edge to the preacher and his auditors. It was a general inquiry through the preceding week, where Mr. Vincent was to preach on the Sabbath. Multitudes followed him wherever he went; and several were awakened by every sermon. He visited all, that sent for him, without fear; and did the best he could for them in their extremity; especially to save their souls from death. And it pleased God to take particular care of him; for, though the whole number, reckoned to die of the plague in London this year, was 68,596, and seven persons died of it in the family, where he lived, he continued in perfect health all the time. He was afterward useful, by his unwearied labours, to a numerous congregation, till the year 1678, when he died at Hoxton.

ORTON.

LIFE OF REV. JOHN SERGEANT.

(Concluded from page 400.)

IT has already been mentioned, that the Housatonic Indians lived on two tracts of land, sereral miles distant from each other. In order to remove the inconveniences occasioned by this circumstance, the General Court, at the request of Gov. Belcher, purchased of the Indians in 1736 all the land, which they owned at Shatekook, and in return granted them a township six miles square, including Wnahktukook, or the great meadow. This township is now called Stockbridge. Mr. Sergeant and Mr. Woodbridge were each made proprietors of one sixtieth part,

and four English families, carefully selected, were to be admited for the purpose of assisting in civilizing the Indians, and that the solitary servants of the Lord might be furnished with some cheering society.

Previously, however, to the conjunction of the two companies in their new town, they went into the woods for a number of weeks to make sugar from the sap of the maple; and Mr. Sergeant, unwilling they should remain so long a time without instruction, accompanied them. He prayed with them morning and evening in their own language, and preached on the sabbath.

In the day he taught the children to read, and at night the adults collected that they might learn of him to sing. While he was in the woods the snow was about a foot and a half deep. A deer-skin, spread upon some spruce boughs, with two or three blankets, formed his bed, and water from the "running brook” was his only drink.

We here see the man of true benevolence. We behold an ob ject, which casts contempt on all earthly dignity, and eclipses the glory derived from genius, learning, or conquest.

Mr. Sergeant had opportunity particularly to observe the manners of the Indians. He found them kind to one another and very hospitable to strangers. The women and children were bashful; the latter exhibited no kind of respect to their parents, Compliments were unknown. When a stranger visited them, he entered the hut or wigwam as though it was his own, and said nothing until something was given him to cat.

names

Their language in this respect was remarkable, that it furnished to designate relations, that are not designated in other languages. Thus, for instance, of the children of the same parents the elder brothers are denominated, by all the younger members of the family, Netokhaunut, and the elder sisters, Nmesuk, while the younger children are called by the elder, Nheesumuk. Here then we have names expressive of three relations, in which children of the same family stand to each other. When the Indians were settled in one village at Stockbridge in 1737, Mr. Sergeant was enabled to instruct them in a more regular manner. He had become well acquainted with their language, and translated into it several prayers and Dr. Watts' first Catechism for the use of the children. He conversed frequently with his own people and with strangers who visited them, and endeavoured to impress their minds with the truth and excellence of the Christian religion. At the request of some Indians living at Kaunaumeek, a place about 18 miles to the N. W. from Housatonic, he visited them and preached in the Indian language. He thus opened a way for the establishment of a mission among them a few years afterwards by the zealous and excellent Mr. Brainerd.

From this time to that of his death in 1749, Mr. Sergeant continued his faithful labours as a missionary at Housatonic; but his views were not confined to the small tribe, with which he was connected. He was earnestly desirous that the blessings of the gospel might be extended to

the larger tribes, who were still in darkness. To this end he was particularly careful to cultivate the friendship of strangers; he preached to a number of Indians on an Island in Hudson's river, and even visited the Shawanoos, who lived 220 miles distant on the Susquehannah.

In

Although Mr. Sergeant could not complain of a total want of success at Stockbridge, yet his exertions were not prospered in the degree that he wished. The manner, in which the Indians lived, presented an almost insuperable difficulty. Except when employed in hunting, the men were generally idle, and idleness led the way to drunkenness. Besides this their language was so imperfect and barbarous, that it was impossible by means of it to communicate fully the important truths of the gospel. order to surmount these difficulties Mr. S. was convinced, that it was absolutely necessary to civilize them, and to persuade them to exchange their own for the English language and habits. For this purpose it was that he wished several white families to be placed among them, and the more completely to accomplish this object he formed the plan of a school for the education of Indian children in a manner, which should effect a thorough change in their habits of thinking and acting. He proposed that a number of children and youth, from ten to twenty years of age, and among them some from other tribes, should be placed under the care of two masters, one to have the oversight of them in the hours of labour, and the other in the hours of study; that their time should be so divided be

tween study and labour that none be lost in idleness; that 200 acres of land should be devoted to their use, which they should cultivate; that they should be accustomed to restraint and obedience; that girls as well as boys should be received into the school, and that they should be taught the duties of domestic life; and at the same time that the principles of virtue and piety should be instilled into their minds in a way, that should be likely to make the most lasting impression.

This was the plan for a school formed by Mr. Sergeant, and which by great exertion he was enabled in part to carry into execution just before his death.

It would perhaps be useless to enter into a detail of events, which had relation to this mission at Housatonic, but there are two inquiries that will naturally be made; first, by what means was Mr. Sergeant supported, and from what sources did he derive funds for defraying the unavoidable expenses to which he was subject, and secondly, what success rewarded his labours?

