The Dying Speeches of several Indians.
Here be But a few of the Dying Speeches & Counsels Of such Indians as dyed in the Lord.
It is an humbling to me that these be no more, it was not in my heart to gather them, but Major Go [...]kins hearing some of them rehearsed, He first moved that Daniel should gather them, in the Language as they were spoken, and that I should translate them into English; And here is presented what was done that way.
Waban.
WAban was the first that received the Gospel, our first meeting was at his house; the next time we meet, he had gathered a great Company of his friends to hear the Word, in the which he hath been [...]tedfast▪ When we framed our selves in Order in way of Government, he was chosen a Ruler of fifty, he hath approved him selfe to be a good Christian in Church Order, and in Civil Order, he hath approved himselfe to be a Zealous, faithfull and stedfast Ruler to his death.
His speech as followeth,
I now rejoyce though I be now a dying, great is my aff [...]ction in this world, but I hope that God doth so afflict me, only to try my praying to God in this world whether it be true and strong or not, but I hope God doth gently call me to Repentance, and to prepare to come [...]to him; therefore He layeth on me great pain and af [...]ction, though my body be almost broken by sickness, [...]et I desire to remember thy name Oh my God, untill I dy I remember those words Job 19.23, to 28. Oh that my, [...]rds were now written, oh that they were printed in a book [...]hat they were graven with an iron pen and lead in a rock for [...]er. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin, [...] ▪ destroy this body, yet in my flesh I [...] see God. &c.
I desire not to be troubled about matters of this world, a little I am troubled, I desire you all my brethren [Page 3] and you also my children, do not greatly weep and mourn for me in this world, I am now allmost dying, but see that you do strongly pray to God, and doe you also prepare and make ready to dy, for every one of you must come to dying: Therefore confess your sinns, every one of you, and beleive in Jesus Christ, I beleive that which is written in the Book of God Consider truly, and repent and beleive: Then God will pardon all your great and many sins.
God can pardon all your sins as easyly as one, for Gods free mercy and glory doe fill all the world. God will [...]n no wi [...]e forget [...]hose that in this world doe syncerely repent and bel [...]ive: Veryly this is love Oh my God.
Therf [...]re I [...] that God will [...]oe this for me, t [...]ough in my body I [...] paine: As for those that d [...]ed af [...]re [...] I have no hope about them, now I beleive [...] G [...]d in [...] Heaven: and there in Heaven are many beleivers som [...]s [...]b [...]ing. Ther [...]f [...]e I pray you doe not overmuch greive for me, when I dy in this world, but make ready your selves ready to dy, and follow me, and there we shall see each other in Eternal glory▪ in this world we live but a little while; therfore we must be allwayes preparing, that we may be ready to dy.
Therfore Oh my God▪ I humbly pray, receive my Soul by thy free mercy in Jesus Christ my S [...]aviour and Redeemer, for Christ hath dyed for me and for all [...] sins in this world committed.
My great God hath given me long [...], and therf [...]re I now am willing to dy.
Oh Jesus Christ help my s [...]ul and save me soul, I beleive that my sickness doth not arise out of the dust, n [...]r c [...]meth at perad [...]enture but God sendeth it. Joh. 5, 6, 7.
By this sicknesse God calleth me to repent of all my sins, and to belive in Christ▪ now I confesse my selfe a great sinner, Oh pardon me and helpe me for C [...]rist his sake.
Lord thou callest me with a double calling sometimes by Prosperity and mercy, somtimes by affliction. And now thou callest me by sicknesse, but let me not forget thee Oh my God. For those that forget thy Name, thou wilt forsake them, As Ps [...]lm. 9.17. All that forget God shall be cast to Hell, therfore let not me forget thee O [...] my God.
[Page 4]I give my soul to thee Oh my Redeemer Jesus Christ: Pardon all my sins & deliver me from Hell: Oh doe thou help me against deat [...], and then I am willing to dy: and when I dy Oh helpe me and receive me.
in so saying he dyed.
Piambohou,
HE was the Second man next Waban, that received the Gospel, he brought with him to the second meeting at Wabans house many, when we formed them into Government, he was chosen Ruler of ten, when the Church at Hassenam [...]ssi [...] was gathered, he was called to be a Ruler then in that Church, when that was scattered by the warr, they came back to Natick Church, so many as survived, and at Natick he dyed.
His speech as followeth,
I rejoyce and am content and willing to take up my sorrows and sicknesse: many are the years of my life: long have I lived, therfore now I look to dy. But I desire to prepare my self to dy well. I beleive Gods promise, that [...]e will forever save all that belive in Jesus Christ. Oh Lord Jesus helpe me, deliver me and save my soul from Hell, by thine own bloud, which thou hast shed for me, [Page 5] when thou didest dy for me, and for all my sins: Now helpe me syncerely to confesse all my sins, Oh pardon all my sins: I [...] beg in the Name of Jesus Christ, a pardon for all my sins: for thou Oh Christ, ar [...] my Redeemer and deliverer, Now I hear Gods w [...]rd and I doe rejoyce in what I hear, [...] not see, yet I hear and rejoyce that God hath c [...]nfi [...]med for as a minister in this Church of Natek, he is our watchman. And [...] you people deal well with him, both men▪ women and children, hear him every Sabbath day, and make strong your praying to God, and all you of Hasso [...]mesut, restore your Church and praying to God there.
