had threatned them to be destroyed by a Nation mighty and ancient whose language was unknown to them and not understood by them ver 12 14 15 16 17. 8. For their revolting and rebellious heart in forsaking the true God and serving strange gods 9. For their foolishnesse in not considering either Gods greatnesse his mighty power manifest in the world nor yet his special goodness manifest towards themselves to be hereby moved to fear him verse 19 20 21 22 23 24. 10. For their crafty circumventing others unlawfully getting their states from them And 11. For their not judging aright in matters of judicature the Lord saith shall I not visit for these things and shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this verse 26 27 28 29. These are the sins recorded for which God doth threaten to visit that people but paying unto Priests their due maintenance or means was no sin for what God hath commanded to be done and had not repealed it was a Duty and the not doing it or the not paying maintenance to the Priests had been a sinne so also the lawful rule of the Priests was no sin because it was appointed and not reversed in Jeremiahs time I say as these was no sin so the Prophet could not and doth not threaten either the Priests for receiving due maintenance from the people or the people for paying it unto them neither doth he nor could he threaten the Priests for exercising that orderly government which by appointment was charged their Tribe to observe Fifthly I now come to answer thy demand concerning my self and concerning thy self and concerning the Prophet Touching my self thou dost ask Art not thou one of them that beare rule by meanes Answ 1. If by the word meanes in this thy demand thou understands that maintenance or portion of temporal livelihood which God and the Laws of my Nation allots me then I must tell thee that as there is no man on earth neither worldly nor Church-rulers nor any other of any other sort of men who can subsist in it altogether without any temporal maintenance or meanes as thou calls it for substract from any food and man raiment and other necessaries befitting him to have for the discharge of his calling in which God hath placed him And he will soon be disenabled from performing both the acts of it and from continuing among men in acting as a man so I acknowledge that while I tread upon the earth I am and must be in the condition of all mortals just as the Prophets were of old subject to like passions as Iam. 5. 17. other men I am not exempt from that ordinary state sufferings and way of temporal living in the world to which God hath subjected all men All men are Gods beggars a company of indigent creatures depending on him daily and hourly both for the having and for the continuing unto them that temporal livelihood which he thinks fit to distribute to every several man in his station and therefore though I and other Ministers shall stand in need of all temporal things which are necessary for our temporary subsistence as we are men and for the performance of our calling as we are Ministers ruling in the Church of Christ yet neither thou nor any other can justly blame us more then your selves or other other men for having maintenance or meanes in our temporal condition And it is a very false conceit that we rule in the Church by maintenance or meanes because we cannot without maintenance or meanes live in the world For as a King rules in a Common-wealth not by the revenues maintenance Eccl. 5. 9. or means which he receives from his Subjects Solomon saith a King hath maintenance from the field as well as other men the profit of the earth is for all the King himself is served by the field but a King rules by the Authority wherewith he is invested from God and by the Laws of the Nation over whom he rules So likewise Ministers rule in the Church of Christ not by that temporal means or maintenance which God and the Laws of the Nation hath appointed them to receive but by that Authority which they have received from the Lord to rule and by those Laws which Christ hath prescribed unto them in his holy Word to rule people by I answer then plainly to thy demand I am not one of them that bear rule by any temporal maintenance or meanes though while I continue in the world discharging duties required of me as I am a man and as I am a Minister of Christ I shall need outward means or mainteance as well as all other men shall have need of the like while they live and are to do duties as men and as they are men in such callings wherein it pleaseth God to imploy them 2. I answer If by the word means thou understand by this thy demand the very same thing which the Lord sent Jeremiah to cry against then I directly answer I am not one of them that bears rule by the hand help or meanes of any false Teacher which are in these our dayes I neither do nor can as the Priests against whom Jeremy cried did and could protect any of them in their falshoods I never was magnified by any such as the Priests were of whom Jeremiah speaks in his fifth Chapter I never did conspire with false teachers as did the Priests foremention either in persecuting and suppressing the true Ministers or Teachers of Christ nor yet in teaching as these Priests did falshoods unto the people and therefore I am not one of them who bears rule by means according as the Prophet understood and as all ought to understand the meaninâ— of the word means in that place of the Prophet to which thy demand relates Touching thy self thou asks I in holding up such do I obey the Prophets Voice Answ The people in Jeremiahs time holding up their Priests in their due maintenance was in that act no wayes at all disobedient to any voice of the Prophet but they were obedient unto Gods command which no holy Prophet durst condemn them for and so if thou hold up the Ministers of Christ set over thee in the Lord in paying unto them their dues which both God and mans Law requires should be paid unto them thou dost not in so doing disobey any voice of the Prophet in that particular for in his Prophecy he no where forbids paying unto Priests their due maintenance of tithes and offerings neither doth condemne any people for doing so But if thou art one of those who will not believe the word preached by faithful Ministers but will slight them and not endure the sound doctrine which they teach believing and loving rather the flatteries and falshoods of those false teachers whom thou heapest to thy self if thou wilt turne from 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. the truth and be turned unto the fables or lies of those false teachers
Levitical Priesthood and the admininistration of the Jewish service and as by that Priesthood which is changed there was no perfection so that Law of Heb. 7. 11 Ordinances which is changed called by the Apostle carnal Ordinances could not make him that did the service perfect and they were but imposed until the time of reformation Heb. 9. 9 10 Heb. 10. 14 which Christ brought who is a Priest for ever and by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified I say therefore that the Law of those Ordinances which were administred by the Levitical Priesthood and by which the Priests of that order were impowered to officiate or were made Priests is now changed together with that Priesthood for Christ who is a Priest continuing hath appointed the manner and order of holy administrations to be of another kinde then these were when the Levitical Priesthood was in request And likewise he hath appointed another manner of admitting those whom he chooseth to be his Stewards and in his stead to dispense unto his people warrantably the spiritual Ministrastrations then was the manner of deputing any to the service of the Tabernacles and the Temple while the Levitical Priesthood for then such Priests were consecrated by washings anointings sacrificing and purifying of blood to attend upon the service enjoyned them whereas Christ hath appointed 1 Tim. 2 7 1 Tit. 5. 1 Tim. 4. 14 2 Tim. 3. 17 Eph. 4. 11 12 that by Ordination only his Ministers should be authorized to do the work of the Ministry hereby they are put into the Ministry and receive the gift of becoming men of God to do service for God and so they are by him given to his Church to be Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ hence Gods tythes are designed unto them as maintenance of Gods men as a recompence for the service which they do for Jesus Christ who is over all God blessed for ever 1 Cor. 9. 14 3. Thou asks Is the Commandment disanulled that gave them tythes Answ The Commandment which the sonnes of Levi had to tythe their brethren was a special Law or Commandment Heb. 7. 5. without which they could not have any title to tythe at all because tythes originally belonged to the Priesthood of Christ typed in Melchizedeck who tythed Abraham by Right or Law original but the sons of Levi had onely a special command or grant for a time for tything their brethren according to the original Law of tything which was before setled as on a foundation in the Priesthood after another order and therefore I say that that particular command which the Levitical Priesthood had for taking tythes expired with their Priesthood So that now none of that Tribe can claime tythes by vertue of any such peculiar command unto the Levitical Priesthood And this also I say that that Law of tything which was Original and by vertue of which Melchizedâ—ck tythed Abraham is still in force by vertue of which all tythes ought to be paid unto the Lord Jesus Christ who is an everlasting Priest after Melchizedecks order he receiveth them who liveth for ever he Hâ—b 7. 8. ever liveth to be a taker of tythes but seeing these cannot be paid unto him in Person because he is ascended into heaven and sits at Gods right hand an high Priest for ever therefore they are to be paid according to his appointment unto his Ministers with whom he hath promised to be present unto the end of the world He hath ordained that they should have that very meanes appertaining unto the Gospel which is due in as much as he by them doth preach the Gospel of peace unto his people The Apostle saith so hath the Lord orâ—ained Eph. 2. 14. that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospâ—l To live of the Gospel is to have the maintenance and livelihood 1 Cor. 9. 