A remonstrance presented to O.P. Feb. 4. 1655. By J.G. D.D. A son, servant, and supplicant for the Church of England: in behalf of many thousands his distressed brethren (ministers of the Gospel, and other good schollars) who were deprived of all publique imployment, (as ministers, or schollars) by his declaration, Jan. 1. 1655.

THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.

FInding by better judgements than my own, that this following Petitionary Remonstrance, to his late Highnesse O. P. (then in power) was not only a modest and charitable Address, season∣able at that time, and safe at all times; but also pru∣dentially pious and politick; so as it may be of good use in these times; I have presumed to make it publique; Not but I know, that it was at first written with an intent to conceale it from all eyes, but those to which it was at first presented, (which are now buried, as all humane glory will be, in dust and darknesse) yet per∣ceiving that, as a Jewel, it still reteined its native lusture; and might well fit the dark, and dubious condition, wherein most Ministers in England, are thought to stand (or rather to fall) as to their liberty and livelihood; beside their reputation, and respect; All which seem to be at a very low ebb, but on a dangerous precipice, and downfal, If some men may have their will; I supposed this peice, might in no lesse be acceptable, than seaso∣nable to all ingenious Christians, and worthy Readers; who still preserve any love, and respect to the flock of God, and the glory of our Israel: I mean the Reformed Religion, of the Church of England, and the faithul Ministery of it, to whom I professe my self a most affecti∣onate friend and servant.

§. Whose common dangers and disadvantages, ought with rea∣son to invite them prudently and speedily to compose their private differences, least while they scramble, as boyes, for the nuts of petty opinions, and some formal shadows of Religion, they (and we) lose the main substance, and grand essentials of it, not only as to holy discipline order and government, (which must first be∣gin among Ministers themselves) but also as to true worship, sound doctrine, and sober reformation, which they cannot but see, and many of them confess, to be much upon the decline and abatement, both as to sanctity and solemnity: That I mention not Ministers own secular interests, as to honest subsistance, and civil respects, which no ingenuous men can well want, and no wise man will supinely neglect.

§. This is most certain, that Ministers divisions do mainly advance, as the peoples distractions, so their own diminution and destruction; for their factions and fewds among themselves, serve only as rougher hones, or whetstones, to set sharper edges on the swords and sythes of their enemies, whose desolating and implacable spite, will never be stopped or resisted, unless grave and godly Ministers, of all sides, be so far blessed of God, as (first) to recover their reason and reputation, in point of piety and po∣licy, prudence and charity, by mutual correspondencies and closures, so as to concenter in some uniform way of Church-Go∣vernment and Order: united, they would be as venerable, as, scat∣tered, they are contemptible, like figures or cyphers, they would signifie much in their conjunction, little or nothing in their sepa∣ration.

§. From hence (in the second place) they would appear to the world, not only as petty Presbyters, or Predicants, single and a∣part, but as a grave and Venerable Society, and combination of learned and wise men, worthy to manage religious concernments, and to enjoy publique incouragements, from those that may have at any time Supreme Power in their hands, who will alwayes have so much, either piety or policy in their hearts, as impartially to dispense Justice and rewards to able, peaceable, and orderly Mini∣sters, as well as to any other sort of deserving men, that are in any Civil or Military imployment.

§. Considering, that the Nation of England never owed to

any calling of men, more, either of its happinesse or misery, than to its Clergy or Ministry, under whatever Laws or forms they may passe: Indeed they alwayes have had, and ever will have, great influence on the fate and fortunes of any people that are Christian, whose consciences first, then their estates, at last their peace and safety (publique as well as private) are so far, either maintained or undermined by their Ministers, as these find them∣selves either favoured and honored, or depressed and debased, being men, that commonly have not only a good opinion of them∣selves, but very quick resentments of things, apt both for their pragmatique, and speaking veine, to have a notable byass and stroke upon mens minds, and so upon publique affairs, by their tongues and pens, besides their more solemn preachings and prayings, with a devout insinuation into mens and womens con∣sciences, among whom they have so much of civil and religious con∣verse.

§. Hence it is, that poverty and despiciency cast upon the Mi∣nistry, makes them either silly sots, and abject slaves, or else so far unquiet, as they are sensible of, and dissatisfied with their conditi∣on: And how (indeed) can such men, as think themselves fit to be publique Pilots of Religion, and Conducters of Souls to hea∣ven, be much concerned in the civil peace or safety of that Ship, (or Commonwealth) (how rich soever it be) where they see them∣selves so pittifully imbarqued, and poorly entertained in it, that they may well hope for better prize and pillage in the common shipwrack, than for pay or profit, by any voyage that it makes, wherein they are imployed indeed as Predicants, but yet kept under as Mendicants, not permitted to have any joynt stock, or ven∣ture, either of honor, or estate considerable.

