the children of Israel and unto them he gave his commandment so to do and to no other people Secondly God required first fruits and tythes to be paid in no other Land or Nation but in the Land of Canaan only Thirdly That when the children of Isral had possession of the land of Canaan and that when they enjoyed peace round about them then were they to pay first fruits and tythes and not before Fourthly That the tythes of the land of Canaan whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree the wine the oyle the encrease of the seed that the field bringeth forth yeer by yeer the tythe of the Corn and the tythe of the Flock or of the Herd the Lord God said was his and therefore said the Lord The first fruits of thy Land thou shalt bring unto the house of the Lord thy God And again said the Lord Bring ye all the tythes into the Store-hovse that there may be meat in my house and they that brought not in their tythes to that Store-House were cursed with a curse for they had robbed God of their tythes and offerings even that whole Nation had done it Fifthly That in the land of Canaan 2 Chron. 6.6 7.16 Deut. 12.11 Neh. 10.34 to 39. 2 Chron. 31.2 to 11. ver Ierusalem was the place where God did place his Name and there was the Store-house builded that the first fruits and tythes were to be brought unto and to that place were the tythes and first fruits brought according to the law of God that came by Moses and to no other place Sixthly The first fruits and tythes which God said was his Numb 18. ch Deut. 18.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Heb. 7.5 Numb 28.25 to 31. Deut. 17.18 14.29 26.12 Heb. 7.5 Numb 18.11 24. ver Deut. 18.3 4 5. he gave unto the children of Levi even all the tenth of Israel for an inheritance because the Levites had no inheritance among their Brethren Seventhly That to the sons of Levi who received the office of the Priesthood for their service which they served even the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation did God give the first fruits and tythes unto for their maintenance and likewise the fatherless the widow and the stranger that came within the gates was to eat thereof and be satisfied Eighthly God commanded the eleven tribes of Israel to pay tythes to the sons of Levi who received the office of the Priesthood and to no other Priesthood did he require tythes to be paid unto since the resurrection of Christ Jesus Ninthly That the first fruits and tythes were by a law that came by Moses due unto Aaron and his sons the Levites whom God had chosen and not man to minister before him at the Altar and to do the service of the tabernacle of the Congregation and to no other ministers or men whatsoever were nor are tythes since that command was given Heb 7.12 and the Priesthood changed and the Law disanulled And now by the way take notice a little what the service was that Aaron the Levite Exod. 4.14 and chap. 28. chap. 29. ver 29 30. Heb. 9. chap. and his sons the Levites did whom God did set apart thereunto Aaron and his sons God set apart from the other tribes of Iâ—rael for the service of the tabernacle of the Congregation who did minister before the Lord in the Holy place in the tabernacle of the Congregation unto the Lord accomplishing the service of the Lord which stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal ceremonies which was imposed upon them and the children of Israel to do until the time of reformation For first Gen. 17.12 Lev. 12.3 Iohn 1.22 Luke 22.1 they were to observe and keep the covenant of Circumcision every male child at eight dayes old was to be circumcised Secondly they were to observe and keep feasts viz. The Feast of the Passeover or the Feast of unleavened Bread the Feast of Penticost and the Feast of Tabernacle Now the people were to bring to the Feast of the Passeover a Lamb without blemish Exod. 12. chap. Acts 2.1 Exod. 23.16 a male of a yeer old Let every man said Moses take unto him a Lamb according to the house of the fathers a Lamb for an house c. and the flesh of the Lamb was to be rosted with fire and to be eaten with sowre Herbs and unleavened Bread and they were to eat unleavened bread seven dayes Again the Feast of pentecost that was the Feast that was of the first fruits of their Harvest Lev. 23.9 10 11 12 13 14. 33 34 35. Numb 29. ch the people they was to bring a sheaf of the first fruits of their Harvest unto the priest and the sheaf was to be waved before the Lord and the priest was to wave it on the morrow after the Sabbath c. and the feast of Tabernacles was to be kept on the seventh month at the end of their Harvest for seven dayes unto the Lord wherein was divers offerings viz. Burnt-offering Meat-offering Drink-offering Sin-offering c. Now the people they were to bring their offerings voluntary to the door of the Congregation of the Lord and there to offer it c. and if it was an offering of the Cattel of the Herd the priests Aarons sons were to sprinkle the blood upon the Altar and to lay the Wood in order upon the Altar and put fire to the Altar and to lay the parts the head and the fat in order upon the Wood that was on the fire upon the Altar and the priest he was to burn all upon the Altar These offerings were made for sin viz. for the sin of the Ruler Lev. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. chapters and for the sin of the priest of the Congregation and for the sin of any of the people which they have committed wilfully or through ignorance for which sins there was to be Burnt-offerings trespasse-offerings peace-offerings c. offered up by the high-priests first for himself and then for the errors of the people Exod. 29.1 17. Lev. 8. chap. So likewise there was divers washings First Moses he washed Aaron and his sons with water when he consecrated them according to the command of the Lord and Moses he washed the inwards and the legs of the Ram that was for a burnt-sacrifice at that time and a sweet sacrifice And Aaron when he offered up a burnt-offering for his own sin Lev. 9. chap. Lev. 1. chap. chap. 6.28 and for the sins of the people he did wash the inwards and the legs of the Ram and the inwards and the legs of the Bullock was to be washed in water that any of the people brought to offer for a burnt offering before the Lord and the brazen pot that the sin-offering was to be sodden in was to be both scoured and â—â—â—â—sed in water And again Lev. 11. chap.
Whosoever touched or did bear ought of the Carcases of any beast or creeping thing that was counted unclean he himself was unclean and was to wash his clothes and he that did eat of a Carkase of a dead Beast was to wash his clothes And again Lev. 14. chap. If a House that was spread with the plague of a fretting Leprosie and was by the commandment of the priest shut up because it was unclean then he that went into the House in that time and he that lay in the House and he that eat in the House were to wash their clothes And again If any man had a running issue out of his flesh he was unclean and his bed wherein he lay was unclean Lev. 15. chap. and the thing whereon he sate was unclean therefore whosoever touched his bed was to wash his clothes and he that sate on the thing whereon he sate that had the issue was to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water c. Of which divers washings Heb. 9.19 20 21. sprinklings feasts burnt-offerings meat-offerings drink-offerings sin-offerings trespasse-offerings the attonement for the sin of ignorance the free-will-offerings the peace-offerings c. ye may read of more at large in the Scriptures which things the Law required to be done were all by the Apostle Paul counted but carnal Ordinances and when the time of Reformation was come they were all put to an end Heb. 9.10 the hand-writing of Ordinances was blotted out the Law disannulled and the Priesthood changed c. Now I say That the Ministers of England never did this service for their tythes and first fruits as Aaron and his son did nor the Improprietors neither therefore neither the Improprietor nor the parish-Ministers have not any right to the tythes of the land nor the first fruits neither for the first fruits and tythes was Aaron and his sons due Heb. 9. chap. who received the office of the priesthood by the Lords appointment or command who were to attend continually yeer by yeer at the tabernacle of the congregation to accomplish the service of the Lord which was to offer gifts and sacrifices for themselves and for the errors of the people for which service doing the Lord God gave them for their portion of the most holy things reserved from the fire Lev. 2. ch 8.31 to 36. Numb 18. ch of every Oblation Meat-Offering Sin-offering Trespasse-offering Heave-offering Wave-offering c. all the best of the Oyle and the best of the Wine and the Wheat viz. the first fruits of them which the children of Israel should bring to offer unto the Lord even to Aaron and his sons who had the charge of the tabernacle of the Congregation and the office of the priesthood there to them the Lord God gave likewise of the firstling of a Cow or the firstling of a Sheepe or the firstling of a Goat which was brought for an offering made by fire Exod. 29. chap. for a sweet savour unto the Lord of the flesh thereof The Wave-brest and the right shoulder and the fat of the Ram and the Rump and the fat that covereth the inwards and the Caul about the Liver and the two kindneys and the fat that is upon them and the rig it shoulder and the breast of the Ram and whether it be of Ox or Sheep they shall give unto the priest the shoulder the two cheeks and the Maw Deut. 18.3 Numb 18.10 and a loaf of bread and a Cake of oyled Bread and a Wafer of unleavened Bread and this was by them to be eaten in the most holy place every meal And again Lev. 27.30 32 34. God he required the children of Israel to tythe all the encrease of their seed that their fields broughâ— forth yeer by yeer and he said that all the tythes of the land whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree and the tythe of the Herd or of the flock even of whatsoever passeth under the Rod the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord and all the tythes was brought into the House of the Lord for said the Lord unto the children of Israel Deut. 14.22 Exod. 23.19 34.26 Mal. 3.10 Deuc 14.28 26.12.13 Prov. 3.9 10. Thou shalt truly tythe all the encrease of thy seed that the field bringeth forth yeer by yeer and the first fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the House of the Lord thy God Bring ye said the Lord all the tythes into the Store-house that there may be meat in my House and the levite and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy Gates shall come and eat thereof and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands which thou dost And Solomon said Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine encrease so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy Presses shall burst out with new Wine And God gave to the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood a commandment to take tythes of the people according to the law Heb. 7.5 that is of their Brethren and the Lord he spake unto Aaron Numb 18.21 24. and said Behold I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve even for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the Lord spake unto Moses saying thus Speak unto the Levites and say unto them When ye take of the children of Israel the tythes which I have given you from them for your Inheritance c. Here you may plainly see and the Scriptures do testifie that God gave the first fruits and the tythes to the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood by his own command only and likewise the sons of Levi they received tythes of the children of Israel their brethren onely and of no other people or Nation by a law which law stood in force to be observed and kept by which law the eleven tribes of Israel was required to pay first fruits and tythes And likewise the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood to take tythes by and this commandment was given to Moses in Mount Sinai with other commandments for the children of Israel to observe and do Lev. 27.34 Iâ—h 1.17 Heb. 8.5 9 10. chap. and Paul said The Law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very Image of the things for the law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ. Now those things which the law required was a figure for the time then present in which time were offered both gifts and sacrifices by the priesthood which was ordained thereunto and the law which was a shadow of good things to come did impose upon the people many things to be done which stood only in meats and drinks and divers
