A briefe Declaration of the Reasons that moved King JAMES of blessed memorie and the State, to erect a Colledge of Divines, and other Learned men, at CHELSEY.
VNderstanding by experience, that want of information hath much hindred mens devotion in contributing toward the erection and dotation of Chelsey Colledge, we have thought it verie fit, together with his Majesties Letters, seconded by my Lord Archbishop of Canterburie, to declare the reasons that caused this worke to be undertaken, and to adde such Motives, as we have supposed may be most effectuall to give satisfaction to his Majesties desire, and perfection to this honourable designe.
First it was considered, that the [...]opes Agents travelled Sea and Land, wrote bookes in favour of their faction, devised lyes and slanders, to bring Religion and the Professors thereof into hatred, and not sparing any standing in their way, by falshood and treacherie oppugned Kings and Princes, that could not endure the Popes tyrannicall government. And for this end, men of readie wits, good speech, long experience, and competent learning, have beene maintained in Colledges, furnished with Bookes, holpen with Counsell and directions, bound with Lawes and Oathes, to uphold the Papall Hierarchie and Heresie, and which moveth much, encouraged with great promises and large rewards.
Whereunto albeit private men piously affected have from time to time opposed themselves, yet because they wanted encouragement to undertake fo great a labour, counsell of their Ancients to direct them, Bookes and Libraries to instruct them, formes of proceeding to keep them in compasse, and rewards to maintaine them, those excepted that are due for Ecclesiasticall cures, it was further advised, that to make a sufficient defence for the truth of Religion, & honour of the State, and a strong and continuall opposition against the continued lyes, slanders, errors, heresies, sects, idolatries, and blasphemies of our Adversaries, it was necessarie to unite our forces, and to appoint speciall men, that without other distraction might attend the [Page 3]cause of Religion and the State, being furnished with Directions, Instructions, Counsell, Bookes, Presses, competent maintenance, and other necessaries.
This then was the reason why this Colledge by his Majesty and the State was first designed, and a corporation granted with large priviledges, viz. That a select number of Divines and others should be gathered together into one body, and united with one form of Lawes, and there maintained, who being furnished with Bookes, and directed by men of experience and action, might alwaies be ready to maintaine our Christian faith, to answer the Adversaries Calumniations as well against Religion as the State, to defend the Majesty of Kings and Princes, against the usurpation of Popes, the liberty of Christians, against the yoke of Superstition, to supply the defect of teaching where Appropriations have devoured the Ministerie, by teaching and conference to convince the obstinate Papist and Atheist, and by all lawfull meanes to maintaine truth, and discover falshood.
This is the Colledge commended by his Majestie, and intended by the State, and easily to be pefected if it please all true Christians to further it with their help and favour, according to some proportion of their meanes. His Majesties Letters directed to my Lord of Canterburie, follow in these words:
VVHereas the enemies of the Gospell have ever beene forward to write, and publish bookes for confirming of erroneous doctrine, and impugning the truth, and now of late seeme more carefull then before to send daily into our Realmes such their writings, whereby our loving Subjects, though otherwise well disposed might be seduced, unlesse some remedie thereof should be provided. We by the advice of our Councell have lately granted a Corporation, and given our allowance for erecting a Colledge at Chelsey, for learned Divines to be imployed to write as occasion shall require for maintaining the Religion professed in our Kingdomes, and confuting the impugners thereof. Whereupon Doctor Sutcliffe designed Provost of the said Colledge, hath now humbly signified unto us, that upon divers promises of helpe and assistance towards the erecting and endowing the said Colledge he hath at his owne charge begun, and well proceeded in the building, as doth sufficiently appeare by a good part thereof alreadie set up in the place appoynted for the same. We therefore being willing to favour and further so religious a worke, will and require you to write your Letters to the Bishops of your Province, signifying unto them in our Name, that our pleasure is, they deal with the Clergie, and other of their Diocesse, to give their charitable benevolence for the perfecting of this good worke so well begun. And for the better performance [Page 4]of our desire, we have given order to the said Provost and his Associates to attend you and others unto whom it may appertaine, and to certifie us from time to time of their proceeding.
Thetford the 5 of May, 1616.
These Letters my Lord Archbishop of Canturburie sendeth abroad to the Bishops of his Province, and secondeth them in these termes:
NOw because it is so pious and religious a worke, conducing both to GODS glory, and the saving of many a soule within this Kingdome, I cannot but wish that all devout and wel-affected persons should by your selfe and the Preachers in your Diocesse, as well publikely as otherwise, be excited to contribute in some measure to so holy an intendment now well begun. And although these and the like motions have beene frequent in these latter times, yet let not those whom God hath blessed with any wealth be wearie of wel-doing, that it may not be said that the idolatrous and superstitious Papists be more forward to advance their falshoods, then we are to maintaine Gods Truth. Whatsoever is collected, I pray your Lordship may be carefully brought unto me; partly that it passe not thorow any defrauding hand, and partly that his Majestie may be acquainted what is done in this behalfe.
The like Letters are written to my Lord Chancellour, and my Lord Maior of LONDON.
By these Letters it may appeare, that this Colledge is not an idle project of any private man, but a pious worke projected by the King & State, and that all that professe Religion, and desire the continuance and advancement thereof, yea, all that honour his Majestie, and wish the prosperitie of the State, and desire the increase of learning, have interest therein, and I hope shall receive contentment, and good satisfaction by the same.
Being then a worke of pietie for the maintenance of true Religion, who can be accounted truly pious & religious, and yet yeeld no help to advance it? being a project to maintaine the honour of the State, what good subject will not contribute to set forward this project? but to touch only the point of Gods honour, let us remember the words of the Wise man, Prov. 3. Honour the Lord with thy substance. Let us also consider what the Lord himself saith, 1 Sam. 2. Them that honour me, I will honour; and they that despise me, shall be despised. Now who can say, he honoureth God that suffereth him by idolatry, superstition and blasphemy to be dishonoured, & will give nothing to suppresse Baals Priests, and is content that the Pope be worshipped like the Idoll Bell? can Gods honour stand with the superstition, heresie, idolatry, and blasphemy of Papists; prophanesse of Atheists, fanaticall doctrine of Schismatickes, and idle Novelists?
It is not sufficient for true Christians to professe true Religion, but they must with zeal maintain it, & with heart abhor, & with hand suppresse idolatry and superstition, Who will rise up with me against the wicked, saith the Prophet, Psal. 94. And Psal. 139. he saith, He hated those that hated the Lord with an unfained hatred. The Law Deut. 13. is direct against such as intice us to serve other gods, our eye may not pitty them, nor may we shew mercy unto them, no although they be our brothers, or our wives that lye in our bosome.
An odious thing also it is, either to suffer truth to be suppressed, or lyes to be received. Saint Augustine in Epist. ad Casulanum, saith, It is a fault to hide truth, as well as to tell lyes; Uterque reus est, & qui veritatem occultat, & qui mendacium dicit. Chrysostome Homil. 25. in Matth. doth charge him to be a Traytor unto Truth, that dare not boldly utter it or defend it; Non ille solum est proditor veritatis qui veritatem transgrediens pro veritate mendacium loquitur, sed etiam qui non liberè veritatem pronunciat quam pronuntiare tenetur, aut non liberè veritatem defendit quam liberè defendere convenit.
Some suppose that Christianitie and Poperie may stand together, and themselves as Newters stand betweene both, or as Mediators would reconcile both. But can Christ be reconciled to Anti-christ? there is no concord betwixt Christ and Belial, saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 6. Elias told us there is no halting betweene two Religions: no man that honoureth any Creature can say he truely honoureth God, for God giveth not his honour to Creatures, Asa 1 King. 15. was a good King, yet it is imputed to him that he tooke not downe the high places. The Bishop of the Church of Pergamus, Apocal. 2. is reproved for suffering them that taught the doctrine of Balaam; and the Bishop of Thyatira, for permitting Jesabel to teach and deceive the people; and shall the Church of England any longer suffer the Romish Balaamites, and the false Priests of Baal maintained by the Romish Jesabel and her Consorts to seduce Gods people? The false Priests of Bell used all art and cunning practices to deceive, and now will not suffer any religion but that of their god Bell; the Pope; and shall not true Christians use equall diligence to maintaine truth, and suppresse Poperie and all other idolatrous and false Religion? Ingemui fateor (saith Hierome) minus nobis inesse voluntatis ad propugnandam veritatem, quam inesse illis cupiditatis ad inculcandum mendacium: I sighed (saith he) seeing lesse desire in us to defend truth, then in our adversaries to maintaine lyes.
This Colledge then being erected for maintenance of truth and Gods true service, and a resolute opposition against errors and false worship of God, it cannot but please God and content godly men. The same will also [Page 6]be a meanes to increase learning, and to supply the defects of places haunted with the spi [...]its of Anti-christ, the Jesuits, and Masse-priests, and therefore cannot chuse but be well approved of all, that either desire a learned Ministerie, or love learning. Finally, seeing the Church hath received no greater dishonour by any, then by unsufficient and unlearned Church-men, I hope this may bee a meanes to recover some part of their lost honour.
Wherefore, whether we regard the service of God, or the honour we owe to our King, or the love we beare to our Country and the State, let us not shew our selves sparing or backward in yeelding our ayd to set forward a worke so religious and profitable for the Church, so honourable for the State, so necessarie in regard of the malice of our adversaries, and the defects and discouragement of our owne forces. Other collections have beene either for private persons or strangers, or places remote, or matters concerning some particular occasions. This concerneth a generall good, and toucheth every man both in conscience and honour. Heretofore we have endeavoured to maintaine Religion, and favour others abroad, let us not therefore neglect our selves, and our owne honour, profit, and necessary service at home. Neither let any man thinke it strange, that a worke of such greatnesse should be advanced by this weake meanes, or that a project so necessarie should proceed so slowly. Almighty God, albeit all sufficient, yet would have his owne Tabernacle built by the voluntary offerings of his people. Speake, saith God to Moses, Exod. 25. to the Children of Israel, that they receive an offering for me of every man whose heart giveth it freely. And Exod. 36. it followeth, and they brought still unto Moses free gifts every morning, and they ceased not untill they were stated from offering, King Solomon likewise was greatly holpen in the building of the Temple by the contribution of his Subjects, as appeareth by the words of Scriptures, 1 King. 9.19. further, by voluntarie offerings and contributions, the Temple was repaired by Ioash, 2 King. 12. and by Iosiah, 2. Chron. 34. and this hath beene the use and practice of ancient times in building, and endowing most famous Churches, Colledges, Schooles and other monuments of Religion and Learning, both in our own and other Countries. Our Adversaries by this course have had meanes to build many Monasteries and Colledges, & Schools for Jesuits & Friets, as it were propugnacles of Superstition, Heresie, Idolatry, and Anti-christs tyranny, to uphold and make good their own corruptions in Religion, and usurpations upon the Magistrates government, and everie Christian mans liberty. And this have they done not only in Europe, but also [Page 7]in the Indies, & not one in every Kingdom, but in the same state divers, and almost in every great Citie one. And shall not this flourishing Kingdome build and endow one Colledge for the maintenance of Gods true service, and the honour of the whole State? It were a dishonour to our Nation, and the whole Church and State to thinke contrary.
The worke we confesse hath hitherto proceeded slowly: And no marvell, seeing great workes are not easily atchieved. Noah's Arke, Gods Tabernacle and Temple, and famous Schooles and Colledges, albeit founded by Kings and great men, were long in building, and doe we wonder that this Colledge is not yet finished? Further it pleased God to deprive us of Prince Henrie our principall hope, and the chiefe Author of this designe. Lastly, who knoweth whether God hath appoynted these weake meanes to set forward a great worke, that his power in our weakenesse might have the whole glorie?
Let us therefore, good Country-men and Christians, hearken willingly to his Majesties motion and readily follow his example. Let it appeare by our bountie how zealous we are to maintaine his everlasting Truth, and root out error and idolatrie. Let us by effects declare how studious we are to doe good workes, and to advance our Countries honour. They that have much may give of their abundance: the rest according to the measure of their meanes. God as well accepteth the Widdowes mite, and poore mans good will, as the rich mans treasure.
If we honour God with our substance, he will honour us and encrease our substance. If we build a house for the maintenance of his truth, that it may continue to our posteritie, God will uphold our houses, restore to us, and double it to our posteritie. Abraham by offering his son, was made a father of many sons, yea of Nations. And Solomon that shewed his Royall magnificence in building God a Temple, in honour and riches passed all other Kings. How then can vve excuse our selves, if we denie God a small offering, that dayly offereth to us many graces, and giveth us all the good things we possesse? Our soules and bodies are a sacrifice due to him: and therefore no Christian may denie to him an offring out of his worldly goods, if Gods service require it.
As for those that draw back in this service, and refuse to concur in promoting Gods honour, let them marke the words of our Saviour, Matth. 12. He that is not with me is against me. And the curse of the Angell upon the people of Meros, Judg. 5. Curse ye Meros, saith the Angell, for they came not up to helpe the Lord.
But we hope we shall not need many word [...] to move them, that alreadie are so well perswaded, nor to perswad [...] me [...], [...] in Religion and devot [...]n are so forward. It is the dutie of good Christians to advance Gods honour, and represse Superstition, Heresie, Idolatrie, Blasphemie. It is the Office of good Subjects to defend the honour of the State, against the sycophancies of English Fugitives, and the secret practices of forraine Enemies their adherents. The Adversaries using all their skill, and joyning their forces against Religion and the State, it behoveth us likewise to unite our forces, and to joyne in consultation how to resist them. This common businesse requireth common helpe, the practices of the Adversaries provoke us to use speed, the qualitie of the worke being for defence of Religion and the State, will move any whose heart is not hardned, cheerfully to give. Whosoever shall willingly give, shall receive of God a full reward in this life, and when they dye, their workes shall follow them, and then whatsoever they have given to God on earth, they shall assuredly find in Heaven.
Wherefore recommending the Colledge of Chelsey to everie religious Christians devout thoughts, we cease further to presse them. Onely for satisfaction of those that desire to know why this Colledge is erected at Chelsey and not in one of the Universities, this we thought sit to adde, that this place was thought most sit to receive directions from our Superiours, to consult with men of best experience, to obtain Intelligence from forrain parts, to print Books, & to disperse them; And lastly, to obtain the favour of the State and Citie. Further hereby, as all emulation may be avoyded, so the helpe of both Universities may as well be had by entercourse of our Agents, as if the Colledge stood in either of the Universities. Thus all things now stand. God blesse the proceeding of this worke, and give honour to his owne name, and a happie issue to this holy designe. Amen.