USA > Delaware > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 34
USA > New Jersey > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
When they sing, they dance around in a circle; while two, in the centre, lead the dance and raise a dirge, the entire chorus carries on a pitiful lamentation, weeps in addition, at one time gnashing the teeth, at another snapping with the fin- gers, at another stamping with the feet, and they execute this laughable spectacle quite ardently and seriously. When they become sick they eat of no animal that is not a female. When they bury their dead, they throw something costly into the grave with the dead by which they wish it to be understood that their affectionate good will toward the dead shall not fail.
435
-
1698]
PASTORIUS'S PENNSYLVANIA
They manifest their mourning (which continues for an entire year) by their blackened faces. They build their dwelling- huts of trees and bushes, and there is no one among them so inexperienced in the art of building that he cannot build such a hut for himself and his family, in three or four hours. Their language may be judged from the following dialogue: Eitha- nithap, Be greeted, good friend. A eitha, Be you greeted also. Tankomi, Whence come you hither? Past ni unda qui, Not far from here. Gecho luensi, What is his name? Ans. Fran- ciscus. O letto, It is good. Noha matappi, Let him take a seat here by us. Gecho ki Wengkinum, What would he like? Husko lallaculla, I am very hungry. Langund agboon, Give me bread. Lamess, Fish. Acothita, Fruit. Hittuck nipa, There is a tree full. Chingo metschi, When do you journey again from this place? Alappo, to-morrow. Nacha kuin, day after to-morrow; and so on. Besides these, ana is mother; squaa, wife; hexis, an old woman; Menitto, the devil; murs, a cow; kuschkusch, a pig; wicco, the house; hockihockon, an estate; pocksuckan, the knife. Whatsoever professor digs out of this the origin and root of these Indian words, him will I praise. In the mean- time the paper is becoming too small for me, the quills blunt, the ink will not longer flow, there is no more oil in the lamp, it is already late, my eyes are full of sleep. Fare you well. I close.
Sent from Philadelphia, on May 30, 1698.
I received in proper condition, on April 25, 1698, my honored father's latest, of August 15, and I was greatly rejoiced by the sight of his dear handwriting. But to answer his questions submitted, I would wish that my pen could reach down to the uttermost depth of my soul, for so should I do the same with more satisfaction than is the case now. Neverthe- less I do not doubt that my honored father will supply by his keen apprehension that which is not perfectly expressed on this paper:
436
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1698
1
1. Now as to the first question, concerning the ordering of the civil government.
William Penn is and remains lord of the proprietary and sanctioned prince over Pennsylvania, and although he has not been here with us for some years, nevertheless he has done us more service in England through his presence there, than prob- ably might have been the case if he had remained here all the time. The estimable man has very many enemies on account of his religion, who however rather overdo matters, since they, for their part, are not surely informed, much less can they see into another's heart. We expect his arrival in this country without fail, this summer, or next autumn, if no ill-health or other hindrance occurs.
So far as relates to the form of the civil government here at Philadelphia, as the capital city, I state briefly that each year certain persons1 are elected from the whole people, who make the necessary laws and ordinances for that year accord- ing to the condition of the time and the people, and thereby prevent encroaching vices and moreover, throughout the whole year, in all circumstances, they help to care for the common weal, by and with the governor of the province. At the same time the aforesaid proprietary, William Penn, ordains a cer- tain twelve, from among those thus elected, to be justices, who decide all disputes occurring according to the laws thus made, after the facts have been investigated by twelve neigh- bors. And all this is done in open court, so that everyone, great and small, may enter and listen.
· In my German city, Germanton, there is an entirely dif- ferent condition of things. For, by virtue of the franchise obtained from William Penn, this town has its own court, its own burgomaster and council, together with the necessary officials, and well-regulated town laws, council regulations, and a town seal.
The inhabitants of this city are for the most part trades- people, such as cloth, fustian, and linen weavers, tailors, shoe- makers, locksmiths, carpenters, who however at the same time
1 The assembly.
437
PASTORIUS'S PENNSYLVANIA
1698]
are also occupied with the cultivation of the soil and the raising. of cattle.
This region would be sufficient to maintain twice as many inhabitants as are now actually there.
