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SE R M O N

Preached before the

Incorporated SOCIETY

FOR THE

Propagation of the Gofpel in
Foreign Parts j

AT THEIR

ANNIVERSARY MEETING

IN THE

PariQi Church of ST. MARY-LE-BOW,
On FRIDAY February, 120, 1767.



By the Right Reverend Father in GOD,

JOHN LordBifhop of LANDAFF.



LONDON:
Printed by E. OWEN and T. HARRISON in
War wick- Lane.



MDCCLXVII.



At the Anniverfary Meeting of the
Society for the Propagation of the
Gofpel in Foreign Parts, in the Veftry-
Rooni of St. Mary-le-Bow, on Friday
the 2Qth Day 0/* February, 1767.



AGREED, that the Thanks of
the SOCIETY be given to the
Right Reverend the Lord Bifhop of
Landaff) for his Sermon preached
this Day before the SOCIETY; and that
his Lordfhifr be defired to deliver a
Copy of the fame to the SOCIETY
to be Printed.

Daniel Burton^ Secretary.




Epiftle to the ROMANS, chap. x.
Part of the 1 4th verfe.

How foall they believe in him^ of whom
they have not heard ? And how Jhall
they hear without a Preacher ?

AN comes into the world,
endowed with certain in-
ftincts for the prefervation of
himfelf and of his kind. This
inftinctive knowledge, com-
mon to him with the brute
creation, he receives from nature, perfect and
intire without difcipline or ftudy; and this is
the only knowledge he fo receives, of neceffity
and not of choice. All higher qualities, that
adorn and diftinguifh men from beafts, are not

A 2 im-




A SERMON before the Society

implanted by nature, but to be acquired. Arts,
fciences, morality and religion are all of this
condition: we are born not with the know-
ledge of them, but with a capacity only of
knowing them. The communication of arts
and fciences from people to people may be
traced; and in places where they flourim, we
fee them delivered from age to age by educa-
tion. Morality and religion, notwithstanding
man's natural capacity to understand them, yet
have not in fact, by the mere Strength of na-
ture, been any where rightly understood: wit-
nefs, before the Propagation of the Gofpel, one
family excepted, the whole race of mankind:
witnefs, Since the Propagation of it, all people
who have continued heathen; thofe efpecially,
whom we purchafe as cattle with our money,
and having fo purchafed, treat as cattle ; and that
other race of favages, our neighbours in Ame-
rica. Thefe untutored people we experimen-
tally know to be ignorant of arts and fciences,
of morality, of God. Much lefs can revealed
religion be known without teaching. This is
evident to common fenfe, and demonftrated by
the example of the Jews; who lived in grofs
ignorance of their law, and were ever revolting
from God to idols for a courfe of many ages;

until



for the Propagation of the Gofpel.



until means were provided for a general and
frequent inftruction of the people in their revela-
tion : but when fynagogues for that purpofe were
at length erected throughout their dwellings,
the fame people, before fo prone to revolt, did
thenceforward, by virtue of a regular inftruc-
tion in their law, adhere faithfully and inva-
riably to the one true God, Creator of heaven
and earth.

Whatever is knowable only by instruction,
can no otherwife be preferved in the know-
ledge of fuccemve generations, than by fuccef-
iive and continued inftruction. And need I fay,
that Chriftian doctrine is a doctrine of this
kind, not born with us, nor the unavoidable
refult of reafon -, but neceffary to be learned and
to be maintained by perpetual teaching and
hearing ? Wherefore it was necefTary, that an
order of men, with perpetual fucceffion, mould
be ordained and dedicated to the fervice of
preaching the Gofpel, as the only means of
gaining it a firit reception in any place, of pre-
ferving it where received, and of fpreading it
thence wider and Still wider; if it was deSigned,
as hath frequently been demonstrated on this
occafion, to be univerfal in extent, and per-
manent in duration. For this end our Saviour*

fent



A SERMON before the Society



font forth his apodles; the apofhles commif-
fioned new teachers, with power of delivering
down the fame commiffion toothers; and thus
was appointed a fuccefBon of minifters to the
end of the world. In confequence of this ap-
pointment, and the neceffity of the thing, a
Handing miniftry hath at all times been main-
tained in all ChriiHan countries.

This hath been done in all ordinary cafes;
but in extraordinary cafes, fuch as have fre-
quently happened fince the difcovery of the
new world, the fame provifion hath not been
made of minifters, necefTary to the fupport of
ChriiHanity- among thofe who removed thither;
efpecially in the Britiih colonies; a fcandalous
negled:, which hath brought great and de-
ferved reproach both on the adventurers, and
on the government whence they went; and
under whofe protection and power they flill re-
mained in their new habitations.

