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A N ACCOUNT OF THE SOCIETY FOR VKOFAGATING the GOSPEL In FOREIGN FAKTS, Eftabliftied by the Royal Charter of King WILLIAM IIL With their Proceedings and Succtfs, And Hopes of continual Progrefs under the Happy Reign of Her mod Excellent Majefty Q^UEEN ANNE. LONDON, Printed by 'Jofe^h Downing^ \n BartholomerthClofe near We^- Smithfidd^ \']o6. yy\. ■.UJ^ ,^.,f.-.h\- f:-.''^^*^*,''- AN U '. «■% '* ACCOUNT. O F T H E Foundation, Proceedings, and Saccefs, O F T H E SOCIETY Eftabliihed for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts. HRISTIANITY differd from the Jewip? Religion, as in diverfe other Refpefts, fo partis- — cularly, that it was not to be confined to one People or Nation, but to be PreacKd, and to prevail thro' the whole World. Hence our Bleffed Saviour sCommiffion w^Syintroduaim. to go teach and baptise all Nations. Hence the Apo- ftles foon turned to the Gentiles, and within the firft Century, the Gofpel was in h^c£t fpread to the then reputed Ends of the Earth. In the B f^K following Ages of the Church, there was an in-. defatigable Induftry in the Bilhops and Paftors. to propagate our Holy Faith and Worfliip a- mong the Heathens and Infidels, not fearing the Dangers of Perfccucion and Death. Had this Primkive Zeal continued, the Glorious Work had been long fince accomplidied , God, by profpering fuch Endeavours, would have given bis Son the Heathen for his Inheritance,^ and the ut- mofi Tarts of the Earth for his ToJfe/JIon. But even then, theDifcovcry of a new World muft have opcn'd a new Scene : It is now more than two hundred Years, fince Providence di- reaed us to the Knowledge of Merica. The Spaniards, who were the firft Pofleflbrs of the SoMfkm Parts, did profefs a Zeal for converting the poor Pagans to their Catholick Religion 5, feut not to mention, that the Corruptions of Po- ttery were alraoft as grofs as the Errors of Paga- tiifm 5 they certainly took fuch violent Meafures, as could not poffibly perfwade or convince any Rational Creature. For, contrary to the Gofpel Spirit of Meelqiefs and Charity, they ufed all. the Engines of Terror, Force and Cruelty 5 in fuch a barbarous Manner^ that their own Authors have made grievous Complaints of them, and the foor Natives, inftead of being reconciled to the ' :. Ghri- I *> -V. JChriftian Religion, muft needs have received tKc decpeft Prejudice and Averfion to it. And therefore, when the Northern Parts of America were afterward difcovered by the Englijh^ and fomc little Colonies were there fettled 5 it ed and interrupted, that no Progrefs could be ^^'*"^'»''<^' made in converting the Indians^ and hardly any publick Face of Religion could appear within our own Plantations. Indeed after the violent Diflolution of our Church and State at Howe, ^herc was lome Attempt towards the promoting T' ^ B z Chri- >"■ 1 Chnftianity Jhroad 5 there was an Ordinance paf- fed in luly 1649. /or the promoting and propa^atmg ,fthe Go/pel ofjefus Chrifi in New^England, by the ereainc- a Corporation in perpetual Succeflion, . to be caird by the Name of the (frefident and Society for the Propagation of the Go/pel in New- England, " To receive and difpofe of Monies in " fuch Manner as ftiall bed and principally con- " duce to the Preaching and Propagating the '' Goipel amongft the Natives, and for the "Maintenance of Schools and Nurfenes of " Learning for the Education of the Children *' efthe Natives 5 for which Purpofe, a general <' Colkaion was appointed to be made in and "through all the Counties, Cities, Towns " and Parifties of England and Wales, for a cha- " ritable Contribution, to be as the Foundatioa " of fo Pious and great an Undertaking.. Some Accounts have been givcaof th^ Converfionof the Natives upon this firft Projeft, by thole who were immediately concern d in it. After the happy Reftoration of Monarchy and the Church of England, thtre was a n«w Spirit given to^ thefe good Defigns 5 and King Charles It in the 4f/; Year of his Reign 1661, was gracioufly pleafed to Incorporate feyeral ^erjons into me Society or Comply, for Propagation- of the Gojpel in New- Englaad and the Tarts adjacent m America, by an ex* exprefs Charter, importing, Tht hy the fms Z Indujiry of certain En^njh Umfiers of the Gof- pel and others refiding in, or near the Colomc. and Plantations in New-England, who ha^'e attamed to Lak the Language of the Heathen KaUVes m thofe fX and hL% their TeacU'^and Injlru^,.. Irouxht over many of than rom the fomrs of Urh Iff- and the Kingdom of Satan, to the KnoMge of the true and only God, and to an ownng andp^o- 'iefmg the proteflant (Religion, by vhch a Ivge Dor of Hope is opened for the gknfymg of the Havte f ifusChrifty and the further Enlargement of h,s Church - And it is now ftt, that fame due and competent froVtfm be made to lay a Foundalton for the educating, clothing, civil.^ng and mfiruElmg the poor Natives, and aljo for the Support and Mamte- nance of/uch Uiniflcrs of the Gofpel, SchooUmafiers and other Inftruments, as haVe been, are, or Onll be fet apart and employed for the carrytng on o ptous and Omfiiana PTori — And therefore, bcrtgre- hived not only to Jeei the outward Welfare and Tro- fperity of thofe Colonies, hut mo,^ efpectally to endea^ your the Good and Salvation of their immortal Souls^ and the puMilhing the mofi glorious Gofpel of Lhnjt amonz them- and to encotirage our InVing Sub- kasm their intended Chanty by fnfficient Authority, ind ratmagefrom Us ...WeofourWrncctyfte- ty and for the further propagation cf the Gojpel of. ! Jefus Chrijl dmoii^ the Heathen Natives -- do or» clain^ conjYitute^ and deilare by thc/e [nefents^ that there be^ and for eVer hereafter jhall be, within thu our I'{t>i^dom of V^glipdy a Society or Company for ^ropitgatton of the Oojpel i/i New-England, and the ^arts adjacent in America -— to he one 'BodyCorpO" rate and Politique , to have Continuance for eVer to than and their Succcfjours — - trith Tower to employ Goods, Cl?atteti'^ Money ^ and Stocky of the J aid Compa* ny for the Promoting and Tropjgating of the Go] pel ' oj Chrijl unto and amon^ the Heathen Natives, in or near New-England, and Tarts adjacent in Ame- rica 3 and aljo for TSLonripnng^ Teaching and InflrU' Btiig the jaid Heathen Natives and their Children, not only in the Principles and j^nov^ledge oj the true (/(e- ligion, and in Morality, and the IQiowledge of the Englijh Tongue, and in other liberal Arts and Sciences^ but for the Educating and placing of them or their Children, in fome Trade ^ Myflery^ oi' lawful Calling, rhefcgood ^ ^. Whatever laudable Care was taken by cou>%7by thele Gentlemen to difcharge the Triift repofcd ^IIJ/^''^'^^' in them : yet they could by no means anlwer the Wants of all our Foreign Plantations, becaufe the very Ccmmi/fion confin'd them to New* England and the Tarts adjacent. However, this one A(5t of Royal Care and Authority did encou- rage feveral Perfons to contribute their Advice -and Affiftance^ to the carrying on this charitable \ and ^ ^ •T k or* , tku )i thii y h id thv ^.orpO" >er to 'mploy ompa* 'jolpd * ^es^ in ^mc- ijlru' Hy not 'if the their ling, n b/ jofcd ilwer caufe Mew-' , this cou- ivice table and i^ and honourable Work. In particular, the ho- nourable Sir Leolync Jenkins^ in his laft Will and Tcftamcnt, proved the ^th of KoVmbcr 1685, did declare, that it was too obvious that the Ter/ons m Holy Orders employed in his Majcfiys Fleets at Sea^ and Foreign Tlantations, were too few for the Charge and Cure of Souls arifmg in thofe Fleets andTlanta- tions 5 And therefore he provides that two additional Fellowp7ips be new founded, and endowed at his Cofi and Charges, in Jefus College Oxford, on Condition that the faid two Fellows refpefiively and their re^ fpeFliVe Succeffors for eVer may be under an mdifpen" fable Obligation to take upon them Holy Orders of friejlhood — ard afterward that they go out to Sea^ in any of his Majeftys Fleets, when they or any of them are thereto fummoned by the Lord High Ad- miral of England — And in Cafe there be no Ufe of their Service at Sea, to be called by the Lord 'BiJl?op' of London, to go out into any of his Majeftys Fo^' reign Flantations, there to take upon them the Cure of Souls, and exercife their Mmifterial FunFlion reJerVing to them as full Salaries and Allowances as any other of their Degree or Capacity is to enjoy, not- withftandmg their Ab fence, fo long as it ftoall be ei^ ther in the Fleets or Flantations aforefaid — - and vj'\t\\t\\c farther Encouragement of twenty Tounds a- Tear a piece to be paid to the faid additional Fellows, ifr their Order refpeHiVely while they an and pro rata 1 I T 0/ 4he time^of their being aSlnally in either of the Ser^'iics ajorefaul This was a good and viik hd: of Chancy, and is worthy to be recouimen- dcd as a noble Example to any following Foun- Qyle Efquire, who, by his lall Will made Jw/y 18. \6^\^ declares, That whereas his late Majejly l\ing Charles the Second^ hadbyhts /[jecial Grace and Fu*^eur^ without his feek^ ing or /{jiQwledge. been pleafed to conflitute him CrO" yerncuv e pre- ofthe lere is Lj the y his That )ccond^ sjeekc 4 erncuv 4.