freely nor did not for sake all freely but like Ananias and Saphira though I had parted with much yet would have kept a part back and if the Lord had cut me off as they were I must have justified the justice of the Lord in my Soul and Conscience which daily witnessed against me as it were sealing and confirming this Testimony to me and in me that I should never find Peace nor Reconsiliation with the Lord untill I gave obedience to the Light and came into society with the Children of Light viz. the People by the World called Quakers and came to the Worship that stood in Spirit contrary to all the Wayes Worships and Services of the World set up in the wills and limitations of Men which I saw to be only Formal and Traditional and no less then Idolatry as they then stood in the Will-Worship being prescribed and set forth at the Wills and Pleasures of Men and established by the then present Powers Government and Authority as by the Independant Church Faith the Presbyterian Directory the Episcopals Common-Prayer Book and such like may more fully Testifie none being to question or object against any thing that was or is believed by their several Churches and Assemblies or prescribed in their Rules or Canons Directories or Service-Books though never so much dissatisfied in Conscience without undergoing the Censures or Abjudications of their particular Societies and Churches so called But they that are come to the Light and Liberty of the Sons of God and to live and walk in the Spirit and by the Spirit they know the Anointing which abideth in them which is truth and no lye which Teacheth them in all things to follow the Lamb only whithersoever he goes and the leadings of his Spirit and not the formal trash and traditional precepts of Men and so they are ceased from Man and his teachings knowing the Lord is come to Teach his People himself whereof I being perswaded in my own heart and this Testimony aforesaid standing in me viz. that I should never know Peace with God in my Soul untill I obeyed and followed the Light which I daily felt striving in me and with me in my Meditations and Communications with my own Heart secretly condemning me for my disobedience and works of darkness I was in the fulness of time constrained to yeild and resign my self into the Will and Lap of the Lord as Esther did either to Live or Perish resolving as I said before freely to drink that Cup which had so long appeared bitter but was then made sweet and wholsom as the Waters of Jericho being seasoned with that power that makes every bitter thing sweet and hard things easie then was the Arm of the Lord made bare and stretched forth for my deliverance and his strength was perfected in weakness being brought into subjection and made willing to bear his Cross then his Yoke was made easie and his Burden became Light then he that sat in Darkness saw great Light and he that dwelt in the Land of the shaddow of Death upon him did the Light shine in that Day did he cause the Deaf to hear the Blind to see out of obscurity the Lame to walk the Dumb to speak and the Tongue of the stammerer to speak plainly even then when mine Ears hearkned to the Word that was near in the mouth and heart the righteousness of Faith which the Apostle Preached Rom. 108. Even then when I cast away my Jewels Ornaments Images c. Menstruous cloaths Isa 30.21 22. and my own Righteousness Faith and best Performances which was but as filthy rags in comparison of the excellency of that Glory revealed in and through the Son of righteousness which arose with healing in his Wings then did he give rain unto his Seed even the former and the latter in his Season and upon every Mountain and Hill made he Rivers and Streams to run then was the light of the Moon as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun was sevenfold even in that Day when he bound up the breach of his Servant and healed the stroke of his wounded he opened the Prison doors also and set the Captive at liberty and let the Oppressed go free then he made the Lame to leap as an Heart and the tongue of the Dumb to sing for joy the crooked paths did he make straight and the rough ways plain and smooth he brought down the mighty from their Seats and exalted them of low degree then he filled the Hungry with good things and the Rich he sent empty away then did joy spring forth as the Mornning and gladness did arise as the Sun even then when Peace did run down like a River and Salvation as a mighty Stream then was the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord even then when the Bridegroom came out of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet then was the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at hand then was the Day of joy and gladness when sorrow and sighing fled away then was the Day of mine espousing when my Maker became my Husband Hosea 2.19 20 23. and the Bridegroom and Bishop of my Soul when I was betrothed unto the Lord then was the Marriage in Cana of Galilee known John 2. which was the only Marriage Christ and his Disciples were called to where all the Water in the Vessels was turned into Wine which maketh glad the heart of Man and comforteth the Living Psal 104.15 Eccles 10.19 such did Israel