Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A25401
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Of the right of tithes a divinity determination in the publike divinity schools of the University of Cambridg / by ... Lancelot Andrews ... ; translated for the benefit of the public.; Theologica determinatio de decimis. English
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Andrewes, Lancelot, 1555-1626.
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1647
(1647)
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Wing A3144; ESTC R19352
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16,526
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27
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Of the Right of TITHES A Divinity Determination in the Publike Divinity Schools of the University OF CAMBRIDG By the Right Reverend Father in GOD Lancelot Andrews Late Lord Bishop of WINCHESTER When he proceeded Doctor in Divinity Translated for the benefit of the Publike 1 COR. 9. 13. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple And they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Vers. 14. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel London Printed for Andrew Hebb at the Bell in S. Pauls Church-yard 1647. TITHES Ought not to be abrogated THat such anciently were the manners of men and such the times wherein the condition of the Priesthood was sumptuous and most flourishing not onely with those truly excellent Ornaments of Learning but also with those of Riches and Preferments History the witness of Truth is a sufficient evidence Among the Heathen Theophrâ—stus is my Author That in stead of the Tithe wherin notwithstanding we take our selves to be very bountiful the thirds were paid Among the Iews Philo reporteth That the wealth of the Câ—rban was oftimes the object of envy to the neighboring Kings Among the Christians as in other Nations so truly in this our it is certain That the desire to increase the Revenue of the Clergy proceeded to such a height that it was greatly to be feared lest the Church should swallow up the Common-wealth That therefore it was seasonably taken into consideration then and so is now when there is little need of caution that no Lands should be bequeathed in Mortmane i. e. to sacred uses without the Royal Patent Such anciently were the manners of men and such the times While mens manners and the times were such a disputation touching the right of Tithes was nor doubtful nor necessary But at length in this our age when as commonly old men so the world growing old is wholly set upon money there is a general chiragra an epidemical Gout in the hand There are no improvements to the Clergy would that were all there are frequent impairings I say frequent impairings and I wish it might onely be said there are and that there might never be cause of using the future tense But to this humor of the present age wherein what for that unholy hunger after gold there is nothing esteemed Holy we may adde another Error That those Worthies not to be named without all honorable respect whose help God made use of for the Reformation of Religion were very solicitous for the Reformation of Doctrine but less attended the Churches Patrimony and almost said what the King of Sodom did to Abraham Give us the souls and take the rest to you But as they who thought they should finde the Baptist in Kings Courts so they who thought they should finde Abraham there were both deceived Which Error though a small one and a small one indeed it is if we compare it with those great and famous acts performed by them yet we may justly fear will lie heavy upon succeeding Ages an which true-hearted honest men from that of Solomon Where no oxen are the crib is clean presage Barbarism or somewhat worse which I will not speak of falsly perchance and I pray God it prove so but not rashly I am sure not without cause And indeed they ought to have withstood the beginings as we say and have snatched this sweet bit from this eating and drinking Age which perverts all to most detestable use and have taken care not onely of increasing the light but also of allowing oil Which because not done this evil spreds daily more and more and the devourers of Church-Revenues whisper up and down in corners as most an end the maner is that the Church may be impleaded and sued for the remainder of Tithes and thereupon finde out new quirks to put Her in a worse condition then talk of a stipend Finally so turn themselves on all sides that the Clergy may at last say it to their sorrow Their sowing or their mowing is nothing to us To pass by other things as lost and gone by prescription I shall make bold to plead for Tithes and shall thereupon challenge them who are otherwise minded and prove that the Tithes of the yeerly comings in are by the highest equity due to the Clergy and that no Parliaments no Lords or Commons can settle that affair more wisely then it was of old provided for by the Sacred Law then God the Lawyer himself so absolute that Iustinian is no body to Him had proclaimed many ages since I am to treat of a hard point nor is there any by whose candle I shall light mine wherefore it will be your part Reverend Brethren if I shall compass my designe to do as you do but if I shall fail or come short of it to vouchsafe your pardon as is meet to me the first that make experiment Tithes ought not to be abrogated I Need not explain terms Who knows not what the Tithe is one part of ten Or who doubts what it is to abrogate Either to unsettle what is settled by Law or in stead thereof to appoint a stipend Let us therefore set about the businesse What Christ did in the cause of Divâ—rcâ— I conceive to be of great conâ—ernment First of all to inquire how any matter stood in the begining In the flux of time many things are changed The begining is the most certain Rule and Iudg. I demand therefore who was the first that received Tâ—â—he That great man Melchisedek to whom Abraham gave the Tâ—he of all Melchisedek received Tithe from Abraham but were they free or due Voluntary or by Law If free and voluntary the Argument is of no force and the Apostle puts a trick upon the Hebrews when he compares the Levites with him For the reason is not alike The Levites require their Titbe by Law for they have a commandment to take Tithe of the people Melchisedek his because Abraham would not because he ought Again if this service were voluntary and free Melchisedek were no with better then Abraham For what hindereth but that I may debase my self and do voluntary honor if I please even to my inferiâ—â— My civility indeed would be the more commended But if upon both these considerations this were absurd it follows that he paid Tithe not as a voluntier but as they were due by Law Concerning the Law then I demand again By what Law Not of Sacrifice for he offered none of Blessing then it 's clear For there is a coherence betwixt these two Melchisedek blessed and Abraham paid Tithe Now I assume Tithes are due to Melâ—hisedek blessing The same right remaineth under Christ How can that be made to appear Out of the 12. verse of the 7. Chapter to the Hebrews There is no change of the Law but by the change of the Priesthood But