This town lies two hours' distance from Philadelphia, and includes not only six thousand acres (morgen) by the survey, but twelve thousand morgen of land have also been assigned to us by William Penn for the establishing of some villages. As to the taxation and tribute of the subjects, in this country, it is treated as it is with the English nation, where neither the king himself nor his envoys, bailiffs, nor governors may lay any kind of burden or tax upon the subjects, unless those sub- jects themselves have first voluntarily resolved and consented to give a specified amount, and, according to their fundamental laws, no tax may remain in force for longer than a single year.
2. To come to my honored father's second question.
What form of government have the so-called savages and half-naked people? Whether they become citizens and inter- marry with the Christians? Again, whether their children also associate with the Christian children and they play with one another, etc .?
It may be stated in reply, that, so far as I have yet gone about among them, I have found them reasonable people and capable of understanding good teaching and manners, who give evidence of an inward devotion to God, and in fact show themselves much more desirous of a knowledge of God than are many with you who teach Christianity by words from the pulpit, but belie the same through their ungodly lives, and therefore, in yonder great Day of Judgment, will be put to shame by these heathen.
We Christians in Germanton and Philadelphia have no longer the opportunity to associate with them, in view of the fact that their savage kings have accepted a sum of money from William Penn, and, together with their people, have withdrawn very far away from us, into the wild forest, where, after their hereditary custom, they support themselves by the chase, shooting birds and game, and also by catching fish,
11
438
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1698
and dwell only in huts made of bushes and trees drawn to- gether. They carry on no cattle-breeding whatever, and culti- vate no field or garden; accordingly they bring very little else to the Christians to market than the pelts, the skins of ani- mals, and the birds which they have shot, and fishes, nor do they associate much with the Christians; and certainly no mutual marriage-contract between us and them has yet taken place. They exchange their elk and deer-skins, beaver, mar- ten, and turkeys, ordinarily, for powder, lead, blankets, and brandy, together with other sweet drinks.
In the business of our German Company, however, we now use in trade Spanish and English coins, as also the Dutch thalers; with this difference only, that that which is worth four shillings on the other side of the sea, passes for five here.
3. Concerning the third question: How our divine worship is regulated and constituted in this place?
The answer is that, as experience testifies that by the co- ercion of conscience nothing else than hypocrites and word- Christians are made, of whom almost the entire world is now full, we have therefore found it desirable to grant freedom of conscience, so that each serves God according to his best under- standing, and may believe whatever he is able to believe.
It is certain, once for all, that there is only one single un- doubted Truth. Sects however are very numerous, `and each sectarian presumes te know the nearest and most direct .way to Heaven, and to be able to point it out to others, though nevertheless there is surely no more than a single One Who on the basis of truth has said :. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Although now each sect, with us, is accustomed to hold undisturbed its assembly on the seventh day of the week, it is nevertheless proved by experience and trial, that the most part serve a God unknown to them out of mere habit, concern- ing Whom they have heard other people speak. But they will neither feel nor listen to God Himself, nor taste His good- ness; they are without spiritual apprehension, and their fleshly senses do not comprehend what the Spirit of God is,
-
439
PASTORIUS'S PENNSYLVANIA
1698]
the verbal or historical narrative to which they listen does not reach the heart, and therefore does not edify them; so soon as the church-meeting is over, all is again forgotten; if the in- tention of their hearts is set upon usury, finance, deceit, and luxury before the service, it is still set thereon. Not once is amendment of life kept in mind, or how one shall put on Christ, or how Christ the Lord shall impress his image on them.
Such societies and sects one should reasonably avoid, and on the other hand seek his companions among those holy ones in the light of truth, who love the great goodness and truth of God with all their heart, trust His holy providence and highly extol His power, whose souls are in God and God is in them, of whose souls the Holy Ghost bears witness that they are the children of God.
We should follow yonder One our Master, Who has given us those words which His Heavenly Father gave to Him.
His true disciples abide by this His Word, and He gives His Spirit to these disciples, which the world neither perceives nor is able to receive, which also could not be purchased by Simon Magus for any money, but he who desires to have the same must turn from the old path of sin, renounce the world, cast himself into the father-heart of God, and resign himself entirely to the dear Lord, and beseech Him humbly, that He may draw him to Himself, for the Lord Christ says: No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him. John vi., and Eph. i.1 It all depends on the mercy of God, and not at all on any man's wish or deed.
