Doctrine That Tythes ought to be paid and that Pardon of Sins might be merited the Torments of Hell avoided by such good Works Thus the Poor Depraved Deluded Seduced and Ignorant People through the Sorceries of their Pollitick Leaders the Priests were drawn to the Voluntary Contribution of theis Tythes or of what portion thereof they pleased to Monasteries Nunneries Abbeys Monks Nuns Abbots Priors Prioresses Hospitals Poor c. Which Donations at length were confirmed by the Canon Law and such as had not Voluntarily bestowed their Tythe they were forced thereunto by Laws and Statutes and a general Exaction thereof through the whole Kingdom was established upon the Clergy In this Mid-night of Popery Tythe or Tenths were accounted the Souls Ransome and preached so to be by the covetous Clergy so that in the Belief hereof People gave not only Tythes but Lands also to Religious Houses so called Who would deny the Soul's Ransom Endless Life if so to be purchased In the Belief of this Doctrine the Clergy had almost gotten the third part of the Land and but that the Law against Mortmain prevented might strangely have prevailed by further Encroachments Now in order to owe People to be devout and exact in the Payment of Tythe they tell us a Miracle thereto relating how that Austin at a certain time coming to a place called Cometon to preach the Priest of the place made complaint against the Lord of the Mannor for detaining his Tythe for which thing Austin Excommunicated him and saying Mass as the Altar forbad Excommunicated Persons to be present thereat Presently a dead Corps buried One Hundred and Seventy years before arose out of his Grave and stood afar off during the Celebrating of holy Mass Austin asked him what he was He said He was a man that in his Life-time would never pay Tythe to the Priest so was excommunicated and dying went to Hell for that Crime Austin raised the dead Priest who affirmed That that man would never pay his Tythe Austin sent the live dead Corps to his Grave again saying He had suffered long in Hell that is in Purgatory The Lord of the Mannor seeing all this was much terrified and fell at Austin 's feet confessing his Fault became a due Payer of his Tythe all his Life-time John de Grand sono Johan Anglici Historia Aurea Such Delusions as these as also the Doctrine of Merits and of Tythe being the Souls Ransom being received by the Credulous Deluded Saxons the Saxon Kings in their respective Kingdoms of the Heptarchy and in their respective Reigns made Laws and Decrees for the due Payment of Tythes Micah a Seer of the Lord in his day cryed out Will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with ten Thousands of Rivers of Oyl Implying He would not where Justice Love of Mercy and Humility did not truly season and possess the Inwards Mic. 6. The true Church made up of living Stones Elect and Precious witnessed Christ the Amen the true and faithful Witness to be their Ransom their Redemption their Redeemer from Death Hell and the Grave But the Depraved and Mis-led Saxons through the spiritual Inchantments of their Teachers were brought to account Tythe-giving to be the Souls Ransom I could produce multitudes of their Donations confirming what I say In the dayes of Henry the second Nicholas Fitz Turold gave his Tythe in Chiltune to that Monastery The Form and Contents of his Donation was thus Be it known to those that are present and to those that shall succeed That I Nicholas the Son of Turold for the Salvation of my Soul and of my Parents c. have granted to the aforesaid Church to be held forever the Tythes of my Land which I possess in the Village of Chiltune c. I William de Albineio do grant unto God and to St Andrew of Rochester and to the Monks having Residence there all my Tythes c. for the Soul of King William and for the Soul of King Henry and for my own Soul and for the Souls of my Father and Mother and of my Wife and of my Brother Nigellus and of my Nephew Humphry and for the Souls of my other Parents alive and dead Know all men That I Payn Sheriff of Surrey do give and grant the Tythes of Geddings which my Ancestors gave to God and to the Church of St Andrew of Rochester for the Soul of my Father and of my Mother and for me and my Wife and the same Church bath granted unto me that after our Death the Anniversary of me and of my Wife shall yearly be performed forever Thus a former Grant was confirmed Richard Tresgoz confirmed to God and to the Church of blessed Mary of Boxgrave and to the Monks there serving God for the Salvation of his Soul and of his Wife and Predecessors and that Mass should be celebrated thrice a Week in the aforesaid Church for his Soul and his Wive's Soul and for the Souls of his Father and Mother and Ancestors all the Donations which this Father Philip had given as well in Lands as in Tythes Moreover he gave all the small Tythes of his Mannour of Lambs Calves Foals Chickins Piggs Wool Cheese Apples Fruit in a word of whatever was Tytheable Out of a Charter of King Stephen made to the Priory of Eye in Suffolk this following may be read I ✚ Stephen by the Grace of God King of England touched with the Love of God and for the Salvation of my Soul ✚ and of my Father's Soul and of my Mother's Soul and of my Ancestors Kings do give unto God and to the Church of St Peter of Eye and to the Monks there serving God that they may have all their Profits quiet and free from all Exaction in Lands Tythes Churches Possessions c. Thus he confirmed former Grants supposing them Due Pious of good Effects and Consequences Selden Thus for the obtaining of Masses Anniversaries Remission of Sins Salvation of Souls of the dead and of the living and other Reasons Papists gave Tythes to Papists these or what portion thereof they pleased were Voluntarily bestowed on Monks and Monasteries Nuns and Nunneries Abbots and Abbeys Priors and Priories Hospitals on the Poor at last all these Voluntary Grants to be held as pure and perpetual Alms were confirmed by civil Laws and Episcopal and such as had not Voluntarily bestowed them were forced thereto by Laws and Statutes About the Year 900. strict Examination was made at Shrifts that is Confessions in these words Hast thou at any time neglected to pay the Tenth to God If so restore to God four fold and then must thou suffer Pennance with Bread and Water Twenty Dayes Selden After it was determined by Laws Canons and Decrees of Kings Popes Councils and Bishops That every man ought to pay Tythes yet the Owner had Liberty to confer it where he pleased whereby Abbeys and Monasteries were wonderfully enriched till Pope Innocent the third in or about the Year
having driven out and overthrown these barbarous Nations performed not his promise with the Clergy but divided their Benefices to such of the Nobility as had done Valiantly in that Enterprize and assured the same to them and their Heirs forever in Fee The Example hereof passed over the Alpes into Italy and mounted above the Pyrenean Hills into Spain and shortly failed over into England Thus Tythes came out of the Hands of the Clergy and became the possession of the Laity This Fact of Martellus was committed about the Year 660. and for it is confidently Damn'd in the Legend the Story of his Damnation is fastened upon Euchere Bishop of Orleance who is said to have seen in a Vision this Martellus in Hells Torment and that Euchere might believe what he saw an Angel instructed him to seek for Martell in his Sepulchre so he did but found him not but the place he found all black and instead of Martell a direful Serpent This Story is to be read in the Legend and the whole passage is Recorded by Sr. Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law Further how it came to pass that Tythes appointed by man for the Maintenance of the Clergy for the use of the Poor for the building and repairing of places of publick Worship came into the Hands of Lay-men as they are called Albius Krantzius relates Carolus Magnus the Son of Pipin and King of France through his compliance with the See of Rome he first got the Title of Most Christian-King he Conquered the Saxons and drew them from Gentilism to the Profession of Christianity and made Provision for the Clergy But 't is said saith this Krantzius that Tythe at first was not assigned to the Saxon Clergy but to the King's Lievetenants that out of the same they might pay their Souldiers and answer the Charge of the frequent expeditions against that Nation For this end saith his Chronicle in Saxony and other places much Tythes were in the Hands of Lay-men This same Krantzius renders anothers Cause the Clergy fearing that Princes would not secure them in their Possession of Tythes he supposes the Clergy gave them part of Tythe thereby to obliege them to secure them in their Possession of their respective parts chusing rather to lose part thereof then the whole and that the things are true which Krantzius relates 't is evident from that Oration which Frederick the first Emperor made saying As touching you O Bishops the Pope judges it an unfitting thing that Tythes which are dedicated to Altars and Church-men should be in the possession of Lay-men neither will he understand that Churches of Old suffering great afflictions were defended by Lay-men than Church-men as a recompence to Lay-men gave them part of their large Possessions of Tythes Kran Lib. 1. and Lib. 6. Novissima Polyanthea And in our Nation King Henry the eighth shaking off the Pope denying his Supremacy he dissolved many Monasteries which had many Tythes and Rectories appropriated unto them so kept part in his own Hands part he sold to others to be held as Lay-Possesssions thus they dropt into Lay-mens hands and these Lay-men having no Law to recover them the Popes Law not reaching to Lay-persons so called this Henry made new Laws in behalf of Lay-men that they might be capacitated to enforce the aforesaid payment of Tythes Thus it appears what jumbling and Confusion hath been in the Night of Apostacy to introduce and continue Tythes granted only to the Levites for their Service under that Ministration which Law which Service and which Maintenance Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah put an end unto and such as introduce what he put an end unto notwithstanding their gilded Colours and specious Pretences being seen in Gods Eye and weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary they are found Antichristian Now you Teachers of what Denomination soever who strive struggle and wrestle to maintain a property in your delicate and dainty Morsell Tythes and that jure divino aut humano by divine or humane Right give me leave soberly and modestly to make tryal of your Right to or Property in the same in your most Foundamental pretences and to the end I may Methodize the ensuing discourse let me lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree try your pretended Tenure of right unto the exaction of Tythes and that from a four-fold Authority Patriarchal Mosaical Evangelical and Humane for all Grounds Reasons and Arguments that are or can be alledged for the exaction of Tythes are naturally reducible to one or other of these four Sourses or Springings and if these main Pillars Cathedral props cannot bear up that Building of the exaction of Tythes in Gospel Dayes and that by Divine right it will and ought to tumble down as the Reformation of the great Gospel-Reformer prevails in Churches professing Christianity and as you learn the sound wholsom and savoury Lesson of Self-denyal you will be glad and rejoyce for the Reformation of Christ and for the increase of his Government notwithstanding your loss of Antichristian Provision CAP. XIII The Clergies Patriarchal Claim of Tythes considered NOw you that say That the Divine Right of Tythes is derived from Melchizedec and not from Levi. To this I Answer 'T is then inquirable whether or no Tythes were ever the due and property of Melchizedec that which could make them his Property must be a Command they were no more the property of the Levites then of any other of the Tribes till there was an Assignation of them to the Levites after the command issued from the Court of Heaven they became due and while the command stood in force and the Law was unrepealed 't was a transgression of the divine Law to be found in non-payment thereof Now where is the Command that Tythes should be paid to Melchizedec Where is the Law of the Assignation of them to him 'T is not groundless Conjectures and Suppositions will serve the turn positive Precept is called for No right could be derived from Melchizedec to another which was not first in Melchizedec himself Vlpians Judgment is found Nemo plus juris ad alium transferre potest quam ipse haberet that is No man can make a better Title to another then he himself hath Obj. Tythes were paid to Melchizedec after whose Order Christ was High Priest forever therefore due unto the Evangelical Order Answ 'T is neither said by Moses nor by the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews that Abram paid him Tythes but that he gave him Tythes and betwixt a Payment and a Gift there is a difference the one imports a Due or Debt the other a free and Voluntary Act. Now if Tythes had been properly due from Abram to Melchizedec 't is not probable that both these holy men who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divinely inspired would have said he gave but he paid Tythes The Geneva notes on Heb. 7.5 say The Levites had Commandment to receive
