we are despised even to this present hour we are hungry and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place we are reviled persecuted defamed we are as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things unto this day If all Ministers in times of peace and settlement must be like the Apostles in not receiving Tithes then they must be like them too even in setled Christian Kingdoms States Churches in all these their particular sufferings and have no certain dwelling place c. And if so Let Canne and his new Ministers of the Gospel as they stile themselves begin the president of whom our Ministers may now say as Paul did of the Corinthians in the precedent verse of this chapter v. 8. Now ye are full now ye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us when as most of them were very poor and far enough from reigning as Kings or so much as Petty Constables before these unhappy Wars and in dayes of former persecution when Canne himself durst not shew his face in England for fear of a Bishops power or High commission Pursuivant nor durst reproach our Orthodox protestant pious Ministers and Parliaments as Antichristian Popish and compare their Laws for Ministers Tithes with the very Idolatrous Statutes of Omri and Ahab as he doth now p. 3. for which he might have taken a turn at Tyburn in steed of walking freely in Westminster Hall without being questioned for this his impudent high Slanders both of our Laws and Parliaments as well as Ministry 6. If the Ministers of the Gospel be bound to imitate the Apostles in all things then they must not have Gold nor Silver nor Brasse in their purses neither Scrip nor two Coats nor yet Shoes nor so much as two Staves but Sandals only on their feet Mat. 10.9 10. Mark 6.8 9. as the Capuchin-Fryars Mendicants hence conclude this being a positive Precept the objected examples of the Apostles c. only a President And if so not only all our Ministers but Canne and all his Administrators must turn Fryars Mendicants too in good earnest who ground their Vow of Voluntary poverty on this Text and the objected Presidents of Christ and his Apostles and so become no Ministers of Christ but Antichrist and as truly Antichristian as these Fryars are the Heads Ringleaders of our last sect of Quakers 7. If our Ministers must all now be like those of the Primitive times whiles under persecuting Heathen Emperours Kings Magistrates then all Saints and Christians too in our daies times must imitate and be like the Saints Christians in those dayes They must sell all their old and new purchased Lands Houses Lordships Palaces lay all the mony down at the Ministers feet and have all things in common like the real Saints and Christians in the Apostles times Acts 4.34 to the end and instead of Lording feasting it in their new acquired Royal Episcopal Palaces and Mannor Houses they must wander about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins in Dâ—sarts Mountains Dens and Caves of the earth being dâ—stitute and afflicted like the Saints of old yea and like them they must be tortured tormented not accepting deliverance have trials of cruel mockings scourgings bonds and imprisonments be stoned sawn asunder slain with the Sword instead of slaying plundering imprisoning and sawing others asunder with the Sword Heb. 11.35 to 39. And when our Army-Saints Officers Souldiers Anabaptists Quakers with other Tithe-Oppugners who presse this Objection against Ministers Tithes shall lay down all their Arms Commands Power Lands and sell all they have to become like to all these Primitive Saints and Martyrs of Christ in their sufferings in times of Persecution I doubt not but our Ministers will joyfully part both with their Glebes Rectories Tithes and setled Maintenance to sympathize with them in their Persecutions Sufferings But till such hard times of Persecutions come and they begin to follow this President of the self-denying Primitive Saints I hope they will not make all our Ministers present Martyrs in their Tithes and setled Maintenance nor enjoyn them alone but not themselves to follow the Primitive Ministers of the Gospel in those times of persecution and prove greater persecutors to them in these pretended times of Christian Liberty Law Justice than the late Oppressing Prelates and High Commissioners who suffered many of them though Non-Conformists to enjoy their Tithes Glebes Offrings and not eject disinherit them and their Successors for ever of their antient Glebes Tithes and other setled Maintenance without any Legal Trial by their Peers or Conviction of any Treasonable crimes against our known Laws for which they deserve to forfeit them and all under the false petence that Tithes are Jewish and Antichristian under the Gospel Which I hope I have sufficiently refuted being established on them by Christian Kings States Parliaments immediately after the Primitive persecutions generally throughout Christendome as the fittest Maintenance of all other and particularly in our Realm when as the abolishing of them will be really such in the Judgement of all Godly Protestants Patrons of Religion both at home and throughout the World FINIS ERRATA PAge 68. l. 11. r. luent p. 141. l. 31. Solemanum r. Salmurum Rothingue r. Rothomag p. 142. l. 20. Trovomala The REMAINDER or SECOND PART of A GOSPEL PLEA Interwoven with a RATIONAL and LEGAL FOR THE LAWFULNESS CONTINUANCE Of the Antient Setled MAINTENANCE and TITHES Of the Ministers of the Gospel WHEREIN The DIVINE RIGHT OF OUR MINISTERS TITHES is further asserted The Magistrates Inforcement of the DUE PAYMENT OF THEM BY COERCIVE PENAL LAWS when substracted or detained vindicated That they are no REAL BURDEN or GRIEVANCE to the People the abolishing them no Ease Benefit to Farmers Tenants or Poor-People but a Prejudice rather and a gain to None but Rich Land-Lords cleared That the present Opposition against them proceeds not from any true Grounds of Conscience or Real Inconveniences