IT was a blessed Easter (Brethren) that raised mee up againe to this ponderous service; and if any Feast be worthy of annuall solemnity, my Vote is, that the Feast, of Easter (though moveable, shall stand fast for e­ver. Antiquity tells me, that the Office Gardiani Ec­cclesiae, is an Office instituted and dignified by the Fundamentall, knowne, Common, and Statute Lawes of this Kingdome, (as for the Ci­vill and Canon Lawes, I have held them execrable, ever since the High Commission departed with a Duck in the mouth on't) and this honour is not to be conferr'd upon any, but such as are judicious and fidele, and able to imploy (couragiously and sincerely) the com­mon stock of Treasure, and discretion belonging to the parish.

It is not, I conceive, yet out of your memory how accurately I heretofore steer'd the affaires of Parochiall Government; nor out of mine, with what alacrity you submitted to it: My deportment (then correspondent to those times) was a faire Character of square dea­ling, and was, I presume, a prime motive to your thundering accla­mations, (which the eccho of this roofe witnessed to the next Pa­rish) in re-electing me the principall Reformado of this Ecclesiasti­call Polity. In the exact execution whereof, I intend (with the assistance of my younger Brother, (whom I shall well educate for [Page] the next yeare) to use such precise diligence (for the remainder of my time) as may cashiere many feares and jealousies, and settle many things, (hitherto incompos'd) in such a gracefull posture, that the trust of you, that confide in me, shall not in the least scruple be a­bus'd. But you must remember the old word Distingue tempora, and then (regarding the turning round of the times) you will conceive that the wind sits in another corner; and I must move by other Rules than formerly: for I am now more spiritually illuminated and pos­sest with sounder principles. The Civill Law is partly plunder'd, the Canons (old and new) have recoyl'd on the Canoniers, the nume­rous Army of Articles is routed, the Oath ex Officio put out of Of­fice, and the bottomlesse &c. Oath is swallowed up. The Case thus standing, and that you may have a right understanding of your Moderator, take an Epitome of my Resolution; but withall take this foure-fold advertisment along with you.

First, that I will follow the present Fashion so far in my Dis­course, as to keep no Order.

Secondly, that my interspersion of Latine shall no way authorize the use of that Bestiall Language in the Pulpit.

Thirdly, that if my phrase transcend your plumbeous Capacity, you shall esteem it the fruit of my liberall education, before I ever handled the Sheeres, or fingr'd the thimble.

Fourthly, That you, who (for solid edification) fall so nimbly to your Brachigraphy, shall not let this Oration passe Grub-street without my approbation, nor (if it may be) untill a sweet Panegyrick of my sister Hannah's composing may be annexed unto it.

I begin with the Weather-cock, which is an eminent, gilded, hollow, craking, comb'd, and variable creature, and doth so wonderfully sympathize with me in all, and with the present turning times in some speciall respects, that I doe Order it to continue Statu quo prius; and the foure Fanes adorned with the initiall letters of my unspotted Name, shall be sedulous attendants upon't in my Live­ry, to goe which way soever it goes. From the Weather-cock I should have fallen immediately upon the Leads, but an Iron Crosse hinders [Page] me in my way, which (with all other Crosses moveable) shall be abolisht, that nothing may goe crosse in our Designe. The Leads I find prophan'd with the Images of corrupt hands, irregular feet, and with unsanctified names; they shall therefore bee removed, puri­fied with fire, and converted into Bullets to button the bosomes of the common adversarie, and to seale up the brazen fore-heads of the for­midable Cavaliers. This being dispatcht, I have made a fair through-fare to the five Bells, which had, indeed beene out of frame long since, were it not that, sometimes they ring the Changes, (sweetly consenting therein with mee) and sometimes audaciously proclaime an unknowne Victory to the over-credulous, which inflames all their zeale and Faggots in an instant. There is an impeachment as strong as a three-fold cord, against foure of the Bells.

First, they were baptized before the yeares of discretion.

Secondly, three times a day they pollute the tune of the fourth Psalme.

Thirdly, they have Idolatrous Inscriptions upon them, as (with a little of the Sextons help) I have curiously discovered. For, upon the first Bell there is peccatoris; on the second mei; on the third, mi­serere, & Domine upon the fourth.