O [...] Lord helpe me to make re [...]dy to dy, and then recieve my [...]ul, I hope I shall dy well by the help of Jesus Christ: O [...] Jesus Christ deliever and save my soul in everl [...]st [...]ng life in heaven, for I doe hope thou art my Saviour. Oh Jesus Christ.
so he dyed.
Old Jacob,
HE was among the first that Prayed to God, he had so good a memory, that he could reher [...]e the whole Catechize, both Questions and Answers, when he gave thanks at meat, he would sometimes only pray the Lords Prayer.
His speech as followeth,
MY Brethren: now hear me a few words, stand fast all you people in your praying to God, according to that word of God 1 Cor. 16.13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men and be strong in the Lord. Especially you that are Ru [...]ers and Teachers: Fear not the face of man, when you judg in a Court together, help one another, agree together: Be not divided one against another, remember the parable of ten brethren that held together, th [...]y could not be broken, nor overcome: but when thay divided one against another, then thay were easyly overcome: and all you that are Rulers, judg right judgment, for you doe not judg for man, but for God in your Courts. 2 Chron. 19.6, 7. Therfore judg in the fear of God.
Again, You that are judges, see that ye have not only humane wisdom, for mans wisdom is in many things contrary to the wisdom, of God counting it to be foolishnesse. Doe not judg that right, which only seemeth to be tight, and consider Matt. 7.1▪ 2. Judg right, and God will be with you, when you so d [...]e.
Again I say to you all the people, make strong your praying to God, and be constant in it. 1 Thes. 5.17. Pray continually.
Again Lastly I say to you Daniel our Minister be strong in your work. As Matt. 5.14.16. You must bring Light into the world, and make it to shine, that all may see your good work, and glorify your heavenly Father.
Every preacher that maketh strong his work, doth bring precious perles: As Matt. 13.52. And thou shalt have everlasting life in so doing.
I am neer to Death, I have lived long enough, I am about 90 years old, I now desire to dy, in the presence of Christ. Oh Lord I commit my soul to thee.
Antony.
HE was among the first that Prayed to God, he was stud [...]ous to rea [...] the Scriptures and his Catechise, so that he learned to be a Teacher, but after the warrs, he became a lover of strong drink, was often admonished, and finally cast out from being a Teacher.
His dying speeches follow,
I am a sinner, I doe now confe [...]se it, I have long prayed to God, but it hath been like an Hip [...]crite: thô I was a confessing church member, yet like an Hip [...]crite, th [...] I was a Teacher yet like a backsliding Hipocrite, I was [...]fte [...] drunk, Love of strong drink is a lust I could not over come; thô the Church did often admonish me, and I confessed, and th [...]y forgive me, yet I f [...]ll againe to the same sin, th [...] Major Gookins and Mr. Eliot often admonished me: I confessed, thay were willing to forgive me, yet I fell againe.
Now Death calls for me, and I desire to prepare to dy well. I say to you Daniel, beware that you, love not strong drink as I did, and was therby undone. Str [...]ngthen your Teaching in and by the word of God; t [...]e heed that you defile not your work, as I did, for I defiled [...]y Teac [...] ing by Drunkennesse.
Againe I say to you my Children, forsake not praying to God, goe not to strange places, where thay pray not to God, but strongly pray to God as long as you live: both you and your Children.
Now I desire to dy well, thô I have been a sinner, I remember that word that saith, that thô your sins be many and great, yet God will pardon the penitent, by Jesus Christ our Redeemer O [...] Lor [...] save me [...] di [...]iver me [Page 8] by Jesus Christ, in whom I beleive: send thy Angels when I dy, to bring my poor soul to thee, and save my poor sinfall soul in thy heavenly Kingdom.
Nehemiah.
THis very hopefull young man was going out to hunt, with a companion, who fell out with him, and stabbed him mortally, and killed him. A littl [...] was gathered up spoken by him, as followeth;
I am ready to dy now, but kn [...]w not of it even now when I went out of my dore; I was only going to hunt: but a wicked man hath kill [...]d me▪ I see that word is true, He th [...]t t [...]is well to day, may be dead to m [...]rrow, He that laughed yester day, may sorr [...]w to day
My misery overtook me in the woods. No man knoweth the day and time, when his misery cometh.
Now I desire patiently to take up my crosse and misery. I am but a man, and must feel t [...]e crosse. Oh Christ Jesus help me, thou [...] my Redeemer, my Saviour, and my deliverer: I confesse my selfe a sinner; Lord Jesus pardon all my sins, by thy own blood, when thou dyedest for us, O Christ Jesus save me from Hell: Save my soul in heaven, Oh help me, help me.
so he dyed, the wicked murderer is [...]led.
