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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47551	That neither temporallitie[s] nor tythes is due to the bishops, prelates nor clergy, by a Gospel rule And that kings, princes and lords temporal, may j[ust]ly take the temporallities and tythes from them, and dispose of the ... the defence and benefit of the kingdom, and the relief of the poor. Proved by the laws and pract[i]ce of twenty Kings of Judah, England, and France as also by the testimonies of the Universities of Oxford and Prague, fifty four of ... nobles of Bohemia and Morania, two hundred and fifty years agone, and als[o] one hundred and twenty authors beside. Together with some directions how gospel ministers ought to have maintenance, according to the gospel rule, and institutions of Iesus Christ. By E. K.	Netherlands. Emancipatiekommissie.	1672 (1672)	Wing K6A; ESTC R218954	82,628	97

Devils not to God and forget God that formed them now if the not observing of the place appointed for to sacrifice in did make such a difference that the sacrifice offered in one place was accepted as offered unto God and the same sacrifice offered in another place appointed by men and not where God had appointed made the sacrifice to be reputed as offering sacrifice unto Devils as these Texts and others do prove Then is not this sufficient to convince any reasonable man that to alter and change the worship of God from the rules and institutions of Christ to the rules and Cannons of mens devising and to force men so to worship doth make a greater difference in the worship of God than in the time of the Law to offer the same sacrifice in any other place but where God had appointed it to be sacrificed and yet the very alteration and change of the place made the same thing sacrificed to be esteemed the sacrificing unto Devils and not to God have we not need then to take care that we keep close to the rules and institutions of Christ I beseech all especially those who would have us to worship after the precepts and Commandements of men to consider this and to remember what our Saviour Christ saith In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Commandements of men Mat. 15.9 Christ saith Matth. 11.29 Take my yoke upon you now this yoke of Christ is subjection to Gods word and will and such as do not worship him according to his word and will but according to their own will and humain devices and traditions such persons casts off the yoke of Christ and deny their subjection to him which is the property of wicked men and is as much as if they should say who is the Almighty that we should serve or be subject unto him for true subjection is a resignation of our selves to the will and word of God and that in all things and this is the right serving of God Mr. Perkins saith Page 699. That nothing may go under the name and worship of God which God hath not ordained in his word and commanded us as his own worship for when the Jews worshipped God after the devised fashion of the Gentiles though their meaning was to worship nothing but God yet they worshipped nothing but Devils saith he for all voluntary Religion and will worship is utterly condemned therefore nothing may go under the name of Gods worship but what God hath prescribed for the rule of divine worship is not the will of him that worshippeth but the will of him that is worshipped Again if there be such a God who will be worshipped according to the traditions and devices of men and hath promised his presence to hear and answer us in such a way of worship then he hath either revealed himself that he will hear us and accept us in such a way or he hath not revealed himself let the Bishops and Prelates shew us the Scripture where God hath promised his presence to hear and accept us in a way of worship of mans devising and let the Commandement be shewed that bindeth us to worship so but if the Bishops and Prelates cannot shew us any such Commandement that bindeth us so to worship nor shew us any promise of Gods presence to hear and accept of us in such a way then ought not the Prelates to force us to such a kind of worship neither ought we to obey them nor have we any promise to ground our faith upon and whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14.23 Radulph calls it Idolatry in manners to prefer the creature before the Creator and so in Prelates to prefer their Canons and Inventions before the Canons of Scripture and institutions of Jesus Christ We all know that under the Law God required that Sacrifice Oblations and Incense should be offered unto him but when they did not observe Gods way and order which he had ordained and appointed how they should be offered but devised a way of their own you shall hear what the Prophet Isaiah saith of such a devised worship Isa 66.3 He that killeth an Oxe is as if he flew a man he that sacrificeth a Lamb is as if he cut off a Dogs neck he that offereth an Oblation as if he offered Swines blood and he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idol