reigned in Jerusalem and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord after the abominations of the heathen for he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his Father had destroyed and he reared up the Altars for Baal and made a Grove as Ahab King of Israel did and worshipped all the host of heaven and he seduced the people to do more evil then did the Nations whom the Lord destroyed before all the Nations and made Judah also to sin with his Idols and he used inchantments Read 2 Kings 21. chap. and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards and observed times Now was not Manasseh one that did forsake the Lord and his commandments and did not he lead the peoplc on seduced them to do wickedly in serving strange gods and worshipping Idols in the houses of high places and thus you may see that the ground and foundation of the houses of high places which we in England call Cathedral Churches Churshes and Chappels was from the heathen and Idolatrous Kings and Rulers and popish Kings and others built up to worship their Idols in now in these our days are upheld in pretence to worship the true God in but I say that God dwells not in temples made with hands neither is he worshipped in them with those that assemble together in them for God is a Spirit and is worâ—hipped in spirit and in truth And now I will compare those houses of high places which Jeroboam Ahab Manasseh and the heathens made with those that we have in England which are falsly called Churches and see how far short they have fallen and how far they do now fall short of being the same or such like as they were First The founders or builders of those houses of high places that the Scripture speak of that I have before mentioned were built up by the heathen and idolatrous people at the command of the wicked and ungodly Kings and Rulers of the Earth such as Jeroboam Rehoboam Ahab and Manasseh were and now by hypocritical Kings and Rulers and idolatrous Kings are upheld and maintained So these that we have here in England were all of them built up by the popish Saxon Kings and other Idolaters I will onely instance some particulars of them as I sound them written in our English Histories About the year 604. by two of the Saxon Kings viz. Etholbert King of Kent and Segebert King of Essex was founded the greatest house of high places in London falsely called by the name of the Cathedral Church FOXES Acts Monumenâ—s Vol. 1. or St. Pauls Church and through the instigation of Etholbert King of Kent a Citizen of London began in the year 614. to build the house of high places at Westminster falsly called a Church And in the year 636. King Gilsus King of the Moreians began and founded the house of high places falsly called a Church at Winchester but it was finished by his son Kenwalcus And about the year 932. by King Athelstone was founded and by him builded the Cathedral at Exceter HOLLINS Chr. pag. 1009. as said Hollingshood in his Chronicle who hath said likewise that it is recorded in the History of the said Cathedral thus as followeth Atholstone the Cornish being subdued returned to the City which anciently was called Monbeton but now Exceter and theâ—e sitting down Anno Dom. 932. he repaired the Walls of the same City not much torn also he gave a certain pension for the sounding a Monestry for the Monks of the Family of God and St. Peter alias who served God and St. Peter And Hollingshood saith that in the year 1198. Pope Innocent the third established the erroneous Doctrine of Transubstantiation and as it appeareth in the Decratals made it an Article of the Symbole And in the year 1218. his next successor Honorius the third did confirm the same and by a Decree also did establish Reservation Candle-light and praying for the dead by which means the great number of Sacrificing and Massing pâ—iests did not onely encrease but Churches falsly so called and Chappels began in all places every-where to be builded and erected for to worâ—hip Images in and the Saxon Kings and others built Monasteries Abbies Nunneries Chantry-houses and Fryer-houses for their Monks Nunnes Priests Fryars Abbots And thus the founders or builders of your false Churches were Idolaters as those were spoken of in the Scriptures and it was one and the same Spirit of Error and Witchcraft that guided them to do them in rebellion against God for God never required it at their hands to do 2 King 17.12.15 Jer. 7.31 19.5 Secondly The Houses of high places that the heathen and the Idolatrous Kings of Israel built up were built so large for height length and breadth and so strange withall Iudges 16. 1 Sam. 5. that they did contain and hold thousands of people for the House that Dagon the god of the Philistine stood in was so large that it held about three thousand men and women upon the Roof and the House was full of men and women and the Lords of the Philistines were there And Jehu he proclaimed a solemn assembly for Baal 2 Kings 10. 1 Kings 18.22 and Jehu sent through all Israel and called for all the Prophets of Baal and all his servants and all the Priests of Baal and all the worshippers of Baal and they came all into the House of Baal and the House of Baal was filled from one end to another Now the prophets of Baal was in the dayes of Ahab four hundred and fifty men and sure his priests and his servants and his worshippers were many more for the House was filled with them from one end to the other as saith the Scripture So likewise the Houses of high places here in England which are falsly called Churches are for height length and breadth builded so strong especially the Cathedrals and some of the others that above in their Galleries and below they will hold thousands of men yea and the Princes and the Rulers and the Nobles and the Judges and the Priests that preach in them for hire and the Prophets that study or divine for money all in a Parish will but scarce fill them up from one end to the other and another to help them Thirdly The Houses of high places that Jeroboam and Ahab built they had Vestries and Vestments belonging to them and likewise they had men that had the charge over them take one for a pattern of all the rest 2 Kings 10 2â— And Jehu said unto him that was over the Vestry Bring forth Vestments for all the worshippers of Baal and he brought them forth Vestments So likewise the Houses of high places falsly called Churches here in England they have men appointed to take the charge of them and their Vestries too who are called by the Name of Churchwardens Vestry-men Clarks and Sexstones and these with Priests and the Vestry-men are the Rulers of
c. but such a work God hath not required any one of them to do but they have in their own wills and by their own imaginations done it for I have read That it was thought good that the Election of the Bishop of Rome should be of no strength without the consent of the Emperor of Rome the Emperor did choose the Bishop of Rome But saith my Author This is now void for now the Cardinal they choose the Pope and the Pope he makes Cardinals and Bishops and the Bishops they ordain the rest with their Assistants viz. their Ordinaries Suffragans Arch-Deacons and by a carnal commandment did they ordain and consecrate them Pope Iohn the thirteenth writ to King Edger in England and willed him to see in his Cathedral Churches that none be promoted to be Bishops but such as were of the Monastical Religion Anno 747. And likewise willed the said King Edger To seclude all the Secular Prebendaries at Winchester to place in Monks And that no Secular Clark should be chosen a Bishop And so in King Edgberts reign Dunston Bishop of Canterbury Oswald Bishop of York and Ethelwaldus Biâ—hop of Winchester they discharged the Priests and Cannons out of their Houses to place Monks in their Cells and Cathedral Churches as they called them but in former times the black Monks who went all in black clothes as the priests of England now do that followed the order of pope St. Bennit were called Regulars and Votaries and had nothing to do