An exhortation to his Dear beloved Countrymen, all the Natives of the County of Lanenster, inhabiting in and about the City of London; tending to persuade and stir them up to a yearly contribution, for the erecting of Lectures, and maintaining of some godly and painful preachers in such places of that Country as have most need, by reason of ignorance and superstition there abounding: composed by George Walker Pastor of St. john the Evangelists in Watling-streete in LONDON.  
MY dear and loving Countrymen, whom God by his gracious providence hath together with myself, transplanted out of our native Country the County of Lancaster, (which, as it is at this day, so hath much more in the days of our youth and within our memory, been as a rough, untilled barren desert, overrun with ignorance, superstition and popery) and hath planted us by the waters of comfort in a wealthy and fruitful place, where all blessings needful for soul and body are extended unto us as a flowing stream: 
Isai 66.12. Luke 12.48.  you are not ignorant of that saying of our Saviour, That to whom much is given, of them much shall be required: yea I doubt not but ye have all learned this lesson; that as God after great deliverance from great evils, dangers and miseries requires much thankfulness to himself at the hands of the delivered: so also much compassion towards their brethren, who still remain in the same miseries and dangers, and a readiness to help and secure them upon every occasion and opportunity which shall be offered. This our Saviour teacheth us by his example and continual practice, in that he is touched with our infirmities, and by the things which he suffered being tempted, 
Heb. 4.15. and 2, 18.  is become a merciful high Priest able and ready to secure them that are tempted: And this he enjoins us all to put in practice, in that charge which he gave to his Apostle? when thou are converted strengthen thy brethren. 
Luke. 22.32. john 13.17.  Now my brethren if ye know these things, happy and blessed shall you be if ye also do them, as our Saviour affirmeth in the Gospel. And that you may by so doing obtain more easily this happiness and blessedness: lo here I will show you a short cut and a ready way, even one only work of piety and charity which I will commend unto you, in which work 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 given to you) ye shall at once perform all these works and duties of Christianity; that is, you shall render and return unto 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 up to his majesty a most acceptable sacrifice of thankfulness for his deliverance of your souls from dangers of ignorance, superstition and profaneness which overspread the place of your nativity, and withal you shall show all Christian compassion, and exerci●e brotherly charity and commiseration rowards your brethren and Country, and by God's grace and blessing on your endeavours, become powerful instruments and effectual means of saving many souls; 
Acts 28.18.  by turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God: that they may become fellow Saints with yourselves, 
coloss. 1.12.  and coheires and partakers of the inheritance of glory in light.  
This work (to describe and set it forth plainly in that nature as it is here commended to you) is no more but a free, voluntary, cheerful and charitable contribution of such yearly sums of money, as every one of you, by means of that wealth and ability which God hath bestowed upon him, may very well without impoverishing, pinching, or any way overcharging of himself, or impairing of his estate, bestow for the maintaining of godly, painful and profitable preachers of God's word in those parrs and parishes of our native Country of Lancashire, in which ●●ere is found to be greatest need, and most grievous want & scarcity of preaching, and maintenance for preachers; that by their continual labours, zealous preaching and conscionable pains, ignorance and superstition may be rooted out, true religion planted, God's true worship set up and established, and that by the converting of many souls, and instructing and confirming the weak, God's true Church may there increase and flourish, and so that Country which is now in many places like a barren wilderness, may become a fruitful garden and pleasant vineyard of the Lord of hosts, well watered with plentiful showers of Gods heavenly and spiritual graces distilling from heaven, and with fountains, springs and flowing streams of earthly and temporal blessings, which follow and accompany the public entertainment of the Gospel, and the advancement of Christ's true Church in every land.  
This work (if we should seek no further but look upon it, and take a view of it in itself, as it is here in plain words propounded to us) hath in it motives sufficient of all sorts to draw us, and move us to put it in present practice.  
First, whereas in many other works of bounty and liberality, grace and nature are sound contrary, and while the one persuades us to do them, the other dissuades us from them; as for example, in the purchasing of great houses, lands and revenues for our children, while natural affection doth incite us to disburse great sums, and to employ all out wealth and estate; Grace on the contrary forbids us to spend all on our children and fleshly kindred, which perhaps may prove wicked prodigals, and abuse our riches to sin and mischief, and tells us that we ought rather to honour God with our wealth, by spending a great part there of in works of piety and charity upon the poor members of Christ: And while Grace draws us to this, natural affection doth draw and pull us from it, unto the other. Now in this work here commended to you there is no such opposition between grace and nature, nor any such cause of distraction, but both together do draw, pull and allure us with joint forces: Grace tells us that this being a work of pity tending to God's glory by the saving of many souls, the increase of his Church, and advancement of true religion and his holy worship, no good Christian can refuse to put his hand unto it; but every one ought to be, and will be forward in it. And because this work is also a work of charity not towards strangers; but towards our Countrymen and kindred according to the flesh, even towards our own brethren, and tends to this as one main end to make our native Country blessed with all blessings heavenly and earthly; therefore natural affection doth strongly and vehemently pull us and persuade us unto it, and as we all naturally love our Country and kindred; so we cannot but by the instinct of nature be forward in this work.  