admonished of God how to do it for said the Lord Heb. 8.5 Exod. 25.40 Acts 7.44 Heb. 3.2 3 4 5. See that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the Mount and verily Moses was faithful in all his House as a servant and did see that all things was done as the Lord commanded And according to all that the Lord commanded Moses so the children of Israel made all the work and Moses did look upon all the work and beâ—old they had done it as the Lord had commanded even so had they done it Moses blessed them And the Lord spake unto Moses saying And read Exo. 34 35 36 37 38 39 chap. On the first day of the first Month thou shalt set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of the Congregation and Moses reared up the Tabernacle according to all that the Lord God commanded him to do so did he And it came to pass in the first month in the second year on the first day of the Month that the Tabernacle was reared up and all things belonging to the service of the Tabernacle was brought and put into it and set up in it So Moses finished the work and God said Read Exodus 40. ehap I mill sanctifie the Tabernacle of the Congregation and there will I meet with the children of Israel and the Tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle And God said unto Moses Exod. 28.1 2. 29.44 I will sanctifie also both Aaron and his sons to minister unto me in the Priests Office And the Lord said unto Moses Take unto thee Aaron thy Brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the Priests Office even Aaron Nadab and Abihu Eliazer and Ithamor Aarons sons and thou shalt make holy Garments for Aaron thy Brother for glory and for beauty And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Take Aaron and his sons with him and the Garments Lev. 8. chap. and the anointing Oyle and a Bullock for a sin-Offring and two Rams and a Basket of unleavened Bread and gather thou all the Congregation together unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and Moses did as the Lord commanded and the Assembly was gathered together unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and Moses said unto the Congregation This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done and Moses brought Aaron and his Sons and washed them with water and he put upon Aaron the Coat and girded him with the Girdle and cloathed him with the Robe and put the Ephod upon him and girded him with the curious Girdle of the Ephod Exod. 28.30 and bound it unto him therewith and he put the Brest-plate upon him also he put into the Brest-plate of Judgement the Vrim and the Thumrim and he put the Mytor upon his head and upon the Mytor he put also the golden Plate the Holy Crown as the Lord commanded Moses and Moses took the Anointing Oyle and he poured of the Anointing Oyle upon Aarons head and anointed him to sanctifie him And Moses brought Aarons sons and put Coats upon them and girded them with Girdles and put Bonnets upon them as the Lord commanded and Moses took of the Anointing Oyle and of the blood wâ—ich was upon the Altar and sprinkled it upon Aaron and upon his Garments and upon his Sons and upon his Sons Garments with him and sanctified Aaron and his Garments and his Sons and his Sons Garments with him And thus Aaron and his sons were sanctified for to Minister to the Lord in the Priests Office Lev. 9. chap. in the Tabernacle before the Altar for the accomplishing the service of God to offer up unto the Lord sacrifices for himself Heb. 7.27 9.6 7. Numb 3. chap. and then for the errors of the people And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Bring the Tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the Priest that they may Minister unto him and they shall keep his charge and the charge of the whole Congregation before the Tabernacle of the Congregation to do the service of the Tabernable and they shall keep all the Instruments of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the charge of the children of Israel to do the service of the Tabernacle And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them and thus shalt thou do unto them to cleanse them Thou shalt sprinkle the water of Purifying upon them and let them shave all their flesh and let them wash their cloathes and so make themselves clean then let them take a young Bullock for a Meat-Offring and another for a Sin-Offring and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Tabernacle of the Congregation and thou shalt gather tho whole Assembly of the children of Israel together and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord for an Offring before the Lord and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an Offring of the children of Israel that they may execute the service of the Lord and the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the Bullocks and thou shalt offer one for a Sin-offring and the other for a Burnt-Offring unto the Lord to make an attonement for the Levites Thus shalt thou seperate the Levites from among the children of Israel and the Levites shall be mine and after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation And Moses and Aaron and all the Congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites according to all that that the Lord commanded But take notice a little That the Levites were not to go in to wait upon the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation till that they were twenty five years of age and upward and when they came to be of the age of fifty years they were to cease waiting upon the service thereof and to serve no more for the Lord spake unto Moses saying This is that belongeth unto the Levites Lev. 8.23 24 25 26. ver From twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof and shall serve no more Forasmuch as ye see God did require a Tabernacle an Ark and an Altar and all things belonging thereto to be made for himself to dwell in or amongst the children of Israel wherein he would meet them in their worship and service done unto him and so likewise you may see how he set apart consecrated and ordained Aaron and his sons and the Levites to Minister in the Priests Office and to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation so likewise
God provided Maintenance for them who waited continually upon this service himself therefore said Moses At that time the Lord seperated the Tribe of Levi to bear the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord Dâ—ut 10.8 9. 18.3 4. and to stand before the Lord to Minister unto him and to bless in his Name Wherefore Levi hath no part nor Inheritance with his Brethren Therefore this shall be the Priests due from the people from them that offer a sacrifice whether it be Oxe or Sheep they shall give unto the Priests the Shoulder the two Cheeks and the Maw and the first fruit also of thy Corn of thy Wine and of thy Oyle and the first of the fleece of thy Sheepe shalt thou give him Lev. 27.30 31 32. and also the tythes of Land whether of the seed of the Land or the fruit of the Tree it is the Lords And the tithe of the Herd or of the Flock even of whatsoever passeth under the Rod the tenth thereof shall be holy unto the Lord for said the Lord unto the children of Israel viz. the eleven Tribes Thou shalt truly tythe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year and ye shall bring all the tythes into the Store-house Mal. 3.10 that there may be meat in my House for the Levite because he hath no part nor Inheritance with thee in the Land whither thou goest to possess And the Lord God spake unto Aaron and said Behold Numb 18.20 21 24. I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an Inheritance for their service which they serve even the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation And God gave the sons of Levi who received the Office of the Priesthood a Commandment to take tythes of their Brethren because they had no part nor Inheritance with them Heb. 7.5 Now these tythes and first fruits were not required to be paid in the land of Aegypt nor yet in the Wilderness as they went toward the Land of Canaan were they to pay any tythes or first fruits nor in any other land but when ye go over Iordan dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about so that you dwell in safety then was tythes to be paid and then was the first fruits and tythes to be brought in and no where else for said Moses Read Deut. 12. chap. to the 20. ver Then shall there be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his Name to dwell there thither shall ye bring all that I command you your Burnt-Offrings and your Sacrifices and your tythes and the heave-Offring of your hand and all your choice vows which ye have vowed before the Lord and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God ye and your sons and your daughters and your man-servants and your maid-servants and the Levite that is within your Gates forasmuch as he hath no part nor Inheritance with you So that it is very plain first That tythes and first fruits were to be paid in no land but in the land of Canaan when that the children of Israel had the possession of it Secondly Tythes and first fruits were to be paid by the eleven Tribes in the Land of Canaan to the sons of Levi who had a Law to take tythes and first fruits of their Brethren when they had rest round about from all their enemies dwelt safely in the same land of Canaan Thirdly the first fruits and tythes were to be paid of the fruit or increase that the eleven Tribes had of the land of Canaan and of no other land for it is written When ye go over Iordan and dwell in the Land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit so that ye dwell in safety then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose for to cause his Name to dwell there and thither shall you bring your tythes When the children of Israel had got possession of the land of Canaan it was a long time before they had rest by reason of their often rebellion and turning aside from the Lord 1 Sam. 4 5 6 7 chap. so that the Ark of the Covenent of the Lord was often removed and carryed from place to place besides it once fell into the Philistines who carryed it to Ashdod and they set it up in Dagons House by Dagon their god and after that they saw the hand of God against them for keeping it then they sent it to Gath and the Lord smote the men of the City both great and small with a very great destruction and they had Emrods in their secret parts and then they sent away the Ark to Ekron and the Ekronites they cryed out and said They have brought about the Ark of the God of Israel to slay us and our people and then the Ark was carryed into the Philistines Country for seven months and then it was sent in a new Cart to Bethshemesh and the men of Bethshemesh sent Messengers to the Inhabitants of Kiriathiearim to come down and fetch up the Ark to them and the men of Kiriathiearim fetcht up the Ark of the Lord and set it in the House of Abinadab in the Hill 2 Sam. 5 6 7. chap. and there it abode twenty years and after that time when David was King over Israel and that he had beaten the Philistines from Geba until he came to Gazer then David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel and David said unto all the Congregation of Israel If it seem good unto you and that it be of the Lord our God let us send abroad unto our Brethren every where that are left in the Land of Israel and with them also to the Priests and the Levites which are in their Cities and Suburbs that they may gather themselves unto us And said he Let us bring again the Ark of our God to us for we inquired not at it in the dayes of Saul And all the Congregation said that they would do so for the thing was right in all the eyes of che people 1 Chron. 