His Person vpon it and with these and aboue all these 6. The Lord God of Heauen who hath thus exalted him so by these 6. things wee may bee put in minde of these 6. seuerall payments of this Tribute the sundry parts of our sixe-fold duty vnto him For The sword exacteth feare the Crowne importeth honour the Scepter requireth Obedience the Throne expecteth Tribute the Person deserueth defence and the Lord commaundeth Praier Each of which that we may yet better conceiue of each a little as God me shall assist and time permit 1. Feare is to be giuen to Caesar It is the duety of subiects 1. Feare to feare their King so teacheth Humanity so teacheth Diuinitie For humanity Periander saith Feare Periander Prou. 24. 21. Princes for Diuinity Salomon saith Feare the Lorde and the King Prou. 24. If I be a master doth God say where Mal. 1. 6. is my feare If I be a master may the King say where is my feare Bee ye afraid of the sword saith Iob cap. 19. for the Iob. 19. 29. sword will be auenged of wickednesse And why for saith S. Paul Rom. 13. Hee into whose hand it is committed by Roman 13. 4. God beareth not the sword for nought It is not put into his Roman 13. 4. hand onely for a shew No but he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doth euill According wherunto Prou. 16. 14. it is that Salomō faith The wrath of the King is as messengers of death Pro. 16. And again The kings wrath is like the roaring 19. 12. of a Lion Worthy the noting to this purpose is the speech which the second of those squires of the body made before Darius and his nobles wherein discoursing of the 1. Esdr 4. 2. power of a King and the cause why he ought to be feared he saith Though men rule by land and Sea and ouer all things The power of a King in them yet is the King greater for he ruleth all things and is Lord of them If he bid thē make war one against another they doe it If he send them against the enemy they goe and breake downe mountaines and walls and towers They kill and are killed and do not passe the Commandement of the King If hee bid kill they kill if he say spare they spare If he bid smite they smite if he bid make desolate they make desolate If hee bid build they build if he bid cut off they cut off c. Feare wee therefore the sword the powerfull sword of Caesar A good The good effects of loyall feare subiect feareth blame as much as paine reproach as much as torment and dishonour as much as death This feare carrieth one eye of the subiect vpon the Princes sword that hee neuer prouoke it the other eye vpon the offense that hee neuer commit it This feare as the best porter at the Princes gate keepeth traytors out of the Kings court and trechery out of the subiects heart This feare as ballast preserueth the ship from being ouerblowne of the winde keepeth the soule of the subiect that it be not ouerthrown by others flatterie or her owne presumption This feare as a bridle curbs vs from all disobedience and as a naile fastned by the Masters of the assembly fixeth vs firme in our dueties This feare therefore let vs giue to Caesar for to Caesar we owe it 2. Vnto Feare Honour is to bee adioyned And seeing 2. Honour as among earthly creatures man is most eminent as among the elements fire is most excellent and as among the celestial lights the sunne is most splendent so Caesar among the sonnes of men is most orient who will not since honour is as the Philosopher saith a testimony of excellencie Aristotle giue honour to Caesar least he beare false witnesse not against his neighbour nor against Caesar but against God who hath exalted Caesar and brought him to Honour least he seeme to degenerate from nature which in all honoureth the more excellent least he breake the Canon of the Apostle Rom. 13. Giue honour to whom ye owe honour Rom. 13. 7. Least he transgresse Gods expresse Commandement that saith Exod. 20. Honour thy Father by which note name Exod. 20. 12. the King of the land because he is Pater Patriae i. Father of the whole countrey is specially signified least as Ieremie of some Lament 4. They reuerenced not the face of the Lamen 4. 16. Priest so some complaine of him Hee reuerenceth not the face of the Prince the greater crime of the two For the Priest was a figure of Christ the King is a figure of God If Nebuchad King of Babel setting vp a dead Image could Dan. 3. 1. so preuaile with his vngodly subiects that at the sound of his musicall instruments they did fall down to it and gaue it such honour as God condemneth shall not Iehouah the King of Heauen setting vp not a dead but as Menander Menander calleth a King his liuing image preuaile with all his godly subiects at the sweet harmony of the sacred Scripture sounding out of S. Peters mouth as a principall Herauld Regem honorate Honour the King to giue him that Honor 1. Pet. 2. 17. which he hath commanded The Philosopher compareth the King to a Father to a Physition to a Pylot and to a pastour the causes are apparant And doth not God in holy Scripture giue him in manner the same titles yea and almost all the titles of honour in heauen and earth And why but to teach vs that as the sonne honoureth his Father the sicke his Physition as the mariners regard their Pilot the flock their shepheard so and much more should subiects honour their Caesar people regard their prince God and men hauing so honoured Caesar let all our people honour him Let Hester not presume into the presence of Hest 5. 1. 2. the great Ahashuerosh till he hold out the golden Scepter Let Ioab though the Generall of the Armye giue Dauid 2. Sam. 12. 27. the honour of the victory Let euen Nathan the Prophet and Sadoc the high Priest make obeisance before my Lord 1. King 1. 23. the King with their face to the ground In a word as Ioachim et ver 39. 40. the High Priest and the ancients of the children of Israel said vnto Iudith for the benefits that God by her had Iudith 15. 8. 9. shewed to his people so let the reuerend Fathers of the Church the truely Honourable Nobility of England the graue Iudges and Magistrates of the Common-wealth in honour of our most worthy and glorious King King Iames for the benefits which God by his most excellent Maiesty hath done to his Dominions say Thou art the exaltation of our land thou art the glory of our Israel thou art the reioycing of our nation Thou hast done much good vnto our countrie and God
