I can't check it immediately, but I think the author might be William Dawson
(1705?-1752), James Blair's successor as Bishop's commissary and president
of the College of William and Mary.

Dawson briefly quotes Bishop Wilson's remark "that the Best of Books, when
lightly given, will be lightly valued, & as lightly made use of" in a letter
in the William Dawson family papers (Manuscript Division, the Library of
Congress), cited in Edward Bond's *Damned Souls in a Tobacco Colony*.

Dawson wrote a sort of testamonial/introduction for the 5th edition of
Bishop [Thomas] Wilson's *An essay towards an instruction for the Indians;
Explaining the most Essential Doctrines of Christianity.... *(London, 1745)*
.*  I can't check immediately, but I suspect that may be the source of the
longer passage.

Karen Stuart



On Jan 22, 2008 2:46 PM, Megan Stubbendeck <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I am a graduate student from the University of Virginia doing work on
> colonial
> Virginians' religious practices (primarily Anglican).  I recently ran
> across a
> quote in the archives of the Library of Virginia.  Unfortunately, the
> quote is
> anonymous.  I am posting in hopes that someone might have some ideas
> about a possible author. The quote is below:
>
> Too many people suffer "the Want of proper Books" – thus the author has
> taken up a collection to "send for Bibles, Prayer Books, Treatises on
> [the]
> Sacrament, & other Religious Tracts, for the Use of the Poor of this
> Parish."
> The minister now has these and will distribute.  Or, those who gave the
> money
> could also distribute if they wish but "whosoever distributes this
> Excellent
> Charity, this must be insisted upon, that some suitable & good Advice be
> given
> at the same tim[e] for it will always be as Bp. Wilson observes 'that the
> Best
> of Books, when lightly given, will be lightly valued, & as lightly made
> use of.'
> The Benefit of this Charity to the Souls of Men appears at first Sight
> because
> it tends to furnish their Minds with all necessary knowledge, which must
> be
> laid as a Foundation for their Practice.  By this means they are
> instructed in
> the great Points of Christian Belief & acquainted with the several
> branches of
> their Duty, which relate to God, their Neighbour, and themselves.   It is
> not
> enough that Men are made Christians by Baptism  They must understand the
> Nature of the solemn Vow that they made  And as the Hope for the Blessed
> Fruits & Effects of Christ's death, so they must perform those Conditions
> upon
> which they are promised  For He is the Author of Salvation to none but
> those
> that obey him. It is true, that it is a peculiar Advantage of the Members
> of the
> Church of England that if they frequent the publick prayers, they
> constantly
> hear a considerable Portion of the Holy Scriptures read to them,  But
> besides
> this it will be very necessary in Order to instruct them in all the
> Particulars of
> their Duty to lodge good Books in their Families,.  Of which the Bible
> ought to
> have the Preference, because it is the written Word of God, & containes
> the
> Terms and Conditions of their Eternal Happiness.  The Common-Prayer or
> Liturgy of the Church of England ought to accompany it, because it is the
> Service of the Church wherein they are obliged frequently to join, &
> therefore
> cannot be too ell acquainted with it." Next, some treatises on the
> sacrament,
> and The Whole Duty of Man.  And "if any be desirous of variety, ere are
> may
> good tracts, both by Way of Restrain from Vice, Incitement to Virtue,
> which,
> as they are both short & 0plain,m are most likely to be read & Considered;
> and
> they mak[e] a much deeper Impression [on] the Mind than either general
> Admonitions from the Pulpit, or particular Admonitions by Word of
> Mouth….Great Men ought to take Care that all their Servants & poor
> Neighbours be supplied with such good Books.  This method will make them
> Preachers of Righteousness, &B give them a Share with the Authors of such
> good Books, in the Reward of such Performances.  A Parcel of Books well
> chosen by the Minister, or any other Person, who is sensible of the
> advantage
> of such a Distribution, will put a new Life into the Practice of Religion.
>  Pious
> Books distributed seasonably [?], in Families which lie without any Sense
> of
> Religion, and consequently are running headlong to Hell, may by the
> Blessing
> of God, recover them from the Misery that threaten them & make them
> serious
> & devout  What Wonders of this Kin might Men of Fortune do if their
> Charity
> bore but a just Proportion with their Riches."
>
>
> My first thoughts are that the author is probably a minister of some sort
> and
> may be associated with a group like the Bray Society.  Any thoughts from
> any
> one on the list would be greatly appreciated!
>
> -Megan Stubbendeck
>
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