begun a good Work in them, will perform it * perfectly.

But perhaps not our Success, but the Use and Benefit of it, will be called in question. Now of this, we apprehend, there is abundant Proof. The bare Profession and outward Appearance of such a Religion, as the Chriftian is, if taught in any tolerable Purity, must have some right Influence: and the Body of a People cannot go the utmost Lengths in Wickedness, whilst that Appearance subsists. What Lengths they would go in Time, if it were loft, as we have not experienced, we are not apt to confider. But a little Reflexion on the Number and Strength of human Paffions, and the Abilities, which we have, of finding Means to gratify them, would give us a high Value of whatever hath any peculiar Force to restrain them. The one Institution of a Day of holy Reft, is not only, under prudent Regulations, a great Refreshment to the Bulk of Mankind; but greatly tends to civilize them also, by uniting Neighbourhoods in formed Assemblies, to acknowledge their common Dependence on God, and Relation to each other, with Hearts disengaged from selfish Attentions, and open to friendly Regards. Nor is it poffible, be they ever so negligent Hearers of publick Worship and Instruction, but confiderable Impressions, at least general ones, must remain upon their Minds. And most evidently the Impreffions

* Phil. i. 6.

of

1

of Religion dispose Men to every Thing productive of common Good: to Justice and Veracity, and the Reverence of an Oath; without which the Intercourse of Man with Man is not a Moment safe: to Faithfulness, Duty, and Love in the several Relations of Life, publick and private: to Mildness, Charity, and Compaffion in their whole Behaviour: to Sobriety and Industry, the Pillars of national Wealth and Greatness: and to that joyful Hope of a better World, which is our trueft Direction, and firmest Support, in every Stage of our Journey through This. Many more Perfons will be thus influenced in various Degrees, than are usually observed: for a regular, inoffenfive Behaviour affords little Matter of Speculation and Discourse. And though still the Generality may be bad; yet, if left to themselves, they would certainly have been worse. Every body owns, that a wrong Belief hath great Power to deprave Mens Morals. Surely then a right one must have fome Power to reform them. And if not fo much as might be wished; this is no more an Argument against the Usefulness of Religion, than of Reason: but a strong Argument, why Both should be cultivated to the utmost; and carefully applied to so important a Purpose. If our Colonies had not experienced great Evils from the Decay of Chriftianity amongst them; they would never have petitioned us so earnestly for Instruction in it, as they have done. And if they had not experienced great Good

from the Restoration of it, that Earnestness would never have continued, as it doth, to this Day.

Nor will our Compliance with their Request be a Benefit only to Them, but to this Nation alfo. If They are dishonest and profligate; every fingle Person here, who hath Concerns with them, will be in Danger of fuffering by it. If they consume their Wealth and their Time in Vices and Follies; their Trade will be gained over, from Them and Us, by our Rivals and Adversaries. And if the Ties of a Religion, binding Men so strongly to be fubject for Confcience Sake*, are loosened from off their Minds, which may some Time or another need every Tie, that can keep them attached to us; it will much facilitate their becoming Adversaries themselves. And we shall well deserve their revolting from Us, if we take no Care of their obeying God. But on the contrary, as Christian Principles will teach them Dutifulness and Loyalty; so receiving from hence the Support of those Principles, will recommend us to their Gratitude; hoping for the Continuance of that Support, will create some Dependence in point of Interest; and agreeing in the same Faith and Worship with us, will be an everlasting Motive to civil Unity also.

But another common Benefit of propagating Christianity in our Colonies is, that thus we * Rom. xiii. 5.

shall

shall hinder Corruptions of Christianity from prevailing there, and sharing with Profaneness a divided Empire over the Land. If no authorized Teachers are sent, soine Inducement or another will raise voluntary ones from Time to Time: and very possibly the less reasonable their Doctrine is, the more gladly it may be received. For if Sentiments of Religion, are not duly cultivated; as they quite wear out of fome Minds, so in others they degenerate into Superstition or Enthusiasm. And accordingly many pernicious Errors, befides the above-mentioned capital one of Popery, took early Root in these Provinces; nor are they yet extirpated, perhaps in part newly revived: fome, dissolving the Obligations of moral Duties: fome, destroying the inward Peace of very pious and good Perfons, and making Life gloomy and uncomfortable: fome, leading Men to ascribe every Folly or Wickedness, that possesses the Fancy, to Divine Inspiration: fome, inconsistent with our present happy Establishment: and others, destructive of the Safety of all Governments whatever, by forbidding to contribute any kind of Afsistance to the publick Defence against Enemies: on which Notion the Representatives of the Province of Pensylvania have acted this last Summer*. Now let it only

only be confidered, how fatal a more general Belief of fome of these Doctrines must have been there at present; indeed how very unhappy the Belief of any of them must be at all times; and the Importance of supporting Instructors: in true Religion, were it only for a standing Guard against the worldly Inconveniences of false Religion, will evidently appear to be very great..

People in Number, refused to make any Provision of Neceffaries for the Troops to be raised in that Province, as being a Thing repugnant to their Religious Principles, though his Majesty had notified under his Sign Manual, that he expected it from them. Soon after this they adjourned for above five Weeks; though the Governor made ftrong Instances to the contrary, fetting forth, That as the new Levies were in want of every Thing, even Houses to cover their Heads, he was hourly apprehenfive of their committing some Disorders. And being called together again by him in about a Fortnight, inftead of raising any Money, they made a Complaint, that many of their Servants had been inlisted; and demanded the Reftitution of them. The Governor answered, that they might eafily have prevented this Inconvenience, and might still easily remedy it, by Methods which he pointed out to them; that he had done what he could to relieve them, and would continue to do fo; but that forcing out of his Majesty's Troops at once all the Servants in them, would be unreasonable and unjust, very detrimental to the Service, and very dangerous to the publick Peace. Yet notwithstanding these Representations, and though Mr. Penn, one of their Proprietors, many Merchants and other Inhabitants of Philadelphia, and the Council of the Province, concurred with the Governor, and pressed them earnestly to answer his Majesty's Expectations, they came at length to this Resolution only: That 30001. of their current Money be paid for the King's Ufe; provided that all the Servants inlisted in the Province, whom they had computed at 300, and valued at 101. each, be first returned to their respective Masters, free of all Charges; and Such Affurances given, as three Persons, named in the Refolution, should think fitting, that the faid Servants are returned, and that no Servants be iniifted for the future. These being the Conditions on which the Money was given, it will not be thought strange, that when the last Advices came from thence, no Part of it had been paid.

But