newly bought the thing in kind the same kind vnto the house of God Whereupon I may well inferre That if our people will or doe some prescriptiom or custome allowing them that fauour in more cases then one and in such cases too as Gods Law did not make mony of the tithe and sell that is ours they ought at least to pay vs in steede of that tithe the whole money they make thereof Which if they did and out of all question most of our customes and prescriptions intended no other wee could well bee content they should haue that choice which properly belongeth vnto vs and it should little grieue vs that they from whom it comes had that is ours for their money before any other while as we haue of them for it as any other would giue 3. The word of God most strictly forbiddeth any m Deut. 27. 17. By them the ancient boūds are remoued to remoue the ancient bounds Which if it ought to be obserued religiously twixt man and man I see not why it ought not as duely at the least be obserued twixt God man For is it not meet that God should haue quae Dei sunt those things that be his to be as safe vnto him as any man Now it is most euident that this he hath not where whensoeuer men giue to God not veri nominis Decimam as n Andr. Hispan reg decim passim the Canonist termes it the very tenth but in steed thereof some lesse part as the twentieth or fortieth For God hauing set his bounds at Deciman the tenth it is by this meanes remooued and set shorter a great deale If it be sinne o Cicer. Parad. 3 transilire lineas to passe the bounds this cannot be but sinne And if it were a sinne in vs clergy men if wee would not bee content to pitch at Decimam but would goe beyond that and without any iust recompensation take vp the fifth seuenth or eighth why shall it not bee in the laity to goe on the other side a great deale more I take it in Gods commandements we ought to turne aside p Deut. 12. 32. neither to the right hand nor to the left 4. The word of God disclaimeth vtterly q Leuit. 19. 35. Deut. 25. 13. Ezek. 45. 10. Prou. 11. 1. 16. 11. 20. 16. false waights and false measures as an abhomination to the Lord. Against which if hee doe offend that deliuers vnto his neighbour lesse then iust waight and iust measure yea r Pulton Ab. weight Nu. 14. By them God hath false weight false measure made him though the difference be not much which way can hee be cleared and iustified that obtrudes vnto the Church of God and to God himselfe lesse by halfe and more many times then his tenth which God as his due demandeth to be measured and weighed out vnto him Offer such dealing vnto the King ſ Mal. 1. 8. wil he accept it when a subsidue is giuē him thus much of the pound may a man pay lesse then the ful grant The tenth is as we may say Gods subsidue or as others more properly term it t Caluin in Heb. Sacrū vectigal his sacred tribute demanded by God from the beginning long since euen by men also granted and consecrated to God is it not reason then he should be as truely and iustly paid it as any mortal man To promise one thing and performe another is no vpright man dealing and being offred to God what is if that be not to u Galath 6. 7. mocke God 5. The word of God forbiddeth vs vtterly x Leu. 19. 13. Mal. 3. 5. 1. Thes 4. 6. By them the Church is oppressed and God defrauded to oppresse or defraud any man But what more euident oppression can there be then to take away from men their goods 1. against their wil 2. without due and competent satisfaction which euen Ahab would not offer y 1. King 21. 2. vnto Naboth though he had a minde and a great minde to his vineyard and what more manifest fraud then that vnder colour of customes prescriptions c. made by them that were nor z Duaren de Benef. lib. 8. c. 1. Fent Serm. on pre 20. 25. p. 49. Domini the Lords and absolute owners nor scant Fee-Farmors but only Tenants for the Time of that they past away in perpetuum as is pretended we their successors should be barred of our right claime there to depriued of a great part of our maintenance and God leese his true and auncient inheritance If these courses be iustifiable and good and shall continue The dangerous inconueniēce of these Whether I cast a doubt without cause might appeare if particular notice were duely taken of that the church hath lost within these 60. yeares Foem Monar in the concl n. 8. then verily is both God and his Church in a miserable case For it is possible and probable too that it will so come to passe it is possible I say that within a few ages God shall haue no tithes in kind left him to maintaine his Church and ministers withall All as already in many places the most part is will be turned into customes prescriptions c. It will bee no hard matter sometime by feare sometime by flattery sometime by force and sometime by fraud to circumuent or ouertake many a poore simple and harmelesse man And if a finger thus once gotten into that which is Gods shall vpon a little continuance be allowed for hould-fast good inough to plucke it from the Church and to disinherit God of his right let all that haue anie feare of God anie loue to religion or conscience to the good estate of the Church iudge what may thereof at length ensue 6. Further the word of God requireth that hee that 1. Cor. 9. preacheth the Gospell doe a liue of the Gospell and teacheth nothing more pregnantly that the minister of the word being b 1. Tim 5. 16. worthy of double honour ought c Rom. 10. 14. Math. 10. Galat. 6. 6. Deut. 12. 19. condignely and liberally to be maintained yea so agreeable euen to all good reason and conscience is this that as d Preface to the great Bible The minister cannot possiblie haue due maintenance so long as these do stand some haue well obserued Those mothers are houlden to be lesse cruell that kill their children as soone as they are borne then they that withdraw from their pastors necessary liuelyhood and support fit for their estates But that it is not possible for him to haue where such customes proscriptions c. do preuaile For by meanes of them so much of his liuing is continually taken away that the remainder is altogether vnsufficient and vnfit for him and so contrarie to the law of God and nature e 1. Tim. 5. 18. 1. Cor. 9. 9. Deut. 25. 4. The mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the
