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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77553	The power of God overpowering the creature. Which power came upon me William Britten, the 3d. day of the 11th. month, (called February) 1659. not suffering me to depart my chamber, until I had promised the Lord to answer a book, which I had then never seen, and but once heard of; set forth by William Prynne in defence of tyths, &c. and to present the answer in print unto the governing power of England for the time being. But making delayes, and Fran. Spira-like, consulting with flesh and blood, the Lord terrified me in conscience for neglect, yet in mercy did set me (like Jonah) the second time upon the same work.	Britten, William, d. 1669.	1660 (1660)	Wing B4824A; ESTC R170818	27,030	51

God the who● shall be full of light Luke 11.36 as the sure wo● of prophesie from that Spirit will make a glorio● work 2 Pet. 1.19 to shine as a light in a dark place but thi● mystery which flesh is more ready to cavil at a● why Because the natural man sees not spirituall● an● so these things are foolishness unto him 1 Cor. ● 14. But thus much I may open that in the New Cov●nant work all hireling Teachers shall be laid asid● so that men will not assume the Ministerial office u●til they have a sure call of God to go forth nor sh●● pure hearers give heed unto any but those thus calle● whereby that one God by his own Spirit shall tea● his Ministers what to speak and their auditors ho● to use what is made known and so Teachers a● Hearers all in the true Church shall be taught 〈◊〉 God as they are all ●aught by his Spirit and no● speaks or hears but by the leadings forth of the sa● God Mat. 10.20 and thus declares our Saviour it is not 〈◊〉 that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speake● in you so that in the pure Gospel work of his Min●sters God owns their speakings to be his and th● teachings to be his Luke 10.16 Mat 25.35 c. as he did of his Prophets and 〈◊〉 takes good or evil done to them as to himself therefo● all those who long for this glorious New Covena● work leave off to plead for a hireling Ministry 〈◊〉 serve for lucres sake and live in filth as many do and let us go on to the perfection of things He useth Mat. 23.23 Luke 11.42 about t● Jews Tything Mint Rue c. which by them ou● to be done Answ God never commanded any people upon ●he earth to pay Tyths but the Jews so this only ●oncern'd them and is nothing to us Gentile Church●s from whom the Lord never required such a thing ●s Tyths or any settled Maintenance for his Mini●ters whatsoever nor did the Apostles ever practise ●uch a thing nor do the Scriptures any where seem to ●ountenance the same therefore as every building ●tands on its own Basis so our Gospel Churches must be built upon the Gospel Foundation Jesus Christ ●eing the cheef corner stone but those that impose or ●orce any Tyths Ephes 2.20 or setled maintenance for the Mini●try by a National law they are besides this true Foundation work being upon that combustible mat●er of Wood Hay Stubble c. which must be ●ryed and burnt up by the fire of Gods Spirit 1 Cor. 3.10.12 He useth Gal. 6.6 How he that is taught in the word should communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Answ According to the pure Gospel practise his should be our way to maintain faithful Ministers ●y communicating imparting or giving freely unto ●hem without any outward inforcement whatsoever ●f Fines Warrants Persecution c. That as God ●reely sends forth his Teachers so the auditors to re●eive the same spiritual nourishment freely without honey or the like price of Indenting Securing Rev 21.6 Isa 55.1 Rev. 22.17 Mat. 10.8 Bar●aining c. aforehand what to have for teaching ●o likewise were the converts to retaliate freely in cor●oral supplies unto such Teachers by way of commu●ication that is as the Disciples in teaching made ●he spiritual gift common or free to all that desired it ●o those that were taught should make their corporal ●ourishments common or free unto such Ministers 〈◊〉 necessity required for the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 com●unices which holds forth that Communion union together in the body of Christ society and fellowship as every member helping communicating and taking care one of another He useth Luk. 19.8 about Zacheus restitution and giving ●o the poor c. Answ This nothing concerns a setling of a Maintenance c. But here professors may behold a notable sign of a true convert and if William Pryn had took the like pains to draw Englands several sects unto Zacheus practise he had done a good work which if taking effect there are many professors would not be quiet in their consciences to sit still upon their dunghills of ill gotten goods untill restitution was made in what they had wronged others He useth Rom. 13.1 c. how every soul must be subject to the higher Powers c. And so would infer from thence that as the powers of a Nation make a law for Tythes c. So such a Power should be obeyed therein Answ This Inference is no Gospel but a wrong consequence drawn forth for although the powers