Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	law_n	transgress_v	transgression_n	5,886	5	10.8651	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79864	A rod discovered, found, and set forth to whip the idolaters till they leave off their idolatry (which yet remains in the rulers of England, their ministers, and the people who follow thier wayes) which doth consist in the houses of high places, falsly called churches; the two universities, Cambridge and Oxford, (and their ministers, which are made by man, and not of God) and their ministers maintenance (not the ministers of Christs) which is portions of lands, tythes, offrings, oblations, obventions, and great houses for a certain dwelling place on the earth, and forms of oathes, all which is the fruit of idolaters, and the abomination of the heathen. So likewise here is described the true magistrate and his work; and the way (for he who is not) to become such a one; and likewise, the way for all people to come out of their idolatry, vo worship the true God in spirit and truth. Written by me Henry Clark. Unto which is prefixed the epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Laodiceans.	Clark, Henry, 17th cent.	1657 (1657)	Wing C4457; Thomason E926_1; ESTC R207580	107,831	79

that lay upon the people and likewise for the unprofitablenesse thereof The children of Israel were by the law commanded to pay first fruits and tythes for the maintenance of the levitical priesthood And the sons of Levi who received the office of che Priesthood had a commandment to take tythes of their Brethren according to the law and of no other Nation or people were they to receive any first fruits or tythes but verily that commandment is disanulled and the law is changed by our King our Law-giver and our Iudge and Prophet and Priest for ever viz. Christ Iesus who having abolished in his Flesh the enmity even the law ef commandments contained in Ordinances and hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and contrary to us which was a yoake of bondage upon the neck of the Disciples he took it and nailed to his cross tryumphing over them in himself and said It is finished for he is the end of the law for righteeusnesse to every one that believeth in him c. But wicked and ungodly men who believe not in him even Kings Rulers Pope Matth. 13.54 55 56 57. Mark 6.23 Ioh. 7.48 49. Bishops Priests for out of their own mouths they are judged Have any of the Rulers believed in him And said Paul Not many wise men after the flesh nor many mighty nor many Nobles are called even such as believe not in Christ Iesus will not that he should reign over them therefore they have made unrighteous unjust and unholy laws for to require people to pay tythes to the priests and ministers which they themselves have so ordained consecrated and sent forth and not God And the Priests and Ministers who are not ordained nor consecrated nor sent forth of God but by man even they by their unrighteous unholy and the unjust laws of men they take tythes and sue men at the unrighteous law for tythes and cause men to be put in prison by the unjust law for tythes and by the unholy law they take trebble damages of mens goods for non-payment of tythes thus contradicting what Christ Jesus hath done for Christ the true King and the just and righteous Lawgiver he disannulled the law Eph. 2.15 Col. 2.14 15. and abolished the law of Commandments and blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances and changed the priesthood that took the tythes so that when the levitical priesthood ceased to be a priesthood the tythes ceased also and the law likewise Therefore I say That the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents who have made laws to pay and to take tythes by they are such as believe not in Christ Jesus the Son of God for had they believed on Christ Jesus the Son of God they would have owned him to have been a King and a Law-giver unto them and likewise they would that he should have reigned over them as King and had they loved him Isa 26.12 13 33.22 Ioh. 13.21 Matth. 23.23 Luke 18.12 they would have kept his commandments but such as own not Christ to be King and Law-giver believe not in him and so will not that he should rule and reign over them These as the Scribes Pharisees and Hyyocrites did so do they pay tythes of Mint Annis Cummin Rue and all manner of Herbs yea and of all that they possesse and so by their works they deny Christ to be King and Law-giver and Priest too but said Christ Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither Luke 19 27. and slay them before me Now there was a time that the Hypocrites Scribes and Pharisees paid tythes as said Christ Ye pay tythes c. and at that time that they paid tythes they omitted the weightier matters of the law Judgment Mercy and Faith which said Christ ye ought to have done and not to leave the other that is tythes undone which tythes was to be paid according to the law by the people of Israel which law and carna ordinances imposed upon the people continued for them to observe and do until the time of reformation which reformation was by Christ Jesus who changed the priesthood and disannulled the law and said Paul He having abolished the law of commandments and blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us nailing it to his crosse so that after that time that Christ had fulfilled the law and put an end to that law which was a shadow of good things to