Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

362 FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. " [1712.
these very imperfect composures, I reckon myself under very strong obligations
to employ what of my studies I can afford for the service of the best interests
in the dear church of Scotland — a church which I beleeve the glorious Lord
will tender as the apple of his eye, and the dearly beloved of his f ; ou1. The
relation unto it into which the undeserved notice you have taken of me has
brought me, will oblige me to study all possible wayes of being to the best of
my small capacities and abilities useful unto it. But there is a good natured
maxim whereof you will grant me the benefitt, " In magnis voluisse sat est."
And the necessary labour of all the pastoral offices to the greatest congregation
in America, and one of the greatest in the world, and the continual resort which
all the churches in all these northern colonies have to the meannest of men on
their frequent occasions, and many more employments both at home and abroad,
needless to be mentioned, require a greater strength than mine to do the things
that are to be done in any measure as they ought to be done. Having thus
intimated the reasons you have to expect the marks of much feebleness on all
my poor essayes to serve you, or any good interests, I will go on to give you
some account of our American circumstances.
The churches in the New English colonies are multiplying. Every year
brings forth new ones in our swarming plantations. The City of God is building
among us in these troublous times. The difference between Presbyterian and
Congregational is hardly known in our churches, few being rigid in either way,
and both sweetly agreeing in a temper which makes all turn upon substantial
piety. In this large town of Boston, which contains near ten thousand soids,
there are, I suppose, not near half of one thousand who profess themselves of
the church of England. Tho' that church has all the encouragements imaginable
from our Governours given to it, yett it increases not, except from strangers
coming in among us. We live in a very quiet and easy neighbourhood with
them in this town : but of late in two or three countrey towns a small number
of people — scarce the proportion of seven families to an hundred — and many
of those having a vicious character as well as a factious intention, have grown
vexatious, as your Episcopalian Jacobites are with you. They declare for the
church of England, tho' they know no more of it than the religion of Confucius :
they demand heirupon an exemption from taxes to the established ministry
and they hope the Society for propagating Keligion in foreign parts will be so