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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
order_n	aaron_n	high_a	priest_n	2,193	5	7.5142	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91192	A Gospel plea (interwoven with a rational and legal) for the lawfulnes & continuance of the ancient setled maintenance and tenthes of the ministers of the Gospel: proving, that there is a just, competent, comfortable maintenance due to all lawfull painfull preachers and ministers of the Gospel, by divine right, institution, and expresse texts and precepts of the Gospel: that glebes and tithes are such a maintenance, & due to ministers by divine right, law and Gospel: that if subtracted or detained, they may lawfully be inforced by coercive laws and penalties: that tithes are no reall burden nor grievance to the people; the abolishing them, no ease or benefit to farmers, husband-men, or poor people, but a prejudice and losse. That the present opposition against tithes, proceeds not from any reall grounds of conscience, but base covetousnesse, carnall policy, &c. and a Jesuiticall and Anabaptisticall designe, to subvert and ruin our ministers, Church, religion. With a satisfactory answer to all cavils and materiall objections to the contrary. By William Prynne of Swainswick, Esq;	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1653 (1653)	Wing P3971; Thomason E713_12; ESTC R203238; ESTC R26600	128,273	175

faithfull Abraham as well as he and his Sonnes after the flesh to the Leviticall or Aaronicall Priest-hood whiles in being and that in the right of Christ they being Ambassadors representing his person beseeching men in Christs stead to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. 21. Forgiving men in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2. 10. and in whose persons Christ himselfe still speaks unto men 2 Cor. 13. 3. Whence Christ himselfe averres Verily verily I say unto you he that receiveth whosoever I send receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me He that heareth you heareth me ●and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Matth. 10. 40. Luke 10. 16. Joh. 13. 20. That what ever is given or paid to them for their Ministry is given and paid to himselfe Matth. 10. 42. 25. 35 to 41. and is a Sacrifice aeceptable and well-pleasing unto God Philip. 4. 18. 5. That Abraham gave Tithes to Melchisedec for the execution of his Priestly office and that not in offring any carnall or Leviticall Sacrifices to God for him upon an Altar but only for blessing him and rendring thankes and blessing to the most high God for his victory which being one chief part of the Ministers of the Gospels duty still continuing even to blesse the people and to praise and blesse God for them and their successes in spirituall and temporall things Rom. 1. 7 8 9. 10. 24. 1 Cor. 1. 3 4 5. 16. 23. 2. Cor. 1. 1 2. 3. 9. 10 11. 13. 14. Gal. 1. 2. 6. 18. Ephes 1 1 2 3 16 17 18. 3. 14 to the end 6. 23 24. Phil. 1. 2 3 4. 4. 20 23. Col. 1. 2 3 9. to 14. 4. 18. 1 Thess 1. 1 2 3. 2. 13. 5. 23. 28. 2 Thess 1. 2 3 11 12. 2. 13 16 17. 3. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. Heb. 13. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 2 3 4. 5. 14. 2 Pet. 1. 2. Revel 5. 12 13. as likewise to blesse the Sacramentall bread and wine for their use 1 Cor. 10. 16. Mat. 26. 26. typifyed as most hold by the bread and wine Melchisedec brought forth to Abraham is a convincing Argument to me that Tithes are no way Leviticall or Jewish in their primitive institution or intrinsecall nature but rather Evangelicall and are as justly due and payable by all beleeving sons and children of faithfull Abraham to the Ministers of the Gospell for blessing them and praying blessing and praysing God for them and other Ministeriall duties as they were by Abraham to Melchisedec for performing the self-same Priestly duties towards him 6. That the scope of the Apostle in the Hebrews being to prove the Honour Dignity and Excellency of the order of Melchisedecs and by consequence of our Saviours Priesthood above Aarons useth this as one demonstration thereof 1. That he received Tithes of the Patriarch Abraham himselfe Heb. 7. 2 4 to 11. whereas the Leviticall Priests received Tithes only of their Brethren that came out of the loynes of Abraham 2. That even Levi himselfe who received Tithes of his Brethren paid Tithes in Abraham being then in his Fathers loynes to Melchisedec as his superiour even as the Levites under the Law paid the tenth of their Tithes to the Priests as their superiours Numb 18. 