< \^rnour of the Corporation for fropagating the GoJ- pel amongft the Heathen Natives of New-England, and other Tarts of America, and had thereby given him Opportunity to difcern that Work to he unqueJH^ onably (pious and Charitable. He does therefore oyer and ahoVe the Sum of three hundred founds^ given tmards that Tiety^ give and deVtje the Sum of one hundred founds more to the faid Corporation^ to be Jet afide and employed as a S toe i for the ifci'^ fline of this excellent Church of England, now by Lam and Canons eflahlifhty then this is a fioHs Ufe to which he mould and will haVe his Executor to contribute^ In Purfuance of which pious Intention, the Re- verend Mr. Samuel Saywell^ B. D.Redlor of S/ow- tefham in Huntingdonfhire^htvAg otit of the Tru-^ ftees for the Eftate of the laid Mr. O/ey deceased, has lately fent the Sum of five Pounds for this charitable Ufe, and has informed the Society, that the like Suna of five Pounds {ball be con- tinued, and yearly paid for ever. rhMifor. ^ 4. It muft be acknowledged, that it was the tkntaJons. Unhappinefs of New-England and the adjoyning Tartly to be firft planted and inhabited by Per* fons who were generally difaffeded to the Church by Law eftablifht in England^ and had many of them taken Refuge or Retirement in thofe Parts, on Account of rheir Suffering for Non- conformity here at home. So that they fell there generally into independent Congregations : and there was no Face of the Church of England: till about the Year 1 67^ ^ when upon queftion- ingthe Charter of that Country, the Lord Bi- fliop ••lb.- II _ fliop ofLond^fty upon an Addrefs from fcvcral of the Inhabitants oi^oflon, did prevail with his Ma- jefty, that a Church lliould be allowed in that Town, for the Excrcife of Religion according ' to the Church oi England -^ towards the Maince- . nance of which, his late Majefty King WtUUm was pleafed to fettle an Annual Bounty of one hun- dred Pounds a Year, which is ftill continued, , and two Minifters are now fupported in it. Se- > veral Ways of Divifion and Separation did fo much obtain in other of our Colonics and Plan- tations, that this made it more neceffary to think of providing for a regular and orthodox Mini- ftry to be fent and fettled amongft them j to re- move thofe Prejudices, under which the People generally laboured, and to promote, as much as po/fible, an Agreement in Faith and Worflbip, in order to the recommending our holy Religi- on to Unbelievers. Endea s 5 5- An Order of King and Council is faid to torldrefiL have been made to commit unto the Bifliop Q{^i^f^t**ng^ Londmy for the time being, the Care and Pafto- ral Charge of fending over Minifters into our l^oreign Plantations, and having thejurifdiftion of them. But when the prefent Lord Birtiop of London W2kS advancd to that See in 1675, his Lordftiip found this Title fo defcdive, that little or no Good had come of it. For it being C z kfc tvll left to fuch as were concern d in thofe Parts to provide for the tranfporting of fuch Minifters as mould be appointed or allowed by the Bifliop* there was fo little done, that when his £ord- fliip enquired how the leveral Colonies were provided, he found there were fcarce four Mi- nifters of the Church of England in all the vaft Traft of America J and not above one or two of them at moft, regularly fent over. To fupply this fad Defeft, his Lordfiiip made his Propo&ls to feveral of thofe Places to furnifli them with Chaplains, and had generally an Encouragement from them fo to do. And for the better effe- a:ing of it, his LordQiip prevailed with his Ma- jefty King Charles \L to allow to each Minifter^ or School-matter, that fliould go over, the Sum of twenty Pounds for his Paflagej which Royal Bounty bath been ever fince continued. And Inftruftions were given to each Governour to admit none Authoritatively to ferve any Cure of Souls, or to teach School, but fuch only as brought over the Bifliop of Londons Liccnfe with them : And as a farther great Favour, it was order d, that from that time, every Minifter Ihould be one of the Veftry of his refpedive. Parifh. Upon this they built Churches general- ly within all their Parifhes in the Leeward Iflands, and in Jamaica. And for the better ordering [ 13 ] of them, his Lordfhip prevailed with the King^, to devolve all Ecccfiaftical Jurifdidtion in thofe Parts upon him and his Succeffoiirs, except what concern d Indiiftions, Marriages, Probate of Wills, and' Adminifttations, which was con- tinued to the Governours as profitable Branches of their Revenue. And for their better En- couragement, his Lordfhip procured from his^ Majefty the Royal Gift of a fair Bible, Com- mon-Prayer-Book, Books of Homilies, Articles and Canons, and Tables of Marriages, for each Pariffi, to the Value of about twelve hundred: Pounds. At that time, there was no Church o( England M'miikQV either m^enfihania^ thcjer^ feySy New-York^ or New^England^ only the Chap- lain to the Fort at New-York^ officiated in thofcr ^ Parts, till a Church (as before mentioned} was opened at (Bojlony and foon after the Peo- ple of ^ad'Ifland built a Church to the fame Purpofc, and Colonel Fletcher^ when Governour of New-Yorl^^ procured the Affembly to fet out fix Churches, with Allowances from forty to- fixty Pounds a Year, for the Maintenance of Mittiftcrs. And the better ta accommodate the refiding Clergy, there- was Order given to- feveral of the Governours in the Irtands, that as Efcheats fliould fall la any Parifli, that was not oroyided of Manfe and Glebe- fome Pare of ' thofe^ y AoFc cfcheated Lands fliould be fettled for that pious Ufej though this, we doubt, has hitherto had very little Effeft. When the State of Re* Jigion began thus to profper in our Foreign Plantations, then, for the better Order and En- ♦creafe of it , the Lord Bifliop of London did conftitute and appoint the Reverend Mr. James Jilair^ to be his GommifTary inVtrginia-j and did afterward fend over the Reverend Dr. Thomas ^ray\ a^ his Commiffary to Mary 'Land ^ who being affifted by the generous Contributions of Her Royal Highnefs the Princefs of Denmark.