Jewish Priests and Levites Perfection could not be by the Levitical Priesthood made by a Law which because of its weakness and unprofitableness was dissanulled so to give way to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah whose Priesthood is unchangeable who perfects forever such as are sanctified yea and the upholding of the first Priesthood Work or Wage is Antichristian but something I have spoken to shew how far they are from the Requirings of the Levitical dispensation though they run thither for shelter in the case of Tythes though in Gospel dayes CAP. XV. The Clergies Evangelical Title to their Exaction of Tythes Examined and Considered I Have formerly touched that the Maintenance of the Gospel was free and voluntary and that neither Christ who was Heir of all things nor the Apostles who had his Mind ever received Tythe or taught the People to receive the same there was no mention thereof while the primitive Church kept the Faith and the heavenly Doctrine received from his Mouth Antonius the learned Bishop of Spalato saith Christ himself though Lord of Heaven and Earth and the fulness thereof yet would not he be possessed of great Lands and Incomes he demanded not Tythes though a Priest after the order of Melchizedec but while he went through Cities and Countries preaching the Gospel and his Disciples with him several Woman that believed in him as Mary Magdalen Joanna Susanna and others did minister to him of their Substance Luke 8. And in sending out his Disciples he bad them not to receive Tythes nor did he teach People to pay them but he taught them to rely on their Converts for necessary Supplies saying The Labourer is worthy of his Meat De Repub. Eccles lib. 9. This Testimony is true and savoury Now if you will have Tythes to be yours jure divino by divine Right you must prove your Authority from Christ shew a Gospel Ordinance for it such as pretend to be Ministers of Christ ought to be content with what Christ allotted his Ministers for their Service if his Wages content you not you are not his Servants you are his Servants whose Wages you receive If you receive Moses Wages you are Moses Servants so must do his Work Ministers of Christ abide in the Doctrine of Christ being Wisdom's Children they justifie Wisdom both her Call Work and Wage Christ for Gospel Work ordained a Gospel Wage he that will justly claim the one must of necessity do the other all Equity to the Title of one is founded in the Labour of the other He that pretends Title to an Estate by virtue of a civil Qualification making his Claim from the Ground of Purchase Heirship Free-Gift Civil-Office 't is requisit that he make good prove maintain his Claim by Humane Laws being suitable to the Nature of his Claim So you that make claim to Tythes by virtue of a spiritual Capacity or religious Qualification as being Ministers of Christ Jesus you ought to prove and maintain your Claim by divine Laws as being suitable to the Nature of your Claim The Disciples Apostles influenced from above to the Discharge of their living Concern were to teach all that and nothing but that which Christ commanded them both in Relation to the Call Work and Maintenance peculiar to the Gospel Dispensation So prove Tythes and your Co-ercive Settled Maintenance by the Doctrine of Christ else you transgress the royal Charter of Christ's Commission to this Disciples Apostles c. Obj. Christ told the Scribes and Pharisees That they ought to pay Tythes Mat. 23.23 Answ The Scribes and Pharisees were Jews under the Levitical Ministration and they were bound to the payment thereof while the Law that commanded the same was in force when Christ spoke that he was not then offered up nor the Hand-writing of Ordinances blotted out nor nailed to the Cross Now to entroduce to be read what Câ—rist blotted out or to go about to enliven what he nailed to the Cross 't is Antichristian When Christ was offered up and the Hand-writing of Ordinances was blotted out and he was revealed by his spiritual appearance in his chosen Vessel Paul this was his Doctrine The Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a Change also of the Law Heb. 7.12 Here is an express Repeal of that Law by which the Assignation of Tythes was made to the Priests and Levites Further Paul testified saying There is verily a dissanulling of the Commandment going before vers 18. Here 't is evident the Priesthood that took Tythes was changed and the Law was repealed and the Commandment dissanulled by which Tythes were assigned to them and by which they received them Now it remains that you that would be accounted Gospel Ministers do prove an Assignation of them by Christ hic labor hoc opus est do this and the work is done In the mean time consider the pregnant Testimony of Pareus on Gen. 28.22 who having said That Tythes before the Law were Free and Arbitrary and that a man might give them vow them or not as he pleased he added further That Tythes under the Law were commanded of God to be given to the Priests Levites and to the Poor therefore faith he the Levitical Priesthood ceasing their Right to Tythes ceased Further faith he The Clergy now receive Tythes not by a divine but by a humane Law The same say we that Tythes appertaining to the Jewish Priesthood ended with that Priesthood as other its Appurtanances Tythes were proper and essential to the Tribe of Levi so to assign them to the Ministry of Christ who sprang from â—udah is to recall the Legal Service and in effect to make Christ of the Order of Aaâ—on The whole Tribe of Levi saith Aug. Marl. on the before alledged Scripture received no Possessions in the Land of Canaan wherefore God ordained that the other Tribes should give them Tythes therefore during their Service the other Tribes paid them Tythes according to the Law but that Priesthood being changed the Law was changed also This said Aug. Marl. who taught that necessaries should be ministred to all that were in need The most candid Writers have born testimony that Tythes were proper and essential to the first Priesthood and ended with the same The Law forbad the outward Jew to wear a Garment mingled with Linnen and Woollen Lev. 19. Now such as plead for Tythes in Gospel dayes they confound the Ordinances of the first and second Covenant together not keeping Tythes within the Bounds of its proper Ministration but would have it in the second Covenant unto which it belongs not Obj. They which minister about holy things that is the Levites live of the things of the Temple that is of Tythes And they which wait at the Altar that is Jewish Priests are partakers with the Altar that is Sacrifices and Oblations Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.13 14. Answ From this EVEN SO Tything-Ministers
not Protestant Writers say That the Beast and his ten Horns is the Pope and Popish Kings And by what hath been spoken it may appear how Tythes came into Churches professing Christianity and a Compulsary Maintenance Now is it honourable for or besseming such as pretend to be Ministers of Christ to have no Command nor Example from Christ for what they act but from the Beast and his Horns the Pope and his Auxilliaries Do they not offer great affront to Christ who establish that which he dissanulled Now if every Ordinance of man of what Nature so ever must be submitted to strange Consequences might follow then if one and the same Individual Person should remove into twenty several Nations of different Religions he is bound to hoist up his Sails to all these Winds to comply with the Worship of every respective Nation if the Supream Authority command it Having touched that no Patriarchal Act nor the Levitical nor Evangelical Dispensations nor Ordinances of man can assure Tythes to Gospel Ministers as truly such I may subjoyn a few Testimonies of men eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes who in their Respective Ages bare Testimony against the grand Oppression of Tythes and other things The Teachers of the Waldenses saith a certain Inquisitor are Weavers Taylors they encrease not Riches but are content with Necessaries Vsher de Succes Eeclesia These Waldenses were a People of great Sincerity and Godly Simplicity in their day and endured fiery Tryals storms of Persecutions for their Testimony against the Romish Faith Gildas speaking of the Brittish Clergy being Locusts come out of the Smoke said They are Pastors in name but indeed Wolves not called to but seizing on the Ministry as a Trade not as a spiritual Charge seeking after Preferments and Degrees in the Church more than after Heaven and so gain'd make it their whole study to keep them by any Tyranny And what sufferings are in this our day for the Denyal of Tythe what Imprisonments what Havock and Spoil is and hath been made I need say nothing the Statute of Tâ—ible Damage hath been leaned to as if it were from Heaven and not of men The Waldenses saith Bishop Vsher gave Testimony That Ministers ought to be poor content with the free Benevolence of the People The Papists saith this Vsher judged this a pestilent and damnable Opinion And many that would be accounted Reformed Churches approve not of it Primitive Christianity had other thoughts of it their Maintenance being free and voluntary These Waldenses on a certain account testified saying We are not ashamed of our Ministers in that they labour with their hands seeking a Maintenance according to their Ability because the Doctrine and Example of the Apostles allows of this thing Vsher de Succes Ecclesiae Further this Vsher affirms That these Waldenses condemned all the Clergy because of their Idleness saying They ought to labour with their Hands as the Apostles did Robert Abbot of Molisme in Burgundy perswaded his own Disciples To live with their handy Labour and to forsake Tythes and Oblations The Bohemians descended from the Waldenses professed That all Ministers ought to be poor and to be content with the Free Gift of the People Aen. Syl. in his Bohemian History The Dominicans and Franciscans taught That Tythe was not due by Divine Right nor a necessary duty to Gospel Ministers but that they might be detained and disposed of at the Owners pleasure especially if the Pastor did not well perform his Office 'T was generally the judgment of the Wickliffians as of the Waldenses and Bohemians being all Protéstants That Ministers ought to be poor and content with the free Gifts of the People Aen. Syl. his Bohemian History John Wickliff whose works are much esteemed by Protestants in England and Bohemia whose Bones were taken up and burnt by Papists forty one years after his Death gave Testimony in this manner That Tythes were and are a free Gift as among the Christians and only pure Alms and that Parish oners might for the Offence of their Curates detain and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own Will and Pleasures Fox Acts and Mon. John Hus burnt at Constance for his Testimony said thus The Clergy are not Lords and Possessors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be bestowed on the Poor and if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Thieves and Robbers and Sacriledges Persons and except they do Repent by the just judgment of God they are to be condemned Fox Acts and Mon. At the Reformed Church in Geneva they live upon free Gifts and Tythes of all sorts are taken up for the use of the State and said up for the publick Treasury William Thorp Martyr being complained of by the Popish Clergy was brought to Examination in the year 1407. being accused before Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England as against divers other abuses crept into the Church so also against Tythes he gave faithful Testimony saying In the New Law neither Christ nor his Apostles ever took Tythe of the People neither commanded they the People to pay Tythe And Christ and his Apostles preached the Word of God to the People and lived of pure Alms or free Gifts and after Christ's Assention when the Apostles had received the Holy Spirit they travelled labouring with their Hands not to be Chargeable Further saith he Tythes were given in the old Law to Levites and Priests but our Priests come not of Levi ergo by the Law our Priests cannot challenge Tythes for as the Priesthood is changed so is the Law but since Christ in the time of his Ministry and also his Apostles lived by pure Alms or else by the Labours of their Hands for the Servant is not greater than his Lord. At which words the Bishop said unto him God's Curse have you and mine for thus teaching Further William Thorp said Those Priests that do take Tythes they deny Christ to be come in the Flesh Further bearing Testimony against the Covetousness and Pride of the Priests The Bishop answered By God I deem him more meek that goes every day arrayed in his Scarlet Gewn than thou in thy Thred-bare blew Gown Language not savouring of a primitive Bishop but of an Apostate Lording Bishop Fox Acts and Mon. William Swinderby testified to this purpose If Parishioners pay Tythes to wicked Priests or Curats they are guilty before God of upholding them in their Sins and Evil Deeds Further saith he Christs Law commands to minister freely to the People the Pope with his Law â—ells or Money Christs Law teaches his Priests to be Poor the Pope justifies and maintains Priests to be Lords Fox Acts and Mon. Walter Brute testified as appears by the Articles charged against him 1st That no man is bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times 2dly If any Priest receive any thing by way of Bargain or yearly Stipend in so doing he is a Schismatick and accursed 3dly That if we be bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times then are we Debtors to keep the whole Law for
