THE TOWN OF WESTCHESTER. 



333 



I immediately did, hoping by that means to bring them over to the Church ; 

 but Mather, apprehending what 1 aimed at, persuaded the vestry to alter their 

 resolutions, and when he came, they refused to call him ; so, that projection fail- 

 ing, and finding that it was impossible to make any progress towards settling the 

 Church, so long as Mather continued amongst us, I made it my business, in the 

 next place, to devise ways to get him out of the county, which I was not long iu 

 contriving, which being effected, and having gained some few proselytes iu every 

 town, and those who were of the best esteem amongst them, aud being assisted 

 by Mr. Vesey and Mr. Bondett, who very often preached in several parts of the 

 country, baptizing their children. By these easy methods, the people were 

 soon wrought into a good opinion of the Church, aud indeed, much beyond my 

 expectation ; and the truth is, nothing is so agreeable to my natural temper, nor 

 do I like any way iu making converts so well, as by soft and easy means, in 

 convincing men's minds, and satisfying them in all their foolish notions against 

 the best of churches ; for as those are not only most agreeable to religion, so 

 thej' likewise do the work most effectually ; for when anything of that nature is 

 carried on with heat, loose and irreligious men immediately own the faith, and 

 turn violent persecutors ; being overjoyed of any opportunity to gratify their 

 natural temper, and by the rigour of their proceedings, as well as their vicious 

 lives, not only bring a scaudal upon the Church, but prevent its growth ; for all 

 men who have any sense of virtue or honor, and might be a means of their con- 

 version to bring over many more, abhor to be directed by such guides ; and, 

 indeed to do a work of this nature effectually, it ought to be managed with a 

 more than ordiuary care, and those on whom the conversion is to be wrought, 

 in their infancy must be dealt with as much tenderness as children ; for before 

 they are well fixed and rooted, the denying them a rattle or some indifferent 

 trifle, very often makes them start, but much more so when anything very mate- 

 rial and reasonable in itself is withheld them. A mischief of this nature had 

 like to have attended in this county for Westchester parish, which contains about 

 sixteen miles in length, wherein there are three towns, in each of which there is 

 a small church (viz.) Westchester, Eastchester and New Rochelle, besides a 

 place called Lower Yonkers ; and, it being impossible that my one minister 

 could take due care of all those places, and then consequently very hard that 

 any people should pay to a minister, it was morally impossible for them to have 

 any benefit from ; and Rye Parish being under the like misfortune, I brought 

 the towns in both parishes, except Westchester, to this result : that they 

 should petition the Governor's Council and Assembly, that instead of two 

 ministers of the Church, there should be three appointed for the county, and that 

 they should live at the most convenient places for the service of the whole 

 county, dividing the bread of life so equally, that every town might have their 

 fair and equal proportion ; and when, with a great deal of pains, I had brought 

 this matter to pass, aud even whilst I was hugging myself with a satisfaction of 

 having finished my task in this county, to my wonderful surprise, I met with a 

 violent opposition from six or eight warm men of Westchester ; this storm, by 

 degrees, run to that height that we were obliged to decline the matter ; however, 

 with the blessing of God, nothing shall discourage me, for I neither have nor 

 shall he wanting in my best endeavors to preserve this people in a temper to re- 

 ceive the Church among them ; and, was I worthy to give my advice in these 