13.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. So David gathered together all Israel from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entring of Hamath to bring the Ark of God from Kiriathiearim And David and all Israel went up and they carryed the Ark of God in a new Cart out of tht House of Abinadab and Vzzah put forth his hand to take hold of the Ark of God and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Vzzah and God smote him there for his error and there he dyed by the Ark of God and David was displeased because the Lord had made a breach upon Vzzah And David was afraid of the Lord that day and said How shall the Ark of the Lord cowe to me So David carryed the Ark aside into the House
of Obed Edom the Gittite and there it continued three Months and it was told David the King saying the Lord hath blessed the House of Obed Edom all that partain unto him because of the Ark of God So David went and brought up the Ark of God from the House of Obed Edom into the City of David which is Zion with gladness and David made him Houses in the City of David 1 Chron. 15.1 16.1 2 Chron. 5.2 5. which is Zion and he prepared a place for the Ark of God and pitched for it a Tent so they brought the Ark of God set it in the midst of the Tent or the Tabernacle that David had pitched for it Now it came to pass as David sate in his house that David said to Nathan the Prophet Lo I dwell in an House of Cedars but the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord remaineth under Curtains the Lord had given David rest round about from all his Enemies and Nathan said to the King Go and do all that is in thy heart for the Lord is with thee Read 1 Chron. 28 29. chap. now it was in the heart of David to build an House of Rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and David had made ready Stuff for the building of it But the word of the Lord came to Nathan the Prophet saying Go and tell David my servant thus saith the Lord Thou shalt not build me an House to dwell in for I have not dwelt in an House since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day but have gone from Tent to Tent and from one Tabernacle to another and the Lord said unto David When thy dayes be fulfilled 2 Sam. 7. chap and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers I will set up thy seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels and I will establish his Kingdom and he shall build an house for my Name Now when Davids dayes and his work was both near finished David assembled all the Princes of Israel and the Princes of the Tribes and the Captains of thousands and the Captains of hundreds and the Stewards and Officers and the mighty men and all the valiant men unto Jerusalem then David the King stood up upon his feet and said Hear me my Brethren and my People As for me I had in my heart to build an house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and for the Footstool of our God and I had made ready for the building but God said unto me Thou shalt not build an House for my Name Because thou hast been a man of War and hast shed much blood Now said David to all the people The Lord hath given me many sons and out of all my sons the Lord hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon this Throne of the Kingdom of the Lord over Israel and the Lord said David said unto me Solomon thy son he shall build me my House and my Courts for I have chosen him to be my son and I will be his Father and he shall be my son And David called for Solomon his son and David said to Solomon My son as for me it was in my mind to build an House unto the Name of the Lord my God but the Word of the Lord came to me saying Thou hast shed blood abundantly and hast made great wars thou shalt not build an House unto my Name because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight behold a son shall be born unto thee his Name shall be Solomon and he shall be a man of rest and I will give him rest from all his Enemies round about and I wil give peace and quietness all his dayes unto Israel and Solomon he shall build an House for my Name and he shall be my son and I will be his Father and I will establish the Throne of his Kingdom over Israel for ever And David said Thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an House for the Sanctuary be strong and do it and the Lord be with thee and prosper thou and build the House of the Lord thy God as he hath said of thee onely the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding and David gave unto Solomon his son the pattern of the Porch and of the Houses thereof and of the Treasures thereof and of the upper-Chambers thereof and of the inward Parlors and the place of the Mercy-Seat and the pattern of the Courts of the House of the Lord and of all the Chambers round about and of all the Treasuries of the House and of the Treasuries for the dedicate things and also 2 Chron 28. ch for the courses of the Priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service of the House of the Lord all that which David had given him by the Spirit shewed he unto Solomon for said David to Solomon the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me even all the works of this Pattern And when David dyed Solomon his son reigned in his stead when Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his Kingdom and found that the Lord his God was with him and magnified him exceedingly then Solomon spake unto all Israel to the Captains of thousands and of hundreds and to the Judges and to every Governor in all Israel and the chief of the Fathers so Solomon and all the Congregation with him went up to the High Place that is at Gibeon for there was the Tabernacle of the Congregation of God which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the Wilderness 2 Chron 1. but the Ark of God had David brought up from Kiriathiearim to the place which David had prepared for it for he had pitched a Tent for it at Jerusalem now in the night did God appear to Solomon in Gibeon and the Lord said Ask what I shall give thee and Solomon said And now O Lord my God thou hast made thy servant King instead of David my Father and I am but a child and I know not how to go out or come in and thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen a great people that cannot be numbred nor counted for multitude give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discover between good and bad And this speech of Solomons pleased the Lord and tho Lord said unto him Because thou hast asked this thing 1 Kings 3. cha 5. chap. and hast not asked for thy self neither long life nor riches nor the life of thy Enemies but hast asked for thy self understanding to discern judgement Behold I have done acording to thy word lo I have given unto thee a wise and an understanding heart Then Solomon came from before the Tabernacle of the
Congregation that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem and reigned over Israel and Solomon said Now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side so that there is neither adversaries nor evil occurrent Behold I purpose to build an House unto the Name of the Lord my God as the Lord spake unto David my Father saying Thy son whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room he shall build an House unto my Name Then Solomon began to build the House of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah where the Lord appointed unto David his father Deut. 12.10 11 12. 2 Chron. 3.1 2. and that was the place that God did choose to cause his Name to dwell and thither was the people to bring their tythes and first fruits their Burnt-offrings and their Sacrifices And Solomon began to build the House of the Lord at Jerusalem in the second year of the second Month in the fourth year of his reign and when the House was finished throughout all the parts thereof according to all the fashion of it then Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated 1 Chron. 29.1 2 3 4 5. viz. the Gold the Slver and all the Instruments put he among the Treasuries of the Hduse of God and then Solomon assembled the Elders of Israel and all the Heads of the Tribes and the chief of the Fathers of the children of Israel unto Jerusalem to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the City of David which is Zion and all the Elders of Israel came 2 Sam. 5.7 9. 1 Chron. 11.4 5 6 7 8. and the Levites took up the Ark and they brought up the Ark and the Tabernacle of the Congregation and all the holy Vessels that were in the Tabernacle these did the Priests and the Levites bring up And the Priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord unto his place to the Oracle of the House into the most Holy Place even under the Wings of the Cherubins and Solomon said unto the Lord I have huilt an House of habitation for thee and a place for thy dwelling for ever And blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my Father David saying Since that day that I brought my people out of the Land of Aegypt I chose no City among all the Tribes of Israel to build an House in that my Name might be there neither chose I any man to be a Ruler over my people Israel but I have chosen David to be over my people Israel And said Solomon The Lord hath performed the word that he hath spoken for I am risen up in the room of David my Father am set on the Throne of Israel as the LORD promised to David my Father and I have built the HOUSE for the Name of the LORD GOD of ISRAEL and the Lord God said I have chosen Jerusalem that my Name may be there And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said unto him I have heard thy prayer and I have chosen this place to my self for an House of sacrifice for now have I chosen and sanctified this House 2 Chron. 33.7 Psal 132.13 2 Chron. 7.12 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. that my Name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually and my ears shall attend unto the prayers that is made in this place and as for thee said the Lord God to Solomon if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked and do according to all that I have commanded thee and shalt observe my Statutes and my Judgements then will I establish the Throne of thy Kingdom according as I covenanted with David thy Father saying There shall not fail thee a man to be Ruler in Israel but if ye turn away and forsake my Statutes and my my Commandments which I have â—et before you and shall go and serve other Gods and worship them then will I pluck â—hem up by the roots out of my Land which I have given them Deut. 12.10 11 and this Houâ—e whiâ—h I have sanctified for my Name will I cast â—ut of my ligâ—t Therefore â—ake notice First God told the â—hildre of â—raâ—l when â—heâ— were in the Wilderness That when they came into the â—â—nâ— whiâ—h he wâ—uld â—ive them to possess and that when he had given them rest â—rom all theiâ— Enemies round about then there should be a place which he would choosâ— to cause his Name to dwell in 2 Chron. 