26 27 28. And this payment of Tithes to Melchisedec he recites in the Gospell no lesse then five severall times one after another insisting longer on it then on any other Argument to prove the preeminency of Melchisedecs Priest-hood above Aarons Whence it undeniably followes 1. That Tithes are not originally Jewish and Leviticall 2. That the receiving of Tithes by faithfull Ministers now is no disparagement but an honour to their Ministry and function as well as to Melchisedecs heretofore 3. That Ministers receiving Tithes now doth no more prove their Ministry to be Judaicall or Leviticall then it did Melchisedecs Priest-hood put in contradistinction to it and exalted above it by the Apostle even by the very receiving of Tithes from Abraham Therefore those Jesuited and Anabaptisticall furies against Tithes who raile against our Ministers and their Ministry as Jewish and Aaronicall because they receive Tithes and urge this as a disparagement to their Persons and Ministry rejecting Tith-receiving Ministers as Antichristian and unlawfull doe herein argue point-blank against the Apostle and thereby conclude Melchisedecs and by consequence our Saviours Priest-hood after the order of Melchisedec to be Jewish Antichristian dishonourable and unlawfull because Melchisedec received Tithes which to do is the highest blasphemy 7. That the Apostle informes us that God had never but two orders of Priests in the world The first after the order of Melchisedec in Abrahams dayes discontinued under the Law for a time but revived again in our Saviour Christ and continuing now for ever in him compared here to Melchisedec especially in his Nature the seat of his Kingdome the perpetuity of his life his Sacerdotall blessing and IN THE RIGHT OF TITHES as Hemingus on the place observes The second after the order of Levi and Aaron abolished and changed by Christ and that Tithes were paid and belonged of right to both these orders of Priests for the exercise of their function by Gods own approbation and appointment as a just fitting righteous maintenance and reward which since they cannot now be paid to Christ himselfe in person being ascended into heaven and there sitting at Gods right hand a great high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec there is great Justice and Reason they should be still paid to and be received by his Ministers whom we have alwayes with us as well as the poore who are Vicegerents and Stewards with whom he hath promised to be alwayes present to the end of the World Mat. 28. 20. and that as the properest justest best and fitting maintenance of all other appointed prescribed by God and paid by Abraham and all the faithfull before under the Law and is recited justifyed allowed and no wayes condemned or ab●ogated by the Apostle and Gods Spirit under the Gospell And therefore those who inconsiderately revile and declaime against Tithes as heavy Yoakes Jewish Burdens an unequall unrighteous wrangling troublesome maintenance c. do herein blasphemously traduce and censure the very wisdome justice discretion not only of Abraham and all the faithfull servants of God approving and paying Tithes in former ages but of God himself who prescribed them and of the Apostle pleading for them as appertaining to both these orders of Gods Priests for their maintenance 8. Here is one notable observation for all the Officers and Souldiers of the Army seriously to consider and O that God would fix it effectually on their Spirits That Abraham the Father of the faithfull as the Gospell styles him Rom. 4. 16. returning victoriously from the first Warres we read of in the world gave THE TENTH

world Gen. 2. 2 3 4 5. That Cain being a tiller of the ground brought of the fruites of the ground an offering to God and that Abel being a feeder of sheep he also brought of the firstlings of his flocke and the fat thereof for an Offering unto the Lord. And as most conceive their father Adam did before them by whose precept and example they did it And after them we read that Noah built an Altar unto the Lord and tooke of every clean beast and of every clean fowl and offered burnt-offerings on the Altar when he went out of the Arke Gen. 8. 20. which he and his ancesters from the Creation in all probality usually practised though not specially recorded by Moses no more then many other memorable accidents and actions for brevity sake Now these clean Beasts and Fowles which he sacrificed entring into the Arke by sevens that is seven of every sort Gen. 7. 2 3. he offered one of each kinde at least and so one of seven unto God who consecrated and reserved one day of seven from the Creation to himselfe What proportion of their goods Abraham Isaac and Jacob offered on their erected altars in sacrifice to God is not expressed though probably it was such as God afterwards prescribed the Israelites their posterity not long after by his written law in Moses time augmented upon any extraordinary emergent occasion though never diminished from its usuall rate And for the Priests encouragement directed by the very dictate of Nature and Reason in forming them That every Labourer was worthy of some competent hire as Christ resolves Mat. 10. 10. Luke 10. 