as she said and indeed sprung of mean Parentage and low Degree according to the flesh and in my minority Educated a little at School but the most part about Husbandry Tilling or Hearding or the like bring an inferiour weak Child in comparison of Thousands but what I now am is by the Grace and sweet Love of God for which I have cause to bless and magnifie his Name for ever and let such I say as hath known both him and me and not only such but all that have any feeling or sense of the Way and Work of God judge of us and between us in every thing either before or hereafter inserted or recited being for my own part according to the principle of Light and Truth I profess willing to recommend my self to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God and also to give a reason to any Man that shall in Truth and Soberness demand a reason of me of the Faith and Hope that is in me according to the manifestation of the Grace of God received Now I say the said L. W. was no sooner setled in his place and I set to follow the Lord but he began to menace and threaten me together with other Professors to bring us under Conformity and by and by shewed his austerity by which he made many Professors and others inclining to Reformation bow and conform who came in by degrees and yielded Conformity at one time or other in one thing or other which strengthened his Lordly spirit in severity who should have been Minister and Servant to all thereupon perswading himself that a little more rigor a little more severity one twist more i' th rod one cord more i' th whip would subject all his Parishioners and make them Conform sometimes he would have drawn me with soft words pretending great kindness to me or any of my Mothers Children c. for our Parents sake the smalness wherof may appear by and by for he having no occasion at all against me save touching the Law of my God being that which was matter of Conscience and weight to me yet it seems occasion must be had and small ones must be taken where great ones are not and therefore he took it against me because for Conscience sake I could not pay him Tythes A thing never challenged nor paid for ought I know by any Gospel Minister nor any other under a Gospel Dispensation what ever any Man may pretend so he that flattereth and smootheth deceitfully crying Peace Peace to the Wicked because I cannot now run with them to their excess nor cannot return to their vomiâ— again but especially because I could not put into his mouth as Micah said Mic. 3.5 he now forthwith prepares open War against me and thus he begins for my first years denyal of Tythes to him he presents me to the Jury at a Temporal Court held at his own House in the manner of little Salkeld by the Dean and Chapter so called of Carlile he himself being one of the Lords of the Court so being called by the Jury I told them that for Conscience sake I could pay him none often saying to them that that Court had nothing to do to determine matters of that nature the Ecclesiastical Courts being provided for that purpose unto whom such things more properly belonged yet the Jurors slighted me and said I was a fool it was better for me to have them determined there c. So being willing to do the Priest a pleasure they proceeded to cast it for him and gave a Precept against me of One pound one shilling or there abouts for which the Prebends Bailiffs took a Cow from me woâ—â—h Three pound three shillings or upwards I having but one other the Priest called me to him required me to pay him I said no I could pay him none then he beckned to one of his Fellows another Prebend being then present to reason and expostulate with me endeavouring to perswade me to pay him and in our dispute he pleaded the Civil Law a third Priest standing by by way of Interlocution Promptingly said to the Ear of the other Jure Divino Sir Jure Divino to whom I answered either of you prove Tythes Jure Divino here before all this People and I will pay them which thing they stayed not to do for immediately the aforesaid L. W. taking one of them by the arm drew them away and they all three went to an Alehouse leaving me to the Court with whom I reasoned a while clearing my Conscience which I valued more worth then a Cow and then left them The Jury meeting at other times I still warned them not to meddle with it being it appertained to another Court nevertheless they proceeded as above but mark what befel about the very time the Jury delivered in their Verdict the Fore-man had a Barn burned by a sudden hand from the Lord as was believed amounting to a considerable dammage which thing I often pondered in my spirit though few looked on it otherwise then a common accident This being done from that time forward he proceeded to take my Tythes in kind as they fell due c. his Collectors taking Hay and Corn at their pleasure sometime going in at the wrong end of the Dale contrary to the order of Tything so taking the best of the Grain other sometimes taking three or four Stooks or a Cart load together off at one end and if I carried away any untythed they were sure to please themselves in the next Dale of mine where they came Thus they continued not shaming to bear and drâ—g away by force what they could apprehend mark even as the Priests viz. Eli's Sons and their Servants did in Israel of old who were Sons of Belial and with their flesh-hooks dragged out of the Pan Pot or Caldron either boyled or raw and if any denied to give them they took it away by force read 1 Sam. 2. from verse 12 to 17. but mark their end for the Lord was grieved with them and said he would cut them off that there should not be an old Man left in El's house and verse the 35 36. I will raise up a Priest saith the Lord that shall do according to all that is in mine heart and it shall come to pass that every one that is left in thine house speaking to Eli shall come crouching to him for pieces of Silver and morsels of Bread Mark the end of these Priests Sons of Belial who served themselves with the fat and kept Servants as vile as themselves who violently pulled and reaved away by force from the People even as the tything polluted Priests and their Servants doth now in our days are they not pulling rending and reaving throughout this Nation of England so barbarously and inhumanely that they have made their name to stiâ—k and they are become contemptible and base before all People read Mal. 2. to verse 9 and will not their end be like those Sons of
must have Tythes paid them as they were then all that Law say they is abolished since Christ came in the Flesh save that sweet morsel of Tythes which is so pleasant to their pallat like Achan's wedge of Gold and Babylonish Garment Josh 7.21 which they covet as much as he did and would save alive as Saul did the King of the Amalekites and the best of the spoyl as Sheep Oxen and Fatlings c. 1. Sam. 15.9 even so they would have Tythes kept up above all the rest of the Ordinances Ceremonies and Services of the first Tabernacle and that shadowy Dispensation Tythes is the sweetest of all many of the rest would be trouble and cost to them and diminish their Revenue So these they confess to be abolished and why not Tythes say I Of what institution was Tythes Or for what term more then the rest that they must not be abolished with the rest I know no cause but the reasons aforesaid crept in amongst their Ancestor or Mother the Church of Rome in the Night of Apostacy Then again there is that in Luke 11.42 where Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees c. from which they infer that Christ allowed the payment of Tythes under the Gospel indeed so say I that Christ there allowed the payment of Tythes the Scribes Pharisees being as under the Law but not under the Gospel its true he condems them for the neglect of weightier matters as Judgment c. may not I accordingly condem both Priest and People now he said they Strained at a Gnat and swallowed a Camel may not I say so now to them that makes so much ado about Tythes and neglects things of greater weight as departing from Iniquity as Swearing Lying Coveting Stealing Oppressing Defrauding Cozening Drinking Cheating Adultery Fornication and many more things of greater weight walking in disobedience to what God hath manifested by his Light in their Consciences doing that which they ought not and leaving undone what they ought they are at best but like the Pharisees Sticking at the outside things as Tythes Ordinances of the Church so called Conformity and the like Traditions required by Men but never shew so much zeal and diligence to keep their Consciences clear and to observe what is required of them by the Lord they 'll pretend a great zeal for the Church and Government c. but when appears so much zeal for God and the keeping of his Commandments and of loving him with all their Heart But to come more positively to the point of his allowing of Tythes in this place I say I grant it for they were then under the Law and the Law was but a fulfilling For he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it which he did observe in the dayes of his Flesh untill he had offered up himself a perfect and everlasting Sacrifice then he said It is finished then came in the Second Covenant and took place of the First it being disanulled the Second was Established when his Blood was shed by which Salvation was obtained For without shedding of Blood there is no Remission So may not we as justly Condemn then the Tything Priests and other fiery Zelots in our Age who is so Exact for their Tythes as if Salvation depended in that particular and is very negligent in seeking after Righteousness Piety and Reformation of Life but contrarily if any seek after God or the knowledge of his Way and Truth then they cry out of such with open mouth as Fanatick Schismaticks Seducers Erroneous persons who seek to be Wiser then their Forefathers What is become of them say they that the Way and Worship that served them cannot serve you but you must have a new Way of your own contrary to Church and State I now remember some of the same Spirit said to the Apostles They were setters up of strange Gods bringers in of new Doctrine turners of the World upside down away with them they Taught the People against the Law and the Customs of the Place and People they were not worthy to live so that I see by experience They that live after the Flesh persecute those that live after the Spirit in every Age but I shall not here insist but as I have said before to that of Luke he spoke to them that was yet under the Judaical Laws but so am not I and was a