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A79851	A second voyce from the temple to the higher povvers. Wherein is proved that the decrees and institutions of popes and popish counsels, which have been established by the law of the land, and have been continued and confirmed throughout divers ages, by several acts of Parliament, against Jesus Christ, in the way and order of the Gospel (the same yet standing) ought by the present supream authority of this nation to be taken away. Moreover; here is shewed, some particular decrees of popes, which have beeen established by several acts of Parliament, viz. A nationall ministry, tythes, prohibiting men from publick preaching of the Gospel, unlesse elected and ordained after a popish manner, &c. All which as they are the institutions of popes, formerly confirmed by the law of the land, so now, to be abrogated. By John Canne.	Canne, John, d. 1667?	1653 (1653)	Wing C442A; Thomason E710_19; ESTC R207195	25,656	36

Vigandus to please him or his followers is will-worship Of this judgement were e in Hos 2.16 Junius f Loc. com de trad p. 421 422. Musculus g Tract theol vol. 3. p. 210. Beza h in Psa 16. Mollerus i de Polit. p. 72. Sipperus k Contr. Mon. pag. 70. Sadeel and others Now men approve countenance and give honour to the wayes of Antichrist by paying Tythes to Priests we have shewed before 4. It is vitious and superstitious to simbolize with Idolatery By the l Deut. 12.30 Lev. 18.3 Exod. 23.24 Gen. 25.2 3. Deut. 14.1 Lev. 19.17.27.28 Isa 27.9 Scriptures we are forbidden all conformity with them in any of their way order custome traditions manner of worship or religious observations And the Saints in all ages have carefully shun'd it as might be shewed by several examples It was the m Herodot in Thalco Becan in Anolog vetet nov test c. 5. custome of the Arabians and other Heathens in imitation of Dionysius that is Bacchus to round the corners of their head now this the Israelites n Lev. 19.27 might not doe though a thing indifferent as o Calv. in Levit. 19.17 Calvin observes because God would not have them to be like Idolaters 5. Superstition is committed when more estimation is had of a thing more dignity and excellency placed in it and more regard had to it then God alloweth or can stand with his will revealed in his word and so much p lib. 1. de vit ext cult oppos col 504 505. Zanchy proves by sundry instances And in this regard also paying of Tythes is superstitious because that thing is honoured and embraced which we find not in the New Testament to be lawful and thus an idol is set up Tanquam deus ex parte though not deus simpliciter 6. This may be further proved by the testimony of learned men For to have any thing common with Idolaters or to serve God after any way of theirs or to take up and make use of any of their rites orders customes observations institutions they hold it utterly unlawfull Thus have the q Tertul. de coron mil. Greg. l. 1. epist 44. ad Leon. Theod. l. 1. c. 10. August ep 86. ad Casul old Fathers affirmed so our later writers r Pareus in 1 Cor. 10.14 Bucer in Mat. 18. f. 143. Beza Tract theol vol. 3. p. 210. Calvinists ſ Cen. 4. c. 13. col 406. Chemnit exam theol Melane par 2. p. 491. Luthervns t B. Jewel upon 1 Thess 5. p. 219. Sutclief chal p. 62. Formall Protestants u Perth Assemb p. 55 56. Altar Damosc p. 539. Reformists x Bellar. de monac c. 40. de ester● sac l. 2. c. 31. sect 10. Rhem. Annot. on 1 Cor. 6.14 and 1 Tim. 6. sect 4. and in Rev. 1.1 Papists yea many y See Mr Ainsworth on Levit. 19.27 Jew Doctors and some a Taledo can 5.40 Laodec c. 38. Brac. can 32. and 73. Councels have thus concluded and the b Deor. pa. 2. caus 26. quaest 27. c. 13. c. 14. Cannon Law speaks so too Thus much for the first particular that Tythes ought not to be paid as being in it selfe superstitious The next is not to be paid to an unlawfull and Antichristian Ministry as is this nationall ministery essentially derived from the Sea of Rome Our Reasons are 1. Because this is little better then to rebel against Christ and to seek what in us lies to uphold that thing which the Lord will cast downe and utterly destroy 2. It manifesteth the great want of that zeale and love of God which all Christians should have specially here the Higher powers as to disown and abrogate all Decrees of Popes and Popish Counsels which have been confirmed by idolatrous Princes for the payment of Tythes to an unlawfull Clergy 3. To pay Tythes to this Nationall Ministry is to serve Antichrist according to that saying His servants yee are whom yee doe obey 4. To doe this it is to condemn the Generation of the righteous who have suffered under Popery and Prelacy for refusing to pay Tythes to the ministers of Antichrist and to destroy what the others built 5. So long as Tythes are payable by Law to this ministry it grieves the hearts of the righteous and gives just cause of offence to the Churches of the Saints Now wo unto that man by whom the offence cometh 6. The continuance of Tythes will be an occasion to harden the Nationall ministry in their error and sin as to think their unsanctified places are lawfull and good because the Law allowes them maintenance And indeed they have little else to say for themselves their calling being so