Imprimatur,  
GEO. straddling S. T. P. River. in Christo Pat. GILE. Episc. Lond. à Sac. domest. Ex Aed. Sabaud. Sept. 15. 1662..   

Virginia's Cure: OR An ADVISIVE NARRATIVE CONCERNING VIRGINIA. DISCOVERING The true Ground of that CHURCH'S Unhappiness, and the only true Remedy. As it was presented to the Right Reverend Father in God GVILBERT Lord Bishop of LONDON, September 2. 1661. Now published to further the Welfare of that and the like PLANTATIONS: By R. G.  
And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all Nations, and then shall the End come,  Mat. 24.14. 
Is it time for y●u O ye to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this House lie waste? Now therefore thus, saith the Lord of Hosts, Consider your ways,  Hag 1.4, 5. 
London, Printed by W. Godbid for Henry Brome at the Sign of the Gun in Ivy-lane. 1662.   

A PREFACE.  
THat the following Advisive Narrative was not at first intended for public view, there needs no other argument than itself, the occasion and manner of address to persuade belief.  
The occasion of writing this. The present careful and ingenious Deputy Governor of VIRGINIA, Col. Francis Morison sent Petitionary Letters with Propositions for bettering the state of that Church, which fell to my lot to present to the Right reverend Fathers in God the Lord Bishop of London, and the than Lord Bishop of Worcester, understanding the Propositions, I made bold to intimate, that those Propositions, though good, would only palliate, not cure the miseries of that Church. Whereupon my Lord of London was pleased to enjoin me to set down in writing some Propositions concerning it I gladly embraced the injunction, and blessed God for the occasion.  
But when I had stated and digested the Propositions, upon a reflex, they seemed too Magisterial to present to such a reverend Father of our Church, without giving some account of the grounds and reasons enforcing their Necessity.  
In persuance whereof I thought fit to premise a brief and plain D●scription of our Peopl●● scattered manner of Planting VIRGINIA; which as to the inhabitants, or those that have seen that Country, is I con●ess needless: But as to those he●e, who can have no other Idea●s of it, than such as others Relations frame in their Minds; as also to the Discov●rie of the Grounds of their present unhappiness, and the asse●ting the kind and manner of their Remedy (which is the argument of this Discourse) seemed to me no more than needful.  
It is now published, through the hopes some have, it may further the Public Good designed, which I pray God it may do; and possibly it may, by some or other of these ways.  

Fi●st, It may occasion s●me of greater Abilities to assert more copiously and fully the Truth of that Proposition I have briefly proved, viz. Th●t it is the Duty of Christians ●especially of such Christians as ●eat Plantations among the Heathens so to unite their Habitations in Societies in Towns and Villages, as may ●est convenience them constantly to attend upon the public Ministry of God's Word, Sacraments and worship. A Duty of so clear consequence from Holy Scripture, and so necessary to be put in practice, for 〈◊〉 the w●ll being of such Plantations (as I hope will app●●● by the e●●uing Narrative and Discourse that ●f 〈…〉 to promote it, through men's want of 〈…〉 gain their assent by the evidence ●f 〈…〉 means alone, the number of the 〈…〉 if they assent they will at least be 〈…〉 may not a little advantage the putting this Du●y into Practice, especially in VIRGINIA (the most considerable Country under the Heavens, which hath so long been abused, and yet languisheth under the neglect of it) which is the main End designed.  
Secondly, It may possibly help to prevent the like Errors in Seating some new Plantations, which were committed, and are yet continued in Planting VIRGINIA.  
Thirdly, It may direct noble Heroic Spirits (those liberal Souls that devise liberal things) to the most moving objects of Christian Compassion and Charity, that I think the whole Latitude of our most orthodox Protestant Church can present them. Particularly it may direct their Charity to endow Fellowships in our Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, which may bear the Name of VIR●INIA Fellowships, and may be appropriated for supply of the Churches in VIRGINIA, upon the Conditions specified in the fifth Proposition (pag. 10.) Nor need such Persons doubt to obtain by the Parliament a Confirmation of the Penalty therein specified, in case the Persons that shall be admitted to such Fellowships shall refuse to perform the Conditions of their Admittance, at the time limited to transport themselves to VIRGINIA, to Serve that Church in the Office of the Ministry. Nor can such Ministers plead their poverty and disability to do it, because there is sufficient Provision made to defray the Charges of their Transportation: of which they are desired to take notice by the seventh Proposal (pag. 22.) Nor is it the least considerable, that such Students knowing for the space of seven years before hand th● Work to which they are designed, will be careful to order their Studies so, as may best fit them for it.   
Other ways there are, by which the making this Public may be subservient to the End designed, which I purposely omit.  
However it succeed, it may be some Testimony to my Friends there, that I am not altogether unmindful of procuring to my Power the welfare of that poor scattered Church, which indeed I am not, not only upon the account of Duty, paying some solemn vows made in a time of trouble and extremity of Dangers but even of Gratitude, for the kind reception I found among them for the space of above Ten years, when I could no longer endure ●he late Tyrannical Usurpations of my native Country.   

