receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth Heb. 7.8 Answ In the Scripture the Word Here is abused and wrested as the Words Even So are abused and mis-interpreted by many in this place the Apostle is exalting the Priesthood of Christ above the Priesthood of Levi shewing that Melchizedec was greater then Abram here men that dye receive Tythes this relates to the Levites who by the command of the Lord received Tythes and dyed but there he receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth this relates to Melchizedec who received Tythes of Abram of whom it is written that He was without Father without Mother without descent having neither beginning of Dayes nor end of Life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a Priest continually Heb. 7.3 And Christ is a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedec So that this place makes nothing for the continuance of Tythes in Gospel-dayes relating to Levi and Melchizedec Aug. Marl. touches this saying They to whom the Law assigned Tythes were mortal men and to whom did the Law assign Tythes To the Levites So when the Apostle said Here men that dye receive Tythes he related to the Levites to that Priesthood that was to be abrogated that a Priesthood of a higher Nature might be established The Apostles sent by Christ a Priest forever after the Order of Melshizedec who were to teach all Nations to observe all that he commanded them Mark All and every thing and nothing else according to my reading in Scripture and sound Ecclesiastical History never taught any that the Maintenance of the Gospel-Ministry was to be by way of Tythes which may sufficiently evidence that that Levitical course of Maintenance was not in the Charter of their Ambassage and Commission to be perpetuated in Gospel dayes CAP. XVI Tythes proved to be a Mosaical Shadow Obj. IF Christ put an and to Tythes more then to any outward property then Tythe must be a peculiar Figure of something to come If Tythe was a Type what was the Antitype thereof Answ Nehemiah reforming Abuses in the Jewish Church appointed 1st Treasuries a figure of Jesus Christ that inexhaustible Treasury 2dly Tythe as of Corn Wine Oyl was the Earthly Treasure brought into Nehemiah's Treasuries this earthy Treasure figured forth the Heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus for in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge So Tythe the earthly Treasure in the earthly Treasuries pointed at the heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus the heavenly Treasury in whom is Corn Bread that strengthens Wine that comforts and refreshes Oyl that makes truly glad 3dly Shelemiah by Interpretation The Peace of God Zadock that is Just Pedaiah that is by Interpretation The Lords Redeemer These being made Treasurers distributed of Tythe the earthly Treasures to their Brethren outward Jews So Christ Jesus the Peace of God the holy and just One the Redeemer of God he distributes of the heavenly Treasures Bread Wine Oyl living Mercies heavenly Blessings to his little Flock inward Jews Nehem. 13. Who are of God they see Nehemiah's Treasuries Treasures and Treasurers to be Shadows Figures Types fulfilled in the Substance Christ Jesus the second Adam a quickening Spirit who said He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you John the 16th The true and faithful Remembrancer In the dayes of Malachi the outward Jews had a Store-house into which Tythe was to be brought that there might be Meat in the Lord's House Mal. 3. This Store-house into which Tythe the Earthly Store was brought was a Figure a Type of Christ Jesus the Substance the Heavenly Store-house in whom all fulness dwells who distributes of heavenly Riches to the Israel of God Col. 1.19 Out of Tythes the earthly Treasures earthly Store the Necessities of the outward Jews Levites Fatherless Widows and Strangers were answered and supplied Deut. 14. that there might be no Beggar in Israel no Complaint of want So out of the heavenly Treasures heavenly Store in Christ Jesus the Substance the Necessities of all inward Jews are answered so that among such as have recourse to this Treasury this Store-house there is no Complaint no Poverty no Leanness of Soul in him are Soul-enriching Treasures John 14.2 John 4.14 Again Paul spake of Tythes in Abram's dayes Heb. 7. And of Tythes in Levi's dayes of the Priesthood Law and Carnal Commandment then saith expresly That Christ Jesus the high Priest was the Sum of the things whereof they had spoken Heb. 8.1 If any should have enquired What have you spoken of Paul He answers of Tythe in Abram's day of Tythes in Levi's days of the Priesthood Sacrifices for Sin Carnal Commandment and further saith that Christ is the Sum of all this Who are of God they see Christ the Substance of the aforesaid Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Honey with pure Springs Vineyards Oliveyards and Corn was the Lord's wherewith he fed the outward Israelites Levit. 25.23 So the Christ of God his Flesh is Meat indeed Blood Drink he hath in his spiritual Store-house heavenly Milk Honey hidden Manna Bread Water of Life heavenly Grapes Oyl of gladness for his Spiritual Israelites Sons and Daughters of Abraham and nourishes them to Eternal Life Melchizedec was but a Type of the everlasting Order shadowing out the Eternal high Priest Christ Jesus Christ was not the Melchizedec but after the Similitude of Melehizedec if after the Similitude Shadow or Type then Melchizedec could not be the Substance the thing typified for the thing similating cannot be the thing similated So that Abram gave Tythe to Melchizedec made like unto the Son of God a Figure Shadow Type Now the Priesthood of Christ must needs be the End Sum Substance of the Shadow which Substance being come the Shadow with all its appurtenances whereof Tythe was one must vanish and be of no longer force The paying of that which was proper and peculiar to the Similitude or Type shews that the Similitude or Type is still in force So the Substance not come for while the Shadow is in force there is no place for the Substance therefore the exaction of Tythes for the Ministers of the everlasting high Priest is a denyal of Christ come in the Flesh Again all the Tythe of the Land whether of the Seed of the Land or of the Fruit of the Tree it was the Lord's it was Holy unto the Lord hereby Priest Levite and the Poor were relieved Levit. 27. A Type of Christ the Substance who was called the Holy thing in whom the Obedient are sanctified nourished transformed by the renewing of their minds a living Sacrifice unto God Again Tythe or at the least some part thereof was an Heave-Offering offered unto the Lord Numb 18. A Shadow a Figure saith Wilson in his compleat Christiain Dictionary as other Oblations were So that the pleading for this Jewish Offering is a denyal of Christ to be come in the Flesh and you may as well plead for the Meat-Offering
