,transcriber's ,notes3 ,text enclosed by underscores is in italics 7italics74 ,additional ,transcriber's ,notes are at the end4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,an ,,address ,,to ,,the ,people of ,new-,england4 ,,representing ,the very great ,,importance of attaching the ,,indians to their ,interest2 not only by treating them justly and kindly2 but by using proper ,endeavours to settle ,christianity among them4 ,by ,,samuel ,,hopkins1 ,a4 ,m4 ,,pastor of a ,church in ,springfield4 ,i perceive that ,,god is no ,respecter of ,persons3 ,but in every ,nation1 he that feareth him1 and worketh ,righteousness1 is accepted with him4 ,apostle ,,peter4 ,printed in ,boston1 #agec4 ,being a ,conclusion to the ,historical ,memoirs relating to the ,housatunnuk ,,indians2 with an ,account of the ,methods used for the ,propagation of the ,gospel amongst the said ,indians1 by the late reverend ,mr4 ,,john ,,sergeant4 ,now recommended to the serious ,consideration of the ,inhabitants of ,pennsylvania1 and the other ,colonies4 ,,philadelphia3 ,reprinted by ,b4 ,,franklin1 and ,d4 ,,hall4 #ageg4 ,,an ,,address1 c4 ,my ,design in this ,address is to represent1 to the ,people in this ,country1 the very great ,importance of treating the ,indians1 who live among us1 and upon our ,borders1 in a just1 kind and charitable ,manner2 and that we do1 by all proper ,means and ,methods1 endeavour to attach them to us1 and to the ,british ,interest4 ,this1 ,i apprehend1 is a ,subject that has been too much neglected1 and that greatly wants to be set in a clear and just ,light4 ,and ,i sincerely wish that some ,gentleman of greater ,abilities and ,address than ,i can pretend to1 would take it in ,hand3 ,tho' if my weak ,endeavours may be a ,means of moving others to do ,justice to a ,subject of such ,weight1 ,i shall heartily rejoice in it4 ,that ,i may offer what ,i have to say in the clearest and most concise ,manner ,i can1 ,i shall go into the following ,method4 ,first1 ,i shall endeavour to shew1 that it is of vast ,importance to the ,british ,provinces and ,colonies in ,america1 especially to the ,provinces of the ,massachusetts1 ,new-,york1 and ,new-,hampshire1 that they be in good ,terms with the ,indians1 and attach them to their ,interest4 ,and1 ,secondly1 ,i shall endeavour to shew1 by what ,means this may be effected3 ,or what are the most likely ,methods to bring it to pass4 #a4 ,i am to shew1 that it is of vast ,importance1 that we be in good ,terms with the ,natives2 and that we engage them in our ,interest4 ,i freely grant1 that the ,indians1 simply considered1 are not of such great ,consequence to us4 ,we can subsist without them4 ,but yet1 their ,trade is a considerable ,article1 worthy the ,care of any politick ,people1 and managed as it might1 and ought to be1 would yield us great ,profit4 ,but if we consider them with ,relation to ,peace and ,war1 as attached to us1 or to our ,enemies1 they are of the last ,importance to us2 for they certainly have the ,ballance of ,power in their ,hands1 and are able to turn it for or against us1 according as they stand affected to us4 ,canada1 inconsiderable as it is1 and from which1 separate from the ,indians1 we have little or nothing to fear in ,time of ,war2 ,canada1 ,i say1 would be more than a ,match for us1 in case they join with them against us4 ,he must be a great ,stranger to1 and very ignorant of1 the ,circumstances both of the ,english and ,indians1 who is not sensible of this4 ,our ,circumstances are such1 that we cannot guard ourselves against the ,incursions of such ,enemies in ,time of ,war2 for our ,frontiers are of vast ,extent1 and border upon the adjacent ,wilderness2 which1 tho' almost inaccessible to us1 yet is the very ,element in which they delight to live4 ,they are at ,home in it4 ,the ,people therefore who inhabit our ,frontiers1 while they follow their necessary ,business1 are exposed to be an easy ,prey to them2 and many of them have been surpriz'd in their ,fields and ,houses1 and in a most barbarous ,manner put to ,death4 ,a small ,number of ,indians1 encouraged and supported by the ,french 7which they are ready enough to do7 can easily keep us in a constant ,alarm1 put us to an immense ,charge1 destroy many1 and impoverish more1 in our exposed ,places1 and not put themselves at all out of their ,way2 yea1 find their ,account in it2 for as they live by ,hunting1 so where ,game is most plenty they are best off3 ,and where can they find a better ,supply1 than among our ,cattle1 ,sheep1 and ,corn-,fields8 ,there they live at ,ease1 distress and impoverish us1 and the adjacent ,wilderness is their ,refuge4 ,by retiring into it1 they are soon out of our ,reach2 and long ,experience has taught us how ineffectual the ,measures we have taken for our ,safety and ,defence have proved4 ,some1 ,i am sensible1 will say1 let us not be at any ,cost and ,pains to gain the ,friendship of such a perfidious ,crew1 but let us destroy them all4 ,quickly said indeed1 but not so soon nor so easily effected4 ,those ,persons who are for destroying them would doubtless soon do it1 were they first bound and delivered up to them4 ,but one ,question here is1 how we shall get them into our ,power8 ,and another is1 ,whether it would be so humane1 generous and ,christian-like1 to take away their ,lives1 were that in our ,power1 as it would be to cultivate ,friendship with them1 and to seek their best ,good8 ,if we should be so sanguine as to endeavour to destroy them1 it would doubtless prove a vain ,attempt2 and serve only to drive them to the ,french1 who would be very ready to receive and protect them4 ,if we neglect them1 and take no ,measures to engage them in our ,interest1 or to cultivate ,friendship with them1 this will probably render them indifferent to us1 and dispose them to hearken to the enticing ,insinuations of ,romish ,emissaries2 and our ,situation must be very unhappy1 when