1200. Upon the aforesaid Consideration this Innocent the third by his Decetal Epistle to the Bishop of Canterbury commanded him To enjoyn every man to pay his Temporal Goods to those that ministred Spiritual things to them and the same was enforced by Ecclesiastical Censures And this was the Rise Beginning and Original of General parochial Payment of Tythes in England This the Pope enjoyned notwithstanding any Custom to the contrary The Popes Decree is recorded by Cooke in the second part of his Institutes After this Innocent the third about the Year 1200. had restrained the Free and Voluntary Distribution of Tythes and settled a parochial Payment thereof in Pursuance and Confirmation thereof Gregory the tenth about the Year 1274. ordained That it should not be lawful for men to give their Tythes at their own Pleasure where they would as it had been but to pay all their Tythes to the Mother-Church this saith Cisterniensis Thus the Pope prevailed with People to pay their Tythes and after screwing a Peg higher limitted People to the Payment thereof according to his Appointment CAP. VI. Of the Rise of first Fruits in Christian Churches ACcording to the Mosaical Dispensation a portion of first ripe Fruits were offered unto the Lord and this did Sanctifie the Remainder of Fruits and by these the Jews were raised up into hopes of enjoying their whole Crop in due Season Exod. 22.29 This was a Type fulfilled in the Substance Christ Jesus the Glory of the Evangelical Dispensation Paul having received Christ the end of all the Jewish Types Figures Shadows Offerings first Fruits preached not up the Jewish first Fruits but Christ the end thereof who Sanctifies all that receive him and raises in them Hope and strong Confidence for the Fruition of the Crown of Life Now saith Paul Christ is risen from the dead and is become the first Fruits of them that slept 1 Cor. 15.20 Yea and the Saints in Christ are the Evangelical first Fruits taken out of the Residue of men as the Jewish first Fruits were taken out of the rest an Offering unto the Lord. Of his own Will begat he us saith James by the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first Fruits of his Creatures Jam. 1.18 Yea and John called the Hundred Forty and Four Thousand who stood on Mount Sion with the Lamb The first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb Rev. 14.4 Thus in Gospel dayes the Jewish first Fruits were not preached up but Christ the End thereof the End of the first Covenant first Priesthood and its Typical Appurtenances even Christ the Evangelical first Fruits So who preach up the Figure the Substance being come such are Antichrists Now after the rising of the Smoke of the Pit darkning Sun and Air spoiling the Glory of the primitive Church the Beast that had long plunged in the Sea was rifen out of the Sea the Pope had gotten the Supremacy he by colour of the Jewish Laws which gave Tythes to the Levites gained an Universal Payment of Tythes to his Clergy he as Successor of the Jewish high-high-Priest claimed to himself first Fruits and Tenths denying thereby Christ Jesus to be come in the Flesh the End of Types Shadows and Figures First Fruits and Tenths are but a late Innovation claimed by the Pope as Successor to the Jewish high-Priest as Cooke in the third part of his Institutes testifies Though it was long e're the Pope brought to pass his Attempt of Tenths to himself from all his inferiour Priests in England yet at last it was effected Yea and the Laws of this Nation shew that there was no little strugling by Kings and Commons in Parliament against first Fruits calling the same An Horrible Mischief and a Damnable Custom Yet not so Horrible Mischievous or Damnable but the Pope would receive them and Man-made Ministers preach them up The Payment of first Fruits and Tenths were continued to the Pope as annexed to his Chair as Successor to the Jewish high-Priest Head of the Church till the days of Henry the 8th who then denyed the Popes Supremacy and assumed it to himself and by Act of Parliament got first Fruits and Tenths annexed to his Crown Thus the Aaronical Types and Figures were received from hand to hand entertained among the Professors of Christianity which thing being duely consider'd is Antichristian a Denyal of Christ to be come in the Flesh This being settled on King Henry and his Successors through want of Consideration and of a divine Understanding and being supposed a Due is continued among Protestants pretending to be high Sharers in Reformation CAP. VII Of the Rise of Mortuaries IN the Mid-night of Popery Priests begot in People a Belief that their Prayers Mass-Services Obits c. were wonderful effectual to bring the Souls of the deceased out of Purgatory So 't was appointed that the Relict the Wife of the Deceased was to pay ten Shillings more or less to the Priest and this was called a Mortuary And why must she pay so much to the Priest That the Priest might pray for the Soul of her Deceased Husband and that some of their Merits which they had in store might be shared out to him pretending They had a stock of Merits to sell to such as came with Money in their hands Selden mentions a Synod in Ireland wherein it appears that a man might have bequeathed his Burial to what Abbey he would and that the Abbot thereof should have his Apparel his Horse and his Cow for a Mortuary although he had before bestowed all he had upon another Abbot Now the Pope being denyed and a Reformation intended the Clergy concluded that it was gross and idolatrous to receive Mortuaries upon such a Consideration and yet unwilling to part with such a sweet Morsel devised a more plausible consideration and that was That Mortuaries should be given in Recompence of Tythes not duely paid in the Life-time not considering that in this very thing they condemn all their Hearers as Fraudulent and Deceitful so must have a Recompence for the Fraud Guile Unjust detaining of Church-dues in their Life-time The Apostles practised no such thing but bare Testimony That men should arise stained with Covetous Practises 'T is a shame that Protestants so called from protesting to renounce Popery should be so defiled and contaminated with such Covetous Practices In the dayes of Henry the 8th 't was enacted That the Bishops of Bangor Landaff and St Assaph and the Arch-Deacon of Chester should take Mortuaries of the Priests within their Jurisdictions as had been accustomed This Henry enacted That no Mortuary should be demanded where the Goods of the dead Person Debts deducted amount not to the value of ten Marks Nor above the Sum of three Shillings four Pence when they exceed not thirty pound Nor above six Shillings eight Pence when they exceed thirty Pound but under forty Nor above ten Shillings when they amount to forty Pound or above Thus after the primitive
arbitrary by the example of Abram and Jacob a man might give them Vow them or not as he pleased Now if there had been a Command for the same they ought to have been paid because commanded and they could not have been detained without breach of the Lord's command Bernard touched this well Non attendit vere pius quale sit illud quod praecipitur hoc Solo contentus quia praecipitur that is One truly Godly heeds not or disputes not what like the thing is which is commanded acquiescing and contenting himself in that it is commanded Again as Jacob's Vow was Voluntary so it was conditional in depending on the performance of Gods promise to him if Tythes had been a divine Tribute commanded of God there had been no necessity of Vowing to give them he could not have detained them without the soul spot and sordid blemish of Disobedience neither could he have made his Obligation conditional for Tythes must have been paid because commanded So this free voluntary and spontaneous Vow conduces not to make up a Divine right to Tythes Now if you will claim property in and right unto Tythes from the voluntary Act of Abram and Jacob why do you not use Circumcision erect Altars offer Sacrifice These things they did and you have as much ground from their Example to perpetuate the rest as Tythes in Gospel-dayes and if the Smoke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Self-love did not darken your understandings you would see Christ Jesus the sum and substance of all Shadows to have ended and fulfilled the one as well as the other CAP. VX The Clergies Mosaical Claim to Tythes examined OUt of the twelve Tribes of Israel the Living God chose Aaron and his Sons for the Office of the Priesthood and the rest of the Tribe of Levi he chose for the Service of the Tabernacle he gave unto the Levites all the Tenth in Israel for an Inheritance for their Service and they were to have no Inheritance among the Children of Israel The Levites out of their Tythes were to offer up an Heave-Offering of it to the Lord even the tenth part of their Tythe and give it unto Aaron the Priest for himself and his Sons and this was all the portion the Priest had in Tythe even the Tenth of the tenth from the Hands of the Levites the Levites Strangers Fatherless and Widows had the rest So the Lord Instituted Three Tenths 1. The Tenths of the Levites they had all the tenth in Israel for their Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation Numb 18.21 2dly The Priests Tenths which was the tenths of the Levites tenths by them given to the Priest to Aaron and his Sons this was called a Heave-Offering Numb 18.26 c. 3dly The Poor man's Tythe at the end of three Years laid up within their Gates and this was for the Relief and Maintenance of the Fatherless Widow and Stranger Deut. 14.27 28. The Tribe of Levi as hath been touched had no more right unto nor Title in Tythes then any of the other Tribes till the Lord assigned the same to them upon the Command they became due and not to be detained while the Law was in force Now you that perochially Officiate as Ministers of Jesus Christ would be so accounted yet have recourse to the Authority of Meses for your Maintenance Let me know how Gospel Ordinances peculiar to the Church of Christ are to be practised and to receive their Authority from a Mosaical Institution Seeing nothing can give priviledge unto a Gospel property but a Gospel Authority then why do you pretending to be Ministers of Christ impose upon Christians the Bondage of a Mosaical Institution to wit the exaction of Tythes whose Institution and Beeing was from the Law of Moses and terminated with the Service it was given for Again if a Gospel-Ordinance must be practised from Mosaical Institutions Is not this to make the Gospel ineffectual of less Authority then the Law Christ inferior to Moses his Ordinances insufficient and not obligatory unless strengthned by the Authority of Moses Undoubtedly to demand Tythes under the Gospel by vertue of the Institution of Moses cannot want foul Absurdities In Relation to Tythes several things are further to be considered 1. They were commanded to be paid to the Levites for their Service of the Tabernacle no other Tribe could claim property in the same because the Command reached only unto Levi and it is the command of God that gives a Divine right unto a thing commanded So if you will have Tythes from the Mosaical Authority you must prove your selves to be the very Persons to whom they were commanded to be paid you must prove your selves the Legitimate Sons of and lineally descended from Levi and if you will have the Wage of the Levites you must do their Work you must have an outward Tabernacle and Vessels thereto belonging bear it encamp about it take it down set it up For this and such like Work Tythe was given to the Levites and none of you must enter that Service till twenty five Years old nor continue therein after the Age of Fifty 2. Tythes according to the Institution of Moses were to be paid by the eleaven Tribes only from their several Portions in the Land of Canaan not any other People nor any other place were bound by the Law of Moses to the payment thereof Eusebius agrees with the Jewish Doctors and Rabbies herein that Tythes were only limitted to Canaan the Land of Israel therefore if you will have the Levites Wage you must not only prove your selves Levites and do their Work but you must go to Canaan and call for Tythes of the eleven Tribes else prove England to be Canaan and the Inhabitants thereof the eleven Tribes which will prove a matter of great difficulty The Jewish Doctors conclude that regularly no Inhabitants but of the Land of Israel were to pay any by their Law Where they live dispersed in strange Lands they pay no Tythes now both for want of their Temple Priesthood as also for the restrainment thereof to the Land of Canaan and the Jews that live in Canaan now pay none for want of their Temple and Priesthood But you pretending to be Ministers of Christ who put an end to that Service for which they were given and to the Law which gave them you I say being neither Jews Levites in the Land of Canaan nor have the Temple nor the Priesthood nor the Appurtenances thereof yet require them by that Law which never gave them to any other but to the Levites for their Service c. 3. The Priesthood settled on Aaron and his Sons received no Tythes of Husbandmen at the Hands of the eleven Tribes all that they received was the tenth of the Tenths from the Levites this was called a Heave-Offering So the Apostle said And verily they that are the Sons of Levi who receive the Office of the Priesthood have a Commandment to take Tythes of
