A brief DECLARATION OF The Reasons that moved King JAMES of blessed memory, and the STATE, to erect a College of Divines, and other Learned men at CHELSEY.  
Together with a Copy of His Majesty's Letters in favouring the same.  
And an addition of some MOTIVES forcible to excite good Christians zeal to a voluntary and liberal Contribution.  
LONDON, Printed by E.P. for Nicholas Bourne. 1645.   

A brief Declaration of the Reasons that moved King JAMES of blessed memory and the State, to erect a College of Divines, and other Learned men, at CHELSEY.  
Understanding by experience, that want of information hath much hindered men's devotion in contributing toward the erection and dotation of Chelsey College, we have thought it very fit, together with his Majesty's Letters, seconded by my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, to declare the reasons that caused this work to be undertaken, and to add such Motives, as we have supposed may be most effectual to give satisfaction to his Majesty's desire, and perfection to this honourable design.  
First it was considered, that the ●opes Agents traveled Sea and Land, wrote books in favour of their faction, devised lies and slanders, to bring Religion and the Professors thereof into hatred, and not sparing any standing in their way, by falsehood and treachery oppugned Kings and Princes, that could not endure the Pope's tyrannical government. And for this end, men of ready wits, good speech, long experience, and competent learning, have been maintained in Colleges, furnished with Books, helped with Counsel and directions, bound with Laws and Oaths, to uphold the Papal Hierarchy and Heresy, 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 foe great a labour, counsel of their Ancients to direct them, Books and Libraries to instruct them, forms of proceeding to keep them in compass, and rewards to maintain them, those excepted that are due for Ecclesiastical cures, it was further advised, that to make a sufficient defence for the truth of Religion, & honour of the State, and a strong and continual opposition against the continued lies, slanders, errors, heresies, sects, idolatries, and blasphemies of our Adversaries, it was necessary to unite our forces, and to appoint special men, that without other distraction might attend the cause of Religion and the State, being furnished with Directions, Instructions, Counsel, Books, Presses, competent maintenance, and other necessaries.  
This than was the reason why this College by his Majesty and the State was first designed, and a corporation granted with large privileges, viz. That a select number of Divines and others should be gathered together into one body, and united with one form of Laws, and there maintained, who being furnished with Books, and directed by men of experience and action, might always be ready to maintain 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 Ministry, by teaching and conference to convince the obstinate Papist and Atheist, and by all lawful means to maintain truth, and discover falsehood.  
This is the College commended by his Majesty, 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 means. His Majesty's Letters directed to my Lord of Canterbury, follow in these words:  
Right trusty and well-beloved Counsellor, we greet you well.  
Whereas the enemies of the Gospel have ever been forward to write, and publish books for confirming of erroneous doctrine, and impugning the truth, and now of late seem more careful than before to send daily into our Realms such their writings, whereby our loving Subjects, though otherwise well disposed might be seduced, unless some remedy thereof should be provided. We by the advice of our Council have lately granted a Corporation, and given our allowance for erecting a College at Chelsey, for learned Divines to be employed to write as occasion shall require for maintaining the Religion professed in our Kingdoms, and confuting the impugners thereof. Whereupon Doctor Sutcliffe designed Provost of the said College, hath now humbly signified unto us, that upon divers promises of help and assistance towards the erecting and endowing the said College he hath at his own charge begun, and well proceeded in the building, as doth sufficiently appear by a good part thereof already set up in the place apppointed for the same. We therefore being willing to favour and further so religious a work, 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 Clergy, and other of their Diocese, to give their charitable benevolence for the perfecting of this good work so well begun. And for the better performance of our desire, we have given order to the said Provost and his Associates to attend you and others unto whom it may appertain, and to certify 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 terms:  
NOw because it is so pious and religious a work, conducing both to GOD'S glory, and the saving of many a soul within this Kingdom, I cannot but wish that all devout and well-affected persons should by yourself and the Preachers in your Diocese, as well publicly 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 been frequent in these latter times, yet let not those whom God hath blessed with any wealth be weary of welldoing, that it may not be said that the idolatrous and superstitious Papists be more forward to advance their falsehoods, than we are to maintain God's Truth. Whatsoever is collected, I pray your Lordship may be carefully brought unto me; partly that it pass not thorough any defrauding hand, and partly that his Majesty may be acquainted what is done in this behalf.  
Your Lordship's very loving Brother G. Canterb.  
The like Letters are written to my Lord Chancellor, and my Lord Mayor of LONDON.  
By these Letters it may appear, that this College is not an idle project of any private man, but a pious work projected by the King & State, and that all that profess Religion, and desire the continuance and advancement thereof, yea, all that honour his Majesty, and wish the prosperity 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 work of piety for the maintenance of true Religion, who can be accounted truly pious & religious, and yet yield no help to advance it? being a project to maintain the honour of the State, what good subject will not contribute to set forward this project? but to touch only the point of God's 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 suppress Baal's Priests, and is content that the Pope be worshipped like the Idol Bell? can God's honour stand with the superstition, heresy, idolatry, and blasphemy of Papists; profaneness of Atheists, fanatical doctrine of schismatics, and idle Novelists?  
It is not sufficient for true Christians to profess true Religion, but they must with zeal maintain it, & with heart abhor, & with hand suppress 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 unfeigned hatred. The Law Deut. 13. is direct against such as entice us to serve other gods, our eye may not pity them, nor may we show mercy unto them, no although they be our brothers, or our wives that lie in our bosom.  
