THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIANS.
(Continued from page 268.)
II.
Nor were the beneficial effects of Mr. Eliot’s labours limited to the settlements where they were first begun. The Indians in various parts of the country were anxious to enjoy the same advantages. The work of Christianization and civilization went hand in hand, and so rapidly did the desire for instruction spread, that the missionary found it difficult, even with the assistance of some converted Indians, to comply with the numerous invitations which poured in upon him from all quarters, to come and communicate the glad tidings to various tribes of Indians. And in scarcely a single instance was the invitation made in vain. The devoted Eliot wandered from place to place, scattering the seed of divine truth with unsparing hand. “I have not been dry night or day,” he writes, “from the third day of the week to the sixth, but have travelled from place to place in that condition; and at night I pull off my boots, wring my stockings, and on with them again, and so continue. The rivers also were raised so as that we were wet in riding through. But God steps in and helps me. I have considered the exhortation of Paul to his son Timothy, ‘Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,’ with many other such like meditations.” Animated by the pure motives of the Gospel, he boldly encountered the manifold hardships and difficulties, and even dangers to which he was exposed; but in the spirit of his great Master, he counted not his life dear unto himself, that he might accomplish the benevolent mission which he had undertaken. Intelligence of the wonderful success which everywhere attended his exertions soon crossed the Atlantic, and attracted considerable attention in England. Parliament was induced to take the matter under consideration, and an act was passed encouraging the evangelizing of the Indians, and supporting those engaged in the work. Large sums of money were in consequence collected in England, under the authority of the Commissioners appointed by Parliament. For these benevolent exertions on the part of his countrymen, Mr. Eliot was particularly grateful, and he conveyed his obligations to them in terms of the warmest affection.
Encouraged by the kindness and liberality of his friends in England, he made application to them on behalf of the schools which he was anxious to establish. Necessity alone compelled him to take this step. “I have a family of many children to educate; and therefore I cannot give over my ministry in our Church, whereby my family is sustained, to attend the Indians, to whom I give, and of whom I receive nothing.” The instruction of the young, and the translation of the Scriptures into the Indian language, appear to have been the great objects upon which he had set his heart. But he was not inattentive to the temporal comfort of the poor Indians. Desirous of instructing them in the arts of civilized life, he submitted to his friends a proposal about sending mechanics from England for that purpose. In suggesting this plan, the ultimate object which Mr. Eliot had in view was to erect a town, in which the Indians belonging to the settlement might live comfortably.
While thus unwearied in his labours among the Indians, Mr. Eliot felt that he could scarcely give that attention to his own pastoral duties at Roxbury which their circumstances required. For some time his brethren in the ministry had kindly lent him their assistance; but at length it was judged expedient, that a colleague should be appointed; and, accordingly, the Rev. Samuel Danforth was chosen to fill that office. The connection which Mr. Eliot thus formed was attended with great advantage to the congregation, and great comfort to himself.
In the meantime, the Society for Propagating the Gospel in New England which had been sanctioned by the authority of the British Parliament gave all the encouragement to the devoted missionary, which their circumstances would warrant. But they themselves were unhappily in considerable difficulty. Their motives and feelings were misrepresented, and they were assailed by a multitude of objections from many who had even professed themselves favourable to the scheme. On hearing of this unfortunate opposition, Mr. Eliot lost no time in despatching a letter to England, exhibiting a faithful view of his progress, and of the improvements which, by the divine blessing, were gradually taking place, both in the temporal and spiritual condition of the once savage Indians.
The change which was effected in the outward aspect of the Indian settlement was soon remarkably striking. A town was built, which they called Natick, consisting of “three fair streets;” two of which stretched along the Boston side of Charles River, and one along the other. They were now constituted into a regular community; and, by a solemn act of covenanting, they dedicated themselves to the Lord. The Indians having thus formed a civil and religious community, the Honourable John Endicott, governor of Massachusetts, resolved to pay a visit to Natick, with the view of inspecting their real condition. The inquiry was in the highest degree satisfactory, and he declared, that “he could hardly refrain from tears for very joy, to see the diligent attention of the Indians to the Word of God.”
(To be continued.)