they become engaged in the ,french ,interest4 ,if it be objected1 that the ,french have already gained a large ,number of ,indians to their ,interest1 and therefore if we use our best ,endeavours to gain others1 it will avail nothing2 for those who are devoted to the ,french1 will nevertheless distress us in ,time of ,war4 ,i reply1 ,it is very true1 that the ,french of ,canada1 thro' their ,policy and ,vigilance1 have taken the ,advantage of our ,neglect1 and gained a large ,number of the ,natives to their ,interest1 and are gaining more and more every ,year2 and some even from among our own ,indians4 ,they spare neither ,cost nor ,pains to accomplish their ,designs of this ,nature1 being sensible enough how advantageous it is to them1 and how injurious to us2 and if they continue to be active1 and we negligent1 as in ,times past1 is it not too probable that they will1 in a little ,time1 attach to themselves all the ,indians in ,north-,america8 ,does it not then concern us to use proper and vigorous ,endeavours to prevent this apparent ,mischief1 by counter-working the ,french8 who are1 ,i suppose1 tampering with all the ,tribes of ,north-,america1 to engage them in their ,interest4 ,and should we succeed in our ,endeavours 7as it is highly probable we might1 if proper ,steps were taken7 so as to engage the ,five ,nations1 and some other ,tribes1 in hearty ,friendship with us2 and especially if we should bestow such ,favours upon them1 as would induce them to settle upon our ,frontiers2 it would in all ,probability prevent the ,evil spoken of in the ,objection2 for the ,indians from ,canada would not molest us1 if a ,number of the ,natives1 in hearty ,friendship with us1 were placed in our ,borders4 ,of this we have had a very plain ,proof the last ,war1 in the ,safety of ,stockbridge1 and the adjacent ,places1 from any ,attempts of the ,enemy from ,canada4 ,stockbridge is in the very ,road of1 and more exposed to1 the ,indians from ,canada1 than any other ,place whatever2 and yet we see that the ,enemy turned off ,east to ,connecticut-,river1 and ,west to the ,dutch ,settlements1 where they did much ,mischief2 while ,stockbridge1 ,sheffield1 ,new-,marlborough1 and ,number ,one1 tho' more exposed1 were not molested4 ,this1 so far as we can discern1 was owing to a small ,number of ,indians dwelling at ,stockbridge1 who are our hearty and fast ,friends2 which the ,enemy being sensible of1 cared not to come within their ,reach1 lest they should be taken in their own ,snare4 ,and if we should encourage the ,settlement of other ,indian ,towns upon our ,frontiers1 where ,hunting is most handy to them1 as ,stockbridge has been encouraged2 should we give them ,townships of ,land suitable for their ,improvement1 build a ,meeting-,house and ,school-,house in each ,town1 and support ,ministers and ,school-,masters in them2 would not this convince them that we are their true ,friends1 and seek their ,good8 ,would it not induce them to settle in our ,borders8 especially those of them who are desirous that they themselves and their ,children should be instructed8 ,would they not be a ,guard to us in ,time of ,war8 ,and if1 after all1 we should meet with some ,trouble from the ,indians of ,canada1 might it not be effectually prevented1 by playing our ,indians upon them1 as they do theirs upon us8 ,and would not the ,charge of all this be a ,trifle1 compared with that of defending ourselves in ,time of ,war8 ,but if we neglect them1 and take no ,measures to cultivate ,friendship with them1 and especially if we deal injuriously by them1 shall we not put an ,advantage into the ,hands of the ,french 7which they will not fail of improving7 to engage them in their ,interest1 and to employ them against us in ,time of ,war8 which would prove a very great ,calamity to us1 if not our utter ,ruin4 ,these ,things considered1 is it not of very great ,importance1 that we be at good ,terms with the neighbouring ,natives8 #b4 ,i will1 in the next ,place1 endeavour to shew what are the likely ,methods to bring this to pass3 ,or what ,measures we must take with the ,indians1 if we would engage them in hearty ,friendship with us4 ,and here1 in general1 our ,conduct towards them must be such as shall make them sensible that we are indeed their hearty ,friends2 and such also as shall convince them that it is their ,interest and ,advantage to be in ,friendship with us4 ,nothing short of this1 ,i apprehend1 will attach them to us1 so as to answer the ,ends proposed4 ,if we often treat with them1 renew the ,friendship1 and bestow upon them large ,presents3 ,or1 as they phrase it1 ,smoke together1 brighten the ,chain1 or put the ,brands together1 to kindle up the former ,fire2 and yet leave ,room for them to suppose that this proceeds not from true ,friendship1 but rather from ,fear of them1 or from ,suspicion that they will join with our ,enemies1 c4 this will never be sufficient to engage them2 the utmost we can rationally expect from it is1 that they will not openly break with us1 but keep up a ,shew of ,friendship1 that they may have the ,benefit of future ,presents at our ,hands4 ,again1 if we should by any ,means convince them that we are their true ,friends1 and yet not go into such ,measures with them as should turn to their ,advantage1 they would hardly be engaged for us4 ,as all other ,people are governed by ,interest1 so are they4 ,and the principal ,handle we can take hold of1 to attach them to us by1 is their ,interest1 and that would not fail of doing it4 ,if a ,tribe of ,indians can sell their ,skins to us for ,twenty ,shillings1 and buy their ,blankets for ,ten ,shillings2 they will never go to ,canada where they must sell their ,skins for ,ten ,shillings1 and give ,twenty ,shillings for a ,blanket4 ,convince them that it is much for their ,interest and ,advantage to be our ,friends and ,allies1 and we need not fear but that they will be so4 ,now1 in order