He received an annual salary of 120 or 130 dollars from the Commissioners for Indian affairs at Boston, which however was very incompetent for his own comfortable subsistence and that of his family. The General Court, besides building a schoolhouse, and house for public worship, made him a small grant, and for what was still wanting he was dependent on the generous donations of individuals. Among these it is pleasing to recollect the munificence of Mr. Isaac Hollis, of London, who in the course of four or five years contributed upwards of two hun

dred pounds sterling for educating a number of the Indian boys. Mr. Samuel Holden of London, and Madam Holden were also liberal benefactors of the mission. To these may be added the names of Dr. Watts, Dr. Ayscough, and Capt. Coram of London, and Gov. Belcher and Dr. Coleman of Boston. It is particularly the last mentioned gentleman, whose name deserves to be held in remembrance. He was the early friend of the mission and unwearied in his exertions to promote its interest. Through him the bounty from England was communicated to Housatonic. He rejoiced in the hope of promoting the salvation of the heathen, and it was but four days before his death that "with a sick and faint breast and a trembling hand" he wrote to Mr. Sergeant to make known to him a new instance of the liberality of Mr. Hollis." At the close of this letter we find the following affecting benediction, "My son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou when I am dead."

As to the success, which attended the benevolent labours of Mr. Sergeant, it was such as must have administered to his heart the purest satisfaction. When he went to Housatonic in 1734, the whole number of Indians living there did not amount to fifty; when he died in 1749 the number was increased to 218; of these 129 had been baptized, and 42 were communicants, 18 males and 24 females. About 70 others had been baptized who were not living. When it is recollected that Mr. S. was cautious as to the admission of members into his church, that he carefully ex

amined those who offered themselves, perhaps without presumption we may indulge the hope, that most whom he received were real Christians, truly penitent and believing. If however he was the means of bringing but one heathen to the knowledge of the gospel, this event would fill heaven with joy.

The wives both of the Captain and Lieutenant died, expressing to him their hope of salvation, and giving evidence that their hope was not groundless; and several others, while Mr. S. was living, closed their eyes in peace, and joyful expectation of eternal life.

At length the time arrived when he himself was to be summoned into the world of spirits. In his sickness he was frequently visited by the Indians, and he took every opportunity to enforce upon them the instructions which he had given them, charging them to live agreeably to the gospel, as they would meet him at last in peace. So great was their affection for him, that they assembled of their own accord, to supplicate their Father in heaven for the continuance of his precious life.

When he was asked, whether the grave excited any terror, he replied, "Death is no surprise to me. My acquaintance with the blessed world, to which I hope I am now hastening, through the mercy of God in Christ, is not now to commence. I can trust him, in whom I have believed, and long ago placed my everlasting dependence upon." On being reminded that his work was well done, "I can call myself," he answered, "a most unprofitable servant, and say, God be merciful to me a sinner.' Vol. II. No. 10.

KK k

At last, in July, 1749, after commending his departing spirit to the blessed Redeemer, he died in peace, and has entered, it is believed, into that rest, which remaineth for the people of God.

Mr. Sergeant has left an example, which in many respects is worthy of imitation. He was frequent in the duty of secret prayer. Morning and evening he worshipped God in his family, reading at the same time a portion of the sacred Scriptures, and making such observations upon it as he thought would be useful. He preached four ser mons every Lord's day, two to the English, and two to the Indians, and in the summer season usually spent an hour with the latter after the common services, instructing and warning and exhorting them in the most familiar manner. Besides this, during the week he kept his eye upon them, and continually endeavoured to promote the objects of his mission. He was very careful in the improvement of his time. He translated into the Indian language those parts of the Old Testament, which contain an account of the creation, of the fall of our first parents, of the calling of Abraham, of the dealings of God with the patriarchs and children of Israel, and those which relate to the coming of Christ, and the whole of the New Testament, excepting the Revelation. This was a work, which cost him much labour, and the reading of it to the Indians, as their language abounded in gutturals, was extremely fatiguing.

Mr. Sergeant was just, kind and benevolent; compassionate to the afflicted, liberal to the poor, friendly to his enemies,

and anxious to save the sinner from death. He was careful not to speak evil of any one. No envious or unkind word fell from his lips, and no resentment was excited by the injuries he received. His cheerfulness did not degenerate into merriment, nor his seriousness into melancholy; but he seemed always to have the quiet possession of himself.

Such is the representation, which is given us of the Rev. Mr. Sergeant. Many traits might be added to this portrait, but those who wish for more minute accounts are referred to the pamphlet already mentioned.

The reader, who with a benevolent joy has seen the gospel conveyed to the Indians at Housatonic, will naturally desire to know what has been the state of that tribe since the death of Mr. Sergeant. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards succeeded him as missionary at Stockbridge. Anumber of years after his death the whole tribe emigrated to New Stockbridge, near Oneida, in the state of New-York, where they now live under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Sergeant, a worthy son of the excellent man, a sketch of whose life and labours has thus been given.

W.

ON THE

(Concluded from page 419.) Ir the doctrine of divine influence, as before stated, be true; we are reminded of the unspeakable goodness of God. He has not only ushered in an economy of which divine grace lies at the foundation; he has not only sent his Son, the great and blessed IMMANUEL, from heaven, to open a way for the exercise of mercy; to open prison doors to them that are bound, and to break their chains; but he sends his spirit, to take them by the hand, and lead them out. As all outward means, however numerous, or forcible, are insufficient for our delivery, on account of the deep corruption of our hearts; he sends his Spirit, to operate within, that, by the joint influ

ence of outward means and inward agency, he may take possession of that seat to which he is entitled; but which has long been occupied by the world and sin.

2. It appears, likewise, that our depravity must be very great indeed, or else such a kind and gracious gospel, as that of Christ, would need no spiritual influence to procure it a ready reception. It is strange, that sinners under sentence of eternal death, need to be urged to accept pardon, and a heavenly inheritMen do not require urg ing to accept earthly benefits. They readily and gladly accept them. One would suppose, that men would be greatly dissatisfied with their sinful state, and very anxious to avoid the dangers of it; that the offer of forgiveness and eternal life would be em

ance.