Virginia's Cure OR, An Advisive NARRATIVE CONCERNING VIRGINIA.  
TO show the unhappy State of the Church in Virginia, and the true Remedy of it, I shall first give a brief Description of the Manner of our People's scattered Habitations there; next show the s●d unhappy consequent● of such their scattered Living both in reference to themselves and the poor Heathen that are about them, and by the way briefly set down the cause of scattering their Habitations, then proceed to propound the Remedy, and means of procuring it; next assert the Benefits of it in re●erence both to themselves, and the Heathen; ●et down the cause why this Remedy hath not been hitherto comp●ss'd● and lastly, till it can be procured, give directions for the present supply of their Churches.  
That part of Virginia which hath at present craved your Lordship's Assistance to preserve the Christian Religion, and to promote the Building God's Church among them, by supplying them with sufficient Ministers of the Gospel, is bounded on the North by the great River Patomek, on the South by the River Chawan, including also the Land inhabited on the ●●st side of 〈◊〉 B●y, called Accomack, and contains above half as muc● L●n● 〈◊〉 Engl●nd; it is divided into several Counties, and those Counties contain in all about Fifty Parishes, the Families whereof are dispersedly and scatteringly seated upon the sides of Rivers; some of which running very far into the Country, bear the English Plantations above a hundred Miles, and being very broad, cause the Inhabitants of either side to be listed in several Parishes. Every such Parish is ex●ended m●ny Miles in length upon the River's side, and usually not above a mile in Breadth backward from the River, which is the common stated breadth of every plantation belonging to each particular Proprietor, of which Plantations, some extend themselves h●lf a mile● some a mil●, some two mile●, some thre● miles, and upwa●● u●on t●e si●es of those Rivers, many of them are pa●te● from each other by small Rivers and Creeks, which ●mall Rivers and Creeks are seated after the manner of the great Rivers. The Families of such Parishes being seated after this manner, at such distances from each other, many of them are ver● remote from the House of God, though placed in the midst of them. Many Parishes as yet want both Churches and Gleabes, and I think not above a fifth part of them are supplied with Minister's, where there are Ministers the People meet together Weekly, but o●ce upon the Lord's day, and sometimes not at all, being hindered by Extremities of Wind and Wether: and divers of the more remote Families being discouraged, by the length or tediousness of the way, through extremities of heat in Summer, frost and Snow in Winter, and tempestuous weather in both, do very seldom repair thither.  
By which brief Description of their manner of seating themselves in that Wilderness, Your Lordship may easily apprehend that their very manner of Planting themselves, hath caused them hitherto to rob God in a great measure of that public Worship and Service, which as a Homage due to his great name, he requires to be constantly paid to him, at the times appointed for it, in the public Congregations of his people in his House of Prayer.  
— Hinc illae Lachryma.  
This Sacrilege I judge to be the prime Cause of their long languishing improsperous condition, for it puts them under the Curse of God, according to that of Malachy 3.9. Ye are cursed with a Curse, because ye have rob me. Which Curse we find executed upon the Jews, after such a manner, as any observing Person that knows Virginia, need not doubt to conclude, that it h●th been long executed upon her Planters in the sam● kind and manner, as it is expressed to have been upon the Jews, in Hag. 1.9. Ye looked for much, and lo●, it came to little: and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it: Why, saith the Lord of Hosts? because of mine House that is waste, and ye run every man to his own house. By which Scriptures (comparing their Sins of Sacrilege together) it appears, that the Curse o● God was executed upon the Jews, for the same Sacrilege Virginia's Planters are guilty of, the same Sin of robbing ●od of his public Worship and Service in his House of Prayer. For, was the Curse of God upon the Jews for not building his House according to the Prophet Haggai's Sentence? But why did God regard his House, but for the recieving the due tribute of his public Honour, Worship, and Service in it? Or was his Curse upon them for detaining his Tithes and Offerings? But why did Go● regard these, but for the maintenance and continuance of his public Worship, and Service in his House? The Conclusion therefore is, that their great Sin of Sacrilege, for which the Curse of God was denounced and executed upon them, was, that they rob God of his public Worship and Service in his Hou●e at the times appointed by God for it.  
Which if Virginia's Planters do, it matters not whether they do it, by neglecting to build Churches, House's of God amongst them, (which in great part they are guilty of;) or by with holding, or not assuring the maintenance of the Ministry of God's public Worship, Word, and Sacraments (which I cannot wholly excuse them of) or by planting themselves after such a manner, as may disable them to attend as constantly upon such Sacred public Ministrations in the House of God, as the Equity of the Fourth Commandment, the positive Evangelical Duties, to be performed in public Co●gregations, and the Law of the Church doth require (of which they are generally guilty) whet●er they rob God any of these ways, the Sin hath the same stamp of Sacrilege, and therefore the same Curse attending it. But long experience hath ascertained, and the before described manner of their Planting makes it evident, that whilst our Planters in Virginia continue as at this day, dispersedly and remotely planted from the House of God, they will continue to rob God in a very great measure of his public Worship and Service in his Hou●e of Prayer. Which is the same Sin the Jews were Cursed for, and must needs put them under the same Curse of God.  
