[Sidenote: _The first
motive._]
As the chiefe and primarie end of mans creation is the Worshippe of
_GOD_; so shall the first, and speciall motive of my proceeding be the
advancement of his Glorie, and that by the propagation of the Gospell of
_IESVS CHRIST_ amongst an Heathen people, where Christianitie hath not
beene knowne, nor the worshippe of the true _GOD_. Where can bee
selected a more excellent subject, than to cast downe the Altars of
Devills, and to raise vp the Altar of _CHRIST_: to forbidde the
Sacrifice of men, that they may offer vp the Sacrifices of contrite
Spirites.
Is it not a determined Trueth, that the Gospell of _Iesus Christ_ should
bee preached to all the Worlde (_Heaven and Earth shall passe away, but
_GODS_ Worde shall not passe away._) And is it not as certaine a
Conclusion amongst all the Divines, that these are the latter Dayes,
wherein we live, well knowne by the signes that were to come before,
sette downe by God himselfe in his sacred Worde, and for the most part
alreadie manifested? And hath not Gods all-seeing Providence begunne as
first by discoverie, and next by plantation of so hudge and so waste a
tract, more commonlie, than properlie called the New Worlde; vnknowne
but within this 60. yeeres, except by a glimpse, to make appeare the
progresse of his divine Providence, how hee will haue the seede of his
worke to be sowne amongst them; Then doth it not belonge vnto vs to
prosecute his worke; and as by merchandizing and trade wee buy at them
the pearles of the Earth; wee ought to communicate vnto them the pearles
of Heaven.
The time hath never beene so apparent as now, vnder our most gratious
and Soveraigne Lord, King _CHARLES_, whose generous and gratious
goodwill by encouragement to the same, hath manifested the same since
hee receaved the Crowne, to bee the selected instrument to atchieue it.
Then should not that Heroicke, and illustrious disposition in Him, whom
wee see so prompt to bee still in action, both incite, and invite to so
noble designes all such as would shunne the imputation of idlenesse to
imitate His foot-steppes.
Is it vnlawfull for vs to come to them? No; it is the duetie of
Christianitie in vs, to behold the imprinted foot-steppes of _GODS_
glorie in everie Region vnder Heaven; and to them, against the Law of
Nations, to violate a peaceable Stranger, or to deny vs harbour.
Is it vnlawfull for vs to trade with them? No, vnlesse _Salomon_ should
bee condemned of sending for Golde to _Ophir_; _Abraham_ for making a
league with _Abimelech_; and all Christendome for having commerce with
_Turkes_, and miscreants.
Nor neither is it vnlawfull that wee possesse part of their Lands, and
dwell with them, and defend our selves from them, because there is no
other moderate, and mixt course, to bring them to conversion, but by
daylie conversation, where wee may see the Life, and learne the
Languages each of others: and because there is rowme sufficient in the
Land, (as _Sichem_ said) for them, and vs; the extent of an 100. myles
beeing scarce peopled with 500 inhabitants: and chieflie because (as
_Pharaoh_ gaue _Goshen_, to _Israel_, ere _Ephron_ sold his caue to
_Abraham_) they have solde to our people their Lands for copper (which
they more esteme of, than money) to inherite and inhabite: as _Paspehay_
and _Powhatan_, two [of] there greatest Kinges to these our Colonies in
_Virginia_; and chieflie (as it is written by Captaine _Iohn Smith_, a
worthie actour in the businesse) when Captaine _Newport_ was desired by
_Powhatan_ at _Worowacomaco_, to come from _Iames_ towne in _Virginia_,
where hee was, as a place vnwholesome, and to take possession of another
whole Kingdome, which hee gave vnto him.
If any scrupulous conscience will impute, that yet wee can possesse no
further limites, than was alloted by composition, and that fortitude
without justice, is but the firebrand of iniquitie. Let him know that
_Plato_ defineth it to bee no injustice, to take a sword out of the hand
of a madde man. And Saint _Augustine_ hath allowed, for a lawfull
offensiue warre that revengeth injuries, and wherein the whole Divines
in _Europe_, although contraverting farre in other things, yet in this
they all agree, that it is lawfull. That the Church of _Rome_ allowe it.
The _Spaniard_, and _Portugalles_ large and ample territories and
kingdomes in the 15. Provinces of _Mexico_, _Nueua Hispanna_, _Nueua
Gallicia_, &c. beare witnesse. And for the Church of _England_, their
_Bermudos_, _Virginian_ and _New England_ conquesse and colonies affirme
it. And the Church of _Geneva_ in the yeere 1555. determined in a Synode
(where _Calvin_ was president) to send _Peter Rochier_, and _William
Quadrigarius_, vnder a French Captaine to _Brasilia_, althogh they were
supplanted by the Cardinall of _Loraine_, and the treacherie of their
false Captaine.
When therefore it is so sweete a smelling Sacrifice to propagate the
name of _Iesus Christ_: if wee haue any graine of faith or zeale in
Religion, let vs seeke to convert these poore Savages to knowe _Christ_,
and humanitie. Let Religion bee the first aime of our hopes, and other
thinges shall bee cast vnto vs. Our Names shall bee registred to
posteritie with a glorious Title; These are the men whom GOD hath raised
to augment the state of their Countrie, and to propagate the Gospell of
_Iesus Christ_.
The same GOD that hath ordained three Kingdomes vnder the Scepter of our
gratious King _CHARLES_, will not bee wanting to adde a fourth, if wee
would dissolve that frostie ycienesse which chilleth our zeale, and
maketh vs cold in the action.