WE live in doubtfull times; I feare a Cloud of bloud hangs over us, as a streame of bloud hath already ran round about us. Me thinkes the frame of our spirits, presage it; for wee have had various dispensations of Gods dealings with us. First, shewers of judg­ments, then gleams of mercy scattered in the Land; yet the same temper lies still brooding

on our hearts. Punishments will not awaken us, blessings cannot melt us. Perdidimus utilitatem calamitatis nostrae, miseri facti sumus, & pessimi permanemus. What should God doe with such a sinfull people? We have been, and will continue a stubborne ge­neration. Is it not strange that in such a gratious season as this, when such an inundatlon of loving kindnesse have bro­ken in upon us from the Lord, and hee hath holpen us so mi­raculously in our pinching ne­cessities, farre beyond what we could expect, or hope for. Yea, that now, whilst his mer­cies are hot, and reaking in our memories, the worke of our God should so sticke in our hands, and our begun Re­formation move, like Pha­raohs [Page 3]Chariots when the Wheelos were off, with such a dull and slow progression. The Lord grant our Preserva­tions prove not reservations to greater judgements. I feare, lest what Salvianus sighed our against another people, should prove our fatall doome. Sopor infunditur ut perditio subsequa­tur. The Truth is, nothing, gives beauty and glosse to our cause, but our glorious victo­ries. Take us abstracted from our happy successes, (and they are none of ours) and what miserable Christians shall wee appeare. Was there ever any Christian Nation under hea­ven, that after so many Cove­nants to reforme, so many cleare demonstrations from heaven, of Gods acceptance of our Covenants, have yet [Page 4]abounded in so many and va­rious Sects, Schismes, Heresies, Blasphemies, and that with so high a hand, and in so un­controlable a way, as this out Nation. Adde to this, what a world of time hath beene crumbled away in debate on Church-government; yet how little Progresse is made therin? How farre are we at this day, from an establishment thereof throughout the Kingdome? Something indeed hath been concluded on by our Worthy Patriots, in order to the Pres­byterian way: but what is a branch to the Tree; what is this to the setling of the whole body, and Bulke of a Church-government, and of Ecclesiasticall Discipline in the Realme; for want where­of, sinne abounds, and many [Page 5]fearefull Transgressions goe unpunished. And how doth our unhappy Church (not­withstanding this good hand of God upon us) lie still de­stitute, afflicted, disgraced, impoverished, cloathed with her old Ragges, fed with her old maintenance, served with her old Chaplaines, having neither meanes nor Ministers serviceable for any use almost, but to stand as Monuments of her shame. The considerati­on whereof hath (I must confesse) very often, much sadded my heart; and at this time prest mee to this Dis­course. Surely, what ever mens hearts may desire, their eyes shal never see able Mini­sters in our Church, untill there be able maintenance to encourage them: For Worke­men [Page 6]will not bee got without wages, nor will the wages bee any invitation to the worke, if it be set forth as formerly, in a base and despicable proporti­on. It's true indeed, wee have formerly had to the scorne of our Church and Kingdom, and to the undoing of thousands of soules, the lowest of the people for the serviee of Gods house. Ignorant & contemptible per­sons through the corruption of this worser age, have beene advanced to the most honou­rable calling the world could yeeld. And from whence pro­ceeded this iniquity? why scan­dalous meanes ushered in scan­dalous men: ad tenuitatem be­neficiorum, sequebatur igno­rantia sacerdotum. Poverty brought in ignorance into the Church, & ignorance brought [Page 7]in scorne. For what eve mens integrity and parts may be, a torne coate seldome findes re­verence or regard amonst the common sort of people; who for the most part measure out their respect to their Pastors, not according to their inward abilites, but according to their outward garbe and greatnesse. The Parliaments frame the 27. of Henry the 8. (who gave a­way impropriations from the Church, or did that which a­mounted to the same) to this day, have (I feare) something to answer for, that in so large a tract of time, have found out no expedient, whereby to re­duce the Patrimony of the Church into a competency.

