The Puritans and Massachusetts 1630 P5

The official seal of the Puritans’ Massachusetts Bay Colony was an Indian saying, “Come Over and Help Us.”  These words come from Acts 16:9, where the Apostle Paul saw a vision of people in the neighboring nation asking him to come over and preach the Gospel to them. By this official colony seal, these early settlers once again avowed their desire to bring the Gospel to those who had never before heard it.

Typical of the Puritan's efforts in this regard was the work of the aforementioned Rev. John Elliott, known as the “Apostle to the Indians,” as well as Daniel Gookin, a civil magistrate. Eliot and Gookin worked for more than forty years to evangelize and civilize the Algonquin tribe of Massachusetts.

Rev. Eliot constantly traveled to native villages to teach them the Bible. He converted many, some of whom became ministers carrying on the work of the Gospel among their people. The converts were among those targeted by the anti-Christian Indians in King Philip’s War.

Content Sourced from More on this week for another American Moment

The American Story, The Beginnings.  By: David Barton and Tim Barton