It would be improper for the Chaplain of the Honourable the Assembly and others, to use the Prayers for the High Court of Parliament verbatim, for they cannot know whether the Parliament sits in England then; and their Intent is to pray for the Assembly and the King's Dominions; so that the Prayer must be altered in several Respects.
'Tis Pity but the Prayer was altered, and allowed for the Assembly, Governor and Council; of which we have an Instance in Irish Common Prayer Books.
Every Minister is a kind of Independent in his own Parish, in Respect of some little particular Circumstances and Customs, to which they are often occasionally obliged; but this Liberty without Restraint may prove of bad Consequence hereafter; when the bad Tenets and Discipline of any heterodox, libertine, or fantastical Persons may plead Prescription for their Establishment, and be difficult to be eradicated.
In most Parishes are Schools (little Houses being built on Purpose) where are taught English and Writing; but to prevent the sowing the Seeds of Dissention and Faction, it is to be wished that the Masters or Mistresses should be such as are approved or licensed by the Minister, and Vestry of the Parish, or Justices of the County; the Clerks of the Parishes being generally most proper for this Purpose; or (in Case of their Incapacity or Refusal) such others as can best be procured.
As for baptizing Indians and Negroes, several of the People disapprove of it; because they say it often makes them proud, and not so good Servants: But these, and such Objections, are easily refuted, if the Persons be sensible, good, and understand English, and have been taught (or are willing to learn) the Principles of Christianity, and if they be kept to the Observance of it afterwards; for Christianity encourages and orders them to become more humble and better Servants, and not worse, than when they were Heathens.
But as for baptizing wild Indians and new Negroes, who have not the least Knowledge nor Inclination to know and mind our Religion, Language and Customs, but will obstinately persist in their own barbarous Ways; I question whether Baptism of such (till they be a little weaned of their savage Barbarity) be not a Prostitution of a Thing so sacred.
But as for the Children of Negroes and Indians, that are to live among Christians, undoubtedly they ought all to be baptized; since it is not out of the Power of their Masters to take Care that they have a Christian Education, learn their Prayers and Catechism, and go to Church, and not accustom themselves to lie, swear and steal, tho' such (as the poorer Sort in England) be not taught to read and write; which as yet has been found to be dangerous upon several political Accounts, especially Self-Preservation.
In every Parish there is allotted for the Minister a convenient Dwelling-House and a Glebe of about two hundred and fifty Acres of Land, with a small Stock of Cattle ready in some Places, as James Town.
The Salary of the Minister is yearly 16000, and in some Parishes 20000 l. of Tobacco; out of which there is a Deduction for Cask, prizing, collecting, &c. about which Allowance there are sometimes Disputes, as are also Differences often about the Place, Time, and Manner of delivering it; but all these Things might easily be regulated.
Tobacco is more commonly at 20 s. per Cent. than at 10; so that certainly, (communibus annis) it will bring 12 s. 8 d. a hundred, which will make 16000 (the least Salary) amount to 100 l. per Ann. which it must certainly clear, allowing for all petty Charges, out of the Lowness of the Price stated, which is less than the Medium between ten and twenty Shillings; whereas it might be stated above the Medium, since it is oftener at twenty than ten Shillings.