contrary to the order and way of the Gospel 7. This paying of Tythes strengthens every where the ignorant people in their superstition and blindnesse and is a means to hinder them from the light and knowledge of a Gospel-minister For how can they otherwise but believe that their Parish Priest is sent of God and Tythes due to him so long as by the Law of the Land his ministry is onely owned and justified And he shall say Cast yee up cast yee up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people Isaiah 57.14 Before I end this point I shall answer two Objections and I know no more of weight which are usually brought against the taking away of Tythes 1. That it is injurious 2. Irreligious First Injurious to alter or abolish them seeing the Law of the land hath vested and setled them in persons Ecclesiasticall and so are their right and possession We might send these pleaders for Tythes to what hath been said before as a full and sufficient Answer to this Objection Notwithstanding we shall further add 1. This is no more then what the Bishops Deans Prebends c. and before them Monks and Fryers might have said and upon as faire pretence ground and reason so that in taking away their Tythes if no injury was done them then none here the case being clearly one and the same 2. Acts of Parliament are Acts of men not Oracles from Heaven A Parliament as well as a Councel may be led by wrong principles and so err and make Lawes and Acts that are unjust We doe not think though Tythe-takers would be glad if it might be so that Acts of Parliaments are like the Lawes of the Medes and Persians that never alter But the same power that made such an Act can repeal it againe yea and is bound so to doe if it stand not with the rule of justice and equity contained in the morall Law of God and nature or sound natural reason And this is the case here viz. that those Acts and grants confirming Tythes to Priests were not agreeable to the moral Law of God nor to the Law of nature or sound naturall reason not according to the

A Second VOYCE FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE Higher Powers WHEREIN Is proved that the Decrees and Institutions of Popes and Popish Counsels which have been established by the Law of the Land and have been continued and confirmed throughout divers Ages by several Acts of Parliament against Jesus Christ in the way and order of the Gospel the same yet standing ought by the present supream Authority of this Nation to be taken away MOREOVER Here is shewed some particular Decrees of Popes which have been established by severall Acts of Parliaments viz. A Nationall Ministry Tythes Prohibiting men from publick Preaching of the Gospel unlesse Elected and Ordained after a Popish manner c. All which as they are the Institutions of Popes formerly confirmed by the Law of the Land so now to be abrogated By JOHN CANNE LONDON Printed by M. Simmons and are to be sould at his House next door to the Gilded Lyon in Aldersgate street 1653. TO THE SVPREAM AVTHORITY OF THIS NATION The PARLIAMENT of the Common-wealth of England SIRS WHo knowes whether ye are called to the Common-wealth for such a time as this It is a singular mercy when the Lord in the way of his providence calls men himselfe to imployment and puts a faire opportunity into their hands to Act for him Your Call to this present work was more then ordinary and there is something more then ordinary expected now to be done by you I would think you should never be sitting in that House but be thinking still on those who sate there before you whom the Lord hath laid aside as dispised broken Idols and vessels wherein his soule had no pleasure and why ah they knew not their Generation-work neither were faithfull to the interest of Jesus Christ God is no respector of persons as men sow so they shall reap Charles King of Naples was sir-named Cunctator Delayer because he stayed till opportunity was past but Fabius the Sheild of Rome was so called because he onely stayed till opportunity was come Truly my desire and prayer to God is that you may be like Fabius As for the opportunity it s come it s before you and in your hands doe ye aske what The Lord is now taking vengeance and doing execution upon Babylon in order whereunto he hath stained the power and pride of the Prelates destroyed their Courts Canons and other abominations This work he is still carrying on for it must be wholly desolate not a stone left upon a stone which shall not be throwne downe And as before he made use of the Higher Powers for the effecting of what was then done so he will doe for the rest command his sanctified ones and call his mighty ones to fulfill all his pleasure upon the great whore It is true as the work behind is more choice high and spirituall so he will single out men of clearer principles greater zeale and larger affections and love to him and his Son for it Whether you be the men whom the Lord will honour in this worke I know not but this I know it is speedily to be done for Sion is in travail and ready to bring forth Is it not a goodly thing to behold in Poets Jupiter who hath forsaken his fiery Chariot and rainged Horses letting all goe at randome in the mean time to busie himself in painting upon the Clouds sometimes Goats Apes Centaures