in Tithes themselves but only from base Covetousness carnal Policy want of Christian Love Charity to and professed Enmity against the Ministers of the Gospel Yea from a JESUITICAL and ANABAPTISTICAL DESIGN to subvert ruine our Church Ministry Religion and bring a Perpetual Infamie on our Nation and the Reformed Religion here professed By William Prynne of Swainswick Esq a Bencher of Lincolns Inne 1 Cor. 9 14. Even so hath THE LORD ORDAINED that those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Cyprian de unitate Ecclesiae Domos tunc Fundos venundabant thesauros sibi in Coelo reponentes at nunc de Patrimonio nec Decimas damus cum Vendere jubeat Dominus Emimus pötius augemus Petrus Blesensis Epist 82. Per Prophetam praecepit Dominus Decimas inferri in horreum suum vos ab ejus horreo jubetis auferri c. Quid interest Equos rapiatis an Decimas Nisi quia Decima res spiritualis est ideo enormius SACRILEGIVM in Decimis
The like did Ananias with Saphira his wife but because they brought a certain part thereof and laid it at the Apostles feet and kept back part of the price of the Land which is less than to keep back Tithes when due by sundrie Lawes and Ordinances and thereby lyed not unto Men only but to God they both fell down dead sodainly at the Apostles feet in a miraculous manner and were carried forth and buried And great fear came upon all the Church and as many as heard thereof We finde in 2 Cor. 11.7 8 9. That though Paul preached the Gospel at Corinth freely yet he took wages of other Churches at the same time to do them service And when he was present with them and wanted that which was wanting unto him the Brethren that came from Macedonia supplied that in all things he might keep himself from being burdensome to the Corinthians for reasons expressed by him In which respect of not ministring to him of their substance he writes they were inferiour to other Churches 2 Cor. 12 13. How bountifull the Church and Saints of Philippi were to Paul not only whiles present with them and preaching among them but also absent from them preaching the Gospell in other places and how pleasing this their liberalitie was to God he thus records Phil 4.10 to 21. But I rejoyced in the Lord greatly that at last your care of me is revived wherein ye were also Carefull but ye lacked opportunity Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content c. Notwithstanding ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the Gospel when I departed from Macedonia no Churches communicated with me as concerning Giving and Receiving but ye only For even in Thessalonica Ye sent once and again to my necessity Not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that may abound to your accompt But I have received all and abound and am full having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you an odour of a sweet smell a Sacrifice Acceptable well-pleasing to God But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever Amen And in 2. Tim. 1.16 17 18. He makes this memorable Testimony of and prayer for Onesiphorus The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain But when he was in Rome he sought me out very diligently and found me The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day And in how many things he Ministred unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well From all which precedents coupled together these conclusions naturally and necessarily arise 1. That it is not only the practice but duty of the Saints and Christians under the Gospel chearfully and liberally to contribute to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel and that not only whiles they are actually preaching and resident amongst them but whiles absent preaching the Gospel in other places or suffering for the Gospel in bonds and prisons if their necessities so require 2. That they ought not only barely to supply their necessities when they are in want but in such a plentiful manner that they may truly say We abound and are full blesse God for rejoyce in their peoples liberality and pray to God for a blessing upon them and theirs with greater chearfulness and zeal 3. That in cases of necessity when the wants of the Apostles Ministers and Saints of God require it Christians are not only bound to pay them the Tithes of their Lands and other setled Dues but even to sell their very Lands Houses Estates themselves and lay them down at the Apostles and Ministers feet for their common supply as the primitive Christians did they being not real proprietors but meer Stewards of their worldly estates which as they all proceed from Gods hand gift blessing so they are still Gods own not mans and therefore in such cases to be chearfully expended for the maintenance and supply of the necessities of his Ministers servants worship 1 Chron. 29.11 12 14 15 16 17. 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. 4. That the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel is not meer pure Almes as some have held but wages which though Paul for some special reasons received not from the Corinthians yet he did from other Churches under the name of wages 5. That niggardlinesse and not contributing towards the maintenance of painful Ministers is a shame infamy dishonour to a Church and people making them inferiour to all other Churches 6. That peoples liberal bountifull contributing to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel is a great joy comfort encouragement to them yea a means to enlarge their hearts in prayers to God for spiritual and temporal blessings on them and their housholds 7. That bountifull and chearfull contributions to the Apostles and Ministers of Christ is not only a well doing or good work but an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing unto God though it stinks in the nostrils of many covetous earth-wormes sectaries and pretended godly Saints now adaies 8. That Liberality to the Ministers of the Gospel and paying them their just deserved Tithes Dues is so farr from impoverishing and hurting mens estates that it redounds to their spiritual and temporal accompt too causeth God to supply all their wants and to blesse both them and their families with spiritual temporal eternal mercies and rewards as the several forecited Scriptures with Prov. 3.9 10. Mal. 1.10 11. Mat. 10.41 42. Mar. 9.41 2 Cor. 9.6 to 13. 