of old Drink in the Land of Promise Deut. 32.14 here was the first and beginning of Miracles that Jesus wrought shewing forth his Glory it was here also he Healed the Rulers Son which was ready to Die his second Miracle wrought in Galilee John 4.50 54. here also was his first appearance to his Disciples after he was risen from the Grave Matt. 28.7.10.16 17. here also was his first appearance and working of Wonders in me and to me which when I saw I believed as his Disciples and the Galileans did John 2.11 and 4.45 then he whipped out the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple and overthrew the Tables of the Money-changers then I knew the Tabernacle of the Lord was with Men and that he was come to Teach his People Himself and great was the Peace of His Children as Isaiah said chap. 54.13 then did I witness the Covenant changed the Law changed the Priesthood changed the Offerings Oblations Sacrifices and Ordinances changed the Service and the Worship changed and all the Shadows Types and Figures abolished which was but a Shadow of good Things to come Hebr. 10.1 and the Tabernacle and Sanctuary changed Heb. 10.20 and the Vail removed and the New and Living Way to be Revealed which he hath prepared for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh for even to this Day while Moses and the Old-Testament and the Law is read the same Vail remains over and untaken away 2
gratification of his Love in meeting him and setting Bread and Wine before him had given him one half of the Spoils this had been no binding Rule to Posterity 2d Objection is Jacob's Vow when he went to Padan-aram If God said he will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Raiment to put on so that I come again to my Fathers House in Peace then shall the Lord be my God and this stone my Pillow which I have set for a Pillar shall be Gods House and of all that thou givest me I will surely give a Tenth unto thee Gen. 28.20 Answer Here Jacob being gone from his Fathers House for it s said he lighted on a certain place it seems between Beersheba and Haran I suppose it was either in the Fields or Desart on the South side of Luz Joshua 18.13 however I suppose Jacob was in a desolate disconsolate condition Gen. 35.3 for it is said he took of the stones of the place and laid them for his Pillow and lay down to sleep Gen. 28.11 Now the Lord appeared to him in a Vision as He hath oft done to his Servants in such disconsolate conditions which makes His appearance more Glorious saying I am the Lord God of Abraham and of Isaac thy Father the Land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy seed after thee and thy seed shall be as the dust of the Earth and shall spread to the East West North and South and in thy seed shall all the Families of the Earth he blessed And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places and will bring thee again into this Land I will not leave thee untill I have done as I have spoken And he awaked and said surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not and he was afraid saying how dreadfull is this place it is none other but the House of God this is the Gate of Heaven c. mark the Lords appearance in an hour of great distress is very comfortable and also fearfull this is true fear indeed here is fear mixed with love here Jacob lays hold forth with upon the Love and Promise of the Lord and said If the Lord will do so c. then shall He be my God and this stone my pillow which I have set up for a pillar shall be Gods House and of all that he giveth me I will surely give a Tenth unto him mark I say Jacob being possessed with fear and overcome with love he vows and promises unto the Lord again this was a voluntary act in Jacob he obliged himself to the Lord after the Lord had promised to bless him and he performed his promise for after twenty years he purged his House of Idols and built an Altar unto the Lord at Bethel Gen. 35.6 which he called Elbeth-el viz. The God of Bethel But who did he give his Tenth unto or when did he give it that is yet disputable but suppose it had been to the Priesthood which some hold was annexed to the first-born of Families what will that argue for me to do so Jacob vowed but for himself not for his posterity after him and it was voluntary being filled with the Lords appearance in a day of distress Gen. 35.3 and not commanded by God neither compelled by Man and so not binding to any save Jacob alone only this may be observed if any one have vowed as Jacob did let such perform also also it was but once in Abraham and once in Jacob and that in cases extraordinary and who or what is he that can plead for annual payment of Tythes of every of a Mans encrease from these two places what suppose I being in distress as I have often been and few of Gods Servants are exempted should vow a vow unto the Lord that if he will preserve me this one time or deliver me from this great danger c. then will I give him one half of all that I enjoy or have received of him would this my vow being performed be binding to my Children and their Children after them from Generation to Generation for ever Object 3. Now in Exodus 23.19 it is said The first of the First-fruits of the Land thou shalt bring into the House of the Lord thy God This is the first express command but here is no certain dividual part expressed only the first of the First-fruits Exod. 34.26 Again Levit. 