An odious thing also it is, either to suffer truth to be suppressed, or lies to be received. Saint Augustine in Epist. ad Casulanum, saith, It is a fault to hid truth, as well as to tell lies; Uterque reus est, & qui veritatem occultat, & qui mendacium dicit. chrysostom Homil. 25. in Matth. doth charge him to be a Traitor 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 Christianity and Popery may stand together, and themselves as Newters stand between 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 between two Religions: no man that honoureth any Creature can say he truly 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 took not down 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 God's 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 equal diligence to maintain truth, and suppress Popery 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 less desire in us to defend truth, then in our adversaries to maintain lies.  
This College 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 be a means to increase learning, and to supply the defects of places haunted with the spi●its of Anti-christ, the Jesuits, and Masspriests, and therefore cannot choose but be well approved of all, that either desire a learned Ministry, or love learning. Finally, seeing the Church hath received no greater dishonour by any, then by unsufficient and unlearned Churchmen, I hope this may be a means to recover some part of their lost honour.  
Wherefore, whether we regard the service of God, or the honour we own to our King, or the love we bear to our Country and the State, let us not show ourselves sparing or backward in yielding our aid to set forward a work so religious and profitable for the Church, so honourable for the State, so necessary in regard of the malice of our adversaries, and the defects and discouragement of our own forces. Other collections have been either for private persons or strangers, or places remote, or matters concerning some particular occasions. This concerneth a general good, and toucheth every man both in conscience and honour. Heretofore we have endeavoured to maintain Religion, and favour others abroad, let us not therefore neglect ourselves, and our own honour, profit, and necessary service at home. Neither let any man think it strange, that a work of such greatness should be advanced by this weak means, or that a project so necessary should proceed so slowly. Almighty God, albeit all sufficient, yet would have his own Tabernacle built by the voluntary offerings of his people. Speak, 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 until they were stated from offering, King Solomon likewise was greatly helped 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 voluntary offerings and contributions, the Temple was repaired by joash, 2 King. 12. and by josiah, 2. Chron. 34. and this hath been the use and practice of ancient times in building, and endowing most famous Churches, Colleges, Schools and other monuments of Religion and Learning, both in our own and other Countries. Our Adversaries by this course have had means to build many Monasteries and Colleges, & Schools for Jesuits & Friets, as it were propugnacles of Superstition, Heresy, Idolatry, and Anti-christs tyranny, to uphold and make good their own corruptions in Religion, and usurpations upon the Magistrate's government, and every Christian man's liberty. And this have they done not only in Europe, but also in the Indies, & not one in every Kingdom, but in the same state divers, and almost in every great City one. And shall not this flourishing Kingdom build and endow one College for the maintenance of God's true service, and the honour of the whole State? It were a dishonour to our Nation, and the whole Church and State to think contrary.  
The work we confess hath hitherto proceeded slowly: And no marvel, seeing great works are not easily achieved. Noah's Ark, God's Tabernacle and Temple, and famous Schools and Colleges, albeit founded by Kings and great men, were long in building, and do we wonder that this College is not yet finished? Further it pleased God to deprive us of Prince Henry our principal hope, and the chief Author of this design. Lastly, who knoweth whether God hath apppointed these weak means to set forward a great work, that his power in our weakness might have the whole glory?  
Let us therefore, good Countrymen and Christians, harken willingly to his Majesty's motion and readily follow his example. Let it appear by our bounty how zealous we are to maintain his everlasting Truth, and root out error and idolatry. Let us by effects declare how studious we are to do good works, and to advance our Country's honour. They that have much may give of their abundance: the rest according to the measure of their means. God as well accepteth the Widow's mite, and poor man's good will, as the rich man's treasure.  
If we honour God with our substance, he will honour us and increase our substance. If we build a house for the maintenance of his truth, that it may continue to our posterity, God will uphold our houses, restore to us, and double it to our posterity. Abraham by offering his son, was made a father of many sons, yea of Nations. And Solomon that shown his Royal magnificence in building God a Temple, in honour and riches passed all other Kings. How then can we excuse ourselves, if we deny God a small offering, that daily offereth to us many graces, and giveth us all the good things we possess? Our souls and bodies are a sacrifice due to him: and therefore no Christian may deny to him an offering out of his worldly goods, if God's service require it.  
As for those that draw back in this service, and refuse to concur in promoting Gods honour, let them mark the words of our Saviour, Matth. 12. He that is not with me is against me. And the curse of the Angel upon the people of Meros', Judg. 5. Curse ye Meros', saith the Angel, for they came not up to help the Lord.  
But we hope we shall not need many word● to move them, that already are so well persuaded, nor to perswad● me●, 〈◊〉 in Religion and devotion are so forward. It is the duty of good Christians to advance God's honour, and repress Superstition, Heresy, Idolatry, Blasphemy. 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 foreign Enemies their adherents. The Adversaries using all their skill, and joining their forces against Religion and the State, it behoveth us likewise to unite our forces, and to join in consultation how to resist them. This common business requireth common help, the practices of the Adversaries provoke us to use speed, the quality of the work being for defence of Religion and the State, will move any whose heart is not hardened, cheerfully to give. Whosoever shall willingly give, shall receive of God a full reward in this life, and when they die, their works shall follow them, and then whatsoever they have given to God on earth, they shall assuredly find in Heaven.  
Wherefore recommending the College of Chelsey to every religious Christians devout thoughts, we cease further to press them. Only for satisfaction of those that desire to know why this College is erected at Chelsey and not in one of the Universities, this we thought sit to add, that this place was thought most sit to receive directions from our Superiors, to consult with men of best experience, to obtain Intelligence from foreign parts, to print Books, & to disperse them; And lastly, to obtain the favour of the State and City. Further hereby, as all emulation may be avoided, so the help of both Universities may as well be had by intercourse of our Agents, as if the College stood in either of the Universities. Thus all things now stand. God bless the proceeding of this work, and give honour to his own name, and a happy issue to this holy design. Amen.   
FINIS.