man in an evil cause because he is poor neither is he to countenance a rich man in an evil cause because of his riches and high titles of honour neither is he to pervert the words of the righteous whether he be rich or poor Neither is he to judge for reward nor to take bribes or gifts because they blind the eye and so they cannot see to do just judgement nor to judge righteously for the Lord betwixt man and man rich and poor great and small c. 4. The Magistrate that ruleth over man must not accept the person of the wicked Psal 82.2 3 4. Deut. 16.18 19 20. but he is to defend the poor and fatherlesse and to do justice for the afflicted and needy and to deliver the poor and needy and to rid them out of the wicked speedily Therefore he is not to be afraid of the fear of man but to fear the Lord God and him alone to serve in doing of true justice and in judging righteously and he is to follow altogether that which is just that so he may leve and inherit the land which the Lord God giveth him Hear O ye Kings Rulers and Iudges of the earth the double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes he wavereth like a wave of the Sea that is driven with the winde and tossed to and fro Therefore let your eye be single that your whole body may be full of light that ye may behold the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ and so ye may see to do true justice and judgement for the Lord betwixt man and man but if your eye be evil your whole body is full of darknesse confusion and every evil thing and so no justice nor true judgement is then done by you for the Lord. Be wise therefore O ye Rulers and Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with fear the fear of the Lord is to depart from iniquity and the beginning of wisdom Therefore kisse the Son least he be angry with you and when his wrath is kindled ye perish from the right way of truth and judgement And ye that rule while ye have time prise it and rule with diligence and be not sloathful in your businesse but be fervent in spirit serving the Lord and meddle not with things that be too high for you nor with those things which ye ought not to have to do with Read 1 King 12.31 13.33 34. 16.30 31 32 33. In the time of ignorance God winked at many things but light is now come into the world and God calls upon all men every where to repent and would have them come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved Therefore come out of Babylon my people come out of Babylon saith the Lord and return O Israel if thou wilt return return unto the Lord the onely true God who is light and in him is no darknesse at all Christ Iesus is the light of the world he and his Father is one whoso followeth him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life He it the light and life of men and to as many as receive him and believe in his Name to them he gives power to become the sons of God and the sons of God are led by the spirit of God and the spirit of God it leads into all truth righteousnesse and peace But they who walk in darknesse they hate the light they hate God who is light they hate Christ who is the light of the world and the Law is light the reproofs of instruction are the way of life Christ Iesus is the way the truth and the life and light of men he that believeth not is condemned alâ—eady because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the condemnation Yhat light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds be evil Every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Whatsoever is reproved the light makes it manifest What know ye not that Christ Iesus the light is in you except ye be reprobates the reprobates know not â—hat Christ is in them for light shines in darknesse and the darknesse comprehends it not and if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that perish neither is there any communion betwixt light and darknesse nor no fellowship hath Christ with Belial for he that believeth not is condemned already because he believeth not in the onely begotten Son of God the light and the light is the condemnation of all that hate it The light shines in the heart Christ he opened their understandings For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ whatsoever is reproved the light makes it manifest that which is reproved is sin and sin is the transgression of the law that is holy just pure and good Now the light makes every transgression of the law manifest the evil thoughts are made manifest by the light the evil deeds are made manifest by the light the evil words the light makes manifest yea the light makes manifest and brings to remembrance all things that a man hath done in his life time and sets his sins in order before him although they have been done in secret So that one man cannot reprove another for the thing done in secret yet there is that in him that makes it manifest to him and reproves him for it which is the light God is light Christ is the light of the world and doth enlighten eve-very man that cometh into the world The Law it is light and I had not known sin but by the Law and the Law is written in the heart by the spirit of the living God Now the same that makes sin manifest the same reproves for sin and this that reproves of sin is the spirit of truth who reproves the world of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement God he is a spirit and he is light Christ is the light of the world the last man was made a quickning spirit the second man is the Lord from Heaven who was made a quickning spirit it is the spirit that reproves the world or every man in the world of sin and the same that reproves of sin the same condemns for sin this is the condemnation that light is come into the world God sent his son to condemn sin in the flesh the condemnation of God is to them that walk after the flesh for this purpose was the son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil but there is no condemnation to them that walk after the spirit Therefore take heed to the light that makes sin manifest believe in the light believe in God for he is light believe in Christ the light of the
