[♦] “evening” replaced with “evening-school” per Errata
The children learn with surprising readiness; so that their master tells me, he never had an English school that learned, in general, near so fast. There were not above two in thirty, although some of them were very small, but what learned to know all the letters in the alphabet distinctly, within three days, and divers in that space learned to spell considerably; and some of them since the beginning of February last (at which time the school was set up) have learned so much, that they are able to read in a Psalter or Testament without spelling.
They are instructed in the duty of secret prayer; and most of them constantly attend it night and morning, and are very careful to inform their master if they apprehend any of their little school-mates neglect it.
Fourthly. It is worthy to be noted, that amidst so great a work of conviction,—so much concern and religious affection, there has been no prevalency, nor indeed any considerable appearance of false religion, or heats of imagination, intemperate zeal, and spiritual pride; (which corrupt mixtures too often attend the revival of religion) and that there have been so very few instances of scandalous behaviour. The religious concern that persons have been under, has generally been rational and just: arising from a sense of their sins, and the divine displeasure on the account of them; as well as their utter inability to deliver themselves from the misery they felt and feared.—And it is remarkable, although the concern of many persons has been very great and pressing, yet I have never seen any thing like despair attending it in any one instance: whence it is apparent, there is not that danger of persons being driven into despair under spiritual trouble, (unless in cases of melancholy,) that the world is ready to imagine.
The comfort persons have obtained after their distresses, has likewise in general appeared solid, [♦]well-grounded, and scriptural; arising from a spiritual and supernatural illumination of mind,—a view of divine things as they are, a complacency of soul in the divine perfections,—and a peculiar satisfaction in the way of salvation, by the great Redeemer.
[♦] “well-grouned” replaced with “well-grounded”
*Their joys have seemed to rise from a variety of views of divine things, although for substance the same.
Some have at first appeared to rejoice, especially in the wisdom of God, discovered in the way of salvation by Christ; it then appearing to them “a new way,” a way they had never any just conception of, until opened to them by the divine Spirit. And some of them, upon a spiritual view of this way of salvation, have wondered at their past folly in seeking salvation other ways, and have admired that they never saw this way of salvation before, which now appeared so plain and easy.
Others have had a more general view of the excellency of Christ, being delighted with an apprehension of his glory, as unspeakably exceeding all they had ever conceived before; yet without singling out (as it were) any one of the divine perfections in particular.
*What the Indians notions of God are, in their Pagan state, is hard to determine. I have taken much pains to enquire of my Christian people, whether they, before their acquaintance with Christianity, imagined there was a plurality of great invisible powers, or whether they supposed but one such being, and worshipped him in a variety of shapes: but cannot learn any thing of them so distinct as to be fully satisfying upon the point. Their notions in that state were so dark and confused, that they seem not to know what they thought themselves. But so far as I can learn, they had a notion of a plurality of invisible deities, and paid some kind of homage to them promiscuously, under a great variety of shapes. And it is certain those who yet remain Pagans pay some kind of superstitious reverence to beasts, birds, fishes, and even reptiles; that is, some to one kind of animal, and some to another. They do not indeed suppose a divine power essential to these creatures, but that some invisible beings (I cannot learn that it is always one) communicate to these animals a great power, either one or other of them, (just as it happens) and so make these creatures the immediate authors of good to certain persons. Whence such a creature becomes sacred to the persons to whom he is supposed to be the immediate author of good, and through him they must worship the invisible powers, though to others he is no more than another creature. And perhaps another animal is looked upon to be the immediate author of good to another, and consequently he must worship the invisible powers in that animal. And I have known a Pagan burn fine tobacco for incense, in order to appease the anger of that invisible power which he supposed presided over rattle-snakes, because one of these animals was killed by another Indian near his house.