But though this be the saddest Consequent of their dispersed manner of Planting themselves (for what Misery can be greater than to live under the Curse of God?) yet this hath a very sad Train of Attendants which are likewise consequents of their scattered Planting. For, hence is the great want of Christian Neighbourhood, of brotherly admonition, of holy Examples of religious Persons, of the Comfort of theirs, and their Ministers Administrations ●n Sickness, and Distresses, of the Benefit of Christian and Civil Conference and Commerce.  
And hence it is, that the ●ost faithful and vigilant Pastors, assisted by the most careful Churchwardens, cannot possibly take notice of the Vices that r●ign in their Families, of the spiritual defects in th●ir Conversations, or if they have notice of them, and provide Spiritual Remedies in their public Ministry, it is a hazard if they that are ●ost concerned in them be present at the application of them: and if they should spend time in visiting their remote and far distant habitations, they would have little or none left for their necessary Studies, and to provide necessary spiritual food for the rest of their Flocks. And hence it is that through the licentious lives of many of them, the Christian Religion is like still t● be dishonoured, and the Name of God to be blasphemed among the Heathen, who are near them, and oft among them, and consequently their Conversion hindered.  
Lastly, their almost general want of Schools, for the education of their Children, is another consequent of their scattered planting, of most sad consideration, most of all bewailed of Parents' there, and therefore the arguments drawn from thence, mo●t likely to prevail with them cheerfully to embrace the Remedy. This want of Schools, as it renders a very numerous generation of Christians Children born in Virginia (who naturally are of beautiful and comely Persons, and generally of more ingen●ous Spirits then these in England) unserviceable for any great Employments either in Church or State, so likewise it obstructs the hopefullest way they have, for the Conve●●ion of the Heathen, which is, by winning the Heathen to bring in th●ir Children to be taught and instructed in ou● Schools, together with the Children of the Christians. For as it is th● Beauty and Glory of Christian ●races, shining in the lives of Christians, which must make the Heathen that are men, in love with th● Christian Religion; so it is that love, which can o●ly persuade them to bring in their Children to be taught and instructed in it: But as it is unlikely th●t ●uch love should be wrought in them by the ●lo●y of Chr●sti●n ●races, appearing in the Christians lives; who (as now planted) a●e for the most part destitute of the ordinary means of Grace: so granting that this might be, yet it is very unlikely that any rational Heathen should be persuaded to commit their Children to the teaching and education of such Christians, whom they shall perceive to want Schools of learning (the means of both) for their own.  
It were easy to add to these a heap of evil consequents of their scattered Planting, which hinder their Temporal, as well as Spiritual happiness. But I forbear, it being a task unsuitable for my Profession, and for that I know the Remedy to be the same for both, and the removing the one will be the removing of the other.  
Only for conclusion of this part, discovering Virginia's Disease and Misery, Your Lordship may be pleased to represent to your thoughts the Evils of the forementioned consequents of their scattered Planting in reference to the poor Heathen; The effecting whose conversion, should be the great end designed by all, who would be subservient to the Providence of God, in Transporting our Colonies thither.  
The Heathen enter frequently into some of the remote dispersed habitations of the Christians, the premises considered, what can they see which should make them in love with their Religion? They see their Families disordered, their children untaught, the public Worship and Service of the great God they own, neglected; neglected upon that very day, which they hear called the Lords Day, and to be by the Christians peculiarly set a part for it; yea so fare neglected, that some of the Heathen have complained it was the worst of the seven to them, because the servants of the Christians Plantations nearest to them, being then left at liberty, oft spend that day in visiting their Indian Towns, to the disquiet of the Heathen, but certainly to the great Scandal of the Christian Religion, and little hopes have the poor Heathen of redress, whilst they see that Day so far neglected by the Christians, that in many Parishes they see no public holy Assemblies of our people, no Ministers provided for the holy Ministrations of such Assemblies, no Churches erected and consecrated for such public Sacred Ministrations; or such in such desolate Places, and ●o remote from many of their habitations that an ingenuous Christian would blush to tell a Heathen, that They are the houses of the Christians great ●od, that made the Heaven and the ●arth of nothing, in which he is honoured, worshipped, prayed unto, and his heavenly will taught from his holy Word: for if a sober discreet Heathen (and there are many such) should reply, Why hath not every Parish one of them, and Ministers belonging to them? why do not the Christians build their houses nearer them, that they may come oftener to them? wh● are they not better built? why will not all the Christians of a Pari●h bestow as much cost in building the house of their great God, as one particular ●hristian among them bestows upon his own house? what defence could an ingenuous Christian make, which should not at once both shame himself and the Christians he woul● defend?  
