Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	line_n	page_n	read_v	7,070	5	11.4609	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39304	The foundation of tythes shaken and the four principal posts (of divine institution, primitive practice, voluntary donations, & positive laws) on which the nameless author of the book, called, The right of tythes asserted and proved, hath set his pretended right to tythes, removed, in a reply to the said book / by Thomas Ellwood.	Ellwood, Thomas, 1639-1713.	1678 (1678)	Wing E622; ESTC R20505	321,752	532

of Reasoning then all the rest and is indeed too low and mean by much for such lofty pretences to Learning and Scholarship as my Adversary makes for himself and his Brethren viz. to put the Defendent to prove the Negati●e as he has done me mor● then once and more then conduces to the credit of his cause As in pag. 31. I may ask him sayes he where he reads that Abraham did not pay them And a few Lines lower in the same page T. E. cannot prove Abraham did not pay Tythes ordinarily and I can make it appear very probable he did But he hath so accustomed himself to call Abraham's Gift a Payment that forgetting himself he brings me in as using the same Phrase as if I also admitted that which I have offered to much reason against his words are these pag. 30. So that T. ● '● saying he doth not read in Genesis that Abraham paid his Tythes constantly is no Argument c. But where doth T. E. say this He quotes no place no● indeed had any to quote for I no where said so but he hath put a double abus● upon my words first in making me to say I do not read in Genesis c. As if I had limitted the Story of Abraham and Melchizedec to the Book of Genesis only or had allowed no Evidence for proof of this pretended Right to Tythes but what could be found in Genesis And accordingly he playes upon me T. E's saying he doth not read in Genesis is no ●rgument unless all that Abraham ordinarily did were recorded there to wit in Genesis And I may ask him where he reads there to wit in Genesis that Abraham did not pay them pag. 31. whereas my words were general We do not find throughout the Scriptures which is more the● in Genesis only any command from God that Tythes should be paid unto Melchized●c pag. 278. and If Tythes had been due from Abraham to Melchizedec then must Abraeham have paid Melchizedec Tythes of all his Substance of all that he possest But no such thing appears at all pag. 279. What pretence could the Priest have to thrust in Genesis here But his other abuse in the latter part of the sentence is somewhat more gross T. E's saying he doth not read that Abraham paid his Tythes constantly is c. These words are not in my Book but are a meer artifice of his own to insinuate as if I had yielded that Abraham paid Tyth●s at that time upon that extraordinary occasion and had only seem'd to doubt whether he paid them constantly or not whereas nothing 〈◊〉 more plain then that I all along deny that Abraham over paid Tythes at all This is an art this Priest is expert at but I 'll assure him 't is a black one and will never credit him or his Cause He served me so once or twice before in his 16. page quoting me thus Tythes were wont to be claimed as of divine Right but I find this Priest is not hardy enough to adventure his cause upon that Title Whereas my words are not I find this Priest is not hardy enough but I do not find this Priest hardy enough Which variation how small so ever it may seem to some yet as Illiterate as he takes me to be I understand the different sense of those two Expressions and how little he is to be trusted which I am the more confirm'd in from his next Period where speaking of me he sayes He perswades his Quakers that they who were wont to claim Tythes d● jure divine were more bold then wise These words were not in my Book but a suggestion of his to abuse me for which whatever I think of others I have cause enough to think him more bold then honest Nor has he only gleaned on this passage but insisted deliberately on it and presented his false suggestion to the highest advantage he could make of it For he sayes Let us therefore see who and what they were whom T. E. thus Cens●res Truly no less sayes he then Origen Cyprian S. Hierom S. Augustin divers Christian Councils of Old Justinian and the Imperial Roman Laws Charle● the Great and the French Capitulars the Saxon Kings and Councils of this Nation all Monarches and Parliaments of later times particularly K. Henry 8. Edward 6. together with the most famous common Lawyers as also the unconcern'd and incomparably learn'd Sr. Hen. Spe●man with divers other excellent Writers two many to recite These were too many to have recited unless he had had more cause for it At this rate he may father what Falshoods he pleases upon his Adversary and then call him an obscure and empty Qu●ker as he does me but he may withal assure himself he shall never by this means acquire the repute of a just man or a fair D●sputant § 5. He sayes pag. 23. T. E. is very impertinent in inquiring what command there is in Scripture to Abraham to pay his Tythes to Melchizedec for there was not any Scripture at all in Abraham's time No doubt he thinks every Body impertinent that calls in question his beloved Tythes But wherein doth the Impertinency lie I hope a divine command for the payment of Tythes had not been Impertinent to his Claim I am sure a human command for the payment of them now is the most pertinent point he has to claim by and that his Brot●er Priest understood full well which made him step so lightly over the former and stick so close to the latter But I am impertinent it seems for inquiring for a command in Scripture Where else I wonder would he have had me inquire Is any other Book so pertinent as that to seek a divine Command in Aybut sayes the Priest there was not any Scripture at all in Abraham's time If he means that Writing is not so ancient he forgets himself but if he intends that the Scriptures we now have were not then written which is more probable that will not render me a whit the more impertinent for inquiring what command there is in Scripture to Abraham to pay Tythes since we find in Scripture many Commands are mentioned which were of a much elder date then the ●criptures in whi●h we read them There was as much Scripture to be sure when Abraham gave this Gift to 〈◊〉 as t●ere was before when he was called out of his Country when Circumcision was instituted and when 〈◊〉 t●e Heir of Promise was made an Offering and yet for every of these and many other 〈◊〉 besides we have express Command recorded in those Scripture● which afterwards were written Nay if we will look back to the times before the Flood we shall find a Command to Noah for the making of the Ark G●n 6. 14. And indeed the first Command that ever was given to man is plainly and fully exprest in Gen. 2. 16 17. And must I needs be impertinent in inquiring what Command there is in Scripture to Abraham to pay Tythes