honor unto himself says the Apostle Heb. 5.4 If the second then by whom If only from other men and corrupt too then as our Saviour speaks it how can ye believe who receive honour one of another Joh. 5.44 If from Christ and his blessed Spirit of Truth and the Apostles they themselves plead not their Visible Succession of Presbytery or Ordination of Ministers so high as from the two first but from the Apostles times by the Imposition of hands of the Presbytery from Paul and Titus and other Disciples they hold out and make the World believe their perpetuated Visibility and Ordination of Ministers made from time to time and so even to this time by one another And by this Rule their Ordination came in corrupted times and by corrupted persons into the hands of the Popes of Rome which Gangrene spread it self by the Popes policy into all Kingdoms for the Kingdoms of the World have been made drunk with her fornications and so the Popes Doctrine and Discipline advanc'd it self into our Nation and so our Archbishops and Bishops and other Ministers had Ordination by the Popes Power and Keys and these from them Behold we pray you all good people of England the Claim and Title our pretending Presbyters lay hold on to prove themselves lawful Ministers of Christ and so cry out that Tythes all Tythes are due to them as such Ministers and Presbyters Now that their Claim to Tythes may be of no force or virtue we shall lay down some Conclusions against their Calling which being found true and undeniable they cannot have the face to lay claim any longer or to take and rake that which is not their own 1. First Therefore we say That their Ordination it self by a visible descent and grant from one to another is corrupted and against divine Truth How can a clean thing come out of an unclean or a streight from a crooked A corrupted Fountain cannot send forth pure streams nor a rotten Root sound Branches These Parsons come out of the loyns of the Bishops and they from the Popes Authority these men themselves were the pullers down of the Bishops Power as Antichristian which had they been lawful why rejected if unlawful how can our Presbyters be good who proceed from them And then 2. Secondly Their Ordination of one another as they say from the Apostles times holds up a Visibility of the Ministry and by consequence a Visible Church too which is not only Popish but opposes Christs Spiritual Kingdom My Kingdom is not of this World And we believe the Communion of Saints now Faith says the Apostle is of things not seen Heb. 11.1 He himself is called the King Invisible his Kingdom his Office his Ordinances and People are all Spiritual and Invisible and Godliness it self is called a great Mystery and yet our Presbyters and pretending Ministers will be visible and worldly how can light and darkness agree But 3. Thirdly The Prophets of God were called by God and extraordinarily endowed not with titles only but with gifts and graces and sent immediately Behold I send THEE even THEE to the house of Israel says God unto the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 2. And after them the Apostles were all called and then sent by Christ Behold I send you as sheep among Wolves But are our Presbyters thus called or sent or are they sent at all Nay they seek places desire places solicit for Preferments do all they can to procure fat Livings and the best Benefices Do not these run think you and God sends them not Yea they climb by Craft and Ambition and come not in at the door Joh. 10. We may know who they are and to whom they do belong And yet further 4. Fourthly Their works and fruits shew they are not of this flock or fold if they be lawfully sent let them shew forth the works of him that sent them the tree is known by his fruits Can we find in these men though they so much cry up Reformation any true Reformation at all Oh could we but with Lanthorn and Candle find an Humble Presbyterian Minister a merciful One a liberal-minded One a meek One endued with the Spirit of Love and but even Obedience to the Civil Magistrate But alas the Pulpits are filled and the Commonwealth too with ambitious and proud Parsons with covetous and contentious seeking not as the Apostle says you but yours your Goods your Tythes not wearing Christs Motto Hereby ye shall be known to be my Disciples if ye love one another We appeal to all England and further too to their own Consciences if this be not so We may say then and conclude with the Apostle Are ye not carnal Are not these men in their sins And then how can we imagine and conclude these men to be not only Followers but true Teachers of Gods Word also whose Actions are diametrically opposite unto those of Christ 'T is said of him Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world Joh. 1. Is he a Lamb and must these be Lions Did he take away sin and shall these keep it and live in it Oh 't is time to distinguish them they have wore their hoods