Upon the adventurers what reproach could
be caft, heavier than they deferved ? Who,
with their native foil, abandoned their na-
tive manners and religion ; and e'er long,
were found in many parts living without re-
membrance or knowledge of God, without
any divine worfhip, in diflblute wickednefs,

and



for the Propagation of the GofpeL

and the mod brutal profligacy of manners.
Inftead of civilizing and converting barbarous
Infidels, as they undertook to do, they became
themfelves Infidels and Barbarians. And is it
not fome aggravation of their mame, that this
their neglect of religion was contrary to the
pretences and conditions, under .which they
obtained royal grants and public authority to
their adventures ? The pretences and condi-
tions were, that their defign was, and that
they mould endeavour, the enlargement of
commerce, and the propagation of Chriflian
faith : the former they executed with fincerity
and zeal -, in the latter moft notorioufly failed.
Their failure herein might well have been
expected : religion and traffic, their two pro-
fefTed objects, are but ill yoke-fellows, being
apt to draw quite different ways : and men,
who with defperate hardinefs invade unknown
difficulties and dangers in queft of gain, could
not be fuppofed to be much concerned about
fpiritual interefts. Religion is but an impedi-
ment in the way of avarice : many things
thereby prohibited, are deemed allowable, and
flick clofe to traffic. Commerce indeed has
been the occafion of communicating the know-
ledge of Chriftfrom nation to nation; butperfons

engaged



8 ^SERMON before the Society

engaged therein have not been the communi-
cators of it, their bufmefs is of another fort.
But this hath been done by other men, de-
tached from worldly affairs, and zealous and
fkilful in divine knowledge ; who taking ad-
vantage of the intercourfe opened by them
with other views, have preached the Gofpel
where it was before unknown. In this way
our Planters have excelled, having given double
occaiion of propagating ChrifUanity among the
native heathen of thofe regions, and among
themfelves alfo, who foon became heathen.

As this their defection could not but have been
forefeen, if regarded; and being forefeen, might
have been prevented; upon that account, the
greater reproach hath but too juftly been cafl
upon the government of thofe times ; which
either was wholly inattentive to a matter of
that importance, or faw it with indifference.
In a ChrifKan ftate confidered as ChrifKan,
fuch indifference is altogether prodigious; con-
fidered in a temporal view, fuch indifference
to religion argues indifference to the public
good, or want of wifdom and found policy.
It argues ignorance of the nature of men the
fubjects of government, of the power of con-
fcience, and the influence of human hopes and

fears.



for the Propagation of the Go/pel.

fears. It argues ignorance of the foundation
of thofe qualities, without which fociety can-
not be fafe, truth, juftice and fidelity, which
ftand on the foundation of religion, and can
Hand firm on no other foundation whatever.
It argues ignorance of the practice of all flates
in all ages, or elfe an incapacity to underfland
the reafon of the practice : for what govern-
ment ever exifled on earth, that had no reli-
gion ? What legislator, who introduced not
fome kind of it ? So advantageous hath it ever
been found to flates, that, for this very reafon,
the enemies of religion, and thereby the ene-
mies of mankind, have plaufibly pretended,
that having no foundation in nature, it is the
mere invention of flatefmen. Perverfe infe-
rence ! becaufe religion is adapted to human
nature, therefore not from God. This adap-
tion, this mutual agreement and harmony be-
tween them, is, among many, one convincing
argument, that they proceed from one com-
mon author, and are both from God. How-
ever the neceffity of religion to flates being
acknowledged, and the benefit thereof to in-
dividuals apparent ; it is hard to fay, both in
regard to the flate and to the people, whether
the neglect of it in our colonies were more

B impolitic



io ^SERMON before the Society

impolitic in point of worldly judgment, or
more impious in the eftimation of piety ; fince
irreligion is equally offenfive to heaven, and
deftruclive of worldly happinefs.

