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 101 souls. Their situation and prospects were truly dismal and discouraging. The nearest European settlement was 500 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 winter-surrounded with hostile barbarians, without any hope of human succor--denied the aid or favor 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. To add to their distresses, a very mortal sickness prevailed among them, which swept off forty-six of their number before the ensuing spring.

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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 situationthey 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."

26.

ELLIOT, THE INDIAN MISSIONARY.

IN 1650, the society in England instituted for propagating the gospel, began a correspondence, with the commissioners of the Colonies of NewEngland, who were employed as agents of the society. In consequence, exertions were made to christianize the Indians. Mr. John Elliot, minister of Roxbury, distinguished himself in this pious work. He collected the Indian families, and established towns, he taught them husbandry, the mechanic arts, and a prudent management of their affairs, and instructed them with unwearied attention in the principles of Christianity. For his uncommon zeal and success, he has been called the Apostle of New-England.

Mr. Elliot began his labours about the year 1646. His first labour was to learn their language, which was peculiarly difficult to acquire; for instance, the Indian word Nummatchechodtantamooonganunnonash signified no more in English than our lus!s.* Elliot having finished a grammar of this tongue, at the close of which, Mather's Magnalia, vol. 1.

he wrote Prayers and pains through faith in Christ will do any thing! With very great labour he translated the whole bible into the 1ndian language. This Bible was printed in 1664, at Cambridge, and was the first Bible ever printed in America. He also translated the Practice of Piety, Baxter's call to the Unconverted, besides some smaller works, into the Indian tongue. Having performed many wearisome journeys, and endured many hardships and privations, this indefatigable Missionary closed his labours in 1690, aged eighty-six years.

The ardour and zeal of Elliot, Mayhew and others, were crowned with such success, that in 1660, there were ten towns of Indians in Massachusetts, who were converted to the Christian Religion. In 1695, there were not less than three thousand adult Indian converts in the Islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

27.

THE FRENCH PROPHETS.

We find in Ecclesiastical History, many ac

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counts given of Enthusiasts who have arisen,

and have pretended to be under the immediate inspiration of God, and to have the gift of foretelling future events, the gift of tongues, discerning of spirits, &c. as in the Apostle's time. Among those who have made the greatest figure in modern times, were the French Prophets, who first appeared in Dauphiny and Vivarais in France. In the year 1688, five or six hundred Protestants of both sexes, gave themselves out to be prophets, and inspired of the Holy Ghost. They were people of all ages and sexes, without distinction, though the greatest part of them were boys and girls from six or seven to twenty-five years of age. They had strange fits which came upon them with tremblings and faintings, as in a swoon, which made them stretch out their arms and legs, and stagger several times before they dropped down. They struck themselves with their hands, they fell on their backs, shut their eyes and heaved with their breasts. They remained awhile in trances, aud, coming out of them with twitchings, uttered all which came into their mouths. They said they saw the heavens open, the angels, paradise, and hell. The least of their assemblies made up four or five hundred, and some of them amounted to