any Schollar is judged fit in schollarship he is to take a Degree and then he must go about the city from colledge to colledge bare-headed with a square cap in his hand and a Hood upon his shoulders made of Lambs Skins with the Wool on it which they call Visiting to beg a Grace and if none have any thing against him then he takes a Degree of Batcheller of Arts and when he hath taken that Degree he may choose whether he will be a Divine or a Lawyer or a Physician or an Astrologer that Art which he chooseth to be of he furnishes his study with Books accordingly and so to study three yeers more so that four years and three yeers is seven yeers the time of an Apprentiship unlesse that any be favoured by the Vice-Chancellor who gives a yeer and several graces to the party favoured and then in the time of Lent he is to dispute for his Degree of Master of Arts and then at that time he takes his Degree of Master of Arts and then he changes his Hood and wears a silk one and changes his Gown and wears a pair of Colloshooes on his feet and then he gives money and rich Gloves to the Vice-Chancellor and to several Doctors Proctors and to the Beadles that goes before them with a silver tipt Staffe from place to place and then a great Feast is made in the Colledge-Hall and there they have their Wine and Musick And then the next Degree he takes is Batcheller of Divinity and after Doctor of Divinity and now take notice That when any comes to take his Degree of Doctor of Divinity that several Doctors kneels down to the Vice-Chancellor to beg a Grace for the Doctor that is to proceed and when the Vice-Chancellor hath granted him to be created a Doctor then he riseth up and kisseth the Vice-Chancellors cheek and this is called the Doctoral kisse and then is given a Doctoral Ring Gloves and a Doctoral Dinner and Musick and at their publike commencement or taking of their Degrees they all meet together in one of the Houses of high places falsly called St. Maryes Church or other and there is great Scaffolds built up and there all round the high place sit all sorts of people men and women and in the middle stands a place somewhat like a Pulpit and in that stands some one notable Varlot who they count a brave Schollar who is chosen out of the Vniversity and he is called a Prevaricator or a Terryfilius and he stands up in the middle and presence of the Vice-chancellor the Doctors Heads Students Schollars and all the great resort of Ministers and people fâ—r several hours and jeers scoffs derides and reproaches all sorts of persons of all ages sexes sorts and professions and the Auditors they laugh and rejoice and hollow and hisse and stamp and make a noise rejoycing to hear his wickednesse and so take pleasure in unrighteousnesse and in these times the schollars are so rude that at night time no women or civil people dare scarce passe out of their houses for fear of being abused by them Now in the time of these seven yeers they have several titles given viz. Servitors Vndergreagates Divines Students Batcheller of Art Master of Art Batcheller of Divinity and Master of Divinity Doctor of Divinity c. and in these Vniversities they study Philosophy and vain deceit the works of Flato and Aristotle Logick the art of Reason Rhetorick the art of well speaking and read Books of Moral Philosophy called Aethicks and Divinity they study likewise and mingle all together and all this stuffe viz. Logick Rhetorick Philosophy Divinity the Languages of Latine Greek and Hebrew that they have learned studyed for are called gifts fit for the Ministry say the wise men of the world but I say That these things makes not the Vniveâ—sity Schollars fit for Ministers of the Gospel but makes them light vain proud fantastical bold impudent scoffers and mockers and persecutors lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God and despisers of those that are good and so not fit to be Ministers of Christ but of Antichrist which are but unprofitable talkers And likewise in these Vniversities are brought up yong men to be Lawyers Doctors of the Law Masters and Doctors of Musick Batchellors and Doctors of Physick Astrologers Mathematicks c. and these two Vniversities are called the Eyes of the Nation but they are both dark and blind ones and they are called the two Fountains of Learning but they are both stinking Fountains that no sweet water issues out of them therefore it is high time to cleanse them of their filth and abominations And for their learning I am sure there is as much wickednesse and ungodlinesse learned and practised both by the Schollars and their Tutors and Governors as by any other sort of people as you see in part before written And now I say What is the reason that the Hospitals are laid down and that the poor are not relieved as they were wont to be And why are the servants wages abâ—ted Covetousnesse abounds the hand is shut from the poor Deut. 15.7 8. Prov. 22.22 Iam. 5.1 2 3 4. Hab 3.14 and the poor is robbed and the cry of the poor is heard and the cry of the Labourer is heard and wo be to them that with-holds the Labourer of his wages and devours up the poor and that takes gifts and bribes for a thing of naught that take pleasure in unrighteousnesse and rejoice in wickednesse and live in pleasures and draw iniquity after you as with Carts Ropes You Heads and Rulers of Oxford and Cambridge take notice of what is writâ—en against you And as for your Schollars they are as wild as a wild Asses Colts headdy high minded fighters quarrellers scoffers and many of them will be drunk and swear will cheat and cozen one another by setting one another upon the score for bread drink rob mens Orchards too some of them which I have heard from their own mouths ly up a nights revelling drinking set great sums of money upon their fathers scores to pay Prov. 28.24 more then their fathers allow them whoso robbeth his father or his mother and saith it is no transgression the same is a companion for a destroyer and the drunkard shall come to poverty and never inherit the kingdom of God Here is sweet bruits to make Ministers of the Gospel of but of such and such like do they make Ministers of at Cambridge and Oxford for said William Dell in his Book DELL's Testimony against Divinity Degrees pag. 1. 22. The Vniversities whose soul and life doth lye in humane learning and School-divinity that they may gain the greater profit to themselves and glory to their children have after the example of the Heathen given their children Degrees in Divinity as they in Art and the glorious titles of Batchellors Masters and Doctors in Divinity as so many Crowns
Vicarage-Lands and other Lands and likewise for what use the parties gave them the end wherefore they gave them and by this you may see how the Kings of the earth provided for the Clergy of their own and the Popes making but for the Prophets and Apostles and Ministers of Christ they would not provide any such things for them but instead thereof they and their Churches provided for them Prisons Dungeons Whips Stocks Bridewells Saws Swords Wracks Fire and Faggots And as for the Messengers and Ministers of Christ that he ordained and sent they would not receive them into their Houses nor their Doctrine neither but those who they ordained and consecrated themselves See Cesar Due by Tho. Bradley D.D. and Minister of Nettlebed in Oxfordshire but not Minister of Christ. or such as were made by a carnal commandment by the Pope and his Adherents or by a Commission of Tryers that come in their own names and not in the Name of the Lord such are received and provided for and called by them Master and a House and Land for a certain dwelling place is prorided for them worth 100. l. or 200. l. more or lesse by