some concern, that there may not be at the same time a total Neglect of a Person who bore a part in that Agency, with some distinguishing Circumstances of Service, when all the Gentlemen concerned for us, found the Prosecution of the former Charter become hopeless and united in its Petition for another, which produced what we now enjoy. Many are concerned, lest such a total Neglect of that person, may carry an Aspect with it, which I make no doubt would be far from the Intentions of Gentlemen of such Consideration, as we have the Happiness to see both Houses fill'd withal.

To confess the Truth; some very considerable persons in both Houses, have given me to understand that if the motion be brought forward on his behalf, they beleeve the Assembly will readily give to that Person also, some Testimony, that they accept with Thankfulness, the Pains which he also took, to obtain for us the Things by which we have enjoy'd great Quietness. And I am very sure, that if any Objections happen to be offered, a very little Discourse with him, will presently sett Things in so true and clear a Light, as to remove them all, and render his Merits incontestible.

Tis true, when the first Great and General Assembly of this Province, offered him a Recompence, at his Arrival; he, considering the Grievous Debts then lying on a distressed People, answered, he would have his Recompence adjourned unto the Resurrection of the Just. But, certainly, the Sentiments of the Province act this Day, and under the Influence of the generous Dispositions, which are now operating, will not be the less favourable to him, for so noble, and christian an Answer.

Tis' also true, that he now declines to take any Step himself, in this Affair. But you will be so far from censuring, that you will rather commend a Son, for thus doing the part of a Remembrancer, and stepping in with a Memorial for his aged Parent.

Briefly; it will not seem strange, if the Assembly hear a Proposal of this Importance. Tis their own Goodness towards two worthy Persons, that has introduced the Thoughts of not leaving a third forgotten. But it might very well seem strange, if a Son, so advised, and so directed, as I have been on this occasion, should not have address'd you, as I now do; with an Action, the like to which, I never did in my Life before. For I never in my Life ask'd any Beneficence unto myself, from any Society in the World; and verily if I had now been on my own Account, you should not have Syr, Your most hearty servant

MY DEAR SISTER, While yours, does by the favour of God, render me one of the happiest men in the World, I should be very inexcusable, if I should not with her, have your Condition very much at heart and consider it with all the brotherly Tenderness imaginable. In the first place, we do most affectionately remember you in our Prayers, when we are together pouring out our Supplications unto the Lord.

And then we would comfort one another with Hopes, that the holy Discipline under which you have been kept, by many humbling Circumstances, are intended by our faithful Saviour, to conform you more unto His, glorious Image, and produce your more consummate Obedience unto Him and render you a great Sacrificer, and so prepare you for the Blessedness of the heavenly World;

At your Arrival whereunto you will see, that God has meant all unto good; and in the mean time, O Child of God, accept this Consolation from Him, what I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter!

But a few Good words must not be all the good, that you are to expect from us.

Our Daughter Howel,2 (who has two Sons, George and Nathan,) was yoked unto the worst Husband upon Earth. Had he lived, he had soon brought a Noble to Nine-pence; and your excellent Sister's Interest also, which was unhappily in his hands, would have been all confounded. But she was two months ago delivered from him. And you may assure yourself, that as soon as the Estate is gott into any such settlement, as to lett us know, what we can command as our own, I shall do all that you can expect from a Brother, full all due affection for you.

In the mean time, I do now pray your Acceptance of a small present of five pounds Sterling, which we have ordered Mrs. Blerso to pay unto you.

And I do return very hearty Thanks, to dear Mr. Nesbett, for all the compassion and Benignity, wherewith I am informed, that he has treated you. May the glorious Lord reward him?

I purpose to make unto you, and unto our sister Clark, by the

1 Daughter of Rev. Samuel Lee, and wife of Henry Wyrley.

2 Katharine Lee George, married (1) Nathan Howell, who died May 2, 1716;

(2) Samuel Sewall, nephew of the diarist.

first safe hand, I can find for conveyance, a small present of certain Books adapted unto your present Circumstances, and expressive of my fraternal Regards, Wishes, and Counsils, for you under them.

I am, with a Tender of my Wife's most affectionate Remembrances to both of you, My dear sister; Your true Brother.

Dear Mrs. Pitson,1 approves herself, a Lovely and a gracious Ctian; one of an Excellent Spirit and Carriage. And, if any have written a word amiss of her, they are some unworthy People. Tell Mr. Nisbet for his Comfort; A church of such Christians, as Mrs. Pittson would be a glorious Thing. I wish, I could say, . . .

TO ANTHONY WILLIAM BOEHM.

A.A.S.

6 d. VI m. [August,] 1716.

REVEREND SIR, - Your Letters, dated about ten Weeks ago, accompanied with our dear Ziegenbalgh's,2 and a most obliging present of Books, have arrived unto me; and are as cool Waters to a thirsty Soul.

It is among the singular Felicities, with which the good Hand of Heaven has favoured me, that I enjoy a Correspondence with my invaluable Boehm; (which alone, is to me an inestimable Treasure ;) yea, and that by his Meditation I am lett into a Correspondence, which carries my precious Opportunities to serve the Kingdome of God, into a vast Extensiveness.