Secondly, this contribution is not like those antique taxes, which heathen Emperors, tyrants rather, used by their constraining commandments, and with strong hand to wrest from their ever-awed & impotent vassals; nor like the rigid penance and grievous penalties, which Popish Priests and confessors do often times inflict on their penitents as a satisfaction for their sins; which either are above the strength of their bodies, and tend to the endangering of their health and life, or surpass their abilities and estates, and do fare over-charge and much impoverish them; but this is only of so much as the spirit of God shall inwardly move and persuade every man to give freely and cheerfully with all alacrity, and which God hath enabled him to give without impoverishing of himself, or weakening and impairing of his estate, and which may well be spared from other vain expenses and needless superfluities: so that here is no coulout of exception against this contribution, no lest cause for any to complain, grudge or murmur against it, or to count it a burden: here is nothing required of any but what he is able and willing to do, and that without any wrong, loss or damage to himself at all.  
Thirdly, this work is not one of those almsdeeds and works of charity which are done in secret, which few see but God; this is a public work like a candle upon a candle stick which gives light to all the house, besides the profit and comfort which it may bring to many and several particular souls, and the gracious acceptation and bountiful reward which it may find with God; it shall undoubtedly also bring great glory to God's name, and be a means of many thanks given by many unto God in his public Church and congregation. And as the multitude of them who receive the benefit of this contribution, shall have just cause to laud and praise God continually: so many others, even all they who see it a fare of and hear the fame and report of it, shall be provoked and stirred up by your example; and hereby you shall cause your lights to shine before men, that they seeing your good works, may glorify your father which is in heaven, as our Saviour in the Gospel exhorteth. And whereas in other cases a work of piety tending to the public good cannot be done without great cost and charge, and requires a great sum: here in this contribution every particular man may for a small oblation offered up with a free heart obtain the honour, and gain the glory of a public work, and become an example and pattern of piety to many others, and so bring great glory to God, and much benefit to the Church of Christ, with small charge to himself by reason of many hearts and hands conspiring together in this one work.  
Fourthly, in many other works of piety and charity, there are many doubts and discouragements often times; as for example, when a man must lay out a great sum, either upon a great hazard and adventure, being uncertain whether it shall take good effect, and yield any fruit at all to himself or those to whom he doth intent it; as we see in many hospitals and Colleges much subject to abuse; the cost bestowed upon which is like bread cast upon the waters, only in hope of finding it after many days as wise Solomon speaks, Eccles. 11.1. Or when much is given away by men at their death in their last will to pious uses, of which they themselves being dead, can reap no benefit at all from the prayers of the poor who enjoy it, as blind Papists would persuade the world; nor any comfort from the sight of the good fruit which it yields 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 sum to be adventured or put forth upon uncertainties; but a small yearly bencuolence to be paid quarterly, & continued so long only as it shall manifestly appear, to be well employed to good purpose & for present profit, which payment also every man shall have in his power for his own part to cease break 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 advance God's glory before men, bring comfort, light and saving health to many souls, and procure to the contributors many hearty prayers of their Countrymen, who shall by this means be converted and comforted; which prayers undoubtedly God will hear and accept, and at their request turn many blessings into their bosoms here in this life, where only the prayers and thanksgiving of God's people, have power to help and profit those for whom they are made and offered up in the name and mediation of Christ.  
