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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B10261	An exhortation to his dearely beloued countrimen, all the natiues of the countie of Lancaster, inhabiting in and about the Citie of London; tending to perswade and stirre them vp to a yearely contribution, for the erecting of lectures, and maintaining of some godly and painfull preachers in such places of that country as have most neede, by reason of ignorance and superstition there abounding: / composed by George Walker pastor of St. Iohn the Euangelists ...	Walker, George, B.D., d. 1651.	1641 (1641)	Wing W357A; ESTC R186166	17,398	26

of nature be forward in this worke Secondly this contribution is not like those antique taxes which heathen Emperours tyrants rather vsed by their constraining commandements and with strong hand to wrest from their euer-awed impotent vassals nor like the rigid pennance and grieuous penalties which Popish Priests and confessors doe often times inflict on their penitents as a satisfaction for their sinnes which either are aboue the strength of their bodies and tend to the endangering of their health and life or surpasse their abilities and estates and doe farre ouer-charge and much impouerish them but this is onely of so much as the spirit of God shall inwardly moue and perswade euery man to giue freely and cheerfully with all alacritie and which God hath inabled him to giue without impouerishing of himselfe or weakening and impairing of his estate and which may well be spared from other vaine expenses and needlesse superfluities so that here is no coulout of exception against this contribution no least cause for any to complaine grudge or murmure against it or to count it a burden here is nothing required of any but what he is able and willing to doe and that without any wrong losse or damage to himselfe at all Thirdly this worke is not one of those almes-deeds and workes of charity which are done in secret which few see but God this is a publike worke like a candle vpon a candle sticke which giues light to all the house besides the profit and comfort which it may bring to many and seuerall particular soules and the gracious acceptation and bountifull reward which it may find with God it shall vndoubtedly also bring great glory to Gods name and be a meanes of many thankes giuen by many vnto God in his publicke Church and congregation And as the multitude of them who receiue the benefit of this contribution shall haue iust cause to laud and praise God continually so many others euen all they who see it a farre of and heare the fame and report of it shall be prouoked and stirred vp by your example and hereby you shall cause your lights to shine before men that they seeing your good workes may glorifie your father which is in heauen as our Sauiour in the Gospell exhorteth And whereas in other cases a worke of piety tending to the publike good cannot be done without great cost and charge and requires a great summe here in this contribution euery particular man may for a small oblation offered vp with a free heart obtaine the honour and gaine the glory of a publicke worke and become an example and patterne of piety to many others and so bring great glory to God and much benefit to the Church of Christ with small charge to himselfe by reason of many hearts and hands conspiring together in this one worke Fourthly in many other workes of piety and charitie there are many doubts and discouragements often times as for example when a man must lay out a great summe either vpon a great hazard and aduenture being vncertaine whether it shall take good effect and yeeld any fruit at all to himselfe or those to whom he doth intend it as we see in many hospitalls and Colleges much subject to abuse the cost bestowed vpon which is like bread cast vpon the waters onely in hope of finding it after many dayes as wise Salomon speakes Eccles 11.1 Or when much is giuen away by men at their death in their last will to pious vses of which they themselues being dead can reape no benefit at all from the prayers of the poore who enjoy it as blind Papists would perswade the world nor any comfort from the sight of the good fruit which it yeelds to posterity But here in this contribution there is no such cause of doubting nor any such scruple to dishearten any man here is no great summe to bee aduentured or put forth vpon vncertainties but a small yearly bencuolence to be paid quarterly continued so long only as it shall manifestly appear to be well imployed to good purpose for present profit which payment also euery man shall haue in his power for his owne part to cease breake off and discontinue if he doth see no manifest benefit thence presently arising according to his desire but if it doth take good effect it shall much aduance Gods glory before men bring comfort light and sauing health to many soules and procure to the contributors many hearty prayers of their Country-men who shall by this meanes be conuerted and comforted which prayers vndoubtedly God will heare and accept and at their request turne many blessings into their bosomes here in this life where onely the prayers and thanksgiuing of Gods people haue power to helpe and profit those for whom they are made and offered vp in the name and mediation of Christ Fifthly whosoeuer hath a desire to put forth his talent of worldly wealth whatsoeuer it is more or lesse to the best aduantage and so to imploy it that it may bring in double and trible gaine surely he cannot finde a better way then this pious worke which is here commended vnto you For the first and immediate end of this contribution is the setting vp and maintaining of godly painfull and profitable preachers of Gods word in those parts of our natiue Country where the word of God is most rare and precious and