the year for the Rectory of Alsford in Hampshire stands in one of the Kings Books at 29. l. a yeer but said Bradley It was let at 450. l. communibus annis viz. one year with another beside a reserve of 30. l. a yeer that the Rector lived in himself And this was not sufficient but the Kings of the earth have taken away from the people and given to their Ministers as their servants to preach them up their Fields their Vinyards and their Olive-yards even the best of them and given them to their servants and the tenth of the peoples sheep and the tenth of their seed and of their vinyards and given them to their Priests Ministers and servants And thus the Kings of the earth have done according as God bad Samuel tell the people the King they asked for would do 1 Sam. 8.1 to the 18. But some it is like will say that the Kings gave their own lands to the Clergy Read Hollinshead Chron. Fox Act. Mon. Vol. 1. But I say How came the Saxon Kings by their Lands here in England that they gave to the Clergy Did they not take it from the people by their Swords And did not William the Conqueror do the like And did not the Saxon Kings and William the Conqueror prove tyrants to the people and treacherous likewise And one thing I do grant that is this That the Kings or Rulers of the earth may with the consent of the people assembled in counsel raise money for the publike good that is for the defence of the Nation and for the preservation of the Nations peace and welfare at home or abroad by Land and Sea and defence of the nations enemies But I say again That the Kings and Rulers of the earth ought not to take away the peoples Goods or the Fruits of their labour nor the increase of their seed nor the increase of their Flock or Herd or their Vinyard to give unto others nor to sell unto others Isa 1.23 Hos 4.6 7 8 9 Lam. 4.13 as some Kings of this Nation have done and taken away from the people the tythes and sold them to Improprietors others they gave to their own Ministers which thing is not good but evil and abomination in the sight of God and the buyer and the receiver are as bad as the seller and the giver But some will say it is like Must not our Ministers be maintained how should they live for they cannot work for they were never brought up to work and they cannot starve Thus I answer That they are big enough and strong enough to work therefore it is now time for them to begin to labour with their hands the thing that is good Act. 20.33 34. 1 Cor. 4 12. 1 Thes 2.9 2 Thess 3.6 7 8 9 10 11. and in the sweat of their brows to eat their own bread for our order is That they that will not work shall not eat provided that they be strong and able to work as your Ministers are and they that set them to work let them pay them their wages out of their own Purses and not out of theirs that own them not And again The true Prophets and Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel that Christ sent they did not take tythes nor gifts nor rewards for preaching nor prophesying for tythes was not the Gospel that they liv'd by But those Ministers that the Kings and Kulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents make and sent forth they take gifts and rewards and tythes for their preaching therefore they commit sin with greedinesse and do the thing that is not right in the sight of God for God did not require tythes to be paid to those Ministers that are made and sent out by the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents but when God required tythes and first fruits to be paid he required that the tythes and first fruits should be paid to the Levites Aaron and his sons whom God did â—et apart to minister in the Priests office Exod. 24.12 Lev. 27.30 to 34. Ioh. 1.17 and for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation Exod. 28.11 Numb 3.12 Heb. 7.5 I find in the Scripture that God gave the Law in Mount Sinai unto Moses for the children of Israel to observe and keep even the Law which was a shadow of good things then to come for said Iohn The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ Now I say Deut. 26. chap That Law by which the children of Israel was commanded to pay tythes was given in Mount Sinai to Moses for the children of Israel to observe and keep when they came into the Land of Canaan Heb. 10.1 Deut. 7.6 7 8. 14.2 Ps 147.19 20. And this Law which was a shadow of good things to come was committed unto the people of Israel to observe and keep and to no other Nation for the Lord God had chosen them to be a peculiar people unto himself above all people that were upon the face of the earth and said David He hath shewed his word unto Iacob his Statutes and his Iudgements unto Israel he hath not said David dealt so with any Nation for his judgements they have not known And Paul said Rom. 3.1 2. That unto them were committed the Oracles of God And now I come to write more largely of tythes then hitherto I have written Exod. 34 26 27 28 29. Lev. 27.30 to 34. Deut. 10.8 9 10 11 12 13. 18.1 2 3 4. Deut. 12.10 11 12. 26 1 2. 19. v. 25. c. Lev. 27.30 32. Exod. 34.26 Mal. 3.8 9 10 First I finde that God did not command or require any people to pay tythes and first fruits but only by
Whosoever touched or did bear ought of the Carcases of any beast or creeping thing that was counted unclean he himself was unclean and was to wash his clothes and he that did eat of a Carkase of a dead Beast was to wash his clothes And again Lev. 14. chap. If a House that was spread with the plague of a fretting Leprosie and was by the commandment of the priest shut up because it was unclean then he that went into the House in that time and he that lay in the House and he that eat in the House were to wash their clothes And again If any man had a running issue out of his flesh he was unclean and his bed wherein he lay was unclean Lev. 15. chap. and the thing whereon he sate was unclean therefore whosoever touched his bed was to wash his clothes and he that sate on the thing whereon he sate that had the issue was to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water c. Of which divers washings Heb. 9.19 20 21. sprinklings feasts burnt-offerings meat-offerings drink-offerings sin-offerings trespasse-offerings the attonement for the sin of ignorance the free-will-offerings the peace-offerings c. ye may read of more at large in the Scriptures which things the Law required to be done were all by the Apostle Paul counted but carnal Ordinances and when the time of Reformation was come they were all put to an end Heb. 9.10 the hand-writing of Ordinances was blotted out the Law disannulled and the Priesthood changed c. Now I say That the Ministers of England never did this service for their tythes and first fruits as Aaron and his son did nor the Improprietors neither therefore neither the Improprietor nor the parish-Ministers have not any right to the tythes of the land nor the first fruits neither for the first