with any Ecclesiastical Ministry Anno 606. till the time that Bonifacius the fourth made a Decree that Monks might use the Office of Preaching Christening and of hearing Confessions and assoyling them from their sins And in King Edwins dayes the black Monks of Bennits Order began to swarm in England out of which Habite of black clothes the priests of England cannot yet get out of to this day And now seeing that I have mentioned these black Monks of pope Bennits Order I will put forth three Queries for the parish-Ministers so called of ENGLAND to answer with moderation First Seeing that you now in these dayes so many of you go in black Apparel and in long black clokes especially Whether the Chemarims which were certain idolatrous priests who wear black apparel as you may read in the Marginal Note upon the tenth chapter of Hosea and the fifth verse be your example so to do yea or nay Secondly Or whether do ye in love follow the fashion of the black Monks of Pope St. Bennits Order in your so doing year or nay Thirdly Seeing that Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the Prelates and Clargy of England in their Synodal Council decreed Hen. 1. and about the sixth yeer of his reign at Westminst That the Garments of the priests should be of one colour and that their Shooes should be decent then I say Whether a black colour was thought to be most decent for the priests gaâ—ments and if it was then Whether you the priests of England who are now called Ministers do out of conscience at this day observe that Decree and so wear your garments all of a black colour as mâ—st decent yea or nay The Kings and Rulers of the earth with the pope made for themselves Bishops Danes Danes and Chapters Parsons Vicars Priests Ministers and by their own carnal commandments were they made and not otherwaies as you may see hereafter In the dayes of king Henry the fourth it was agreed upon by the king Statuâ—o ex Offiâ—iâ— Reg. Hen. 4. and the bishops and other lords That no man within this Realm er other of the Kings Majestyes Dominions presume to take upon him to preach privily or apertly without special License firct obtained of the Ordinary of the same place And in the dayes of the said king Henry the fourth Constitutions was made by Thomas Arundal Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others and he directed his Mandate and sent to all and singular as he said our Reverend â—rethren Fellow-bishops and our Suffragans and to Abbots Priors Danes of Cathedral Churches Arch-Danes Pâ—ovests and Cannons also to all Parsons Vicars Chaplins and Clarks of parish-churches as he called them and to all Lay dwelling in his province of Canterbury Greeting That no manner of person secular or regular being authorised to preach now by the Laws prescribed or licensed by special priviledge shall take upon him the Office of preaching the Word of God or by any means preach unto the Clargy or Laytie either within church or without in English except he first present himself and be examined of the Ordinary of the place wâ—ere he preacheth and so being found a fit person as well in manners knowledge he shall be sent by that said Ordinary to some one churâ—h or more as shal be thought expedient by the Ordinary according to the quality of the person Now take notice that all Laws Decrees Ordinances and Constitutions were made and established by the Authority that the kings and bishops had from the pope and by the pope and his authority was all the bishops danes arch-deacons suffragans priors priests vicars chaplains made and ordained here in England An. 25. Hen. 8. chap. 20. For first the king he was to nominate who should be appointed to be bishop to any See or Diocesse within this Realm and that then every person so presented to the pope and by him approved of was to be consecrated here in England by the Arch-bishop in whose province the said bishoprick shall be Read the Act at large An. 26. Hen. 8. cap. 14. but when king Henry the eighth had cast off the pope then it was enacted by the King and the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons assembled in parliament That no person or persons that the King should nominate to be a bishop or arch-bishop in this Realm hereafter should be commended to the pope or to the See of Rome to have the dignity or office of arch-bishop or bishop within this Realm And it was likewise enacted That King Henry the eighth should nominate the person to be bishop or arch-bishop to the bishopprick that shall hereafter be void and that he was to send his Letters Missive to the Prior and Covent or the Dane and Chapter of the cathedral Churches where the See of such Arch-bishopprick or bishopprick shall happen to be void and they was to choose and elect that person whose name was contained in the Letter Missive to the Office and Dignity of the arch-bishopprick and then the party so chosen was to be presented to the King the other bishops was to consecrate him and then he was to be invested into his place And so king Henry the 8th was set in the popes place to be Head of the church An. 26. Hen. 8. cap. 1. and the Defender of the Faith and the same thing that the pope did for the most part he did with his biâ—hops and others to help
the Lord God will lead you out of all strife and contention and teach you how to agree with your adversaries quickly and to love your neighbor as your self and to forgive your enemies and to live in peace with all men Therefore I say to all people Cease from the Lawyers and follow the Lord wholly who giveth to man every good thing And again I say people Cease from the Doctors for so long as ye follow them ye will never enjoy your healths and come to God who sent his Word and healed the people and delivered them from their destruction Christ healed the woman of her Issue who had spent all that she had and had suffered many things of many Physicians and was nothing bettered but grew rather worse Therefore I say Forsake the Physicians and come to Christ who rebuked the Feaver and it left Peters Wives Mother God he wounds and he heals he kills and makes alive he brings down to the Grave and raiseth up again But some it is very like may say Must we not use the means when we are sick and take something to do us good Yea but I say Wait with patience upon the Lord stand in awe and sin not and if the Lord command thee to go and take a Plaster of Figs and lay to thy sore or to go and drink water 2 King 20.5 6 7. 2 King 5.14 Luke 17.19 or wash in the water and thou shalt be whole then go in the name and in the fear of the Lord and do as he commands and believing in the Lord so shalt thou be made whole Now I say That these three sorts of men for I will put the Doctors and Astrologers together the Priests who are called Ministers the Lawyers and Physicians are all unto the people like the Locusts the Caterpillar the Palmor-worm for all of them will have the peoples money and what the one leaves the other comes after and takes And again I say That these learned men have been ever a generation of persecutors of the people and servants of God and the Scriptures doth testifie with me that those Priests that were made and consecrated by men end the false Prophets were in all generations persecutors of the true Prophets and servants of the Lord which he sent forth to declare his Messages and this I will prove both by Scripture and History to be true For it is thus written in the Scriptures That Ieroboam the son of Nebat King of Israel 1 King 12.31 13.33 34. made at Bethel Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi for the high places But in the dayes of Ieroboam the son of Ioath King of Israel God sent Amos an Herdsman of Tekoa to Bethel and Amos in the Name of the Lord declared against the high places and said The Land should be desolate and the Sanctuaries of Israel should be laid waste and that the Lord would rise against the House of Ieroboam with the Sword But Amaziah the Priest of Bethel he sent to Ieroboam King of Israel Amos 1.1 7.10 11 12 13 saying Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the House of Israel and the Land is not able to bear all his words for thus saith Amos Ieroboam shalt dye by the sword and all Israel shall be led away captive out of their own Land And Amaziah the Priest of Bethel said unto Amos O thou Seer go flee thee away into the Land of Iudah and there cat bread and prophesie there but prophesie not again any more at Bethel for it is the Kings Chappel and the House of the Kingdome 1 King 22.11 22 24. ver 2 Chron. 