2 Kings 4.8 to 38. 1 Kings 17.10 to 24. most abundantly prove 9. That the willful detaining withdrawing of any thing solemnly devoted to the necessary maintenance of the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel brings exemplary curses judgements on those who are guilty thereof as the examples of Ananias and Saphira testifie compared with Mal. 3.8 9 11. Hag. 1.9 10 11 2.16 17 18 19. further illustrating it which all sacrilegious invaders plunderers detainers oppugners of our Ministers ancient established Maintenance Tithes Dues may do well now seriously to ruminate upon and then reform their practice or else renounce their pretended Christianity and Saintship so much swarving from the recited precedents of the first and purest Christians XV. This is further proved by Mat. 7.12 Luke 6.31 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets yea and the Gospel too thus twice enjoyning it from Christs own mouth Whence thus I argue All Estates Callings Professions of men whatsoever whether Kings Princes Rulers Judges Magistrates of all sorts Lawyers Physicians Chirurgeons Merchants Artificers Traders Husbandmen Labourers of all kinds Sea-men
Arguments drawn from Melchisedec not pertinent to our present businesse after which he largely argues the change and abolition of the Levitical Law and Priesthood by Christ a theam of a different nature from the former to which the objected words refer therefore the total and final abolishing of all Tithes to which these words have no relation can never be inforced from them being ratifyed by the former clause as appurtenances to Christs everlasting Priesthood as well as to Melchisedecs Therefore as due to his Ministers under the Gospel as to any Priests and Levites under the Law which were likewise Types of Christ the true high Priest expiring at and by his death 3. The Priests and Levites under the Law had Cities Glebes Houses setled on them for their habitation families Cattel as well as Tithes by the Ceremonial Law for their better maintenance accommodation and that in a large proportion Lev. 25.32 33 34. Num. 35.1 to 12. Josh 21.1 to 43. 1 Chr. 6.54 to the end ch 9.10 to 35. 2 Chr. 11.13 14. Ezra 2.70 Neh. 11.26 ch 13.10 Ezec. 45.1 to 6. ch 4.8 9 to 15. If then this Text proves the Total Abolition of all our Ministers Tithes root and branch as Jewish and Antichristian as some impudent Scriblers and Petitioners against them now affirm It likewise proves the abolition of all their Rectories Glebes Houses likewise as well as of their Tithes as Jewish and Antichristian And so Ministers of the Gospel now shall neither have Tithes nor Glebes to support and feed them their families and Cattel nor yet so much as an House wherein to lodge and put their heads and be inforced to complain as our Saviour once did of his forlorn condition Mat. 8.20 and Luke 9.58 the Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head A condition to which some Jesuitical Anabaptistical Athiestical uncharitable beasts of Prey worse than any Foxes or Harpies would now gladly reduce all our faithful Ministers and their Families whiles some of them Lord it and lodge themselves in our Kings Princes Bishops Deans and Chapters new acquired royal Palaces and not content therewith would spoyl all our Ministers of their more contemptible Glebes Rectories Tithes to enrich themselves and their Posterities and make our Ministers like our Saviour in his voluntary Poverty both Houseless and Harborless They may with as much Justice like the hard-hearted bloudy Jews Souldiers even crucifie them on crosses between such thieves as themselves to make them like our Saviour even in his voluntary sufferings as part their Glebes Lands Rectories Tithes among them and cast Lots upon their vestures even before their death when as the Souldiers who crucified our Saviour did not part his raiment amongst them nor cast Lots on his vesture till after his crucifixion by them there being as much Authority Conscience Law Justice Reason for the one as other seeing none by any Laws can lose or forfeit their Lands Livelihood but such who first forfeit their Lives to publick Justice 4. The Israelites were enjoyned by the Levitical Law Deut. 12.17 18 19. ch 14.26 27 28 29. to harbour entertain the Priests and Levites within their gates and not to forsake them so long as they should live upon the earth but freely to permit and invite them to come eat drink feast rejoyce and be satisfied with them and their Families before the Lord as well as to pay them Tithes But this Law as they argue is now abolished by Christ with the Priesthood Therefore when our Ministers are stript of all their Tithes Glebes Rectories Houses maintenance by our new Reformadoes it must be Jewish and Antichristian for them or any others so much as to lodge entertain or give them any thing to eat or drink within their gates or so much as to admit invite them to a Feast or meal within their Houses and then they with all theirs and other poor widows and orphans must all presently starve perish by John Cannes and these uncharitable mens new Gospel Light and Charity because Hospitality and Alms to such are Levitical and Jewish abolished with the Levitical Law and Priesthood which abrogated all Charity and Humanity out of the world as well as out of these Tithe-Oppugners hearts if this their Objection be Orthodox Gospel truth 5. Meer Freewill Offerings and voluntary unconstrained Contributions were prescribed by the Levitical and Judicial law both for and towards the maintenance of Gods Priests and worship for the building and repairing of the Tabernacle and of the Temple afterwards towards which the godly Kings Princes Generals Captains Officers Souldiers and all the pious people of God contributed most joyfully liberally and in such abundance upon all occasions that they gave far more than was sufficient and thereupon were prohibited by special Proclamation to give or bring any more as in the case of Materials of all sorts for the building and furniture of the Tabernacle of the congregation and of the Temple towards which many Heathen Kings and their Officers contributed freely and the very captive Jews Exod. 35.20 to 30. chap. 36.2 to 9. Levit. 