Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	false_a	teach_v	teacher_n	2,399	5	9.2607	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81121	Lawles tythe-robbers discovered: who make tythe-revenue a mock-mayntenance, being encouraged thereunto by the defect of law and justice about ministers maintenance; and by the cavills and pretended objections against it. Which defect of law and justice is herein fully discovered, together with the frauds and wrongs occasioned by that defect, that they may be prevented by better laws, and more impartiall justice, now in Parliament-time, wherein remedies have always been most speedy and certain. Herein the many cavills and pretended objections made against tythes, and all setled maintenance of ministers are recited and confuted. Herein also, some motives to the higher powers for speedy relief of ministers, by better laws. Together with some humble proposals of means for the rooting out and preventing of those frauds and wrongs. Imprimature, Edm. Calamy.	Culmer, Richard, d. 1662.	1651 (1651)	Wing C7480; Thomason E829_18	47,813	43

7.30 31. 1. Cor. 11.7 8 9. Chap. 12 10 to 21. he would not seeme to abuse his power in the Gospel in the opinion of those covetous ones 1. Cor. 9.12 Answer 6. Paul laboured to make himselfe an example 2 Thes 3.7 to quel those lazy busi-bodies that left their callings under colour of godlinesse Some to be hearers all the weeke long and do go from house to house talking to their brothers and sisters of the Christian Relion as if that were a sufficient warrant to be idle busi-bodies and leave their callings families He laboured also to make himself an example to quel those lazie busi-bodies making Schisms and Divisions in the Churches under colour of gifts and godliness leaving their particular callings and turning Teachers without a special call and sending He laboured that they might not live idely and charge the poor Saints when there was no need of them Paul saith plainly there If any man will not work let him not eat he intends not thereby that all Ministers called to that function should labour with their hands nor that men of estates should use handy crafts c. but his meaning is that every one should take a course to live in his calling and place according to their duty and not be idle Rich men Magistrates c. have their worke to manage their places and estates Ministers have their work they must labour in the word be Workmen that need not be ashamed dividing the word aright Answer 7 Though Paul laboured yet the other Apostles did not and Paul did it not alwayes but only at Corinth Acts 18.23 and Paul upbraids the Corinths for suffering it 2. Cor. 11.7 he reckons it amongst his sufferings and abasing of himself that he was put to it 1. Cor. 40.12 2. Cor. 11.3 Paul saith he had power to forbeare working but would not abuse his power in the Gospel 1. Cor. 9.6 and when he spake to the Thessalonions of his labours in this kinde he takes them off from making his praise a rule to urge this as a necessary duty to other Ministers by his example 2. Thes 3.8 and he toke maintenance when he thought fit Phil. 4.16 and for finall answer to this Cavill we finde that Saint Paul commandeth the liberall maintenance of Gospel Ministers Gal. 6.6 and which is more he useth many arguments to perswade that maintenance from Scripture and reason 1. Cor. 9.3 c. so many arguments and reasonings for Gospel Ministers liberall and certain maintenance that may convince all gain-sayers and will rise up in judgement against this crooked and perverse generation of sacrilegious robbers of Gods Ministers who are so farre from maintaining them that they defraud them of the maintenance which is not at their charge but it is by Gods providence bestowed setled and confirmed on them by others without any charge to the present generation of men And it is my belief that Paul had a Prophetick spirit and did forsee these times of with-holding Ministers maintenance and did therefore provide so many Scriptures and so many convincing reasons for these times that such covetous With-holders and defrauders of Ministers maintenance might either be convinced and converted or else have the greater condemnation Cavil 11. Saint Paul by his owne confession would not be chargeable to the poore Saints But our setled Ministers are very chargeable to the poore farmers and others Answer 1. The poore if they had tytheable things were bound by Gods law to pay the tythes thereof and they brought their turtle doves c. according to their ability Answer 2 The poore are bound to deal justly as well as the rich and in other things do pay dues according to their proportion as in Land-lords rent Tribute c. Answer 3. The poore Farmer is not charged by the Tythe-receiver for the tythe which the Minister receives of the Farmer is not the Farmers but the Minister right and propriety as is before manifested Cavil 12. The setled Ministery of England are all Antichristian Priests Therefore no true Christian ought to maintaine them Answer 1. This Cavill about the Ministers of England being antichristian hath bin fully answered long since and that ministery vindicated