^ (our prefcnt Gracious Queen ) and many of the Nobi- lity, Gentry and Clergy, did fettle and fupport feveral new Minifters in that Province, and did £x and furnifli fome Parochial Libraries , and did other publick Services, of which he Ijashim- felf given a tru€ and modeft Account, And ta encourage thefe Endeavours, a. private Society was form'd to nacet, and confult, and contribute toward this Progrefs of Chriftianity in Foreigti Parts. ' ^ 6. When fo good a Foundation had been 'ittyfn^rpoy^^^y it was time for publick Authority again to n'ateHhyjQ cfpoufc, and confimfl, and carry on this good ^ Work, as a National Concern, and a Bleffing to the Chriftian World, And therefoi;e foon afcer the late happvRevolution,when our GloriouiDcH- & i. J veier rercr King William, had re/cued the Church ofEn^ ^land and the Troteftant Religion from extreme Dan- gers • Ic was then by Divine Providence a mora favourable Opportuniiy for folliciting and pro- moting thisblcffed Defign oi propagating the Go/- pel more effedually in Foreign Pares : And accor- dingly, in this happy Jundure, a proper Applica- tion was made by the Arch-Biftops and Bifliops- to the King, who accordingly granted a Char- ter, dated 1 6 June, 1 70 1 , for the EreSling a Cor-- poration or Society, for the Propagation of the Gof-- pel in Foreign (Parts^ importing, that his Majefty *J Being credibly informed, that .in many of our ^" Plantations, Colonies, and Fadories beyond " the Seas, the Provifion for Minifters is very " mean, iind fom£ of them are wholly deftitute "and unprovided of a Maintenance for Mini- mi fters, and the publick Worfliip of God 5 and " for lack of fuch Support and Maintenance ^' many of the Subjefts of this Realm do want *^ the Adminiftration of Gods Word and Sa- il craments, and fcem to be abandoned to Athe- '^ ifm and Infidelity 5 and alfo for want of Lear- " ned and Orthodox Minifters to inftrud: them. *Mn the Principles of the true Religion, divers " ^o"^ifl^ Pnefts andjefuits are the more encou- ^^ raged to pervert and draw them over to Po- " pilli Snperftition and Idolatry, And where- J as '" as his Majefty thinks it is his Duty, as much as " in him lies, to promote the Glory of God, by " the Inftruaion of his People in the Chriftian " Religion 5 and that it will be highly conducive " for the accompliiliing thofe Ends, that a fuffi- '' cient Maintenance be provided for an Ortho- '' dox Clergy to live amongft them, and that " fuch other Provifion be made, as may be ne- . " cefTary for the Propagation of the Gofpel in '^ thofe Pares — And whereas his Majefty hath " been well alTured, that if he would be graci- " oufly pleafed to eredt and fettle a Corporati- " on for the receiving, managing, and difpofing " of the Charity of his loving Subjects, diverfe ^'Perfons would be induced to extend their " Charity to the Ufes and Purpofes aforefaid — *' His Majefty for thofe Confiderations, and for " the better and more orderly carrying on the " faid charitable Purpofes, is pleafed to ordain, " conftitute, declare and grant, that the moft Re- " verend Father in God Thomas Lord ArchBifliop " of Canterbury jZndJohnLovd ArchBifliop of Ibr^, ^^ Henry Lord Bifhop of London^ and feveral ^' other Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and o- *^ ther Perfons of the Clergy and Laity, to the " Number of about Ninety, therein particular- " ly named, and their Succeftours, fhould ever ^^hereafter be one Body Politick and Corporate, u €C _ n _ ** by the Name of the Smety for the J^roffagatim ^' of thcGofpel in Foreign Parts^ in perpetual Suo " ceffion 5 who fliall be able to purchafe two ^^thoLifand Pounds fer Annum Inheritance, and " Eftates for Lives or Years, Goods and Chattels ^* of any VaUie 5 and ftiall have a common Seal, " and yearly meet on the firft Fridai in Fehru^ " ary^ between 8 and 1 2 in the Morning, to " chufe a Prcfident, one or more Vice Prcfi- ^^ dents, one or more Treafurers, two or more Auditors, one Secretary, and other Officers for the Year enfuing, who fliall take Oath for *' the due Execution of their Office. And that ^^ Thomas Lord Arch-Bifliop of Cmiterbury be the *' firft Prefident. The faid Society fliaU meet to " tranfail Bufinefs on the third Friday in every " Month or oftner if need be 5 and at fuch " monthly Meeting, may eleft fuch Members " of the Corporation as they fliall fee fit. And ''at any Meeting on the ih:\t(i Friday in NoVem- " her^ February^ May^ and Augufi^ for ever, the " major Part prefent may make By-Laws, " and execute Leafes — And the faid Society ac "any Meeting may depute fit Perfons to take " Subfcriptions, and colled Money contributed " for the Purpofes aforefaid 5 and may caufe pub- ** lick Notification to be made of this Charter 5 *^and fliall yearly give account to the Lord D Chan- •UO). l9 ^ ^Chancellor or Keeper, and the two chief Jufti- " CCS of all Money received and laid out. It is not improper to recite what a Reverend a,yfc.;./Sa- Prelate has taken Occafion to obferve that when private Perfons had laid a Scheme of this Nature, then " To make the Management le- " gal and fafe under Royal proteftion, and to " bring in more to aflift in the Execution of '^ that which was too great for a fmall Handful, ^' Application was made to his late Majefty, " whofe Memory will be ever glorious among '^ us let fome do what they can to blemifli it. " He very readily approved of it, and ordered " a Charter for making them a Corporation. " This was among the laft of the publick AcJli- " ons of a Life that had been all employ d in *' Defending and Securing true Rehgion, both " here and elfewhere. It was fuitable to all " that had gone before, that towards the End' '' of it, he (hould give Life and Authority to (o " glorious an Undertaking. iPmce.^in^^s § 7. In Puiluancc of this great Truft and c/;/.c.5.c^.e7.pj.-^.j^g^^ the Lord Arch-Biftiop of Canterbury being conftituted the firft Prefident (in which Office, by the unanimousVotes of the Society, his Grace has been yearly continued) did caufe Sum- mons to be iffued within the time limited, to the ieverai Members to meet at uich Tiine and Place ^, > place as he appointed 5 who being met, did ac- cordinly chuk Vice-Prefidents, Treafurers, Aii- dicors, and a Secretary, to execute and continue in their refpeclive Offices till the third Friday in February next following 5 and did then advance or fubfcribe a prcfent Sum of Money among themfelves to defray the Expences of pafling their Charter, and bearing other ncceflary Char- ges, to near the Sum of two hundred Pounds, In fome following Meetings, they made divers Rules and Orders Tor their more regular Proceed- ing in this weighty Bufinefsj and proceeded to confider of the moft eflfeaual Ways and Means to obtain Subfcriptions and Com butions fuffi- cient to carry on their good Hopes and De- figns. It was foon agreed, that it was proper for themfelves to lead the Way by their own Example: Whereupon many of the Members, being encouraged by the generous Example of their moft Reverend Prefident, and other Bifliops then prefent, did fubfcribe every one a yearly Sum, to be paid to the Treafurer, for thofe pi- ous Ufes, according to a Form of Subfcripcion drawn up for that Purpofe. And foon afcer they fenc out their Commi/fions or Deputati- ons to feveral Perfons of Figure and Incereftin their refpedive Countries, as conjlituted and ap- pointed by them to take^SuhJcriptions^ and to colleB • and u 2 ■^i Hctm A and eyery Sum and Sum of Monef^ Zhuh are, or (hall be fuhferM, contr.huted, s,Ve^ or advanc'd for tU x Plantations, and did hnd', Siat in fome Places it was fo very fad and de- ^ plorable, that there were fcarcc any Footfteps ot Relieion to be f«n among, them ; and where therl was any Sent ot it Tefr, the People had fent very mournful Complaints of their Want of Minifters to inftrud, affift, and guide them m it. For wlKreas the Biglf> Colonies m Ammcw were extended twelve hundred Miles m Length upon the Sea-Coaft, well fettled with People, un- der Ten feveral Governmsnts. In feme of thefe theie was. yet no Manner of Provihon of Mini- fters, or of any Support for them;^ and in all the others, much fewer than the publick Service of God, and the Inftruaionof the People did reafonably require. . c • . ^ i ..rr €j 9 Upon this Informauon, the Society did "" ■ ^nqm?e foJ fuch Perfons in Holy Orders a. would cheerfully undertake to go oyer into thofe Plantations, and there exercife their Miniftry iafijch Places .-.