Flock from the Mouth of such and set up One Shepherd who should feed them This one Shepherd is known and the Shepherds that mind the Fleece more than the Flock are turned from Ezek. 34. Daniel through the virtue and influence of the living Word was made a Prophet he fore-saw the Messiah and his Kingdom and how the Saints should take his Kingdom and of the â—â—ishing of Transgression and of the putting an End to Sin and of making Reconciliation for Iniquity and of bringing in Everlasting Righteousness Hosea was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against prophane Priests saying My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge because thou hast rejected Knowledge I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no Priest unto me Hos 4. And as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so the Company of Priests Murder in the Way by Consent for they commit Lewdness Hos 6.9 Joel the Prophet was called of the Lord Joel 1.1 he prophesied of the Glory of the Evangelical Dispensation saying It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dream Dreams your young men shall see Visions and upon the Servants and Hand-maids in those days I will pour out my Spirit Joel 2.28 29. So 't is the Spirit of the Lord that enables to Pray to Preach to Prophesie to bear a faithful Testimony for the Lord not acquired Heathen Arts Sciences and natural Tongues Amos a Herds-man and a Gatheres of Sicomore Fruit was called of the Lord to be a Prophet Amos 1.1 he rebuked Israel for that they would have had the Lords Prophets silent Amos 2.12 Amaziah said unto Amos O thou Seer flee into the Land of Judah there eat Bread and Prophesie there but Prophesie not any more aâ— Bethel for it is the Kings Chappel and it is the Kings Court Amos 7. Thus he who had the Letter without the Spirit would have limitted him that was in the Spirit the Key which opens and no man can shut And how man-made Ministers now and others in the Will of the Flesh have and do labour to stop the Testimony of Truth because not born by Artists Logicians Philosophers I need say little Obadiah was called of the Lord contrary to the Will of Man cap. 1.1 he prophesied That Saviours should come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdom should be the Lords vers 21. Jonah was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him That he should preach Repentance unto Nineveh but consulting with Flesh and blood he steared his course to Tarshish a great Fish swallowed him up through Repentance he was delivered and sent to preach Repentance to Nineveh Jonah 1 2 3. chap. Micah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against such as came by the Will of man saying Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my People Err and cry Peace Peace and he that puts not into their Mouthes they prepare War against him In the Living Word that came to Micah such Teachers are now seen preparing War against them that put not into their Mouthes that refuse to give them Tythe Easter-reckonings Midsummer-dues Martin-Mass-Calves Mortuaries Reek-pennies such they Sue recover Tribble Damages Imprison what spoil is made on this account very many Parishes in England affords Examples The Sun was gone down over such Prophets yea Night was upon them and they had no Vision nor Answer of God Micah 3.5 6 7. Now such as deny Revelation and Vision the Sun is gone down unto them Night is upon them Further saith Micah The Heads judge for Rewards and the Priests teach for Hire the Prophets divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us Micah 3.11 In the same Spirit now revealed such are now seen Nahum was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he spake of slumbering Shepherds cap. 3.18 In the Soul-quickning Life-restoring Word such Slumberers and Sleepers are now seen who are not kept waking to Righteousness nor vigilant for the good of their Flocks Habakkuk was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he prophesied of a comfortable Dispensation of the scattering of the Exhalations of Darkness and Ignorance saying The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as Waters cover the Sea cap. 2.14 Zaphaniah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he testified That the Lord would cut off the Names of the Chemarims that is Black coats with the Priests Zeph. 1.4 He said of Jerusalem That her Prophets were Light and Treacherous Persons that her Priests had polluted the Sanctuary and had done Violence to the Law cap. 3.4 Such as have no Call but of man will be found guilty hereof Haggai was called of the Lord he cryed out saying Is it time for you to dwell in your Ceiled Houses and this House lie waste cap. 1. Such are in Transgression who dwell in their own who cover themselves with the black Curtain of Self and natural Endowments and neglect the Dispensation of God where the building of the true Temple is Zechariah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against such as ran unsent saying Wo to the Idol Shepherd that leaveth the Flock the Sword shall be upon his Arm and upon his Right Eye his Arm shall be clean dryed up and his right Eye shall be utterly darkned cap. 11.17 Malachi was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he reproved the Priests for neglecting the Covenant cap. 2.1 2. as man made Ministers now are justly reproveable for neglecting the new Covenant the Law written in the Heart the Spirit put in the inward Parts the great blessing of the Evangelical Dispensation John the Baptist was called of the Lord without recourse to Heathen Arts and Sciences spoiling Philosophy Luke 1.15 Luke 3.1 2. Christ Jesus the End of the Law the End of the Prophets in his prepared Body called not the Wise and Prudent Painted Oraters Subtil Sophisters Crafty Logicians and spoiling Philosophers but weak and contemptible Instruments as unlearned Fisher-men to preach the Everlasting Gospel that they might be in him what they were that they might be Work-men solely and wholely thorow his Power Virtue and Influence not thorow acquired Arts Parts and Sciences Mat. 4.18 c. Christ sent not Orators saith Augustin to work upon Fisher-men Andrew and others but by these Fisher-men he reduced Kings and Emperors to the saving Knowledge of the Truth Omnipotency being Agent faith one it matters nothing what like the Instrument be Of Fisher-men he made them Fishers of men they came to the Discipleship to learn of Christ before they came to the Apostleship to be Preachers of Christ they were taught and caught by him before they taught and caught others Unlearned Fishermen saith Jerom are sent to preach that the Faith of
A TREATISE Relating to the Call Work VVages Of the Ministers of CHRIST As also to the Call VVork VVages Of the Ministers of ANTICHRIST Wherein a Testimony is born to that Call and precious Effects and Wages which the Ministers of Christ Witnessed Owned and Contended for As also against that Call Work Wages brought forth in the Apostacy in the Degeneration from the Primitive Purity of Doctrine and Worship wherein Christendom became as the Sea Unsetled Restless Ungrounded Herein also several other things are touched as in the Contents of the Treatise appear Thomas Lawson LONDON Printed for Benjamin Clark in George-Yard in Lumbard-street 1680. The Contents of the ensuing Treatise OF the Divine Call into the Ministry Cap. 1. Of a Humane Call into the Ministry Cap. 2. Of the Original of Bishops in Gospel Dayes and of the Identity of Bishops and Elders in the Primitive Age Cap. 3. Of the Work of the Ministry of Christ and of Antichrist Cap. 4. Of the Wages of the Ministers of Christ being Free and Voluntary and of the Coercive Compulsive Maintenance of the Ministers of Antichrist Cap. 5. Of the Rise of First Fruits in Christian-Churches Cap. 6. Of the Rise of Mortuaries Cap. 7. Of the Statute against Mortmain Cap. 8. Of Exemptions from the Payment of Tythes Cap. 9 Of Franke Almoigne Cap. 10. Of Peter-Pence Reek-Penny c. Cap. 11. Of Tythe in Lay-mens Hands Impropriators Cap. 12. The Clergies Patriarchal Claim to Tythes Cap. 13. The Clergies Mosaical Claim to Tythes Cap. 14. The Clergies Evangelical Claim to Tythes Cap. 15. Tythes a Mosaical Shadow Cap. 16. The