with many Advantages above fuch as go from hence. And had they Bishops there, these Perfons might be ordained without the Inconveniencies of a long Voyage: Vacancies might be fupplied in much lefs Time: the primitive and most useful Apppointment of Confirmation might be restored; and an orderly Discipline exercifed in the Churches. Nor would fuch an Eftablishment encroach at all, either on Liberty of Confcience, which ought ever to be facredly preferved; or on the prefent civil Rights, either of the Governors or People in our Colonies. Nor would it bring their Dependence on Great-Britain into any Degree of that Danger, which fome Perfons profefs to apprehend fo ftrongly on this Occafion, who would make no manner of Scruple about doing other Things much more likely to deftroy it : who are not terrified in the leaft, that fuch Numbers there reject the Epifcopal Order entirely nor perhaps would be greatly alarmed, were ever fo many to reject Religion itself: though evidently in Proportion as either is thrown off, all Dependence produced by it ceases of course. To this equally pious and harmless Defign, two great Prelates*, now deceafed, gave a thousand Pounds each: and a Lady, incomparably more eminent for her Virtues than her Quality †, bequeathed the Sum of five hundred Pounds laft Year to the

Archbishop Tenifon, and Sir Jonathan Trelawney, Bishop. of Winchester.

t Lady Elizabeth Haflings.

fame

fame Purpose: which God incline the Hearts of all, in whofe Power it is, to promote as it deferves! But in the mean Time, let it not be imagined, that the Difficulties, under which we labour, are too heavy to be overcome. Difficulties are Arguments for nothing, but more Diligence, and more Liberality. For if we ftop, till we have every Thing that might be wished, When shall we go on?

Another Objection to the Conduct of the Society is, that they have fent Miffionaries to fome Places, in which there were already Christian Affemblies established and supported. But in one Sort of these Affemblies, there is no Christian Miniftry, no Celebration of the Sacraments of the Gofpel. In another, Infants are denied the Sacrament of Baptism. And in the leaft exceptionable, there are feveral Things, in which the Confciences of many, we apprehend with great Reason, cannot acquiefce; who were not therefore to be left deftitute of publick Worship: efpecially as our Charter was granted, in exprefs Terms, for the Maintenance of an Orthodox Clergy in thofe Parts. And the Members of this Church, I am forry to say it, lying under peculiar Burdens in one confiderable Province, which

other

* In New England They are rated to the Support of what the Independents, who are the greater Part of that People, call, though without Right, the Eftablished Church. And the Goods of many have been feized, or their Bodies imprisoned, for Nonpayment. The Anabaptifts, on their Petition, were exempted

from

other Profeffors of Chriftianty do not, though equally Diffenters from the Majority there; they feem of Right entitled to fome peculiar Affiftance in return. We have obtruded the Service of the Church of England no where; we have fettled no Clergyman any whefe, without the Inhabitants requesting it, and contributing to it; we have fent no Succeffor upon a Vacancy, without their renewing that Requeft. But if the Provifion, which we have made for the People of our own Communion, hath proved inftrumental at the fame Time to bring others over into it; we hope there is very far from being any Harm done. Indeed Unity of Profeffion amongft durfelves, effected by Methods of Peace and Charity, will greatly recommend our Religion to the Infidels: who elfe may be tempted to continue as they are, for want of knowing with whom to join.

will be taught it as established here by Teaching at all, but We think our own

We acknowledge it, whoever is taught Christianity by our Care, profeffed in the Church Law. There can be no in fome particular Form. the beft. Every Body thinks it far from the worft. At least our Converts will have the Bible put into their Hands, to judge for

from' paying this Rate; and the Quakers, without petitioning but the Petition of the Members of our Church was rejected.

N. B. This Grievance hath been redreffed, under the Administration of Governor Shirley, in the Province of Massachusets Bay and, I believe, fince the Year 1752, in the Colony of Connecticut alfo.

Them

Themselves. And which is righter, that Heathens and Perfons of no Religion fhould continue what they are, or become what we would make them? Our Society is by much the moft confiderable one for this Purpose. And were it now to be erected, instead of having fubfifted fo long: not a fingle Step could be taken on any other Footing than this; that the fmaller Part of thofe, who wished well to it, must be concluded by the greater.

So good a Defign therefore being fo properly executed; the Expences, which must attend it, ought to be fupplied. The Lord hath ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, fhould live of the Gofpel*. And there is the fame Reason, the fame Neceffity indeed, that the Miffionaries in America fhould have due Provifion made for them, as that the Apostles fhould at firft, or the Minifters of our Parifhes' now. And if Perfons of Character, being at Liberty, as they are, to exercife their Function elsewhere, are willing to undertake fuch an Employment as this, at fuch a Distance, on fo fmall an Allowance as they receive from the Society: they ought furely to have it raised for them very chearfully, and be counted worthy of double Honour +, in the Senfe of Recompence as well as Efteem, if it could be paid. them.

But perhaps it will be faid, Supporting Defigns of this Nature is the Clergy's Business : let Them take Care of it. And fo, God be thanked, we do: and fo, I hope in God, we fhall, whether we are helped in it more or lefs; in fuch manner, as both to keep Pace with the Willing, and make Amends for the Unwilling. We defire not to boast, and we need not to be ashamed, of the Proportion which we contribute. But we may notwithftanding do very well to increase it. For there is fo much expected of us, and we are fo greatly concerned to answer every reasonable Expectation to the utmoft; that if any of our Order have omitted taking sufficient Notice of a Charity fo immediately related to their Profeffion, it is their Duty on many Accounts, to make full Compensation to it without Delay. It is indeed our Duty, on every Occafion, at all Times, but especially in an Age when no Part of our Conduct will be interpreted favourably, to avoid all Appearance, either of preferring Riches in this World before being rich in good Works*, or of loving Pleafures more than God. St. Paul took Wages of fome Churches to do others Service ‡. Let Us, out of the Wages which We take, do all the Service we can to the Church of God; and diftribute largely to the Neceffities of the Saints, particularly their fpiritual ones.

*

1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. + 2 Tim. iii. 4. Rom. xii. 13.

+2 Cor. xi. 8,

But