aboue added vnto them Matth. 6.33 And in another place hee promiseth to such as renounce and forsake the things of this world for his sake and for loue to the Gospell that they shall receiue be sides life euerlasting in the world to come an hundrâ—th-fold more euen of these earthly blessings hâ—re in this life Mark 10.30 To which purpose we haue a most cleare restimonie of the holy Apostle Saint Paut a Tim. 4.8 where he saith that godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing promise of the life that now is as well as of that which is to come Vpon these sure and infallible grounds both of holy Scripture and common experience I dare be bold to assure you my deare Countri-men that if you heartily and vnseinedly desire to see your natiue Country and kindred flourish in all worldly wealth and earthly prosperitie you cannot for the obteining of your desire in all the world find a more ready way then this worke of piety which I here commend vnto you which as it tends first to plant the Gospell and true religion so it will draw on all other blessings by meanes of them Besides these motiues which arise from the consideration of the worke it selfe our natiue Countrie also and the nature and disposition of the people for whose vse and benefit this worke is intended doe moreouer afford and offer vnto vs many strong incouragements For wee are not to deale with a stubborne bruitish ill natured people like the wild Irish who naturally abhorre all ciuility and are so deuoâ—ed to their owne old fashions that things which in themselues are most reasonable decent and orderly they doe vtterly detest if they appeare to swerue from the corrupt and abominable customes of their Country and the traditions of their fathers The people of our natiue Country are generally of another constitution and of a contrarie but farre better naturall disposition although they are most constant in their resolutions while they conceiue and imagine them to be iust good and godly and doe follow that course of religion and life which they haue embraced for the best with strong affection and zeale yet naturally they are so ingenious and so reasonable and tractable that when good reason is shewed to them for the contrary they are ready as to conceiue and vnderstand it so to yeeld vnto it generally and for the most part onely some desperate reprobates and refractarie rebells excepted whom God for their wilfull reiecting of the truth hath giuen ouer to bee blinded and bewitched by the delusion and inchantments of Popish Priests and Iesuites and to be possessed by their diabolicall spirit And if we may giue credit to the learned historiographers who haue narrowly searched and taken a diligent survey of all the shires of this Kingdome and obserued and noted in their publike records and writings the manners of the people as the inhabitants of our Country of Lancashire are in bodily feature and outward forme generally more beautifull and comely then in many other Countries so in respect of the inward disposition of their mindes they are euery way answerable that it is a people of good vnderstanding quicke of apprehension well tempered in their wills and affections and ready to be ruled by reason So that if any shall object against this our good motion and oppose as a barre or obstacle against it the blind zeale and head-strong affection wherewith a great part of our natiue Country and many of our people in diuers parts thereof are carried away from the truth and true religion after Popish superstition and Idolatrie and shall from thence conclude that in all likeli-hood and probabilitie our contribution of money and the labours of our preachers shal be spent in vaine and for no profit on a refractarie and obstinate people who like deafe adders will stop their eares and refuse to heare the voyce of the charmers charme they neuer so wisely as they haue done heretofore euer since the first reuiuing of the Gospell and reformation of religion in this Kingdome I will answere that this which is objected as a barre or impediment is indeed none all to such as rightly vnderstand and consider it but on the contrary offers to our consideration speciall incouragements and motiues to further vs in this worke For first true Christianity teacheth vs to shew mercy and charity to our brethren in miserie and bondage and the greater we perceiue that their danger and miserie is wherein they remaine the more to beâ— moued inwardly with pitty and compassion towards them and rather then we will in dure the â—ight of their continuall extremities to make a desperate attempt for their deliuerance and to aduenture vpon a great hazard euen when there is little or no hope of their recouerie in outward appearance We haue many examples of Gods faithfull Saints recorded in the Scriptureâ— to this purpose The penitent Israelites captiued in Babylon so often and so long as they remembred Zious desolation and the deplored estate of their natiue Country could joy in nothing but spent their time in weeping and in studying the good and prosperity of Ierusalem Psal 137. Queene Hester when her people the Iewes were in extreme danger by reason of a Commission or warrant sealed for the generall massacre and destruction of them all did run in a desperate hazard euen of her owne life and resolued for their deliuerance to attempt the recalling of the Kings vnchangeable decree saying If I perish I perish Hest 4.16 And godly Nehemiah when he had receiued intelligence of the great affliction and reproach of his brethren in Indea after their returne from captiuity and of the City and place of his fathers sepulchre lying wast and consumed with fire was so sad and heauy that he could not rest nor looke cheerfully on the King his Lord vntill by earnest prayer to God and petition to the King he had preuailed and gotten leaue to goe with a large commission for the repairing of Ierusalem Nehem. 1 and 2. Saint Paul the more stiffe-necked that he found the Iewes and the more zealous with blind zeale not according to knowledge the more he pittied them being his Country-men and the more he laboured by all meanes to win them and sought to saue some of them though it were with the losse of his owne life as appeares Act. 24.17 Rom. 9.1 2. And he who is the example of all examples and the patterne whom all Christians are bound to follow our Lord Sauiour Christ when wee all were in a desperate and wofull condition by meanes of our sinfull corruption and many sinnes rebelliously committed against God from which the whole world was not able to redeeme vs did not cast vs off but vndertooke a worke for vs and did vndergoe a burden vnder which all the Angells of God and all creatures would faint faile and sinke downe if it were laid vpon them And therfore as we desire to walke in the wayes of Gods Sainte
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
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 zâ—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
