I preached lately, in your heareing against Popish merrit and the presumtuous pretencon of the Romanists to workes of Supereorogation: And it is not from the perswasion of an altred man that I now desire to promote good workes: for Charity requires the one, and the holy Scriptures condemns the other, And it is enough to attract benefactors that God is well pleased with our good workes, though they be not in them selves meritorious; whereas to ascribe too much to good workes, as doe the Papists, is to turne the vertue of Charity into the crime of Sacraledge. I doe not therefore vrge you to this grante as an act of meritt, but as of good acceptance with God Almighty; of greate reward hereafter, and of honour and advantage to your selves, And more to your learned ofispring in the future. Whereas by the healpe of learning they may build your familyes some storeys higher then they are by their advancement eyther in the Church or Comonwealth.
It is a true observacon amongst Moralists that men will easly bend to those vertues which comport or may be converted into their owne complexions. And Orators will tell you that assent is easy where the proposall patronizeth the gaine to him to whome it is made; Hence it is and it is indeed of sad consideracon that some men whoe are most nice in observeing the rules of Scripture, as being stampt with greate impressions of Conscience in most matters of Christian Practice, doe too readily decline it in matters of gaine; in soe much that for greedy lucres sake they will sinfully putt their moneys to vsury, flatly against Scripture without limitation or consideracon had of the contingency of gaine or losse to the borrower, though such kind of vsury is placed by St. Basill amongst the greatest evills; for it is a hard matter to live an usurer and dye a good Christian; If it then be soe, that men soe nice in Religeon doe soe much desperately comply with that deadly sinn for worldly advantage I cannot but hope for the assent of the Citty to what hath been allready proposed soe consonant with Religeon and conduceing soe much to your lawfull advantage in every respect; and the rather for that the reasons of publique good stands with private emollument in the matter proposed.
I have not much more to say in further invitation of your favourable attention in generall ; 2.2[but I'm to speak more particularly to you, who being Fathers of Children place your hopes in posterity, and therefore desire that they may be comfort to you whilst you live, and an honour to your memory after death.
I pray you consider of their advantage in these few particulars, that the erecting of a College will not only be a means of civilising the Nation and of enriching this City, as I have already observed unto you, but that your children by their birth in this place will as it were fall opportunely into the lap of the Muses and that you need not hazard them abroad for the acquiring of foreign accomplishments, having a well endow'd University at your door. Lastly that such of your children as shall be there placed may be able with Gods blessing on their endeavour to work their advancement without being too burthensome to their Parents. Sir I need say no more as I conceive to soften your ears to perswasion, having already urged both reason and interest. I therefore desire you and your worthy brethren my ancient friends and acquaintance to apply your industry to the effecting what is now proposed unto you; and that in order thereto you will be pleased to call a Common Council to deliberate thereon, having first informed the several Masters of every Company of the pregnant likelihood of advantage thereby to twist and interweave itself with most if not all trades in the City, as also of the other arguments I have offered in furtherance of my well intended proposal, together with such motives as your discretion shall think fit to add as conducible thereunto, and then I shall not doubt but that the plurality or rather universality of votes will be regulated by the voice of reason.]
Mr. Maior you know, and soe doe you all, that I have alwayes held my selfe tied to the inviolable maintenance of yours and this Cittyes libertyes and priviledges, And now I desire that you will be noe more failing in setting forward this good worke by your assistance, than I have been wanting by the strength of my powers and best endeavours to promote the well-faire of the Citty in every respect; and I shall finally dismisse you with my blessing, In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the holy Gost; Praying to God that the prosperity of this ancient Citty and now well governed Corporacon may never be disturbed in the least degree of infelicity and that its constant hapynesse may fill up the largest Catalogue of all divine and human blessings to the length of the worlds duration which is the period of all successions naturall and civill. Amen; Amen.