fruits and tythes was Aaron and his sons due Heb. 9. chap. who received the office of the priesthood by the Lords appointment or command who were to attend continually yeer by yeer at the tabernacle of the congregation to accomplish the service of the Lord which was to offer gifts and sacrifices for themselves and for the errors of the people for which service doing the Lord God gave them for their portion of the most holy things reserved from the fire Lev. 2. ch 8.31 to 36. Numb 18. ch of every Oblation Meat-Offering Sin-offering Trespasse-offering Heave-offering Wave-offering c. all the best of the Oyle and the best of the Wine and the Wheat viz. the first fruits of them which the children of Israel should bring to offer unto the Lord even to Aaron and his sons who had the charge of the tabernacle of the Congregation and the office of the priesthood there to them the Lord God gave likewise of the firstling of a Cow or the firstling of a Sheepe or the firstling of a Goat which was brought for an offering made by fire Exod. 29. chap. for a sweet savour unto the Lord of the flesh thereof The Wave-brest and the right shoulder and the fat of the Ram and the Rump and the fat that covereth the inwards and the Caul about the Liver and the two kindneys and the fat that is upon them and the rig it shoulder and the breast of the Ram and whether it be of Ox or Sheep they shall give unto the priest the shoulder the two cheeks and the Maw Deut. 18.3 Numb 18.10 and a loaf of bread and a Cake of oyled Bread and a Wafer of unleavened Bread and this was by them to be eaten in the most holy place every meal And again Lev. 27.30 32 34. God he required the children of Israel to tythe all the encrease of their seed that their fields broughâ— forth yeer by yeer and he said that all the tythes of the land whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree and the tythe of the Herd or of the flock even of whatsoever passeth under the Rod the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord and all the tythes was brought into the House of the Lord for said the Lord unto the children of Israel Deut. 14.22 Exod. 23.19 34.26 Mal. 3.10 Deuc 14.28 26.12.13 Prov. 3.9 10. Thou shalt truly tythe all the encrease of thy seed that the field bringeth forth yeer by yeer and the first fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the House of the Lord thy God Bring ye said the Lord all the tythes into the Store-house that there may be meat in my House and the levite and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy Gates shall come and eat thereof and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands which thou dost And Solomon said Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine encrease so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy Presses shall burst out with new Wine And God gave to the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood a commandment to take tythes of the people according to the law Heb. 7.5 that is of their Brethren and the Lord he spake unto Aaron Numb 18.21 24. and said Behold I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve even for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the Lord spake unto Moses saying thus Speak unto the Levites and say unto them When ye take of the children of Israel the tythes which I have given you from them for your Inheritance c. Here you may plainly see and the Scriptures do testifie that God gave the first fruits and the tythes to the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood by his own command only and likewise the sons of Levi they received tythes of the children of Israel their brethren onely and of no other people or Nation by a law which law stood in force to be observed and kept by which law the eleven tribes of Israel was required to pay first fruits and tythes And likewise the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood to take tythes by and this commandment was given to Moses in Mount Sinai with other commandments for the children of Israel to observe and do Lev. 27.34 Iâ—h 1.17 Heb. 8.5 9 10. chap. and Paul said The Law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very Image of the things for the law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ. Now those things which the law required was a figure for the time then present in which time were offered both gifts and sacrifices by the priesthood which was ordained thereunto and the law which was a shadow of good things to come did impose upon the people many things to be done which stood only in meats and drinks and divers
that lay upon the people and likewise for the unprofitablenesse thereof The children of Israel were by the law commanded to pay first fruits and tythes for the maintenance of the levitical priesthood And the sons of Levi who received the office of che Priesthood had a commandment to take tythes of their Brethren according to the law and of no other Nation or people were they to receive any first fruits or tythes but verily that commandment is disanulled and the law is changed by our King our Law-giver and our Iudge and Prophet and Priest for ever viz. Christ Iesus who having abolished in his Flesh the enmity even the law ef commandments contained in Ordinances and hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and contrary to us which was a yoake of bondage upon the neck of the Disciples he took it and nailed to his cross tryumphing over them in himself and said It is finished for he is the end of the law for righteeusnesse to every one that believeth in him c. But wicked and ungodly men who believe not in him even Kings Rulers Pope Matth. 13.54 55 56 57. Mark 6.23 Ioh. 7.48 49. Bishops Priests for out of their own mouths they are judged Have any of the Rulers believed in him And said Paul Not many wise men after the flesh nor many mighty nor many Nobles are called even such as believe not in Christ Iesus will not that he should reign over them therefore they have made unrighteous unjust and unholy laws for to require people to pay tythes to the priests and ministers which they themselves have so ordained consecrated and sent forth and not God And the Priests and Ministers who are not ordained nor consecrated nor sent forth of God but by man even they by their unrighteous unholy and the unjust laws of men they take tythes and sue men at the unrighteous law for tythes and cause men to be put in prison by the unjust law for tythes and by the unholy law they take trebble damages of mens goods for non-payment of tythes thus contradicting what Christ Jesus hath done for Christ the true King and the just and righteous Lawgiver he disannulled the law Eph. 2.15 Col. 2.14 15. and abolished the law of Commandments and blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances and changed the priesthood that took the tythes so that when the levitical priesthood ceased to be a priesthood the tythes ceased also and the law likewise Therefore I say That the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents who have made laws to pay and to take tythes by they are such as believe not in Christ Jesus the Son of God for had they believed on Christ Jesus the Son of God they would have owned him to have been a King and a Law-giver unto them and likewise they would that he should have reigned over them as King and had they loved him Isa 26.12 13 33.22 Ioh. 13.21 Matth. 