Now, judge you ( Brethren (who would seeme, per­adventure, to bee as wise as your Officer in chiefe) is not Do­mine miserere mei peccatoris, notorious and grosse Idolatrie? are those words fit to bee utter'd by a Professor, unlesse it be with a holy detestation of such puddle? Ah, I see by the devout shaking of your heads, that your Braines are troubled about it, that your hearts abhorre, and ake to thinke upon such rotten trash. Well, it is high time, that these foure be no longer hanged, but Drawne, and Quartered, that they with the abhominable Brasse upon the Monuments of our Idolatrous Ancestors, (I passe not though an old Aunt of mine lyes mouldering under one of them) may Concurre for the making of Ordinance to batter down the poste­rity of their Donors. The Wheeles (being but Hemicircular) shall Hang there like Meteors betweene Heaven and Earth; [Page] but the Ropes may serve (the next Sessions) at the wooden Tripode two miles out of Town, for the use of those that wil not stretch their endeavours for Independency the Liberties of the Dawes, (our beloved Allies) will, by this meanes, be inlarged; and wee will further confirme their Incorporation, that from time to time they may make such Ordinances, as are consistent with the Priviledges of their house, and conducible to the bene esse of their Common-wealth, keeping their Courts ad libitum, in the upper Region of the Tower, as we doe here in the Vestry. The Clock and Diall, because they goe round, shall take their usuall course, onely by a pious fraud, they shall go some­what earlier in the morning and later at night, than Truth would ad­mit of. This shall be my godly Revenge upon three crook-legg'd youthes of mine, who had rather encounter (at home, with whole Brigades of Egyptian foot souldiers, than advance a yards length (in a Holy cause) against a single Cavalier.

I have dwelt somewhat long in the Steeple: now wee will come to Church, where (in the first place) I see the Font taking up so much roome that would be capable of two double Taffata Gownes; which I confesse, I should not so strictly have observed, had not the discon­tented yoak-fellows of my Dyer, & hot-Presser, (who are crowded up be­hind the doore) drawne me to it. Away with it, this Font is abhomin­able, a Bason will be more apt for the service, since it is not our hap­pinesse to enjoy such a blessed River as our deare brethren and sisters at Hackney are washt withall. And those lofty Pewes which are higher by the head and shoulders, than their Inferiours, shal be circum­cised, that our grave Matrons, and sweet heavenly minded sisters, (whose posture, turning their faces westward, is most amiable) may have a more cheerfull influence upon us their Governours.

The Pulpit, (in respect of the forme of it, (being almost round) is tolerable, although my neighbour Zacharie the Cooper, Caprecious vessell) could fashion out one more seemly, and to better purpose; but the situation of it (looking too much towards revolted Yorke) shall suffer a Reformation, and at the Parish charge, it shall be secured with a substantiall Padlock, lest they, whom the meer naturall man calls profound, pious, loyall, and Orthodox Divines should saucily in­trude it. I can partly tell you the poore condition of those silly Priests; [Page] Assoone as they ascend the Pulpit, they fall on their knees for divine Assistance, as if they could not be cock-sure of it at all times: then they have a premeditated prayer, not much exceeding a quarter of an houre, wherein they petition for peace and unity, and pray for Kings, Queenes, Princes, and such kind of people, and supplicate our Saviour Christ for choyce blessings upon Arch-Bishops and Bishops, whom we have found (by the Spirit that we lead about us) to be the strong­est Limbs of Antichrist. After this messe comes the Sermon, which is the greatest part of a weeks study, (written perhaps, over and o­ver) yet, may be delivered in an houre. Their Conclusions, (which we are neither able, nor willing to understand, are confirmed by Scripture, Fathers, and Reason. They consult with the Originall Tongues, and such Authors as are called Authentick and Classicall, fetching their water from the Primitive springs, because they (emp­ty Casks) thinke they cannot have as pure neerer home: So, by their great skill in Divinity, gracefully attended (forsooth) with va­riety of humane learning, they will exhort us to study to be quiet, to trie the spirits, to be Charitable, moderate, obedient to the higher pow­ers, and to doe things according to Order, with a great deale of such hungry thin stuffe; I have utterly done with them and theirs, and am heartily overjoy'd, that ever I thought of this happy Pad-lock.