Fifthly, whosoever hath a desire to put forth his talon of worldly wealth whatsoever it is more or less to the best advantage, and so to employ it that it may bring in double and trible gain, surely he cannot find a better way than this pious work which is here commended unto you. For the first and immediate end of this contribution is the setting up and maintaining of godly, painful and profitable preachers of God's word in those parts of our native Country, where the word of God is most rare and precious, and there is greatest need and scarcity of preaching. We do not mean to feed idle drones, who will labour but little, and look for large allowance; nor such as will labour and take pains but to small profit, for want of the art of prophesying, and method of profitable preaching; nor men of scandalous and  life, who will do more hurt by their example, then good by their doctrine: But godly, painful and profitable preachers, who will preach and teach, and labour out of conscience to God, with an hungering and thirsting desire, not to get wealth and maintenance, but to save many souls, 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 up and maintained, there will follow plentiful preaching and hearing of the word of God, the word heard will beget faith, and bring many to believe in God and in Christ; faith will bring forth the the true worship of God, and holy invocation or calling upon his name; and true, devout and faithful calling upon the name of the Lord, is the sure way to salvation, 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 overrun with ignorance, superstition and profaneness for want of instruction, as in our native Country; they do more prevail with their godly labours, and bring more plentiful fruit, and increase to God's Church in one year, and work more strange effects by turning many souls from darkness to light, from profaneness to piety, from ignorance and superstition, to the saving knowledge and true worship of God, and from the slavery and power of Satan, unto the glorious liberty of God's children, as experience in some parts of our Country hath of late proved; then many others as worthy and well qualified as they, or they themselves are able to do in these parts where the light of the Gospel hath shined from the days of our forefathers. For as it is with untilled ground, overgrown with briets, weeds and thorns; the first years ploughing, sowing and manuring of it, doth work a greater and more visible change from barrenness to fruitfulness, than all ploughing and manuring can do in ground well tilled before, because that only continueth and increaseth the old, doth not beget new fruitfulness: 〈◊〉 it is with a people when the word is sent first among them; If it doth prevail with them at all, and if they do not utterly reject, but cheerfully receive it, they are more visibly changed from profaneness and superstition, to piety and profession of true religion in the first year, then in a long time and many years after, so that both the preachers which labour among them, and the godly contributors who set them up and maintain them, may behold with joy and gladness of heart abundance of present fruit and increase arising from small cost and labour, which is a strong motive and encouragement to all Christians thus to employ their talents which God hath committed to them, and to show and exercise their charity and piety in this kind. To all these spiritual motives and in couragements arising from spiritual in crease, profit and benefit, we may add the multitude and abundance of temporal blessings and benefits which the Gospel brings with it to the Country and people, among whom it is generally and with public consent received and embraced; For experience hath taught the world in all ages, that as the heat and light of the Sun accompanied with watering showers of rain and dew, do make the earth fruitful in corn, wine, oil, and all other fruits which are required either for the profit and benefit, or for the pleasure and delight of man: So the light of the Gospel working the heat of true zeal in the hearts of a people, and drawing from them the tears of true repentance, and causing many such showers of heavenly moisture to distil from their eyes; never hath failed, but in all ages hath brought all store even of earthly blessings with it, and made Gods Saints and people honourable, renowned, and of high esteem, for their worldly greatness, wealth and prosperity in the eyes of the heathen nations among whom they have lived. This was that which made religious and upright Noah not only the heir of the righteousness which is by faith, but also brought temporal deliverance, and bodily safety to him and his family, in the universall deluge and destruction of the old world, and made him and his sons the repairers of mankind, and the bvilders of the new world which followed, as the Apostle hath observed Heb. 11.7. This made Melchisedek the Priest & sacrificer of the high God, to live and reign a King of peace in all plenty and prosperity in the midst of the wicked Canaanites, while all the bordering Kings and neighbours were overrun with the calamities of war, and oppressed with the heavy yoke and bondage under Chedarlaomer, and other foreign tyrants as we may read Gen. 14. This made Abraham, the father of the faithful, and Isaae his son the heir of promise, so to prosper and flourish in all prosperity, wealth and riches, that the heathen nations among whom they sojourned as strangers, did esteem and style them Princes of God; and potent Kings sought unto 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 jacob who fled over jordan to his uncle Laban with a staff in his hand, so to grow, increase and prosper, that he returned with oxen, asses, flocks, man-seruants and women-seruants, wives and children, which made up two troops or bands as he himself confesseth to the glory of God that gave them: Gen. 32.5.10. This made joseph to prosper even in all worldly affairs, and all things whereunto he put his hand, Gen. 39.2.3.23. This brought all blessings of victory over enemies abroad, and of peace and plenty at home, with all honour, fame and renown, to