If then Sacrilege were so goodly a thing in the Heathens account, as to make them in love with the Christians and their Religion for it, they see the christians robbing God in all the forementioned particulars, robbing him of his Days, Churches, Ministers, public Worship and Service. But I can truly affirm (by what I have learned among divers Nations of those Heathen) that it is a Sin, which those Heathen by the Light of Nature do most detest and abhor, and the holy Scripture gives Testimony to it: Mal. 3.8. Will a man rob his God? will a Heathen do it? Can they then observe it in the Christians, and not abhor and detest both them and their Religion for it? and in stea● of acknowledging them a seed which the Lord hath blessed, think on the contrary th●t both they and their offspring are a Generation whom the Lord hath cu●●ed.  
No hop●s therefore of bringing the Heathen in love with the Christia● Religio●● whilst ●o many evil an● scandalous conseque●ts attend the Christians scattered manne● of planting in that w●lder esse. An their scattered Planning being the cause of such consequents, the co●se●●ents will r●main, so long as th●t continues, as at this day it doth. I have ●atherto ●orborn to mention the great danger that man● of the Christians are in, of being destroyed by the Heathen, as formerly hundreds of them have been, because this consideration doth so easily o●fer itself upon the forementioned description of their scattered Seating: By which and the sad consequents of it, if your Lordship shall please to contemplate the deplorable Estate and condition of the poor Church in Virginia (which implores your aid) it will present to your charitable heart such a moving object of your fatherly Care, Pity, and Compassion, as will employ all your Interest in the King's Grace and Favor, and your utmost power and endeavours to procure the Remedy.  
The cause of their dispersed Seating was at first a privilege indulged by the royal Grant of having a right to 50 Acres of Land● for every person they should transport at their own charges: by which means some men transporting many Servants thither, and others purchasing the Rights of those that did, took possession of great tracts of Land at thei● pleasure, and by Degrees scattered their Plantations through the Country after the manner before described, although therefore from the premises, it is easy to conclude, that the only way of remedy for Virginia's disease (without which all other help will only palliate not cure) must be by procuring Towns to be built, and inhabited in thei●●everal Counties. Yet left any man be hereby injured in his just Right, even this Remedy ought to be procured after ●uch a manner, as the present manner of planting themselves, their poverty and mean condition will permit. According to which, whether the building Towns in each Count● of Virginia, will be best promoted by reviving a ●ormer Act of that Country for Markets in Stated places of each County, where whatsoever should be transported into that Colony was only to be sold (which Act was perhaps over-hastily repealed the next ensuing Assembly held March 27. 1656. for in my hearing, they who were the chief Agents in repealing it, have more than once repent it) or whether they may best be promoted by some other way (it being out of my Sphere) I dare not presume to determine, Your Lordship will best inform yourself in th●s by Consulting with Virginia's presen honourable governor Sir William B●rkly, or their late Edward Diggs Esq  
What wa●●oeve they determine to be best, I shall humbly in obedience to your Lordship's command endeavour to contribute towards the compassing this Remedy by propounding, 

1. That your Lordship would be pleased to acquaint the King with the necessity of promoting the building Towns in each County of Virginia, upon the consideration of the fore-mention●d sad Con●equent● of their present manner of living there.  
2. Th●t Your Lordship upon the foregoing consideration, be plea●ed to move the pitiful, and charitable heart of His ●r●cious Majesty (considering the Poverty and need● of Virginia) for a Collection to be made in all the Churches of his three Kingdom●s (there being considerable numbers of each Kingdom) for the promoting a work of so great Charity to the Souls of many thousands of his Loyal Subjects, their Children, and th● Generations after them, and of numberless poor Heathen; and that the Ministers of each Congregation be enjoined with more than ordinary care, and pains to stir up the people to a free and liberal Contribution towards it; or if this way be not thought sufficient, that ●ome other way b● taken to do it.  
3. That the way of dispencing such collections for sending Workmen over for th● building Towns and Schools, and the assistance the persons that shall inhabit them shall contribute towards them may be determined here, by the advice of Virginia's present or late Honourable Governors if in London; and whom they shall make choice of for their assistants (who have formerly lived in Virginia;) and that the King (if he shall approve what is so determined) may be humbly Petitioned to authorise it by his special command, le●● what is duly ordered here, be perverted there.  
Fourthly, That those Planters who have such a considerable number of Servants, as may be judged may enable them for it, if they not willing (for I have heard some express their willingness, and some their averseness) may by His Majesty's Authority be enjoined, to contribute the Assistance that shall be thought meet for them, to build themselves houses in the Towns-nearest to them, and to inhabit them, for they having horses enough in that country, may be convenienced, as their occasions require, to visit their Plantations. And the Masters who shall inh●bit the Towns, having Families of Servants upon remote Plantations, may be ordered to take care, that upon Saturdays Afternoon (when by the Custom of Virginia, Servants are freed from their ordinary labour) their Servants (except one or two, left by turns to secure their Plantations) may repair to th●ir Houses in the Towns, and there remain with their Masters, until the public Worship and Service of the Lor●s Day be ended.  