= «cxc beft dilpo&d to receive them 2- fjanarles. -( w them : And for their Encouragement, did fup^ ply them with Books and other Neceflaries to cany with them, and to fubfift them in their Voyage 3 with ftated Salaries to fupport them in their itinerant MifiTions or fettled Stations, to continue at lead for three Years, till the Inha- bitants fliould be more able and willing to make and fettle fome legal Provifion for them. And the Society took an efpecial Care, that fuch Minift«rs only fliould be fent over, who were of n fober and exemplary Life, and who did feem to be moved with a Dcfire of undertaking fuch an Apoftolical Work, from the Princi- ples ofConlcience and true Religion 5 and who did appear truly qualified both by Temper, and other requifite Endowments. To which good Purpofe, they publifli^d and difpers'd this Paper of Requeft and Advice to all Perfons : " The " Society ereited by Royal Charter, for the Pro- '' pagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, taking *' into ferious Confideration the abfolute Ne- "ceflky there is, that thofe Clergymen who ^' fliall be fent abroad, fliould be duly qualified " for the Work to which they are appointed, de- « fire that all Perfons, who fliall recommend any " tothat Purpofe, willteftifie their Knowledge as « to the following Particulars. Vt:^ I. The Age ^ of the Perfon, II. His Condition of Lite, ^- ^'wher- si I " whether fmgle or married. III. His Temper. "IV. His Prudence. V. His Learning. VI. " His fober and pious Converfacion. VH. His '^ Zeal for the Chriftian Religion, and Dili- '■' gence in his Holy Calling. Vni. His AfFe- " a:ion to the prefcnt Government. ^ JX. His ^^' Conformity to the Doctiine and DilcipHne of " the Church of Englarl And the faid Soci- " ety do recjueft and earneftly bcfeech all Per- " fo'ns concern'd, that they recommend no Man "out of Favour or Affedion, or any other " worldly Confideration, but with a fincere Re- " gard to the Honour of Almighty God and " our Bleffed Saviour, as they tender the In- *' cereft of the Chriftian Religion, and the Good " of Mens SouliJ. This ftrid Care and Cau- tion has had fuch a Blefling of God upon it, that moft of the Miffionarics have obtained in thofe Parts a very good Report from the Go- vernours and People, particularly the Honoura- ble the Lord Cornbury^ a great Friend and Patron ofthefe good Defigns, in a late Letter, ispleafed to fay, That ^ to the Mintflers who are fettled at New-York, Jamaica, Hampftead, Weft-Chefter, and Rye, he mufi do them the Juflice to Jay^ that they ha'Ve hehayedthemfehes with great Zeal^exemplaryTietyy and unwearied Diligence ^ in dif charge of their Duty in their feVcral farijhesj in which his Lordp7ip hopes the 25 ] th Church will hy their Vilig^nce he encrea/ed more and more eVery Day, And Colonel Heathcot, in a late Letter dared from the Manoiir of Scar/dale, within the fr,me Province of New-York^, NoVem" her p. 1705, doesaiViire, "That he mull do all " the Gentlemen that Juftice, whom the Society ^^ have fent to that Province, as to declare, that " a better Clergy were never in any Place, there "being not one ampngft them that has the " leaft Stain or Blemifh as to his Life or Con- " verfation. . And tho' he is not an Eye-witncfs " to the A6tions of any, fave thole in his own " County 3 yet he omits no Opportunity of " enquiring into their Behaviour, both of the "Friends and Enemies of the Church 5 and " they all agree in the good Charafter of them, " and that they ufe their bed Endeavours to " gain over the People, ^c. § 10. To make cheir good Defigns bett:erT/;c»v^D^^^^^ known to the World, five hundred printed Co- Zifi^Z pies of the Charter (at the voluntary Charge of the Prefident) were publifhed and diftributed amongft the Members, to be communicated by them to their Friends and Correfpondents. Then - the Lord Bifliop of London was defired to im- part to the Society, an Account of the Miniftcrs and Churches within the EngUp? Plantations in. t\it We ft 'Indies y and their prefent Circumftance., which. If: 24 _ which was accordingly done by his Lordfliip,' And it was farther defir'd, that all the Members fliould endeavour to procure the beft Informa- tion they could of the State and Condition of the Churches in Foreign Parts. And fuch Ap- plication was made to other proper Perfons for Intelligence , that within few Months, the So- ciety were much obliged by Colonel Morris of Eafl'Jerfey, with a Memorial, relating to the State of Religion in both the yer/ej5, and (Philadelphia: By Colonel Dudley, Governonr of New-England^ with a full Account of the prefent State of Chri- ftianity in all the Colonies of North- America ; By Mr. George l<^ith, with a Letter to the Secreta- ry, about the State of Qiiakerifm in Tenjthania: By the Lords Commi/Tioners of Trade and Plan- tations, with a Letter to the Lord Arch-Bifhop of Canterlury, concerning the ConverCon of the five Natiorrs of the Indians, &c. And to give the World fome Account of the Defigns of the Society, and to invigorate the Profecution of them, there was drawn up, An Account of th TrC" fagation of the Go/pel in Foreign Tarts -^ reprefen- ting what the Society EJlablip'd in England hy tl(0yal Charter haVe dom in her Maje/iys flantations. Colonies, ajid FaHories • As alfo what they dejtgn to do upon farther Encouragement from their own Memkrs^ and other well difpo/ed Chrijiians^ either hy ; Annual y Order of the Society, printed in a fingle Sheet. §» X 1 • To make their Enquiries more cffe- ^Jl's^ (5i;ual, they fent over the Reverend Mr. George ^i tsjithy SiS a travelling Miffionary into thofe Parts, who kept a Journal of his Travels and Labours^ now publifh'd by him. After this and other agreeable InformationSj; the Society proceeded to encreale their Fund in fomc better Proportion to their great Occafions. They invited in feveral new Members of Abi* lity and Inclination to do good. They orde- red feveral Subfcription-Rolls to be delivered to their chief Members, to continue in theit Cuftody, in order to procure and receive parti-* cular Bencfadions. They defir'd all their Members who were Minifters and Inhabitant!' of the City of London^ to apply themfelves to the eminent Merchants of the faid City, efpeci-* ally fuch of them as traded into the Plantations^ and folicic them Co . promote this pious Defign, 0/ It fcl m College in Virginia, And they took all juft Opportunities of mum. fn7thei7 Thanks to their chief Friends and Bc- neW: AS in particular, The Thanksof the Sode V was given to Colonel Francis NMfon, GoSo- ompnl., for the g«at Services h. had done towards the Propagation of the Chn- ftian Religion, and the Eftablifliment of the Church of Ensland in the plantations , .i^d par u- cularlv for his having contributed io largely , towards the Foundation of many Churches along the Continent of north-Amenca. , . , ^ I i.We muft notforget,that under thehappy Infliience of King ^il/iW. Reign, -a very NoWe Defign was laid of ereding and endowing a Col- leae in Firginia, for Profeffors and Students m Academical Arts and Sciences for a contimul Seminary ef learning and Religion. A ftately Fabrick was raifed for that Purpokj a Royal Charter was given, withample Immunities and Privileges, and a pubUck Fund was allotted for the Eni^ment of it, and a Preiident appointed ^vith an honourable Salary C^c. and '" Honour of the Founders, it was called Jto' and Mary «7ollege. But fuch are the Difficulties attending every preat Defign, that it could not be furniflit with Profcffors and Students, nor advance it felf above a Grammar-School, before the whole College was unfortunately deftroy d by Fire. --—D- - itas t; ' • . i •it *rhls was but one Inft^ncc among nlany others,^ of the Royal Favour and Bounty (hewn to the Foreign Plantations by their Majefties King William and Queen Mary. A Bifhop of 6ur Church gives this Account of her Majefty'sZeal and Affection in this Caufe. She tool^particular BijhopofSx^ Methods to'kmll informed of the State of our Pl'in''l'^'^f'^^^f„^ tations 3 md of thofe Colonies that m hdye among Infidels. (But it was no fmall Grief to her^ to hear that they were hut too generally a ^proach to the (l(eligion by which they were named, (I do not