from that aspersion and of late more especially in a book intituled The vindication of the Presbyterian Government and more lately and more fully in a book intituled Jus Divinum Ministerii Evangelii c wherein that Ministery is proved to be truly Christian and no way antechristian The calling of those Ministers from Christ Their Ordination according to the word of Christ their Doctrines and Administrations all Christian They abjure antichrist pray against Antichrist preach against Antichrist and against all his Antichristian doctrines and practises withstood Antichrist to the losse of their lives by Martyrdom under the tyranny of Antichrist Answer 2. They have the seal of their true Ministery by the conversion of many thousand soules to Jesus Christ by opening their eyes and turning them from darkenesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God From this very ground the Apostle Paul argues the truth of his Apostleship and Ministry 2 Thes 2.14 1 Cor. 9.2 It was the seale of the truth of his ministery Answ 3. Who ever did read of true conversion ordinarily under a fals ministery or in a fals Church Answer 4. Where did those that cry out against the publike setled Ministery of England as antichristians receive their conversion from sinne to God Where had they their eyes opened to turn from that which they call antichristian darkenesse to Christian light new light which conversion they presume to be wrought in them Did they not receive it by and from that ministery which is now more reformed then before and therefore more assurance of the presence of Christ and his graces in and with this ministery and those Churches which they call Antichristian Cavil 13 The Pope challengeth all things given to the Church if we should pay tythes or rates we should pay them to the Pope and thereby uphold antichrist Answer 1 The Pope claims tythes and other lawfull things but his claime doth not take away their lawfulness in their own nature no more then the Devils claim of Divine worship from Christ doth disanull the divine worship of God Answer 2 Tythes are not paid in England to the Pope or Popish priests but as we have shewed to the true Ministers of Jesus Christ and to others that have right to tythes as their propriety Cavill 14 Setled maintenance is a note of a false prophet This Cavill Charles Nicholls useth in his title page The Priests teach for hire Micah 3.11 They run greedily after the errour of Balaam for reward Answer 1 The Prophet Micah speaks of false teachers that made the people to erre they are coupled with unrighteous Judges who take bribes to wrest judgement that judged for reward and these prophets that are said to teach for hire are said to divine for money they were hired to teach false doctrine and

to utter lying prophecies to please and advantage those that hired them But our Ministers setled maintenance is not their hire from the State to preach false doctrine The Christian Magistrate alloweth not such doctrine to be preached by these Ministers but in joyneth them to preach true doctrine and punisheth not rewardeth false teachers Answer 2. Those texts of Scripture which Charles wresteth for his owne ends against the publique setled maintenance of Ministers may fitly be applyed to himself that wilfully depends upon the reward of particular persons upon their free benevolence such as he are likely to runne after the reward of Balaam to preach perverse things for filthy lucre sake to please and honour their benefactors in their opinions practices c. least they should give them nothing Cavil 15. The Apostles lived upon contribution upon what the people would give them of free good will Answer 1. This is answered before The Apostles times were times of persecution and of poverty amongst the Saints and therfore is no rule in times of peace and prosperity and plenty under a Christian Magistracie Answer 2. The Apostles had the estates of believers of ability laid at their feet to distribute them for the support of Ministers and people in those unsetled persecuting times If the Apostles practice in times of persecution must be a rule for Ministers maintenance in times of the peace and prosperity of the Churches then the peoples practice in those times of the Apostles should be a rule to the people now to sell their houses and lands c. and bring the price of them to the Ministers Answer 3. Will such as now with-hold the maintenance which is the propriety of godly Ministers by law and right Will such I say will such freely maintain godly Minister Answ 4. This maintenance by free contribution and almes as it were is in all likelihood and is found by experience an occasion for Ministers to comply with carnal wicked people in a man-pleasing way for livelihood It was Jeroboams policy to have Priests dependant on his contribution to be his Trencher-Chaplains these were ready to sacrifice to the golden Calves which the Priests and Levits having a setled maintenance refused to do though Jeroboam and his son persecuted them and put base ones in their rooms 2 Chron. 