the People according to the Law that is of their Brethren though they come out of the Loins of Abraham Heb. 7 5. Now if you claim Tythes from the Aaronical Priesthood as succeeding them you must do Aarons Work have holy Garments an outward Breast-plate an Ephod a broidered Coat a Mitre two Onyx Stones Vrim and Thumim you must have the Shoulder the two Cheeks and the Maw when an Ox or a Sheep is offered in Sacrifice which must be done Such as claim the Wage of Aaron they must do the Work of Aaron yet in so doing it were Antichristian because Christ is come the end of the Law the end of that Priesthood that received Tythes the end of the Heave-offering Tythe as well as of the Meat-Offering Sin-Offering Burnt-Offering Trespass-Offering Wave-Offering Heb. 7.12 Heb. 10.10 14. Why were the Levitical Priests blamed for that when any man offered Sacrifice their Servant came while the Flesh was in seething with a three-toothed Flesh-hook in his Hand and stroke it into the Pan Kettle Cauldron or Pot and all that the Flesh-hook brought up that was the Priests due I Answer this was charged as a Fault upon them because they did it without divine Institution 1 Sam. 2. Now if that Custom was blame-worthy which extended but to the compass of a Pan Kettle Pot or Cauldron Shall that be allowable which reaches to the utmost corner of a Parish if divine Institution minister not allowance thereunto Obj The Heave-Offering Tythes was given by a Statute forever doth not this perpetuate the payment of Tythes in Gospel-Dayes Is not the Evangelical Dispensation comprehended within the Bounds of forever Numb 18.11 19. Answ True it is most of the Types and Shadows of Moses as Circumcision Temple Passover Jewish Feasts Offerings the Trumpets of the Priests and Levites were called Statutes forever whereupon the Jews stickle hard for the perpetual and immutable Obligation of the Law of Moses for a perpetual and immutable Dispensation and thou that pleads for the continuance of Tythes from this may by the same rule plead for the continuance of all or most of the Shadows of the Law which were given by Statutes forever Further this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forever saith Dr. Cave in his Book called Antiquitates Apostolica When it is applied unto God it denotes Eternity but when to other things it implies no more then a Periodical duration limitted according to the mind of the Law-giver The Hebrew Servant was to have his Ear bored through with an Awl and he was to serve forever Exod. 21.6 which was but till the end of his Life Levit. 25.40 Thus when Circumcision Temple Offerings as other Ritual and Transient Services of the Law were called Statutes forever 't is implyed thereby they should be a long time obligatory until the time of the Messiah in whose dayes the daily Sacrifices and Oblations were to be taken away the Type giving place to the thing typified the Shadow to the Substance then Paul preached against Circumcision the Passover outward Stephen was stoned for bearing witness against the Temple Paul preached up Christ the one Offering the End and Substance of all Jewish Offerings Thus in the Life Typical Shadows though called Statutes forever were testified against and Christ is the End of the Heave-Offering-Tythe as well as of all other typical and transient Offerings The Types of the Law saith Wilson in his compleat Christian-Dictionary are called Everlasting because in Christ the Antitype the Substance of such Types they have a perpetual continuance Thus the Types were commanded by an Ordinance forever to the Ever or Last Period of that transient Dispensation to give way to Christ the Substance in whom the thing signified by the Type is continued running parallel with the duration of the World 4thly The Levites were not to exact above the allowed Portion the Levitical Property and Right was bounded within a Levitical Compass the Fatherless Widows and Strangers had a property in Tythes as well as the Levites Deut. 14. But now Counterfeit Levites encroaching and usurping the whole Tenths yea all things considered even the sixth or seventh part of the Kingdom What is this but grievous Oppression An eating the Bread out of the Mouth of the Fatherless Widows and Strangers A taking away the Sheaf from the Hungry Job 24.10 Now if this Levitical order of Tything must continue Why should not the Fatherless Widows and Strangers come in and claim their Right If that Inheritance introduced in the Apostacy must be continued why should not the Inheriters be thereto entituled Why should the Right and Portion of Fatherless Widows and Strangers be devoured by ravenous Cormorants Your degeneration from the Levitical Institution is exceeding great Many of you I say not all not only disdaining to be ranked with the Levitical Alms-men Fatherless Widows and Strangers and seizing upon their Property but extorting and exacting Dues as you call them from many that are Poor and Indigent Ecclesiastical Histories sufficiently evidence that after the falling away from the primitive Faith Purity and Order Tythes came to be preached up and introduced under the specious pretences of Charity and Alms to the Poor This Doctrine being complied with and people having liberty to bestow them where and on whom they pleased they were much disposed to give them to the Poor at which thing Pope Innocent the third about the Year 1200. much stormed and greatly complained Yea and our English Parliaments being mindful of the Poor and Indigent for whose sakes Tythes were chiefly given made divers Laws in the reign of Richard the second and Henry the fourth that a convenient portion of the Tythes should be set a part for the Maintenance of the Poor of the Parish forever Yea and Queen Elizabeth in the Year 1559. enjoyned That all Parsons Vicars Pensionaries Prebendaries and other Beneficed men should distribute the fortieth part of their Benefices upon their poor Parishioners Tythes formerly were accounted the Parish Goods out of which the Priest was to receive a moderate Maintenance for himself then as a Steward faithfully to distribute the rest to the Parish-poor that Parishes might be exempted of further Charge on that account But selfish Priests who under the specious pretence of relieving the Poor gradually wrought upon People to pay their Tythes by little and little to manifest their Bosom-intents excluding the Poor and leaving them to the Mercy of the Parish they seized on the whole for their particular Uses notwithstanding the Mosaical Institution providing for the Relief of Fatherless Widows and Strangers as well as for the Priest and Levite that the Husband-man might be at no further Charge on that account and notwithstanding our English Parliamentary Laws the Poor have lost their Property The weakest as the Proverb is goes to the Wall Yet my intention is not by any thing here spoken to justifie the ritual Observances of Moses in Gospel dayes nor the Service and Maintenance of the
receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth Heb. 7.8 Answ In the Scripture the Word Here is abused and wrested as the Words Even So are abused and mis-interpreted by many in this place the Apostle is exalting the Priesthood of Christ above the Priesthood of Levi shewing that Melchizedec was greater then Abram here men that dye receive Tythes this relates to the Levites who by the command of the Lord received Tythes and dyed but there he receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth this relates to Melchizedec who received Tythes of Abram of whom it is written that He was without Father without Mother without descent having neither beginning of Dayes nor end of Life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a Priest continually Heb. 7.3 And Christ is a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedec So that this place makes nothing for the continuance of Tythes in Gospel-dayes relating to Levi and Melchizedec Aug. Marl. touches this saying They to whom the Law assigned Tythes were mortal men and to whom did the Law assign Tythes To the Levites So when the Apostle said Here men that dye receive Tythes he related to the Levites to that Priesthood that was to be abrogated that a Priesthood of a higher Nature might be established The Apostles sent by Christ a Priest forever after the Order of Melshizedec who were to teach all Nations to observe all that he commanded them Mark All and every thing and nothing else according to my reading in Scripture and sound Ecclesiastical History never taught any that the Maintenance of the Gospel-Ministry was to be by way of Tythes which may sufficiently evidence that that Levitical course of Maintenance was not in the Charter of their Ambassage and Commission to be perpetuated in Gospel dayes CAP. XVI Tythes proved to be a Mosaical Shadow Obj. IF Christ put an and to Tythes more then to any outward property then Tythe must be a peculiar Figure of something to come If Tythe was a Type what was the Antitype thereof Answ Nehemiah reforming Abuses in the Jewish Church appointed 1st Treasuries a figure of Jesus Christ that inexhaustible Treasury 2dly Tythe as of Corn Wine Oyl was the Earthly Treasure brought into Nehemiah's Treasuries this earthy Treasure figured forth the Heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus for in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge So Tythe the earthly Treasure in the earthly Treasuries pointed at the heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus the heavenly Treasury in whom is Corn Bread that strengthens Wine that comforts and refreshes Oyl that makes truly glad 3dly Shelemiah by Interpretation The Peace of God Zadock that is Just Pedaiah that is by Interpretation The Lords Redeemer These being made Treasurers distributed of Tythe the earthly Treasures to their Brethren outward Jews So Christ Jesus the Peace of God the holy and just One the Redeemer of God he distributes of the heavenly Treasures Bread Wine Oyl living Mercies heavenly Blessings to his little Flock inward Jews Nehem. 13. Who are of God they see Nehemiah's Treasuries Treasures and Treasurers to be Shadows Figures Types fulfilled in the Substance Christ Jesus the second Adam a quickening Spirit who said He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you John the 16th The true and faithful Remembrancer In the dayes of Malachi the outward Jews had a Store-house into which Tythe was to be brought that there might be Meat in the Lord's House Mal. 3. This Store-house into which Tythe the Earthly Store was brought was a Figure a Type of Christ Jesus the Substance the Heavenly Store-house in whom all fulness dwells who distributes of heavenly Riches to the Israel of God Col. 1.19 Out of Tythes the earthly Treasures earthly Store the Necessities of the outward Jews Levites Fatherless Widows and Strangers were answered and supplied Deut. 14. that there might be no Beggar in Israel no Complaint of want So out of the heavenly Treasures heavenly Store in Christ Jesus the Substance the Necessities of all inward Jews are answered so that among such as have recourse to this Treasury this Store-house there is no Complaint no Poverty no Leanness of Soul in him are Soul-enriching Treasures John 14.2 John 4.14 Again Paul spake of Tythes in Abram's dayes Heb. 7. And of Tythes in Levi's dayes of the Priesthood Law and Carnal Commandment then saith expresly That Christ Jesus the high Priest was the Sum of the things whereof they had spoken Heb. 8.1 If any should have enquired What have you spoken of Paul He answers of Tythe in Abram's day of Tythes in Levi's days of the Priesthood Sacrifices for Sin Carnal Commandment and further saith that Christ is the Sum of all this Who are of God they see Christ the Substance of the aforesaid Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Honey with pure Springs Vineyards Oliveyards and Corn was the Lord's wherewith he fed the outward Israelites Levit. 25.23 So the Christ of God his Flesh is Meat indeed Blood Drink he hath in his spiritual Store-house heavenly Milk Honey hidden Manna Bread Water of Life heavenly Grapes Oyl of gladness for his Spiritual Israelites Sons and Daughters of Abraham and nourishes them to Eternal Life Melchizedec was but a Type of the everlasting Order shadowing out the Eternal high Priest Christ Jesus Christ was not the Melchizedec but after the Similitude of Melehizedec if after the Similitude Shadow or Type then Melchizedec could not be the Substance the thing typified for the thing similating cannot be the thing similated So that Abram gave Tythe to Melchizedec made like unto the Son of God a Figure Shadow Type Now the Priesthood of Christ must needs be the End Sum Substance of the Shadow which Substance being come the Shadow with all its appurtenances whereof Tythe was one must vanish and be of no longer force The paying of that which was proper and peculiar to the Similitude or Type shews that the Similitude or Type is still in force So the Substance not come for while the Shadow is in force there is no place for the Substance therefore the exaction of Tythes for the Ministers of the everlasting high Priest is a denyal of Christ come in the Flesh Again all the Tythe of the Land whether of the Seed of the Land or of the Fruit of the Tree it was the Lord's it was Holy unto the Lord hereby Priest Levite and the Poor were relieved Levit. 27. A Type of Christ the Substance who was called the Holy thing in whom the Obedient are sanctified nourished transformed by the renewing of their minds a living Sacrifice unto God Again Tythe or at the least some part thereof was an Heave-Offering offered unto the Lord Numb 18. A Shadow a Figure saith Wilson in his compleat Christiain Dictionary as other Oblations were So that the pleading for this Jewish Offering is a denyal of Christ to be come in the Flesh and you may as well plead for the Meat-Offering