6.5 6. Secondly Thâ—t in the Land of Canaan Ierusalem was the place that God chose from amâ—ng all the Trâ—bes of Israel that his Name might be there Tâ—irâ—ly 2 Chron. 3.1 Deut. 12.5 Joh. 4.20 Exod. 23.14 15 16. Deut. 16.16 2 Chron. 8.12 13 14 15 16. That at Ierusalem Solomon built in Mount Moriah a House called a Temple unto the Name of the Lord and for his Worship according to the Command of God 2 Sam. 7.12 13 14. 1 Kings 5.5 6. chap. Fourthly That to Ierusalem was the people of Israel required to bring their Burnt-Offrings their Sacrifices their first Fruits and their tythes Then Solomon offered Burnt-Offerings unto the Lord on the Altar of the Lord which he had built before the Porch even after a certain rate every day offering according to the Commandment of Moses and he appointed according to the order of David his father the Courses of the Priests to their Service and the Levites to their Charges the Porters also by their courses at every Gate so the House of God was perfected Now that which I come to write of further is That God required the people of Israel to pay the Priests and Levites their first fruits and tythes unto them in the land of Canaan Deu. 10.8 9 14. cha ver 22 to the end 18.1 2 3 4 5 6. and that they were to bring their Offerings and Sacrifices their first fruits and their tythes unto the place which he should chose that to Jerusalem were the first fruits and the tythes brought into the House of the Lord to be for food for the Priests the Levites the fatherless and the widow and the stranger that they might eat and be satisfied And Hezekiah King of Iudah sent to all Israel and Iudah to come to Ierusalem to keep the Passeouer unto tne Lord God of Israel 2 Chron. 30 31. chap. and Hezekiah appointed the courses of the Priests and the Levires after their courses every man according to his service the Priests and tae Levites for Burnt-offerings and for Peace-offerings he appointed also the Kings portion of his substance for the Burnt-offering to wit For the Morning and the Evening Burnt-offerings for the Sabbaths and for the New Moons and for the set Feasts as it is in the Law of the Lord Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to
of Gold and the one he set up in a City called Dan and Iereboam built up at Bethel a House of High Places and he made an Altar at Bethel and Jeroboam he set up the other golden Calfe at Bethel and then Jeroboam said unto the people It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem to worship behold thy Gods O Israel which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt And thus you see how one of the Kings of the earth was the Ring-leaders of the people from the true God to worship Idols for the people went to worship before one of the golden Calves even to the City of Dan and that thing became a sin unto them and Jeroboam he built an Altar at Bethel and he made Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi and he placed the Priests in the Houses of High Places at Bethel And Jeroboam he ordained a Feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month which he had devised of his own heart like unto the Feast that was in Judah there was his imitation and Jeroboam offered upon the Altar sacrificing unto the Calves that he had made 1 King 13. ch and he stood by the Altar to burn Incense and the Priests that he had made of the lowest of the people for the High Places burnt Incense upon the Altar as it was done in Judah so the like did he do at Bethel But I do not find that the House of High Places was so glorious as the Temple was at Jerusalem But behold there came a man of God out of Judah by the Word of the Lord unto Bethel and as Jeroboam stood by the Altar to burn incense the man of God cryed against the Altar in the Word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar thus saith the Lord Behold a child shall be born unto the House of David Josiah by Name and upon thee shall he offer the Priests of the high Places that burn incense upon thee and mens bones shall be burnt upon thee Now Jeroboam who was turned from the Lord God that exalted him fell to persecute the Prophet of the Lord and Jeroboam himself put forth his hand when he heard the saying of the man of God and said lay hold on him but the Lord God was just in causing his hand that he put forth to be dryed up Read 2 Chron. 11. 12. chap. for that he could not pull it again to him yet the Lord God was merciful to his Enemy and at the request of the man of God his hand was restored to him again but after this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way but made again of the lowest of the people priests for the high places after the manner of the Nations likewise of other lands and for the Devils and for the Calves which he had made he ordained them priests and whosoever came himself with a young Bullock and seven Rams the same he made a priest to them that were no Gods and him who Jeroboam consectated became one of the priests of the high places and this thing became sin unto the House of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth But take notice that this House of High Places that Jerobam built at Bethel was called the Kings Chappel by Amaziah the priest of Bethel Amos 7.10 11 12 13. who was a persecutor of the prophet of the Lord as you may read Amos. 2 Chr. 12.13 14. And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned over Judah in Jerusalem the City which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his Name there And when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome and made it strong then he forsook the law of the Lord and all Israel with him and Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and they provoked him to jealousie with their sins which they committed above all that their Fathers had done for they also built them high places and Images 1 King 14 21 22 23. and Groves on every high Hill and under every green tree and there were Sodomites in the land and they did according to all the abominations of the Nations which the â—ord had cast out before the children of Israel And thus you see now that if the King turn from the Lord forsake his Commandments the peopâ—e generally follow to do wickedly with him and as these two Kings did so other Kings of Israel and Judah did the like as you may read of Nadab 2 Kings 15.25 26. and Baasha ver 33 34. and of Zimri and Omri 2 Kings 16.19 25 26. And Ahab the son of Omri King of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him and it came to pass as if it it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam 1 King 16 3â— 31 32 33. for he took to wife Jezebel the Daughter of Ethbaeal the King of the Zidonians and went and served Baal and worshipped him and Ahab he built a House in Samaria for Baal he reared up an Altar for Baal in the House of Baal which he had built in Samaria and Ahab had got for Baal four hundred and fifty prophets and he had got four hundred prophets for the Groves that fed at Jezebels Table 1 Kingâ— 18.19 and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger then all the Kings of Israel that were before him And the Samaritans they made Houses of high places in all their senced Cities from the tower of the Watchmen to the fenced City and they set up Images and Groves and they burnt Incense in the high places as did the Heathen and they served their Idols Jer. 7.31 19.5 2 Kings 17. ch ver 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. wherefore the Lord God said unto them Ye shall not do this thing And the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the Seers saying Turn you from your evil wayes and keep my Commandments and Statutes according to all the law which I commanded your Fathers and mhich I sent to you by my servants the Prophets But they would not hear but hardened their necks like the necks of their Fathers that did not believe in the Lord their God and they rejected his Statutes and Covenant and his testimonies which he testified against them and they followed vanity and became vain and went after the Heathen and worshipped all the host of Heaven and served Baal And Ahaziah son of Ahab he reigned over Israel and he walked in the way of his Father and in the way of his Mother and in the way of Jeroboam for he served Baal and worshipped him 1 King 22.51 52 53. And after a reformation that King Hezekiah had made as you may read 2 Kings 18. chap. Manassah his son
from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a Grove and he cut down her Idol and stamped it and burned it at the brook Kedron and he took away all the high places and the Images out of the Cities of Judah but the high places were not taken away out of Israel 2 Chron. 16.7 8 9 10. And Asa he commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to do the Law and the Commandments yet notwithstanding all that Asa had done he was wrath with the Seer and put him in a Prison-House for he was in a rage with him for what he spoke unto him and Asa oppressed some of the people the same time 2 Kings 11.1 2.12.18 ver 12. chap. 2 Chron. 24.1 2 17 18 19 20 21 22. And Joash the son of Ahaziah King of Judah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his dayes wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him for all the people of the Land went into the House of Baal and brake it down his Altars and his Images brake they in pieces thorowly and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the Altar but after the death of Jehoiada the Priest they left the House of the Lord God of their Fathers and served Groves and Idols and they sacrificed burnt Incense in the high places for the high places were not taken away And Jehosaphat King of Judah he sought not after Baalim 2 Chron. 17.1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 King 22.43 2 Chron. 20.32 33. but sought to the Lord God of his Fathers and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel Moreover he tooke away the high places and Groves out of Judah but they were not all taken away for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to seek unto the God of their fâ—thers but burnt yet in the high places Incense so that all the high places were not taken away for Iehosaphat he had a love to the Idolaters and not onely in bearing with them but he joyned himself and his arm to them 2 Chron. 18.3 19.1 2 3. and said unto Ahab I am as thou art and my people as thy people and we will be with thee in the war for the which he was reproved by Iohn the Seer who said unto Iehosaphat the King Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord So that Iehosaphat went not on thorowly with his reformation for the people offered and burnt incense in the high places because they were not taken away viz. their high places were not all taken away 2 King 18.3 4 5. And Hezekiah King of Judah he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that David his father had done and he and all Israel that were present went out to the Cities of Iudah and brake the Images to pieces 2 Chron. 