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doth not mean to call them by these opprobrious names, or to give them any personal affront*." Good man, who can suspect him of it?

In all that I have hitherto said, I am far from intending to affirm, that the Society hath not laid out in the Massachusetts and Connecticut too large a proportion of the money put into their hands, considering the necessities of other provinces. They have a discretionary power within the bounds of their trust; and whilst they confine themselves to these bounds, the money which they receive is altogether at their free disposal, and so far their own; however the Doctor is pleased to cavil at that expression †, when used very harmlessly by Mr. Apthorp. But still they ought to use their power judiciously, and in that they may have failed. For what society of men hath not? Even the Doctor's two blameless societies might possibly exhibit some tincture of human frailty, if they did not warily keep their transactions unpublished, whilst those of ours lie open to all the world. Pressing solicitors are always likelier to prevail, especially if they will contribute freely to the undertaking, for which they are suitors, than those who are less earnest though better able. And such the New England episcopalians have been, compared with the inhabitants of other colonies. When the earlier applications were made by them, it could not be foreseen whether more would follow.

So one mission was settled after another, till they became insensibly numerous; and when many requests had been granted, it was the harder to refuse others, for which the same plea could be made. Some members of the Society approved this increase, others thought it was going too far. And in bodies of men, whose * Page 123. + Page 116-118. Page 101-131.

opinions differ, there must be mutual condescensions, and time allowed for one side to come over into the sentiments of the other, else they cannot proceed together. But in the last five or six years, I believe, no new mission hath been appointed in the Massachusetts or Connecticut, which had not been promised before, excepting that of Cambridge. And now for some time past, the Society have excused themselves from complying with any applications from that quarter. Surely this alone is no inconsiderable argument, that proselyting those two districts. to episcopacy hath not been the point in view.

"What is past," as the Doctor observes, "cannot be recalled." But if mistakes have happened, they may be avoided for the future, and the Society "is not above altering its measures*." Doubtless it would have liked, and might have expected, civiler. and fairer treatment, than he hath vouchsafed to give it. But however, fas est et ab hoste doceri. It cannot desert and abandon the congregations which it hath taken under its protection, unless they should become either too rich to need its assistance, or too inconsiderable to deserve it. But more care may be used to know, when either of these things falls out. All forwardness in missionaries to molest persons of other persuasions, and all encouragement of parties and factions in order to serve ecclesiastical schemes, may be strictly prohibited, and on reasonable complaint severely checked. The eyes of the Society may be turned more attentively to the dark corners of the colonies, to the methods which promise well for the more effectual instruction of the negroes, and to the openings for doing good amongst the Indians, which his majesty's new acquisitions will probably * Page 133.

disclose. A friendly correspondence may also be carried on between some of the members of that body, and some of the presbyterian or congregational ministers, whose dispositions are mild and ingenuous; and thus animosities and jealousies may by degrees be extinguished, of which, I am persuaded, the Society is very desirous.

Therefore I proceed now to the last part of what I proposed, taking into consideration the scheme of appointing bishops to reside in our American colonies. The church of England is, in its constitution, episcopal. It is, in some of the plantations, confessedly the established church; in the rest are many congregations adhering to it; and through the late extension of the British dominions, and the influence of other causes, it is likely that there will be more. All members of every church are, according to the principles of liberty, intitled to every part of what they conceive to be the benefits of it, intire and complete, so far as consists with the welfare of civil government; yet the members of our church in America do not thus enjoy its benefits, having no protestant bishop within three thousand miles of them; a case, which never had its parallel before in the Christian world. Therefore it is desired, that two or more bishops may be appointed for them, to reside where his majesty shall think most convenient; that they may have no concern in the least with any persons who do not profess themselves to be of the church of England, but may ordain ministers for such as do; may confirm their children, when brought to them at a fit age for that purpose, and take such oversight of the episcopal clergy, as the bishop of London's commissaries in those parts have been empowered to take, and have taken,

without offence, But it is not desired in the least that they should hold courts to try matrimonial or testamentary causes, or be vested with any authority, now exercised either by provincial governors or subordinate magistrates, or infringe or diminish any privileges and liberties enjoyed by any of the laity, even of our own communion. This is the real and only scheme that hath been planned for bishops in America; and whoever hath heard of any other, hath been misinformed through mistake or design. The American dissenters from our communion, would think it insupportably grievous to have no ministers but such as received ordination in England or Ireland, or to be withheld from the use of any religious rite, which they esteemed as highly as we do confirmation; or to have their churches destitute of a superintendency, which they conceived to be of apostolical institution. I should, in such a case, be a zealous advocate for them, as not yet enjoying the full toleration, to which they had a right. And surely they ought to ask their consciences very seriously, why they oppose our application for such indulgence as they would claim for themselves; and whether indeed such opposition is not downright persecution, and that in a matter merely spiritual, without the mixture of any temporal concern.

The Doctor is a great deal too vehement to propose his objections distinctly, therefore I will endeavour to do it for him. He saith," the state of religion is much better amongst those of his communion in America, than it is even in England, under the immediate eye and documents of the venerable bishops*;" and that, "should any be sent thither, it is to be hoped they will have better success than Page 39.

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the bishops have hitherto had here." Now certainly, the state of religion here is far from being what we have cause to wish it were. Whether it be worse than in New England, I am unable to pronounce; but supposing it to be so, the Doctor himself saith, that "a rationale might be given of the fact, without any reflection on our churcht." And the question, relative to the present point, is not, where the state of religion is best, but whether it will not be better amongst the American episcopalians, if they have bishops to superintend their clergy, and do the other offices belonging to that function, than if they have none. He calls church government by bishops, " the yoke of episcopal bondage‡." And certainly bondage is a dreadful evil, and religious the worst of all. But what yoke of bondage do either churchmen or dissenters suffer in England, where bishops have been so long? All church authority was formerly too heavy; but surely the episcopal now is as moderate as any, and it is proposed to be reduced yet lower in America, and dissenters will be no way subject to it. He saith," the affair of bishops hath lately been, and probably now is, in agitation in England; and the Society spare neither endeavours, applications, nor expence, in order to effect their grand design of episcopizing all New England, as well as the other colonies §." Now most of the colonies were originally episcopal. And I cannot learn, nor I believe will the Doctor affirm, that the inhabitants of any of them, be they of what sect they will, groan under that burthen, or have reason to do so. The imagination of a design to episcopize the rest, I have shewn to be altogether groundless. But further, they may be episcopized without sending * Page 40. + Page 39. + Page 146. $ Page 89.

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