Sin-Offering Burnt-Offering Trespass-Offering Wave-Offering as for the Heave-Offering in Gospel-days I have shewed my Judgment that Tythe was a legal Type Figure or Shadow peculiar unto the Ministration of Moses and that it terminated with that Ministration I might add the Judgment of many several of whom have been eminent in the Protestant Church who have spoken to the same purpose The payment of Tythes saith Fulke as it was a Ceremonial duty it is abrogated with other Ceremonies by the Death of Christ On Heb. 7.4 Further neither did Christ our high Priest ever make claim unto Tythes nor his Apostles Minister of the Church but only to a sufficient living by the Gospel to be allowed of their temporal Goods to them from whom they had received Spiritual things Fulke on the same Walter Brute a valiant opposer of Popery shewed that Tythes were Ceremonial and that the Law was abrogated by which they were due to the Levites his Testimony is I marvel that you learned Men do say That Christian Folk are bound to this small Ceremony of the payment of Tythes For a Conclusion he saith Seeing that neither Christ nor any of the Apostles commanded to pay Tythes 't is evident neither by the Law of Moses nor by Christ's Law Christian People are bound to pay Tythes but by the Tradition of Men they are bound Fox Acts and Mon. The Quota or tenth part saith Melaneton is founded on the Ceremonial and Judicial Law which Laws are proper to Moses Polity and belong not to us seeing God hath utterly destroyed it De Lib. Christian pag. 303. Epiphanius about the Year 380. intimated that Tythes and Circumcision were a like Ceremonial He mentions Tenths for one of his instances of legal Shadows making them equal with Circumcision Lib. 1. Ord. 8. Oecolampadius on Ezek. 44. ranks Sacrifices first Fruits and Tythes altogether making them equal with Circumcision and calls them expresly Ceremonial The Bohemians sound Protestants in their Testimony against the Popish Clergy said thus They receive Tythes of men and preach that men are bound to pay them but therein they say falsly for they cannot prove by the New Testament that Jesus Christ commanded it nor the Apostles neither did they receive them This Precept of the Law say they had an end by Christ as the precept of Circumcision Christ said Give Alms of those things that remain but he said not Give the Tenth of the Goods which ye possess This is the sum of their Testimony on that account Andrew Willet a stout opposer of Popery in the reign of King James called the Law of Tythes Ceremonial acknowledging That men are not necessarily bound by the Law of God to pay Tythes now Further he saith That the payment of Tythes was a wise and politick Constitution and might conveniently be retained yet it is not now of necessity imposed upon Christians as though no other Provision for the Church could serve but that Willets Synops Papismi pag. 314 315. He acknowledges Tythes to be Ceremonial and proves them ended with the legal Priesthood So that though Maintenance it self be Moral yet the mode or manner of that Maintenance as by Sacrisices Oblations Tythes first Fruits c. may be Ceremonial Hebrews 7.5 12. An absolute Repeal of that Law which gave Tythes as of the Priesthood to whom by that Law they were given To conclude Hales Aquinas Henricus de Grandavo R. de Media Villa Cardinal Cajetan John Mayer Suarez Malder and others said That the tenth part paid by the Tribes to Levi was rather Ceremonial then Moral and wherein the Ceremoniality of it lies the clearly seeing Eye cannot but discern CAP. XVII Of the Clergies Humane Title unto the Exaction of Tythes THe Patriarchal Levitical and Evangelical Claim not securing in order to the property of Tythes not a few betake themselves to a humane Claim as unto an impregnable Fortress and such as have recourse unto man for a ground to justifie them in the Possession thereof their pleas are various Some plead the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of General Councils Popes Bishops Convocations saying That Tythes are due jure Eeclesiastico Others plead the Gifts of Kings and Princes Others plead the temporal Laws of Kings Parliaments c. Others plead the perticluar Gifts Appropriation or Donation of the former Owners of the Land Others plead a Right by purchase I Answer These Claims have been perticularly answered and that again and again So I say in the general How can humane Laws made for the payment of Tythes since Christ came in the Flesh bind the Conscience of any man Seeing the end scope purpose intent and tendency of those Laws are for the establishment of that which Christ put an End unto whose prerogative it is to have Rule Regiment Government in all where the Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience Gods own Law for the payment of Tythes to the Levites being dissanulled by Christ and its burden of typical Appurtenances abolished Who is Man that makes a Law in that place where God dissanulled his own Who hath impowered man to raise a compulsary Maintenance it being Christ's Maintenance for his Ministry was free and voluntary After Austin brought the Romish Faith and Doctrine into this Nation upon what strange accounts Tythes came to be set up and established I have in some measure touched and further and. Athelstane King of the West Saxons about the Year 940 to pacifie the Ghost of his murthered Brother Edwin to whose Death he is said to have consented underwent seven Years Penance built certain Monasteries and made a Law for the payment of Tythes hoping thereby to expiate his Sins Fox Acts and Mon. King Edgar cruel to Citizens a deflowrer of Virgins concerned in the Act of shedding the Blood of Earle Ethelwold that he might enjoy Elfrida his Wife to expiate his Sins about the Year 959. he confirmed the payment of Tythes built and prepared several Monasteries and Nunneries Canutus the first Danish King being guilty of the Blood of Edward and Edmund Sons of Ironfide Heirs to the Crown about the Year 10.6 confirmed Tythes and built the Abbey of St Bennet in Norfolk and in Suffolk and the Monastery of St Edmund whom he dreadfully feared being often affirighted by the apparition of his Ghost for which cause as also to expiate the Sins of his Fathers he Confirmed Tythes See Osburns Case of Tythes Upon such accounts as these and other Idolatrous ends the grand Oppression and Antichristian exaction of Tythes had entrance into our English Church professing Christianity and such Donations as these are pleaded yea and by such as would be accounted Reformers from the Delusions of mystical Babylon from the Dregs of the apostatized seven-hilled City and her Adherents yea and such Donors were and are reckoned as Nursing Fathers to the Christian Church And such as strengthen themselves for the maintaining of that grand Oppression have the Language of Peter in their Mouthes against such as
he that was the End of one part was the end of the whole 4thly Seeing that neither Christ nor any of his Apostles commanded to pay Tythes 't is manifest and plain that neither by the Law of Moses nor by the Law of Christ Christians are bound to pay Tythes but by mans Traditions Fox Acts and Mon. A Sound Testimony and true but opposed by Man made Ministers About the year 1431. Lodovicus a man much praised for Constaney and Wisdom said to the Clergy If you were true Bishops and true Pastors of Souls you would not doubt to put your Lives in hazard for your Sheep neither be afraid to shed your Blood for the Church in the Cause of Christ but at this present saith he 't is too rare to find a Prelate which doth not prefer his Temporalities before his Spiritualities with the Love whereof they are so withdrawn that they study rather to please Princes than God c. Aen. Syl. his History of the Council of Basil Pareus speaking of the drying up the River Euphrates brings in the judgment of his Anonymus that is Nameless Author which he approves of which is That the preaching of the Gospel doth shall cause men to take away all Temporal Things that is Possessions and Earthly Dominion from the Clergy and they shall no more be given them Herein I accord with him that as far as the Virtue and Power of the Gospel truly renews transforms and changes men so far 2 Faithfull and Living Testimony shall be born to the Free and Voluntary Maintenance of the Gospel and against the Antichristian Maintenance by Tythes and other Groundless Scriptureless Co-ercive Maintenance Truth prevailing this shall be scoured away It is against the holy Scripture saith Wickliff for Church-men to have Possessions Gerardus Sagarellus who lived before Wickliff's time denyed a divine Right to Tythes in Gospel days Erasmus boldly affirmed That the common exacting of Tythes by the Clergy in his Time was no better than Tyranny In Augustin's time it was no general Law nor Custom in the Church that Tythes should be paid Willet's Synopsis of Popery When the Disciples saith Walter Brute said to Christ Behold we have left all and have followed thee what shall we have He answered not thus Tythes shall be paid you neither did he promise them a Temporal but an Everlasting Reward in Heaven for Food and Apparel he taught his Disciples not to be careful Paul right-well remembring his Doctrine gave Timothy this Instruction Having Food and Rayment let us therewith be content Fox Acts and Mon. Primitive Non-payment of Tythes saith one is a pregnant Argument that they did not understand Tythes to be appointed by Christ for his Ministers He that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many Stripes Had it been saith Selden of Tythes the Apostles Ordinance or the Use of the Church in the Primitive Times Origen Tertullian and Cyprian could not have been so silent in it Is it likely saith he that all the old Councils from thence till near six Hundred Years after Christ which have special Canons for the Lands and Goods possest by the Church c. could have omitted the Name of Tenths if either such Use or Apostolical Law had preceeded Some of the aforesaid for their Testimony against Tythes as against other Errors Heresies Superstition and Idolatry of Italian Babylon suffered in Flames as Histories demonstrate To draw to a Conclusion By what hath been said 't is apparent to all seeing Eyes that according to Christ's Doctrine the Apostles were not to receive any thing but from such as received them and their Doctrine from such as reaped their Spiritual Things But now all that are found within the Limits Precincts Bounds of such or such a Parish first set up by the Pope and his Emissaries after ratified by Earthly Princes whether Believers or Unbelievers Prophane Schismaticks Hereticks Excommunicated Persons yea such as they 'l Curse and give up to Satan of these they 'l have Tythes Easter-Reckonings Midsummer-Dues Mortuaries Oblations Smoke-Money which they claim as Due being introduced by Apostatized men bringing for a Cloak He that preaches the Gospel must live of the Gospel when as the Gospel warrants no such thing In the Apostles time they had places of Worshop where Jews gathered from Jewdaism and Gentiles from Gentilism met together to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth yet no man was limitted to this or that Place nor to pay to such or such a Place or minister so much per annum these Anti-evangelical Antichristian Customs crawled out of the Apostolical Womb Honorius who succeeded Austin at Canterbury about the Year 630. divided his Province into Parishes as Selden of Tythes chap. 9. saith THE END
be the true Light the Way to the Father the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God and Paul was sent to turn People from Darkness to Light from the Power of Satan unto God Peter exhorted To take heed unto the sure Word of Prophecy as to a Light shining in a Dark Place until the Day did dawn and the Day-star did arise in their Hearts John 1.9 John 8.12 Acts 26.18 2 Pet. 1.19 But Man-made Ministers say The Scripture is the Light Such walk in the Region of the Shadow of Death the Scripture was given out by the Eternal Light a Declaration of it of God whence it came 6. The Apostles preached up the Baptism by one Spirit into one Body 1 Cor. 12.13 as the permanent Baptism of the Evangelical Dispensation the Heart-cleansing and Soul-saving Baptism the Substance 1 Pet. 3.21 Man-made Ministers Sprinkle Infants saying thereby they are made Members of Christ Children of God Inheriters of the Kingdom of Heaven Thus the Visible is inthroned and the Invisible is dis-throned which truly makes Members of Christ Paedorantism that is Sprinkling of Infants came not in till Hundreds of Years after the Apostles dayes 7. The Apostles knew Christ to be the Bread of Life the Soul's Food heavenly Manna here they fed at the Table of the Lord had fellowship one with another were written in one anothers Hearts these knew the Table and Supper of the Lord. Man-made Ministers tell of a Sacrament for which there is no Scripture 't was the old Heathen Roman Military Oath their Communion is in visibles Meat that perishes Christendom Professing this Communion is become as Golgotha a Place of Skulls as Aceldama a Field of Blood 8. True Minsters knew the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World to be the Everlasting Covenant Glad Tidings to Captive Souls to Prisoners of Hope this Gospel was preached to Adam Gen. 3.15.10 Abraham Gal. 3.8 Man-made Ministers say Matthew Mark Luke and John is the Gospel Their Writings are a Declaration of the Everlasting Gospel Luke 1.1 9. The Apostles preached Christ the Fountain of Life the Treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells Bodily Man-made Ministers say That Oxford and Cambridge are the Fountain Well-spring or Well-head of Divinity the two Eyes of the Nation Though founded in Popish Times for the Propagation of their Doctrine and Religion 10. The Apostles preached the Word which was in the beginning to be the Original which was before Babel many Languages by which the Prophets and Apostles were called and drew others into the one pure Language to know the Virtue of the Everlasting Gospel Man-made Ministers say that Hebrew and Greek is the Original The Hebrews persecuted Christ the Greeks accounted the Cross of Christ Foolishness Pilate who had Latin Greek and Hebrew the World 's Original he crucified Christ Alpha and Omega the Beginning and Ending the First and Last the Original the Author of the pure heavenly Language 11. The Apostles preached the Saints to be the Temple of the Living God Christ the Anti-type reigning in their mortal Bodies Man-made Ministers say That a House of Lime and Stone is the Temple An Imitation of Solomon's Temple a Type fulfilled and ended in Christ the Substance Stephen was stoned to Death for witnessing against the Temple the Figure when Christ the Substance was manifested 12. The Apostles preached Christ the one Offering perfecting forever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. They preached Christ the end of that Priesthood that took Tythe the end of the Law that gave Tythe Heb. 7.12 Man-made Ministers preach up Tythe the Heave-offering Numb 18. the Shadow so deny Christ the One Offering And by the same Rule they may introduce and uphold all the other Offerings of the Aaronical Priesthood 13. The Apostles as Freely they received so they Freely gave Mat. 10. 1 Pet. 4.10 Buy the Truth but sell it not saith Solomon Prov. 23. The Wine and Milk of the Kingdom is to be bought but how Without Money and Price Isa 55.1 Man-made Ministers say They are gifted men but will not part with their Gift but for a certain yearly Sum Wisdom the Gift of God is Free and cannot be bought and sold for Money Wisdom saith Job cannot be ' gotten for Gold nor Silver nor for Coral Pearls nor Rubies cap. 28. Who think to purchase it they are in the Gall of Bitterness in the Bond of Iniquity as Simon was Acts 8. 14. Such as Christ sent they preached That every one had a measure of Light in him leading to Life such as received it the Condemnation of such as received it not Joh. 1.5.9 Joh. 3.19 Rom. 1.19 Luke 17.21 Man-made Ministers deny this Doctrine saying 'T is a Natural Light and belch out Approbious Language against it and that the Improvement of it advantages nothing And all this to keep People in a Reliance and Dependance upon them never to witness the new Covenant the Law written in the Heart the Spirit put in the Inward Parts 15. Paul told the Corinthians That they might all Prophesie that all might learn and be comforted and if any thing was revealed to him that sate by the first was to hold his Peace 1 Cor. 14. This was Order in the true Church Man-made Ministers accounts this Confusion and Disorder for if any should come in and speak while the publick Minister is speaking or when he hath done how cruelly such have been used I need not mention shewing that their Church-members are Branches of that old putred stock that they were of who stoned Stephen to Death Acts 7. 16. The Apostles preached Freedom from Sin Rom. 6.6 7 18. Freedom from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 A Sanctified State 1 Cor. 6.11 A Cleansing from all Sin by the Blood of Jesus 1 John 1.7 Man-made Ministers teach another Doctrine That there is no Freedom from Sin in this Life and that a man must carry a Body of Sin and Death about with him while upon Earth 17. The Apostle James owned Christ's Doctrine who said Swear not at all Mat. 5. James 5. But Man-made Ministers plead for Swearing saying The Denyal thereof is an old Heresie yea and many eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes have born faithful Testimonies against Swearing as Christ did who spake with Authority 18. The Apostles owned Revelation without it God is not known Mat. 11.27 Till this was witnessed Paul was Saul a grand Persecutor Gal. 1.16 Who are of God now they bear witness to this But Man-made Ministers say Revelation is ceased So conclude all to be excluded from the Knowledge of the Living God 'T is true who are in the Will of Man Night and Darkness is upon them the Sun is set Vision and Revelation such know not 19. The true Ministers of Christ preached Present Salvation Ephes 2.8 By Grace they were saved Tit. 3.5 1 Pet. 3.21 Man-made Ministers preach Christ and Salvation at a Distance telling
