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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

be hanged for Traytors and Antichristian Ministers in good earnest else l●t him be hanged in their steed for this his impudent slander of them all as well Independents as Prebyterians Have of late years come and been sent into this Realme of England and were any of our Ministers such and not rather Canne himself coming hither from Amsterdam for the purposes following and other the Queens Dominions OF PURPOSE AS IT HATH APPEARED as well by some of their own examinations now out of date as by divers other Manifest means and proofs more visible of late years than ever not onely to withdraw her Highnesse subjects from their due obedience to her Majestie but also to st●r up and move Sedition Rebellion and open Hostility within the same her Highnesse Realms and Dominions to the great indangering of the safety of her most Royall Person and to the utter ruine desolation and overthrow of the whole Realm now effected as a Realm if the same be not the sooner and now pray God it be not over late by some good means foreseen and prevented For reformation whereof be it ordained c. That All Priests and Jesuits Canne cannot spy such good friends within the Act but deletes them out of it Seminary Priests and other Priests whatsoever made and ordained out of the Realm of England c. under the penalties therein mentioned Had Canne pressed this Statute to those he dedicates his Pamphlet for the speedy execution of it against those many Jesuites and Seminary Priests now in England for their traiterous Practises and Designes therein mentioned of late and now driven on and almost compleated by them it had been a commendable zeale but to write one word or syllable against these Romish Vermine arch-Engineers Janizaries of the Romish See now swarming among us to rui●● our Kingdomes Parliaments Laws Liberties Church Ministers Ministry Religion forreign Protestant States Churches now engaged by them in bloudy wars both by Land and Sea and to omit th● very name of the Jesuits the first Popish Agents mentioned and chiefly intended in this Act and presse it onely against our Ministers Calling Ministry Tithes and Maintenance of purpose to ruine them and theirs and by consequence our Church and Religion the Designe and scope of his whole Pamphlet is such a malicious unchristian Antichristian Practise as proclaims him to all the world either a new converted Jesuite or Romish Factor under the Garb of an old Anabaptist or an over-grown cankered Anabaptist void of Piety Honesty and inspired by the very Father of Lyes For not one of our English Ministers I know or hear of except two or three Jesuits and Priests crept into Livings in Staffordshire and elsewhere very lately I know not by whose favour or negligence was ever ordained by any such Jurisdiction or authority as is here mentioned which all our Ministers and their Ordainers too whether Prelates or Presbyters particularly and publickly abjured both at the time of their respective Ordinations and admissions to their Benefices and likewise when they took any Degree of Learning in our Vniversities by the two known famous Oaths of SUPREMACY and ALLEGIANCE purposely made and ratified by * sundry zealous Protestant Parliaments against the usurped Papal Jurisdiction and authority of the See of Rome and the Popes Jesuits and Papists practises to blow up and destroy our Protestant Kings Parliaments Laws Liberties Religion and subvert our Kingly Government whole State and Common-wealth for the better discovering of them yet lately suspended abrogated as dangerous unlawfull Oaths by some of Cannes good friends who would be reputed Zealots against the Popes Jurisdiction and his Creatures too Now how those Ministers of our Church who thus abjured the Jurisdiction of Rome at the time of their very Ordination and their Ordainers too before them and since have don● the like in their Solemne League and Covenant can without the highest slander be said to derive their Ministry from it and that by Canne his Jesuiticall Anabaptistical Fraternity who never took one of these Oaths or the Covenant and revile repeal them as unlawful out of love to the Popes Jurisdiction Jesuits Priests c. or for want of zeal against them Let the world and this slanderers own Conscience if he have any left determine Besides who knows not but this Ignoramus that the Rites and Ceremonies of Ordination in the Church of Rome recorded at large in Ceremoniale Pontificiale Pontificum Romanorum and the ends of Ordination likewise viz. to say Masse create their Creator offer up Christ in Sacrifice at the altar to his Father Invocate Saints adore Images yield Canonicall obedience to the Pope and his Supremacy c. are far different from the form and ends of our Ministers Ordination in the Church of England prescribed by the Parl. 5. 