Clergies Human Claim to Tythes considered as also the Testimonies of several eminent in the Church in their respective Ages against the Exaction thereof in Gospel Dayes Cap. 17. A TREATISE Relating to the Call Work Wages Of the Ministers of CHRIST As also to the Call VVork VVages Of the Ministers of ANTICHRIST CHAPTER I. Of the Divine Call into the Ministry ADAM consider'd as the Workmanship of the Lord that unsearchable Architect Master Builder Former of all things was truly Righteous truly Holy and was put into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Paradise that was his Store-house was his Work-house also blessed was he while under the Teaching of his Maker but being brought thorow the Insinuations of the Serpent to attend to his Teaching he fell into the Region of the Shadow of Death Death entred his Windows as the Lord had said and a World of Wickedness as a heady Current streamed in Now as a signal Testimony of the Riches of Divine and Never-failing Love the Everlasting Gospel was proclaimed and sounded in Adam's Ears That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head crush his Power bring him under After that in every Age and Generation the Lord called true and faithful Witnesses and by the Influence and Virtue of the Anointing qualified them to bear testimony to his constant immutable Loving-kindness and against the Wickedness of the World introduced by the Serpent and to stir up men to look after and wait for the Revelation and Manifestation of the blessed Seed in whom the Families of the Earth should be blessed Peter an Apostle of the Lamb bare record saying Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 So that the Testimonies of the Lord's Witnesses and Worthies in all Ages were derived from the Sourse or Spring of Heavenly Abilities the Spirit 's In-dwellings not from the strength of Acquired Natural Tongues Arts Sciences and Spoiling Philosophy herein are excluded all Testimonies and all Ministers made and brought forth by the Will of Man For the Confirmation of this a Cloud of Living Witnesses in the Scriptures of Truth is recorded Abel a Keeper of Sheep thorow the Word of Faith he became Righteous a Witness for the Lord in the Morning of the World he and his Offering found Acceptance with the Lord Gen. 4.2 4. Hebr. 11.4 Enech called of God by the Spirit the Word of Prophecy without which no true Prophet nor Prophecy Gen. 5.24 Hebr. 11.5 Jude 14 15. Joel 2.28 29. Noah a Husbandman Just Perfect and Righteous he walked with God he was called of God to be a Preacher of Righteousness made so without recourse to Heathen Arts and Sciences Gen. 9.20 Gen. 6.9 Gen. 7.1 Hebr. 11.7 2 Pet. 2.5 Lot was a Just and a Righteous Man called of the Lord to bear a Testimony against the World 2 Pet. 2.7 8. Abraham the Friend of God Isa 41 8. was a Prophet replenished with the Word of Prophecy Gen. 20.7 he knew the immediate Call of God Gen. 12.1 15.1 17.1 he was a Teacher in the Spirit Gen. 18.17 19. blessed thorough Obedience Gen. 22.18 Moses was a Keeper of Sheep Exod. 3.1 called of the Lord to the Work whereunto he was appointed Exod. 4.12 Numb 12.6 7 8. a Man of God Jos 14.6 thorow the living Word he was made a Minister and a Prophet Joshua was called of God Jos 1.5 37. the Lord's Power and Presence with him and in him was the Rule he walked by Gad David's Seer was called of the Lord he heard the Voice of the Lord and obeyed the same 1 Chron. 21.9 10. 2 Sam. 24.11 12. Aaron though excellently qualified admirably indued with Gifts yet he entered not upon the Priests Office without the Call of God thereunto Heb. 5.4 Exod. 28.1 when he and that Priesthood was instituted not a word was mentioned of School Sciences Natural Languages he was no Intruder into the High-Priest's Office but answered the Command of the Lord. Priests in the Latin Tongue are called Sacerdotes because their Office was Deo sacra dare to Sacrifice to God or because they were sacra dos consecrated and as it were severed from the rest of the People and given up to God as saith Ridley in his View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law Bezaleel and Aholiab were filled with the Spirit of God in Wisdom and in Understanding and in Knowledge and in all manner of Workmanship for the building of the Tabernacle Exod. 31. implying that such as in the Evangelical Dispensation are appointed for the building of the Spiritual Tabernacle be they Sons or Daughters their Preparation and Qualification for that Work is of the Lord and not of Man Nathan the Prophet was called of God the Word of the Lord came unto him 2 Sam. 7.4 5. 12.5 and David humbled himself before him David a Keeper of Sheep 2 Sam. 16.11 12. a Man after God's own Heart Acts 13.22 he was called of God 2 Sam. 23.1 2 c. the Spirit of the Lord the Word of Righteousness was the Spring of his Ministry Saul the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied 1 Sam. 10. but turning from it he went to the Dead to a Witch 1 Sam. 28. so became a Persecutor of David 1 Sam. 19.1 losing his Head it was sent into
the Land of the Philistins 1 Sam. 3.9 When it was scornfully demanded Is Saul also among the Prophets one answered But who is their Father As who should say Prophecy comes not so much by Man's Teaching as by God's therefore wonder not that Saul prophesies though not bred a Schollar 1 Sam. 10. Trap. on the Acts. The Seventy Elders were called of God without recourse to Heathen Education Prophane Arts and Sciences the Spirit the Word of Prophecy came upon them Numb 11. Eldad and Medad were called of the Lord the Spirit of Prophecy came upon them Numb 11.26 c. Joshua the Servant of Moses said My Lord Moses forbid them He said not Stock Stone Imprison Persecute Beat them with Staves Bibles as the Language of many in our dayes have been who would be accounted Ministers of the Gospel Moses answered Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's People were Prophets and that he would put his Spirit upon them Here was a precious Frame of Spirit Fervency for the Propagation of the Truth Samuel a Prophet was called of God contrary to the Will of Man 1 Sam. 3. Oded a Prophet was called of the Lord 2 Chron. 28. his Testimony from the Mouth of the Lord was effectual Ahâ—jah the Prophet was called of the Lord 1 Kings 11.29 14.26 If thou comest uncalled God will say unto thee Friend how camest thou hither The Calling is Null if it have not the Living God for the Author and Caller Wilson's Christian Dictionary Iddo the Seer was called of God 2 Chron. 9.29 Jehu the Prophet was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him 1 Kings 16.1 Jahaziel a Prophet was called of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord came upon him 2 Chron. 20.14 15. Elijah was called of the Lord made a Prophet by the Living Word 1 Kings 17.1 2. his Testimony was against Ahab and Jezebel for their Idolatry and worshipping of Images for the which they persecuted him calling him A Troubler of Israel 1 Kings 1.8 Elisha a Plough man was called of God 2 Kings 2.15 he reproved the Idolatry of Priests and People in his Age he cured Naaman of his Leprosie upon which Naaman testified saying I know that there is no God in all the Earth but in Israel Naaman offered him a Gift and urged him to take it but Elisha refused shewing forth another manner of Spirit than is in Man-made Ministers who speak much the Horsleeches Language Give Give 2 Kings 5. Micajah a Prophet called of the Lord concerning whom the King of Israel said I hate this Micajah for he doth not prophesie good concerning me but Evil One advised Micajah To speak well of the King as the Four Hundred Prophets had done Micajah answered As the Lord liveth what the Lord saith unto me that will I speak 1 Kings 22. shewing forth another Spirit than is in Man-made Ministers Men pleasers Huldah a Prophetess was called of the Lord the living Word came to her and she bare Testimony against the Backsliding and Idolatry of that time 2 Kings 22. Shemaiah a Prophet a Man of God called of God the Word of the Lord came to him 1 Kings 12. 