18.10 11 23. ver And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah one of Ahabs false prophets went and smote Micaiah the true Prophet of the Lord upon the Cheek c. And in the dayes of Iehoiakim King of Iudah God sent Ieremiah to go and stand in the Court of the Lords House and God commanded Ieremiah saying All the words that I command thee to speak unto them diminish not a word And Ieremiah said unto all the people that came to worship in the Lords House Thus saith the Lord I will make this House like Shiloh and I will make this City a curse to all the Nations of the earth c. And when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking Ier. 26.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 16. ver Luke 22.2 66. ver Matth. 26.3 4. 2â— 1 2. then the priests and the false prophets and the people took Jeremiah saying Thou shalt surely dye And the priests the prophets spake unto the princes and to the people saying This man is worthy to dye but the Princes and all the people said unto the priests and to the prophets This man is not worthy to dye for he hath spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord our God c. And the chief Priests and the Scribes and the Elders conspired against Christ Jesus the Son of God and held a consultation and they and the whole Council took Jesus and bound him and carryed him away and delivered him to Pilate and would not cease till they had got him crucified and put to death for said they We have a Law Iohn 19.7 Act. 4.7 chap. 23. ch v. 2. 25. ch v. 2 3 and by our Law he ought to dye because he made himself the Son of God c. And so likewise in the dayes of the Apostles if any tumult or imprisonment or death fell upon them the Priests the Scribes and the Rulers of the Temple would often have a hand in in it first or last And as the priests and false prophets were that Jeroboam and other of the Kings of Israel and Iudah had made such like persons for persecuting were the Bishops and the Clergy of England who were bred up at the Vniversities of Cambridge and Oxford and such are the priests who are called Ministers in these dayes for I say The same spirit that ruled the Pope Cardinals Bishops c. in the persecution of the servants and saints of God the same spirit ruled the Bishops and the Clergy in the dayes of the Kings and Queens of England and the same spirit rules the priests called Ministers in England now in these dayes as it did them in those dayes Pope INNOCENT the third Pope LEO at RATISBONE See the form of the Spanish Inquisition FOX Act Mon. Vol. 1 2. See the Table of Germany Spain France Italy and other Countreys as well as the English Martyrs JOHN CLARK of Melden in France a Wool-Carder by Trade This latter was done upon him at METZ in LOTHERING 1524. for the Pope in his Councils made Degrees and Canons Institutions for the correction of Hereticks as they called them for whosoever did speak against him his Laws Decrees Canons and Institutions or the Popish Religion in general or particular either by disputing
persons so offending their aiders comforters counsellors consenters and abettors therein being thereof convinced in form under-written by the Authority abovesaid shall be deemed and adjudged Hereticks and every such offence shall be adjudged manifest Heresie and that every such offender and offenders shall therefore have and suffer judgement execution pain and pains of death by way of burning without any abjuration Sanctuary or benefit of Clergy to be therefore permitted had allowed admitted or suffered and likewise the forfeiture of all the Estate real or personal to the King c. And by the same Parliament it was likewise enacted That Parliament confirmed the Spanish Inquisition The Oath for the Commissioners of the bloody Inquisition That for the more effectual execution of the Premises full Authority of Inquision of all such Heresies c. should be committed and directed down into every Shire to certain persons provided that the Arch-Bishop or Bishop or his Chancellor or his Commissary to be one and that every person that should be named Commissioner in this Inquisition should first take a corporal Oath the tenor of which Oath here ensueth Ye shall swear that ye to your cunning wit and power shall truly and indifferently execute the Authority to you given by the Kings Commission made for correction of Hereticks and other offendors mentioned in the same Commission without any favor affection corruption dread or malice to be born to any person or persons as God you help and all Saints c. All you Rulers and Magistrates of England that swear and take Oaths what spirit is it that teaches you to frame Oaths leads you to swear Oaths and to give Oaths to men or women Heb. 6.16 Exod 22.10 11. 1 Kings 8.31 were they that forged the Oath above-written and sware and required people to take the said Oath guided by the spirit of God so to do yea or nay And again Was that Oath the Oath of the Lord that they had forged to be taken yea or any Did the Pope and his Adherents give or administer the Oath of the Lord to any yea or nay Was the Pope and his Adherents taught by the spirit of God to frame Oaths to be taken yea or nay Or did the spirit of God lead the Pope and his Adherents to swear and to take Oaths against the Saints and Servants of God whom they persecuted to death yea or nay I say Nay the spirit of God neither taught them to make or to forge Oaths neither did the spirit of God teach or guide them to swear by their own forged out of the bottomlesse pit Oaths Neither are Parliaments nor Councils in these our dayes taught by the spirit of God to make Oaths nor doth the spirit of God teach them to swear neither by the Bible or by their hand Iames 5.12 Matth. 5.34 35 36. 23.16 to 22. or by any other creature or part of any creature nor by any of their framed Oaths but the spirit of God did teach and does teach the contrary now as it did in the dayes of Christ and the Apostles which spirit I own and obey but that spirit that frames Oaths which are not the Oath of God and swears and requires people to swear by an Oath forged out of the bottomlesse pit FOX Act. Mon. Vol. 2. L. CROMWEL made Earl of Essex Great Chamberlaine of ENGLAND and Vice-goâ—â—rnor to the King I deny that spirit and its practise for it is not the spirit of God but the power of the prince of the Aire that rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience I have read in the Book of Martyrs of one Thomas Lord Cromwel that in the dayes of King Henry the eigth did this Nation of England a deal of good service as the story of his life death doth relate how profitable an Instrument he was in destroying Abbies Monasteries Nunneries c. and routing out of the Land the works of the Monks Fryars Nuns and other such like brutish drones and pulled down the Rood called the Rood of Grace and all his Engines and shewed them openly at Pauls Crosse with the blood of a Duck which the papists made the people to believe it was the blood of Hailes and other such like pieces of Idolatry and Witchcraft he removed out of the way that the people was seduced by with the learned men of Oxford and Cambridge So likewise he was an Instrument to discover the treachery of the Bishops and the Clergy who had sworn to be true to the King and afterwards swore also to be so to the pope and for the proof of the same he produced a copy of their oath to the pope which was read in the Convocation-House before them and the matter was so plain that they could not deny it And likewise Thomas Lord Cromwell presented the Bible to