to convince them that we are truly their ,friends1 and that it is their ,interest to be ours1 we must1 ,in the first ,place1 treat them according to the ,rules of ,equity and ,justice4 ,we must not defraud and oppress them1 but be honest and just in our ,dealings with them4 ,the ,natives1 with whom we have to do1 are ,persons of so much ,sagacity1 that they can distinguish between just and injurious ,treatment1 as well as other ,men4 ,they are also as ready to resent1 and perhaps more forward to revenge ,injuries1 than any other ,people under ,heaven4 ,if therefore we treat them in an unjust ,manner1 we may rationally expect that they will be so far from being our ,friends1 that they will join with our ,enemies1 and seek ,opportunities of ,revenge4 ,it is well known1 that the ,indians are generally addicted to ,drunkenness1 and that when they have tasted a little ,liquor1 they have a strong ,thirst for more1 and will part with any ,thing they have1 for a sufficient ,quantity to make them drunk4----,and is it not as well known1 that we have taken the ,advantage of this their vicious ,appetite1 and for a few ,quarts of ,rum have purchased valuable ,effects of them8 ,have not private ,persons thus made their ,gains of them1 notwithstanding the good ,laws that have been in ,force to prevent it8 ,and is not this the ,manner of all private ,traders1 who go among their several ,tribes for ,gain8 ,in our publick ,dealings with them at our ,truck-,houses1 where ,rum has been freely sold them1 ,care has been taken that they should not be cheated1 but that they should have the full ,value of what they had to sell3 ,an ,indian therefore1 who was ,owner of a ,pack of ,beaver1 ,deerskins1 or any other valuable ,goods1 could buy a large ,quantity of ,rum1 and might get drunk perhaps ten times1 or more2 whereas1 if he had fallen into private ,hands1 he must have contented himself with being drunk but once or twice4 ,which of these proves most injurious to ,indians in the ,end1 ,i shall not pretend to determine4 ,when they are thus intoxicated1 they fall out among themselves1 fight1 and sometimes kill1 one another1 and some have drunk themselves dead on the ,spot4 ,an ,instance of each of these there has been1 if ,i am rightly informed1 at ,fort ,dummer1 since that has been improved as a ,truck-,house4 ,and whether the ,guilt of that ,blood does not lie upon us1 ,i leave others to judge4 ,now1 if we treat the ,natives in this ,form1 will they1 can they1 live with us8 ,will not the ,law of ,self-,preservation oblige them to leave us1 and to go where they may be better used8 ,some of the ,five ,nations plainly speak it out1 and say1 8,we cannot live with the ,english and ,dutch2 they bring us so much ,rum1 that it destroys us2 we must go to the ,french1 who will let us have but little strong ,drink40 ,thus we alienate the ,indians from us1 and as it were oblige them to go over to the ,french1 who are often our ,enemies1 and fail not to employ them against us in ,time of ,war4 ,and if we proceed to deal thus injuriously with them1 what can we expect but that they will leave us1 and be a severe ,scourge to us8 ,tho' the ,indians are sunk below the ,dignity of human ,nature1 and their ,lust after ,drink exposes them to be cheated out of what little they have2 yet this gives us no ,right to deal unjustly by them4 ,they have a natural ,right to ,justice1 and may1 with great ,propriety1 challenge it at our ,hands1 seeing we profess to be subject to the ,laws of ,christ1 which teach us to do that which is altogether just4 ,and we should be so far from taking the ,advantage of their ,ignorance1 ,vice and ,poverty1 to defraud them of what is their just ,right1 that we should rather be moved to ,pity1 and compassionate their deplorable ,state1 and be ,eyes to the ,blind1 c4 ,i am fully persuaded1 that if we were upright and just in all our ,transactions with them2 if our ,trade with them was put into the ,hands of faithful ,men1 who would deal justly by them2 and if they were supplied with all ,necessaries for themselves and ,families at a moderate ,price1 it would not be in the ,power of all the ,french at ,canada 7subtle as they are7 to alienate them from us4 ,the ,french are not upon equal ,ground with us in this ,affair4 ,for their ,northern ,climate is much more inhospitable and severe than ours is3 ,their ,country is not so productive of those ,fruits1 which the ,indians very much live upon1 as ours3 ,nor can they afford ,goods which are proper and necessary for the ,indians at so cheap a ,lay as we can3 ,therefore we can give them those ,advantages which ,canada cannot4 ,we can1 without ,damage to ourselves1 make it their ,interest to adhere to us3 ,and when ,experience has once taught them1 that their ,interest lies with us1 they will want no other ,inducement to engage them to us3 ,yea1 it will not only attach those of them to us1 who are not yet gone to ,canada1 but it will induce those who are1 to return to their ,brethren1 for the ,sake of the ,profit they might reap by it2 especially if we give them all the ,advantage we can1 consistent with our own4 ,as unjust and abusive ,treatment of the ,indians tends naturally to alienate them from us1 and to turn them off to the ,french2 so a ,series of just and faithful ,dealing with them would be likely to attach them to us1 and to make them our fast ,friends4 ,this again appears from the ,temper and ,conduct of that ,part of the ,tribe of the ,river ,indians who live at ,stockbridge4 ,for tho' they were1 for a considerable ,time1 extremely jealous1 that we had some ill ,design upon them1 even in the ,favours they received at our ,hands 7a ,jealousy founded1 ,i suppose1 upon the ill ,usage the ,natives have too often been the ,subjects of7 yet by the just ,treatment they1 for a ,course of ,years1 have met with from the ,government1 from ,mr4 ,sergeant1 ,mr4 ,woodbridge1 and others1 they are become our