LONDON, Anno Dom. 1647. A Brief DECLARATION of those that have accepted the Trust of Receiving and Distributing such Sums of money as well-affected Persons shall Subscribe towards the Maintenance of hopeful STUDENTS at both the UNIVERSITIES, for the speedy supply of the Church of GOD in England with godly and able Ministers. Together with RULES which they among themselves have agreed to observe therein; and some Motives to incite well-affected Persons to be assistant thereunto.  
THE mature and serious consideration of the present sad condition of the Church of GOD within this Kingdom, hath put us (whose Names are hereunto annexed) upon a joint Debate and Consultation, both touching the Causes of its Misery, and the proper Means of Remedy.  
For the first; We find, that the scarcity of a Godly, Learned, and Orthodox MINISTRY, is one great cause of the woeful Ignorance, Errors, Heresies, Blasphemies, and profaneness spreading and abounding throughout the Kingdom, to the dishonour of God, reproach of the Gospel, hindrance of the happy work of Reformation, and hazard of the eternal loss of many thousand precious Souls. And we perceive how improbable it is that the want of such a Ministry should in any reasonable time be competently supplied in those many Congregations that are for present destitute, unless some extraordinary course be speedily taken: Being certainly informed that there are many hopeful young Students already in the University of Cambridge, disabled to continue there any longer; and many pregnant and hopeful Scholars ready for the Universities, discouraged and hindered from going thither; through lack of maintenance toward their subsistence there, whose Parents are either destroyed by these unnatural Wars, or miserably impoverished and undone by want of Trading, heavy Taxes, Freequarter, Plunderings, and such other Calamities as these sad Times have produced.  
And as touching the second; We conceive, that one of the most speedy, proper, and probable Remedies against this evil (next unto the care of providing for those who are there already) will be, forthwith to replenish both the Universities with store of hopeful and promising Plants, addicted to Learning and Piety; and to supply them there for a convenient season with some necessary maintenance: whereby Learning may be encouraged; Knowledge, Piety, and all Church-Reformation promoted; and a Generation trained up, who (through the blessing of our God) may become Pastors according to Gods own heart, to feed the Sheep and Lambs of Christ with knowledge and understanding.  
Whereupon we have thought it our duty, not only to do something ourselves to this excellent End; but also to commend so good a Work as this is, to all those in and about LONDON or elsewhere, whose hearts the Lord shall incline to the furtherance thereof, by a free and voluntary Subscription of several Sums of money, to be paid in (either at one or more entire Payments, Yearly or Quarterly, as shall seem best to the underwriters) unto such Treasurers as are herein named, and shall from time to time be appointed by the trusties (or seven of them at least, viz. one Alderman, two Ministers, and four Commoners) by whose consent and advice the said Treasurers may still issue out the same to the End above propounded. Wherein also these Rules shall be observed.  
I. THis Charity shall be extended to such Students or Scholars only, as by reason of their Religious education, pregnant Natural parts and Learning, inclinableness to Piety and to the calling of the Ministry, are hopeful to prove able and fit Instruments for advancing God's glory, and his Churches good.  
II. Care shall be had, that none of this Money shall be conferred upon any, but such only whose Parents and Friends are in whole or in part disabled to send them to the Universities, or maintain them there: And that more or less shall be allowed to every one, according to the proportion of their wants and necessities respectively who shall receive it.  
III. Overseers shall be appointed to have an eye to, and inquire after their carriage in the Universities; and if it shall be found either idle, or offensive, and after admonition not reform, the Exhibition allowed to such person or persons so delinquent, shallbe withdrawn.  
iv The Exhibition allowed to any one shall only so long be continued, till he shall be judged, by the trusties, or (seven of them at least, as abovesaid) to be competently fit for the service of the Church, or be otherwise provided for.  
V Six of the trusties, viz. Two Aldermen and Four Commoners, shall be Treasurers to Receive and Disburse such sum or sums of money as shall be subscribed. Whereof three shall be New chosen every Year by the trusties, on the 25. day of March, or within 14. days after. The Treasurers at present elected and appointed, are James Bunce Alderman. George Witham Alderman. Christopher Pack Deputy. Walter Boothby Deputy. Mr. Alexander Jones and Mr. Daniel andrew's.  
VI The Treasurers that now are, or shall hereafter be chosen, may not admit any person or persons whatsoever to partake any of the said Contribution or Exhibition, without the advice and approbation of the trusties, or seven of them as before; and that declared in writing under their hands at a Public meeting, and Recorded. And there the Treasurers shall be accountable four times at least in every Year, both touching their Receipts, and their Disbursments: And to that end shall have Books of Accounts to be faithfully kept for the satisfaction of the trusties and Others as oft as need shall require.  