the King and obtained License that the same might freely passe to be read amongst all his subjects This Bible was of the lesser volume but a Bible of a large Volume began to he printed at Paris with an intent of Marginal Notes to it of which the said Lord Cromwel was a great helper of it forward At which the Clergy was offended and the cursed Bishops bringing their purpose to passe brought Thomas Lord Cromwell out of favor with the King and after to his death For after the six Articles with the penalty annexed to them and the full Authority of the bloody Inquisition was confirmed then the said Thomas Lord Cromwell being in the Council-chamber was suddenly apprehended and committed to the Tower of London and sundry crimes surmizes objections and accusations as they called them were brought against him c. The best of men in their generations have alwayes been counted Hereticks by they who are Hereticks indeed 1. The first and chiefest Article that they had against him to accuse him with was above all others Heresie alias an Heretick 2. That he was a supporter of them whom they counted for Hereticks as Barns Clark and many others who he by his Authority and Letters written to the Sheriffes and Iustices in divers Shires rescued and discharged out of Prison And I say he did well in so doing 3. That he did disperse among the Kings subjects great numbers of Books containing as they said manifest matter of much Heresie Diffidences and Misbeliefe was their manifest Heresie in the Bible that he disperst abroad let the Hereticks themselves answer 4. That he caused to be translated into our English Tongue books comprizing matter expresly against their Sacrament of the Altar and that after the translation thereof he commended and maintained the same for good and Christian Doctrine and good reason he should so do 5. They charged him with some hainous words spoken against the King in their falsly called Church of St. Peter the Poor in the month of March so called in the thirteenth year of the Kings reign which was about 18. years before but
washings and carnal ceremonies until the time of reformation which time of reformation was not until that Christ Jesus came who is the sum and substance of all shadows and figures and the end of the law for he changed the priesthood and disanulled the law of ordinances and him God raised up to be a King a Law-giver a Judge and a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Isa 13.22 Iames 4.12 Luke 23.19 Heb. 7.21 22 23 24. Deut. 18.15 18 19. Act. 3.22 23. Isa 9.6 7. not by a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life and by the same power a prophet was he mighty in word and in deed who came according as the Lord God did speak by Moses and the prophets for said the lord unto Moses I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him and unto him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you and it shall come to passe that every foul that will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people And Isaiah said Vnto us a childe is born unto us a son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulder his Name shall be called The Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and justice from henceforth and for ever the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this And when the fulnesse of time was come Gal. 4.4 5. even that time that was for reformation God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law who came to fulfil every jot and tittle of the Law Ioh. 19.30 Rom. 10.4 Eph. 2.15 and when Christ Jesus the son had fulfilled the Law he said upon the Cross It was finished And Paul testified and said That Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth in him having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in Ordinances yea the carnal Ordinances which was imposed upon them until the time sf reformation which time of reformation was when Christ Iesus the King Law-giver Iudge and High-Priest for evermore came in the fulnesse of time and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us said Paul even such a yoak it was upon the neck of the Disciples that neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear said Peter But Christ the true King and Conqueror who hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew â—hem of them openly triumphing over them even hee whom God hath raised from the dead Eph 1.20 21. Câ—l 2.14 15. and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principalities and power and might and â—oâ—inion I say He Christ Iesus hath blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinance that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his crosse Thus the Law was disannulled by Christ Iesus who having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the Law of commandments contained in Ordinances c. This is Iesus who was called of God and not of man nor after the law of a carnal commandment was he made an high Priest but after the power of an endlesse life he was made an High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and continueth for ever an unchangeable Priesthood forsech an High-Priest it became us to have who is holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heavens but by the Law by which the Levitical Priesthood came were many priests which had infirmities which continued not by reason of death and so it passed from one to another which Priesthood being imperfect in it self perfected not any for he offered up Sacrifices daylie year by year first for himself viz. for his own sins then for the errors of the people which sacrifices were year by year offered up continually but the comers thereunto could never be made perfect for if therefore perfection had been by the levitical Priesthood then what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron but perfection came not by the Levitical Priesthood for their sacrifices that they offered up year by year made not the commers thereunto perfect therefore there was a necessity that another should come But God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son who gloryfied not himself to be made an High-Priest but was gloryfied of his Father who said unto him Thou are my Son to day have I begotten thee thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and he was not only called a Priest for ever but he was called of God an high Priest likewise after the order of Melchisedec And Christ Iesus the Son of God came having compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way and though he were a Son yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him and hath obtained eternal redemption for us by his own blood for by one offering of the holy of Iesus once for all he offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified So that now ye may plainly see that the Levitical Priesthood who came by the law to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to offer up both gifts and sacrifices for their own sins and likewise for the errors of the people is changed into a more better and perfect then was before which changeth not but abideth for ever Therefore seeing that the sons of Levi who received the office of the Priesthood according to the Law had a commandment to take tythes were discharged from their office and their service put to an end by that one offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all for by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified so that where there is remission for sin there is no more offering for sin Now seeing that it is so plain that by the sons of Levi the Levitical Priesthood perfection came not therefore that priesthood was changed and the sons of Levi discharged of their service by Christ Iesus who offered himself a sacrifice once for all and that by him perfection came for ever to them that are sanctified by that one offering Therefore there was a necessity that a change of the Law should be made also by reason of its servitude
