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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

Levites did teach and instruct the people in the Law 2 Chron. 27. 7 8 9. cap. 35. 2 3. cap. 15. 3. Ez●a 7. 25. Neh. 8. 5 to 12. should not receive both Glebes Tithes and voluntary Oblations from the people as well as the Priests and Levites did under the Law by vertue of the self same Levitical law of God by which they claimed ●hem they being both the Priests of the self same God and both executing the self same priestly office in a different manner and that by the Apostles own Argument intention and positive resolution in this Gospel Text let Canne and all other oppugners of their Tithes resolve me and others from as clear Gospel texts these I have here alledged and others formely insisted on in the first Proposition or else yeeld their cause for ever lost I shall close up all with two other Gospel Texts most urged and abused by those now in their own cases who most of all forgot transgressed and oppugned them heretofore in other mens The first is 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. Submit your selves TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN for the Lords sake whether it be TO THE KING AS SUPREAM or UNTO GOVERNOURS c. The Second Rom. 13. 1 2. Let every soul be subject unto the Higher powers for there is NO POWER BVT OF GOD The powers that are are ordained of God whosoever therefore resisieth the power THE ORDINANCE OF GOD and they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation That these two Scriptures extend only to lawfull ●ereditary or elective Kings Governours Higher powers and that in their lawful commands alone not to Usurpers Tyrants Invaders of the peoples Rights Laws Liberties Properties Lives who may and ought to be resisted as well as any other Theeves Robbers Invaders Murtherers whatsoever I have largly proved in my Second Part of my Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes Authorized by the Commons House of Parliament p. 102 to 131. to which I shall refe●r the Reader for satisfaction not being the point in issue to which alone I shall apply them In the former Text last insisted on we had an Ordinance of God himself for the Maintenance and Tithes of the Preachers of the Gospel and here we have two Gospel commandements to submit TO EVERY ORDINANCE of our lawfull Governours and Higher Powers agreeable to Gods Ordinances not repugnant to them for the Lords sake and not to resist them for though the Ordinances themselves be made but by men and in that sence sti●ed every ordinance of man yet the Powers that make them are ordained of God and therefore those who resist them in their humane ordinances though but in humane things do therein resist the very ORDINANCE OF GOD especially in things divine commanded by and approved in Gods own sacred Word Now the Maintenance of Gods Ministers by Tithes is an expresse Ordinance of God himself both before and during the Law and under the Gospel too prescribed warranted by all the forecited Texts And there are infinite Laws Statutes Decrees Canons ORDINANCES of just and lawfull Christian Emperours Kings Governours Parliaments States Councels Synods and all higher Powers as well Civill as Ecclesiastical in all Christian Kingdomes States Churches especially in our own for the establishment and due payment of them to the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel too Therefore they are duly constantly chearfully to be paid unto them by all Christians and Professors of the very Gospel and cannot may not be oppugned detained substracted resisted by John Canne or any of his Confederates nor abrogated by any pretending to Power Ordained by God without resisting the ordinance of God himself fighting against him as these Texts and Acts 5. 39. resolve For which they shall receive to themselves damnation though they dream as many now do they shou●d merit heaven and salvation by subverting both Tithes and Ministers even by open armed violence if they cannot accomplish it by Jesuitical policy and pious frauds And thus much for the confirmation of the Second Proposition by Scripture Texts and Presidents For humane Authorities that Tithes are lawfull and due to Ministers by a Divine Right even under the Gospel I could cite very many were I neer my Library and Books as heretofore but being far distant from them I shall trouble you onely with a Catalogue of such as I have by me or remember For Fathers of this Judgement and opinion you may peruse St. Ambrose in Sermone Quadragesimae cited by Gratian Causa 16. qu. 7. St. Hierome on Mal. 3. and St. Augustine Serm. 219. De Reddendis Decimis Tom. 10. both cited by Gratian Causa 16. qu. 1. For Councils you may peruse Concilium Rothomagense Maforiense in Gratian. Causa 16. qu. 7. Concilium Matisconense 2. Anno 588. Concilium apud Solomanum Anno 1266. Synodus Rothingae An. 1581. Concilium Trevense Ann. 1427. which resolves Decimae fuerunt à DEO primitus Institutae ●raecipiuntur solvi tam de veteri quam de Novo Testamento Syndus Lingon Ann. 1404. Synodus Turonensis