fulfilling them as appears elsewhere by his saying to John about Baptism Suffer it to be so now for so it becomes us to fulfil all Righteousness so he was but a compleating that Dispensation but when he came to suffer and was lifted up upon the Cross he said It s finished then he put an end to all the Ordinances of the First Tabernacle and brought in the Second the unchangeable Priesthood which stands for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Thus much for Tythes as they were due under the Law and no where else and as they were an Ordinance amongst the Jews only in the Land of Canaan and no People else for it s said He gave his Statutes and his Judgments to Israel to every Nation he did not so but I am no Jew therefore not under that Law but rather of the Stock of the Gentiles as is believed and Tything among the Gentiles I never yet read of and Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness sake and the Heart and Life of what the Law figured out being come neither Jews nor Gentiles ought to be any longer under Shadows and Figures c. But again when their claiming of Tythes by vertue of the Mosaical Laws is overturned and will not hold plea Jure Divino as they say then they betake them to another that is Jure humano or The Civil Laws of this Nation by which Laws say they Tythes is established and setled to them say the Priests by vertue of their Place and Office as a most competent Livelyhood for them and their Families In answer whereunto I say that the radix and grand Original property of this Title and Claim did and doth still arise from the Mosaical or Levitical Law which is disanulled and done away in Christ as is before proved and hence they are accounted a Spiritual propriety and therefore a pretended Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Law and Court is kept and appointed by Episcopal Authority within their several jurisdictions distinct from their Civil Laws only for the tryal and recovery of Tythes and such other matters as they account Spiritual and this Levitical Institution is the sole Basis and Foundation upon which their Civil Law depends and the Foundation being taken away the Structure or Building falls so that being disanull'd in Christ the Civil Law hath no more power so that the Title of Tythes is lost Now again every Law is or ought to be grounded upon Equity and sound Reason and Righteousness and for some conscientious and pious honest end and purpose as the Preamble to all Laws do
Tabernacle of clay is undemolished for he alone is worthy of all Glory and Thanksgiving from me for evermore For he brings to nought the understanding of the Prudent and turns the wisdom of the Wise men backward and confounds the Wisest Ahithophels so that their vain hope perisheth and their Expectation is cut off Now all this he hath wickedly done against me and that for no just cause as in the sight of the Lord nor no cause pretended save some small Tythes as Hens Easter-Reckonings c. which was no doubt very inconsiderate in comparison of what he hath done for I have been much perswaded that when he begun with me he could no way reckon Five shillings for his Collectors took in kind that which was most material as Corn and Hay as I have before related and for Wooll and Lamb I had none and for other Goods I had but a few it may be a Cow or two but seldom if ever three which things could amount to no great value suppose it were for two or three years an account whereof I have often required of him I have also written to him for an account also my Relations have desired an account of him but to this day none could I have from him also I have written to him that we might fairly and soberly Discourse of the Title of Tythes profering if I were convinced that they were Lawfull to pay them without all that to do and withall warned him â—o cease from his wicked proceedings being perswâ—ded they should not go unpunished by the Lord a true Transcription whereof hereafter follows as they were sent him in several Papers at several times which I have inserted for the Readers better satisfaction LEwis I am informed there is a design in thy Heart to deprive me of mine inheritance left me by my Father Is this the fruit of thy Ministry and in this dost thou do as thou wouldst be don unto Hath Satan filled thine heart and rooted Covetousness so deep in thee Take heed to thy ways search and see what spirit thou art of and what spirit it is that suggesteth this in thee enter into consideration with thy self and commune with thy own heart whether thou wouldst be done unto so yea or nay or whether it be thy place to covet thy Neighbours Goods or Inheritance methinks thou shouldst not be ignorant what became of that Woman Jesabel for coveting Naboth's Vinyard and what the reward of Covetuousness is the Scriptures are full observe the words of the Wise Man that said lay not in wait O wicked Man against the dwelling of the Righteous spoil not his resting place enter not into the Fields of the Fatherless c. and whatsoever is written is written for our Learning thou hast often repeated that Command that saith Covet not thy Neighbours Goods nor any thing that is thy Neighbours and is thy heart now going after thy Covetousness Weigh these things with thy practise Why shouldst thou destroy thy own Soul thou that holdest Scripture for thy Rule will it justifie thee in this thing Or where hast thou any such Rule in it amongst all the Conversations of the Saints And do not think but thou must be brought before the Tribunal of God there to give an account of all thy deeds done in thy Body and there thy person will have no more respect then mine though now it may all thy Pomp thy Dignity and Riches will stand thee in no stead neither justifie thee in his sight who hath said The wicked shall not go unpunished thou hast deprived me of my just Liberty already and if that cannot content or satisfie thee surely no more will mine Estate for the more thou obeyest that envious and covetous spirit the more it will draw thee on untill thy Soul be shut up in the Grave out of which there is no redemption So I desire thee have respect to thy Souls everlasting health for these and such like as thou art often found in are not the fruits of a Gospel Minister for Christ and his Apostles never taught any such Doctrine and truly whilst thou art of this spirit and conversation thy Ministry will not profit to wards God nor thou canst never turn many unto Righteousness its true thou mayst make some Proselytes but I think few Converts it appears thou came not to seek nor gather us but ours so that thy end is thy own and therefore accursed so unless thou repent thou shalt certainly bear the indignation of the Almighty for little or nothing hast thou Ministred unto me either in Doctrine or Practice but that which savours of Death and such Ministration deserves no maintenance So I desire thee as one that respects thy Souls everlasting welfare and in love thereunto I send this unto thee and not in any respect to my own interest as the Lord whom I serve knoweth in whose presence I am but that thou mayst cease to bring so deep guilt and weight upon thy Soul but rather repent of thy wicked purposes and seek unto the Lord if peradventure the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee for according to outward appearance one would think thine Estate were sufficient to satisfie thee that thou shouldest not reap where thou sowedst not and covet my penny that hast so many pounds remember the Parable of Nathan to David But thou may object and say there is a reason thou hast a proper right and due unto it To this I answer as I have formerly done if thou or any of thy Function will appoint the time and place where I or some other of my Companions in bonds may meet with you and according to Scripture sound Doctrine and the Spirit of Truth convince me or us that such things is just and due and properly belong to your Ministration or that Christ and his Apostles did ordain constitute or allow any such Ministry or Maintenance after he had offered himself a perfect Sacrifice having thereby abolished all Types and the Law that made nothing perfect I say if thou or any of you can or will convince me or us of the lawfulness of paying Tythes we should neither suffer Imprisonment loss of Estate or Goods nor the Execution of any Law to pass upon us for denyal of Tythes but rather pay them as conscientiously as any one whatsoever And this were but the place and duty of your Function and indeed if it were not matter of conscience to me I could not have suffered such detriment loss and imprisonment in the patience and content as I have done by thee and I am yet resolved to suffer more before I offend Gods Witness in my Conscience And further I demand of thee what the sum or value is that thou claimest of me being reckoned up together for I have been deprived of my just Liberty a full year and upwards which is a penalty beyond my offence or any pretence of offence that thou hast shewed me So that I think thou needed not