11.13 14 15. Answer 5. Will the Profane or Heretical Person freely maintain a godly Orthodox faithful Minister whose doctrine reproofs c. are very unpleasing to flesh and blood Answer 6. Experience shewes how godly Ministers are maintained by free benevolence where there is no setled publique maintenance in many places the godly are the poorest and fewest and we see many professors charity is but cold upon this accompt many able and godly Ministers that have members of their Sacramental Congregations from divers Parishes until the Parishes be fitted with a competent number of fit Communicants by the setled Preaching of the Gospel amongst them by able and painful Teachers I say upon this accompt many of those Congregational Ministers do not subsist onely by the contribution of their Congregations but have publique setled maintenance without which they could not comfortably subsist and provide for their families Answ 7. Those Ministers that have been necessitated to live upon contribution have and do finde That mans nature is variable and peoples mindes are aliened from them upon no occasion they become such Ministers enemies for Ministers telling them the truth they say Hail Christ too day and crucifie him to morrow Make a God of Paul to day and stone him to morrow willing to day to pull out their eyes to do him good and are ready to pull out his eyes to morrow The free contribution of such a variable nature is very uncertain and is so found by daily experience Cavil 16. I finde no precept in the Gospel for the paying of the tenth or any other certain rate therefore I le pay none If God had set down how much I should pay I would have paid it I may pay too much or too little and so sin Answer 1. The Gospel requires a liberal and certain maintenance of Gospel Ministers Gal. 5.6 1 Cor. 9.3 Answer 2. Gods Law for the maintenance of those that were his Ministers under the Law is set down in answer to this cavil Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple And they which which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar Even so hath the Lord ordain'd that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.13 14. This even so will satisfie this pretended Scruple or Objection It proves a liberal certain setled maintenance for Gospel Ministers by Tythes Glebes or otherwise Even so which even so Master Canne leaves out when he cites this Scripture in his lowd voice and cry against the godly setled Ministery of England and their maintenance although he could not but be convinced in conscience that this is the scope of the Apostle to shew that Gospel Ministers maintenance must be at a rate answerable to that which those injoyed that did minister about the holy things of the temple There is no commandement to vary or alter from the same certainty and proportion God shewing by this even so that he hath no lesse care of Evangelicall then Leviticall Ministers for their liberall certain setled maintenance not by the will bounty and pleasure of men but by a certaine tenure and establishment from God even so c. Cavill 17 Is printed expresly by Charles Nicholls if people do not heare the Parish Priest they need not pay him tythes or duties Hence the Caviller saith I do not hear the Priest therefore I will pay him no tythes if I reap none of his spiritual he shall not reap my temporalls and if he must be partaker of all my good things I must be instructed by him 1 Cor. 9. Gal. 6.6 Answer 1. This untrue and seditious position is not only vented by Charles Nicholls and some others to undo and ruine all the Godly setled Ministers of England but to serve his own belly to draw disciples after him Charles would have his stoln sheep fat and have good store of wooll on their backs such sheep are worth the drawing if they pay the setled Minister no maintenance they will be the better able to pay Charles This is worse then to rob Peter to pay Paul it is to rob Peter and Paul too to pay Charles to pay Alexander the Copper-smith to pay Diatrephes c. But this assertion is become very taking and prevails very much to overthrow the setled Godly Ministery Thus of old they that did runne before they were sent did steale Gods word every one from his Neighbour Jer. 14.14 23.30 Diodate expoundes it they fraudulently take upon them to preach the word and steale from the called Prophets all authority and credit As the false

time his Waggon is loaded it is night c. The Tythe-payer saith he must manure his ground and turns in his Cattel which spoil the tythe this is usual enquire at Pluckly in Kent c. 7 The wicked Tythe-payers to cover their own sin and shame use to encourage the poor people Gleaners and others to steal tythe-corn and they see it nod and laugh at c. whereby and by other causes it is now grown to that pass that Tythe-robbing is made a sport off And not only Tythe-payers but other people become Tythe-stealers so that we are forced to watch our tythe day and night after it is set out One neer me was taken in the night by a Farmer who saw him bundle up wheat-sheaves and having them on his back the Farmer came to him and laid hold on him and said it was his corn The thief answered By my troth I thought it was a tythe-shock for it stood alone else I would not have toucht