23.10 Moses instituting the Feast of First fruits When ye come saith he into the Land which I will give you ye shall bring a sheaf of the First-fruits of your Harvest unto the Priest and he shall shake it before the Lord verse 14. This shall be a Law for ever in your Generations Again that which is more express is Levit. 27.30.32 33. All the Tythe of the Land both of the seed of the Ground and of the Trees is the Lords and every tythe of Bullock and Sheep and all that goeth under the rod the Tenth shall be holy unto the Lord this is a more positive command then any before Again Numb 15.20 it is said Ye shall offer a Cake of the first of your Dough for an Heave-offering as the Heave-offering of the Barn ye shall lift it up and give it to the Lord in your Generations Again Moses being the Son of a Levite Exod. 2.1 2. Aaron was his Brother Chap. 4.14 the Lord bid Moses separate Aaron and his Sons for the Priests Office Exod. 28.1 and appoints him to make them holy Garments The Ephod and the curious Girdle c. and Aaron was to wear the Breast-plate of Judgment upon his Heart and upon it the names of the Children of Israel and in the Brest-plate of Judgment Moses was to put the Urim and the Thummim which he was to bear upon his Heart when he went in before the Lord c. Exod. 28. throughout So the Priesthood being setled to Aaron and his Sons as a Statute and an Ordinance for ever throughout their Generations he was to take unto him his Brethren the Tribe of Levi the Family of his Father they were to be joyned with him and to minister unto him and were to take the Charge of the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle and of the Altar only he and his sons was to execute the Priests Office in all things Numb 18.2 to verse 7. then all the Heave-offerings and the holy things that the Children of Israel offered to the Lord was to be Aarons and his Sons for ever by a perpetual Covenant of Salt as in verse 19. And Aaron and his Sons was to have no Inheritance in the Land neither any part among the Children of Israel for the Lord was their part and inheritance for ever Deut. 18.1 2. And to the Children of Levi the Lord gave the Tenth in Israel for their inheritance and for their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and they were to have
must have Tythes paid them as they were then all that Law say they is abolished since Christ came in the Flesh save that sweet morsel of Tythes which is so pleasant to their pallat like Achan's wedge of Gold and Babylonish Garment Josh 7.21 which they covet as much as he did and would save alive as Saul did the King of the Amalekites and the best of the spoyl as Sheep Oxen and Fatlings c. 1. Sam. 15.9 even so they would have Tythes kept up above all the rest of the Ordinances Ceremonies and Services of the first Tabernacle and that shadowy Dispensation Tythes is the sweetest of all many of the rest would be trouble and cost to them and diminish their Revenue So these they confess to be abolished and why not Tythes say I Of what institution was Tythes Or for what term more then the rest that they must not be abolished with the rest I know no cause but the reasons aforesaid crept in amongst their Ancestor or Mother the Church of Rome in the Night of Apostacy Then again there is that in Luke 11.42 where Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees c. from which they infer that Christ allowed the payment of Tythes under the Gospel indeed so say I that Christ there allowed the payment of Tythes the Scribes Pharisees being as under the Law but not under the Gospel its true he condems them for the neglect of weightier matters as Judgment c. may not I accordingly condem both Priest and People now he said they Strained at a Gnat and swallowed a Camel may not I say so now to them that makes so much ado about Tythes and neglects things of greater weight as departing from Iniquity as Swearing Lying Coveting Stealing Oppressing Defrauding Cozening Drinking Cheating Adultery Fornication and many more things of greater weight walking in disobedience to what God hath manifested by his Light in their Consciences doing that which they ought not and leaving undone what they ought they are at best but like the Pharisees Sticking at the outside things as Tythes Ordinances of the Church so called Conformity and the like Traditions required by Men but never shew so much zeal and diligence to keep their Consciences clear and to observe what is required of them by the Lord they 'll pretend a great zeal for the Church and Government c. but when appears so much zeal for God and the keeping of his Commandments and of loving him with all their Heart But to come more positively to the point of his allowing of Tythes in this place I say I grant it for they were then under the Law and the Law was but a fulfilling For he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it which he did observe in the dayes of his Flesh untill he had offered up himself a perfect and everlasting Sacrifice then he said It is finished then came in