23.23 Luke 18.12 they would have kept his commandments but such as own not Christ to be King and Law-giver believe not in him and so will not that he should rule and reign over them These as the Scribes Pharisees and Hyyocrites did so do they pay tythes of Mint Annis Cummin Rue and all manner of Herbs yea and of all that they possesse and so by their works they deny Christ to be King and Law-giver and Priest too but said Christ Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither Luke 19 27. and slay them before me Now there was a time that the Hypocrites Scribes and Pharisees paid tythes as said Christ Ye pay tythes c. and at that time that they paid tythes they omitted the weightier matters of the law Judgment Mercy and Faith which said Christ ye ought to have done and not to leave the other that is tythes undone which tythes was to be paid according to the law by the people of Israel which law and carna ordinances imposed upon the people continued for them to observe and do until the time of reformation which reformation was by Christ Jesus who changed the priesthood and disannulled the law and said Paul He having abolished the law of commandments and blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us nailing it to his crosse so that after that time that Christ had fulfilled the law and put an end to that law which was a shadow of good things to come and changed the Priesthood to which the tythes was paid I say again That there was no more tythes nor first fruits to be paid and all they that refused to pay tythes and first fruits after that time of reformation which was made by Christ Jesus who offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and after he had so done Heb. 10.12 Rom. 4.15 he sate down at the right hand of God they transgressed no law in so doing for where there is no law there is no transgression But the Heathen at this they raged and the people imagined a vaine thing the Kings of the earth they set themselves and the Rulers and the Pope and the Cardinals the Bishops and the Popes Adherents took counsel together against the Lord and against his annointed saying Come let us break their bonds asunder and cast their Cords from us such would not that Christ should rule and reign over them these were and are enemies to God they have made the Word of God of non-effect they have set Christ at naught and have lightly esteemed the Rock of their salvation they have cast his Law behinde their backs and will have none of his reproof they have not taken up the Crosse of Christ nor gone in the strait way that leads unto life but have gone in the broad way that leads unto destruction being led by a spirit of error in their Councils whereby they did make Decrees Canons Constitutions Laws Statutes Acts and Ordinances which are unjust unrighteous impure and not good for said the men of Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and Herefordshire speaking of the Acts and Statutes made in former Kings dayes for the payment of tythes said they The Husband-mans Ploa against tythes printed in the year 1647. Because Acts of Parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a Parliament said they as well as a Council may be led by wrong Principles and so erre and so make Laws or Statutes that are unjust c. So acting against the Lord and against his Annointed in making Laws Canons Acts c. to pay tythes by for after that Christ had disannulled the Law and put an end to it they made Laws to uphold and to pay tythes therefore those Councils and Parliaments c. who have acted and made such Laws formerly and those that do act and make such Laws to pay tythes by now were and are led by a spirit of error to bring again upon the necks
against all those above-named unrighteous unjust and impure Decrees Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons and Ordinances that have been made by men for to require the people to pay first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions rates for tythes or such like that they are not of God and likewise That all those men who sate in councils and parliaments and have made those laws whether kings popes earls lords lords and commons protector and council or parliaments I say That they were not guided nor taught nor led by the spirit of God so to do but by a spirit of error were they ruled by for to bring again a yoke upon the neck of Christs Disciples by those unjust and unholy and unrighteous laws decrees constitutions acts and ordinances and clauses in ordinances whereby they require and compel Christs Annointed to pay first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions or any other rates in lieu of the same I say That those laws for the payment of tythes c. are not good for whatsoever law it is that is not good in its original or foundation can never be made good by any act or acts of man subsequent Now I say That the ground and original of these laws for the payment of first fruits and tythes c. since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was from the pope and his adherents the pope and his adherents are Idolaters and all the Idolaters are ungodly and such as hate the Lord Read 2 Chron. 18 19. chap. for Ahab the King and Israel was an Idolater and he was led by a lying spirit to go up to Ramath Gilead Iehosaphat King of Iudah joyned with him and said to Ahab I am as thou art my people as thy people but Hanani the Seer said to Iehosaphat Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord such are the pope and his adherents ungodly and such as hate the Lord therefore those laws that had their original foundation from the pope and his councils were and are altogether illegal and unjust in their original for can a corrupt fountain send forth sweet water neither can the pope and his adherents who are led by a spirit of error send forth pure and just laws Therefor say I to all the Rulers of England Should you help the ungodly to make laws against the Lord against his Annointed do ye not make your selves manifest by your actions herein to be such as love them that hate the Lord do not ye do the same things in nature though not in substance as the pope and his Adherents do or worse for the pope used to excommunicate or to curse out of his Church those that would not pay tythes and happy they were that were so excommunicated out of his church by him and his adherents See the Petition of Right and 〈◊〉 Act for regulating the Privy Council and taking away the Star-Chamber Anno 17. Caroli Regis but ye make laws to take three times the value of the tythes from them that cannot in conscience pay tythes c. and put men in prison for non-payment of tythes to the undoing of them their wives and small children which is contrary to the Common-law of the land And again It is a Maxime in the laws of this land That whatsoever in its original is altogether illegal and unjust can never by tract or length of time or by Actor Acts subsequent be they what they will in any kinds or construction of law be made just or legal And for the clear proof of which read Judge Huttons Argument against Ship-Money pag. 48 49. and Vox Plebis pag. 20. 