it for 100 pounds And the false doctrine and practice against this setled maintenance hath so far prevailed that people do openly call those that gather the Tythes thieves and Rogues and say that they go thieving about to take mens corn c. Thus we see into what times we are fallen wherein wickedness is so advanced by doctrine and practice that light is called darkness and darkness is called light honest men are called thieves and thieves are justified And as the frauds and wrongs are used where tythes are paid in kinde so it is where there is a rate a world of fraud in that also besides refusal delay to pay it without law The fraud is in the concealment of the number of acres the Landlords rent is for so many acres and so many acres there are But the Tythe-payers have a trick to case themselves in Taxes to the State to the Poor to the Church c. and to cheat the Minister There is one number in the Seff-book an other in truth and in the Land-lords Lease And in bargaines for things tytheable as wood fruit c. the true price is concealed and thereby the Minister defrauded These are the common frauds used and daily practised against Ministers as daily experience wofull experience deere bought experience hath taught thousands of Ministers and Impropriators who have paid very deare for their learning of this Art called Tything-craft which since the Ecclesiastical Court hath ceased hath been much improved by impunity all the Nation over through defect of law to restrain and punish these frauds But it will be objected that these frauds are not invited or caused for want of law For by Law which is the mother of justice the tythe-payer is to prove that he hath justly and truly set out and left his tythe without fraud or guile And therefore all these tricks will not gain him any thing if he be sued and made prove his tythe to be so set out and left and if he fail in that it will be a gain to the Minister who shall recover treble damages To this I answer first that if the Tythe-payer did not intend to defraud why doth he use these or some of these tricks to conceale his unjust manner of tything c. They that meane truly and justly will as much as in them lies provide things honest in the sight of all men He that doth evill hates the light that tithe-payer that of purpose endeavoureth to decline the seeing his tythe set out by the tythe-receiver is justly to be suspected and daily experience proves them fraudulent 2 That proof never fails the Tythe-payer though the tythes were never so unjustly set out and left Ignorant and profane Atheists or malicious Enemies to the Minister are they that are the cheife witnesses against the Minister one that will trangresse for a morsel of bread that will swear any thing to please his master or neighbour And they that are instruments of the Tythe-payers thievery and help load and carry away the stolen tythe they that are actors in the theft and gainers by it shall be witnesses for the Grand-thief Ask my fellow if I be a thief Will not such sonnes servants and neighbours witnesse for the justification of the wicked Tythe-payer the principall occupier of the lands and who can disprove them seeing all was done in the Tythe-receivers absence and some tythes left for him 3 For the treble damages If the tythe be not wholly deteined or carried away there is seldome or never any proof of the true value of the tythes substracted the which Tythe-receiver must prove the value of that which his servants never saw and who can sweare the number of acres without seeing them measured So that for want of proof the treble damages if any be conjectured come farre short of the true single value of the defrauded tythes 4 For further answer suppose the Tythe-payers in a Parish be a hundred or two as more there are in some Parishes suppose it be most apparent that they have not left their tythes truly set out in the tythe-receivers absence but no direct proof of the matter of fact on the Tythe-receivers part Now the minister or other Tythe-receiver must either set down with this losse or have suits of Law against two hundred persons to make them prove their just tything according to Law In Equiry Courts the Tythe-payer will sweare any thing in his answer He that makes no conscience to be a thief will make no bones to sweare falsely If triall at Law the witnesses are commonly as you have heard This is a sad streight a minister is in either to lose his tythes and be undone that way or to be a greater loser in paying costs also he not being able to prove a Negative 5 And for final answer if it could be proved against an hundred Tythe-payers that every one of them had substracted their tythes to the value of 20 s. it were better for the tythe-receiver to lose this 100 l. then to sue at law for it For though the Law gives the wronged Tythe-receiver treble damages yet it hath proved a damage to the Tythe-receiver to right himselfe by the Statute of treble damages For that the costs are alwayes included in the damages so that the costs in journeys Law-fees c. in every one of these hundred suites will come to more in value then the treble damages which are given him That in the end it will appear that it had beene better for him to have lost his hundred pounds in tythes then to have sued for it unlesse a Law be made for treble costs as well as for treble damages CHAP. II. ANd the frauds in tything and oppression thereby are not only occasioned by the defect of the Lawes for tythes but through defect of Justice also I mean execution of Justice according to the Laws that are now in being The Preamble of the Ordinance of Parliament for tythes made in the year 1644 mentions that