The Pulpit-Cloth was the Legacy of a blind Zelot, as appeares by that Jesuiticall badge, (I. H. S.) upon't; for, as some of our learned Professors doe conceive, I. signifies Idolatry. H. Heresie, S. Superstition. Oh, here's good worke! What but flat Popery can be expected from a Pulpit aparreled with such a Livery? These Letters of gold shall be delivered to the Finer to make Silver withal, and the Velvet (because it deserves a better Wardrobe and the costly infirmities of the Testator should be hidden by our Christian Charity) shall be converted into Window-Cushions for my new-reformed Parlor, where I intend frequently to entertaine those immaculate Assem­blies, which the un-regenerate call Conventicles. The Houre-glasse shall be turned out of doores; for our extemporall Teachers may not keepe time with Clocke or Glasse; and so, when they are out, (which is not very seldome) they can take leisure to come in againe; whereas, they that measure with meditations by the houre, [Page] are often gravell'd by complying with the Sand.

The Organs are of Leviticall, or Popish institution, and like the breath of a Basilisk, they deter hence the two prime Grandees of the Parish, (the most Celestiall Almanack-Makers, and best tempered Pot­ter, that ever lived by heaven and earth.) They drowne the Virgin-melody of the Gallerie, and middle Alley; and against our wills bring our confused Notes into Order; therefore, though I adventure my neck (as that desperado did in Worcesters Cathedrall, and his Predeces­sor at Cheap-side Crosse) I will set them such a Flat that shall lay them breathlesse on the pavement. This Romish merchandize will yield good English Coyne at Pauls or the next Cathedrall that is not Bankerupt. The Table of Degrees prohibited in Marriage is obso­lete, and so is marriage it selfe as here it hath beene used; for I see no ground to the contrary: but when all things are common (as they ought to be) a man may marry, whom, when, where, and as often as hee will. This is a very short, but a sweet and comfortable Do­ctrine to you (my deare and attentive Auditory) and so the suddaine pricking up of the eares doth assure me.

Let us now, take a little survey of our Church-books. The Bible (which alwayes comes first to my sight and handling) hath a dan­gerous Apochryphall Obstruction in the very Bowells of it, which is of a Malignant influence upon the whole Body. This is composed of such Histories, as bind not our credence, and morality which shall not be the rule of our Practise; it must needs be presently expur­ged. Yea, the Canon it selfe, in respect of Translation is not free from infirmity (and indeed it is no marvaile, since so many mitred heads had their hands in the doing of it.) The Geneva version is farre beyond it: But old Hugh Broughton, if hee might have been suf­fered, had exceeded them both; A learned Synod, (without either root or branch of Episcopacy) must be the onely Aesculapius to cure this evill.

The Errata of the Book of Common prayer (as some call it) or rather the Lithurgy of the Church of England, were they exprest at large, would over-bulke the Bible; yet the ravenous Esau's of the world, had rather lose all their Liberties and Proprieties (which are their Birth-right) then one messe of this red and black Pottage; I [Page] will not contaminate my lippes, nor abuse your chaste eares with so much as naming any errors that are in it; but referre you to Rabbi Lewis Hughes (the glory of the last Brittish Druides) and di­vers others, who have, already, smitten this Belphegor under the fift rib. It further behoves us that the singing Psalmes be rescued from the back of such a Monster, and from those other humane inven­tions Te Deum, Da pacem Domine, & Quicunque vult: but, whosoe­ver will that any (except the 150 Psalmes) be continued, may doe well, (in my understanding) to defend Robert Wisedome's Pre­serve us Lord.