43. and the fourth part of Cooks Reports pag. 125. and Vernons Case See also John Lilburns Grand Plea made against the Lords Jurisdiction over the Commoners Anno 1647. pag. 8. 13. And said the men of Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire See the Booke called The Husbandmans plea against tythes Printed 1647. Because said they Acts of parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a parliament as well as a Council may be led by wrong principles and so erre and so make laws Acts or Statutes that are unjust c. And again I say That all they who put those unrighteous and unjust laws for tythes c. in execution and all they who receive tythes firrst fruits oblations obventions offerings or any other thing in lieu of the same and all those who either through subtilty or willingly payes the said first fruits tythes oblations obventions or offerings or any thing in leuâ— of the same in obedience to those laws that are made by the ungodly and such as hate the â—ord I do judge them all to be enemies of God and such as will not that Christ Jesus should rule and reign over them neither do they own him to be unto them a King Law-giver and Judge but by their works do make themselves manifest to be such as deny Christ Jesus to become in the flesh for did they love Christ Jesus they would suffer the spoyling of their goods for his Names sake and keep his Commandments and did they own Christ to be King and Law-giver then they would obey no laws but his and submit to him that hath disanulled the law which was a shadow of good things to come and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances having abolished in his flesh the law of commandments contained in Ordinances and changed the priesthood who by a law took tythes and not have revived an old law that was done away by Christ Jesus at the time of reformation by himself for who hath required that law to be revived again by them at their hands but onely the Pope and his Adherents whose work they do for his servants ye are to whom ye obey Therefore my son if sinners entice thee consent thou not neither follow a multitude to do evil walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their pathes for the wayes of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord therefore go not in the way of evil men as for God his way is perfect his work is perfect all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he and the way of God is strength to the upright an dt they that walk in his pathes finde peace but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity c. And now I come to shew out of Histories the testimonie that others in former yeers have born for Christ and against tythes Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. and them that took tythes I finde written that about the yeere 1360. in the prayer and complaint of a Plow-man wherein he said as followeth Ah Lord he that * Calleth cleepeth himself thy Vicar upon earth viz. the Pope hath ordained an order of Priests to do thy service and therefore he chargeth | Lay-men lewde men in pain of cursings to bring his
the Mount of God And when Iezzabel cut off the prophets of the Lord 1 King 18.4 Obadiah hid a hundred of them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water c. And now see after what manner Elisha the prophet of God was maintained It fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem where was a great woman and she constrained him to eat bread and it was so 2 King 4.8 9 01. that as oft as he passed by he turned in thither to eat bread And the woman of Shunem said unto her Husband Behold now I perceive that this is an holy man of God which passeth by us continually let us said she make a little Chamber I pray thee on the Wall and let us set for him there a bed and a Table and a Stool and a Candlestick and it shall be when he cometh to us that he shall turn in thither And it fell on a day that he came thither and he turned into the Chamber and lay there c. By these ye may see now that the Kings of the earth would not provide first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions nor set out portions of land and great Houses for the prophets of God which he sent to live in 2 Chron. 18 25 26 as they did for their own that they themselves sent worth 100. l. a yeer more or lesse nay said Ahab by Micaiah the prophet of God Go take Micaiah and carry him back unto Amon the Governor of the City and to Ioash the Kings son and say Thus saith the King Put this fellow in prison and feed him with bread of Affliction and with water of Affliction until I return again in peace And this is that which the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents provide for the prophets that come and go in the Name of the Lord but the prophets of the Groves that come and go in their own Name they shall feed at Iezzabels table And Iohn the Baptist the Messenger of the Lord Matth. 3. chap. Luk. 1.15 Luk. 3.1 2 3 4 Matth. 1. chap who was filled with the holy spirit of God from his Mothers Womb went preaching in the Wildernesse of Iudea and in all the countrey about Iordan preaching the baptism of Repentance for the remission of sins and he was great in the sight of the Lord but his Rayment was of Camels Hair and a Leathern Girdle about his loins and his meat was Locusts and Wilde-Honey Here was nothing provided for him by the Kings of the earth to maintain him the messenger of the Lord no but instead of a great House Glebe-Land Tythes and Offerings Oblations and Obventions and 100. l. Matth. 