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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	adam_n	law_n	moral_a	4,944	5	10.5377	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79851	A second voyce from the temple to the higher povvers. Wherein is proved that the decrees and institutions of popes and popish counsels, which have been established by the law of the land, and have been continued and confirmed throughout divers ages, by several acts of Parliament, against Jesus Christ, in the way and order of the Gospel (the same yet standing) ought by the present supream authority of this nation to be taken away. Moreover; here is shewed, some particular decrees of popes, which have beeen established by several acts of Parliament, viz. A nationall ministry, tythes, prohibiting men from publick preaching of the Gospel, unlesse elected and ordained after a popish manner, &c. All which as they are the institutions of popes, formerly confirmed by the law of the land, so now, to be abrogated. By John Canne.	Canne, John, d. 1667?	1653 (1653)	Wing C442A; Thomason E710_19; ESTC R207195	25,656	36

set portion of mens goods nor to be taken from them by compulsion but to be free 2 Cor. 9.5 6 7. It is true the exhortation is Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth him in all good things Gal. 6.6 Againe They which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.14 But will it hence follow 1. That the Magistrate is to appoint what the Minister shall have 2. And so much every man shall be forc't to give 3. That he must allow him maintenance who teaches him not 4. Though his calling be unlawfull and doctrines unsound yet he must have tythes Master Shaw I heare in a Sermon lately drew some such Conclusions where bewailing the going down of tythes he had this passage Some saith he call us hyrelings if we be so yet we ought to have our wages Others say we are Beasts grant it yet the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn is not to be muzled beasts have provision allowed them Admirable its his own I dare say it lookes so like him Alter in alterius jactantes lumina vultus One looking as it were babies in anothers eyes But for Answer 1. Being hyrelings why seeke ye wages of those who set you not at worke nor doe any thing for them 2. What have I to doe to provide for that Beast which is neither my own nor workes for me 3. If any thing be allowed to such creatures it should be onely that which is meet and proper for hyrelings and beasts to have 3. To retein tythes is to keepe up and give honour to the Jewish shadowes which by Christs death were taken away It is no other then superstition and abomination a manifest tempting of God and by consequence a denying that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh Hence a Jew might well twit our Tyth-Takers in the words of the Samaritan woman How is that thou who professest thy selfe a Minister of the New Testament observest our Mosaicall Ceremonies and livest by Tythes as did the Priests under the Law I know what their usual answer is Tythes were paid before Moses time long before the Ceremoniall law was written for Abraham paid tythes to Melchisedek of all that he had Gen. 14.19 20. And Jacob vowed that if God would prosper his journey he would give unto God the tenth of all that he should give him Gen. 28.21 22. And it is probable by this fact of Abraham and vow of Jacob that tythes are due by the law of nature and the tenth of every thing was given unto God and so it is no part of the Ceremonial law there being no prescription or law written I cannot say of this Objection that is certo certius not liable to exception For 1. By the same reason we should take up Circumcision Oblations and Offerings distinction of clean and unclean both of Beasts and Fowles the observation of the seventh day Sabboath for these things were practiced before the Law was written But 2. Neither Abraham nor Jacob nor any other man nor Adam himselfe before his fall did or could know Gods will by any Law of nature or naturall knowledge as how he would be worshipped and served by the Creatures which he had made for mans use or with which of them or how much of them whether all or any one of them God would accept of at mans hand untill he had revealed his will to him for a command of his worship and service Gen. 2.16 17. 3.1 2 3. 3. We answer that the Ceremoniall Law of sacrifices oblations and offerings of first fruits and tythes and the distinction of clean and unclean Beasts and Fowles was revealed to Adam presently after the fall and to the Fathers before the Flood and God commanded so much of the Ceremoniall Law as might serve for the good of his Church and people at that time Gen. 3.21 4.4 5. 