c. To deliver my mind plainly for I desire to be plain if you stick not to the interest of Christ and set upon his worke in good earnest which is to destroy the Antichristian Kingdome so far as your power and place extends as for other things comparatively I speake it they are but as Jupiters paintings on the Clouds soon passe away and the remembrance of them hereafter will administer small comfort to you I remember Christs words to his Spouse Rise up my love my faire one and come away for lo the winter is past the rain is over and gone If you speak to a Mariner in winter why he keeps at home and lets his Vessel lye still in the Harbour he hath something to say in reason for himselfe viz. the unseasonablenesse of the time but in summer he cannot excuse himselfe so If a man should have spoken to you 10 or 20 yeares past about this Nationall Ministry Tithes and to have men preach not ordained by Bishops you might have said then it 's winter we are not Parliament men nor in a capacity to help the Lord against the Mighty well it is otherwise now with you and therefore suit your selves like men and doe the Lords worke whiles it is to day Let not this Voyce from the Temple passe through your eares without taking some impression your hearts The which is the desire of Your humble Servant in the work of Sion JOHN CANNE SEVERAL REASONS Proving that the Decrees and Institutions of Popes and Popish-Counsels viz. A Nationall Ministry Tythes Prohibiting men from Publick Preaching of the Gospel unlesse Elected and Ordained after a Popish manner ought to be Abolished by the Present Authority IT is a saying of Solomon To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the Heaven Eccl. 3.1 I know not that ever there was a time or season more fit then now to publish these things For I hope and till I see the contrary shall believe it that those men who are the Higher Powers as they will prove all things so hold fast that which is good My meaning is whatsoever they find upon due and mature examination to be the mind of Christ revealed in his holy word as a work proper to them so they will accordingly act and doe that good that acceptable and perfect will of God First then I shall lay down this Assertion and humbly set it before them Whatsoever Decrees and Institutions of Popes and Popish Counsels have been established by the Law of the Land and have been continued and confirmed throughout diverse ages by severall Acts of Parliament against Jesus Christ in the order and way of the Gospel the same yet standing ought by the present supream Authority of this Nation to be taken away My Reasons for it are these 1. This tends to the effectual accomplishing of that good Promise in Zeph. 2.11 where the Lord speaks that he will famish all the Gods of the earth and men shall worship him c. Now what way or course can be taken more effectual and certain to starve and famish the Antichristian Idols as the false Church Ministry Worship Government then the Magistrate to take away the food and maintenance whereby hitherto and at this present they are nourished fed and kept alive 2. If the Civil Magistrate be to hate the whore and make her desolate and naked as it 's expresly prophesied Rev. 17.16 then he is to repeal all such Lawes and Statutes which Popish Princes formerly have made whereby she hath lived deliciously and proudly and keeps on

to this day her whorish attire And this I understand as one speciall and choise work of the Magistrate To make the whore desolate and naked It is that no Act or Law doe stand in force which doth yeeld any relief or help to her 3. If we must pray for Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty as 1 Tim. 2.2 Then it must needs follow that as it is our duty to pray that those Decrees and Institutions of Popes and Popish Counsels which have been established by the Law of the Land against Christ may be taken away so it is the Magistrates part and duty likewise to repeal them for otherwise the Church and people of God cannot lead a quiet and peaceable life c. but either must live unquiet or ungodly or both 4. If the Civil Magistrate be at all concern'd in taking vengeance on Babylon as to set himselfe in array against her bend his bow fan her and empty her If the pouring out of the later viols doe any way belong unto him this then is most proper to him as acting within his own sphear to null all Statutes and Lawes which idolatrous Princes have made when they gave their power to the Beast whereby the Antichristian Kingdome ever since hath stood and been supported 5. How are the Kings and Judges of the Earth wise and instructed how doe they serve the Lord in fear and kisse the Son as they are commanded Psa 2.10 11 12. If people under their Government are required and commanded by any Law in force though enacted before their time to practice false worship or any act of Idolatry and Superstition or to suffer in their person or estate in case they refuse 6. So long as Rulers permit old Lawes and Statutes in force whereby superstition and false worship is continued and established they are a terror to good works and not to evil They are not in this respect the Ministers of God to us for good which is quite contrary to Pauls doctrine Rom. 13.3 4. 