The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
Let every reader, then, of Mr. Mortimer’s Life, ask himself, have I done
what I could? Have I contributed liberally, with a willing mind,
according to my ability, towards the erection, enlargement, or in giving
comfort and convenience, and a suitable appearance to my church? Do I
dwell in my ceiled house, while the house of God lies waste? Am I
anxious to see all things about the house of God and the services of
religion done decently and in order? And do I take my share in the
management of the secular affairs of the church? Am I sufficiently
anxious to promote the comfort and well-being of my pastor? If he have
sown unto me _spiritual things_, is it a great matter that he should reap
my _temporal things_? More than persuaded, confident I am, that if every
member of the church of England in Canada would seriously lay this
subject to heart and urge upon himself the great duties connected with
it, much more would be done there to promote her interests, and to make
her independent of all extraneous aid. All might contribute more than
they do; some in money, some in lands, and they who could give neither,
might give of the produce of their lands, or the fruits of their labour,
or occasionally their labours to assist in tilling their pastor’s
grounds, or in planting and cultivating their gardens. Depend upon it,
that he who feels adequately the real benefits and blessings of being
taught in the word, _will minister unto him that teacheth in all good
things_. Pastors should not be unreasonable, and, if they be
right-minded, they will have no wish to lay unnecessary burdens upon
their people: but their people, if their minds be duly influenced by
religion, will be as desirous to provide for them, free of all charitable
support, as to maintain their own families in perfect independence.
Besides, the good Churchmen of Canada should really consider the many and
great calls now made upon that source from whence their church receives
its chief support; I mean, the Society for Propagating the Gospel. It
has only been by renewed efforts and extraordinary exertions that the
society has been able to maintain so great an expenditure in Canada;
perhaps, too, at the expense of withholding very important help from
other needy parts of our extensive colonial possessions; and it is not
reasonable, nor generous, nor just, to require assistance one moment
beyond what is absolutely necessary. Every township, therefore, in the
colony should begin, with as little delay as possible, to make its own
provision for the public worship of God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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