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them from degeneracy, and to promote both their
temporal and spiritual welfare. It was, in their
estimation, a measure of no little consequence to
the best interests of the colony, to settle among
them, as soon as possible, pious and faithful ministers of the Gospel, who should instruct them and
their children in divine things, and maintain among
them all the ordinances which appertain to the
service of God. And whether accompanied or not
in their emigration by those of their own choice,
subsequent circumstances soon rendered it necessary for them to depend altogether for a supply of
such men upon the choice of others. In these
circumstances, as they had no connexion with any
particular Classis in the mother country, they very
naturally availed themselves of their connexion
with the West India Company, whose influence
was likely to obtain for them suitable pastors, or
at least to secure them against impositions: and this
Company, the greater part of whose Directors
resided in Amsterdam, as naturally, whenever applications for clerical supplies were received from
the colony, availed itself in attempting a compliance of the advice and assistance of the Classis of
that city. This way of relieving the exigencies of
the churches here, the best, no doubt, if not the
only one practicable at the time, ultimately reduced
them to a state of ecclesiastical vassalage, of no
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PAGE 083: CHAPTER III
short duration, and fraught with the most serious
evils. Uniformly receiving their ministers from
the Classis of Amsterdam, these Churches, though
not at first formally connected with it, were very
easily brought to consider themselves subject to its
authority. Gratitude for services rendered by the
Classis, independent of any influence on the part
of their ministers to this end, would dispose them
respectfully to submit to its oversight and controul;
and the result was in the lapse of time, that, either
from gratitude or ministerial influence, or both combined, together with the necessities of their situation,
submission was yielded as a matter of solemn duty.
That it was the interest of the ministers to inculcate
and endeavour to secure such submission, must be
obvious; but it seems strange, that the Classis
encouraged it after a number had been sent over,
sufficient of themselves with their several congregations to be formed into a Classis. — It seems
strange, that the Classis of Amsterdam were willing
to retain any responsibility in relation to men,
whose moral and ministerial conduct they could not
inspect, or that they did not take measures, as soon
as they were warranted by circumstances, with the
Synod of North Holland, to have a Colonial Classis
constituted. The formation of such a Classis, subordinate to the Synod, would certainly have relieved
them of a great deal of trouble, and might, in
reason, have been judged necessary to the peace
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