An. 1588. Concilium Tridentinum Tholosanum Ann. 1591. which decree That the payment of Tithes Divino jure cautum est sacrisque utriusque Testamenti libris confirmatum All these Collected together by Bochillus Decreto Ecclesiae Gallicanae l. 6. Tit. 8. De Decimis with many more recorded in Binius Sarius Crab Caranza Merlin Syrmond and other Collectors of the Decrees of Councils resolve Tithes to be due to the Ministers of the Gospel by Divine Right For forreign popish Authors Aimericus Bishop of Poitiers in France in a Synod there held An. 1367. Enjoyned all Chaplains on Lords-dayes and Holy-dayes diligently to declare to the people in time of Masse and likewise in their Sermons under pain of Excommunication Qualiter Ex praecepto Divinae Legis quilibet Catholicus tenetur solvere Ecclesiae decimas de omnibus licite acquisitis Gratian the Canonist Caus 16. qu. 1. 7. with John Therry and others Glossers on his Text Hostiensis in his Summa Aurea Angelus de Clavasio in his Summa Angelica Baptista Tirvomala in his Summa Rossella Tit. Decimae Innocentius Res de Decimis Rezulfus de Decimis Tyndanus in his special Tract de Decimis printed at Colen An. 1590. and generally all other Canonists Alexander Alensis Summa Theol. parte 3. Richardus de Media vissa in lib. 4. Sentent Distinct 17. and most other Schoolmen on that place Aquinas 2. 2. quaest 87. with most Commentators on him there assert That Tithes are even at this day JURE DIVINO in quantum sunt à jure Naturali Morali but not as they were Ceremonial That Popish old and new Expositors and Commentators on Gen 14 and 28. Levit. 2. Chron. 31. Neh. 10. and 13. Mal. 3. Mat. 10. Luke 10. Rom. 16. 1 Cor. 9. Gal. 6. 6. 1 Thess 5. Heb. 7. 1 Tim. 5. are all of the same opinion and most Protestant Expositors likewise And therefore the Jesui●● popish

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

at all or judgement in their Art learning their Military skill not at their owne but the peoples great costs 3. Learned Ministers both before and after their admission into the Ministry are at great charges to furnish themselves with Bookes and Libraries necessary for their Calling whereas our Officers and Souldiers are and were furnished with all sorts of Armes and Ammunition fitting for their calling out of the publick Treasury only which continually recruites them when lost in Service 4. The calling of the Ministry requires men of far more able parts and eminency of gifts whereby they might gain far more worldly wealth riches and honours in many other callings then they do or can do by the Ministry by which they are commonly losers in respect of worldly gains ●and preferments a thing very considerable then the calling of an ordinary Souldier or most warlike Officers doe as experience manifests and I thinke most Soldiers and Officers will acknowledge and thereupon must admit them proportionable allowance to their parts and work in the Ministry it selfe 5. Ministers when once entred into their callings are alwayes day and night upon constant duty without intermission their whole lives being so taken up with study preaching catechizing praying fasting exhorting admonishing reproving comforting visiting the sick in body troubled in minde resolving doubts of conscience and other Ministeriall duties as well private as publick that they have most of them scarce one spare day or hour all the year to imploy in other affaires for their owne advantage in worldly things Whereas many of our Army Officers and Souldiers lie idle in their Quarters many months if not years of late together without any actuall service and yet receive their full constant pay and those in actuall service and Garisons do that they call duty only by turnes once or twice a week and then but for two or three houres in a day being then successively relieved by others having sufficient time every day and week not only to follow their private Trades if they please necessary usefull beneficiall to others but also to exercise Merchandise and other gainfull worldly imployments and Offices to which they were never trained up whereby most of them are grown richer then most of our Ministers in halfe the space they were fitting for their Ministry before they received one penny profit by it As for our Officers they seldome do any duty have all their men-servants listed under them and paid by the people to do them service only being exempt from duty and how seldome they have been of late times at their Quarters upon their duty as Souldiers but otherwise sitting in Counsell to advance their own power estates and pull down all above them to intrude themselves into their places we all see by experience contrary to the Apostles precept 2 Tim. 2. 4. No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that he may please not supplant him who hath chosen him to be a Souldier and to John the Baptists injunction to Souldiers Luke 3. 