THE White Minister's DECLARATION: Or, the Meaning of the White SCARF, AND Girdle, Explained.  
WHEREAS many thousand of people in London, Oxford, Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, etc. 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, etc. for Hire or Reward, I have Bound myself 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 Badge of their Profession. Judges and Magistrates have their Furs and Hoods, Caps and Gowns to Diinguish them by. Now the White Robe is the proper Badge of my Profession, which is to 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, Wear the Colour of Hell and Death even the Robe of Iniquity and the Girdle of Hypocrisy.  
I hope there are many Clergymen that Wear the black Scarf and Girdle, who for their Integrity and Sincerity deserve the White. I myself Wore the black Robe about twenty Years, and three Years since I made this Vow, and had always Worn it, had I not been called a Hireling, and a Journeyman Curate. And then I thought 'twas high time to stand up in my own just Defence, and by Pubsick Manifesto, as it were, to Disclaim, what I was wrongfuly Charged withal. This justifiing ourselves, when we are Falsely Accused is always Necessary, faith Bishop Sanderson. And certainly it highly concerns a Divine to stand Clear in the Eye of the World in that behalf: 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 Suspicion of Covetousness: I have Coveted no Man's 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 persuaded me to leave it off: and Some have Threatened to Tear it off. They are Afraid that my White will expose their Black, and my Angelical Sincerity render and expose their Diabolical Hypocrisy. 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 whom 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 Latin 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 Latin Poetry, can make so good Verses I will pardon their Slandering. 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 than they are willing to hear, when they receive the Sacrament, tremble at these Words.  
Therefore if any of you be a hinderer of God's Words, or be in Envy or Malice, etc. 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 Feet as a Witness against her, and take my leave of her.  Loripedem rectus derideat Aethiopem Albus. Jwenal  

To the HIRELINGS.  
BY bribes of Silver Priest is hired to Preach:  
Take away those, and he'll no longer Teach.  
Alas! 'tis Money makes him Eloquent.  
His Voice is gone when Golden hopes are spent,  
Actors and Fiddlers, Songsters, Pleaders do  
Their Voices sell, and so do Preachers too.  
One Prophet vile and scorned has regard.  
To th' Office only; not to the Reward.  
The Sun's bright Flames to Mortals freely Shine:  
And whilst I preach for Nothing so do mine.  
Note, That this invective against Hirelings, is not designed only against those Hirelings, that are in the Church, but equally against all of that Sect or Proffession soever that Take upon them the Office of a Teacher for the sake of gain. These Teachers that are thus mercenary and tinsincere, God Almighty turn their Hearts. Which is the earnest Prayer of  
Jos. Perkins. Jos. Perkins.  
If any Hireling be offended at this Paper, Let me bear all the Blame.  
Jos. Perkins. FINIS.   

LONDON, Printed for the AUTHOR, 1699.