17. they pitched upon the tenth of their encrease and gaines of every kinde as a competent and fitting allowance guided therein by divine inspiration as is most probable if not infallible it being the self-same proportion God himself afterwards prescribed and ratifyed by his own written law in the old Testament and approved in the new as I shall manifest by these ensuing Scriptures 1. That Tithes were paid and vowed to God by the religious Patriarchs before the Aaronicall Priest-hood instituted or Leviticall law given is undeniable by two Scripture instances the first of them is thus recorded Gen. 14. 17 18 19 20. That Abraham returning victoriously from the slaughter of Chederlaomer and the Kings that were with him Melchisedec King of Salem met him and brought forth bread and wine and he was THE PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD and he blessed him and said Blessed be Abraham of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be the most high God which hath delivered thy Enemies into thy hand AND HE GAVE HIM TENTHES OF ALL. This History is thus recited and amplifyed in the new Testament Heb. 6. 20. 7. 1 c. Jesus made an higb Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec King of Salem PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him TO WHOM ABRAHAM GAVE A TENTH PART OF ALL first being by interpretation King of righteousnesse and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace 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 Now consider how great this man was unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham GAVE THE TENTH OF THE SPOYLES And VERILY they that are of the Sonnes of Levi who receive the office of the Priest-hood HAVE A COMMANDEMENT TO TAKE TITHES OF THE PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW that is of their brethren though they come out of the loynes of Abraham But he whose descent is not counted from them RECEIVED TITHES OF ABRAHAM and blessed him that had the Promises And without all contradition the lesse is blessed of the letter And here MEN THAT DIE RECEIVE TITHES but there he RECEIVED THEM of whom it is witnessed that he liveth And as I may so say Levi also WHO RECEIVETH TITHES PAID TITHES IN ABRAHAM For he was yet in the loynes of his Father when Melchisedec met him If therefore perfection were by the Leviticall Priest-hood for under it the people received the Law what further need was there that another Priest-hood should rise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron For the Priest-hood being changed there is of necessity a change also of Law c. I shall draw my Observations and Arguments concerning Tithes from both these Scriptures recited and then answer the maine if not sole Scripture objected against Tithes drawne from the close of the Apostles words 1. It is undeniable from these Texts that Abraham the Father of the faithfull is the first person we read of who gave and paid Tithes recorded both in the old Testament and new for his greater honour and the imitation of all the faithfull 2. That he gave and paid Tithes to Melchisedec the first Priest of the most high God mentioned in sacred writ Who this Melchisedec should be there is great controversie among the Learned some affirming him to be Sem others a Canaanitish King and Priest of that Name and Dr. Griffith Williams very probably and strongly arguing him to be Christ himselfe then appearing to Abraham in his humane shape I shall not decide the Controversie certaine it is he was either Christ himselfe or rather a reall Type of Christs and his eternall Priest-hood as the Apostle oft resolves 3. That he was a Priest of a far ancienter better and more excellent order then the Leviticall Priest-hood and that this payment of Tithes was long before the Law given by Moses for payment of Tithes to the Leviticall Priests and before their order instituted Therefoore Tithes ar● not meerly nor originally in their nature Jewish or Leviticall as some rashly now averre nor eternally abolished as such by Christs incarnation and Priest-hood they being originally paid and given not the Leviticall Priests but to M●lchisedec who was either Christ himsel●e or a Type of him and his Priest-hood not of Aarons 4. That this Melchisedec as he had neither beginning of dayes so he had no end of life but was made like the Son of God and abideth a Priest CONTINUALLY in respect of the truth he typifyed as Christ himselfe doth of whom he was a Type who hath an endlesse life and because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood and is by the very oath of God MADE A PRIEST FOR EVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC Heb. 6. 20. 7. 3 8 13 15 16 17 21 24 25. Psal 110. 4. Therefore Tithes being first paid to such an everliving everlasting unchangeable Priest and Priest-hood for the execution thereof may and ought to continue and abide for ever as long as the Priest and Priest-hood do and if so then Tithes are still due and payabIe to the Ministers of Christ under the Gospell by all the Spirituall seed of