come and changed the Priesthood to which the tythes was paid I say again That there was no more tythes nor first fruits to be paid and all they that refused to pay tythes and first fruits after that time of reformation which was made by Christ Jesus who offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and after he had so done Heb. 10.12 Rom. 4.15 he sate down at the right hand of God they transgressed no law in so doing for where there is no law there is no transgression But the Heathen at this they raged and the people imagined a vaine thing the Kings of the earth they set themselves and the Rulers and the Pope and the Cardinals the Bishops and the Popes Adherents took counsel together against the Lord and against his annointed saying Come let us break their bonds asunder and cast their Cords from us such would not that Christ should rule and reign over them these were and are enemies to God they have made the Word of God of non-effect they have set Christ at naught and have lightly esteemed the Rock of their salvation they have cast his Law behinde their backs and will have none of his reproof they have not taken up the Crosse of Christ nor gone in the strait way that leads unto life but have gone in the broad way that leads unto destruction being led by a spirit of error in their Councils whereby they did make Decrees Canons Constitutions Laws Statutes Acts and Ordinances which are unjust unrighteous impure and not good for said the men of Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and Herefordshire speaking of the Acts and Statutes made in former Kings dayes for the payment of tythes said they The Husband-mans Ploa against tythes printed in the year 1647. Because Acts of Parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a Parliament said they as well as a Council may be led by wrong Principles and so erre and so make Laws or Statutes that are unjust c. So acting against the Lord and against his Annointed in making Laws Canons Acts c. to pay tythes by for after that Christ had disannulled the Law and put an end to it they made Laws to uphold and to pay tythes therefore those Councils and Parliaments c. who have acted and made such Laws formerly and those that do act and make such Laws to pay tythes by now were and are led by a spirit of error to bring again upon the necks

man in an evil cause because he is poor neither is he to countenance a rich man in an evil cause because of his riches and high titles of honour neither is he to pervert the words of the righteous whether he be rich or poor Neither is he to judge for reward nor to take bribes or gifts because they blind the eye and so they cannot see to do just judgement nor to judge righteously for the Lord betwixt man and man rich and poor great and small c. 4. The Magistrate that ruleth over man must not accept the person of the wicked Psal 82.2 3 4. Deut. 16.18 19 20. but he is to defend the poor and fatherlesse and to do justice for the afflicted and needy and to deliver the poor and needy and to rid them out of the wicked speedily Therefore he is not to be afraid of the fear of man but to fear the Lord God and him alone to serve in doing of true justice and in judging righteously and he is to follow altogether that which is just that so he may leve and inherit the land which the Lord God giveth him Hear O ye Kings Rulers and Iudges of the earth the double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes he wavereth like a wave of the Sea that is driven with the winde and tossed to and fro Therefore let your eye be single that your whole body may be full of light that ye may behold the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ and so ye may see to do true justice and judgement for the Lord betwixt man and man but if your eye be evil your whole body is full of darknesse confusion and every evil thing and so no justice nor true judgement is then done by you for the Lord. Be wise therefore O ye Rulers and Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with fear the fear of the Lord is to depart from iniquity and the beginning of wisdom Therefore kisse the Son least he be angry with you and when his wrath is kindled ye perish from the right way of truth and judgement And ye that rule while ye have time prise it and rule with diligence and be not sloathful in your businesse but be fervent in spirit serving the Lord and meddle not with things that be too high for you nor with those things which ye ought not to have to do with Read 1 King 12.31 13.33 34. 16.30 31 32 33. In the time of ignorance God winked at many things but light is now come into the world and God calls upon all men every where to repent and would have them come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved Therefore come out of Babylon my people come out of Babylon saith the Lord and return O Israel if thou wilt return return unto the Lord the onely true God who is light and in him is no darknesse at all Christ Iesus is the light of the world he and his Father is one whoso followeth him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life He it the light and life of men and to as many as receive him and believe in his Name to them he gives power to become the sons of God and the sons of God are led by the spirit of God and the spirit of God it leads into all truth righteousnesse and peace But they who walk in darknesse they hate the light they hate God who is light they hate Christ who is