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A

PROPOSAL

For the better Supplying of

CHURCHES

IN OUR

_Foreign Plantations_,

AND FOR

Converting the Savage _Americans_
to CHRISTIANITY,

By a COLLEGE to be erected in the
_Summer Islands_, otherwise called the
Isles of _Bermuda_.


_The harvest is truly great, but the labourers are few_, Luke c.
10. v. 2.


_LONDON_,

Printed by H. WOODFALL, at _Elzevir's-Head_ without
_Temple-Bar_: And sold by J. ROBERTS, near the
_Oxford-Arms_ in _Warwick-Lane_, 1725. (Price Sixpence.)




_A PROPOSAL for the better Supplying of Churches in our foreign
Plantations, &c._


Although there are several excellent persons of the church of England,
whose good intentions and endeavours have not been wanting to propagate
the gospel in foreign parts, who have even combined into societies for
that very purpose, and given great encouragement, not only for English
missionaries in the West-Indies, but also, for the reformed of other
nations, led by their example, to propagate christianity in the East:
It is nevertheless acknowledged, that there is at this day, but little
sense of religion, and a most notorious corruption of manners, in the
English colonies settled on the continent of America, and the islands.
It is also acknowledged, that the gospel hath hitherto made but a very
inconsiderable progress among the neighbouring Americans, who still
continue in much-what the same ignorance and barbarism, in which we
found them above a hundred years ago.

I shall therefore venture to submit my thoughts upon a point, that I
have long consider'd, to better judgments, in hopes that any expedient
will be favourably hearkned to, which is proposed for the remedy of
these evils. Now in order to effect this, it should seem the natural
proper method, to provide, in the first place, a constant supply of
worthy clergy-men for the English churches in those parts; and in the
second place, a like constant supply of zealous missionaries well
fitted for propagating Christianity among the savages.

For though the surest means to reform the morals, and soften the
behaviour of men, be, to preach to them the pure uncorrupt doctrine of
the gospel, yet it cannot be denied that the success of preaching
dependeth in good measure on the character and skill of the preacher:
Forasmuch as mankind are more apt to copy characters than to practise
precepts, and forasmuch as argument, to attain its full strength, doth
not less require the life of zeal, than the weight of reason; and the
same doctrine, which maketh great impression, when delivered with
decency and address, loseth very much of its force by passing through
aukward or unskilful hands.

Now the clergy sent over to America have proved, too many of them, very
meanly qualified both in learning and morals for the discharge of their
office. And indeed little can be expected from the example or
instruction of those, who quit their native country on no other motive,
than that they are not able to procure a livelihood in it, which is
known to be often the case.

To this may be imputed the small care that hath been taken to convert
the <DW64>s of our plantations, who, to the infamy of England, and
scandal of the world, continue Heathen under Christian masters, and in
Christian countries. Which cou'd never be, if our planters were rightly
instructed and made sensible, that they disappointed their own baptism
by denying it to those who belong to them: That it would be of
advantage to their affairs, to have slaves who should _obey in all
things their masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service as
men-pleasers, but, in singleness of heart as fearing God_: That gospel
liberty consists with temporal servitude: and that their slaves would
only become better slaves by being Christian.

And though it be allowed that some of the clergy in our colonies have
approved themselves men of merit, it will at the same time be allowed,
that the most zealous and able missionary from England must find
himself but ill qualified for converting the American Heathen, if we
consider the difference of language, their wild way of living, and
above all, the great jealousy and prejudice which savage nations have
towards foreigners, or innovations introduced by them.

These considerations make it evident, that a college or seminary in
those parts is very much wanted; and therefore the providing such a
seminary, is earnestly proposed and recommended to all those, who have
it in their power, to contribute to so good a work. By this, two ends
would be obtained.

First, the youth of our English plantations might be themselves fitted
for the ministry; and men of merit would be then glad to fill the
churches of their native country, which are now a drain for the very
dregs and refuse of ours.

At present, there are, I am told, many churches vacant in our
plantations, and many very ill supplied; nor can all the vigilance and
wisdom of that great prelate, whose peculiar care it is, prevent this,
so long as the aforesaid churches are supplied from England.

And supplied they must be, with such as can be pick'd up in England or
Ireland, till a nursery of learning for the education of the natives is
founded. This indeed might provide a constant succession of learned and
exemplary pastors; and what effect this must be supposed to have on
their flocks, I need not say.

Secondly, the children of savage Americans, brought up in such a
seminary, and well instructed in religion and learning, might make the
ablest and properest missionaries for spreading the gospel among their
countrymen; who would be less apt to suspect, and readier to embrace a
doctrine recommended by neighbours or relations, men of their own blood
and language, than if it were proposed by foreigners, who would not
improbably be thought to have designs on the liberty or property of
their converts.

The young Americans necessary for this purpose, may, in the beginning
be procured, either by peaceable methods from those savage nations,
which border on our colonies, and are in friendship with us, or by
taking captive the children of our enemies.

It is proposed to admit into the aforesaid college only such savages as
are under ten years of age, before evil habits have taken a deep root;
and yet not so early as to prevent retaining their mother tongue, which
should be preserved by intercourse among themselves.

It is further proposed, to ground these young Americans thoroughly in
religion and morality, and to give them a good tincture of other
learning; particularly of eloquence, history, and practical
mathematicks: to which it may not be improper to add some skill in
physick.

If there were a yearly supply of ten or a dozen such missionaries sent
abroad into their respective countries, after they had received the
degree of master of arts in the aforesaid college, and holy orders in
England, (till such time as episcopacy be established in those parts)
it is hardly to be doubted, but, in a little time the world would see
good and great effects thereof.