fay^ which they profefled 3 for many of them fcem fcarce' to profefs it. ) She gaVe a willing Ear to a fitations, that " fuch Clergy Men as have a Mind to be em- " ployed in this Apoftolical Work, and can « bring fufficient Teftimoniats, that they are du- "lyquahfied for it, may give in their Names to " their refpedive Bifliops, to be communicated " by them to the Society, in order to fending them « to fuch Places as have mod: Need, and where « they may therefore, by God's BlelCng and Affi- « ftflnre/domoftGood. Andif any ftiall be fent to -" » • "plaees. - c *^ Places, where there is not a fufficient Maintc- ' nance already fettled , the Society will take " Care, that they may have not only a com- " petent Subfiftance, but all the Encouragement " that is due to thofe who devote themfelves? to " the Service of Almighty God and our Saviour, " by propagating and promoting his Gofpel in " the Truth and Purity of it, according to the " Doftrine, Difcipline, and Worfliip eftablifli- • " ed in the Church of England. ^^ ^ 15. Under this Care of recommending and ^7J;;^;^'>' encouraging fit and worthy Perfonsj feveral/ew^ Divines and other Students ofFer'd their Service to the Society 3 and thofe of them who were found to have the beft Characters, and the great- eft Abilities, were received, and employed, and fupported to their full Satisfaction. Mr. Ta* tricky GourdoUy was fent a Miffionary to New-York^ with ^ competent Allowance of Fifty Pounds per Annum, or more if the Society fliould think „ ^ Mr. John (Bartow, to Weft-Chefler in the la/ "^^-ovince, with Fifty Pound ^er Annum, and a benevolence of Thirty Pound. Mr. Samud Thomas to South-Canlina, with the yearly Sup- port of Fifty Pound, with Ten Pound to be laid out in Stuffs, for the Ufe of the wild Indiam i in thofe Parts of South-Carolina, where the faid Mr, Thomas was to refide^ and twenty Pounds for iN for his farther Encouragement. Mr. John Talbot} Reftor bf St. Marys in Jiurlington in Kew-Jtr^ fey^ was allowed to be an Itinerant Compani- on and Affiftant to the Reverend Mr. George Kjith, in his Mi/fion and Travels, with an Al- lowance of fixty Pound per Annum. Mr. John Srooi, was appointed to ferve at Shrewsbury , Am^ hoy, Eli^aheth-Town, and Freehold in Eaji-Jerfeyy and was fupported by an Annual Penfion of Fifty Pound. Mr. tVilliam Barclay, the Church of England Miniftei: at !Braintree in New-England, had an Annual Encouragementof Fifty Pound, and a Gratuity of Twenty five Pound for pre- fent Occafions- Mr. Henry Nichols was fettled as Minifter in Uplands in Tenfihania , with an Allowance of Fifty Pound per Annum from the Society. Mr. Thomas Crawford at DoVer-Hundred in the fame Province, had a like Annual Al- lowance of Fifty Pound, and Mr. Andrew ^d-- fnan, had a Reward given to him for the Sup- ply of Oxford or Franckjort in the the fame Country. Mr. James Honyman was fent to S^orfe- JJlandy with the Affiftance of Thirty Pound per Annum. Mr. William Ur^uhart was fix'd at Ja^ maica in Long^Iflandy with a Salary of Fifty Pound per Annum, and Mr. John Thomas at Hampflead in the fame Ifland, with the fame Support. The Reverend Dr. Lejau wa^ fent to Goofe-creek, in 'South'Cdr9lina ( where Mr. Stackhoufe had bccei before .tppointed and fupported by the Society ) n'ich an honourable Allowance of Fifty Pounds yearly, and rwciity five Pounds for his Charges m tranfporting himfelf and Fatnily. Bcfides "Hcfe, the Sociey "have fenc the Reverend Mr. Q{nfs to ^NcW'CaJlk in (Pcnjitvania^ the Reverend Mr. Mackr e}i;^y to Staten-IfJcmd m New-Tori^ and -fcvf ral other Mi/Ttonaries. And co make them the more ealic and cheaful in theit Undertaking this Miffion 3 the Society have made it a Rule and Pradice, .) i Care of the f^ative Ind ans. OBol. i-j. 1700. n tants of the Plantations to our Society, for their Advice and Afllftance in propagating Religion amongft them 5 to which the Society have made proper and fuitable Returns. § I 8. Nor hath the Society been unmindful 'of ufing their ucmoft Endeavours for propagating the Gofpel among the Heathen Indians and Slaves in and near our feveral Plantations. They re- ceived with great Satisfaction a Letter from the Lords CommiJJioners of Trade and Plantations, direded to the Lord Arch-Bifliop oi Canterbury, fignifying, " That the Earl of Bellamont had feveral Times *^ rcprefented to them, the great Want of fome " Minifters of the Church o( Ej^gland, to inftruft " the five Nations of Indians on the Fron- *' tiers of New-York, and prevent their being "•' pradis'd upon by French Priefts and Jefuits, ^* who were converfant among them, and very " induftrious in perfwading them, by Pretences of Religion, to efpoule the French Interefl:. *' Whereupon they ( the Lords Commiflioners ) " had reprefented to their Excellencies the Lords " Juftices their humble Opinion, That if a Fund " could be found for the Maintenance of fuch *^ Minifters, they might be of very great life and *^ Service, as well for the Propagation of the Re- " formed Religion, as for improving the Inte- " reft o( England. At the fame Time the Lords C ^m- Commiflioners imparted to his Grace" anrf to» the Lord Bifliop of Londjn, fome further Advice upon the fame Siibjeft, which they had more lately received from the Earl of Mlamont 5 in particular this remarkable Extradl of what was laid by otie in the Name of the reft of the Sa- chems of the fraying Indians of Canada^ ( V/;^. fuch as haVe been converted to fome Sort of TrofeJJjon of Chriftianity) to the Commiflioners for the Indian Affairs in Albany, June 28. 1700—— fays>^he^ " We are now come to Trade 5 and not to (peak " of Religion. Only thus much I muft fay, " all the while I was here, before I went to G- " nada, I never heard any Thing talkt of Reli- " gion, or the leaft mention made of conver- " ting us to the Chriftian Faith. And we fliali ^^ be glad to hear, if at laft you are fo pioufly " inclined to take fome Pains to inftrudt your " Indians in the Chriftian Religion. I will not^ " fay but it may induce fome to return to their "Native Country. I widi it had been done " fooner, that you had had Minifters to inftrua: " your Indians in the Chriftian Faith, ^c. This , Reprefentation was humbly laid before the Queen in Council 5 from whence his Grace the Arch-Bifliop of Canterhwy reported this Order,. A «^' At th Court at St. JamesV the Third Day 4 April 1700. Trefent the . ^eens Mofl Excellent Majeftj in ComciL ^'1 "1 PON reading this Day at tlie Board . \l a Reprefentation from the Lords Com- *' miilioners of Trade and Plantations, dated the <' fecond of this Month, relating to her Majelly s " Province of 7ellius^ and now Mr. Lydius^ as alfo' ^'Mr. Freeman at Shinnerlady^ had taken great *^ Pains with the Mohog Indians^ and with the *'Help of Interpreters had tranflated feveral: " Prayers, P&lms, the Creed, Ten Command- " ments, and fome Chapters of the New-Tcfta- "ment, into the I^/^i^/i Language, and had taught " them fo far, that they were admitted to parti-' ^^ cipatc of botb Sacraments, <. ?L ".!• fT''": *" 'he mean Time the u ^"hr'itians felling the Indians fomuch Rum is a fufficient Bar, if there were no other, againft , their embracing Chriftianity. But after all thefe Difcouragemcnts, Mr. Moor has not altogether defifted from this Attempt ( tho attended with inexpreffible Difficulty ) of converting the Indians: he is employin? his La- bours in the Church of 'Burlington in Ncm-Yorl and there waits for the Commands of the Socie- ty. And the Honourable the Lord Combury Governourof that Province, has been pleafedco inform the Society, by Letter dated from New- lork Noyemkr ii. 1705. that thev need notal- .o^v.uv. uvij^au ui aucceiS5 tnac nexc Summer/ God I ^ $4- . God witling, he int"ends to go tx) Many, and to know of the Indians, the Reafons of their not behaving themfelves better, finccthey had lo ot- ten defired a Minifter to be fent among then:!