There is an errour in John Jewells workes, but it is an error with a witnesse, and, although it be palliated over Jure Divine, yet it is instar omnium errorum, and hath in it the spawne of all Abominations; it is beyond pity, that such a Gemme should ever be defiled with so base a Cognisance; He was a Bishop. The very word Bishop, (I feare I of­fend in naming it so often) imparts all the mischiefes that are De­structive to a Common Church or State. Your holy indignation (breth­ren) is well expressed by the present groanings of your spirits, but be comforted, for these stall-fed Lordly Prelates must come shortly, to their fatall Banquet. Erasmus his Paraphrase hath found the more favour hitherto at my hands, because he sometime wrote a Tract in the prayse of foolishnesse; but when I remember some popish passages in his Colloquies, which I read when I was at Merchant Taylers schoole; I cannot well resent his best labours. The book of De­us & Rex is a pamphlet quite out of my books meerly, for the Oathes sake that is in it. These Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance are bin­ding things; the latter was imposed upon me when I was a novice, and it hath so hampered me this year, that I would fain, if possible, cast off these manacles: for it is almost Hell it selfe to us that should be independent, to be so pinion'd.

The Book of thirty nine Articles is in many things diametral­ly opposite to our fundamentall Principles, it must necessarily bee with-drawn, or farewell our Diana for ever. All the afore-named corrupt volumes shall bee translated out of the Church, and all the Isles thereof, into little Brittaine, or else into Smith-field.

Wee have but one Manuscript, (I meane the Register) and that must be Corrected; for the names of all those that were crost at their Baptisme, ring'd at their Marriage, or pray'd over at their Bu­riall shall be cancell'd. No Names henceforth shall bee ingrossed here, unlesse they were first Registred in holy Writ: nor will wee keep a Record of the names of strange Preachers any more; for, they may deliver good Doctrine in the City, who never had Orders or good name in the Countrey.

The Communion-Table hath, long since, regain'd its ancient Name, and Site; and I hope our nimble-joynted Masse Priests shall never be suffered to offer or cringe there, any more: But I will be bold, with the round pillars that inviron'd it, (when the Le­prous Superstition is scrap'd off) to make an impregnable fence for my hospitable Buttery. I doe well remember the Plate, (hee that can forget Plate this yeare, may be Ordered to forget it for ever.) I know to what furnace it might be convey'd, to what Vse and Forme converted, and by what meanes multiplyed and faith­fully secur'd; but there is such a Noli me tangere upon it, that I dare not finger the twentieth part of it.

The Parish Cash yet, is ready to my hand, and I will presume to seize upon a fleece of it, to maintaine at the Church-doore, a guard of Long-tayl'd Vociferadoes, such as Giles Cripple-gate, and Olaves old Jewry had, lest the Conjuring Letany should rush in upon the fourth and sixth day of the week, ( Heathenishly called Wednes­day and Friday) that Prayers be not read against Pride, vaine-glory, and hypocrisie, &c. and, lest the Babylonian garment, (the Surplice) be shouldered in, againe among us; for, to Professors of our Com­plexion, no smock is more odious, than that of the Whore of Rome, nor any Petitions more terrible, than those that would obliterate our principall Character.

Some of our Dim-eyed Ancestors could see unhappily, to make their Simplicity Legible upon the Church-Walls, by setting up the Lords Prayer (as they tearmed it) which is too narrow a directory, or Summary of our Petitions: The Ten Commandements, which are not (I conceive) absolutely Obligatory now, under the Gospell, and [Page] the Creed, which is not (I believe) Apostolicall; nor am I bound to stand to't. These shall, in good manners, give the Wall to choy­cer Scriptures, and I will be the Master of the sentences, to select them. The taking downe of the popish pictures, out of the Win­dowes, and bringing them, (by a legall tryall) to a second Martyr­dome, was a laudable, and transparent worke of my immediate Pre­decessor; But, nil simul inventum & perfectum, Rome was not built in a day, nor can it be demolisht in a yeare, (unlesse this great year, or the next does it. There is one pretty scandalous Baby yet left in the East-window; it hath a trim Coat on, and an Orient lustre a-about the head on't.) The Sextons Grandam, (blinde soule) who well remembers the setting up of it) shew'd it me, and told me it was our Blessed Lady; but truely, if she were my Mother, and as high as heaven, I will (as Duty bindes me) make her Kisse her mother earth once againe. And the Angels on the roofe of the Church, (though they did cost five shillings a piece the gilding) shall have their Wings clipt, and fall downe to salute her. The day whereon this pious worke shall be done, may be called the Desump­tion of our Lady; and (if Authority will permit) it shall be Cal­lendered next unto my Birth-Day, which they call ô Sapientia.