that lay upon the people and likewise for the unprofitablenesse thereof The children of Israel were by the law commanded to pay first fruits and tythes for the maintenance of the levitical priesthood And the sons of Levi who received the office of che Priesthood had a commandment to take tythes of their Brethren according to the law and of no other Nation or people were they to receive any first fruits or tythes but verily that commandment is disanulled and the law is changed by our King our Law-giver and our Iudge and Prophet and Priest for ever viz. Christ Iesus who having abolished in his Flesh the enmity even the law ef commandments contained in Ordinances and hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and contrary to us which was a yoake of bondage upon the neck of the Disciples he took it and nailed to his cross tryumphing over them in himself and said It is finished for he is the end of the law for righteeusnesse to every one that believeth in him c. But wicked and ungodly men who believe not in him even Kings Rulers Pope Matth. 13.54 55 56 57. Mark 6.23 Ioh. 7.48 49. Bishops Priests for out of their own mouths they are judged Have any of the Rulers believed in him And said Paul Not many wise men after the flesh nor many mighty nor many Nobles are called even such as believe not in Christ Iesus will not that he should reign over them therefore they have made unrighteous unjust and unholy laws for to require people to pay tythes to the priests and ministers which they themselves have so ordained consecrated and sent forth and not God And the Priests and Ministers who are not ordained nor consecrated nor sent forth of God but by man even they by their unrighteous unholy and the unjust laws of men they take tythes and sue men at the unrighteous law for tythes and cause men to be put in prison by the unjust law for tythes and by the unholy law they take trebble damages of mens goods for non-payment of tythes thus contradicting what Christ Jesus hath done for Christ the true King and the just and righteous Lawgiver he disannulled the law Eph. 2.15 Col. 2.14 15. and abolished the law of Commandments and blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances and changed the priesthood that took the tythes so that when the levitical priesthood ceased to be a priesthood the tythes ceased also and the law likewise Therefore I say That the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents who have made laws to pay and to take tythes by they are such as believe not in Christ Jesus the Son of God for had they believed on Christ Jesus the Son of God they would have owned him to have been a King and a Law-giver unto them and likewise they would that he should have reigned over them as King and had they loved him Isa 26.12 13 33.22 Ioh. 13.21 Matth. 23.23 Luke 18.12 they would have kept his commandments but such as own not Christ to be King and Law-giver believe not in him and so will not that he should rule and reign over them These as the Scribes Pharisees and Hyyocrites did so do they pay tythes of Mint Annis Cummin Rue and all manner of Herbs yea and of all that they possesse and so by their works they deny Christ to be King and Law-giver and Priest too but said Christ Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither Luke 19 27. and slay them before me Now there was a time that the Hypocrites Scribes and Pharisees paid tythes as said Christ Ye pay tythes c. and at that time that they paid tythes they omitted the weightier matters of the law Judgment Mercy and Faith which said Christ ye ought to have done and not to leave the other that is tythes undone which tythes was to be paid according to the law by the people of Israel which law and carna ordinances imposed upon the people continued for them to observe and do until the time of reformation which reformation was by Christ Jesus who changed the priesthood and disannulled the law and said Paul He having abolished the law of commandments and blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us nailing it to his crosse so that after that time that Christ had fulfilled the law and put an end to that law which was a shadow of good things to come and changed the Priesthood to which the tythes was paid I say again That there was no more tythes nor first fruits to be paid and all they that refused to pay tythes and first fruits after that time of reformation which was made by Christ Jesus who offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and after he had so done Heb. 10.12 Rom. 4.15 he sate down at the right hand of God they transgressed no law in so doing for where there is no law there is no transgression But the Heathen at this they raged and the people imagined a vaine thing the Kings of the earth they set themselves and the Rulers and the Pope and the Cardinals the Bishops and the Popes Adherents took counsel together against the Lord and against his annointed saying Come let us break their bonds asunder and cast their Cords from us such would not that Christ should rule and reign over them these were and are enemies to God they have made the Word of God of non-effect they have set Christ at naught and have lightly esteemed the Rock of their salvation they have cast his Law behinde their backs and will have none of his reproof they have not taken up the Crosse of Christ nor gone in the strait way that leads unto life but have gone in the broad way that leads unto destruction being led by a spirit of error in their Councils whereby they did make Decrees Canons Constitutions Laws Statutes Acts and Ordinances which are unjust unrighteous impure and not good for said the men of Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and Herefordshire speaking of the Acts and Statutes made in former Kings dayes for the payment of tythes said they The Husband-mans Ploa against tythes printed in the year 1647. Because Acts of Parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a Parliament said they as well as a Council may be led by wrong Principles and so erre and so make Laws or Statutes that are unjust c. So acting against the Lord and against his Annointed in making Laws Canons Acts c. to pay tythes by for after that Christ had disannulled the Law and put an end to it they made Laws to uphold and to pay tythes therefore those Councils and Parliaments c. who have acted and made such Laws formerly and those that do act and make such Laws to pay tythes by now were and are led by a spirit of error to bring again upon the necks
against all those above-named unrighteous unjust and impure Decrees Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons and Ordinances that have been made by men for to require the people to pay first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions rates for tythes or such like that they are not of God and likewise That all those men who sate in councils and parliaments and have made those laws whether kings popes earls lords lords and commons protector and council or parliaments I say That they were not guided nor taught nor led by the spirit of God so to do but by a spirit of error were they ruled by for to bring again a yoke upon the neck of Christs Disciples by those unjust and unholy and unrighteous laws decrees constitutions acts and ordinances and clauses in ordinances whereby they require and compel Christs Annointed to pay first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions or any other rates in lieu of the same I say That those laws for the payment of tythes c. are not good for whatsoever law it is that is not good in its original or foundation can never be made good by any act or acts of man subsequent Now I say That the ground and original of these laws for the payment of first fruits and tythes c. since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was from the pope and his adherents the pope and his adherents are Idolaters and all the Idolaters are ungodly and such as hate the Lord Read 2 Chron. 