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 [Page 2]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, [Page 3]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 [Page 4]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 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 [Page 5]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 [Page 6]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 [Page 7]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 by turning many soules from darknesse to light, from profanesse to piety, from ignorance and superstition, to the sauing knowledge and true worship of God, and from the slauery and power of Satan, vnto the glorious li­berty of Gods children, as experience in some parts of our Country hath of late proued; then many others as worthy and well quallified as they, or they themselues are able to doe in these parts where the light of the Gospell hath shi­ned from the dayes of our fore-fathers. For as it is with vn­tilled ground, ouer-growne with briets, weeds and thornes; the first yeares plowing, sowing and manuring of it, doth worke a greater and more visible change from barrennesse to fruitfulnesse, then all plowing and manuring can doe in ground well tilled before, because that onely continueth and increaseth the old, doth not beget new fruitfulnesse: [...] it is with a people when the word is sent first among [Page 8]them; If it doth preuaile with them at all, and if they doe not vtterly reject, but chearfully receiue it, they are more visibly changed from profanesse and superstition, to piety and profession of true religion in the first yeare, then in a long time and many yeares after, so that both the preachers which labor among them, and the godly contributors who set them vp and maintaine them, may behold with joy and gladnesse of heart aboundance of present fruit and increase arising from small cost and labour, which is a strong motiue and encouragement to all Christians thus to imploy their talents which God hath committed to them, and to shew and exercise their charity and piety in this kind. To all these spirituall motiues and in couragements arising from spiritu­all in crease, profit and benefit, we may adde the multitude and aboundance of temporall blessings and benefits which the Gospell brings with it to the Country and people, a­mong whom it is generally and with publike consent recei­ued and imbraced; For experience hath taught the world in all ages, that as the heate and light of the Sunne accom­panied with watering showers of raine and dew, doe make the earth fruitfull in corne, wine, oyle, and all other fruites which are required either for the profit and benefit, or for the pleasure and delight of man: So the light of the Gos­pell working the heate of true zeale in the hearts of a peo­ple, and drawing from them the teares of true repentance, and causing many such showers of heauenly moysture to distill from their eyes; neuer hath failed, but in all ages hath brought all store euen of earthly blessings with it, and made Gods Saints and people honourable, renowned, and of high esteeme, for their worldly greatnesse, wealth and prosperity in the eyes of the heathen nations among whom they haue liued. This was that which made religious and vpright Noah not onely the heire of the righteousnesse which is by faith, but also brought temporall deliuerance, and bodily safety to him and his family, in the vniuerfall deluge and destruction of the old world, and made him and his sonnes the repairers of mankind, and the buil­ders [Page 9]of the new world which followed, as the Apostle hath obserued Heb. 11.7. This made Melchisedek the Priest & sacrificer of the high God, to liue and reigne a King of peace in all plenty and prosperity in the midst of the wick­ed Canaanites, while all the bordering Kings and neighbors were ouer-runne with the calamities of warre, and oppres­sed with the heauy yoke and bondage vnder Chedarlaomer, and other forraigne tyrants as we may reade Gen. 14. This made Abraham, the father of the faithfull, and Isaae his son the heire of promise, so to prosper and flourish in all prospe­rity, wealth and riches, that the heathen nations among whom they sojourned as strangers, did esteeme and stile them Princes of God; and potent Kings sought vnto them to enter into a league and oath of amity with them, as ap­pears Gen. 13.2, 6. & 21.22. & 23 6. & 26.28. This made Iacob who fled ouer Iordan to his vncle Laban with a staffe in his hand, so to grow, increase and prosper, that he returned with oxen, asses, flocks, man-seruants and women-seruants, wiues and children, which made vp two troupes or bands as he himselfe confesseth to the glory of God that gaue them: Gen. 32.5.10. This made Ioseph to prosper euen in all world­ly affaires, and all things whereunto he put his hand, Gen. 39.2.3.23. This brought all blessings of victory ouer ene­mies abroad, and of peace and plenty at home, with all ho­nour, fame and renowne, to Dauid, Hezechiah, Iosiah and o­ther religious Kings of Israell and Iudah; who receiued and beleeued the word of God, & obeyed it with all their hearts. And that large promise which God made to Ioshua the first Iudge and ruler ouer Israell after Moses, viz. that of he would religiously obey his word and law, not turning from it to the right hand or the left; he should certainly prosper whitherso­euer he did go; & in all things haue good successe: Iosh. 1.7, 8 that same he actually performed, verified and made good not onely to him, and to all the people of Israell in his dayes: but also to all the godly and religious Iudges which succeeded him, and to the whole nation of the children of Israell vn­der their gouernment, as appeares Iudg. 2.18. And least a­ny [Page 10]should thinke that these examples recorded in Scripture were extraordinary and miraculous; we haue also experi­ence of the like in all ages, and euen in this age, and in this land wherein we liue. For notwithstanding all the Popes curses and thunder-bolts, and all the open assaults which he hath made, and the secret conspiracy which he hath put in practise against this land, incensing and stirring vp all his in­struments of violence and cruelty against it, yet both in the dayes of King Edward and of Queene Elizabeth of blessed memorie, who reformed religion, and maintained the true preaching of the Gospell by publike authority; this Land and Church hath prospered and flourished, and in all world­ly peace, plenty and prosperity excelled all other nations and Churches of the world. So that we may all vpon good experience with one mouth confesse, that true religion and the holy Gospell of Christ, which we haue receiued and lodged in this land vnder the reigne of our later Kings haue proued most profitable guests vnto vs; they haue ouer and aboue the aboundance of heauenly knowledge, and sauing graces which belong to eternall saluation, out of their more then Kingly bounty royally paid vs with all safety, security, peace, prosperity and plenty of all worldly blessings: yea we haue plaine promises and testimonies in the sacred Scrip­tures, that thus it shall be to all people of all nations, who receiue and embrace the Gospell in syncerity and truth, and professe true religion without hypocrisie. Our Sauiour in the Gospell promiseth, that if any seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof, they shall haue all other world­ly blessings, (which the Gentiles so carefully seeke) ouer and 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 hun­dr [...]th-fold more euen of these earthly blessings h [...]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 [Page 11]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 deuo [...]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 [Page 12]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 shalbe 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 be [...] moued inwardly with pitty and compassion towards them, and rather then we will in dure the [...]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. [Page 13]We haue many examples of Gods faithfull Saints recorded in the Scripture [...] 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, and [Page 14]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 [Page 15]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 [Page 16]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, [Page 17]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 [Page 18]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 [Page 19]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. [Page 20] 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, [Page 21]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 [Page 22]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 [Page 23]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 Country­men, 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 [Page 24]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.