the light of the world and the Law is light the reproofs of instruction are the way of life Christ Iesus is the way the truth and the life and light of men he that believeth not is condemned al●eady because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the condemnation Yhat light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds be evil Every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved Whatsoever is reproved the light makes it manifest What know ye not that Christ Iesus the light is in you except ye be reprobates the reprobates know not ●hat Christ is in them for light shines in darknesse and the darknesse comprehends it not and if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that perish neither is there any communion betwixt light and darknesse nor no fellowship hath Christ with Belial for he that believeth not is condemned already because he believeth not in the onely begotten Son of God the light and the light is the condemnation of all that hate it The light shines in the heart Christ he opened their understandings For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ whatsoever is reproved the light makes it manifest that which is reproved is sin and sin is the transgression of the law that is holy just pure and good Now the light makes every transgression of the law manifest the evil thoughts are made manifest by the light the evil deeds are made manifest by the light the evil words the light makes manifest yea the light makes manifest and brings to remembrance all things that a man hath done in his life time and sets his sins in order before him although they have been done in secret So that one man cannot reprove another for the thing done in secret yet there is that in him that makes it manifest to him and reproves him for it which is the light God is light Christ is the light of the world and doth enlighten eve-very man that cometh into the world The Law it is light and I had not known sin but by the Law and the Law is written in the heart by the spirit of the living God Now the same that makes sin manifest the same reproves for sin and this that reproves of sin is the spirit of truth who reproves the world of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement God he is a spirit and he is light Christ is the light of the world the last man was made a quickning spirit the second man is the Lord from Heaven who was made a quickning spirit it is the spirit that reproves the world or every man in the world of sin and the same that reproves of sin the same condemns for sin this is the condemnation that light is come into the world God sent his son to condemn sin in the flesh the condemnation of God is to them that walk after the flesh for this purpose was the son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil but there is no condemnation to them that walk after the spirit Therefore take heed to the light that makes sin manifest believe in the light believe in God for he is light believe in Christ the light of the

of Gold and the one he set up in a City called Dan and Iereboam built up at Bethel a House of High Places and he made an Altar at Bethel and Jeroboam he set up the other golden Calfe at Bethel and then Jeroboam said unto the people It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem to worship behold thy Gods O Israel which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt And thus you see how one of the Kings of the earth was the Ring-leaders of the people from the true God to worship Idols for the people went to worship before one of the golden Calves even to the City of Dan and that thing became a sin unto them and Jeroboam he built an Altar at Bethel and he made Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi and he placed the Priests in the Houses of High Places at Bethel And Jeroboam he ordained a Feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month which he had devised of his own heart like unto the Feast that was in Judah there was his imitation and Jeroboam offered upon the Altar sacrificing unto the Calves that he had made 1 King 13. ch and he stood by the Altar to burn Incense and the Priests that he had made of the lowest of the people for the High Places burnt Incense upon the Altar as it was done in Judah so the like did he do at Bethel But I do not find that the House of High Places was so glorious as the Temple was at Jerusalem But behold there came a man of God out of Judah by the Word of the Lord unto Bethel and as Jeroboam stood by the Altar to burn incense the man of God cryed against the Altar in the Word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar thus saith the Lord Behold a child shall be born unto the House of David Josiah by Name and upon thee shall he offer the Priests of the high Places that burn incense upon thee and mens bones shall be burnt upon thee Now Jeroboam who was turned from the Lord God that exalted him fell to persecute the Prophet of the Lord and Jeroboam himself put forth his hand when he heard the saying of the man of God and said lay hold on him but the Lord God was just in causing his hand that he put forth to be dryed up Read 2 Chron. 11. 