God esteemeth no better of mens devised way of worship as appears in the latter part of the verse viz. They have chosen their own way c. Hence we may take notice how dangerous a thing it is for any either to do it themselves or to enjoyn others to worship God in a way of mens devising by humane traditions and Ceremonies and not to keep close to the rules and institutions of Christ for Christ is the alone Soveraign Governour and Law-giver to prescribe Laws and rules to his Church how he will be worshipped he will have no fellows nor partners joyned with him in that work and Christian Magistrates have power and authority given them by Christ to command their Subjects and all under them to observe the rules and institutions of Christ and that they turn not aside to the right hand or to the left for Christ saith in vain do they worship him that worship him according to the Commandements of Men. But perhaps some men may think that men may prescribe rules for the outward form and duties of Gods worship by the example of David in 1 Chron. who ordered the courses of the Priests and Levites c. How they should serve in the temple when Solomon had built it and gave the pattern thereof unto Solomon But with submission to better judgements I think David did not that as he was a King only but as he was a Prophet and received the pattern thereof form God by his spirit for so he saith 1 Chron. 28.12 He gave to Solomon the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit and in verse 19. All this said David the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me even all the works of this pattern Some men think it a matter of nothing to frame a form of worship of their own devising and think that God will be satisfied and well pleased therewith whereas God will accept of no worship neither for matter nor manner but what he hath instituted as you may see in Levit. 10.1 Nadab and Abihu they thought it no great matter to take common fire instead of fire from the alter to offer incense with unto the Lord and yet for this very thing in not observing Gods appointment in the manner of their burning of incense there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them that they dyed verse 2. For God will be sanctified saith Moses in them that come nigh unto him ver 3. This may teach all generations to the end of the world how jealous God is in every part of his worship

Prelates in the 23 question and 7. If we possess any thing privately but that which doth suffice us it is not ours but the goods of the Poor whose stewards we are except we challenge to our selves a property by some damnable usurpation the gl●ss upon that part of the question saith that Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof ●mbrose And St. Ambrose upon Luke 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship c. hereby saith he We learn that Prelates are not Lords but Steward or Bailliffs of others mens substance ●ierom And St. Hierom in an Epistle quest 16. and 2. chap. Quisquid saith whatsoever the Clergy hath it is the goods of the Poor and writing unto Nepolianus he saith how can they be of the Clergy who are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance for to take away from a Friend it is theft but to deceive the Church and take away that which should be given to the Poor it is sacralidge ●arnard And St. Barnard upon these words Simon Peter said unto Jesus c. Truly said he the goods of the Church are the patrimony of the Poor whatsoever thing the Ministers Stewards thereof not Lords or Possessors thereof do take unto themselves more then sufficient for a competent living the same is taken away from the Poor by a sacralidgious cruelty ●usebeus Eusebeus in his Treatise upon the pilgrimage of St. Hierom saith If thou dost possessed garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the needy thou art a Thief and a Robber wherefore dearly beloved Children let us be Stewards of temporallities and not possessors thereof And Isidor in his Treatise de summo bono ch 24. Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the people and not Lords over them a● also in the 5. book o● Decrae●als extra ●e donationibus sub atho●itate Alixandrii Tartii Episcopi Paritienses he saith We believe that it is no● unknown unto your Brotherhood that a Bishop and every other Prelate is bu● Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof both Lands and Tythes saith he are pure Alms which after the necessity of the Clergy is satisfied no● according to their pride and covetousness but in comely ●cent manner ofte● the example of Christ and his Apostles the rest b●longe●●o the Poor and thos● that withhold it from them they are Thieves Robbers 〈◊〉 Sacralidgious persons saith he William Wroughton Thus it is manifest by what is already said besides what is said here after that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporall by taking the temporallities c. from the Prelates and disposing of them for the use an● benefit of the true Church the