2 Chron. 12. Azariah the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he preached true sound and wholsom Doctrine 2 Chron. 15. Hunani the Seer in the Word of Prophecy reproved Asa King of Judah for his Reliance upon the Arm of Flesh and for his Non-reliance upon the living God Asa imprisoned him for his Message 2 Chron. 16. Zechariah a Prophet was called of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord came upon him he reproved the People for that they forsook the Lord saying The Lord had forsaken them for the which they conspired against him and stoned him 2 Chron. 24. Thus they that are in the Flesh they swell against them that are in the Spirit Balaam was called of God he heard his Voice the Spirit of God came upon him he prophesied of the coming of Christ but by looking after Gifts and Rewards he went astray Numb 22 23 24 Chapters Miriam a Prophetess was called of the Lord Exod. 15. for Murmuring against Moses she became Leprous and was shut out of the Camp seven dayes Numb 12. Isaiah the Prophet was called of the Lord Isa 38.1 48.16 he bare Testimony against such Teachers as came by the Will of Man saying His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all Dumb Dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber yea they are Greedy Dogs which can never have enough they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Isa 56.10 11. Who are called of God now they see and comprehend such as come by the Will of Man who have nothing but what they receive from Schools and Colledges Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences School-Divinity to be the blind and ignorant Watchmen seeking yea Extorting Gain from their Quarters from their Parishes watching for the Fleece more than for the Good of the Flock Trap on the Corinthians saith That Luther never found himself once tempted to Covetousness Among Man-Made Ministers herein few are Lutherans Jeremiah was called of the Lord when a Child without recourse to Heathen Education Jer. 1. he said Ah! Lord God behold I cannot speak for I am a Child The Lord said Say not I am a Child thou shalt go to all that I send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak Here he is drawn from Man to the Mouth of the Lord. I will give you Pastors according to mine Heart saith the Lord which shall feed you with Knowledge and Vnderstanding Jer. â— 15 Such Teachers are of the Lord 's giving not of Man's sending He reproved their great Corruption as in the Civil so in the Ecclesiastâ—cal State saying A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the Land the Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their Means and my People love to have it so Jer. 5.30 31. In the Light of Truth such as these are found out Again He testified against such as ran and were not sent saying They make you Vain they speak a Vision of their own Heart and not out of the Mouth of the Lord I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied but if they had stood in my Counsel and had caused my People to hear my Words then they should have turned them from their Evil Way and from the Evil of their Doings Jer. 23. In the Prophetical Dispensation such as ran for Self-ends not being sent of the Lord the Prophet's Testâ—mony was against them for his Testimony the People stroke him stocked him imprisoned him and sorely persecuted him The same is fulfilled in our dayes Ezekiel was called of the Lord chap. 1. he bare Testimony against such as came by the will of Man without a heavenly Call he prophesied That the Lord would deliver his
Thus Israel was guilty of forsaking the Fountain of Life of Living Mercies and of having recourse to broken Cisterns The labour of the Apostles and their living concern was to bring People to Shilo the Store-house of heavenly Wisdom Knowledge and sound Understanding the Fountain of Life the Well-spring of pure Wisdom spiritual Treasures Virtue Peace Joy Consolation and Spiritual Refreshments in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells Bodily of whose plenitude that is fulness his receive Grace for Grace Now after the Apostles dayes the Star being fallen Smoke arisen Sun and Air darkned the Purity of the Primitive Church spoiled in a word upon the encroachment of the Apostacy the golden Cup of Abomination and Fornication was received by Christendom which became as Waters in this smoke evaporating out of the bottomless Pit the pure Fountain of Life was lost the truly impowering Call of the Lord of the Harvest was lost then in the Apostatized Roman Church Schools and Colledges were erected into which were received Heathen Poems Comedies Tragedies Fables spoiling Philosophy Heathen Metaphysicks and in and through learning of these Youth was qualified for the Gospel Ministry as they say and these Universities were called by the Apostatized Roman Church Well-springs of Divinity Fountains of the Gospel Ministry Thus the Fountain of Life being turned from broken Cisterns were entertained Luther on 2 Pet. 2.1 spake freely of Apostatized Popish Universities The whole World saith he is of this Opinion that these are Fountains or Well springs from which proceed such as ought to teach the People This is a horrible Error saith he forasmuch as nothing so detestable proceeds from any thing or place as from Universities c. The Roman Popish Religion being brought into this Nation by Austin the Monk and others in process of time Cambridge and Oxford came to be founded and made Universities and were called Well-springs of Divinity c. And though Protestantism and a great share of Reformation be pretended and professed yet the divine Call into the Ministry is denyed and altogether or in a high measure ascribed to Schools of Humane Learning yea and Cambridge and Oxford are still termed Well-springs of Divinity the two Fountains and the two Eyes of the Nation The Almighty is opening an Eye to see the Living Fountain the Well-spring of Life and to press after the same and to deny the Idolatrous use and abuses of Man made Well-springs and Fountains though Schools teaching the knowledge of the Creation of useful and necessary Accomplishments are to be contended for but out of their place Idolatrous as in setting them in the room of the Lord of the Harvest William Tindall in his Parable of the wicked Mammon saith Many are not ashamed to rail and blaspheme saying How should he understand the Scripture seeing he is no Philosopher hath never seen his Metaphysicks and how can he be a Divine who knows not what is Subjectum in Theologia Nevertheless as a man without the Spirit of Aristotle or Philosophy may by the Spirit of God understand Scriptures even so by the Spirit of God understands he that God is to be sought c. and yet knows not what meaneth Subjectum in Theologia that is the Subject in Divinity because it is a term of their own making Drawing to a Conclusion let me say that to confine the Ministry to Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences is contrary to the Lords Call in the Patriarchal Mosaical and in the Morning of the Evangelical Dispensation yea and contrary to the Call promised after the Apostacy after the three dayes and an half wherein the Beast and the Locusts Anti-christ and his apostatized Ministry should be bred fitted and qualified in the Smoke of the Pit earthly and fallen Wisdom Rev. 11.11 Besides this my Testimony take the Testimony of our Country-man Gell who said I do not here confine the Gifts of God unto mans Approbation or Ordination Surely saith he the Lord may fill whose Hand he will speak by whom he will In all Ages saith this Gell God raised up Priests and Prophets without the Authority yea against the Authority of Men Amos 3.8 Acts 4.18 19 20. 