Now this great evil, irreligion, might at
firft have eafily been prevented growing in our
colonies : but the fame evil having been fuf-
fered to grow, hath been found fo hard to ex-
pel, that now, after more than fixty years di-
ligent endeavour, it is very far from being era-
dicated. Confider then the danger of this evil
how great ; the prevention of it how eafy -, the
remedy how difficult and flow. Confider its rife
and progrefs in the old plantations ; new ones*
in the late conquefts, are now making, and
more are likely to be made. The fore-men-*
tioned confiJerations are therefore feafonable,
and demand the fpecial attention of all leaders
of colonies ;. who henceforward, if they repeat
the fame error, will err inexcufably, againft
warning, againft example, againft the experi-
ence of former generations ; whofe meafures,
wherein wife, do beft point out to pofterity
the right path ; wherein erroneous, do moil
jftrongly dehort from the wrong. This great
advantage of former experience is now held
forth, and in a manner forced upon all perfons,

The



for the Propagation of the GofpeL

The rocks on which their predeceffors in this
way fplit, ftand marked out : the ruinous con-
fequences of their mifconduct ftill reft upon
us, ftill remain manifeft, and are likely long
to remain. If men will but open their eyes,
they muft fee, that prudence as well as piety
requires, that proviiion for religion make a
part in the original conftitution of every co-
lony : if they will not fee nor perform what
private intereft and duty perfuade ; the public
eye doubtlefs will be open, and public autho-
rity exact the performance of what fo elTen-
tially concerns the common weal. And can
there be a doubt, that this provilion ought to
be made by the care, and at the expence of the
colonifts if able ? Jf unable through poverty, and
they, on that account, receive public affiftance
in fettling themfelves, the national intereft plain-
ly requires, that they mould receive public amft-
ance alfo in fettling religion among them : for
who would have for fubjects a band of men with-
out any ? Nor is it juft or fafe, that this bur-
then mould be thrown on a charity, upon
which greater demands, than can be anfwered,
are already made. Belkles, provilion for reli-
gion ought to be certain and permanent ; but
the fund of this Corporation, depending upon
free contributions, is uncertain and precarious.

B 2 Jn



12 ./^SERMON before the Society

In the old plantations, failures in this kind
feem to have proceeded rather from want of
good will than of ability j for though many
neglected, fome took effectual care of this bu-
fmefs. Confcientious perfons, who left their
country, on religious motives, did fo : others,
who were led abroad merely by a prevailing
thirft, and eager hope of gain, left religion to
fliift for itfclf. Future emigrants muft be of
this latter kind : (for who now will leave this
country on a religious account) fuch perfons,
it is evident, are not fit to be trufled with the
care of religion ; nor will it be fufficient to
make it a condition in their grants, that with
themfelves they mail at the fame time fettle
religion among them ; for that claufe hath
been ever confidered as matter of mere form.
Wherefore it will moreover be neceflary that
they be obferved, watched, and by authority-
obliged effectually to perform that condition.
Whoever then mall employ his -care, his coun-
fel or authority, as opportunity may ferve, to
procure due regulations in thefe and the like
matters, will difcharge the office of a good
Member of this Society -, for to prevent the
rife of irreligion in new plantations is one way r
and the beft way, of anfwering the ends thereof;
it being, in all cafes, far better, as well as

cafier,



for the Propagation of the GofpeL 1 3

eafier, to fhut the gates againft the entrance of
an enemy, than to expel him, if that be prac-
ticable, after he has got entrance and pof-
feffion.

Now the prevention, or removal of irreli-
gion, and of falie religion, with their long
train .of attendant mifchicfs, can no otherwiie
be effected, than by propagating the pure doc-
trines revealed from heaven. If it can be done
by any other means, it mufk be by reafon; or,
in other words, by philolbphy, which is, or
pretends to be, the higheft improvement of
reafon. What philofophy can do, may be beft
eftimated by what it h:ith done. Now that
philofophy never did, in any age or country,
teach, or attempt to teach, the bulk of man-
kind right notions concerning God, divine
worfhip, and moral obligation, is, I appre-
hend, a fact, that cannot be controverted. To
their actual teaching thefe points, there was an
infuperable obftacle, viz. they themfelves were
in the dark about them. To the attempt there
were feveral difcouragements ; it was dinge-
rous ; and the vulgar were neither capable of
learning, nor of paying their mailers. Plow-
ever, therefore, fome phiiofophcrs might per-
chance have formed, in their own minds, bet-
ter