believing m mbers of Christ and the poor and the benefit and safety of the Kingdom the uses for which they wer● first given they will in so doing be so far from committing sacraledge that they will do a work pleasing and acceptable both to God and all good men to their everlasting honour by putting a stop to the pride wanto● and luxurious riotous lives of some which is occasioned by the uperfluity of worldly wealth and riches which they wrongfully possess and detain from the right owners thereof having forsaken the right way and followed the way of Baalim who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 By with holding good from them to whom it is due Pro. 3.27 and as William Wroughton writ to King Henry the eight so long as ye maintain Antich●ist the Popes Knights that is Bishops in such inordinate riches you shall never saith he banish that monstrous beas● the Pope out of England When we say that such and such Lands were given to the Church w● cannot imagine that they were given to such a building of lime and stone and timber nor to such a parish and so to him that should usurp authority of Rule and Government there from age to age whether he be good o● bad holy or prophane for such are not to be accounted the Church no● so much as particular members of the true Church which is the m●st●ca● body of Christ except they believe and all that do believe truly withou● hypocrisie rich and poor they are interested in the Church Lands and Goods all the poor in general are objects of Charity to do good unto all but especially to such as are of the huoshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 In the time of the Law when Tythes was paid by a divine institution unto the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and Temple because ●hey had no inheritance of temporal Land among their Brethren yet even ●hen the strangers fatherless and widdows had an interest in the Tythes ●s you may see in Deut. 14.28 29. and Chap. 26.12 13 and since that service ceased for which tythes were paid there is no new institution in ●he Gospel for the payment of tythes and yet our Prelates and Priests as ●hey will be called will have both temporal Lands and tythes and keep ●ll to themselves neither widdows nor fatherless have any thing and ●herefore it can be no sacralidge but a work of Charity for Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal to take the temporallities from them for ●he benefit of the Kingdom and tythes also or at least to cause them to ●llow some part thereof unto the poor The with holding of tythes c. From such to whom they are due as to ●he beleiving Church the poor the Fatherless and widdows God calls ●t a Robbing of him in tythes and offerings Mal. 3.8 9. For Christ saith ●hatsoever good or evil is done to one of the least of those little ones that be●ieve on him it is taken as done to himself Mat. 25.40 and 45. yea even ●hose of the Clergy who are not true believers they have no right nor ti●le from God to the Church goods and God will charge them as having ●he spoil of the poor in their Houses Isaiah 3.14 Suppose the Prelates should plead for themselves that temporallities ●nd tythes have been setled upon them by many Acts of Parliament to ●hat it may be answered that no Act of Parliament on Earth can make ●oid the Law of God inacted in Heaven viz. That when tythes were ●aid by a divine institution yet the Stranger Fatherless and Widdows ●ad by divine appointment a right and interest in them how then dare ●y now receive tythes not by divine but by humain institution and yet ●ye no part thereof unto the poor the Stranger Fatherless nor Widdow ●e may rationably imagine that it was because of the hardness of the ●arts of Prelates and Priests in keeping that to themselves which belong●d to the poor which caused that Noble King Carrolous Magnus to have it ●ecreed in a counsel that in wealthy places two parts of the Church ●ods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and 〈◊〉 poorer places that there should be an

living wickedly ought to be reproved by the Laity by taking away their Tythes and other Temporal Profits from them and give them to others c. Mr. Tindal Mr. Tindall in his Book of Obedience of a Christian page 114 115. saith That the Sword is put into the Kings hand to execute vengeance upon all evil dooers But now saith he the Bishops minister the Temporal Sword and the Office of Preaching they lay aside and will neither preach themselves nor suffer others that would to preach but slay them with the temporal sword and as none saith he can preach Christ except they preach against Antichrist and as none can heal a disease unless he begin at the root so canst thou not preach against any mischief except thou begin at the Bishops And in page 124. he saith Those that are sworn to be true to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops it is as if they should swear to be false to Christ to the King and to the Realm for such Prelates that will revenge themselves of men for speaking the truth and for