Saint Augustine long agoe obserued Domini iustissima consuetudo the Lords custome most iust and equall a thing that he doth very often execute what vt si illi tu decimam non dederis tu ad decimam reuoceris that is If thou giue him not his tenth thou m Andr. Hisp reg dec 9. hauing lost thy nine parts be brought to a tenth And therefore as the same father peremptorily n C. 16. Maiores q. 17. Nicola 1. caus 16. q. 2. Rab. Maur. in Num. lib. 2. C. 22. â—t 23. affirmeth now there are so manie tempests by sea and land so much sterilitie and dearth of victuals so often and so great mortalities and famines because people doe not pay to God his due but detaine vnto themselues some by one meanes some by another that which is Gods Other of the fathers as o Orig. in Num. homil 11. Hier. in mal 3. Origen Hierom and others haue obserued the like And not the fathers only but likewise the auncient p Concil Tribur c. 13. conc worm c. 16. q. 1. synod Arelat 4. cap. 9. counsels and sacred synods of those first and best times that so wee might know the same to haue beene also the common doctrine and the verie faith of the whole Church haue so decreede and concluded According vnto whom for our owne land and time though our other sinnes bee manie and God no doubt doth for diuers transgressions send among vs diuers and sundrie plagues yet I make no question of it but that for The Principal cause why God many times smiteth vs with famins vnseasonable weather c. this one sinne this so great so common and vsual a sinne viz. the defrauding of God and his Church the manifold sacriledge euerie where committed among vs the contempt and wrong that way done to our Church-men both in towne and countrie the ill and slender prouision made for the Ministers of the Gospell by vs that so long haue professed the Gospell euen for this massie sinne or rather masse of sinnes it is that we are so oft smitten with famines and dearth with vnseasonable and bad weather scorching drought and drenching wet flouds and fires with losse of goods and needinesse of all things that so wee may receiue a iust and full reward according to our wicked workes The particular falls and miserable ends of sundrie such as haue lift vp their hand in this sort against God as that of q Melanc de gest reg Angl. lib. 3. Polid. virg anglic hist lib. 10. William Rufus here at home r Gagn. lib. 4. hist franc Rebuff de dec q. 10 fig. 7. Charles Martel in France may teach vs what danger it is to be aduenturers this way And where as there haue beene such in these later times Å¿ Hous ser 2. on Matth. 21. 12. p. 35. 38. as vnder colour of friendship and holy pretenses haue made no little spoile of that is Gods if we consider what hath beene the end of such may wee not say with the t Psalm 78. 66. Bern. in Cantic ser 65. Ridl view p. 170. Psalmist 77. Percussit inimicos in posteriora that is that God hath wounded his enemies on the hinder parts and put them to a perpetuall shame and see that fulfilled in them which is written in another place u Psal 109. 10. Foem Monar in the conclus o. 3. a. Couel in praef to Carlton Let the stranger spoile his labour and let his posteritie be destroyed and in the next generation let his name be cleane put out It is an old rule yet not more old then true Ex male quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres that is Seldome doe goods ill got descend to the third heire Church-goods are the right x Sabellic Aene. 5. lih 8. p. 821. Gueuarra Suruey of the preten discip c. 21. aurum Tholossanum scant a man that vnlawfully takes to himselfe anie part thereof euer thriues afterward very like to the Arke of the God of Israel if they y 1. Sam. 5 3. be forced into the temple of Dagon or z 1. Sam. 5. 9. 1. Sam. 6. 19. God will blesse them that pay him these things iustly touched by strangers they will be their ouerthrow On the other side if wee render to God his due and rightly giue him the things that be his wee may safely promise vnto our selues Gods assured fauour and blessing We haue his word for it Mal. 3. if we bring omnes decimas a Mal. 3. 8. all the tithes into his barne and take such order that there may be sufficient meate in his house for them that doe him and vs seruice there he will open the windowes of heauen vnto vs and power out vpon vs a blessing of plentie without measure he will rebuke the deuourer that he shall not destroy the fruit of our ground our land shall be a pleasant land and so wee b Hag. 2. 20. shall be repaid at large and plentifully restored the losse we might feare and the hindrance we might doubt wee should doe our selues in yeelding him his due He can say no more but bid vs * Mal. 3. 10. prooue him withall and make triall a yeere or two whether he will be as good as his word and fulfill his promise or not And c Gryn in Mal. 3 would to God in hac re longè maxima in this so great and weightie a cause we could at length be induced to prooue what God would doe Hee doth not vse to deceiue meÌ„ with vaine words nor draw theÌ„ on to their hurt if therefore there be anie truth in him and his word and what greater impietie can there be then to doubt thereof It is the readie way to thriue and grow rich Maiores nostri ideo copijs omnibus abundabant quia Deo decimas Caesari censum dabant that is Our auncestors saith Saint d Aug. C. maiores caus 16. q. 17. Augustine did therefore abound in all wealth and riches because they alwaies duely paid to God his tithes and to Caesar his tribute And we may iustly thinke that no small part of that plentie and abundance which our eares haue heard our owne forefathers had was because in this point they were more righteous then we They made that conscience Our fathers in their ignorence shewed a better conscience this way theÌ„ many of vs in our knowledge of paying their tithes iustly and fully that we doe not They would not for a world take to themselues that they knew to bee as they rightly and religiously tearmed it Gods part They beleeued they should neuer prosper if they should deceiue the Church or rob God of his due They thought it their duetie if not e Cassiod lib. 3 epist 9. Foem Mon. o. 2. a. noua construere that is to giue somewhat themselues to the Church at least yet vetera conseruare to keepe most carefully that was alreadie