14 -^SERMON before the Society

ter notions than were vulgarly entertained ; yet
no information redounded from them to the
body of the people. Their doctrines, whatever
they were, were taught to a few followers,
men of leifure in their refpective fchools ; or
fometimes perhaps difcuffed before Princes and
great men, admirers of curious and fubtle fpe-
eolations; or delivered, with quaint and ab-
ftracted refinements, in books which mean and
illiterate people had neither leifure to read, nor
capacity to underftand. Hence it happened,
in ages when philofophy was heft cultivated,
and carried to its utmofl height, that an uni-
verfal ignorance of the one true fupreme God,
of his attributes, and of his worfhip, prevailed
in all nations : and for this univerfal ignorance
of divine things, the philofophers had in flore
no adequate remedy; nor did they attempt
generally to apply any partial and imperfect
jemedy, they had perhaps difcovered. Thus,
during the empire of philofophy, flood the
knowledge of divine things in the world. As
to the rules of morality laid down by wife men
of old, they are, without doubt, as far as they
reach, good, juft, and of admirable ufe ; yet,
in fome refpedts, fall fhort of the evangelical
precepts. This indeed is one, but the leaft

defect



for the Propagation of the Gofpel. 1 5

defeat in them. It is a greater, that the
teachers being inverted with no authority, their
dilates were difputable; everyone thought he
had a right to reject them if he pleafed, and
to oppofe his own reafon to that of another
man. But the greateft defect was this ; that,
by their deepeft refearches, they could find no
firm ground, whereon to fix any fure obliga-
tion to the obfervance of their precepts: fuch
as they did find, thofe wife and good men
availed themfelves of to the utmoft, for the
benefit of mankind. Virtue they faid is agree-
able to reafon, and therefore ought to be fol-
lowed by every reafonable being. This is true,
and an inducement to thofe who venerate the
law of their own minds ; but as that is a law,
which every one may difpanfe with at pleafure,
it certainly carries with it no fort of obligation.
Temporal inconveniencies, they farther urged,
attend the violation of the rules of virtue. This
indeed would be a powerful fandion, if things
fo fell out conftantly and invariably : but on
the contrary, we fee virtue and wickednefs pro-
mifcuouily fortunate and unfortunate in the
world. Moral obligation, in iliort, can arife
out of no other principles but thefe, viz. that
the laws of virtue are die laws of God; that it

is



1 6 ^SERMON before the Society

is his will, that thofe laws be obeyed by man;
and that we mall pafs into another ftate, where
every one will be rewarded or punifhed, as he
mall in this life have obeyed or difobeyed them.
This only fancftion of morality, the wifdom,
the penetration, and induftry of the ancients
could not difcover, though they diligently
fought after it. But that which thefe lights
of the ancient world attempted in vain, what
raw fcholar cannot now perform ? What no-
vice, who has a mind to vilify the Chriftian
- Revelation as ufelefs to mankind, cannot pre-
fently, by mere dint of reafon, draw out a
complete fyftem of belief, of worfhip, and of
practice? Who cannot now demonftrate the
being, the attributes, and moral government
of God over the World ? and conclude, that
being a fpirit, he is to be worshipped in fpirit
and in truth ? Who cannot evince, the laws
of morality to be his laws ? bring life and im-
mortality into open day-light? and exhibit
before the eyes of all men that fcene of future
being, wherein every man fhall receive a re-
compence proportioned to his deeds? What
youth I fiy, by mere dint of reafon, cannot
now do all this, and much more, at his eafe?
Vile and mamelefs plagiaries, who having

flolen



for the Propagation of the GofpeL 1 7

ilolen their doctrine from the Gofpel, and moft
thievifhly difguifed it under an altered drefs,
are not content, when taken in the fact, moft
impudently to deny the theft, but moft un-
gratefully vilify the author from whom the
intire fyftem of their boafted wifdom is moft
manifeftly purloined. But even thefe great
doctrines taken from fcripture, were they to
be taught in the name only of fome reputed
wife man, would prefently lofe their authority,
weight and influence, and become, what the
ancient philofophy was, mere matter of fpecu-
lation, of eternal difputing and wrangling, in-
ftead of being regarded as obligatory rules of
life and manners.

If thefe things be fo; if irreligion be the

fource of all evil prefent and future ; and if no

other experienced, or probable remedy can be

fuggefted proper to fubdue it, but propagat-

ing the doctrines of revealed religion ; then

have we great reafon to blefs God, who put it

into the heart of that glorious Prince who had

before faved our religion at home from violence,

t o eftablifh this fociety for the reftoration and

revival of it in our colonies abroad, where it

was, in many parts, almoft expiring through

carel effnefs.

C An



A SERMON before the Society



An evil fo inveterate, and fo widely difFufed.
over a vaft tradt of country, there could be no*
hopes of remedying in a fhort time, or with a.
frnall ftrength. It was plainly- feen, that it.
mufl prove a work of many years, of unwearied
patience and perfeverance,. and would . require
a collected and well governed force.