hearty ,friends2 willing to live or die with us1 whether in ,peace or ,war4 ,it is very true1 that in order to obtain the ,end proposed1 our ,trade with the ,indians must not be in private ,hands4 ,it must not be in the ,power of every private ,person to treat them as he pleases4 ,we may upon good ,grounds despair of their being treated with ,equity and ,justice1 if every one may gratify his avaricious ,temper in dealing with them4 ,our ,trade therefore must be of a publick ,nature1 and must be committed to the ,care and ,management of faithful ,men3 ,not to such as will seek the ,service1 and make ,friends to procure the ,post for them2 7certain ,indications of a ,self-seeker7 but ,men of ,uprightness and ,integrity must be sought out2 such1 and such only1 must be trusted with ,business of such ,importance3 ,good ,instructions must be given them1 which must be carefully adhered to4 ,if the ,indian ,trade at ,canada was in private ,hands2 if every private ,person there might deal with the ,indians at ,pleasure1 we might then hope that those who are gone from us would soon return2 for1 in that ,case1 it is supposable enough that they would not meet with much better ,usage there than they do here2 tho' it is scarcely supposable that they would meet with much worse4 ,the ,french ,trade with the ,indians is wholly in the ,hands of publick ,officers1 7it ,i am rightly informed7 and a private ,man1 if he wants a ,dear-skin1 a ,beaver-skin1 c4 is not allowed to purchase of an ,indian1 but must go to the publick ,stores4 ,upon the ,supposition that those ,officers are faithful1 and deal justly by the ,indians1 it is surely a wise and politick ,method to engage them in their ,favour4 ,and so long as every private ,person in the ,english ,government is at ,liberty to trade with them1 when1 and where1 he pleases1 and to cheat them out of what they have1 what can we expect but that they will repair to ,canada1 where they may be better used8 ,is it not owing to the ill ,treatment they have met with from the ,english and ,dutch1 that so many of them are gone already8 ,and if no proper ,measures are taken to prevent their being ill used1 will not those who are yet behind soon follow their ,brethren8 ,yea1 if we furnish them with large ,quantities of ,rum1 make them drunk1 and then defraud them of what they have1 do we not reduce them to a ,necessity1 either of living low and miserable with us1 or of going from us1 that they may fare better8 ,how low1 how dispirited1 how miserable and brutish these few are1 who live within our ,borders1 is too manifest4 ,and whether we1 by our ill treating of them1 have not contributed to their ,misery1 is worthy of our serious ,enquiry4 ,yea1 would it not be proper for us to enquire1 ,whether we have not1 by our ,neglect and ,abuse of them1 provoked ,heaven to let loose the ,natives upon us1 who have been one of the sorest ,scourges that we were ever chastised with8 ,what ,multitudes have they1 in a most cruel ,manner1 murdered in our ,borders8 ,how many of our ,neighbours have they led into ,captivity8 ,some of whom have been redeemed at a very great ,expence1 and others are become either ,pagans or ,papists1 and continue still in a foreign ,land4 ,and who can count the ,cost we have been at1 to defend ourselves against their ,incursions8 ,if the ,british ,government should be disposed1 in ,time to come1 to set up and maintain a publick1 honest and just ,trade with the ,five ,nations1 or any other ,tribes1 thereby to attach them to us1 to promote their true ,interest1 with other valuable ,ends1 that might thereby be answered2 this ,objection perhaps would arise1 viz4 ,that such a ,proceeding will be a very great ,expence to the ,publick1 for our ,trade cannot be safe1 unless it be protected by a considerable ,force4 ,a ,fort must be built1 and a ,garrison of #ej1 #fj1 or perhaps #ajj ,men1 with their proper ,officers1 must be maintained at each ,place where the ,trade is set up2 therefore the ,advantage would not countervail the ,cost4 ,to this ,i reply1 ,if such ,garrisons should be thought necessary in the ,places where a ,trade is set up1 to be a ,guard to it1 the ,charge would nothing like equal that of an ,indian ,war1 which perhaps it might prevent4 ,but further1 ,i apprehend that the ,charge of such ,garrisons might be spared2 and that1 instead of being necessary1 they would prove very injurious to the ,design2 and that it would be a very wrong ,step to be taken in that ,affair4 ,all who are in any good ,measure acquainted with the ,indians know1 that they are extreamly jealous1 lest any ,incroachments should be made upon them2 and it is not strange it should be so1 considering what has past over them4 ,and if a ,number of armed ,men were placed among them1 and ,forts built for the ,defence of our ,trade1 they would be suspicious that something hostile was intended1 and we should not be able to remove the ,suspicion4 ,they would behold us with a jealous ,eye1 and perhaps take ,measures to frustrate the whole ,design4 ,the most effectual ,way to induce them to trust us1 is to trust them2 and they will be ready enough to protect our ,trade if we desire it1 and shew that we confide in them to do it4 ,and when a little ,experience has taught them how advantageous such a ,trade would be to them1 they would be ready enough to do it for their own ,advantage4 ,if therefore we should desire them to admit a ,trader into one of their own ,forts1 or to build a ,fort at our ,charge in some convenient ,place for such a ,design1 and to take ,care that our ,trade be safe2 this would tend to convince them1 both of our ,friendship to1 and of our ,confidence in1 them2 and they would not only be pleased with it1 but also ambitious to shew us that we may safely trust them3 ,and were ,i to be the ,truck-,master1 ,i should esteem myself much safer in their ,protection1 than in a ,garrison of #ajj ,english ,men3 ,for if such a ,garrison should be placed among them1 they themselves would suspect some ill ,design carrying on against them2 and the ,french would infallibly tell them1 that tho' we pretended ,peace and ,friendship1 yet our ,design in the ,end is to dispossess them of their ,country4 ,if indeed a ,truck-,master should prove an unfaithful ,servant1 and enrich himself by defrauding them1 he might have ,occasion for ,english ,soldiers to protect him and his ,stores2 but if they found him faithful1 friendly and just in his ,dealings with them1 they would be as careful of him as of their own ,eyes1 and venture their own ,lives for him4 ,what would not the ,indians of ,stockbridge have done for ,mr4 ,sergeant in his ,day1 whom they had found to be their true and hearty ,friend8 ,and what would they not now do for ,mr4 ,woodbridge1 of whom the have had the like ,experience8 ,indians will be as ready as the ,english1 and perhaps much more so1 to serve and protect1 if there be ,occasion1 those whom they have found to be their faithful and real ,friends4 ,in a ,word1 ,i apprehend1 that if we had in ,times past treated the ,natives according to the ,rules of ,equity and ,justice1 it would have been quite sufficient to have engaged them in our ,interest1 and to have kept them in ,amity and ,friendship with us2 and that1 even now1 they might in a little ,time be attached to us1 by such ,treatment3 ,but this1 ,i confess1 ,i despair of1 if every private ,person must be left at his ,liberty to treat them as he pleases1 and to defraud them of all they have2 which ,i take to be the ,case in ,new-,york ,government1 who lie next to the ,five ,nations1 and have their ,trade2 tho' in this ,province we have good ,laws in ,force to restrain private ,persons from selling them strong ,drink4 #b4 ,we should also exercise that ,kindness and ,generosity towards them1 that shall convince them that it is for their ,interest to be in ,friendship with us4 ,we should not1 in a ,case of such ,importance1 content ourselves with being barely just in our ,treatment of them1 but we should also be kind and generous1 as a proper ,expedient to obtain the ,end proposed4 ,i am aware1 ,i shall here be quickly interrupted with this ,exclamation2 ,what6 kind and generous to such an ungrateful evil ,crew6 ,to which ,i shall only answer1 ,we have good ,authority for being kind to the ,unthankful1 and to the ,evil4 ,and if that good ,being who recommends it to us1 had not given an ,example of it1 in his ,dealings with us1 how deplorable had our ,state been8 ,this kind ,temper and ,behaviour is recommended to us in the ,gospel1 not only because it is the ,will of our heavenly ,father that we should be kind1 but also because the ,exercise of it answers excellent ,ends2 produces very good and desirable ,effects2 such as ,love1 ,friendship1 ,peace1 c4 ,and while we make a ,profession of ,christianity1 it is ,pity the ,practice of it1 in so material an ,article1 should be objected against4 ,and is it not very proper that we should exercise ,kindness and ,generosity to the poor ,natives1 when there is a strong ,probability of its being of very happy ,consequence both to them and us8 ,a great deal of ,kindness and ,generosity has been exercised towards the ,river ,indians at ,housatunnuk1 by this ,government1 by the honourable ,corporation at ,home1 by their honourable and reverend ,commissioners at ,boston1 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hollis1 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,sergeant1 ,mr4 ,woodbridge1 and others2 and the ,consequence has been very happy as to them2 they are brought to the ,knowledge of the ,gospel1 and to a ,christian ,profession2 and many of them1 we hope1 to the saving ,knowledge of ,god4 ,we also have found the ,benefit of this kind ,usage of them2 for thereby they are become our hearty ,friends1 are united to us in their ,affections1 and were a ,means1 in the ,hand of ,providence1 of covering our most ,western ,frontiers the last ,war4 ,and were the like ,kindness shewn by us to other ,tribes1 is there not ,room to hope that the ,effects might be alike happy8 ,if ,townships1 suitable for ,indians to settle in1 were provided in our ,frontiers1 and it were proposed to them1 that if they would come and settle in them1 they should not only enjoy the ,land as their own1 but also have a ,minister supported among them to instruct them in the ,christian ,religion2 and also a ,school-,master to teach their ,children to read and write2 would not this induce many of them1 especially of the better ,sort1 to come and settle in our ,borders8 ,and would they not cover our ,frontiers in case of a ,war with ,france8 ,what has been done for the ,indians at ,stockbridge1 has doubtless been much observed and approved of by the ,natives far and near4 ,that there is a ,school set up at ,canada1 in ,imitation of ,mr4 ,sergeant's ,school at ,stockbridge1 and a large ,number of ,scholars in it1 we have heard and receive for ,truth4 ,that the ,french1 who esteem ,ignorance to be the ,mother of ,devotion1 and do not desire to teach the ,indians any ,thing more than to say their ,beads1 and to cross themselves1 have done this out of ,choice1 is not at all likely4 ,they do not desire that their ,indians should become a knowing ,people4 ,but yet1 being sensible that the ,report of ,mr4 ,sergeant's ,school had spread itself far and wide1 and that their ,indians were pleased with the ,method the ,english had taken to furnish the ,natives with ,knowledge1 they apprehended1 that unless something like it were done among them1 there would be ,danger of the ,indians repairing to us for ,instruction1 and to prevent this1 and to engage them to themselves1 they set up their ,school4 ,this1 ,i conjecture1 is the ,truth of the ,case4 ,and if so1 it is manifest that the ,indians are inclined to seek after ,knowledge2 and therefore would be disposed to hearken to such kind and