This formidable language Mr. Eliot--the anagram of whose name, Mather appropriately observes, was _Toils_--mastered with the assistance of a "pregnant-witted Indian," who had been a servant in an English family. By the help of his natural turn for philology, he was able to subdue this instrument to his great and holy end,--with what difficulty may be estimated from the sentence with which he concluded his grammar: "Prayer and pains through faith in CHRIST JESUS will do anything." It was in the year 1646, while Cromwell was gradually obtaining a preponderating influence in England, and King Charles had gone to seek protection in the Scottish army, that John Eliot, then in his forty-second year, having thus prepared himself, commenced his campaign. He had had a good deal of conversation with individual Indians who came about the settlement at Roxbury, and who perceived the advantages of some of the English customs. They said they believed that in forty years the Red and White men would be all one, and were really anxious for this consummation. When Eliot declared that the superiority of the White race came from their better knowledge of God, and offered to come and instruct them, they were full of joy and gratitude; and on the 28th of October, 1646, among the glowing autumn woods, a meeting of Indians was convoked, to which Mr. Eliot came with three companions. They were met by a chief named Waban, or the Wind, who had a son at an English school, and was already well disposed towards them, and who led them to his wigwam, where the principal men of the tribe awaited them. "All the old men of the village, All the warriors of the nation, All the Jossakeeds, the prophets, The magicians, the Wabenos, And the medicine men, the medas, Came to bid the strangers welcome. 'It is well,' they said, 'O brothers, That you came so far to see us.' In a circle round the doorway, With their pipes they sat in silence, Waiting to behold the strangers, Waiting to receive their message, Till the Black Robe chief, the pale face, From the wigwam came to greet them, Stammering in his speech a little, Speaking words yet unfamiliar." Mr. Eliot prayed in English, and then preached on the 9th and 10th verses of the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, where the prophet is bid to call the Breath of God from the four winds of heaven to give life to the dry bones around. It so happened that the Indian word for breath or wind was _Waban_, and this made a great impression, and was afterwards viewed as an omen. The preacher worked up from the natural religion, of which this fine race already had an idea, to the leading Christian truths.