31.1 and cut down the Groves and threw down the high places and the Altars out of all Judah and Benjamin in Ephraim also and Manasseh until they had utterly destâ—oyed them all and he trusted in the Lord God of Israel And Jehu King of Israel with his Captains and his Guard he smote with the edge of the Sword the Prophets and Priests 2 King 10. the servants and the worshippers of Baal and they brought forth the Images out of the House of Baal and burnt them and they brake down the Image of Baal and brake down the House of Baal and made it a draught House Thus Iehu destroyed Baal out of Israel howbeit from the sins of Ieroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin Iehu he departed not from them to wit the two golden Calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan. But now it came to passe That God raised up Iosiah King of Iudah according as he had spoken by the Prophet in the dayes of Ieroboam 1 King 13.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. saying Behold a child shall be born unto the House of David Josiah by Name and he shall O Altar Altar offer upon thee the Priests of the high places that burn Incense upon thee and mens bones shall be burnt upon thee And Iosiah commanded that the House of the Lord should be cleansed and the Keepers of the door brought forth out of the Temple of the Lord all the Vessels that Manasseh had made for Baal and for the Grove and for all the Hoste of Heaven and he burnt them without Ierusalem in the fields of Kedron and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel and he brought out the Grove from the House of the Lord without Ierusalem unto the brook Kedron stampt it to powder and cast the powder thereof on the graves of the children of the people and he brake down the Houses of the Sodomites that were by the House of the Lord and he defiled the high places wherein the Priests had burnt Incense from Geba to Beersheba and brake down the high places of the Gates and he defiled Tophet which is in the Valley of the children of Hinnom that so no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Moloch and he brake down the Altars that were on the top of the upper-Chamber of Ahaz which the King of Iudah had made and the Altaâ—s which Manasseh had made in the two Courts of the House of the Lord did Josiah the King beat down and break them down from thence and cast the dust of them into the Brook Kedron and the high places that were before Ierusalem which Solomon King of Israel had builded for Ashteâ—oth the abomination of the Zidoniaens and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites Read 2 Kings 23. chap. and for Milchom the abomination of the children of Ammon did the King defile and he brake in pieces the Images and cut down the Groves and filled their places with the bones of men and he put down the idolatrous priests whom the Kings of Iudah had ordained to burn Incense in the high places in the Cities of Iudah 2 Chron. 34. ch and in the places round about Ierusalem and he put down them also that did burn Incense unto Baal and to the Sun and to the Moon and to the Planets for Jupiter had a Priest as you may read Acts 14.13 and to all the Host of Heaven Moreover Iosiah he broke down the Altar at Bethel and the high place that the King of Israel Ieroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin had made yea both that Altar and the high place which was at Bethel he brake down and burnt the high place and stampt it small to powder andf burnt the Grove and all the Houses of high places that were in the Cities o Samaria which the Kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord God to anger Iosiah the King took away and did to them
and such were never made priests by the command of the Lord but by man onely for Ieroboam he returned not from the evil of his wayes but made again of the lowest of the people priests for the high places and whosoever would he consecrated him and he became one of the Priests of the high places after the manner of other Nations viz. the Heathen 1 Kings 13.33 34. 2 Chron. 13.9 and this thing became a sin unto the House of Ieroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth And the Kings of Judah they set themselves against the Lord and agaist his Anointed as the Kings of the Heathen did do so did they for they ordained priests to burn Incense in the high places in the Cities of Judah 2 Kings 23.5 Acts 14.13 and in the places round about Jerusalem unto Baal the Sun the Moon and the Planets viz. Mars Venus Mercury Iupiter and Saturn and to all the host of Heaven after the abomination of the heathen and the Kings of the earth made Iupiter a priest and Pharoah King of Aegypt he had made him priests gave them portions to eat the Land the priests of Pharoah had Gen. 47.22 26 2 Kings 17.13 was not sold with the rest of the Aegyptians and Baal had priests made for him Now in the dayes of these Kings of Israel and Judah God raised up his own prophets and sent them to declare against these priests false prophets which the Kings of Judah and Israel had made for the Houses of high places like unto other Nations and likewise against both the Kings 2 Chron. 36 1â— Ier. 25.3 4. the people and the high places too for all had transgressed very much after all the abominations of the Heathen go read and see the testimony that the man of God bare against Ieroboam 1 King 13.1 2 3 4. and of Elijah against Ahab and the prophets of Baal 1 King 18. chap. and the Vision that Isaiah saw in the dayes of Vzziah Jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Kings of Judah Isa 1.1 2 3. concerning Judah and Jerusalem Thy princes said he are rebellious and companions for thieves every one loveth gifts and followeth after rewards And of such priests as they had made he said His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb Dogs they cannot bark yea they are greedy dogs which can never have enough they are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his Quarters Isa 56.10 11 12. Ier. 1.1 2 3. 2.13 7.31 8.1 2. 19. chap. And Ieremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came in the dayes of King Iosiah and in the dayes of Iehoiakim King of Judah unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah and unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive saying My people have committed two great evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of living Waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water they had forsook the Lord and his Commandments and his House at Ierusalem wherein he had placed his Name They have forsaken me said the Lord and have estranged this place both the Kings of Judah and the inhabitants of Ierusalem They have built also the high places of Baal and have burnt incense unto other gods and they have built the high places of Tophet which is in the Valley of the son of Hinnom which I commanded them not and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit And said the Lord the prophets prophesie lyes in my Name I sent them not so the Lord by his true prophet Jeremiah Ier. 14.14 Read Ier. 23. chap. whom hee sent himself disown'd those that the kings of the earth had made and sent forth neither have I said the Lord commanded them neither spake unto them they prophesie unto you said the Lord a false vision and a divination and a thing of naught and the deceit of their heart Ye may see that the prophets the priests and the high places that the kings of the earth 2 Kings 17 1â—â— 15. Ier. 7.31 19.5 who sate and took counsel together and built high places and made priests for them that was such a work and is such a work now as God never required at their hands to do for the Lord disowns all and said Who hath required this at your hands I commanded them not nor spake it neither came it into my minde and those priests they preacht for hire and studyed or divined for mony but such the Lord never sent for see Ezekiels testimony against them Ezek. 13. chap. of Israel And in chap. 22. against both the princes prophets priests and people of Ierusalem And likewise in chap. 34. against the shepherds of Israel And Hosea he bate testimony against them Hos 4.6 7 8 9. 5.1 8.3 4 5. 10.8 And Amos he bare testimony against them Amos. 7.9.10.11.12.13 ver And Miaah he bare his testimony against them also Mic. 1.5 3.1.2.3.5.9.10.11.12 ver and Zachariah 11.17 And thus you may here all see how the Lord God by his prophets disowned and abhorr'd the works of the Kings and Rulers of the Earth and peoâ—le for making Images and worshipping of them and for building up of Houses of high places such as are now called Churches and likewise for their consecrating and ordaining of priests for those high places Well then was it a sin in those days And do not the Kings and Rulers of the earth that do the same things either in whole or in part now commit sin as well as they did And do ye think that the Lord God does not abhor their works now as he did then And do ye think ye Rulers of England priests and people to escape the judgements of the Lord for your doing of such things more then they Or do you think that they were greater sinners then you are I tell you nay for except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish You see that many generations passed before King Iosiah came and what do you think that the Lord cannot raise up the like in England to do the like work here as Iosiah did do and proâ—per in it likewise till it is finished I tell you all That your time is drawing on and a reward for your works you shall be sure of for such as you have sown such you shall reap for in aâ—l that ye have done ye have but sown to the flesh and of the flesh ye shall reape death and destruction from the Lord God Dist 23 â—ist 3. Can. ADRIANUS â— P. FOXES Acts 1 oMnumentt Vol. 1. Constitutions Canons 32 39. And now I shall shew you that read this Treatise what I have read and gathered out of Histories how that the Rulers of the Earth have with the Pope made Cardinals Bishops Deacons Suffragans Priests
after they had sung a Psalm the Assembly was to be dismissed with a blessing Canon 33 35. and then they was to give with him a Testimonial of his ordination for the which he was to pay ten shilllings to the Register of the Assembly March 20. 1653. Ordinance O. P. and his Council Can. 39. and Can. 51. And an Ordinance was made by the present Rulers of this Nation for appointing Commissioners for Approbation of publike Preachers that the places destitute throughout this Nation may be supplied with able and faithful Preachers And for this end Commissioners were authorized to judge and take knowledge of the ability and fitness of any person that was nominated and presented to them and before any person was to be admitted to be setled in any Benefice or publike Lecture to preach and to take the stipened or profits thereof he was to be judged and approved one by the persons hereafter named in the Ordinance of whom you may see in the said Ordinance at large First They were to see if the party nominated and presented be a person for the grace of God in him Can. 36. 