David, Hezechiah, josiah and other religious Kings of Israel and judah; who received and believed the word of God, & obeyed it with all their hearts. And that large promise which God made to joshua the first judge and ruler over Israel 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 whithersoever he did go; & in all things have good success: Iosh. 1.7, 8 that same he actually performed, verified and made good not only to him, and to all the people of Israel in his days: but also to all the godly and religious judges which succeeded him, and to the whole nation of the children of Israel under their government, as appears judg. 2.18. And lest any should think that these examples recorded in Scripture were extraordinary and miraculous; we have also experience of the like in all ages, and even in this age, and in this land wherein we live. For notwithstanding all the Pope's curses and thunderbolts, and all the open assaults which he hath made, and the secret conspiracy which he hath put in practice against this land, incensing and stirring up all his instruments of violence and cruelty against it, yet both in the days of King Edward and of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory, who reform religion, and maintained the true preaching of the Gospel by public 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 upon good experience with one mouth confess, that true religion and the holy Gospel of Christ, which we have received and lodged in this land under the reign of our later Kings have proved most profitable guests unto us; they have over and above the abundance of heavenly knowledge, and saving graces which belong to eternal salvation, out of their more than Kingly bounty royally paid us with all safety, security, peace, prosperity and plenty of all worldly blessings: yea we have plain promises and testimonies in the sacred Scriptures, that thus it shall be to all people of all nations, who receive and embrace the Gospel in sincerity and truth, and profess true religion without hypocrisy. Our Saviour in the Gospel promiseth, that if any seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, they shall have all other worldly blessings, (which the Gentiles so carefully seek) over and above added unto them: Matth. 6.33. And in another place he promiseth to such as renounce and forsake the things of this world for his sake and for love to the Gospel, that they shall receive (be sides life everlasting in the world to come) an hundr●th-fold more even of these earthly blessings h●re in this life: Mark. 10.30. To which purpose we have a most clear testimony of the holy Apostle Saint Paut a Tim. 4.8. where he saith, that godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. Upon these sure and infallible grounds both of holy Scripture and common experience, I dare be bold to assure you (my dear Countrymen) that if you hearty and unseinedly desire to see your native Country and kindred flourish in all worldly wealth and earthly prosperity, you cannot for the obtaining of your desire in all the world find a more ready way, than this work of piety which I here commend unto you, which as it tends first to plant the Gospel and true religion, so it will draw on all other blessings by means of them.  
Besides these motives which arise from the consideration of the work itself, our native Country also, and the nature and disposition of the people for whose use and benefit this work is intended, do moreover afford and offer unto us many strong encouragements. For we are not to deal with a stubborn, brutish ill natured people like the wild Irish, who naturally abhor all civility, and are so devoted to their own old fashions, that things which in themselves are most reasonable, decent and orderly, they do utterly detest if they appear to swerve from the corrupt and abominable customs of their Country, and the traditions of their fathers: The people of our native Country are generally of another constitution, and of a contrary but fare better natural disposition; although they are most constant in their resolutions, while they conceive and imagine them to be just, good and godly, and do follow that course of religion and life, which they have embraced for the best with strong affection and zeal; yet naturally they are so ingenious, and so reasonable and tractable, that when good reason is showed to them for the contrary, they are ready as to conceive and understand it, so to yield unto it generally and for the most part: (only some desperate reprobates, and refractory rebels excepted, whom God for their wilful rejecting of the truth, hath given over to be blinded and bewitched by the delusion and enchantments of Popish Priests and jesuites, and to be possessed by their diabolical spirit.) And (if we may give credit to the learned historiographers who have narrowly searched, and taken a diligent survey of all the shires of this Kingdom, and observed and noted in their public records and writings the manners of the people) as the inhabitants of our Country of Lancashire are in bodily feature and outward form generally more beautiful and comely, then in many other Countries; so in respect of the inward disposition of their minds they are every way answerable, that it is a people of good understanding, quick 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 bar or obstacle against it the blind zeal and headstrong affection, wherewith a great part of our native Country, and many of our people in divers parts thereof are carried away from the truth and true religion, after Popish superstition and Idolatry; and shall from thence conclude, that in all likeli-hood and probability, our contribution of money, and the labours of our preachers shallbe spent in vain, and for no profit, on a refractory and obstinate people, who like deaf adders will stop their ears, and refuse to hear the voice of the charmers, charm they never so wisely, as they have done heretofore ever since the first reviving of the Gospel and reformation of religion in this Kingdom: I will answer, that this which is objected as a bar or impediment, is indeed none all to such as rightly understand and consider