and vails long enough it 's time to unmask them We proceed on and say 5. Fifthly These Presbyterian Ministers confess so much themselves That there is a twofold Calling to the Ministry one Immediate another Mediate now say they the Prophets and Apostles were indeed called Immediately but they only Mediately what have they then we pray you but what any man might have had for money as well as themselves And what is this their Mediate Calling for more they dare not say in truth they have but an Outward Art as a shadow to a body or as sign to the thing it self nothing worth without the Inward Or have these men the Influences and Assistance of Gods holy Spirit more in them then others Or is it promised or given to them more then to others who have not that outward Calling As for their parts and Arts their seeming gifts and shifts too they are by study and other helps acquired their degrees in Schools humane not divine Now this is no safe Conclusion but rather indeed a meer Delusion to say because such and such are Ministers in Arts in a University and have some knowledg in Hebrew Greek and Latin and have by Friends and Moneys too if not by making Feasts or Banquets for some of the Classical Rabbies that therefore if some of these shall lay hands upon them that therefore they are true Ministers of Christ and from that time forward chiefly if not solely they may set their heart and affections to try all ways possible to enjoy a good Parsonage and then demand and command Tythes as true Orothodox and godly Ministers of Christ Oh falshood Oh these men to be layd in the ballance will be found too light And for all this it may yet be asked them Friend how came
Aarons Ordinances weak and vanishing then we will unto the Commandments of Jesus Christ Pause hereupon we pray you who take Tythes Yet Argum. 3. Thirdly That Law of Tythes was made only to bind that Nation the Jews and Gods Commandment was that they should be payd to their Levites Numb 18.10 I have given thee the tenth c. and the people that failed in the payment of them were accursed even that whole Nation as we have it Mal. 3.8 9 10. 'T is true indeed That Nation but 't is not said All Nations We are Gentiles not Jews not under the Law but under Grace not of Jewish Extraction and therefore not subject to their Ceremonial Law of Tything If our Tythe-takers will have Tythes payd them let them shew their Genealogy from Aarons Loyns and produce their Succession legally and yet if they should which they cannot perform we might tell them plainly We are of another Nation and therefore they demand Tythes of a wrong people We insist upon this the more strictly that they may see their Error the sooner and shew by what Law they lay claim to Tythes Therefore Argum. 4. Fourthly Moses Law will not defend their Action for as the Apostle saith those Ordinances wax old I will make saith God a New Covenant not like the first which had Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly Tabernacle Heb. 9.1 Mark he saith a New so that the first is made old Heb. 8.13 Now saith the Apostle That which decayeth and waxed old as the Priest-hood and Levitical Law of Tythes did even in his time is ready to vanish away Heb. 8.13 What was the Law of Sacrifices and Offerings and of the Jewish divine Service and of Tythes in the Apostles time by the power of Christs Doctrine and Spiritual Law ready to vanish away Was it old decaying faulty too as the Apostle speaks for had it been faultless 't would not have been abolished Heb. 8.7 8. And shall we of this Nation go still and creep upon old decaying Jewish props and crutches And can you who take Tythes by this Levitical Law think any otherwise but that by the Act of this Custom you are faulty old decaying and vanishing too and hinder the people of this Land from the Knowledg of Christ by your preaching up Gods Law to Moses as you pretend and so to your selves too for taking of Tythes and who resists you resist the Ordinance of God Take heed we say you uphold not that which Gods Word says is old and vanishing Further to this point we say Argum. 5. Fifthly The Payment of Tythes now what doth it but keep us under the Law and so hinders us from being Children of Faith of the Spirit and of Grace for as the Apostle says plainly Gal. 5.4 Who are under the Law are fallen from Grace Now we conceive that the Apostle doth not so much mean the Moral Law for that is perpetual and obligatory but the Ceremonial and Levitical Law which contained under it the Payment of Tythes Now there were false brethren crept in who did amongst many other Errors hold up Circumcision and other Jewish rites and ceremonies and why not the payment of Tythes also for they were greedy and covetous in this particular as we may see by that Wo which Christ denounced unto them for this act Luke 11.42 Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees for ye tythe mint and rue c. they would not lose the least