of God brought it to her, as within a few years it did. In the confeffion fhe made publicly at her admiffion into the church, the gave a relation of the preparation for the knowledge of Chrift, with which God, in his wonderful way, had favored her. But to return to Japhet Hannit. His parents being early con→ verts to Chriftianity, gave him a religious education: His pious mother particularly, remembering the vows fhe had made in trouble, was attentive to promote his belt intereft Indeed fhe early inform In Dr. Mather's Magnaliated him, that he had dedicated we have this obfervation, "How him to the fervice of that great far a fovereign and gracious God God, who had heard her prayer, may, in an extraordinary manner, and preferved his life; and as far difcover of himfelf unto fome as fhe was able educated him acamong the poor pagans, who have cordingly; but performed this not enjoyed the preaching of the important, parental duty more gofpel, who can particularly de- vigorously and to better purpose af termine?**> ter fhe had been inftructed in Chrif tianity and had cordially received the faith. B. vi. p. 62. *The compiler would not willingly be thought to be fond of dealing in the marvellous-He would not chufe to incur the imputation of credulity or enthufiafm. The account above being attefred before many people, by the fubject, who was viewed as a perfon of competent understanding, and after her converfion to Christianity, appeared to be, thro' life, a perfon of eminent piety, who, for thefe reafons, must be fuppofed to fpeak the real fentiments of her heart, and not to have been deceived, herfelf; he fees nothing in the rea fon of things, or in divine revelation, to render it incredible. He can fubferibe heartily to the words of Mr. Seed, in his fermon upon a particular providence, [Vol. 2 p. 161. edition 4th.] "When any good fuggeftion, without any antecedent train of ideas, arifes in cur. minds, we know not how, or from what quarter, we ought to look upon it as a Beam of Light breaking in upon our minds from the Great Father of Lights; and let us improve, cultivate and ripen it, till it breaks forth into correfpondent actions." And he does not know, why God may not, in fovereign mercy, fuggeft truths, (already revealed to Chriftians) immediately by himself, or the miniftry of angels, to fome among the heathen, who have never had the advantage of a written revelation; but have, in fome good measure, improved the light they enjoyed, whereby they may be led to a better courfe of action, than they had When a fchool was opened for the benefit of the Indian children and youth in 1651, his father fent him to it and he learned to read both in the English and Indian languages, and to write a le gible hand and was there also inftructed in the principles of the Chriftian religion. When the firft Chriftian church purfued before; and be prepared for the more ready reception of the gospel, if it fhould be offered, as was the cafe with this woman. He does not fee, that this fuppofition militates against the doctrine of the neceffity of a writ ten revelation to teach the true knowl edge of God to the nations of the world, as fuch inftances as that related above, appear very rare. God may have wife reafons in hismoral government of the world, for fuch a procedure, in making fuch a difcrimination among the heathen, in fome fpecial inftances. We may not be able fully to difcover the reafons; yet hereby the general good of his intelligent kingdom may be greatly pro moted. Dr. C. Mather has expreffed fuch thoughts as thefe, refpecting this matter; "The Holy One of Ifrael may take unrevealed and extraordinary steps out of his ufual paths." 7 in this affair, gained him an high esteem and kind treatment among them. He was generally viewed by them, not only as a difcreet, but pious man: And being well accounted of among the Indians, they called him to the work of the miniftry among them. His mili was gathered on the land in the For a confiderable time he was Japhet's fidelity to the English, retained that of a magistrate for fome years after he began to preach, being judged more fit for that truft than any ether perfón there. Being called to the work of the miniftry, he was very faithful and diligent in it; and was efteemed the best qualified of any paftoral office. He was therefore, by John Tackanash, nominated in his laft sickness as a fuitable perfon to fucceed him in the office, from which he expected a speedy releafe by death, which event took place, January 1684. At his funeral, Japhet, who much lamented his death, made a ferious fpeech, fome of the heads of which were taken in writing by Rev. John Mayhew, viz. "We ought to be very thankful to God for fending the gospel to us, who were in utter blindness