it; but on the contrary offers to our consideration special encouragements and motives to further us in this work. For first, true Christianity teacheth us to show mercy and charity to our brethren in misery and bondage, and the greater we perceive that their danger and misery is wherein they remain, the more to be● moved inwardly with pity and compassion towards them, and rather than we will in dure the ●ight of their continual extremities, to make a desperate attempt for their deliverance, and to adventure upon a great hazard even when there is little or no hope of their recovery in outward appearance. We have many examples of Gods faithful Saints recorded in the Scripture● to this purpose: The penitent Israelites captived in Babylon, so often and so long as they remembered Zious desolation, and the deplored estate of their native Country, could joy in nothing, but spent their time in weeping and in studying the good and prosperity of jerusalem: Psal. 137. Queen Hester when her people the jews were in extreme danger, by reason of a Commission or warrant sealed for the general massacre and destruction of them all, did run in a desperate hazard even of her own life, and resolved for their deliverance to attempt the recalling of the King's unchangeable decree, saying, If I perish, I perish: Hest: 4.16. And godly Nehemiah, when he had received intelligence of the great affliction and reproach of his brethren in Indea after their return from captivity, and of the City and place of his father's sepulchre lying waist and consumed with fire, was so sad and heavy, that he could not rest nor look cheerfully on the King his Lord, until by earnest prayer to God and petition to the King, he had prevailed and gotten leave to go with a large commission for the repairing of jerusalem: Nehem. 1 and 2. Saint Paul the more stiffnecked that he found the jews, and the more zealous with blind zeal not according to knowledge, the more he pitied them being his Countrymen, and the more he laboured by all means to win them, and sought to save some of them though it were with the loss of his own life, as appears Act. 24.17. Rom. 9.1, 2. And he who is the example of all examples, and the pattern whom all Christians are bound to follow, our Lord & Saviour Christ, when we all were in a desperate and woeful condition by means of our sinful corruption and many sins rebelliously committed against God, from which the whole world was not able to redeem us, did not cast us off, but undertook a work for us, and did undergo a burden under which all the Angels of God, and all creatures would faint, fail and sink down if it were laid upon them. And therefore as we desire to walk in the ways of God's Saint, and to conform ourselves to our head Christ: so let the great danger of our native Country and Countrymen in which they lie, and the slavish superstition and blindness by which their souls as well as their bodies are held in captivity under the Pope and the Devil, stir us up to use this and all other means which God hath revealed in his word, and experience of all ages hath discourered to be helpful remedies against all such maladies.  
Secondly, If we examine the cause of this headstrong blind zeal which overspreades our Country, and take true notice of the means which maintain this Popish superstition and ignorance in our people; they will appear to be such as may justly more encourage us in this work, than any way dishearten or discourage us 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 be spectales of his wrathful vengeance, and examples of dreadful I desolation, as the plain Country and Citries of Sodom and Gomorrha: And some people are reprobates, whom God in his secret counsel hath rejected, and therefore either doth withhold from them all means of salvation, esteeming them like swine, before whom he will not cast the precious pearls of his word and saraments at all, as we have plain examples Act. 16. where the Spirit sorbad the Apostles, and would not suffer them to go to preach in some Countries, and to some people: or else doth send his Gospel and the ministers of his word and sacraments unto them, not for their good to convert 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 unto them as the Gospel preached is to perishing reprobates, even the savour of death unto death: 2 Cor. 2.16. Now when and where ignorance, superstition and blind zeal proceed from these causes and grounds, they are desperate and incurable, and whatsoever cost or labour is there bestowed proves vain, & is like water spilt on the ground. But sometimes ignorance, blind zeal, superstition and idolatry are found to overspread some Countries, and strongly to possess some people through want of means and good instruction, because God suffers his word and Gospel to be withheld from them for a time, either through the malice and negligence of their rulers and overseers, upon whom he hath a purpose to execute his just wrath to the full, by bringing upon them the blood of many poor souls which through their default do perish; or else for to try, prove and exercise the charity of their brethren and neighbours, who are called and converted already before them, and have received grace to be God's people, whom the Lord hath a purpose to provoke to pity and charity, by setting before them such examples of miserable blindness, which have great need of their help and commiseration: In these cases, the greatest ignorance, most blind superstition and most headstrong zeal, standing for errors and a false religion, are not desperate, but have great hope of cure by the word of God, and such means applied to them; yea such headstrong, zealous and superstitious people, when the true and clear light of the Gospel once shines unto them by means of an able and powerful ministry, are by experience found to become no less, but rather more zealous for the truth, and for God and godliness, then before they have been for falsehood and errors. And that this is the very case and condition of our native Country, and of our blind, zealous and superstitious brethren and neighbours inhabiting, it appears plainly by two strong and infallible arguments.  