Daron pag. 43. them that count it An admonition vnto Magistrates a principall part of their charge to cherish good pastors set before their eies the religious example of good king z 2. Chro. 31. 4. Down Serm. on 1. Tim. 3. 1. Hezekiah who to the end the Priests and Leuites might be incouraged in the Law of the Lord tooke a strict and due course that the tithes of all things and other portions belonging to God and his Priests might iustly be restored and duely paid vnto them imitate the true zeale of that godly Ruler a Nehem. 13. 8. Nehemia who would not indure the alienation of one chamber of the Priests to the priuate vse of Thobijah and that neuer rested till he had b Nehe. 10 34. restored to the Priests and Leuites of the house of God all their tithes offerings and other duties that so being duely prouided for they might not forsake the house of God any more and pace in the steps of that thrice renowmed and religious Emperour Constantine the great which c Herm. Gigas confirmed vnto the Church the tithes of all things and d Zepper de polit eccles lib. pri capit 21. Zozom hist eccl lib. 2. c. 4. Euseb de vit Const lib. 2. c. 36. et lib. 10. c. 5. An Admonition to the Parliament restored vnto it all such lands fields houses c. As in former times the time of peace had beene giuen to the Church and in latter daies daies of persecution had beene taken from it againe And our Parliaments I would beseech in the name of God to be careful to auoid that imputation which S. Paul layeth vpon the Iewes e Rom. 2. 21. Thou abhorrest idols saith he and dost thou commit sacriledge And f Down serm on 1. Tim. 3. 1. let them consider that if not to the full restitution of all impropriations which at the dissolution of Abbies iustly ought and g View of L. pag. 169. easily might haue beene made they still remaine deepely obliged and for the not restoring thereof the whole land standeth in an high degree obnoxious to the iudgement of God yet their sinne cannot be little which not restoring them haue not prouided for euery such impropriated Church a fit Vicaridge at the least so sufficiently endowed First with part of the gleeb secondly tithes as well great as small thirdly other profits of the Church that so the vicar might be able first to doe diuine seruice secondly to informe the people and thirdly to keepe hospitality according to the very tenour and letter of their owne lawes enacted vpon due and mature consideration of the equity and necessity of such a course h An. 15. Ric. 2. cap. 6. an 4. Hen. 4. cap. 12. in time of i Othobon c. Quoniam de Appropriationibus Ecclesiarum palpable blindnes as well k An 1. Edu 6. cap. 14. as of better eye sight l As appeareth in the commoÌ„ formes of the Ordinations of Vicaridges and intent and minde of euen such as at first attempted that euill that so the people defrauded of their tithes c. might not with double sacriledge be defrauded also of the food of their souls whilst left to the curtesie and conscience of the m Constit eccles can 45. 46. exempted Impropriator which for the most part is cruell carelesse and couetous they are committed to the refuse of the Clergy such as wil be hired for least n Reynold in Obad Ser. 2. as if the olde Prouerbe best is best cheape were no longer true but the new practise best cheape is best were the right rule And that little is the Clergy of our land specially the inferiour Ministery of our Church beholding vnto them which after so many spoiles and iniuries done thereunto cannot obtaine so much onely as to haue that remainder which is left to be paid in specie or to be disburdened of those or at least of some of those pretended o Rid. view p. 160. exemptions p Carlet epist dedic Hous on Math. 21. Serm. 1. pag. 44. hard customes vnreasonable compositions pernitious prescriptions and q Ridl view of L. p. 113. 115. odious prohibitions wherewith it is daily more and more depressed and impouerished as if either that estate alone had already could not but haue an Omnia benè or we alone that be of the ministery aboue all other members of this common-wealth were eyther no part of their charge or not worthy to be respected righted and releeued Lastly let Lawyers and Iurors vpon whose pleading and Ad admonition to Lawyers and Iurors verdict those things do too often much depend take heed that they doe not rashly and partially giue away those things from God The cause and right is Gods and therefore they must know that in striking a poore Minister and wresting from him his tithes and other dues through his side they strike and wrong not the Church onely but God also of whom we hold originaly and in Capite whatsoeuer is the Churches It will ill excuse the one that they plead for their fee and therefore must make candida de â—igris et de candentibus atra r Ouid. Metam lib. 11. fab 8. of nothing something like the Heathen Orators which counted it their glory Å¿ Tull. de Orat. lib. primo Erasm Apotheg lib. 8. Licost Apoth pag. 105. to cast a mist before mens eies and make a bad cause seeme good nor acquit and iustifie the other that t Foem Monar they do gratifie men of their owne fashion do for them as they would be done for in like case These causes no lesse then any other should be handled sincerè et candidè with all sincerity and indifferency And reason it were u Ridl view of pag. 133. considering how much is already by sundry sacriledges by pretence of law by alteration of times and other vijs modis iniuriously taken from God and the Church they should fauourably interpret the Lawes to the good of the Church and restoring vnto God that which indeed is Gods rather then as adding affliction to the afflicted and trampling vpon those that be already vnder foot make our burden still more and more heauy as if there were a continuall and generall conspiracy of the laity against the Clergie they did all thirst for that little as yet left vs held it a ruled case the x Foem Monar n. 4. a. Rid. View of pag. 185. moderne practise makes it seeme probable that whatsoeuer cause comes into the common Law for tithes must goe against vs and would teach vs by often and wofull experience that y Foem Monar n. 8. b. we were better loose all then sue for any where the matter must come through their hands Howsoeuer credible it is that if those kind of persons were all and alwaies as able and carefull to make demonstration of Science and conscience