12. chap. for that he could not pull it again to him yet the Lord God was merciful to his Enemy and at the request of the man of God his hand was restored to him again but after this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way but made again of the lowest of the people priests for the high places after the manner of the Nations likewise of other lands and for the Devils and for the Calves which he had made he ordained them priests and whosoever came himself with a young Bullock and seven Rams the same he made a priest to them that were no Gods and him who Jeroboam consectated became one of the priests of the high places and this thing became sin unto the House of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth But take notice that this House of High Places that Jerobam built at Bethel was called the Kings Chappel by Amaziah the priest of Bethel Amos 7.10 11 12 13. who was a persecutor of the prophet of the Lord as you may read Amos. 2 Chr. 12.13 14. And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned over Judah in Jerusalem the City which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his Name there And when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome and made it strong then he forsook the law of the Lord and all Israel with him and Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and they provoked him to jealousie with their sins which they committed above all that their Fathers had done for they also built them high places and Images 1 King 14 21 22 23. and Groves on every high Hill and under every green tree and there were Sodomites in the land and they did according to all the abominations of the Nations which the ●ord had cast out before the children of Israel And thus you see now that if the King turn from the Lord forsake his Commandments the peop●e generally follow to do wickedly with him and as these two Kings did so other Kings of Israel and Judah did the like as you may read of Nadab 2 Kings 15.25 26. and Baasha ver 33 34. and of Zimri and Omri 2 Kings 16.19 25 26. And Ahab the son of Omri King of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him and it came to pass as if it it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam 1 King 16 3● 31 32 33. for he took to wife Jezebel the Daughter of Ethbaeal the King of the Zidonians and went and served Baal and worshipped him and Ahab he built a House in Samaria for Baal he reared up an Altar for Baal in the House of Baal which he had built in Samaria and Ahab had got for Baal four hundred and fifty prophets and he had got four hundred prophets for the Groves that fed at Jezebels Table 1 King● 18.19 and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger then all the Kings of Israel that were before him And the Samaritans they made Houses of high places in all their senced Cities from the tower of the Watchmen to the fenced City and they set up Images and Groves and they burnt Incense in the high places as did the Heathen and they served their Idols Jer. 7.31 19.5 2 Kings 17. ch ver 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. wherefore the Lord God said unto them Ye shall not do this thing And the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the Seers saying Turn you from your evil wayes and keep my Commandments and Statutes according to all the law which I commanded your Fathers and mhich I sent to you by my servants the Prophets But they would not hear but hardened their necks like the necks of their Fathers that did not believe in the Lord their God and they rejected his Statutes and Covenant and his testimonies which he testified against them and they followed vanity and became vain and went after the Heathen and worshipped all the host of Heaven and served Baal And Ahaziah son of Ahab he reigned over Israel and he walked in the way of his Father and in the way of his Mother and in the way of Jeroboam for he served Baal and worshipped him 1 King 22.51 52 53. And after a reformation that King Hezekiah had made as you may read 2 Kings 18. chap. Manassah his son

washings and carnal ceremonies until the time of reformation which time of reformation was not until that Christ Jesus came who is the sum and substance of all shadows and figures and the end of the law for he changed the priesthood and disanulled the law of ordinances and him God raised up to be a King a Law-giver a Judge and a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Isa 13.22 Iames 4.12 Luke 23.19 Heb. 7.21 22 23 24. Deut. 18.15 18 19. Act. 3.22 23. Isa 9.6 7. not by a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life and by the same power a prophet was he mighty in word and in deed who came according as the Lord God did speak by Moses and the prophets for said the lord unto Moses I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him and unto him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you and it shall come to passe that every foul that will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people And Isaiah said Vnto us a childe is born unto us a son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulder his Name shall be called The Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and justice from henceforth and for ever the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this And when the fulnesse of time was come Gal. 4.4 5. even that time that was for reformation God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law who came to fulfil every jot and tittle of the Law Ioh. 19.30 Rom. 10.4 Eph. 2.15 and when Christ Jesus the son had fulfilled the Law he said upon the Cross It was finished And Paul testified and said That Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth in him