6. Ed. 6. c. 1. ratified by the Statutes of 1 Eliz. 2. c. 1 2. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. and 39 Eliz c. 8. made onely by Protestant Parliaments as they particularly condemne renounce the Popes power and Jurisdiction so they declare and resolve our Ministers Ordination to be lawfull and them in very deed to be Ministers and rightly made ordained and ●onsecrated according to Gods word without any derivative power or Ordination from the Church of Rome And therefore for this New pander for the Whore of Rome to averre they receive their ministry and ordination thence is a NOTORIOVS LYE yea but saith he Francis Mason of Consecration and Mr. Yates in his Modell of Divinity prove and confesse That the Ministry of the Church of England established by the Law of the Land IS DERIVED FROM THE POPE and ROME True but in what sense onely by way of Succession as his own Ministry and Faith if he hath any were derived from John of Leyden or just as our Bibles Religion Baptisme Churches were derived thence and all now living with Canne himself derived from Popish Ancestors many even from Popes Popish Priests Prelates Friars by naturall generation God used the Popes of Rome and their Instruments to convert the Britains and Saxons from thei Paganisme to the Christian not Papal or Roman Faith which through Gods mercy hath continued amongst us ever since yet mixed of later times with manifold Popish Errors and Superstitions These Errors and Superstitions our godly Martyrs and by them our Kings and Parliaments discovering did thereupon by speciall Acts of Parliament abolish as derived from the Church of Rome together with the Popes usurped power and Gain which they served onely to support retaining onely the Scriptures Sacraments Soul-saving Doctrines thence derived by succession onely but authoritatively and originally from God and Christ himself with such Godly Orthodox Bishops and Ministers who though first ordained in the Church of England when Popish did yet renounce all the Popish Errors Corruptions with the Popes Supremacy and all Popish additionall Rites to the form of their Ordination and

right in the sight of God Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse c. Act. 8. 18 to 25. 2. He is so far from enjoyning them to preach the Gospell freely without recompence that he allowes them to take a recompence for it closing it up with a contrary clause For the Labourer is worthy of his M●at and Hire v. 10. and recited Luke 10. 8. where the objected words are omitted as likewise Marke 3. 3. Our new Mechanick Predicants to separate Conventicles who urge this Text against Ministers maintenance should receive no money gift or recompence for their prating from their Disciples no more then our Ministers who yet gain far more from deluded blind followers of the blind then many of our Ministers get by their Ministry and more then ever they ●arned by their Trades before which makes them wholly to desert them and turne Tub-preachers 4. This sentence can no wayes be truely applyed now to Ministers For though they receive their Ministry and Orders freely without purchase which some bought for money heretofore yet their preparation for the Ministry costs them many years study and pains them their Friends and Parents many a pound as I sormerly proved whereas the Apostles received the miraculous gift of healing c. immediately by divine inspiration without study or cost 5. If those who receive any Office Commission or place freely must discharge it freely without any Reward Pay as some Army Officers and Souldiers hence conclude against our Ministers then all our Souldiers and other Military Officers by Sea and Land must henceforth at least and should have done heretofore serve their Country freely without receiving any pay reward or Contributions from the People since I conceive few or none of them ever bought their Offices Places Commissions or paid any money for their listing yea then all other publike Officers reall or pretended must serve their Country gratis unlesse they purchased their Offices from those in late or present power and then they are ipso facto void by the Statute of 5 E. 6. c. 16. against buying or selling of Offices Now upon this condition that all Soul di●s Military and Civill Officers will henceforth serve their Country freely without pay or recompence for the oppress●d peoples future freedome from long unsupportable monthly Taxes Impositions Excises I dare presume all or most of our Ministers will be content to preach the Gospell freely to the people likewise without Tithes or other Dues for so long a time as the Souldiers and Officers shall freely serve our Nation and I suppose all Ministers in Scotland and Ireland will do the like if the Officers and Souldiers there will first really begin the Precedent Which if they here and there