there is greatest neede and scarsitie of preaching Wee doe not meane to feede idle droanes who will labour but little and looke for large allowance nor such as will labour and take paines but to small profit for want of the art of prophecying and method of profitable preaching nor men of scandalous and vngodly life who will doe more hurt by their example then good by their doctrine But godly painefull and profitable preachers who will preach and teach and labour out of conscience to God with an hungring and thirsting desire not to get wealth and maintenance but to saue many soules and to increase the Church of Christ who also for a small stipend will take much pains and will teach as well by good example as by doctrine Now where such preachers are set vp and maintained there will follow plentifull preaching and hearing of the word of God the word heard will beget faith and bring many to beleeue in God and in Christ faith will bring forth the the true worship of God and holy inuocation or calling vpon his name and true deuout and faithfull calling vpon the name of the Lord is the sure way to saluation as may easily be gathered from the words of the holy Apostle Rom. 10.13 14 15. But especially when such preachers are sent into barren places and among a people ouer-runne with ignorance superstition and profanesse for want of instruction as in our natiue Country they doe more preuaile with their godly labours and bring more plentifull fruit and increase to Gods Church in one yeare and work more strang effects

An exhortation to his Dearely beloued Countrimen all the Natiues of the Countie of Lanenster inhabiting in and about the Citie of London tending to perswade and stirre them vp to a yearely contribution for the erecting of Lectures and maintaining of some godly and painfull preachers in such places of that Country as haue most neede by reason of ignorance and superstition there abounding composed by George Walker Pastor of St. Iohn the Euangelists in Watlingstreet in LONDON MY deare and louing Countrimen whom God by his gracious prouidence hath together with my selfe transplanted out of our natiue Country the Countie of Lancaster which as it is at this day so hath much more in the dayes of our youth and within our memorie beene as a rough vntilled barren desert ouer-runne with ignorance superstition and poperie and hath planted vs by the waters of comfort in a wealthy and fruitfull place where all blessings needfull for soule and body are extended vnto vs as a flowing streame Isai 66.12 Luke 12.48 you are not ignorant of that saying of our Sauiour That to whom much is giuen of them much shall be required yea I doubt not but ye haue all learned this lesson that as God after grear deliuerance from great euills dangers and miseries requires much thankfulnesse to himselfe at the hands of the deliuered so also much compassion towards their brethren who still remaine in the same miseries and dangers and a readinesse to helpe and succour them vpon euery occasion and opportunity which shall bee offered This our Sauiour teacheth vs by his example and continuall practise in that he is touched with our infirmities and by the things which hee suffered being tempted Heb. 4.15 and 2 18. is become a mercifull high Preist able and readie to succour them that are tempted And this hee enjoynes vs all to put in practise in that charge which he gaue to his Apostle when thou are conuerted strengthen thy brethren Luke 22.32 Iohn 13.17 Now my brethren if ye know these things happy and blessed shall you be if ye also doe them as our Sauiour affirmeth in the Gospell And that you may by so doing obteine more easily this happinesse and blessednesse lo here I will shew you a short cut and a ready way euen one only worke of piety and charity which I will commend vnto you in which worke alone if you shall wisely and conscionably begin it and therein carefully cheerfully and constantly proceed and continue to the end according to that ability which God hath giuen to you ye shall at once performe all these workes and duties of Christianitie that is you shall render and returne vnto God increase and fruit according to the talents which he hath committed to your trust and the seed and cost of planting and tilling which he hath on you bestowed you shall offer vp to his majestie a most acceptable sacrifice of thankfulnesse for his deliuerance of your soules from dangers of ignorance superstition and prophanesse which ouer-spread the place of your natiuitie and withall you shall shew all Christian compassion and exerci●e brotherly charity and commiseration rowards your brethren and Country and by Gods grace and blessing on your indeauours become powerfull instruments and effectuall meanes of sauing many soules Acts 28.18 by turning them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan vnto God that they may become fellow Saints with your selues Colloss 1.12 and coheires and partakers of the inheritance of glory in light This worke to describe and set it forth plainely in that nature as it is here commended to you is no more but a free voluntary cheerfull and charitable contribution of such yearly summes of money as euery one of you by means of that wealth and ability which God hath bestowed vpon him may very well without impouerishing pinching or any way ouercharging of himselfe or impairing of his estate bestow for the maintaining of godly painefull and profitable preachers of Gods word in those parrs and parishes of our natiue Country of Lancashire in which ●●ere is found to be greatest need and most grieuous want scarsity of preaching and maintenance for preachers that by their continuall labors zealous preaching and conscionable paines ignorance and superstition may be rooted out true religion planted Gods true worship set vp and established and that by the conuerting