39. Secondly of his holy and unblameable conversation And thirdly as also for his knowldege and utterance able and fit to preach the Gospel And fourthlyly upon their Approbation of such his ability and fitnesse according to the qualification above mentioned they are to grant unto such Parson admission to such Benefice or Lecture by an Instrument in Writing under a common Seal Can. 41. The Bishops Cannons and Constitutions and the two Ordinances are in part equivolent each with other But in the latter end of the Ordinance they conclude and say It is not intended nâ—r shall be construed to be any solemn or sacred setting apart of a person to any particular Office in the Ministry of which I let passe for others to judge what difference there is betwixt this solemn and sacred setting apart and fome others in the foregoing generations for the Pope he gave power to the Cardinals who were his Legates and by them to the kings and the bishops And a Parliament they set King Henry the eighth in the seat of the Pope and then the bishops received their power from the King and the Parliament to make Ministers by a carnal commandment and so it continued so long almost as Kings and Queens reigned in England And the Parliament of Lords and Commons they took that power from the late King and his Bishops Articles of Religion 36. to themselves and gave power to an Assembly of Presbyter Divines to make Ministers by but that lasted but until the Parliament was dissolved And since the dissolution of the short Parliamont O. P. and his Council have taken the like Power and given the like power to their Commissioners for to judge and approve of who are fit to be preachers only in those places destitute throughout this Nation So that the Kings Queens and other Rulers of this Nation having got into their hands the same power that the Pope had did and do the same works in effect as the pope did but say I Who hath required this at their hands to do seeing that it is the alone and proper work of Christ to make and send forth his Messengers and Ministers as the Scripture testifieth how that Christ Jesus said unto his Disciples Luke 10.2 Matt. 9 37 38. Eph. 4.8 9 10 11 12. 1 Cor. 12.28 The Harvest truly said he is great but the labourers are few pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth labourers into his Harvest And Christ when he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophecs and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And said Paul God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ and for the perfecting of the Saints Now I say That God nor Christ did not give that power neither to pope nor to Cardinals nor to Bishops nor to Kings or any other Rulers nor to Councils or Assemblies nor to Commissioners since the dayes of the Apostles neither did he command them nor any one of them to go and ordain men to be preachers for hire nor to make ministers of the Gospel nor to give any man a commission to go to a parish in a city or to a town or to a village and there of the people take tythes and money for their preaching to the value of 100.l 200.l more or less by the yeer this is a work that God never required at any one of their hands to do no more then he did of Ieroboam who for making and consecrating of the lowest of the people to be priests for the high places which thing doing became a sin unto the House of Ieroboam even to cut it off from the face of the Earth 1 King 13.33 34. and to dedroy it Ye may read in the Scriptures that Moses he had a command from God alone for to go and take Aaron and his sons the Levites with him Exod 28 29 chap. to 12 13 14 15. c. Lev. 8.1 2 3 4 c. Numb 8.5 6 19. ver from among the children of Israel that they might minister unto the Lord in the priests office and to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation But who gave Ieroboam and other the Kings of Israel and Judah any command to make priests for the houses of high places And who required any Emperor King Queen or any other Ruler of the Earth to make ordain or consecrate bishops priests ot ministers for to pray read or preach in the houses of high places falsly called churches And Elijah he had a command from the Lord to go and annoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-Meholak to be a prophet in his room 1 King 19.16.19 20 21. ver FOXES Acts Monuments Vol. 1. but by what authority did the pope go annoint cardinals bishops c. for did not the Emperor and others choose the pope or popes then had not the pope his command and authority from the Emperor and others and not from the Lord God that commanded Elijah to do what he did Matth. 28.19 20. And Jeâ—us Christ said unto his Disciples All power is given to me in heaven and in earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway unto the end of the world But the Bishops of England they had their power in the dayes of King Henry the eighth An. 25. Hen. 8. cap. 20. Luke 24.49 Acts. 1.4 and 2.4 Eph. 4.11 from him and the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament to make ordain and consecrate Arch-Bishops Bishops Deanes and Chapters Deacons Priests Ministers
the Lord God will lead you out of all strife and contention and teach you how to agree with your adversaries quickly and to love your neighbor as your self and to forgive your enemies and to live in peace with all men Therefore I say to all people Cease from the Lawyers and follow the Lord wholly who giveth to man every good thing And again I say people Cease from the Doctors for so long as ye follow them ye will never enjoy your healths and come to God who sent his Word and healed the people and delivered them from their destruction Christ healed the woman of her Issue who had spent all that she had and had suffered many things of many Physicians and was nothing bettered but grew rather worse Therefore I say Forsake the Physicians and come to Christ who rebuked the Feaver and it left Peters Wives Mother God he wounds and he heals he kills and makes alive he brings down to the Grave and raiseth up again But some it is very like may say Must we not use the means when we are sick and take something to do us good Yea but I say Wait with patience upon the Lord stand in awe and sin not and if the Lord command thee to go and take a Plaster of Figs and lay to thy sore or to go and drink water 2 King 20.5 6 7. 2 King 5.14 Luke 17.19 or wash in the water and thou shalt be whole then go in the name and in the fear of the Lord and do as he commands and believing in the Lord so shalt thou be made whole Now I say That these three sorts of men for I will put the Doctors and Astrologers together the Priests who are called Ministers the Lawyers and Physicians are all unto the people like the Locusts the Caterpillar the Palmor-worm for all of them will have the peoples money and what the one leaves the other comes after and takes And again I say That these learned men have been ever a generation of persecutors of the people and servants of God and the Scriptures doth testifie with me that those Priests that were made and consecrated by men end the false Prophets were in all generations persecutors of the true Prophets and servants of the Lord which he sent forth to declare his Messages and this I will prove both by Scripture and History to be true For it is thus written in the Scriptures That Ieroboam the son of Nebat King of Israel 1 King 12.31 13.33 34. made at Bethel Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi for the high places But in the dayes of Ieroboam the son of Ioath King of Israel God sent Amos an Herdsman of Tekoa to Bethel and Amos in the Name of the Lord declared against the high places and said The Land should be desolate and the Sanctuaries of Israel should be laid waste and that the Lord would rise against the House of Ieroboam with the Sword But Amaziah the Priest of Bethel he sent to Ieroboam King of Israel Amos 1.1 7.10 11 12 13 saying Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the House of Israel and the Land is not able to bear all his words for thus saith Amos Ieroboam shalt dye by the sword and all Israel shall be led away captive out of their own Land And Amaziah the Priest of Bethel said unto Amos O thou Seer go flee thee away into the Land of Iudah and there cat bread and prophesie there but prophesie not again any more at Bethel for it is the Kings Chappel and the House of the Kingdome 1 King 22.11 22 24. ver 2 Chron. 18.10 11 23. ver And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah one of Ahabs false prophets went and smote Micaiah the true Prophet of the Lord upon the Cheek c. And in the dayes of Iehoiakim King of Iudah God sent Ieremiah to go and stand in the Court of the Lords House and God commanded Ieremiah saying All the words that I command thee to speak unto them diminish not a word And Ieremiah said unto all the people that came to worship in the Lords House Thus saith the Lord I will make this House like Shiloh and I will make this City a curse to all the Nations of the earth c. And when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking Ier. 26.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 16. ver Luke 22.2 66. ver Matth. 26.3 4. 2â— 1 2. then the priests and the false prophets and the people took Jeremiah saying Thou shalt surely dye And the priests the prophets spake unto the princes and to the people saying This man is worthy to dye but the Princes and all the people said unto the priests and to the prophets This man is not worthy to dye for he hath spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord our God c. And the chief Priests and the Scribes and the Elders conspired against Christ Jesus the Son of God and held a consultation and they and the whole Council took Jesus and bound him and carryed him away and delivered him to Pilate and would not cease till they had got him crucified and put to death for said they We have a Law Iohn 19.7 Act. 4.7 chap. 23. ch v. 2. 25. ch v. 2 3 and by our Law he ought to dye because he made himself the Son of God c. And so likewise in the dayes of the Apostles if any tumult or imprisonment or death fell upon them the Priests the Scribes and the Rulers of the Temple would often have a hand in in it first or last And as the priests and false prophets were that Jeroboam and other of the Kings of Israel and Iudah had made such like persons for persecuting were the Bishops and the Clergy of England who were bred up at the Vniversities of Cambridge and Oxford and such are the priests who are called Ministers in these dayes for I say The same spirit that ruled the Pope Cardinals Bishops c. in the persecution of the servants and saints of God the same spirit ruled the Bishops and the Clergy in the dayes of the Kings and Queens of England and the same spirit rules the priests called Ministers in England now in these dayes as it did them in those dayes Pope INNOCENT the third Pope LEO at RATISBONE See the form of the Spanish Inquisition FOX Act Mon. Vol. 1 2. See the Table of Germany Spain France Italy and other Countreys as well as the English Martyrs JOHN CLARK of Melden in France a Wool-Carder by Trade This latter was done upon him at METZ in LOTHERING 1524. for the Pope in his Councils made Degrees and Canons Institutions for the correction of Hereticks as they called them for whosoever did speak against him his Laws Decrees Canons and Institutions or the Popish Religion in general or particular either by disputing