generous ,proposals1 if they were made to them4 ,and who can tell but that this1 that1 or the other ,tribe1 would gladly settle such ,towns1 if they were invited to it in a proper ,manner8 #c4 ,another ,step1 and perhaps the most promising one we can take1 to engage the ,indians in ,friendship with us is1 to send ,missionaries among their respective ,tribes1 ,ministers and ,schoolmasters1 to instruct them in the ,principles1 and to persuade them to the ,practice of ,christianity4 ,tho' they have so long lived near us1 and been conversant with us1 yet they remain ignorant of the ,way of ,salvation1 ,strangers to the ,gospel1 and are perishing for lack of ,knowledge3 ,a ,case that might well move our ,pity and ,compassion towards them1 and put us upon doing what we can for their ,relief4 ,and whether our former ,neglect of ,things of this ,nature has not been provoking to ,heaven1 may be worthy of our serious ,enquiry4 ,the ,interest the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,barclay had in the ,mohawks1 while he was with them1 the ,reformation of ,manners he wrought among them1 their ,willingness to receive ,instruction1 and their ,engagedness to prosecute ,learning1 are a plain ,indication that faithful ,missionaries would be welcome to them4 ,and the ,five ,nations being nearest us1 and their ,friendship of very great ,consequence1 it might be proper to begin with them3 ,and what has been done among them by ,mr4 ,barclay and others1 might be no small ,help in the ,case4 ,if we should send ,persons well qualified for the ,business to reside among them1 and support them well1 there would be no ,foundation for any ,jealousy that we have an ill ,design upon them1 and if at any time such ,jealousies should arise1 they would soon subside1 upon the ,indians having a little ,experience of our ,kindness and ,friendship to them4 ,the prudent ,conduct and faithful ,labours of such ,missionaries might1 by the ,blessing of ,god1 serve to remove their ,barbarity1 correct their ,manners1 reform their ,lives1 promote in them virtuous ,sentiments1 and by ,degrees form them to true ,religion4 ,this we may hope would be the happy ,event1 with ,respect to many of them1 tho' not to all2 and if1 by much ,labour and ,expence1 it might be brought to pass1 should we not find our ,account in it2 for what would be the ,charge of supporting a few ,missionaries1 compared with that of an ,indian ,war8 ,and is there not great ,probability that such ,measures would in a few ,years ,time attach them to us in a hearty ,friendship8 ,and if the ,five ,nations1 who are a ,terror to1 and have in great ,measure the ,command of1 other ,tribes1 were indeed our ,friends1 and made so by such ,obligations laid upon them1 would it not be an effectual ,means of restraining other ,indians from giving us ,trouble in case of a ,war8 ,the general ,objection here1 ,i am sensible1 will be2--,there is no ,likelihood of succeeding1 and therefore it is not worth ,while to make any ,trial2 it would only be to spend ,labour and ,money to no good ,purpose4 ,to which ,i reply1 ,how can we draw the ,conclusion before we have made the ,experiment8 ,have we ever made any proper ,trial1 and found ourselves disappointed8 ,and can it be looked upon just to draw such a ,conclusion1 in a ,case of such ,importance1 unless we had better ,grounds for it8 ,it is true1 ,mr4 ,sergeant made a ,visit to the ,susquehanna ,indians1 ,mr4 ,brainard also1 in his ,day1 did the same1 without ,success2 but we know that the ,excuse those ,indians made was1 that they held their ,lands of the ,five ,nations1 and therefore could not comply with such a ,motion1 till their ,consent was first obtained4 ,and besides1 shall we esteem two or three ,visits made by private ,persons a sufficient ,trial in this ,case8 ,sufficient indeed it was to shew that those good ,gentlemen were possest of an excellent ,spirit1 and of a laudable ,zeal for the ,good of the poor ,natives2 but yet ,i apprehend not sufficient to discourage further ,attempts4 ,if those ,gentlemen1 who went in a private ,capacity1 had sustained a publick ,character1 perhaps they had been more regarded4 ,but however1 when we have used our best ,endeavours1 and they indeed prove unsuccessful1 we may be excusable2 but can we look upon ourselves so1 if we sit still1 and use no ,endeavours for the ,help of those poor benighted ,people8 ,if proper ,attempts should be made for ,christianizing the ,five ,nations1 there would1 ,i am sensible1 some notable ,difficulties lie in the ,way1 but yet perhaps none but what might be surmounted4 ,one ,difficulty that would doubtless attend such a laudable ,undertaking1 would arise from those who maintain a private ,trade among them1 from which they reap great ,gain2 especially by the ,article of ,rum1 too much of which they convey to them1 and by the ,influence of which the ,indians are easily defrauded4 ,these ,traders would be very sensible1 that if ,christianity should prevail among those ,nations1 the ,hope of their ,gain would be gone1 and seeing by this ,craft they have their ,wealth1 they would use their utmost ,endeavours to dissuade the ,indians from embracing the ,ways of ,religion4 ,they in ,fact did so at ,housatunnuk1 where the ,number of ,indians was small1 and their ,trade not so considerable4 ,how much more then will they do it1 if ,endeavours should be used to convert the ,mohawks1 whose ,trade is vastly more advantageous8 ,but as the ,indians at ,housatunnuk1 by ,mr4 ,sergeant's ,help1 saw thro' the ,artifice they used1 and were made sensible of the selfish ,views of the ,traders1 so doubtless the ,five ,nations may easily be informed1 and the ,obstruction soon removed4 ,another ,difficulty will arise from the false ,insinuations of ,romish ,emissaries1 who will not fail to tell them1 that we are about to teach them a false ,religion1 and if they hearken to us1 they will all certainly be damned4 ,but