It was but reason when they had taken away the joynture of the Church, to assigne some [Page 8]livelihood to maintaine her. Truly want amongst all condi­tions of men, is a very melan­choly thing: but it must needs lie nearest the heart of a labori­ous Pastor, because over and besides his owne personall suf­ferings, the honour of God is concerned therein. For let rea­son speake, is it not sinne and shame, that the servants of the most high God, who in a pe­culiar manner draw nigh to him in the service of his Church, should be so coursly entertain'd, as to have little better then Daniels dainties, to preserve them, or live like poor Lazarus with the crums that fall from rich mens Ta­bles. Certainely the slighting of an Embassadour reflects up­on the Soveraigne, and the Mr. Takes himselfe to be dishonou­red, [Page 9]when his servant is abu­sed, or held in a base esteeme, and can we reasonably imagine the Lord of Heaven & Earth, who, when hee might justly have made us the reproach of all Nations for our sinnes, hath now so gloriously exalted us in the sight of men, will not take it unkindly, yea in high indig­nation, if after all our endea­vours in a blessed Reformation we should looke on his Embas­sadours with a regardlesse eye? but I hope better things. I trust the time is comming, and will hasten on, when burning and shining lamps shall bee set up in every corner of the Land, and oyle enough provided to keepe them flaming. But till the second be brought to pass, I expect not the first, until there bee a tolerable subsistence pro­vided [Page 10]in every Parish, it's im­possible there should be (what wee have so long expected) a constant faithfull preaching Ministery throughout the Kingdome. Men may fancie to thēselves what they please, talke of Elders, debate on go­vernment; but beleeve it, these things will never be brought into act & exercise, so as God shall bee glorified, and the people edified thereby, till this be done. This is the hinge on which all must turn. I know not how the iniquity of the times have brought it about, but so it is, God is not in cre­dite among Christians as in dayes of olde. Nor hath his servants and service (Pudet haec dici potuisse) that reverend regard, which former age hath given them.

Time was when men of ho­nour and high Parentage, cheerfully devoted themselves to the service of the Church, as Hilary, Easill, Fulgentius, & divers others, though Nobly borne, yet thought it there higher honour to make them­selves instrumental to the work of the Gospell. But alas as the meanes and fortunes of the Church grew low, so devoti­on and affection to the service thereof declined with them, & the encouragements to lear­ning being taken away, mens spirits were soone becalmed toward that way. I hope, I shal not here be offensive to any in speaking for those, who blush to speake for themselves, and in pleading for due honour to a despised calling.

I think it were a noble Christian [Page 12]pollicy; and now is the golden opportunity, to set forth good preferment for this high and honourable imploy­ment, that thereby men of the worthiest parts, and most ex­quisite endowments of nature and learning, might be invited thereunto. The want whereof hath beene the cause that such as have been of the darkest and dullest constitutions, and to whom nature hath been, some way or other an unkinde Step­mother, and have bin thought fit for nothing else, have for­merly been condemned to this worke. When as men of the most refined wits and greatest hopes have been setled by their parents and guardians, to o­ther vocations, as in especiall the Law, that being looked on as a step to honour and digni­ty, [Page 13]but this reputed as a down­right way to beggery. Some there are, but I beleeve they are such as partake more of the Serpent then of the Dove, who upon this chaunge of Church-government, seeme to be very anxious, lest the Prae­laticall power should only put on a new coate, as it weare, and fashion, and retain his former pride and statelinesse, under the forme of the Presbytery. Therefore cry out, keep them poore to restraine their pride, raise not the winds that should fill their sailes, for meanes will but make them swell.