8.20.21 Hence it is plain that the Ceremoniall Law of first fruits and Tythes or the tenth part of mens goods was not known by any Law of Nature or Nation all knowledge to be due unto God no more then the distinction of clean and uncleane Beasts and Fowles was known unto men by any naturall knowledge to be offered unto God but as we said the Lord revealed it to the Fathers before the Flood and afterward established it under the Priesthood of Levi. And the Law of first Fruits and Tythes was to be abolished with the Priesthood of Levi under which they were established with other Ceremonies as may be collected from Heb. 7.12 But 4. suppose a man should grant Tythes are due by the Law of nature that is the tenth of every thing is to be given to God what is this to the parish Priest or nationall Ministrey Can there be nothing given to God but what the Priest must have now such must be the conclusion or nothing can be made of it 4. Though I shall not meddle with the great controversie about the Magistrates power in Ecclesiasticall things and how far he is Keeper of both Tables yet this certainly may be Asserted viz. that no Parliament by any Act or statute is to command any thing contrary to the Lawes of God either of the first or second Table As the Magistrate is not to make any Law neither if made to let it stand which should require men to steale murther commit adultery sins forbidden in the second Table so neither must he command the practice of Idolatry superstition wil-worship c. by any Law either new or old against the first Table Now for payment of Tythes it is a sin two ways against the 2d Commandement 1. In it self as being Jewish and superstitious 2. As paid to an unlawful and Antichristian Ministry That the maintenance of Ministers by Tythes is superstitious and forbidden in the second Commandement we prove it thus 1. From the nature of superstition which is as a lib. 1. vit excul oppos Col. 501.502 Zanchy describes it a taking into the worship of God more then he requires in his worship Hence superstition as some derive the word is that which is done supra statutum and in this respect the paying of Tythes is superstitious as being a serving of God upon no other ground but mans invention 2. According to the b Aquin. 2.20 Q. 92. Art 1. Schoolmen that is superstition when any thing concerning Religion is given Vel cui non debet vel non eo modo quo debet either to the person it should not be or not in the way or manner as it ought and this is held a sound truth by all Orthodox writers which is the case here 3. It is a great superstition to approve countenance or give honour to any of the wayes or devices of Antichrist They that are sincere Christians saith c In Censura cap. 9. fol. 471. Bucer cannot abide any thing that is his The least shew said d synop Antichrist

Vigandus to please him or his followers is will-worship Of this judgement were e in Hos 2.16 Junius f Loc. com de trad p. 421 422. Musculus g Tract theol vol. 3. p. 210. Beza h in Psa 16. Mollerus i de Polit. p. 72. Sipperus k Contr. Mon. pag. 70. Sadeel and others Now men approve countenance and give honour to the wayes of Antichrist by paying Tythes to Priests we have shewed before 4. It is vitious and superstitious to simbolize with Idolatery By the l Deut. 12.30 Lev. 18.3 Exod. 23.24 Gen. 25.2 3. Deut. 14.1 Lev. 19.17.27.28 Isa 27.9 Scriptures we are forbidden all conformity with them in any of their way order custome traditions manner of worship or religious observations And the Saints in all ages have carefully shun'd it as might be shewed by several examples It was the m Herodot in Thalco Becan in Anolog vetet nov test c. 5. custome of the Arabians and other Heathens in imitation of Dionysius that is Bacchus to round the corners of their head now this the Israelites n Lev. 19.27 might not doe though a thing indifferent as o Calv. in Levit. 