of a Nation can and ought to make laws agreeable to the law of God yet they have no power from the Lord to restrain or bind the tender consciences in a spiritual work as forcing them to transgress therein or else to suffer persecution Nebuchadnezzars power made laws which I doubt not but in temporal rights the Jews obeyed but when his decree was to worship the Image Dan. 3.1 c that being repugnant to God Law their was no damnation unto Shedrach Meshach and Abednego who could not in conscience yeeld unto it that being no Ordinance of God It is good therefore that those which make laws and execute them be first grounded in the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 which are able to make men wise unto Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus Being well accquainte● with Gods Laws to know which are in force and what is repealed seeing all Christian laws should be measured by the rule of God Laws and if no Scripture speaks the same thing you have in hand yet see which cometh nearest to it that so like Moses the servant of God knowing his Laws well you may be the better able to give forth Laws unto the people He useth 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to ●he King as supream c. Answ This Scripture cometh near unto the former at which time of Paul and Peters preaching the ●upream Powers did not make Ordinances against Christian professors for the sev●ral Nations in that ●art of the world under Caesars government had their ●iberty in worship and so had the Christians untill ●he times of persecution yea those then in government were greater friends unto them then was the professing Jews Mat. 27.24 Act. 12.3 Acts 23.24 Act. 14.2 for even Pilate condemned Christ ●t the Jews request and Herods cruelty was to please ●he Jews also Paul was defended from the Jews rage ●y that present Power yea the Jews stirred up the Gentiles against the disciples and the Jews in Baby●on Media Persia c. Had their liberty in religion ●eing to pray for that peace of the City where they was ●n captivity Jer. 29 7. Such freedome had the Gospel planters that Pauls ●reached the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum Rom. 15.19 so ●at it fully appears how these Ordinances to

upon the peoples alms ●nd voluntary contributions Answ This W. P. cannot deny but useth eva●asions and stories to get from it yet none of them ●ll can contradict it but that William Thorp sayes ●rue in it which agrees with Scriptures for the Apostles did so in what they took by alms and volun●ary contribution but no compulsion by any humane law whatsoever was then used so the new divice for Setling and forceing a Maintenanee for Ministers was none of the foundation upon Christ the Corner Stone but when Antichrist crept in he ●aught the Priests Pride Idleness and Fulness Ephes 2.20 which could not be maintain'd but by covetousness ●nd oppression so first they obtain'd a setled Main●enance and after that by degrees gain'd a power al●o to inforce it by violence all which was against ●he Gospel practise His Book having two parts I have done with the ●●rst and now come to the second to view some ●umane matter therein also contained yet some●hing he hath by way of appendix about Melchese●ech and his proof is the opinions of Petrus Cuneus ●nd Griffith Williams which being but Opinion I ●hall wave it At Page 7. He is about Authors Fathers Hi●●ories and other humane Writers old and new to ●●nfirm his plea yea he proceedeth to Pagan Romans Heathens Arabians Carthaginians c. telling us page 11. how those that vowed their Tyth● to Jupiter Apollo c in doing of it had a plentiful crop and page 12. tells of Demostens the Pagan who reproved those that did rob the faigned goddess Minerva of her tenths c. and of tenths t● Apollo and Diana with the Temple and Alta● for her worship running divers pages on this account Answ These things are far from a Gospel ple● more fitter to be reprehended than recorded fo● Christians to take examples by seeing the Scripture should be our guide Page 22. He pretends a setled Maintenance fo● Ministry from the Creation to this present and th● it must be by Tyths Answ He now contradicts himsef in what ● granted that in the Gospel planting no Tyths we● paid amongst Christians for the first 200. or 30● Years neither do we read in Scriptures that ev● Tyths were setled or commanded of God until t● Livitical Law and then he gave that order unto t● Jews only and to no other which was many hundred years after the Creation until which time 〈◊〉 read of none that paid Tyths but Abraham once in voluntary act by way of congratulation when Mechesedech brought bread and Wine Gen 14.18 and blessed hi● but herein we may behold how he wrests the Scri●tu es according to the Apostles expression 2 Pet. 3 16. Page 26. He proceeds to tell us how Tyths m● be inforced upon refusers by coercive Laws c. Troopers hold their Horses with Bits and Bridl● and quickned with Spurs when lazie and as Sh●herds their Sheep with doggs and hooks c. Answ By this we may see what cruelty ratio● creatures would use one towards another if ● Higher Powers would suffer it