7. Such Lawes and Statutes as were made at first by Idolaters against the wayes and truths of the Gospel so long as they are not repealed all succeeding Governours which allow and command the practice of them doe wrap themselves in the sin and guilt of that power by which they were first enacted and stand no lesse guilty before the Lord then the authors and contrivers of them and so much is clear by the words of the Prophet For the Statutes of Omri are kept and all the works of the house of Ahab and yee walk in their Counsels That I should make thee a desolation and the inhabitants thereof a hissing therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people Mic. 6.16 Omri and Ahab were both deceased long before but some unjust Statutes of theirs remained for which the Lord hath a Controversie with the mountaines of Israel in regard they had not repealed such wicked acts It is true the Prophet in the place doth not expresly say what those Statutes and works were neverthelesse by the History of the Kings of Israel it may easily be conceived They had devised a false worship and ordained Priests for the high Places and for the Devils and for the Calves which they had made Now this being done no question but it was by the States of Israel afterwards Enacted 1. That those Priests should be acknowledged to be true and lawful Ministers and that none should separate from them but communicate in all their publick Acts of Idolatry 2. That the people should pay Tythes to these Priests of the high-places 3. That no man unlesse ordained after the manner and form of these Priests should presume to open and expound the Law publickly to the people I shall say no more concerning the proof of this Assertion only my desire and prayer to God is that those who are in Authority may well consider how much it doth concerne them to inquire after the Decrees of Popes and Popish Councels which have been by the Law of the Land established against the Gospel and are to this day unrepealed In regard if the same be stil allowed by them how they wrapt themselves as was said before in the guilt and sin of those men who first made such irreligious Laws And therefore the Magistrate hath need to take heed what Law he makes or being made before doth allow in matters appertaining to Religion and the worship of God as binding men to the obedience and practice thereof I come now to the next particular that is to shew what Decrees of Popes established by the Lawes of the Land against Jesus Christ yet in force ought to be repealed 1. The Nationall Ministry commonly called the Ministry of the Church of England That this is a plant which the heavenly Father never planted and therefore to be pluckt up by the roots howsoever established by Law I shall make it good by many plain demonstrations But by the way least I should be mis-understood and the matter applied further and otherwise then is intended this I have thought good to declare that I doe believe there are in this Nation many faithful and true Ministers of Christ elected and ordained according to the Gospel some I know whom I love and honour so that it is a Ministry or more truly a Priesthood taken and derived from the Sea of Rome which I here speak of this I call the Nationall Ministry because to say the truth I know no ecclesiasticall person properly so called which the Law of the Land allowes as lawful but he whose Ministry is essentially derived from the Pope But to proceed 1. The Nationall Ministry is so carnal and earthly as that such as hold and maintain the same they have not a piece of Scripture precept nor example to justifie their opinion Insomuch as the learnedst of them and those who are true to their owne Principles doe ingeniously confesse the very thing which we said before namely that the Ministry of the Church of England that which is established by the Law of the Land is derived from the Pope Thus Francis Mason of Consecration published by Authority proves at large by undenyable Reasons So Mr Yates we are Ministers from Rome though not of Rome and gives this as a bone for the Brownish to pick. Model of Divinity page 257. 2. This being so that their office and calling is essentially derived from Rome and the Pope it must needs follow that such men as have not renounced that Ministry but stand formally and actually in the condition they were at first whither Bishops Priests or Deacons have dangerously run themselves upon a point of Treason and Fellony and might be legally executed for treason and fellony if the State were not pleased to interpret the Statute contrary as I conceive to the very letter and forme of it The words of the Statute are these Eliz. 27.2 It