22.18 21 23. chap. 23.38 Num. 15.3 chap. 29.39 chap. 31.48 to the end 1 Chron. 26.26 27 28. chap. 22.1 to 17. chap. 29.1 to 17. 2 Chron. 24.4 to 15. chap. 27.3 chap. 29.3 to 20.31 chap. 34.8 to 15. Ezra 1. throughout chap. 3.5 chap. 7.16 chap. 8.28 29. Therefore Ministers under the Gospel must not be maintained nor Churches Houses for publick Assemblies built or repaired by Free-will offerings and voluntary contributions being Levitical Jewish and so abandoned and if not by Tithes nor forced Rates as they allege then the Ministers must utterly starve and all our Churches fall to sudden ruine as many now do And is this Gospel Saintship and Christianity 6. The Priests and Levites by the Levitical Law were prescribed what wives they should marry and what not Levit. 21.7 to the 14. will it therefore follow as the Papist Votaries conclude Therefore Ministers of the Gospel must not marry and must all now be divorced from their wives as well as from their Tithes and Benefices because the Levitical law is abolished and Priests wives Jewish as well as their Tithes Our beastly Ranters then may seize upon Ministers wives as well as the brutish Anabaptists Quakers Swordmen on their Tithes and Glebes 7. The seventh day Sabbath it self though prescribed by a Moral law was in some sense ceremonial and enjoyned by Ceremonial laws too therefore as most affirm abrogated by Christs death as Jewish as to the precise seventh day from the Creation and the Jewish rigidities Sacrifices on it will it therefore follow that it is Jewish and unlawfull for Christians under the Gospel to observe the Lords day every week and render unto God the same weekly proportion of time for publike worship as the Jews did or to keep any publike Fasts
brought away the Hallowed things out of mine House and also have given them unto the Levite c. According to all thy Commandements which thou hast commanded me I have not transgressed thy Commandements neither have I forgotten them I have not eaten thereof in my mourning neither have I taken away ought thereof for my Vnclean Vse nor given ought thereof for the dead but I have hearkened to the Voice of the Lord my God And have done according to all that thou hast commmanded me Look down from thy Holy Habitation from Heaven And bless thy people Israel and the Land which thou hast given us a Land that floweth with milk and honey Such a conscientious true payment of Tithes as this according to all Gods Commandements without the least Substraction or embezlement emboldens enables every particular man to make such a Prayer to God as this not only for himself but for the whole Land brings a blessing upon himself and all the Realm yea makes it a Land flowing with milk and honey and abundance of all rich blessings Besides we read in 2 Chr. 31.1 to 15. That when godly King Hezekiah had destroyed Idolatry and appointed the Courses of the Priests and Levites after their Courses every man according to his service he brought â—urings and Peace-offerings to minister and to give thanks and to praise in all the Gates of the Tents of the Lord He appointed also the Kings portion of his Substance for the burnt-offerings for the morning and evening for the Sabbaths the new Moons and set Feasts moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem To give the Portion of the Priests and the Levites that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord. And as soon as the Commandement came abroad the children of Israel brought in abundance the first Fruits of Corn Wine Oyl and Honey and of all the encrease of the field and the Tithes of all things brought they in abundance And concerning the children of Israel and Judah that dwelt in the Cities of Judah They also brought in the Tithes of Oxen and Sheep and the Tithe of holy things which were dedicated unto the Lord their God and laid them by heaps In the third moneth they began to lay the foundation of the heaps and finished them in the seventh moneth and when Hezekiah and the Princes came and saw the heaps they blessed the Lord and his People Israel Then Hezekiah questioned with the Priests and Levites concerning the heaps And Azariah the chief Priest of the House of Zadok answered him and said Since the People began to bring the Offerings into the house of the Lord We have had enough to eat and have left Plenty But did the people grow poor thereby no but much richer than before for the Lord hath blessed his people and that which is left is this great store Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare Chambers or store-houses in the house of the Lord and they prepared them and brought in the Offerings and the Tithes and the dedicate things faithfully over which Cononiah the Levite was Ruler How different was this practice of all the people and godly Saints in those daies in a chearfull bringing in their Tithes and Oblations to the Priests and Levites in abundance for their encouragement which caused King Hezekiah his Princes the Priests Levites and God himself to bless them from the sacrilegious practice of Tith-detaining Hypocritical Saints Anabaptists Quakers Sectaries and Christians in our daies who shall never receive such a blessing as this from God or good men but their curses If these Texts and Presidents will not move such hard-hearted men let them consider both this â—â—â—cept and promise of God Prov. 3.9 10. Honour the Lord with thy Substance and with the first fruits of thine encrease So shall thy Barns be filled with Plenty and thy Press shall burst out with new Wine And Mal 3.7 10 11 12. Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts but ye said Wherein shall we return Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-house that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of Hosts If I will not open you the windows of heaven and powr you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground neither shall your Vine cast her fruit before her time in the field saith the Lord of Hosts And all nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a delight some land saith the Lord of Hosts What Christians heart though never so covetous and worldly should not these sacred promises of God the last of them recorded in the last of all the Books and Prophets in the Old Testament they being not meerly Levitical and Judaical but of eternal verity use and evangelical too excite and engage most cheerfully to pay and bring in all their Tithes and Dues to Gods Ministers now as well as to the Priests and Levites heretofore Christ himself having made like parallel promises of blessings and rewards for relieving and maintaining his Ministers in the Gospel Mat. 10.40 41 42. Mark 9.41 Phil. 4.18 19 9. That the due payment of Tithes to Gods Priests and Levites was a great encouragement to them in the law of the Lord and in the diligent execution of their duties 2 Chron. 31.3 4 5 10. And on the contrary The with-holding of them from them a great discouragement necessitating them to desert their duties and functions witnesse that memorable Text Neh. 13.10 11 12. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them mark the consequence For the Levites and the Singers that did the work were fled every one to his field Then contended I with the Rulers and said Why is the house of God forsaken and I gathered them together and set them in their place Then brought all Judah the Tithes of the Corn and the new Wine and the Oyl unto their treasuries And I made treasurers over the treasuries Shelemiah the Priest and Zadock the Scribe and of the Levites Pedajah c. for they were counted faithfull and their office was to distribute unto their Brethren Which reason still continuing under the Gospel in relation to the Ministers and Preachers thereof Heb 13.16 17. Phil. 4.10 to 21. is a strong argument to engage all true Christians desiring the propagation of the Gospel and a painfull able Ministry duly to pay their tithes and portions to them 10. That it was the bounden duty care of Religious Kings and Governours amongst Gods own people when the people were backwards to pay and bring their Tithes and duties to the Priests and Levites to command and enforce them to do it by special Covenants and Oaths sealed subscribed by the Princes and people Neh. 9.38 cap. 10.1 to the end and likewise by positive Ordinances
there is occasion there being far more Equity and Gospel-justice for it than that our Ministers out of their small scarce competent and many very incompetent livings should pay the first-fruits and first years profits of their livings to the King or State as formerly they did unto the Pope through Papal Vsurpation onely by the Statutes of 26 H. 8. c. 3.27 H. 8. c. 8.1 1 Eliz. c. 4. and almost or above the tenth of all their livings to the Souldiers amounting to treble their Tenths to the King or Pope without any Grant at all by them or their Proxies in the usual legal just Parliamental way against all their Rights Privileges and our Laws The Jewish Priests and Levites under the Law being never burthened with such first-fruits or taxes by their Soveraigns and exempted from them even by a heathen Conqueror Ezra 7.24 Which those who now endeavour to deprive them of their Tithes Glebes and yet exact both first-fruits Tenths and Contributions from them may do well to consider Having thus related at large what a liberal various full and competent maintenance God setled on his Priests and Levites under the law by Glebes Tithes Oblations Sacrifices Poll-money first-fruits besides the Tenth and Tribute out of the very spoyls of war formerly insisted on I shall now apply it home to the Ministers of and Christians under the Gospel in these short Aphorisms 1. Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel inwardly qualified with sufficient Gifts Graces and lawfully called ordained are Gods and Christs own institution and Ministers as well as Priests and Levites under the Law Mat. 10.5 6 7. ch 28.19 20. Luke 10.1 2 c. ch 24.47 49 53. Mark 6.7 8 c. ch 16.15 20. Acts 11.2 3 4 c. ch 14.23 ch 19.1 6 7. ch 26.17 18 28. Rom. 12.6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12.4 8 9 28 29 30. ch 14.29 30 31 32 40. Ephes 4.8 to 17. Col. 4.17 1 Tim. 3.1 2. ch 4.14 15 16. ch 5.21 22. Tit. 1.5 6 7. Heb. 13.17 Jam. 5.14 15. 1 Thes 5.13 1 Cor. 4.1 2 Cor. 3.6 ch 11.23 2. That their Ministry and Calling is far more Honorable Glorious necessary beneficial to mens souls than that of the Priests and Levites under the Law 2 Cor. 3.6 to 12. Heb. 7.1 to 14. 3. That it is far more painfull laborious than the Ministery of the Priests and Levites under the Law Acts 8.4 2 Cor. 11.23 to 30. 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15. 2 Tim. 4.1 1 Thes 5.2 2 Pet. 1.12 Rom. 15.19 20. ch 12.7 8. 4. That therefore there is as just as competent as full as honorable and setled a maintenance and as much honour reverence obedience love as great recompence due unto them for their very work and calling sake from all Christians under the Gospel as there was from Gods people to the Priests and Levites under the Law as I have already proved in the first Proposition and that by divine institution 1 Cor. 9.13 14. 