A pattern FOR True Protestants.  
Setting forth Divers Examples by way of Encouragement to all the Kings Subjects, to be Liberal in their Contributions towards the Rebuilding of S. Pauls Cathedral LONDON.  
Fit to be made public.  
On King IN A Building a Church.  

Melchisedech noster meritò Rex atque Sacerdos,  
Complevit verae Religionis opus:  
Hinc abiens, illinc meritorum fulget honore,  
Hic quoque gestorum laud perennis erit.   
London, Printed for T. Burrel, at the Golden Ball under S. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet. 1679.   

A Word for St. Pauls Cathedral, rising like a Phoenix out of its Ashes.  
ENGLAND for the magnificent and sumptuous building of Religious places, and the number of them, surpasses even those places that are most famous: and London for many stately Churches, and St. Pauls Cathedral now building, will be famous in all after Ages and Generations.  
This famous Pile of Building was first founded by Ethelbert the first Christian King, and the sixth Monarch of the Saxons: and it was enlarged by the pious Bounty of Erkenwald the fourth Bishop of that See, above 1000 years since.  
The Clergy and the People of England and Ireland contributed very largely to that great Work: the devout people of that primitive age were for the building of Churches; whereas a sort of Mongrel Christians of this Age are for pulling of them down. They with a cheerful heart and a liberal hand promoted that work, which men now out of a base sordid covetousness do what they can to hinder, with their Ad quid perditio haec?  
In the Year 1561 the work of long time and so many ages was in danger to have been consumed by a Fire, which was occasioned by the negligence of a Plumber, leaving his Pan of Coals in the Steeple, whiles he went to dinner, by which the Steeple was fired and burned down, not without great damage to the Roof of the Cathedral. The occasion of firing this fabric was attributed to Lightning, as if God had no great love for Buildings of that nature, the people of that Age in their common almanacs computing thus, Since St. Pauls Steeple was burnt by Lightning, &c. The true Cause of this Fire being still smothered till the Plumber came to die, and then( not daring before) did attest the truth of the premises, as Dr. Heylin informs us, to whom we are beholding for light in many things of moment.  
Some poor low-spirited Christians, that love that Religion which is cheapest, could now have wished, that when their Ministers came to press them to a Contribution, that it had then perished to the very Foundation, that it might have saved them the expense of a Piece of Silver.  
Q. Elizabeth gave towards the Repair of it 1000 Marks in Gold, and 1000 Load of Timber. The Citizens gave 3247 l. and upwards. The clergy 1461 l. The Bishop of London near 1000 l. The Dean and Chapter, the Judges and Officers of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas gave very largely at that time. So that in 1566 it was all repaired and made good again, save the Steeple, which was never built, but had been built if the Scottish Rebellion had not broken forth about Anno 1641. In which Wars the Fanaticks made this famous Temple a Stable for their Horses, a Garrison for their Souldiers; acting after the mode of that profanation of the Temple which Christ rebukes, It is written, &c. but you have made it a den of thieves. And their Officers, as exceeding them in Dignity, so in Iniquity, said it, suffered it, and loved to have it so.  
But 1620, K. James observing, that the Tower grew every day more and more out of Repair, granted his Royal Commission to divers Persons of Honour, to find out means how it might be repaired, it being the most eminent and principal Ornament of this Kingdom  
The King and the Nobility gave vast sums of Money to it. Dr. King then Bishop of London gave 100 l. per an. as long as he continued Bishop there. mountain procured vast quantities of ston from Portland.  
But then comes B. Laud to the See; this glorious work was reserved for that great-spirited man, who gave 100 l. per an. whiles he was Bishop there, and in a short time by his prudent management of this great Concern Moneys came flowing in apace, the Chamber of London then and now being the Treasury for this Work, was replenished with 5416 l. so that in April 1631 the Work begun.  
The Ministers in those times gave commonly the tenth part of their Spiritual Promotions, some more, the fifth part. There was then( as now) a public Contribution, which was but for the Repair of this magnificent Structure, that amounted to very much above 100000 l. as appears upon account.  
K. Charles the First and Last gave above 10000 l. to it. Sir Paul Pindar contributed much to the Beautifying thereof, setting up the Statues of the Norman Kings, who had been great Benefactors to it, bestowing moreover above 4000 l. upon the across Isle.  