§. Therefore wise men conclude it undoubtedly best, in point of State-policy, either to have no able and learned Ministers at all, whose education makes them men of parts and spirit; a project which will soon amount to no Religion at all, at least no Christi∣an, and to be sure, no Reformed Religion, justly so called; for this (as times now are, full of Religious, as well as civil wars) must ever be strongly guarded, and stoutly maintained by a Spiritual Militia of well-paid, and well-fed, well-learned, and well-arm∣ed Ministers, else London will soon run to Rome, and the Thames

submit to Tyber, which is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by some men.

§. On the other side, it will be Policy, no less than Piety, to entertain such able Schollars, and worthy Ministers, so as becomes men of good learning, useful parts, and exemplary lives, in order to maintain the Reformed Religion, which is the interest of this Nation, both secular and spiritual, civil and conscientious: To which I may justly add, that grateful respect which is due to the Sanctity and Majesty of that God and Saviour, whom able Ministers powerfully preach, and people sincerely profess, car∣rying with them those inestimable and eternal blessings, which are only to be had ordinarily by those holy duties, which good Mini∣sters worthily perform; and those Venerable Mysteries which they duly celebrate and dispense.

§. All which sacred and grave concernments of Gods Glo∣ry, and mens Souls, your ignorant, mechanick, and hedge∣creeping Teachers; your popular, poor, and Parasitick Preachers; your under-bred and under-fed Orators; your 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 E∣qually, illiterate, impudent, and ridiculous Praters, will infallibly prostitute, not only to Jesuitick jeers, and Romish deision, but to all peoples vilifyings. and contempts, who easily follow those inbred principles, and impulses tending to licentiousnesse, pro∣phanesse, or superstition, which makes all men (without Gods Grace) no less opposite to the true power of Preachers, (as Au∣thoritative Bishops, and Pastors of Souls) than to the Power of Preaching; that is, to the Power of Godlinesse.

§. The aim therefore of this Preface, (full of respect and love to that Holy Calling by which my Soul hath profited) is only to per∣swade all able Schollars, and worthy Ministers, of all sides, to such wise and Brotherly Agreements among themselves, as may by joynt Counsels, most conduce to their own honor and safety, as well as the publique peace and satisfaction, least all of them in their dispersions, and mutual depressions (one after another) come to drink of that same bitter cup, which so many of their Bre∣thren lately did, in great measure, whose cause was so freely plead∣ed by the Author of this Work, while many others with dumb and dry eyes looked on.

§. I passionately deprecate the like distresses falling on any those Ministers, who were either occasioners, or pittiless Spectators of

their own Brethrens sore afflictions. The ambition of my prayer is, that all worthy Ministers may not only in their private places demean themselves, in all things, as become learned, pious, and prudent men: But further, that they may be so much favoured of God and man, as to have the freedome of publique Synods and Conventions, for their better understanding of each other in truth and love: In such conspicuities, no doubt, they will appear to all good Christians of the Reformed Religion, every way worthy of all publique countenance and incouragement, that Christian Magistrates may own and entertain them as Christian Ministers, subjects (indeed) as to Civil Power, in all things just and honest, yet still as Christs Agents, and Gods Embassadors, sent as from Heaven to treat with sinful mortals, in order to their eternal life and peace, Under which names, (of publique Agents and Em∣bassadors) all persons are handsomely and honorably received, and used, by people not wholly barbarous, although they come but from petty Princes, and mean Seigniories, and (possibly) upon business of no great concernment, further than wonted forms and ceremonies of State, which have usually more of the craft and policy of Spies, than of the truth and reality of friends. But the design of Ministers is to promote that one thing necessary, the great and eternal interest of saving souls.

§. Till Christianity seems a fable, and Christ Jesus be thought an Impostor, his sacred Ministry and true Ministers will be in request among good Christians, especially if they would add to the certainty of their message and Commission, the order, unity, and authority of their Ordination or Mission, which would be much to their own Honor, and the peoples satisfaction, that we might know of whom we have and receive the Mysteries of Christs Kingdome. Indeed, by this means, they would every way render, not only their pains and persons, but their Profession and Calling, most consider∣able to the Publique; redeeming themselves by mutual advice and assistance, from plebeian softnesse, as well as servility: Their so∣litude makes them so fearful, and so servile, if they had not been scattered, they could not have been thus worried. And if some of them had not stooped so much as Camels to vulgar complian∣ces, mean people had not so much got upon their backs, or load∣ed them (as they have) a long time with poverty, reproach, and

contempt, so far as in them lies: They will never be consider∣able, till they are unanimous and uniform, in the main of their Religion, Reformation, and Function, which I heartily pray for, as a principal foundation of their own, and all the Nati∣ons welfare, which deserves not to be happy, while their able Mi∣nisters are miserable: Nor can it indeed be other than miserable, till worthy Ministers of the Gospel are happily settled, and wor∣hily treated. Farewel.