INTRODUCTION. 41 are these words :-" There are in this city a great number of churches, but the one-half ofthem at the least are utterly unfurnished of preaching ministers, and are pestered with candlesticks not of gold, but of clay, with watchmen that have no eyes, and clouds that have no water : the other half, partly by means of nonresidents, which are very many; and partly through the' poverty of many meanly qualified, there is scarcely the tenth man that makes con- science to wait upon his charge, whereby the Lord's sabbath is often wholly neglected, and for the most part miserably mangled; ignorance increaseth, and wickedness comes upon us like an armed man. Therefore we humbly on our knees beseech this honourable assembly, in the bowels and blood of Jesus Christ, to become humble suitors to her majesty, that we may have guides ; that the bread of life may be brought home to us; that the pipes of water may be brought intoour assemblies ; that there may be food and refreshing for us, our poor wives and forlorn children : so shall the Lord have his due honour; you shall discharge good duty to her majesty ; many languishing souls shall be comforted ; atheism and heresy banished; her majesty. have more faithful subjects; and you more hearty prayers for your prosperity in this life, and full happiness in the life to come. "* In the county of Cornwall there were one hundred and forty clergymen, scarcely any of whom could preach a sermon, and most of themwere pluralists and nonresidents. The inhabitants of the county, in their supplication to the parliament, gave the following affecting description of their case We have about one hundred and sixty churches, the greatest part of which are supplied by men who are guilty of the grossest sins; some fornicators, some adulterers, some felons, bearing the marks in their hands for the said offence; some drunkards, gamesters on the sabbath-day, &e. We have many nonresidents, who preach but once a quarter ; so that between meal and meal the silly sheep may starve. We have some ministers who labour painfully and faithfully in the Lord's husbandry ; but they are not suffered to attend their callings, because the mouths of papists, infidels, and filthy livers, are open against them, and the ears of those who are called lords over them, are sooner open to their accusations, though it be only for ceremonies, than to the others' answers. Nor is it safe for MS. Register, p. 302.
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