I must acknowledge that our age and the religious disputes are beyond my comprehension and understanding, and that with all the individual churches there is wanting the life of the inner man, and the life at one at Christ. Molinas and his sect of the Quietists have much alarmed the Papal See, in that he pointed out the way to Heaven through the inward faith of the heart and love to God and our neighbor, and not through works; pilgrimages, and penance. And because similar teach- ings will be also urged at the present time here and there among the Evangelical churches, by the Pietists, therefore, many of them, both clergy and laymen, men devoted to a luxurious life and to ease, are much alarmed, saying that man can not C
' John vi. 44; Ephesians i. 5, 11.
440
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1698
be without sin, that there must be bad and good men together, that it may certainly be permitted to have a little Jesuitical drinking-bout in good fraternal spirit.
I for my part hold this as my entire secure hope, that I look up to God alone, and with my whole heart cling to and trust Him, under Whose protection alone is safety, and without Him there is neither safety nor Truth nor faith. He alone can illumine the hearts of men, He can destroy the living, and bring the dead to life again, and knows how to protect His own in the midst of the fiery furnace.
But they that are joined unto the Lord are one Spirit with him. I Cor. vi. 17. They may become partakers of the divine nature. II Pet. i. And hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. [I] John iv. 13. We behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. II Cor. iii. 18.
And Luther, in vol. VI., Altenb., fol. 625, says clearly: "Thou shalt therefore so hold by the faith that thou shalt become by the same one with Christ, that out of thee and Him shall be, as it were, one person, Who will never permit them to separate or part from one another." And in the Kirchen-Postill, fol. 243. "We should become filled with the Spirit of God, so that, as respects the inner man, we may be entirely consecrated and sanctified."
The holy name of this great God should be at all times held in high esteem by us all, in the new as in the old world, and kept holy above all else. And it is well with him, yes forever well with all those who desire the speedy coming of Jesus, and have oil in their lamps, and are ready to go in with the blessed Bridegroom to His eternal wedding-feast.
4. Concerning the fourth question: How our German Company and Brotherhood is at present constituted.
It should be stated that this same company was started by some pious and God-fearing persons, not so much for the sake of worldly gain, but rather to have a Pella or place of refuge for themselves and other upright people of their country, when the just God should pour out His cup of wrath over sinful Europe.
441 .
PASTORIUS'S PENNSYLVANIA
1698]
With this intention they arranged to purchase from the proprietor, through me, about thirty thousand acres of land in this country, of which the third part is now cultivated, but two-thirds still lie waste.
The principal members are, by name: Doctor Jacob Schütz, Jacobus von de Walle, Doctor Weilich, Daniel Behagel, Johann Lebrunn, Doctor Gerhard von Maastrich, the Syndic of Bremen, Doctor Johann Willhelm Peters of near Magdeburg, Balthasar Jabert of Lübeck, and Joannes Kembler, a preacher at the same place. Of these partners some were to have come over here to me and helped to bring the undertaking to the desired result, but up to this time that has not happened, because they fear the solitude and tediousness, to all of which I, thank God! am now well accustomed, and shall so remain accustomed until my happy end.
However, that the merciful God has so graciously preserved my honored father together with his dear ones in this recent devastation of the French war, gives me occasion to extol His everlasting goodness and fervently to beseech Him to protect you still further, with gentle fatherly care, from all chances of misfortune, but especially that He will bring us ever more and more into His holy fear and obedience, so that we may feel abhorrence to offend Him, and, on the contrary, may strive to fulfil His holy will with happy hearts.
In the meantime, my honored father's calm resolve to live his own life and to serve God, has much pleased and re- joiced me. A blessed foretaste of those things whereof we are to expect the fullness in eternity after laying aside this earthly tabernacle!
O blessed leading of the Holy Ghost! for what else should it be, or what could it be called, save the holy grace of God, that has also at last made my honored father (after he has become gray in the service of many offices at Windsheimb) so white in soul and temper that he has recognised the overwhelming wickedness of mankind, and on that account has gone out from Babel.1 May the Heavenly Father of all Light preserve this gift of the Holy Spirit in my honored father's heart until his departure from this life and entering into eternity.