I rejoice to find the Magnalia Christi Americana, fallen into your hands; and I verily beleeve, the American Puritanism, to be so much of a Peece with the Frederician Pietism, that if it were possible for the Book to be transferr❜d unto our Friends in the Lower Saxony, it would find some Acceptance, and be a little serviceable to their glorious Intentions.

Your Enquiries, after the History of the Introduction of Christianity into the other English Plantations of America, must meet with a short and melancholy Answer.

For one must make very free with that worthy Name, if it be said, that Christianity is yett, well introduced into them. Our

1 Elizabeth Pittson joined the second Church, September 18, 1715. 2 Bartholomew Ziegenbalgh, "pastor of the Indian Church, and an indefatigable Missionary, and most faithful and famous Servant of Christ, among the Malabarians in the East Indies." Some information concerning him is given in the reply to Mather's letter of December 31, 1717, printed in Mather's India Christiana, 62.

Islands are indeed inhabited by such as are called Christians. But, alas, how dissolute are their Manners! And how inhumane the way of their Subsistence, on the sweat and Blood of Slaves treated with infinite Barbarities! What little Worship of God they have, as it is confined unto the English Liturgy, so it is too commonly performed by Parsons, of a very scandalous Character.

On the Continent, the Colony of Carolina, was in a fair Way to have been filled with a religious people; until your Society for the Propagation of Religion in foreign Parts, unhappily sent over some of their Missionaries thither; and, I am informed, that with them and from that time, a mighty Torrent of Profaneness and Wickedness carried all before it; and every thing that might be worthy to be called Religion is very much lost in that woful Countrey.

The other Colonies, have such a Religion as your Ch: of E. maintains, in many parts of the Realm at home; and is, as your Neighbours usually are, afraid lest the Dissenters break in, to show men the true Methods of living to God, and instruct them in a Religion that shall not wholly consist in lifeless Forms and Ceremonies, Expiations for a vicious Life. In Pensylvania, and the Jersey's and some adjacent Places, a Congregation of more serious Christians, is now and then formed, under the Conduct of a godly Minister. But then presently some of those Missionaries whose Bigotry for their High-Church Follies is usually more conspicuous than their piety, presently pursue them, with all possible Disturbances. New England is the only Countrey, in America, which has much of real and vital Religion flourishing in it; and here also, your Missionaries, who are of little use, but to propagate Impiety, come to disturb well ordered Churches of God. In many of the other Colonies there are Numbers of ungospellized Plantations, which have no public Worship of God among them. Your Society sends not its Missionaries, unto these. But a Countrey fill'd with holy Churches and Pastors, cannot have a dozen litigious Families in a Village, where the Name of the Ch. of E. pretended by odd People, who know nothing of the matter, may be of Use, to serve their political and vexatious Purposes, but presently the Society dispatch their Missionaries hither. However, by a strange Infatuation from Heaven upon them, the Missionaries which have been sent hither, have been generally men of such a Behaviour, that it was impossible to take a more effectual Course for the prejudicing of this religious Countrey against that sort of men, or the begetting an Horror for the Ch. of E. in the New English Colonies. If a true History of the Missions from the Society were published,

Mankind would be convinced, that Charity was never so abused in the World.1

But Sir, if you would have an Account of the American Colonies2 It gives me a great Satisfaction, that our, Lapis' e Monte does agree so well with you; as indeed, I was well assured it would.

I continue my Instances, that you would, if it be possible, gett the Instrument into France; and, I pray, convey one of them, if you can, to the Marquess of Langallen's. Tis this everlasting Gospel, that must carry all before it.

When I readd the preface of our excellent Frankius to his Greek New Testament, it revived in me some Hopes; that our glorious Lord, may in His Time inspire and incline some capable Persons to bring our, Biblia Americana, into the World. There being so little of my own in that Work, I may use the more Freedome, in giving you some Account of it. Yea, I may venture to say this: I can without Vanity assure you, that the Church of God, has never yett had so rich an Amassment of the most valuable Things together tendered unto it. But after all, the most valuable Things, are those which such men as your Arndt, and Franck, and others of the like truest Erudition, have led into. I expect no distinguishing Favour from any distinguished party of Christians. And, the Dissenters in London have particularly treated me, and the offer of this Work after such a manner, as I have ever expected, from men of their narrow Spirits; and among whom, I wish, learning were more esteemed and exemplified. If this work ever see the Light, I expect, it will be from the Countenance and Contribution, of men of our Universal Religion; who will every way appear more and more in the several Forms of Christianity. And among such I entreat of you, that my, new offer, may be communicated.

I purpose, that, if I live, you shall suddenly hear further from me. In the mean time, I pray your Acceptance of a few of our latest Publications; whereof, I shall be glad, if you send some to our Friends in the Frederician University.

May the glorious Lord, graciously continue, and multiply your Opportunities to serve His Kingdome, and bring on the Reign of Piety, I am, Sir, Your most affectionate Brother and serv't.

1 Such a history did appear in 1730, as An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, prepared by David Humphreys, Secretary to the Society.

2 He probably here inserted a sketch of the state of religion in America.