Thus wanton witts fall heavily upon the Ministers of the GOSPELL in these censorious times, and prae­judge them for their pride whereas God knowes for the [Page 14]present they stand in that des­picable condition in divers pla­ces, that they scarce have cloaths to cover them. Yet I dare be bold to say, never were there any times since the foun­dation of the Gospell in this Kingdome, wherein the peo­ple of this Land have beene more engaged to their Pastors (I relate more specially to this Citie) for their prayers, pain­fulnesse in preaching, & all of­fices of Christian love and pi­ety then in these our dayes. What ever unkinde blasts they lye under, sure I am, the right hand of the Lord hath done gloriously for us by their meanes, these are the Doves of the valley, which have brought in more Victories by their cryes and teares to hea­ven, then all our armies by [Page 15]their strength, yet these are the men (as some calumniate) whom no bonds are like to hold, no bounds to restraine, unlesse they bee held in with bit and bridle. But let men of this temper and condition speake as smoothly as they please, & bring the most plau­sible arguments their wits can devise, to cover their naugh­ty hearts withal: yet shall I ne­ver beleeve hee loves a godly Minister that pleads to keepe him low, or that hee is sound­ly good that swells at good mens greatnesse. If the Mini­sters of the Gospell be good, its necessary they should be great, I meane that their maintenance be raised to such an ample pro­portion, as should not onely shelter them from scorne, but adorne their Callings. The [Page 16]Priests and Levites under the Law, as they drew nighest to God in regard of Office, and were next to his presence, in regard of place (for they were by Gods expresse command to pitch their Tents round about the Tabernacle) so also was the Lord pleased to make ho­nourable provision for them, by assigning the tenths and o­ther liberal allowance for their support. Now whether the tenths of all mens profits, do in these times, as under the law, in duty appertaine to the Ministers of the Gospell, I intend not here to discusse. But sure I am, maintenance is their right, and the dispensers of the Gospell are not inferiour to the Ministers of the Law, therefore Religion and reason suggests, they should have that [Page 17]proportion or a better part, at least a sufficiency to buy bookes, keep Hospitality, and live like Ministers in a reason­able condition.

It was well with Gods Mi­nisters, when they were at Gods finding, as under the Law; but we, alas, have strait Bowels, and close hands, and God knowes, there is too much of selfe in all our bosomes; (& that which checks our for­wardness, I feare in this par­ticular is) we have too much of their Bread in our owne possessions. I beseech those whom this great businesse doth most properly concerne, to lay their hands upon their hearts, and seriously consider and consult, which way this Epidemicall sicknesse in the Church may bee removed. It [Page 18]would make a mans heart bleed, to see how many drun­ken, ignorant, superstitious, Prophane Ministers, are crept into every corner of the land, more abundantly, (I think) in Oxford-shire, than in any County againe in the King­dome: where (to the aggra­vation of this miserie) they are in divers places on a suddaine turned constant Preachers, which seldome or never preached before; but yet continue Drunkards still. For the turne of the times hath frighted them into a forme of Preaching, to save their livings; but are as scan­dalous as ever in their lives: and surely till the basenesse and poverty of the provision set out for them be reformed, this mischiefe will not be cap­able [Page 19]of redresse. For you can­not cast unworthy Teachers out of the Church, untill you have introduced more wor­thy subsistance into the Church; if you doe, you may locke up the Church doores; for what men of any gifts will supply the cures? It is cōputed that there are in the Kingdom nine thousand two hundred Parish Churches, and upward, whereof neare foure thousand are impropriate Churches. Besides many Parsonages are poore, and unable to give en­tertainment to a godly and di­ligent teacher, as being abridg­ed and spoyled under pre­tence of long Leases, and rate Tithes, in stead of Tithes in kinde. In some places, ten pound, eight pound, six pound, five pound ten shillings, per [Page 20]annum, is the Pastors enter­tainment for himselfe and fa­mily. This is better known in the Countrey, then it is here laid to heart. Yea in this famous City, which God hath even miraculously preserved from the common calamity, as a little Zoar to hide his righteous Lots in; how have we repayed the loving kind­nesse of the Lord? There are at this present (as I am very credibly informed) two and thirty Parish Churches in this City, utterly desti­tute of any Pastors, to break the bread of life to the peo­ple; and this defect is given in, chiefely to arise from the scant and tenaceous subsistence which the places yeeld to the respective Ministers thereof. To instance in Buttolph Al­dersgate, [Page 21]where the allowance for the Minister is but 16. l. per annum (saving 7. l. more, or thereabouts, given by Edward the sixt, (very hardly paid,) and did not the vicinity of of other Churches in this Po­pulous City, hold forth some ease and accommodation to supply the want of the deser­ted Churches aforesaid, the Inhabitants there must neces­sarily have been reduced into as sad a strait as those in the Countrey, who through the persecution of these times have lost their Teachers.