as appears by his expressions even as to Horses c. Surely the man forgets himself what he saw once and suffered under prelacy that now by a humane Law would thus Tyrannize over his fellow creatures without any authority from the Lord remember that place Mat. 18.28 It is hard measure when a man released out of Prison shall begin to pull his fellow by the throat and shew no compassion Page 43. He presents us with a Catalogue of Englands Laws made for Tyths which have been many Answ What was done in times of Ignorance God wincked at Acts 17.30 but when he shines upon a Nation by the clear Gospel Light of Christ he wills men to repent and come out of that darkness It was formerly with England as to Israel in Egypt under dark dispensations and although Joseph of Arimathea might plant a true Church here yet Antichrist soon crept in as appears by the after setting up of Popery and compulsion unto set forms by the Clergy who condemned the witnesses in several ages that God raised up against such traditions sentencing them for Hereticks the Clergy Power overswaying in Councils Synods c. Whereby they insulted over Governours and Magistrates pretending to have Peters Keyes in remitting and sending to Hell at their pleasure so that where opposition was made against them they persecuted making Magistrates often times as their slaves being overswayed as Pilate was by the High Ppriest in crucifying Christ of which things the Apostle foretold how grievous Wolves should offend the Church Acts 20.29 Formerly Englands layety was in much ignorance of Scriptures the then Clergy agreeing that Lay men should not meddle with the meaning thereof so concerning things of Religion the Clergy swayed as they listed although Kings and Parliaments made Laws yet no Law would be allowed of by them against Priestly Power and Maintenance yet afterwards when the light did shine more forth in Queen Elizabeths dayes things of worship must be done as the Clergy would have it so take away the Popish Power and Mass Book if a prelatical power may remain and the Diana of Tyths continue and how did the late usurping Protector conglutinate the Clergy unto himself but by augmenting their Maintenance Acts 19.24 and continuing the old Laws to inforce the same by Tyths c. as formerly Jehu boasted to Iehonadab of his zeale destroyed the House of Ahab and slew Baals Prophets yet he would not trust God with his cause in the peoples Worship to go up to Ierusalem 2 King 10.11.15 ver 25.29 but left the Calves in Dan and Bethel as the old snare unto Israel from the time of Ieroboam 1 King 12.26 27 28. So Prelacy would demolish Popery and Presbytery would overthrow Prelacy conditionally an outward Clergy power may hold the old Setled Forced Popish Maintenance continue for they dare not trust God in this case of Maintenance taking it in the pure Gospel manner by a free contribution as the Apostles took it but they will go beyond the Lord and his Stewards and Embassadours which himself imployed in his Gospel work Note Reader this sad story of Religion how Iehu's practise is still followed where such a Ministry will eat destroy the name of one another as Ieh● did the House of Ahab and yet he and other Kings in Israel to continue the sins of Ieroboam so for Prelacy to eat out Popery and Presbyters to eat out Prelacy c. and yet the Idol of Tyths to continue which draws so many unto that office what is all this but Iehu's practise still continued I confess since Queen Elizabeths time many things have been sweetly manifested and divers witnesses according to the present discoveries have given forth their Testimonies but to be wondred at we may observe that wi●hin these last twenty years there hath been more discoveries made of Gospel Mysteries th●n was by all the English Chergy for

THE Power of God Overpowering the CREATURE Which Power came upon me William Britten the 3d. day of the 11th Month called February 1659. not suffering me to depart my Chamber until I had promised the Lord to Answer a Book which I had then never seen and but once heard of set forth by William Prynne in defence of Tyths c. and to present the Answer in Print unto the Governing Power of England for the time being But making delayes and Fran. Spira-like consulting with flesh and blood the Lord terrified me in Conscience for neglect yet in mercy did set me like Jonah the second time upon the same work 2 Chron. 