Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	old_a	prophet_n	testament_n	5,085	5	8.1969	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81046	Tythes no property to, nor lawful maintenance for a powerful Gospel-preaching ministry. Or A compulsory maintenance for Christs ministers is contrary to Christs doctrine and example of his apostles and the example of the faithful ministers of Christ, and famous reformers in all ages, as VVickliffe, Hus, and divers others, with an old prophecy written by Iohn Hus, as it is recorded by Fox in his Acts and monuments, commonly called the Book of martyrs. With a discovery of the marks of the false prophets and ministers in all ages (as they are found recorded in the ecclesiastical history) since the apostles days to this very time agreeing with the Scriptures of truth both of the Old and New Testament. Written by a lover of the souls of all men, Iohn Crook.	Crook, John, 1617-1699.; Hus, Jan, 1369?-1415.	1659 (1659)	Wing C7214bA; ESTC R29665	16,933	16

TYTHES No Property to nor lawful maintenance for a Powerful Gospel-preaching Ministry OR A Compulsory Maintenance for Christs Ministers is contrary to Christs Doctrine and example of his Apostles and the example of the faithful Ministers of Christ and famous Reformers in all ages as VVickliffe Hus and divers others with an old Prophecy written by Iohn Hus as it is recorded by Fox in his Acts and Monuments commonly called the Book of Martyrs With a DISCOVERY Of the marks of the False Prophets and Ministers In all Ages as they are found recorded in the Ecclesiastical History since the Apostles days to this very time agreeing with the Scriptures of truth both of the Old and New Testament Written by a lover of the souls of all men Iohn Crook 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quinon habet vitam Christi Christum non habet They are the children of Abraham that does the works of Abraham So they are the children of the Martyrs that follow their steps and not they who are crying them up with their tongues and maintaining and taking of Tythes and other abominations with their practices which the Martyres and holy men witnessed against and some have lost their lives for London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. THE PREFACE BVY the truth and sell it not was the saying of the wisest of men and is the voice and endeavour of all the children of Wisdom who know the price thereof to be beyond Rubies and the enjoyment thereof to be more precious then fine gold and the purchasing thereof to be worth the selling of all that it may be possessed for in it is riches and honour and by it comes the pearl of great price to be known And who makes all truly rich truly wise and truly free that comes to the knowledge of it but this is the Mystery of it It is not purchased without the selling of all nor cannot be enjoyed but by those who are poor in Spirit and yet nothing more free gift then that nor nothing more truly bought without money and without price then it and the knowledge of this Mystery is as free in its revealing as this truth is in its appearing in and to the sons and daughters of men many have taken pains to find it but it hath been hid from the eyes of all living and concealed from the wise and prudent who have talked of the fame thereof but because of the dearness of the rate have been offended at it so have never come to the enjoyment of the thing it self but have satisfied themselves with dead Pictures and likenesses framed in the Chambers of their Imagery which Idolatry is more dangerous then theirs who fall down to an Image made of wood and stone and when the beauty of truth it self so appears that it out-shines their Image then they either oppose it with open opposition or else will not receive it because it appears with its visage marred more then any of the likenesses that hath yet shewed themselves and exp seth the livers of it to the worlds scornes to professors rage and to great mens and Rulers disdain and hatred and because it appears to the staining of their glory and pride they do now not much un-like the Senate of Rome of old when Tyberius made Relation to them of Christ and his Miracles who are said to reject them for no other cause but because they did not first approve the same And further Tertullian a man well experienced in the Roman Laws in his Apologie for the Christians in his 5. Chapt. saith by interpretation thus That it was an antient decree that no god should be consecrated by the Emperour unless it were first agreed unto by the Senate who saith on the behalf of the Christians That the Deity is weighed amongst you after mans will and judgement unless that God please man he is not made God so that by this decree man must be gracious and favourable to God Not much unlike to this constitution of mind have many grave Senators appeared in these dayes who could willingly have contributed to the putting down Tithes if the great men could bear it the Priests be pleased to have it so and the Parliament account it no disgrace to move against them nor the Lawyers be angry for impairing their trade but such it is to be feared loves the praise of men more then the praise of God and while they please men are not the servants of Christ but where is these mens faith and what is become of their experiences cannot be that hath delivered from the oppressive Court of Wards and from the arbitrary Star-Chamber Court from the hands of the late King from the power of the Bishops and from others also who have said as Absalom once did to palliate his design Oh that all men would come to me and I will do them Justice and take away oppressions deliver out of the hands of this Philistiue the Tithes also yea verily the Lord will deliver his people from this intolerable yoke of bondage and if those in present power do not do it deliverance shall come another way for the Lord God is appearing in power and great glory to deliver his oppressed seed and to take away the abominations from the midst of the Nations the longer any have continued the more need there is to hasten the removing of them and whereas there is a cry among people that to take away Tithes is to destroy property c. Therefore have I written this following discourse that all sober-minded people