Now if things must stand at this stay, what will become of us, and where shall wee see the fruit of our Reforma­tion? Wee give God good words with our mouthes, but if wee acknowledge him our [Page 22]Lord, where is his honour? Oh that we would sit downe a while, and reflect into our selves, forget our swelling thoughts, and look a little backe to the dayes of our Ca­lamity. How did our Pul­ses beat three yeares since, what Prayers, and Cries, and Teares did wee then send up to heaven, in that our low condition? and how did we then lift up our hands and hearts to the most high God, and sweare, and ingage, that we would endeavour a Re­formation, as in Religion, so in Discipline and Govern­ment also: but what Refor­mation in Religion and Go­vernment, are we or our Po­sterities like to joy in, if no effectuall care or course should [Page 23]be taken, (as yet I humbly conceive it is not) for the ad­vancement of godlinesse, and godly Preachers throughout the Kingdome. But we thinks I heare some reply, there is no cause of this complaint, for the Honourable houses of Parliament have already made provision for augmentation of small livings out of Deane and Chapter Lands, and De­linquent Impropriations. To this I humbly answer, that how plausible soever this provision may seeme at first sight, yet I suppose it will stand at a great distance from a full supply. For the first of these, namely Dean and Chap­ter Lands: These are in part already disposed of ano­ther way: as for instance, in [Page 26]the County of Oxon, the Deane and Chapter in Christ-Church is comprehended un­der the Articles for Oxford: And the Deane and Chapter at Westminster, and that at Windsor, provision is made out of them still, (as I am credibly informed) for divers persons, that were setled in those houses, and had not slewed any disaffection to the Cause. And this being agreeable to common equity and justice, I beleeve the same rule is observed in all other such places also. So that the Deane and Chapter Lands are not all disposed of, at least for the present, to the said intended use.

Besides all this, divers Counties there are in the [Page 27]Kingdome, which have no Deane and Chapter peculiar­ly belonging to them: and where there are some small Proportions of these Lands, lying scattered in severall Counties, this is no way con­siderable to so great a want. Now for Impropriations, since the benefit that shall arise from them to this use, must issue onely from those that are setled in the hands of Delinquents, it cannot bee conceived, that these should hold forth any great benefit or succour to the Church: most of your Impropriations doubtlesse being in the hands of Colledges, and Hospitalls or of such persons as are well-affected to the Cause.