that while he trod out Corn for one man another should be forced to maintain him 'T was the Custom of the East and of Grecce to use Oxen to tread out the Corn before the Invention or Use of Flails Niggards muzled them that they might not eat thereof this the Law forbad What implies all this That Gospel Ministers may expect and according to Christ's Ordinance receive a Gospel Maintenance from such as receive them and their Doctrine but not from such as receive them not nor their Ministry that were all one as if while the Ox trod out the Corn for one man another man should by Laws Force Penalties have been compelled to feed the same The premises duly understood and consider'd aford no ground for Man-made Ministers to force Tythe or other Maintenance from such as receive them not such are not of their Flocks such receive not their Teaching nor Sowing nor Treading as I may say they come in another Name Power and Virtue who separate and thresh out the pure Grain The Office of one truly called into the Ministry saith Aug. Marl. is expressed by threshing that thou mayst not think that Ministers ought to live in Idleness and that thou mayst not judge that the Church is bound to maintain those that are idle who do not profit the Church So let your own Flocks maintain you Force not a Maintenance from such as receive you not if you do you transgress Christ's Ordinance and the Apostles Practice Remember the Saying of one Id quod nostrum est sine facto nostro avelli non potest that is That which is our own may not be taken from us without our own Act. Paul writing to the Church at Corinth said I robbed other Churches taking Wages of them to do you Service 2 Cor. 11.8 Though Paul had power to eat and to drink to receive carnal things of the Corinthians seeing he had sown spiritual things unto them yet he used not his Power for some Reasons but preached the Gospel Freely unto them and had a Free and Voluntary supply from the Brethren of Macedonia while he was in the Corinthian Service Thus he received of the Macedonians to whom he had formerly preached that he might not be chargeable to the Corinthians This proves not Tythes nor a forced Maintenance from those that received him not but quite the contrary This proves receiving Freely of them to whom he had preached Freely When I was present with you and wanted saith he the Brethren that came from Macedonia supplyed me vers 9. And though he calls it Robbery yet he received nothing but from such as had received him and his Doctrine and in this he transgressed not Christ's Ordinance for the Maintenance of the Gospel Ministry the Brethren of Macedonia of Corinth and of all the gathered Churches made up the Family of God and for this Family to minister carnal Things to them from whom they reaped spiritual things the Royal Law requires it Aug. Marl. said on this place As Conquerers pillage those whom they conquer so whatsoever Paul received of the Churches which he had gained to Christ it was the prey of his Conquests although saith he Paul never received any thing but what they Freely ministred and what they Freely ministred it was as it were a Due or Debt by reason of his spiritual Warfare So Paul receiving Necessaries from those that received him is no ground for Man-made Ministers to force Tythe and other Maintenance from those that receive him not these Robbers are of another Nature than Paul was Yea and this Self-denying Apostle said further to these Corinthians That he would not be burthensom unto them for saith he I seek not yours but you 2 Cor. 12. 'T was their Souls not their Wealth their Salvation not their Gold that he sought after Aug. Marl. said on this place That it is the concern of a true Teacher not to seek Gain from his Sheep but the Welfare of the Sheep But Man-made Ministers have not the Mind of Paul regard the Fleece more than the Flock A Cloud of Examples might be produced out of the Writings of the Apostles shewing their exact walking according to Christ's Command in referance to Free and Voluntary Contributions practised by the Primitive Churches Further 't is evident that at Jerusalem and thereabouts Believers were so influenced in the Apostles days and such Openness and Unity was among them that all things were in Common such as were Possessors of Lands or Houses sold them and laid the Prices thereof at the Apostles Feet Acts 4. For what end was that done Not to enrich the Apostles but that Distribution might be made to every man according as he had need that there might be no want in the Family of God Jerom saith That the Church gathered at Alexandria in Aegypt by Mark follow the same Rule as the Saints did at Jerusalem through mutual Love established in that Nearness Openness and Unity as to have all things Common Hieron in vita Marc. The Apostles and such as received them through the Cross of Christ grew up in the alforming Word of Life they blustered not about Meum and Tuum earthly Things as Worldlings do they knew the End of the World a blessed Knowledge surmounting the Knowledge of Spoiling Philosophers Philojudeus reports That not only at Jerusalem and there-abouts and at Alexandria but in many other Provinces also Christians lived together in Societies Aug. Marl. entertaining a serious Consideration of the Primitive Unanimity Oneness of Mind and of the great Degeneration of his Age brake out into these Expressions Now our Hearts are harder then Iron who are no more affected with the reading of this History than the faithful gave liberally of their own We at this day are not content niggardly to keep in what we have of our own but we cruelly greedy after other mens In Acta 4.35 A Disease too Epidemical in this Age. Christ Jesus as I said before ordained a Maintenance for his Ministers which was Free and Voluntary from such as received them by his Ordinance they neither could neither ever did force a Maintenance from those that received them not Mat. 10. Luke 10. Now Paul who had the Mind of Christ in pursuance of Christ's Ordinance seeing many convinced and converted the Family of the Lord much increased through the Labour of true Witnesses to the uttermost parts of the Earth and seeing Necessities arising and through the Enmity of the Dragon encreasing he ordained a Weekly Collection saying Now concerning the Collections for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye upon the First day of the Week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him 1 Cor. 16.1 2. wherein every man was to give according as he purposed in his Heart 2 Cor. 9.1 5 7. And these Free and Voluntary Collections and Contributions were put into the hands of the Deacons men of honest Report full
First By way of first Fruits paid antiently to the Pope but by a Statute of Henry the Eighth wrested from the Pope and given to the King his Heirs and Successors forever Secondly By Legative Levies the Pope having or pretending need vast sums of Money were exacted and levied through this whole Kingdom by Legats and Officers for that purpose deputed by the Pope Thirdly By Appeals to the Court of Rome incredible sums were out of this Nation exhausted Fourthly By Dispensations vast sums of Money were drawn to Rome Fifthly Indulgences and Pardons were of the like Magnetick faculty to draw Money to Rome Sixthly By Jubile's Pilgrimages and Vows c. both at stated and arbitrary times So that one Adam Merrymouth called the English the Popes Asses willing to bear unsufferable Burthens Mantuan a Carmelite Fryar touched Rome to the quick in this manner Heu Romae sola pecunia regnat Exilium virtus patitur Thus Englished Alas at Rome now Wealth bears sway And Virtue Chaste is chas'd away But to return to the Primitive practice though through Constantine and Sylvester much Unsoundness crept into the Church yet the Maintenance of indigent Ministers and the supply of the Churches-Necessities by free and voluntary Contribution according to the Institution of Christ and his chosen Vessel Paul was not lost Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea in the dayes of Constantine said If thou dost possess a Garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the Needy thou art a Thief and a Robber The Council at Antioch in the Year 340. finding the Deacons very faulty ordained that the Bishops should distribute the Goods of the â—hurch requiring that they took not any part to themselves nor to the Priests and Brethren that lived with them unless Necessity justly required it alledging the Apostles Words Having Food and Rayment be therewith content Conc. Ant. Cap. 25. Hitherto the Necessities of the Ministers as of others were supplied and relieved by Free and Voluntary Contributions and Offerings of Lands Moneys Goods and People were much pressed to bountiful Contribution for Holy and Christian uses Jerom eminent in his day about the Year 384. and Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople about the year 398. laboured much in that point and alledged the Jewish payment of Tythe for an Example to Christians below which they would not have Christians to determine their Charity not binding them to this or that quantity but perswading and pressing that they might not come short of the Jews in point of Charity their Writings clearly and undeniably hold out this thing and this is the first mention of Tythe I read of produced only as an Example to stir up the Sparks of Christian Charity Ambrose Bishop of Milan and Augustin Bishop of Hippo soon after or about the Year 400. screwed a Peg higher from the Law given to the Israelites for the payment of Tythe which Christ abolished they imposed the payment thereof with heavy Penalties for Holy uses as the phrase then was Augustin taught that such as desired a Reward or Pardon of Sins they should pay Tythe yet consider to what end they required them that the Poor might not want saying God had reserved them for their use Ambr. de penitent August in Sermone de tempt Yet in the Sun-shine of Primitive Purity an Eternal reward and Remission of Sins was witnessed and the Poor were provided for without recourse to the Typical Levitical Maintenance by Tythe The Example of these two great Bishops Ambrose and Augustin and the sweetness of the Morsell fired Church-men into that Doctrine so that Leo the great Pope about the Year 440. Severin about the Year 470. Gregory also and others grounding their Doctrine on Moses's Law stirred men up to the payment of Tythe to offer the same to the Church Leo de jejun dec mens et eleemos Greg. Hom. 16. in Evangel Notwithstanding the Example Doctrine and Threats of the aforesaid and others it was not a generally received Doctrine that Tythe ought to be paid till about the Year 800. Agobard Bishop of Lyons Selden of Tythe The Bishop for the most part in these Ages lived in some Monastery and his Clergy with him from whence he sent them into the Country within his Diocess to Preach and they brought all the Offerings they received into the Common Treasury out of which the Necessities of the Bishops Priests Poor Distressed Sick Strangers were supplied and relieved places for publick Assemblies called Churches were built and repaired the Priests then had not such a particular Interest in the Free and Voluntary Offerings as after they usurped About the Year 800 900 1000. and after Tythes were called the Lord's Goods the Patrimony of the Poor Tributes of poor Souls Stipends of the Poor of Strangers Hereupon the Council at Nants declared That the Clergy was not to use them as their own but as commended to their trust And they were not then given particularly to the Clergy but for the use and relief of the Poor Bernard Abbot of Claravallis who lived in the Year 1127. Contemporary with Hugo de Sacro victore bare Testimony to this purpose in a Sermon upon Luke the 17th and inferred thus Truly the Goods of the Church are the Patrimony of the Poor and whatsoever thing the Ministers and Stewards of the same do take unto themselves more then is sufficient for a competent Living the same is taken away from the Poor by Sacrilegious Cruelty In these Dayes People being brought to believe that their Tythe ought to be given for the use of the Poor as the the first Preachers up of Tythe held out they were more desirous to give them to the Poor then to the Priest at length the foul and loathsome Leprosie of Covetousness so far infected the Clergy as that Priests through the Auxiliaries or Assistants of Popes and Councils quite shouldered out the Poor and Needy and seized upon the Whole as ravenous Vulters seize on their Prey The Doctrine of Pope Innocent the Third about the Year 1200. relating to pluck the Bread out of the Mouth of the Poor and to give it to the Priest sounded sweetly in the Priests Ears What was his Doctrine say some I Answer This Pope Innocent the third preaching on the Charity of Zacheus said Graviter peccant qui decimas et primitias non reddunt Sacerdotibus sed eas pro voluntate distribuunt indigentibus that is They are hainous Offenders who give Tythes and first Fruits to the Poor and not to the Priests Certainly this Doctrine could not but astonish and amaze the People concluding them Hainous Offenders for the observance of that which had for Generations been Preached up as Meritorious Is there not occasion given to cry out Quid non mortalia pectora cogis Auri sacra fames Golds Lustre mortal men doth so bewitch Leudly to act in order to be Rich. Further a General Council held at Lyons under Pope Gregory the Tenth in