refuse they must give Ministers leave to enjoy their ancient Tithes Dues Stipends for preaching the Gospell so long as they demand their former pay and salaries and renounce the objected Text as fatall to their own wages as the Ministers unlesse they dearly bought their Offices and Commands and did not freely receive them which if true as I presume it false very few of them would publickly acknowleuge Object 2 The second Objection most urged to me by some Pendennis Souldiers whiles there a prisoner under their Gards is the Example of the Apostle Paul who staying and preaching at Corinth a year and six monthes because he would not be burdensome but preach the Gospell freely to them without charge or reward wrought with his own hands and got his living by making tents as is recorded Act. 18. 1 2 3 c. 20. 34. 1 Cor. 4. 12. 9. 12 15 16 17 18 19. 2 Cor. 11. 8 9. 12. 13 16 17 18. The like he did among the Thessalonians labouring night and day because he would not be chargeable to any of them when he preached unto them the Gospell of God 1 Thess 2. 8 9. 2 Thess 3. 8. From whence they conclude that all other Ministers ought to preach the Gospell freely and to labour with their hands day and night in some other calling to supply their necessities and maintain themselves and ●amilies that they may not be chargeable to the people Answ To which grand argument requiring the first reply I answer that this generall inference from P●●●s particular practise in these two Churches is very same and unsound For 1. Paul expresly resolves that all Apostles and Minister● of the Gospell have a just right and power to receive a competent maintenance as wages from the people and most strongly proves it to be an ordinance of Christ himself in some of the objected Texts as I have at large demonstrated 2. He likewise declares with a salvo jure ●s Lawyers speak that himselfe had such a just right and power to receive wages and maintenance from the very Corinthians and Thessalonians themselves as well as others though he made no use of his power witnesse 1 Cor. 9. 4 11 12. where thus he expostulates Have we not power to eat and to drinke and to reap your carnall things for so●●ing u●t● you spirituall things If others be part●kers of this power over you ARE NOT WE RATHER Neve●thelesse we have not used this power And 2 Thess 3. 8 9. Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought but wrought with labour and travell night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you NOT BECAVSE WE HAVE NOT POWER but make our selves an example for you to follow us c. We have much talke and crying up of late HAVE WE NOT POWER POWER and PRESENT POWER in most Grandees mouthes and publick Papers especially Souldiers who carry it by their sides in st●ad of old Language LAW LIBERTY RIGHT FREEDOME the things they say they fought for on the peoples behalf who pay them which words and things Have we not the greater cry of Power c. hath made us not to have and quite swallowed up I wish all such who presse these Texts against Ministers Tithes and most use these words Have we not P●wer if derived from God or the Apostle who thrice mentions it in these Texts would only use and speake it in the Apostles sense and Language if not assuming usurping but utterly disclaiming the reall practise and abuses of it in his self-denying words worthy to be written in Capitalls that all persons of or in Power may now read and practise it NEVER THELESSE WE HAVE NOT USED THIS POWER BUT WROUGHT WITH LABOUR AND TRAVELL NIGHT AND DAY THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE CHARGEABLE TO ANY OF YOU to make our selves an ensample for you Ministers to follow us Then we should be no longer over-charged with endlesse Taxes Excises c. by for or from any who have power nor grieved with any fresh changes of Lawes Church Government or Ministers setled maintenance but be a Free State and Nation indeed as some have long promised to make us but still the quite contrary way in direct opposition to the Apostles Neverthelesse we have

cannot deny The sole question then is what this share or portion ought to be and who shall determine it in point of difference I confesse the Apostle doth not decide either of these in Terminis those Texts being General and all in the plural number All good things your carnall things comprising all such things out of which Tithes predial mixt or personal as Canonists and Lawyers distinguish them are or may be paid Wherefore every faithfull Christian and spiritual Son of God and of faithfull Abraham whose footsteps and prefidents they are to follow in all doubtfull cases admit this one to satisfie his conscience and judgement in this case must and will resort to the prefidents of the Eminentest Saints in former ages and Gods own prescripts in other expresse Texts and there finding the very Father of the faithfull