every trifle they are not fit to preach the patience of Christ Henry Stalbridge To the same purpose writeth Henry Stalbridge in his Exhortative Epistle to his dear Countreymen of England he saith that what blood hath been shed between Emperor and Emperor Kingdom and Kingdom Constantinople Almain England France Italy and Spain who seeth not that the pride of bloody Bishops is the ground and original foundation of all Controversies Schismes Variances and Wars between Realm and Realm see the fift and sixth part of the Homily of Whitsunday And to confirm the truth of this consider whether the carriage and practice of Prelates and their Doctrines such as Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester who in one Sermon at White-Hall before his Majesty delivered five points of flat Popery and did follow many Popish practises And at another time in the year 1636. he said that the Church of Rome and our Church are both as one for we said he and he said not much amiss have both the same Hierarchy and Government the same Liturgie Holy-dayes Fasts Ceremonies Sacraments c. so as those who affirm that Papists are damned do but through the sides of the Church of Rome give a deadly blow to the Church of England and deny that we are saved with more the like And also Bishop Laud's silencing and suspending of Ministers and sending a new book of Common Prayer differing from ours into Scotland consider whether these and the like were not the cause of our late unhappy Warrs in England Bernard Bernard as touching Bishops having Conusance in their Courts of Tythes c. writes thus For Tythes Testaments Administrations Servitude Legitimations and such like saith he to Pope Eugenius you went beyond your bounds when you restrained them to your Courts and without Caesar made Laws for things that did belong to Caesar for the Goods Lands Livings Estates of Lay-men and Clerks also are Caesars Charge and not yours nor the Prelates My Kingdom saith Christ is not of this world If then the Pope Prelates and Priests will be the servants of Christ saith Ambrose they must not challenge any worldly Kingdom Ambrose the servant is not above his Master and if the Master deny it the servant may not affirm it and usurp it Souldiers of Christ must not entangle themselves with the affairs of this world much less to make themselves Lords and Judges of earthly matters William Ocham William Ocham a famous Schoolman writ a book about the year 1330. which was printed in London in which he saith that Clergie men are liable to pay tribute unto Princes and that Princes may take away their Lands and Possessions when they abuse them to Luxury Pomp and other private uses and they may imploy them for the defence and peace of the Realm And after he adds That all the Revenue of Clergie men but that which is sufficient to provide them Food and Rayment with which they ought to be content as Paul saith 1 Tim. 6.8 Having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content and the rest ought to be spent in pious uses and in feeding the poor which if they be not employed in this sort Kings ought to take care of them to set some to see it done William Prynne In the second part of Mr. William Prynne's book of the Antipathy of the English Lord Prelates both the Regal Monarchy and Civil Unity page 311 he saith that the endowing of the Prelates with great temporel Revenues was the very bane and poyson of Religion and one principal cause of Bishops Rebellions Treasons and Exorbitances he had fore-mentioned and therefore they may both with good Conscience and reason be subtracted from them and put to better uses and they like other Ministers be confined to one competent living with Cure there constantly to reside and instruct the People like Bishops in the Primitive Church for so long as our Lordly Prelates continue there will not only be a possibility but a probability of bringing in Popery and the Pope again amongst us since their Lordly Hierarchy is supported by Popish Doctrine Canons Ceremonies Liturgie Godfry Goodman Holy dayes c. as Godfry Goodman Bishop of Glocester said a little above which they are ingaged to maintain to preserve their tottering Thrones from ruine John Salisbury John Salisbury our Country man flourished about the year of Christ 1140. de nugis Curialium lib. 8. cap. 17 23. writ thus of the pride and sedition of the Bishops Thou maist admire to see the various Houshold stuff and Riches as they say of Craesus amonst them that preach poor Christ they live of the Gospel without preaching the Gospel and it is well if they live only so as they do not also riot they so gape after gain that they contem the things of Jesus Christ and are neither worthy the honour nor name either of Pastor or Hireling they do that which makes them to be feared of all and to be beloved of none they preach Peace yet make Division they make a shew and counterfeit Humility that they may challenge Pride in fulness they dispute of Fasting and what they build up with words they pull down with deeds the works they do bear witness of them you may know them by their Fruits they do not only contend but fight for a Bishoprick the Antients were dragged against their wills to a Bishoprick but went willingly to Martyrdome they feared the chief Chains worse then a Prison or Cross Ex Catal. Illyr There is a Story that about the year 1228. at Paris in a Synode or Convocation of the Clergie one that was appointed to preach was much troubled in his minde what to say the Devil came unto him and asked him why he was so careful what to Preach say thus quoth the Devil the Princes of Hell salute you O ye Princes of the Church and gladly give you thanks because that through your