'T is unreasonable saith he to confine the Spirit of God unto certain Theses Articles Confessions and Opinions of mens making they seem to dare and provoke the wise God in that they cannot say that their Dictates proceed from an infallable Spirit yet would they limit and bound the infallable Spirit of the God of Truth by their presumtuous humane Spirit which as themselves confess is Fallable and subject to Error We stay so long saith Bishop Hall upon the Shell of Tongues that we can hardly have time to chew the sweet Kernel of Knowledge So may I say Natural Tongues Arts Sciences and Endowments are so doted upon and concluded to be the enabling qualification for the Gospel Ministry as that the heavenly Anointing the real ability for the Gospel Ministry is not waited for but by most of the Worldly wise Linguists and Sophisters derided CAP. III. Of the Original of Bishops in Gospel dayes and of the Identity that is Oneness and Sameness of Bishops and Elders in the Primitive Age. THe Apostles in the Power of the Lord laboured and were livingly concerned to turn the Jew from Judaism and the Gentile from Gentilism to Christ in whom Oneness and the new Creature is witnessed After visiting the Churches before gathered and in the Spirit of discerning observing a Care begot in some particular Members for the good prosperity growth and decent order of their fellow Members the oversight care and charge of particular Assemblies were commended to such and they were called Elders because chosen for the most part of the elder sort of People and the same were also called Bishops that is Overseers or Superintendents because of their Office of overseeing and taking care of the rest They were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Presbyters or Elders for that they were so in Age the Law having so provided that no man should be promoted to that Dignity till he was thirty five Years old or else because they ought to be such in Manners and circumspect Carriage saith Sr. Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Eccleslastical Law Pope Boniface the First thought good that not any under thirty Years of Age should be ordained a Presbyter that is an Elder Afterward it was decreed by the Authority of the Lateran Council that one might be made an Elder at twenty five Years old Polydor. de Invent. lib. 4. But this limiting to a certain Year savours of the Will of Man not of the Spirit Now 't is my Judgment that the same Individuals particular Persons that in the Purity of the Primitive Age were sometimes called Elders they were also called Bishops that is Overseers as the same Person may be sometime called a Minister sometime a Teacher this Doctrine in the Beauty of the Primitive Church was not called Heretical but
be the true Light the Way to the Father the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God and Paul was sent to turn People from Darkness to Light from the Power of Satan unto God Peter exhorted To take heed unto the sure Word of Prophecy as to a Light shining in a Dark Place until the Day did dawn and the Day-star did arise in their Hearts John 1.9 John 8.12 Acts 26.18 2 Pet. 1.19 But Man-made Ministers say The Scripture is the Light Such walk in the Region of the Shadow of Death the Scripture was given out by the Eternal Light a Declaration of it of God whence it came 6. The Apostles preached up the Baptism by one Spirit into one Body 1 Cor. 12.13 as the permanent Baptism of the Evangelical Dispensation the Heart-cleansing and Soul-saving Baptism the Substance 1 Pet. 3.21 Man-made Ministers Sprinkle Infants saying thereby they are made Members of Christ Children of God Inheriters of the Kingdom of Heaven Thus the Visible is inthroned and the Invisible is dis-throned which truly makes Members of Christ Paedorantism that is Sprinkling of Infants came not in till Hundreds of Years after the Apostles dayes 7. The Apostles knew Christ to be the Bread of Life the Soul's Food heavenly Manna here they fed at the Table of the Lord had fellowship one with another were written in one anothers Hearts these knew the Table and Supper of the Lord. Man-made Ministers tell of a Sacrament for which there is no Scripture 't was the old Heathen Roman Military Oath their Communion is in visibles Meat that perishes Christendom Professing this Communion is become as Golgotha a Place of Skulls as Aceldama a Field of Blood 8. True Minsters knew the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World to be the Everlasting Covenant Glad Tidings to Captive Souls to Prisoners of Hope this Gospel was preached to Adam Gen. 3.15.10 Abraham Gal. 3.8 Man-made Ministers say Matthew Mark Luke and John is the Gospel Their Writings are a Declaration of the Everlasting Gospel Luke 1.1 9. The Apostles preached Christ the Fountain of Life the Treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells Bodily Man-made Ministers say That Oxford and Cambridge are the Fountain Well-spring or Well-head of Divinity the two Eyes of the Nation Though founded in Popish Times for the Propagation of their Doctrine and Religion 10. The Apostles preached the Word which was in the beginning to be the Original which was before Babel many Languages by which the Prophets and Apostles were called and drew others into the one pure Language to know the Virtue of the Everlasting Gospel Man-made Ministers say that Hebrew and Greek is the Original The Hebrews persecuted Christ the Greeks accounted the Cross of Christ Foolishness Pilate who had Latin Greek and Hebrew the World 's Original he crucified Christ Alpha and Omega the Beginning and Ending the First and Last the Original the Author of the pure heavenly Language 11. The Apostles preached the Saints to be the Temple of the Living God Christ the Anti-type reigning in their mortal Bodies Man-made Ministers say That a House of Lime and Stone is the Temple An Imitation of Solomon's Temple a Type fulfilled and ended in Christ the Substance Stephen was stoned to Death for witnessing against the Temple the Figure when Christ the Substance was manifested 12. The Apostles preached Christ the one Offering perfecting forever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. They preached Christ the end of that Priesthood that took Tythe the end of the Law that gave Tythe Heb. 7.12 Man-made Ministers preach up Tythe the Heave-offering Numb 18. the Shadow so deny Christ the One Offering And by the same Rule they may introduce and uphold all the other Offerings of the Aaronical Priesthood 13. The Apostles as Freely they received so they Freely gave Mat. 10. 1 Pet. 4.10 Buy the Truth but sell it not saith Solomon Prov. 23. The Wine and Milk of the Kingdom is to be bought but how Without Money and Price Isa 55.1 Man-made Ministers say They are gifted men but will not part with their Gift but for a certain yearly Sum Wisdom the Gift of God is Free and cannot be bought and sold for Money Wisdom saith Job cannot be ' gotten for Gold nor Silver nor for Coral Pearls nor Rubies cap. 28. Who think to purchase it they are in the Gall of Bitterness in the Bond of Iniquity as Simon was Acts 8. 