliot. More than two hundred years ago, a body of pious Englishmen left their native land, because they were not allowed peaceably to serve G.o.d according to their consciences. They landed in America, having obtained a grant of land there. They are sometimes called ”Puritans,”
and sometimes ”the Pilgrim Fathers.” It is certain, that, whatever were their peculiarities, and by whatever names they were known, the fear of G.o.d and the love of mankind animated their hearts.
These men did not seize the possessions of the Indians, because they had arms and skill to use them. But they entered into a treaty with them for the purchase of their lands, and paid them what they were satisfied to receive. It is true, that what the white man gave in exchange was of little value to him. But the Indians prized trinkets more than they would gold and silver, and they only wanted hunting and fis.h.i.+ng grounds for their own use. These early colonists, seeing that the Indians were living in idleness, cruelty and superst.i.tion, were desirous to instruct them in useful arts, and still more in the fear of the Lord; and John Eliot, who had left England to join his religious friends in America, was the first Protestant missionary among the Indians.
_Austin._ I wonder he was not afraid of going among them.
_Hunter._ He that truly fears G.o.d has no need to fear danger in the path of duty. John Eliot had three good motives that girded his loins and strengthened his heart: the first, was the glory of G.o.d, in the conversion of the poor Indians; the second, was his love of mankind, and pity for such as were ignorant of true religion; and the third, was his desire that the promise of his friends to spread the gospel among the Indians should be fulfilled. It was no light task that he had undertaken, as I will prove to you. I dare say, that you have not quite forgotten all the long names that I gave you.
_Austin._ I remember your telling us of them; and I suppose they are the longest words in the world.
_Hunter._ I will now give you two words in one of the languages that John Eliot had to learn, and then, perhaps, you will alter your opinion. The first of them is _noorromantammoonkanunonnash_, which means, ”our loves;” and the second, or ”our questions,” is _k.u.mmogokdonattoottammoct.i.teaongannunnonash_.
_Austin._ Why that last word would reach all across one of our copy-books.
_Basil._ You had better learn those two words, Austin, to begin with.
_Brian._ Ay, do, Austin; if you have many such when you go among the red men, you must sit up at night to learn what you have to speak in the day-time.
_Austin._ No, no; I have settled all that. I mean to have an interpreter with me; one who knows every thing. Please to tell us a little more about Eliot.
_Hunter._ I will. An author says, speaking of missionaries, ”As I hold the highest t.i.tle on earth to be that of a servant of G.o.d, and the most important employment that of making known to sinners the salvation that G.o.d has wrought for them, through his Son Jesus Christ; so I cannot but estimate very highly the character of an humble, zealous, conscientious missionary. Men undertake, endure and achieve much when riches and honours and reputation are to be attained; but where is the worldly reputation of him who goes, with his life in his hand, to make known to barbarous lands the glad tidings of salvation?
Where are the honours and the money bags of the missionary? In many cases, toil and anxiety, hunger and thirst, reviling and violence, danger and death await him; but where is his earthly reward?” Eliot's labours were incessant; translating not only the commandments, the Lord's prayer and many parts of Scripture into the Indian languages, but also the whole Bible. For days together he travelled from place to place, wet to the skin, wringing the wet from his stockings at night. Sometimes he was treated cruelly by the sachems, (princ.i.p.al chiefs,) sagamores, (lesser chiefs,) and powaws, (conjurers, or mystery men;) but though they thrust him out, and threatened his life, he held on his course, telling them that he was in the service of the Great G.o.d, and feared them not. So highly did they think of his services in England, that a book was printed, called ”The Day-breaking, if not the Sun-rising of the Gospel with the Indians in New-England;” and another, ent.i.tled ”The Clear Suns.h.i.+ne of the Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians;” and dedicated to the parliament; in order that a.s.sistance and encouragement might be given him. At the close of a grammar, published by him, he wrote the words, ”Prayers and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus, will do any thing.”
_Brian._ I should think that he was one of the best of men.
_Hunter._ He inst.i.tuted schools, and devoted himself to the Christian course he had undertaken with an humble and ardent spirit, until old age and increasing infirmities rendered him too feeble to do as he had done before. Even then, he catechised the negro slaves in the neighbourhood around him; and took a poor blind boy home to his own house, that he might teach him to commit to memory some of the chapters in the Bible. Among the last expressions that dropped from his lips were the words, ”Welcome joy! Pray! pray! pray!” This was in the eighty-sixth year of his age. No wonder he should even now be remembered by us as ”the apostle of the Indians.”
_Basil._ I am very glad that you told us about him. What a good old man he must have been when he died!
_Hunter._ You will find an interesting history of Eliot in your Sunday-school Library, and the Life of Brainerd[5] also, of whom I will tell you a few things. But I advise you to read both books, for such short remarks as I make cannot be distinctly remembered; and the characters of these eminent men you will only understand by reading the history of their lives.
[Footnote 5: Both these works are published by the American Sunday-school Union.]
_Austin._ We will remember this.
_Hunter._ There were many good men, after his death, who trod as closely as they could in his steps: but I must not stop to dwell upon them. David Brainerd, however, must not be pa.s.sed by: he was a truly humble and zealous servant of the Most High. You may judge, in some degree, of his interest in the Indians by the following extract from his diary:
_June 26._ ”In the morning, my desire seemed to rise, and ascend up freely to G.o.d. Was busy most of the day in translating prayers into the language of the Delaware Indians; met with great difficulty, because my interpreter was altogether unacquainted with the business.
But though I was much discouraged with the extreme difficulty of that work, yet G.o.d supported me; and, especially in the evening, gave me sweet refreshment. In prayer my soul was enlarged, and my faith drawn into sensible exercise; was enabled to cry to G.o.d for my poor Indians; and though the work of their conversion appeared _impossible with man_, yet _with G.o.d_ I saw _all things were possible_. My faith was much strengthened, by observing the wonderful a.s.sistance G.o.d afforded his servants Nehemiah and Ezra, in reforming his people and re-establis.h.i.+ng his ancient church. I was much a.s.sisted in prayer for my dear Christian friends, and for others whom I apprehended to be Christ-less; but was more especially concerned for the poor heathen, and those of my own charge; was enabled to be instant in prayer for them; and hoped that G.o.d would bow the heavens and come down for their salvation. It seemed to me, that there could be no impediment sufficient to obstruct that glorious work, seeing the living G.o.d, as I strongly hoped, was engaged for it. I continued in a solemn frame, lifting up my heart to G.o.d for a.s.sistance and grace, that I might be more mortified to this present world, that my whole soul might be taken up continually in concern for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. Earnestly desired that G.o.d would purge me more, that I might be a chosen vessel to bear his name among the heathens. Continued in this frame till I fell asleep.”
_Brian._ Why, he was much such a man as Eliot.
_Hunter._ Both Eliot and Brainerd did a great deal of good among the Indians. The language of Brainerd was, ”Here am I, Lord, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in thy service, and to extend thy kingdom.”
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