^ and his Lordfliip will fee, if he can find a Way to make Mr. Moor eafier there, than he has been, iddina the Teftimony of him, that He is a Very \rood Man. Though after all, we doubt there are Tnfuperable Difficulties, at leaft for the prcfenr. An eminent Citizen oi London, well acquainted with the State oftho^ Foreign Parts, has lately informed the Society"that "After all, there are "a great many Obftacles to the Converlion ot " the Indians bordering on our Plantations: They " are educated in great Prejudices to our Religi- '' on, by the unjuft Encroachment of the EngUp) " upon their Lands 5 and do not ftick to fay, ^' that They cant helieVe, that tpe ivifl) them a flace " in Heaven, when m deny them a ^lace upon Earth. " The Government ought to prevent this too " jufl: Reproach. Befides, thofe near to New " England are the moft cruel and barbarous of ^' all the favage Nations, and have deftroyed all "their innocent Neighbours. They are al- ways unfixed, either rambling for feveral Months together, or hunting, or upon War- *^ like Expeditions, and at their Return to the yrr-it ^1 1 ^ ^^.^a.'nWxr tirtipirnpri ■all ° ' ^ "dieir U 4C .tf "*• r • 11 •-a » - - • • \ < "their former Inftruftions 5 and it is impofllble " for any Miniftet to accompany them in their " Ramble of three or four hundred Leagues at " a Time. But that which I apprehend to be " of worfe Confequence to their Converfion, *^ and engaging in the EngUp^ Intereft, is, the *^ Treatic which. I underftand is lately conclu- "ded with them, wherein a Neutrality is " allowed them in this prefent War. This ^ will give an Opportunity to the Canada In^ '' dians to furround the Engllflo Colonies, and ^^ make all Correfpondence with and Paffage ^^ to the Iroquois Lidians very difficult and '^ unfafe. Belides, if the ufual Prefents are not ^' continued, they'll not be prevailed with to ^' attend to any Inftrudions from our Minifters, ^^ but will rather 'fdl off to the French^ if they can " get any Thing by it, «trc. Indeed the Artifices of the French Jefuits do very much obftrudl our Propagation of the Gofpel among thofe poor Souls, as was thus reprefented to us by Mr. Vellius'^'^^ It is the common Opmion/that the ''Jefuits debauch, the Iroquois (which is the comr '-'mon Name of the five Nations) from their "Fidelity to the Crown oi England ySLud it is " natural to them to turn every Stone to that " Purpofe. Indeed all the Evils thar the Englifl? ^ Colonies have undergone during the laft War, \l. nave. tj 4>'i .# Ml ^^liave been occafioned by the Indians, that is to " fay, the debauched IndiayiSy of whom they arc "abfolutely Mafters: and the Intrigues which " that Order has ufed, and of which I have feen ^' little Memoirs, are almoft incredible 3 and it is "very much to be feared that they will ftill '' win upon them daily: For among the fivcNa- ^' tions there is a great Number of French that *' are incorporated by Adoption into their Tribes^ *' and as fuch they oftentatioufly afllimc Iroquois "or Indian Names 3 and the poor filly Indians '' confidering them as Perfons of their own " Blood, do entirely confide in them, and ad^ " mit them into their Councils 3 from whence *' you may judge what fine Work the Jefuits « make with their Affairs, (trc. Let it be only added what one of the chief Inhabitants in New- York has lately written over to the Society, upon this Head — '' In my Opinion , the Matter of " converting the Indians is too heavy for the So- ^^ cietv to meddle with at prefent , and would '' properly lie as a Burden upon the Crown, to *' be defrayed out of the Revenue here 3 for their ^^ being brought over to our^ holy Faith, will " at the fame Time fecure them in their Fidelity *' to the Government — Thofe who are fenc ** over on that Errand muft be fuch as can en- "dure Hardfhips, and are able and willing to live \\ ^^7 ] live with the Indians in their own Country and according to their Way and Manner, which is the Method the French take. tion ot theie Defigns of the Society reach'd over™''" '" to NewMnd md encouraged fome Gentle- g'frd.'" men and chief Traders in that Province to fol- low the laudable Example, and to form them- lelves into a Society for the /> 10. 170?. that "There were among " chcra a great Number of Slaves, called Negroes, « of both Seres and of all Ages,who were without " God in the World, and of whofe Souls there " was no Manner of Care taken. And thcrc- " fore it would be worthy the Charity of this. " Corporation, to endeavour to find but fomc •' Methods for their rnftrudions,^ in order to " the converting and baptizing of them, with- " our. any Way affcaing the Property of their " Mafters - - That fuch a Harveft would be more "plentiful than that of the Indians if lome " honeft Subfiftance were allow'd to any good " Perfon, for undertaking the Office of a Ca- m 1 •/! .l.~~. . &nA fVio VlaftpM would ° . " fend. <( WVv of Chefter in c. From the Learned Mr. John Leonhard-i in the Name of the Proteftant Grifons^ dated May 17. 1705. ble/fing God for the pious and Chriftian Zeal of the Society, and praying for Succefs to their Honourable Undertakings. , From the fame Perlon OElober 3 o. 1 70^* acknowledging rhc Receipt of Letters from the Society, and commending their glori- ous Endeavours for Propagaiion ot the Gofpel. From the pons Monfieur Ofte>Vald^ Paftor of New/chattel y December 5. 1704. returning his Thanks to the Corporation, for the Honour they had done him, in electing him a Member, and promifing to promote the Defigns, and purfue the Orders of the illuftrious Society. — From the Reverend CoUegues Meflieurs Tronchin and TurretiHy d2LtQd Geneya^Decemher 19. 1704. expref- fing then* mofl; hearty Thanks to the Society for the Honour done them in ^iflbciating them to that Honourable Body 5 and afluring the So- ciety that, in Duty and Gratitude, they will omit nothing in their Power towards the promoting thofe pious Defigns; and taking Occalion to mendon 3 That they had already proceeded ,»> ;n- 71 _ render the Divine Wordiip in their Church, as conformable as might be to the Englifh Liturgy, and will imploy their Lives to bring it nearer if po/fible. — Another Letter from Monficur Ofter)fald, dared December 3. 1704. intimating his farther Acknowledgments of beincr ad- mitted of the Number of that illuftrious and venerable Aflembly, and declaring his moft fin- cere and refpeclfui inclinations for their Church and. their Society 5 and that as a Teftimony of it, they had eftabiidi'd the ordinary Divine Service in rhe City o( New/chattel upon the Pat- tern of the Englijh. — From Mr. John Jacob Sche- rer^ dated at St. Gallen, December 16, 1704. ex- pre/firg himfelf full of Zeal and Readincfs to give rhe Society any Satisfaftion, and referring to what he had written to the Reverend Dr. Woodward for his prefent Labours in this Kind of Study. — With feveral other Letters from the Reverend Mr. Jofc/j LeonhardM nidcx of theGoC- pel at Chigen in the Town of Sefamnie among the Gri/i?M5,and the Reverend M.Otto GraJs^Dc^n of the upper League in the Grifon Churches,and again- from Meflieurs Tronchin and Turretin with a Copy of the Divine Service, as agreeable as may be to the EngHJJ? Liturgy now eftabliflid in the Churches of the Grifons^ &c. In all which Foreigr^ Letters, proper Anlwers and Replies were 2ivea ia < i\ ir si ■«•. in the Name and by the Order of the Sodiety,' fubfcribed by the Secretary John Chamherkym Efquirc. 