neither of them by the Law of the Land have any title to it For they are not such Incumbents or Ecclesiasticall persons as the Law allowes in case of Tythes For whosoever hath not been ordained Priest or Deacon by a Bishop that is whose Ministerie is not essentially from the Sea of Rome to use Masons words Or as the Non-Conformists expresse it he whose entrance into the Ministerie is not by a Popish and unlawfull vocation strange from the Scriptures and never heard of in the Primitive Church Cannot as a Minister by act of Parliaments claim any proprietie in Tythes Again for such as have renounced their ordination by Bishops and take themselves to be Ministers by Election and Ordination some other way these the Law of the Land counts Sectaries and Schismaticks men that have forfeited their livings and places and so to be suspended It is true Doctor Corn Burgesse though he have turnd often yet probably hath not turnd himselfe out of his title but with Gilhinham Gauden Hamond Slater Reeves Taylor Aern And so Mossom Hardie Baker Williams and other Service Readers he I say and such as these of the old Popish way as true to their Principles may pretend something to Tythes as they have been established by the Law of the Land and as they have been continued and confirmed throughout diverse ages by severall Acts of Parliaments but for others specially the Independents and the Presbyters made since the Bishops were put down as the Law of God is cleare against them so the Law of the Land will not speake one word for them though their Counsell may 5. For what cause some lately desired the Committee to have Counsel to plead the Incumbents proprietie for Tythes it is a riddle to me For who doubts but there is custome usage Lawes and Statutes of this Land for payment thereof as Bishops Deanes Prebends and before them Monkes Fryers had Besides that honorable Committee well knows by the politick Law or custome of England which is the common law of England Tythes have bin vested setled in persons Ecclesiastical But the Question is 1. What the Incumbent hath to say Why the Lawes and Statutes of this Land enjoyning the payment of Tythes should not be abrogated 2. Why Tythes should continue payable to this Nationall Ministerie 3. Why the Magistrate as a thing proper to his place ought to appoint Tythes as the due maintenance of a Gospel Minister Now here is little worke for Lawyers it belongs rather to the Parsons and Vicars themselves to speake to this point And here I cannot but take occasion to note how some men lately in their namelesse Pamphlets for Tythes have made a great noyse about a Catalogue of the Acts of Parliaments confirming the Right of Tythes to the Church And that the world may know what paines they have taken for Babylon or it may be rather for their own Interest they begin at Magna Charta and goe through all the Popish Parliaments even to the reigne of Queen Elizabeth and raking together a great deale of the Popes trash and dung tell us very soberly of many speciall Acts and Grants for payment of Tythes confirmed by such a King in the yeares so and so what remedies the Priests had for recovery of the Tythes and penalties for non-payment of them as treble damages imprisonment without baile Now what is all this but wind and vanitie a seeking to gull and befoole the Nation I except the Parliament for I hope they are so wise as to see this to be a cheat and as we commonly say causam pro causa a taking that for defence of their cause which maketh nothing to the purpose For thus they argue Because Popes have made unlawfull decrees and idolatrous Magistrates have confirmed them Ergo this Parliament must doe so too Now I come to the Reasons against Tythes 1. This way of maintenance of Ministers by Tythes is a Popish custome imposed by the Popes authoritie without any warrant for it in the New Testament not practised in the Primitive Church in the Apostles times nor in the times of the Ministers that succeeded them for the space of some hundred yeares untill Christian doctrines and Apostolicall orders were corrupted with errours heresies and idolatrous orders of superstitious persons as Monkes Nunnes c. But no sooner sits the man of sin in the Temple of God and had set up an Antichristian Priesthood calling himselfe the high Priest and the Priests the Tribe of Levi and Gods inheritance but he made all the Clergie to swear Alleagiance to him See Fox Act. pag. 961. And commanded the people to pay Tythes to his Priests and his Priests to pay first fruits and tenths or tythes to him after the manner of the Jewish people and Levites to Aaron under the Law For the Antiquitie of the payment of Tythes in this Nation the Original I thinke can hardly be shewed Doctor Willet saith in his Synops in the fift General Controversie pag. 314. that in Austins time there was no general law nor custome in the Church for the paying of them And in those Questions that Austin the Monk after that he came into England propouned to Gregorie Bishop of Rome and in the answer which the Bishop sent him back there is nothing said of Tythes nor any such thing required for the maintenance of the Ministers but of the free gift of the people and this was about 596 yeares after Christ see Fox Act. Mon. pag. 105. Before the Councel of Lateran which was under Innocent 3. in the yeare 1215. any man might have paid his Tyth to any Ecclesiasticall person he pleased but by that Councel it was decreed that Tythes should be payd to the Pariochal Priests William Thorpe saith that Pope Gregory 10. was the first that ordained tythes to be payd to Priests in the yeare 1211. Fox pag. 494. Doct. Ridley in the booke of his called A view of the Civil law pag. 147. saith The Customes we pay our Tythes by at this day were setled upon this kingdome by the Popes Legates in Provincial and Synodal Constitutions about the time of Henry 3. and