The present state of London: or, Memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof. By Tho. De-Laune, Gent

SECT. 1.

Of the Ecclesiastical Government.

THe Government of London, considering how great and populous it is, is very admirable, and might take up a volume in the Description thereof.

The Ecclesiastical Government is by a Bishop, and I have read that in the Britains time it was an Archbishops See, (of which see page 57. before) but removed in the Saxons time to Canterbury for the sake of Austin the Monk, who first preached the Gospel to the Heathen Saxons, and lies buried there. To the Cathedral of London belongs a Dean, a Chapter, a Treasurer, and 30 Prebendaries.

In the several Parishes there are placed many learned and eminent Divines, a Rector or Vicar for every Parish, who are reputed the most excellent Preachers in Christendom, insomuch that divers Foreigners have come hither, on purpose to learn their way.

There is in every Parish a Vicarage, or Parson∣age-House for these Divines and their Families, with good allowances for their Maintenance, of which▪ and the Union of Parishes, take the following ac∣count▪

By an Act of Parliament made in the 19 Car. 2. Cap. 3. Sect. 31. It was Enacted that the Parishes to be Rebuilded within the City of London, in lieu of those which were demollished by the late Dreadful Fire, should not exceed the number of 39. But in the 22 Car. 2. Cap. 11. Sect. 62. It was Enacted that for as much as upon an exact Survey taken of the Number of Houses to be Rebuilded, and of the Extent of the respective Parishes necessary to be continued within the said City, it doth appear that the Parishes to be setled and continued, and the Pa∣rish-Churches to be rebuilded within the said City of London, in lieu of those demollished or consu∣med by the said late Fire, cannot conveniently by Union, or otherwise, be reduced to a less Number than fifty one; It was therefore further Enacted, that the Number of Parishes to be setled, and of Parish-Churches to be rebuilded within the said City of London, should be Fifty One, the aforesaid Act, or any thing therein contained to the contrary, notwith∣standing.

There was also Anno, 22. and 23. Car. 2. Cap. 15. An Act of Parliament for the better Settlement of the Maintenance of the Parsons, Vicars, and Cu∣rates of the said Parishes, to prevent Controversies of Law that might arise about the alteration of Hou∣ses in the Rebuilding of the City; It was therefore reduced to a certainty of Tythes, or a sum of Money in lieu of Tythes, as in the following Table may be seen.

☞ Note that the first Seventeen Parishes after mentioned, are to remain and continue as heretofore they were: and that the respective Parish Churches to each of the said Parishes belonging, were to be Rebuilded for the use of the said Parishes.

☞ Note likewise that the rest that are joined in Order, are the united Parishes, and that the first Pa∣rish mentioned in each line, is the Parish-Church of the Parishes so united, and that the sum annex∣ed to each is the annual payment to be made to the Parson, Vicar, or Curate of the same, in lieu of Tythes.

• l.
• 1. Allhallows Lumbardstreet 110
• 2. S. Bartholomew Exchange 100
• 3. S. Bridget, alias Brides 120
• 4. S. Bennet-Fink 100
• 5. S. Michael Crooked-lane 100
• 6. S. Christopher 120
• 7. S. Dionys Back-Church 120
• 8. S. Dunstans East 200
• 9. S. James Garlick-hith 100
• 10. S. Michael Cornhill 140
• 11. S. Michael Bassishaw 132 l. 11 s.
• 12. S. Margaret Lothbury 100
• 13. S. Mary Aldermanbury 150
• 14. S. Martin Ludgate 160
• 15. S. Peter Corn-hill 110
• 16. S. Stephen Colemanstreet 110
• 17. S. Sepulchres 200

Parishes United.

• 18. Alhallows Breadstreet and S. John Evange∣list 140
• 19. Alhallows the Great, and Alhallows the Less 200
• 20. S. Alban Woodstreet, and S. Olaves Silver∣street 170
• 21. S. Ann and Agnes, and S. John Zachary 140
• 22. S. Augustine, and S. Faith. 172
• 23. S. Andrew Wardrobe, and S. Anne Black-Fryers 140
• ...