and ignorance, both we and our fathers. Our fathers' fathers, and their fathers and we, were at that time utterly without any means, whereby we might attain the knowledge of the only true God. That people alfo, who knew the ways of God, were fome thoufands of miles diftant from us; fome of whom, by reafon of dif ference among themselves about their way, removed into this land; but it was God, who fent them, that they might bring the gospel to us. Therefore I fay, we have great reafon to be thankfulto God, and we have reafon to be thank ful to them alfo for that they brought the gofpel to us; but moft fpecially we ought to thank God for this for though they taught us, it was God, who fent them, and made choice of them for this work of inftructing us in the ways of the Lord." "Before we knew God, when any man died, we faid the man is dead, neither thought we any thing further, but faid he is dead, and mourned for him, and buried him: But now it is far otherwife; for now this good man being dead, we have hope towards God concerning him, believing that God hath received him into everlasting reft.?? He was faithful and diligent in preaching the word, reproving fin, and inftructing all of every age; and frequently taught the chil dren of the congregation the first principles of religion. He maintained a good difcipline in the church, making those neceffary diftinctions in the adminiftration of it, which the facred rule requires. In difficult cafes which occurred, he was careful to confult the most judicious perfons, and pay due deference to their opinions. And when there was danger of difcord among his brethren, he would not fide with any party, but make obliging and engaging speeches to them all, tending to compofe the difference; and fo happy an abil ity had he in this kind and ufeful office, that he feldom failed of fuccefs. Now therefore we ought to improve the benefit which we have by the gofpel. And firft, fuch of us as had like not to have received this kindness, I mean, fuch of us as were grown up, He frequently vifited the famwhen the gofpel came to us, foilies under his care, efpecially that it only found us in being; fuch are strongly obliged to improve the fame, fince they fearcely received it, or were in danger not to have enjoyed it." when they were in affliction, and ufually entertained them with ferious and profitable difcourfes; and obferved to a friend, that vifits of that kind had proved very Secondly: There are others advantageous to fome of the peous, that have been born under ple. He often performed the the gofpel; and we that were fo work of an evangelift, in preachought duly to improve the fame,ing the gofpel among the Indians in as much as we have received fo in places on the main land; and wonderful a benefit.": God gave him very obfervable fuccefs. of "And now, though this man that went before us in the way of God, according to the gofpel, be deceased, and helps us no more; yet his docrine remains ftill for us to improve; nor ought we to forget him, but fhould remember him by his wife and children whom he has left among us." Japhet, in the fpring after the deceafe of John Tackanath, was called to fucced him in the paftoral office, and continued in it about twenty-eight years, viz. till 1712. His fermons, though not very accurate, were very ferious, and fraught with very ufeful fentiments. In prayer he was fervent, frequently praying with much copioufnefs and affection, efpecially on communion days. God gave gracious anfwers to his prayers, efpecially in helping him against a temptation, with which he had a conflict for fome time; and having, with importunity, fought to heaven for deliverance from it, he obtained the mercy | communicated to Mr. Mayhew which he had fo earnestly requested. 2 He was generally, and jufly efteemed as well by the English, as Indians, a perfon of a good converfation: Nor did he difcover any fuch infirmity in his life, or deportment, as was inconfiftent with fuch an efteem; and which, through prayer, and the fupply of the spirit of Jefus Chrift, he did not obtain a compleat victory over, being only privately admonifhed of a fault, which fome began to be offended at. Being a a man of polished manners, and engaging addrefs, con fidering his education, he was every where courteously received and entertained, not only by his own nation, but by the English thofe of fpecial diftinction not excepted. Speaking our language confiderably well, ftrangers who came to the place were much gratified by converfing with him. Perfons have fometimes had premonitions of their own death Japhet experienced fomething of this nature, as he declared in his laft ficknefs; at the fame time he mentioned the influence this had upon his life. The account was taken from him