14. Such as Christ sent they preached That every one had a measure of Light in him leading to Life such as received it the Condemnation of such as received it not Joh. 1.5.9 Joh. 3.19 Rom. 1.19 Luke 17.21 Man-made Ministers deny this Doctrine saying 'T is a Natural Light and belch out Approbious Language against it and that the Improvement of it advantages nothing And all this to keep People in a Reliance and Dependance upon them never to witness the new Covenant the Law written in the Heart the Spirit put in the Inward Parts 15. Paul told the Corinthians That they might all Prophesie that all might learn and be comforted and if any thing was revealed to him that sate by the first was to hold his Peace 1 Cor. 14. This was Order in the true Church Man-made Ministers accounts this Confusion and Disorder for if any should come in and speak while the publick Minister is speaking or when he hath done how cruelly such have been used I need not mention shewing that their Church-members are Branches of that old putred stock that they were of who stoned Stephen to Death Acts 7. 16. The Apostles preached Freedom from Sin Rom. 6.6 7 18. Freedom from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 A Sanctified State 1 Cor. 6.11 A Cleansing from all Sin by the Blood of Jesus 1 John 1.7 Man-made Ministers teach another Doctrine That there is no Freedom from Sin in this Life and that a man must carry a Body of Sin and Death about with him while upon Earth 17. The Apostle James owned Christ's Doctrine who said Swear not at all Mat. 5. James 5. But Man-made Ministers plead for Swearing saying The Denyal thereof is an old Heresie yea and many eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes have born faithful Testimonies against Swearing as Christ did who spake with Authority 18. The Apostles owned Revelation without it God is not known Mat. 11.27 Till this was witnessed Paul was Saul a grand Persecutor Gal. 1.16 Who are of God now they bear witness to this But Man-made Ministers say Revelation is ceased So conclude all to be excluded from the Knowledge of the Living God 'T is true who are in the Will of Man Night and Darkness is upon them the Sun is set Vision and Revelation such know not 19. The true Ministers of Christ preached Present Salvation Ephes 2.8 By Grace they were saved Tit. 3.5 1 Pet. 3.21 Man-made Ministers preach Christ and Salvation at a Distance telling
them how to carry and demean themselves to them that received them not saying Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your Words when ye depart thence shake off the Dust of your Feet for a Testimony against them Matth. 10. Mark 6. Luke 9. This was all the Extremity they were to use he told them not they should apply themselves to Magistrates and force People to maintain them whether they received them or no this is the Beasts Doctrine and his unclean Flogs The Apostles duly and faithfully observed this Ordinance of Dust-shaking Acts 13.51 Now you Non-conformists of what denomination soever who make Conscience of Non-compliance with the National publick Ministers of not ministring Carnal things unto them it seems you are such as receive them not Do they observe Christ's Ordinance Do they content themselves with shaking the Dust off their Feet against you My thinks I hear a general Answer in the Negative No No they Sue us in Courts of Judicature at Courts Assizes they Imprison us they recover Treble damages of us for very Trifles and inconsiderable things as Smoke-Pennys Mortuaries Easter-Reckonings Midsummer-Dues Popish Inventions they make Havock and Spoil of our Goods In thus doing they trangress Christ's Ordinance of Dust-shaking which the Apostles were observant of who used no Weapon but what was Spiritual no Sword but that of the Spirit Rev. 11.5 If any man hurt my Witnesses Fire proceeds out of their Mouth and devoureth their Enemies The Sword of the Spirit the Word of God is the Weapon of the Lords Witnesses Gospel-Ministers but the Beast that ascends out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against the Witnesses overcome them and Kill them Rev. 11. Now notwithstanding the specious pretences of men as of Religion Ordinances Reformation Antiquity yet if Christs Ordinance of Dust-shaking against such as receive them not be not observed but a Co-ercive Power used Tythe and other Maintenance forced a procedure in Persecution Imprisonments Spoiling of Goods of such as for Conscience-sake cannot receive them they that act these things are out of Christ's Doctrine darkned by the Smoke of that Pit which the Beast ascended from taking part with him and not with the Lamb So that Man-made Ministers stand for another Call Work Wage and Weapons than Gospel Ministers contend for But to return to my Intention which is to shew That the Maintenance of the Ministers of Christ in the primitive Times was free and voluntary and that from such as received them Paul bare record unto the Elders of Ephesus saying I have coveted no mans Silver or Gold or Apparel yea you know that these hands have ministered unto my Necessities and to them that were with me Acts 20.33 34. Whence we gather saith Aug. Marl. on this place that no man is a true Minister of the Word but he is also a Despiser of Money Abraham of old shewed a noble Mind in taking nothing of the Spoil got from his Enemies Gen. 14. But saith Poole Paul shewed a far Nobler Mind whenas he refused to take Necessaries for his weighty and Salutiferous Labour relieving his Necessities with his own hands In the ackowledgment of Christs Doctrine to his Disciples Paul said Have we not Power to eat and to drink Yes Paul had received Christ the Power of God whose Ordinance to his Disciples was To eat and to drink such things as were set before them by them that received them He had power to eat drink and receive Necessaries from the Corinthians who received him and his Message though he wrote not for such and such ends judging it his reward to make the Gospel without Charge that he might not abuse his Power in the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. This makes nothing for Man-made Ministers to force a Maintenance from such as receive them not Man-made Ministers pursuing Tythes and other Antichristian Wages as the Summum bonum the chiefest good thunder out the words of Paul Who goeth a Warfare at any time at his own Charges Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the Fruit thereof Who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk thereof Answ This contraries not Christ's Ordinance but herein the Apostle shews by three Arguments That Gospel Ministers may with a good Conscience receive Necessaries from such as receive them and their Doctrine Aug. Marl. tell me this At whose Charge ought the Souldier to go but at his for whose Defence and Security he fights The Apostles of the Lamb were Warriors harnessed out of the Lord's Armory fighting under the Banner of Christ the Captain of their Salvation in whose hands they were Instruments to conquer many to rescue them from the Power of Satan to reduce them into the Obedience of the Son of God that they might be eternally Happy Thus Warring for the good security and defence of them according to Christ's Ordinance they might reap necessaries from them You that are made Ministers by the Will of man this is no ground for forcing Tythe and other Dues as you call them from such as receive you not you war not for