this Kingdome and the whole Christian world who being borne in our barren soyle and in their child-bood muzled vp in superstition so soone as God brought them to the light of the Gospell in the vniuersities the nurseries of learning and true religion they became famous and renowned professors of diuinity and most stout and strong maintainers of the truth against Papists and all other Heretiques I cannot passe by in silence but for example will name and mention with honour and reuerence that mirrour of learning and religion Doctor Whitakers our sometimes worthy professor in Cambridge whose name is still dreadfull to our aduersaries and his writings of greatest esteeme euen in forraigne Countries at this day and his memorie euer blessed Yea wee find by daily experience that in those parishes and places of our nature Country which haue heretofore beene most grieuously ouer-runne with ignorance and superstition while they wanted the meanes of knowledge the ministery of the word and where the word at the first preaching thereof hath beene strongly opposed now by meanes of a constant ministerie and powerfull preaching continued among them the people doe become generally so zealous for the truth so feruent in their zeale so forward in their profession so strict in their liues in the worship of God so opposit to all shadows of superstition that some thinke they haue more need of the bridle then else spurre like the Israelites in the wildernesse who offered so frankly abundantly to the building of Gods tabernacle that there was found much more then enough for the seruice of the work Moses gaue commandment and caused them by publike proclamation to be restrained from bringing any more Exod. 36. I my selfe doe know and can name for instance if neede require diuers parishes which within my memorie were deepely plunged in superstition and euen drowned in ignorance insomuch that the name of a preacher was as much scorned of many as the name of a babler and of some as much hated as the name of an heretique but now of late yeares I haue seene with mine eyes such a wonderfull alteration wrought by Gods grace and blesing accompanying the labours of some holy and godly preachers sent among them that they are ready and willing to run many miles to heare sermons when they haue them not at home and lay aside all care of worldly profit leauing their labour and worke on weeke dayes to frequent publike meetings for prophecy and expounding of Gods word and hardly can a preacher trauell through their townes and lodge there on any day in the week but they will by importunitie obteine a publicke sermon from him and in great troupes suddainly and vpon short warning assembled they will gladly and chearfully heare him with all reuerence and attention And therefore as St. Paul from his owne example the examples of a small remnant of beleeuing Iewes who by so many miracles much powerfull preaching of Christ himselfe and his extraordinarie Apostles and Prophets were called and drawne to beleue did conclude that God had not reiected and cast away the whole nation as reprobates past hope So may we much more strongly conclude from the example of our selues who are many and from the example of those worthy professors and pillars of the Church whom God hath raised vp out of our Country by ordinarie meanes and most of all from the great multitudes of godly Christians who by hundreds and thousands are daily called and turned by ordinarie preaching from the darkenesse of ignorance to the light of true knowledge and from blind zeale and loue of poperie and superstition to the feruent loue of the truth and zealous profession of the holy Gospell of Christ I say from these many examples we may as vpon stronger grounds of reason conclude that God hath not cast away our people nor rejected our natiue Country neither in so many places keepes his word from them as from a reprobate people neuer to be conuerted but rather doth suffer them to liue so long in ignorance and miserable blindnesse partly for a greater judgement on ouer-ruling Church-robbers that he may bring on them and their houses and families the blood of many soules which perish through their sacrilege and couetousnesse and partly to prouoke and stirre vp to pitty and charity vs whom he hath first conuerted and to minister vnto vs matter of true Christian charity and to giue vs occasion to exercise that piety which we professe that our faith by liuely fruites of good workes may be made to appeare more glorious to the eyes of the world and may shine in the midst of the Church and among all the people of God Lastly Deare brethren and Country-men for our full perswasion and steadfast assurance that our natiue Country notwithstanding the ignorance and blindnesse ouershadowing it and the blind superstition possessing the people generally in diuers parts thereof is a place which God hath chosen to put his name there and our brethren the inhabitants thereof are a people chosen of God and holy according to the election of grace let vs call to remembrance and daily set before our eyes what holy and excellent first fruites it hath brought forth vnto God I meane holy professors and martyrs in the first times of the pure light of the Gospell beginning to shine forth in this land Among all godly martyrs wichin the dayes of King Edward the sixth were great builders of Gods Church by their sound doctrine painfull labours and holy liues and in the bloody reigne of Queen Mary sealed the Gospell with their blood who more renowned in the historie of martyrs then Mr. Iohn Bradford a Lancashire man whose godly writings and meditations able to make a stonie heart to bleede remaine to the profit and comfort of Gods Church in all succeeding ages whose constant profession of the true faith vnto death in the midst of the fire was admired of his enemies shall euer bee remembred while God hath an elect and faithfull people in this land and whose memorie shall be blessed for euer Among the godly faithfull and learned men whom this land brought forth in those first times and which shined forth as lights out of darkenesse who after many cruell persecutions and banishment which they endured for the Gospell in Queene Maries dayes did suruiue her bloody reigne and in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth of euer blessed memorie flourished in this Church and were notable instruments of God in the restoring and establishing of religion who more admired for piety prudence learning and charitie then that most reuerend father in Gods Church Edwin Sandes borne in Fournfells in Lancashire who at the time of the decease of Edward the sixth being Doctor of diuinitie and vice Chancellour of the vniuersitie of Cambridge did so wisely and prudently behaue himselfe in the midst of those troubles and that great confusion especially in his publike sermon which he was commanded by the Duke of
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 Heâ—riâ— 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 â—ath lâ—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