John Owussumug sen.
HE was a young man when they began to pray to God, he did not at the present joyn with them, he would say to me, I will first see into it, and when I understand it, I will answer you, he did after a while enter into the Civil Covenant, but was not entered into the Church Covenant before he dyed, he was propounded to joyn to the Church, but was delayed, he being of a quick passionat temper, some vitty littigations prolonged it, till his sickness, but had he recovered, the Church was satisfied to have received him [...] finished well.
His speech as followeth,
NOw I must shortly dy▪ I desired that I might live, I sought for mediciens to cure me, I went to every Engl [...]h doct [...]r, at Dad [...]am, Me [...]feil [...], Concord, but none could cure me, in this world.
But Oh Jesus Christ, doe thou heal my soul, now I am in great paine, I have no hope of living in this world a whole year I have been afflicted: I could not goe to the Publick Sabbath worship to hear Gods word; I did greatly love to goe to the Sabb [...]h worship.
Therfore I now say to all you men, women and children [...] love much, and greatly to keep the Sabbath▪ I have been, now long hindred from it, and [...] I [...] all, my [...] & children [...] among [...] [Page 10] Love and Obey the Rulers, and s [...]bmit unto their judgment, hear diligently your menisters: be obedient to Major Go [...]kins and to Mr. El [...]ot ▪ and Daniel.
I a [...] now allmost dead, and I exhort you strongly to love each other, be at [...], and be ready to forgive each [...].
I desire now [...]ghtly to prepare my self to dy, for God hath given me warning a whole year, [...]y [...]y sicknesse, I [...] I am a [...]: my heart was proud, and therby all [...] were in my heart, I knew that by birth I was a [...] ▪ I [...], and [...]art, and p [...]oug [...] like an English man, and by all these things my heart was proud.
Now God calleth me to repentance, by my sicknesse this whole year. Oh Christ Jesus help me, that according as I make my [...], So through thy grace I may obtaine a pardon of all my sins: for thou Lord Jesus didest dy for us, to deliver us from sin. I [...]eare and belive, that thou hast dyed for many: Therefore I desire to c [...]st away all worldly hindrances, my Lands and Goods, I cast them by, they cannot help me now, I desire truely to prepare to dy: My sons, I hope Christ will help me to dy well: Now I call you my so [...]s, but in [...]aven we shall all [...]e Brethren, this I learned in the Sa [...]ath wors [...]p, all miserys in this world upon B [...]l [...]vers▪ [...] onl [...] joy and blessing in Jesus Christ: Therf [...]re Oh C [...]rist [...]esus help me in all my miserys, and deliver me for I trust in thee, and save my soul in thy heavenly kingdom, n [...]w behold me and looke upon me who am dying.
so he dyed.
John Speen.
HE was among the first that prayed to God, he was a diligent Reader, he became [Page 11] a Teacher, and carried well for diverse yeares, untill the Sin of strong drink did infect us, and then he was so farr infected with it, that he was deservdly layd aside from Teaching, His last speeches were as followeth, ‘NOw I dy, I desire y [...]u all my friends, forgive him th [...] [...]urt me, for the word of God saith in Matthew 6.3, 4: For give them that have done you wrong, and your heavenly Father will forgive you, but if you doe not forgive them, your heavenly Father wi [...]l not forgive you, Therfore I intreat you all my fr [...]nds, f [...]rgive [...] that did me wrong, (for John N [...]usqu [...]it beat him and hurt him much a little before his sicknes) now I desire to dy well, now I confess all my sins, I am a sinner, especially I loved strong drink too well, and Some times I was mad drunke, though I was a Teacher, I did offend against praying to God, and Spoyled my Teaching; all these my sins and drunkness Oh I pray you all forgive me, Oh Jesus Christ help me now and deliver my soule, and help me that I may not go to Hell, for thou O Christ art my deliverer and Saviour, Oh God help me, Lord though I am a sinner, Oh Lord do not forget me.’
and so he dyed.
Black James.
HE was in former times, reputed by th [...]e English to be a Pawaw, but I cannot tel, [Page 12] this, I know he renounced and repented of al [...] his former wayes, and desired to come to Christ, and pray to God, and died well, as appeares in what followeth.
NOw I Say, I almost dy, but you all my sons, and all you that pray at Chaban [...]kongko [...]k take heed, that you [...]eave not off to pray to God, for praying to God is exceeding good, for praying to God is the way that will bring yo [...] to the heavenly kingdom; I belive in Christ, and we must follow his Steps.
Especially you my sons, beware of drunkness, I desire you may Sand [...]ast in my room, and Rule well, I almost now dead, and I desire to dy well, Oh Lord Jesus Christ help me, and deliver my Soul to dy well▪
so he dyed.