the Second Covenant and took place of the First it being disanulled the Second was Established when his Blood was shed by which Salvation was obtained For without shedding of Blood there is no Remission So may not we as justly Condemn then the Tything Priests and other fiery Zelots in our Age who is so Exact for their Tythes as if Salvation depended in that particular and is very negligent in seeking after Righteousness Piety and Reformation of Life but contrarily if any seek after God or the knowledge of his Way and Truth then they cry out of such with open mouth as Fanatick Schismaticks Seducers Erroneous persons who seek to be Wiser then their Forefathers What is become of them say they that the Way and Worship that served them cannot serve you but you must have a new Way of your own contrary to Church and State I now remember some of the same Spirit said to the Apostles They were setters up of strange Gods bringers in of new Doctrine turners of the World upside down away with them they Taught the People against the Law and the Customs of the Place and People they were not worthy to live so that I see by experience They that live after the Flesh persecute those that live after the Spirit in every Age but I shall not here insist but as I have said before to that of Luke he spoke to them that was yet under the Judaical Laws but so am not I and was a fulfilling them as appears elsewhere by his saying to John about Baptism Suffer it to be so now for so it becomes us to fulfil all Righteousness so he was but a compleating that Dispensation but when he came to suffer and was lifted up upon the Cross he said It s finished then he put an end to all the Ordinances of the First Tabernacle and brought in the Second the unchangeable Priesthood which stands for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Thus much for Tythes as they were due under the Law and no where else and as they were an Ordinance amongst the Jews only in the Land of Canaan and no People else for it s said He gave his Statutes and his Judgments to Israel to every Nation he did not so but I am no Jew therefore not under that Law but rather of the Stock of the Gentiles as is believed and Tything among the Gentiles I never yet read of and Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness sake and the Heart and Life of what the Law figured out being come neither Jews nor Gentiles ought to be any longer under Shadows and Figures c. But again when their claiming of Tythes by vertue of the Mosaical Laws is overturned and will not hold plea Jure Divino as they say then they betake them to another that is Jure humano or The Civil Laws of this Nation by which Laws say they Tythes is established and setled to them say the Priests by vertue of their Place and Office as a most competent Livelyhood for them and their Families In answer whereunto I say that the radix and grand Original property of this Title and Claim did and doth still arise from the Mosaical or Levitical Law which is disanulled and done away in Christ as is before proved and hence they are accounted a Spiritual propriety and therefore a pretended Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Law and Court is kept and appointed by Episcopal Authority within their several jurisdictions distinct from their Civil Laws only for the tryal and recovery of Tythes and such other matters as they account Spiritual and this Levitical Institution is the sole Basis and Foundation upon which their Civil Law depends and the Foundation being taken away the Structure or Building falls so that being disanull'd in Christ the Civil Law hath no more power so that the Title of Tythes is lost Now again every Law is or ought to be grounded upon Equity and sound Reason and Righteousness and for some conscientious and pious honest end and purpose as the Preamble to all Laws do
hold forth which is the Key that opens the mystery ground intent and end of every Law and Statute whatsoever so that of Henry the 8th about Tythes doth not institute enact or ordain settle or impose them as a Temporal Civil Injunction but they are there called Spiritual gifts belonging to holy Church and because many doth deny the payment c. so this Act doth but enjoyn the payment of them as a supposed due and right formerly belonging to holy Church and therefore doth but at the utmost repair strengthen and preserve that which was like to decay but doth not set up any new structure property or title so the reasons of this Law being taken away which is that they are a supposed due this Act is nulled These before mentioned being the only main Grounds and Reasons whereupon Tythes are claimed and payed which I hope is satisfactorily answered indeed some more frivilous Objections are made as what will not many say to save themselves when they are in an exigent yea brawl menace perhaps beat with wicked fist revile or scoff and it may be set an Officer on one and hale him before a Magistrate c. I say many more they make to little purpose as that in Luke 18. where the Pharisee payed Tythes of all he possessed which hath little in it unless they would be condemned with him as a Pharisee with their outside holiness others say Thou shalt not muzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn I say so too if they be Oxen let them be unmuzled and live of what they tread out which is so little that they never durst rely upon it yet but they are more idle then such Oxen c. this is like their plowing in hope and sowing in hope which for the most part fails before they either plow or sow for in which of the Priests did ever the hope endure untill he reaped the Fruit of his plowing or sowing but rather first he must know what Stipend there is what Tythes or gleab-Gleab-lands or other Revenue belongs to the Incombent and how it doth arise this you may say is too true Again say they He that gathers a Flock let him eat of the milk of the Flock indeed so say I but they either get no flock gathered or else their Flock is barren and gives no milk or otherwise the milk they give doth not satisfie which makes them pull tug and draw so hard for milk meat and maintenance from others pertaining to another Flock which they never gathered as daily experience teacheth to their shame and to the shame of all that are gathered by them Again say they If we have sown unto you Spiritual things is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things I say it s no great matter but rather the part and duty of a Christian but to whom have they sown Spirituals I am sure not to me for L. W. hath Ministred nothing to me but that which is Earthly and savours of Death as I have elsewhere said which deserves not my Carnals nor any other maintenance from me not that I am strait-handed or so knit and joyned to the things the Lord hath endued me with but I can destribute them freely to such as sow Spirituals and Ministers freely from the mouth of the Lord or to any other in necessity but L. W. as is well known hath no such necessity for all his eager pursuit after my Carnals these Three or Four Years last past but he hath coveted an evil covetousness to set his nest on high but thereby hath not delivered his Soul from the power of evil but hath consulted confusion to his shame So Still I say the grand Title stood in the Mosaical Institutions all which pointed at Christ and Christ being come they fall flat and to them a period is set for its Evident for some hundreds of years after Christ there was neither Claim nor payment of Tythes nor no setling or confining of Ministers to such and such Parishes or Places but they that received freely preached freely and went from one Country to another and from one People to another as they were drawn by the Spirit of the Lord and in those dayes there was no setled nor forced maintenance belonged unto them but they who received Spirituals and were brought into the Faith and Fellowship of the Saints they administred of their Temporals freely without any injunction as many hath done in England these late years and the Lord having opened the Hearts of many as Lydia they called them into their House being open to distribute to their Necessities so that they that set forth without money or scrip c. wanted nothing yea I believe many of the Lords Ministers and Servants called Quakers hath Travelled in these late years many Hundred of miles from one People and Nation to another having been persecuted and beat and haled to Prison and out of Prison here and there amongst a strange Nation and People which they knew not who when they set forth could not assure themselves of one Nights lodgings or one meals Meat and yet they were in every place sufficiently provided for and had no want they only cast their care upon the Lord and lived upon the Gospel being Preachers of it and by the Faith of the Son of God as did the primitive Christians in the Apostles dayes and some Hundred of years after untill the power of Christianity was lost and the Apostacy crept in and then they fell into Forms and Immitations Rome being the leading Church setled Bishops Vicars and Priests and erected Monasteries Abbeys and Religious Houses and placed them there and brought in the old Rites and Customs of the Jews again under a colour of Zeal and Piety perswading the People to give gifts to pious uses so enjoyning them to one thing after another until their Traditions were received as Canonical and amongst the rest brought in this of Tythes again which for a long time was payed at the Owners pleasure either to the Poor or to the aforesaid Monasteries and Religious Houses for pretended Spiritual uses and when they saw that the greater part destributed their Tythes to the Poor Pope Alexander the third did restrain the Peoples freedoms Anno 1180. And Pope Gregory ordained that Tythes should not be destributed to the Poor but to the Mother Church Anno 1274. And Pope Pius the Fourth ordained the payment of Tythes upon penalty of Excomunication by a Council at Trent about the year 1560. And thus they crept in again as they fell from the Power of Godliness then they began to build again that which was before destroyed and so brought in these old Ordinances again in immitation of the Mosaical Law and so came to force and compel a maintenance for a Priesthood and Ministry which was not of Levi's Linnage which was never used nor known amongst the Christians in the purity of the Gospel but being little acquainted or read in