about holy things and made Acts Laws to inforce it 2 Chron. 31.4 Nehem. 13.6 So after the Apostles times when Kingdomes and States became Christian ministers were presently provided for in a publique setled way of maintenance as Histories shew which maintenance continues to this day in all Christian Kingdomes and Nations and in this Nation especially by Glebes and tythes and other setled duties And indeed then and only then is the Gospell the glory of any Nation when the Christian Magistrate doth entertaine it and set it up and uphold it by upholding and Maintaining the Ministers and Ministery of it And that glory is gone if the magistrate own it not or protect it not in the ministery of it Such as Charles will not have the Church receive any advantage by the Civil magistrates becomming Christians which is confuted Isa 49.23 Psal 72.10 11. Isa 60 10. Revel 20.24 Such magistrats are said to be Nursing fathers and mothers to the Church Such fathers mothers do not leave the childe to it self but do take care of it and nourish it We read Act. 9.31 when the Churches had rest from persecution they were edified multiplyed and would it not be much more edified and multiplyed if ministers and people had the power and assistance of the Christian magistrate with them and for them in the things of Religion The Magistrate doing actively and positively for the good of the Church out of their pious care to promote Religion and the salvation of mens souls and not only to preserve outward peace and safety Answer 2. The Magistrate is for the the punishment of them that do evil Rom. 13.1 Is it not an evil sin a sin of omission against Gods Law not to allow maintenance to ministers which God commands both in the Law and Gospel Therefore the Magistrate sins if he punish not that neglect of duty thereby to inforce it As he doth in other cases as in relief of the poor in taxes in other duties Answ 3. Whereas Charles saith that people should maintain ministers freely they should be free in that duty to obey God only therein God commands it to be freely done therefore the Mngistrate hath nothing to do to meddle with it to inforce it by coercive Lawes It is plain that a duty commanded by the magistrate may notwithstanding be done freely and willingly Tit. 3.1 Obey Magistrates be ready to every good work The double command of God and man too of them of whom God sayes They are Gods should move to more free willing cheerfull obedience for conscience sake Rom. 13.5.1 Pet. 2. 2 Cavil Charles to animate people against Magistracie and Ministery Prints expresly That tythes are an oppression and a bondage and that selling of Parson ages is selling of poor mens labours and that tythes are the people 's own estate Ans It s evident that tythes are no bondage or wrong because the paying of them is not one farthing charg to any man rich or poor in the whole Nation The tythes neither belong to the State nor to the Land-lord nor Tenant of the Lands and Houses where those tythes arise but they belong only to the Minister and Impropriator as their right and propriety as hath been proved before the Honourable Committee for Tythes by the godly-learned in the Laws and is manifested by several learned Treatises When Kings of this Nation had the Patronage of Rectories If the Minister Incumbent died the Profits the tythes thereof went not to the State but were sequestred and kept for the next Minister to enjoy them And Ministers have actuall possession given them as free-holders as freeholders paid Subsidies and sued at law as freeholders It s manifest that the Purchasers of lands and houses do not purchase the tythes and duties that have and do issue out of those Lands and Houses as a Rent-charge due and payable to the Minister or Impropriator neither do they purchase the lands tythe-free or duty-free And the Tenant or Farmer doth not hire the tythes and duties of the Landlord who having no right to them hath no power to let them or to enjoy them himself And there is hath bin a consideration had of this Rent-charge of tythes in all Purchases Leases c. which would be a tenth part more in value and price if the Lands or Houses purchased or hired were tythe-free As is manifest in tythe-free Lands which are purchased and let at higher rates by a tenth part then Land or Houses charged with tythe-rent Thus it hath pleased God who when he gave the Land of Canaan to Israel did reserve the tythes to himself for his Ministers and made other provisions for them in Lands and houses by his special providence to provide and establish in this Land and in other Lands and Nations a maintenance for his Ministers by the free