if Sons then Heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ now Heirs doth inherit but no unclean thing doth inherit therefore Sons and Heirs must needs be sanctified throughout and must needs be born again of the Holy clean Seed that inherits and the Apostle said Ye are the Off-spring of God and the Off-spring of God must needs be Holy for as the Root is so are the Branches and as the Tree is so is the Fruit. But I shall return to my former Subject again viz. the Second Covenant the Light or Law written in the Heart which we have received and therefore are not looking up to the Mount that might not be touched and that burned with Fire nor at Blackness and Darkness and Tempests nor at Figurative and Shadowy things Hebr. 10.1 and 12.18 22. c. but we are come to Mount-Sion the City of the Living God to the New and Heavenly Jerusalem c. and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the unchangeable Priesthood that endureth for ever for the Law maketh Men High-Priests that have infirmities that continueth not by reason of Death but the word of the Oath which was since the Law maketh the Son High-Priest who is Consecrated for ever and therefore he is the surety of a better Testament and such a High-Priest becomes us and such a one have we need of who is holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners Yea this was his Work I say still and the end of his coming to separate and savâ— his People from their sins and this is Christ Jesus an High-Priest of our Profession a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck who is worthy of more Glory then Moses inasmuch as he that buildeth the House is worthy of more Glory then the House now Christ is a Son over his own House which House are we if we hold fast our confidence and hope to the end wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them but this they still doubt of and cannot believe who are yet wading in the frothy unstable Waters and stumbling in the dark being tossed with every windy vanishing Doctrine and is not come to the breakings of the Day to the Light the Son I mean for its the Sun and Light that makes Day and makes all things manifest Ephes 5.13 John 12.36 I say they cannot believe that Doctrine that any should be saved to the uttermost and no marvel for they are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise the Light and to the vertues and effects of the Light which until I received and obeyed I was as doubtful as they and did object against it as incredible but I was of them the Apostle foresaw that spoke evil of things they knew not for I had not then known nor tryed the Light though it was in me yet I loved darkness rather even so do they now who spakes against Light and the sufficiency of it they speak evil of that they know not c. in that thing they corrupt themselves But to proceed I say Christ Jesus is come the New and Living Way who is King Priest and Prophet so the Covenant is changed the Priest-hood is changed so there must of necessity be a change of the Law also and then Tythes and Oblations must needs cease Hebr. 7.12 For verily they that were of the Sons of Levi who received the Office of the Priesthood had a Commandment to take Tythes of the People but it is evident that after the similitude of Melchisedeck there ariseth another Priesthood who is made not by the Law of a carnal Commandment as the Sons of Levi and Aaron was nor Consecrated by a carnal nominal Bishop as Priests are now but he was made and ordained by the Power of an endless Life and this is no other then the Son of God who is Consecrated for evermore and saith the Apostle with this assertion There is verily a disanulling of the Commandment going before because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof mark here is a disanulling of the Commandment what Commandment The Law of the carnal Commandment by which the Priests the offspring of Levi received their Office and the Commandment by which they took Tythes of the People read Hebr. 7. throughout so the Priesthood being no more of Levi nor the Sons of Aaron then there is no more Law nor no more Tythes after the First Covenant for the New Covenant is established the New and Living Way is made known and the unchangeable Priesthood being brought in the First Covenant and Priesthood must needs give place the Law must needs be abrogated and the Commandment disanulled and the first Tabernacle and Sanctuary must needs be turned out and then all the Rites and Ceremonies and all the Appurtenances and Ordinances of that Priesthood Tabernacle and Sanctuary must needs be turned out also then no more room for Tythes being an Appurtenance or Ordinance of that Covenant when Christ the Spiritual Eternal and Unchangeable High Priest is come and we say he is a greater and more perfect Tabernacle for the First that stood in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal Ordinances was but imposed untill the time of Reformation being Figures for the time then present mark and but shadows of good things to come Hebr 9.10 and 10.1 and 8.5 Now when doth the time of Reformation enter that you may shake off the first Priesthood Tabernacle and Ordinances Is it not now high time for People to amend repent and reform Is it not time for Men to work out their Salvation Is it not time to make their calling and election sure Is it not time to turn from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to God Is it not time to seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteosness thereof If so then is not the time of Reformation come Is not the Spiritual appearance of the Son of God come Is not the Comforter that leads into all Truth come Is not the sound of the Everlasting Gospel come Is not the time in which the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth come Is not the Light that was given for Salvation to the ends of the Earth come Is not the Light that gives the knowledge of the Glory of God come Is not he that convinces the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment come Is not he that is the Way Truth and Life come Is not he that saves his People from their Sins come And is it not now a time of Reformation Is it not now time to die unto Sin and awake unto Righteousness Is it not time to put on the New Man which renews into the Image of God and brings into Righteousness and Holiness else in vain hath the many and large Professions of England been and to what purpose hath it carried the name so long of a holy and reformed Nation if the time of Reformation
the State of the Church as it did descend from the Primitive times downwards to this Day I shall be more sparing in things thereunto pertaining and for the further satisfaction therein and how Rome and other Churches fell from their Primitive purity and how they brought in Tythes and the Relicks of Judaism again and every external extant Ordinance or Tradition now allowed and established throughout all Europe I refer the Reader to A. Pearson's Book called The great Case of Tything and also to Francis Howgil's Books the one called The Glory of the True Church Discovered in its Purity where he proves Tythes no Gospel Ordinance the other called The Great Case of Tything once more Revived c. where the State of the Church in the Primitive times and downward from year to year and the bringing in of all the Romish Stuff and Superstitious Trash is sufficiently treated of and may be satisfactory to any sober Reader that desires to be instructed Now it appears clear that that Law by which Tythes was payable and due under the First Covenant was only Established among the Jews as I said before and that in the Land of Canaan being a peculiar People to whom he gave his Laws and his Statutes for ever as it s said Psal 147.19 and it s believed we are not of the Jews Genealogy neither of the Offspring of any of the Tribes of Israel according to the Flesh and therefore if Tythes were yet an Ordinance in force as to the contrary is sufficiently proved ought not to be paid by us by vertue of that Law and Covenant we being of the Gentiles Stock by Nature is authentical and so hath nothing to do with the Ordinances of Israel according to the Flesh who was the natural Branches unto whom pertained the Law and the Covenant and the Oracles of God and they fell through unbelief and by their fall we came to be ingrafted and we stand by Faith which is the Gift of God a Mystery held in a pure Conscience and not by the Observation of the Ordinances of the Jews and the First Covenant So let the blind Priests and Doctors lay their hands upon their mouths and be ashamed of their gross absurdity and stupid Sences being mudled and jumbled in obscurity with their many Arts and Sciences multiplicity of Tongues and divided Languages one pleading one thing and another pleading another until they become like Froth upon the Waters which while not touched appears material and substantial but if once handled wasteth and vanisheth away so doth their windy deformed Doctrine and typical Tenents who hath long Preached and talked of a Covenant of Grace which is still a Mystery or as a Book Sealed to them while they are studdying and musing in their Greek and Latin Libraries not at all perceiving the Vail or the Wall of Partition that stands between them and the Covenant of Grace unbroken down and removed One other Objection is in my mind which is this speaking of Melchisedeck who received the Tenth of the Spoils from Abraham it s said Levi who received Tythes payed Tythes in Abraham and further he saith Here men that die receive Tythes but there he received them of whom it is Witnessed that he liveth now what objection can be made from these words Here Men that die receive Tythes but there c the words hath Relation to two times or places or as here or there as here in this time and there in that time for the Law being 430 Years after Abraham or after the Promise was made to Abraham Galat. 3.17 must needs be nearer to the Apostle or to the days of the Apostle then the day that Abraham gave the Tenth of the spoyl to Melchisedeck by so many years so that he might well say here when he spoke of the Sons of Levi and there when he spoke of Melchisedeck but if any say it hath Relation to the very Age and Day when the Apostle spoke it which is disputable yet I may say now as he said then Here Men that die receive Tythes yea such as are dead while they live and not only receive Tythes but persecute imprison and in a manner rob for Tythes such as doth not give contrary to Law or Custome but I allow not such I may say here Ministers in England Swear Lye Covet Oppress and Persecute exceedingly for Tythes and yet pretend to be Gospel Ministers but I say again I allow not such neither believe they are Gospel Ministers so this makes little in my judgment for Tythes under the Gospel Then again There he received Tythes viz. Melchisedeck of whom it is witnessed that he liveth and Christ is said to be a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Now if any infer from hence that Tythes or First-fruits belongs to Christ as being or coming in Melchisedeck's Order I say rather it hath reference to his immutability and unchangeableness then taking of Tythes for it s said He was without descent without beginning or end of dayes and if it related to Tythes first I say to that it was but the Tenths of the Spoyls and not of all his Estate and Increase clean and unclean as they are now claimed And secondly I hope you 'l grant Christ a Spiritual Priest and therefore if any will give it must be the First-fruits and Tenths of things Spiritual and not Carnal else there is no agreement nor coherence For Sacrifice and Offerings he would not for he being Spiritual accepts nothing but what is Spiritual and proceeds from the measure of his own Spirit and Truth in every one and herein let as many offer and give unto the Lord as will and as much and as often as they will I allow of it if it be a Spiritual Offering indeed Thus much in Defence of my Innocent Sufferings being thus far convinced in my Judgment and perswaded in my Heart and Conscience I dare not allow nor yield to any thing so noxious to my Conscience and contrary to the Gospel Dispensation and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus being as is before proved in the first place Figurative imposed for the time then present until the time of Reformation Secondly being only an Ordinance among the Jews and such as were under the Law and not to the Gentiles nor such as are under the Gospel Thirdly being claimed as Spiritual by Divine Institution when as the extent and scope of the Institution is finished and ended and is therefore now no more Spiritual then the rest of the nine parts And lastly being generally Dedicated Payed and Received for the use and maintenance of an Antichristian dark Man-made Ministry who only seeks ours and not us for which the Wisest and Learnedst of them can neither produce Precept nor President from Christ or any other his Apostles Ministers and Servants in the Primâ—tive purity of the Church being an old Ordinance of Moses renovated in the Romish Apostacy and Traditionally dispersed by Papistical