thing Tythable even much like our Tythe-masters not an Egg or an Apple should escape nay they used rigor and force too for we read of Eli's sons that if they saw any thing better then other they would have it and if the people would not give it them they would take it by force even the best the fat 1 Sam. 2.15 16. and the best of all the Offerings of the children of Israel vers 30. Such are too many of our Rabbies they will have it rather then not some have used force and violence to the poor of the Land and too many of them have been and will be their own Carvers what doth the upholding the Ceremonial and Levitical Law debar us from the freedom of Grace of the spirit of Grace and from Faith certainly we have good reason to abandon and shake off such a Jewish Schoolmaster Galat. 3.24 Especially when they would make us to learn such lessons and laws which Christ hath freed us from we wonder how our Presbyterian Ministers can ask Tythes of us knowing that if they keep and hold that Law they are fallen from Grace and are under the curse and therefore seeing that by the Death of our Saviour all that Moses commanded concerning Legal rites and ceremonies had an end for they were all fulfilled in him why is tythe-taking so eagerly upheld by these men who pretend to Christs and not to Moses Law However if they shal continue so corrupt for their gains sake as who knows not what a strong influence gold and gains have upon corrupted spirits yet let the godly and spiritually-minded people of our Nation do their utmost not onely to discover their deep policy in this particular but labor also to abolish and overthrow it for though Moses was a faithful servant yet Christ is Lord and our God blessed for ever Yet a step or two further we proceed and say Argum. 6. Sixthly That as our Ministers have held Tythes to be their due Jure Divino and so to that purpose have quoted divers texts out of Moses Plutatâ— and the Prophets we reply That none were to have Tythes so but the Jewish Levites and their Priests It seems then and concludes so too directly that they are the Priests and Levites or else to hold up this their gains would be such for why Tythes where there is no Priest to sacrifice and other Oblations then let 's have Circumcision and a Tabernacle an Altar too or else a Solomons Temple again erected and so consequently killing of Bullocks and Sheep and Lambs yes and Pigeons and turtle Doves also Oh see what ill Consequences follow in upon the payment of Tythes in this manner We must have an Altar of Incense also which will not be a sweet savour in Gods Nostrils But what need of these or the whole Levitical Law or Priesthood seeing nor the one nor the other nor all the blood of bulls and goats can possibly take away sins Hebr. 10.4 and what is more the same Apostle saith that there is verily a disanulling of the Commandment going before and why so he gives sufficient reasons for it for the weakness and unprofitableness of it for the Law i. e. the Levitical Law made nothing perfect Hebr. 7.18 19. So then if the Levitical Law nor the Priests could not take away the sins of the people but were themselves sinful men and dyed Heb. 7.23 and the Law it self weak unprofitable imperfect faulty old decaying and vanishing away and the Oblations termed vain and abominable Isai 1.11 12
13. What faces have our Presbyterian Rabbies to fly unto this for shelter and maintenance for their taking of tythes of the People now in these Reformed Times Well we hope we have removed their old confidence from this Law of demanding tythes Next in order Argum. 7. Seventhly We having them now upon pursuit let 's not leave to follow them a little closer If we will believe them though they can get little or no comfort from Moses or the Prophets yet they have other holds as from the Canon Law the Civil the Casuists and Schoolmen Is' t possible that these men who profess Christ so strictly and Reformation too and exclaim against the Pope and his Adherents will yet flee unto Rome to a Conclave or Consistory of old musty and rotten superstitious Writters who to uphold their Seat and their State patch up their Tenets with Judaism or the Turkish Alchoran who to please their Father subscribe all their Judgments to his Verdict and either will not or dare not print directly what 's truth for fear of his Excommunications and thundering Anathema's But must we be kept hoodwink'd still and must be forc'd to have their sayings obtruded upon us and pinned upon our sleeves for truths though never so false Who knows not how they have juggled with the Text it self terming it fabula a fable What great Confidence in or from these men What hopes to find truth in the very Chair of lying and seducing What if they say Tythes are due Jure Divino and threaten all such with Bell Book and Candle who dare speak or write against it are they therefore so In such a case as this is must Antichrist be chosen Judg and Umpire Oh