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many Places they are not able. It would be Injustice to our Brethren beyond the Seas, to fuppofe, that they fo depend upon this Society for the Means of carrying on the Work of Religion in those Parts, as to be willing to be at no Expence themselves. Their Churches are generally built by Contributions among themselves. Salaries are appointed for Minifters by publick Confent, and Authority where it can be done. Where it cannot, they must be beholden to private Charity, and those of them, who have Abilities, have done, and still do confiderably in this Way also. Or fuppofe, that there is a Backwardness in many, to do what might reasonably be expected from them; it is no more than what is common; and I hope, that want of Charity in fome, is no good Argument for a like Conduct in others. We do not thus judge in Matters, which concern ourselves. And why fhould distance of Place make us forget, that we are Children of the fame God, and Father; Servants of the fame Lord, and Saviour; Members of the fame Community, to whofe Wealth, and Grandeur our Colonies Abroad, are none of the leaft Contributors? Their Profperity is our Profperity; their Riches are our Gain; and will be fo, as long as we can maintain a good Understanding with them: And what will fo much help to preferve a good Understanding, and to keep us Friends,

as

as this, that we are held together by the fame Religion, and Laws.

I will not use many Arguments to fhew you the extenfive Ufe, and Excellency of this Charity; and how much it becomes us, as Chriftians to fupport, and encourage it. This has been done to fo much Advantage by many, that have gone before me, and particularly by the Right Reverend Prelate, who fpoke laft on this Occafion, that there is little Choice of Matter left on this Head. I would rather observe (what our Circumftances at this Time make in a more efpecial Manner worthy of our Notice) that as in other Charities, the Supplies are feldom adequate to the Wants, that call for them, fo it hath happened, in a remarkable Degree, to this Society. We have now been a Corporation about Forty Years. Our Beginnings were but small; and it is much more by cafual Supplies, than by any certain Fund, that we still fubfift. The Salaries paid to our Miffionaries are far from liberal: Generally Fifty; to fome few, Sixty; to none more than Seventy Pounds a Year. A fmall Reward for a laborious, and perilous Miniftry! And yet notwithstanding this frugal Management, the Call for Minifters hath always exceeded our Abilities to provide for them out of our ftanding Income; by which means confiderable Debts have been contracted by the Society, whenever their Christian Compaffion, moved by great, and frequent Importu

nities,

nities, hath prevailed upon them to go beyond their Bounds, and cafual Benefactions have not come in to make up the Deficiency. Thrice before, have we applied to the Crown on fuch Occafions to obtain the Royal Licence to make Collections more, or lefs extenfive, as our Needs have been more, or lefs urgent. We have now lately obtained a like Permiffion from our present most gracious King, for a Fourth, and more general Collection, which will very quickly find you. And fuffer me to fay, that we shall come to you with fome Confidence of Succefs, when we shall bring with us the best Evidence, that can be given, that the Work of the Lord profpers in our Hands, and that your Charity will not be bestowed in Vain. Our very Wants are that Evidence ; for we we have no cause to ask your Charity in this extraordinary Way, but this, that the Labourers are not equal to the Harveft. And is not this Harvest, this encreafe of Christian Congregations, among our Colonies, which requires a larger Supply of Miffionaries, the very Thing, that every good Man wishes, the very Thing he expects, when he gives his Money? In many other Inftances of Charity the Cafe is otherwife. A Man may be in Want through his Vices, or his Folly, and in fuch a Cafe, if you give, you are not fure it will turn to any good Account. But when Want proceeds from the Worthiest of Caufes, and carries with it an Implication, that

former

former Benefits have been well beftowed; it becomes its own Voucher, and the more a good Man is called upon to give, within the Reach of his Abilities, he will be the better pleased.

We do with thankful Hearts acknowledge his Majesty's Goodness, that after the Example of his Royal Predeceffors, he has given fo gracious. a Teftimony of his Regard for the Welfare of his People, and for the Religion, and Worship of the Church of England. And we hope that the Encouragement, that this Charity hath always received from the Crown, will effectually recommend it to all, who have the common Good at Heart. And may God fo unite us in our Affections to his Sacred Majefty, that thefe Kingdoms may never want à Sovereign, nor this noble Defign a Friend, and Patron in him, and in his Pofterity; For the Sake of Jefus Chrift,

To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghoft be all Honour and Glory both now and for Amen.

ever more.

FINĮ S.

A N

Abstract of the CHARTER,

And of the Proceedings of the SOCIETY for the Propagation of the Gospel in. Foreign Parts, from the 20th of February, 1740-41, to the 19th of February,

1741-42.

K

ING William III. of Glorious Memory,
was graciously pleased on the 16th of
June, 1701, to erect and fettle a Corpo-

ration with a perpetual Succession, by the Name of THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS; for the receiving, managing, and difpofing of the Charity of fuch Perfons, as would be induced to extend their Charity towards the Maintenance of an Orthodox Clergy, and the making fuch other Provifion, as might be necessary for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Upon Information that in many of our Plantations, Colonies, and Factories beyond the Seas, the Provifion for Minifters was mean, and many other of our faid Plantations, Colonies, and Factories were wholly unprovided of a Maintenance for Minifters, and the publick Worship of God; and that, for lack of Support and Maintenance of fuch, many of his loving Subjects wanted the Administration of God's Word and Sacraments, and feemed to be abandoned to Atheism and Infidelity,

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