having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in Ordinances yea the carnal Ordinances which was imposed upon them until the time sf reformation which time of reformation was when Christ Iesus the King Law-giver Iudge and High-Priest for evermore came in the fulnesse of time and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us said Paul even such a yoak it was upon the neck of the Disciples that neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear said Peter But Christ the true King and Conqueror who hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew ●hem of them openly triumphing over them even hee whom God hath raised from the dead Eph 1.20 21. C●l 2.14 15. and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principalities and power and might and ●o●inion I say He Christ Iesus hath blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinance that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his crosse Thus the Law was disannulled by Christ Iesus who having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the Law of commandments contained in Ordinances c. This is Iesus who was called of God and not of man nor after the law of a carnal commandment was he made an high Priest but after the power of an endlesse life he was made an High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and continueth for ever an unchangeable Priesthood forsech an High-Priest it became us to have who is holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heavens but by the Law by which the Levitical Priesthood came were many priests which had infirmities which continued not by reason of death and so it passed from one to another which Priesthood being imperfect in it self perfected not any for he offered up Sacrifices daylie year by year first for himself viz. for his own sins then for the errors of the people which sacrifices were year by year offered up continually but the comers thereunto could never be made perfect for if therefore perfection had been by the levitical Priesthood then what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron but perfection came not by the Levitical Priesthood for their sacrifices that they offered up year by year made not the commers thereunto perfect therefore there was a necessity that another should come But God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son who gloryfied not himself to be made an High-Priest but was gloryfied of his Father who said unto him Thou are my Son to day have I begotten thee thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and he was not only called a Priest for ever but he was called of God an high Priest likewise after the order of Melchisedec And Christ Iesus the Son of God came having compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way and though he were a Son yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him and hath obtained eternal redemption for us by his own blood for by one offering of the holy of Iesus once for all he offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified So that now ye may plainly see that the Levitical Priesthood who came by the law to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to offer up both gifts and sacrifices for their own sins and likewise for the errors of the people is changed into a more better and perfect then was before which changeth not but abideth for ever Therefore seeing that the sons of Levi who received the office of the Priesthood according to the Law had a commandment to take tythes were discharged from their office and their service put to an end by that one offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all for by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified so that where there is remission for sin there is no more offering for sin Now seeing that it is so plain that by the sons of Levi the Levitical Priesthood perfection came not therefore that priesthood was changed and the sons of Levi discharged of their service by Christ Iesus who offered himself a sacrifice once for all and that by him perfection came for ever to them that are sanctified by that one offering Therefore there was a necessity that a change of the Law should be made also by reason of its servitude

Priests tythings and offerings to * To maintain finden his Priests but Lord in the old law the tythings of the lay-people they were not due to such Priests but to that other children of Levi that served in the Temple The Pope used to curse those that paid not tythes But Lord Paul thy servant said that the Order of Priesthood ceased in Christs coming and the Law of that Priesthood But Lord What doom is it to curse the lay-people for tythes and not curse the Parson that robbeth the people of tythings c. And I finde in the story of Walter Brute in his Examination before the then Bishob of Hereford these words following viz. That no man is bound to g●ve tythes nor oblations c. said he and if any man will needs give he may give his tythes to whom he will and not to their Curates And said he Anno 1407. Fox Act. and Men. Wherefore seeing that neither Christ nor any of his Apostles commanded to pay tythes it is manifest and plian that neither by the law of Moses nor by Christs laws are Christian bound to pay tythes c. And William Thorp in his Examination before the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in answer to their fourth Article he affirmed that in the new law that neither Christ nor any