such but against them rendring them as Hereticks persecuting and imprisoning them stirring up Magistrates against them Let such as own you for their Warriors maintain you He that plants a Vineyard may eat of the Fruit of the Vineyard which he hath planted 't is but Reason Instruments in the hand of the Lord of transplanting others out of the wild Olive into the good Olive out of the putred stock old Adam into the virtuous Root the second Adam the Lord from Heaven may by virtue of the Lord's Ordinance eat of the Fruit of their Plantation their Vineyard eat and drink with and receive Necessaries from such as they have gathered to be fruitful Branches lively Plants in their Plantation No ground for Man-made Ministers to force a Maintenance from those that receive them not who are not of their Plantation their Vineyard Let your own Vineyards maintain you He that feeds a Flock may eat of the Milk of the Flock but it must be of the Milk of that Flock which he feeds The Apostles and their Successors in the Word of Faith Power and Reconciliation gathered others into the Unity of Faith to the holy Hill of Sion these were Flocks as Flocks of Sheep which come up from the Washing whereof every one bears Twins and none are barren these they feed with convenient Food And let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6.6 This we own And the Apostle said If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things The Law commanded Thou shalt not muzel the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn Deut. 25.4 The Equity of the Law required That the Ox that trod out the Corn was not to be muzled but be fed by him whose Corn he trod out And 't was not agreeable to the Equity of that Law
dayes Christ the Law-giver to of and in the Church and his Doctrine of Free and Voluntary Contribution was denyed and covetous Practices commanded and allowed by men in the Apostacy were entertained and what spoil and havock hath been and is made upon the Deniers of these Selfish Idolatrous Antichristian Irreptitious Customs who is ignorant CAP. VIII Of the Statute against Mortmain MOrtmain is a French word and signifies a dead hand 't is in the common Law An Alienation of Lands or Tenements to any Corporation or Fraternity and their Successors with the Licence of the King and the Lord of the Mannor Lands saith a great Lawyer were said to come to dead hands to the Lords for that by Alienation in Mortmain they lost wholly their Escheats and in effect their Knight-Service for the Defence of the Realm Wards Marriages Reliefs and the like and therefore was called a dead Hand for that a dead hand yields no Service saith Sr Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law Austin the Monk brought the Religion and Doctrine of Papal Rome into this Nation to among the Saxons by little and little strange things came to be preached up as That the pardon of sins might be merited by good Works the Torments of Hell might be avoided and that Tythe was the Souls Ransom and that whoever desired Forgiveness of Sins and the Joys of Heaven should faithfully pay the same and that without the payment thereof these things could not be had The Deluded and Depraved People receiving this as a heavenly Oracle gave not only their Tythes for the satisfaction of their Sins to maintain the Popish Clergy to say and sing Mass to pray for their Souls for Obits and Anniversaries but their Lands also Hence Religious Houses so called came to be built and wonderfully enriched By this Satanical Stratagem and Delusion almost a third part of the whole Land was hooked into the aforesaid Houses and Clergy and there was no cry heard among the Ravenous Cormorants 'T is Enough but rather the Horsleeches Language Give Give Now that all the Land might not be swallowed up in this unsatiable Whirle-Pool a Statute against Mortmain that is against the Alienation of Lands to such and such Uses was provided It was saith Andrew Willet in his Synopsis of Popery a common practice in time of Popery so the Priests might be enriched they cared not greatly though all the Stock of the Patrons and Founders were undone the Statute of Mortmain faith he was made to restrain this pag. 309. King Henry the third in his great Charter to all Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Sheriffs c. enacted thus If any from henceforth give his Lands to any Religious House and thereupon be convict the Gift shall be utterly void and the Land shall accur to the Lord of the Fee Edward the first enacted to the same purpose Henry the eighth confirmed this in the 23d year of his Reign enacting That Assurances of Lands to Churches Chappels Church-wardens Guilds Fraternities Commonalties c. made of Devotion as to the Uses and intents to have Obits perpetual or a continual Service of a Priest forever or for sixty or eighty Years were as Prejudicial to the Lords as if they were aliened in Mortmain so to be void Further this Henry enacted That all Monasteries Abbyes Priories and other Religious Houses of Monks Canons and Nuns c. with their Estates should be given to him and his Heirs forever the Right of Founders Patrons and Donors being saved as also all Lands Tenements Rents and other Hereditaments given for the Maintenance of an Anniversary or Obit Light or Lamps in Church or Chappel to continue forever To say no more herein that Statute against Mortmain prevented the spreading of that foul Leprosie of Encroachments and stopped the heady Current of Idolatrous days in that point CAP. IX Of Exemptions from the payment of Tythes THrough the Seed of Degeneration Ministers in Christian Churches became 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lovers of filthy Lucre Covetous such the old Saxons called Gitsors that is sore and eager getters the Popes Doctrine being entertained into a Nation that Nation was divided into Bishopricks Bishopricks into Parishes then the Pope having set up Parishes he enjoyned that a secular Priest Canonically instituted should attend the Service of each respective Parish and that where Tythes were not already settled they should be paid to the Parish Priest notwithstanding any custom to the contrary After People were brought to believe that Tythe ought to be paid they enjoyed that liberty of bestowing the same where they would on whom they would till Pope Innocent the third about the Year 1200. as hath been touched So they were called Free Offerings and Pure Alms but it was no matter of difficulty having perswaded People to pay Tythes to appoint the Receiver the Person or Persons to receive the same Now the Pope having brought in Tythes and appointed the persons that should receive them notwithstanding his general Decree yet he in favour to his chiefest Props and Cathedral Pillars frequently granted Exemptions to such and such Orders whereby they became freed of the payment of Tythes as to the Templers Cistercians Hospitallers and generally to all Lands held by Religious Persons and Houses upon this account who have bought the Lands of dissolved Monasteries c. their plea is That their Lands are Tythe free This Immunity so far as it concerned the rest of the Religious Persons Pope Adrian recalled and limitted it only to the Cistertians Hospitallers Templers and to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem as faith Sr. Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law 'T is a pregnant proof saith one that Tythes are of humane Institution and that from the Bishops of Rome also Seeing their Exemptions are in force and observed to this day yea and as I may say to aggravate the indignity of the thing among such as would be accounted to have come out of Italian Babylon and to be great sharers in Reformation Now for the satisfaction of such who desire some account concering the aforesaid Orders this is Knights of the Temple Knights Templers was an Order of Knighthood erected by Pope Gelasius about the Year 1117. at first they dwelt not far from the Sepulcher of Christ entertained Christian Strangers and Pilgrims charitably and in their Armour led them saith my Author thorough the Holy Land to view such things as were to be seen and to defend them from the Infidels at last they grew very Vicious and many of them fell from the Profession of Christianity to the Saracens Pope Clement the fifth suppressed the whole Order and their Substance was given to the Knights of Rhodes and other Religious Orders saith my Author Knights of the Order of St. John in Jerusalem was created for the defence of Pilgrims these Knights and Pilgrims were called Croises from the Sign of the Cross which they used to