1 Tim. 5.17 18 21. From whence Hemingius with most Orthodox Protestant Divines I have seen besides as well as Papists and Jesuites concludes thus Admoniantur igitur Pii quod Iure Divino Ecclesiae Ministris debeant Stipendia That all the godly are to be admonished that by Divine Right they owe wages to the Ministers of the Gospel And if so then 5. It follows inevitably that there being no other setled way of maintenance particularly prescribed for them in or by the Gospel and convenient Houses Glebes for them their families and necessary Cattel with Tithes of the increase of the fruits of the earth and Cattel of all sorts being as necessary as requisite for the habitation food clothing support of them their families Ministry and supply of all their necessaries with as little charge trouble diversion from their studies functions as may be as for the Priests and Levites under the Law that Godly Christians Kings States Parliaments cannot pitch upon any equaller fitter juster better wiser rationaller convenienter diviner way of maintenance for them than that of necessary Houses Rectories Glebes in every Parish and Tithes and Oblations of all things needfull for food raiment hospitality it being the constant standing setled maintenance which the most wise just and holy God himself invented prescribed for his own Priests and Levites maintenance amongst his own people when setled by him in the land of Promise and that which all setled Christian Empires Kingdoms States Churches generally through the Christian world have in all ages pitched upon as most agreeable to Gods will and word under the Gospel which no ways repeals nor contradicts his own former prescriptions of this kinde in the old Testament 6. That the Glebes Tithes of the Priests and Levites under the Law were reserved by God himself the Supreme Land-lord of all Kingdoms Countries Nations Churches People in the world and the special God Lord King Father Saviour Preserver of his own people as a Sacred Holy Tribute Rent Portion and Homage due unto Himself from poor Creatures Servants Vassals who are no true Proprietors but only Stewards and Tenants at will of all the lands goods earthly blessings and possâ—ssions they enjoy The earth being the Lords and the fulnesse thereof and the Corn Wine Cattel fruits and earthly creatures we possess not really ours but Gods own 1 Chr 29.11 to 17. Psal 24.1 Psal 97.5 Psal 50.9 10 11 12. Ezech 16.18 19 20. Hos 2.8 9. Dan. 4.32 35. Mat 6.10 11. The use and possession of which tribute He allotted to the Priests and Levites under the Law for their maintenance salary and reward of their labour in his service for the advancement of his worship glory honour and his peoples spiritual good reserving the inheritance and right thereof alwayes to himself as the premises sufficiently evidence Now God himself to whom alone Tithes and Glebes were originally impropriated not to the Levitical Priesthood being unchangeable without any variableness or shadow of turning Jam 1.17 Psal 102.26 27. Mal 3.6 and Jesus Christ to whom Tithes were first paid by Abraham in the person of Melchisedeck having an unchangeable Priest-hood and being a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb 7.8 16 11 24. c. 13.8 And all Christians whatsoever under the Gospel being as much his absolute Creatures Vassals Servants Stewards and Tenants at will as the Israelites under the Law and all their Lands Goods Earthly blessings Corn Wine Cattel wealth imployments his in right and not their own as well as theirs too why they should not all render to him the self-same sacred Tribute holy Portion Rent Homage of Glebes and Tithes of all they have as well as they though the Levitical Priesthood be abolished they being so specially reserved and consecrated to himâ—elf for the support maintenance reward encouragement of his faithfull Ministers under the Gospel imployed in his Service for his honour glory and their everlasting salvation
only due eternally due because he is and continues for ever an everlasting Priest That our Saviours own words John 8.58 Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it as well with the eyes of his body by this special apparition of Christ then meeting and blessing him as a Priest of the most high God at that time as with the eye of his faith and was glad do warrant this their opinion That Melchisedec was no other than Jesus Christ himself which they fortify with 7. strong unanswerable Arguments in the opinions of many from whence if granted it will inevitably follow That TITHES are more truly and properly Evangelical than Ceremonial or Judaical because thus originally given and paid to Christ himself the everlasting Head King High Priest of the Church by Abraham the Common Head and Father of all the Faithfull as well Gentiles as Jewes out of the prevision of his Incarnation in reference to his Everlasting Priesthood as an honorary Portion Tribute Salary of right belonging and annexed to his Priesthood Hebr. 7.1 to 15. Gen. 14.18 19 20. which Priestly office was principally to be executed compleated upon Earth and in Heaven by Christs subsequent Incarnation Passion Sacrifice of himself upon the Crosse Resurrection Ascension into Heaven and perpetual Intercession at Gods right hand for all his elect both as God and Man especially in relation to the Gentiles not generally called converted to the faith till after his Incarnation and Ascension Therefore by necessary consequence all Christians and believing Gentiles under the Gospel have altogether if not farre greater yet at leastwise as great as strong a reason ground obligation enforcement chearfully thankfully conscientiously to render TITHES of all they have to Christ for the use of his Ministers instruction edification of his Church and compleating of his body since his Incarnation and investiture in his everlasting Priesthood for their eternall welfare as Abraham or the Israelites had to render him or the Levitical Priests who typified him and attended on his service so long before his Incarnation