c. as are laudable and good agreeable to reason c. But what can bee lesse reasonable then x Faem Monor in the conclusion To take away a goose and sticke vp for it a feather or what more euill then to take from men their goods against their will and that without y 1. King 21. 2. any reasonable satisfaction Is it a thing laudable and good to pinch and pare away the profits of the ministers liuing in such a sort as in all reasonable mens knowledge and vnderstanding he cannot possibly in any good sort liue of the rest Is this to doe z Math. 7. 12. Note this well as they would be done vnto If there were anie such custome that the rate or price to be paid for anie thing titheable should bee double or ten times the value of the tithe the odds and inequalitie offered vnto vs * For where our tithe is wel worth two or three shillings we haue for it but two or three pence for foure pēce or twelue pēce at the least we haue but an halfe penie Item in rates of grounds where it ye elds now per an hūdred markes or hundred poūds we haue happely ten or twelue shillings for the tithe thereof after the old valew where reason would our rates should rise as well as your rent More in many places there is a custome that for pasture ground let to rent we take for tithe the tenth peny of the rent a course very equall and easie and of long practise as may appeare Lindw de dec cap. Quoniam prepter §. de Nutrimentis verb. diuidenda est in gloss Yet because it is some times a little more commodious to the Church then the tithe as now a daies it is paid can bee Lord how oft is it denied vs how hardly can we enioy it what repining and grudging against it is many times no lesse would they acknowledge it to be a custome laudable and good graunt that because it is a custome it ought not to be brokē not thinke it fit and seeke to haue it abated and reduced to reason and equalitie And why not we likewise to haue the contrarie to be increased and amended If wee should offer them for their goods their corne their cattell and other like as their fathers and grandfathers did sell the like would they not say we were either madde or senselesse yet the matter weighed in equall ballance there is as little reason and as small cause why they should doe it to vs as we to them If they of whom we receiue such pay were bound to sell to vs as their forefathers did to our predecessors what we needed to buie at the like rate there were yet some indifferencie But that they shall be free from vs and we onely inthralled vnto them agrees neither with conscience and equitie nor with that benefit and libertie which all others doe enioy If a man should offer to a seruant such wages or to a labourer such pay as for manie yeares past men of that ranke a See the state of An. 25. Edu 3. cap. 2. An. 12. Ric. 2. cap. 4. An. 23. Hen. 6. cap. 13 c. vsed to take hee should be condemned as deuoide of sense and conscience but the like is offered vs wee must take for our tithes but as they were worth one or two hundred yeares agoe and haue but such pay for our seruice such wages for our labour as was giuen then when men might haue liued better therewith then now with fiue times as much and yet we must bee thought vnreasonable that grudge there against and not they that preferring custome before conscience haue not reason to increase it answerable to the times as if we onely of all people in the land could liue at Other inconueniences They be the maine cause of the bad estate and needinesse of our cleargy Their original erroneous and euill the old rates and our estate alone were such as did not rise and fall as other mens doth Heereupon it comes to passe 1. that manie of vs namely such whose liuing consisteth most vpon personall tithes or vpon the smaller prediall tithes doe liue more like beggers then ministers 2. should starue for very hunger if we could not relieue our selues some other waies and 3. the more our parishoners do prosper flourish and increase in wealth as at this present in these Halcion daies of all peace and plentie the more doe wee decay and pine in neede 11 Further if we looke vnto their Originall what is it but errour and corruption They tooke their beginning and forme b Alex. Hal. part 3. qu. 51. 3. Tho. 22. ae q. 87. ar 3. See the view of l. pag. 143. 161 from Papists perswaded most vainely that whatsoeuer it pleased the Pope to approoue was lawfull and good and they haue increased and gotten head by c Pet. Marc. loc com class 4. C. 13 §. 18. Zanch. de Redē lib. 1. Cap. 19. Protestants resolued though faslely That tithes are not now de iure diuino and that the maintenance for the minister may be raised any other way Besides these but builded vpon one or other of these we may impute no small part of their being and increase to the d Ridl view of law p. 132. l. 14. Tertul. de virg Veland §. 1. Neuend part 2. C. de dec eccles negligence and simplicitie of such on the one side as not foreseeing or not regarding what might in time to come thereof insue and to the craftinesse or couetousnesse of such on the other side as knowing how to make vse of others weakenesse cared little so they gained what anie els God or man did loose Their beginning being no better and their breede so bad which thing I take to be so cleare and euident that it needs no demonstratiō as the tree once known to be nought we are assured the e Math. 7. 17. Luk. 6. 43. They are a kind of impropriations See more pag. 29. 30. Whether of the two is the worse may be doubted fruit cannot be good so these springing from causes so bad they the effects can be none other then euill 12 Lastly view these and consider of them well and you shall see they are none other then so manie pettie and particular impropriations And therefore vnlesse they bee lawfull and good these cannot be iustifiable and except they be no sacriledge no spoile nor mayme to the Church no bane to the ministerie no hindrance to the Gospell no decay to learning no hurt to the people these are and must needes be Neither is it easie to say whether of the two is to the Church the more iniurious and dangerous That the easier may he discerne which shall first obserue First That although Impropriations in their proper place giue to the Church the greater mayme yet those are but in some places onely but these in all For there is scant a parish what say