when those ,indians are properly informed of the ,conduct of the ,french1 and other ,roman ,catholicks1 how they deny the ,use of the ,bible to the common ,people among themselves1 and that they have no ,design to acquaint the ,indians with the ,word of ,god3 ,and on the other ,hand1 that our ,design is not to impose upon them1 but to open the ,bible to them1 to enable them to read it1 and to judge for themselves2 will not this satisfy them of our honest ,intentions towards them1 and of the ,safety and ,propriety of their examining ,things1 that they may form a ,judgment for themselves8 ,a third1 and perhaps much the greatest ,difficulty that would attend this good ,design is1 that those ,indians esteem themselves ,christians already1 and value themselves upon their being as good ,christians as their ,neighbours4 ,mr4 ,sergeant1 in his ,journal of ,november #be1 #agcd1 says1--#8,the ,mohawks are generally ,professors of ,christianity1 but for want of ,instruction have but little of it in ,reality4--' ,they are so ignorant of the ,principles of ,religion1 that they know not the ,difference between one who is baptized1 and calls himself a ,christian1 and one who lives agreeably to the ,rules ,christ has given us to walk by4 ,they are not sensible of the ,necessity of being conformed to those ,rules of ,virtue and ,holiness which ,christ has prescribed4 ,romish ,emissaries have baptized some of them1 others 7as ,i have been informed7 have been baptized by ,dutch ,ministers2 and they esteem it a ,privilege belonging to them to have their ,children baptized1 whenever they present them1 without any ,regard being had1 either to the ,qualifications of the ,parent1 or the religious ,education of the ,child4 ,when the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,spencer was among them a few ,years ago1 they were much displeased that he declined baptizing some ,children1 whose ,parents were notoriously ignorant1 vicious and wicked4 ,some ,indians from ,canada1 who had an ,english ,woman to their ,mother1 came a few ,years past to ,westfield to visit their ,english ,relations there1 and while they staid at that ,place1 they had a ,child born1 and were much offended with the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,balantine1 who declined baptizing of it1 as they desired4 ,since the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,edwards has been at ,stockbridge1 one of the ,mohawks residing there had a ,child born1 and was highly affronted because ,mr4 ,edwards did not baptize it upon his ,desire4 ,from these ,instances it is evident1 that they account their ,children have ,right to ,baptism1 whenever they desire it4 ,and being baptized1 they esteem them good ,christians1 whatever their ,conversation may be2 for they derive their ,notions of ,christianity1 not from the ,bible 7to which they are ,strangers7 but from the ,example of the ,dutch and ,french1 with whom they are conversant1 and who profess themselves to be ,christians4 ,and so far forth as being baptized1 in the forementioned ,manner1 and calling themselves ,christians will make them so1 they are so to be esteemed4 ,now these ,things being so1 it may prove a difficult ,thing to make them sensible1 that ,drunkenness1 and other vicious ,practices1 are inconsistent with ,christianity2 because those ,christians1 who fall under their ,observation1 give them an ,example of ,vice1 and go such ,lengths therein4 ,but yet ,i apprehend this ,difficulty might also be removed1 by giving them a just and true ,account of the ,nature and ,extent of the ,christian ,religion1 by informing them what the ,will of ,christ is2 how he expects that we should be conformed to his ,likeness1 and to his ,laws4 ,the ,indians are as capable of hearing ,reasons1 and giving them their ,weight1 as other ,men2 and it is because they know not what ,christianity is1 that they esteem themselves ,christians1 in their present ,circumstances4 ,when they are made acquainted with the ,terms of ,salvation1 proposed in the ,gospel1 and what they must do that they may inherit eternal ,life2 when they are well instructed in the ,doctrines of ,christ1 they will be sensible that the ,religion which they now have1 is little or nothing like that which is taught by the ,gospel4 ,when ,mr4 ,edwards refused to baptize a ,mohawk ,child born at ,stockbridge 7which ,i have before mentioned7 and they were very much displeased with him on that ,account1 he went to them1 gave them the ,reasons of his ,conduct1 and informed them as clearly as he was able1 of the ,nature and ,end of ,baptism3 ,those ,indians received the ,force of his ,reasons1 and appeared to be satisfied and contented1 when he had taken ,pains to inform them4 ,and ,i doubt not but proper ,instruction and ,information would remove the ,difficulty ,i have been speaking of4 ,tho' ,christianizing those ,indians may prove a difficult ,work1 yet if our ,endeavours might1 by the divine ,blessing1 be succeeded1 would not the ,advantage thence arising to them1 and us1 more than compensate the ,pains and ,expence we should be at8 ,and is there not so much ,ground to hope for ,success1 as should induce us to make the ,experiment8 ,i shall now conclude1 by briefly suggesting a few ,things1 not yet mentioned1 the serious ,consideration of which may excite us to use our best ,endeavours for the ,conversion of the neighbouring ,indians to the ,christian ,faith4 #a4 ,and in the first ,place1 should not the ,consideration of the divine ,bounty and ,goodness1 bestowed upon us1 excite us to employ ,part of that undeserved ,goodness to promote the ,knowledge of ,god1 our bountiful ,benefactor1 among those who are destitute of it8 ,thro' the undeserved ,favour and ,blessing of ,god1 we have been prosperous in our secular ,affairs1 succeeded in our ,husbandry1 ,trade1 c4 and are become a wealthy ,people3 ,and1 were we as willing as we are able1 might we not spare large ,sums