'jnyiicuir-r ^ ij^. It muft bc ftirthcr obferved, That the '%f cinch Society have taken Care to ptof^agatc Chriftian ^'/Hn^iand. Religion according to the Purity of Faith and Wbrfhip proleft and eftablifli'd in the Church of England^ and have conlulted the Ho- nour and Intereft oi om EngUjh Church, by all the faireft and moft efFcdual Ways and Means. Upon this honed View, they have taken Care to fend no Miffionaries, but fuch ?,s, among o- th^r Qualifications, have a good Atteftation of their jffeEliou to the prc/ent Government^ and of their Conformity to the "Dqtlrine and IHfdf line of the Church o/^ England. And in their Requeft to the Bifhops and Arch-Deacons, for recommen- ding to them fit Minifters to be fent abroad^ ihey declare, that their Subfiftance and Encou- ragement fliall be given only to thofe who de- vote themjelves to the Service of God^ by propagating and promoting the G of pel in the Truth and J^Urity of ity according to the i)oElrine^ T>ifciplii.fiy and Wor^ j[hip ejlablijl?ed in the Church of England. And among the Inftruftions given to their Miffiona- ries, they do dired them that they confcientiouf- ly oblerve the Rule of our Liturgy in the Per- formance of all the Offices of their Miniftry, That ^ . .5 , That beficfes the ftaced Service appointed for Snmlays and HoIy^Days, they do, as far as they ihp!. find It prafticable, publickly read the dai- ly Morning and Evening Service ... That they confider the Qualifications of thofe whom they admit to the LordVSupper, accordincr to the Diredlions of the Kubricks in our Limray .-. That they explain the Church Catechifm^'in the moft eafic and familiar Manner ™ That they frequently vifit their refpedive Pariniioners, thofe of our own Communion , to keep them fteady in the Profeffion and Pradice of Rcliai. on, as taught in the Church of England. Thofe that oppole us, or diffent from us, to convince and reclaim them with a Spirit of Meckne/s and Crtntlenejs. And to encourage the EngUp? De- cency and Order in the feveral Plantatioa Churches, the Society have expended above two hundred and fifty Pounds, in large Bibles and Foho Common-Prayer Books, for publick Ufe and Service 3 and more than two hundred Pounds, in fmall Common-Prayer Books, Cate- chifms, and Expofitions, to be diftributed gra- tis among the People : And for an Example, to furnifli the Churcljps with luicable Ornaments, they have feht over two diftlna: Services of Communion Cups and Patens in Silver, with ■ •1 1 u III i\ iVant ef a Suffragnn Pulpit Cloths and Cufliions, and Carpets and U'^ nen for the Communion-Table. § i^» They have been likewifc careful of recommending the Difcipline of the Church of England, as far as the Conftitution of thofe Countries will poffibly ad j The Wane of a Bifhop or Suffragan in thoic Parts was ofr n complained of in Letters and Reports from thence, and was therefore conCdered in feveral Committees : And a Committee was at lail ap- pointed to prepare a State of this Matter, in order ta be offered to the Conftderation of the Attorney GenC' raly or others of the Queens Council learned in the Law. Whkb State was accordingly prepared, and called, The Cafe of Suffragan Stfhops for Fo^ reign Tarts briefly propofed , in feveral Obfervations and Queries. And this Matter has been carri- cd as far as the Difficulties in it would hitherto allow, and is under fuch farther Solicitation and Advances, that we hope fliortly to (ee a happy Surcefs of ir. In the mean time, all young Students in thofe Parts, who deiire Epifcopal Ordination, are invited into England^ and their Expences of coming and returning are to be defrayed by the Society, in purfuance of an Or- rfer made to that EflPc,r. 1 lantations, that are prejudicial to the Rights and^'>''«- Liberties of the Church and Clergy in thofe Parts 5 The Society do fo far take Notice of them, as to withdraw their Affiftance of fending, or main- taming Miffionaries in any fuch Province, till the Injury be removed or repaired. Hence a Com- mittee at St. fPaul\ took lately into their Gon- fideration a certain Claufe in a late Aft of Ge- neral Aflembly in South-Carolina, November 4. 1704. Entituled, An AH for the EJiabUp^ment of ^lipous Worjhip, &c. importing that the Reclors or Minifters fliall be removeablc by Authority of certain Lay-Commiffioners, or the major Pan of them, upon Complaint of their Irregula- rity or Indifcretion, made by fuch a Part oT the Inhabitants: When they had deliberately confidered this Branch of the Aft, chey came to this Opinion, " That by Virtue hereof, the " Minifters in South'-Carolina will be too rnuch ''^ fubjeded to the Pleafure of the People 5 and ^'1 therefore they agree to recommend rhis^Mac- '^ ter to the Wifdom of the Lord Arch-Bifliop of " Canterbury and Bifliop of London, to take kich >{■■ L 2 Care '^ Care therein as they flull think proper. This> Opinion was confirmed by the unanimous Judg- ment of the Society at their next Meeting, who refolvedto fend orfupporcno Mi/Tionarics with* in that Province, till the laid At^b or that Claufc of it was annulled. But bccaufe Mr. Thomas and other Miflionaries attending the Society had been before appointed for that Place, it was therefore referr'd to a Committee , whether they fliould be ftopt in their intended Voyage, by detaining the Society's Allowance to them 3, or whether they fhould proceed on the Society's Account. And accordingly a Committee came to this Opinion, That it may be very pre- judicial to the Minifters that are appointed to South'Carolhiay to put a Scop to the fending rhem over to thofe Parts, by Reafon that all of them have akeady received half a Year's advan- ced Allowance from the Society, together with rfieir refpecStive Shares of Books, and have taken their Pafiages for the faid Country, aAd put their EfFeds on Board, and one of them was adually gone away ; but that the faid Miffiona- ries fhould not be allowed ta continue in their faid Mi/Tions any longer than during the Space of one whole Year after their Arrival in South-Carolina^ unlefs theClaufes in the faid Ad of Aflembly, excepted againft by the Society, be refcinded^ J- and and the Matter be put into an Ecclcfiaftical Me- thod. And they farther agreed, That each of the Miflionarics appointed to South-Ctrolhrn, (liall have Copies of all the Refoliitions relating to thefaid Aft of Aflfembly, o*c, itgned by the Se- cretary. While this Affair was upon the Thoughts of the Society, who confirmed the Opinions' of the Committee, they were relieved from all far^ ther Concern in it, by irs coming under the Cognilance of the Right Honourable the Houfe of Lords, by Means ofa Petition oi Jojc^h'Boom Merchant, on behalf of himfelf and many other Inhabitants of the Province of CiYolina, (Sec. to the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament aflcmbled, fliewing a- mong other Things, '^ That the Ecclefiaffical '' Government of the laid Colony is under the ''Jurifdidtion of the Lord Biflhop of London: '' But the Governour and his Adherents have at ^Mafl:, which the faid Adherents had often threat- '' ned, totally abolifted it : For the fliid A(Tcm«> '' bly hath lately paded an Aft, whereby twenty '' Lay-Perfons therein named, are made aCor- ' poration, for the Exercife of feveral exorbi- ' tanc Powers, to the great Injury and Oppref- fion of the People in general, and for the Ex- ^^^ ercife of all Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiftion, with ab-- [\ lolute Power to deprive any Minifter of the : '^ Church? a <-i a It 'in ' i| 1^ '' church o( England of his Benefice, not only for '' his Inimorality, but even for his Impaidence, " or for innumerable Prejudices and Animofi* '' ties between fuch Minifter and his Parifli. And " the only Church of England Minifter, that is " eftabliftied in the faid Colony, the Reverend ^^ Mr. Edward Mar/ion^ hafh already been cited " before their Board 5 which the Inhabitants of " that Province take to be a high Ecclefiaftical " Commiffion Court, deftru(5live to the very " Being and Effencc of the Church of England^ " and to be had in the utmoft Deteftation and '' Abhorrence by every Man that is not an Ene- " my to our Conftitution in Church and State. The Houfe of Lords hereupon entered upon a particular Confideration olr this A61, and came to the following Refolution ; " That it is the " Opinion of this Houfe, that the A(5t of the ^' AHembly in Carolina^ lately part there, and *' fince figned and feal'd by John Lord GranVtlle *' palatine for himfelf, and for the Lord Carteret^ " and the Lord CraVen^ and by Sir John Colletorty " four of the Proprietors of that Province, in or- "der to the ratifying of ir, Intituled, An JH for " the EJlahliJhment of ^ligious Worflnp in this Tro^ ^'^Vmcey according to the Church of England, and " for the ercHing of Churches for the ^tiblick^ Wor- ' fiip of Godj and alfo for the Maintenance of " Mnti' . 