First, that their ignorance and blind zeal proceed from want of ordinary means, to wit, the preaching of the word and good instruction, experience plainly proves, and no man can with any colour of reason deny: For although our Country of Lancashire is one of the largest shires in this Kingdom, yet it hath for the public worship of God only thirty six Parish Churches within the large circuit of it, as our histories show, and some Parishes forty miles in compass to my knowledge, whereas some other shires not much larger than one dinision or hundred of Lancashire, are known and recorded to have two or three hundred Parish Churches in them, and those fare better furnished with means for maintenance of an able ministry than ours are: for example the hundred of Fournesse where I was borne, which for spacious compass of ground is not much less than Bedfordshire or Rutlandshire, it hath only eight Parish Churches, and seven of those eight are impropriate, and the live in the hands of Lay men, and in some of those Parishes which be forty miles in compass, there is no more ordinary and set maintenance allowed for the ministry of the word and sacraments, but ten pounds or twenty nobles yearly. And therefore though the people were naturally the most tractable under the Sun, no man could in reason look for any thing but abundance of ignorance ruling among them, till it please God to stir up the public state, or the spirits of some godly private Christians, to provide some maintenance for the constant ministry of the word, to be set up and continued among them: yea (considering what large spacious walks, and how many coverts and lurking places there are in those thick mists and shades of ignorance and darkness for jesuites and seminary Priests those sons and ministers of darkness, who commonly find best entertainment for their flattery and painted hypocrisy among such people, as being naturally disposed to devotion and religion, are notwithstanding held captive in ignorance for want of means: and also find most liberty and best room to bestir themselves, and greatest freedom from discovery in those Parishes, where there are no learned Preachers, nor vigilant Pastors:) let reason judge how unlikely and almost impossible it is for that people to be free from blind headstrong zeal, and that Popish superstition and Idolatry should not generally possess them?  
Secondly, as Saint Paul argues for the nation of the natural Israelites Rom. 11.1. and proves that they were not utterly cast away of God, because he himself and divers others of them were gathered unto Christ by the Gospel, and an elect remnant was found among them in the days of Christ and his Apostles, when generally they persecuted the truth, and seemed to be most opposite and stiffnecked: So we may much more and upon stronger grounds of reason argue for our blind superstitious Countrymen, that they are not a reprobate people, whom God hath cast away, and given over to desperate blindness and obstinacy, never to be converted; because not only we ourselves being many have by God's grace extended plentifully unto us, received the word, and do believe in Christ, and profess true Christianity; but also many noble worthies have sprung up and flourished in the Church of God, and shined as lights through this Kingdom, and the whole Christian world, who being borne in our barren soil, and in their child-bood muzzled up in superstition, so soon as God brought them to the light of the Gospel in the universities, the nurseries of learning and true religion, they became famous and renowned professors of divinity, and most stout and strong maintainers of the truth against Papists, and all other Heretics. I cannot pass by in silence, but for example will name and mention with honour and reverence, that mirror of learning and religion Doctor Whitakers our sometimes worthy professor in Cambridge, whose name is still dreadful to our adversaries, and his writings of greatest esteem even in foreign Countries at this day, and his memory ever blessed: Yea we find by daily experience, that in those parishes and places of our nature Country, which have heretofore been most grievously overrun with ignorance and superstition, while they wanted the means of knowledge the ministry of the word, and where the word at the first preaching thereof hath been strongly opposed; now by means of a constant ministry, and powerful preaching continued among them, the people do become generally so zealous for the truth, so fervent in their zeal, so forward in their profession, so strict in their lives, & in the worship of God, so opposite to all shadows of superstition, that some think they have more need of the bridle then else spur; like the Israelites in the wilderness, who offered so frankly & abundantly to the building of God's tabernacle, that there was found much more then enough for the service of the work, & Moses gave commandment, and caused them by public proclamation to be restrained from bringing any more, Exod. 36. I myself do know, and can name for instance if need require, divers parishes which within my memory, were deeply plunged in superstition, and even drowned in ignorance, insomuch that the name of a preacher was as much scorned of many, as the name of a babbler, and of some as much hated as the name of an heretic; but now of late years I have seen with mine eyes such a wonderful alteration wrought by God's grace and blessing accompanying the labours of some holy and godly preachers sent among them, that they are ready and willing to run many miles to hear sermons, when they have them not at home, and lay aside all care of worldly profit, leaving their labour and work on week days, to frequent public meetings for prophecy and expounding of God's word, and hardly can a preacher travel through their towns, and lodge there on any day in the week, but they will by importunity obtain a