• 24. S. Antholin, and S. John Baptist 120
• 25. S. Bennet Grace-Church, and S. Leonard East-cheap 140
• 26. S. Bennets Pauls-Wharff, and S. Peter Pauls-Wharff 100
• 27. Christ-Church, and S. Leonard Foster-lane 200
• 28. S. Edmond the King, and S. Nicholas Acons 180
• 29. S. George Botolph-lane, and S. Botolph Billings-gate 180
• 30. S. Laurence Jewry, and S. Magdalen Milk-street 120
• 31. S. Magnus, and S. Margaret New Fish-street 170
• 32. S. Michael Royal, and S. Martin Vintry 140
• 33. S. Matthew Friday-street, and S. Peter Cheap 150
• 34. S. Margaret Pattons, and S. Gabriel Fen-Church 120
• 35. S. Mary at Hill, and S. Andrew Hubbard 200
• 36. S. Mary Wolnoth, and S. Mary Wool-Church 160
• 37. S. Clement East-Cheap, and S. Martin Or∣gars 140
• 38. S. Mary Abchurch, and S. Laurence Pountney 120
• 39. S. Mary-Aldermary, and S. Thomas Apostles 150
• 40. S. Mary-le-Bow, S. Pancras Soper-lane, and Al∣hallows Honey-lane 200
• 41. S. Mildred Poultry, and S. Mary Cole-Church 170
• 42. S. Michael Woodstreet, and S. Mary Staining 100
• 43. S. Mildred Breadstreet, and S. Margaret Mo∣ses 130
• 44. S. Michael Qeeen-hith, and Trinity 160
• 45. S. Magdalen Old Fish-street, and S. Gregory 120
• 46. S. Mary Sommerset, and S. Mary Mount••aw 110
• 47. S. Nicholas Cole-Abby, and S. Nicholas Olaves 130
• 48. S. Olave Jewry, and S. Martin Ironmonger-lane. 120
• 49. S. Stephen Walbrook, and S. Bennet Sh••er∣hog 100
• ...

• 50. S. Swythin, and S. Mary Bothaw 140
• 51. S. Vedast, alias Fosters, and S. Michael Quern 160

These respective sums, in liue of Tyths, are to be yearly paid over and above Glebes, Perquisites, and Bequests, the Assessment to be made by the Alder∣men of each Ward or his Deputy, the Common-Councel-men, and Church-Wardens, and one or more of the Parishioners. Impropriators are by the said Act to make the same allowances to the Incum∣bents, as they did before the Fire. Upon Refusal of Payment, the Lord Mayor may Grant his Warrant to the Collector, who with a Constable in the Day∣time, may Levy the same by Distress and sale of the Goods of the Party so refusing, &c. restoring the overplus; but may deduct the reasonable Char∣ges of making Distress, &c. Provided that it shall and may be lawful to and for the Warden and Mi∣nor Canons of S. Pauls Church London, Parson and Proprietors of the Rectory of the Parish of S. Gre∣gory aforesaid, to receive and enjoy all Tythes, Ob∣lations, and Duties arising or growing due within the said Parish, in as large and beneficial a manner as formerly, &c.

The Parish-Churches were to be Rebuilt accord∣ing to Models appointed by the Archbishop of Can∣terbury, the Bishop of London, and the Lord Mayor of London, with the King's Approbation.

The Church-yards of the Demolished Churches were to be inclosed with Brick or Stone-Walls, for Burial for the Parishes formerly belonging to the same, and the Parishes to which they are respective∣ly united, and not used or employed for any other purpose whatsoever, except such parts thereof as the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, with the Consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Bishop of London, and by his Majesties Approbation, shall be

thought necessary to be laid into the Streets and Markets for Enlargement and Accommodation thereof, and for publick Store-places, &c.

This Brief account we hope is not impertinent, and being pursuant to our promise, page 27. and for common information, we could not well omit it.

These Parish-Churches are for the most part Built (or a Building) in a very stately and beautiful man∣ner, far excelling their former Conditior.

So much for the Etclesiastical Government. I will only add, That for the sincere and pure Worship of God, and Profession of the Reformed Religion, there is no City or place in the World can compare with London. There being, besides the Learned Divines of the Established Church of England, a great Number of very Pious, Learned and Reve∣rend Ministers of the Gospel, who are called Dis∣senters, (and I wish some peevish persons would forbear Nicknames) because they disapprove some things, with respect to Discipline, and some Opini∣ons of the Church of England. But it is my hearty wish, that since they all agree in the Fundamen∣tals of Religion, that there may be no clashing or disunion in point of Brotherly Love and Charity be∣twixt them, for so God Commands, and the times call for it, the common Enemy (like the Kite in E∣sop) hovering for an opportunity to Devour us all: To prevent which (next the Divine Providence) there cannot be used a more certain Medium, then for all Protestants to Joyn (with heart and hand) toge∣ther against their combining and united Foes, of whose temper they have had instruction enough, by Plots, Massacres, Fires, and other Barbarous Actions, of which all Protestants (but such as are Masqueraded) are conv••nced by demonstrations, as clear as any Geometry can afford a Mathematician.

