such as my, thy, his, &c. Hence they cannot be baptized in their own language in the name of the Father, and the Son, &c.; but they nay be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and his Father, &c. I have gained so much knowledge of their language, that I can understand a considerable part of what they say, when they discourse upon divine things, and am frequently able to correct my interpréter, if he mistakes my sense. But I can do nothing to any purpose at speaking the language myself.

And as an apology for this defect, I must renew, or rather enlarge my former complaint, viz. That "while so much of my time is necessarily consumed in journeying," while I am obliged to ride four thousand miles a year, (as I have done in the year past), "I can have little left for any of my necessary studies, and consequently for the study of the Indian languages." And this, I may venture to say, is the great, if not the only reason why the Deleware language is not familiar to me before this time. And it is impossible I should ever be able to speak it without close application, which, at present, I see no prospect of having time for. To preach and catechise frequently; to converse privately with persons that need so much instruction and direction as these poor Indians do; to take care of all their secular affairs, as if they were a company of children; to ride abroad frequently in order to procure collections for the support of the school, and for their help and benefit in other respects; to hear and decide all the petty differences that arise among any of them; and to have the constant oversight and management of all their affairs of every kind, must needs ingross most of my time, and leave me little for application to the study of the Indian languages. And when I add to this, the time that is necessarily consumed upon my Journals, I must say I have little to spare for other business. I have not (as was observed before) sent to the Honourable Society less than two copies of every Journal, for more than two years past; most of which, I suppose, have been taken by the French in their passage. And a third copy I have constantly kept by me, lest the others should miscarry. This has caused me not a little labour, and so straitened me for time, when I have been at liberty from other business, and had opportunity to sit down to write, which is but rare, that I have been obliged to write twelve and thirteen hours in a day; till my spirits have been extremely wasted, and my life almost spent, to get these writings accomplished. And after all; after diligent application to the various parts of my work, and

after the most industrious improvement of time, I am capable of, both early and late, I cannot oftentimes possibly gain two hours in a week for reading, or any other studies, unless just for what appears, of absolute necessity for the present. And frequently when I attempt to redeem time, by sparing it out of my sleeping hours, I am by that means thrown under bodily indisposition, and rendered fit for nothing.-This is truly my present state, and is like to be so, for aught I can see, unless I could procure an assistant in my work, or quit my present

business.

But although I have not made that proficiency I could wish to have done, in learning the Indian languages; yet I have used all endeavours to instruct them in the English tongue, which perhaps will be more advantageous to the Christian interest among them, than if I should preach in their own language; for that is very defective, (as I shall hereafter observe,) so that many things cannot be communicated to them without introducing English terms. Besides, they can have no books translated into their language, without great difficulty and expence; and if still accustomed to their own language only, they would have no advantage of hearing other ministers occasionally, or in my absence. So that my having a perfect acquaintance with the Indian language, would be of no great importance with regard to this congregation of Indians in New-Jersey, although it might be of great service to me in treating with the Indians elsewhere.

SECT. II.

Method of instructing the Indians.

The method I am taking to instruct the Indians in the principles of our holy religion, are, to preach, or open and improve some particular points of doctrine; to expound particular paragraphs, or sometimes whole chapters of God's word to them; to give historical relations from scripture of the most material and remarkable occurrences relating to the church of God from the beginning; and frequently to catechise them upon the principles of Christianity. The latter of these methods of instructing, I manage in a twofold manner. I sometimes catechise systematically, proposing questions agreeable to the Reverend Assembly's Shorter Catechism. This I have carried to a considerable length. At other times I catechise

upon any important subject that I think difficult to them. Sometimes when I have discoursed upon some particular point, and made it as plain and familiar to them as I can, I then catechise them upon the most material branches of my discourse, to see whether they had a thorough understanding of it. But as I have catechised chiefly in a systematical form, I shall here give some specimen of the method I make use of in it, as well as of the propriety and justness of my people's answers to the questions proposed to them.

Questions upon the benefits believers receive from Christ at death.

2. I have shewn you, that the children of God receive a great many good things from Christ while they live, now have they any more to receive when they come to die?

sin!

