The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

392 PAPERS RELATING TO
especially their Souls Salvation who am may it please your
Excellency Your excellencies Hume Servt.
JACOB WS. JOHNSON
(Endorsed) Parson Johnson's letter
POSITION OF REV. MR. JOHNSON DEFINED.
To Sir William Johnson, Governer Franklin, The Revd
Mr Peters, the Chief Justice Smyth, Coll. Johnson
and the other Respectable Gentn of this Table.
Health & prosperity to you all.
In as much as I am a minister of Christ, & my Work principally to preach the Gospel to the lower rank of people: I have
not used my self much to the company, & converse of Gentn of
the Civil & Military order especially in the pleasure and practice of drinking Healths, Loyal Toasts &c wherfore I may
easily offend in this respect, with no ill meaning-And in as
much as in drinking the Kings health yesterday, I used such
terms, as to offend Col Johnson Mr Chief Justice, & it may be
some others, In saying I drink the King of New Engd Health,
the Health of the King, that hears our Prayers, &c I do hereby
honestly, and before him that knoweth all things, protest, I had
no other meaning then, or now, but what is express'd or imply'd
in these words-I drink the Health of King George iii. of Great
Britain &c, —comprehending New Engd & all the British Colonies & provinces in North America. And I mean to drink such
a Health to his British Majesty, when occasion serves, so long
as his Royal Majesty shall govern his British, & American subjects according to Magna Charta, or the great charter of English
Liberties, and hears the prayers of his American Subjects, when
properly laid before Him-But in case his Bitish Majesty (which
God in great mercy prevent) should superseed & proceed con.
trary to charter rights & privileges, & Govern us.with a Rod of
Iron, & the mouth of Canons and, make his Little Finger thicker
than his Fathers loyns, and utterly refuse to hear or consider
our Huimble prayers; then, & in that case I should think it my