Abraham giving and his Grandson Jacob vowing A TENTH OF ALL GOOD THINGS from his own people for the maintenance of his Priests and Levites under the Law and they cheerfully rendring it untill and in Christs own time and that the very Pharisees and Scribes though Hypocrites were so just as to pay tithes of all and Christ resolving that they ought to do it and not leave it undone and that none before the Apostles dayes ever gave lesse than a Tenth part as the premises largely evidence must and will necessarily conclude from all these sacred Directories that the ordinary and constant standing Portion and proportion of all his goods and carnal things here prescribed and intended by Gods Spirit in the tenth part and in extraordinary cas●s more when Gods glory the Ministers Necessities the Defence or Propagation of the Gospel require it and when he shall further read in the Gospel it self that speech of Zacheus the converted Publican Luke 19. 8. Behold Lord THE HALF OF MY GOODS I give to the poor And how the first converted Christians and Jews in the Apostles dayes sold their Lands and Houses and brought and laid the money at the Apostles feet Act. 4. 5. His conscience which must not guide the Word and Spirit of God as most mens consciences do now but the word and spirit it and him too will and must from thence conclude that he must not give his faithfull Minister lesse than a Tenth part of all and in cases of extraordinary necessity share even half his goods yea the price of all his Lands and Houses between the Ministers and poor Saints of God specially in times of persecution when as he ought to hide and feed them too as godly Obadiah did an hundred of the Lords Prophets in the dayes of Jezabel at his own charge with the hazard of his Office and Life 1 Kings 18. 4. 13. And if any mans conscience in a settled Christian Realm or State be so obstinate or froward as not to submit to the lowest proportion of a tenth which all Ages and most or all setled Christian Realms have unanimously agreed upon and confirmed by publike Edicts as well Civil as Ecclesiastical whereof there are neer thousands in print the Christian Kings and Magistrates who are to determine all controverfies of this nature and state the due just proportion of this Debt and Duty between the Minister and the people where it is not publikely decided and may justly enforce the due payment of it when and where it is determined by positive publike Laws as a just Debt as they do in all other civil Debts and Accompts in controversie before them as I shall prove in due place even by these very Texts though John Canne denies it in his VOX praeterea NIHIL p 14. To these I shall subjoyn that noted Text in 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. which John Canne cites by piece-meal as the Devill did scripture leaving out the principall branch Mat. 4. 6. Do ye not know that they which Minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they that wait at the altar are ●artakers with the altar EVEN SO HATH THE LORD ORDAINED this Canne omits that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel I have urged this Text before for proof of the first I shall here apply it only to the second Propositions confimation as to Tithes 1. Then we have here A DIVINE GOSPEL ORDINANCE made by the LORD OF HOSTS himself not repealable by any Army or Powers on Earth as well as PARLIAMENTARY ORDINANCES for the Maintenance of the Preachers of the Gospel and let Canne the poorest Preacher of the Gospell ever yet knew in England except one of his fraternity who heard him once preach an assize and Fast Sermon too at Chard deny our Ministers to be able Preachers of the Gospel at the peril of his Soul though he denies them to be lawfull Ministers of Christ and censures them as ANTICHRISTIAN and POPISH But why so Because forsooth they had their Ordination from Rome and by consequence are TRAYTORS and FELONS too by the Statute of 27 Eliz. c. 2. for which they might be legally executed for Treason and Felony if the State were pleased to interpret the Statute contrary as he conceives to the Letter and form of it the words whereof he both curtals and misrecites just as he did this Text p. 5. To do him and his b●st friends a kindnes vindicate the lawfulnesse of our Mi●isters calling again●● this ordinary slander and convince him of his grosse mistake I shall truly recite the Statut● Thus intituled JESUITES and PRIESTS in England shall depart and NONE SHALL COME INTO THIS REALM If so then many Dippers and Speakers Administrators Members in Anabaptisticall Congregations many New-lights and Gifted-brethren in separate Congregations many Shakers Quakers Ranters Broachers of new Notions Errours Blasphemies throughout the Realm many new-Polititians Levellers Agitators and Soldiers in the Army if not some Officers all the late converted pretended