ELLIOT . 489 " continue. But God steps in and helps. I have con- ".sidered those words : Endure hardness, as the good soldier of Jesus Christ.". These labours of love were not in vain, but crowned with abundant success. The natives, who felt the impression of the word of God on their hearts, were soon distinguished by the name of Praying Indians. Those who had wandered con- tinually from place to place soon became inclined to a fixed_ life. Instead of living like wild beasts in a wilderness, they formed small settlements and built themselves little towns. They also formed for themselves a civil government, in which Mr. Elliot assisted them, taking the word of God for his model. Of these little settlements Natickwas the principal. So early as the year 1648, this laborious servant of Christ could see the happy fruit of his ministry ; and, said he, " I could find at least twenty men and women with whom I durst freely join in church fellowship."t In the year 1651 the first Indian church was formed. The natives, having abandoned polygamy, fornication, drunkenness, and sabbath-breaking, confessed their sins with tears, and professed their faith in Jesus Christ. And giving satisfactory evidence of their conversion to God, they and their children were baptized. They were then solemnly united into a church covenant, and Mr. Elliot administered to them the Lord's supper.; For many years he had the unspeakable felicity of seeing the abundant fruit of his holy and arduous labours. He was so much engaged in the work of converting these wild pagans, that he was usually styled, the APOSTLE OF THE INDIANS.§ As this eminent man of God approached towards his end, his conversation became still more holy, savoury, and divine. He was desirous of doing something for the Lord to the very last. When he looked upon his talents as too far gone for any further usefulness to the English, he desired to be ern- ployed in catechizing the negioes. At the very close of life he undertook to teach a poor blind boy the knowledge of the scriptures. He discovered much concern for the poor Indians to the very last. " There is a clouds" said he, " a dark cloud upon the work of the gospel among thepoor Indians. The Lord revive and prosper that work, and grant it may live when I am dead. It is a work about which I have been Mather's New England, b. iii. p. 196. Thorowgood's Jews in America, p. 121. Edit. 1650. Mather's New England, b. iii. p. 197. § For a full account of Mr. Elliot's zeal, labours, and success, together with others who were inspired by his example to prosecute the samework, see Mather's Hist. of New England, b. iii. p. 190-206.
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