at the Altar and first fruits and Tithes themselves so far as they were Ceremonial prescribed by the Ceremonial law for the maintenance only of these abolished Levitical Priests and Levites which is all this Scripture proves when pressed to the uttermost But can any rational man hence conclude The Levitical Priesthood the Ceremonial law and all the tithes and maintenance due to the Jewish Priests and Levites by this Law are abolished by Christ a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck to whom Tithes were due and paid by Abraham before this law and Priesthood instituted Therefore all Tithes and maintenance due and paid to Melchisedeck and in him to Christ and the Ministers of the Gospel under him are eternally abolished as Jewish and Levitical Surely this is a mad inference both besides and against this Text from which all Orthodox Protestant Commentators as well as Papists and Jesuites conclude the quite contrary and learned Nicholas Hemingius in his Commentary on it p. 805. thus determines It is subjoyned that Melchisedeck received Tithes from Abraham which tithes Abraham verily gave of his own accord following without doubt THE CVSTOME OF CONQVERORS Let our Conquering Officers and Souldiers observe and do the like WHO WERE WONT TO CONSECRATE THE TENTHES OF THEIR SPOILES TO THEIR GODS OR TO GIVE THEM TO THEIR PRIESTS But THIS COLLATION OF TITHES nullo meliori Jure Christo Sacerdoti debetur IS DUE BY MUCH BETTER RIGHT TO CHRIST OUR PRIEST WHO AS HE GIVES ALL THINGS TO US OUT OF MEER BOUNTY ita vicissim illi non solum Decimas verum omnia nostra debemus SO WE OWE TO HIM AGAIN NOT ONLY TITHES BUT LIKEWISE ALL WE HAVE Whether the Objectors or Hemingius speak most Gospel Divinity and Reason from this Text let every Christians conscience judge 2. The Apostles words concerning the change and abrogation of the Ceremoniall Law hath no reall coherence with or relation to the precedent discourse concerning payment of Tithes to Melchisedeck and the Levites recited onely to prove the dignity and excellency of Melchisedechs Priesthood above Aarons and of the Leviticall Priests and Levites above their Brethren from whom they received Tithes The ●orce of the Argument reduced into a Logicall form being thus He who receives Tithes for the execution of his Priestly Office is better and greater than he who payes Tithes But the Patriarch Abraham himself the very Father of the Faithfull and Prince of the Fathers paid Tithes to Melchisedech and likewise the Leviticall Priests then in his loins in and by him who yet receive tithe of their Brethren but not of their Father Abraham 〈◊〉 Melchisedech Therefore Melchisedech is better and greater than their Brethren who paid them Tithes And by consequence Christ being a Priest for ever after the order of Mclchisedech who was but a type of him must be better and greater than Abraham John 8. 55 56. or the Leviticall Priests or than Melchisedech himself who did but typifie him This excellency and precedency of Christs Priesthood before Aarons he proves by other Arguments drawn from Melchisedech not pertinent to our present businesse after which he largely argues the change and abolition of the Leviticall Law and Priesthood by Christ a theam of a different nature from the former to which the objected words refer therefore the totall and finall abolishing of all Tithes to which these words have no relation can never be inforced from them being ratified by the former clause as appurtenances to Christs everlasting Priesthood as well as to Melchisedechs and therefore as due to his Ministers under the Gospel as to any Priests and Levites under the Law which were likewise Types of Christ the true high Priest expiring at and by his death 3. The Priests and Levites under the Law had Cities Glebes and Houses settled on them for their habitation and Cattle as well as Tithes by the Ceremoniall Law for their better maintenance and accommodation and that in a large proportion Levit. 25. 32 33 34. Numb 35. 1. to 12. Josh 21. 1. to 43. 1 Chr. 6. 54. to the end chap. 9. 10. to 35. 2 Chron. 11. 13 14. Ezra 2. 70. Neh. 11. 26. chap. 13 10. Ezec. 45. 1. to 6. ch 4 8 9. to 15. If then this Text proves the Totall Abolition of all our Ministers Tithes root and branch as Jewish and Antichristian as some impudent Scriblers and Petitioners against them now affirm It likewise proves the abolition of all their Rectories Glebes Houses likewise as well as of their Tithes as Jewish and Antichristian And so Ministers of the Gospel now shall neither have Tithes nor Globes to support and feed them or their fami●ies and Cattle nor yet so much as an House wherein to lodge and put their heads and be inforced to complain as our Saviour once did of his forlorn condition Matth. 8. 20. and Luke 9. 