Jews dipped in Anabaptisticall Congregations discovered and known to be disguised Jesuites purposely sent from Rome by the greatest sticklers against our Ministers Tithes and Calling must presently depart and none of them return into the Kingdome as many have lately done or else be executed for Traytors But why so what is their crime work and imployment here and by what marks or fruits shall we know and discover both them and their confederates Let the words of the Statute compared with all our late troubles and changes resolve the ignorant and incredulous that there are many such amongst us and of John Cannes fraternity W●ereas divers persons called or professed JESUITES these Canne wittingly conceals and therefore is a Felon by the law SEMINARY PRIESTS and other Priests which have been and from time to time are made IN PARTS BEYOND THE SEA BY OR ACCORDING TO THE ORDER and RITES OF THE CHURCH OF ROME and when Canne can prove that all or any of our Ministers were thus made as he hath confidently averred in print to those he cals the Higher Powers and Supream Authority of the Nation Let them

used and will still use this power that we might be chargeable yea very chargeable to every of you Therefore no wonder our Ministers in their affected sense do the like by their example in exacting of their Tithes and Dues till they disclaime the use of their Iron Power in imposing levying new Taxes and Excises on Ministers as well as people in strange untroden wayes to pay their own and Souldiers salaries to support their self-●reated Power in the highest strain of Exercise which they condemne in Ministers in a far more inferior degree who questionlesse may lawfully make use of it as Paul himselfe might have justly done as he resolves though he suspended its naturall exercise 3. Paul records 4 speciall reasons why he made no use of this his Evangelicall power but laboured with his hands 1. That he might not hinder the Gospell of Christ among the Corinthians 1 Cor. 9. 12. they being then most of them Pagans the rest but newly converted to the Gospell by his preaching and all of them very worldly and ●ovetous as he insinuates 1 Cor. 4. 12 13 14. 7. 30. 31 32. 11. 7 8 9. 12. 10 to 21. 2. That he might not seem to abuse his power in the Gospell in the opinion of these covetous worldlings 1 Cor. 9. 18. 3. That he might adde to his glory in undergoing necessities for Christ wherein he gloried and adde to his future reward 1 Cor. 9. 15 to 27. 12. 10 to 13. 4. And principally To cut off occasion of slander and reproach from some false Apostles and deceitfull workers and Ministers of Satan transforming themselves into Angels of Light who sought occasion to slander him counting his preaching very contemptible him to be none of Christs and a very reprobate 2 Cor. 10. 7 10 12. 13. 6 7. as some now esteem our Ministers seeking a proofe of Christ speaking to him c. 13. 3. as they do in our Ministers glorying as some of the same Tribe do now that they preached the Gospell freely and wrought with their own hands whereupon he addeth that wherein they gloryed they might be found even as he 2 Cor. 11. 12 13 14. Which false Apostles and dissembling Hypocrites for all their brags did yet enslave take of them fleece and abuse them more then any faithfull Ministers and yet they patiently endured it as he there thus insinuates v. 20. FOR YE SVFFER IF A MAN BRING YOV INTO BONDAGE IF A MAN DEVOVR YOV IF A MAN TAKE OF YOV IF A MAN EXALT HIMSELFE IF A MAN SMITE YOV ON THE FACE taxing their wisdom for ●his Asinine sottish stupidity when as neither Paul himselfe nor Titus nor any other of those Ministers he sent unto them did either burden or catch them with guile or make a gain of them as these false Apostles domineering Hypocrites and Ministers of Satan did 2 Cor. 12. 16 17 18. These were the reasons expressed by him why he took no wages of the Corinthians and supported himselfe with his own labor But this is not our Ministers case after our so long enjoyment of the Gospell and their enjoying of a setled maintenance by Tithes and Glebes about 800. years space so long since setled on them by our devout Saxon Kings and continued ever since When our Ministers have the self-same reasons as Paul had to move them to pursue his objected practise I doubt not but they will chearfully imitate it for the advancement of the Gospell and winning souls to Christ The reason why he exercised not this power among the Thessalonians labouring amongst them night and day to support himselfe was much different from the former thus recorded by him 2 T●●ss 3. 