the Sign must I not be cast out of your Church and into Prison 21. What is his Body of Christ and what is the Blood whether is his Body Spiritual or Carnal or how is the Lords Body to be discerned 22. Whether is the Body one or how many Bodies hath He or how do they Eat and Drink his Blood that Eternal Life abideth in 23. How did they eat the same Spiritual Meat and Drink the same Spiritual Drink which were Baptized under Moses for they drank of that Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ 24. What is the difference between the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils and the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils 25. Whether are they worthy Receivers purified from their Sins and sanctified through His Blood seeing His Body was broken and His Blood shed for the remission of sins 26. Whether they that are yet in their Sins do not eat and drink their own condemdemnation not discerning the Lords Body 27. Who is the Head of your Church and Body or who is King Priest and Prophet whether Christ King Pope or Bishop or how many Heads is there 12 Month 1667. Send thy Answer to me at my Prison-house in Carlile T. C. Another sent after about the 4th Month 1667. L. W. I Having all along a desire to be edified in the True Way and Worship of the Living God and an inclination from my childhood to follow after that which is good righteous and unreprovable in the sight of the Lord and to keep my Conscience undefiled and my judgment clear and uncorrupted as the Lord God of Heaven knows from whom nothing can be hid and seeing the ground of the Controversie between thee and me is matters of Faith or Worship and so matters of Conscience to me and such as I cannot easily renounce nor dare not turn from unless my judgment were otherwise perswaded I therefore sent some Propositions to thee to that effect an answer whereof I expected from thee before this time which thing I thought but requisite and very consistant with thy Office and Profession being that which the Ministers of Christ was always ready to do being willing to render a reason of their Faith and Hope to any that should demand it and also to exhort inform and instruct in the Doctrine and Principles of Truth with all meekness gentleness and long-suffering which thing if thou refuse to do let me know upon what grounds for I have not straitned thee for time but thou mightest have done it with deliberation so I desire a sober answer of thee of all and every particular propounded or else a reason why thou wilt not and it may suffice for the present T. C. Now having as briefly as possible given a True and Impartial Relation of all the differences states and proceedings on both sides that is of most importance and concernment and the ground and cause of all as things hath passed and been carried on between us plainly and honestly so far as I know and do remember I shall leave all both his and mine causes and proceedings with all that hath been done to the witness of God in all Hearts and Consciences that gives a true sense and understanding of the nature and property of every word and work and accordingly let the sober moderate and unbyassed Reader or Hearer judge of us and between us and especially such as have known us both after the flesh and the Lives and Conversations of us both among them ziz the Parishioners of Addingam and others in the Towns and Parishes adjacent amongst whom we have lived and with whom we have had to do many of them being privy to the most part of those things and so may the better bear witness to the Truth or Falshood of them being as I have said elsewhere willing to recommend my self to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God and as I own and acknowledge the Light for my Leader Guide and Salvation so I am willing that all my deeds should be brought to the Light and that which I do or have done that is not justifiable in the Light let it be condemned by Light and I ashamed and this is to do as I would be done unto also these my Papers that I have sent to him they are now made publick and so are no longer his and mine only but other Mens to judge and consider of In my first I desire as I would often have willingly embraced that he or any other of his Function and Profession would give me or us a sober moderate visit or meeting at their own time and place allowing us person for person that there we might dispute the differences in Religion between them and us in a sober moderate spirit which to us is of great price and if in the Spirit of meekness he or they could convince us that we are schismatical and erroneous c. as they have frequently affirmed and preached behind our backs whether in denying of Tythes or in any other thing whatsoever I can say it for my self and believe it for many others that if in our Consciences we were convinced thereof we would reform our Judgments and pay Tythes and submit in any other thing whatsoever as really and conscientiously as any People in the Nation without either suing at Courts spoyling of goods excommunications cominations imprisonments or the execution of any Law whatsoever and if this be not very equal and reasonable let all sober People judge and whether it be not the part and place of Men professing that Function and to be Ministers of Christ and Overseers in the Church that Spiritual Men might War and overcome with Spiritual Weapons and by the Armor of Light and the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit of Christ Jesus that as the said L. W. hath oft Preached it may be known to whom the Lord hath given the Urim and the Thummim but these they use but in words only but instead of dealing so with us they 'l turn us over to a Consistory Spirituâ—l or Ecclesiastical Court so called which as I may truly say is as Carnal and Earthly a corrupt Court at this day as any in the World I know of and to the Secular Powers and Civil Magistrate c. and when we are brought before them and answers to what is Charged against us pleading matters of Conscience the Doctrine of Christ or His Apostles or the priviledge of the Church in a Gospel Dispensation then they cry hold your peace we have no thing to do with that Dispute it with your Ministers you shall not Preach here c. And all we can get of their Ministers is Rogue and Rascal Erroneous and Schismatical Fellow or Audacious Saucy youth I 'll humble you we 'll take a Course with such Refractary Fanatick as you are ere long c. So having the Sword by their thigh and the Law by their side thus are we preyed upon by
every one of them and if any one do plead himself free by their Law then as some of them hath said they know what to do they have another baâ—t to catch us with which they know will hold and that is tender us an Oath and because we will not swear like themselves then either fine or imprison or banish c. and having got us into Prisons for Tythes or such things there they let us lie as dead Men out of mind never owning nor regarding us in any thing from year to year unless to envy and straiten our Liberty c. by stirring up and provoking the Goalers against us who being willing to do the Priests and Magistrates a favour hath often shown their severity to the hazard of the lives of the Innocent in their Custody whom they have called sometime their sheep and yet preyed upon us not allowing us the Liberty they allowed to Fellons and Murderers c. yet still the Lord was with us and wonderfully preserved us to his praise when Men rose up against us to have swallowed us up with open mouth blessed be His Name for evermore And also whether it were not requisite that he gave me a true and particular account of every of his demands and claims whatsoever or of any other difference if any had been betwixt us before he had thus far proceeded to have damnified me having done what in him lay to deprive me of all save only my life which I have yet for a prey And also whether it had not been his place and duty pretending to be a Teacher and Instructer of othersâ— a Mâ—nister and Pastor or Elder in the Church being reputed a Learned Orthodoxical Divine and sometime professing himself my spiritual Father but such measure aâ— I have had from him are no spiritual instructions to me I say if so whether he ought not to have answered my Queries and also my other Papers sent to him which he never would do to this day thereby to have informed and cleared my judgment and understanding being things appertaining to Faith and Religion and the Profession and Worship of Christianity and so matters of Conscience to me let all sober wise Men judge Also I shall appeal unto all sober and conscientious Men and Women and refer my self to the witness of God and the illuminated understanding in all whether ever any of the Holy Men of God did so with any person in the Church or out of the Church Believer or Infidel as he hath done with me yea or nay or whether ever you read of any of the Apostles or Ministers of Christ in Ages past that denied to give a Reason of their Faith and Hope in Christ Jesus and to Instruct Exhort Inform Teach Reprove Rebuke c. as he hath done or whether you read of any Ministers of Christ that sued at Law for the maintenance of their Bellies spoyled and Persecuted Excomunicated out of their Church into Prison sought Mens Liberty Heritage Estate and yet can shew no fair nor just cause as he hath done yea or nay Whether ever any Ministers of Christ did swear lye and beat with the fist of wickedness as he hath done yea or nay or whether ever any Ministers of Christ was so inclined