dayes Christ the Law-giver to of and in the Church and his Doctrine of Free and Voluntary Contribution was denyed and covetous Practices commanded and allowed by men in the Apostacy were entertained and what spoil and havock hath been and is made upon the Deniers of these Selfish Idolatrous Antichristian Irreptitious Customs who is ignorant CAP. VIII Of the Statute against Mortmain MOrtmain is a French word and signifies a dead hand 't is in the common Law An Alienation of Lands or Tenements to any Corporation or Fraternity and their Successors with the Licence of the King and the Lord of the Mannor Lands saith a great Lawyer were said to come to dead hands to the Lords for that by Alienation in Mortmain they lost wholly their Escheats and in effect their Knight-Service for the Defence of the Realm Wards Marriages Reliefs and the like and therefore was called a dead Hand for that a dead hand yields no Service saith Sr Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law Austin the Monk brought the Religion and Doctrine of Papal Rome into this Nation to among the Saxons by little and little strange things came to be preached up as That the pardon of sins might be merited by good Works the Torments of Hell might be avoided and that Tythe was the Souls Ransom and that whoever desired Forgiveness of Sins and the Joys of Heaven should faithfully pay the same and that without the payment thereof these things could not be had The Deluded and Depraved People receiving this as a heavenly Oracle gave not only their Tythes for the satisfaction of their Sins to maintain the Popish Clergy to say and sing Mass to pray for their Souls for Obits and Anniversaries but their Lands also Hence Religious Houses so called came to be built and wonderfully enriched By this Satanical Stratagem and Delusion almost a third part of the whole Land was hooked into the aforesaid Houses and Clergy and there was no cry heard among the Ravenous Cormorants 'T is Enough but rather the Horsleeches Language Give Give Now that all the Land might not be swallowed up in this unsatiable Whirle-Pool a Statute against Mortmain that is against the Alienation of Lands to such and such Uses was provided It was saith Andrew Willet in his Synopsis of Popery a common practice in time of Popery so the Priests might be enriched they cared not greatly though all the Stock of the Patrons and Founders were undone the Statute of Mortmain faith he was made to restrain this pag. 309. King Henry the third in his great Charter to all Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Sheriffs c. enacted thus If any from henceforth give his Lands to any Religious House and thereupon be convict the Gift shall be utterly void and the Land shall accur to the Lord of the Fee Edward the first enacted to the same purpose Henry the eighth confirmed this in the 23d year of his Reign enacting That Assurances of Lands to Churches Chappels Church-wardens Guilds Fraternities Commonalties c. made of Devotion as to the Uses and intents to have Obits perpetual or a continual Service of a Priest forever or for sixty or eighty Years were as Prejudicial to the Lords as if they were aliened in Mortmain so to be void Further this Henry enacted That all Monasteries Abbyes Priories and other Religious Houses of Monks Canons and Nuns c. with their Estates should be given to him and his Heirs forever the Right of Founders Patrons and Donors being saved as also all Lands Tenements Rents and other Hereditaments given for the Maintenance of an Anniversary or Obit Light or Lamps in Church or Chappel to continue forever To say no more herein that Statute against Mortmain prevented the spreading of that foul Leprosie of Encroachments and stopped the heady Current of Idolatrous days in that point CAP. IX Of Exemptions from the payment of Tythes THrough the Seed of Degeneration Ministers in Christian Churches became 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lovers of filthy Lucre Covetous such the old Saxons called Gitsors that is sore and eager getters the Popes Doctrine being entertained into a Nation that Nation was divided into Bishopricks Bishopricks into Parishes then the Pope having set up Parishes he enjoyned that a secular Priest Canonically instituted should attend the Service of each respective Parish and that where Tythes were not already settled they should be paid to the Parish Priest notwithstanding any custom to the contrary After People were brought to believe that Tythe ought to be paid they enjoyed that liberty of bestowing the same where they would on whom they would till Pope Innocent the third about the Year 1200. as hath been touched So they were called Free Offerings and Pure Alms but it was no matter of difficulty having perswaded People to pay Tythes to appoint the Receiver the Person or Persons to receive the same Now the Pope having brought in Tythes and appointed the persons that should receive them notwithstanding his general Decree yet he in favour to his chiefest Props and Cathedral Pillars frequently granted Exemptions to such and such Orders whereby they became freed of the payment of Tythes as to the Templers Cistercians Hospitallers and generally to all Lands held by Religious Persons and Houses upon this account who have bought the Lands of dissolved Monasteries c. their plea is That their Lands are Tythe free This Immunity so far as it concerned the rest of the Religious Persons Pope Adrian recalled and limitted it only to the Cistertians Hospitallers Templers and to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem as faith Sr. Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law 'T is a pregnant proof saith one that Tythes are of humane Institution and that from the Bishops of Rome also Seeing their Exemptions are in force and observed to this day yea and as I may say to aggravate the indignity of the thing among such as would be accounted to have come out of Italian Babylon and to be great sharers in Reformation Now for the satisfaction of such who desire some account concering the aforesaid Orders this is Knights of the Temple Knights Templers was an Order of Knighthood erected by Pope Gelasius about the Year 1117. at first they dwelt not far from the Sepulcher of Christ entertained Christian Strangers and Pilgrims charitably and in their Armour led them saith my Author thorough the Holy Land to view such things as were to be seen and to defend them from the Infidels at last they grew very Vicious and many of them fell from the Profession of Christianity to the Saracens Pope Clement the fifth suppressed the whole Order and their Substance was given to the Knights of Rhodes and other Religious Orders saith my Author Knights of the Order of St. John in Jerusalem was created for the defence of Pilgrims these Knights and Pilgrims were called Croises from the Sign of the Cross which they used to
or Maintenance introduced by man contrary to what Christ and the Apostles taught and appointed We forbid saith Cardinal Galo the Pope's Legate under the penalty of Excommunication that Priests and Clergy-men through the occasion of any Custom should presume to exact or extort any thing for Baptism Burial or any other Sacrament Sum. Concil Pontif. Whether the Pope be obeyed in this as in other of his Ordinances 't is well known but Ordinances of this Nature and Tenure savour not well to the minds of Man-made Ministers CAP. XI Of the Rise of Reek-penny called also Smoke-Money called also in the Saxon Tongue Romefeoh that is the Fee of Rome and Romescot that is Rome's-shor or Rekoning and Rome-penny and Denary sancti Petri that is Peter-Pence and Regis Eleemosyna that is the King 's Alms. EThelbert King of the East-Angles being perswaded by his Council to Marry against his own inclination went to Offa in design to obtain his Daughter Athelred to Wife King Offa's Wife being averse to the Match caused Ethelbert to be slain whereupon Offa King of the Mercians to expiate that horrid Act gave the Peter-Pence to St Peters Church in Rome This Peter-Pence was a Penny for every House in which was twenty penny-worth of Goods to be paid Yearly on Lammas-Day such strictness was required in the payment thereof that in time it was esteemed Consuetudo quasi Apostolica c. A Custom as it were derived from the Apostles from which neither the King nor the Arch-Bishop Abbot Prior or any in the Kingdom was free only the Monastery of St Albans in honour of Alban the Protomartyr was by the Indulgence of King Offa exempted from that Charge This Peter-Pence this Yearly Tribute Ethelwoulph ordained to be paid Yearly by every House in England that kindled a Fire Ina King of the West Saxons as some say was the first Donor of Peter-Pence about the Year 720. being in Pilgrimage at Rome Matthew Westminster insinuates that these being Kings of several Kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy each of them might be the first Donor within their respective Dominions Upon reasonable Compute the Peter-pence could amount to no less then 7500. pounds a Year which payment continued till the reign of Henry the Eighth who totally took it away Sleiden Pope Paul the fourth receiving the English Ambassadors which came from Queen Mary urged to them the necessity of the Restitution of all Revenues that her Father Henry the eighth had taken away from Rome further pressing That they could not hope that Saint Peter would open the Gates of Heaven to them so long as they usurped his Goods on Earth Strange Doctrine As though Peter being dead in the fruition of Eternal Joy should regard Money which while upon Earth he was redeemed from the love of Hunting Milton Sleiden Matth. West Now you Protestants that pretend Reformation do not you in your Words deny the Pope and his Supremacy Yes Why then do your Ministers Vicars and Parsons receive his Tribute of every House that kindles a Fire viz. a Penny called a Reek-penny Smoke penny or Hearth-penny and Persecute such as deny to give them the same 't is one of their covetous Practices occasioned by Murther in the gloomy Night of Apostacy Popery through love of Money continued a Dreg of the Cup of Babylon Further King Edgar enacted that Peter-pence called commonly Hearth-penny imposed on every House should be paid before the Feast of St Peter and he that paid not the same should carry that Penny and Thirty other Pennies to Rome and pay one Hundred and twenty Shillings to the King Further if any should not give the Peter-penny upon the second demand he enacted that he should carry that penny and thirty other pennies to Rome and pay two Hundred Shillings to the King Upon refusal after the third demand he was to suffer the loss of all he had Here was Zeal but without Knowledge and though this annual payment was from Papists to the Pope to expiate the horrid act of Murther yet such as pretend Reformation are not ashamed of it shewing themselves to be such as Peter spoke of who should have Hearts exercised with Covetous practices 'T was a noble saying and resolution of Abraham that he would not take as much as a Shoe-lachet of the King of Sodom lest he should say he had made Abraham Rich. So you that profess Reformation keep not a Rag of the Whore's Garment not one Patch of her Earthly Traditional groundless Ornament that the Beast Law-giver in spiritual Sodom the apostatized Church nor any of the Locusts that arise out of the Smoke of the Pit may not boast that you are enriched by their Merehandize and groundless Traditions relating to Doctrine Worship or Maintenance as you would be accounted the Children of Abraham do the Works of Abram shew forth the Faith of Abram which led him from Vz of the Caldees by Interpretation Fire to the Land of Canaan Gen. 11. Sons of Abram Witnesses of purifying and Victory giving Faith they read this thing CAP. XII How Tythes came into Lay-mens Hands Impropriators YOu that are or would be accounted Gospel-Ministers and plead that Christ hath granted you Tythes for your Maintenance yet can neither tell where nor when Let me tell you if you have Christ's Ordinance and Institution for Tythe then no Custom Usage Prescription priviledge or Popish Dispensation can justly acquit any from the payment of the utmost penny of the tenth part for Ordinances and Doctrines of Christ are not to be made void by the Injunctions of men How comes Lay-men Impropriators to be such sharers in Tythe which is your right as Gospel-Ministers as you pretend Are they not Sacrilegious therein And how come so many to be exempted from the payment of Tythe But all this is but a Covetous pretence Christ put an End to that Law which gave Tythe to the Levites and established a Free and Voluntary Maintenance for Gospel-Ministers without Tythe And Tythes came into Christian Churches by the Pope and all Exemptions from the payment of Tythes were by the Pope's Indulgence And now I shall declare what I have read concerning Tythes in the possession of Lay-men The Hunnes Gothes and Vandals invaded Italy under the Emperor Justinian and greatly persecuted all Religious men overturned Churches burnt Libraries overthrew Schools of Learning these fierce and barbarous People about the Year 650. set their Faces against France upon this Charles Martell the Father of Pipin after King of France would not oppose himself against them unless the under Clergy of France would resign every man his Tythes into his Hands that thereby he might reward the Souldiers and support the Charges of the War then present he solemnly promised that these Tythes should be restored to them at the end of the War with a further Gratuity for their good Will the Clergy driven thereto by the Exigences of that Age and eminent Dangers complyed with these motions This Charles Martell