of many soules and instructing and consirming the weake Gods true Church may there increase and flourish and so that Country which is now in many places like a barren wildernesse may become a fruitfull garden and pleasant vineyard of the Lord of hosts well watered with plentifull showers of Gods heauenly and spirituall graces distilling from heauen and with fountaines springs and flowing streames of earthly and temporall blessings which follow and accompanie the publike enterteinment of the Gospell and the aduancement of Christs true Church in euery land This worke if wee should seeke no further but looke vpon it and take a view of it in it selfe as it is here in plaine words propounded to vs hath in it motiues sufficient of all sorts to draw vs and moue vs to put it in present practise First whereas in many other workes of bountie and liberalitie grace and nature are sound contrary and while the one perswades vs to doe them the other disswades vs from them as for example in the purchasing of great houses lands and reuenues for our children while naturall affection doth incite vs to disburse great summes and to imploy all out wealth and estate Grace on the contrary forbids vs to spend all on our children and fleshly kinred which perhaps may proue wicked prodigalls and abuse our riches to sinne and mischiefe and tells vs that we ought rather to honour God with our wealth by spending a great part there of in workes of piety and charity vpon the poore members of Christ And while Grace drawes vs to this naturall affection doth draw and pull vs from it vnto the other Now in this worke here commended to you there is no such opposition betweene grace and nature nor any such cause of distraction but both together doe draw pull and allure vs with ioynt forces Grace tells vs that this being a worke of pitty tending to Gods glory by the sauing of many soules the increase of his Church and aduancement of true religion and his holy worshippe no good Christian can refuse to put his hand vnto it but euery one ought to be and will be forward in it And because this worke is also a worke of charitie not towards strangers but towards our Countrimen and kinred according to the flesh euen towards our owne brethren and tends to this as one maine end to make our natiue Country blessed with all blessings heauenly and earthly therefore naturall affection doth strongly and vehemently pull vs and perswade vs vnto it and as we all naturally loue our Country and kinred so we cannot but by the instinct

and to conforme our selues to our head Christ so let the great danger of our natiue Country and Country-men in which they lye and the slauish superstition and blindnes by which their soules as well as their bodies are held in captiuitie vnder the Pope and the Deuill stirre vs vp to vse this and all other meanes which God hath reuealed in his word and experience of all ages hath discourered to be helpfull remedies against all such maladies Secondly If we examine the cause of this head-strong blind zeale which ouer-spreades our Country and take true notice of the meanes which maintaine this Popish superstition and ignorance in our people they will appeare to bee such as may justly more incourage vs in this worke then any way dishearten or discourage vs from it It is true that some places Cities and Countries for some notorious pollution are hated and cursed of God and set apart to bee spectales of his wrathfull vengeance and examples of dreadful I desolation as the plaine Countrie and Citries of Sodom and Gomorrha And some people are reprobates whom God in his secret counsell hath rejected and therefore either doth with-hold from them all meanes of saluation esteeming them like swine before whom he will not cast the precious pearles of his word and saraments at all as we haue plaine examples Act. 16. where the Spirit sorbad the Apostles and would not suffer them to goe to preach in some Countries and to some people or else doth send his Gospell and the ministers of his word and sacraments vnto them not for their good to conuert them but as a curse for their greater condemnation to harden them as his word and miracles by Moses were sent to Pharaoh Exod. 7.3 and to be vnto them as the Gospell preached is to perishing reprobates euen the sauour of death vnto death 2 Cor. 2.16 Now when and where ignorance superstition and blind z●ale proceede from these causes and grounds they are desperate and incurable and whatsoeuer cost or labour is there bestowed proues vaine is like water spilt on the ground But sometimes ignorance blind zeale superstition and idolatrie are found to ouer-spread some Countries and strongly to possesse some people through want of means and good instruction because God suffers his word and Gospell to be with-held from them for a time either through the malice and negligence of their rulers and ouerseers vpon whom hee hath a purpose to execute his just wrath to the full by bringing vpon them the blood of many poore soules which through their default doe perish or else for to trie proue and exercise the charity of their brethren and neighbours who are called and conuerted already before them and haue receiued grace to bee Gods people whom the Lord hath a purpose to prouoke to pittie and charitie by setting before them such examples of miserable blindnesse which haue great neede of their helpe and commiseration In these cases the greatest ignorance most blind superstition and most head-strong zeale standing for errors and a false religion are not desperate but haue great hope of cure by the word of God and such meanes applied to them yea such head-strong zealous and superstitious people when the true and cleare light of the Gospell once shines vnto them by meanes of an able and powerfull ministery are by experience found to become no lesse but rather