to drunkenness and to frequent Ale-houses that they needed to be restrained by a Fine as his wife hath done with him yea or nay All which with several such like deeds which I shall now omit I need not go far to prove being his own practice doth notoriously evidence and testifie the same sufficiently known to many that knows both him and me and by what is before related Now considering the many Disputes Contentions Strifes suing at Law spoiling of goods casting into Prisons and the great unparalell'd sufferings that have been occasioned in this Nation in these late years about Tythes and the great objections and exclamations made against us for denying them about which I have a share being deeply concerned and involved therein together for the quietness and peace of my spirit upon which this thing hath long rested â—xcites me to cast in my mite and lay down my reasons and grounds whereupon I have denied them and suffered for the non-payment thereof tho weakest and unfitest of many thousands for such a work yet according to what I have received and am perswaded of I shall lay down in truth and simplicity and that chiefly for the satisfaction of such as desire to be satisfied and for the stopping the many objections and maledictions of others made in secret behind my back by some of my Neighbours especially the people called Independants in that part who most of any hath condemned me for suffering so much for such small trivial matters as they say being as it seems a small scruple in their Consciences and such a more as they can easily swallow now though in the beginning rise and growth of their Religion their Judgment was wholly against Tythes in a Gospel day yea some of them preaching in great zeal against them Condemning the Institution of them saying They were clear contrary to the maintenance of a Gospel Ministry and yet when they saw that Tythes were like to be the only wages maintenance and reward of their preaching being generally established by the Laws and Cannons of England for that end rather then they would want that sweet morsel and goodly Garment and the Fleshly ease that came thereby and suffer any thing for the denying of the same they could soon through their Christian Prudence or Policy cure that Malady and for the better digestion of that Diet make to themselves a stomach Pill or two to Cure that Crudity and so rather Suppress Extirpat Hide or let fall one of their Principles then either want that delightsome livelyhood or beloved Benefice or yet either suffer any thing either in Liberty or Estate for the holding that Principle throughout So for the Considerations aforesaid I shall endeavour to answer the general Objections Principly made against me and my Brethren in this case and what I hold and believe concerning them 1st Objection is Abraham's Returning from Chedarlaomer from Rescuing his Nephew Lot Melchisedeck met him and blessed him and blessed the Lord in his behalf and brought forth Bread and Wine and set before him c. and to him Abraham gave a Tenth of the spoyls Gen. 14.18 Heb. 7.4 Answer To this I say I never find it a president or rule for me suppose he gave a Tenth it was a voluntary gift he was neither commanded by God nor compelled by Man and if he had not given I think he had not sinned and that which he did give was but a Tenth of the Spoils taken at the Victory and so no rule for me being no Soldier at any such Slaughter and so not partaker of any such Spoils so if it be binding to any as I think to none it is to Soldiers and not to Plowmen and what if he in
gratification of his Love in meeting him and setting Bread and Wine before him had given him one half of the Spoils this had been no binding Rule to Posterity 2d Objection is Jacob's Vow when he went to Padan-aram If God said he will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Raiment to put on so that I come again to my Fathers House in Peace then shall the Lord be my God and this stone my Pillow which I have set for a Pillar shall be Gods House and of all that thou givest me I will surely give a Tenth unto thee Gen. 28.20 Answer Here Jacob being gone from his Fathers House for it s said he lighted on a certain place it seems between Beersheba and Haran I suppose it was either in the Fields or Desart on the South side of Luz Joshua 18.13 however I suppose Jacob was in a desolate disconsolate condition Gen. 35.3 for it is said he took of the stones of the place and laid them for his Pillow and lay down to sleep Gen. 28.11 Now the Lord appeared to him in a Vision as He hath oft done to his Servants in such disconsolate conditions which makes His appearance more Glorious saying I am the Lord God of Abraham and of Isaac thy Father the Land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy seed after thee and thy seed shall be as the dust of the Earth and shall spread to the East West North and South and in thy seed shall all the Families of the Earth he blessed And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places and will bring thee again into this Land I will not leave thee untill I have done as I have spoken And he awaked and said surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not and he was afraid saying how dreadfull is this place it is none other but the House of God this is the Gate of Heaven c. mark the Lords appearance in an hour of great distress is very comfortable and also fearfull this is true fear indeed here is fear mixed with love here Jacob lays hold forth with upon the Love and Promise of the Lord and said If the Lord will do so c. then shall He be my God and this stone my pillow which I have set up for a pillar shall be Gods House and of all that he giveth me I will surely give a Tenth unto him mark I say Jacob being possessed with fear and overcome with love he vows and promises unto the Lord again this was a voluntary act in Jacob he obliged himself to the Lord after the Lord had promised to bless him and he performed his promise for after twenty years he purged his House of Idols and built an Altar unto the Lord at Bethel Gen. 35.6 which he called Elbeth-el viz. The God of Bethel But who did he give his Tenth unto or when did he give it that is yet disputable but suppose it had been to the Priesthood which some hold was annexed to the first-born of Families what will that argue for me to do so Jacob vowed but for himself not for his posterity after him and it was voluntary being filled with the Lords appearance in a day of distress Gen. 35.3 and not commanded by God neither compelled by Man and so not binding to any save Jacob alone only this may be observed if any one have vowed as Jacob did let such perform also also it was but once in Abraham and once in Jacob and that in cases extraordinary and who or what is he that can plead for annual payment of Tythes of every of a Mans encrease from these two places what suppose I being in distress as I have often been and few of Gods Servants are exempted should vow a vow unto the Lord that if he will preserve me this one time or deliver me from this great danger c. then will I give him one half of all that I enjoy or have received of him would this my vow being performed be binding to my Children and their Children after them from Generation to Generation for ever Object 3. Now in Exodus 23.19 it is said The first of the First-fruits of the Land thou shalt bring into the House of the Lord thy God This is the first express command but here is no certain dividual part expressed only the first of the First-fruits Exod. 34.26 Again Levit. 23.10 Moses instituting the Feast of First fruits When ye come saith he into the Land which I will give you ye shall bring a sheaf of the First-fruits of your Harvest unto the Priest and he shall shake it before the Lord verse 14. This shall be a Law for ever in your Generations Again that which is more express is Levit. 27.30.32 33. All the Tythe of the Land both of the seed of the Ground and of the Trees is the Lords and every tythe of Bullock and Sheep and all that goeth under the rod the Tenth shall be holy unto the Lord this is a more positive command then any before Again Numb 15.20 it is said Ye shall offer a Cake of the first of your Dough for an Heave-offering as the Heave-offering of the Barn ye shall lift it up and give it to the Lord in your Generations Again Moses being the Son of a Levite Exod. 2.1 2. Aaron was his Brother Chap. 4.14 the Lord bid Moses separate Aaron and his Sons for the Priests Office Exod. 28.1 and appoints him to make them holy Garments The Ephod and the curious Girdle c. and Aaron was to wear the Breast-plate of Judgment upon his Heart and upon it the names of the Children of Israel and in the Brest-plate of Judgment Moses was to put the Urim and the Thummim which he was to bear upon his Heart when he went in before the Lord c. Exod. 28. throughout So the Priesthood being setled to Aaron and his Sons as a Statute and an Ordinance for ever throughout their Generations he was to take unto him his Brethren the Tribe of Levi the Family of his Father they were to be joyned with him and to minister unto him and were to take the Charge of the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle and of the Altar only he and his sons was to execute the Priests Office in all things Numb 18.2 to verse 7. then all the Heave-offerings and the holy things that the Children of Israel offered to the Lord was to be Aarons and his Sons for ever by a perpetual Covenant of Salt as in verse 19. And Aaron and his Sons was to have no Inheritance in the Land neither any part among the Children of Israel for the Lord was their part and inheritance for ever Deut. 18.1 2. And to the Children of Levi the Lord gave the Tenth in Israel for their inheritance and for their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and they were to have