58. The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head A condition to which some Jesuiticall Anabaptisticall and Athiesticall uncharitable beasts of Prey worse than any Foxes or Harpies would now gladly reduce all our faithfull Ministers and their Families whiles some of them Lord it and lodge themselves in our Kings Princes Bishops Deans and Chapters new acquired royall Palaces and not content therewith would spoil all our Ministers of their more contemptible Glebes and Rectories to enrich themselves and their Posterities and make our Ministers like our Saviour in his voluntary Poverty They may with as much Justice like the hard-hearted bloudy Jews and Souldiers even crucifie them on crosses between such thieves as themselves to make them like our Saviour even in his voluntary sufferings as part their Gl●bes Lands and Rectories among them and cast Lots upon their vestures even before their death when as the Soldiers who crucified our Saviour did not part his raiment amongst them nor cast Lots on his vesture till after his crucifixion by them there being as much Authority Conscience Law Justice Reasen for the one as other seeing none by any Laws can lose or forfeit their Lands and Livelyhood but such who first forfeit their Lives to publick Justice 4. The Israelites were enjoyned by the Leviticall Law Deut. 12. 17 18 19. chap. 14. 26 27 28 29. to harbour and entertain the Priests Levites within their gates and not to forsake them as long as they should live upon the earth and freely to permit and invite them to come and eat drink feast rejoyce and be satisfied with them and their Families before the Lord as well as to pay them Tithes But this Law as they argue is now abolished by Christ with the Priesthood Therefore when our Ministers are stript of all their Tithes Glebes Rectories Houses by our new Reformadoes it must be Jewish and Antichristian for them or any others so much as to lodge entertain or give them any thing to eat or drink within their gate●

who is infinitely and onely wise just and holy did by his special Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe as the most expedient equal fit just rational and convenient maintenance of all other for his own Priests and Levites to receive and take from his own People when once setled in the promised Land for the execution of their function must questionlesse be not onely a lawfull but the most expedient equal fit just rational and convenient maintenance of all other for his Ministers of the Gospel to receive and take from all believing Christians in any setled Christian Kingdome State Church under the Gospel especially if he hath neither positively prohibited this kinde and way of maintenance nor specially prescribed any other way or kind of setled maintenance for them in and by the Gospel But God himself who is infinitely and onely wise just and holy did by his speciall Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe Houses Lands Glebes Tithes and Oblations as the most expedient equal fitting just rational and convenient maintenance of all other for his own Priests Levites to receive and take from his own people when once s●tled in the promised Land for the execution of their Functions and hath neither positively prohibited this kinde or way of maintenance nor specially prescribed any other way and kinde of settled maintenance for them in and by the Gospel Ergo It must questionlesse be not onely a lawfull but the most expedient equal fit just rational and covenient maintenance of all other for his Ministers of the Gospel from all believing Christians in any setled Kingdom State Church under the Gospel The Major I suppose no rational Christian can or will deny except he thinks himself as King Alphonso the proud Atheistical self conceited Astronomer did more wise just holy than God himself and abler to carve out a more expedient equal just fitting rational and convenient maintenance for Gods Priests Levites Ministers than God himself hath done and dare bid defiance to the Gospel precept Eph. 5. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children The Minor I shall thus confirm in order 1. That God did by special Laws and Edicts institute and prescribe Cities Suburbs Lands Houses Glebes for the Priests and Levites habitation and the better maintenance of them and their Cattle and that in a liberal proportion is apparent by Num. 35. from 1. to 12. where we finde recorded That the Lord spake unto Moses in the plain of Moab by Jordan neer Jericho saying COMMAND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THAT THEY GIVE VNTO THE LEVITES OF THE INHERITANCES OF THEIR POSSESSION CITIES TO DWELL IN and ye shall give also unto the Levites SVBVRBES FOR TEN CITIES ROVND ABOVT THEM And the Cities they shall have TO DWELL IN and the suburbs of them SHALBE FOR THEIR CATTLE and FOR THEIR GOODS and FOR ALL THEIR BEASTS And the suburbs of the Cities which yee shall give unto the Levites shall reach from the wall of the City and outward A THOVSAND CVBITIS ROVND ABOVT And ye shall measure from without the City on the east side two thousand cubites and on the south side two thousand cubits and on the west side two thousand cubits and on the north side two thousand cubits and the City shall be in the midst this shall be to them the suburbs of the Cities And among the Cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six Cities for refuge which ye shall appoint for the Manslayer that he may fly thither and to them ye shall adde FORTY and TWO CITIES So all the Cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight Cities them shall ye give with their Suburbs And the Cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the Children of Israel from them that have many ye shall give many and from them that have few ye shall give few Every one shall give of his Cities according to his inheritance which he inheriteth This positive just command of God was given before the Israelites entrance into and conquest of the land of Canaan And this further positive law then likewise made against the sale and alienation of these Glebes and Possessions Levit. 