India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel…

The Work is Glorious: But a Principal Glory of it, has been the Purity of the CHRISTIANITY, which has been brought unto these Indians, in our Attempts to Christianize them. The RELIGION wherein they have been instructed, has not been the Religion of a Party; but the Pure Religion and Undefiled, which is evidently contained in the Sacred Scriptures. The Main ⟨p. 34⟩Things, which the Instructions given to them have insisted on, have not been, either the Things which Good Men may be and have been Divided in, or the Observations wherein the Wickedest Men may act their Part as fairly as the Holiest, and with which the Kingdom of GOD cometh not. But the Pure MAXIMS of the Everlasting Gospel are those that have been instilled into them; Even those which All Good Men are United in, and which GOD will keep the Nations in Distress and Great Perplexity, until He has compelled His Churches to Unite upon. What they have been taught, has been, To Worship GOD in the Spirit, and Rejoice in CHRIST JESUS, and Love one another, and shun every thing which the Light of GOD in their Souls may condemn as an Evil Thing. If the Direction given them has been, To Study their own Condition and acquaint themselves with the Oracles of GOD, and make their own Prayers with the Assistances of His Holy SPIRIT; rather than to cramp their Devotions with a Liturgy: To be content with such Officers, and Managements of the Offices, in their Societies, as they find in the Word of CHRIST an unquestionable Institution for: To Sabbatize on the LORDS-DAY, and know no other Stated Holidays of Religion; but yet keep ⟨p. 35⟩whole Days of Humiliation, & of Thanksgiving, on the Occasions for them; 'Tis to be hoped, That such as have a true Sense of Genuine and Primitive Christianity, will not think the worse of them; nor any but the Mean Sons of Austin the Monk, think that any more should be Judged Necessary for them. 'Tis indeed Marvellous to see [And yet, My Brethren, Marvel not!] the Spite, with which this New-English Work, has been treated in the Writings of some who differ from us, in some Disputed Ways of Worship. I choose rather to Pity them than to Mention them; and only Wish that the Allatrations may quicken the pace of our Piety.

The Work is Glorious: But a Principal Glory of it, has been the Purity of the CHRISTIANITY, which has been brought unto these Indians, in our Attempts to Christianize them. The RELIGION wherein they have been instructed, has not been the Religion of a Party; but the Pure Religion and Undefiled, which is evidently contained in the Sacred Scriptures. The Main