of his Apostles took tythes of the people nor commanded the people to pay tythes neither to Priests nor to Deacons but as Cistersiensis telleth that in the yeer 1211. one Pope Gregory the tenth ordained tythes to be given to priests now in the new law But said William Thorp The priests that challenge tythes now in the new law say in effect that Christ is not become man nor that he hath suffered death for man And said he again That those priests that will challenge and take tythes deny that Christ is come in the flesh and do the priests office of the old law for whom tythes were granted for else the priests now take tythes wrongfully And said he The parishioners that pay their temporal goods be they tythes or offerings to priests are partners of every sin of those priests because they sustain those priests folly in their sin with their temperal goods c. Now do but take notice of one question that Thomas Arundal Arch-bishop of Canterbury asked the said Will. Thorp that is said the bishop Why Lossel doest thou deem that Holy Church hath erred in the Ordinance for tythes c. Now I answer and say Yea their Church hath erred and doth erre in making Ordinances Constitutions Canons and Decrees both for tythes and all other things and all the Rulers of the earth that do the same things are the Popes Adherents and do erre likewise c. And here followeth in part the testimony of divers others in these late dayes that they have born against tythes A Book called led the Inditement of tythes Printed 1646. and also by their imprisoment and spoyling of their goods First Whereas divers honest and consciencious persons of the city of London of the parish of Brides and of the parish of All Hallows-Barking were convented before the then Mayor of London for their non-payment of tythes to their parish-parsons some of the Inhabitants of the parish of All-Hollows-Barking gave in their grounds and reasons for their so doing which were as followeth Said they 1. We humbly conceive that tythes and circumcision were to cease and to have an end at the coming of our Saviour Christ Jesus 2. We do not know of any place in the New-Testement that commandeth the payment of tythes nor that either the Apostles or Disciples required the same or pretend a right thereunto or to any other set-maintenance but on the contrary 3. Tythes Offerings c. being contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godlinesse though the law of the land should require the same we conceive our selves and all others bound in conscience and by our covenant to endeavor the extirpation thereof and cannot without wilful sinning submit thereunto And said they We hope it will now appeare no more strange to abolish tythes or any other thing contrary to sound Doctrine then it hath been to abolish Episcopacy Prelacy and the Book of Common-prayer c. 1. The paying of tythes is a submission unto the Jewish bondage the law of tything being known to be a part of that ceremonial law and yoke of bondage which was laid upon Israel after the flesh The Testimony of Nicholas Waterson against tythes to be observed and born by them in the land of Canaan 2. The requiring and paying of tythes is an implicite denying that Christ is come in the flesh for said he If there be not a change of the law then the priesthood of Aaron remains Heb. 7.12 and if that priesthood remains then Christ is not yet come 3. The Doctrine that tythes ought to be paid to the priests presbyters or clergy is a popish Doctrine inasmuch as it hath been devised and maintained by the pope and his prelates and is contrary to the Doctrine of the Scriptures And said he The payment of tythes or any thing in the lieu of tythes doth and wil support popish and prelatical iniquity and those humane laws that have required such payment of tythes have been grounded upon popish Doctrine and therefore are no more to be observed then those laws that injoyned the use of the Service-Book And said he They which have vowed the extirpation of popery and prelacy have therefore bound themselves not to pay tythes nor any thing in the lieu of tythes c. If tythes said he be an Ordinance under the Gospel The Testimony of Tho. Bennet against tythes then they must be of an Evangelical institution even from the command of Christ as well as other Gospel-Ordinances but we find no other Ordinance for the exaction of tythes now but a bare Mosaical Ordinance therefore tythes are no Gospel-Ordinance Tythes said he were never ordained but for the wages of typical services therefore to continue the wages of such a work cannot in equity be without the continuance of the work which is a flat denyal of Christ come in the flesh And said he These that had the commandment for tythes were onely to receive them of their Brethren that is of the other eleven Tribes therefore not of the Gentiles or were the Gentiles by that command bound thereunto and if not in Moses time muchlesse now for said he They were imposed upon the land of Canaan therefore not upon England or English men being no part of Canaan or the people any of the twelve Tribes and the Iews to this day terminate the equity of tythes to their own land as said he Mr. Seldon a Member of the House of Commons writeth in his History of Tythes and likewise That no payment of tythes was ordained in Christian Churches as Mr. Seldon observeth till the General Counsel of Lateran Therefore the Ordinance for tythes