and Priesthood fully compleated in all its parts and Offices Jesus Christ being THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TO DAY AND FOR EVER Hebr. 13.8 and as much if not farre more in some respects a Priest of the most high God to all believing Gentiles Christians since his Incarnation Passion Ascension as he was to Abraham and the Jews before them God since his Resurrection sending him to blesse us in turning every of us from our Iniquities as well as them Acts. 3.25 26. compared with Acts 10.42 45 47. ch 11.1 to 20. Wherefore those ingrate avaritious unconscionable Christians of this degenerous age who obstinately or maliciously refuse to render unto Christ their only High-Priest who sacrificed himself to God and shed his most precious blood for them on the Crosse to redeem their Soules from everlasting Damnation and purchase an eternal Crown of glory for them in Heaven where he continually makes intercession for them executing his Priestly Office for their Salvation the tithes of all their increase as a just Appurtenance to his everlasting Priesthood condemning them as Jewish Antichristian unfit or too much for him as the High Priest and Prophet of his Church to enjoy or for the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel in his Name or Right to receive who spend all their studies labours lives in Christs service in the Declaration Publication Application of the benefits of Christs Priesthood Passion Gospell to them and others for the eternal salvation of their souls are certainly none of the spiritual Sons or seed of faithfull Abraham who gave him Tithes of all and do either repute Christs everlasting Priesthood a mere Fable or set a far lower rate upon it the Ministry of the Gospel and their own most precious Souls than they do upon their detained Tithes and so can expect little benefit from Christs Person or Priesthood which they so much undervalue and sacrilegiously defraud of so antient a duty 2ly There is one Notable considerable circumstance of time in Abrahams payment of Tithes of all to Christ the true Melchisedec not formerly observed or pressed by any I have seen which in my opinion unanswerably proves that this President of his most principally respected related to the believing Gentiles and Christians under the Gospel and as strongly obligeth them his true spiritual seed to the due payment of Tithes to Christ and his Ministers now as ever it did the Jews his natural Posterity to pay Tithes to their Priests and Levites under the Law if not more firmly Namely that he thus paid Tithes to Christ some good space before Circumcision instituted whiles he was yet uncircumcised as is most evident by comparing Gen. 14.18 19 20. with Gen. 17.1 10 to 15. Now as the Apostle thus firmly and Evangelically argues from this very circumstance of time in the point of Abrahams justification by Faith whiles he was yet uncircumcised as presidential exemplary obligatory to all believing Gentiles and spiritual Sons of Abraham under the Gospel who are not circumcised as well as to the natural believing children of Abraham under the Law who were circumcised Rom. 4.9 to 13. Commeth this blessednesse then upon the Circumcision only or upon the Uncircumcision also for we say that Faith was reckoned to Abraham for Righteousnes How was it then reckoned when he was in Circumcision or in Vncircumcision Not in Circumcision but in Vncircumcision And he received Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousnes of Faith which he had yet being Vncircumcised that he might be the Father of them that believe under the Gospel though they be not Circumcised that Righteousnes might be imputed unto them also And the Father of Circumcision to them who are not of the Circumcision only but also walk in the steps of the Faith of our Father Abraham which he had yet being uncircumcised So I by parity of Reason from this very Text compared with the same Apostles relation of Abrahams paying Tithes of all to Melchisedec Hebr. 7.1 to 15. and the inferences thence formerly insisted on may as firmly as convincingly conclude That his payment of Tithes to Christ the true Melchisedec not after his Circumcision but whiles yet uncircumcised and before Circumcision instituted and that as the Common-Father Head of all the justified faithfull believing uncircumcised Gentiles before the Law and under the Gospel as well as of the circumcised believing Jews walking in the steps of his Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised doth as strongly oblige all believing Gentiles Christians though uncircumcised to pay Tithes of all to Christ and his Ministers under the Gospel as it did his believing circumcised Posterity to render thē to Christ himself originally and his Priests and Levites secondarily under the Law if not much more since Abraham paid them to Christ before he was circumcised as a fruit and evidence of his Faith which then he had during his
policy wit or wisedom of men being a most certain standing unvariable convenient Allowance in all Ages places seasons alterations how ever things rise or fall continuing unalterable like the weâ—kly Sabbath as to the porportion or quota pars in all vicissitudes of warre peace plenty scarcity famine and causing all Ministers to sympathize fare share alike with their people everie where be the times and seasons good or bad wet or dry plentifull or barren and giving them a competent share in all their Temporal Blessings without such toyl or labour as might interrupt them in their Ministry Studyes and furnishing them with a tenth part of every tythable Thing their respective Parishes yield for the food cloathing support of themselves Families Cattel or vendibles of some kind or other sufficient to buy what else they want This way of Maintenance therefore so sacred divine antient moral universal convenient equal unalterable and so long continuance in Gods Church in all Revolutions may not must not cannot