The New Hampshire Gazette

Last Thursday the Reverend Pastors of the Congregational Churches in this Province, presented to His Excellency the GOVERNOR, the following Address, VIZ.

To the Pastors of the Congregational Churches in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England,

May it please your Excellency,

We the Pastors of the Congregational Churches in this Province, take the Opportunity of this our first annual Convention, since your Excellency's Appointment to the chief Seat of Government over us, by his late Majesty of blessed Memory, sincerely to congratulate your Excellency on this Grant of the Royal Favour, which has been confirm'd to you by our present most gracious Sovereign.

The paternal Wisdom and Care, with which your Excellency has conducted the Affairs of the Province, encourages us to confide in you for every Thing, that may reasonably be expected from a Governor, furnished with Qualities happily suited to promote the public Good.

We observe with Pleasure your Excellency's declared Intention, conformably to the Example of your Royal Master, to exert your Power for the Suppression of Vice, and the Support of Virtue and a religious Regard to the Supreme Ruler of the World: And we heartily wish you the continuing Influence of Heaven in what is so nearly connected with the Welfare of this People.

Tho' your Excellency's Sentiments relative to Church Government and the Mode of Worship may differ from those, which are embraced by our Churches; yet the Idea we have formed of your Principles of Christian Liberty is such, as leaves us no Room to doubt of your Readiness to countenance us in the free and full Use of all the Ecclesiastical Rights, which we have been so long in the Possession of: And your Excellency is too well versed in Letters, and adorn'd by a liberal Education, not to be strongly disposed to promote the Interest of our College, which from the Beginning, has been so much the Glory of our Land.

We honour your Excellency as our Political Father: Nor shall we be wanting in our Endeavours among our People, to make your Administration easy to you; as we promise ourselves it will be advantageous to them: And as the Duty of our Office requires, we shall, by our Preaching and Example, cultivate in them the Principles of Loyalty and Obedience.

We can wish your Excellency nothing better, than that you may be divinely enabled so to act in your high Station, as that you may be happy in the Approbation and Rewards of the great Governor of the Universe.

Boston, May 28, 1761.

Sign'd in the Name and Behalf of the Convention, by

Joseph Sewall, Moderator.

To which Address his Excellency gave the following ANSWER.

Gentlemen,

I am much obliged to you for this kind Address: You will always find me ready to exert my Authority in suppressing Vice and Immorality, and promoting true Religion and Christian Virtue. As to the Essentials of Religion, I believe we are all of one Opinion; the different Modes and Forms of Worship are not of Consequence to create any Dissention. My own Principle of Moderation, as well as my Sense of the Rights of religious Liberty, will sufficiently induce me to countenance you in the free and full Use of your Ecclesiastical Rights. I have frequently declared my Intention to promote the Interests of the College to the best of my Power; And I flatter myself that I shall be able to serve it in a most effectual Manner. I am obliged to you for your Assurance, that you will in the Course of your Ministry cultivate in the People the Principles of Loyalty and Obedience to his Majesty, and thereby enable me his Servant to make my Administration most beneficial to the People. I thank you for your Wishes, that I may have the divine Assistance, and finally the Approbation and Rewards of the great Governor of the Universe; which, without presuming too much on my own Merit, I shall endeavour, with his Grace, to obtain.

Fra. Bernard.