that which Abram gave freely to Melchizedes What Abram did it was Free and Voluntary Melchizedec had no Law to require it neither had Abram a Law enjoyning him to pay it neither is it apparent that ever Abram gave the Tythe but this once upon this accidential or providential occasion which may be taken for a thankful acknowledgement and a return of kindness to Melchizedec who had given him Bread and Wine for the Refreshment of him and his Souldiers after the Fight A voluntary Promise only binds the promiser and the free Gift of one is not obligatory to others no binding Example for future Generations a feeble Ground for such as would be accounted Gospel-Ministers to claim Tythe if Abram's free and voluntary Gift must be a binding Rule in Gospel-dayes then may every man require Bread and Wine of their Priest for the refreshment of themselves and Families every Officer require the same for himself and Souldiers the one Example is as obligatory as the other in Gospel-Dayes both being Voluntary Again let us consider what Abram gave him the Tenth of Chederlaomer and the Kings with him Conquered the King of Sodom and took all the Goods of Sodom and took Lot Abram's Brother's Son Prisoner upon this Abram armed his traned Servants and pursued them rescued Lot and the Goods in his return Melchizedeck met him gave him Bread and Wine as before and blessed God for his Success then Abram gave him Tythes of all Gen. 14. Of all what Not of the Increase of his Lands and Flocks Abram did not carry every Tenth Sheaf Lambs Piggs Geese Chickins with him but rather Sword Spear Battle-Ax Battle-Bow or such like Weapons of War he had other things to carry with him than Tythe Corn Hay Lambs Piggs c. Abram gave him Tythe of all Of all what The Apostle answers thee Consider how great this man was unto whom even the Patriarch Abram gave the Tenth of the Spoils Heb. 7.4 So that of the Goods belonging formerly to Sodom plundered by Chederlaomer rescued and recovered by Abram Abram gave to Melchizedec the Tenth thereof And what if he had given it all to him seeing he was resolved not to keep the least of it for his own use Gen. 14. Now besides the Apostle Erasmus Crysostom Jerom upon several accounts as also our Country-man Poole say expresly That Abram gave him Tythes not of his own Lands and Flocks but of the Spoils taken from the Enemy Poole on Heb. 7.4 saith This place cannot be understood of all Abram's Possessions but of all the Spoil taken in that Battle Abram was not then at Home but in his Journey in his return from the pursuit of his Enemy Now if you will have Tythe from this Example you must go to the Souldiers and make your claim after Victories obtained for Abram gave not the Tythes of his own Lands and Flocks nor ever but this once as far as appears How then proves this a yearly payment of Tythes to Gospel-Ministers And how can an annual payment be justly derived to others from the free and voluntary Gift of one and that but once Again if from the Gift of Abram to Melchizedec you will enforce any thing to that Order it can but be free Gift which we deny not in the Wisdom of God being ordained of Christ practised by the Apostles and Churches while a pure Virgin to Christ so that your Antiquity of Tythes to the Gospel-Ministry is vanished into the free Gift of the People Obj. To give and to pay is all one in this Case So the Apostle not only said he gave the Tenth Heb. 7.4 but also Levi paid Tythe in Abram verse 9. Answ To give and to pay is not all one in this Case the Apostle in the Wisdom of God varied his Expression according to the Persons he treated of and the different Times and Seasons he related to speaking of Abram in the Anti Levitical dayes before Tythes were commanded in whom it was a free voluntary spontaneous Act Gift to Melchizedec he says He gave but speaking of Levi of the Levitical Priesthood who lived after Tythes were assigned and commanded to be paid he expresses himself by the word Paid vers 9. Abram Gave Levi Paid That Abram came thither with an intention to Pay or Melchizedec with an expectation to receive Tythes I cannot receive Now that Tythe was not Paid to Melchizedec but Given and that not Yearly but once and that not of the Increase of his Lands and Flocks but of the Pillage of Sodom rescued and recovered from the Plunderers the Fruits of War-like performances 't is very evident the Scripture is not dubious but clear in this point So they may be judged Irrational who claim a property in and plead for Tythes upon such crazy and feeble grounds Jacob's Vow considered Gen 28.22 being stoutly alledged for the continuance of Tythes in Gospel-dayes Jacob in his Journey from Beersheba to Haran tarried all Night in a certain place and laid down to sleep with his Head upon a Pillow of Stones and from the Lords glorious appearance unto him and sweet comfortable Promise of his presence with him and preservation of him and that in him and in his Seed all the Families of the Earth should be blessed he called the Name of that place Bethel by Interpretation The House of God in the fence of these things and in confidence of the Lord's Promise and faithful performance he vowed saying If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Rayment to put on c. And this Stone which I have set for a Pillar shall be God's House and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the Tenth unto thee Gen. 28. This Jacob performed after twenty Years as Josephus saith in these Words By Offering unto the Lord the Tenth of all his Substance which he got at Haran After that he returned unto that place where God's appearance unto him was This Vow of Jacob was Voluntary in being unrequired Let such as would squeeze a Divine right to the exaction of Tythes from this or from any Ante-diluvian or Post-diluvian Patriarch shew a command for the same before the Levitical Assignation the known Maxime is Affirmanti incumbit probatio that is He that affirms must prove being Voluntary 'T is no binding Example to future Generations though 't is true Jacob's Vow was obligatory to him after he had vowed but not to his Posterity the eleaven Tribes paid not Tythes to Levi by reason of the Example of Abram and Jacobs voluntary Gifts but by vertue of the Lord's command thereunto enjoyning That the Patriarchal Age was without a Divine command for the payment of Tythes Pareus on the aforesaid Scripture clearly demonstrates shewing and saying Decimae ante legem liberae erant arbitrariae exemple Abrami Jacobi licebat dare vovere aut non that is Tythes before the Law were free and
draw such a spurious Consequence as to squeeze out a Pariety or Identity of Maintenance between the Levitical Priesthood and Gospel Ministers that is that Gospel Ministers were and are to have the very same Maintenance as by Tythes c. as the Jewish Priests and Levites had but these words clearly relate to the Maintenance which Christ had ordained not to the Jewish Way Manner Means or Mode of Maintenance in paraphrasing on these words this clearly arises that as the Jewish Priests and Levites lived of the Maintenance allowed of God and peculiar unto them for their Service so those that preach the Gospel must live of the Wage allowed of by the Gospel which was free and voluntary Now such as plead for Tythes such would live of the Law of the Maintenance of the Levites so are not content with Gospel Allowance Neither Christ nor the Apostles looked back unto the Levitical Wage Freely to receive what was Freely given by those that received Christs Ministers and their Message was the Provision that Christ assigned to his Ministers Luke 10. In the Transfiguration of Christ Moses and Elias shewed themselves then the Voice out of the Cloud was This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. Here they were taken from Moses and Elias Law and Prophets to attend unto the Son though Moses and Elias had allowed of a Maintenance by Tythes in their Day in their respective Dispensations yet the Disciples were taken off Moses and Elias to hearken to the Son who as he called a Ministry so he appointed them their Work and assigned to them 〈◊〉 Wage which was Free Voluntary and Spontaneous from their Converts from such as received them and their Message not by Tythe Yea and the Apostles stood to Christ's Maintenance oculo irretorto with a chaste Eye without looking back unto the old transient Levitical Maintenance Again If Gospel Ministers must live Even so that is have the same Maintenance that the Jewish Priests and Levites had then Ministers of the Gospel must not have the Tenth but the Tenth of the Tenth they must also bring in and plead for Jewish Oblations Burnt Offerings Bloody Sacrifices for even so the Jewish Priests lived so deny Christ Jesus the one Offering this unavoidably must be done if this Even So imply an Identity or Pariety of Maintenance between the Levitical Priesthood and Gospel Ministers the which I deny I remember Peter said unto Christ Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee What shall we have Mat. 19.27 Christ answered him not though there was an occasion for it If he either had or did intend to assign Tythes to his Ministry I say he answered him not with an Even so as the Levitical Priesthood had He said not Are you ignorant of this as my Father assigned Tythes to the Levites for their Service so I assign them to you for your Service neither said he You shall have Easter-Reckonings Midsummer-Dues Mortuaries Money for Funeral Sermons for Marriages for Burials for Bread and Wine for Churching of Women for Smoke passing up the Chimneys he assigned them no such Maintenance but when the Curtain of Apostacy had over-spread Christendom the Beast that had long plunged in the Sea was risen out of the Sea the Man of Sin got into the Temple he brought forth an unwarrantable Mâ—intenance contrary to what Christ instituted continued yet by such as pretend Reformation Those that preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel even so hath the Lord ordained so that the Gospel Ministry is not without an Ordinance for their Maintenance and this Ordinance is of the Lord excluding all Ordinances of Apostatized men of Popes and Earthly Powers on that account the Gospel Ministry hath an Ordinance for their Maintenance Where is it may some say I Answer Christ sending out his Disciples taught them to eat and drink such things as their Converts set before them saying The Labourer is worthy of his Hire Here a Hire was appointed free and voluntary from such as received them and here is an Ordinance for it True it is those that preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel on that Maintenance which hath Gospel Allowance living on the Gospel is entailed on preaching the Gospel no other Livelyhood Wisdom's Children justifie than what Christ ordained for his Ministers and his Ordinance was to eat and drink receive Necessaries of their Converts But Man-made Ministers are for living of the Law and of the Gifts Grants and Donations of Apostatized Powers and of such as supposed or suppose the same Due To what hath been spoken I may add two or three Testimonies They do live of the Gospel saith Prosper who will he Propriators of nothing who neither have nor desire to have any thing not possessing their own but the common Goods What is it to live of the Gospel saith he but that he who labours should receive necessary Supplies by them among whom he labours without forcing any Prosper de vitae Contemp. lib. 2. cap. 4. Further saith he Though Paul himself had Power yet he would not make use of it lest he should create an Offence but laboured with his Hands being a Tent-maker that he might not be burthensom to the Churches of Christ Cyril of Alexandria speaking of that passage of Abram Gen. 14.23 Who having gained Victory over the King of Sodom's Enemies and rescued Lot the King offered him part of the Spoil he received nothing but a few Victuals c. Though saith Cyril the holy Teachers do War in the behalf of perishing Mankind yet do they not take any thing from the men of the World neither do they heap up Riches lest the World should say I have made you Rich They only ought to receive their Sustenance from the Hands of those whom they have benefitted For Christ commanded saith he that he who Preaches the Gospel should live thereby Cyril de Adorat in Spir. verit Lib. 4. They live of the Gospel saith Poole on this place who live of that Maintenance which the Church gives to her Ministers for their preaching of the Gospel they must not hord up Treasures intimating that Superfluous things are to be sought and those things which tend to a vain Pomp and regal Excess When Paul avouched that the Lord ordained that they that Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel he seems to have regard unto what the Lord said The Work-man is worthy of his Meat Aug. Marl. Neither Christ nor the Apostles ever ordained any other Maintenance for Gospel-Ministers then what was Free and Voluntary and that from such as received them and their Message Now they who repeal this and in the room thereof violently intrude the compulsive exaction of Tythes and that as well from them that receive them not as from those that receive them such Preach another Gospel such Paul pronounced Anathema Obj. Here that is in Gospel-dayes Men that dye receive Tythes but there he