may understand how that both by the Law of God the Common and Statute Law of this Nation also together with several Presidents of the Martyrs and others who in the darkest times of Popery Witnessed against Tithes and all kind of computsory maintenance what soever for preaching alwayes esteeming Tithes to be but a meer Almes as by their own words at large may appear which I have set down as I find them recorded in the Book of Martyrs for the satisfaction of those who desire to know the truth and to be made free by it Tythes no property to nor lawful maintenance for a Gospel powerful preaching Ministry c. PRoperty is that which a man hath a just right to and interest in without injury to another and is derived to him either by descent purchase or gift and not by custom onely for that gives no man a title or property that had it not rightly confirmed upon him as aforesaid for although oustome to places and some things are accounted as law yet always with this limitation such customes as are good and reasonable for saith Cook Custome ought to be reasonable Cook 6. book of Reports excerta causa rationabili usitata c. neither doth the law of England create or make any man a title or property that had none before but only conserves and maintains every mans just property and equal right

dwells the love of God in him and if this is shewed to every brother how much more to him that labours in the Gospel of Christ therefore it may well and upon good ground be suspected that either the Gospel that those preach that take any thing in lieu of preaching as hire or as wages is due for work or any other gift for to preach which gift I cannot have if I preach not is not the Gospel of Christ which the preachers of it was to live upon For the statute of Ed. 6 gives not the treble damages to them but another Gospel seeing by experience we see that the Gospel which these men preach would starve them if it were not for the Justices of peace and Judges favour which causes peoples goods to be taken from them against their wills given to the Priests contrary to the Law of God and this Nation as before is proved or else that they are no ministers of Christs sending forth for whom he alwayes did and ever will provide maintenance and furnish them with his presence to the end of the World so that such cannot complain of want but those who have not his presence with them are full of complaints to Parliaments to Councels to Judges to Justices and who not that they have the least hope of relief from by which things we know them to be none of the ministers of Christs sending or else lastly there is none of Gods love in people and if they beget not men and women into God love what do they preach for for strife for debate and malice and envy and hatred and covetousnesse and pride and Worldly greatnesse and respect of persons because of advantage and taking hire and paying hire for preaching and giving gifts and taking gifts for preaching and taking Tithes and giving Tithes for preaching which since Christs ascention are all marks of carnal people and carnal priests and the word of Reconciliation is not committed to them as it was to the ministers of Christ of old and there was witnesses against them in all ages by some that were faithful as by these few presidents out of the book Martyrs may appear with many witnesses more both before and since which might be produced out of several authors of no mean esteem but those who will not turn and repent and be washed from their marks of falsity and deceit must have their portion with the deceivers and the deceived that pay them for their deceit the wages of unrighteousnesse as aforesaid will be marked also if they speedily repent not but not with the mark of Christs sheep for they know his voice and a strangers voice they will not follow but of the goats and of which sentence that famous Reformer John Hus have by way of prophesie foretold and also of a deliverance that shall come to the Church and people of God as it is recorded in the book of Martyrs in these words Moreover hereupon note and mark by the way that the Church of God cannot be reduced to his former dignity or be reformed before all things first be made new the truth whereof is plain by the Temple of Solomon like as the Clergie and priests so also the people and Laitie or unlesse all such as now be addict to avarice from the least to the most be first converted and reclaimed as well the people as Clergie and priests Vol. the 1. page 830. albeit as my minde now giveth me I believe rather the first that is that then shall rise a new people formed after the new man which is created after God Of the which people new Clerks and Priests shall come and be taken which all shall hate covetousnesse and the glory of this life hastening to a heavenly conversation notwithstanding all these things shall come to passe and be brought by little and little in order of times dispensed of God for the same purpose and this God doth and will do for his own mercy and goodnesse and for the riches of his great longanamity and patience giving time and space of repentance to them that have long lien in their sins to amend and fly from the face of the Lords fury while that in like manner the earnal people and carnal priests successively and in time shall fall away and be consumed as with the moth c. And further it is yet more sure out of that Record against which lies no averment viz. Jeremiah 23.1.2.3.4.5 and 6. and throughout that chapter Wo be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the Lord Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastours that feed my people ye have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not visited them Behold I will visit upon you the evil of your doings saith the Lord and I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all Countries whether I have driven them and will bring them again to their folds and they shall be fruitful and increase and I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them they shall fear no more nor be dismaied neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise up unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute Judgment and Justice in the earth in his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousnesse THE END