My Reverend Brother,  
WHEREAS His Sacred Majesty, in his Brief graciously granted for the Relief of the French Protestants, hath commended the pursuit of that Brief to the Paternal Care of the Bishops of every Diocese; requiring them to give particular recommendation and command to all Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, in their respective Dioceses, for the advancing so pious and charitable a Work. And whereas His Sacred Majesty( as appears by the Brief) requires, That only such Motives as are contained in the Brief( for better cannot) should be made use of to induce People freely and cheerfully to contribute to the Relief of those poor and afflicted Protestants. In Obedience to His Sacred Majesty's Command, I recommend to you( and you may recommend to the People) such Motives as these( expressly grounded on his Majesty's Brief.) As,  

1. His Majesty's gracious and charitable Example, who( besides other Testimonies of his Royal Pity and Bounty towards them) has taken them into his Protection, and granted them this Brief.  
2. His Majesty declares it to be agreeable to the Laws of Christian Charity, and common Bonds of Humanity, to take their deplorable condition into his Tender Care and Princely Commiseration; and therefore those Laws and Bonds of Christianity and Humanity, bind all his Subjects( according to their ability) to commiserate them, and contribute to their Relief.  
3. If we consider their Quality and Religion, they are Christians, and Protestants, conformable to the Government of our Church and State.  
4. If we consider the sad condition they are now in, being reduced to extreme want and necessities, and in a deplorable condition.  
5. If we consider the great Numbers of them( of which the Brief assures us.) All these Considerations( which are expressed in the Brief) should be effectual Motives, to induce all pious and charitable Christians, to commiserate their afflicted Brethren, and to contribute liberally to their Relief. That so the Charity and Collection might have some proportion with the Number and Necessities of those for whom it is collected.   
These and such other Motives( provided that they be indeed grounded on the Brief) you may, and ought to use, to persuade the People under your Charge and Cure, to a liberal Contribution. For this( as you may see by the express words of the Brief) his Sacred Majesty( out of his Great Charity to the poor afflicted French Protestants) requires; and if you cheerfully obey,( as I hope and believe you will) it will be an acceptable Service both to God and the King. This, in Obedience to his Sacred Majesty's Command, and according to my Duty, is signified to you, by  
Buckden. April 10. 1686. Your Diocesan and Brother, THOMAS lincoln.