gatherer of Sycamore fruit and Amos was among the Herdsmen of Tekoa and said Amos The Lord took me as I followed the flock and the Lord said unto me Go prophesie unto my people Israel Here you may see that Amos was not tryed by Commissioners of Tryers nor sent out to prophesie by any such as they are but he was sent out of the Lord alone to prophesie and he said The Lord will roare from Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem c. Ezek. 1.1 2 3. 2 3. chap. Neither was Ezekiel sent by man to prophesie nor by man made a Watchman over Israel But the Word of the Lord came expresly unto Ezekiel in the Land of the Caldeans by the River Chebar and Ezekiel said that he saw the appearance of the likenesse of the glory of the Lord and when he saw it he fell upon his face and he heard the voyce of one that spake and said Ezekiel He said unto me Son of man stand upon thy feet and I will speake unto thee and the spirit of the Lord entered into me when he spake unto me and set me upon my feet that I hrard him that spake unto me and he said unto me Son of man I send thee to the children of Israel and thou shalt speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether they will forbear And Ezekiel said Moreover he said unto me Son of man Eat that thou findest eat shis Roll and go speak unto the House of Israel So I opened my mouth and he caused me to eat that Roll and he said unto me Son of man Cause thy belly to eat and fill thy bowels with this Roll that I give thee Then did I eat it and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetnesse And he said unto me Son of man go get thee unto the House of Israel and speak with my words unto them c. So the spirit of the Lord lift me up and took me away and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me And it came to pass at the end of seven dayes that the word of the Lord came unto me saying Son of man I have made thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me c. Neither was Jeremiah ordained by man to be a Prophet nor was he by any King of the earth Ier. 1.4 to 10. 27 ver 2. chap. 1 2 5. ver chap. 3.6.12 4.1 or other consecrated nor by any man sent forth to prophesie but said Jeremiah The word of the Lord came unto me saying Before I formed thee in the Belly I knew thee and before thou camest out of the Womb I sanctified thee and I ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations And the Lord put forth his hand and touched Jeremiahs mouth and the Lord said unto him Behold I have put my words into thy mouth and the Lord said unto Jeremiah See I have this day set thee over Nations and over Kingdoms to root out and to pull down and to destroy and to throw down to build and to plant Thou therefore gird up thy loynes and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee be not dismayed at their faces lest I confound thee before them And the Word of the Lord came moreover unto Jeremiah saying Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem saying Thus saith the Lord What iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity and are become vain And again in the dayes of Josiah said the Lord unto Jeremiah Go and proclaim these words toward the North and say Return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord if thou wilt return O Israel saith the Lord return unto me and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight then shalt thou not remove and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep mine anger for ever And the Lord said unto Jeremiah â—er 1.18 19. Behold I have made thee this day a defenced City an Iron Pillar Brazen Walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah and against the Princes thereof and against the priests thereof and against the people of the Land and they shall fight against thee but they shall not prevail against thee for I am with thee said the Lord to deliver thee c. read the 20. chap. the 23. and 26. chap. of Ieremiah c. And Isaiah was made a Prophet but not by man neither by any King or Ruler of the Earth was he sent forth to prophesie Isa 6. chap. but he was consecrated and sent forth of the Lord alone for said Isaiah In the year that King Vzziah dyed I saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne high and lifted up and his Traine filled the Temple and above it stood the Seraphims and one cryed unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory And the posts of the door moved at him that cryed and the house was filled with smoke Then said Isaiah Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with the Tongs from off the Altar and he laid it upon my mouth and said Lo this hath touched thy lips and thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin is purged And Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send And who shall go for us Then said Isaiah Here am I send me And the Lord said unto Isaioh Isa 8.1.11 ver 50.4 5 6 7 Go and tell this people Hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not c. And Isaiah said the Lord spake unto him with a strong hand and instructed him that he should not walk in the way of the people and he said the Lord gave him the tongue of the learned that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary and the Lord opened his ear and said Isaiah I was not rebellious neither turned away back c. And thus ye may see that the true prophets of the Lord and the true and faithful Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel were ordained of the Lord and chosen and called and sanctified by the Lord alone and not by the Kings and Rulers of the earth nor by the Pope and his Adherents neither by Commissioners that were appointed by them or any of them so to do And again Those Prophets Apostles and Ministers that God and Christ sent forth were no raylers nor scoffers nor
washings and carnal ceremonies until the time of reformation which time of reformation was not until that Christ Jesus came who is the sum and substance of all shadows and figures and the end of the law for he changed the priesthood and disanulled the law of ordinances and him God raised up to be a King a Law-giver a Judge and a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Isa 13.22 Iames 4.12 Luke 23.19 Heb. 7.21 22 23 24. Deut. 18.15 18 19. Act. 3.22 23. Isa 9.6 7. not by a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life and by the same power a prophet was he mighty in word and in deed who came according as the Lord God did speak by Moses and the prophets for said the lord unto Moses I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him and unto him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you and it shall come to passe that every foul that will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people And Isaiah said Vnto us a childe is born unto us a son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulder his Name shall be called The Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and justice from henceforth and for ever the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this And when the fulnesse of time was come Gal. 4.4 5. even that time that was for reformation God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law who came to fulfil every jot and tittle of the Law Ioh. 19.30 Rom. 10.4 Eph. 2.15 and when Christ Jesus the son had fulfilled the Law he said upon the Cross It was finished And Paul testified and said That Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth in him having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in Ordinances yea the carnal Ordinances which was imposed upon them until the time sf reformation which time of reformation was when Christ Iesus the King Law-giver Iudge and High-Priest for evermore came in the fulnesse of time and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us said Paul even such a yoak it was upon the neck of the Disciples that neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear said Peter But Christ the true King and Conqueror who hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew â—hem of them openly triumphing over them even hee whom God hath raised from the dead Eph 1.20 21. Câ—l 2.14 15. and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principalities and power and might and â—oâ—inion I say He Christ Iesus hath blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinance that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his crosse Thus the Law was disannulled by Christ Iesus who having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the Law of commandments contained in Ordinances c. This is Iesus who was called of God and not of man nor after the law of a carnal commandment was he made an high Priest but after the power of an endlesse life he was made an High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and continueth for ever an unchangeable Priesthood forsech an High-Priest it became us to have who is holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heavens but by the Law by which the Levitical Priesthood came were many priests which had infirmities which continued not by reason of death and so it passed from one to another which Priesthood being imperfect in it self perfected not any for he offered up Sacrifices daylie year by year first for himself viz. for his own sins then for the errors of the people which sacrifices were year by year offered up continually but the comers thereunto could never be made perfect for if therefore perfection had been by the levitical Priesthood then what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron but perfection came not by the Levitical Priesthood for their sacrifices that they offered up year by year made not the commers thereunto perfect therefore there was a necessity that another should come But God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son who gloryfied not himself to be made an High-Priest but was gloryfied of his Father who said unto him Thou are my Son to day have I begotten thee thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and he was not only called a Priest for ever but he was called of God an high Priest likewise after the order of Melchisedec And Christ Iesus the Son of God came having compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way and though he were a Son yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him and hath obtained eternal redemption for us by his own blood for by one offering of the holy of Iesus once for all he offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified So that now ye may plainly see that the Levitical Priesthood who came by the law to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to offer up both gifts and sacrifices for their own sins and likewise for the errors of the people is changed into a more better and perfect then was before which changeth not but abideth for ever Therefore seeing that the sons of Levi who received the office of the Priesthood according to the Law had a commandment to take tythes were discharged from their office and their service put to an end by that one offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all for by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified so that where there is remission for sin there is no more offering for sin Now seeing that it is so plain that by the sons of Levi the Levitical Priesthood perfection came not therefore that priesthood was changed and the sons of Levi discharged of their service by Christ Iesus who offered himself a sacrifice once for all and that by him perfection came for ever to them that are sanctified by that one offering Therefore there was a necessity that a change of the Law should be made also by reason of its servitude