Queene ELIZABETHS Monument was put up (at my charge) when the Regall Government had fairer credit among us than now: and her Epitaph was one of my Brother Jona­than's best Poems, before hee abjured the University, or had a thought of New-England. I have had no small strugling within me about the toleration or abolition of this Statue; and at last, have resolv'd it shall continue, but with a Curtaine to vaile it, that wee may regard, or dis-regard it at our pleasure: For, methinks in Forty foure yeares reigne, she might (if she pleased) have bated the Beast of Rome to better purpose, and wrought a more through Reformati­on; yet, (notwithstanding Her Majesties omissions of sorrowfull memory) of her successor (King James) had not been too wise and learned, asswell as too peaceable, for our Generation, and his Divines too sinewy for ours to grapple with at Hampton Court, we had finisht that worke long agoe; which never since, till now could [Page] meet with so faire an opportunitie. The Escutcheons that are quar­tered over our heads in the body of the Church, are Emblemes of those honours which some of our noble Progenitors purchased with the hazzard of their bloud, in defence of Religion, known Laws, and liberty of the subject. I will give them leave to be hang'd. But when I take notice of the Royall Arms, and their Motto (Beati pa­cifici.) I cannot for the present, but enteraine some mutinous, Dis­loyall, rebellious thoughts; and a furious zeale would soon drive them into action, were it not that Conscience, allegiance, and Honi Soit, upon the blew garter, did countermand it.

Some alteration would be of postures, and names as well as things; For truely, I cannot, with an upright Conscience, condescend to kneeling at the Sacrament: we are not not required to be so flex­ible in a superstitious adoration; my advice is, that we either sit familiarly, or stand to't couragiously; nor ought our Gesture to bee the same now, at the Gospell, Creed, or Glory be to the Father, &c. as it was in the beginning. These and other like Gesticulations, came first into this Countrey, from the City which stands on seven hills, and thither (with all such Baggage) let them trudge againe. As for names, I see no warrant, but under the man of sinnes owne Seale, that this Church should bee call'd Saint Clements; nor indeed, (as I have learned, since I was inlightned) that it should be called a Church. Wee, onely, can discerne who are Saints, who Re­probates; and it is not hard to finde, who and what this Clement was, and yet deale gently with him.

But I see an approaching Reformation in this very particular; the Parish Clerks have already passed it by their weekly Bills, and o­ther under-Officers (as zealous as he that lash't a Car-man for whistling the tune of a Psalme to his horse) doe punish our Ro­man Harlots for crying Saint Thomas Onions, (although they know such Aegyptian Roots cannot be sanctified.) The Law is the same concerning Saint Johns Wort, and Carduus Benedictus. And for this building, which hitherto wee ignorantly called a Church it is indeed but an old pile of Stones, (I hope to see more sumptuous, and magnificent Prisons ere long) It was built at [Page] their charge who vainly, thought a decent Barne or Stable too homely for a Christian Synagogue, and was consecrated (saving your presence) by some Prelate, as Superstitious as the Foun­ders. The verity of it is, We are the Church, and this Fabricke (till we are otherwise provided) is but a meeting place, (where to our great griefe) there is too often, a miserable mixture of the prophane with the godly; for redresse whereof, there is no other way then (in a tumultuous fashion) to present such a Petition as Authority must not contradict.

The Ingens opus, and Master-piece of all, now calls aloud for your quickned attention, inflamed zeale; and well-setled endevours; I meane the discreet-election of an able, and sincere Pastor, whose mo­dell I have conceived briefely thus.