Before the Scottish Rebellion broke forth, the Contribution amounted to 15000 l. per an. which afterwards as the Wars increased abated to 1500 l. per an. and suddenly by degrees to less, to little, to nothing at all. So great Enemies are Rebels to Religion, though that's their holiday cloak.  
This vast Structure( the Cities famous Ornament) was in times of Popery maintained, and kept in Repair by such moneys as were given by them, that came to visit the Shrines and relics of that place, according to the pious Devotion of that Age: Shall the darkness of those times outshine the light that we live under?  
By that which has been said it appears, that there was a Contribution made of above 100000 l. which was but for the Repair of this fabric; what then in any mans judgement must the new building it from the Foundation cost?  
The Kings Majesty recommends it to your Charity, and will you deny him who has been the Repairer of our breaches?  
The City of London, which has been sadly exhausted by building their Parochial Churches, and other public Buildings, desires( which otherwise would scarce ask) your help. The Trade that all the Kingdom( especially places that are adjacent) hath with this Metropolis, that taking the Commodities of the country, and the country again taking its Money, may justly expect something from every one that it able; especially seeing the City hath been always ready and liberal upon the like occasions to extend their help to you.  
Remember 'tis the great ornament and splendour of this Kingdom, set your helping hands to the building of it up again, thereby showing yourselves to be true Englishmen. Don't say as the Edomites concerning Jerusalem and the Temple, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground. There's no doubt but the Reverend prelates, all dignified persons,( especially the Dean and Chapter of that See) have done to their Ability, being therein Exemplary to all clergymen.  
I have hopes that the inferior Clergy will readily imitate their good Examples. Remember we had not enjoyed our Churches but by His means, who so passionately desires that this Work may prosper; O never let our backwardness to so good a Work, cast that Aspersion upon the first Undertakers, as was upon the foolish Builder in the Gospel, that began and was not able to finish.  
We have some that would be accounted clergymen,( Ministers of the Gospel they call themselves; Gifted Men they are, but they'l keep their Gifts for themselves and theirs) that have moneys( and too much) to foster and nurse up Rebellion, Sedition, and Schism amongst us, that do aedificare in ruinam, that are liberal of it even to prodigality for those destructive ends: If we should ask any thing of them to this great, this good Work, they cry out in ●he Grammar Language, Parcamus pecuniae.  
These men have their little Churches in Great mens Houses, and do affront this by alienating the minds of others from it, because they themselves are unwilling.  
And for the puny Fanaticks of inferior classes( your ill-bred Brood) we may sooner expect the building of it by a Miracle, than to get any thing from them.  
In former times the Ancients wer● wo●● to erect Statues to the Honour of ●●ch as had do●e any thing Famous for their country; certainly we must build Gallows for such as are stubborn, irregular, unnatural, and disobedient Children to their Political Father the King, and their Spiritual Mother the Church, that will do nothing for either, but all things in opposition to both.  
You of all the people in the Kingdom can make breaches and faults in our Churches, but you'l mend none. You have greater Privileges than any other of His Majesties Subjects; to that purpose you watch yourselves: pray, do you expect to be of the Church Triumphant in Heaven, when you voluntarily excommunicate yourselves out of the Church Militant here on earth? Undutiful Children! that call your Mother Whore; Uncharitable people! that would go to Heaven alone, though we are not willing to go without you.  
There was never so much vanity and lavishness shew'd in building our own Houses, as in these days: many have built themselves out of doors, so that they have nothing to give; a just judgement and a sore Evil, to such as dwell in Ceiled Houses, and let Gods House lye waste for so many years.  
And now again a Word to you my Brethren of the clergy, all or the greatest of my hopes is in you; methinks I I see a forwardness and willingness in you to this work: there are none so fit for Church-work as Church-men. But perhaps some of you may object, that this Adviso comes too late, the Subscriptions are over in many places already. No question of it your Subscriptions will be acceptable at any time, and your Reward will be equal with them that went before you. If you come in at the eleventh hour of the day, your labour will be as grateful as theirs that came in at the first hour. Help forward the Lords work against the mighty Oppositions made( and never made till these late Licentious Times) against Churches and Church-men. If you subscribe according to your Ability, and I may live to see the Top-stone laid, I shall be ready to say, Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart, &c. I have my end, and so has this short Discourse.  
valet in Domino.  
FINIS.