to a text on which Eliot had preached, or suggested by something he had said.
It was not until 1660 that a church of native members was instituted after the Puritan pattern at Natick. On the occasion, of which we do not know the date, Eliot officiated, baptized the candidates, and administered the Lord's Supper.
It would seem that the great accomplishment of Mr. Eliot's life, growing out of his missionary work, — the translation of the Scriptures entire, — so far from having entered into his original plans, had been regarded by him as impossible. In a letter to Winslow, in England, June 8, 1649, he wrote: —
“I do very much desire to translate some parts of the Scripture
into their language, and to print some primer in their language,
wherein to initiate and teach them to read, which some of the men
do much also desire, and printing such a thing will he troublesome
and chargeable; and having yet but little skill in their language,
— having little leisure to attend it, by reason of my continual
attendance on my ministry in my own church, — I must have some
Indians, it may be, and other help continually about me to try and
examine translations, which I look at as a sacred and holy work,
and to be regarded with much fear, care, and reverence; and all
this is chargeable: therefore I look at that as a special matter on
which cost is to be bestowed, if the Lord provide means; for I have
not means of my own for it. I have a family of many children to
educate, and therefore I cannot give over my ministry in our own
church, whereby,” etc.
This allusion to his responsibilities, as the head of a
family, reminds us of the different conditions under which Eliot
and a Jesuit labored in their respective fields. Eliot had
a daughter and five sons. All these five sons he trained
for Harvard College, dedicating them all to the Indian
work. One of them died in his college course; the other
four were preachers, one being his assistant at Roxbury.
The daughter, with one only of the sons, survived the
father. He writes: —
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