other places or suffering for the Gospell in bonds and prisons if their necessities so require 2. That they ought not only barely to supply their necessities when they are in want but in such a plentifull manner that they may truly say We abound and are full blesse God for rejoyce in their peoples liberality pray God for a blessing upon them and theirs 3. That in cases of necessity when the wants of the Apostles Ministers and Saints of God require it Christians are only not bound to pay them the Tithes of their Lands and other setled Dues but even to sell their very Lands Houses Estates and lay them down at the Apostles and Ministers fâ—â—t for their common supply as the primitive Christians did they being not reall proprietors but meer Stewards of their worldly estates which as they all proceed from Gods hand gift blessing so they are still Gods own not mans and therefore in such cases to be chearfully expended for the maintenance and supply of the necessities of his Ministers servants worship 1 Chron. 29. 11 12 14 15 16 17. 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. 4. That the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospell is not meer pious Almes as some have held but wages which though Paul for some speciall reasons received not from the Corinthians yet he did from other Churches under the name of wages 5. That niggardlinesse and not contributing towards the maintenance of painfull Ministers is a shame infamy and dishonour to a Church and people making them inferiour to all other Churches 6. That peoples liberall and bountifull contributing to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell is a great joy comfort encouragement to them and a means to enlarge their hearts in prayers to God for spirituall and temporall blessings on them and their housholds 7. That bountifull and chearfull contributions to the Apostles and Ministers of Christ is not only a well doing or good work but an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing unto God though it stinks in the nosthrils of many covetous earth-wormes and pretended godly Saints now adaies 8. That Liberality to the Ministers of the Gospell and paying them their just deserved Tithes and Dues is so farre from impoverishing and hurting men that it redounds to their spirituall accompt and temporall too causeth God to supply all their wants and to blesse them and their families with spirituall temporall and eternall mercies and rewards as the severall cited Scâ—iptures Prov. 3. 9 10. Mal. 1. 10 11. Mat. 10. 41 42. Mtr. 9. 41. 2 Cor. 9. 6 to 13. 2 King 4. 8 to 38. 1 King 17. 10 to 24. most abundantly prove 9. That the wilfull dâ—taining withdrawing of any thing solemnly devoted to the necessaâ—y maintenance of the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell brings exemâ—plary curses and judgemâ—nts on those who are guilty thereof as the examples of Anâ—nias and Saâ—hira testifie compared with Mal. 3. 8 9 11. Haâ— 1. 9 10 11 2 16 17 18 19. further illustrating it which all sacrilegious invâ—ders plundereâ—s detainers oppugners of our Ministers ancient established Maintenance Tithâ—s Dâ—es may do wâ—ll now seriously to ruminate upon and then reform their practise or else renounce their pâ—â—tended Christianity and Saint hip so much swarving from the recited precedents of the first and purest Christians XV. This is further proved by Mat. 7. 12. Luk. 6. 31. All things whatsoever ye would that menshould do unto you DO EVEN SO TO THEM for this is the Law and Prophets yea and the Gospell too thus twice enjoyning it from Christs own mouth Whence thus I argue All Estates Callings and Professions of men whatsoever whether Kings Princes Rulers Judges Magistrates of all sorts Lawyers Physicians Chirurgeons Merchants Artificers Traders Husbandmen Labourers of all kindes Sea-men yea and all Generals Commanders Collonels Captains Governours of Forts and common Souldiers whatsoever with all Officers in their respective Offices and imployments do and justly may by the Law of God Nature Nations expect and receive a just certain comfortable salary reward hire maintenance and subsistence for their respective pains workes imployments and exercises of their callings and hires from those that do imploy them or for whose good they worke and serve Therefore by the self-same Lawes and Rules of common naturall morall justice and equity all Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell may justly expect and receive the like from those to whom they preach Else all others whatsoever must ex reise their respective Offices Callings Trades Imployments Studies Labours freely without expecting or receiving any stipend wages reward or maintenance as well as Ministers And great reason is there that the painfull and faiâ—hfull Ministers of the Gospell should receive a liberall comfortable competent setled maintenance and reward for their Ministry as well as any other Callings or Professions of men or as any Officers or Souldiers in the Army between whom alone and Ministers I shall here only make the parallel because they most violently oppugne our Ministers maintenance if not their Ministry too of all otherâ— I have yet conâ—erred with First all able learned judicious pious Ministers skilfull in the Originall Tongues and learned Languages wherein the Scriptures were penned very necessary for them to understand able soundly judiciously like workemen who need not to be ashamed to defend the truth of the Gospell to stop the mouthes of Blasphemers Heretickes Seducers that oppugne it and to divide and preach the Word of God aright as they ought Else they hardly merit the name of able Ministers 2 Cor. 3. 6. 1 Tim. 1. 7. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 15. 4. 2 3 4 5. Tit. 1. 9 10 11. but rather of pratlers and wranglers under standing neither what they say nor whereof they affirme wresting the Scriptures to their own and others destruction through ignorance and want of learning 2. Pet. 3. 16. the case of many unlearned usurpers of the office of Teachers now All such before they can be fit for the worke of the Ministry spend sixteen or twenty years time and hard study day and night at their Books in Schools and Universities and double the years study industry that most other Artists except Lawyers and Physicians spend in fitting themselves for and in learning their Trades and Professions whereas all common Souldiers yea many Officers and Commanders of late times rush just like their horses into their worke calling without one years weeks days preparation study or practise in the Warres learning their Trade of Souldiers and Commanders after they are listed as such by practise and experience only without study 2. Most Ministers or their Parents and Friends are at very great expences for many years time in fiâ—ting them for the Ministry both in Schooles and in our Universities whereas all our Souldiers and Army Officers were at no expence at all receiving full pay as such from the first day of their listing and many of them advance money to boot before any practise
out in and by every tribe in an equal proportion according to the multitude or paucity of their Cities as a Tenth of their Cities and lands to which their 48 Cities and Suburbs amounted as some probably conceive And yet besides these 48 Cities there were Houses and Schools of Prophets and Prophets children in nature of our Universities in Bethel and in Jericho 2 Kings 2. 3 4 5 7. to 24. chap. 6. 1 2 3 4. which were none of these 48 Cities 6. That none of the Kings and Princes of Judah though many of them were Idolatrous wicked and put to great extremities to raise moneys to pay their Armies and Tribute to forreigne Invaders and Conquerors did yet ever attempt to sell or alienate the Cities Suburbs or revenues of the Priests and Levites to maintain their wars or pay publike Debts or tributes though King Asa Jehoash Hezekiah by way of Lone made bold with the Silver and Gold in the treasure of the Lords house in cases of publike extremity which might be afterwards paid 1 Kings 15. 18. cap. 18. 15. 2 Chron. 16. 2. Yea the scripture expresly records that in the great famine in Aegypt when all others sold their lands to buy bread to King Pharoâ—h ONLY THE LANDS OF THE PRIESTS BOLIGHT HE NOT For the Priests had a Portion assigned them of Pharoah and did eat their portion which Pharoah gave them wherefore THEY SOLD NOT THEIR LANDS Gen. 47. 20. to 27. 7. That the Idolatrous usurper Jeroboam out of a carnal feare and policy to keep the people from returning to their rightfull soveraign and establish the crown on himself and his Posterity was the first man we read of and his Idolatrous sons and successors after him who cast out Gods Priests and Levites out of their offices and then out of their Cities Suburbs and Possessions which he enforced them to desert though we read not that they sold them to maintain their Warres or pay Soldiers arrears who thereupon repaired to Jerusalem to Rehoboam the right heir and after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem to enjoy Gods Ordinances and strengthen Rehoboam and his kingdom against this persecuting usuper 2 Chro. 11. 13. to 18. 8. That this casting out of the Priests and Levites from their Offices and Possessions and making Priests of the lowest of the People and suffering every one that would to consecrate himself a Priest without a lawfull call is objected against Jeroboam by Ahijah as a very high crime and provocation against God and the maintaining and encouraging of Gods lawful Priests and Levites in their Offices and setled possessions alledged by him as a certain argument of Gods presence with a King and people and of victory and successe in conclusion against sacrilegious Usurpers 9. That when Gods lawfull Priests and Levites are deprived of their Glebes and Possessions we must presently expect a base contemptible time-serving Idolatrous ignorant Priest-hood Jeroboams Golden Calves with their new Feasts and Sacrifices and a universal inundation of Idolatry wickednesse prophanesse to ensue with all the forementioned calamities which befell Jeroboamâ— Army adherents subjects Person Family Kingdome which the Lord now set home on all our hearts that we may never be guilty of such a sacrilegious ruinating God-provoking Realm-destroying Church-subverting practise in the least degree as some would now perswade us to in stripping our Ministers of all their Glâ—bes Rectories and setled maintenance at one blow which even Pharoah himself and godly Joseph refused to do towards the very Idolatrous Priests of Aegypt allowing them an extraordinary daily portion to preserve their Lands from sale in time of famine Gen. 47. 22 26. whereto they have as lawfull as just as Divine a right as these Priests and Levites had to their Cities Suburbs Houses and Possessions as I shall prove anon 2 That God onely wise did by speciall Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe Tithes as the most expedient equitable fitting just rationall and convenient Maintenance and Reward of all other for his own Priests and Levites is undeniably proved by Levit. 27. 30. 31 32. Deut. 12. 17. 18 19 31. chap. 14. 22. to the end chap. 26. 7 12 13 14 15. Num. 18. 21. to 32. Neh. 10. 37 38 39. chap. 12. 44. chap. 13. 5 11 12 13 14. Prov. 3. 9. 2 Chron. 31. 3. to 15. Mal. 3. 8 9 10 Luke 18. 12. Heb. 7. 5 8 9. which Texts all may read at leisure and are needlesse to transcribe at large this truth bâ—ing confessed by all Opposites to Tithes who hence condemned them as Jewish and Ceremoniall Rites now abolished That which I shall observe from them is briefly this 1. That the payment of Tithes to the Priests and Levites was positively prescribed by Gods speciall Precepts and Commands frequently recited 2. That Gods own People were specially commanded by him to pay Tithes of the seed and increase af all their Land of all Corn Wine Oyl Fruits yea of Garden Herbs Seeds Matth. 23. 3. Luke 11. 42. and likewise of the increase of all their Cattle Herds Flocks 3. That God gave these Tithes and all the tenth in Israell to the Priests and Levites for an Inheritance as a due Reward for their Service which they serve even the Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation which all Israelites else were pâ—ohibited to come into or do Service in Lest they bear their Sin and dye And this was to be a Statute for ever throughout their Generations Numb 18. 21 22 23 26 31. Heb. 7. 5. 4. That All the Tithes of the Land Seed Fruit Herbs Flocks and of whatsoever Annuall increased or passed under the Rod are expressely said to be the Lords to be holy unto the Lord consecrated unto the Lord and an Heave-offering unto the Lord which he gave unto the Priests Levites for an inheritance Levit. 27 28 29 30 31 32 33. Num. 18. 24. 2 Chron. 31. 6. 5. That God enjoyned all the Israelites Truly to tithe all the Tithes of their Increase and not to eat or embesle detain or exchange any of it especially for the worse Deut. 14. 21. chap. 12. 17. Leuit. 27. 33. Mal. 3. 8. And if any man would redeem his Tithes he was to give the full price and adde a fifth part over to it Levit. 27. 31. 6. That all these Tithes were to be brought by the people to the places and Treasuries appointed for them the Corn ready threshed winnowed and the Wine Oyl Fruits in Vessels at the peoples own costs without any trouble to the Priests or Levites and if the place whither they were to be brought was too far off then that they called the second Tithe ought to be turned into money by the Owner and the money paid to the Priest and Levites in lieu thereof Deut. 12. 17 18 19. chap. 14. 22. to 28. chap. 26. 12 13 14. 2 Chron. 31. 6. 12 13
