Virginia's cure, or, An advisive narrative concerning Virginia discovering the true ground of that churches 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 publish'd to further the welfare of that and the like plantations / by R. G.

A PREFACE.

THat the following Advisive Narra∣tive was not at first intended for publique view, there needs no other argument then it self, the occasion and manner of address to perswade belief.

The occasion of writing this. The present careful and ingenious De∣puty Governour 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 then Lord Bishop of Worcester, understanding the Propositions, I made bold to inti∣mate, that those Propositions, though good, would onely palliate, not cure the miseries of that Church. Whereupon my Lord of London was pleased to enjoyn me to set down in writing some Propositions concerning it I gladly embrac'd the injunction, and blest 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 r••verend Father of our Church, without giving some account of the g••ounds and reasons enforcing their Necessity.

In persuance whereof I thought fit to premise a brief and plain D••scription of our Peopl•••• sc••tt••r••d manner of Planting VIRGINIA; which as to the in••abitants, or those that have seen that Countrey, is I con••ess need∣less: But as to those he••e, who can have no other Idea••s of it, than such as others Rela••••ons 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 Remedie (which is the argument of this Discourse) seemed to me no more then needful.

It is now publish'd, through the hopes some have, it may further the Publique 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 T••uth of that Proposi∣tion I have bri••fly proved, viz. Th••t it is the Duty of Christians ••especially of such Christians as ••eat Planta∣tions among the Heathen•• so to unite their Habitations in Societies in Towns and Villages, as may ••est conve∣nience them constant••y to attend upon the publique Mini∣stery of Gods Word, Sacram••nts and wo••ship. A Duty of so cle••r consequence from Holy Sc••i••ture, and so ne∣cessary to be put in practise, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the w••ll being of such Plantations (as I hope will app•••••• by the e••••uing Narrative and Dis••ourse that ••f 〈…〉〈…〉 to promote it, thr••ugh mens want of 〈…〉〈…〉 gain their assent by the ••vidence ••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 P••ac••is••,

• especially in VIRGINIA (the most considerable Coun∣trey under the Heavens, which hath so long been abused, and yet languisheth under the neglect of it) which is the main End design'd.
• Secondly, It may possibly help to prevent the like Errors in Seating some new Plantations, which were committed, and are yet continued in Planting VIR∣GINIA.
• Thirdly, It may direct noble Heroick 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 Prote∣stant 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 Con∣ditions 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 yeers before hand th•• Work to which they are design'd, will be careful to order their Studies so, as may best fit them for it.

Other ways there are, by which the making this Pub∣lique may be subservient to the End design'd, 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 scatter'd Church, which indeed I am not, not onely upon the account of Duty, paying some solemn vows made in a time of trouble and extremity of Danger•• 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 Countrey.