The Hartlib Papers

                LONDON, Anno Dom. 1647.

A Brief DECLARATION of those that have accepted the Trust of Receiving and Distributing such Sums of money as wel-affected Persons shall Subscribe towards the Maintenance of hopeful STUDENTS at both UNIVERSITIES, for the speedy supply of the Church of GOD in England with godly and able Ministers. Together with RULES which they among themselves have agreed to observe therein; and some Motives to incite well-affected Persons to be assistant thereunto.

     For the first; We find, that the scarcity of a Godly, Learned, and Orthodox MINISTERY, is one great cause of the woful Ignorance, Errors, Heresies, Blasphemies, and Prophanesse spreading and abounding throughout the Kingdom, to the dishonour of God, reproach of the Gospel, hinderance of the happy Work of the Reformation, and hazard of the eternall losse of many thousand precious Soules. And we perceive how improbable it is that the want of such a Ministery should in any reasonable time be competently supplied in those many Congregations that are for the present destitute, unlesse some extraordinary course be speedily taken: Being certainly informed that there are many hopefull young Students already in the Vniversity of Cambridge, disabled to continue there any longer; and many pregnant and hopefull Schollers ready for the Vniversities, discouraged and hindred from going thither; through lack of maintenance toward their subsistence there, whose Parents are either destroyed by these unnaturall Wars, or miserably impoverished and undone by want of Trading, heavy Taxes, Free Quarter, Plunderings, and such other Calamities as the sad Times have produced.

     And as touching the second; We conceive, that one of the most speedy, proper, and probable Remedies against this evil (next unto the care of providing for those that are there already) will be, forthwith to replenish both the Universities with store of hopefull and promising Plants, addicted to Learning and Piety; and supply them there for a convenient season with some necessary maintenance: whereby Learning may be encouraged; Knowledge, Piety, and all Church-Reformation promoted; and a Generation trained up, who (through the blessing of our God) may become Pastours according to Gods own heart, to feed the Sheep and Lambs of Christ with knowledge and understanding.

     Whereupon we have thought it our duty, not only to do something our selves to this excellent End; but also to commend so good a Work as this is, to all those in and about LONDON or elswhere, whose hearts the Lord shall incline to the furtherance thereof, by a free and voluntary Subscription of severall Summes of money, to be paid in (either at one or more entire Payments, Yearly or Quarterly, as shall seem best to the Vnderwriters) unto such Treasurers as are herein named, and shall from time to time be appointed by the Trustees (or seven of them at least, Viz. one Alderman, two Ministers, and four Commoners) by whose consent and advice the said Treasurers may still issue out the same to the End above propounded. Wherein also these Rules shal be observed.

I.   THis Charity shall be extended to such Students and schollers only, as by reason of their Religious education, pregnant Naturall parts and Learning, inclinablenesse to Piety and to the calling of the Ministry, are hopefull to prove able and fit Instruments for advancing Gods glory, and his Churches good.

     II. Care shall be had, that none of this Money shall be conferred upon any, but such only whose Parents and Friends are in whole or in part disabled to send them to the Vniversities, or maintain them there: And that more or lesse shall be allowed to every one, according to the proportion of their wants and necessities respectively who shall receive it.

     III. Overseers shall be appointed to have an eye to, and enquire after their carriage in the Vniversities; and if it shall be found either idle or offensive, and after admonition not reformed, the Exhibition allowed to such person or persons so delinquent, shalbe withdrawn.

     IV. The Exhibition allowed to any one shall only so long be continued, till he shall be judged, by the Trustees, or (seven of them at least, as abovesaid) to be completely fit for the service of the Church, or be otherwise provided for.

     V. Six of the Trustees, viz, Two Alderman and Four Commoners, shall be Treasurers to Receive and Disburse such summe or summes of money as shall be subscribed. Whereof three shall be New chosen every year by the Trustees, on the 25. day of March, or within 14 dayes after. The Treasurers at present elected and appointed are James Bunce Alderman. George Witham Alderman. Christopher Pack Deputy. Walter Boothby Deputy. Mr. Alexander Jones and Mr. Daniel Androwes.