79 . '* Miniflers, and the building convenient Houfes for ''them, fo far forth as the fame relates to the " eftablifhing a Commiflion for the difplacing ^' the Redtors or Minifters of the Churchel ^ there, is not warranced by the Charrer gran- '^^ ted to the Proprietors of that Colony, as be- ^''ingnot confonant to Reafon, repugnant to the ^^Laws of this Realm, and deftriiftive to the Conftitution of the Church of England. This Refolution of the Houfe of Lords, with another relating to a fecond Ad of Affembly in Carolina, was laid before her Majefty in an humble Ad* drefs of their Lordfliips, to which her Majefty returned a moft Gracious Anfwer 5 and by her Royal Wifdom, this Matter of Complaint was effeaually taken away. J 17. To return to the Society : They have^,,,;w../ taken Care to manage the Truft committed to''^^^'"^- them in the beft Method and Order, that the Nature of publick Bufinefs will admit of: They have had ftanding Committees Meeting at leaft once a Week in the Chapter-Hoiife of St. Taufs, London^ to receive any Propofals, or prepare any Matters, or to agree and report any References made to them. And the Opinion of thefc Committees upon any fuch Debates, is laid be- fore the Society at their monthly and quarterly Meetings, in his Grace s. Library at St. Martins^ i' 1 Ml 'I yxu • n •i in Weflminjler, Their Annual Meeting on the third Friday in February^ hath been generally held in the Veftry of Sow-Church in Londo?! 3 where, ..after the Choice of Prcfident, Vice-Prefidents, Secretary, Auditors, Trcafurer,^*:'. there has been a folemn Sermon preach'd on that Occafion, by feme one Member of the Society ^ and hasbeea generally publifh'd at the Defire of the Society« As F/;-/?, A Sermon preach'd before the Society for the Tropagation of the Go/pel in Foreign J^arts^ at their Firji Yearly Meeting on Friday February 20. 170^ at St. Mary-k'Bow^ by Richard IFiltis^. D.D. Dean of Lincoln, on *PM. i. 27 "- ftriVmg together for the Faith of the GofpeL The Second Annual Sermon was preach'd m the fame Church, by the Right Reverend the Lord BilTiop of Worceftery on Friday March 19. 170^. And the Thanks of the Society was return'd to his Lord- ihip, with a Dcfire to print the faifie : And tho' a Misfortune hindred for fome time, the Society are ftill in Hopes of the Publication of it. The Third Anniverfary Sermon was delivered by the Right Reverend the Bifliop of Sarum^ and at the Requeft of the Society, was publifhed with the Title, '' 0/ the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign ^' ^arts, A Sermon preach'd at Sr. Mary-leSow^ '' February 18. 170^ before the Society incorpo- 'Vraced for tliat Purpofe3 exhorting all Perfons in " their ^•^ their Stations to affift fo glorious a DefuTa; on MaL 1 . I I . For from the rifing of the Sim, unto the going down of the fame^ my Name Jl?all be great among the Gentiles-^ and in eVery ^, an i Mr. mckwclL Reftor ot Urampton in Northampionlhire : The Reverend Mr. £W W^.J^f,,,, che Honour.,- ble Colonc Colde/ler, S.r fF,7/„„„ 2),,/^, 5;^ Thomas Trollop, Sir £, Mr. Meadows, Mr. ^.,/fo„, Mr. George iA' f; ^'4?^''"' °^ ^/'>«' ^^"- ^'"/^f"" of ^/«.^or, Mr. Turner, Mr. 0.^«r«, the Reverend ^'^■Stamo, Mr. 77««^/,/(,„ . and in particular, the Right Honourable the Earl of 'Beriley, by the Hands of Mr. Ncl/on. The Charity of contri- buting to theie pious Ufes, has been fo imiverfal- ly Approvd, thatlome devout Perfons have be- queathed confiderable Leg.icies to the Society for carrying on the Propagation of the Gofper On February ,8. ,705. The Lord Biftop of Chuhefter reported, That Dr. Beds, late Rcfi- denciary of Chichefier, has given by his laft Will the Sum of tvio hundred and fifty Pounds 'a this Society. On ^rit 21. .704.' The Arch- Deacon of London rcporred, That James CM of the Middle-Temple Efqu re, lately dcce.13'/ luul oiven by his Will, a Bcnefaclion of two liundreJ Pounds to this Society, which was re- ceived from his Brother and Executor Vir. Henry Clerk' And Dr. Thomas J^lumc\ Arch-Deacon ot (J{ochefier^ in his Lift Will and Teftanicnt pro- ved March 3. 1704. gives one hundred Pounds to the Corporation for Propagating the Gofpel beyond Sea, to be difpofed of by them accor- dinaly. Which laudable Examples of Piety and Charity will ( it is hoped ) in due Time be fol- lowed by other good Chriftians departing in Peace, and expecting for their Reward the Gift of God, Eternal Life. Nor ought we to forget what has been well meant, as well as what has been eflTcdiually done. Some confiderable Qiian- cities of Land in the Foreign Plantations have been given and affigned over to the Ufe and Be- nefit of the Society. Mr. George (Bond^ by Let- ter to the Secretary dated December 12. 1702. ficrnified his Readinefs to perform his Pro- mife made to Colonel Colchejlery of convey- ing over to the Society his Right and Title to an Eftate of nine hundred and fifty Acres of Land in Virginia : But upon farther Enquiry the Title was found dubious, and the Matter dropr. A more effectual and accepeable Oblation was made by Mr. Serjeant Hook^^ a very nfeful Mem- ber of the Society, who, on October 15. 170^ repor- imported T uc he having made a Purchafc oT Three thou^nd feven hundred and fifty Acres of Land .n li cjUJer/ey, upon Delaware River, he had refolved to g.ve the tenth Part of the faid Land as a Glebe to the Church, .wiiiisv any Concern for Chriftianity. — - "This is very u gj.g^^ Charity indeed, the greateft Charity we "can (how ; It is Charity to the Souls of Men, *' to the Souls of a great many of our own *^ People in thofe Couatries, who by this may Sermon *^ be reform d, and put in a better Way of Sal- ^' vation, by the Ule of the Means of Grace, • ' which in many Places they very much wane : " But efpecially this may be a great Charity to " the Souls of many of thofe poor Natives^ who ^' may by this be converted from chat State of ''Barbarifm and Idolatry in which they now " live, and be brought into the Sheepfold of *' our bleffed Saviour. — We ought more par- " ticularly to lay to Heart, the Cafe of our Plan- " tations, becaufe we receive abundance of good '* Things from them, and that a great Part of " the Trade and Riches of our Kingdom flow " into us from thence — This is an Argument " in a particular Manner to be addrefs'd to the *' Confideration of this great City, and efpeci- " ally to thofe who are grown Rich by the ^' Trade of the Plantations. — The little Care ^^ that we have hitherto taken of the State of " Religion in thofe Plantations continues a (land- ing Reproach both upon our Church and Na- tion. And this is what is often objected to " us, by thofe of the Church of ^me. We " have indeed many Things to fay againft their ^' way of managing thefe Matters, and in Defence "of our felvesj but after all, I am forry that " we can't give them the only full Anfwer to *' the Objection, which is the Denial of the Mat= (C cc N 2 ter rum's Ser 7»i?« 1703 '* ter of Faw. Account of the Conftitution and Proceedings of the Society eftablidi'd by Royal Charter for the propagation of the Gojpel in Foreign Tarts 5 and we here publiflii it to the World, not for Oftentation of what has been done, ( which is little or nothing in Proportion to the great Work ) but to (hew what a Mighty Truft is com- ♦ aiitted to us 3 how Sincerely we have endea- voured to difcharge it 3 how wiUing we are to labour in the Prolecution of it 3 and how much we want a farther Affiftance and Supply from all good and pious Chriftians, who may de- pend on a juft Difpofal of their Charity in promoting the beft Defign in the World, that of the Converfion of Souls, by the Pro- pagation of the Gofpel. Trofper Thou the Work, Lord, and make it appear to be the Work^ of thy Hands. I ^1 F I N I S: