WEREAS many thousand of people in London, Oxford, Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, &c. do wonder what is the meaning that I wear a White Scarf and Sash, when as all other Divines wear Black. This is the true reason to distinguish me from all Hirlings. For whearas most other Church Men Preach, Prav, &c. for Hire or Reward, I have Bound my self by a Religi­ous Vow to do these Offices of a Divine Gratis, or for Nothing, as Christ Commanded the Apostles saying Matt, 10. v. 8. Freely ye have Received, Freely Give.

All Orders and Degrees of Men are Dishinguished from each other by some Badg of their Profession. Judges and Magistrates have their Furres and Hoods, Caps and Gowns to Diinguish them by. Now the White Robe is the proper Badge of my Profession, which is to [Page 2] do the Work of GOD Freely, and therefore Sincerely, And therefore [...]ought to Wear the Colour of Sincerity, which is White. Black is an Emblem of Sorrow and Heaveness; White of Joy and Gladness. Black signifies Death: White Signifies Life. Let these that are Dead in Sin and Serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own Belleyes, and Preach not for the Honour of GOD, but for Filtlhy Lu­cre Wear the Black Robe as fittest for them: Let all those that are Alive from the Dead, and Preach only for the Honour of GOD and the Salvation of Souls, Wear the Whire, as a Badge of their Sincerity. Let all Hirelings that Adulterate the Word of GOD, Wear black to Distinguish them from the true Pastors: Let all true Pastors who Preach the Sincere Milk of the Word, Wear the Colour of Milk, as a Badge of their Sincerity, and to Distinguish them from all Hi­relings. Let all Righteous Persons Wear the Robe of Ritousness, and the Girdle of Sincerity: Let all Hiporites and Hirelings, Weare the Colour of Hell and Death even the Robe of Iniquity and the Girdle of Hipocrisie.

I hope there are many Clergy-men that Wear the black Scarf and Girdle, who for their Integrity and Sincerity deserve the White. I my selfe Wore the black Robe about twenty Years, and three Years since I made this Vow, and had alwayes Worne it, had I not been called a Hireling, and a Journey-Man Curate. And then I thought 'twas high time to stand up in my own just Defence, and by Pub­sick Manifesto, as it were, to Disclaime, what I was wrongfuly Charged withal. This justifiing our selves, when we are Falsely Accus [...]d is alwayes Necessary, faith Bishop Sanderson. And certain­ly it highly concernes a Divine to stand Clear in the Eye of the World in that behalfe: For who will give any Credit to the Words of a Hireling? Therefore it is that St. Paul does so often clear himself from the Suspition of Coveteousness: I have Coveted no Mans Silver, or Gold, or Apparel. Neither at any time used we a Cloak of Govetousness — I seek not yoars but you. Not seeking my own Profit, but the Profit of many that they may be saved—

I know the Hinelings are furiously Enraged against me for Wear­ing the White Robe, and some have preswaded me to leave it off: and Some have Threatned to Tear it off. They are Affraid that my White [Page 3] will expose their Black, and my Angelical Sincerity render and expose their Diabolical Hipocrisie. They would have me to be like them: Like to like, and some have asked me if I was not Ashamed to Wear this White Scarf: To whome I readily gave this Answer whereas I was Ashamed to Wear a Black one, because that did not distinguish me from Hirelings: And that I scorned such Baseness as to Preach and Pray for Lucere or Reward.

I desire the World to take notice that I have Preached 7 or 8 Hundred times for these Ungreatful Hirelings, who never gave me any reward, — And now when I profess I profess I am ready to Preach freely for them as long as I live, they will not admit me into their Pulpits: And wheareas I have nothing to Support me and my Children by, but my Latine Muses, These Maliclous Hirelings, have done their utmost endeavours to hinder me from getting a Penny by my Books of Poetry, as they did at the Bath, and in many other Places. If any of these Hirolings, that Mudd the pure Fountains of Helicon, that is disparage my Latine Poetry, can make so good Ver­ses I will pardon their Slandring. But if they cannot make so good-let them take care that they dishonour not the bright Image of God, by Flinging Dirt in the Face of a Divine poet. And let all those that deny me the use of a pulpit, for fear I should Preach more truth then they are willing to hear, when they receive the Sa­crament, tremble at these Words.

Therefore if any of you be a hinderer of Gods Words, or be in En­vy or Malice, &c. Repent, or else come not to this holy Sacrament, But because the Church of England will allow me none House to live in, nor Church to preach in, nor hear my words, nor allow me Food, I do hereby Wipe off the Dust of my Feete as a Witness against her, and take my leave of her.