Henry 5. Howsoever these writers agree not in point of time yet in this they accord that the maintenance of Priests by Tythes was a decree of the Pope that vile person divided the Land for gain Dan. 11.39 which was confirmed by Popish Princes And therefore to be abolished as we have proved before This I shall onely adde In the second Article of the Covenant of the two Nations many have sworn to endeavour the extirpation of superstition and all kinde of Poperie that the paying of Tythes is popish nothing more certain and therefore as it is a case of conscience so men ought to be carefull either how they presse it or practice it 2. If we will follow the example and practice of our Saviour and his Apostles and the Churches of the Apostolique Institution the Ministers maintenance is not any

forth to the refreshing and comfort of others The light of the Sun if it should be restrained to some particular place or Country would not have the praise which now it hath for so excellent and glorious a creature So to restraine the gifts of the Spirit to particulars as to shine forth from none but Ministers it is to eclipse the honour of Jesus Christ exceedingly 2. If this be more practised truth will more increase errour and superstition dayly be discovered and convinced and the glorious Scepter of Jesus Christ more lifted up and advanced I know it is objected that this libertie for which I plead opens a doore to heresies blasphemie Atheisme and what not And some have with such swelling words formerly so prevailed with the Magistrate as to confirme and keepe up Pope Gregories Decree to wit that no lay man should Preach But to answer this Objection in briefe 1. I doe affirme and will abide by it since it pleased the Lord to draw out the hearts of some Souldiers and others publickly to preach which is not above 10 or 12 yeares the people of this Common-wealth have had more true light and glorious discoveries of Christ and his kingdome then all the Nations Ministers ever before made known to them since first they tooke their calling from the sea of Rome to this day 2. As Nero dealt with the Christians who hurled them to dogs to be devoured and when he saw the Mastives would not touch them he clad the Christians in Beare-skins to kindle the furie of the dogs that they might take them to be beasts and not men So hath the Clergie every where dealt with the Truth that the Magistrate might suspend and stop the passage of it and people be discouraged from embracing the same They hence rendred it odious to the world Clad it with Beares-skins as naming its errour heresie blasphemie c. And no marvaile though they have prospered in such a designe For as children what you give into their hand they put it into their mouth so ignorant and simple people will believe what the Priests tell them be it never so false improbable impossible And here lies the Master-piece of the Scotch Ministers in aspersing the godly of this Nation as to be Separatists Brownists Anabaptists Antinomians c. Hence they keepe up their idle Traditions and formalities and occasion that people to be disaffected to the puritie of Gods ordinances and the power of Godlinesse But 3. Why should not Ministers be suspended from preaching as wel as those that are not in office if it be to prevent the publishing of Errour For the greatest heresies and blasphemies which have been in the world have been broached by them whereas lay men as they call them at the same time have been found in the faith and zealously earnest against such abominable doctrines As I could give many examples both ancient and modern Object If Ministers deliver any unsound Doctrines there is a course to be taken with them by conviction suspension or otherwise Answ The like may be done if private men be exorbitant and offensive and no question but the State will doe so when there is just cause for it Object But to give way that all shall preach who are able and willing will bring Ministers into some contempt and their labours the lesse regarded and rewarded Answ 1. One Reason of the Papists which they give why the Priests at Masse are to have the Wine alone it is to put a distinction between them and the people and to keep them at distance My mind gives me there are some would have none but Ministers to teach the people thereby to keepe up their own reputation as being loth to come into an onenesse and likenesse with their Brethren 2. There is a spirituall Monopolie as what is civil and this much worse and more hurtfull then the other Now to engrosse as it were the whole trade of preaching into the hands of the Clergie it s a Monopolie superlative therefore the State as I conceive is bound to see it supprest as they have don in the case of other Monopolies of far lesse concernment This being the Popes Monopolie as the other from the King I shall now draw to a conclusion I see there is at this time much adoe about Tythes and great thoughts of heart some have for the maintenance of Ministers I could wish in the middest of these things that something were considered and effectually done for the encouragement and enabling of such as are willing to give themselves freely to the work of the Lord to spend to be spent And for their livelyhood to live by faith in the promises of the