of the Gentiles and his companions Timothy and Titus who took nothing of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 14 15 16 17 18. seeing Gajus was not St. Pauls companion sometimes being converted and baptized by him Act. 19. 29. 20. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 14. but expresly styled by him Rom. 16. 23. Gajus MINE HOST and OF ALL THE CHVRCHES living then at Corinth where Paul preached freely to whose Precedent I have given a sull satisfactory answer already 2. It is evident that this Gajus for some time at least lodged Paul and other Brethren and was not only faithfull but charitable and liberall towards them though the other Corinthians were not 3. St. John addes vers 8. WE THEREFORE OVGHT TO RECEIVE SVCH that WE MIGHT BE FELLOW HELPERS TO THE TRVTH wherein he concludes it to be a duty incumbent upon all Christians to receive encourage accompany and be charitable and liberall to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell thereby to be fellow-helpers to the truth which otherwise they shall much hinder So as this Scripture fully warrants my Proposition not oppugnes it Object 4 The fourth objection is the opinion of our famous English Apostle John Wickliffe who held Tithes and Ministers maintenance to be meer almes whose opinion is largely defended by eminent John Hus in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments Edit 100. vol. 1. fol. 602 to 605. Therefore not due to Ministers but detainable or payable only at the meer wils of the people as meer almes to Beggers are which are arbitrary Whereto I answer Answ 1. That Tithes and Ministers maintenance are not pure almes nor so styled by Wickliffe Hus or Augustine or Chrysastome whom Hus citeth as if Ministers had no right unto them for their paines as a just debt hire or Wages or as if men might detain them at their pleasure since we are expresly not only exhorted but commanded both in the Law and Gospell to give almes to those that want them and that as Debters to them so far as our Abilities and their Necessities require Rom. 12. 10 13 20. 15. 27. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. 2 Cor. 8. 9. throughout Heb. 13. 16. 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. Ephes 4. 28. Luke 18. 22 23. 19. 8. Gal. 2. 10. compared with Deut. 15. 4 to 12. Exod. 23. 11. Levit. 19. Deut. 24. 19. Prov. 19. 19. 22. 9. 28. 27. 31. 20. Eccles 11. 1. Dan. 4. 27. Yea the Lawes and Statutes of our Land expresly enforce and compell men to contribute to the Poor as they shall be assessed as well as to pay Tithes or Taxes as you may read in Rastals Abridgement and Daltons Justice of Peace Title Poor But they are styled Poore Almes in three other respects 1. Because they were originally given by people to the Ministers that mere needy out of charity and compassion FOR GODS SAKE as well as for their work sake 2. Because Ministers after their own wants supplyed did use to distribute part of them to the poor and needy as almes and are obliged still to do it 3. Because they are poor almes in respect of God as all other goods of fortune are which we both begge and receive from God And in this respect they write evrry man as well Kings as Emperours as Ministers and Priests are beggers of God 2. As they styled Tithes Almes in these respects so they likewise granted Almes to poore people and Tithes likewise to be A DEBT for every man duly giving almes DOTH AS HE OUGHT TO DO and so he that giveth Tithes 3. Whereas they alledge That neither doth Debt utterly exclude the purity of Almes before God and that it is no. Argument that if the Curate do performe his corporall Ministry that he ought therefore to challenge Tithes by any civill title Because that as well on the behalfe of him that giveth the Tithes as also in the behalfe of the Curate every such Ministry ought freely to be given and not by any civill exchange I conceive it both a fallacy and errour in them being a just debt which may be demanded by a Divine and Civill right too when and where setled by a civill law though freely to be given to the Minister without coertion or suit of Law both in point of conscience and by way of civill exchange too out of a civill compact or contract And thus much in confirmation of the first Proposition and refutation of all Arguments I yet know made against it CHAP. II. I Now proceed to the proof of the 2. Proposition wherein the Hinge and Marrow of the Controversie concerning Tithes is included That the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospell and of Places and Houses for Gods publick worship by Tithes Glebes Oblations yea and spoyles won in battle by Generals Collonels Captaines and Souldiers is not only lawfull and expedient but the most fitting ratiâ—nall and convenient Maintenance of all other warranted by direct Precepts and Precedents both before and under the Law which doth no wayes abolish or condemne but approve and confirme this way of Maintenance Before ever the Leviticall or Ceremoniall Law was instituted as the godly Patriarchs built Alâ—ars and Houses for publick worship unto God Gen. 4. 3 4. 8. 20. 12. 7 8. 13. 4 18. 22. 9. 26. 25. 28. 20 21 22. 33. 20. 35. 1 3 7. So they likewise gave Tithes to the Priests of God The very law of Nature engraven in their hearts before any written Morall or Ceremoniall law dictating thus much to them That as there was a God who created them in whom they lived moved and had their being so likewise this God was to be solemnly worshipped by them as well in publick as private by way of homage gratitude and bounden duty Psal 95. 1 to 8. 100. 1 2 3 4. Isa 17. 7 8. Act. 17. 26 27 28. Which worship of his expecially when men multiplyed into great and many families Villages Cities Kingdomes Republicks could not be decently orderly and constantly performed in publick without appointing some certain Times and Places of worship some certain holy persons and Priests to discharge the publick duties and Solemnities of their worship and some convenient certain portion out of their Estates for the maintenance and encouragement of those Priests in the execution of their Office on which they were to give attendance Upon which grounds as the Patriarchs before the Law from the very Creation as â—any Divines infer from Gen. 2. 2 3. Exod. 6. 22 to 27 20. 11. 31. 17. Deut. 5. 14. Heb. 4. 4. dedicated every seventh day to Gods peculiar worship by his example and prescription so they likewise offered a certain portion of the fruits of their Ground Fields and Flockes to God in Sacrifice as a Tribute due to him by and from whom they received enjoyed all the rest they had Whence the Scripture expresly records of Cain and Abel the two first borne of the
Custome endevour to make a prey and spoyle of all our Churches Chappels Church Vessels Ornaments Glebes yet remaining and oppresse our Ministers with endlesse Taxes Tributes imposed on them without their consents against all former Lawes and Precedents to their utter ruine and in stead of paying them the tenths of their own Lands and spoyles of Warre endevour to spoyle them of those Tithes which all others pay them Of whom Hemingius thus complaines in his Commentary on Gal. 6. 6. p. 375. Quid dicâ—mus de illis qui Ministros Evangelii necessario victu spoliant Quid de illis qui IMMODERATIâ— EXACTIONIBVS tantum non eos interfâ—ciunt ut multi honesti meriti cum suis uxoribus et liberis cogantur quodâ—mmodo mendicare Hoâ—um sane factum nihil differre arbitror A SACRILEGIO LATROCINIO cujus poenas olim censâ—nt Architecti et fabri hujus mali To these Scripture Precedents of Hâ—athâ—n Warriours I might adde the practise of many Idolatrous Pagan Nations who out of the very dictate of Nature gave the tenth of their warlike spoyles to their Idol-Gods and Priests which because Mr. Selden writes at large in his History of Tithes where all may peruse them I shall only give you the summe of them in learned Grotius his words in his Booke De jure Belli et Pacis l. 3. c. 4. sect 1. p. 454. By this Law Abraham out of the Spoyles which he had taken from the five Kings gave A TENâ—H TO GOD as the Divine Authour to the Hebrews c. 7. 4. explaines the History extant in Gen. 14. By WHICH CUSTOME THE GRECIANS ALSO WITH THE CARTHAGINIANS and ROMANS DECIâ—AM DE PRAEDA SACRAVERVNT CONSECRATED A TENTH OF THE PREY TO THEIR GODS as to APOLLO HERCULES IOVE And should not Christian Generalls Officers Captaines and Souldiers then much more do it now to God and his Ministers from this Precedent of father Abraham in stead of robbing them of their Tithes If any should object that these were old Testament and Heathen Practises Let them remember that Abrahams is more particularly related and frequently mentioned in the new Testament then old the old relating in generall that he gave Tithes of all which relates to all his substance as well as spoyles and the new Testament applying this generall to the TENTH OF THE SPOYLES Heb. 7. 4. as Mr. Selden Grotius and others observe But to hedge up this starting hole so as none may creep out of it we have one memorable Precedent in the new Testament coming very neare to this of Abraham Luke 7. 2 to 11. Where we read of a certain Centurion or Collonel a man of no small authority who had SOVDDIERS VNDER HIM and said unto one one Goe and he geeth and to another Come and he cometh and to his servant Do this and he doth it This Centurions servant who was dear unto him being sick and ready to die when he heard of the fame of Jesus he sent unto him the Elders of the Jewes beseeching him that he would come and heal his Servant and when they came to Jesus they besought him instantly saying That HE WAS WORTHY FOR WHOM HE SHOVLD DO THIS And why so FOR he loveth our Nation and HATH BVILT VS A SYNAGOGVE Whereupon Jesus went with them and healed his servant marvelling at the Centurions words and turning about aâ—d saying unto the people that followed him I have not found so great faith no not in Israel This great Centurion and Commander was no Jew but a Gentile and one who but newly heard of Christs name and fame yet he had so much Piety and Bounty as out of his very Spoyles and Gains of Warre for we read of no other Lands or Gains he had to build a Synagogue for Gods worship which the Elders of the Jews and Christ too approved as a worthy act and sufficient inducement for our Saviour to goe with him and cure his servant O that all our Centurions who have Souldiers under them and exceed or equall him in Command would imitate and equall this Gospell Centurion in his Pious munificence in stead of contriving how to deface Temples Churches Synagogues to abolish Tithes and ingrosse Church Lands and Livings into their own hands and then should they receive as large Encomiums of the reality and transcendency of their Faith Piety and Charity from men as he did from our Saviour and the Elders of the Jewes for building this new Synagogue I shall only adde for our Souldiers and Officers better Information that from the example of Abraham approved in the new Testament both Divines Councels Canonists and Casuists have unanimously resolved That Souldiers ought to pay personall Tithes to Ministers out of their very Militia pay and spoyles of Warre This was St. Augustines Doctrine DE MILITIA de negotio de artificio redde Decimas recited practised and long since prescribed here in England in the excerptions of Egbert Archbishop of Yorke about the year of our Lord 750. recited and confirmed by Gratian in his Decrees Causa 16. qu. 1. f. 381 382. By all the Canonists and Glossers on his Text by Aâ—gelus de Clâ—vasio in his Summa Angelica Tit. Decima by Hostiensis Summa Rosella and other Summists and Casuists in their titles of Tithes and ratifyed by the Synod of Lingore An 1404. apud Bochillum Ecclesiae Gallicanae lib. 6. Tit. 8. c. 31. p. 967. This many excellent Christian Commanders Officers Souldiers have in severall ages performed as Histories record I shall for brevity instance but in one domestick example and that a memorable one King William the first whom we usually style the Conqueror though he never claimed the Crown by Conquest but only by the last Will Testament and Donation of King Edward the Confessor in his life time with the assent of his Nobles who was educated with and preserved by him during his exile and seclusion from the Crown by the Danish usurpers and as COUSIN and HEIRE to Edward the Confessor as he styled himselfe in the very Title of his Lawes He having vanquished and slain the perjured Vsurper Herold who set the Crown upon his owne head and made himselfe King without any Title or due Election against his solemne Oath to Duke William made to him in Normandy which he pretended to be forced in thankfulnesse to God for this his victory whereby he gained possession of the Crown out of the Spoyles and Gaines of his Warre erected a Magnificent Church and Abbey to the glory of God and St. Martin which he called De Bello or Battle Abbey in that very place where Herold was slaine and this battle fought which likewise he endowed with large possessions Tithes and most ample Priviledges by his Charter and therein offered up to God HIS SWORD and the royall robe which he ware the day of his Coronation there reserved as a Monument as well of his Piety as Victory After which this pretended Conquerer in the fâ—urth year of
