IV. That the chief Subjects of their Sermons be the great Fundamental Principles of Christianity, and the Duties of a sober, righteous, and godly Life, as resulting from those Principles.

V. That they particularly preach against those Vices which they shall observe to be most predominant in the Places of their Residence.

VI. That they carefully instruct the People concerning the Nature and Use of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, as the peculiar Institutions of Christ, Pledges of Communion with Him, and Means of deriving Grace from Him.

VII. That they duly consider the Qualifications of those adult Persons to whom they administer Baptism; and of those likewise whom they admit to the Lord's Supper, according to the Directions of the Rubricks in our Liturgy.

VIII. That they take special Care to lay a good Foundation for all their other Ministrations, by Catechizing those under their Care, whether Children or other ignorant Persons, explaining the Catechism to them in the most easy and familiar Manner.

IX. That in their instructing Heathens and Infidels, they begin with the Principles of Natural Religion, appealing to their Reason and Conscience, and thence proceed to shew them the Necessity of Revelation, and the Certainty of that contained in the Holy Scriptures, by the plainest and most obvious Arguments.

X. That they frequently visit their respective Parishioners; those of our own Communion, to keep them steady in the Profession and Practice of Religion, as taught in the Church of England; those that oppose us, or dissent from us, to convince and reclaim them with a Spirit of Meekness and Gentleness.

XI. That those, whose Parishes shall be of large Extent, shall, as they have Opportunity and Convenience, officiate in the several Parts thereof, so that all the Inhabitants may by Turns partake of their Ministrations; and that such as shall be appointed to officiate in several Places shall reside sometimes at one, sometimes at another of those Places, as the Necessities of the People shall require.

XII. That they shall, to the best of their Judgments, distribute those small Tracts given them by the Society for that Purpose, amongst such of their Parishioners as shall want them most, and appear likely to make the best Use of them; and that such useful Books, of which they have not a sufficient Number to give, they be ready to lend to those who will be most careful in reading and restoring them.

XIII. That they encourage the setting up of Schools for the teaching of Children; and particularly by the Widows of such Clergymen as shall die in those Countries, if they be found capable of that Employment.

XIV. That each of them keep a Register of his Parishioners' Names, Profession of Religion, Baptism, &c. according to the Scheme annexed, No. I. for his own Satisfaction, and the Benefit of the People.

Thirdly, With respect to the Society

I. That each of them keep a constant and regular Correspondence with the Society, by their Secretary.

II. That they send every six Months an Account of the State of their respective Parishes, according to the Scheme annexed, No. II.

III. That they communicate what shall be done at the Meetings of the Clergy, when settled, and whatsoever else may concern the Society.

Text-Pascoe: Two Hundred Years of the S. P. G., 1701-1900, pp. 837-839.

III. THE DEFECTION OF CUTLER AND HIS FRIENDS

Very Reverend Sirs,

We have taken it, that yourselves were consulted upon the first erecting a col legiate school in our colony, nor can we account it improper, that yourselves and our reverend fraternity in the principal town of our country be apprized of the dark cloud drawn over our collegiate affairs, a representation whereof may already have been made by some of our reverend brethren trustees: But if not, and the case being of general concern, we are willing to make our mournful report, how it hath been matter of surprize to us (as we conclude it hath been or surely will be to you) to find how great a change a few years have made appear among us, and how our fountain, hoped to have been and continued the repositiory of truth, and the reserve of pure and sound principles, doctrine and education, in case of a change in our mother Harvard, shews itself in so little a time so corrupt. How is the gold become dim! and the silver become dross! and the wine mixed with water! Our school gloried and flourished under its first rector, the Rev. Mr. Pierson, a pattern of piety, a man of modest behaviour, of solid learning, and sound principles, free from the least Arminian or Episcopal taint But it suffered decay for some years because of the want of a resident rector. But who could have conjectured, that its name being raised to Collegium Yalense from an Gymnasium Saybrookense, it should groan out Ichabod in about three years and a half under its second rector, so unlike the first, by an unhappy election set over it, into whose election or confirmation, or any act relating to him, the senior subscriber hereof (though not for some reason, through malice or mistake bruited) never came. Upon the management of our college three years and an half, how strangely altered is the aspect thereof! that its regents, sc. rector and tutor are become such capable masters of Episcopal leaven, and in such a time so able to cause how many to partake of it! . . .

Upon our commencement, Sept. 12, the rector distinguished his performance by the closing words of his prayer, which were these, viz. and let all the people say, amen. On the evening of said day, it was rumored there, that on the next day the gentlemen become Episcopal, designed to propound to the trustees three questions.