Donation and legal settlement of Houses Glebes and Tythes given and establisht by those who have been Proprietors and Possessors of Lands and Houses and this establishment hath been made and continued by Law and Custome for many generations as heretofore and of late especially hath been proved by ancient Histories and Records and this settlement of Ministers maintenance from good grounds both from the Law and Gospel also which commands the liberal maintenance of Ministers such a maintenance at least as tythes amount unto Gal. 6.6 1 Cor. 9.2 c. Notwithstanding all this cleere demonstration that tythes are none of the peoples owne that the people have no right to them in the least yet it is strange to see how unperswaseable people are to believe this truth and how forward they are to embrace Charles Nicholls his false doctrine touching the peoples right to tythes So that many people count it their duty to detein their tythes they think they do God and themselves good service to cozen the Tythe-receiver what they can I have heard divers say It is no sin to cozen the Parson what they can upon this accompt they say with scorne and glorying when they pay any tythes We give the Priest as they in scorne call the setled minister So much every year we are at such charges to the Priest either glorying in their bounty and gifts or rather grudging at their payments of tythes which are no more theirs then a Legacie is the gift of an Executor or a debt the gift of the debtor or the rent the gift of the tenant to the Land-lord Answ 2 Such as Mr. Charles Nicholls are Oppressors of godly Ministers by abetting the witholding of setled maintenance and oppressors of people too by causing them to be charged with costs in Law for the iniquity to which they intice them and by drawing them from the orderly dependance upon their owne setled Pastor to be at charge in needlesse journeyes expences losses by neglect of Families at home and by occasioning them to be at need lesse charges touching ministers maintenance when they may injoy a competent

wandring Starres not being able to sit down with a people as Pastors in a constant course of expounding Cathechising Preaching c. One of these gifted men preacht such a pocke●-sermon five times times one after another in severall Parishes and in every preaching had these words in the same passage of his sermon viz. Now the Lord hath set it on my spirit to tel you And by the way here I cannot but wonder how it can be conceived that itinerary preachers should by their unconstant unfrequent preaching amongst people be able to frame a people to a way of knowledge faith obedience c. I instance in John Turner who hath some of his pretended Congregation in the Parish where I live above twenty miles distant from him these neglect the publick preaching of the word moneth after moneth though they may enjoy it at their own doors or not far off elswhere yet they by their weak principles not to hear in our Churches and their wandring star seldome appears in this Horizon I have compared them to the Inhabitants of Greenland if any be that see no day or Sun for divers moneths 4 If any such pretended or really gifted men will take no tythe it s at their pleasure that argues nothing against Ministers setled maintenance as Saint Paul would not have his example in not taking of the distressed Saints made a rule to all Ministers 1 Cor. 9. 5 The false Apostles preacht for nothing as we have shewed before their cheapness doth not argue their worth in life or doctrine as experience shews 6 Some of these cheap men bring in a dear reckoning at last I mean they creep into houses and into purses too by degrees under pretence of long prayers devoure widows houses swallow down large incomes and get good estates 7 Some of these men gifted as they say without liberal education in Arts Tongues at Schools Universities c. are meer dissemblers in concealing their liberal education that by this Jesuitical plot of extraordinary gifts pretended to be given them in an extraordinary way they may allure people to errour and overthrow Schools of Learning amongst us and may overthrow an able learned Ministery thereby that there may be n●ne of emiment learning to convince the Learned gain-sayers 8 It will not profit a man to win the whole world and lose his own soul If such teachers by weakness errour c. ruine thy soul if thou losest that upon this account thou hast made a losing bargain Cavil 36. The Priest is put upon us by others by the Parliament by the Patron against the will of the Parish He was never chosen by us though he be sent to us by Authority we do not take him for our Minister and therefore wee l pay him nothing Let them that set him on work pay him his wages if others provide us servants let them pay them their wages Answ 1. The Christian Church and State that take care to have Ministers sent to places for the Propagation of the Gospel take care and make provision for such Ministers without any charge to the people or parish whether they are sent the setled established maintenance of such preachers is from the State by Houses Glebes Tythes Augmentations c. The people the parish