Acts 21. 20. to 28. which he being a Jew was obliged even then to observe to avoid scandall but not to the Gentiles Therefore Tithes amongst the Jews were then still paid to their Leviticall Priests and not to the Apostles 4. Though Christ whiles on earth received no Tithes from the Jews yet he had a just Right and Title to Tithes from Abraham and all his Posterity and the Leviticall Priests themselves especially after their abolition as he was a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech to whom Abraham himself and the Levites then in his loins paid Tithes of all Heb. 7. 1. to 15. of which at large before Therefore he had a just Right to receive Tithes from them both before and after the Leviticall priesthood was abolished which he might have both lawfully claimed and exercised and his Apostles likewise in his Right though they did it not We read that Christ had a just Right and Title by Inheritance and lineall descent from his Father King David to the Temporall Crown and Kingdome of Judah and is therefore said by the Wisemen Matth. 2. 2. TO BE BORN KING OF THE JEWS an unanswerable Argument for the lawfulnesse and Excellency of Hereditary Titles to Crowns and Kingdomes before that of Election onely wherewith I frequently silenced vapouring Souldiers against Hereditary Kingship being the very Title of Christ himself both to his Spirituall and Temporall Kingdome and that which God instituted amongst his Church and people as the best the surest of all other taken up by most Heathen Nations Now though Christ neither claimed nor exercised this his Temporall Right but avoided it when the people would have made him King by force John 6. 15. who yet after cryed him for the King of Israel John 12. 13 15. which even Pilate himself acknowledged when he said unto the Jews BEHOLD YOUR KING demanded of them SHALL I CRUCIFIE YOUR KING and wrote and fixed this Title on his Crosse JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS John 19 14 15 19. will or can John Canne or any other of his confederates hâ—nce justly infâ—rre that it was unlawfull for Christ himself Right Heir by Descent to his Hereditary Temporall Kingdome kept and thrust out thereof by usurping Herod who murdered all the Infants in Bethlehem and the Coasts thereof that were two years old and under and should haue murdered our Saviour himself to secure his own usurped Power Mat. 2. 13 16. Such is the bloudy cruelty and Jealousie of Usurpers to have claimed or exercised this his just Hereditary Right to the Crown or unlawfull for the people to have thrust out this bloudy Intruder Herod by force from his usurped Authority and made Christ King as they intended or because Christ did then voluntarily forbear and relinquish his Right to Herod that it is therefore unlawfull for any other Hereditary Christian King or Right Heir to a Crown kept from or thrust out of his Throne and Kingdome by armed violence against the generality of his peoples desires by any aspiring usurping Herod to lay claim to his Crown or Kingdome or for the faithfull naturall born Subjects according to their duty Oathes and Allegiance to endevour by all lawfull means and open force to expâ—ll dethrone such Herods and crown and set their lawfull Soveraign on the Throne of the Kingdome Doubtlesse they cannot be so absurdly stupid as affirm it seeing Jeboiadah the high Priest the Captains of Hundreds Levites Souldiers and people too thrust out Athâ—liah the bloudy Usurper of the Kingdome and Throne of Judah in the seventh year of her Usurpation and crowned Joash THE KINGS SON as the Lord had said OF THE SONS OF DAVID and set him KING VPON THE THRONE OF THE KINGDOME whereupon ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND REJOYCED AND THE CITY WAS QUIET as is recorded at large to their eternall Honour by God himself and for others imitation in the like case 2 Chron. 23. and 2 Kings 11. and seeing all may justly lay claim to and repossesse themselves of such Lands Houses Goods as others forcibly detain or take from them against all Law Right notwithstanding Christs Non-claim to his Rightfull Crown then by the self same Reason our Ministers of the Gospel now may lawfully take and challenge Tithes from the people though Christ and his Apostles did not albeit they had a just Right and Title to them which they might have exercised had they pleased without Sin or Judaisme as our Ministers do now To clear which Right from Judaisme and all other Cevills beyond all contradiction I shall cite onely two Prophâ—â—ies relating joyntly to Christs Kingdome and Ministers uâ—der the Gospel The first is Jer. 33. 15. to the end In those dayes and at that time will I cause the Branch of Righteousnesse to grow up unto David and he shall execute Righteousnesse and Judgement in the Land In those dayes shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our Righteousnesse For thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the House of Israel Neither the Priests the Levites want a man before me to offer Burnt-Offerings and to kindle Meat-Offerings and to do Sacrifices continually Thus saith the Lord if you can break my Covenâ—nt of the day and my Covenant of the night so that there should not be day and night in their season then may also my Covenant be broken with David my Servant that he should not have a Son to reign upon his Throne AND WITH THE LEVITES THE PRIESTS MY MINISTERS As the Host of heaven cannot be numbred neither the sand of the Sea measured so will I multiply the Seed of David my Servant AND THE LEVITES THAT MINISTER UNTO ME c. The 2d is Isa 66. 18. to 22 I will gather all nations and tongues and they shall come and see my Glory and I will set a Signe among them and I will send those that escape of them unto the Nations and to Tarshish c. and TO THE ISLES AFAR OFF whereof England is chief and principally intended And they shall bring all your Brethren for an Offering unto the Lord out of all Nations upon Horses and in Chariots and in Litters and upon Mules and upon swift Beâ—sts TO MY HOLY MOVNTAIN IN JERVSALEM saith the Lord as the Children of Israel bring on Offering in a clean Vessell VNTO THE HOVSE OF THE LORD And I WILL ALSO TAKE OF THEM FOR PRIESTS and FOR LEVITES saith the Lord. From which Texts I shall observe 1. That as Christs Title to his everlasting Spirituall Kingdome under the Gospel over all the converted Gentiles as well as Jews is expressely set forth to be neither elective nor by conquest but by DESCENT HEIRSHIP and lineall Succession from King David and all the regenerated Sons of God by their Right of Son-ship and new-birth even in like sort intituled to the Kingdome of
farre from being unlawfull that it is a sacrifice well pleasing unto God 3. That Ministers deserve not only obedience but maintenance from the people 1. Because they have the rule over them 2. Because they watch for their souls 3. Because they must give an account to God for them 4. Because it will be a great encouragement to them to discharge their duty with joy not with grief 5. Because the not doing it will both grieve the Ministers and be unprofitable to the people in regard of their soules and spirituall estate and also cause God to curse and blast them in their temporall estates Mal. 3. 8 9 10 11 12. whereas the doing thereof will be advantagious to them in both Powerfull reasons and motives to convince all of the justice of our Ministers maintenance and to induce them chearfully to render it unto them though due by Law as we know it is XIII The very Gospell enjoynes all Christians Rom. 12. 20 21. To distribute to the necessity of the Saints and to be hospitable not only to those we know but even to strangers Heb. 13. 2. And if our enemy hunger it commâ—nds us to feed him if he thirst to give him drink and Not to be overcome with evill but to overcome evill with good seconded Mat. 5 44 45 46 47 48. Luke 6. 32. to 37. Pâ—ov 25. 22. whence thus I argue Iâ— Christians must distribute to the necessities and be hospitable to Saints and others who are mâ—er strangers to them yea give meat and drink to their very enemies and overcome their eviâ—l with goodnesse Then it necessarily followes they must much more distribute to the necessities of and be hospitable liberall and give meat drink and maintenance to their own faithfull preaching Ministers and recompense their good with good again else they shall be worse then Publicans and sinners who do good to those that do good to and for them XIV This is evident by the practise of the primitive Saints and Christians recorded in the Gospell for our imitation who though they paid all civill Tributes Customes Duties to the civill Magistrates and likewise Tithes and other duties to the Jewish and Pagan Priests under whom they lived yet they likewise freely and liberally ministred and contributed of their substance and temporall estates towards the maintenance of Christ and his Apostles and the Ministers of the Gospell Hence we read Luke 8. 2 3. That Mary Magdalen Joannâ— the wife of Cuza Herods Steward Susanna and MANY others of our Saviours auditors ministred to him of their substance put it seems into a common purse for the maintenance of Christ and his Apostles which Judas kept whâ— provided bread meat and other necessaries out of it as is evident by Joh. 4. 8 31. 12. 5 6. 13. 29. 6. 5 7. compared together After our Saviours resurrection when the multitude of beleevers at Jerusalem were much increased it is expresly recorded Act. 4. 32 to the end 5. 1 to 10. That they were of one heart and of one soul and oh that we were so again neither said any of them that ought that he possessed was his own but they had all things common neither was there any amongst them whether Apostle Minister or Beleever that lacked For as many as were possessors of Lands or Houses SOLD THEM not purchased them as many do now who say they imitate the primitive Christians and brought the prices of the things that were sold and LAID THEM DOWNE Aâ— THE APOSTLES FEET and distribution was made unto every Man therefore to every Apostle and Minister of the Gospell as well as others according as they had need Amongst others Joses a Levite of Cyprus having Land soâ—d it and brought the money and LAID IT AT THE APOSTLES FEET The like did Ananias with Saphira his wife but becâ—use they brought a certain part thereof and laid it at the Apostâ—es feet and kept back part of the price of the Land which is lesse then to keep back Tithes when due by sundry Lawes and Ordinances and thereby lyed not unto Men only but to God they both fell down dead sodainly at the Apostles feet in a miraculous manner and were carried forth and â—uried And great fear came upon aâ— the Church and as many as heard thereof We finde in 2 Cor. 11. 7 8 9. That though Paul preached the Gospell at Corinth freely yet HE â—OOK WAGES OF OTHER CHVRCHES at the same time TO DO THEM SERVICE And when he was present with them and wanted that which was wanting unto him the Brethren that came from Macedonia SVPPLIED that in all things he might keep himself from being burdensome to the Corinthians for reasons expressed by him In which respect of not ministring to him of their substance he writes THEY WERE INFERIOR TO OTHER CHVRCHES 2 Cor. 12. 13. How bountifull the Church and Saints of Philippi were to Paul not only whiles present with them and preaching among them but also absent from them preaching the Gospell in other places and how pleasing this their liberality was to God he thus records Phil. 4. 10. to 21. But I rejoyced in the Lord greatly that at last your care of me is revived wherein ye were also CAREFVLL but ye lacked opportunity Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content c. Notwithstanding YE HAVE WELL DONE that ye did communicate with my affliction Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the Gospell when I dâ—parted from Macedonia no Churches communicated with me as concerning GIVING and RECEIVING BVT YE ONLY For even in Thessalonica YE SENT ONCE and AGAIN TO MY NECESSITY Not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that may abound to your accompt But I have received all and Aâ—OVND and AM FVLL having received of Epaphroditus THE THINGS SENT FROM YOV AN ODOVR OF A SWEET SMELL A SACRIFICE ACâ—EPTABLE WELLPLEASING TO GOD. But my God shall supply all your needs according â—o his riches in glory by Jesus Christ Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever Amen And in 2 Tim. 1. 16 17. 18. He makes this memorable Testimony and prayer for Onesiphorus The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain But whâ—n he was in Rome he sought me out very diligently and found me The Lord grant unto him that he may â—inde mercy of the Lord in that day And in HOW MANYTHINGS HE MINISTRED VNTO ME AT EPHESUS thou knowest very well From all which precedents coupled together these conclusions naturally and necessarily arise 1. That it is not only the practise but duty of the Saints and Christians under the Gospell chearfully and liberally to contribute to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell and that not only whiles they are actually preaching and resident amongst them but whiles absent preaching the Gospell in
TABLETS to make an atonâ—ment for their soules before the Lord amounting to sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekelâ— every shekel weighing halfe an ounce Which Eleazet the Priest took of the Captaines of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the Tabeâ—â—acle of the Congregation FOR A MEMORIALL of the children of Israel before the Lord Numb 31. 48 to the end Here were self-denying saint-like Officers Colonels and Captaines indeed after all the former deductions and tributes out of their spoyle to bring to the Priest and offer up to God all their Jewels of Gold Chaines Bracelets Rings Ear-rings Tablets and richest plunder they had gotten in the Warres for the maintenance of his worship when our Officers Colonels Captaines Souldiers shall do the like and pay a tribute of the best of their spoyles to our Ministers as these by Gods command did to the Priests and Levites not purchasing Church-Lands and Revenues with them devoted to the augmentation of our Ministers small Stipends we will cry them up for self-denying Saints and Souldiers indeed and say they are no self-seekers If this Scripture Precedent be not enough behold a whole cloud of Precedents imitating them and faithfull Abraham recorded and united in one memorable text seldome read or taken notice of 1 Chron. 26. 26 27 28. Which Shelomith and his Brethren were OVER ALL THE TREASURES OF THE DEDICATED THINGS which DAVID THE KING and the chief Fathers THE CAPTAINES OVER THOUSANDS and HUNDREDS and THE CAPTAINES OF THE HOST HAD DEDICATED OUT OF THE SPOYLES WON IN BATTLES DID THEY DEDICATE TO MAINTAINE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD marke and imitate it O ye Army Officers Captaines Souldiers And all that SAMVEL the seer and SAVL the Sonne of Kish and ABNER the Sonne of Ner and Joab the Sonne of Zeruiah had dedicated was under the hand of Shelomith and his Brethren Here we have examples of all sorts and sizes for our Army Officers and Souldiers imitation We have David a victorious Warrier Generall King and man of God after Gods owne heart dedicating the Treasures and Spoyles he took from his enemies in Battles to the House and service of God thus more specially recorded for his honour and others practise 2 Sam. 8. 11 12. And Tol sent Joram his Sonne to King David to salute him and to blese him because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him and brought with him vessels of Gold and vessels of Silver and vessels of Brasse which also King David DID DEDICATE TO THE LORD WITH THE SILVER AND GOLD THAT HE HAD DEDICATE OF ALL NATIONS WHICH HE SUBDUED Of Syria and of Moab and of the children of Ammon and of the Philistines and of Amalek and OF THE SPOYLES OF HADADEZER Sonne of Rehob King of Zobah Recorded againe in 1 Chron. 18. 