14 ch a yeer Herod the Tetrach laid hold on him and bound him and put him in prison and afterward cut off his Head And such is the provision that the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents make for the Messengers of the Lord But the priest and preachers and teachers and Ministers that are of their own ordaining consecrating or by their appointment and law so made are well provided for so that they eat of the fat of the land and the finest of Wheat and drink Wine and strong Drink and take Tobacco and go clothed in black soft Raiment Cuffs and Rings on their fingers Ribans and Boot-hose-tops and sit at ease like a Queen and feel no want in the outward like other men Aaron and the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood they were maintained by first fruits offerings tythes c. according to the law which was a shadow of good things then to come until the time of reformation But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law who in the fulnesse of time came having compassion on the ignorant of them that were out of the way and being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him but Christ Jesus he glorified not himself to be made an High-Priest but he that said unnto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee the same said unto him thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Now Christ Jesus he was called of God an High-priest and made an High-priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec of God not by a carnal commandment but by the power of an endlesse life and he offered up his body a sacrifice once for all and by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and after he had offered that one sacrifice for sins for ever he sate down at the right hand of God and now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin So that Christ Jesus who is the Mediator of a better covenant then that of the old is the sum and substance of all figures and shadows held out by the Law which he put an end to for he changed the priesthood and disannulled the Law which was a shadow of good things to come by which the tythes was paid So that it is evident that Christ Jesus was not maintained by first fruits offerings nor tythes neither did the Kings and Rulers of the earth provide any House or Lands for him whom God sent For God so loved the world that he sent his onely begotten Son into the world but they would not bestow hundreds of pounds a yeere to maintain him with nor settle him in a Vicarage Parsonage nor in a Rectory of two or three hundred a yeer for said Christ Jesus The Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests Luk. 9.58 Luk. 8 1 2 3. Ioh. 13.29 but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head For he went throughout every City and Village preaching and shewing the glad tydings of the Kingdom of God and those that received his Doctrine and believed on him such ministred unto him of their substance and Iudas carryed the bag and he betrayed him into the hands of the chief priests the Elders the Rulers Herod and his men of War who delivered him up to Pilate to be condemned and to be crucified and platted a Crown of thorns and put it on his head and provided a Crosse and crucified him upon it and mocked him and thrust a spear in his side and cast lots for his Garment and gave him Vinegar to drink and this was all that they provided for the Son of God but they did not serve their own so for the world loves their own and calls them Master Master and sets them at the uppermost room at their feasts and in the highest seat in their Assemblies c. Neither was the twelve Apostles nor the seventy Disciples that Christ called and gave power to and sent forth to preach the Gospel maintained neither with first fruits offerings tythes oblations obventions c. for Christ
said unto them Freely ye have received freely give Go ye preach saying Matt. 10 5. to 14. Mark 6.7 to 12. Luk. 9.1 to 6. Luk. 10.1 to 12 The kingdom of Heaven is at hand provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brasse in your purses nor Scrip for your journey neither two Coats neither Shooes nor yet Staves for the workman is worthy of his meat And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter enquire who in it is worthy and there abide till ye go thence And he called the twelve and sent them forth by two and by two and they went out and preached that men should repent Christ said to his Apostles that the workman is worthy of his meat Now do but take notice how they were maintained that Christ sent forth said he Into whatsoever City ye enter and they receive you 1 Cor. 9.4 eat such things as they set before you for the workman is worthy of his meat And said Paul Have not we power to eat and to drink Yea Christ gave them power to eat and to drink such things as was set before them by them that did receive them they were to eat and to drink And again said Christ Into whatsoever house ye enter say Peace be unto this House if the Son of Peace be there your peace shall rest upon it and in the same House remain eating and drinking such things as they give for the labourer is worthy of his hire the workman is worthy of his meat And Iesus said unto the twelve When I sent you without Purse and Scrip and Shooes c. lacked ye any thing Luk. 23.35 and they said Nothing And again Christ said unto them Into whatsoever City ye enter and they receive you not go your wayes out into the streets of the same and say Even the very dust of your City which cleaveth on us we do wipe off against you notwithstandithstanding be ye sure of this That the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you 1 Cor. 4.11 12 13. Acts 20.33 34 35. 1 Thess 2.9 2 Thess 3.8 9 10. And so likewise they was to do by a House where they would not receive them nor hear their words for of such they were not to take any thing of nor to abide with them to eat nor to drink for the world was not worthy of them for the world hated them because they were not of the world but of Christ therefore the Kings of the earth nor the Rulers nor the people would not provide for them neither parsonages vicarages rectories nor glebe-lands nor tythes nor first fruits nor offerings nor oblations nor obventions nor hundreds of pounds by the yeer to maintain them with but instead thereof they provided Swords to slay them with 2 Cor. 11.25 26 27. Acts 12.2 3 4. 16.23 24. and prisons to put them in and whips and stocks and stones to stone them to death Now had they been of the worlds Ministers the world would have provided for them for the world loves its own and provides well for them as you may see in these our dayes how the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents have provided for theirs here in England but as for those that are now come in the Name of the Lord there is prisons dungeons stocks whips passes stones threatnings and fines provided for them beside beatings and mockings and reproaches and spoyling of their goods But is this the work of the Magistrate to do and to suffer to be done I say nay For he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God they must be able men men of truth fearing God hating covetousnesse for said David Exod. 28.21 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me the Rock of Israel spake to me his word was in my Tongue The God of Israel said He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23.2 3 4. ver And thus the Magistrates ought to be from the highest to the lowest that ruleth over men and then shall he be as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth even as a morning without Clouds and as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by the clear shining of the Sun after rain c. Now the work of the Magistrate is 1. He is to be a protection to them that do wel that is 1 Pet. 2.14 Rom. 13.3 4. Tit. 2.11 12. Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.22 23. to such who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit of God now they who walk after the spirit of God are taught by the grace of God to deny all ungodlinesse worldly lusts and likewise to live soberly peaceably honestly righteously and a god-like life and conversation in this present world and they who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God and by them is the fruit of the spirit seen which is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance and such are the well doers that the Magistrate is to be a protection too for against such there is no law c. 2 Sam. 23.6 7. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away because they cannot be touched with hands for the man that shall touch them must be senced with Iron and the staffe of a Spear and they shall be utterly burnt in the same place c. Therefore 2. The Magistrate is likewise to be a terror to the evil doers that is to such as are lawlesse 1 Tim. 1.8 9 10. Levit. 20.15 16 27. Gal. 5.19 20 21. disobedient unruly ungodly unholy and prophane murtherers man-slayers fighters quarrellers whores whoremongers adulterers fornicators Buggery Thieves Robbers men-steeaers swearers cursers drunkards lyars cheaters false-witnesses and perjured persons Idolaters witches amongst whom is hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions heresies and these and whatsoever things else that is contrary to the law that is holy just pure and good are the evil doers that the Magistrate is to be a terror too and for such the Law is made and not for a righteous man and that Ruler that doth contrary hereunto bears the sword in vain c 2 Chron. 19.6 Exod. 18.22 Deut. 1.16 17 e. 16.18 19 20. Exod. 23.3 6 7 8 9. 2 Chron. 19.5 6 7. Mic. 3.9 10 11 12. 3. The Magistrate that ruleth over men are not to judge for man but for the Lord and they are to judge the people at all seasons with just judgement He is not to wrest the law for if he wrest the Law he wrests Judgement which he ought not to do but to judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him he is to hear the cause of the poor as well as the cause of the rich the small as well as the great he is not to respect persons in judgement he is not to countenance a poor
world know you not that Christ Jesus is in you except you be reprobates but he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and if we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit Believe therefore in the light receive the light love the light bring your deeds to the light that they may be proved whether they be wrought in God for to as many as receive Christ Jesus the light and believe in his Name to them he gives power to become the sons of God and the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and the spirit of God leads into all truth and the spirit it teacheth to worship God in spirit and in truth and hereby know ye the spirit of God That spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and that spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God Therefore hearken to the Lord and hear what he saith incline your ear and hearken to his word that is nigh you in your hearts hear what the spirit of God saith unto you who speaketh expresly Be obedient to the spirit of God for there is no condemnation to them who walk after the spirit for the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees from the law of sinne and death and it is the grace of God that hath appeared unto all men that teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil world and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin for he became the Author of eternal â—alvation unto all that obey him Therefore mind the light for they whose minds are stayed upon the Lord he keeps them in perfect peace but there is no peace to the wicked for their minds are out from God minding earthly things so that God is not in all their thoughts therefore the wicked and all that forget God shall be turned into Hell Therefore love not the world nor the things of the world for he that is a friend of the world is an enemy to God for the whole world lies in wickedness and God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity and he that delighteth not in the Law of the Lord takes pleasure in unrighteousness and he that takes pleasure in unrighteousness will do no true justice righteousness nor judgement for the Lord betwixt man and man Wisdom is profitable to direct and it is God that gives wisdom Solomon asked of the Lord and said Give therefore thy servant wisdom and an understanding heart to judge thy peogle that I may discern between good and bad Who teacheth like God that giveth wisdom that teacheth the Senators wisdom and he is a wise man that will be ruled by the Law of God the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and he that is without this and unruled by the Law doth neither righteousnesse justice nor true judgement for the Lord God Therefore ye Rulers and Judges of the earth let wisdom guide you and the spirit of God teach you to serve the Lord and to judge for him the people at all seasons and see that ye respect not persons in judgement but hear the cause of the poor as well as the cause of the rich and rid the afflicted out of the hands of the wicked speedily and let justice be done speedily upon the evil doers and answer the people of the Land Concerning their parish-Ministers their Houses of High-places falsly called Churches and tythes oblations obventions c. as Ioash did the Midianites when his son Gideon had thrown down the Altar of Baal and cut down the Grove that was by it And Ioash said unto all that stood against him Will ye plead for Baal will ye save him He that will plead for him let him be put to death whilest it is yet morning If he be a God let him plead for himself because one hath cast down his Altar Judg. 6.28 29 30 31. And so it is concluded READER thou art desired in thy reading to take special notice of the Errata's in the ensuing pages and lines which have been committed at the Press let them and all other litteral faults which thou findest be mended with thy pen for thy own and others clear understanding viz. Pag. 5. lin the last read the hands of the Philistines p. 8. l. 33. r. House p. 9 l. last r. the Levites p. 14. l. 23. r. Kine Gilsus King of the Mercians l. 30. r. Monketon p 15. l. 3. 1. so strong p. 16. l. 3. dele formerly p. 17. l. 19. r. Legate of the See l. 27. r. Courelefu p. 19. l. 41. r. his Army l. 43. r. Iehu the Seer p 23. l. 42. r. our non-payment of tythes p. 49. l. 43. r. to bear witness of Christ p 55. l. 14. r. but onely the children of Israel p. 56. l. 33. r. the head