     VI. The Treasurers that now are, or shall hereafter be chosen, may not admit any person or persons whatsoever to partake of any of the said Contribution or Exhibition, without the advice and approbation of the Trustees, or seven of them as before, and that declared in writing under their hands at a Publike meeting, and Recorded. And there the Treasurers shall be accountable four times at least in every Year, both touching their Receipts, and their Disbursments: And to that end shall have Books of Accompts to be faithfully kept for the satisfaction of the Trustees and Others as oft as need shall require.

     VII. Whensoever it shall fall out that any of the Forty Trustees shall die, or remove his habitation out of the City of London; The rest of the Trustees surviving or remaining, or the major part of them, shall meet together and elect another in his place, from time to time: And diligent heed shall be taken, that such Persons only may be chosen, as are apprehended to be men of active, faithfull, publique, and unanimous spirits; Men of sound Judgement, and godly Conversation, cordially affected to the Church, and to a thorough Reformation.

1.   Acts of charity and bounty, though but to the outward man, are an odour of a sweet smell to God, and such sacrifices wherewith he is well pleased, having many precious promises entailed upon them: How much more sweet and acceptable to God shall those acts of charity be, which tend to the relief of Soules, and may have influence into Eternity!

     2. Hereby a learned and godly Ministery will be speedily prepared, for the many thousand Congregations in this Kingdome now destitute thereof: whereupon, Gods glory will be advanced; his Truth and Gospel dispersed; Ignorance, Heresie and Impiety extirpated; the life of Religion and Reformation increased; the Church of God built; and multitudes of poor Souls that sit in darkenesse and shadow of death, furthered in their way to Heaven, both at present and in succeeding Ages.

     3. Hereby the subtile devices of Satan, strongly working in these dayes, to overthrow Truth, Godlinesse, Reformation, the Kingdome of Christ, and all the Churches happinesse at once (by the extirpation and subversion of the godly and learned Ministery) shall be countermined and disappointed, whilst through Gods blessing upon these our endeavours an able Ministery is set up and increased.

     4. These dayes of Reformation promise to us, that young Students in both the Vniverstities shall be more religiously trained up there, and also better provided for when they return thence, then in former times they have been; which consideration may encourage us.

     5. The honour and credit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whereof England hath had so long, sweet, and full enjoyment, should much incite our zeal to count no worldly treasures dear unto us, that we my support the same in its Spirituall glory, and so propagate it to Posterity. Did our Predecessors sacrifice their lives for the Truth, and shall we grudge a small pittance of our estates for the furtherance thereof? Yea, shall Papists be so bountiful to maintain Superstition; Heretieks, to advance and propagate their blasphemous Heresies; and the very Heathens to uphold their vanities; And shall not we much more be open-hearted and open-handed to advance the true Reformed Religion?

     6. How famous hath LONDON been in former times, for erecting and maintaining Lectures in the dark corners of this Land? How active of late, in adhering to, and in adventuring their All in this great Cause of God? And how will it adde to their honour, peace and comfort, to be exemplary in this so good a work also? Who knowes, but such an example of Zeal and Piety may have an influence upon other Cities and rich places of this Kingdome, to stir up their imitation of them herein; which may cause exceeding many thanksgivings to God, both in the present and succeeding Generations.

     7. Finally, it is clearly evident upon manifold experience, that as poor mens sons for most part do more seriously devote themselves to learning then others do: So God hath pleased not only to open mens hearts by charitable contributions to encourage their studies, but also to make much use of them in the work of the Ministry within this Kingdom, and that in the worst of times, for Conversion of Souls, edification of his Church, and advancement of the glory of his own most holy name.

                The names of the TRUSTEES.

Sir John Wollaston Alder. Tho. Adams Alder. John Warner Alder. Jo. Langham Alder. James Bunce Alder. Tho. Foot Alder. Jo. Kendrick Alder. John Byde Alder. George Witham Alder. Tho. Vyner Alder. Mr. Steph. Marshal. Mr. Edm. Calamy. Mr. Jer. Whitaker. Mr. Obad. Sedgwick. Mr. Sim. Ashe. Mr. Thomas Case. Mr. Laz. Seaman. Mr. Sam. Clark. Mr. Fran. Roberts. Mr. Will. Jenkin. Col. Fran. West. Mr. Rich. Turner Deputy. Mr. Christoph. Pack Dep. Mr. Walt. Boothby Dep. Mr. Tho. Arnold Dep. Col. Rob. Manwaring. Col. Edw. Hooker. Col. John Bellamie. L. Col. Lawr. Broomfield. Mr. Alex. Jones. Mr. Andr. Kenrick. Capt. Rich Vennour. Major Joseph Vaughan. Mr. Steph. White. Mr. James Martin. Mr. William Kendal. Mr. Dan. Androwes. Mr. Tho. Bewley. Mr. Temp. Milner. Mr. Lawr. Brinley.