2 to 12. with this addition And David took the shields of gold which were on the Servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusal m. Likewise from Tibhath and from Chun Cities of Hadadezer brought David very much brasse wherewith Solomon made the Brasen-sea and the pillars of the vessels of Brasse What the value of the spoyles which he dedicated to God and his service amounted to himselfe records 1 Chron. 22. 14. Now behold in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord AN HUNDRED THOUSAND TALENTS OF GOLD and A THOUSAND THOUSAND TALENTS OF SILVER and OF BRASSE and IRON IN ABOUNDANCE WITHOUT WEIGHT Besides what he dedicated out of his owne proper estate registred in 1 Chron. 29. 3 4. 2. We have Joab Davids Captaine Generall the Captaines over Thousands and Hundreds and the Captaines of the Army dedicating out of the spoyles won in Baâ—tles to the service of the House of the Lord â—nd that in a liberâ—ll proportion even five thousand Talents of gold and tenne thousand drams and of silver tenne thousand Talents and of brasse 18000. Talents and one hundred thousand Talents of Iron besides precious stones all which they offered willingly with a perfect heart unto the Lord rejoycing with great joy they had done it 1 Chron. 29. 6 7 8 9. When our Generals Officers Colonels Captaines and Souldiers of the Army shall imitate King David and his Generals Colonels Captains Officers and Souldiers in such a liberall contribution of the Jewels Gold Silver Brasse Iron and Spoyle they have won in Battles at home and from other Nations to repaire or build houses for Gods publick worship and maintaine the Ministers of the Gospell in stead of seeking to demolish and spoyle those stately Edifices which our pious Ancestors have erected for that purpose and breaking downe the Carved worke thereof with axes and hammers of which David much complaineth Psal 74. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. and in lieu of endevouring to devest our Ministers of their remaining Lands Tithes Glebes not yet demolished all the World will proclaime them Men after Gods owne heart and Men of God in truth like David and give over censuring them for Sacrilegious Harpyes more like to Zeba and Zalmunna then him who said Let us take to our selves the Houses of God in possession as David himselfe objects against them Psal 83. 11 12. 3. Here is Samuel the seer doing the like out of his spoyles won in Battle A precedent for all those Souldiers who will be Sunnes and New-lights to imitate 4. If the good mens examples be neglected yet let the Precedents of bad men shame and excite others to this duty Here are Saul the Sonne of Kish much talked of and reviled now by many for a Tyrant the Warrelike King given to Gods people in anger and taken from them in wrath as these object now Hos 13. 11. which I conceive rather meant of Jeroboam the Idolatrous usurper who made Israel to sinne as judicious Interpreters prove by 2 Chron. 13. 20. compared with 2 Kings 17. 10 to 24. and the context likewise which made mention of their Idolatry in kissing the Calves erected by Jeroboam and speaks only of the Kingdome of Israel as divided from that of Judah yet he as bad as they make him together with Abner his chief Captaine none of the best of men as 2 Sam. 3. 7 8. discovers had so much Piety Zeal and Religion in them as likewise to dedicate part of their richest spoyles of Warre to the maintenance of Gods house and worship And will it not be a great dishonour to those Generals Officers Colonels and Captaines who pretend themselves the holiest justest zealousest Saints not to be as bountifull towards the maintenance of Gods house and worship and of their spoyles as these they brand for Tyrants and ungodly wicked men If these Precedents be ineffectuall to work upon any Covetous or Sacrilegious bondmen let them reflect upon others who were Idolaters how neare they came in their way to imitate Abraham David and these forecited When Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had taken Jerusalem ransacked and burnt the glorious Temple there towards
or so much as to admit or invite them to a Feast or meat within their Houses and then they with all theirs and other poor widows and orphanes must all presently starve and perish by these mens new Gospel Light and Charity because Hospitality and Alms to such are Leviticall and Jewish abolished with the Leviticall Law and Priesthood which abolished all Charity and Humanity out of the world as well as out of these Tith-Oppugners hearts if this their Objection be Orthodox Gospel truth 5. Meer Freewill Offering and voluntary unconstrained Contribution were prescribed by the Leviticall and Judiciall Law both for and towards the Maintenance of Gods Priests and worship of the buildding and repairing of the Tabernacle and of the Temple afterwards towards which the godly Kings Princes Generalls Captains Officer Souldiers and all the pious people of God contributed most joyfully liberally and in such abundance upon all occasions that they gave far more then was sufficient and thereupon prohibited by speciall Proclamation to give or bring any more as in the case of Materialls of all sorts for the building and furniture of the Tabernacle of the congregation and of the Temple towards which many Heathen Kings and their Officers contributed freely and the very capâ—ive Jews Exod. 35. 20. to 30. chap. 36. 2. to 9. Levit. 22. 18. 21 23. chap. 23. 38. Num. 15. 3. chap. 29. 39. chap. 31. 48. to the end 1 Chron. 26. 26 27 28. chap. 22. 1. to 17. chap. 29. 1. to 17. 2 Chron. 24. 4. to 15. chap. 27. 3. chap. 29. 3. to 20. 31. chap. 34. 8. to 15. Ezra 1. throughout and chap. 3. 5. chap. 7. 16. chap. 8. 28 29. Therefore Ministers under the Gospel must not be maintained nor Churches and Houses for publick Assemblies built or repaired by Free-will offerings and voluntary contributions being Leviticall Jewish and so abandoned and if not by Tithes nor forced Rates as they alledge then the Ministers must utterly starve and all our Churches fall to sudden ruine as many now do And is this Gospel Saintship and Christianity 6. The Priests and Levites by the Leviticall Lew were prescribed what wives they should marry and what not Levit. 21. 7. to the 14. will it therefore follow as the Papists Votaries conclude Therefore Ministers of the Gospel must not marry and must all now be divorced from their wives as well as from their Tithes and Benefices because the Leviticall Law is abolished and Priests wives Jewish aswell as their Tithes Our beastly Ranters then may seize upon Ministers aswell as the bruitish Anabaptists and Swordmen on their Tithes and Glebes 7. The seventh day Sabbath it self though prescribed by a Morall Law was in some sense ceremoniall and enjoyned by ceremoniall Laws too and therefore as most affirme abrogated by Christs death as Jewish as to the precise seventh day from the Creation and the Jewish rigidities and Sacrifices on it will it therefore follow that it is Jewish and unlawfull for Christians under the Gospel to observe the Lords day every week and render unto God the same weekly proportion of time for publike worship as the Jewes did or to keep any publike Fasts or Feasts to God at all as the Jews by the Leviticall Law were bound to doe If so then farewell all Lords-dayes Fasts Feasts publike Assemblies for Gods worship Ministers Churches God himself together with them aswell as Tithes and let Gain of Money be the onely Deities hence forth adored among us as the Motto stamped upon our our new State-coyn GOD WITH US and most mens practises sadly proclaim to Gods dishonour and Religions intolerable defamation These Answers I presume will for ever satisfie or silence these Objectors with John Canne their new Champion who may now discern their grosse mistake and learne this for a general certain truth That whatever is not in its own nature and Originall meerly Jewish and ceremonial hath a kind of naturall justice equity conveniency morality or necessity in it and had a divine originall or institution before the ceremoniall Law given or the Leviticall Priesthood instituted That thing though afterwards given limited or prescribed to the Levitical Priests or Israelites by a generall or speciall Levitical Law-abrogated by Christ doth neither cease its being nor become unlawful in its primitive or proper use unto Christian Ministers or Believers under the Gospel by the abolishing of the Leviticall Law and Priesthood but may and must necessarily be continued practised and perpetuated among them without the least sin scandall or Judaisme according to its owne primitive institution or naturall necessary divine moral or civil use else Bread meat drink wines clothes religious Sabbaths Fasts Forts Edifices and Assemblies for Gods publike worship Houses Hospitality and Charity to Ministers or poor distressed Saints and People yea reading prayer preaching of the word of God and Magistracy and Government it self should be utterly unlawfull unto Christian Ministers and People aswell as Tithes because given or prescribed to be used by the Leviticall Priests Jews by the Leviticall Law And seeing meat drink food raiment Lands Houses and a competent proportion of all worldly necessaries are as simply needfull for the preservation and subsistence of the Ministers of the Gospel and their Families now as for the Priestâ— and Levites before and under the Law or all other sortes of men in the world who cannot live without them And Tithes Lands Houses both before and under the Law were originally given to and setled by God and Men upon Priests and Levites first and Ministers since not as meer Types Shadows or Ceremonies but as a just fitting convenient recompence of their Labour necessary Livelyhood habitation refidence for them and their Families and to provide them meat drink Books clothes and other necessaries to live by Why our Ministers under the Gospel should not still enjoy them in this kind and Nature without the least shadow of Judaisme aswell as Melchise dec before the Law or the Jewish Priests and Levites under it or their Predecessors before them even from the first settlment of the Gospel amongst us or aswell as any other Men or the Objectors do their Lands Goods Houses and the other nine parts of their Tithes encrease for their livelihood and subsistence transcends my capacity to apprehend and the ability of all armed or unarmed Enemies of Tithes or Glebes to demonstrate from Scripture Law Reason or the objected abused Text over-longinsisted on to clear it from all ignorant or wilfull wrestings And so much for the payment of Tithes by Abraham and vowing them by Jacob before the Law to justifie the lawfulnesse and continuance of them under the Gospel against all cavilling Exceptions Secondly I shall make good the Proposition from the Maintenance of the Priests and Levites by Glebes Tithes and Oblations under the Law urged as the strongest if not only Reason against them and thusform my Argument That which God himself
who is infinitely and onely wise just and holy did by his special Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe as the most expedient equal fit just rational and convenient maintenance of all other for his own Priests and Levites to receive and take from his own People when once setled in the promised Land for the execution of their function must questionlesse be not onely a lawfull but the most expedient equal fit just rational and convenient maintenance of all other for his Ministers of the Gospel to receive and take from all believing Christians in any setled Christian Kingdome State Church under the Gospel especially if he hath neither positively prohibited this kinde and way of maintenance nor specially prescribed any other way or kind of setled maintenance for them in and by the Gospel But God himself who is infinitely and onely wise just and holy did by his speciall Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe Houses Lands Glebes Tithes and Oblations as the most expedient equal fitting just rational and convenient maintenance of all other for his own Priests Levites to receive and take from his own people when once sâ—tled in the promised Land for the execution of their Functions and hath neither positively prohibited this kinde or way of maintenance nor specially prescribed any other way and kinde of settled maintenance for them in and by the Gospel Ergo It must questionlesse be not onely a lawfull but the most expedient equal fit just rational and covenient maintenance of all other for his Ministers of the Gospel from all believing Christians in any setled Kingdom State Church under the Gospel The Major I suppose no rational Christian can or will deny except he thinks himself as King Alphonso the proud Atheistical self conceited Astronomer did more wise just holy than God himself and abler to carve out a more expedient equal just fitting rational and convenient maintenance for Gods Priests Levites Ministers than God himself hath done and dare bid defiance to the Gospel precept Eph. 5. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children The Minor I shall thus confirm in order 1. That God did by special Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe Cities Suburbs Lands Houses Glebes for the Priests and Levites habitation and the better maintenance of them and their Cattle and that in a liberal proportion is apparent by Num. 35. from 1. to 12. where we finde recorded That the Lord spake unto Moses in the plain of Moab by Jordan neer Jericho saying COMMAND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THAT THEY GIVE VNTO THE LEVITES OF THE INHERITANCES OF THEIR POSSESSION CITIES TO DWELL IN and ye shall give also unto the Levites SVBVRBES FOR TEN CITIES ROVND ABOVT THEM And the Cities they shall have TO DWELL IN and the suburbs of them SHALBE FOR THEIR CATTLE and FOR THEIR GOODS and FOR ALL THEIR BEASTS And the suburbs of the Cities which yee shall give unto the Levites shall reach from the wall of the City and outward A THOVSAND CVBITIS ROVND ABOVT And ye shall measure from without the City on the east side two thousand cubites and on the south side two thousand cubits and on the west side two thousand cubits and on the north side two thousand cubits and the City shall be in the midst this shall be to them the suburbs of the Cities And among the Cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six Cities for refuge which ye shall appoint for the Manslayer that he may fly thither and to them ye shall adde FORTY and TWO CITIES So all the Cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight Cities them shall ye give with their Suburbs And the Cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the Children of Israel from them that have many ye shall give many and from them that have few ye shall give few Every one shall give of his Cities according to his inheritance which he inheriteth This positive just command of God was given before the Israelites entrance into and conquest of the land of Canaan And this further positive law then likewise made against the sale and alienation of these Glebes and Possessions Levit. 