Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/447

Rh own tongue, from Ezekiel xxxvii. 9. This, his first service, lasting for an hour and a quarter, was introduced by a prayer in English, because he scrupled lest he might use some unfit or unworthy terms in the solemn office. This prompted an inquiry from his hearers whether God and Christ could understand prayers in their own tongue. In his second service, a fortnight afterwards, he ventured to pray in Indian. In his successive visits to his deeply interested but much confused disciples, his method was, to offer a short prayer; to recite and explain the Ten Commandments; to describe the character of Christ, how he appeared on earth, where he is now, and his coming to judge the good and the wicked; to teach the creation and fall of man; and then to appeal to them to repent and pray, and come to Christ as their Saviour. The Indians were then asked and encouraged to put questions which arose in their own minds, or were prompted by what they had heard. As we shall soon see, they exhibited much acumen in using this privilege, generally putting apt and pertinent inquiries, showing that their minds were naturally active or readily quickened. For instance, they were at once puzzled to understand how man could be made in the image of God, when the Fourth Commandment forbade such an imitative work. Cotton Mather, in commending Eliot's style in sermonizing, says: “Lambs might wade into his discourses on those texts and themes wherein elephants might swim.” Such a style must have been equally apt for his white or red auditors.

From time to time, one or more of his brother elders and of the magistrates, with the Governor and some of the leading men of the colony, accompanied Eliot on his missionary visits, listened to the exercises, and learned to sympathize with his devoted efforts; and, however they may have measured or estimated the stages of progress or the prospect of desirable and rewarding results, they, with scarce an exception, showed a most grateful and hearty appreciation of his zeal and purpose. From the very first