But that which is also a [Page 30]maine obstruction and Remo­ra to this great Worke, is, (let it bee supposed, but not granted) that these Pro­visions before specified, could possibly raise the maintenance of the Church to some rea­sonable Competencie: yet how shall the Remedy bee applyed? how, or by what meanes shall it bee transfer­red to those that want it? Will you suffer Malignant Pa­rishes to lye destitute of the meanes of their salvation, till they feele their misery, and finde hearts to complaine a­bove. Or can you imagine, that such Parishes, as have for this twenty, thirty, for­ty yeares together been nusled up under an unpreaching Mi­nisterie, will all on a sud­daine [Page 31]hunt about from one County to another for Dean and Chapter Lands; or make inquisition after Delinquent Impropriations, that out of them, or either of them, they may extract some consi­derable sustenance for a god­ly Minister? Surely, you may as well suppose the Pil­lars of a Church may hap to walke, or that dead bones will stirre, or that a man in a swoone will call for a Cor­diall, as conceive, that men of unregenerate hearts, and that are alienated from the life of grace, through the ignorance that is in them, will ever seek out for an able and sufficient Pastor, and meanes for his support. Leave such poore soules to the unhappy guidance of their [Page 34]owne corrupt hearts, and doe nothing for them, till themselves complaine, and then the Lord have mercy on them. Where Vision failes the people must needs perish; but what will follow? surely it will fall heavie somewhere in the end. Oh thinke of this, I beseech you, (I relate to those whom this great busines doth most pro­perly concerne) for plaine­nesse is most becoming in the Cause of God) thinke of this, whilst the LORD vouchsafes an opportunity in your hands for th eredresse hereof, Yee cannot now suf­fer the Labourers in Christs Vineyard to be meanly provi­ded for upon so cheap tearms as formerly: For these things now cry so much lowder in [Page 35]the eares of God, by how much your ingagements have been deeper to reform them. Alas, doe not your hearts yearne, and the bowels of your compassions role within you, when you, living here by an especiall providence, under the droppings of heaven, un­der the plentifull Preaching of the Word, do understand of the soule-afflictions of your brethren in your respective Counties? How would they rejoyce in some places to glean after your Harvest? to heare one of those Sermons once in a moneth, which you have, or might partake of, (if your leasure would permit) every day. The Lord direct your spirits that yee may no lesse speedily than carefully pro­vide [Page 38]that due honour and re­ward bee given to them that labour in the Word and Do­ctrine: and that yee may not expose poore senselesse soules to everlasting ruine, by sus­spending your helpe, and lea­ving of them to seek for that which they care not to finde; nay, which they extreamly de­cline, to wit the means of their salvation; but that you would be pleased rather to com­mand the Committees of each Countie, to look into the state of the Ministery, and to certifie the defects in that particular.

And for the remedy of this great sicknessein the Land, the poverty of the Clergy; I think there cannot bee a more effe­ctuall expedient than the buy­ing [Page 39]in of Impropriations. I doubt not, but every man who hath any thing of Christ in him, his hand will bee inlarged, and heart inflam'd to so worthy a worke.

And in truth, Free-willl Offerings are the most accept­table Sacrifices to God. Where we give what is our owne, and costs us something, sure­ly is more pleasing to the Al­mighty, then where wee be­stow that wherein we have no interest, farther forth than as the iniquity of the times doth cast it into our hands, though that may come in to help also.

Adde to this, that some comfort and incouragement would arise to the dejected spirits of the poore Clergie in divers parts of the Kingdome; [Page 42]if such Vicarages and Parsona­ges as are exceeding small, as fifty pound per annum, or un­der, might bee freed in these pinching times, from having any Contributions or Quarte­rings laid upon them. And here (although it may seeme a digression from the businesse in hand) yet I cannot but vent my troubled thoughts for the spirituall bondage and afflicti­on this whole Nation in all the parts thereof, groans under in these distempered times, for want of that care and consci­ence should bee had, to instruct the ignorant in the maine grounds and principles of Re­ligion. Catechising is now growne almost quite out of use amongst us. Hence it is, so many strange, abhorred un­heard [Page 43]of opinions have lately sprung up in divers quarters of the Land; for mens fancies are busie things, and will set them­selves on work where they are not wrought on; and where the understanding is left like fal­low ground until'd, and hath no seeds of Gods word cast in­to it, no marvaile if the Divell sow his tares O that the Ho­nourable Houses of Parliament would bee pleased to take this into their deep & serious con­sideration, that some Directory for Catechising may speedily bee sent into all Churches of the Kingdome, lest in the roome of formality and super­stition, (for the purging out whereof such care is taken) Atheisme and palpable pro­phanenesse creepe not in a­mongst [Page 22]them. I say no more, hee that is wise will ponder these things, and the man of understanding will lay them to heart.