25. 32 33 34. Notwithstanding the CITIES OF THE LEVITES and THE HOUSES OF THE CITIES OF THEIR POSSESSION may the Levites redeem AT ANY TIME which others could not doe v. 30 31. And if a man purchase of the Levites then the House that was sold and the City of his possession shall go out in the year of Jubile for the houses of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel but the field of the Suburbs of their City may not be sold for it is their perpetuall Possession After this when the land of Canaan was fully conquered by the Israelites and divided amongst the Tribes by bounds and limits we read Josh 21. 1. to 43. Then came near the heads of the Fathers of the Levites unto Eleazer the Priest and unto Joshua the son of Nun and unto the heads of the tribes of the Children of Israel and they spake unto them at Shilo in the land of Canaan saying THE LORD COMMANDED by the hand of Moses in text forecited To give us Cities to dwel in with the Suburbs thereof for our cattle And the children of Israel Gave unto the Levites at the commandment of the Lord mark it all enemies of our Ministers Rectories Lands Glebes and Maintenance these Cities and their Suburbs Then follow the Names and Places of the Cities allotted to the Levites proportionably out of every tribe and how they were divided by Lot amongst them which you may read in the text it self over large to transcribe After which ensues this close of the story v. 8. 41 42. And the children of Israel gave by Lot unto the Levites these Cities and their Suburbs as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses all the Cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel Were fourty and eight Cities with their Suburbs These Cities were every one with their Suburbs round about them These were all the Cities In 1 Chron. 6. We have a recitall of the sons and Families of Levi and the Office of the Priests and Levites with the names of all the Cities and Suburbs allotted to them out of every Tribe agreeing with this of Joshua where those who please may read them at their leisure These fourty eight Cities and their Suburbs as some conceive amounted to the tenth or at least twelfth Part of the Cities and Land of Canaan the Priests and Levites according to their number enjoying in proportion as large a share of the promised Land as any of the other Tribes for their Habitation and Glebes besides their Tithes first-Fruits Offerings and other Dues All which as Dr. George Downham and Mr. Samuel Purchas observe amounted to a far greater proportion for the maintenance of that small Tribe than all the
Bishopricks Deâ—neries Benefices Cathedrall and Colledge Lands Revenues Glebes Tithes and whatsoever Ecclesiasticall Profits and endowments of the Clergy and Schollers in our whole Kingdome and Nation After this when the Temple of Jerusalem was built where the Priests and Levites were to wait in their severall Courses successively by Davids appointment 1 Chron. chap. 23. to chap. 27. 2 Chron. 8. 14 15. chap. 23. 8. and ch 13. 10 11. chap. 29. 4. chap. 31. 2. chap. 35. 2. Levit. 1 5 8 9. they had Houses Churches Lodgings provided for them at Jerusalem near the Temple where some of them constantly dwelt and attended and likewise for the Tithes first-Fruits and oblations brought thither to them 1 Chron. 9. 10. to 35. chap. 23. 28. chap. 28. 11 12 13. 2 Chron. 2. to 13. Ezra 8. 29. Neh. 10. 37. 38 39. chap. 12. 44 45 47. chap 13. 4. to 15. Ezech. 40. 4. to 45. ch 42. 1 to 19. ch 44 19. ch 46. 19. These Cities Suburbs Habitations Churches the Priests and Levites constantly enjoyed without interruption till the revolt of the ten Tribes from Rehoboam and Jeroboam the usurper erected two Golden Calves in Dan and Bethel to keep the people from going up to Jerusalem to worship God there out of carnall fear and suspition saying in his heart now shall the Kingdome return to the house of David if the people go up to Jerusalem to do Sacrifice in the House of the Lord there THEN SHALL THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE TVRN BACK AGAIN TO THE LORD even unto Rehoboam King of Judah â—nd THEY SHALL KILL ME and GO AGAIN TO REHOBOAM KING OF JVDAH 1 Kings 12. 26. to 33. and then we read 2 Chron. 11. 13 14 15 16. The Priests of the Levites that were in all Israell resorted to Rehoboam out of all their Coasts For the Levites LEFT THEIR SVBVRBS and THEIR POSSESSIONS and came to Judah and Jerusalem for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from executing the Priests Office unto the Lord and he ordained him Prâ—ests for the High Places of the lowest of the people and for the Devils and the Calves which he had made which King Abijah warring with him after his Fathers death when he claimed the right of his usurpâ—d Crown they objected against him and the revolted Tribes 2 Chr. 13. 4. to 14. Hear me thou Jeroboam and all Iâ—rael ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the Kingdome over Israel to David for ever even to him and to his Sons by a Covenant of Salt Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the Son of David is risen up and hath rebelled against his Lord. And there are gathered unto him vain men the children of Beliall and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the Son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted and could not withstand him And now ye think to withstand the Kingdome of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David and ye be a great multitude and there be with you Golden Calves which Jeroboam made you for Gods Have ye not cast out the Priests of the Lord the Sons of Aaron and THE LEVITES and have made you Priests after the manner of the Nations of other Lands so that whosoever cometh TO CONSECRATE â—IMSELF with a young Bullock and seven Rams the same may be a Priest of them that are no Gods But as for us the Lord is our God and we have not forsaken him and the Priests which minister unto the Lord are the Sons of Aaron and theâ— Levites wait upon their businesse c. For we keep the Charge of the Lord our God but ye have forsaken hâ—m And behold God himself is â—ith us for our Captain and his Priests with sounding â—rumpets to cry allarum against you The issue of this Aâ—â—eisticall policy and Sacrilegious deprivation or Spoliation of Gods Priests and Levites of their Suburbs Possessions and Ministry by Jeroboam and his Sons is very remarkable 1. It brought ruine upon his whole Army though double the number of Abijah his host of whom they had a great advantage by an ambushment God himself smiting him and his host so that they fled before Judah and Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter so that there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men 2 Chron. 13. 13. to 20. The greatest slaughter in battle that ever we read of in Sacred or prophane Stories before or since 2. It brought Captivity on his Adherents who were brought under at that time pursued and had their wives taken and plundered v. 18 19. 3. It brought this misery and fatall Judgement on himself v. 20. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the dayes of Abijah And the Lord strook him and he dyed 4. It became sin to the house of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth 1 Kings 13. 33 34. 5. It made all the succeeding Kings of Israel professed Idolaters and most of them bloudy Murtherers Usurpers Persecutors and produced perpetuall successive civill warres between Judah and Israel 1 Kings 14. 30. chap. 15. 6 7 16 32. 2 Chron. 28. 4. to 12. 6. It brought finall captivity ruine desolation in conclusion to the whole Kingdome of Israel and the ten revolting Tribes 2 Kings 17. 20 21 22 23. where this sad story is recorded And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel and afflicted them and delivered them into the hand of spoilers untill he had cast them out of his sight For he rent Israel from the house of David And they made Jeroboam the Son of Nebat King of which God thus complains Hos 8. 4. They have set up Kings but not by me they have made Princes and I knew it not and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord and made them sin a great sin for the children of Israel walked in all the sinnes of Jeroboam which he did they departed not from them untill the Lord removed Israel out of his sight as he had said by all his servants the Prophets So was Israel carried away out of their own Land to Assyria TILL THIS Day when as the Kingdome of Judah continued above 156 years after in Davids royall posterity enjoying Gods Priests Levites Prophets and Ordinances till their captivity for their sins in mocking abusing his Messengers Prophets and despising his words 2 Chron. 36. 16 17. And then after 70 years captivity were restored again to their Countrey reedified Jerusalem and the Temple and with them the Priests and Levites returning from bondage were restored likewise to their Cities and Glebes of which the Kings of Judah never deprived them as Jeroboam and his Sons and the Kings of Israel who were all Idolaters did whence thus we read Ezra 2. 70. So the Priests and the Leaites and the Singers and the Porters the Nethinims DWELT IN THEIR CITIES and all Israel in their cities Thus
14. Neh. 10. 38 39. chap. 12. 44. chap. 13. 5. to 12. Amos 4. 4. Mal. 3. 10. 7. That the detaining of these Tithes from the Priests and Levites was a great sin and Sacrilegious robbing of God himself accompanied with his Curse and punished with scarcity barrennesse devouring locusts blasting of the fruits of the earth c. Mal. 3. 8. 9. 10. a place worthy the saddest consideration of all Tith-Oppugners and Substracters Will a man rob God yet ye have robbed me But ye say Wherein have we robbed thee In Tithes and Offerings Here is the Sacrilegious Sin pray mark the just deserved punishment Ye are cursed with a Curse For ye have robbed me even this whole Nation what this Curse was follows THE DEVOURER that is devouring Creatures as Locusts Caterpillaâ—s Palmer-worms and Canker worms and the like did destroy the fruits of their Ground their Vines did cast their Fruit before their Times in the Field And God blasted and destroyed all their Corn and fruits with blasting and Meldew and Hail Aâ—os 4. 9. Joel 1. 4. yea They sowed much and brought in little they did eat but had not enough they did drink but yet were not satisfied with drink they did cloth themselves but there was no warmth and he that earneth wages is to put it into a bag with holes They looked for much and lo it came to little and when they brought it home God did blow upon it yea the heaven over them was stayed from Dew and the earth was stayed from her fruits and God called for a drought upon the Land and upon the Mountainâ—a nd upon the Corn and upon the new wine and upon the Oyl and upon that the ground brought forth and upoâ— Men and Cattle upon all the labour of their hands when one camâ— to an heap of 20 measures there were but ten when one came to thâ— Presse-fat for to draw out fifty Vessells there were but twenty and the Wine and the figs and Pomegranate tree and the Olive tree did not bring forth Hag. 1. 6. 9 10 11. chap. 2. 16 17 19. O thaâ— all hard hearted covetous hypocriticall atheisticall detainâ—ers of and Declaimers against Tithes and Ministers Just settled Maintenance would lay these Judgements and curses of God close unto their hearts that so they might thereby be reclaimed from their robbery and Sacriâ—ledge against God and prevent and divert these Judgements Curses from themselves and our whole Nation which havâ— cause to fear and will doubtlesse feel them to their smart anâ— loffe if they rob God and our Ministers in such sort as many now strenuously endeavour 8. That God himself annexed many gracious Promiseâ— of giving abundance of all earthly and spirituall blessings tâ— the chearfull conscientious due payment of Tithes to hiâ— Priests and Levites for their Maintenance which I shall recite to excite men chearfully to this paractise now Deut. 14 22 23 28 29. Thou shalt Truly Tithe all the increase of thâ— seed corn wine oyl herds flocks that thou mayest learn to feaâ— the Lord thy God alwayes And that the Lord thy God may blesse thee in all the work of thy Hand which thou doest Deut. 26. 12 13 14 15. When thou hast made an end of tithing all the Tithes of thine Increase the third year which is the year of Tithing and hast given it unto the Levite c. Then thou shalt saâ— before the Lord thy God I have brought away the Hallowed thing out of mine House and also have given them unto the Levite c. According to all thy Commandements which thou hast commanded me I have not transgressed thy Commandements neither have I forgotten them I have not eaten thereof in my mourning neither have I taken away ought thereof for my Vnclean Vse nor given ought thereof for the dead but I have bearkened to the voice of the Lord my God And have done according to all that thou hast commanded me Look down from thy Holy Habitation from Heaven And blesse thy People Israel and the Land which thou hast given us a Land that floweth with milk and Honey Such a conscientious true payment of Tithes as this according to all Gods Comandements without the least Substraction or embeslements emboldens enables every particular man to make such a Prayer to God as this not onely for himself but for the whole Land and brings a blessing upon himself and all the Realm and makes it a Land flowing with milk and Honey and abundance of all rich blessings Besides we read in 2 Chron. 31. 