7 to 15. When he was among them he heard that there were some who walked disorderly WORKING NOT A● ALL BVT WERE BVSY BODIES just such as o●●●●ew preaching Weavers Ginger-bread-makers Smi●h● Souldiers and other Mechanickes are who give over thei● Trades and working to busie themselves only in gathering new Conventicles new moulding our Church State and Preaching openly and in corners every wh●re to carry on their own worldly designes Whereupon he then commanded them THAT IF ANY such busie-bodies WOULD NOT WORKE but forsake his calling NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT A very good Gospell-law if duly executed to quell all such busie-bodies and upon this occasion not because he had not power BUT TO MAKE HIMSELFE AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM TO FOLLOW and encourage these busie-bodies with all other loyterers to labour he refused to eat any mans bread freely but wrought with labour and travell night and day that he might not be chargeable to any of them And b●cause this his example did not reforme whiles he was present but some such idle bodies still continued their practise notwithstanding he gives them this new Precept in and by this Epistle vers 14. Now them that are such WE COMMAND and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ and O that our prating busie-bodies who step out of their own callings into other mens and Ministers too would hearken and obey him that they with quietnesse worke or do their own worke as some Translators render it not other mens and eat their own bread not live upon other mens trenchers sweat or labours as thousands do now And if any obey not our word signifie or note that by an Epistle and have no company with him then he will be a Separatist in good earnest that he may be ashamed yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a Brother If our Ministers working with their own hands at our preaching M●chanicks Trades would reduce them to follow their Trades and give over busying themselves in Ministers and other mens publick callings and State-affaires I presume many of them would fall a working for a time for such a good end But ●ince P●uls own example in this kind did not reclaime such busie-bodies then whereupon he prescribed another more effectuall remedie if duely put in execution by Ecclesiasticall and Civill Magistrates Our Ministers who have lesser hopes to reclaim them now by such a practise which would give scandall unto many and make them neglect their proper function have neither reason nor precept to follow this his singular voluntary Precedent upon this ground of his which is no way●s binding to them 4. Though Paul himselfe then laboured among the Corinthians and took no wages from them yet he received wages from other Churches at the same time to supply their lacke of Service unto him 2 Cor. 11. 8 9. Which by way of Sarcasme to upbraide their covetousnesse tenacity and ingratitude towards him he calls Robbing of other Churches because it was to doe them service not those Churches Not that it was robbery indeed as some ignorant asses judge it who understand not Rhetorick and Eloquence for in the next verse he styles it A supply and Phil. 4. 10 15 18. a Communicating to his Nec●sities a well-doing a fruite abounding to their account as well as to

this Realm The first Law I find yet extant amongst us for the due payment of all kind of Tithes in use and being as the Law imports before its promulgation was made in the Nationall Councel or P●rliament at Calchuth in the year of our Lord 785. in the Reigns of King Oswald and King Offa who by the unanimous consent of all their Princes Nobles and Senators as well as Prelates present therein made this memorable Decree touching the Payment of Tithes as a Right and Duty which they were bound to render by God himself by his own Sacred Law originally given to the Israelites which they deemed Obligatory likewise unto them Cap. 17. ut Decimae justè solvantur usura iniqua Pondera Mensurae prohibeantur Thou shalt bring the Tenth part of all thy Corn or increase into the House of the Lord thy God AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW viz. Levit. 27. 30. Numb 12. 17 18. c. Deut. 12. 17 18. chap. 14. 22 23. Neh. 10. 38. not in the Popish Canons Again by THE PROPHET not Pope Mal. 3. 10. c. Bring saith he all the Tithes into the Storehouse that there may be meat in my House and prove me now therewith if I will not open the Doores of Heaven and powr you out a Blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it And I will rebuke the Devourer for you which eats and corrupts the fruit of your grounds and the Vine shall be no more barren in the field saith the Lord. As the Wiseman saith in the Book of Wisdome not the Pope No man can give any just Alms of those things which he possesseth unlesse he shall first separate to the Lord that which from the beginning himself hath appointed to be rendered to him And by this for the most part it happens that he who payes not Tithes is reduced by Gods Justice to the Tenth part of his former Estate whereupon not by any Command from the Pope or by his Authority We Command even with an Obtestation that all be studious to give Tithes of all things they possesse quia speciale Dei donum est BECAVSE IT IS THE PECVLIAR PORTION OF THE LORD GOD and let him love himself and give Alms of the nine parts and we perswade them rather to do it in secret because it is written When thou givest Alms do not blow a Trumpet before thee Mat. 6. 