VII. Whensoever it shall fall out that any of the Forty trusties shall die, or remove his habitation out of the City of London; The rest of the trusties surviving or remaining, or the major part of them, shall meet together and elect another in his place, from time to time: And diligent heed shall be taken, that such Persons only may be chosen, as are apprehended to be men of active, faithful, public, and unanimous spirits; Men of sound Judgement, and godly Conversation, cordially affected to the Church, and to a thorough Reformation.  

And for the better encouragement of all well-affected persons to so good and necessary a work, We offer to their prudent and pious thoughts these ensuing Considerations.  
1. Acts of charity & bounty, though but to the outward man, are an odour of a sweet smell to God, and such sacrifices wherewith he is well pleased, having many precious promises entailed upon them: How much more sweet and acceptable to God shall those acts of charity be, which tend to the relief of Souls, and may have influence into Eternity!  
2. Hereby a learned and godly Ministry will be speedily prepared, for the many thousand Congregations in this Kingdom now destitute thereof: whereupon, Gods glory will be advanced; his Truth and Gospel dispersed; Ignorance, Heresy and Impiety extirpated; the life of Religion and Reformation increased; the Church of God built; and multitudes of poor Souls that sit in darkness and shadow of death, furthered in their way to Heaven, both at present and i●…cceeding Ages.  
3. Hereby the subtle devices of Satan, strongly working in these days, to overthrow Truth, Godliness, Reformation, the Kingdom of Christ, and all the Church's happiness at once (by the extirpation and subversion of the godly and learned Ministry) shall be countermined and disappointed, whilst through God's blessing upon these our endeavours an able Ministry is set up and increased.  
4. These days of Reformation promise to us, that young Students in both the Universities shall be more religiously trained up there, and also better provided for when they return thence, then in former times they have been; which consideration may much encourage us.  
5. The honour and credit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whereof England hath had so long, sweet, and full enjoyment, should much incite our zeal to count no worldly treasures dear unto us, that we may support the same in its Spiritual glory, and so propagate it to Posterity. Did our Predecessors sacrifice their lives for the Truth, and shall we grudge a small pittance of our estates for the furtherance thereof? Yea, shall Papists be so bountiful to maintain Superstition; Heretieks, to advance and propagate their blasphemous Heresies; and the very Heathens to uphold their vanities; And shall not we much more be openhearted and openhanded to advance the true Reformed Religion?  
6. How famous hath LONDON been in former times, for erecting and maintaining Lectures in the dark corners of this Land? How active of late, in adhering to, & in adventuring their All in this great Cause of GOD? And how will it add to their honour, peace and comfort, to be exemplary in this so good a work also? Who knows, but such an example of Zeal and Piety may have an influence upon other Cities and rich places of this Kingdom, to stir up their imitation of them herein; which may cause exceeding many thanksgivings to God, both in the present and succeeding Generations.  
7. Finally, it is clearly evident upon manifold experience, That as poor men's sons for most part do more seriously devote themselves to learning than others do: So God hath pleased not only to open men's hearts by charitable contributions to encourage their studies, but also to make much use of them in the work of the Ministry within this Kingdom, and that in the worst of times, for Conversion of Souls, edification of his Church and advancement of the glory of his own most holy name.  


The names of the trusties.  
Sir John Wollaston Alder.  
Tho. adam's Alder.  
John Warner Alder.  
Jo. Langham Alder.  
James Bunce Alder.  
Tho. Foot Alder.  
Jo. Kendrick Alder.  
John Bide Alder.  
George Witham Alder.  
Tho. Vyner Alder.  
Mr. Steph. Marshal.  
Mr. Edm. Calamy.  
Mr. Jer. Whitaker.  
Mr. Obad. Sedgwick.  
Mr. Sim. Ashe.  
Mr. Thomas Case.  
Mr. Laz. Seaman.  
Mr. Sam. Clark.  
Mr. Fran. Roberts.  
Mr. Will. Jenkin.  
Col. Fran. West.  
Mr. Rich. Turner Deputy.  
Mr. Christoph. Pack. Dep.  
Mr. Walt. Boothby Dep.  
Mr. Tho. Arnold Dep.  
Col. Rob. Manwaring.  
Col. Edw. Hooker.  
Col. John Bellamy.  
L. Col. Lawr. Broomfield.  
Mr. Alex. Jones.  
Mr. Andr. Kenrick.  
Capt. Rich. Vennour.  
Major Joseph Vaughan.  
Mr. Steph. White.  
Mr. James Martin.  
Mr. William Kendal.  
Mr. Dan. andrew's.  
Mr. Tho. Bewley.  
Mr. Temp. Milner.  
Mr. Lawr. Brinley.