for the ,propagation of the ,gospel among the ,heathen8 ,ought we not then to shew our ,gratitude to the glorious ,author of all our ,comforts1 by employing a ,part of his ,bounty to promote the ,redeemer's ,kingdom8 ,is it not fit that we should thus honour the ,lord with our ,substance8 ,does it not lie as a ,reproach upon us1 who make an high ,profession1 that we expend so little to promote the ,knowledge of ,god among the ,natives1 and so much to ill ,purposes8 ,were what we employ in unnecessary ,expences1 by which ,pride and ,luxury are indulged and nourished1 employed in the laudable ,method ,i am recommending2 would it not be sufficient well to support a ,multitude of ,missionaries among the neighbouring ,tribes8 ,would it not probably be a ,means of turning many of them from the ,power of ,satan to ,god8 ,and would it not be an ,odour of a sweet ,smell1 a ,sacrifice acceptable1 well pleasing to ,god#a8 ,and seeing ,god1 by his ,blessings1 has enabled us to contribute to such a good ,design1 should we not chearfully give of our ,substance1 for the spiritual ,benefit of the perishing ,heathen8 #b4 ,should not the ,light and ,grace of the ,gospel1 which we1 thro' divine ,goodness enjoy1 be a stronger ,argument still to excite us to endeavour the ,conversion of the ,heathen8 ,a few ,generations back we were in a ,state of ,heathenism1 as they now are3 ,aliens from the ,commonwealth of ,israel--and without ,god in the ,world#b4 ,but1 thro' divine ,goodness1 the ,day-spring from on ,high has visited us1 and we enjoy the ,light and ,privileges of the ,gospel-,dispensation4 ,seeing then ,god has had ,compassion on us1 and bestowed upon us those richest ,blessings1 ought we not to have ,compassion on the neighbouring ,heathen1 and use our best ,endeavours that they also may be made ,partakers of the ,light and ,blessings of the ,gospel8 #c4 ,should we not be moved to such charitable ,endeavours from the ,consideration of the wretched and forlorn ,circumstances1 in which the poor ,natives appear before our ,eyes8 ,we often behold those piteous ,objects1 appearing half naked1 and almost starved2 which is the ,effect of their vicious ,way of ,living4 ,we see them also in the ,depths of ,ignorance and ,barbarity2 wholly unacquainted with the ,way of ,salvation1 and quite unconcerned for their eternal ,good3 ,and yet their ,powers1 both of ,body and ,mind1 are not inferior to our own4 ,were they brought to ,civility and ,industry1 they might stand upon equal ,ground with us1 respecting the ,comforts of ,life2 and were they instructed in divine ,things1 made acquainted with the great and important ,truths of the ,gospel1 they might stand as fair for the ,kingdom of ,heaven as we do4 ,should not our ,eyes therefore affect our ,hearts1 when we behold them in such miserable ,circumstances8 ,and should we not exert ourselves in all proper ,ways for their ,help8 ,did the ,wounds of the poor ,man half dead1 who fell among ,thieves1 plead with so much ,eloquence for human ,compassion1 as the unhappy ,state of the poor ,natives does for ,christian ,charity8 ,and if the ,compassion of a ,samaritan was moved by the former1 how much more should the ,bowels of a ,christian be moved by the latter8 #d4 ,the noble ,example of some generous and pious ,persons1 at ,home1 may well excite us to liberal ,contributions for the ,benefit of the poor ,heathen4 ,not only publick ,societies1 but also private ,persons1 in ,great-,britain1 have generously and liberally contributed for the ,benefit of the ,natives1 in this distant ,part of the ,world4 ,tho' they are at #cjjj ,miles ,distance1 and never beheld1 as we do1 those miserable ,objects2 yet1 from a truly pious and generous ,spirit1 they have sent over their liberal ,contributions1 that the ,heathen1 by their ,means1 may be informed in the ,way of ,life4 ,verily1 they shall not lose their ,reward4 ,a noble ,example they set before us1 most worthy our ,imitation3 ,and how can we excuse ourselves1 if we neglect to copy after it8 ,some indeed may plead their ,inability1 but this is not the ,case of all4 ,are there not among us many wealthy ,merchants and ,traders8 ,are there not also many ,farmers1 who abound in ,wealth1 upon the ,lands which were1 a few ,years ago1 the ,property of the ,indians1 who now stand in ,need of their ,charity8 ,should not such ,persons be moved1 by the generous ,examples of others1 to help forward the noble ,design of converting the ,heathen8 ,yea1 are not the ,people in general able to do something to help forward so good a ,design8 ,and will it not lie as a ,reproach upon us1 if we1 who make a high ,profession of ,religion1 prove void of ,charity1 when we are so loudly called to the ,exercise of it1 not only by the laudable ,example of generous ,benefactors at ,home2 but also by the perishing ,circumstances of the neighbouring ,indians8 ,i shall only add my hearty ,wishes1 that this ,american ,continent1 which1 for ,ages unknown1 has been a ,seat of ,darkness1 and full of the ,habitations of ,cruelty1 may become a ,scene of ,light and ,love2 that the ,heathen in it1 who have been wont to thirst after ,blood1 may hunger and thirst after ,righteousness2 ,that the ,wilderness and solitary ,place may be glad for them1 the ,desart rejoice and blossom as the ,rose2----,that the ,glory of ,lebanon may be given unto it1 the ,excellency of ,carmel and ,sharon2 ,that they may see the ,glory of the ,lord1 and the ,excellency of our ,god#c4 ,,finis4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,phil4 iv4 #ah4 #b ,ephes4 ii4 #ab4 #c ,isaiah xxxv4 #a1 #b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,footnotes have been moved to the end of the text and relabeled consecutively through the document4 ,punctuation has been made consistent4 ,variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in the original publication1 except that obvious typographical errors have been corrected4