public sermon from him, and in great troops suddenly and upon short warning assembled, they will gladly and cheerfully hear him with all reverence and attention. And therefore as St. Paul from his own example, & the examples of a small remnant of believing jews, who by so many miracles & much powerful preaching of Christ himself, and his extraordinary Apostles and Prophets were called and drawn to believe, did conclude that God had not rejected and cast away the whole nation as reprobates past hope: So may we much more strongly conclude, from the example of ourselves who are many, and from the example of those worthy professors and pillars of the Church, whom God hath raised up out of our Country by ordinary means, and most of all from the great multitudes of godly Christians, who by hundreds and thousands are daily called and turned by ordinary preaching from the darkness of ignorance, to the light of true knowledge, and from blind zeal and love of popery and superstition, to the fervent love of the truth, and zealous profession of the holy Gospel of Christ: I say from these many examples, we may as upon stronger grounds of reason conclude, that God hath not cast away our people, nor rejected our native Country, neither in so many places keeps his word from them, as from a reprobate people never to be converted; but rather doth suffer them to live so long in ignorance and miserable blindness, partly for a greater judgement on overruling Church-robbers, that he may bring on them and their houses and families the blood of many souls, which perish through their sacrilege and covetousness: and partly to provoke and stir up to pity and charity, us, whom he hath first converted, and to minister unto us matter of true Christian charity, and to give us occasion to exercise that piety which we profess, that our faith by lively fruits of good works, may be made to appear 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, (Dear brethren and Countrymen) for our full persuasion and steadfast assurance, that our native Country (notwithstanding the ignorance and blindness overshadowing it, and the blind superstition possessing the people generally in divers 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 us call to remembrance and daily set before our eyes, what holy and excellent first fruits it hath brought forth unto God, I mean holy professors and martyrs in the first times of the pure light of the Gospel's beginning to shine forth in this land. Among all godly martyrs wichin the days of King Edward the sixth, were great bvilders of God's Church by their sound doctrine, painful labours, and holy lives, and in the bloody reign of Queen Mary, sealed the Gospel with their blood, who more renowned in the history of martyrs, than Mr. john Bradford a Lancashire man? whose godly writings and meditations able to make a stony heart to bleed, remain to the profit and comfort of God's Church in all succeeding ages, whose constant profession of the true faith unto death, & in the midst of the fire was admired of his enemies, & shall ever be remembered while God hath an elect and faithful people in this land, and whose memory shall be blessed for ever. Among the godly, faithful and learned men, whom this land brought forth in those first times, and which shined forth as lights out of darkness, who after many cruel persecutions and banishment which they endured for the Gospel in Queen Mary's days, did survive her bloody reign, and in the days of Queen Elizabeth of ever blessed memory, 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 charity, than that most reverend father in God's Church, Edwin Sands borne in Fournfells in Lancashire, who at the time of the decease of Edward the sixth, being Doctor of divinity, and vice Chancellor of the university of Cambridge, did so wisely and prudently behave himself in the midst of those troubles and that great confusion, especially in his public sermon which he was commanded by the Duke of Northumberland, to make against Queen Mary in that great assembly at Cambridge, where the Duke himself with many nobles and men of war were assembled to go and apprehend her; that he gave content to the Duke; and yet the Queen and her party could not from thence take any advantage against him: who also after many troubles, persecutions and imprisonment, escaped with great difficulty, and fled beyond the seas, and from thence returning in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, after his learned disputations against the Popish Bishops, was in the judgement of that noble Queen and her wife counsel, esteemed worthy of greatest promotions in the Church, and was preferred first to be Bishop of Woreester, after Bishop of London, and lastly Archbishop of York, in all which seas he flourished, and was famous for his promoting of piety, advancing of learned preachers, and for public works of charity, among the rest for his erecting & indowing of a free school at Hauxhead where he was borne, and where I one of the meanest of his kindred was in my youth trained up in learning; who also dying in a good old age, left behind him a noble progeny and race of sons, divers of whom do until this day flourish in wealth & honour, and are famous for wisdom, eloquence and experience in matters of religion and policy obtained by their travels in many foreign Countries, and are men noted for other noble virtues in this state and kingdom. The time would fail me, if I should reckon up by name all our Countrymen famous in this kind, & should relate their worthy acts; as Mr. Alexander Nowell Doctor of divinity and Dean of Paul's, whose taste of persecution and banishment with other troubles and afflictions which he endured in Queen Mary's days, wrought in him such charity and compassion to the poor, that he became a pattern as of piety towards God, so of pity to the poor; and having spent his days and his