14. Do violence to no man nei●her accuse any falsely and be content with your wages Which ungospell practises I wish they would first reforme by conforming themselves unto this Precept before they reforme our Ministers or their setled wages a thing beyond if not against their calling 6. The calling of Ministers as it is every way farre more laborious as perillous and full of hardship as that of Souldiers 2 Cor. 11. 23 to 33. 4. 8 9 10 11. 2 Tim. 2. 3 9 10 12. 3. 10 11 12. 4. 5 6 7. So questionlesse it is far more honourable necessary usefull beneficiall to others then that of Souldiers and Commanders for they are the very Embassadors of God himselfe and Jesus Christ the King and Lord of glory the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Prince of the Kings of the earth and only Potentate to whom all other Powers and kne●● must bow beseeching men in Christs stead to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. The Ministers servants messengers of Jesus Christ workers together with him Stewards of the mysteries of God and the glory of Christ 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. 2 Cor. 6. 1. 8. 23. 2 Tim. 2. 24. imployed to preach to sinfull men the unsearchable riches of Christ to turne them from darknesse unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Eph. 3. 8. Act. 26. 18. to rescue their souls from the slavery and power of sin Satan hell death everlasting damnation and make them the sonnes of God heirs and coheirs with Christ of everlasting glory and felicity in Gods heavenly Kingdome through the power of Gods Grace and Spirit working in with by and through their Ministry on their hearts Now the calling of a Souldier though it be honourable and in some cases lawfull and necessary if rightly managed yet it is for the most part sinfull hurtfull pernicious dangerous and unbeseeming the Gospell in respect of the cause managing abuses thereof it being accompanied with murther violence rapine treachery perjury sacriledge cruelty inhumanity profanenesse blasphemy contempt of God of all sacred civill Lawes and Ordinances ambition treason and the worst of sins tending usually like an overflowing Deluge to the subversion desolation ruine of whole Families Cities Countries Kingdomes Churches yea Mankinde it selfe Religion Lawes Liberties Properties turning whole f●amous Cities into ashes and Kingdomes into Golgatha s Acheldamaes fields of bloud and dead mens sculs very wildernesses as the Scripture Histories and experience manifest Hence God styles great Warriers and Armies The rod of his anger a Battle Ax with which he breaketh in pieces the Nations destroyeth Kingdomes and treadeth them down like the mire in the streets and then at last destroyes them in his wrath when they have executed his judgements for their rapines violence and bloudy cruelty Isa 10. 5 c. Jer. 51. 20 c. They being really carried on from one war to another out of vainglory ambition covetousnesse a mad humour of false greatnesse et nullus supra caeteros eminendi modus in sua fata pariter ac publica to their own and the publick ruine yet still under a pretext of publick good and safety as Seneca excellently writes in his 94 Epistle a piece worth the reading of Alexander the great Caesar Pompey Marius qui cum omnia concuterent concutieb antur et cum mult is fuerunt mali pestiferam illam vim qua plerosque nocuerunt ipsi quoque sentiunt And indeed the Profession of a Souldier even in the best of men and warres is so full of danger and pollution that it leaves some scars of sin and tincture of pollution on them Whence we read that though David were a man after Gods own heart and fought the battels of the Lord against his professed enemies by his speciall command with constant successe yet God would by no means permit him to build an house and Temple

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

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

reviled persecuted defamed we are as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things unto this day If all Ministers in times of peace and setlement must be like the Apostles in not receiving ti●hes then they must be like them too even in setled Christian Kingdoms States Churches in all these their particular sufferings and have no certain dwelling place c. And if so Let Canne his new Ministers of the Gospel as they stile themselves begin the president of whom our Ministers may now say as Paul did of the Corinthians in the precedent verse of this chapter v. 8. Now ye are full nowye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us when as most of them were very poore and farre enough from reigning as Kings or so much as Petty Constables before these unhappy Wars and in dayes of former persecution when Canne himself durst not shew his face in England for fear of a Bishops power or High-commission Pursuivant nor durst reproach our Orthodox protestant pious Ministers and Parliaments as Antichristian Popish and compare their Laws for Ministers Tithes with the very Idolatrous Statutes of Omri and A●ab as he doth now p. 3. for which he might have taken a turn at Tiburn in steed of walking fre●ly in Westminster Hall without being questioned for this his impudent high Slanders both of our Laws and Parliaments as well as Ministry 6. If the M●nisters of the Gospel be bound to imitate the Apostles in all things then they must not have Gold nor Silver nor Brasse in their purses neither Scrip nor two Coats nor yet Shoes but Sandals onely on their feet Mat. 10. 