34.14 Hilkiah the Priest found a Book of the Law of the Lord. And vers 15. Hilkiah delivered the Book to Shaphan And vers 18. Shaphan read it before the King And vers 30. He read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant And vers 32. The King caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it And vers 33. Josiah took away all the Abominations out of all the Countries And 2 Kings 23.25 Like unto him was there no King before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart c. LONDON Printed for the Author 1660 THE Power of God Overpowering the CREATURE According to my engagement unto the Lord who hath led me forth in this Work I humbly present this Answer unto the Governing Power of England which I acknowledge to be King Charles II. with His Council and Parliament William Britten TO allow Gospel Ministers a Maintenance the Scriptures are clear for it but in what manner and from whom the same shall arise the Gospel Law can best decide the Controversie I shall not answer each Page of his Book seeing there are so many Itterations and repetitions of things especially in those large discriptions of the Jewish Tyths and Levittical Priesthood wherein he strives to model a Maintenance from thence to Gospel Ministers but is to us as if he had pleaded for Circumcision to our Gentile Churches His Book hath two Parts I begin with the former and so pass through both first viewing those Scriptures he makes use of to see if any such thing as Tyths or a settled Maintenance for Ministers of the Gospel be found in holy Writ to be either practised or named amongst Disciples or Believers in the primitive times when the Scriptures were written people became Christians which ought to be our guide and rule to follow At his 4th page he begins with Scripture as Matt 10.5 c. Luke 10.1 c. how our Saviour authorised and sent forth the 12. and the 70. Disciples to preach the Gospel c. by which Commission they were not to carry any provision for their journey for the workman is worthy of his meat Vers 10. Answ Nor were they to receive Tyths or other setled Maintenance nor bargain aforehand what reward should be for their pains neither had they any humane power to enforce supplies whilst they were upon that work nor to punish any in body or estate that refused to give unto them where they came to preach God never taught his Messengers to persecute any for unkindness in these spiritual works Mat. 10.14 Acts 13.51 but if they will not receive them the dust of their feet must be a testimony against such yet these Teachers must go forth and trust to their Master for their reward from whose Spirit they had freely received Mat. 10.8 and were to give freely not sell it and they which did partake of their spiritual work in hearing were likewise led by the same spirit to impart unto the Teachers for corporal supplies In page 5. he useth John 4.36 c. how he that reapeth receiveth wages so both rejoyce together c Answ This joy is not only of this life but also that everlasting joy wherein God will reward his faithful ones but here note three things first the Reaper must be a Workman of the Masters appointment Secondly the same Master must pay him and not a stranger Thirdly his wages must be according to his Lords contract all which the Parable makes plain and how they received every man a Penny from their Master c. So Gospel Ministers must be called of God to that Work Mat. 20.1 c. going forth freely with the Gift in Teaching and his promise is that good measure shall be returned them again Luke 6.38 But those that dare not go forth to preach untill their bargain is made or assurance aforehand by a humane Law to compel a Reward for their Labour shew plainly they dare not rely upon God for a Maintenance but will rather trust men to secure the same for although they profess Gods Call to that Ministry at entering into it Tit. ● 16 yet in works of obedience to beleeve him therein they deny him as not trusting to his promises to provide for them Heb. 13.5 In his 7th page he produceth 1 Tim. 5.17 18. how the Elders that Rule well should be counted worthy of double honour c. The Oxe shall not be muzzled and the Labourer is worthy of his reward Answ The double honour is taken to be respect Maintenance which being given freely as led forth of God from his Law in the heart shews Obedience answerable in a true Professor which double honour must not be raked torn from the hearers by a human power but drawn forth by the love of God that as the Oxe is not to be muzled when he works for his Master in harvest neither is he to have power over his Master by pulling and tearing what he list from him but to be a partaker as refreshed with some of the harvest benefit all which sets forth the duty of true Converts who ought freely to respect and maintain such pure Gospel Ministers as have need and are religiously free to receive those necess●ries that as they receive benefit by Scripture labourers so it is their duty and the love of God will constrain them if they are true Christians to shew kindness unto his Messengers but all these Scriptures ma●e nothing towards Tyths or a setled maintenance the gift is left free unto the cheerful g●vers in the several generations according to the tenour of the Scriptures 2 Cor. 9.7 Mat. 9.38 He useth also wherein our Saviour bids pray the Lord of the Harvest that he will send forth Labourers into his Harvest Answ This sets forth Gods power who only can fit and call men to the Ministerial office which may shew us how all the humane learning that men can obtain cannot make a Gospel Minister it is the proper work of God and to him we must pray to furnish us in a pure Ministry and it may inform us of the great mistakes about this weighty work wherein many have undertaken to make Ministers Divines Bachellors and Doctors of Divinity or holiness c. which is