18 19. chap. for Ahab the King and Israel was an Idolater and he was led by a lying spirit to go up to Ramath Gilead Iehosaphat King of Iudah joyned with him and said to Ahab I am as thou art my people as thy people but Hanani the Seer said to Iehosaphat Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord such are the pope and his adherents ungodly and such as hate the Lord therefore those laws that had their original foundation from the pope and his councils were and are altogether illegal and unjust in their original for can a corrupt fountain send forth sweet water neither can the pope and his adherents who are led by a spirit of error send forth pure and just laws Therefor say I to all the Rulers of England Should you help the ungodly to make laws against the Lord against his Annointed do ye not make your selves manifest by your actions herein to be such as love them that hate the Lord do not ye do the same things in nature though not in substance as the pope and his Adherents do or worse for the pope used to excommunicate or to curse out of his Church those that would not pay tythes and happy they were that were so excommunicated out of his church by him and his adherents See the Petition of Right and 〈◊〉 Act for regulating the Privy Council and taking away the Star-Chamber Anno 17. Caroli Regis but ye make laws to take three times the value of the tythes from them that cannot in conscience pay tythes c. and put men in prison for non-payment of tythes to the undoing of them their wives and small children which is contrary to the Common-law of the land And again It is a Maxime in the laws of this land That whatsoever in its original is altogether illegal and unjust can never by tract or length of time or by Actor Acts subsequent be they what they will in any kinds or construction of law be made just or legal And for the clear proof of which read Judge Huttons Argument against Ship-Money pag. 48 49. and Vox Plebis pag. 20. 43. and the fourth part of Cooks Reports pag. 125. and Vernons Case See also John Lilburns Grand Plea made against the Lords Jurisdiction over the Commoners Anno 1647. pag. 8. 13. And said the men of Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire See the Booke called The Husbandmans plea against tythes Printed 1647. Because said they Acts of parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a parliament as well as a Council may be led by wrong principles and so erre and so make laws Acts or Statutes that are unjust c. And again I say That all they who put those unrighteous and unjust laws for tythes c. in execution and all they who receive tythes firrst fruits oblations obventions offerings or any other thing in lieu of the same and all those who either through subtilty or willingly payes the said first fruits tythes oblations obventions or offerings or any thing in leuâ— of the same in obedience to those laws that are made by the ungodly and such as hate the â—ord I do judge them all to be enemies of God and such as will not that Christ Jesus should rule and reign over them neither do they own him to be unto them a King Law-giver and Judge but by their works do make themselves manifest to be such as deny Christ Jesus to become in the flesh for did they love Christ Jesus they would suffer the spoyling of their goods for his Names sake and keep his Commandments and did they own Christ to be King and Law-giver then they would obey no laws but his and submit to him that hath disanulled the law which was a shadow of good things to come and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances having abolished in his flesh the law of commandments contained in Ordinances and changed the priesthood who by a law took tythes and not have revived an old law that was done away by Christ Jesus at the time of reformation by himself for who hath required that law to be revived again by them at their hands but onely the Pope and his Adherents whose work they do for his servants ye are to whom ye obey Therefore my son if sinners entice thee consent thou not neither follow a multitude to do evil walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their pathes for the wayes of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord therefore go not in the way of evil men as for God his way is perfect his work is perfect all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he and the way of God is strength to the upright an dt they that walk in his pathes finde peace but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity c. And now I come to shew out of Histories the testimonie that others in former yeers have born for Christ and against tythes Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. and them that took tythes I finde written that about the yeere 1360. in the prayer and complaint of a Plow-man wherein he said as followeth Ah Lord he that * Calleth cleepeth himself thy Vicar upon earth viz. the Pope hath ordained an order of Priests to do thy service and therefore he chargeth | Lay-men lewde men in pain of cursings to bring his
imprisoned or disseâ—sed of his Free-hold Liberty or free Custom neither shall he be out-lawed banished 9 Hen. 3. cap. 29. 5 Ed. 3. cap. 9. Read the petition of Right or by any means brought to destruction neither shall any passe or sit in judgement upon him but by the lawful judgement of his Peers that is his equals or by the law of the land and Magna Charta is acknowledged by the learned to be the Common-law of England both before and after the conquest And now I shall refer the Reader to a Book called The Cry of the Oppressed from under their Oppressions wherein the Reader may see a cloud of Witnesses that have born and still do bear their testimony for the Name of Jesus and against tythes who go under the Name of Quakers who have suffered and do suffer bonds and imprisonment and likewise the spoiling of their goods they take joyfully knowing in themselves that they in Heaven have a better and an enduring substance And again besides all this they undergo sore travels out of the North and other parts of this land to appear before the Judges at the Tearms at Westminster Tearm after Tearm do they continue still more or lesse bearing their testimony not as the parish-Ministers and the professors do who professe Christ in words but by their works deny him come in the flesh against tythes and that Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and thir testimony of him â—s born through suffering the losse of all for his Name sake which to them is an evident token of their salvation and that of God for they that suffer with Christ shall reign with him but unto their adversaries by which they do suffer it is to them an evident token of their perdition for those mine enemies that would not said Christ that I should rule and reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me I tell you that God doth hear the cry of the oppressed and he will avenge his own Elect which cry unto him day and night for vengeance is the Lords and he will repay it upon his adversaries ye wicked and ungodly ones because that judgement is not speedily executed upon you therefore the hearts of you sons of men are set on to do wickedly but know that for all this you shall come to judgement for the innocent have committed their cause unto God who judgeth righteously and you shall find that when you appear before the Lord who sees all your doings and knows the thoughts of your hearts that they are evil that with God there is no respect of persons nor taking of bribes Ye see here before written that I have shewed how the parish-Ministers that the Kings and the Rulers the Pope and his Adherents have ordained and consecrated and sent forth to their parishes to preach have been and are maintained first their maintenance is in part after the maintenance of the Levitical priesthood under the Law viz. first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions c. Secondly like unto Pharoah the King of Aegypts Priests by portions of lands viz. Parsonages Vicarages Exâ—d 47.24 1 King 18.19 Rectories and Glebe-lands Thirdly like unto the prophets of the Groves that fed at