Fifthl●, That for a continual supply of able Minister's for their Churches, after a ●et ter● of years. Your Lordship would plea●e ●o endeavour the procuring an Act of Parliament, whereby a c●●tain number of Fellowships, as they happen to be next proportionably vacant in both the Universities, may bear the name of Virginia Fellowships, so long as the Needs of ●hat Church shall require it; and none be admitted to th●m, but su●h a● shall engage by promise's to hold them seven years and no longer; and at the expi●ation of tho●e seven years, transport thems●lv●s to Virginia, and serve that Church in the Office of the Ministry seven ye●rs more, (the Church the●e providing for them) which being expired, they shall be left to their own Liberty to return or not: and if they p●r●●●m not the Condition's of their Admittance, then to be uncapable of any Preferment.    
These things being procured, I thi●k V●rginia will be in the most probable way (that her pre●ent condition 〈◊〉 admit) of being cured of the formentioned evils of her scattered Planting.  
For hereby her Planters will be convenienced to give God the honour due unto his Name, by attending constantly in full Congregations upon his public Worship and Service, they will enjoy the benefits of Christian Offices, of frequent civil commerce and Society, which begets mutual confidence, trust, and friendship, the best groundwork for raising Companies of the best qualified, and most able persons to combine in Designs, most advantageous to their own and the public Weal; they will enjoy the benefits of virtuous Examples, of public Catechising and instructing their Children and Servants in the Principles and Duties of the Christian Religion, according to the Constitutions of the Church of England; whereby not only Children and Servants, but Parents and Masters who are ignorant, may (without being ashamed) be enlightened with true saving knowledge, and their Children in Schools of Learning, may grow up to be serviceable both in Church and State. And by good Discipline and careful tending, in well ordered Societies, under faithful Teachers and Magistrates, both Parents and Children would by the grace of God grow into habits of Christian Living, and the light of their Graces and good works shining before the Heathen, would above all other Oratory prevail with them, both to be desirous to learn themselves, and to bring their Children to be taught in the Christians Schools, how to glorify the same God with them.  
That the former benefits will accrue to themselves, needs no Proof: the experience of all united well ordered Christian Societies, sufficiently confirms it.  
That the latter (viz. the gaining the Heathen to the Christian Faith) will be the hopeful Consequent of their habitual Christian living, of the united l●ght of their graces and good works shining before the Heathen; I shall (not presuming to inform Your Lordship, but not knowing to whom this Paper may be communicated) make bold to add a brief Confirmation of it. First, by the testimony of that virtuous Heathen Emperor Alexander Sev●rus, who when he perceived two of his Servants to be persuaded to receive the ●hristian Faith, by the Eloquent Orations Origen had made before him to prove the Truth of it. I perceive (saith he) Ye do wonder at the Learning of Origen, whereby ye are induced to embrace the Christian Profession: But tru●y, the Humility and Charity of the Christian People, which ● do hear of, and daily behold with my E●es; do much more move me to believe that their Christ is God, than all his eloquent Persuasions.  
This Heathen Emperor understood the Language of Origen; and (as the History relates) w●s much moved with the convincing persuasive Arguments Origen used, to prove the Truth of the Christian Faith: yet he professeth he was much more persuaded to believe it, by the Humility and Charity, the graces and virtues, which appeared in the Christians lives, which he heard of, an● daily beheld. But the Heathen in Virginia neither understand the Christians language, no● the Christians theirs; and although they did understand it, I think it too bar●en to express the Christian Religion by, and therefore they h●ve no other arguments left to convince them of the Tru●h of the Christian Faith, and to persuade them to embrace it. But only (which that Emperor acknowledged most persuasive) the amiableness of Ch●isti●n ●races and Virtues ●hining in their lives, whose excelling beauty and benefit, when they appear in united society's of Christians, they may well persuade any rational He●then, th●t they are most conducing to procure th● true h●ppin●sse of ●ll united Societies and Communities of Men, and therefore the Religion, that teacheth t●em, above all other to be embraced.  
This Consideration enforced the acute Acosta, after he had spent 17 years in conversing with the Heathen in that new world (though he was of a Church that pleads much for Miracles) ingenuously to confess, that the greatest, and even the only Miracle necessary to the Conversion of those Heathen, is the gracious lives of Christians, agreeable to that Christian Faith they profess, and in this he subscribes but to St. chrysostom affirming the same concerning the conversion of the Heathen in his days. But long before chrysostom, the Prophet Isaiah foretold the power of this Miracle, how powerful the glory of the Lord shining in the gracious lives of Christians should be, to further the conversion of the Gentiles. Isa. 60.2, 3. Where speaking of the Church under the Gospel. The Lord (saith he) shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee, and what follows? the Gentiles shall come to thy Light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. What is this Light, and Brightness, and Glory, which should be seen upon the Church under the Gospel, which should invite the Gentiles to come into it? The same Prophet tells us Isa. 6●. 2. The Gentiles shall see thy Righteousness, and all Kings thy Glory. 'Tis the Righteousness, the Holiness, the graces shining in the lives of Christians; 'tis this should make their Seed known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the People: So that all that see ●hem should acknowledge them that they are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed. Isa. 61.9. And this shoul● make them bring their Sons and Daughters to be nursed up at the Church's breasts. Isa. 49.22, 23. Isa. 6.4.  