1 Evidently refers to the father's retirement from Windsheim to Nurem- berg.
442
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1698
5. Concerning the fifth question: Whether William Penn, the proprietor of this country, is easy of access, and if one might address some lines of compliment to him.
It may be stated, that this worthy man is a good Christian, and consequently entirely averse to the idle compliments of the world. But he who wishes to exchange sensible and truth- ful words with him, either by mouth or by letter, will find him not only easy of access, but also prompt in reply, since he is, from his heart, sweet-natured, humble, and eager to serve all men.
Furthermore, my two sons greet my honored father affec- tionately, and daily pray for his temporal and eternal well- being, wishing ardently either to see him once in person, or at least to obtain some information respecting the course of his life and the occupations conducted by him.
Finally, that my honored father has had troublesome dreams concerning me, and at the same time has regarded it as a bad omen that my little tree, planted in his garden before my departure, has withered, is truly not without [meaning], for I, my wife and youngest son have gone through severe ill- ness, yet, praise be to God, are fully restored again. But such things are a reminder of our mortality. All must have an end, and therefore this letter also, in closing which I greet my honored father a thousand times, and kiss him (through the air) with the heart of a child, perhaps for the last time, and most trustingly commend you with us, and us with you, to the beneficent protecting and guiding hand of God; and I re- main
My honored father's
Truly dutiful son,
F. D. P.
Philadelphia 30 May 1698.
Upon receiving all the above copious information I, Mel- chior Adam Pastorius, desired to have intelligence from a third person how it was faring with my son and his family in such a far away country. For this reason I caused the letter placed after this to be sent out from the city of Windsheim, to the proprietor, William Penn, on June 20, 1698.
443
PASTORIUS'S PENNSYLVANIA
1698]
Salutem ab ipso fonte Salutis Jesu Christo quam plurimam.
Vir Praelustris Humanissime et in Jesu Dilecte.
Audaciam meam in scribendo facilè condonabis cum in- tellexeris ex paterna id fieri solicitudine et affectione erga filium meum Franciscum Danielem Pastorium in Pensylvania tuâ commorantem abs quo jam longo tempore nil literarum accepi, ideo naturalis et Paternus affectus me impulit, ut de statu ac vitæ genere ipsius pauca sciscitarer.
Speraveram ego quidem me in senectute mea in ipso bacu- lum et solamen habiturum, sed spe mea frustratus sum, dum in Provinciam tam longè à me dissitam ipse se contulit.
Vive in Jesu felicissime et per ministrum quendam de tuo famulitio respondere desiderio et petitioni meæ dignare. Qui ipse toto corde exopto esse
Tuae Humanissimae Dominationis servus ad omnia Mandata
paratissimus
Windshemii 20. Jun. 1698. M. A. P.
.
In translation1: Abundant salvation to you from the fountain of all salvation, Jesus Christ.
Most Illustrious and Beloved in Jesus:
You will readily pardon my boldness in writing when you know that it arises from my paternal anxiety and affection for my son, Francis Daniel Pastorius, who is living in Penn- sylvania, from whom I have received no letter for a long time, and therefore my natural and fatherly affection has impelled me to make some inquiries in regard to his condition and method of life.
I had hoped, indeed, to find in him a staff and consolation in my old age, but I have been disappointed in my hope be- cause he has betaken himself into a province situated so far from me.
"The original gives a free translation into German; we have instead ren- dered the Latin into English.
444
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA [1600
May you live most happily in Jesus, and deign to reply to my longing and petition through some servant of your house- hold.
With my whole heart I desire to be Your most humane Lordship's servant, very ready to execute all your commands,
M. A. P.
Windsheim, 20 June, 1698.
Thereafter came by post to Neustatt-on-the-Aysch, on April 25, the following answer, in Latin:
Observande mi in Jesu Christo Amice.
Ex intimo amoris affectu te saluto praesentemque tibi et futuram exopto felicitatem, quae constat in fidâ obedientiâ in Lucem et Cognitionem illam quam tibi per Christum Jesum impertiit Deus.