Jezzabels table viz. at Kings and Queens tables Earles Lords and Ladyes tables yea 1 King 13.33 34. Mic. 3.11 and at Oliver Protectors table too Fourthly like the false prophets and the priests of the high places that Ieroboam and others consecrated who preacht for hire and divined or studyed for money so they have some 30.40.50 100. or 200 l. a yeer and some more in the parish where they are setled for their yeerly maintenance and their Lecturers place together all which hath been and is provided for those heaps of Teachers which the world who having itching ears have heaped up to themselves by which they are seduced even by those unprofitable talkers viz. Cambridge and Oxford Schollars by the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents And now I come to shew you out of Scripture how the Prophets that God sent forth was maintained I shall instance how some of them were maintained and so by them do ye judge how the rest were maintained For Elijah the prophet of God he was a hairy man and he was girded about his loins with a leathern Girdle and God commanded Elijah to go and hide himself by the Brook Cherith 2 King 1.8 Read 1 King 17. chap. that is before Iordan and God told him that he should drink of the Brook and that the Ravens should feed him there So Elijah went according to the word of the Lord and dwelt there and the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening And it came to passe after a while that the Brook was dryed up because there had bin no rain in the land And then the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying Arise get thee to Zarephath and dwell there behold I have said the Lord commanded a widow woman there to sustaine thee So he arose and went to Zarephath and when he came to the Gate of the City he found the widow woman gathering sticks and he called unto her said Fetch me a little water in a vessel that I may drink and bring me a morsel of bread in thy hand And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah and she and he and her Houshold did eat many dayes and the Barrel of Meal wasted not neither did the Cruse of Oyle fail according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah And it came to passe after many dayes that the word of the Lord came unto Elijah in the third year saying Go and shew thy self unto Ahab and I will send Rain upon the earth And Elijah went and shewed himself unto Ahab and after that he had done the work of the Lord as you may read in 1 King 18. ch Iezzabel sent a messenger to him saying So let the gods do to me and more also if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time And when he saw that he arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba which belongeth to Iudah 1 King 19. and he left his servant there and he himself went a dayes journey into the Wildernesse and sate him down under a Juniper Tree and as he lay and slept under a Juniper Tree behold then an Angel touched him and said unto him Arise and eat And he looked and behold there was a Cake baken on the coles and a Cruse of water at his head and he did eat and drink and laid him down again And the Angel came again the second time and touched him and said Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat fourty dayes and fourty nights unto Horeb
proud nor wanton nor given to filthy lucre to run in the way of Baalam for gifts and rewards neither were they any persecutors fighters quarrellers c. but were in all generations persecuted stoned whipped stocked and imprisoned and put in Dungeons and hailed out of the worlds Synagogues or falsly called churches and brought before Magistrates and by the Devil some were cast into prison many slain which for the most part was done by the means of the priests the false prophets for said Christ O Jerusalem Jerusalem Matth. 23.37 1 Kings 12.4 18.4 22. c. 24 27. v. 2 Chr 24.21 Jer. 20 1 2 3. 26.7 8 11. 28.1 4 6. Amos 7.10 11 12 13. Matth. 26.34 Acts 5.24 25 33. Acts 7.54 58. 12.2 3 4. 14.19 Acts 16 22 23 24. Acts 21.27 28. 2 Cor. 11.24 25 26 27 28. thou that killest the prâ—phets and stonest them which are sent unto thee And the chiefe priests and all the people transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen and mocked the Messengers of God and despised his word and misused his Prophets c. Read the Scriptures quoted and see how they were misused and by whom And again the Prophets of the Lord and the Apostles and true Ministers of the Gospel they did not preach for hire nor did they study or divine for money as the false ones did Mich. 3.11 and do still Neither did they seek for gaine from their quarters as the false ones did Isa 56.10 11. and do still Neither did they feed themselves with the fat and clothe themselves with the wool as the false ones did Ezek. 34. and do still Neither did they bite with their teeth nor prepare war against them that put not into their mouths as the false ones did Mic. 3.5 and do still Neither did the true Prophets nor the Apostles or the true and faithful Ministers of the Gospel steal the word from their neighbour and then cry and say Thus saith the Lord when the Lord had not spoken to them as the false ones did Jer. 23.3 chap. 14. v. 19. and do still Neither did the true Prophets and Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel come before they were called nor run before they were sent of the Lord as the false ones did Jer. 14.15 23.32 and do still by a carnal commandment of manl Neither had the true Prophets nor the Apostles and Ministers of Christ any Lands and Houses appointed them by the Kings of the earth for a certain dwelling place upon the earth as said Paul 1 Cor. 4.11 Heb. 11.37 36. as the false ones had Gen. 47.22 26. 1 Kings 18.19 and have so to this day Parsonages Vicarages Rectories and Glebe-Lands here in England which was given to the Pope and his Adherents viz. the Clergy who were called the Church with their high places all together by popish Saxon Kings and others as hereafter shall appear out of their own Records for see the Oration of King Edgar one of the Saxon Kings to the Clergy as followeth in part Fox Act. Mon. Vol. 1. Let said he the great devotion of our Ancestors move you whose Alines the madness of the Clerks doth abuse My Great-Grandfather as ye know gave the tenth part of all his Lands to the Churches and Abbyes And my Great-Great-Grandfather Alferdus of holy memory thought it not meet to spare his Treasures his Goods nor Costs nor Rents that he might enrich the Church My Grandfather the elder Edward your Father-hood viz. the Pope is not ignorant of how great things he gave to the Churches it becometh you to remember with what gifts my Father and his Brothers did enrich Christs Altars c. But by the way take notice of another piece of service that was done by another of those Kings that is Oswald King of Northumberland when he went to fight against Cadwalla set up at Hevenfield in Northumberland an altar and a cross unto which he kneeled down and prayed for victory Anno 635. The Donations and Priviledges granted and given by King Ethelbald to religious men of the Church as he called them It is wont for the most part to come to passe that by reason of the uncertain changing of the times that those things which have been confirmed by the testimony and counsel of many faithful persons without any consideration of reason may be dangâ—rously and fraudulently dispersed so as to come to nought by the contumacy and dissembling devices of many unlesse they be committed to eternal memory by the Authority of Letters with the testimony of Hand-Writers Wherefore I Ethelbald King of the Marshes for the love of the heavenly Country and a remedy for my soul have foreseen that I must take care that I make it free for some good work in every bond of the beloved for because that Almighty God through the mercy of his clemency without any desert of mine hath bestowed upon me the Scepter of Government therefore I do willingly retribute unto him out of that which he hath given for this cause Whilest I live I grant this