under the Gospel deriving its being and institution from the injunction of the Pope and his Council doth subject us to the dictates of the See of Rome against which we are all engaged by our former protestations c. And the men of Middlesex in their first Letter to his then called Excellency the Lord General Cromwel said That tythes is an usurped popish Relique And in their petition to the Parliament they said It is very clear that tythes have been formerly by the popish Clergy subtilly perswaded or rather extorted from our Ancesters Wherefore said they we humbly desire that all tythes and tenths may be speedily removed as a great oppression and usurpation c. And Aug. Wingfield calleth tythes the Nursery of contention and strife and that the proud and pompous priests did constrain the poor people of England viz. the popish Canons to pay their tythes unto them In his Book called Tythes totally routed by Magna Charta printed 1653. So that tythes were grounded meerly upon a popish Canon contrary to Magna Charta which is acknowledged by the learned viz. Magna Charta to be the Common-Law of England both before and after the Conquest c. And Cook that learned Oracle in the Laws of England said in his Chapter of tythes Eighth Book of Cooks Reports and in Dr. and Stud. JENKINS fol. 139. That all Canons which are against the common law or custome of the land are of no force And in Bonhams case it is laid down for law That Acts of Parliament made against common Right or Reason are ipso facto void And it is proved by Jenkins That the Common-Law shall controle Acts of Parliament made against Right or Reason and adjudge them to be void c. And such are all the Acts Statutes and Ordinances for tythes against both reason equity and truth And at a Parliament holden at Westminster in the two and forty yeer of Edward the third it was assented and accorded That the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forrest 42 Ed. 3. cap. 2. be holden and kept in all points and if any St●●nte be made to the contrary that shall be holden for none And the Free-men of Bucks Bedfordshire and Herefordshire said That Tythes t s the mark of the Beast or Antichrist spoken of in the Revelations the 13. chap. ver 16 17. for said they There is no ground in the New-Testament as can be found for them See their Booke called The Husbandmans Plea printed 1647. but onely from the Popes laws and canons and therefore may they be truly called a mark of the Beast or Antichrist the Pope of Rome Neither is there said they any greater tyranny of the Pope exercised over mens persons and goods then is by this law of tythes And said they in their Epistle That tythes is the most unequal the most irregular and the most unagreeable to the Word of God f●r said they in their Plea If theref●r● perfection had been by the Priesthood of the Levite then what further need was there that another priest should arise for under it was the law established unto the people the ceremonial law was but for a time even until the time of reformation which was done by Christ Iesus who changed the priesthood Col. 2.14 and at his death abolished the law bloting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and tooke it out of the way nailing it to the Crosse And said they As the payment of tythes is contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel so likewise it is repugnant to the power of godlinesse for said they Pope Gregory the tenth ordained that tythes should be given to the priests So that the customs that we pay tythes by at this day were setled upon this Kingdom by the Popes Legates in Provincial and Synodal Constitutions about the time of Hen. 3. and Hen. 5. And said they Tythes is a popish custom that is imposed by the Popes Authority and not by the Authority of God Seldons History of tythes chap. 11. without any warrant for it in the New-Testament So likewise tythes are a Relique of superstition because they were at first given out of a superstitious opinion viz. for satisfaction for the sins of the giver his wife and children as it appears by some of our old Charters recorded by learned Selden And said they Tythes are an oppression to the Husbandman and too heavy for him to bear because that the tenth of the Husbandmans stock and yeers labour is yeerly taken from him under the name of tythes which is every particular Husbandmans proper goods by a civil and natural right so that neither Kings nor Parliaments can take them from them nor any particular man by their appointment without giving to every particular man a consideration for it of equal value when he takes it from him Rom. 8.2 Acts 20.33 34 35. or else he sins against the eighth Commandment Thou shalt not steal and against the tenth Thou shalt not covet c. which Paul a Minister of Christ said he was free from c. And I finde in a Book wherein is contained certain grievances of divers persons of this Common-wealth of England See a Booke printed 1653. called The afflictions of the afflicted or The unjust exaction o● the Tythemongers discovered who suffered as the said Book relates both imprisonment and the spoiling of their goods for the testimony of Jesus and against tythes as appeareth both in the Epistle and Schedule of their particular sufferings in the Book They said That Antichristian Teachers Improprietors and all others which afflicts the consciencious people by owning receiving and urging of tythes and forced maintenance denieth the work of the Lord Jesus done at his death for in that he hath dissolved the levitical law and the priesthood for he said It is finished as you may see Ioh. 10.30 for said they Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth and Christ is our Law-giver and High-priest which came of the Tribe of Judah and so the priesthood is changed and therefore a necessity of a change of the law also Luk. 10.