the Great Spirit killed his brother." This is plainly a confusion of the story of Cain and Abel. It is most likely from the ignorance of the minister in the idiom of the Indian language misconstruing; Cain being represented a great man, for the Great Spirit. Many mis

takes of this kind are frequently made.

67. THE INDIAN MOTHER.

THE following account, taken from Mather's Magnalia, serves to show us that the Almighty has not left himself without a witness, even among pagan nations, and it ill becomes us to say that the Lord does not reveal himself at times to those who look to him for help, who never have heard of the way of life and salvation by Jesus Christ.

Pammehanuit, an Indian of prime quality, and his wife, on Martha's Vineyard, having buried their first five children successively, every one of them within ten days of their birth, notwithstanding all their use of powaws and of medicines to preserve them—they had a sixth child, a son, born about the year 1638, which was a few years before the English first settled on the Vineyard. The mother was greatly perplexed with fear that she should lose this child, like the former; and utterly despairing of any help from such means as had been formerly tried with so little success, as soon as she was able, with a sorrowful heart, she took up her child, and went out into the field, that she might weep out her sorrows. While she was musing on the insufficiency of all human help, she felt it powerfully suggested unto her mind, that there is one Almighty God who is to be prayed unto; that this God had created all the things that we see; and that the God who had given being to herself, and all other people, and had given her child unto her, was easily able to continue the life of her child.

Hereupon this poor pagan woman resolved that she would seek unto this Gov for that mercy, and she did accordingly. The issue was, that her child lived; and

her faith in Him who thus answered her prayer was wonderfully strengthened; the consideration whereof caused her to dedicate this child unto the service of that God who had preserved his life; and educate him, as far as might be, to become the servant of God.

Not long after this, the English came to settle on Martha's Vineyard; and the Indians who had been present at some of the English devotions reported that they assembled frequently together, and that the man who spoke among them often looked upward.

This woman, from this report, presently concluded that their assemblies were for prayers; and that their prayers were unto that very God whom she had addressed for the life of her child. She was confirmed in this, when the gospel was not long after preached by Mr. Mayhew to the Indians; which gospel she readily, cheerfully, and heartily embraced. And in the confession that she made publicly at her admission into the church, she gave a relation of the preparation for the knowledge of Christ wherewith God had in this remarkable way favoured her. Her child, whose name was Japhet, became afterwards an eminent minister of Christ. He was pastor to an Indian church on Martha's Vineyard; he also took much pains to carry the gospel unto other Indians on the main land, and his labours were attended with much success.

68. PLYMOUTH SETTLERS.

THE colony at Plymouth, Mass., the first European settlement in New-England, was planted principally for the sake of the free and undisturbed enjoyment of religious and civil liberty. The colonists were originally from the north of England; and were of that class of people in those days called Puritans, so named from their uncommon zeal in endeavouring to preserve the purity of divine worship.

Being persecuted by their enemies during the reign of James I., they fled with their pastor to Amsterdam, in Holland, in 1608. They afterwards removed to

Leyden, where they remained till they sailed for America.

Having resolved upon a removal, they procured two small ships and repaired to Plymouth, Eng., and from thence they proceeded about one hundred leagues on their voyage, when they were compelled to return, in consequence of one of the ships being leaky. This ship was condemned, and the other, called the May Flower, being crowded with passengers, again put to sea Sept. 6th. On the 9th of November, after a dangerous passage, they arrived at Cape Cod, and the next day anchored in the harbour which is formed by the hook of the cape.

Before they landed, having devoutly given thanks to God for their safe arrival, they formed themselves into a "body politic,” and chose Mr. John Carver their governor for the first year.

Their next object was to fix on a convenient place for settlement. In doing this they encountered many difficulties-many of them were sick in consequence of the fatigues of a long voyage-their provisions were bad-the season was uncommonly cold—the Indians, though afterwards friendly, were now hostile—and they were unacquainted with the coast. These difficulties they surmounted; and on the 22d of December, 1620, they safely landed at a place which they named Plymouth. The anniversary of their landing is still celebrated by the descendants of the Pilgrims as a religious festival.

The whole company that landed consisted of but one hundred and one souls. Their situation and prospects were truly dismal and discouraging. The nearest European settlement was five hundred miles distant, and utterly incapable of affording them relief in a time of famine or danger. Wherever they turned their eyes, distress was before them. "Persecuted in their native land-grieved for profanation of the holy Sabbath, and other licentiousness in Holland-fatigued by their long and boisterous voyage-forced on a dangerous and unknown shore in the advance of a cold win

ter surrounded with hostile barbarians, without any hope of human succour-denied the aid or favour of the court of England-without a patent-without a public promise of the peaceable enjoyment of their religious liberties without convenient shelter from the rigours of the weather such were the prospects and such the situation of these pious and solitary Christians. Το add to their distresses, a very mortal sickness prevailed among them, which swept off forty-six of their number before the ensuing spring.

"To support them under these trials, they had need of all the aids and comforts which Christianity affords; and these were found sufficient. The free and unmolested enjoyment of their religion reconciled them to their lonely situation-they bore their hardships with unexampled patience, and persevered in their pilgrimage of almost unparalleled trials with such resignation and calmness, as gave proof of great piety and unconquerable virtue."

69. FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS.

THE members of this society called themselves, at first, Seekers, from their seeking the truth; but afterwards assumed the appellation of Friends. The term Quakers was an epithet of reproach given them by their enemies. This sect, as a body, trace their origin to George Fox, who was born at Drayton, Leicestershire, in 1624. He was bred a shoemaker and glazier. In 1647 he became dissatisfied with the state of things in the church. He inveighed against the clergy and their vices; against the church, its modes of worship, and doctrines, and the manner in which it was supported. On account of his peculiar sentiments and conduct he was persecuted, and imprisoned at Nottingham, 1649. After his release he travelled into Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Germany, the West Indies, and the American colonies. During the whole of his laborious life he employed himself in persuading men to regard the "divine light" implanted in the human mind, as being

sufficient to lead to salvation. He was imprisoned no less than eight different times. He is represented as having been a meek, devout, and inoffensive man, and died in London, 1690.

In 1656, the Friends first made their appearance in the colony of Massachusetts, where, on account of their singular views, they suffered some persecution. The legislature passed laws for their banishment, threatening all who should return with death. Under this law four were executed.

In practice, they do not hold to a regular gospel ministry, but admit any one, whether male or female, to exhort, as they are moved by the Spirit; nor do they strictly observe the Sabbath, or the ordinances of the gospel. Singing forms no part of their worship. They refuse to take an oath, but always practise affirmation. They also refuse to engage in war, or to pay outward homage to any man. In their dress they are neat and uniform. In their manners they are rather reserved; but distinguished for their love of order and sobriety. A certain writer remarks of them, that their "benevolence, moral rectitude, and commercial punctuality, have excited, and long secured to them, very general esteem; and it has been observed, that in the multitudes that compose the legion of vagrants and street beggars, not a single Quaker can be found."

The principal residence of the Friends in America is in the state of Pennsylvania, so called after William Penn, an eminent Quaker, to whom this state was granted by Charles II., 1680. There are in this country about seven hundred congregations.

Within a few years a great division has been effected among the Friends in this country, by the preaching of Elias Hicks. His followers are called Hicksites, to distinguish them from other Friends, who are termed the orthodox.