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A85845 The case of ministers maintenance by tithes, (as in England,) plainly discussed in conscience and prudence. Humbly propounded to the consideration of those gentlemen of the committee, who are in consultation about it. / By John Gauden, D.D. Gauden, John, 1605-1662. 1653 (1653) Wing G344; Thomason E220_1; ESTC R3663 45,053 49

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as in the Old and intend as well the maintenance of those that preach the Gospel as it did of those that served at the Altar Quaere 2 The second Quere upon the account of Conscience is Whether the Lord hath any where in his Word Old or New Testament either expresly or by good consequence forbidden Ministers of the Gospel to receive and Christian people as such to give to them as maintenance either occasionally by private bounty of fixedly by publick donation a Tithe or Tenth of any goods increase as a part or portion meerly Typical Judaical and Ceremonial appropriated to the Levitical Ministry or Priesthood which by the coming of Christ is changed and so abolished that Tithes may no more now be used by Christians either Ministers or people than Sacrifices or Circumcision Answ 1 To this the Answer is Negative Nothing in the word of God appears forbidding Christians by private or publicks bounty to set a part a Tenth of their increase or substance to the glory of God for the Maintenance of Piety or Charity both which ends the Ministry of the Gospel chiefly aymes at I say no more than it is forbiden or commanded to give any other portion above or below the Tenth Certainely if Christians may lawfully devote a 5 6 9 or a 12 15 20. part to the glory of God in a publick good no reason or Religion can be produced against the Tenth as the only unlawful portion 2. If any portion or quantity as a fit Medium between Ministers merit peoples retribution be specified intimated recommended or ordeined by God in the Gospel sure it is no other but this of Tithe or tenth as I shall afterwards prove in the 3. Quere If none be pointed out or signified as Gods choice then is any one lawful which is fit and that most lawful which is fittest to attain Gods end which is evidently commanded namely the competent maintenance of his Ministers under the Gospel at a rate answerable to that which those enjoyed under the Law 3. The scruple some make of Tithes as Jewish urging that place that since the Priesthood is changed the Law must bee changed Hebr. 7.12 and therefore no tithes are allowed to the Evangelical Ministry is easily answered § 1 1. It savours too much of the Jews covetous hard hart to question whether a Christian may not be as grateful to his Minister as a Jew was to his Priest of which there is no doubt And it argues too much of a Jewish confidence presumption to think that the Lord should so far prefer the Altar ministry before that of the Gospel Numb 18.21 Levit. 27.30 Gen. 14.20 Gen. 28.22 Plut. in Lucul Diodo Sic l. 5. c. 2. Macrob. Satur. l. 3. c. 12. Majores solitos decimam Herculi vovere è Varrone Plin. Hist Nat. l. 12. c. 14 Herod 1. Clio. Livi Dec. 1. l. 3 as to provide certain and ample Maintenance for the first and none for the second As if there were more excellency in a beast sacrificed then in Christ crucified § 2 2. The Divine appointment of Tithes to be payd as Gods portion among the Jews to his Priests doth not argue any thing so much as this that they are Gods still after the Law as they were his in a Religious right before the Law when Melchisedeck received them as a right of Abram and Jacob vowed them as a due to God from which ancient light of tradition and use among the Holy Patriarcks the opinion which many of the Heathens had touching the holiness of a tenth part of their goods and spoils arose which they in many places consecrated as due to their Gods Jupiter Hercules and others § 3 3. It doth not follow by any right reason that what ever the Jews used to Religious ends was therefore Ceremonial Typical and to be abolished There was never any thing in Tithes discovered as a Shadow Type or Ceremony They were used long before Moses the institution and end of them in all times depended meerly upon common grounds of Piety Equity and Gratitude both to God and man The most wise and just will of God was pleased to accept first from the Patriarck and afterward to claim as his own Levit. 27.30 then to assigne that quantum or portion of Tenths for his publick service and the sustenance of those men who were imploied in it Now since the same ends as to the main are still required by the Lord namely the Maintenance of his publick Ministry under the Gospel there is no reason why Tithes as a proportionate means should be abolished Since there is still an Evangelical Priesthood and Ministry ordeined by God and derived from Christ which men needing Humane and Mortal supplys as much as the Levites and Priests of old did now exercise celebrate and administer doubtless as the same necessities now require like supplies and a parallel livelyhood is by the Lord ordeined in the Gospel so nothing hinders but these may bee made by the same measure of tenths upon the same grounds of equity which were valid among the Jews Especially considering the Ministry of the Gospel is more paineful more honorable and not lesse useful than that of old was Nor is it to bee presumed that God should be more strait handed to this Ministry which hath the honor to be in Christs stead the Lord of glory the beloved Son of God § 4 4. It is most certain that the same moral tyes and dutys he now upon Christians which did upon the Jews in matters of Piety Equity and Charity yea and those Patternes of Prudence and Policy in Church or State which were used by them are so far allowed and by Gods pattern recommended as best to Christians according as they wisely consider the fitnes of them as means to those holy ends which the Lord still requires The sanctifying of a Sabbath or day of rest Confessing of sins over the sacrifice reading and hearing the Law and Prophets explained Praying to and praising of God Charity to the poor Relief of enemies in distress Reconciling before they come to the Altar with their gift preparation before the Passover c. So also as to other Lawes Judicial Penal and Political which the Jews had and observed by a positive command of God Christians may under a different ministration and form use and do the same things upon those moral and general grounds of Equity Piety and Charity which are still and ever will bee in force as they are in this point of Ministers maintenance by Tithes as well yea better than an any other way § 5 5. What sober and judicious Christian understands not this clearTruth That where any duty is at large or in general commanded by the Lord the same duty in its particular circumstances qualifications and restrictions which humane prudence according to the liberty granted puts upon it is also commanded approved and accepted and so becomes not onely lawful but necessary in its