Saturday June 13 [1772], moved to a creek by the Indians called
Caapteenin, i.e. Captains Creek [Captina Creek]. This creek comes into the river
from the west side, and is supposed to be about 75 miles E. S. E. from
Newcomer's town, which is the chief town of the Delaware Indians. We encamped opposite to Caapteenin on the east
side of Ohio. Here were some families of
Indians—we went over and conversed with them, and in the evening some of them
returned the visit. Mr. Owens [the
interpreter] was well acquainted with some
of them, and let them know what sort of a man I was. They all shewed respect to me; even when some
of them afterwards were drunk, they were civil to me, and would take me by the
hand and say, " You be minsta.”
Here we spent the Lord's day: in the evening instructed what Indians
came over. The most intelligent auditor
is called Frank Stephens. He could speak
no English, but in this point, was at no loss when Mr. Owens was with me. In this interview, spoke on many subjects, and
asked several questions, among others, whether he believed that after death
there is a state of eternal happiness and of misery? he replied, this he
believed—he proceeded and said, "he considered God as
the Giver of all good things; if he killed a deer he thought God gave him that good luck." What he said on this subject raised my
expectation, for we know that man is more prone to forget the providence of
God, than his existence. While many
things were said concerning God, he gave great attention. At this, time I felt myself much distressed
how to speak so as to make him sensible of the way and manner that we received
the scriptures from God. At last these
ideas arose in my mind, which were communicated in words to this effect, viz. “Long
ago, oh! very long ago : sometimes at one time, and sometimes at another
time, God had good men on the earth ; and by his great
power, God did so confine the
imagination of these good men, that at that time they could think nothing but what God would have them think. And while they were thus under this great power
of God, they wrote the scriptures, which tell us all things that we should
believe concerning God, and all things that we should do to please him. This
was the same as if God had spoken himself."—This I must say, though I have
firmly for many years past believed that the holy scriptures were given by
inspiration of God, yet never had before a deeper sensation of their exalted
dignity. What a mercy is it that we are
thus directed of God! how awful must the case of such be, who either despise or
neglect instructions from heaven itself!—What was said on this subject much
affected Frank, who replied, "that he believed long ago Indians knew how
to worship God, but as they had no writings they had lost all
knowledge of him: yet sometimes some of them tried to worship him, but knew not
whether their services were pleasing to him or not;" and indeed this must
have been the case with all, had not God been pleased to reveal his will to us;
for no man hath seen him; but says the Evangelist, "the only begotten
Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." This brought to mind, what formerly had been
quoted in conversation from a certain author, viz. "a philosopher was
demanded by an emperor to give an answer to two questions; the first was,
whether there is a God? having proper time given to ruminate on the subject,
returned an answer in the affirmative: the second was, how to worship God
acceptably? after due deliberation answered, that this never could be known,
except God is pleased to reveal it himself." Seeing that this is the case, from hence it
appears, how exact we should be in all our religious obedience to God; and
never deviate from the directions given us in the holy scriptures: for all
additions, though under the specious name of decency and order, must be an
abomination in the sight of God.
By this time we were surrounded by the
evening shades, and repose demanded an end to the present interview—informed
Frank, that it was the custom of good white folks to pray to God, before they
went to sleep—that we were now going to pray, and would pray for him—and tho’
he understood not what was said, yet may be God would give him good thoughts
while I was speaking. With this we all
rose up to pray; the Indians rose likewise, being previously informed by the
interpreter. With a solemn heart and
voice addresses were made to God. —Was informed that during the time the
Indians looked very seriously at me. When
prayer was ended, Frank told my interpreter, that my voice affected his heart;
that he thought I spoke the same way that our Saviour did when he was on
earth. It is likely that this Indian had
heard of our Saviour from the Moravians or their Indians. It was said by Mr. Owens, that it was common
among the Delawares, to mention the name of our Saviour: but the case is
otherwise among the Shawannees. An answer
was expected here by the ambassador sent to the chief town of the Delaware
Indians; but a trader having brought rum, all prospects of doing good by any
longer continuance, were at an end; and the ambassador delaying his return,
concluded to go down to the Little Canhawa, to view the land. This was near 70 miles below, and from Grave
Creek to the Little Canhawa, the river
Ohio may be said to run S.W. but it is very crooked, turning to many points of
compass. 1
How God was pleased to bless the efforts of this faithful
minister we shall see later, Lord willing, in some future posts.
Christ, not man, is King!
Dale
1) David Jones, A Journal of Two Visits Made to Some Nations
of Indians on the West Side of the River Ohio in the Years 1772 and 1773 (Burlington,
NJ: Isaac Collins, 1774), p. 14-17.
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