_4thly_, Nor is it less wonderful how God was pleased to provide a _remedy_ for my want of skill in the Indian language, by remarkably fitting my interpreter for, and assisting him in the performance of his work. It might be supposed I must labour under a vast disadvantage in addressing the Indians by an interpreter, and that divine truths would lose much of their _energy_, by coming to the audience from a _second hand_. But although this has often been the case in times past, when my interpreter had little sense of divine things, yet now it is quite otherwise. I cannot think my addresses to the Indians since the beginning of this season of grace, have lost any thing of the power with which they were made, unless it were sometimes for want of pertinent expressions in the Indian language. My interpreter had before gained some good degree of _doctrinal_ knowledge, whereby he was capable of understanding and communicating the _meaning_ of my discourses, without being obliged to interpret word for word. He had likewise an _experimental_ acquaintance with divine things; and it pleased God at this season to inspire his mind with longing desires for the conversion of the Indians, and to give him admirable zeal and fervency in addressing them. And it is remarkable, that when I was favoured with any _special assistance_, and enabled to speak with more than common _freedom_, _fervency_, and _power_, he was affected in the same manner almost instantly, and enabled to speak in the same _pathetic_ language that I did. And a _surprising energy_ often accompanied the word at such seasons; so that the face of the whole assembly would be changed almost in an instant, and tears and sobs became common among them.
He likewise took pains day and night to inculcate upon the Indians the truths I taught them daily; and this not from spiritual pride, but from a spirit of faithfulness, and an honest concern for their souls.
And thus God, without bestowing on me the _gift of tongues_, could find a way wherein I might be effectually enabled to convey the truths of his glorious gospel to the minds of these poor benighted Pagans.
_Lastly_, The _effects_ of this work have been very remarkable. I doubt not but that many of these people have gained more knowledge of divine truths since June last, than could have been instilled into their minds by the most diligent use of proper means for whole _years_ together, without such a divine influence. Their Pagan notions and _idolatrous_ practices seem to be entirely abandoned. They are regularly disposed in the affairs of marriage; an instance whereof I have given in my Journal of August 14. They seem generally divorced from _drunkenness_, their darling vice, and the “sin that easily besets them:” so that I do not know of more than two or three who have been my steady hearers, that have drank to excess since I first visited them, although before it was common for some or other of them to be drunk almost every day: and some of them seem now to fear this sin in particular more than death itself. A principle of honesty and justice appears in many of them, and they seem concerned to discharge their old debts, which they have neglected, and, perhaps, scarce thought of for years past. Their manner of living is much more decent and comfortable than formerly. _Love_ reigns among them, especially those who have experienced a real change: and I never saw any appearance of _bitterness_ or _censoriousness_, nor any disposition to “esteem themselves better than others.”
*As their sorrows under _convictions_ have been great and pressing, so many of them have since appeared to “rejoice with joy unspeakable.” And yet their consolations do not incline them to _lightness_; but are attended with _solemnity_, and with _tears_, and brokenness of heart. And in this respect some of them have been surprised at themselves, and have with concern observed to me, that “when their hearts have been glad,” “they could not help crying for all.”
Upon the whole, here are all the evidences of a remarkable work of grace that can reasonably be looked for. May the _great Author_ maintain and promote the same _here_, and propagate it _every where_, till “the whole earth be filled with his glory!”
I have now rode more than three thousand miles since the beginning of March last; and almost the whole of it has been as a _missionary_, upon the design of propagating _Christian knowledge_ among the Indians. I have taken pains to look out for a _colleague_, to travel with me; but have not as yet found any person qualified and disposed for this good work.