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

THIS is what I am in the Third Place arrived unto. I was going to Entreat your Thoughts, your Cares, your Pains, that the Good Work may not be lost, but be Revived in the midst of the Years, wherein we see so many Discouragements upon it. But as touching this Brotherly Love, ye need not that I speak unto you!

THIS is what I am in the Third Place arriv'd unto. I was going to Entreat your Thoughts, your Cares, your Pains, that the Good Work may not be lost, but be Revived in the midst of the Years, wherein we see so many Discouragements upon it. But as touching this Brotherly Love, ye need not that I speak unto you!

I am not insensible, that there are clamours now and then made as if your Small Revenue, ⟨p. 42⟩were not always applied unto the best Advantage; and as if your whole Affair were under a Defective Management. Yea, if the Glorious GOD had not almost Miraculously appeared more than once to defeat the Plots of some designing Men, who Envied the Small Revenue which Our work has been kept alive withal, it had before now been diverted unto other purposes. But some of those who are most clamorous, are Men whose ways are always grievous; and the Better Men who sometimes receive Impressions from them, it may be, do not enough consider, how common it is, for things to appear easy in Speculation, that are found for to be encumbered with Innumerable and Insuperable Difficulties in the Execution. I am well assured, That in the Discharge of the Trust reposed in you, a Charity to the Pitiable case of the Subjects before you is ever working in you; a Conscience of Duty to GOD continually acts you; and you have a Religious concern to acquit your selves as they that must give an Account of their Stewardship, when you are to appear before the glorious Judge of the World: There will be found in you, all that belongs to a compassionate Samaritan. Be not wearied nor faint in your Minds; but go on to Do the Best you can, for the Supporting and the Promoting ⟨p. 43⟩of a Good Work, which the Powers of Darkness will do all they can, to Encumber with obstructions, that will require an uncommon Prudence and Patience to Encounter them. The Ocean over which our Predecessors passed hither, was by Antiquity revered as leading to Holy and Blessed Seats, and something of a more than Humane Character. Let us Do the Best we can, that it may be so; and if we cannot raise our Indians up unto all the More than common Goodness that we are Striving for, yet let us come to it Our selves, particularly in our Doing our Best for Them, that they may do so. And whereas a Main Intention which you now have in your View, is, To bring the Rising Generation of the Indians, unto a more general Understanding of the English Language, and more into the English way of Living, You will employ your frequent and earnest Consultations upon it, and Call in the Advice of as many others, as may offer any Proper Methods, for the more Effectual Prosecution of it.