by a near relation, committed to writing, and foon after Japhet's death. r "He faid, that about a year before he was taken fick, he went out of his houfe, and walked alone in the woods, and there it was by God revealed* to him, that he had but a little time to live in this world; and that being thereupon much concerned in his mind, he did immediately fet himself on doing all that he could to prepare for his approaching ond, as taking it for a truth, that his end was very near; and looking day and night for it; but he faid, he ftill misliked himself, or reckoned that he came fhort." "Thus it was with him till April 2d, 1712, which being a day of thanksgiving, he went and preached thereon; but as, with his wife he returned home in the evening, before they had reached their houfe, he felt a pain in his fide, and was never able after this, to go to God's houfe of prayer; his fickness gradually increafing upon him from that time for ward." Having been fick about ten days, he fent for the brethren of the church, and faid to them, as follows, viz." That it did often diftrefs him in his heart and caufe him to weep, when he faw the miferable eftate of all the people by reafon of their fins; but efpecially how unapt the generality of the church were to the duties incumbent on them, and how of ten they did fall by reafon of one kind of infirmity or another, to which they were fubject, though *As the Indians had not an accurate knowledge of the English language, Japhet doubtless ufed the word revealed, merely to denote a ftrong impreflion made on his mind. [Editors. he had very often inftructed them | vifited by Mr. Mayhew, was fuch in their duty." as became a Chriftian-very pious and favoury. He then expreffed an humble fenfe of the fin of his "I have, faid he, often withed, for your fakes, that you might ftill enjoy me; but now I am wil-nature and life; and yet his hopes ling to die: However, as to this, of eternal falvation thro' the infi. let the will of God be done. But nite mercy of God, and merits of do you go on to pray to God, his fon Jefus Chrift. He then al and worship him both steadfastly, fo expreffed a readiness and wil and fervently." lingness to refign himself, and all that he had into the hands of God his faithful Creator, and merciful Redeemer. He added, that God had, in the latter part of his life, given him a more effectual fense of the evil of fin, than formerly he had experienced; and that he had alfo enabled him, with more vigilance and industry, to endeavor the mortification of the corruptions of his heart. To his own family, and fuch others as attended on him, he afterwards, not long before his death, faid, be not feeble in your minds; I am hitherto ftedfaftly refolved, that I will love the Lord my God. I fhall, faid he, quickly go my laft journey, as others have done before me: Now I fhall quickly fet out: Thus it has been wont to be, when a thing has here no further ufe to be made of it. But oh what fweet melody is there now in heaven!" He then faid to his fon-inlaw, "My fon be thou of good courage, and fail not to lay hold of the heavenly falvation, for the fake of the things of this world. But as for me, I need to have my mind further strengthened and encouraged, for I think I fhall now quickly leave you." Juft before his death, he defired thofe, that were prefent to praife God by finging the 13th Pfalm; and then, by prayer, to commit both him and themfelves to God; and very foon after thefe religious acts were performed, he expired: He departed July 29, 1712. Among other evidences of his real piety, the grief of his heart for the fins of his countrymen, efpecially of thofe, who had been under his own paftoral care and charge, together with his folici tous concern for their reformation, may be reckoned as one: For befides his exertions for this end during the course of his ministry till his laft fickness, he a few days before his death with his feeble, dying hand, wrote an affectionate addrefs to the people of his own charge, which he defired might be communicated to them. Mr. Mayhew rendered the manufcript into English-The tranflation here follows: "Is it not a moft defirable thing for perfons in this life cerRev. Experience Mayhew fre- tainly to know, that they fhall go quently vifited him in his laft fick-to heaven, when they leave this world?" nefs; and gives this teftimonial, that on the whole of his acquaintance with him, he could not but think, that he was a very ferious and godly man, and a perfon of great moderation and prudence. His difcourfe in his laft fickness, when "Therefore now, take heed, and confider well what you do; and do not caft away fuch hopes as thefe for nothing, nor for a lit tle of the pleafure of this world; for it is certain, that your carnal |