I take this Opportunity to inform you
that by the kind and Indulgent providence of God I am well and would
hope that by the same
goodness you still Enjoy your valuable
Health. — I have, not as yet heard any News from
Onondaga about what they have determined in Embracing the Gospel
but the Other day Couple of young Women came from there and
informed us that no man-kind was at home, not So much as the
great man; but were all
gone a hunting. it looks very discourag
ing at present
amongst the Back‐nations I fear that they are
too much overcome by french
principles:(
[illegible][guess: or]
rather fast in the devils
cluches) yet I wonder not, that they dont Embrace the Gospel — they
have such good Examples from the
Germans or
Dutch and choose
to go to heaven in that way in which they can gratify their vicious
and devilish Inclinations. They hear that they must not get drunk
if they Embrace the Gospel which
your son offered to them; which
goes hard against their deep Rooted Appetites but if they continue
as they are, they can get
drunk and practice all manner of Evil
and at last Expect to Enter the long house which they call
heaven
somewhere towards the south, where they will be free from all pain
and have
nothing to exercise their minds — this is the
Heaven which the
french friars have promised them. the Indians in
general say that it is vain and talk very discouraging and say
that you need not look for them no more; their behaviour
shows Enough
that they have refused.
I have Begun my school the last week, and the
Oneidas
Seem very much to have their minds shuttered and in a
ruffle the great men who are honoured with the care over the
Indians
I fear have greatly Erred in some things and let too much of their
Cloven foot appear.
I had proposed coming down next week (but
Nathan comes in
my Room) and bring down
Hannah
and
Catarine to your school
and are Obliged to come before the
time
your son
appointed
and for these
reasons. 1st. that they are quite uneasy to come
down to
your school
as
soon as possible and could by no
means wait 'til
Thomas and the rest of the
Indians came down
2nd. is that they have suspected
some Danger that they cant wait
and that is, they are afraid of being Bewitched if they
stay —
and they say if they dont come down to
your school they
must go some where else.
hannah,
brother and several others are
threatened, likewise
the queen, and I was advised to go off with them
Soon as could be, but the
state of things at present I thought —
Would not Suffer
for which reason
Nathan comes down. and other reasons
his defect and
incapableness of carrying on the business which he
is entrusted with. and many other which he can better acquaint than
I can.
We Expect one of the French ministers here this season —
for which reason I dont love to leave the Indians — —
I have nothing strange to Acquaint you at present I shall
go with the Indians next week to their
[illegible][guess: hunt] (as all My scholars
will go) I have only five Scholars at present and the oldest is 10
years of age hardly worth staying for. but according to
your Sons
orders I Stay with them; I dont know when I shall come down
to make a short
visit; I Seem to be entirely Content to be —
disposed of as Seems best in your sight. and to be wholly at your —
disposal. I fare very well at present plenty of pigeons in our woods.
I want to hear from you My Kind Benefactor (I
have been
much troubled in dreams
concerning you of late. I fear you are
not well. but this is too much of my Indian
principles.) I feel
Sorry about some things that I did neglect when I was down
and have laid with great weight upon my mind Ever since;
I fear I did not do my duty in not hearing your kind advice
of
binding myself to be the Lords however by Gods Grace
assisting me I Endeavour to keep myself
uprooted from the
world and make his word my Rule of Life. ——
no
more at present, but I would desire humbly to recommend
myself to your daily prayers that he would never suffer me to
Act or do anything that will at all disgrace the cause or the
Religion of Christ. and to keep me humble, keep me from pride
and all high thoughts of myself.
PS. please
sir to overlook my haste,
and the many Blunders which I suppose
are in this paper. I have no time to write
it over or correct it.
dont expose it. so
I remain your Humble servant
Joseph
Johnson.
To —
Mr.
Eleazar Wheelock
D.D.