no Inheritance among the Children of Israel Numb 18.20 21 23 24. for the Tythe which the Children of Israel offered was to be the Levites Inheritance and out of them they were to extract a Tenth which they were to offer as an Heave-offering unto the Lord which was to be given unto Aaron and his Sons verse 26.28 only when they were come into the Land of Canaan Joshua by the appointment of Moses set forth Forty eight Cities with their Suburbs which the Children of Israel gave of their Inheritance at the Command of the Lord Joshua 21.1 2. c. Then again I read Deut. 14.28 29. beside the Tythe they were to bring year by year unto the Lord at the end of every three years they were to bring forth all the Tythe of their Increase and lay it up within their Gates and thither should the Levites come because they had no Inheritance among them and the Strangers the Fatherless and the Widows and should Eat and be filled that the Lord might bless Israel in all the works of their hands Deut. 26.12 13 c. Again Deut. 18.3 4. They which offer Sacrifice whether Bullock or Sheep shall give unto the Priests the right shoulder and the two Cheeks and the Maw and the First-fruits of the Corn the Wine and Oyl and the first of the Fleece of the sheep c. Then again Nehemiah when he came he saw the House of God was forsaken and the Portion of the Levites had not been given but every one was fled to his own Land he reproved the Rulers and set the Levites in their places and caused all Judah to bring their Tythe of Corn and Wine and Oyl into the Treasuries c. and appointed the Wards of the Priests and of the Levites every one in his Office Nehem. 13.10 11 12 30 c. Also King Hezekiah appointed the Courses of the Priests and Levites by their turns every Man according to his Office hence it is said Zacharias was of the Course of Abia and executed the Priests Office before God as his turn came Luk. 1.5.8 and commanded the People to bring in part for the Priests and Levites that they might be Encouraged in the Law of the Lord So the Children of Israel brought in abundance of First-fruits Corn Wine Oyl and Hony and of the increase of the Field and the Tythes of Bullocks Sheep and of the holy and consecrated things the Tythe of all things in abundance yea so much as they eat and were satisfied and there was many heaps laid up in store and Hezekiah commanded them to build Chambers and in them they laid up all their Tythe and their First-fruits and their dedicated things and set Overseers over them to whome they committed the charg of them who destributed with fidelity to their Brethren great and small by course 2 Chron. 31.2 4 5 6. to vers 14. c. And in Nehemiah 10. they were all sworn and sealed to fidelity both Priests and Levites Porters Singers Nethinims and all the Children of Israel to keep the Law and the Ordinances of it and to bring in all the First-fruits the Tythe and the dedicated things Corn Wine and Oyl c. into the Chambers and Treasures c. Then Ezekiel setting forth the glory of the Temple and measuring it with the measuring Reed he shews who shall be admitted to the service of the Temple and who not he also divided the Land into four Portions one for the Priests one for the Levites one for the House of Israel and one for the Princes Ezekiel 44. and chapters 45 46. also he sets forth the Offerings of the Princes and their Ordinances as Meat-offerings Drink-offerings Burnt-offerings Sin-offersings Trespass-offerings and Peace-offerings c. also the Sacrifices of their New-moons their Sabbaths and solemn Feasts c. Also Amos coming to cry against the Idolatry in Jeroboam's time and against the Princes and Prophets of Bethel he calls their Princes Kine they oppressed the Poor and destroyed the needy and multiplyed Transgresssion in Gilgal and said bring let us Drink c. and yet they would go to Bethel and bring their Sacrifices in the Morning and their Tythes after three years they could offer Thanksgiving and proclaim Free-Offerings and this they liked then as the Priests of our Age loves Free-offerings and give ye now so they might live in their sins but the Lord swore by his Holiness he would take them away with Thorns and their Posterity with Fish-hooks and he gave them cleanness of Teeth and scarceness of Bread He with-held the Rain in its season and he sent Blasting and Mildew and Pestilence and Sword amongst them Then again the Prophet Malachi cries out against the Priests how they dispised the Name of the Lord they said the Table of the Lord was not to be regarded and said it was polluted and snuffed at it when as it was they that polluted it by offering unclean Bread the Blind the Lame the Torn and the Sick for Sacrifice Mal. 1 6 7 8. Go offer it to your Princes saith the Lord and see if they will accept it from you you have fed your selves and served your selves and not the Lord For who among you saith he will shut a door or kindle a fire on mine Altar for naught verse 10. Cursed be the Deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male and sacrificeth a corrupt thing And chap. 2. O ye Priests saith Malachi this Commandment is for you ye have broke the Covenant of Levi even my Covenant of Life and Peace ye have been partial in the Law if you will not hear and consider to give glory to my Name I will corrupt your seed and cast dung upon you faces and will curse your Blessings chap. 2.2.4 5 c. for the Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth c. but ye are gone out of the way ye have broken Covenant and caused many to fall c. And in chap. 3. he saith Behold the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple but who may abide the day of his coming for he sitteth to try and fine as silver yea he will fine and purifie the Sons of Levi mark it is the Sons of Levi that they may bring Offerings of Righteousness and he will come near them to Judgment and will be a swift witness against the Adulterer false swearer and those that keep back the Hirelings wages that vex the Widow and the Fatherles and oppress the Poor and Stranger and fear not me saith the Lord for from the days of your Fathers saith he ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Will a Man rob God saith he yet ye have robbed me in Tyths and Offerings ye are cursed with a Curse Bring all the Tythe into the store-house that there may be meat in my House and prove me therewith and see if I will not open you the windows of Heaven and
pour you out a Blessing c. But your words have been stout against me saith the Lord ye have said It is in vain to serve God and what profit is there in keeping his Commandments and in walking humbly before him And therefore ye count the proud happy and sets up them that work wickedness and those that tempt God are delivered Now the next place which some account as formidable as all the rest is Luke 11.42 Christs own words saying Wo unto you Pharisees ye Tythe Mint and Rue and all manner of Herbs and neglect and pass over Judgment and the love of God these things ye ought to have done and not to have left the other undone These are the main grounds being under the Law of the first Covenant upon which the Ordinations Titles Claims and Propriety of Tythes do or ever did arise or spring and upon which all the Disputes Acts Decrees Laws and Tryals at Law Differences and Sufferings of what kind soever do originally arise and descend by which the reader may observe the rise and institution of Tythes and the end thereof and the observation of them from Moses or the Levitical Law downwards till Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to all them that believe Rom. 10.4 I shall now proceed to give my Reasons whereupon I deny the Payment of Tythes First The Reader may take notice of the Institution of Tythes and by whom Here is Moses the Servant and Prophet of the Lord who was faithfull in all his House and was a Witness through Faith of those things which should afterward come to pass Hebr. 3.3 4. this was he whom the Lord chused and sent into Egyt for a Prophet Prince and Deliverer to the Children of Israel Exod. 3.10 Acts 7.34 35. and having brought them to Mount Sinai the Lord spake unto Moses saying Tell the Children of Israel You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on Eagles Wings and brought you to me Now if you will hear my Voice indeed and keep my Covenant then ye shall be my chief Treasure above all People though all the Earth be mine and ye shall be to me a Kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation Then Moses proposed to them what the Lord had said to him and the People answered unanimously All that the Lord hath Commanded we will do and Moses reported their words unto the Lord Exod. 19.3 4. c. So the Lord calling Moses and Aaron only up into the Mount said I am the Lord thy God that have brought thee out of Egypt c. Thou shalt have no other Gods besides me and he delivered to them his Precepts and his Law by the dispensation of Angels Exod. 20. c. Also he commanded them not to make unto themselves gods of silver or gold verse 23. Then he commanded Moses to make an Altar of Earth or Stone whereon to offer the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings c. And see saith he that a Tool be not lifted up upon it verse 24.25 Then he delivered to him the Temporal or Civil Laws Exod. chap. 21 22 23. c. So Moses wrote all the Laws and erected them an Altar under the Mount and Twelve pillars according to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and sent of the Children of Israel who offered Burnt-offerings Beaves and Peace-offerings c. and with half of the Blood he sprinkled the Altar and the rest he put in Basins And he read the Laws and all the words of the Lord to the People who said All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient So Moses sprinkled all the People with the Blood and said Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you touching all these things Chap. 24. Then the Lord called Moses up into the Mount saying I will give thee Tables of Stone and a Law and Commandments which I have written that thou mayst Teach them to the People And Moses took his Minister Joshua and went up and Moses was in the Mount forty Days and forty Nights and God spake unto Moses to speak unto the Children of Israel that they should offer unto the Lord an offering of Gold Silver Brass Purple Scarlet and fine Linnen Oyl and Spices and precious Stones c. And that they should make the Lord a Sanctuary that he might dwell amongst them and that it should be according to the express Pattern shewed to him and also that he should make an Ark in which the Testimonies of the Covenant should be placed describing the fashion of the Tabernacle and the Order Place and Fashion of all the appurtenances thereunto belonging every thing was to be made placed and erected according to the express Patern shâ—wn to him in the Mount chapters 25 26. Mark what I say Moses having read the Law and the Book of the Covenant in the audience of the People they said All that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient chap. 24.7 8. Then he took the Blood of the Covenant having with the one half sprinkled the Altar with the other half he sprinkled the People and the Covenant was confirmed for almost all things were by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of Blood is no