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. But said they Tythes is no law of Christ to us and it is a great sin to pay tythes and forced maintenance the payment of tythes said they is against the Law of Christ and the Apostles Doctrine Gal. 5.1 Act. 15.1 2 10 19 20. ver and that if the law of England be contrarary to the law of God we are not to obey it but to obey God for whether is it better to obey God or to obey man judge ye But said they Seeing that tythes is thus unjustly taken from the free people of this Nation it is absolutely treason both in the Priest and Improprietor for in so doing they destroy the fundamental law where it is ordained that no free-man shall be taken or

world know you not that Christ Jesus is in you except you be reprobates but he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and if we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit Believe therefore in the light receive the light love the light bring your deeds to the light that they may be proved whether they be wrought in God for to as many as receive Christ Jesus the light and believe in his Name to them he gives power to become the sons of God and the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and the spirit of God leads into all truth and the spirit it teacheth to worship God in spirit and in truth and hereby know ye the spirit of God That spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and that spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God Therefore hearken to the Lord and hear what he saith incline your ear and hearken to his word that is nigh you in your hearts hear what the spirit of God saith unto you who speaketh expresly Be obedient to the spirit of God for there is no condemnation to them who walk after the spirit for the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees from the law of sinne and death and it is the grace of God that hath appeared unto all men that teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil world and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin for he became the Author of eternal ●alvation unto all that obey him Therefore mind the light for they whose minds are stayed upon the Lord he keeps them in perfect peace but there is no peace to the wicked for their minds are out from God minding earthly things so that God is not in all their thoughts therefore the wicked and all that forget God shall be turned into Hell Therefore love not the world nor the things of the world for he that is a friend of the world is an enemy to God for the whole world lies in wickedness and God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity and he that delighteth not in the Law of the Lord takes pleasure in unrighteousness and he that takes pleasure in unrighteousness will do no true justice righteousness nor judgement for the Lord betwixt man and man Wisdom is profitable to direct and it is God that gives wisdom Solomon asked of the Lord and said Give therefore thy servant wisdom and an understanding heart to judge thy peogle that I may discern between good and bad Who teacheth like God that giveth wisdom that teacheth the Senators wisdom and he is a wise man that will be ruled by the Law of God the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and he that is without this and unruled by the Law doth neither righteousnesse justice nor true judgement for the Lord God Therefore ye Rulers and Judges of the earth let wisdom guide you and the spirit of God teach you to serve the Lord and to judge for him the people at all seasons and see that ye respect not persons in judgement but hear the cause of the poor as well as the cause of the rich and rid the afflicted out of the hands of the wicked speedily and let justice be done speedily upon the evil doers and answer the people of the Land Concerning their parish-Ministers their Houses of High-places falsly called Churches and tythes oblations obventions c. as Ioash did the Midianites when his son Gideon had thrown down the Altar of Baal and cut down the Grove that was by it And Ioash said unto all that stood against him Will ye plead for Baal will ye save him He that will plead for him let him be put to death whilest it is yet morning If he be a God let him plead for himself because one hath cast down his Altar Judg. 6.28 29 30 31. And so it is concluded READER thou art desired in thy reading to take special notice of the Errata's in the ensuing pages and lines which have been committed at the Press let them and all other litteral faults which thou findest be mended with thy pen for thy own and others clear understanding viz. Pag. 5. lin the last read the hands of the Philistines p. 8. l. 33. r. House p. 9 l. last r. the Levites p. 14. l. 23. r. Kine Gilsus King of the Mercians l. 30. r. Monketon p 15. l. 3. 1. so strong p. 16. l. 3. dele formerly p. 17. l. 19. r. Legate of the See l. 27. r. Courelefu p. 19. l. 41. r. his Army l. 43. r. Iehu the Seer p 23. l. 42. r. our non-payment of tythes p. 49. l. 43. r. to bear witness of Christ p 55. l. 14. r. but onely the children of Israel p. 56. l. 33. r. the head