prouide for the ease and peace of both sides But now such compositions customes and prescriptions by the very alteration of times especially besides the large extent r Ridl view of law pag. 210. and sinister explications of the statutes by which they stand prouing so hurtfull and preiudiciall to the Church that the same should still bee continued and pressed against the Church is a course against equitie and pietie too And therefore howsoeuer they might be or be thought to be fit and necessarie for those times wherein those statutes were made yet now appearing and daily found verie vnfit and vnequall for these our times for so much as humane lawes which are but leges temporis the lawes of the time Å¿ Lindw lib. 3. tit de celebr miss c. effrenata glos temp v. qualitate etist 4. c. erit An alteration now desired ought to be suteable to the times I trust wee may without either blame or offence desire some alteration and reformation in this beehalfe It cannot be denied that all lawes of men haue as all things vnder sun t Postn pag. 47. ortum statum occasum their beginning in which they might be verie good their state in which they are but indifferent and their declining in which they prooue vnfit and so shew themselues worthy and as it were offer themselues readie to grow out of vse and giue place to better Which in this cause not respected if as these things got protection where and when they should haue had condemnation and extirpation so to the farther increase of iniquitie in our land and miserie in our Church they shall be fauoured as oft is seene u beyond the very scope and true sense of those statutes and x Ridl view of law p. 131. 139. 210. men will stand strictly vpon the letter of each law and not follow y Postn p. 53. dictamen rationis the sway of sound reason and the z Cod. lib. 1. tit 17. de leg cunsuetud Reg. Iur. Sext. Lopez de contract neget lib. 1. C. 15. p. 81. minde of the law much mischiefe and manifolde inconuenience as in this case is too manifest will and must needes insue and the old prouerbe a Tul. de offic l. 1 Summum ius summa iniuria that is such extreame law is extreame iniury bee plainely verified b Idem A man but heathen wise can tell and teach vs that in such cases Non exempla Maiorum quaerenda sed consilium est eorum a quibus exempla nata sunt explicandum that is The examples or the verie facts of our fore elders are not to be stood vpon but their purpose and intent whence their facts proceeded is to be considered This onely is true and rational imitation Neither doe we desire other fauour and course in this our cause then is commonly graunted to others in cases c In sundrie new statutes repeales explanations c not a few and in this verie case custome for tithes hath d PulioÌ„ Ab. â—iâ—h Num. 41. lin 1. for behoofe of the laitie against the * Note there the laietie hauing found but one vnreasonable custoÌ„e against them and that but in an Angle of the land could haue it speedily cut away the cleargie finde many in all places yet they can haue no redresse Church long since beene practised Yea But what a sore losse and hinderance would this be to a great many Graunt that because that another hath they haue not it be some losse or abatement of their vsuall income and former profit yet that may easily bee borne if men will consider as Christians should that God as the man of God told e 2. Chron. 15. 9. Reynold pref Serm. on Obad. the king of Israel that asked what he should doe then for the many talents of siluer he had laid out is able to giue them much more then that comes vnto by restoring it another way and by blessing and increasing according to his speciall promise f Malac. 3. 8. in this case the remainder If not that g Prou. 16. 8. better is a little with righteousnesse and h Prou. 15. 16. Psal 37. 16. in the feare of the Lord then great reuenewes without equitie But in verie deede it is none no man ought to account it any losse or hindrance to him i Rom. 13. 7. Deut. 24. 15. to pay his due to anie but aboue all to God And if men caried an indifferent minde why should anie account it anie hurt to them to pay their full tithe in one thing more then in another or more to them then to their neighbours that now pay the like or to their predecessors which in their times did pay as then each thing was worth It is a mans hurt to liue by other mens Turpe lucrnea res pessima goods and to continue in doing wrong vnto or defrauding anie i Prou. 20. 25. specially God and his Church from time to time as all they doe as I haue now sufficiently shewed which doe not giue to God his things in kinde to the full or the full valew and due estimation thereof at the least From the matter I come to the manner how wee must 2. The manner how we must giue giue That considering it seemes vnto mee that the verie word k Abulens in Matb qu. 99. Dixit Reddite et non date quia dare est donare vel sponte dare reddere autem est soluere quod acceperis 1. Freely giue doth necessarily implie three things that is that we pay that which is due to God freely fully and timely for that indeede is rightly to giue a thing when it is bestowed freely without constraint or respect of this or that profit fully without diminution and timely in due and conuenient season without either disordered hast or needlesse delaie First we must giue freely God as in all things so doubtlesse in this l 2. Cor. 9. 7. Ecclus 35. 10. loueth a cheerfull giuer and cannot abide that men should as it were conductitia intentione with a mercenary mind as those that doe all for gaine and profit yeeld him that is his He will not haue men make merchandize of his goods as if they were their owne not Gods m Math. 10. 8. gratis accepistis gratis date that is freely ye haue receiued c. Secondly we must giue fullie not looking if it be good or bad neither n Leuit. 27. 33 may we change it Gods owne Law Hee 2. Fully that bids vs to giue one another o Luk. 6. 38. good measure and running ouer doth looke not to be pinched and scanted at our hands as if wee counted all too much that hee or his are to receiue If we keepe the fattest and fairest to our selues and turne him the scruffe and whatsoeuer is nought or little worth will hee accept it How hee liketh such dealing his law may teach vs