Nuper adhuc in vivis fuit filius tuus, et jam nunc Phila- delphiæ agit. Irenarcha hoc anno est, aut nuperrime fuit, aliàs Vir sobrius, probus, prudens et pius audit, spectatæ inter omnes, inculpatæque famæ, Familias pater est, quot vero fili- orum, ignoro. Amoris tui pignus, cum literis valetudinis tuæe nunciis pergratum illi accideret.
Brevi Provinciam istam juvante Deo visurus sum, interea temporis quid velis et quid de eo expetas vel ad ipsum scribas vel in Literis ad me dandis exprimas.
Cum Votis itaque ut Deus una cum salutis suæ demon- stratione dignetur seniles tuos annos sicuti olim Simeoni pro- longare, valere te jubeo
sincerus tibi ex animo amicus,
Bristolii die 20. Mensis 2. vulgo Februarii 1699. WILLIAM PENN.
Inscriptio. A Monsieur Monsieur Melchior Adam Pastorius. President, à Windsheim in Franconia.
445
PASTORIUS'S PENNSYLVANIA
1699]
In translation:
Respected friend in Jesus Christ:
With a deep feeling of love I salute you and I desire for your present and future that happiness which consists in faith- ful obedience to that light and knowledge which God has im- parted to you through Jesus Christ.
Your son was recently among the living and is even now in Philadelphia. This year he is justice of the peace, or was so very lately. Furthermore, he is called a man sober, upright, wise, and pious, of a reputation approved on all hands and un- impeached. He is the father of a family, but how many chil- dren he has I do not know. An assurance of your love and a letter announcing your good health would be very pleasing to him.
With the help of God I shall, in a short time, visit that province. In the meantime, either you may write to him whatever you wish or what questions you desire to ask of him, or you may state these in letters to be entrusted to me.
And so, with prayers that God together with the proof of his grace, may deem it fit to prolong your aged years, as of old in the case of Simeon, I bid you farewell.
Your very sincere friend
WILLIAM PENN.
At Bristol, on the 20th day of the 2d month, commonly called February, 1699.
Addressed:
To Monsieur Monsieur Melchior Adam Pastorius, President. At Windsheim in Franconia.
Still further Information from Pennsylvania. March 4, 1699. P. P.
I live here with my two little sons in the country, still in good health. I am bringing them up in the fear and love of God. They are always pleased when they hear anything con- cerning their honored grandfather, and when his letters arrive here they long to see him, and compel me to tell them fre- quently something of the journeys he has made, and of the
446
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1699
course of the life he has led, which is however not especially known to me as yet in all respects. So they are writing here- with to their honored grandfather himself, and would like very much to know the origin of his family.
1
For the rest, this country still increases daily in men and in human wickedness, nevertheless I hope things here will never be conducted in a way so unbecoming men, as in those uni- versities of Europe, in which a man must learn for the most part things which are to be utterly forgotten.1 Many professors waste their time on useless questions and clever trifling tricks, and while they detain the minds of the learners on empty questions they prevent them from aspiring to more solid mat- ters. They strive to investigate what Jupiter and Vulcan may be, but not what Christ is. They also attempt to throw light upon the mest saered Word of God by means of the syllo- gisms of Aristotle, as if indeed that Holy Spirit (Who is the only true Author and Dictator of the Scripture) could be amended or explained by the accursed heathen mind of Aris- totle wailing in the lower world.
Others pass, the precious time with utterly useless ques- tions and-trickeries, as, Whether that sepulchral inscription at Monte Fiascone is true: Propter Verbum est est Dominus meus mortuus est." Others seek among the Greek declensions for the ablative case, but wherefore they desire the same they themselves know not.
C
Yea, the students now even begin to drink one another (in actual fact one out of ten) to death, and to hand over the miserable one to Satan in his kingdom of hell, which indeed is much to be deplored, and it were to be wished from God that the eyes of the understanding of those gentlemen, professors as well as students, should be opened, that they might recog- nize how vain it is to boast of the Light of the Gospel, and yet remain amidst such abominable works of darkness.
11
On these grounds also I grieve for my dear brother John Samuel,' that when he has learned piety and the fear of God at home from his dear parents and his house-tutor, he should lose them again at the universities; and that he should learn, with
-
" From here to the end of the paragraph the original is in Latin.
""On account of the word 'est est' my master is dead."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.