Hee must not proceed from Wales, or either of the Vniversities; for then we shall never understand him; nor yet from Jericho, lest the gravity of his beard give us cause to suspect the truth of his Enthu­siasmes, and inspirations; but he shall be a a smooth, sweet yong man, wel descended (not from Levi, but) from the Tribe of Gad, or Man-asses, and trained up in Amsterdam, the Isle of Silly, or (if you please) in our owne neighbour hood, where wee have good choyce of such whose Mechanick professions have left them to make the Pulpit (as o­thers doe the sword) their quum nemini. Here are Felt-makers that can roundly deal with the block-heads, and neutrall Demi-casters of of the world: Coblers who can give good Rules for upright-walking, and handle Scripture to a Bristle: Coach-men, who know how to lash the beastly enormities, and curb the head-strong insolencies of this brutish age, stoutly exhorting us to stand up for the truth, lest the wheel of destru­ction roundly over-run us. We have Weavers, that can sweetly informe us of the Shittle-swiftnesse of the time, and practically tread out the vi­cissitude of all sublunary things, till the web of our life be cut off. And here are Merchants of my Profession, who can separate the pieces of Salvation from those of Damnation, measure out every mans Portion, and cut it out by a thread, substantially pressing their poynts till they have fashionably finisht up their worke, with a well-bottom'd conclusion.

Out of this Crosse heap (wherewith wee are so comfortably surrounded) we may pick such a one, that with a Stentorian voyce, (making more use of his Lungs, and nose then nature requires) shall reprove our sinnes in that kind and measure as we would have him, shall couragiously sound an Alarme to Battaile, and tell us the event of a war before it beginnes, by expounding old Visions and Prophesies, better than hee that was in Pathmos. Hee shall not need to travaile for Orders to the Prelaticall Hierarchie, hee shall receive Orders from us: I have drawne up some of them al­ready for him; and by these you may judge of the whole; ex ungue leonem, as we us'd to say.

His Habit shall be a high crown'd Hat, a black leather Cap, a sad medley Cloake, and Jerkin of the same, Violet Hose, and Russet Stockings.

His Laudresse shall evidence his hatred of white Linnen; and his Barber shall so roundly indent with his Head, that our eyes may as well see his eares, as our eares heare his Doctrine.

In his fathomlesse prayers he shall dispense much with the third Commandement, and take the Lords name in vaine ex tempore; cutting out more worke for God in an houre and a halfe, than a sober man can expect ever to be performed by him that is most wise; and if at any time (forgetting himselfe) he pray for the Kings Majesty, it shall be with such distractions, and Dilemmaes, that we can hardly distinquish it from Treason.

His Text must never be divided (we shall make sufficient Di­visions among our selves) but he shall wander from it, as if it were not a tangible body, onely in case of pure necessity, he may (for a Moment) make it a place of retreat, and then friske abroad a­gaine.

His Understanding shall bee free from all Liberall Arts and Sciences: his conversation from all humanity, and his Discourse from all figures, except Hysteron proteron, Hyperbole, Tautalogia, and other Flowers of the like sent and colour.

He shall use no Language but his Mother-Tongue, and the He­brew, [Page] (if he hath attained to it) making choyce of his Authors accordingly, such as Aben Ezra, Rabbi David Kimchi, and the rest.

He must abominate the Greek Fathers, Chrysostome, Basil, and all the bundle of such unwholsome herbes; also the Latines, whom the Pope-bellied Gray-beards of the Towne call Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine, &c. The intricate Schoole-men, as Aquinas, and our devillish learned Countrey-man, Alexander Halensis shall not come within the spheare of his Torrid Braine, lest his Pia Mater be confounded with their subtile distinctions; but (by spe­ciall dispensation) he may (for names sake) cast an eye sometimes upon Scotus: and; (when he hath marryed a sister) upon Corna­lius a Lapide.