14 or portion of temporal substance which belongs to the Gospel and that is the tythes due to Christ the eternal Priest who thereby payes his own peculiar servants out of his own proper goods which he hath reserved unto himself out of every mans increase and is generally known by the name of tythes Therefore I answer to thy question Though that command be disanulled that gave the Levites tythes yet the Law of tything is not disanulled which gave Melchizedeck right of tything and which is given by Christ unto us his Ministers of the Gospel We do not take tythes as the Priests of the Tribe of Levi did in way of holding up the Levitical service and Priesthood both which is abolished but we take tythes as they are that tribute or portion of the earths increase which the Lord hath reserved for himself and given them unto us for our attendance and waiting on the Ministry of the Gospel to which he hath appointed us 4. Thou asks Did Abraham pay tythes to Melchizedeck of his substance or of the spoile Answ The holy Scripture plainly tells us that he paid unto him tythes of both 1. He paid unto him the tythe of his substance Moses in Gen. 14. 20 Heb. 7. 2. saying that he gave him tythes of all and the Apostle in saying that unto Melchizedeck Abraham gave the tenth part of all do both of them intimate that there was not any substantial increase which Abraham possessed left untithed by Melchizedeck the Priest of the most high God And 2. The Apostle also in saying that he gave him the tenth of the spoile or out of the spoile doth thereby specifie one Heb. 7. 4. remarkable event not before known to the world whence tythes are due to the Priesthood of Melchizedecks order as oft as such occurrents shall come to passe wherefore Melchizedeck took from Abraham the tythes of spoiles out of which there ought to arise an Augmentative benefit to the Priest of the high God Jesus Christ as oft as victories over enemies are obtained I say therefore that Abraham paid unto Melchizedeck tythes both of his substance and of the spoiles The blessing which Melchizedeck gave containes in it the reason of paying tythes of both these Blessed saith he be Abraham of the most high God possessor of heaven and Gen. 14. 19 earth Abraham was blessed and to be blessed from the most high God with the influences of heaven whereby the earth Hos 2. 21 22 was enabled to yeeld unto him her increase and blessings and therefore he was to pay tythes to God as an acknowledgement of his Soveraignty over all and of his liberality unto him in all he being truly according to the title given unto God first by Melchizedeck in holy Scripture the high possessour of heaven and earth Again blessed saith Melchizedeck be the most Gen. 14. 20 high God which hath deliver'd thine enemies into thy hand Abraham was therefore to pay unto God the
matter for every singer to meditate upon for his edification and also they approved of their use in meeter with Musical accents and cadencies and in that the Apostle saith If any man be merry let him sing Psalmes it is evident that the world of men as well as the Church of Saints are enjoyned by the outward melody of their voice to expresse the inward musick of their glad hearts and that in the using Psalmes for expressing that they shall be inabled to mix some spiritual comfort with the lawful cause of natural merriment which will be sanctified to them by the word and prayers of those Scriptural Psalmes which were composed by the Spirit of God for all men to make use of to tune their spirits into heavenly well tempered affections in all conditions Enough is said to thy thirteenth Head of Demands CHAP. XIV Thy fourteenth Head of Demands is as followeth IS the Priesthood changed that took tithes Is the Law changed by which they were made Is the Commandment disanulled that gave them tythes Did Abraham pay tythes to Melchizedeck of his substance or of the spoiles Did he ever do it to him any more then once Was it a standing thing to be done after him Is the Sonne of God come the end of all similitudes and likenesses Now if thou say that they that preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel and have I not power to eat and power to drink yea when Christ sent forth his Disciples he bad them inquire who was worthy and what they set before them they might eat But did he that said have I not power to eat say have I not power to take Stipends Augmentations Tythes Glebe-lands great summes of money or Parsonage Houses Now if thou come to my House who sayes thou art a Minister of the Gospel and minister unto me spiritual things I shall set before thee of my carnal things if thou hast enquired and found my House worthy so said Christ what they set before thee eat so said the Apostle have not I power to eat and to drink but said I have not written this nor spoken this that it should be so done unto me for I have not used my power But if thou come to a Town or come to an House and enquire for Tythes and Augmentations and tythe Wool Hay Pigs Bees Gardens and money for smoak passing up Chimneys Foales Egges Geese Chickens Calves Lambs and other creatures and thou cannot shew me by Scripture where the Apostles did so I must say thou art one of those evill beasts that minde earthly things and thy own belly if thou cannot prove to the contrary Answ Many words are here mustered together containing several questions about tythes and thy conceit touching what kinde of maintenance thou deemes to be only allowed to the preachers of the Gosoel and here thy promise is expressed after what manner thou will entertain me if I shall come to thy house and also thou relates what manner of language thou must use in case I come to demand things tithable To all which I shall returne an orderly Answer Thy Questions are seven to which answers shall be returned to them all in their order 1. Thou asks Is the Priesthood changed that took tythes Answ The Aaronical Priesthood which took tythes is changed but the Melchizedochian Priesthood which took tythes before tythes were took by any of Aarons order and which since the change of Aarons Priesthood doth still continue that Priesthood of Melchizedecks order is not changed but abides for ever and to it tythes are due and at this day and to the end of the world ought to be paid unto it for the fuller clearing this understand that God had but two orders of Priests in the world which we read of the first was after the order of Melchizedeck who is the first Priest of the most high God mentioned in holy Scripture This order was for a time discontinued during that time wherein the Jewes was only known to be a visible Nation upon the Earth which were Gods people But this order is now restored again by our Lord Jesus Christ who hath broken down the partition wall between Jews and Gentiles and hath made the Centiles also to become obedient to the faith and to be sonnes and daughters of the living God And now Christ is a Priest after Melchizedecks order continuing for ever He is confirmed in that Priesthood by Gods Oath which is never to be repealed For the Lord hath sworne and will never repent it thou art a Priest Psal 110. 1 for ever after the order of Melchizedeck and tithes continue due to be duly paid unto this Priesthood He receiveth them Heb. 7. 8. of whom it is witnessed that he liveth for ever The other order of Priests which God had was the order of Levi or Aaron whose Priesthood was typical to continue but until Christ unto whom the Priesthood did properly appertaine came and had taken upon him the everlasting Priesthood He was made Heb. 7. 21. a Priest with Oath whereas the Leviticel Priests were made without an Oath they were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death but this man Jesus Christ because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Heb. 7. 23 24 Priesthood He was made a Priest after the power of an endlesse life but the Levitical Priests was made after the Law of a carnal Commandment they were made Priests by a Ceremonial Heb. 7. 16. Law which commanded carnal and outward observations which were not to continue alwayes but to have an end Wherefore the Levitical Priests were to cease from exercising the Priestly office when Christ the true Priest should come and for ever continue to make perfect the faith of Gods people he being both the Authour and sinisher of their faith Heb. 12 â— which thing those carnal Commandments or Ceremonial Ordinances belonging properly to the Levitical Priests and service of the Jews could not perfect Therefore I say though the Levitical Priesthood which took tythe be changed yet seeing there is another Priesthood after Melchizedecks order now continuing tythes become payable as they were first to that order of Priesthood and they are to be paid unto Christ who is of that order now a Priest for ever To him tythes are duly to be paid as an acknowledgement of his Soveraign Priesthood and they are received by him when they are paid according to his appointment 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. 1 Cor. 4. 1. for their maintenance to his Stewards his Ministers who serve in his service 2. Thou asks Is the Law changed by which they were made Answ The Apostle plainly saith that the Priesthood being Heb. 7. 12 charged there is made of necessity a change of the Law The Priesthood which was changed was the Levitical Priesthood and the Law which with it was changed was the Law of Ordinances ritual observations or ceremonies which properly concerned that
seed the land on which he then did lie and that in his blessed seed which is Christ all the families of the earth should be blessed Gen. 28. 13 14 15. and that he would keep and preserve him in all places whether he went and that he would not leave him untill he had done that which he had spoken to him of Whereupon Jacob vowed to pay unto God the tenth of all as soon as the Lord should give him an estate out of which these tenths might arise for he had when he vowed nothing we read of save a little oyle which he poured on the top of a pillar and his staffe with which Gen. 28. 18 Gen. 3â— 10 Gen. 28. 20. 21 22. as a poor traveller he passed over Jordan As this vow of Jacob is a large testimony that he then had in him very plentiful large and cheerful resolutions to pay tythes so it doth fully notifie that he had took into him an advised consideration of the special grounds for which they are at all times to be paid unto God namely they are to be alwayes paid as an acknowledgement that God is the Soveraigne Lord over all people and that he is the blesser of them bestowing on them temporal blessings from the dew of heaven and the increase of the earth and spiritual and eternal blessings from Christ the blessed seed and that he is the Keeper and Preserver of them in all places and the Provider for them of meat and rayment and the Setler of them in their habitations in peace Jacob vowed thus to do what was but his duty to do that when he should come through Gods enabling him to perform it he might the more heedfully discharge it as being to him as to all men a duty and somewhat more even a vowed duty or a duty requiring from him so much more carefulnesse as he was pleased by his own choice to single it especially out to be by him upon solemn vow and special ingagement the more religiously observed and performed 3. Paying of tythes is a standing thing to be done after Abrahams time because the Hebrews were commanded by God to pay them and that before the Levitical Priesthood was instituted Thou shall not delay to offer the first or fulnesse Exo. 22. 