1. to 15. That when godly King Hezekiah had destroyed Idolatry and appointed the Courses of the Priests and Levites after their Courses every man according to his service he brought offerings and Peace offerings to minister and to give thanks and to praise in all the Gates of the Tents of the Lord He appointed also THE KINGS PORTION OF HIS SVBSTANCE for the burnt-offerings for the morning and evening for the Sabbaths the new Moons and set Feasts moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem To give the Portion of the Priests and the Levites that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord. And assoon as the Commandement came abroad the children of Israel brought in abundance the first-Fruits of Corn VVine Oyl and Honey and of all the increase of the Field and the Tithes of all things brought they in abundance And concerning the children of Israel and Judah that dwelt in the Cities of Judah They also brought in the Tithes of Oxen and Sheep and the Tithe of holy things which were dedicated unto the Lord their God and laid â—hem by heaps In the third moneth they began to lay the foundation of the heaps and finished them in the seventh moneth and when Hezekiah and the Princes came and saw the heaps THEY BLESSED THE LORD and HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL Then Hezekiah questioned with the Priests and Levites concerning the heaps And Azariah the chief Priest of the House of Zadok answered him said Since the People began to bring the Offerings into the house of the Lord We have had enough to eat and have left Plenty But did the people grow poore thereby no but much richer than before FOR THE LORD HATH BLESSED HIS PEOPLE and that which is left is THIS GREAT STORE Then Hezechiah commanded to prepare Chambers or store-houses in the house of the Lord and they prepared them and brought in the Offerings and THE TITHES and the dedicate things FAITHFULLY over which Cononiah the Levite was Ruler How different was this practise of all the people and godly Saints in those daies in a chearfull bringing in their Tithes and Oblations to the Priests and Levites in abundance for their encouragement which caused King Hezechiah his Princes the Priests Levites and God himself to blesse them from the sacrilegious practice of Tith-detaining Hypocritical Saints and Christians in our dâ—ies who shall never receive such a blessing as this from God or
DIVINE RIGHT they ow wages to the Ministers of the Gospel And if so then 5. It follows inevitably that there being no other setled way of maintenance particularly prescribed for them in the Gospel and convenient Houses Glebes for them their families and necessary Cattle and Tithes of the increase of the fruits of the earth and Cattle of all sorts being as necessary and requisite for the habitation food clothing support of them their Ministry families and supply all their necessaries with as little charge or trouble as may be as for the Priests and Levites under the Law that Godly Christians cannot pitch upon any equaller fitter juster better wiser rational or convenient way of maintenance for them than that of necessary Houses Rectories Glebes in every Parish and Tithes of all things needfull for food and raiment it being the constant standing setled maintenance which the most wise just and holy God invented prescribed for his own Priests and Levites maintenance amongst his own people when setled by him in the land of Promise and that which all setled Christians Empires Kingdoms States Churches generally through the Christian world have pitched upon as most agreeable to Gods will and word under the Gospel which no wayes repeals nor contradicts his own former prescriptions of this kinde 6. That the Glebes and Tithes of the Priests and Levites under the Law were reserved by God himself the Supream Land-lord of all kingdomes Countries Nations Churches People in the world and the special God Lord King Father Saviour and Preserver of his own people as a Sacred Holy Tribute Rent Portion and Homage due unto Himself from poor Creatures Servants Vassals who are no true Proprietors but onely Stewards and Tenants at will of all the Lands Goods earthly blessings and possessions they enjoy The earth being the Lords and the fulnesse thereof and the Corn Wine Cattle fruits and earthly creatures we possesse not really ours but Gods own 1 Chr. 29. 11. to 17. Psal 24. 1. Psal 97. 5. Psal 50. 9 10 11 12. Eâ—ech 16. 18 19 20. Hos 2. 8 9. Dan. 4. 32 35. Mat. 6. 10. 11. The use and possession of which tribute He allotted to the Priests and Levites under the Law for their maintenance salary and reward of their labour in his service for the advancement of his worship glory honour and his peoples spiritual good reserving the inheritance and right thereof alwayes to himself as the premises sufficiently evidence Now God himself to whom alone Tithes and Glebes were originally impropriated not to the Levitical Priest-hood being unchangeable without any variableness or shadow of turning Jam. 1. 17. Psal 102. 26 27. Mal. 3. 6. and Jesus Christ to whom Tithes were first paid by Abraham in the person of Melchisedeck having an unchangeable Priest-hood and being a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 7. And all Christians whatsoever under the Gospel being as much his absolute Creatures Vassals Servants Stewards and Tenants as well as the Israelites under the Law and all their Lands Goods Earthly blessings Corn Wine Cattle and imployments his in right and not their own as well as theirs too why they should not all render to him the self same sacred Tribute holy Portion Rent Homage of Glebes and Tithes of all they have as well as they though the Levitical Priest-hood be abolished they being so specially reserved and consecrated to himself for the support maintenance reward encouragement of his faithfull Ministers under the Gospel imployed in his Service for his honour glory and their everlasting salvation Let John Canne and all presumptuous peremptory tith-oppugners answer me yea this their Soveraign Land-lord and Creator if they can who will one day call them to a strictaccompt for detaining this due Rent Tribute Homage from him and may justly dispossesse and strip them naked of all they have for this their ingrate contemptuous carriage towards him as he hath done many of late by fearfull fires and other judgments as well as heretofore Mal. 3. 8 9 11. 7. That as the Gospel it self succeeded the Levitical Law and Baptisme and the Lords Supper Circumcision and the Passeover So the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel succeed the Priests and Levites under the Law in their Ministerial function in the Church of Christ by Gods appointment their Ministry and Office being both the same in substance even to worship praise and honour God according to his revealed word and will and instruct exhort direct and guide his people in the way of salvation though differing in some circumstances of lesser moment abolished by Christs death It is therefore most reasonable just equitable convenient they should receive and enjoy the like setled maintenance by Glebes and Tithes as their predecessors did God havâ—ng prescribed none other kinde of reward or subsistence for them in the Gospel that any can shew me It is usuall in all Kingdomes States Nations where there are any publike setled offices and Officers for any persons who succeed others in those Offices to enjoy the self same Salaries Houses Lands Fees and Revenues as their Predecessors lawfully received unlesse there be some special Laws to alter their Stipends This we see verified in all Civil Military and Ecclesiastical Officers yea in the times of greatest publike charges that ever befell the Nation those whom most yet call Judges Sheriffs Majors Generals Colonels Captains and Governours of Forts c. though their Commissions be altered in some things and themselves in more do yet receive the self same Salary pay and maintenance annexed to their Offices as their lawfull predecessors did yea to come closer home All our Protestant Ministers since the reformation of Religion have generally enjoyed the Glâ—bes and Tithes as the Parishioners enjoy and frequent the Churches as their popish predecessors did before them though the one of them just like the Levitical abolished Priests made it their chiefest businesse and part of their calling to say Masse and offer an unbloudy Sacrifice as they falsely termed it on their Altars both for the quick and dead and the other who succeed thâ—m make it their principall work to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments according to Christs institution Since then the Ministers of the Gospel succeed the Levitical as well as the popish Priests as the Gospel doth the Law and the Christian Sacraments the Jewish and we with all converted Gentiles engraffed into Jesus Christ and the Church of God succeed the Jews who were broken off from their own Olive Tree that we might be engraffed in their places who now partake of the root and fatnesse of their Olive Tree as the Apostle resolves Rom. 11. 16. to 25. Why the Ministers of the Gospel should not likewise succeed the Leviticall Priests as well as the popish in the enjoyment of their setled maintenance by Glebes Tithes being not meerly ceremonial as I have proved and all believing Gentiles who succeed the believing Israelites in Gods Church succeed
them likewise in the due and just maintenance of their Ministers by Tithes and Glebes reserved to and prescribed by that true holy just and righteous God who is not only the God of the Jews but of the Gentiles also Rom. 3. 19. Let any rational Christian now resolve his own Conscience and mine from friends or Scripture Reason or equity if he can God having given us a Land flowing with milk and honey and as fit as able to render Glebes and Tithes of all things in kinde as he did unto the Jews It is a received maxime in our Law Quod venit in loco alterius est de natura Prioris If this be Gospel as it hath been hâ—ld both Law and reason under the Gospel I need add no more to this Aphorisme to prove the lawfulnesse and equity of our Ministers Glebes and Tithes and to continue as well for the future as heretofore by a divinâ— Right 8. That all Christian Churches and pious Christians generally throughout the world from the Apostles dayes till now have unanimously resolved both in point of Piety Justice Conscience and right Reason that they are bound to consecrate and render unto God the selâ—same weekly portion of time for his publick worship as the Israelites and Jews under the Law were obliged to do to wit one day in seven though they differ in the circumstance onely of the day they observing the seventh day from the Creation every week in memory of the Creation and Gods rest thereon for their Sabbath prescribed by speciâ—ll Lawes and we the first day of every week in memoriall of our Saviours Resurrection thereon by the Generall Morall Equity of these Laws warranted by Apostolicall practise only without any special Gospel-precept Let then the whole Army of Tithe-Oppugners render me one dram of Reason or shadow of answer if they Canne why all Christian Realms Churches Nations in the world may not should not by the self same rule of Piety Justice Equity and proportion continue and render the like proportion of Glebes Tithes to God and his Ministers under the Gospel as the Jews did to him his Priests and Levites under the Law as well as they render to him the self same Proportion of time for his Weekly publick Service and why payment of Tithes under the Gospel to God who gives us both them and the residue of our Estates and encrease out of his own meere free grace for the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel and support of his publick Worship on the Lords Day should be more Judaicall Vnchristian Antichristian Superstition as Canne and others stile it than the dedicating and appropriating of the Lords Day to Gods publick Worship and Honour who hath given and allowed us the other fix for our imployments when as he might have justly reserved the nine parts of our Lands and goods to himself had he pleased instead onely of the Tenth as well as the six dayes in lieu of the seventh wherrewith he is content which Divines usually urge men to induce men to the more chearfull Sanctification of the Lords Day and some Scriblerâ— against Tithes as well as others 9. That Christians under the Gospel are bound in Justice Equity and Conscience to give their hired Servants Labourers their due and deserved Wages and not to detain it from them even under the Gospel and that by vertue of Gods command recorded in the Leviticall and Judiciall Law Levit. 19 13. Deut. 14. 14 15. approved in the Gospel Col. 4. 1. and to allow their Beasts and Oxen that plow and tread out their Corn Straw and Provender without muzling up their mouths by vertue of a like precept recorded Deut. 25. 4. twice repeated and urged by the Apostle in the new Testament to prove the lawfulnesse of Ministers maintenance under the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 8 9 10. 1 Tim. 5. 18. and that without the least suspition of Judaisme or Antichristianisme therefore they may and are also bound in Justice equity Conscience not onely to settle Glebes upon but likewise to pay Tithes to the Ministers of the Gospel as a due Wages Hire and Reward for their Labour in the Ministry as well as the Jews did to their Priests and Levites without the least tincture of Judaisme or Antichristianisme since Christ in the Gospel resolves Math. 10. 10. Luke 10. 7. and 1 Tim. 5. 18. That Ministers being Labourers are worthy of their Meat Hire and a competent Maintenance suitable to their pains and Function as well as any other hired Servants or Labourers in the Fields or as our labouring Oxen or Horses are of Straw and Provender 10. We read it recorded 1 Sam. 8. 11 15 17. That this would be the manner of the King that should reign over the Jews that amongst other things He will take the Tenth of your Seed and of your Vineyards and the Tenth of your Sheep give them to his Officers and Servants In imitation wherof the Kings of England in ancient Parliaments and of late times have usually demanded and received by Grant in Parliament a Decime or Tenth of the Goods and Estates of their Subjects for their Supplies and likewise a Tenth of their Merchandise exported and imported for Tonnage and Poundage as our Parliament Records Histories and Rastall in his Abridgement of Statutes Tithes Taxes and Tenths attest If then our lawfull Kings Princes and Governours under the Gospel may justly demand and receive by Grantia Parliament the Tenth of all our Goods Corn Wooll Sheep Estates Merchandise for their necessary supplies and the Defence of the Kingdome and some who are no Kings and have engaged against Kingship as Tyrannicall do the like without a Parliament being not only a Tenth of all our Estates but a double and treble Tenth of all mens yearly Revenues and Estates and of Ministers Tithes besides for the Maintenance of themselves and the Army without the guilt of JVDAISME or ANTICHRISTIAN TYRANNY OPPRESSION OR SVPERSTITION Why our faithfull Ministers may not likewise demand and enjoy their Glebes and Tithes not onely granted but confirmed to them by our Ancestors in successive Parliaments from the first planting of the Gospel in this Nation till the Reformation all our Protestant Parliaments since the Reformation and by sundry Ordinances in the very last Parliament to which some now in highest Power gave their cordiall Votes for the Preaching and propagating of the Gospel and saving of mens Souls without the like Brand of Judaisme and Antichristianisme let John Canne resolve me when he can who most falsely scandalously and unchristianly brands both the last and all Protestant Parliaments confirming Tithes for Popish Idolatrous Parliaments acting against the Lord Jesus and our Ministry for ANTICHRISTIAN MINISTRY Who certainly was in his Cannes or Cups when he writ and published such palpable Scandalous untruths to the dishonour of our Church Parliaments Nation Religion But such Cretians are alwayes LYARS EVIL BEASTS SLOW BELLIES wherefore they need a sharp rebuke