Remission Hebr. 9.22 mark here is the establishment of the first Covenant which stood in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal Ordinances which was imposed untill the time of Reformation Hebr. 9.9 10. mark here again which was but a Figure for the time then present and could never make the Comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come mark by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle that is not made with hands nor not of this building I say also Christ Jesus being come who was the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to all that believe and the Substance of all Shadows Antitypes and Figures he hath brought in a more excellent Ministry being a Mediator of a better Covenant established upon better Promises wherefore coming into the World he saith Sacrifices Offerings and Burnt-Offerings for sin thou wouldest not which are offered by the Law but a Body thou hast prepared as it is written Lo I come to do thy Will O God by the which Will we are sanctified saith the Apostle mark He taketh away the first that he might establish the Second Now if the First Covenant had been faultless there should no place have been for the Second but finding fault with them under the First Covenant and why because it was not possible that the blood of Bulls and Goats should take away sins for in those Sacrifices there was yea and is a remembrance of sins every year so that the Commers thereunto is not made perfect so finding fault with them he saith Behold the days come that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah not
be not come Indeed there is little more amongst many of the Tollerated Churches in England but Profession only amongst all the Lo here 's and Lo there 's amongst all the many Divisions Denominations Sects and Separations amongst all the Gatherings Societies or Assembles how few hath the Womb of Reformation really brought forth and how many hath proved Abortives yea how many is Strangled â—'ch Womb Oh! he wist well what he said who said Strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it yea may I say few there be that seek after it and therefore must needs be few that find it Oh! who can but lament yea mourn and sorrow in secret to see the present sad and miserable Estate of England who was formerly accounted as a Nursery of Christianity and Godliness and how is it now grown over with Weeds Briers and Thistles Oh who doth not see how wickedness is established and sin increaseth as a flood how the Workers of Iniquity are set up and the proud called happy Oh how doth Idolatry grow and flourish and all manner of abomination abound yea they work wickedness greedily making haste to do evil and are skilfull to transgress yea they improve both wits life time and estates in the lusts and pleasures o' th Flesh they commit lewdness with heart and hand their feet run to evil and they are not at all ashamed neither do they blush they sport themselves with their abominations and the fear of God is not before their eyes Oh the unparallell'd abominations that swims in England is undeclarable Oh how doth the vessels of the Whore flote upon her Waters surely surely the just God will be avenged on her and will recompence her for all her abominations and notorious evils he will bring down the pride of her stout hearted and humble the heady High-mindedness of her High ones and lay low the lofty looks of her Lordly leaders and severly punish the pride of her Princes Yea his anger is already kindled and his wrath shall ballance her wickedness and who shall withstand his Power or who can divert his Decree in that day the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him for neither Rock nor Mountain shall save them they 'l find no cover from the Storm nor no hiding place from the Tempest though they now flatter themselves with their own imaginations and heal themselves with smooth words and fortifie themselves with the arm of Flesh sitting like a Queen that shall see no sorrow making merry over the Witness which lies slain in their Streets yea they hate to be reformed The Judges judge for Reward the Prophets divine for Money the Priests preach for Hire and hare rule by their means and the People love to have it so I remember Malachi complaining cryed out O ye Priests this Commandment is for you and if you will not hear neither lay it to heart I will bring a Curse upon you and I will Curse your Blessings for ye have departed out of the Way ye have caused many to stumble therefore have I made you contemptible and base before all the People Mal. 2.1 2 8 9. And is not this the State of the Priesthood of England who is ready enough to cry Bring ye all the Tythes into the Store House viz. into their Kitchins Purse and Pocket and pay them say they duely and truly liberally and with a chearful Heart for God loves a chearful giver and then say they God will remove his Judgments from amongst you and those let them be as vile as they will that will pay them liberally and that with the better and is ready to put into their mouths and labour and give it to them to such they will cry Peace peace and say such a one is a very honest Man and they will befriend him in any matter of concernment before Magistrates c. but he that ceaseth to put into their mouths let him be as honest as he will against him they prepare War and cry Bring ye all the Tythes c. when as it was they that Malichi complained of that robbed God in Tythes and Offerings Mal. 2.1 and 1.6 it was they that despised his Name it was they that offered polluted Bread and the blind and lame and sick for Sacrifice c. Who amongst you saith he will shut a door for naught or will kindle a fire on mine Altar for naught verse 10 and are they not so now who amongst them will shut a Door for naught which of them hath any thing to Preach if the People have nothing to give nay they cannot relie of the Peoples gift but they must know what Revenew belongs unto the Incombent or Minister of that place and how it doth arise and it must be confirmed to them either by the Bishop Magistrates or Donators c. thus they Bargain yea they are as expert Merchants as ever Babylon bred observing their time for Trading and when they have enjoyed a Benefit Ten Twenty or Thirty years if another fall vacant of a greater Revenue Stipend or Value then they bestir themselves with all diligence by writing running riding c. yea some will not let to ride Post to and again to the Donators Bishops or such as can impower and invest them in such a place and having obtained it then they will be gone there say they a Man may live comfortably this is a poor sorry mean place having this or the other inconvenience And thus they shew themselves unto all for it appears their Comfort is Fleshly ease and their End is great Benefices and their gain is filthy lucre their god they chiefly serve is their Belly and what will be their reward hence they fulfil the old proverb No penny No pater Noster nay not so much as a Homily or Farwel Sermon Benefit taken away they are struck dumb And they are so far short of the Priests in Malachi's dayes that they will kindle no fire at all they will keep no Store-House at all neither for the poor Widow Fatherless Orphant or Stranger these must beg in the Country Tythes is confirmed to us say they for our maintenance and livelihood by the Law of God and Man that so we may be less cumbred in the World and may devote and give up our selves more to the Service and Worship of God and attend the Church And thus they claim Tythes to be theirs and yet as I said before they will keep no Store-House to maintain the Poor out of as they did under the Law nor they 'l kindle no fire on the Altar neither will they Sacrifice or Offer any thing unto the Lord out of their Tythes and First-fruits they 'l neither Sacrifice Bull nor Goat Lamb nor Dove neither Cake nor fine Flower nor Bread leavened nor unleavened neither Meat offering nor Drink-offering Sin-offering Peace-offering nor Trespass-offering nor any manner of Oblation according to the Levitical Law and yet they
hold forth which is the Key that opens the mystery ground intent and end of every Law and Statute whatsoever so that of Henry the 8th about Tythes doth not institute enact or ordain settle or impose them as a Temporal Civil Injunction but they are there called Spiritual gifts belonging to holy Church and because many doth deny the payment c. so this Act doth but enjoyn the payment of them as a supposed due and right formerly belonging to holy Church and therefore doth but at the utmost repair strengthen and preserve that which was like to decay but doth not set up any new structure property or title so the reasons of this Law being taken away which is that they are a supposed due this Act is nulled These before mentioned being the only main Grounds and Reasons whereupon Tythes are claimed and payed which I hope is satisfactorily answered indeed some more frivilous Objections are made as what will not many say to save themselves when they are in an exigent yea brawl menace perhaps beat with wicked fist revile or scoff and it may be set an Officer on one and hale him before a Magistrate c. I say many more they make to little purpose as that in Luke 18. where the Pharisee payed Tythes of all he possessed which hath little in it unless they would be condemned with him as a Pharisee with their outside holiness others say Thou shalt not muzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn I say so too if they be Oxen let them be unmuzled and live of what they tread out which is so little that they never durst rely upon it yet but they are more idle then such Oxen c. this is like their plowing in hope and sowing in hope which for the most part fails before they either plow or sow for in which of the Priests did ever the hope endure untill he reaped the Fruit of his plowing or sowing but rather first he must know what Stipend there is what Tythes or Gleab-lands or other Revenue belongs to the Incombent and how it doth arise this you may say is too true Again say they He that gathers a Flock let him eat of the milk of the Flock indeed so say I but they either get no flock gathered or else their Flock is barren and gives no milk or otherwise the milk they give doth not satisfie which makes them pull tug and draw so hard for milk meat and maintenance from others pertaining to another Flock which they never gathered as daily experience teacheth to their shame and to the shame of all that are gathered by them Again say they If we have sown unto you Spiritual things