that which Abram gave freely to Melchizedes What Abram did it was Free and Voluntary Melchizedec had no Law to require it neither had Abram a Law enjoyning him to pay it neither is it apparent that ever Abram gave the Tythe but this once upon this accidential or providential occasion which may be taken for a thankful acknowledgement and a return of kindness to Melchizedec who had given him Bread and Wine for the Refreshment of him and his Souldiers after the Fight A voluntary Promise only binds the promiser and the free Gift of one is not obligatory to others no binding Example for future Generations a feeble Ground for such as would be accounted Gospel-Ministers to claim Tythe if Abram's free and voluntary Gift must be a binding Rule in Gospel-dayes then may every man require Bread and Wine of their Priest for the refreshment of themselves and Families every Officer require the same for himself and Souldiers the one Example is as obligatory as the other in Gospel-Dayes both being Voluntary Again let us consider what Abram gave him the Tenth of Chederlaomer and the Kings with him Conquered the King of Sodom and took all the Goods of Sodom and took Lot Abram's Brother's Son Prisoner upon this Abram armed his traned Servants and pursued them rescued Lot and the Goods in his return Melchizedeck met him gave him Bread and Wine as before and blessed God for his Success then Abram gave him Tythes of all Gen. 14. Of all what Not of the Increase of his Lands and Flocks Abram did not carry every Tenth Sheaf Lambs Piggs Geese Chickins with him but rather Sword Spear Battle-Ax Battle-Bow or such like Weapons of War he had other things to carry with him than Tythe Corn Hay Lambs Piggs c. Abram gave him Tythe of all Of all what The Apostle answers thee Consider how great this man was unto whom even the Patriarch Abram gave the Tenth of the Spoils Heb. 7.4 So that of the Goods belonging formerly to Sodom plundered by Chederlaomer rescued and recovered by Abram Abram gave to Melchizedec the Tenth thereof And what if he had given it all to him seeing he was resolved not to keep the least of it for his own use Gen. 14. Now besides the Apostle Erasmus Crysostom Jerom upon several accounts as also our Country-man Poole say expresly That Abram gave him Tythes not of his own Lands and Flocks but of the Spoils taken from the Enemy Poole on Heb. 7.4 saith This place cannot be understood of all Abram's Possessions but of all the Spoil taken in that Battle Abram was not then at Home but in his Journey in his return from the pursuit of his Enemy Now if you will have Tythe from this Example you must go to the Souldiers and make your claim after Victories obtained for Abram gave not the Tythes of his own Lands and Flocks nor ever but this once as far as appears How then proves this a yearly payment of Tythes to Gospel-Ministers And how can an annual payment be justly derived to others from the free and voluntary Gift of one and that but once Again if from the Gift of Abram to Melchizedec you will enforce any thing to that Order it can but be free Gift which we deny not in the Wisdom of God being ordained of Christ practised by the Apostles and Churches while a pure Virgin to Christ so that your Antiquity of Tythes to the Gospel-Ministry is vanished into the free Gift of the People Obj. To give and to pay is all one in this Case So the Apostle not only said he gave the Tenth Heb. 7.4 but also Levi paid Tythe in Abram verse 9. Answ To give and to pay is not all one in this Case the Apostle in the Wisdom of God varied his Expression according to the Persons he treated of and the different Times and Seasons he related to speaking of Abram in the Anti Levitical dayes before Tythes were commanded in whom it was a free voluntary spontaneous Act Gift to Melchizedec he says He gave but speaking of Levi of the Levitical Priesthood who lived after Tythes were assigned and commanded to be paid he expresses himself by the word Paid vers 9. Abram Gave Levi Paid That Abram came thither with an intention to Pay or Melchizedec with an expectation to receive Tythes I cannot receive Now that Tythe was not Paid to Melchizedec but Given and that not Yearly but once and that not of the Increase of his Lands and Flocks but of the Pillage of Sodom rescued and recovered from the Plunderers the Fruits of War-like performances 't is very evident the Scripture is not dubious but clear in this point So they may be judged Irrational who claim a property in and plead for Tythes upon such crazy and feeble grounds Jacob's Vow considered Gen 28.22 being stoutly alledged for the continuance of Tythes in Gospel-dayes Jacob in his Journey from Beersheba to Haran tarried all Night in a certain place and laid down to sleep with his Head upon a Pillow of Stones and from the Lords glorious appearance unto him and sweet comfortable Promise of his presence with him and preservation of him and that in him and in his Seed all the Families of the Earth should be blessed he called the Name of that place Bethel by Interpretation The House of God in the fence of these things and in confidence of the Lord's Promise and faithful performance he vowed saying If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Rayment to put on c. And this Stone which I have set for a Pillar shall be God's House and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the Tenth unto thee Gen. 28. This Jacob performed after twenty Years as Josephus saith in these Words By Offering unto the Lord the Tenth of all his Substance which he got at Haran After that he returned unto that place where God's appearance unto him was This Vow of Jacob was Voluntary in being unrequired Let such as would squeeze a Divine right to the exaction of Tythes from this or from any Ante-diluvian or Post-diluvian Patriarch shew a command for the same before the Levitical Assignation the known Maxime is Affirmanti incumbit probatio that is He that affirms must prove being Voluntary 'T is no binding Example to future Generations though 't is true Jacob's Vow was obligatory to him after he had vowed but not to his Posterity the eleaven Tribes paid not Tythes to Levi by reason of the Example of Abram and Jacobs voluntary Gifts but by vertue of the Lord's command thereunto enjoyning That the Patriarchal Age was without a Divine command for the payment of Tythes Pareus on the aforesaid Scripture clearly demonstrates shewing and saying Decimae ante legem liberae erant arbitrariae exemple Abrami Jacobi licebat dare vovere aut non that is Tythes before the Law were free and