But the day following the commencement after dinner, these gentlemen appeared in the library before the trustees, where many other ministers were present, and first declared themselves viva voce, but after that, on the direction of the trustees, declared themselves in writing, a copy whereof is not with us. But the substance thereof is this, sc.

Some of us doubting the validity of Presbyterial ordination in opposition to Episcopal ordination, and others of us fully persuaded of the invalidity of said ordination, shall be thankful to God or man helping us if in error. Signed, Timothy Cutler, John Hart, Samuel Whittlesey, Jared Eliot, James Wetmore, Samuel Johnson, Daniel Brown. The persons doubting were Mr. Hart and Mr. Whittlesey.

Consequent to this declaration, the trustees advised that the doubters continue in the administration of the word and sacraments, but that the fully persuaded forbear sacramental ministration, until the meeting of the trustees, which was appointed on Tuesday evening at New Haven, following the opening of our General Assembly there, the said Tuesday being the 16th of the next month. The trustees also advised, that the said ministers would freely declare themselves to their respective congregations.

It may be added, that Mr. C. then declared to the trustees, that he had for many years been of this persuasion, (his wife is reported to have said that to her knowledge he had for eleven or twelve years been so persuaded) and that therefore he was the more uneasy in performing the acts of his ministry at Stratford, and the more readily accepted the call to a college improvement at N. Haven.

But then if he knew the college was erected for the education of such as dissented from the Church of England (and how could he not know it) and knew himself not one: with what good faith could he accept said call and the considerable encouragement he had, and the rather if he disseminated his persuasion so contrary to the very design of its erection, and the confidence of those that called him. Indeed he hath said, that he hath laboured only with one to be of his persuasion: Were it so, there would, in one instance, be a foul frustration of the confidence reposed in him, but what a number above one of the students may have been leavened by him, who can be assured, but coming time may discover the unhappy instances of it.

It must be acknowledged to the divine goodness, that all the trustees then present and of the whole number wanted only three, sc. of Lime, N. London, Stamford) shewed themselves constant to your principles, and affected to the trust committed to them: yet desirous that the meeting of the trustees might (if possible) be fuller, and also their doings might be in the face of the colony, represented in General Assembly, they took care, that Mr. C. might have the use of the house they had hired for him until the Wednesday next after the opening of the General Court, viz. October 17. . . .

We subscribe ourselves, Reverend Sirs,
Your unworthy fellow-partners

in the ministry of the gospel,

The very Reverend,

INCREASE MATHER, D.D.
COTTON MATHER, D. D.
JOHN DAVENPORT,

S. BUCKINGHAM.

Stamford, Sept. 25, 1722.

Text-Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., Series II, Vol. IV, pp. 297-301.

Proceedings of the Trustees, Oct. 22, 1722

16. By Vote agreed that all such Persons as may hereafter be elected to the Office of Rector or Tutor in Yale College shall before thay are accepted thereinto before the Trustees declare their Assent to the Confession of Faith owned & consented to by the Elders & messengers of the Churches in ye Colony of Connecticut in New England assembled by delagacion at Saybrook Sept 9th, 1718, & confirmed by Act of General Assembly and shall particularly give Satisfaction to them of the Soundness of their Faith in opposition to Armenian & prelatical Corruptions or any other of Dangerous Consequence to the Purity & Peace of our Churches but if it cannot be before the Trustees it be in ye Power of any two Trustees with the Rec' to examine a Tutor with respect to the Confession & soundness of Faith in Opposition to sd Corruptions.

17. By Vote agreed that upon just Ground of Suspicion of the Rectors or Tutors Inclination to Armenian Principles or Prelatical, A meeting of the Trustees shall be called as soon as may be by any two of them to examine into the Case.

18. By Vote agreed that if any other Officer or member of this College shall give just Ground of Suspicion of their being corrupted with Armenian or prelatical Principles or any other of dangerous Consequence to the Purity & Peace of our Churches the Rector & Tutor or Tutors shall call them upon examination according to the Articles of said Confession that are contrary to the said Principles & in Case they either refuse to submit thereunto or do not give a satisfying Account of their Incorruptness they shall suspend them to the next meeting of the Trustees. Text-Dexter: Documentary History of Yale University, p. 233.

IV. KING'S COLLEGE

The following by William Livingstone appeared in the Independent Reflector, March 29, 1753.

Evils of a Sectarian College supported by public funds.

. . .I shall now proceed to offer a few arguments, which I submit to the Consideration of my Countrymen, to evince the necessity and importance of constituting our College upon a Basis the most catholic, generous and free.