is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things I say it s no great matter but rather the part and duty of a Christian but to whom have they sown Spirituals I am sure not to me for L. W. hath Ministred nothing to me but that which is Earthly and savours of Death as I have elsewhere said which deserves not my Carnals nor any other maintenance from me not that I am strait-handed or so knit and joyned to the things the Lord hath endued me with but I can destribute them freely to such as sow Spirituals and Ministers freely from the mouth of the Lord or to any other in necessity but L. W. as is well known hath no such necessity for all his eager pursuit after my Carnals these Three or Four Years last past but he hath coveted an evil covetousness to set his nest on high but thereby hath not delivered his Soul from the power of evil but hath consulted confusion to his shame So Still I say the grand Title stood in the Mosaical Institutions all which pointed at Christ and Christ being come they fall flat and to them a period is set for its Evident for some hundreds of years after Christ there was neither Claim nor payment of Tythes nor no setling or confining of Ministers to such and such Parishes or Places but they that received freely preached freely and went from one Country to another and from one People to another as they were drawn by the Spirit of the Lord and in those dayes there was no setled nor forced maintenance belonged unto them but they who received Spirituals and were brought into the Faith and Fellowship of the Saints they administred of their Temporals freely without any injunction as many hath done in England these late years and the Lord having opened the Hearts of many as Lydia they called them into their House being open to distribute to their Necessities so that they that set forth without money or scrip c. wanted nothing yea I believe many of the Lords Ministers and Servants called Quakers hath Travelled in these late years many Hundred of miles from one People and Nation to another having been persecuted and beat and haled to Prison and out of Prison here and there amongst a strange Nation and People which they knew not who when they set forth could not assure themselves of one Nights lodgings or one meals Meat and yet they were in every place sufficiently provided for and had no want they only cast their care upon the Lord and lived upon the Gospel being Preachers of it and by the Faith of the Son of God as did the primitive Christians in the Apostles dayes and some Hundred of years after untill the power of Christianity was lost and the Apostacy crept in and then they fell into Forms and Immitations Rome being the leading Church setled Bishops Vicars and Priests and erected Monasteries Abbeys and Religious Houses and placed them there and brought in the old Rites and Customs of the Jews again under a colour of Zeal and Piety perswading the People to give gifts to pious uses so enjoyning them to one thing after another until their Traditions were received as Canonical and amongst the rest brought in this of Tythes again which for a long time was payed at the Owners pleasure either to the Poor or to the aforesaid Monasteries and Religious Houses for pretended Spiritual uses and when they saw that the greater part destributed their Tythes to the Poor Pope Alexander the third did restrain the Peoples freedoms Anno 1180. And Pope Gregory ordained that Tythes should not be destributed to the Poor but to the Mother Church Anno 1274. And Pope Pius the Fourth ordained the payment of Tythes upon penalty of Excomunication by a Council at Trent about the year 1560. And thus they crept in again as they fell from the Power of Godliness then they began to build again that which was before destroyed and so brought in these old Ordinances again in immitation of the Mosaical Law and so came to force and compel a maintenance for a Priesthood and Ministry which was not of Levi's Linnage which was never used nor known amongst the Christians in the purity of the Gospel but being little acquainted or read in
Authority over all the Europian Nations as doth fully and largely appear in those pithy and ponderous works of the before recited Authors A. P. and F. H. this Title of Tythes having such a pleasant delightsom relish it hath been still retained amongst all the Reformed Rulers in Church and State who hath so largely professed to cast off the Papistical Yoke Now I shall proceed to say something to those my Neighbours and Parishioners amongst whom I have had my conversation in times past and a society when I wrought the will of the Flesh who have known my manner of Life from a Child I say to such what have I done what have I thought what have I acted or spoken that hath deserved any such measure as I have received from L. W or what evil have I done or what occasion have I given to any Mans person good name or estate at any time especially since I associated amongst the People called Quakers let him you or any of you or any other Person come forth that can justly charge any thing against me wherein I have damnified any one the value of a penny and have denied to give satisfaction or have offered violence to any ones Dog and I shall willingly upon due proof make acknowledgement and satisfaction to the utmost of my power for blessed be the Lord my Righteousness and Redeemer there is no thing upon my Conscience and Spirit but what is between the Lord and my own Soul in matter of my Testimony yea everlastingly magnified be the Righteous Lord my preserver to whose praise I desire to speak it that though L. W. and many others have sought occasion and have waited for my halting or falling they have not yet seen it nor got no occasion against me save about the Law and Worship of my God or the holding forth my Testimony and Exercise of my Conscience towards him for which I have been reviled mocked and reproached amongst you yea the Children in the Streets have played upon me with their Tongues this I speak to their or their Parents shame but was as joy and rejoycing to my Soul being for Righteousness sake the Blessing of the Lord was with me and mine Enemies knew it not nor they that dwelt in Darkness saw it not This further I have to propound to you whether ye can allow of it or that it would be justifiable in the Law of Equity and true Judgment that my Servant should Sue you at Law make spoil and carry away your goods and cast your persons into Prison and after all seek to make your Estates forfeit and confiscate and all for the wages and recompence of the Service he hath done for me which of you would approve of such work or of me in keeping such a Servant would you not rather say to me if I have hired a Servant and employed him pay him and maintain him also why doth he trouble you What have you to do to pay him for my work seeing he is my Servant Is not this the case between me and you Is not L. W. your Minister and also your Servant And by what Law or Reason ought I to pay him for doing your service Hath either you or he a President in all the Scriptures of any such unequal deeds Did ye ever Read of any of the Churches or Servants of God in Ages past that used such things I trow not If I had destributed voluntarily it had been one thing but being sued and compelled thereunto therefore I complain may not I say to you why do you hire more servants then you can pay Or why do you keep more then you are able to maintain Else why am I thus persecuted for his maintenance May not I speak this to your shame being so many as I may say for one Servant you are either hard Masters and very penurious and strait-handed to your Servants or else your Servants are very lavish proud profane and prodigal and hath much maintaining Did ever any Minister of ours called a Quaker come among you to sue and cast into Prison for their maintenance and livelihood or what would you say if they should I believe you would condemn both us and them and indeed we should be greatly ashamed if they should for my part I had rather Administer to the last mite then any such cause of aspertion should be given against us and also testifie against them as no Ministers of Christ that Preaches for any such ends if they be Gospel Ministers let their Gospel maintain them or let them labour with their hands though many have said we are a disorderly and unmannerly People but I affirm we have better orders and manners amongst us then you have for your Servants are become your Masters and Lords it over you and both in that and many other things disorder and confusion is come over you as they that built Babel of old I remember well what Malachi saith complaining of the Priests Mal. 2.2 3 c. to verse 9. I will send a Curse upon you I 'll Curse your Blessings yea I have Cursed them already Behold I 'll corrupt your Seed and spread dung upon your Faces and ye shall know that I have sent this Commandment unto you that my Covenant might be with Levi my Covenant was with him of Life and Peace the Law of Truth was in his mouth for the Priests lips should preserve knowledge but ye are departed out of the Way ye have caused many to stumble at the Law ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi saith he therefore have I made you contemptible and base before all the People mark now Is not this the case and condition of the present Priesthood and Clergy of England those neutralists that are neither Ministers of the Law nor Gospel hath not the Lord made them contemptible and base before all the People yea where shall a Man come and have any Discourse about them but the most part if not all doth generally conclude they are Covetous vile proud and profane Persons Oppressors Drunkards Men-pleasers Time-servers Turn-coats Heady and High-minded lovers of Pleasures and filthy lucre more then of God having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power but their folly shall be and is made manifest it shall proceed no further said the Apostle May not I say the Merchants of this last Age hath exceeded all that ever went before them they can trade on those dayes called their Sabboths or Lords-dayes and prohibit all others from either trading or labouring in their lawful and honest vocations but if they 'l Play Drink Revel Swear and be Profane there they may have liberty enough on those Dayes Also whether any have need of their Merchandice or not or will come and Trade with them or not or will take any of their Commodities from them or not yet they have a Law and by that Law compel them to pay and that even their own Rates what they demand and if any refuse then