Gospel That the State would set open the publick doores which the Parish Priests shut against them and disclaim Pope Gregories Decrees Whilest the former Parliament stood we thought it not strange to see a company of precious Christians constrained to be in private houses and there to worship God in spirit and truth Whilest the Parish Priests and unhallowed multitudes had the publick places to doe their will-worship in But now seeing we have better men as we have hope so we expect better things namely that these publick places which are the States may be otherwise and better disposed It is not the place we affect for if they were razed to the ground it would be well But considering at present they are the places where the people of the Nation resort to we desire they may be left open to such as will freely declare the mysteries of the Gospel to the people and left no longer to a company of Hirelings who as they use the place in many places it 's a Den of Thieves and Cage of unclean Birds then the gathering together of Saints in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ CERTAIN QUESTIONS Propounded to the LAWYERS who are retained by the Ministers to plead on their behalfe for TYTHES I. WHether by any Acts of Parliament confirming the propriety of Tythes to the Church any man as an Ecclesiasticall person can claim any right or propriety to Tythes that is neither Bishop Priest nor Deacon ordained according to the Law made in that case II. Who by the Law of this Nation are formally and actually Ecclesiasticall persons as to claime Tythes III. Whither those Statutes and Acts of Parliament confirming Tythes to Ecclesiasticall persons do stand with the Rules of justice and equity contained in the morall Law of God and nature or sound naturall reason IV. Whether Bishops Deans Prebends c. and before them Monks and Fryers had not Tythes ratified settled and confirmed upon them by the Law of the Land as firmly and fully as any present Incumbent V. Whether the State in taking away Tythes and other Revenues from Monks and Fryers and since from Bishops c. as their Civil right did justly and lawfully in it VI. Whether the Nationall Ministers can prove themselves or you for them to be legally successors to the Priests in whom Tythes were first settled and vested and how if not whether they fall not into the States hand for want of right Heirs VII Whether there be not just cause of suspition that those who pretend to be Ministers of the Gospel waving to plead their own case in matter of maintenance and seeke to Lawers for Counsel have any thing to say for themselves as in that particular from the word of God VIII Whether those Lawers that are to plead for the Ministers who have retained them cannot justifie by Acts of Parliaments that the Tythes of this Nation are more properly and legally due as a civil right to Popish Priests then to the Ministers they are to plead for and if they were as well feed whether they would not plead for them or why not IX Whether those Lawers who are to plead for Tythes are not bound if not in point of Law yet of conscience truly to declare before the Honourable Committee that neither the Independent nor Presbyterian Ministers who were not ordained Priests and Deacons by the Bishops or have since renounced the same are not by any Act of Parliament confirming the right of Tythes to the Church and ecclesiasticall persons in a capacity to receive Tythes neither doth the Parochiall Tythes legally belong to any such persons X. Whether those Lawers in point of conscience should not first weigh and consider the Reasons before And if they find it plainly proved as easily they may if they know halfe so much of the Gospel as Law that the Nationall Ministry is unlawfull and Antichristian established by Popish Princes against Iesus Christ Whether I say they ought not to give the Ministers their money back againe and let Baal plead for himselfe Though I have done this without any Fee yet not without assurance of profit I shall onely commend to these Lawers the good advise which a great Doctour of the Law gave his Brethren If this Counsell or this worke be of men it will come to nought REV. 18.15 16 17 18 19 20. The Merchants of these things which were made rich by her shall stand afar of for the fear of her torment weeping and wailing And saying Alas alas that great City that was cloathed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls For in one hour so great riches is come to nought And every ship-master and all the company in ships and sailers and as many as trade by sea stood afar off And cryed when they saw the smoke of her burning saying What City is like unto this great City And they cast dust on their heads and cryed weeping and wailing saying Alas alas that great City wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costlinesse for in one hour is she made desolate Rejoyce over her thou heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her JER 51.10.35 The Lord hath brought forth our righteousnesse come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon shall the inhabitant of Zion say and my blood upon the inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem say JER 50.45 Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out FINIS