For, to any considering man, the employing American missionaries for
the conversion of America, will, of all others, appear the most likely
method to succeed; especially if care be taken, that, during the whole
course of their education, an eye should be had to their mission; that
they should be taught betimes to consider themselves as trained up in
that sole view, without any other prospect of provision, or employment;
that a zeal for religion, and love of their country, should be early
and constantly instilled into their minds, by repeated lectures and
admonitions; that they should not only be incited by the common topics
of religion and nature, but farther animated and enflamed by the great
examples, in past ages, of publick spirit and virtue, to rescue their
countrymen from their savage manners, to a life of civility and
religion.

If his majesty would graciously please to grant a charter for a college
to be erected in a proper place for these uses, it is to be hoped a
fund may be soon raised, by the contribution of well-disposed persons,
sufficient for building and endowing the same. For as the necessary
expence would be small, so there are men of religion and humanity in
England, who would be pleased to see any design set forward for the
glory of God and the good of mankind.

A small expence would suffice to subsist and educate the American
missionaries in a plain simple manner, such as might make it easy for
them to return to the coarse and poor methods of life in use among
their countrymen; and nothing can contribute more to lessen this
expence, than a judicious choice of the situation, where the seminary
is to stand.

Many things ought to be considered in the choice of a situation. It
should be in a good air; in a place where provisions are cheap and
plenty; where an intercourse might easily be kept up with all parts of
America and the islands; in a place of security, not exposed to the
insults of pyrates, savages, or other enemies; where there is no great
trade, which might tempt the readers or fellows of the college to
become merchants, to the neglect of their proper business; where there
are neither riches nor luxury to divert, or lessen their application,
or to make them uneasy and dissatisfied with a homely frugal
subsistence: lastly, where the inhabitants, if such a place may be
found, are noted for innocence and simplicity of manners. I need not
say of how great importance this point would be toward forming the
morals of young students, and what mighty influence it must have on the
mission.

It is evident the college long since projected in Barbadoes would be
defective in many of these particulars; for though it may have its use
among the inhabitants, yet a place of so high trade, so much wealth and
luxury, and such dissolute morals, (not to mention the great price and
scarcity of provisions;) must at first light seem a very improper
situation for a general seminary intended for the forming missionaries,
and educating youth in religion and sobriety of manners. The same
objections lie against the neighbouring islands.

And if we consider the accounts given of their avarice and
licentiousness, their coldness in the practice of religion, and their
aversion from propagating it, (which appears in the withholding their
slaves from baptism) it is to be feared, that the inhabitants in the
populous parts of our plantations on the continent are not much fitter,
than those in the islands above mentioned, to influence or assist such
a design. And as to the more remote and less frequented parts, the
difficulty of being supplied with necessaries, the danger of being
exposed to the inroads of savages, and above all, the want of
intercourse with other places, render them improper situations for a
seminary of religion and learning.

It will not be amiss to insert here an observation, I remember to have
seen in an abstract of the proceedings, &c. annexed to the Dean of
Canterbury's sermon, before the society for the propagation of the
gospel in foreign parts; that the savage Indians, who live on the
continent, will not suffer their children to learn English or Dutch,
lest they should be debauched by conversing with their European
neighbours: which is a melancholy, but strong confirmation of the truth
of what hath been now advanced.

A general intercourse and correspondence with all the English colonies,
both on the islands and the continent, and with other parts of America,
hath been before laid down, as a necessary circumstance, the reason
whereof is very evident. But this circumstance is hardly to be found.
For on the continent, where there are neither inns, nor carriages, nor
bridges over the rivers, there is no travelling by land between distant
places. And the English settlements are reputed to extend along the
sea-coast for the space of fifteen hundred miles. It is therefore
plain, there can be no convenient communication between them, otherwise
than by sea; no advantage therefore, in this point, can be gained by
settling on the continent.

There is another consideration, which equally regards the continent and
islands, that the general course of trade and correspondence lies from
all those colonies to Great Britain alone: Whereas, for our present
purpose, it would be necessary to pitch upon a place, if such could be
found, which maintains a constant intercourse with all the other
colonies, and whose commerce lies chiefly or altogether (not in Europe,
but) in America.

There is but one spot that I can find, to which this circumstance
agrees: and that is the isles of Bermuda, otherwise called the Summer
Islands. These having no rich commodity or manufacture, such as sugar,
tobacco, or the like, wherewithal to trade to England, are obliged to
become carriers for America, as the Dutch are for Europe. The Bermudans
are excellent shipwrights and sailors, and have a great number of very
good sloops, which are always passing and repassing from all parts of
America. They drive a constant trade to the islands of Jamaica,
Barbadoes, Antego, &c. with butter, onions, cabbages, and other roots
and vegetables, which they have in great plenty and perfection. They
have also some small manufactures of joyner's work and matting, which
they export to the plantations on the continent. Hence Bermudan sloops
are oftener seen in the ports of America, than any other. And indeed,
by the best information I could get, it appears they are the only
people of all the British plantations, who hold a general
correspondence with the rest.

And, as the commerce of Bermuda renders it a very fit place, wherein to
erect a seminary, so likewise doth its situation, it being placed
between our plantations on the continent, and those in the isles, so as
equally to respect both. To which may be added, that it lies in the way
of vessels passing from America to Great Britain; all which makes it
plain, that the youth, to be educated in a seminary placed in the
Summer Islands, would have frequent opportunities of going thither and
corresponding with their friends. It must indeed be owned, that some
will be obliged to go a long way to any one place, which we suppose
resorted to, from all parts of our plantations; but if we were to look
out a spot the nearest approaching to an equal distance from all the
rest, I believe it Would be found to be Bermuda. It remains, that we
see whether it enjoys the other qualities or conditions laid down as
well as this.

The Summer Islands are situated near the latitude of thirty-three
degrees; no part of the world enjoys a purer air, or a more temperate
climate, the great