19.17 Calvin observes because God would not have them to be like Idolaters 5. Superstition is committed when more estimation is had of a thing more dignity and excellency placed in it and more regard had to it then God alloweth or can stand with his will revealed in his word and so much p lib. 1. de vit ext cult oppos col 504 505. Zanchy proves by sundry instances And in this regard also paying of Tythes is superstitious because that thing is honoured and embraced which we find not in the New Testament to be lawful and thus an idol is set up Tanquam deus ex parte though not deus simpliciter 6. This may be further proved by the testimony of learned men For to have any thing common with Idolaters or to serve God after any way of theirs or to take up and make use of any of their rites orders customes observations institutions they hold it utterly unlawfull Thus have the q Tertul. de coron mil. Greg. l. 1. epist 44. ad Leon. Theod. l. 1. c. 10. August ep 86. ad Casul old Fathers affirmed so our later writers r Pareus in 1 Cor. 10.14 Bucer in Mat. 18. f. 143. Beza Tract theol vol. 3. p. 210. Calvinists ſ Cen. 4. c. 13. col 406. Chemnit exam theol Melane par 2. p. 491. Luthervns t B. Jewel upon 1 Thess 5. p. 219. Sutclief chal p. 62. Formall Protestants u Perth Assemb p. 55 56. Altar Damosc p. 539. Reformists x Bellar. de monac c. 40. de ester● sac l. 2. c. 31. sect 10. Rhem. Annot. on 1 Cor. 6.14 and 1 Tim. 6. sect 4. and in Rev. 1.1 Papists yea many y See Mr Ainsworth on Levit. 19.27 Jew Doctors and some a Taledo can 5.40 Laodec c. 38. Brac. can 32. and 73. Councels have thus concluded and the b Deor. pa. 2. caus 26. quaest 27. c. 13. c. 14. Cannon Law speaks so too Thus much for the first particular that Tythes ought not to be paid as being in it selfe superstitious The next is not to be paid to an unlawfull and Antichristian Ministry as is this nationall ministery essentially derived from the Sea of Rome Our Reasons are 1. Because this is little better then to rebel against Christ and to seek what in us lies to uphold that thing which the Lord will cast downe and utterly destroy 2. It manifesteth the great want of that zeale and love of God which all Christians should have specially here the Higher powers as to disown and abrogate all Decrees of Popes and Popish Counsels which have been confirmed by idolatrous Princes for the payment of Tythes to an unlawfull Clergy 3. To pay Tythes to this Nationall Ministry is to serve Antichrist according to that saying His servants yee are whom yee doe obey 4. To doe this it is to condemn the Generation of the righteous who have suffered under Popery and Prelacy for refusing to pay Tythes to the ministers of Antichrist and to destroy what the others built 5. So long as Tythes are payable by Law to this ministry it grieves the hearts of the righteous and gives just cause of offence to the Churches of the Saints Now wo unto that man by whom the offence cometh 6. The continuance of Tythes will be an occasion to harden the Nationall ministry in their error and sin as to think their unsanctified places are lawfull and good because the Law allowes them maintenance And indeed they have little else to say for themselves their calling being so contrary to the order and way of the Gospel 7. This paying of Tythes strengthens every where the ignorant people in their superstition and blindnesse and is a means to hinder them from the light and knowledge of a Gospel-minister For how can they otherwise but believe that their Parish Priest is sent of God and Tythes due to him so long as by the Law of the Land his ministry is onely owned and justified And he shall say Cast yee up cast yee up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people Isaiah 57.14 Before I end this point I shall answer two Objections and I know no more of weight which are usually brought against the taking away of Tythes 1. That it is injurious 2. Irreligious First Injurious to alter or abolish them seeing the Law of the land hath vested and setled them in persons Ecclesiasticall and so are their right and possession We might send these pleaders for Tythes to what hath been said before as a full and sufficient Answer to this Objection Notwithstanding we shall further add 1. This is no more then what the Bishops Deans Prebends c. and before them Monks and Fryers might have said and upon as faire pretence ground and reason so that in taking away their Tythes if no injury was done them then none here the case being clearly one and the same 2. Acts of Parliament are Acts of men not Oracles from Heaven A Parliament as well as a Councel may be led by wrong principles and so err and make Lawes and Acts that are unjust We doe not think though Tythe-takers would be glad if it might be so that Acts of Parliaments are like the Lawes of the Medes and Persians that never alter But the same power that made such an Act can repeal it againe yea and is bound so to doe if it stand not with the rule of justice and equity contained in the morall Law of God and nature or sound natural reason And this is the case here viz. that those Acts and grants confirming Tythes to Priests were not agreeable to the moral Law of God nor to the Law of nature or sound naturall reason not according to the