29 of thy ripe fruits and of thy liquor c. that is thou shall not delay to pay the tythe of these Certainly if the slack or a deferring of paying these be a sin then the not paying them at all is a sin with a witness even an high rebellion against a known Commandment 4. The Lord hath made a Law which he never yet repealed whereby it is evident that paying of tythes is a standing thing to be done after Abrahams time The Law is this Thou shall truly tyth all the increase of the seed that the field bringeth forth yeare by yeare So long then as there shall be in the Deut. 14. 22 world fields which yeelds increase the owners of them are bound to pay yearly the tythe of their increase truly without any fraud unto them whom God hath appointed should be his Ministers to dispense unto his people holy things according to the Apostles words Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple 1 Cor. 9 12 14. and they which wait at the Altar are partakers of the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel It is hence very evident that though that manner of worship and service is changed which was performed by them who were Ministers at the Temple and at the Altar yet the maintenance which these had is continued and to be continued unto those who are to transact that publick worship and service of God which the Gospel appoints Therefore the Ministers of the Gospel are not to live of the peoples allowance but of the things belonging to the Gospel which is the tythe established by a Law which was never yet repealed and which by Christs Ordinance is yet further confirmed for as much as it entailes for ever on his Evangelical Ministerial servants the things of this Gospel which are the tythes and which were formerly setled on his Levitical servants during the continuance of their service for him And let not cavillers hereafter clamour against this proofe for tythes as taken from the Law seeing the Apostle in proving the equity of Ministers maintenance calls on us to consider the very voice of the Law enjoyning it Say I saith he 1 Cor. 9. 8 9 10. these things as a man or saith not the Law the same also For it is written in the Law of Moses thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt it is written that he that ploweth shall plow in hope and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope And again in declaring after what manner the setled maintenance of Christs Evangelical Ministerial servants should arise he asks us if we do not know namely according as the book of the Law hath penned it how the Levitical Ministerial servants of God had their maintenance arise and intimates plainly that the Lord hath ordained that in like manner the Preachers of the Gospel should live or have their maintenance And againe writing concerning the ample maintenance which the laborious Ministers of the word were to have he cites for proof of it the forementioned place out of the Law as if he 2 Tim. 3. 17 18. would have us to understand that the limiting Ministers and curbing them from enjoyment of their full maintenance is against the Law it is a muzzeling the Oxe that treadeth out the corne and that their having maintenance by tythes is but what the Law appoints and the Gospel ordaines and that they who will but allow them a charitable and not an honourable maintenance are transgressors against the Law which forbids the muzzeling of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne They then who in the time of the Gospel will in no case hearken to the Law of God whether the New Testament directs us for the finding out the decision of this and some other particular points must acknowledge that either the Apostle who sends us to consider what the Law saith was therefore in a foul errour which none who are true Christians dare do or that themselves who deny to heare what the Law saith are in the errour for want of grace and judgement and that out of pride and Covetousnesse they will not believe the New Testament which tell us that the Law hath determined it From what I have said I do punctually answer thee and say that this paying of tythes is a standing thing to be done after Abrahams time 7. Thou asks Is the Sonne of God become the end of all similitudes and likenesses Answ All similitudes
their peoples sins and errors 46 Their words in preaching tends not to cause divisions and offences 70 Faithfull Ministers will not desist from the work of the Ministry though tithes be took and detained from them 66 67 A Minister is not to cease from his labors ministerial though he find that his people continue unreformed 102 103 The fruites of faithfull Ministers will not wither 104 Faithfull Ministers are no self seekers but self-wasters for the peoples spiritual good 73 74 The established faithful Ministers of the English Church are no false Prophets and false Apostles and false Teachers and Hirelings 131 Peoples believing or not believing that one is a Minister doth not make or unmake him one 6 Ministers may justly require tithes from those people under their charge who come not to enjoy their labors but withdraw from their publick Assemblies 141 142 Ministers are no wranglers in demanding their due maintenance of Tithes and other dues 2 3 Ministers are not covetous for demanding their dues 76 Mockers and Scoffers who they are which the Apostle said should come 93 94 95 Money Who divine for money and teach for hire 43 Ministers do not divine for money 43 44 Preaching for money is a sin 48 N NOvice who is and who is not a Novice 91 92 A Congregation being out of order doth not prove that the Minister thereof is a Novice 92 O OBstinate people are usually those that have eyes and see not and ears and hear not 41 P PArdon of Offendors is easie to God but not so to man 29 30 Parsonage houses may lawfully be enjoyed and possessed by the Gospel 123 Perfection whither attainable by men on earth and what perfection men may and to what they cannoâ— come while they are on earth 149 150 Pharisees condemned for affecting a magnifying of themselves 9 10 Places of holy Assemblies for divine service and holy purposes are lawfully called Churches 145 146 Popes by sacrilegious acts in alienating tithes from Ministers to Monks and others have proved themselves to be therein Anti-christs 7 Popery the sink of Heresies in the Western parts of the world 160 161 Preaching of the word doth not profit many people the causes whereof is not in the Preachers but in the people and what these causes are 98 99 100 Priesthood of Aarons changed but Melchizedecks is not 108 Priesthood of Christs and Aarons differ'd 109 The Law of Aarons Priests is changed 109 Priests of Aarons order had a Law to take tithes which is disanulled to them and yet the Law of taking tithes is not disanulled to Ministers 110 Priests who were in Jeremiahs time had their lawfull rule setled on their order by divine Authority 34 Romish Priests are the Priests in our dayes wâ—o divine for money and teach for hire 50 Prey twofold ibid. How the people was preyed on in the dark and cloudy day 59 60 Price what it is 20 Prophets false are threatned and with what 47 Prophecying sons and daughters at this age who are not 144 145 146 Prophecying or preaching daughters are disclaimed 145 How sons and daughters are said to prophecy 156 Psalms of David are injoyned to be sung 105 106 Singing Psalms is injoyned to worldly men as to sanctified men 106 Q QVakers are no such commers to Christ and professors of his Truth as they pretend 132 Bodily Quakers are no absolute evidence of salvation wrought with fear and trembling 144 R REligion The first principle of true Religion what 144 Rvelations now a dayes of saving Truths unrevealed in the revelations and inspirations which Prophets and Apostles had in penning of holy Scripture are all of them utterly disowned and disclaimed 144 154 Long robes not condemned but the ambitioas seeking to be clad therewith 14 15 Romish Teachers and Sectarians are they who with faigned words and covetousness make merchandize of Gods people 81 Bearing Rule by means what is thereby meant in Jeremiah 35 38 39 S SAcrament that word is lawfully used by Christians 148 Salvation wrought with fear and trembling in the Apostles sense what 153 Holy Scripture was not indited to be an history to relate every particular act done by those holy men whom it mentions 114 Seducers their fruit will wither what it is and how it will wither 103 104 Seducers are guilty of filthy Lucre 8 Self-love what lawfull and unlawfull 72 73 Shepherds against whom Ezekiah complains what is meant by wicked Shepherds eating the fat 52 What by their cloathing with the wool 52 53 What by their killing of the fllock that were fed 53 54 The particular neglect of wicked Shepherds in not exercising their Calling 55 56 The faults of evil Shepherds 57 Sheep Gods promise to seek his sheep doth not warrant any of the flock to have wandring sheep and to turn away from the Shepherds set over them 63 Gods promise to deliver his sheep doth not allow the sheep to detain tithes and dues from their Shepherds ibid. Gods promise to feed his sâ—eep on the mountains is no warrant unto his sheep to forsake the publick Assemblies or Congregations of his true Church 64 Singing Psalâ—s injoyned 106 Sin The particular sins for which God threatned by Jeremiah to visit the people 37 38 Wicked mens sins are fruits which proceed from themselves and not from their faithful teaching Ministers 96 97 98 101 No man can so put off the body of sin while he is on earth that he shall be free from sin 151 152 Souldiers are bound to pay a tenth of their spoils 112 Son of God is come to end all similitudes and liknesses 118 Spirit The Spirits pouring out doth not make all Preachers 145 156 Spirits pouring out of all flesh how 145 The Spirits extraordinary inspirations and donations are now ceased 156 Sprinkling of Infants is allowed 146 147 T TEaching lies errors and incouragements in sin and security is a ruining in sin 47 They do not teach for money and lucre who take tithes 49 The duty of one who hath more understanding then his Teachers 27 False Teachers are in the way of Cain and Balaam 79 80 81 82 83 False Teachers are wells without water 87 88 And inwardly ravening wolves 100 They are known by their fruites 100 101 They are called wicked 101 Thorns Briars Thistles what t s said of them according to Scripture 95 96 False Teachers are not by the name of Briars Thorns and Thistles described to be false Teachers but thereby to be wicked men 94 95 Tithes are Gods Rent to be paid as acknowleâ—gment of his Soveraignty over all 22 23 Tithes Christs right 23 And how Ministers are appointed to receive his