Donation That all Monasteries and Churches of my Kingdom be made free from publike charges and labours and burdens excepting onely the building of Towers and Bridges which are no more profitable for any thing at any time Let the servants of God have a peculiar freedom in the fruits of the Woods and fields and in taking of fish Let them not give any gifts either to Kings or Princes unlesse it be of their own accord but let them be free to serve God c. Now followeth the second gift given by the abovesaid King to the Clergy The Priviledges and Donations given by Ethelbald to the Clergy Anno. 844. Our Lord reigning for ever Forasmuch as in our dayes we see dangerous times are upon us by reason of burning of Warres and taking away of our Riches and the most cruel depredations of barbarous Enemies and of the Paganish Nations wasting us therefore I Ethelbald King of the East-Saxons with the Council of my Bishops and Princes have avouched it as wholesom counsel and an uniform remedy That I grant an Hereditary Portion of Lands to God and St. Peter and all the Saints by a perpetual right to be possessed to wit a part of my Land that it may be secure and free from all secular services and tributes to the King both great and small without taxes which we call Witterden and that it may be free from all things for the remission of our souls and of our sins to the serving of God only without any expedition or building of a Bridge or fortifying of a Tower that so they may without ceasing pour out prayers to God for us so much the more diligently to the end that we lessen their servitude in some measure c. So now here you may see by these gifts above written of what persons they were that gave and setled the Parsonage-Lands Glebe-Lands
Vicarage-Lands and other Lands and likewise for what use the parties gave them the end wherefore they gave them and by this you may see how the Kings of the earth provided for the Clergy of their own and the Popes making but for the Prophets and Apostles and Ministers of Christ they would not provide any such things for them but instead thereof they and their Churches provided for them Prisons Dungeons Whips Stocks Bridewells Saws Swords Wracks Fire and Faggots And as for the Messengers and Ministers of Christ that he ordained and sent they would not receive them into their Houses nor their Doctrine neither but those who they ordained and consecrated themselves See Cesar Due by Tho. Bradley D.D. and Minister of Nettlebed in Oxfordshire but not Minister of Christ. or such as were made by a carnal commandment by the Pope and his Adherents or by a Commission of Tryers that come in their own names and not in the Name of the Lord such are received and provided for and called by them Master and a House and Land for a certain dwelling place is prorided for them worth 100. l. or 200. l. more or lesse by the year for the Rectory of Alsford in Hampshire stands in one of the Kings Books at 29. l. a yeer but said Bradley It was let at 450. l. communibus annis viz. one year with another beside a reserve of 30. l. a yeer that the Rector lived in himself And this was not sufficient but the Kings of the earth have taken away from the people and given to their Ministers as their servants to preach them up their Fields their Vinyards and their Olive-yards even the best of them and given them to their servants and the tenth of the peoples sheep and the tenth of their seed and of their vinyards and given them to their Priests Ministers and servants And thus the Kings of the earth have done according as God bad Samuel tell the people the King they asked for would do 1 Sam. 8.1 to the 18. But some it is like will say that the Kings gave their own lands to the Clergy Read Hollinshead Chron. Fox Act. Mon. Vol. 1. But I say How came the Saxon Kings by their Lands here in England that they gave to the Clergy Did they not take it from the people by their Swords And did not William the Conqueror do the like And did not the Saxon Kings and William the Conqueror prove tyrants to the people and treacherous likewise And one thing I do grant that is this That the Kings or Rulers of the earth may with the consent of the people assembled in counsel raise money for the publike good that is for the defence of the Nation and for the preservation of the Nations peace and welfare at home or abroad by Land and Sea and defence of the nations enemies But I say again That the Kings and Rulers of the earth ought not to take away the peoples Goods or the Fruits of their labour nor the increase of their seed nor the increase of their Flock or Herd or their Vinyard to give unto others nor to sell unto others Isa 1.23 Hos 4.6 7 8 9 Lam. 4.13 as some Kings of this Nation have done and taken away from the people the tythes and sold them to Improprietors others they gave to their own Ministers which thing is not good but evil and abomination in the sight of God and the buyer and the receiver are as bad as the seller and the giver But some will say it is like Must not our Ministers be maintained how should they live for they cannot work for they were never brought up to work and they cannot starve Thus I answer That they are big enough and strong enough to work therefore it is now time for them to begin to labour with their hands the thing that is good Act. 20.33 34. 1 Cor. 4 12. 1 Thes 2.9 2 Thess 3.6 7 8 9 10 11. and in the sweat of their brows to eat their own bread for our order is That they that will not work shall not eat provided that they be strong and able to work as your Ministers are and they that set them to work let them pay them their wages out of their own Purses and not out of theirs that own them not And again The true Prophets and Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel that Christ sent they did not take tythes nor gifts nor rewards for preaching nor prophesying for tythes was not the Gospel that they liv'd by But those Ministers that the Kings and Kulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents make and sent forth they take gifts and rewards and tythes for their preaching therefore they commit sin with greedinesse and do the thing that is not right in the sight of God for God did not require tythes to be paid to those Ministers that are made and sent out by the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents but when God required tythes and first fruits to be paid he required that the tythes and first fruits should be paid to the Levites Aaron and his sons whom God did â—et apart to minister in the Priests office Exod. 24.12 Lev. 27.30 to 34. Ioh. 1.17 and for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation Exod. 28.11 Numb 3.12 Heb. 7.5 I find in the Scripture that God gave the Law in Mount Sinai unto Moses for the children of Israel to observe and keep even the Law which was a shadow of good things then to come for said Iohn The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ Now I say Deut. 26. chap That Law by which the children of Israel was commanded to pay tythes was given in Mount Sinai to Moses for the children of Israel to observe and keep when they came into the Land of Canaan Heb. 10.1 Deut. 7.6 7 8. 14.2 Ps 147.19 20. And this Law which was a shadow of good things to come was committed unto the people of Israel to observe and keep and to no other Nation for the Lord God had chosen them to be a peculiar people unto himself above all people that were upon the face of the earth and said David He hath shewed his word unto Iacob his Statutes and his Iudgements unto Israel he hath not said David dealt so with any Nation for his judgements they have not known And Paul said Rom. 3.1 2. That unto them were committed the Oracles of God And now I come to write more largely of tythes then hitherto I have written Exod. 34 26 27 28 29. Lev. 27.30 to 34. Deut. 10.8 9 10 11 12 13. 18.1 2 3 4. Deut. 12.10 11 12. 26 1 2. 19. v. 25. c. Lev. 27.30 32. Exod. 34.26 Mal. 3.8 9 10 First I finde that God did not command or require any people to pay tythes and first fruits but only by