more zealous for the truth and for God and godlinesse then before they haue beene for falshood and errors And that this is the very case and condition of our natiue Country and of our blind zealous and superstitious brethren and neighbours inhabiting it appeares plainly by two strong and infallible arguments First that their ignorance and blind zeale proceede from want of ordinary meanes to wit the preaching of the word and good instruction experience plainely proues and no man can with any colour of reason denie For although our Country of Lancashire is one of the largest shires in this Kingdome yet it hath for the publike worship of God onely thirty six Parish Churches within the large circuite of it as our histories shew and some Parishes forty miles in compasse to my knowledge wheras some other shires not much larger then one dinision or hundred of Lancashire are knowne and recorded to haue two or three hundred Parish Churches in them and those farre better furnished with meanes for maintenance of an able ministery then ours are for example the hundred of Fournesse where I was borne which for spatious compasse of ground is not much lesse then Bedfordshire or Rutlandshire it hath onely eight Parish Churches and seuen of those eight are impropriate and the liuings in the hands of Lay men and in some of those Parishes which be forty miles in compasse there is no more ordinary and set maintenance allowed for the ministery of the word and sacraments but ten pounds or twenty nobles yearly And therefore though the people were naturally the most tractable vnder the Sunne no man could in reason looke for any thing but abundance of ignorance ruling among them till it please God to stirre vp the publicke state or the spirits of some godly priuate Christians to prouide some maintenance for the constant ministery of the word to be set vp and continued among them yea considering what large spacious walkes and how many couerts and lurking places there are in those thicke mists and shades of ignorance and darknesse for Iesuites and seminary Priests those sonnes and ministers of darknesse who commonly find best intertainment for their flattery and painted hypocrisie among such people as being naturally disposed to deuotion and religion are notwithstanding held captiue in ignorance for want of meanes and also finde most libertie and best roome to bestirre thmselues and greatest freedome from discouerie in those Parishes where there are no learned Preachers nor vigilant Pastors let reason judge how vnlikely and almost impossible it is for that people to be free from blind head-strong zeale and that Popish superstition and Idolatrie should not generally possesse them Secondly as Saint Paul argues for the nation of the naturall Israelites Rom. 11.1 and proues that they were not vtterly cast away of God because hee himselfe and diuers others of them were gathered vnto Christ by the Gospell and an elect remnant was found among them in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles when generally they persecuted the truth and seemed to be most opposite and stiffenecked So we may much more and vpon stronger grounds of reason argue for our blind superstitious Countri-men that they are not a reprobate people whom God hath cast away and giuen ouer to desperate blindnesse and obstinacy neuer to be conuerted because not onely we our selues being many haue by Gods grace extended plentifully vnto vs receiued the word and doe beleeue in Christ and professe true Christianity but also many noble worthies haue sprung vp and flourished in the Church of God and shined as lights through

Northumberland to make against Queene Mary in that great assembly at Cambridge where the Duke himselfe with many nobles and men of warre were assembled to goe and apprehend her that he gaue content to the Duke and yet the Queene and her party could not from thence take any aduantage against him who also after many troubles persecutions and imprisonment escaped with great difficultie and fled beyond the seas and from thence returning in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths reigne after his learned disputations against the Popish Bishops was in the judgement of that noble Queene and her wife counsell esteemed worthy of greatest promotions in the Church and was preferred first to be Bishop of Woreester after Bishop of London and lastly Arch-bishop of Yorke in all which seas he flourished and was famous for his promoting of pietie aduancing of learned preachers and for publike workes of charitie among the rest for his erecting indowing of a free schoole at Hauxhead where he was borne and where I one of the meanest of his kindred was in my youth trained vp in learning who also dying in a good old age left behind him a no ble progenie and race of sons diuers of whom do vntill this day florish in wealth honor and are famous for wisdome eloquence and experience in matters of religion and pollicie obteined by their trauells in many forraigne Countries and are men noted for other noble vertues in this state and kingdome The time would faile me if I should reckon vp by name all our Country-men famous in this kind should relate their worthy acts as Mr. Alexander Nowell Doctor of diuinity and Deane of Paules whose tast of persecution and banishment with other troubles and afflictions which he endured in Queene Maries dayes wrought in him such charity and compassion to the poore that he became a patterne as of piety towards God so of pitty to the poore and hauing spent his dayes and his wealth in continuall workes of charity left also after him worthy monuments of his piety and charity which remaine in Oxford and other places to the worlds end for the benefit of young Schollers borne in Lancashire and for their education in learning and good literature I might also adde among