Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

the most moderate manner endeavoured to set these things in their true light & I think not without success, none of my own people have been led away hj~ them, tho' I have not been without appreliensions on their account, and 1 hope that friendly Disposition & mutual intercourse of good OfiSces which have always subsisted between the Church peoftle & Dissenters since I have been settled here & which I have constantly endeavoured to promote will meet with but little interruption. I am &c &°

Sam^ Seabury.

* THE SAME TO THE SME.

Jamaica June 28th 1765

Eev^ Sir-- The enclosed Petition from the Church Wardens & Vestrymen of the Parish of Hempstead, I have been desired by them to forward to the Honored Society*-- They have called & presented to that Parish the Rev^ M^ Cutting the Society's present Missionary at Brunswick New Jersey ; and as the Church people at Hempstead, are very mucli pleased with M^ Cutting & very desirous of having him for their minister, and as I think (from an acquaintance of 12 years) that he is well quahfied to supply that Parish, and that he will do real service therein to the cause of virtue & Religion in general and to the Interest of the Church in particular, I hope the Society will not think me too presuming when I say that I think liis Removal tliither will be attended with happy consequences --

Tho' the Congregation there is large yet a great part of it is composed of those who have had no religious impressions made on them by their Parents in their younger years : They come to church rather from habit than a sense of Duty & love of Religion Their continuance to come to Church will therefore depend in a great measure upon the good opinion they have of their minister and the principal opportunity he will have of doing them good will be by cultivating their good opinion & gaining an Influence