For thefe reafons a Corporation to carry on
the pious .work was eflablifhed, and. by a per-
petual fuccefiion made in fome fenfe immor-
tal. By this advantage of perpetual duration,
it is furnifhed with a capacity of carrying on a
defign of fo great length to-its final accomplim-
ment. Hence alfo it is enabled to execute its,
purpofes, not by fits and flarts, with frequent
intermiffions, during which, things naturally
of themfelves flide backward, but to proceed
with a continued, fteady, uniform endeavour.
and direction, whereby the mofl .difficult en
terprizes being kept always going forward, are-,
at laft brought to the defired end. Hence alfo-
it has the advantage of underftanding the bed.
method of purfiaing its .ends, by means of a 4 -.
long experience, the befl guide in all human,
affairs. This Corporation is likewife^ as it-
were, the refervoir of the national charity in.
this kind$ wherein the bounty of each indivi-

dual^



for the Propagation of the GojpeL 19

dual, which fingly had been fruitlefs, being -
collected together, and directed one and the
fame way, like the rays of the fun concentered
in the fame point, hath wrought much greater
effects, than otherwifecouldhavebeen produced.
The integrity of the Society hath ever been
not only blamelefs, but free from all fufpi-
cion. In thefe hands therefore every one may
with fafety and full confidence intruft his li-
berality, and .reft affured, that by their ad-
miniftration, much more effectually than by
his own, the good work he favours, will be
carried on and promoted.

Nor let defpondence and defpair of an happy
event difcourage the charitable difpolition of
any perfon towards this undertaking. The
fuccefs of the endeavours hitherto ufed, hath,
by the bleffing of God, been confiderable,
under many difadvantages ; of which fome,
even the principal of them, .there is ground to
hope, will yet one day be removed. The
want of feminaries in thofe parts, for the
education of perfons to ferve in the miniftry
of the Gofpel, is a great difadvantage ; fo
great, that there is reafon to apprehend, it
may one day undo, all that the Society has
been fo many years labouring to do. If mini-
C 2 niftei*



ao ^SERMON before the Society

nifters fail, religion muft fail with them: and
can it be imagined that this little fpot of an
ifland can fupply the vaft continent of Ame-
rica, and the iflands of the Weft Indies, daily
increaiing by an afflux of new inhabitants ?
hath it at any time been able to anfwer the
demands from thence ? in the provinces, where
maintenance is by law provided for minifters,
feveral churches have in all times ftood vacant,
becaufe none could be found to officiate in
them. The fame want hath all along been
an hindrance to the proper work of the So-
ciety ; and muft needs prove an effectual bar
to any farther confiderable progrefs in- it. And
may it not be apprehended; (which, God
avert!) that from the fame caufe things fooner
or later may begin to go backward. The want
of native minifters looks,, in my apprehenfion,
with a malignant afpect on the church there.
Nor is it of late ontyv that this danger hath
been perceived and dreaded : that glorious
Prince, who eftablimed this Society, faw and
confidered it; and for remedy thereof, caufed *
to be built,, and liberally endowed a college in
thofe parts. Unfortunately it hath not an-
fwered his intention. A fecond feminary for
the fame purpofe hath been raifed by the pious

bounty



for the Propagation of the GofpeL 21

bounty of a private gentleman. This too hath
failed; and no wonder: for what encourage-
ment have the inhabitants of thofe regions to
qualify themfelves for holy orders, while, to
obtain them; they lye under the neceffity of
croffing an immenfe ocean, with much incon-
venience, danger and expence; which thofe
who come hither on that errand can but ill
bear ? And if they have the fortune to arrive
fafe, being here without friends, and without ac-
quaintance, they have the fad bufinefs to under-
go, of prefenting themfelves unknown, to per-
fons unknown, without any recommendation
or introduction, except certain papers in their
pocket. Are there not circumftances in this
cafe, fufficient to deter every ordinary courage,
and to damp the moil adventurous fpirit ? It
hath therefore hitherto proved, and probably
will ever be found, a vain expence to build
and endow colleges there, while that people
have this only method of being admitted s to
the miniftry. Who will qualify themfelves ?
who, on fuch unjufl terms, will feek- the office?
An office accompanied) there at leaft, with no
tempting advantages, that may counter-balance
the above-mentioned difcouragements, and
hardships. Who would not rather take upon

him



22 ^SERMON before the Society

him any other occupation, which he can freely