right ibid. They demand from people only Christs right in demanding Tithes 23 24 Tithes are for ever to be paid to Christ by paying them to his Ministers 109 The fundamental reasons of paying Tithes of all 112 Tithes are not the price of Ministers preaching unto people spirituals 21 Tithes and money are no ends of Ministers teaching 45 Tithes were paid to Melchizepeck more then once 113 114 Paying Tithes is a standing duty to be paid by all ever after Abrahams time 115 116 117 Tithes are to be paid by all though they come to Christ 129 130 Denyers of paying Tithes is a renouncing of Gods Soveraignty over them Refusing of paying of Tithes to Ministers are in that act of theirs followers of the Pope but no Disciples of God and Christ 6 7 Taking Tithes is no making of Prey upon people 59 Christ biding his Disciples and Apostles to eat what is before them doth not inhibit the the taking of Tithes 121 122 It is no unrighteous thing to demand Tithes 137 Faithfull Priests Levites and Prophets of the Jewish Church are not blamed by any holy Prophet for taking Tithes or ministerial maintenance 17 18 Tithes were not disallowed and condemned by Jeremiah 32 33 Tithes and taking Tithes are in no place condemned or reproved by Ezekiel neither dirst he do so 57 Tithes are none of the Figures similitudes and liknesses to which Christ by his comming put an end 118 U UNcontentedness which God and the Law of the Land allows is a sin 48 Voice The immediate voce of God is not heard by Ministers and yet they communicate unto people the voice and word of God 149 W WElls without water who 88 What is meant by using good words and fair speeches 69 71 Wrangling demanding and inquiring after dues is no wrangling 2 3 FINIS
beares rule by thy means which the Lord sent Jeremiah to cry against Jer. 5. which was an horrible filthy thing committed in the land which the people loved to have it so for which God would visit them I in holding up such do I obey the Prophets voice or am one of the foolish people that have eyes and see not hath ears and hear not without the fear of God holding up such as bear rule by their means Did they not look upon Jeremy as one being deceived and was not he cast into prison and dungeon Did not the Priests and the Princes say he was worthy of death 5. Art not thou one of them that divines for money and teaches for hire and if I will put in thy mouth thou will preach peace to me if I will not thou will prepare war against me Did not such bring the people all on heaps yea Jerusalem Did not God say night should come on such and was not Micah full of the power and full of the Spirit to declare unto them their sin and transgression And is it not a sin and transgression now answer me 6. Art not thou one of them that seeks for the fleece and hath made a prey upon the people in this cloudy and dark day and with force and cruelty ruled over them Doth not the Lord say he will seek and gather them from your mouths and feed them upon the tops of the mountains even I will do it saith the Lord God Ezek. 34. 7. Would thou bear rule among the people if they should take away thy means Wouldst thou divine if they should take away thy money Wouldst thou keep the flock if they should take away the fleece Did not the Prophets cry against such and how can thou clear thy self from these steps if thou canst answer me by Scripture and the Apostles practise 8. Art not thou in the steps of them that the Apostle speaks of to the Romans that with thy fair speeches and good words deceives the hearts of the simple which serves not the Lord Jesus Christ but thy own belly 9. Art not thou one of the Lovers of their own selves that art covetous and to be turned away from 2 Tim. 3. Art not thou one of them as Peter speaks of that with covetousness and fained words makes merchandiâ—e of the people and so art in Cains way and Balaams way answer 11. Were not these the wels without water and clouds carried about with Tempests which the Apostle saw coming in before his departure 12. Art not thou one of the Novices spoken of in the Scripture seeing that thy Gongregation is so out of order scoffing giving names railing and abusing as Witches and such slandring expressions to honest people Are not these the Mockers now that should come that the Apostle said should come that now we see hath reigned since And are not these the Marks of the false Prophets Mockers Scoffers Briars Thorns Thistles Do we not see these fruits proceed from thee and shew that thou hast not profited the people at all Jer. 23. Doth not Christ say By their fruits ye shall know them Mat. 7. inwardly ravening Do we not see that people could be but wild Mockers and Scoffers if thou never spoke to them and are not these thy fruits and doth not the Apostle say their fruits shall whither and shall not these fruits wither thinks thou 13. Where did the Apostles give Davids quakings Prophecies Reproaches fastings in meeter to sing to the world 14. Is the Priesthood changed that took Tithes Is the Law changed by which they were made Is the commandment disanulled that gave them tithes Did Abraham pay tithes to Melchizedeck of his substance or of the spoil Did he ever do it to him more then once Was it a standing thing to be done after him Is the Son of God come the end of all similitudes and liknesses Now if thou say that they which preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel and have I not power to eat and power to drink yea when Christ sent forth his Disciples he bad them enquire who was worthy and what they set before them they might eat But did he that said have I not power to eat say have I not power to take stipends augmentations tithes gleab-lands great sums of money or parsonage houses Now if thou come to my house who says thou art a Minister of the Gospel and Minister unto me spirituall things I shall set before thee of my carnall things if thou hast enquired and found my house worthy so said Christ what they set before thee eat so said the Apostle have not I power to eat to drink but said I have not writen this nor spoken this that it should be so done unto me for I have not used my power But if thou come to a towne or come to an house and inquire for tithes and augmentations tithe woll hay Pigs Bees Gardens money for smoak passing up Chimnyes Foales Eggs Geese Chickins Calves Lambs and other creatures and thou canst not shew me by Scripture where the Apostle did so I must say thou art one of those evill beasts that mindes earthly things and thine own belly if thou cannot prove to the contrary 15. If any people had followed the false Prophets false Apostles and such as made a prey upon them for filthy lucre and covetousnes and took their money bear rule by their meanes and divined for mony sought for their fleece the Priest that preached for hire and come to Christ from the hirelings that will flee who hath laid down his life for the sheep who saith learn of me I am the way to the father and witnesse the word in them and the annointing in them to teach them are they to maintaine and uphold such before mentioned that Christ the Prophets and Apostles cryed against or maintain such Prophets and Priests in their way yea or nay as Priests and ministers and teachers 16. Are not they Ministers of unrighteousnesse and so messengers of Satan that seeks for meanes maintenance tithes of them they doe not work for is not that an unrighteous deed thing Now if it be said the labourer is worthy of his hire is it not then an unrighteous thing to go and take hire of them answer me and let truth spake and come to the light and bring thy deeds to it Now if you say we plow in hope and thresh in hope that we may be made partakers of our hope now if thou plowest not for me nor threshest not for me how can thou bring the Scripture and say the workman is worthy of his hire to on that hath not set thee at worke and that thou plowest not for and threshest not for 17. What is the first principle of the pure Religion Is the steeple house the Church What scripture hast thou for sprinkling Infants What scripture hast thou for the word Sacrament hast thou heard Gods voice immediately from
heaven as Prophets and Apostles did or Christs voice Dost thou believe that a man shall come to that which is perfect while he is upon the earth and have the body of sin put off and be free from sin Dost thou owne that salvation that is wrought out with fear and trembling Dost thou own the same Revelation and Inspiration that the Prophets and Apostles had now in this age yea or nay Dost thou own the Prophesing sons and daughters in this age and that the Lord will poure his Spirit upon all flesh When Christ saith to his Dicsiples be yee not called Masters for yee have own Master and all ye are brethren where dost thou read Mr. Paul Mr. Mathew Mr. Mark Mr. Luke Mr. Iohn Mr. Peter Mr. James Mr. Timothy Mr. Titus that these transgressed the command of Christ Is not he Antichrist that transgressetb and the deceiver and hath not God nor the Son and is not to be bid Godspeed read Iohns second Epistle and answer me Answer me these queryes in writting to the thing that is queried and do not say they are foolish and non-sense but let have me an answer in writing William Emerson AN Answer Returned to the former Letter according to its seventeen Heads of Demands in answerable CHAPTERS CHAP. I. FRiend I have as thou desired at the giving unto me thy Paper read it with as great patience and consideration as I could and I by this do return thee an Answer intreating thee to read and peruse it with Patience Christian Candor and Consideration giving unto God the praise if thou reap any good by it My answer is to things in the same order as they were proposed by thee Thus thou begins I. FRiend who calls thy self a Minister of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures to be the Rule Shew me out of the Scriptures where the Apostles or the Disciples or the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ or any of the Saints or Believers ran up and down or sent up and down and wrangled with Parishes for Tithe-calves Tithe-pigs geese or Eggs Apples Hey Wool Lambs Flax Foals Plow-pennies Bees Gardens or for money for smoak passing up Chimneis Answer me this by Scripture out of the Apostles Disciples practise and give me plain Scripture for it or else I shall never believe that thou art a Minister of Christ but hath the Tithes from the Author the Pope come up since the dayes of the Apostles Answer to this is as followeth Answer I do truly affirm my self to be a Minister of Jesus Christ because he hath called me to his Ministry and hath not only endowed me with gifts essential to the Ministry but further called me by a right Ordination to it according to the way of the Church of England and all antient Catholick Churches And according to that only Rule given from God for the ordering of mens conversation heaven-ward which is the Holy Scripture of which I say and will maintain it against all Opposers that it is the only Rule given by God for ordering all mens conversation in thingâ—â—ppâ—â—tâ—ining to God and which leads them towards Heaven Whereas thou bids me to shew thee out of the Scriptures where the Apostles or Disciples or Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ or any Saint or Believer ran up and down or sent up and down to wrangle with Parishes for Tithe-calves and other particulars mentioned bidding me to answer it by Scripture out of the Apostles and Disciples practise and to give thee plain Scripture for it Answer Neither the Apostles nor the Disciples who were Ambassadors of Jesus Christ nor any Saints or Believers were in the first setlings of the Church after Christ put to wrangle with any Parishes or persons for things which was due unto them Righteousness was so exercised among the Professors and Believers of the Christian faith at first that they would not wrong any by detaining their Rights Corruption afterâ—aâ—ds crept into the Corinthian Church a Church which as thou shall know anon denied to the Apostle maintenance and would wrong one another and to the shame and scandal of their profession 2 Cor. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. by lawing before Unbelievers made their wrong doings and defrauding others manifest unto the world A thing which the Apostle tels them was a fault and threatens such unrighteous Dealers with not Inheriting the Kingddom of God I do not go nor send any up and down to wrangle but to demand as is my duty and to receive that temporal maintenance which of Right from Christ doth appertain unto me If any will wranâ—le with me and those whom I send to demand and receive what is due seeking thereby to detain fraudulently what is due I conceive the fault of wrangling is meerly their own arising from their own perverse covetous sacrilegious spirit which is rebellious to Christ but it is not from me who doth but demand and challenge what is due and herein I do but as Peter did who demanded of Ananias and Saphira having kept back a part of that which was consecrated to God Act. 5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11. the Truth and the Right And though the Lord in these our times doth not shew visible immediate Judgements ordinarily on unfaithfull and fraudulent payers of Tithes which are Christs dues and his Ministets for his sake yet it is most sure that without Repentance such shall lie under Gods eternal curse who livâ— and die in their Thievery of robbing Gods Ministers in the least parcel of their livelihood appointed unto them from Mal. 3. 8 9. God Touching the Particulars of Tithes which thou hast mentioned bidding me answer it by Scripture out of the Apostles and Disciples practise and to give plain Scripture for it I say Thou cannot be ignorant if thou be a Reader of Holy Scriptures and not a Rejecter of them that the Levites under the Law of whom many were very holy men received Tithes and that God commanded the people to pay Tithes to them and that the Apostle saith Know you not that they who minister about the Holy things eat of the things of the Temple and they 1 Cor. 9. 13 41. which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar even so also hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel mind these words Even so hath the Lord ordained The Apostle tels us that as it was ordained by God that they of old who waited on the Altar should live of the Altar so God hath ordained that they who preach the Gospel would even so live of the Gospel even so comprehends in it that in the same manner the maintenance of the Preachers of the Gospel should arise which thou may know was by Tithes and Offerings Act. 4. 34. by lands and houses for them and their family c. As for the practise of the Apostles and Disciples which thou calls for to be shewed from
plain Scripture it was plainly thus At the first Believers who had possessions of Lands and houses sold them and brought the prices of them and laid them down at the Apostles feet The Apostles during that time could not in equity demand Tithes from them who had made over to them the possession of what they had from whence Tithes arose and were content themselves to receive their livelihood for the future from such distributions which the Apostles allowed to every man according as they had need Now if thou or others thinks that Ministers ought exactly to conform to this first practise of the Apostles in not receiving Tithes because they had mens whole possessions whence arose Tithes committed to their prudent disposal then thou and those others who call your selves Believers ought in equity to commit to the Ministers your whole Estates to be prudentially disposed of by them to every man as they have need or else you conform not to these Believers who lived in the Apostles dayes and inabled them to live without demanding and receiving Tithes But we the faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ do require no such thing to be done to us by you as was done to the Apostles by the first Believers Neither is their any necessity for you to imitate those first Believers in their giving up all to Ministers or for us Ministers to receive from you all that which you have because the Apostle hath exactly prescribed that the maintenance of Ministers should arise in anotheâ— manner Another practise therefore of the Apostles was plainly this In places where Churches was planted and the custome of selling lands and houses and conferring them upon Ministers was not observed the Apostles themselves expected and took also maintenance from those among whom they had laboured except some grand inconveniences would have ensued upon 2 Cor. 11. 7 8. their taking maintenance The Apostle tels the Corinthians I have preached unto you the Gospel freely I robbed other Churches taking wages of them to do you service He here plainly shews that the Church of Corinth where he had laboured was bound to have afforded unto him a livelihood and maintenance and that they had been very faulty in not doing so and that while he did them service he had received from other Churches maintenance accounting it a kind of robbing those Churches to take from them any thing for that service which was by him afforded to another Church and at that time not to them for the Apostle knew that every Church where the Gospel was preached was bound to afford a sufficient and honourable maintenance to their Teachers and that would seem a substraction from and obstruction of that sufficiency of Maintenance for their own peculiar Teachers if the Teachers of other Churches should for their Relief and maintenance while they serve those other Churches depend on them to receive it Yea the Apostle askes the Corinthians forgiveness for this wrong in 2 Cor. 12 13 not being burdensom to them by taking maintenance from them which they ought to have paid Thereby shewing plainly 1. That he was not bound to abstain from receiving from them though he was pleased to do it for preventing false constructions which false Teachers and his and the Ministers enemies would have made of it as if he were a self-seeker a covetous wretch an oppressor a Fleecer and Spoiler of his flock and a partial Judge in his own cause even as thou and such as thou seek with such like expressions to defame me and other Ministers pleading for our just setled maintenance by Tythes And 2. The Apostle by the forementioned words doth plainly intimate that other Ministers were not bound to forbear receiving from people their own Rights as he did forbear it among the Corinthians Yea This same Apostle hath laid down a Canon to be for ever observed it is this Let him that is taught in the Word Gal. 6. 6. communicate to him that teacheth in all good things In that he saith In all good things nothing is excluded even all the particulars which thou hast mentioned and all other temporals from whence a temporal commodity through â—ods blessing ariseth they are all comprehended in that expression Communicate to him that teacheth in all good things The Apostle injoins a free liberal and large allowance in all good things but no base niggardly and beggerly pittance in regard that such who teach are together with the taught fellow Tenants unto God holding from God with the taught a right in common not in one or two but in all good things wherewith God hath blessed them who are taught And for thy further information know also that it is not to be found in the whole New Testament that any Apostle or that any Saint or that the Saint of Saints The Lord Jesus Christ did speak one word against Tithes or forbid the paying of Tithes to them who were the Ministers of Gods service I am sure that he hath ratified the Law of Tithes and hath spoke for them He tells us that he came not to destroy the Law he means the moral Law yea he ratifies the eight Commandment which forbids robbing of men and robbing of God a sin which Mal. 3. 8. God doth most earnestly complain of and tells how he was robbed even in Tithes and Offerings And again our Saviout speaking to Scribes and Pharisces saith Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees Luke 11. 42. Hypocrites for ye tithe Mint and Rue and all manner of herbs and pass over Judgement and the love of God these things ought you to have done and not leave the other undone According to the Tenor of our Saviours own words to take and pay tithes is no other but what ought to be done the fault which he cryed woe against was the neglect of Judgement and the love of God Thou bids me answer it by Scripture out of the Apostles and Disciples practise and to give thee plain Scripture for it else thou shall never believe that I am a Minister of Christ but hath Tythes from the Author the Pope come up since the dayes of the Apostle Answer I have done all what thou bid me I have given plain Scripture for what thou did demand yet I doubt thou will nor believe that I am a Minister of Christ however know that as thine and others believing that thing doth not make me a Minister of Christ so thine and others not believing it cannot at all make me cease from being what I am a Minister of Christ Jesus Thou and ten thousand such as thou are not able to disprove it My Lord and Master will acknowledge me for such and I wish that the very despising of Christ and God be not laid unto their charge whose abode being through Gods providence in that parish or precinct whereof he hath made me Overseer do yet despise me his Minister and reject his words taught by me Thou may now perceive that I have tithes