But when were these Prophecies fulfilled?  
Two times are only remarkable for fulfilling them by God's ordinary way of Converting Heathen (except the way of Converting them by Miracles) and those were, 

First, The Times of Persecution, when the Faith, Constancy, meekness, Patience, and Charity of the Christian Martyr's shi●e● so bright in the Heathens eyes, through the Flames, Wounds, and Tortures they endured, that it made them wonder at the glory of the Lord, which was seen upon them, and fall in love with the Christian Religion, which brought forth such glorious Fruits in them: But neither doth this reach all States of the Church, not particularly Virginia's, so long as the Christians have the upper hand of the Heathen, which God grant may continue till the End of Times.  
2. The times of the Church's peace, when the Christians in their united Societies, having the Liberty of their public holy Assemblies in the House of God, did constantly attend upon the Service of God in them, and the Heathen coming in among them, and beholding the comely order and beauty of their holy worship, perceiving their Unanimity and Uniformity in the same faith and worship of the same God, were so convinced of all and judged of all, that the secrets of their hearts were made manifest, and they fell down upon their faces and worshipped God, and confessed that God was in them of a Truth, as the Apostle saith Infidels would do such a Case. 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. And therefore no doubt but many of them did.    
And as for those of the Heathen who lived in the Cities and Towns with the Christians, or near unto them, and yet frequented not the Christians Churches (which I suppose few of them would wholly omit, men being generally of the Athenians temper, inquisitive after what seems new to them) but if there were (as 'tis possible) any considerable numbers of such rigid Heathen; yet even these beholding the comely order of the Christians Government, the amiableness of their Conversations, their Meekness, Humility, Charity, their Righteousness shining as the Light, and their just dealing as the Noonday: In sum, seeing the light of their good works, they were alured, and won by degrees to glorify the same God with them: and these latter I take to be chief meant by the visible righteousness and glory of the Church, under the Gospel, which the Prophet Isaiah foretold (for he saith it should be seen) which should be so prevailing with the Heathen; these the most ordinary ways (though there were other) of Converting them to Christianity; which Interpretation, besides that it is cleared by the words of the Text cited, and the evidence of the matter, it exactly agrees with the judgement of the Learned Acosta and St. chrysostom before mentioned.  
Object. But it may be objected, that neither of these, nor perhaps any other Ecclesiatick Writers, have told us, that Christians for this end ought to be ●nited in Society's in Towns, that it is the glory of the graces and virtues of many Christians shining, not in scattered Corners, but invisible united Societies, which is so persuasive and powerfully prevailing with the Heathen to embrace the Christian faith; nor do they use any arguments to persuade Christians to live together in Towns and to incorporate into Societies for this end.  
Answer. And no marvel; how could we reasonably expect it from them? The Christians whom they knew dispersed through the the● inhabited parts of the World (except Hermit's who●e con●ition of li●e is not here spoken of) were united in such Societies, planted together in the House of ●od, ●o as they might constantly attend upon the public sacred Min●strations of his Word and Worship; and their light best shine before men to the glory of God. Therefore for this manner of Christians living together, as there was n● need to argue; so they might charitably hope, there never would be, Christ●ans being bound to it by virtue of Christ's co●m●nd. To seek first● the Kingdoms of God and the Righte●●sness● thereof, and to depend upon his promise, for adding all other things to them: of which Duty, that the● might be ●aily minded, Christ hath taught th●m by the metho● of th●t daily Pra●er, which he hath set them, as to b●g of God, so to seek● the Hallowing of his Name, the advancement of his Kingdom, and the doing of his will before their daily Bread; from whence it follows, that it is the Duty of all Christians to take care in the first place, so to unite their habitations in Societies, after such a manner, as they may be best convenienced constantly to attend upon the public Ministry of God's hol● Word, Sacraments, and Worship (which conveniency only Towns and Villages affor●; ● because God hath ordained the public Ministry of these to be the means by which (through his blessing upon the due using them) his Name should be glorified, his Kingdom advanced, and his will performed, and hath expressed it to be his will, that he will be glorified before all the People; honoured and praised in the great Congregations, and therefore calls for it by his Word, Psal. 100 O go your way into his Gates with thanksgiving, and into his Courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name.  
And perhaps it may be truly affirmed, that Virginia's Planters were the first considerable numbers of Christians in the whole world, which first violated this stated Order of Christ, (I say not in a remote desert, and in the sight of the Heathen which hugely aggravates their fault) but the first that ever● la●ted themselves after such a manner (Hermit's as before excepted, whose manner of Life Virginians profess not) as might make their due and constant attendance upon the public worship and Service of God impossible to them, and consequently disable them to glorify the Name, and advance the Kingdom of God, in the way God hath ordained and commande●.  