is at no charge for such Ministers wages as is already proved Tythes are not the peoples but the Ministers propriety Answer 2 Those that choose their preacher which is not provided for by the Christian Magistrate by a publique setled maintenance they cannot doe it but at their owne charge it is their private transaction at their private charge Answer 3 The State knows the unfitnesse of Parishes as yet to choose their own Preachers in regard of deformation that is left in them by the Prelaticall goverment by the experience of what teachers the most Parishes approve of c. Answ 4 The people have a Negative voice if they can shew just cause against a preacher that is sent them by a rationall dissent not by a wilful causless opposition of Ministers sent unto them Answer 5. The Scriptures speaks of sending Ministers and it reproves those that have itching ears that heap teachers to themselves 2 Chron. 16.15 Math. 23.37 2 Tim. 4.3 Cavil 37 I would pay my tythes justly if I paid them to an Impropriator that payes mony and rent for his revenue but the Priest payes nothing but prates a litle c. Answer Some object this when they should pay tythes to the Minister where they live and after removing to a parish where an Impropriator had the tythes have refused to pay him alledging that if the Impropriaton did take paines for his tythes as the Minister or if he were a Minister they would pay him Cavil 38 The Priest is a Devilish Round-headed Priest breakes downe godly Images and Pictures pulls down the Holy-cross Holy-water-font refuseth to use the Common-prayer-book to marry to give the Communion to all to pray at the grave to preach on Saint Christmas-day c. If he will not do his duty we need not pay him his wages Let him doe his Office and he shall have his benefice I wil pay him no tythe but a tythe halter this I have often heard Ans This is to persecute a Minister for righteousness sake for well doing This is to render evill for good Christ himself the great Shepherd of the Sheep and his Prophets and Apostles were so dealt with for their faithfulnesse in their places So persecuted they the Prophets instead of mainteining them These are the principall Cavills raised against Ministers maintenance whereby ignorant and wicked men do blinde and harden their consciences against the revealed and implanted light and truth for their owne ends CHAP. IV. IT is High-time then for the Christian Magistrate to take this cause into speedy consider●●ion for the suppressing of these causlesse and wilfull oppressions acted daily against Gods Ministers And although the discovery of the disease the beholding of the man fallen amongst thieves be motive enough for compassion and relief yet I shall lay down some further pressing arguments for the speeding of that righteous and pious work to this end First consider that pious Princes in all ages have advanced the setled maintenance of Ministers by strict lawes and impartiall justice as Histories shew they left not men only to their own conscience and to the law of God even of old besides Gods law there were humane laws for the certain maintenance of Ministers 1 Chron. 31.4 13. Nehem. 13.6 2 Consider how many godly Ministers have bin wearied out and worried out of late yeares and have been necessiated to leave their places and shift for themselves to prevent their utter undoing as in time of Deformation Nehem. 13.10 They have spent their temporall estates in spirituall livings of a reall considerable value but not so to them by reason of these fraudes Ministers have spent more in Fifts Tenths Taxes c. then they received

Apostles practised against the true Apostle Paul whereby he was put to it to justifie his ministery Answer 2 And this doctrine of Charles doth not only tend to the ruine of the Ministery but to the losse of the soules of the people for upon this account many will heare no Minister at all to save charges if they hear not the Minister they say they are free from charges to the Minister I know divers parishes that have no Minister at all to save charges they may have the Gospel preached to them but they prize tythes above their soules Gaine is their chief godlinesse Answer 3. The people have no power to pay their tythes to whom they please no more then to pay their Land-lords rent or debts to whom they please For the tythes are not the people 's own to give or pay where they please They are not their own good things their own temporall things Answer 4. Upon this account those that occupie lands in parishes where they live not Out-dwellers will pay nothing to such Ministers for the upholding the preaching of the Gospol in those parishes the setled maintenance rising out of those lands yet the greatest part of the lands in many parishes is farmed by Out-dwellers Cavill 18 If the Ministers would live as they should doe and preach as they should doe no man would refuse to pay them they would pay them out of meer reverence to their worth as the thieves that stole Mr. Gilpins horse when they heard it was the horse of so holy a man the thieves brought him his horse again and asked him forgiveness c. this objection I have heard Answer 1 The