Apostles which yet I would deny him yet it followeth not saith he that with this primacy he had also a Kingdom given him and though the Lord bid him confirm his Brethren yet was he not bid to exercise an Empire over his Brethren for so they should not be his Brethren but his Subjects Richard Feurus Richard Feurus a Martyr about the year 1554. in the Province of Dolphine in his disputing against his Adversaries he affirmed That the word of God ought to be our Rule and that nothing is left to Doctors or Councils to be devised without the word of God and that all things necessary either for government of the Church off or the Salvation of man are expressed and prescribed in the word of God for Paul saith That he durst not utter any thing but what the Lord had wrought in him and shewed unto him Rom. 15.18 John willeth us to receive no man unless he bring the same Doctrine that we have received from Christ and his Apostles Let him be accursed Christs Sheep hear his voice and know his voice but they know not the voice of a Stranger and all manner of worship and service that is not prescribed in the word of God is the voice of Strangers Hence it will follow that such Strangers that both command and practice such Ceremonial service of God as is not prescribed in the Word of God in the New Testament Kings and Princes c. may lawfully take away their Temporalities and Tythes and dispose of them to better uses as hath been said above Richard Lovingham in the reign of King Hen. 4. gathered out of a Book of John Purvey that the Temporalities of the Clergie in England at that time in the hands of such as did no duty for it belonging their office to do besides other Temporalities he said That the King Lords and Commons might without any other Charge but these Temporalities maintain fifteen Garrisons with fifteen thousand Souldiers having sufficient Lands and Revenues to live upon and also maintain fifteen thousand Priests and Clerks and fifteen Colledges more and an hundred Hospitals and every house an hundred Marks a year and bring in besides above twenty thousand Pounds a year into the Kings Coffers He said also that the Kings and Lords ought to banish the Pope and his Factors out of their Lands and all Bishops and their Factors that say it appertaineth not to Kings and secular Lords but to them and their Officials to punish Adultery and Fornication they do fall into manifest Treason against the King and Heresie against the Scripture and that it doth appertain to the King to have the ordering of Priests and Bishops as Solomon and Jehosaphat and others had saith Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments pag 502. Now if the temporalities at that time would have done so much in England what will the temporalities and tythes of three Kingdoms do now that Lands are at so high a rate to what they then were Augustin Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first about the year 867 said that good correction proceeding from the lesser to the greater is not to be refused nor disdained when he that is corrected is found to strive against the truth to please men and he mentions Augustin writing to Boniface that the disputations of all men be they never so Catholick or approved persons yet ought not to be received instead of Canonical Scripture Gregory so that we may saith he disprove or refuse any thing that is in their writings contrary to truth to which he adds a saying of St. Gregory What shall become of the Sheep when the Pastors themselves become Wolves Panarmetanus Mr. Rogers in his Answer to the Bishop of Winchester said that all the Laws of men might not nor could not rule the word of God but that all things should be discussed and judged thereby and obedience given thereunto and that no Christian mans Conscience could be satisfied without Laws that agree not with Gods word and he quotes Panarmetanus which said That unto a simple lay man that brings the word of God with him there ought more credit to be given than to a whole Council and to what they concluded without or beside the word of God Walter Mill. Walter Mill a Martyr in Scotland said that these which we call Bishops do not the work of Bishops nor the Office of Bishops as Paul biddeth Timothy but live after their own sensuality and pleasure and take no care of the Flock nor yet regard the word of God to do thereafter but desire