were the men who in Micahs dayes prophecied for money they would in their prophecyings forbear to speak any penitential word Mich. 2. 6. which humbles and shames sinners and they would for money speak presumptuous or licentious words to encourage Mic. 2. 11. people in sinne and particularly in their drunkennesse or excesse and it is certaine that the Priests who taught for hire were only unfaithful and corrupt Priests who being uncontent with their portion of Glebes Tithes and Offerings which God had appointed should be assigned unto them they would also be hired to speak what pleased the people and justified them in their sins making them believe that Gods Word did as well approve of the profane and uncleane as it did of the holy Eze. 22. 26 and clean not shewing the difference of them To thy question then Art not thou one of them who divines for money and teacheth for hire I answer I am not any such man who doth so thy supposal that I and other faithful Ministers have done so is most unjust for we make not our people to erre as did the false prophets of whom Micah speaks by teaching them lies and falsehoods we do not raile upon and speak all manner of evil of the faithful Ministers of Christ as the false prophets did of the true Prophets of the Lord tearing them with their teeth and smiting them with their tongue We do not flatter and sooth people in their sins as did these false prophets we do not as these false prophets did seek to vex those who do not afford us entertainment and embracement We do not forbear when a just oceasion is offered to rebuke our people sharply and to make them ashamed of sinne We do not speak licentious or presumptuous words to encourage people in their sinfulnesse as did the false prophets we do not countenance any false teachers nor yet for base gaine as did the unfaithful corrupt Priests seek in our teachings to please and justifie people in their sinful courses For we speak not to please men but God who trieth our hearts we dare do nothing against the truth but for the truth God hath appointed us his servants 1 Thes 2. 4 in office to preserve holy knowledge and to dispense it to his people We are no hirelings of any mortal creature neither will we be hired for any worldly considerations either to betray or to belie Gods truth though oppositions and hatred from worldlings proves to be our portion for our preaching for Christs sake the truths of Christ And be it known unto thee and to all the world that though I and other faithful Ministers of the Gospel have from God and the Laws of the Nation tythes allowed unto us from whence money arises for supply of our temporal needs yet tythes and money arising thence is not the scope and end of our teaching We are thankful unto Christ for providing for us in this manner whereby we are freed from many distractions in his service and from avocations from it wherewith other Ministers as they complain are cloyed who must ride far and wait long upon Treasurers and other men for their Salary We preach not for tythes and money accruing to us thence but out of love to Christ Jesus our Master and out of conscience to discharge faithfully our calling and duty and out of compassion to our people to save them from death to gaine them to Christ and to turn them from the power of Satan unto God For this it is we labour and preach spending our selves and being spent in study and preaching not seeking theirs but them Neither count we our life dear unto us so we may finish our course with joy and the Ministry which we have received of the Lord to testifie to our people the Grace of God We well know that if we would make money our end and aime in this world there are other courses advantagious and enough contentive to be took forgetting that and not this course of consuming our selves from morning to night and many times in the night in study in tiring our spirits in mournings of our soules in secret for the obstinacy of unruly unteachable ungodly and unconscionable sinners who care not how uncivilly unjustly and fraudulently they withhold from Christ our Master their duties and from us his servants their dues and rights briefly we preach not for money but for the good of our people that they may be stamped with Gods image in Christ and may not prove reprobate silver rejected of God We do not preach for hire though God giveth it unto us but to bring people to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light with God and with Christ for ever and ever To what thou writes which concerns thy self and my self namely If I will put into thy mouth sayest thou to me thou will preach pâ—â—ce to me if I will not thou will prepare war against me I answer I am by Calling a Minister of the Gospel of Christ and therefore am a professed souldier of Jesus Christ as all other 2 Tim. 2. 3 faithful Ministers are I must then continually war against the sinnes and errours of the times and places where I live and fight against the powers of darknesse which seeks to corrupt and take captives the souls of men I must and will denounce Gods judgements against wilful and obstinate sinners that they may throughly understand that there is no peace for them For there is no peace saith my God unto the wicked Isa 57. 21. And though false Teachers will speak peace to those people in their sins and errours who are bountiful unto them yet be thou well assured that no bounties or contributions from thee or from any other shall stop my mouth from uttering faithfully the messages of the Lord against those very sins and errours wherewith I shall at any time finde either thee or any other of my people to be tainted Perhaps thou calls my preaching against them a preparing warre against thee but I contest not against thy person but against thy corruption I must lift up my voice like a Trumpet to shew my people their transgression and their sins and I will not be bribed by any either to hold my peace and be silent or to speak unto you peace thereby to encourage you in any of those abominations which you resolve to follow What is in this fifth Head of demands further writ is this Did not such bring the people on heaps even Hierusalem Did not God say night shall come on such and was not Micah full of power and of the Spirit to declare unto them their sin and is it not a sin and transgression now Answer me Answ It is already proved out of the Prophet that the false prophets would for money speak words to embolden people to continue in sin and that the corrupt Priests would be hired to teach what pleased the people and what justified them in
any means to reclaime them from their transgressions or to restrain them in them but they did incourage them therein by justifying in their teachings those lies of the false prophets whereby the people was hardened in sinne and so continued lost in the ditch of corruption into which they were slidden Moreover some of the flock was lost in forsaking God and in serving Idols on mountains and Eze. 8. 5 6 7 10 11 14 16. on hills and at Hierusalem at the Gate of the Altar at the doore of the Court at the door of the Lords House at the door of the Temple of the Lord and yet we do not read that these wicked Priests or shepherds did seek to restraine any Idolatries any where in the Land or that they sought to bring back unto the true worship of God any either of the Princes or of the people who were lost in being plunged in idolatrous and superstitious abominations 6. The Prophet sets out their evil carriage in general towards the flock in these words But with force and cruelty have ye ruled over them These wicked Priests called shepherds domineered unwarrantably over the people they violently constrained them besides what was their dues and commanded by Gods Law to be given unto them to grant them what they exacted and that both when and how they 2 Kin. 24. 4 Lam. 4. 13 pleased yea and with fierce cruelty by the help of wicked Princes as bloody as themselves they shed the blood of those who would do nothing but what was just and right the consideration Jer. 23 10 11 Lam. 4. 14 Ier. 23. 11. whereof made Jeremiah say that their course was evil and their force not right for both Prophet and Priest are profane they became prophane by polluting themselves by blood as well as by their polluting of Gods Ordinances and by working wickedness in his house and Ezekiel saith that they ruled the flock with force and cruelty they rigorously tyranized over their persons and states making their lives bitter unto them and forcing some of them out of their lives that they might get what they injuriously gaped after in their states thus he who departed from evil was made a prey and these wicked Isa 59. 1â— shepherds not caring for their flock did in this manner like ravenous Wolves prey on it The doleful event of this ill usage of the flock by their wicked shepherds was the scattering them and exposing them to be devoured or destroyed in all lands whether they were driven and whether also they were scattered in the dark and cloudy day of the Nations publick calamities and utter desolations By all this which hath been said thou and any who reads the thirty fourth Chapter of Ezekiel may perceive that the evil shepherds therein mentioned are blamed by him for these faults 1. For their violating Gods Ordinance which forbad them to eat the fat and to weare wollen in some parts of his service both these they did 2. For their killing some of their flock in their temporals by procuring their death and by actually poysoning their souls with teaching lies and falshoods 3. He blames them for not regarding to discharge their duties towards the flock they did not teach any thing which tended to strengthen the weak and to heal the sick souls or to comfort the distressed or to convert transgressors or to perswade to a kinde and gentle recal of the banished or to reclaime any to reformation or to restrein idolatrous and superstitious inventions and practices 4. He condemns them for their tyrannical domineering over the flock and for using them cruelly These were the things which the Prophet condemned in these wicked shepherds but their taking of their dues allotted unto them in offerings and in tithe fleeces and other things tithable which was assigned them was no sinne at all because God had appointed it neither is it in any place reproved or spoke against by the Prophet Ezekiel neither durst he do so because he durst not speak against any standing Ordinance of God such was tithes and offerings in those times to be paid unto the Priests and Levites I have now done with shewing thee what that was for which the Prophet Ezekiel did blame those evils shepherds Secondly I am to answer thy demands which concerns my selfe thus thou writes Art not thou one of them that seeks for the fleece and hath made a prey upon the people in this cloudy and dark day and with force and cruelty ruled over them Answ The wicked shepherds or Priests of whom the Prophet speaks being uncontent with the tenths and offerings allowed to them did seek to have also a share in those fleeces and other goods of the people which was the ninth part which God ordained that the people should possesse And these Priests would by violence and tyrannical cruelty as hath been shewed wrest from the people what was undue unto the Priest I am neither one of those nor yet like any of these who seeks to have from people either fleeces or any other goods which is not due to me but truly I am like one of those holy Levites and religious Priests in those times who did onely seek and look after their dues of tithe fleeces and other tythes from those who were to pay it unto them and as it was in them no sin to do so no more is it in me or any other faithful Minister a sinne to demand and seek after and receive that which is our due as tithes are God and the Laws of our Nation having allotted them unto us There is neither illegality nor any iniquity in that act for which we can be justly taxed though both injustice and iniquity was in the wicked Priests in taking and wresting from people unlawfully that which was the peoples and was no wayes due unto the Priests 2. To the other part of thy Demands which is Art not thou one of them that hath made a prey upon the people in this cloudy and dark day I answer I have not made any kinde of prey upon any one of the people either in the cloudy and dark day of our Nations late Civil Warre and calamity or yet in any other day whatsoever There is a twofold kinde of prey which men make upon one another 1. All the spoile which in a time of peace when Isa 10. 