wealth in continual works of charity, left also after him worthy monuments of his piety and charity, which remain in Oxford and other places to the world's end, for the benefit of young Scholars borne in Lancashire, and for their education in learning and good literature. I might also add among all the rest one of mine own name and near kindred, john Walker Doctor of divinity, and sometimes  and residenciary of St. Paul's Church in London, in whose breast godly zeal began to burn in his youth and tender years so fervently, that in the days 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 Archbishop before named, out of their detestation and hatred which they bore 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 nativity and mine; upon suspicion whereof he was forced to flee out of his Country, and was secretly nourished and brought up in Cambridge, where he became a man of note for his great learning, and after persecution and banishment which he suffered in Queen Mary's time, he was advanced in the happy days of Queen Elizabeth to the dignities fore named, of which how worthy he was may appear by his disputation with Campian the Pope's Challenger yet extant in print, against whom he was by the public authority of the state chosen and appointed to dispute among other chose learned men of the Kingdom. Now these with many others most godly and zealous professors & holy martyrs, being the first fruits of our native Country of Lancashire which it brought forth, and offered unto God in the first day spring of the reviving Gospel, I see no cause why we may not conclude, and upon this ground assure ourselves, that our Country and the general body or multitude of our people are an holy lump or mass chosen of God, and holy according to the election of grace; and that in due time they shall be generally converted and actually called to the knowledge and profession of the true faith: For thus the holy Apostle Paul doth reason & conclude concerning his Countrymen the jews Rom. 11.16. That if the first first fruits be holy, the lump also must be holy. Wherefore let no vain scruples, no uncharitable doubtings, no evil surmises disturb us in this good work of piety and charity, nor withdraw our hearts, nor cause us to withdraw our hands from a liberal contribution, which is so necessary and commodious for the advancement of religion in the place of our nativity, and which hath so much hope of gaining many souls of our brethren to God. Although I have no warrant in God's word to persuade you with Popish motives 〈◊〉 merit, that by cheerful performance of this pious work, you shall merit great rewards and blessings at God's hands; no not if you should sell all that you have, and bestow on works of this nature; (because all that we have is Gods he ●ath l●nt it us, and if we give all to him we give him but his own; neither can we by all we have be profitable to God, for he needs nothing of ours, our well doing is akogether for our own good and the good of our brethren, and serves to glorify God's grace in us, not to add any glory to him in himself, and to magnify his name and his goodness before men, not to make him any better in his own nature or person:) yet thus much I assure you, that if out of love to godliness, and out of humble obedience to God's majesty, and true charity to the souls of his people, all proceeding from a lively faith in Christ, you be stirred up to show yourselves cheerful, forward and bountiful in this pious and charitable work, according to the ability which God hath given to every one of you; this your well-doing shall undoubtedly receive from God great recompense of reward of his free grace and bounty, and for the merit of Christ; and the mere good works that you do of this kind, the more evidence and testimony you shall have 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 evidence shall not only confirm you against all temptations, and comfort you in all afflictions, and make your prosperity sweet unto your souls in this life: but also shall stand up in judgement for you, and prove you true members of Christ, that in him and for his merits sake you may receive the eternal kingdom and inheritance prepared for all the elect and faithful before the foundation of the world. Now my dear brethren and beloved Countrymen, as I in this hope have many years studied and desired to set this good work on foot for the good of my Country, and the salvation of my brethren, and as I have spent both my labour and some money, and much precious time within the space of these two years last passed in attempting and beginning this work, about the gathering of your names severally and particularly, and soliciting some of you, among whom I have found divers very forward, free and bountiful fare beyond expectation, and as I am ready even to the utmost of my ability to go before you by my example in this contribution: So I beseech you that for the same hopes sake, you will be ready to join with me and others who have begun well, and that you will go on with us, and accompany us to the perfecting of this worthy work. And for a conclusion of this exhortation, I humbly beseech the Lord to enlarge your hearts according to the means and ability which he hath given you, that you may extend the bowels of compassion to your brethren who sit in miserable darkness and in the shadow of death, that they being called to the fellowship of the same grace with us, we may all glorify God's name before men in this life, and be glorified of him with endless glory in the life to come, and may all reign with Christ our head the King of glory for ever world without end: To whom and to the word of whose grace I commend you all now and ever. Amen.  
Your most affectionate Countryman, fellow-servant in Christianity, and brother in all Christian love, GEORGE WALKER Pastor of St. john Enangelists in Watling-streete in LONDON.  
FINIS.