9 10. Mar. 6. 8 9. as the Capuchin-Friars Mendicants hence conclude this being a positive Precept the objected examples of the Apostles c. onely a a President And if so not onely all our Ministers but Canne and all his Administrators must turn Friars Mendican●s too in good earnest who ground their Vow of Voluntary poverty on this Text and the objected Presidents of Christ and his Apostles and so become no Ministers of Christ but Antichrist and as truly Antichristian as these Friars are 7. If our Ministers must all now be like those of the Primitive times whiles under persecuting Heathen Emperours Kings Magistrates then all Saints and Christians too in our dayes and times must imitate and be like the Saints and Christians in those dayes They must sell all their old and new purchased Lands Houses Lordships Palaces and lay the money at the Ministers feet have all things in common like the reall Saints and Christians in the Apostles times Acts 4. 34. to the end and instead of Lording and feasting it in their new acquired Royall Episcopall Palaces and Mannor Houses they must wander about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins in Desarts and in Mountains and in Dens and Caves of the earth being destitute and affli●ted like the Saints of old yea and like them they must be tortured not accepting deliverance have trialls of cruell mockings and scourgings bonds and imprisonments be stoned sawn asunder slain with the Sword instead of slaying plundering imprisoning and sawing others asunder with the Sword Heb. 11. 35. to 39. And when our Army-Saints Officers Souldiers with other Tithe Oppugners who presse this Objection against Ministers Tithes shall lay down their Arms Commands Power Lands sell all they have and become like to all these Primitive Saints and Martyrs of Christ in sufferings in times of Persecution I doubt not but our Ministers will joyfully part both with their Glebes Rectories Tithes and setled Maintenance to sympathize with them in their Persecutions and Sufferings But til● such hard times of Persecutions and they begin to follow this President of the self-denying Primitive S●ints I hope they will not make all our Ministers present Martyrs in their Tithes and setled Maintenance nor enjoyn them alone to follow the Primitive Ministers of the Gospel in those times of persecution and prove greater persecutors to them in these pretended times of Christian Liberty and Justice than the late Oppressing Prelates and High Commissioners who suffered many of them though Non-conformists to enjoy their Tithes and Glebes and not eject or disinherit them and their Successors for ever of their ancient Glebes Tithes and setled Maintenance without any Legall Tri●ll by their Peers or Conviction of any Treasonable crimes against our known Lawes for which they deserve to forfeit them and all under the false petence that Tithes are Jewish and Antichristian under the Gospel which I hope I have sufficiently refuted being established on them by Ch●istian Kings States Parliaments immediately after the Primitive persecutions generally throughout Christendome as the fittest Maintenance of all other and particularly in our Realm when as the abolishing of them will be really such in the Judgement of all Godly Protestants and Patrons of Religion both at home and throughout the World FINS a Isa 45. 15. 46. 9. b Mat. West An. 1055. p. 422. Antiq. Eccles Brit. ● 88 89. c Psal 73. 25. d Act. 17. 28. e Psal 73. 26 f 1 Thess 5. 23. Rom. 11. 36. Psal 139. 15 16 17. g Psal 100. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Job 7. 20. Gen. 48. 16. h Dan 6. 16. i 2 Tim. 4. 17. k Dan. 3. 19 20 c. l Jona 1. 2. m In my Histriomast●x Healths sicknesse Love-locks Cosens Cosening Devotions Breviate Quench-cole Memento Speech in Parliament and other Books n Jude 3. Levit. 19. 17. Tit. 1. 13. o Rom. 13. 1 2. p Deut. 7. 9. Neh. 1. 5. P●a 89. ● 28. to 38 110 4. 11● 5. Jer. 33. 20 21 c. Heb. 5. 17 18. q Gen 50. 5 6 Levit. 19. 12. Num. 30. 2. Josh 1. 17. 6. 22. 9. 15 to 22. Psal 15. 4. Hos 10. 4. Zech. 5 4. Eccles 8. 2. Ezek. 17. 16 18 19. r Prov. 24. 21 22. Rom. 16 17. 2 Ti● 3. 1 to 8. s Revel ●● 1 2. t Psal 20. 5● 6 7 8. u Ps 107. 16. x Act. 12. 4 to 12. y See the Beacon fired and Nicolas Causins the Jesuit's holy Court printed at London 1650. in folio z Psal 146. 7. a Isa 49. 9. 42. 7. b 1 Sam. 7. 12. c Psa 83 4 5 6 7 8. d Act. 6. 10. e 1 Co. 14. 25. f Psal 83. 9. 10 11 c. g Psal 79. 13. h Psal 146. 2. 104. 33. a Ezek. 46. 16. 5● 16. give it this Title b Isa 5. 25. Ezek. 13. 5. 22. 30. c Magna Carta of King Henry the I. and K. John Mat. Paris Hist Angl. p. 53. 230. 246. 9 H. ● c. 1. 29. 37. ●imes since confirmed in Parliament d Isa 49 23. 60. 9 10. Psal 72 10 11. Rev. 21 24. e J●r 47. 6 7. f A collection of Ordinances c. p. 124. 125. g Mat. 15. 13 h G●l 3. 9. i Gen. 14. 20. Heb. 7. 1 to 12. k Dr. Griffith W●lliams