cannot deny The sole question then is what this share or portion ought to be and who shall determine it in point of difference I confesse the Apostle doth not decide either of these in Terminis those Texts being General and all in the plural number All good things your carnall things comprising all such things out of which Tithes predial mixt or personal as Canonists and Lawyers distinguish them are or may be paid Wherefore every faithfull Christian and spiritual Son of God and of faithfull Abraham whose footsteps and prefidents they are to follow in all doubtfull cases admit this one to satisfie his conscience and judgement in this case must and will resort to the prefidents of the Eminentest Saints in former ages and Gods own prescripts in other expresse Texts and there finding the very Father of the faithfull Abraham giving and his Grandson Jacob vowing A TENTH OF ALL GOOD THINGS from his own people for the maintenance of his Priests and Levites under the Law and they cheerfully rendring it untill and in Christs own time and that the very Pharisees and Scribes though Hypocrites were so just as to pay tithes of all and Christ resolving that they ought to do it and not leave it undone and that none before the Apostles dayes ever gave lesse than a Tenth part as the premises largely evidence must and will necessarily conclude from all these sacred Directories that the ordinary and constant standing Portion and proportion of all his goods and carnal things here prescribed and intended by Gods Spirit in the tenth part and in extraordinary casâ—s more when Gods glory the Ministers Necessities the Defence or Propagation of the Gospel require it and when he shall further read in the Gospel it self that speech of Zacheus the converted Publican Luke 19. 8. Behold Lord THE HALF OF MY GOODS I give to the poor And how the first converted Christians and Jews in the Apostles dayes sold their Lands and Houses and brought and laid the money at the Apostles feet Act. 4. 5. His conscience which must not guide the Word and Spirit of God as most mens consciences do now but the word and spirit it and him too will and must from thence conclude that he must not give his faithfull Minister lesse than a Tenth part of all and in cases of extraordinary necessity share even half his goods yea the price of all his Lands and Houses between the Ministers and poor Saints of God specially in times of persecution when as he ought to hide and feed them too as godly Obadiah did an hundred of the Lords Prophets in the dayes of Jezabel at his own charge with the hazard of his Office and Life 1 Kings 18. 4. 13. And if any mans conscience in a settled Christian Realm or State be so obstinate or froward as not to submit to the lowest proportion of a tenth which all Ages and most or all setled Christian Realms have unanimously agreed upon and confirmed by publike Edicts as well Civil as Ecclesiastical whereof there are neer thousands in print the Christian Kings and Magistrates who are to determine all controverfies of this nature and state the due just proportion of this Debt and Duty between the Minister and the people where it is not publikely decided and may justly enforce the due payment of it when and where it is determined by positive publike Laws as a just Debt as they do in all other civil Debts and Accompts in controversie before them as I shall prove in due place even by these very Texts though John Canne denies it in his VOX praeterea NIHIL p 14. To these I shall subjoyn that noted Text in 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. which John Canne cites by piece-meal as the Devill did scripture leaving out the principall branch Mat. 4. 6. Do ye not know that they which Minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they that wait at the altar are â—artakers with the altar EVEN SO HATH THE LORD ORDAINED this Canne omits that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel I have urged this Text before for proof of the first I shall here apply it only to the second Propositions confimation as to Tithes 1. Then we have here A DIVINE GOSPEL ORDINANCE made by the LORD OF HOSTS himself not repealable by any Army or Powers on Earth as well as PARLIAMENTARY ORDINANCES for the Maintenance of the Preachers of the Gospel and let Canne the poorest Preacher of the Gospell ever yet knew in England except one of his fraternity who heard him once preach an assize and Fast Sermon too at Chard deny our Ministers to be able Preachers of the Gospel at the peril of his Soul though he denies them to be lawfull Ministers of Christ and censures them as ANTICHRISTIAN and POPISH But why so Because forsooth they had their Ordination from Rome and by consequence are TRAYTORS and FELONS too by the Statute of 27 Eliz. c. 2. for which they might be legally executed for Treason and Felony if the State were pleased to interpret the Statute contrary as he conceives to the Letter and form of it the words whereof he both curtals and misrecites just as he did this Text p. 5. To do him and his bâ—st friends a kindnes vindicate the lawfulnesse of our Miâ—isters calling againâ—â— this ordinary slander and convince him of his grosse mistake I shall truly recite the Statutâ— Thus intituled JESUITES and PRIESTS in England shall depart and NONE SHALL COME INTO THIS REALM If so then many Dippers and Speakers Administrators Members in Anabaptisticall Congregations many New-lights and Gifted-brethren in separate Congregations many Shakers Quakers Ranters Broachers of new Notions Errours Blasphemies throughout the Realm many new-Polititians Levellers Agitators and Soldiers in the Army if not some Officers all the late converted pretended Jews dipped in Anabaptisticall Congregations discovered and known to be disguised Jesuites purposely sent from Rome by the greatest sticklers against our Ministers Tithes and Calling must presently depart and none of them return into the Kingdome as many have lately done or else be executed for Traytors But why so what is their crime work and imployment here and by what marks or fruits shall we know and discover both them and their confederates Let the words of the Statute compared with all our late troubles and changes resolve the ignorant and incredulous that there are many such amongst us and of John Cannes fraternity Wâ—ereas divers persons called or professed JESUITES these Canne wittingly conceals and therefore is a Felon by the law SEMINARY PRIESTS and other Priests which have been and from time to time are made IN PARTS BEYOND THE SEA BY OR ACCORDING TO THE ORDER and RITES OF THE CHURCH OF ROME and when Canne can prove that all or any of our Ministers were thus made as he hath confidently averred in print to those he cals the Higher Powers and Supream Authority of the Nation Let them
be hanged for Traytors and Antichristian Ministers in good earnest else lâ—t him be hanged in their steed for this his impudent slander of them all as well Independents as Prebyterians Have of late years come and been sent into this Realme of England and were any of our Ministers such and not rather Canne himself coming hither from Amsterdam for the purposes following and other the Queens Dominions OF PURPOSE AS IT HATH APPEARED as well by some of their own examinations now out of date as by divers other Manifest means and proofs more visible of late years than ever not onely to withdraw her Highnesse subjects from their due obedience to her Majestie but also to stâ—r up and move Sedition Rebellion and open Hostility within the same her Highnesse Realms and Dominions to the great indangering of the safety of her most Royall Person and to the utter ruine desolation and overthrow of the whole Realm now effected as a Realm if the same be not the sooner and now pray God it be not over late by some good means foreseen and prevented For reformation whereof be it ordained c. That All Priests and Jesuits Canne cannot spy such good friends within the Act but deletes them out of it Seminary Priests and other Priests whatsoever made and ordained out of the Realm of England c. under the penalties therein mentioned Had Canne pressed this Statute to those he dedicates his Pamphlet for the speedy execution of it against those many Jesuites and Seminary Priests now in England for their traiterous Practises and Designes therein mentioned of late and now driven on and almost compleated by them it had been a commendable zeale but to write one word or syllable against these Romish Vermine arch-Engineers Janizaries of the Romish See now swarming among us to ruiâ—â— our Kingdomes Parliaments Laws Liberties Church Ministers Ministry Religion forreign Protestant States Churches now engaged by them in bloudy wars both by Land and Sea and to omit thâ— very name of the Jesuits the first Popish Agents mentioned and chiefly intended in this Act and presse it onely against our Ministers Calling Ministry Tithes and Maintenance of purpose to ruine them and theirs and by consequence our Church and Religion the Designe and scope of his whole Pamphlet is such a malicious unchristian Antichristian Practise as proclaims him to all the world either a new converted Jesuite or Romish Factor under the Garb of an old Anabaptist or an over-grown cankered Anabaptist void of Piety Honesty and inspired by the very Father of Lyes For not one of our English Ministers I know or hear of except two or three Jesuits and Priests crept into Livings in Staffordshire and elsewhere very lately I know not by whose favour or negligence was ever ordained by any such Jurisdiction or authority as is here mentioned which all our Ministers and their Ordainers too whether Prelates or Presbyters particularly and publickly abjured both at the time of their respective Ordinations and admissions to their Benefices and likewise when they took any Degree of Learning in our Vniversities by the two known famous Oaths of SUPREMACY and ALLEGIANCE purposely made and ratified by * sundry zealous Protestant Parliaments against the usurped Papal Jurisdiction and authority of the See of Rome and the Popes Jesuits and Papists practises to blow up and destroy our Protestant Kings Parliaments Laws Liberties Religion and subvert our Kingly Government whole State and Common-wealth for the better discovering of them yet lately suspended abrogated as dangerous unlawfull Oaths by some of Cannes good friends who would be reputed Zealots against the Popes Jurisdiction and his Creatures too Now how those Ministers of our Church who thus abjured the Jurisdiction of Rome at the time of their very Ordination and their Ordainers too before them and since have donâ— the like in their Solemne League and Covenant can without the highest slander be said to derive their Ministry from it and that by Canne his Jesuiticall Anabaptistical Fraternity who never took one of these Oaths or the Covenant and revile repeal them as unlawful out of love to the Popes Jurisdiction Jesuits Priests c. or for want of zeal against them Let the world and this slanderers own Conscience if he have any left determine Besides who knows not but this Ignoramus that the Rites and Ceremonies of Ordination in the Church of Rome recorded at large in Ceremoniale Pontificiale Pontificum Romanorum and the ends of Ordination likewise viz. to say Masse create their Creator offer up Christ in Sacrifice at the altar to his Father Invocate Saints adore Images yield Canonicall obedience to the Pope and his Supremacy c. are far different from the form and ends of our Ministers Ordination in the Church of England prescribed by the Parl. 5. 6. Ed. 6. c. 1. ratified by the Statutes of 1 Eliz. 2. c. 1 2. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. and 39 Eliz c. 8. made onely by Protestant Parliaments as they particularly condemne renounce the Popes power and Jurisdiction so they declare and resolve our Ministers Ordination to be lawfull and them in very deed to be Ministers and rightly made ordained and â—onsecrated according to Gods word without any derivative power or Ordination from the Church of Rome And therefore for this New pander for the Whore of Rome to averre they receive their ministry and ordination thence is a NOTORIOVS LYE yea but saith he Francis Mason of Consecration and Mr. Yates in his Modell of Divinity prove and confesse That the Ministry of the Church of England established by the Law of the Land IS DERIVED FROM THE POPE and ROME True but in what sense onely by way of Succession as his own Ministry and Faith if he hath any were derived from John of Leyden or just as our Bibles Religion Baptisme Churches were derived thence and all now living with Canne himself derived from Popish Ancestors many even from Popes Popish Priests Prelates Friars by naturall generation God used the Popes of Rome and their Instruments to convert the Britains and Saxons from thei Paganisme to the Christian not Papal or Roman Faith which through Gods mercy hath continued amongst us ever since yet mixed of later times with manifold Popish Errors and Superstitions These Errors and Superstitions our godly Martyrs and by them our Kings and Parliaments discovering did thereupon by speciall Acts of Parliament abolish as derived from the Church of Rome together with the Popes usurped power and Gain which they served onely to support retaining onely the Scriptures Sacraments Soul-saving Doctrines thence derived by succession onely but authoritatively and originally from God and Christ himself with such Godly Orthodox Bishops and Ministers who though first ordained in the Church of England when Popish did yet renounce all the Popish Errors Corruptions with the Popes Supremacy and all Popish additionall Rites to the form of their Ordination and