to be called Lords c. And Luther saith that neither Pope nor Prelate can make Articles of Faith nor Laws of good works and manners and that we may withstand their doings and Judg upon their Decrees by the word of God though their Decrees be approved by a General Council Doctor Molius Doctor Johannes Molius sometime a gray Fryer disputed three days together at Rome against Bishops and Cardinals by Pope Paul the third his appointment of Original Sin of Justification by Faith and of Free-will and Purgatory and they all not being able to refell his Arguments at last they answered him That what he affirmed was truth nevertheless it was not meet for that present time for that it could not be taught nor published without detriment to the Apostolick See wherefore he should refrain from preaching the Epistles of St. Paul and return to Bononie and there profess Philosophy By this it appears That Popes and Prelates Act against their Conscience and will not suffer the truth to take place least they should lose their honor and wealth for here they confess that what Doctor Molius said was truth but they might not suffer it at that time no nor never since to be taught their reason was it would be detriment to the Apostolick See but what detriment the truth received and the soul of men by hiding the truth from them these Prelates cared not for they silenced him from preaching the truth to profess Philosophy And thus Prelates in this age Silence Ministrs from preaching the truth lest they should come to dishonour thereby and lose their sweet Morsells for if all Christian Kings Princes and Nobles were rightly informed in the truths of the Gospel and of the unlawfulness of Popes Bishops and Prelates of their standing in the Church with their titles dignities and jurisdictions which Papists themselves have confessed is but from men and not from God why then should Kings and Princes by suffering them in such ways become guilty of their Sins but rather rouse up themselves and take from them that which is not theirs but by usurpation that is the temporalities and tithes which they unjustly possess as is shewed above Neither need they fear the Popes nor Bishops Excommunications for they have no more Authority from God to Excommunicate for such things than the poorest Shepherd or Swineherd hath that keeps Sheep or Swine upon

stretch forth their hands and authority beyond the rule further then God hath allowed them but Uzzah died for his presumption to have a zeal according to knowledge as the Apostle saith is to do all things in Gods matters prudently and circumspectly according to the rule of Christ and his Apostles institutions and not according to Mens traditions nor humane inventions of Cannons c. Whichcot I heard a Doctor I think his name was Whichcot preach in Black-fryers about seven years ago a conformable man and he said that if you would have men to conform you should first convince their consciences by plain Texts of Scripture of the lawfulness of those things which you would have them conform unto otherwise to force men to conformity and not convince them by plain Scripture Arguments of the lawfulness of what they conform unto he said it was to make men outwardly hypocrites and inwardly atheists now according to this by the neglect of duty in our Bishops and Prelates how many thousands if not hundred thousands hypocrites and atheists have our Prelates made in England within ten years by pressing ceremonies and observation of things which many hundred thousands do question whether they have any warrant in the word of God and in the 20. and 21. articles of the Church of England it is said that it is not lawful neither for the Church The 20. and 21. Articles nor for general Councels to ordain any thing contrary to the word of God written which word excludes all unwritten traditions and customes and that things so ordained have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they are taken out of holy Scripture and yet our Prelates will have such things observed without clearing them by Scripture or hearing what may be said against them by Scripture And further Volusianus said from Jer. 48.10 Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently that is saith he not to do the work of the Lord carefully and with a willing mind for whereas the Lord willeth us not to offer any thing to him against our wills so doth he forbid us to compel any man to offer any thing against our wills and he proves it Ex. 20.21 Thou shalt not vex nor oppress thy neighbour or a stranger now it is an oppression wrong to our neighbours to be corrected for his fault when it is done with disdain and upbraiding and not in compassion and mercy towards him to inform him in the spirit of meekness and not to destroy him in the spirit of bitterness and rigor much more is our neighbour oppressed when he is corrected for well doing for endeavouring to follow the Laws of Christ rather than the Laws of men thus Valusianus Norfolk ●nd Suf●●lk m ns ●●pplication And in a Supplication of