imprisoned or disseâ—sed of his Free-hold Liberty or free Custom neither shall he be out-lawed banished 9 Hen. 3. cap. 29. 5 Ed. 3. cap. 9. Read the petition of Right or by any means brought to destruction neither shall any passe or sit in judgement upon him but by the lawful judgement of his Peers that is his equals or by the law of the land and Magna Charta is acknowledged by the learned to be the Common-law of England both before and after the conquest And now I shall refer the Reader to a Book called The Cry of the Oppressed from under their Oppressions wherein the Reader may see a cloud of Witnesses that have born and still do bear their testimony for the Name of Jesus and against tythes who go under the Name of Quakers who have suffered and do suffer bonds and imprisonment and likewise the spoiling of their goods they take joyfully knowing in themselves that they in Heaven have a better and an enduring substance And again besides all this they undergo sore travels out of the North and other parts of this land to appear before the Judges at the Tearms at Westminster Tearm after Tearm do they continue still more or lesse bearing their testimony not as the parish-Ministers and the professors do who professe Christ in words but by their works deny him come in the flesh against tythes and that Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and thir testimony of him â—s born through suffering the losse of all for his Name sake which to them is an evident token of their salvation and that of God for they that suffer with Christ shall reign with him but unto their adversaries by which they do suffer it is to them an evident token of their perdition for those mine enemies that would not said Christ that I should rule and reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me I tell you that God doth hear the cry of the oppressed and he will avenge his own Elect which cry unto him day and night for vengeance is the Lords and he will repay it upon his adversaries ye wicked and ungodly ones because that judgement is not speedily executed upon you therefore the hearts of you sons of men are set on to do wickedly but know that for all this you shall come to judgement for the innocent have committed their cause unto God who judgeth righteously and you shall find that when you appear before the Lord who sees all your doings and knows the thoughts of your hearts that they are evil that with God there is no respect of persons nor taking of bribes Ye see here before written that I have shewed how the parish-Ministers that the Kings and the Rulers the Pope and his Adherents have ordained and consecrated and sent forth to their parishes to preach have been and are maintained first their maintenance is in part after the maintenance of the Levitical priesthood under the Law viz. first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions c. Secondly like unto Pharoah the King of Aegypts Priests by portions of lands viz. Parsonages Vicarages Exâ—d 47.24 1 King 18.19 Rectories and Glebe-lands Thirdly like unto the prophets of the Groves that fed at Jezzabels table viz. at Kings and Queens tables Earles Lords and Ladyes tables yea 1 King 13.33 34. Mic. 3.11 and at Oliver Protectors table too Fourthly like the false prophets and the priests of the high places that Ieroboam and others consecrated who preacht for hire and divined or studyed for money so they have some 30.40.50 100. or 200 l. a yeer and some more in the parish where they are setled for their yeerly maintenance and their Lecturers place together all which hath been and is provided for those heaps of Teachers which the world who having itching ears have heaped up to themselves by which they are seduced even by those unprofitable talkers viz. Cambridge and Oxford Schollars by the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents And now I come to shew you out of Scripture how the Prophets that God sent forth was maintained I shall instance how some of them were maintained and so by them do ye judge how the rest were maintained For Elijah the prophet of God he was a hairy man and he was girded about his loins with a leathern Girdle and God commanded Elijah to go and hide himself by the Brook Cherith 2 King 1.8 Read 1 King 17. chap. that is before Iordan and God told him that he should drink of the Brook and that the Ravens should feed him there So Elijah went according to the word of the Lord and dwelt there and the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening And it came to passe after a while that the Brook was dryed up because there had bin no rain in the land And then the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying Arise get thee to Zarephath and dwell there behold I have said the Lord commanded a widow woman there to sustaine thee So he arose and went to Zarephath and when he came to the Gate of the City he found the widow woman gathering sticks and he called unto her said Fetch me a little water in a vessel that I may drink and bring me a morsel of bread in thy hand And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah and she and he and her Houshold did eat many dayes and the Barrel of Meal wasted not neither did the Cruse of Oyle fail according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah And it came to passe after many dayes that the word of the Lord came unto Elijah in the third year saying Go and shew thy self unto Ahab and I will send Rain upon the earth And Elijah went and shewed himself unto Ahab and after that he had done the work of the Lord as you may read in 1 King 18. ch Iezzabel sent a messenger to him saying So let the gods do to me and more also if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time And when he saw that he arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba which belongeth to Iudah 1 King 19. and he left his servant there and he himself went a dayes journey into the Wildernesse and sate him down under a Juniper Tree and as he lay and slept under a Juniper Tree behold then an Angel touched him and said unto him Arise and eat And he looked and behold there was a Cake baken on the coles and a Cruse of water at his head and he did eat and drink and laid him down again And the Angel came again the second time and touched him and said Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat fourty dayes and fourty nights unto Horeb
man in an evil cause because he is poor neither is he to countenance a rich man in an evil cause because of his riches and high titles of honour neither is he to pervert the words of the righteous whether he be rich or poor Neither is he to judge for reward nor to take bribes or gifts because they blind the eye and so they cannot see to do just judgement nor to judge righteously for the Lord betwixt man and man rich and poor great and small c. 4. The Magistrate that ruleth over man must not accept the person of the wicked Psal 82.2 3 4. Deut. 16.18 19 20. but he is to defend the poor and fatherlesse and to do justice for the afflicted and needy and to deliver the poor and needy and to rid them out of the wicked speedily Therefore he is not to be afraid of the fear of man but to fear the Lord God and him alone to serve in doing of true justice and in judging righteously and he is to follow altogether that which is just that so he may leve and inherit the land which the Lord God giveth him Hear O ye Kings Rulers and Iudges of the earth the double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes he wavereth like a wave of the Sea that is driven with the winde and tossed to and fro Therefore let your eye be single that your whole body may be full of light that ye may behold the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ and so ye may see to do true justice and judgement for the Lord betwixt man and man but if your eye be evil your whole body is full of darknesse confusion and every evil thing and so no justice nor true judgement is then done by you for the Lord. Be wise therefore O ye Rulers and Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with fear the fear of the Lord is to depart from iniquity and the beginning of wisdom Therefore kisse the Son least he be angry with you and when his wrath is kindled ye perish from the right way of truth and judgement And ye that rule while ye have time prise it and rule with diligence and be not sloathful in your businesse but be fervent in spirit serving the Lord and meddle not with things that be too high for you nor with those things which ye ought not to have to do with Read 1 King 12.31 13.33 34. 16.30 31 32 33. In the time of ignorance God winked at many things but light is now come into the world and God calls upon all men every where to repent and would have them come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved Therefore come out of Babylon my people come out of Babylon saith the Lord and return O Israel if thou wilt return return unto the Lord the onely true God who is light and in him is no darknesse at all Christ Iesus is the light of the world he and his Father is one whoso followeth him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life He it the light and life of men and to as many as receive him and believe in his Name to them he gives power to become the sons of God and the sons of God are led by the spirit of God and the spirit of God it leads into all truth righteousnesse and peace But they who walk in darknesse they hate the light they hate God who is light they hate Christ who is the light of the world and the Law is light the reproofs of instruction are the way of life Christ Iesus is the way the truth and the life and light of men he that believeth not is condemned alâ—eady because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the condemnation Yhat light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds be evil Every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Whatsoever is reproved the light makes it manifest What know ye not that Christ Iesus the light is in you except ye be reprobates the reprobates know not â—hat Christ is in them for light shines in darknesse and the darknesse comprehends it not and if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that perish neither is there any communion betwixt light and darknesse nor no fellowship hath Christ with Belial for he that believeth not is condemned already because he believeth not in the onely begotten Son of God the light and the light is the condemnation of all that hate it The light shines in the heart Christ he opened their understandings For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ whatsoever is reproved the light makes it manifest that which is reproved is sin and sin is the transgression of the law that is holy just pure and good Now the light makes every transgression of the law manifest the evil thoughts are made manifest by the light the evil deeds are made manifest by the light the evil words the light makes manifest yea the light makes manifest and brings to remembrance all things that a man hath done in his life time and sets his sins in order before him although they have been done in secret So that one man cannot reprove another for the thing done in secret yet there is that in him that makes it manifest to him and reproves him for it which is the light God is light Christ is the light of the world and doth enlighten eve-very man that cometh into the world The Law it is light and I had not known sin but by the Law and the Law is written in the heart by the spirit of the living God Now the same that makes sin manifest the same reproves for sin and this that reproves of sin is the spirit of truth who reproves the world of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement God he is a spirit and he is light Christ is the light of the world the last man was made a quickning spirit the second man is the Lord from Heaven who was made a quickning spirit it is the spirit that reproves the world or every man in the world of sin and the same that reproves of sin the same condemns for sin this is the condemnation that light is come into the world God sent his son to condemn sin in the flesh the condemnation of God is to them that walk after the flesh for this purpose was the son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil but there is no condemnation to them that walk after the spirit Therefore take heed to the light that makes sin manifest believe in the light believe in God for he is light believe in Christ the light of the