all the rest one of mine owne name and neare kinred Iohn Walker Doctor of diuinitie and sometimes Arch-deacon and residenciary of St. Pauls Church in London in whose breast godly zeale began to burne in his youth and tender yeares so feruently that in the dayes of He●ri● the eight when Popery began to decline the way was but a preparing for reformation of religion he together with the godly Arch-bishop before named out of their detestation and hatred which they bare to Popish superstition and Idolatry did like Gideon secretly out mangle and deface the Popish Images in the Church of Hauxhead the place of their natiuity and mine vpon suspicion whereof he was forced to flee out of his Country and was secretly nourished and brought vp in Cambridge where he became a man of note for his great learning and after persecution and banishment which he suffered in Queene Maries time he was aduanced in the happy dayes of Queene Elizabeth to the dignities fore named of which how worthy he was may appeare by his disputation with Campian the Popes Challenger yet extant in print against whom he was by the publike authority of the state chosen and appointed to dispute among other chose learned men of the Kingdome Now these with many others most godly and zealous professors holy martyrs being the first fruites of our natiue Country of Lancashire which it brought forth and offered vnto God in the first day spring of the reuiuing Gospell I see no cause why we may not conclude and vpon this ground assure our selues that our Country and the generall body or multitude of our people are an holy lumpe or masse chosen of God and holy according to the election of grace and that in due time they shall be generally conuerted and actually called to the knowledge and profession of the true faith For thus the holy Apostle Paul doth reason conclude concerning his Country-men the Iewes Rom. 11.16 That if the first first fruites be holy the lumpe also must be holy Wherefore let no vaine scruples no vncharitable doubtings no euill surmises disturbe vs in this good worke of piety and charity nor withdraw our hearts nor cause vs to withdraw our hands from a liberall contribution which is so necessary and commodious for the aduancement of religion in the place of our natiuity and which hath so much hope of gaining many soules of our brethren to God Although I haue no warrant in Gods word to perswade you with Popish motiues 〈◊〉 merit that by cheerfull performance of this pious worke you shall merit great rewards and blessings at Gods handes no not if you should sell all that you haue and bestow on works of this nature because all that we haue is Gods he ●ath l●nt it vs and if we giue all to him we giue him but his owne neither can we by all we haue be profitable to God for he needs nothing of ours our well doing is akogether for our owne good and the good of our brethren and serues to glorifie Gods grace in vs not to adde any glory to him in himselfe and to magnifie his name and his goodnesse before men not to make him any better in his owne nature or person yet thus much I assure you that if out of loue to godlinesse and out of humble obedience to Gods majestie and true charity to the soules of his people all proceeding from a liuely faith in Christ you be stirred vp to shew your selues cheerefull forward and bountifull in this pious and charitable worke according to the ability which God hath giuen to euery one of you this your well-doing shall vndoubtedly receiue from God great recompense of reward of his free grace and bounty and for the merit of Christ and the mere good workes that you do of this kind the more euidence and testimony you shall haue of true faith and of the spirit of God dwelling in you and making you one body with Christ and partakers of his merits which euidence shall not onely confirme you against all temptations and comfort you in all afflictions and make your prosperity sweet vnto your soules in this life but also shall stand vp in judgement for you and proue you true members of Christ that in him and for his merits sake you may receiue the eternall kingdome and inheritance prepared for all the elect and faithfull before the foundation of the world Now my deare brethren and beloued Country-men as I in this hope haue many yeares studied and desired to set this good worke on foote for the good of my Country and the saluation of my brethren and as I haue spent both my labour and some money and much precious time within the space of these two yeares last past in attempting and beginning this worke about the gathering of your names seuerally and particularly and solliciting some of you among whom I haue found diuers very forward free and bountifull farre beyond expectation and as I am ready euen to the vtmost of my ability to goe before you by my example in this contribution So I beseech you that for the same hopes sake you will be ready to joyne with me and others who haue begun well and that you will goe on with vs and accompanie vs to the perfecting of this worthy worke And for a conclusion of this exhortation I humbly beseech the Lord to enlarge your hearts according to the meanes and abilitie which hee hath giuen you that you may extend the bowells of compassion to your brethren who sit in miserable darknesse and in the shadow of death that they being called to the fellowshippe of the same grace with vs we may all glorifie Gods name before men in this life and bee glorified of him with endlesse glory in the life to come and may all reigne with Christ our head the King of glory for euer world without end To whom and to the word of whose grace I commend you all now and euer Amen Your most affectionate Country-man fellow-seruant in Christianity and brother in all Christian loue GEORGE WALKER Pastor of St. Iohn Enangelists in Watling-streete in LONDON FINIS