1 2 there is no warre is got by unjust acts and unlawful arts is Eze. 38. 12 13 called a prey 2. All spoile took in war by enemies or from enemies is also called a prey The people of whom the Prophet in the 34. of Ezekiel speaks that they were made a prey were both wayes preyed upon in the dark and cloudy day of the Nations calamity and captivity In all the former part of that day which began at the first declination of the State and ended with their captivity the people of the Land endured great and unjust taxations oppressions persecutions and
spoilings from their Princes and other Rulers from their wicked Priests and false prophets Jehoiakim taxed the Land and exacted silver and gold of every 2 King 23. 35. Ier. 26. 20 Eze. 22. 27 Ezek. 45. 8 9 one of the people of the Land according to the taxation and he slew Vrijah the Prophet The Princes also in that time was exceeding covetous shedding blood to get gaine they oppressed and exacted on people spoiling them yea and the wicked Priests and prophets were also covetous to have from people deceitfully and cruelly what did not legally belong unto them from the least to the greatest of them every one was Ier. 6. 13. given to covetousness and from the Prophet to the Priest every one dealt falsely thus that people was made a prey upon before their captivity In the latter part of that cloudy and dark day of sufferings which was at their captivity these people were then made a prey by Heathens both by those who led them captives the Chaldeans and also by the neighbouring Heathens who helped on that captivity as be the Edomites who laid hands on Obadiah 13. 14. their substance and did cut off those who did escape yea they were then made desolate and were swallowed up on every side becoming a prey and derision to the residue of the Heathen that were round about In this manner and no otherwise that I read of did these peoples own Princes Priests and false prophets and their enemies make a prey upon them in the day of their sufferings and utter suppressing To thy demand I truly say I have not to my knowledge by any unjust act or unlawful arts in the times of peace got any thing from any of the people which was justly theirs neither have I in the times of the late wars took from any by violence or force or any other unlawful course any thing which was justly theirs to possesse and therefore I am not one of those nor like one of those of whom the Prophet spake who made a prey upon the people in the cloudy and dark day of our Nations troubles and tribulations I have been in all these times and am still content with the tithes which by Gods and mans Law are due unto me knowing full well that the taking of these of the people is an act just and righteous in the sight both of God and man knowing also that an understanding and just man cannot account that a Ministers taking the tithes which are his dues from the people is a making a prey upon the people unlesse he conceives also that the asking and receiving by any one of the people their rents and of their due debts from any of their debtors is a making a prey upon their debtors in this dark and cloudy day but sure they are under a judgement of great darknesse and cloudinesse who judge thus either of the Ministers or of the peoples receiving of their dues 3. To that other part of thy Demand which is Art not thou one of them that hath with force and cruelty ruled over them I answer I have not used either force or cruelty towards any of my people This is my rejoycing even the testimony of my conscience that I as became a Minister of God have shewed gentlenesse towards all men and have been patient and in meeknesse have instructed them that oppose themselves if God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth I have not used among them Zac. 11. 15 the instruments of a foolish wicked shepherd as did the wicked shepherds of Israel namely the sheeres of violence to take from them what is their right and the knife of cruelty to butcher their persons and destroy their lives but I have used only the instruments of a good shepherd namely the spirit of love and of meeknesse to perswade them to do that which is right according to Gods and mans Law agreeing with Gods which is their duty and the rod of a righteous Law to drive such into the paths of righteousnesse who have straied from rightful into wrong doing and will be no other wayes reduced to do that which is right which is their duty The Law which I have been sometime constrained from some to make use of for the recovering of my dues as also all other men may lawfully use the same course in appealing to Caesar and the Laws of the Land when other courses cannot prevaile to obtaine what belongs unto them from men resolved to wrong them I say this Law is clamoured against by such men who do wrong and desire to do wrong to others as if it were nothing else but force and cruelty These exorbitant and disobedient men speak evil of the things which they do not or are not willing to understand for the just Laws of a Nation are Proprietaries Sanctuary the reliever of the oppressed and the appointer of due sufferings to those that do evil and wrong their brethren The Law saith the Apostle is good if it be used lawfully knowing that the Law is made for the lawlesse 1 Tim. 1. 8 9. and disobedient namely for such people who are licentiously and rebelliously disposed the Law is to bring such to understand and to practise their duty who without its determinations will not out of a willing minde apply themselves to that which is right and just Briefly I have not at all used either force or cruelty towards any of my people but I have applyed my self to do that which is just and righteous fit for me to do according to the Law or Word of God as I am a Minister of the Church and according to the Laws of my Nation as I am a member of the Common-wealth Thy Demand touching the saying of the Lord is this Doth not the Lord say he will seek his sheep and gather them from your mouthes and feed them upon the tops of the mountaines even I will do it saith the Lord God Ezek. 39. I will answer in their order to thy three Questions here propounded 1. Thou asks Doth not the Lord say he will seek his sheep Answ The Lord doth say so both in the eleventh and twelfth verses of the thirty fourth of Ezekiel I saith he will search my sheep and seek them out And again I will seâ—k out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places whether they have been scattered The Lord who is the shepherd of Israel made good once this his Word to his people Israel when he sought and brought them out of the Babylonish captivity and from all places whether they had been scattered and the Prophet saith that he will set his hand a second time to recover the remnant of that people which shall be left from all places He shall set up an Ensigne for the Nations and shall assemble Isa 11. 11 12 the Out-casts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth yea
p. 146 147 Belly and what it is to serve the belly and what is not serving it 70 71 Briars Thorns and Thistles what is in Scripture said of them 94 95 Wicked men are Briars 96 C CAins way what it was 81 Ministers walk not in Cains way of Cruelty nor in his way of Infidelity 81 82 Popes and his Factors and other false Teachers walks in Cains way 82 Careless Servers of God and deceitfull payers of tithes to his Ministers are Walkers in Cains way 83 Christ is Mediator of the Everlasting Covenant 27 28 Christ is a Priest of Melchizedecks order for ever 108 Christs Priest-hood is differenced from Aarons 109 Christ hath ratified the Law of tithes 3 4 Christs laying down his life for his sâ—eep is no ground for his sheep to detain tithes from his ministerial Shepherds 132 Christs biding people learn of him doth not warrant them to neglect the hearing of their Ministers and to with-hold from them their maintenance p 132 133 Christ saying that he is the way doth not hinder Ministers from being guides in the way neither doth it discharge them from having maintenance and dues paid to them for their labours 133 Christ is a faithfull witnesse ibid. Christ being a faithfull witness doth not allow people to deny due maintenance to his Ministers 134 Christs anointing is no exclusion of Ministers from their work nor an expulsion of them from their means 135 Serving of Christ 68 Christ frees no commers to him from Tithes 131 Christians Primitives were exact and righteous payers unto others all dues and were no detainers from others their Rights 2 Church a rational Church what 145 A local Church allowed of by holy Scripture ibid. The local Church of Stanhopes Assemblies are vindicated thus 145 The Church of Corinth corrupted ibid. Clouds carried with a Tempest who 87 88 Cloathing with wool what 52 Comers unto God are to tender unto him what he requires of them and what that is 19 20 Congregations are not out of order when all things in them are done decently and in order 92 The fauls of some appertaining to a Congregation are not to be charged on it ibid. Covenant what the Everlasting Covenant is 27 Covetousness what lawfull and what is unlawfull 74 Covetous who so called in the old and new Testament 75 The Ministers are not covetous for demanding their dues 76 People are not covetous for demanding and taking their due debts