His English Authors should be curiously cull'd also: He must not so much as name Whitgift, Boyes, Hooker, nor any of the rabble of Anti-Brownists, or Conformists: But his chiefe guides shall be Knox, Browne, Barrow, Robinson, and that never sufficiently ho­noured and admired Howes (not the Chronologer, but) one of our late and best Translators) Hee was a man that feared not to come close to the heeles of truth; but was a laborious applyer of strong poynts to the last, and had alwayes a lift or two for the Back-sli­der: If any one stood stobbornly on his Pantofles, he could worke him as pliable as Wax; if there were a Schisme in his charge, both his Hands and Awle should make up the breach in a zealous contra­ction; He well observed the foot-steps of his Auditory, and graf­ted much goodnesse into those that had gone aside, driving his Holy instigations so home, that, wheresoever they went, they were sensible of them. In a word, he was the hammer of all humane lear­ning, a most industrious converter of soales; and in a short space, did set forth more works in Oxe-hides, than old Tostatus did all his life time. Oh— I can never mention his name, nor visit his monument in Finzbury, but presently these spirituall pangs sur­prize mee—Oh— He is gone, he is gone. But there is heavenly comfort provided for us, or our posterity; for I was told, even now in any Vision, that he shall come againe, and teach [Page] on earth before the last day. And now, heartily thanking you Holy Brethren for your present patience, I will proceed where I left.

When our Soules are blest with a Doctor of these, and the like rare qualifications, the next considerable will bee his stipend (for this Oxe will not be muzzled) which I conceive (under favour) should be the ampler, in regard there will bee little or no use of him for weddings, Churchings, and Burialls; which, in our late pur­blind times, yielded the Incumbent (as the Lawyers call'd him) a comfortable Revenue. I thinke well (with submission to your Judgements) that wee advance him to forty marks per annum but with this proviso, that our benevolent Sisters shall not be in­hibited their voluntary contribution of money, (if the Plunde­rer hath not sent it marching into the field) or Plate, (if any be left upon the Cup-board) Linnens, and other necessaries, which I am confident will amount to twice as much. This was the meer motion of my Reverend Mother, and deare Sister, whose voyce may be heard where mine cannot.

And whereas we never continue long in any one Opinion, but separate dayly, from Separation to Separation, I hold it expedient that once in every foureteene dayes, (which shall bee the new and full of the Moon, the true Moderatrix of our braynes) wee have a solemne meeting in my sanstified parlour, where our Pro­phet shall give us a concise exhortation of two houres long, or some such matter, and then we may admonish him of such things as in the matter or manner of his former Labours, were not correspon­dent to our humours, and may direct him (for the future) how long, how broad, how high, and how deep he shall teach us; how gently or tartly he shall handle our sores, and when hee shall restraine, when enlarge our Liberty. And then refreshing our selves in a Christian manner, with a chirping cup of Canarie, and such good thing as the Gentlewomen will minister unto us (being devoutly consecrated by a long-winded benediction) every one shall depart [Page] home with such precise heedfulnes as may prvent the scurrilous tongues of the Malignants; for, (I must tell you) wee have a sort of scoffing Ishmaelites, that will undertake to see sinne where God cannot; and with their black mouthes will persecute the meekest Isaac upon the earth.

These, with some other things (I know not well what) are the Compendium of my thoughts, leaving nothing ma­teriall to the care of my Successors, but the subversion of the Crosse-Ile, the demolishing of the Arches, (if without dan­ger it bee feisable) and the turning of the maine structure North, and South, (which now most offensively stands East and West) or taking it all asunder for a purer Edification. Now onely remaines, that in a pretty Diminitive Vote, you please to give your Brotherly assent unto the premises.—

Never was Vestrie shaken with such a Thunder-clap! the Ayre seldome suffers such a holy violence; your loud Chri­stian clamour brought this earth into such a fit of trembling, that (I am partly perswaded) the Graves were in some doubt they should be dispossest of their Guests; But I am sure this Gale hath driven out Billowes of joyfull Teares at my eyes, and blown my zeale into an extinguishable conflagration, which had wel-nigh puffed me up into another Extasie. This is Vis unita indeed that can set all the Elements on worke thus at a clap. Your unanimous approbation, (my zealous breth­ren) obligeth my extreamest abilities to the prosecution of my Intendments; resolving as long as the old word (Magi­stratus indicat virum) stands firme, my demeanor shall ex­presse me to the life, and make me famous to posterity.

And if the well-tuned Vox Populi of this Precinct will [Page] honour mee (the next Nativity-tide) to bee your proper Common-Counsell man, my learned Oratorie in Guild-Hall and Pious Devotion in the whole Service, shall render me as Pragmaticall, and Fanaticall a Member in the Civill-government, as possibly I can bee in the Ecclesiasticall.