It is in the first place observable, that unless its Constitution and Government, be such as will admit Persons of all protestant Denominations, upon a perfect Parity as to Privileges, it will itself be greatly prejudiced, and prove a Nursery of Animosity, Dissension and Disorder. . . . Should our College, therefore, unhappily thro' our own bad Policy, fall into the Hands of any one religious Sect in the Province: Should that Sect, which is more than probable, establish its religion in the College, show favour to its votaries, and cast Contempt upon others; 'tis easy to foresee, that Christians of all Denominations amongst us, instead of encouraging its prosperity, will, from the same Principles, rather conspire to oppose and oppress it. Besides English and Dutch Presbyterians, which perhaps exceed all our other religious Professions put together; we have Episcopalians, Anabaptists, Lutherans, Quakers, and a growing Church of Moravians, all equally zealous for their discriminating Tenents: Whichsoever of these has the sole Government of the College, will kindle the jealousy of the rest, not only against the persuasion so preferred, but the College itself. . . .

In such a state of things, we must not expect the Children of any, but of that sect which prevails in the Academy, will ever be sent to it: For should they, the established Tenets must either be implicitly received, or a perpetual religious War necessarily maintained.

Another Argument against so pernicious a Scheme is, that it will be dangerous to Society. The extensive Influence of such a Seminary, I have already shown in my last Paper. And have we not reason to fear the worst Effects of it, where none but the Principles of one Persuasion are taught, and all others depressed and discountenanced? Where, instead of Reason and Argument, of which the Minds of the Youth are not capable, they are early imbued with the Doctrines of a Party, inforced by the Authority of a Professor's Chair, and the combining aids of the President and all

the other Officers of the College? That religious Worship should be constantly maintained there, I am so far from opposing, that I strongly recommend it, and do not believe any such Kind of Society, can be kept under a regular and due Discipline without it. But instructing the youth in any particular Systems of Divinity, or recommending and establishing any single Method of Worship or Church Government, I am convinced would be both useless and hurtful. Useless, because not one in a Hundred of the Pupils is capable of making a just Examination, and reasonable Choice. Hurtful, because receiving Impressions blindly on Authority, will corrupt their Understanding, and fetter them with Prejudices which may everlastingly prevent a Judicious Freedom of Thought, and infect them all their Lives, with a contracted turn of Mind.

A Party-College, in less than half a Century, will put a new face upon the Religion, and in Consequence thereof, affect the Politics of the Country. Let us suppose what may, if the College should be entirely managed by one Sect, probably be supposed. Would not all possible Care be bestowed in tincturing the Minds of the Students with the Doctrines and Sentiments of that Sect? Would not the students of the College, after the Course of their Education, exclusive of any others, fill all the Offices of the Government? Is it not highly reasonable to think, that in the Execution of those Offices, the Spirit of the College would have a most prevailing Influence, especially as that Party would perpetually receive new Strength, become more fashionable and numerous? Can it be imagined that all other Christians wou d continue peaceable under, and unenvious of, the Power of that Church which was rising to so exalted a Pre-eminence above them? Would they not on the Contrary, like all other Parties, reflect upon, reluct at, andvilify such an odious Ascendency? Would not the Church which had that Ascendency be thereby irritated to repeated Acts of Domination, and stretch their ecclesiastical Rule to unwarrantable and unreasonable Lengths? Whatever others may in their Lethargy and Supineness think of the Project of a PartyCollege, I am convinced, that under the Management of any Particular Persuasion, it will necessarily prove destructive to the civil and religious Rights of the People: And should any future House of Representatives become generally infected with the Maxims of the College, nothing less can be expected than an Establishment of one Denomination above all others, who may, perhaps, at the good pleasure of their Superiors, be most graciously favoured with a bare Liberty of Conscience, while they faithfully continue their annual Contributions, their Tythes and their Peter-Pence.

A Third Argument against suffering the College to fall into the hands of a Party, may be deduced from the Design of its Erection, and Support by the Public.

The Legislature to whom it owes its Origin, and under whose Care the Affair has hitherto been conducted, could never have intended it as an Engine to be exercised for the Purpose of a Party. Such an Insinuation, would be false and scandalous. It would therefore be the Height of Indolence in any to pervert it to such mean, partial and little Designs. No, it was set on Foot, and I hope will be constituted for general Use, for the public Benefit, for the Education of all who can afford such Education: And to suppose it intended for any other less public-spirited Uses, is ungratefully to reflect upon all who have hitherto, had any Agency in an Undertaking so glorious to the Province, so necessary, so important and beneficial.

At present, it is but in Embrio, yet the Money hitherto collected is public Money; and till it is able to support itself, the Aids given to it will be public Aids. When the Community is taxed, it ought to be for the Defence, or Emolument of the Whole: Can it, therefore, be supposed, that all shall contribute for the Uses, the ignominious Uses