most pious able painfull Ministers are most defrauded by unconscionable prophane people only because they are such Ministers when illafected are truly paid Christ himselfe who was holy harmless c. was betrayed by Judas for lucre sake And Saint Paul who led an examplary life and preached better then any Minister now living and could worke miracles yet he suffered hunger and thirst and nakedness had no abiding place and was in perils of robbers in perills of false brethren and put to worke for his living 1 Cor. 4.7 2 Cor. 11.26 c. Cavil 19 If tythes were put into a common treasury and more equally divided by stipends I would willingly pay tythes A. 1. It would be a vast charg to gather tythes into a common treasury neither minister nor people would be gainers by it but that charge about collectors treasurers journeys attendance must needs be losse to some Answ 2 We see how it fares with the Ministers of the reformed Churches beyond the seas in Holland Palatine c. The Protestant Princes have the tythes the Minister a stipend which is generally so mean that the people after they have paid their tythes to the State are necessitated to add to the Ministers maintenance out of their owne estates as it was here in the Bishops time before the Parliament in many parishes the people paid tythes to Non-residents whose Curates were a burden to them besides yet these people now the Bishops Courts are down not fearing the present lawes doe refuse to pay tythes only without any further charge to resident godly painfull preachers who keep house amongst them and beare the burthen of the parish with them In the Palatinate before the sword entred there the Ministers condition was such that a Pesant or Yeoman scorned to marry his daughter to a Minister their servants were thought good enough for them And how it fared in this kinde with famous Scultetus is famous And this was the immediate fore-runner of the Palatine desolation according to that of old 2 Chron. 36.15 Answer 3 It cannot be proved that ministers maintenance was equal of old but the contrary and there is just ground of inequality in many respects as of place Citie or Countrey of the Ministers deserts families c. Cavill 20 Many do petition against tythes all the Nation over therefore I le pay none Answer 1 This rather argues for tythes it was said of the true Religion This Sect is every where spoken against and we read in the Gospel that they all petitioned and clamoured against Christ himself they all ctyed crucify him They cryed out against Paul this man is not worthy to live but there was nothing found in Christ or in Paul worthy of death or of bonds Answer 2 Many petition against tythes meerly out of ignorance opinion passion interest for company out of hatred to the Ministery it selfe which they desire to overthrow but will not cry downe the Ministery in plain termes but endeavour to bring their end to passe by unsetling ministers maintenance which would in a litle time destroy both maintenance and ministery One that came up to London to petition against tythes being asked why he was so earnest to have them down he said He should get 30 li. by the year if tythes went down but being convinced that if tythes went down his Land-lord would add his Tythe-rent to the Land-lords-rent he presently said I will home again as fast as I can trudg let them petition that will A. 3. The Clamour and Petitions of millions is not to be regarded if it be can slesse and against right Answ 4. Neither magistrates nor people must follow a multitude to doe evill They must not so much as speake in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Exod 23.3 it was the sinne of unjust Pilate the Governour who delivered innocent Christ to be crucified only upon petition clamour and there was a law made by the Heathen Emperours that no Christian should suffer for clamours of the people against them Answ 5 Many Petitions have been made for tythes upon better grounds of Scripture and reason then the contrary petitioners have or can produce If both be compared some of these contrary petitions having nothing but noise not a word of Scripture-grounds or inference of right reason and these petitions from a very few in comparison though pretended from many and they not of the best Cavil 21. Setled maintenance by tythes or otherwise breeds contention if there were no maintenance setled there would be no contention between Minister and People no Law-suits c. which hinders the Gospel Answer 1. This might have been objected against Gods Law for tythes that God had setled a contentious maintenance which to say is Blasphemy 2 Contentions arise not out of the nature of tythes but out of mens passions and infirmities Those that refuse to pay tythes are the cause of the contention they necessitate them to whom tythes are due to contend for their right which is deteined from them The Non-tythepayer is the contentious person The Tythe-receiver only defends himself when he endevours to keep off the wrong in a legal way without which he must of necessity lose his righr and be guilty of his own wrong and of the hardening of others in wickedness There are two things