    LONDON,

   Anno Dom. 1647.

FOR AS MUCH as the Right worshipful Sir John Woolaston K^t. Tho. Adams, John Warner, John Langham, James Bunce, Tho. Foot, John Kendrick, John Byde, George Witham, and Thomas Vyner, Aldermen of the City of London; Mr. Step. Marshal, Mr. Edm. Calamy, Mr. Jer. Whitaker, Mr. Obad. Sedgwick, Mr. Sim. Ash, Mr. Tho. Case, Mr. Laz. Seaman, Mr. Sam. Clark, Mr. Fran. Roberts, and Mr. William Jenkin, Ministers of the Gospel within the Cities of London and Westminster, Colonel Fran. West Lieuten. of the Tower, Mr. Rich. Turner sen. Deputy, Mr. Christopher Pack Dep. Mr. Walter Boothby Dep. Mr. Tho Arnold Dep. Colonel Rob. Manwaring, Col. Edw. Hooker, Col. John Bellamy, Lieu.col. Lawr. Broomfield, Mr. Alexander Jones, Mr. Andrew Kendrick, Captain Rich. Vennour, Major Lawr. Vaughan, Mr. Stephen white, Master James Martin, Mr. William Kendal, Mr. Dan. Andrewes, Mr. Tho. Bewley, Mr. Tempest Milner, and Mr. Lawrence Brinley, Citizens of LONDON: Have accepted the Trust of Receiving and Distributing such Summes of money as Well-affected persons shall be pleased to give towards the maintaining of hopefull young STUDENTS at both the Universities, whose Parents and Friends are not able to maintain them there; For the more speedy replenishing of the Church of GOD in this Kingdome, with Godly, Able, and Orthodox MINISTERS.

     We whose names are under-written, greatly approving the said pious and commendable work, and being well satisfied with the forenamed Trustees; Doe, to the said end Voluntarily subscribe these severall Summes of money, Yearly to be continued during pleasure, and to be paid by equall portions every Quarter, to such Treasurers as they shall from time to time nominate and appoint, or to such Collector or Collectors as the said Treasurers shall imploy, (Receipts for all such Payments being given under the Treasurers hands;) the first Payment to begin the next Quarter-day after every of our severall and respective Subscriptions, as followeth.

            The subscriptions of the Trustees themselves;

              for the better encouragement of this work.

                          li.|                        li.

Sir Jo. Woolaston Alder.__   | Col. Fran. West_________

Thomas Adams Alder._______   | Mr. Rich. Turner Dep.___

John Warner Alder.________   | Mr. Christoph. Pack Dep.

John langham Alder._______   | Mr. Walt Boothby Dep.___

James Bunce Alder.________   | Col. Rob. Manwaring_____

John Kendrick Alder.______   | Col Edw. Hooker_________

John byde Alder. _________   | Col. Joh. Bellamy_______

George Witham Alder.______   | L. col. Lawr. Broomfield

Tho. Vyner Alder._________   | Mr. Alex. Jones_________

Mr. Steph. Marshal________   | Mr. Andr. Kendrick______

Mr. Edm. Calamy __________   | Capt. Rich. Vennour_____

Mr. Jer. Whitaker ________   | Major Lawr. Vaughan_____

Mr. Obad. Sedgwick________   | Mr. Steph. White________

Mr. Sim. Ash______________   | Mr. James Martin________

Mr. Tho. Case_____________   | Mr. Will. Kendal________

Mr. Laz. Seaman___________   | Mr. Dan. Andrewes_______

Mr. Sam. Clark ___________   | Mr. Tho. Bewley_________

Mr. Fran. Roberts_________   | Mr. Temp. Milner________

Mr. Will Jenkyn __________   | Mr. Lawr. Brinley_______