In 1726 he resigned his preachership at the Rolls.
Pope bequeathed him the copyright and the editorship of his works, and contributed even more to his advancement by introducing him to Murray, afterwards Lord Mansfield, who obtained for him in 1746 the preachership of Lincoln's Inn, and to Ralph Allen, who, says Johnson, "gave him his niece and his estate, and, by consequence, a bishopric."
He resigned Keyston, and his preachership in Lincoln's Inn (Feb., 1622).
There is, however, an active Christian Association andreligious services - provided for by theDean Sage Preachership Endowment - are conducted in Sage chapel by eminent clergymen representing various sects and denominations.
His first preferment was the small vicarage of Cannock in Staffordshire; but he leapt into notice when holding a preachership at St Saviour's, Southwark.