25. 32 33 34. Notwithstanding the CITIES OF THE LEVITES and THE HOUSES OF THE CITIES OF THEIR POSSESSION may the Levites redeem AT ANY TIME which others could not doe v. 30 31. And if a man purchase of the Levites then the House that was sold and the City of his possession shall go out in the year of Jubile for the houses of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel but the field of the Suburbs of their City may not be sold for it is their perpetuall Possession After this when the land of Canaan was fully conquered by the Israelites and divided amongst the Tribes by bounds and limits we read Josh 21. 1. to 43. Then came near the heads of the Fathers of the Levites unto Eleazer the Priest and unto Joshua the son of Nun and unto the heads of the tribes of the Children of Israel and they spake unto them at Shilo in the land of Canaan saying THE LORD COMMANDED by the hand of Moses in text forecited To give us Cities to dwel in with the Suburbs thereof for our cattle And the children of Israel Gave unto the Levites at the commandment of the Lord mark it all enemies of our Ministers Rectories Lands Glebes and Maintenance these Cities and their Suburbs Then follow the Names and Places of the Cities allotted to the Levites proportionably out of every tribe and how they were divided by Lot amongst them which you may read in the text it self over large to transcribe After which ensues this close of the story v. 8. 41 42. And the children of Israel gave by Lot unto the Levites these Cities and their Suburbs as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses all the Cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel Were fourty and eight Cities with their Suburbs These Cities were every one with their Suburbs round about them These were all the Cities In 1 Chron. 6. We have a recitall of the sons and Families of Levi and the Office of the Priests and Levites with the names of all the Cities and Suburbs allotted to them out of every Tribe agreeing with this of Joshua where those who please may read them at their leisure These fourty eight Cities and their Suburbs as some conceive amounted to the tenth or at least twelfth Part of the Cities and Land of Canaan the Priests and Levites according to their number enjoying in proportion as large a share of the promised Land as any of the other Tribes for their Habitation and Glebes besides their Tithes first-Fruits Offerings and other Dues All which as Dr. George Downham and Mr. Samuel Purchas observe amounted to a far greater proportion for the maintenance of that small Tribe than all the

seconded Neh. 11. 18 20. All the Levites in the holy city were 284. and the residue of Israell OF THE PRIESTS and LEVITES were in all the cities of Judah Every Man in his Inheritance and Neh. 13. 10. The Levites and Singers that did the work were fled every one TO HIS FIELD In the Prophesie of Ezechiel written during the Jews Captivity in the Land of the Chaldeans Ezech. 1. 1 2 5. prophesying of the reedifying of the Temple and of the dimensions and whole fabrick thereof chap. 40. 1. to 45. we find frequent mention of holy Chambers therein provided for the Priests and their vestments And chap. 45. 1. to 5. God enjoyns the Israelites by him upon their restitution to their own Land when they should divide it by Lot for an Inheritance That they should offer an holy portion of the Land an oblation unto the Lord the length thereof twenty five thousand reeds and the breadth ten thousand This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about Of this there shall be for the Sanctuary 500 reeds in length with 500 in breadth square round about and fifty cubits round about for the Suburbs thereof Then he addes The holy Portion of the land SHALBE FOR THE PRIESTS the Ministers of the sanctuary which shall come neer to minister unto the Lord and it shall be a place for their Houses and an holy place for the Sanctuary And the 25000. of length and 10000. of breadth Shall also the Levites the Ministers of the House have for themselves for a possession for twenty Chambers In the 47. Chapter verse 13. to the end of the Prophecy he writes of the bounds and division of the land of Canaan after their restitution according to their several tribes in relation to imitation of the bounds and division of it formerly made and recited by Joshua out of which there was a special portion reserved for the Priests and Levites as there was in Joshua's division fore-cited Thus expressed Ezech. 