It may suffice therefore for answer to the Objects to say, that if neither ancient, nor modern Writers have told us, that Christians (if they have Liberty) ought to live together in visible united Societies, in Cities, Towns or Villages, for the forementioned ends; it was, because they knew no present need of writing any thing of it, nor could charitably conjecture there would be any for the Future.  
But d●er bought experience hath taught, that it i● now necessary, which hath made me thus f●r presume upon Your Lordship's Candour and Patience for this brief asserting it; There being no other Remedy for Virginia's Malady, but by reducing her Planters into Towns.  
Object. The common Objection against this way of being reduced into Towns, which I have often heard among them, is, that they shall be undone by it in their Estates.  
Answer. For Answer to which it may suffice to say, 

1. The most knowing and prudent among them, have judged the contrary, and that it would be the only way to enrich them, and therefore have both wished and endeavoured it though in vain, witness the abovementioned Act for Markets, contrived by the prudent Edward Diggs Esq their sometime Governor, and the very many attempts and contrivances to compass it, made and devised by the most Noble lover of Virginia Sir William Berkely their present Governor.  
2. It will be the most probable way of securing both their Persons and Estates against all attempts of the Heathen, the Rumours whereof (frequently spread through that Country) do oft affright them, for hereby, either the Heathen will be gained, after the manner before specified, or their power not feared.  
3. Only Persons that are able will be enjoined it, according to the Tenor of the fourth Proposition, and perhaps Collections being made, and dispersed according to the 2, and 3. Propositions, or agreeable Sums of money raised by a Rate set upon every Hogshead of Tobacco imported into England, according to the Honourable Sir William Berkleys' Proposition in his view of Virginia, Workmen may be provided for them and the Planters be at little Charge, besides affording them Assistance and Diet, which they have in so gre●t Plenty in that Country, that very few or none will account the affording that, any impairing to their Estates. If none of these answers will satisfy such Objectors.  
4. Yet let them consider seriously what hath been before asserted; That while they continue their present manner of scattered living (whereby they necessitate themselves to rob God of his due public Worship and Service) they will continue under the Curse of ●od, but by uniting their habitations in Towns, they will make themselves capable of giving God his due honour in his house of Prayer in the great Congregations of his People, and consequently of procuring his blessing; for them that honour God, God will honour, and they that are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the Courts of 〈◊〉 ●ouse of our God. Psal. 92.13. Now whether their living under the Curse, or under the Blessing of the Almighty will best improve their Estates, let themselves judge.    
These things considered, men may wonder why the attempts made by the forementioned Honourable Governors to reduce Virginia's Planters into Towns did never succeed, and perhaps it may be hard for any that never lived among them rightly to conjecture. But the truth in plain English is this,  
Whatsoever is of public concernment in Virginia, is determined by their Grand Assemblies, which are usually held once a year, and consist of Governor and Council, which make the upper house, and the Burgesses which represent the People, and make the lower house, and are chosen out of every County by the People, after the manner that Burgesses are chosen for Parliaments in England, and are more or fewer according as the People agree, who are to defray their charges● Whatsoever passes into an Act of Assembly, must be agreed upon by the Major part of Burgesses, and these are usually such as went over Servants thither, and though by time and industry, they may have attained competent Estates; yet by reason of their poor and mean education they are unskilful in judging of a good Estate either of Church or Commonwealth, or of the means of procuring it. No marvel therefore, if the best proposals, which have been made to such persons, for reducing them into Towns, offending in the least against their present private worldly interest (though never so promising for the future) have been from time to time bandied against by such Major parts of their Burgesses, and the fewer wise heads over-voted by them.  
And if at any time it hath so happened, that the Major part of the Burgesses have been so meetly qualified and tempered, as to enact any thing tending to such a public good; The following Assemblies have usually repealed it. The consideration of which, is the true ground of the whole third Proposition: of the Contents of which and the rest, if Your Lordship shall become the blessed procurer. The forlorn Church which is now scattered in desolate Places of that wilderness, without any comeliness, which should make her desired, and sought after, may (through God's blessing) in a few years, gain such beauty, wealth, and ornament, as may either enable her to nurse up Children of her own, to become her servants in the Gospel, or allure Strangers to court her for the Favour, and if it shall please God to prolong your Honourable days, till you shall hear of the promised blessed fruits of your labour of love and charity for that poor Church, (which God grant in mercy for his name and Church's sake) what ravishing joy and contentment will affect your pious and charitable heart, to contemplate at this distance, the Glory of the Communion of Saints, in their united holy Societies and Assemblies; the constant beauty of their public Worship; of their holy Sacrifices of prayers and praises offered in a comely order in their public congregations.  
To contemplate the poor Church (whose plants now grow wild in that Wilderness) become like a garden enclosed, like a Vineyard fenced, and watched like a flock of Sheep with their Lambs safely folded by night, and fed by day; all which are the promised fruits of well ordered Towns, under Religious Pastors and Magistrates, with what joy, and delight may you likewise think upon their comely and most ingenious Children, like hopeful plants growing up in Nurseries of learning and piety, and when their time of fruit is come, Transplanted into the enclosed gardens of God, and becoming fruitful and useful trees of righteousness; which is the promised happiness and benefit of well ordered Schools, in well governed Towns.  
