The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 12 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 12 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
On May 10. I met with a number of Indians in a place called Minnissinks,
about an hundred and forty miles from Kaunaumeek, and directly in my
way to Delaware river. With these Indians I spent some time, and first
addressed their _king_ in a friendly manner; and after some discourse,
I told him I had a desire to instruct them in _Christianity_. At which
he laughed, turned his back upon me, and went away. I then addressed
another _principal_ man in the same manner, who said he was willing
to hear me. After some time, I followed the _king_ into his house,
and renewed my discourse to him: but he declined talking, and left
the affair to another, who appeared to be a rational man. He talked
very warmly near a quarter of an hour, and inquired why I desired the
Indians to become _Christians_, seeing the Christians were so much
worse than the Indians? The Christians, he said, would lie, steal,
and drink, worse than the Indians. It was _they_ first taught the
Indians to be drunk; and _they_ stole from one another, to that degree,
that their rulers were obliged to hang them for it, and that was not
sufficient to deter others from the like practice. But the Indians,
he added, were none of them ever hanged for stealing, and yet they
did not steal half so much; and he supposed that if the Indians should
become Christians, they then would be as bad as these. He added, they
would live as their _fathers_ lived, and go where their _fathers_ were
when they died. I then freely _owned, lamented_, and joined with him
in _condemning_ the ill conduct of some who are called _Christians_;
told him, these were not _Christians_ in _heart_; that I hated such
wicked practices, and did not desire the Indians to become such as
these.――And when he appeared calmer, I asked him if he was willing
that I should come and see them again: he replied, he should be willing
to see me again, as a _friend_, if I would not desire them to become
_Christians_.――I then bid them farewell, and prosecuted my journey
towards Delaware. And May 13th I arrived at a place called by the
Indians, Sakhauwotung, within the Forks of Delaware in Pennsylvania.
Here also when I came to the Indians, I saluted their king, in a manner
I thought most engaging: and soon after informed him of my desire to
instruct them in the _Christian religion_. After he had consulted a
few minutes with two or three old men, he told me, he was willing to
hear. I then preached to those few that were present; who appeared very
attentive. And the king in particular seemed both to wonder, and at the
same time to be well pleased with what I taught them, respecting the
divine being. And since that time he has ever shewn himself friendly
to me, giving me free liberty to preach in his house whenever I think
fit.――Here therefore I spent the greater part of the summer, preaching
usually in the king’s house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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