Norfolk and Suffolk men to Queen Mary and her Commissioners they thus writ is not this the time say they among other times that Satan rides upon the red horse to take peace from the Earth for can man go into any place where the sons of wickedness are not ready to search out a mans deeds and mark his words and if he agree not with them in despising Gods word in swearing lying whoring and drinking c. Then will they spitefully and hatefully rail against him calling the truth of God error and heresie and the professors of it hereticks and Schismaticks with other odious and despiteful names as Traytors and not the Queens friends as if to love Gods word were heresie as though to talk of Christ and Religion were Shismatical as though none could be true to the Queen but such as are false to God as though none could be the Queens friends but such as despitefully rail against her Graces Father and Brother and the word of God as though none were truly Religious but such as blaspheme against the purity of Religion as though none favoured the Queen but such as hate all Godly knowledge wherefore we learn that true obedience to God the King of Kings and for him and in him and not against him to obey Princes and Magistrates who are not truly obeyed when God is disobeyed nor yet disobey'd when God is truly obey'd wherefore we pray that God may move your hearts to weigh these things and take the word of God unto your Councel and then you shall see how Gods commands and Bishops commands agree or rather disagree to which I shall add that by the word of God you may see clearly that neither Bishops nor Prelates c. ought to have either temporallities or tythes Christ hath said Rev. 11.3 That he will give power to his two witnesses to bear their testimony and witness against the Beast or Ante-christ therefore they that endeavour to suppress this witness bearing against Ante-christ are themselves Ante-christian and whether is not Christs Priestly office invaded by urging men to the observation of ceremonies and a form of worship which Christ hath not instituted but contrary to Christs institutions and so against mens consciences and his Kingly office invaded by exercising a Government over men that hath no ground nor warrant in the word of God but is of mans devising and yet punish men that would gladly observe the word of God for not observing the devices of men Daniel 6 and 7. What an odious thing is it said one to call out obedience to God by the name of disobedience to men as in Dan. 3.12 and Dan. 6 10. For his obedience to God in praying three times a day he was accused for disobedience to the King and thus it hath been with others for there is a generation of men who charge all with Schism that dare not subject their selves to the usurpation and arrogant impositions of the sons of pride that neither have authority nor ability from God to govern us who lay snares for mens Consciences and then accuse men for falling into those snares as the Pagans did against Daniel who make Laws for the Church unnecessary in their own opinions and sinful in other mens opinions and command things which they know others think the Lord forbids and then load men with reproaches of disobedient turbulent heretical schismatical persons for not yeilding to their imperious commands against their consciences to call men factious if they will not be of their faction against the Catholick unity and simplicity of the Gospel how easie and how common is it to call a meeting of sober Christians for prayer and mutual edification by the name of a factious and schismatical conventicle and a meeting of drunkards or gamesters or harlots by a far less disgraceful name if men will but turn their Religion into forms of words or beads or canonical hours and days outward shews and ceremonies which have no ground nor warrant in the Scripture few or none will let or reproach or persecute you for being too precise or strict for so doing for by such a Religion it is that Prelates have

If any provide not for their own he hath denyed the faith and is worse then an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 for their choosing of him to be their pastor makes him to be related to them as one of their house and as he layes out his time and strength and tallent for the good of the Church so the Church should joyntly make provision for him and his family for the things of this life that as he sowes unto them spiritual things so he ought to reap their carnal things and this is not a matter of liberty or courtesie which may be done or left undone but it is a duty a work of justice unto which the Church is called and bound in conscience to perform so that provision in this kind is wages and not benovolence so when Christ sent forth his Apostles he bids them not to be solicitous for relief for the workman is worthy of his wages Luke 10.7 The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 9. determines this by the verdict of all Laws look at the law of nature Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe c. Look at the Law of Nations who goeth a warfare a● his own charge look at the Law of God he hath ordained that those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel this is the way to make good and laborious Ministers for no preaching no wages and this wages ought to be so plentiful and comfortable col ected by the people and given to the minister that he may imploy his time his strength and study and attend upon the work of the Lord without destraction 1 Cor. 7.35 For if he should be straitned so as to be put to bestow his time and thought on the week dayes to provide Bread for his family how shall he be able to provide spiritual food for the Church upon the Lords day And such Ministers as can live by faith in a holy dependance upon Christs promise that in seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof that all other things shall be added Mat. 6.33 No doubt but God will both open the hearts and hands of the people to give bountifully unto such Ministers And indeed he that is a right Gospel Minister called of God to his Office his faith will bear him up against all difficulties and opposition whatsoever with the Prophet Habbakkuk who said although the Fig-tree should not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yeild no meat the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls yet saith he I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Hab. 3.17 18. Now as touching the order how this maintenance may be raised for the Ministers there is one text most pregnant and carries most conclusive evidence to direct and determine in this case Gala. 6.6 let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things that is of all good things that is communicable and may Lawfully be communicated A man may have one room to lodge in one servant to attend him one Coat to cover him so much provision as will only supply his own necessity and these cannot be made common But whatsoever good things we may make common if we have to serve our selves and to spare every man should communicate according to his place and portion that God hath bestowed upon him whether Mony Corn Cattle the Fruit of Orchards Gardens Wool Flax or Cloathing for him and his c. whatsoever may be either for necessity or comfort that God casts in occasionally which may be communicated they should give some part thereof towards the maintenance of their Ministers yet this is not to be levyed by compulsion but every man is to give as God shall inlarge their hearts and open their hands to so good a work for he that Soweth liberally shall Reap liberally and he that Soweth sparingly shall Reap sparingly he that giveth saith Paul let him do it with simplicity or liberally and he that sheweth mercy with chearfulness 1 Tim. 6.8 And our Saviour saith give and it shall be given unto you good measure c. Luk. 6.38 And as he said in another case freely ye have received freely give for whatsoever we have it is the gift of God charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy 1. Tim. 6.17 And if we use not well what he hath given us he can when he will take it from us unless he give it as a snare to try how men will use it This I conceive to be the Gospel rule for maintenance for Ministers that every one that is taught in the word ought to communicate to him that teacheth according to their abillity this may be further inlarged upon if there be occasion but there is another Gospel duty which is too much neglected and that is the ministring to the poor Saints which was so frequently and so liberally used in the Apostles days that Paul in 2 Cor. 9.1 said as touching the ministring to the Saints it was superfluous for him to write unto them for he knew the forwardness of their minds to that duty for he had in his former Epistle given them direction how this duty should be performed in 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Now concerning the Colection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Gallatia even so do ye upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that their be no gathering when I come The giving of alms is a duty well pleasing to God to do good and to distribute forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased And Solomon saith there is that scattereth and yet increaseth and there is that with holdeth more then is meet but it tendeth to poverty the liberall soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself Prov. 11.24 25. again he saith cast thy bread upon the waters thou shalt find it after many days by waters is meant peoples and multitudes as in Rev. 17.15 Give a potion to seven and also to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon earth Eccles 11.1 2. Some have thought that this Colection ought to be the tenth part of every mans profit but whether it be so or not this the Scriptures assure us off that he which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 6.6 as it is written he hath dispersed and given to the Poor his righteousness remaineth for ever Psal 112.9 FINIS