be either totally abrogated substracted detained diminished nor changed into any other new-fangled pretended more equal just certain convenient lesse troublesome Stipendiary Salary by any pragmatical Jesuitical Anabaptistical Atheistical Politicians Statists Powers or Legislators whatsoever without the highest Antichristian Pride Presumption Insolency and Exaltation of themselves above and against God himself whose special sacred Institution portion rent inheritance right and due they are particularly both by name and kind reserved prescribed by appropriated devoted to himself by his own command which all Emperors Kings Princes Potentates Powers Generals Armies Nations in the world have no Power or Jurisdiction to repeal disobey change alter no more than Tenants their Landlords antient Quitrents Services Tenures or Subjects Servants their Kings or Masters Laws Orders Mandates yea no more than they can change Gods weekly Sabbath into another different proportion of time or any other sacred Institution into a new superstitious humane Invention as learned Keckerman in his System Polit. l. 1. c. 21. Polanus in Ezech 48. v. 14. Dr. Carlton and Dr. Scalter in their Treatises of Tithes assert and prove at large This divine Right of Tithes even under the Gospel which I have pleaded for hath been constantly asserted in all Ages since the Apostles times till now by Fathers Councils the Laws Edicts of Christian Emperors Kings Parliaments Canonists Casuists Schoolmen Historians Lawyers Popish Protestant Divines of all sorts and Nations Dr. Richard Tillesly in his Animadversions upon Mr. Seldens History of Tithes printed London 1619. p. 3 to 30 hath colected a Catalogue of no lesse than 72. such Authorities in a Chronological method before the year of our Lord 1215. as have asserted their Ius Divinum in all Ages before that whereof Irenaeus flourishing in the year of Christ 180. is the first and the Constitutions of Fredericus the second the last where those who please may peruse them Mr. Seldens laborious History of Tithes and Review especially ch 5.6 7 8 9. supplies us with many more Authorities of this kind in suceeding times especially with our own Domestique Laws and Councils to whom I refer the impartial Reader and to Dr. Tillesly Dr. Sclater Mr. Mountague Mr. Nettles and Sir James Semple their Animadversions on and Answers to his History If any desire further satisfaction in this point let them peruse Andr. Hispanus De Decimis Tractatus Petrus Rebuffus and Tyndarus De Decimis printed Colo. 1590. Gaspar Boetius De Deciman Tutori Hispanico JURE praestanda Grav 1565. Ignatius Laserte Molina De Decimis Venditionis Permutationis Ioan. Giffordus Moderata Dissertatio de Ratione alendi Ministros Evangelicos Hanov. 1619. Gulielmus Redoanus De Rebus Ecclesiae non aliendis Ven. 1589. De Spoliis Ecclesiae Romae 1585. Alexander Stiaticus Repet in Extrav Ambitiosae De Rebus Ecclesiae non aliendis Alph. Villagus De Rebus Ecclesiae non ritè alienatis recuperandis Bon. 1606. a Treatise of hard digestion in these sacrilegious times Sir Henry Spelman De non temerandis Ecclesiis Dr. John Prideaux Orat. 5. De Decimis Dr. Edward Reynolds Explanation on Psal 110. v. 4. Gul. Zepperus Legum Mosaicarum Explanatio l. 4. c. 40. And learned Hugo Grotius who thus concludes in his Book De jure Belli Pacis l. 1. c. 1. â—ect 17. p. 9. deservedly magnified by all Scholars Lawyers Politicians Souldiers and therefore I close with it to stop all their mouths at once Lex vetus de Sabbato altera De Decimis monstrant Christianos obligari nec minus Septima temporis parte ad culium divinum Nec minus fructuum Decima in alimentum eorum qui in sacris Rebus occupantur aut similes pios usus seponant Resolving the tenth part of mens increase at least and no smaller proportion to be as justly morally perpetually due to God and his Ministers under the Gospel from all Christians as the weekly Sabbath and seventh part of their time and no lesse is due still by them to God and his publike worship Thus much for the divine Right of our Ministers to their Tithes omitted in the former part but here supplyed for the Readers fuller satisfaction in these Sacrilegious times which so violently and impiously decry it without Scripture Reason Antiquity Authority out of malice and design The succeeding Chapters more concern their Legal Rational Right and Equity depending on their Divine CHAPT III. HAving dispatched the two principal Propositions of greatest concernment wherein I have been larger than I at first intended to satisfie all mens Consciences and stop the mouths of all Gain-sayers I now proceed to the third Proposition That if Tithes and other maintenance by Glebes Oblations Pensions formerly setled on our Ministers be either wilfully withheld or substracted from them by the people in part or in whole the Civil Magistrates may and ought by coercive Laws Penalties to inforce the payment of them in due form and time both by the Law of God and Rules of Iustice without any Injury or Oppression to the people This Proposition necessarily follows from the former two for if there be a just competent comfortable Maintenance due to all lawfull painfull Preachers and Ministers of the Gospel even by divine Right institution expresse Precepts both of the Gospel and Law of God and that as a just Debt hire wages salary right not as a mere voluntary Gift Alms Benevolence and the setled maintenance of our Ministers by Tithes Glebes Oblations Pensions and other Duties be such as I have already demonstrated then the Civil Magistrates may and ought by coercive Laws and Penalties to enforce the payment of them in due form and time as our very Officers by such means enforce their Souldiers Parents their Children and Servants Schoolmasters their Scholars yea our Troopers their very Horses held in with Bits and Bridles when unruly and quickned with Spurs when lazy and Shepheards their very Sheep with their Dogs and hooks when there