48. 8. to 15. And by the order of Judah from the east side unto the west side shall be the offering which they shall offer of 25000. reeds in breadth and in length as one of the other parts from the east side unto the west side and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it The oblation ye shall offer unto the Lord shall be of 25000 in length and 10000 in breadth And for them even for the Priests shall be this holy Oblation toward the north 25000 in length and toward the west 10000 in breadth and towards the east 10000 in breadth and towards the south 25000 in length and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof It shall be for the Priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadock which have kept my charge which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray after Jeroboam and his calves as the Le●ites went astray And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the order of the Levites And over against the border of the Priests the Levites shall have 25000 in length and 10000 in breadth all the length shall be 25000 and the breadth 10000. And they shall not sell of it neither exchange nor alienate the first fruits of the land for it is holy unto the Lord. From all these Scriptures here recited at large for the Readers fuller satisfaction conviction and ease in turning to them these conclusions undeniably arise 1. That the Priests and Levites had by Gods speciall command and precept oft repeated both Cities Houses Suburbs Lands Gl●bes de●igned to and settled on them by their brethren out of all the other tribes of Israel for their habitation and the feeding of their Cattle Goods Beasts and that in a very large and bountifull proportion And likewise necessary and convenient houses chambers and lodgings neer the Temple when first built and when reedified afterwards which refutes the common errour of those ignorant Simpletons and illiterate New-Lights who from Numb 18. 20. Deut. 10. 9. chap. 18. 1 2. The Priests the Levites and all the tribe of Levi shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire and his inher●tance Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren the Lord is their inheritance as he hath said un to them Conclude That the Priests and Levites amongst the Israelites had no cities houses lands suburbs or possessions of their own belonging to their Office and were expresly forbidden by God to receive or enjoy any among their brethren And hence inferre That Ministers of the Gospel ought not to enjoy any Rectories Houses Lands or Glebes Whereas all the forecited Scriptures directly record the contrary and the meaning of these seeming repugnant texts is onely this That they should have no inheritance amongst their Brethren in such sort and manner as they had set out altogether in one parcell by Joshua and the rest who divided the land amongst the tribes by Lot which would have hindred them from their duties but only a subsequent assignment of certain cities houses and suburbs seattered and divided one from another in and out of every tribes inheritance that so they might perform their offices with more ease and be alwaves ready at hand to teach and instruct the people upon all occasions 2. That the inheritance of the cities houses and suburbs which they enjoyed should not be reputed their own proper inheritance though they enjoyed the possession and profits thereof BUT GODS INHERITANCE as a thing devoted and dedicated unto God and therefore stiled by Ezechiel an Oblation unto God and an holy portion as Histories Divines Common Civil and Canon Lawyers stile all our Rectories Church lands and Glebes with the Charters that first setled them being given and consecrated DEO ET ECCLESIAE an oblation unto God and the Church 3. That these endowments Glebes of theirs were called and reputed Gods own Portion and Inheritance 1. Because given by his specia● command and appointment by all the tribes 2. Because originally consecrated and devoted to God and to his Priests and Ministers onely in Gods right and for his sake 3. Because given to promote Gods worship and for an habitation and support to Gods own Priests and Levites imployed wholy in his immediate service 4. That they were expresly prohibited to be sold exchanged or alienated by the Priests Levites or any others because they were given unto God as an holy Portion and Oblation and to the Priests and Levites for a perpetuall possession whose inheritance was onely in God himself And therefore not possible to be justly and lawfully sold exchanged or alienated by the Priests Levites or any other mortal Powers whatsoever who could claim no power right property or disposing interest in or over them against Gods own Soveraigne and sacred title 5. That these Cities Suburbs and Glebes were ratably set