ibid. They are truly covetous who seek to bereave Ministers of the Gospel of the Tithes which God and Law gives unto them 77 D DIrections for observing of spiritual mercies 25 26 27 28 29 E EAte Ministers have titlc to more then to eat a little meat and drink a little drink 120 121 124 Enthusiasts are one sort of false Prophets who in our dayes teach and divine for money 44 45 F FAT What is meant by eating the fat which was the sin of wicked Shepherds 51 52 Fed. What is meant by killing them that are fed 53 First borns maintenance or double portion 121 Fruits The fruits of Seducers will whither 103 The fruits of holy Ministers will not whither 104 G GAin Looking for gain from ones quarter what meant by it 17 18 gleab lands may lawfully be possessed by Ministers of the Gospel 123 God is no wayes benefitted by ought from man 19 What things God requires of those that come unto him 20 Coming unto God without money and without price what is signifies 19 Gospel What it is to live of the Gospel 111 119 120 Living of the Gospel in tithes the Ministers thereof have more then to a power to eat and dâ—ink 121 Tithes are the things of the Gospel on which Ministers are to live 116 H HEarers must not withdraw from hearing their Teachers though they be faulty in some things 9 Hearers of the Word are not hindered from profiting because their Ministers who teacheth them receive titbes 25 29 Hire What the Hire of Ministers is 139 140 Ministers are not hired by the people but by Christ to preach the Gospel 139 Ministers may lawfully take means from those people that never heard them 138 Ministers are not such who teach for hire 44 I Jeremiah did not disallow of the maintenance or means which the Priests and Levites had in his time 32 33 L LAW The Commendation of the just Laws of a a Nation 60 61 The Law is clamored against by men who do wrong and desire to do wrong 61 Prooofs from the Law for tithes and other things in the new Testament and unabolished are not to be cavilled against 117 Living of the Gospel what it implyes 111 119 120 Love What kind of self-love is lawfull and what unlawfull 73 74 Ministers maintenance is no filthy lucre 8 M MAintenance of Ministers is not by the Apostle called filthy lucre 8 Master the several acceptations of of that word 10 11 12 13 The word Master is not to be given to any but to Christ as it signifies one who hath power and authority over anothers faith and spiritual obedience 11 Pharisees and Scribes affected to be called Masters of others faith ibid. Ministers are not in this sense of the word Master called Masters ibid. Not being Masters but they being called Masters or the affecting of Soveraignty over others faith is condemned by our blessed Saviour 10 Master as signifying a subordinate teacher under Christ or the Master of a family may lawfully be imposed on a Minister or any other 12 Master as a civil title of honour may be lawfully imposed by others and accepted on by those on whom it is imposed 12 13 14 To be called Master in some senses of the word doth not thwart Christs saying Bee not ye called of men Masters and how 13 Paul Silas and Philip were called Masters or Sirs in Scripture record ibid. Means or maintenance which the Priests and Levites had in Jeremiahs time was not disallowed by him 32 33 What is meant by ruling by bearing rule by means 35 37 38 From the ordinary way of living in this world by means or maintenance 38 No Ministers are exempt ibid. The Rule which Ministers have in the Church is not by their means or maintenance though while they rule they have means or maintenance 38 39 Melchizedecks Priesthood is contemned 108 109 Melchizedeck had from Abraham tithes of his substance and of his spoil more then once he had from him tithes 112 113 114 Mercies of David what they are and why so called 25 26 Micah full of power and honor 46 47 Ministers are Christs Messengers 133 134 They are no Messengers of Satan nor Ministers of unrighteousness 137 Ministers toils and pains 45 73 74 Ministers do work for all people who are within their charge 137 138 The scope and end of Ministers preaching is to testifie their love to Christ their care to discharge conscionably their duty and their compassion to the souls of their people 45 Ministers must fight against
and likenesses which were appointed by God in the Ceremonial Law either to prefigure Christ who was to come or to shadow out something of the spiritual worship and glory which should be in and to the Church after Christs coming and then were to be accomplished and fulfilled are all now ended by his coming they are no longer to continue to that purpose for which they formerly served There is no more need of them seeing that which was signified and represented by them is come and exhibited then there is need of a picture when the person whom it deciphers is present The Apostle saith that the Law he is treating Heb. 10. 1 of the Law Ceremonial which was the Law of Aaronical ritual Ordinances had but a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things Ceremonial Ordinances Col. 2. 17. were but the shadow of things to come but the body is Christ Wherefore though I say that Christ being come and having fulfilled all the use which these Ceremonial types patternes figures shadows likenesses or similitudes had is now abolished they are in respect of their former use now by Christs coming come unto a perpetual end yet I affirme that tythes was none of those similitudes or likenesses for tythes figured nothing in Christ nor in his Church to be fulfilled by Christ at his coming The learned wits of the world have not yet devised with any successeful proof what that body is whereof tythes should be the shadow or what that was which they figured out to be accomplished at Christs coming I therefore conclude that though the Sonne of God is come the end of all similitudes and likenesses yet because tythes was no such similitude or likenesse which he ended therefore he hath not put a period or end to tythes These are still perpetually to be continued unto Christs established Ministers Mat. 28. 20 throughout the world so long as Christ shall be with them which will be even unto the end of the world I have now fully answered thy seven questions about tythe and am now to consider thy expressions about that kinde 〈◊〉 maintenance which thou deemes the Gospel only allowed 〈◊〉 the Preachers of the Gospel Thy Expressions are in this sort Now if thou say that they which preach the Gospel mus◠live of the Gospel and have I not power to eat an◠power to drink yea when Christ sent forth his disciples he bad them enquire who was worthy and what they set before them they might eat but did he that said have I not power to eat say have I not power to take stipends augmentations tythes glebe-lands great sums of money or Parsonage Houses Answ Thou seems in these expressions to have this thought that living of the Gospel is no more then that a preacher of the Gospel hath a power to eat and drink what is set before him thou produces for proof hereof the words of our blessed Saviour bidding his Disciples when he sent them forth to enquire who was worthy and eat such things as were set before Mat. 10. 11 Luk. 10. 8 them Thou also mentions some other things beside meat and drink whereunto as thou supposes there is no grant to any Preacher of the Gospel in the Apostles writings to make claime thereto and thy promise afterward doth plainly shew that thou thinks that no other livelihood is appointed in holy Scripture to be given to a preacher of the Gospel then a little meate and drink when he comes to a worthy house For the rectifying of thy mis-apprehension I will 1. Shew that according to the Apostle Pauls judgement living of the Gospel doth entitle the preachers of the Gospel to more then to a bare power to eat and to drink 2. I will shew that our Saviours inhibition of his Apostles and Disciples when he first sent them forth was no prohibition of the Preachers of the Gospel and their successours to take tythe or any of those things which they were forbid at that present to take along with them when they were sent forth at first 3. I will manifest that though the Apostle doth not in express words say he had power to take augmentations c. yet he saith enough to shew that a Minister or Preacher of the Gospel hath a very lawful power to take all these First living of the Gospel according to the Apostle Pauls judgement doth intitle the Preachers of the Gospel to more then to a bare power to eat and to drink Three Reasons cleares this 1. The Apostle enjoyns them who are taught to communicate Gal. 6. 6. to him that teacheth in all good things Then surely teachers according to Pauls judgement are intituled to have from thee taught more and other things then a little meat and drink Therefore as a Levite of old had power to eat and drink at the house of a Jewish Professour and yet had besides a right to Deut. 14. 29 receive from such a professour the tythe of all the increase wherewith God had blessed him even so a preacher of the Gospel hath a power to eat and to drink when he comes to the house of a Christian Professour who is taught by him and he hath also in Pauls judgement a right to partake in all those good things wherewith God hath increasingly blessed that same Professour who is taught 2. The Apostles saying that they who labour in the word and doctrine are to be counted worthy of double honor doth evidence that his judgment was that preachers of the Gospel are intituled 1 Tim. 5. 17. to receive more then a little meat drink from an housholder whose teachers they are for they will give as much to very beggers coming to their house whom they little honour or esteeme But labourers in the word and doctrine saith the Apost are worthy of honour that is of maintenance the reason he alledges intimates clearly that by honor in that place he understood maintenance yea they are he saith worthy of double honor that is of a liberal honorable comfortable maintenance as a just and honourable reward of their labors Even as the first-born while they held the Priesthood had a double portion besides the portion which they had as other children they had the tythes as an honorary of their Priesthood whereby their portion was double so the Apostle it seemes alluding to the double portion of the first-borne enjoyns that the Preachers of the Gospel have double honour or honorable maintenance namely maintenance both as other men and also a further maintenance as they are Ministers of the Lord and so they are to have that very maintenance which the Levites Num. 3. 35 Numb 8. 18 19. had being assumed into the room of the first-born as Priests and Ministers of God wherby their portion was doubled among their brethren This double portion or double honour or double maintenance was in the Apostles judgment due unto the Preachers or Ministers