things were such for the most part as we now would account reasonable and very good cheap prices of all things necessary to liue by and fourthly the single estate of the Clergie with other like considered the difference and ods was not so great as now it is nor the liuing so incompetent and beggerly But what excuse can there bee for them which seeing such alteration of times and such insufficiency and want of maintenance doe yet sit still let all alone and as if all were already very well prouide no remedy no ease for that which whoso hath but halfe an eye may see but one dramme of good vnderstanding may perceiue but one scruple of good conscience must needs consent and but one graine of religious affection confesse needs some redresse and amendment Obiections answered Some happely will pretend for what cause so bad that may not finde some defence or excuse an impossibility Obiection 1 The case is helpelesse But wee can hardly beleeue that that estate which had Note here how easie it were to right the Church wherof see more at large in my M. Min. cap. 10. power enough in taking away the rights of the Church hath not power likewise if it had will to right them againe Of for some part of amends that it were a matter of extreame difficulty First to repeale two or three hard and vnequall branches of a statute that so the body thereof which is absolutely sound and good might haue his due and full force Secondly to cut off those iniurious prohibitions of fact whose chiefe seruice is to vndoe the Church and by little and little to take away that modicum which yet remaineth vnto it Thirdly to restore to the Church her tithes in kinde and according to the Law already in force Fourthly to prouide at the least the restitution of the whole being immedicabile vulnus and a matter farther then we may preuail u Zepper de leg l 4. c. 10 p. 366. vel precibus vel pecunijs not to be hoped for that in euery impropriated Church there should be ordained a vicar perpetuall and the same conuenably endowed as also Fifthly that for personall tithes which are hitherto y An. 2. Ed. 6. c. 13. Pulton AB tithes Num. 30. 31. granted vs in name but taken away in deede there might for the due maintenance of our ministers in townes and cities some z As after the manner of London See M. Min. cap. 8. pag. 154. Ibid. for pers tithes pa. 54. 81. et 132. vniforme and reasonable course or composition be generally setled Obiection 2 Some it may be will not sticke to say It is a matter of small moment The cause is needlesse But ought it to seeme a small thing in our eies that no small number of our Churches bee altogether vnprouided of any fit and competent meanes for maintenance of their Ministers and by consequent that many thousand soules in the land b Prou. 29. 18. Math. 15. 14. Rom. 10. 14. doe perish for want of teaching If they were newly conuerted from Paganisme or lately of desert or ruinated places made habitable c For in many of them nothing is left for the minister but a pension of 10. or 8. or fiue pound yea in some places lesse thē 4. pound per an though the impropriation be worth 1. 2. 3 ye or 400. poūd per an See Mr. Crashaw ep Dedic before Perkins they could not lightly haue bene worse prouided for then many of them are nor is there feare they should haue suffered such extremities at the hands of cruell and barbarous enemies in time of warre as they haue sustained of their friends in the daies of peace Is it nothing that we haue professed the Gospell in all peace and liberty so many yeares and yet not made due prouision for the ministers of the Gospell either in towne or country but doe entertaine them so basely so vnwoorthily d Hous Ser. 1. on Matth. 21. 12. pag. 34. that the estate euen of meane artizans and ordinanary tradesmen is better then many of theirs Is it nothing that e 1. Tim. 6. 11. 1. Sam. 9. 6. the men of God the f 1. Cor. 3. 5. ministers of Iesus Christ those men which g Rom. 10. 15. preach to vs the glad tidings of saluation and h Hebr. 13. 17. watch for our soules and whom alone the Scripture pronounceth i 1. Tim. 5. 16. worthie of double honour which also in former ages were wont to be honoured k Gen. 47. 22. Numb 8. et 35. with freedomes and immunities l Cassiod lib. 2. ep 20. Iud. charond ad leg Phil Iud. de praem et honor sacerd C. de eccles et Episcop 1. We demand nothing but our owne and which is still paid one or other where aboue any other degree or calling are with vs more pressed with heauy burthens then any and depressed none so much with hard measure vnconscionable courses And whereas many priuate causes and things of very small moment haue oft had hearing and found remedy is our condition alone so contemptible or our cause onely so vnworthy consideration that it onely may haue no successe and he bee censured as factious that shall but open his lippes on our behalfe First If we did demaund any thing but what in right is ours and what in some or other places is still yeelded to the Church wee might with some colour be reiected but when as we craue and claime of that is other mens m Genes 14. 23. Crash ep dedic before Perkins not so much as a thred or shoo latchet least any should say They haue made vs rich their sinne is without colour of defence that see the wants of the Church and distresse of the Ministers thereof and yet take no course for the supply or remedy thereof in any measure Secondly If that we demand were some trifle a matter of small moment and valew our motion might with some 2. That we demand is no trifle shew of equity bee contemned for what is lesse beseeming wise men and worthy then to contend or argue De lana caprina for a matter of nothing But seeing now what through alteration of times and what through vnequall 3. Wee are not otherwise sufficiently prouided for courses at the first that which is deteyned from vs is in many places as much at least as that wee haue and that there is scant a parish in the land wherein the Church one way or other sustaineth not some indempnity and losse the cause beeing so great so generall it wil wel beseeme both vs to make demand and them whom it concerneth to take due notice and yeeld iust restitution thereof Thirdly if we were otherwise sufficiently prouided for had euen without that which is detained but a competent liuing some reason there might seem why we should haue no hearing but seeing what by vnequall diuision of parishes
