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A29244
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The acts of Dr. Bray's visitation held at Annapolis in Maryland May 23, 24, 25 anno 1700
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Bray, Thomas, 1658-1730.
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1700
(1700)
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Wing B4282; ESTC R29055
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12,582
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20
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Holy Scriptures from being the Rule of Faith and Practice And whereas Pensylvania of all the English Colonies on the Continent of North-America does most of all abound with that sort of Unbelievers where notwithstanding through the Blessing of God upon the Labours of such who have hitherto endeavoured the Reduction of that People many of the Quakers have returned to the Christian Faith and others amongst them are so stagger'd as to doubt that they are in a dangerous State of Unbelief so that now there wants only under God more Labourers to be sent into that Field which seems to be White for Harvest And lastly Whereas we the Clergy of this Province being sensible of the great Mercies of God in the Establishment which we have lately receiv'd think our selves obliged out of Gratitude to God and Compassion to those People who are not yet happy in the like to provide so far as in us lies for the Propagation of the same Gospel amongst them which we our selves labour in We do subscribe the several Sums to our Names annex'd to be paid Yearly at the General and Autumnal Visitation as his Reverence Dr. Bray shall direct towards the Maintaining of another Minister in Pensylvania till such time as a settled Provision can be made for them in that Province Which God in his due time will provide  l s. Thomas Bray D. D. 10 00 John Lilliston 01 10 Hugh Jones 03 00 Thomas Cockshute 01 10 Joseph Colbatch 03 00 Henry Hall 03 00 Richard Sewell 01 10 Stephen Boardley 01 10 We the Clergy assembled at this Visitation do request his Reverence to communicate the foregoing Proposals relating to the Encouragement of another able Minister to come over to Pensylvania to his Reverence Mr. Blaire Commissary of Virginia that he also may promote the Design amongst our Brethren the Clergy in his Jurisdiction After which the Visitation being about to close up the Clergy did very much press his Reverence both in Debate and by Reasons offered in Writing that he would please to take a Voyage into England upon the Service of this Church as conceiving he would be capable of doing it much more Service at home the remaining part of this Year than by his Presence here till his next Visitation which they earnestly request he would Personally make amongst them To which his Reverence made answer That he hoped they were all satisfied in the Sincerity of his Intentions to serve the Church in these Parts in the best manner should be thought in his Power And therefore tho he could offer many Reasons why they should excuse him so troublesome a Voyage taken with a Design to return again yet he would not venture to determine himself in this Affair but would leave himself wholly to be governed by his Excellency's Pleasure in this Matter Upon which the following Address of the Clergy was drawn up read and approved of Ordered That Mr. Nobbes and Mr. Colbatch wait upon his Excellency to inform his Excellency that the Clergy crave leave to lay some things before his Excellency before the Conclusion of the Visitation which accordingly they did and return'd Answer That his Excellency was always ready to receive what they should offer Ordered That Mr. Lilliston Mr. Nobbes Mr. Sewell Mr. Cockshute Mr. Colbatch do carry an Address to his Excellency relating to his Reverence's going for England May it please Your Excellency WE the Clergy of this Province being met together at a General Visitation of the Reverend Dr. Bray Commissioned thereunto by our Right Reverend and Right Honourable Diocesan Henry Lord Bishop of London crave leave in the first place to Represent to Your Excellency our most grateful Acknowledgments for Your late Noble Zeal and Excellent Conduct in the Re-establishment of the Law of Religion which we can assure Your Excellency we have already found to be no less to the Satisfaction than it will prove to the real Advantage of the whole Country And being much encouraged to address our selves to Your Excellency on all important Occasions by the easie Access You are always pleased to grant us We Humbly crave leave to Represent to You the following Considerations relating to an Affair which we Humbly apprehend to be of some Consequence The Clergy of Mary-Land's Reasons whereby they earnestly moved his Reverence Dr. Bray to undertake a Voyage into England at this Juncture Given in at his Visitation May 25. FIrst Because it seems necessary to have an Agent in England to sollicit the Perfecting of the Law of Religion by the Royal Assent In order to which it may be requisite to have some one upon the Place who can be able to obviate and answer the Suggestions of all the Enemies to that Law which should any obstruct his Reverence would be best qualified to represent the True State of this Country at home having to our Knowledge by his Parochial as well as General Visitation and by other Methods throughly acquainted himself with the State of Religion in these Parts and does Personally know the universal Desire of the People to have it Established and maintained amongst them And we are the more confirm'd in this Opinion it being to our Knowledge the Sense of many intelligent Persons in Mary-Land that his Reverence should be desired to go home with this Law Secondly Because an Account from his Reverence's Personal Knowledge of the State of the Church and the Clergy here will be most likely to encourage at home such as are Lovers of God and Friends to Religion to assist this Infant Church in the Perfecting of the Parochial Libraries and other good Designs which we already find so advantageous to us in the better Discharge of our Ministry Thirdly Because there being very many Clergy wanting to supply the vacant Cures of this Province And it being of the greatest consequence that they should be the best chosen that can be induced to undertake the Mission his Reverence having Personally seen the State the Temper and Constitution of this Country will be the better able to choose proper Persons such as may be best Qualified for the Service of the Church in these Parts Fourthly Because his Reverence returning back with them it will be the greatest Encouragement to sober Persons to come over And he may the better know their Behaviour at Sea a thing of the greatest consequence to the Acquiring a good Reputation in this Country Lastly Because his Reverence having put us in this his General Visitation in so Excellent and Exact a Method for the due Performance of all the Parts of our Ministerial Function there appears no great Necessity of his farther Residence amongst us till early the next Spring by which time we earnestly desire he would please to return for our farther Encouragement and the Benefit of his prudent Conduct and Advice At leastwise the Advantages we propose to this Church by his going for England at this Juncture do with us much overballance the Reasons of his Stay here May it please Your Excellency HAving now at the Close of our Visitation earnestly moved his Reverence with the foregoing Reasons for his consent to undertake so chargeable and troublesome a Voyage to England and back again in the Service of our Church according to his usual Zeal to serve its Interest in such Ways as shall be thought most Advantageous he refers us entirely to Your Excellency whose Judgment and Commands will always have the greatest Weight as with his Reverence so May it Please Your Excellency Your Excellency's most Dutiful And Obedient Servants John Lilliston Hugh Jones Thomas Cockshute Joseph Colbatch Henry Hall Richard Sewell Stephen Boardley John White His Excellency's Answer THAT he refers it wholly to his Reverence Dr. Bray and his Clergy to resolve upon it and that he will contribute all that in him lies to confirm and corroborate whatsoever they shall resolve upon Ordered by his Reverence That the General Visitation shall henceforwards be held Yearly on the first Wednesday after Low-Sunday at the Port of Annopolis Ordered by his Reverence That the Autumnal Visitation for the Eastern Shore be held at the Town of York in the Court-House belonging to Talbot County on the Wednesday immediately following the Feast of St. Michael Ordered by his Reverence That the Autumnal Visitation for the Western Shore be held at Annopolis in the State-House on the second Wednesday of November Laus Deo Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto Amen