A. Yes.

2. Are the children of God then made perfectly free from A. Yes.

2. Do you think they will never more be troubled with vain, foolish, and wicked thoughts? A. No, never at all. 2. Will not they then be like the good angels I have so often told you of?

A. Yes.

2. And do you call this a great mercy to be freed from all sin? A. Yes.

2. Do all God's children count it so?

A. Yes, all of them.

2. Do you think this is what they would ask for above all things, if God should say to them, Ask what you will, and it shall be done for you?

A. O yes, besure, this is what they want.

2. You say the souls of God's people at death are made perfectly free from sin, where do they go' then?

A. They go and live with Jesus Christ.

2. Does Christ shew them more respect and honour, and make them more happy than we can possibly think of in this world?

A. Yes.

2. Do they go immediately to live with Christ in heaven, as soon as their bodies are dead? or do they tarry somewhere else a while? A. They go immediately to Christ.

2. Does Christ take any care of the bodies of his people when they are dead; and their souls gone to hea en, or does he forget them? A. He takes care of them.

The only way I have to express their "entering into glory," or being glorified; there being no word in the Indian language answering to that general

term.

These questions were all answered with surprising readiness, and without once missing, as I remember. And in answering several of them which respected deliverance from sin, they were much affected, and melted with the hopes of that happy state.

Questions upon the benefits believers receive from Christ at the resurrection

2. You see I have already shewn you what good things Christ gives his good people while they live, and when they come to die: now, will he raise their bodies, and the bodies of others, to life again at the last day?

A. Yes, they shall all be raised.

2. Shall they then have the same bodies they now have? A. Yes.

2. Will their bodies then be weak, will they feel cold, hunger, thirst, and weariness, as they now do?

A. No, none of these things.

2. Will their bodies ever die any more after they are raised to life?

A. No.

2. Will their souls and bodies be joined together again? A. Yes.

2. Will God's people be more happy then, than they were while their bodies were asleep? A. Yes.

2. Will Christ then own these to be his people before all the world?

A. Yes.

2. But God's people find so much sin in themselves, that they are often ashamed of themselves, and will not Christ be ashamed to own such for his friends at that day?

A. No, he never will be ashamed of them.

2. Will Christ then show all the world, that he has put away these people's sins, and that he looks upon them as if they had never sinned at all? A. Yes.

2. Will he look upon them as if they had never sinned, for the sake of any good things they have done themselves, or for the sake of his righteousness accounted to them as if it was theirs?

A. For the sake of his righteousness counted to them, not for their own goodness.

*The only way I have to express their being openly-acquitted. In like manner, when I speak of justification, I have no other way but to call it God's looking upon us as good creatures.

2. Will God's children then be as happy as they can desire to be?

A. Yes.

2. The children of God while in this world, can but now and then draw near to him, and they are ready to think they can never have enough of God and Christ, but will they have enough there, as much as they can desire?

A. O yes, enough, enough.

2. Will the children of God love him then as much as they desire, will they find nothing to hinder their love from going to him?

A. Nothing at all, they shall love him as much as they desire.

2. Will they never be weary of God and Christ, and the pleasures of heaven, so as we are weary of our friends and enjoyments here, after we have been pleased with them a while? A. No, never.

2. Could God's people be happy if they knew God loved them, and yet felt at the same time that they could not love and honour him? A. No, no.

2. Will this then make God's people perfectly happy, to love God above all, to honour him continually, and to feel his love to them? A. Yes.

2. And will this happiness last for ever?

A. Yes, for ever, for ever.

These questions, like the former, were answered without hesitation or missing, as I remember, in any one instance.

Questions upon the duty which God requires of men.

2. Has God let us know any thing of his will, or what he would have us to do to please him? A. Yes. 2. And does he require us to do his will, and to please him?

A. Yes.

2. Is it right that God should require this of us, has he any business to command us as a father does his children? A. Yes.

2. Why is it right that God should command us to do what he pleases?

A. Because he made us, and gives us all our good things. 2. Does God require us to do any thing that will hurt us, and take away our comfort and happiness? A. No.

2. But God requires sinners to repent and be sorry for their sins, and to have their hearts broken; now, does not