ye Ministers of England if yet ye be so may we not tell you herein as our Saviour told that young man who said he would follow him whither soever he went The Foxes have holes and the birds of the ayr have nests Have you yet lurking holes from the Popish Canonists and nests too amongst the Popish Lawyers Alas Priests we know have but little skill and of late as bad success in making and trusting to Canons It must not be the Civilian nor the wrangling sophistating Schoolmen who must be Judges in this Point and therefore knowing and hoping you will not foul your mouths with these Rabble of Deceivers we tell you we appeal in this particular to Gods Word if they speak not according to that it is because there is no truth in them Isa 8. We are not willing to mention this dissembling Crue and politique Cheaters who to uphold Peters old Chair and to fill their own bellies and purses too will say and unsay any thing yet for conclusion this point in agitation amongst us at present is yet unheard of and untouch'd amongst them at Rome We therefore intending to be as brief as may be go on and say Argum. 8. Eightly There is not one Iota or line directly for the payment of Tythes in kind not in all the New Testament We 'l deal plainly with the world there are some which carry a shew which we intend to answer because some have made use of them contrary to the meaning of them that spoke them The first is in Mat. 8.2 3 4. concerning the Leper unto whom Christ said Go shew thy self unto the Priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a Testimony unto them Some concluding that Christ stood for payment of Tythes himself according to Moses Law but let 's a little examine the matter and it will make nothing for our Tythe-takers now for first Christ was not then glorified secondly the Jewish Clergy was then in power and being though miserably corrupted and that party who was healed of that Nation and so liable to payment and therefore Christs Injunction was both equal and righteous at that time Another Text too is used for payment of Tythes and that is in those two men who as our Saviour says went into the Temple to pray the one a Pharisee and the other a Publican amongst other particulars which the Pharisee boasted of this was one that he gave Tythes of all that he possessed Luk. 18.12 See say our Tythe-takers the very Pharisees did not deny Tythes and so hold out to plain people that those who deny to pay Tythes are worse then the Pharisees We reply Did he pay Tythes 't was his duty to the Command then being in force and he a Jew and one that pretended to be the strictest Observant of the Law Now as the Apostle Paul saith Thou that boastest of the Law through breaking the Law dishonorest thou God Rom. 2.23 It had in him at that time been not only a breach simply of the Law but also a dishonoring God and yet we have but his own bragging and boasting word and some suspicion may be moved concerning his doing as he said for for all his boasting this did not justifie but in the last place this was not a real history but a Parable for the text saith And he spoke this Parable Luk. 18.9 So neither of these doth any thing help the cause of Tythes at this present Well we come now to the main Refuge that large and copious Text of the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 9.7 8 9. to 14. wherein say our Tythe-Takers the Apostle hath sufficiently warranted tythes even now under the Gosel we will take some pains therefore about the true opening of this Text The Apostle vindicates indeed his own liberty and power though he says he used it not at all vers 15. He speaking of eating and drinking and leading about a sister a wife vers 4 5. forbearing to work at his Trade vers 6. Urgeth his lawfulness of doing from three similitudes 1. from going to warfare at a mans own charges 2. from planting a vineyard and not eating the fruit 3. from feeding a flock and not eating of the milk of the flock vers 7. Brings an Argument from Moses Law too from muzling the ox that treadeth out the corn vers 9. fetches confirmation of this from plowmen threshers and seeds-men vers 10. proves his doctrine from an Argument called a Majori ad Minus If we sow to you spiritual is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things vers 11. from the practice of others v. 12. therefore as well to him as to others proves it also from those who ministred about holy things in the Temple and waited at the Altar both lived of and by it and so concludes this subject that so hath God ordarned that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel an Argument a pari if they lived on that these on this and this is Gods Ordinance We have not omitted any thing we would not willingly in this large Text of Scripture which seems to be the Tythe-Takers safest and uncontroulable Argument if it be not throughly examined But we shal make it appear that this Apostle even in this place doth not