266

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.

THE SAME TO THE SAME.

New York May the 20‘ h 1770.

Sir I most sincerely thank you for your judicious observations in your last Letter. Infidelitymost certainly is the fountain from whence we are overwhelmed with misfortunes and almostbrought to ruin. Our great men, instead of being careful pilots, and anxious for the safety of theNation, are inveloped in false politic’s—rack their invention, & exert their utmost abilities toaggrandize themselves, and their Families, and suffer, for want of true principles, their Sovereign andtheir Country to be tossed to and fro with every wind of popular discontent, without guiding theHelm with prudence, caution and Resolution. The Lords Temporal are wholly engrosssed in asystem of Politic, which must end if persevered in, in the ruin of themselves, and their Country ;and tire Lords Spiritual while they can unmolested enjoy their opulence, & weight in the Govern-ment, pay too little attention to the distresses and injustice that the members of the best church in theworld labor under, in America . The True principles of a good Church man, are, a true regard tothe Laws of his God , and a zealous attachment to his lawful Sovereign. The opposers of a monar-chical Government (too many of which our Nation are cursed with) are a direct contrast, whichevery man’s experience, if he has ten grains of sense or five of honesty, must convince him of.These men are ever assuming a power, have once had it—made a diabolical use of it, & yet havethe audaciousness —the wickedness , to attempt usurp it again, under the best of princes. The Clergyare much indebted to you, worthy Sir, for your strong attachment to the present happy Establish-ment in Church and State ; and for your animated Letters to the Ministry seting forth thenecessity of an American Episcopate, and a proper notice and regard for the American Churches ;which, at present, are left destitute of Countenance and support; subject to the vile Ravagesof Goths and Vandals—or what is worse— inveterate malice from those that dare to stile themselvesChristians. May God reform them. I forgive them, but forget them, I hope I never shall—I amordered in the Name of our Convention, which met at my house, the last week to thank you forthe many good services you have honored us with ; and to assure you that we should esteem it asa most providential Event, if your power to serve us, was adequate to your inclination—happyshould we be was this the Case. I therefore Sir, as president of the Convention pro temporereturn you our most sincere and grateful Thanks, for the exertion of your Interest, in favor of theChurch of England in America ; and for the many favors we have received from you, as cler-gymen. We have still to beg, that the discouragements you have met with, may not slacken yourgenerous Ardor ; or provoke you to cease your application at Home in our favor—i e. for the preser-vation of the present happy establishment in Church and State, which ought to be as firmly settledhere,as in Great Britain , rve most ardently wish you every Temporal and Spiritual Blessings; &beg leave to assure you that we retain a grateful sense of the honor you have done us, in becomingour Friend & Patron.

This will be delivered to you, by my worthy Brothers, Cooper & Inglis. The latter travels forHealth, the former because lie has too much. I almost envy them their happiness.

I have received a Letter from M r Stuart, who is now I imagine plouging the Ocean. He got yourLetter a lew days after it came to my hands.

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