2. After which follows laws against Usury False Weights Measures FOR THE FAITHFVL PERFORMANCE OF VOWS and abolishing the very Reliques of all Pagan Rites warranted by the very words and Presidents of the Sacred Scripture Which Decrees being in a publick Councel before the Kings and all their Prelates Duke● Senator● AND THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND Illi cum omni devotione mentis juxta possibilitatem virium suarum adjuvante superna clementia SE IN OMNIBUS CUSTODIRE DEVOVERUNT who with all Devotion of mind according to the utermost of their power by the assistance of Gods Grace vowed that they would observe them in all things which they all did with an unanimous Voice a chearfull mind and most ready Will ratifying this Council with the Subscriptions of their Names and the Signe of the Crosse the usuall form of those times before States were in use This is the first Law I find extant in our Realm for the due payment of Tithes grounded onely on Divine precepts cited in it not on the Popes Decrees True it is that Gregory Bishop of Ostia Legat to Pope Adrian an Englishman born was President in this Council and had a chief hand in making these Lawes by this Popes direction to whom he returned them but are they therefore popish and Antichristian Laws which ought to be now abolished to gratifie the present Pope and his Emissaries the Jesuits as made against Jesus Christ as John Canne most Magisterially determines if so then these and our other Laws then made against Vsury false Weights Measures which too many cheating Anabaptists use Heathenish Pagan Customes must be Popish and Antichristian too with the Law for performing our Vows and Covenants to God and men the very Scripture cited in them whereon they are grounded which impudency and Atheisme it self dares not affirm If he say they are Jewish Laws then the Scriptures cited in them must be Jewish too Yea the very Title and every page of his new Pamphlet must be rejected as Jewish as well as Jesuitish being Intituled and Superscribed in every page A Second Voice from the Temple The Temple being Jewish and abolished as well as Tithes 1 Cor. 9. 13. John 4. 20. 21. Which I wonder this blind Zelot against Judaisme and Tithes had not Eyes to see or Brains to consider Now these our Predecessors and many others since obliging themselves both by Vows Laws and Covenants to pay Tithes of all to God and his Ministers as Gods peculiar Right and God him self not onely enjoyning men in the Old Testament not to remove the ancient Land-marks their Fathers have duly set Prov. 22. 8. and to make good their Ancestors Oathes and Vows which oblige their Posterity as Gen. 50. 24 25 Exod. 13. 19. Josh 24. 32. chap. 2. 12. to 22. chap. 6. 21. to 26. chap. 9. 15. to 27. chap. 10. 1. to 12. 2 Sam. 21. 1. to 15. 1 Sam. 20. 14 15 16 17 23 42. chap. 23. 8. chap. 24. 21. 2 Chron. 16. 3. compared together resolve but likewise informing them in the new as a Gospel-Truth Gal. 3. 15. That if it be but a mans Covenant if it be confirmed by many Succ●ssive Laws Statutes Curses and Excommunications denounced against the infringers thereof in all succeeding ages as this of Tithes and the Churches Rights and Liberties have been NO MAN DISANULLETH IT By what Authority Right Law Reason Justice Conscience or power from God or Men any presuming Mortals at the sollicitations of Anabaptists Jesuits or Atheisticall wretches can Sacrilegiously attempt to rob God himself and plunder his faithfull Ministers of this their ancient just hereditary Sacred settled Maintenance to which our Ministers have a far ancienter better Right and Title by all Lawes of God and Man than they have to their new acquired Purchases and Powers established settled on them by particular Donors and benefactors out of their own private Inheritances and Estates not the Republicks which neither the Patrons themselves nor any others nor yet the Ministers themselves can alienate from the Church as their own Consciences and Judgements must acknowledge unlesse strangely cauterized Let them and Canne answer to that Soveraign Judge of all the Earth who will probably judge them here and shall certainly judge them eternally hereafter for all such detestable Robberies and violent Rapines if wilfully perpetrated and persevered in without repentance after timely admonition who can quickly strip both them and theirs naked of all their temporall Powers Honours Possessions Enjoyments as he did Jeroboam and his Sonnes for their turning the Priests and