But (though I am no professed Divine yet) I have admired, why men will be so angry with o∣thers

for not agreeing with them in some Point or Opinion in Religion, not Fundamental; that is, not absolutely necessary to salvation: yea so Barbarous and Inhumane are some grown, as to reproach, disgrace, yea, persecute each other, because one will not be persuaded to see with the others Eyes▪ Which is certainly a most irrational and Unchristian, (if not Antichristian) practise, and I cannot but suspect such a persons Religion to be no other then humour and fancy, acted by pride and spight, to such as perhaps cannot in Conscience agree with them.

A thing may be clear to one man, that would fain impose it, but it may be doubtful to him on whom it is imposed, which no man can help; Must he therefore be persecuted? If the point be clear in Scripture, what needs any new Article of Faith to impose it? If only deduc'd, what one thinks clearly deduced, another, as learned and able as he, may think not to be so.

Mens understandings are as various as their speech or faces, and is it just for one man to quarrel with another, because different from him in either of these, or to put him upon a Rack in order to stretch him to his own Dimensions, if not so tall as he? certainly that man is defective in charity that thinks all Dissenters are either maliciously or wil∣fully blind. No man can be forced to believe; he may be compelled to say this or that, but not to be∣live it. His brains may be sooner knockt out then made clear, and able to see or perform an action morally beyond his power. A man may as easily make a man stark blind to read Greek, or distin∣guish Colours, as an unbeliver to believe, for that is God's Gift. Arguments are good inducements, but force has no countenance in the Gospel, much less a Command, John 20. 31.—5. 39. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Deut. 12. 32. Force may make one blind, but

never to see clearer; it may make a Hypocrite, but no true Convert.

The Magistrate is (and ought) to punish evil do∣ers, but not evil believers, God reserves that to him∣self: And man can never have a right cognizance of evil thoughts in another, for the greatest Professor may be the greatest Atheist. Nothing is more de∣rogatory to the honour of God, than for men to think that he wants their help to defend him: Nor can any thing more affront him, than for any one to intrude into his Tribunal, and usurp his Soveraignty. Christ conquered his Enemies by Preaching and Suf∣fering. And he that takes up Arms to preserve him∣self from Persecution, is either a stark Atheist, be∣cause he believes there is no such Reward, as Mat. 5. 12. or a stark fool (or mad-man) to reject the opportunity of gaining it.

In a word, what to me seems clear, (which I humbly submit to the consideration of others) is— 1. That none ought to be persecuted for Religion, whose Principles are consistent with humane Socie∣ty, and behave themselves according to the Establish∣ed Laws of the Land quietly, and peaceably, but are to be won by the mild ways of the Gospel.

2. That if under pretence of Religion they disturb the common peace, or wrong any other, or be se∣ditious and unquiet, they ought to be punished by the Magistrate; because Religion teaches no such things, but the contrary.

3. That where we agree in Fundamentals we should have mutual Christian Fellowship, without wrangling about Circumstantials, and that for this Reason; which to me is instar ••mnium: I would ask the sober Reader, whether he thinks his Brother that agrees with him in Fundamental Articles of Faith (which I could wish were rightly stated) and lives soberly, has Communion with God or no? If he says No, he has no Charity, and

his own Religion is become as sounding brass, or a tinkling Symbal, 1 Cor. 13. 1. If he believe that he hath Communion with God, how dares he deny him his Communion? is he better than God? or where is his Warrant for so doing?

4. That when we have done our endeavour to convince such a dissenting or doubting person in a Christian way, by Scripture, we have then clear'd our selves, and therefore ought to leave the rest to God, who only is his Judge, and takes cognizance of such things, yet still to walk in love with him as far as we agree, always provided the erro••s he holds are not expresly against the Faith and Order prescri∣bed by God, but things dubious and capable of debate.

5. Lastly we ought to have no Religious Com∣munion with Atheists, Infidels, Papists, or Idola∣ters, prophane or ill livers, or Hereticks, who err in Fundamentals; yet not to persecute any of them meerly for their Principles, but where they transgress the Temporal Laws, let them, as others ought, suf∣fer accordingly; though it is absolutely necessary for the Magistrate to restrain the spreading of such blas∣phemies and immoralities, &c. as direly affront the Divine Majesty.

I beg the Readers pardon for this little digression, which my zeal for the Union of Protestants, (though I would not have any to give up or lose Divine Truths with the purchase of outward peace) forced me to insert, (and perhaps it were more fit for a Divine, and for another Treatise) in this Section of the Ecclesiastical Government of this Renowned City.

There belong to this Cathedral, besides those mentioned before, A. Chaunter, a Chancellor, five Arch-Deacons, viz. London, Middlesex, Essex, Col∣chester, and S. Albane, a College of 12 Petty Canons, 6 Vicars, Choral and Choristers, &c. In the Bishop of London's Diocess there is contained the City of

London, all Middlesex, and Essex, and a part of Hart∣fordshire.