heaven whence they are stiled HEIRS and INHERITORS OF THE KING-DOME Jam. 2. 5. Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 8. 17. Titus 3 17. Heb. 1. 14. chap. 6. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 7. Mat. 25. 34. and this Kingdome THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS Col. 1. 12. Ephes 1. 11. 14 18. 1. Pet. 1. 4. Acts 20. 32. an unanswerable argument that Heirship and Birthright is the best Surest Jestest Honourablest Lawfullest Title of all other to Crowns Kingdomes and Possessions on earth being the very Title of Christ himself to his everlasting Kingship and Kingdome and of the Saints in and by Christ to the Kingdome of heaven it self and Crown of Glory so the Seat and Throne of this His Kingdome is said to be Zion and Jerusalem most emphatically expressed Isa 24. 23. The Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem before his Ancients gloriously A typâ— of the Church of God under the Gospel first planted in and propagated from thence throughout the World according to the Prophesies Isaiah 2. 3. Michah 4. 2. Whence the Church under the Gospel is called the New Jerusalem c. Rev. 3. 12. chap. 21. 2 10. Gal. 4. 26. Heb. 12. 22. 2. That the Ministers of and under the Gospel are expresly stiled in these prophesies Priests and Levites severall times 3. That their Office under the Gospel in a mysticall sence is to offer buâ—nt-offerings to bake or kindle Meat-Offerings to do Sacrifices continually and to Minister unto God 4. That these Priests and Levites should be taken out of the converted Gentiles and Isles afar off whereof our Isle was chief 5. Priests and Levites should never fail cease nor want a man under the Gospel and that would multiply them as the Host of Heaven as well as the Seed of David 6. That they should convert and bring their brethren for an offering out of all Nations and the Isles afar off to Gods Mountain and House in Jerusalem as the children of Israel used to bring their Offerings thither Since therefore the Ministers of the Gopel in these prophesies are thus expressely stiled Priests and Levites and are to offer burnt-Offerings Meat-Offerings Sacrifices and Oblations to God in his Mountain and House at Jerusalem c. under David their King in an Evangelicall sence without any Judaisme or denying of Christs coming in the flesh they may undoubtedly in the self same sence and Right receive all Glebes Tithes Oblations and other dues from Christians and converted Jews under the Gospel as the Priests and Levites did at Jerusalem under King David and his Successors seeing they succeed them in their Office in an Evangelicall sence according to these prophesies which as strongly confirm the Maintenance of their Priestly Function their Titheâ— as their Evangelicall Priesthood 7. Although Christ his Apostles and the Ministers of the Gospel in the Primitive times whiles the Church was in the Wildernesse under grievous bloâ—dy Antichristian Kings Magistrates Persecutours by reason of the present persecution neither did nor could receive Tithes and Glebâ—s for their Maintenances from the persecuted Christians and therefore were necessitated to live by private Contribution and extraordinary wages in that case of extremity yet it no wayes follows that therefore all Ministers of the Gospel afterwards shall do so in setled Kingdomes States Nations converted to the saith where Kings Magistrates People doe all generally embrace and professe the Gospel and where Churches are established and Ministers Glebes and Tithes are or may be confirmed by setled Laws which I shall irrefragably prove by these instances 1. The Priests and Levites under the Law had no Glebes or Tithes at all whiles the Israelites wandred 40 years together in the wildernesse though they had then a Laâ— and right to receive them Will the Objectors thence inferrâ— Therefore they ought to have no Tithes nor Glebes when the Israelites were possessors of and setledin the Land of Canaan in peace when they enjoyed both without dispute 2. The Priests and Levites had no Tithes nor Glebes in the Realm of Israel under the Vsurper Jeroboam and his Idolatrous successors who deprived them of their possessions Cities Suburbes Tithes and Priest Office too 2 Chron. 11. 13 14. c. 13. 9. Therefore the Priests and Levites in the Kingdome of Judah might not lawfully claim nor enjoy any Glebes or Tithes nor Ministers under the Gospel nor yet those in Israel under David and Solomon who were no Persecutors but Patrons of them 3. When both these Kingdoms with their Priest and Levites were carried away captives into Assyria and Babylon the Priests and Levites during the 70 years captivity enjoyed neither Glebes nor Tithes Will it them follow Therefore they might lawfully enjoy neither after their restitution to their Country and execution of their Priestly Function and the reedifying of the Temple as we read they did Neh. 10. 38. c. 12. 44. c. 13. 1. to 13. and the people charged with robbing of God when they neglected to pay Tithes and Oblations to them Mal. 3. 7 8 9 10. 4. Christ himself so soon as born was forced to fly out of his Country into Aegypt by bloudy Herod and to remain there till after his death Mat. 2. 13 14 15. After which he complained That Foxes had holes and Birds of the ayre nests yet he had not where to lay his head Mat. 8. 20. Luke 9. 58 And at last he was apprehended mocked reviled crowned with thorns crucified by the malicious Jews and SOLDIERS who parted his Garments among them and cast Lots upon his Vesture The Evangâ—lists closing up the Tragedy of his Passion with this perpetuall brand upon the Domineering cruell Soldiers THESE THINGS THEREFORE THE SOLDIERS DID John 19. 24. For which and for reporting a Lye to smother the truth of Christs Resurrection the High Priest GAVE LARGE MONEY TO THE SOLDIERS besides Matt. 28. 12 15. Will Canne therefore hence conclude theresore our Souldiers now must force our Ministers to fly into Aegypt-till Herods death leave them neither Rectory Personage house or Vicarge nor yet so much as a Bed Bolster Tith-Hay or Straw whereon to lay their heads and naile them to the Crosse pierce their sides with spears-points revile deride them and at last part not only all their Glebes Tithes and Goods but their very Garments and Gowns between them Surely if they must and shall do so let them beware of another perpetual memento like the former These things therefore The Soldiers did So the Soldiers took the mony and did as they were taught by Canne and Popish Priests and Jesuits 5. The Apostles who succeeded our Saviour in those dayes of persecution were thus handled by Pauls own relation 1 Cor. 4. 9 c. We are made a spectacle unto the world unto Angels and to men we are fools for Christs sake we are weake we are despised even to this present houre we are hungry and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place we are
reviled persecuted defamed we are as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things unto this day If all Ministers in times of peace and setlement must be like the Apostles in not receiving tiâ—hes then they must be like them too even in setled Christian Kingdoms States Churches in all these their particular sufferings and have no certain dwelling place c. And if so Let Canne his new Ministers of the Gospel as they stile themselves begin the president of whom our Ministers may now say as Paul did of the Corinthians in the precedent verse of this chapter v. 8. Now ye are full nowye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us when as most of them were very poore and farre enough from reigning as Kings or so much as Petty Constables before these unhappy Wars and in dayes of former persecution when Canne himself durst not shew his face in England for fear of a Bishops power or High-commission Pursuivant nor durst reproach our Orthodox protestant pious Ministers and Parliaments as Antichristian Popish and compare their Laws for Ministers Tithes with the very Idolatrous Statutes of Omri and Aâ—ab as he doth now p. 3. for which he might have taken a turn at Tiburn in steed of walking freâ—ly in Westminster Hall without being questioned for this his impudent high Slanders both of our Laws and Parliaments as well as Ministry 6. If the Mâ—nisters of the Gospel be bound to imitate the Apostles in all things then they must not have Gold nor Silver nor Brasse in their purses neither Scrip nor two Coats nor yet Shoes but Sandals onely on their feet Mat. 10. 9 10. Mar. 6. 8 9. as the Capuchin-Friars Mendicants hence conclude this being a positive Precept the objected examples of the Apostles c. onely a a President And if so not onely all our Ministers but Canne and all his Administrators must turn Friars Mendicanâ—s too in good earnest who ground their Vow of Voluntary poverty on this Text and the objected Presidents of Christ and his Apostles and so become no Ministers of Christ but Antichrist and as truly Antichristian as these Friars are 7. If our Ministers must all now be like those of the Primitive times whiles under persecuting Heathen Emperours Kings Magistrates then all Saints and Christians too in our dayes and times must imitate and be like the Saints and Christians in those dayes They must sell all their old and new purchased Lands Houses Lordships Palaces and lay the money at the Ministers feet have all things in common like the reall Saints and Christians in the Apostles times Acts 4. 34. to the end and instead of Lording and feasting it in their new acquired Royall Episcopall Palaces and Mannor Houses they must wander about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins in Desarts and in Mountains and in Dens and Caves of the earth being destitute and affliâ—ted like the Saints of old yea and like them they must be tortured not accepting deliverance have trialls of cruell mockings and scourgings bonds and imprisonments be stoned sawn asunder slain with the Sword instead of slaying plundering imprisoning and sawing others asunder with the Sword Heb. 11. 35. to 39. And when our Army-Saints Officers Souldiers with other Tithe Oppugners who presse this Objection against Ministers Tithes shall lay down their Arms Commands Power Lands sell all they have and become like to all these Primitive Saints and Martyrs of Christ in sufferings in times of Persecution I doubt not but our Ministers will joyfully part both with their Glebes Rectories Tithes and setled Maintenance to sympathize with them in their Persecutions and Sufferings But tilâ— such hard times of Persecutions and they begin to follow this President of the self-denying Primitive Sâ—ints I hope they will not make all our Ministers present Martyrs in their Tithes and setled Maintenance nor enjoyn them alone to follow the Primitive Ministers of the Gospel in those times of persecution and prove greater persecutors to them in these pretended times of Christian Liberty and Justice than the late Oppressing Prelates and High Commissioners who suffered many of them though Non-conformists to enjoy their Tithes and Glebes and not eject or disinherit them and their Successors for ever of their ancient Glebes Tithes and setled Maintenance without any Legall Triâ—ll by their Peers or Conviction of any Treasonable crimes against our known Lawes for which they deserve to forfeit them and all under the false petence that Tithes are Jewish and Antichristian under the Gospel which I hope I have sufficiently refuted being established on them by Châ—istian Kings States Parliaments immediately after the Primitive persecutions generally throughout Christendome as the fittest Maintenance of all other and particularly in our Realm when as the abolishing of them will be really such in the Judgement of all Godly Protestants and Patrons of Religion both at home and throughout the World FINS a Isa 45. 15. 46. 9. b Mat. West An. 1055. p. 422. Antiq. Eccles Brit. â— 88 89. c Psal 73. 25. d Act. 17. 28. e Psal 73. 26 f 1 Thess 5. 23. Rom. 11. 36. Psal 139. 15 16 17. g Psal 100. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Job 7. 20. Gen. 48. 16. h Dan 6. 16. i 2 Tim. 4. 17. k Dan. 3. 19 20 c. l Jona 1. 2. m In my Histriomastâ—x Healths sicknesse Love-locks Cosens Cosening Devotions Breviate Quench-cole Memento Speech in Parliament and other Books n Jude 3. Levit. 19. 17. Tit. 1. 13. o Rom. 13. 1 2. p Deut. 7. 9. Neh. 1. 5. Pâ—a 89. â— 28. to 38 110 4. 11â— 5. Jer. 33. 20 21 c. Heb. 5. 17 18. q Gen 50. 5 6 Levit. 19. 12. Num. 30. 2. Josh 1. 17. 6. 22. 9. 15 to 22. Psal 15. 4. Hos 10. 4. Zech. 5 4. Eccles 8. 2. Ezek. 17. 16 18 19. r Prov. 24. 21 22. Rom. 16 17. 2 Tiâ— 3. 1 to 8. s Revel â—â— 1 2. t Psal 20. 5â— 6 7 8. u Ps 107. 16. x Act. 12. 4 to 12. y See the Beacon fired and Nicolas Causins the Jesuit's holy Court printed at London 1650. in folio z Psal 146. 7. a Isa 49. 9. 42. 7. b 1 Sam. 7. 12. c Psa 83 4 5 6 7 8. d Act. 6. 10. e 1 Co. 14. 25. f Psal 83. 9. 10 11 c. g Psal 79. 13. h Psal 146. 2. 104. 33. a Ezek. 46. 16. 5â— 16. give it this Title b Isa 5. 25. Ezek. 13. 5. 22. 30. c Magna Carta of King Henry the I. and K. John Mat. Paris Hist Angl. p. 53. 230. 246. 9 H. â— c. 1. 29. 37. â—imes since confirmed in Parliament d Isa 49 23. 60. 9 10. Psal 72 10 11. Rev. 21 24. e Jâ—r 47. 6 7. f A collection of Ordinances c. p. 124. 125. g Mat. 15. 13 h Gâ—l 3. 9. i Gen. 14. 20. Heb. 7. 1 to 12. k Dr. Griffith Wâ—lliams