And lastly, wh●t rejoicing will it be to your most Christian heart, to behold the glorious issue of that Prophecy, concerning the calling the Gentiles fulfilled in those numerous herds of Heathen in Virginia. Isa. 11.6. etc. The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, etc. To contemplate the Heathen, who in that Prophecy are likened to Wolves, Leopards, Lions, Bears, Apes, and Cockatrices; couching quietly & harmlessly in the same fold of Christ's Church with the Sheep and Lambs of Christ, which will be the hopeful Consequent of well ordered Towns and Schools. And the procuring these, the only true effectual Remedy for Virginia's Disease, as hath been showed.  
But this is a Work of time to compass; and we have an English Proverb, Whilst the grass grows, the Steed Starves, before this can be compassed, many poor Christians there, may p●rish for want of their souls food, where there is no vision the people perish, and that is the case of the far greater part of that Colony.  
The encouragement therefore of Ministers to adventure thither to help them, I humbly propound, 

First, That your Lordship be pleased to procure, that the next grand Assembly in Virgin●a may enact. That what Tobacco any Parish agrees to pay their Minister, shall be paid of the best Tobacco of every Mans own Crop, and with Cask, otherwise experience hath showed, that a Ministers livelihood there will be very uncertain.  
Secondly, Th●t at the same Assembly it be Enacted, that every Parish choose a Vestry (in case they have not one already chosen) and the Vestry of each Parish be enjoined to subscribe what quantity of Corn and Tobacco of the best of their own Crops, with Cask, they will allow a sufficient Minister yearly.  
Thirdly, That in the next and every Assembly, the Act for paying 15 l. of Tobacco per annum, for every Tythable person, in every Parish destitute of a Minister (which Act was made at an Assembly March 27. 1656.) be carefully executed, and strict Enquiry made, whether the Tobacco due by that Act, be duly collected, and employed to the ends expressed in that Act, viz. Building Churches, purchasing ●leabes, and stocks of cattle to belong to them. And if any Parish hath employed any part of such Arrears to any other use, that they be enjoined to make them good again.  
Fourthly, That the Act made in the same Assembly concerning disposing intestate estates to public uses, in case no administrator of Kin to the diseased Proprietour appears) may serve in the first place the needs of the Church, for furnishing each Parish with Gleabes, and the Gleabes with Stocks of cattle, before any part of such estates be employed to any other use.  
Fifthly, that there being divers persons already in the Colony fit to serve the Church in the office of Deacon, a Bishop be sent over, so soon as there shall be a City for his See, as for other Needs of that Church, so also, that after due Probation and examination, such persons may be ordained Deacons, and their Duty and Service be appointed by the Bishop.  
Sixthly, That the Ministers that go thither, be not hired by the year, as is now usual, but firmly instituted and inducted into Live of stated value by the Subscriptions of their Vestries, according to the second Proposition.  
Seventhly, That all Ministers desirous to go to Virginia, and not able to transport themselves, be acquainted with an Act of Assembly of that Country, whereby it is provided, that whatsoever sufficient Minister, shall not be able to pay for his transportation, any Merchant that shall defray the charge of it (if such Minister agree not with him upon other conditions) shall receive 20 l. Sterling for his passage, from the Parish that entertains him, or two Thousand pound of Tobacco, who shall also repay any Sums of money disbursed for his accommodation, and the Minister to be free to choose his Parish, which shall make such disbursements for him.    
This is all I can think meet to propound at present, only for a Conclusion I shall add for the Encouragement both of Bishop and Ministers, that shall adventure thither out of pity and compassion to the souls of so many of their poor Brethren, that as their reward will be great in Heaven, so also, they shall (in a very pleasant and fruitful Land) meet with a People, which generally bear a great love and respect to their Ministers; And (if they behave themselves as becometh their high calling) they shall find their ready help, and assistance in their Needs; and (which should be much more encouraging) they will find a People, which generally bear a great love to the stated Constitutions of the Church of England, in her Government and public Worship; which gave us (who went thither under the late Persecutions of it) the advantage of Liberty to use it constantly among them, after the Naval force had reduced that Colony under the power (but never to the obedience) of the Usurpers.  
Which Liberty we could not have enjoyed, had not the People generally expressed a great Love to it. And I hope even this will be a consideration (not of least regard) to move Your Lordship to use all possible care and endeavour to supply Virginia's Needs with sufficient Orthodox Ministers, in the first place, and before any other of our foreign Plantations which crave your help, because in the late times of our Church's Persecution, her people alone, cheerfully and joyfully embraced, encouraged, and maintained the Orthodox Ministers that went over to them● in their public Conformity to the Church of ENGLAND, in her Doctrine and stated manner of Public Worship.  
FINIS.