at the first the vnequall diuision or rather dissipation of Church-liuings since the multitude of vnreasonable customes and prescriptions together with the continuall imparity of learned mens deserts that pretence at this time especially * The whole being but enough how should halfe a quarter or lesse a great deale be sufficient can haue no place there is no cause why the deafe eare should be turned vpon vs vnlesse any will imagine that wee m Rom. 10. 15. the Preachers of the Gospell n Matth. 5. 14. the lights of the world o Matth. 24 45. Luke 12. 42. the stewards and p 1. Cor. 4. 1. diposers of the Ministeries of God q Act. 26. 18. Act. 16. 17. the leaders vnto life eternall and r 1. Cor. 3 5. Ministers of saluation are lesse worthie to be equally respected duely prouided for and condignely rewarded then Å¿ An. 12. Ric. 2. 4 an 23. H. 6. c. 13. an 6. H. 8. 3. an 5. Eliz. c. 4. the very seruants t An. 25. Ed. 3. 2 et 34. cap. 9. an 13. Ri. 2. 8. an 23. H. 6. 13. an 7. H. 8. c. 5. Pult. ab Just. of p. Num. 66. â— â—bidem the common labourers and the u manuary artificers of our parish 4. They be not a few that desire it Fourthly If the motion were but the suggestion of some few of the Clergy or among them but of the poorer sort vicars of Churches and other like and yet why should not x Deut. 24. 14. et 26. 7. Prou. 21. 13. et 29. 7. 14. the crye of the poore bee heard and y Ouid. de Trist lib. 5. â—leg 1. they that haue most cause be suffered most to complaine it might with some shew be contemned but since it cannot be denied but that the number is great both of the greater and superiour sort of the Clergie as well as of the meaner and inferiour besides no small number not Clergie men and those not meane persons onely well affected to the Clergie that desire and labour the same this so generall and weightie a cause may iustly challenge mature consideration speedy and condigne regard Fifthly Lastly if the cause were meerely ciuill and humane we might with some good colour haue the repulse 5. The cause is Gods but being as it is a matter altogether of diuine right wherin no man hath power to set God his bounds and where he hath right to this or that to limit him in lieu thereof what pleaseth them we ought to be admitted to claime for God and permitted yea and assisted by humane law to receiue the same Thirdly are they Gods that may teach vs that we must pay these things not as manie dooe as we are affected to These things must be paid as to God himselfe the partie which is to receiue them but as to God himselfe whose they are For bee hee worthie or vnworthie yet God is euer worthie of them The priests vnder Moses law are reprooued by the Prophets and tearmed z Isa 56. 10. Ezech 13. 3. 34. 2. Hos 4. et 5. Mich. 3. 5. Zach. 11. 17. dumbe dogs deceiuers sleepie watch men Idols c. But yet the people are not aduised and taught by the Prophets therefore to withhold from them their appointed portions but a Mal. 3. 9. the contrarie Neuer was there greater corruption among them neuer more wickednesse and all kinde of vnworthinesse then in our Sauiours time yet h hee sendeth the leper cleansed to the b Matth. 8. 4. priest and bids him offer as was appointed and that to testifie that c Melancth in locum the publique ministerie must be maintained be the ministers neuer so weake neuer so wicked Manie doe obiect saith d Gualt in Matth. 23. hom 269. one plerosque decimis turpiter abuti c. That some doe filthily abuse tithes and that manie doe employ them to vnlawfull and prophane vses But yet saith he This is but a balde excuse for of such abuses they shall shall giue account to God which doe commit such things not who pay the tithes And what reason will excuse him that withholds from the needie his necessarie liuing least happily he abuse it vnto surfetting and drunkennesse It is the part of euery Christian e Rom. 13. 7. to pay to euery man his due and not to goe about to excuse his owne iniquitie by anothers fault Hitherto hee And therefore as they did verie ill which before our time vnder color of suppressing the licentiousnes brideling of the insolencie of the popish or vnlearned cleargie did pull from the Church what they could so doe they worse which doe not onely not restore the same againe but daily practise all the shifts and deuises that may be as who can neuer bee satisfied to pull away still more and There be that still labour to pul more from the Church Foem Mo. ni b. Hous on Matth. 21. Ser. 2. pa. 33. more from the Church and so to bring vnto and to keepe in extreame needinesse and pouertie the true ministers and worthie preachers of the Gospell also That sinne had some colour this hath none But O Lord God f Psalm 126. 2. that our mouth may bee filled with laughter and our tongue with ioy mollifie their hearts or else make them and theirs like Oreb and Zeb yea make them and all their counsellers furtherers and partakers like as Zeba and Zalmana which yet say Let vs take to our selues the houses of God in possession and seeke still to sease vpon the inheritance of the Lord as if it were set to bee a pray vnto their teeth Amen Amen Lastly are they g Psalm 83. 11. Boys Dominic post Trin. 10. p. 227. Gods If then we rob and defraud we God wil plague them that pay him not these things duely and iustly spoile and debarre God of those things anie manner of way let vs looke for the hand of God to smite vs the wrath and plagues of God to h Zepper de leg lib. 4. cap. 10. C. multi i. q. 1. consume vs for such sin and iniquity God himselfe doth plainely tell vs Mal. 3. That for this sinne he doth curse euen i Mal. 3. 8. whole nations As they by their vnreasonable customes and compositions by violence and vsurpation take from him his tithes and oblations so he by vnseasonable weather by caterpillers k Hag. 1. 6. Math. 7. 2. and other deuouring meanes doth and will take from them the increase of their stocks the fruits of their fields c. that so hee may bring penurie into their houses as they doe into his and make them haue emptie barnes and hungrie bellies that leaue his barnes emptie and his seruants in hunger and neede For this is as l Aug. serm de temp 219. Idem homil 47. et de rectit cath conuers Iac. Gryn in Mal. 3. Ridl view of L. p. 177