A TREATISE Relating to the Call Work VVages Of the Ministers of CHRIST As also to the Call VVork VVages Of the Ministers of ANTICHRIST Wherein a Testimony is born to that Call and precious Effects and Wages which the Ministers of Christ Witnessed Owned and Contended for As also against that Call Work Wages brought forth in the Apostacy in the Degeneration from the Primitive Purity of Doctrine and Worship wherein Christendom became as the Sea Unsetled Restless Ungrounded Herein also several other things are touched as in the Contents of the Treatise appear Thomas Lawson LONDON Printed for Benjamin Clark in George-Yard in Lumbard-street 1680. The Contents of the ensuing Treatise OF the Divine Call into the Ministry Cap. 1. Of a Humane Call into the Ministry Cap. 2. Of the Original of Bishops in Gospel Dayes and of the Identity of Bishops and Elders in the Primitive Age Cap. 3. Of the Work of the Ministry of Christ and of Antichrist Cap. 4. Of the Wages of the Ministers of Christ being Free and Voluntary and of the Coercive Compulsive Maintenance of the Ministers of Antichrist Cap. 5. Of the Rise of First Fruits in Christian-Churches Cap. 6. Of the Rise of Mortuaries Cap. 7. Of the Statute against Mortmain Cap. 8. Of Exemptions from the Payment of Tythes Cap. 9 Of Franke Almoigne Cap. 10. Of Peter-Pence Reek-Penny c. Cap. 11. Of Tythe in Lay-mens Hands Impropriators Cap. 12. The Clergies Patriarchal Claim to Tythes Cap. 13. The Clergies Mosaical Claim to Tythes Cap. 14. The Clergies Evangelical Claim to Tythes Cap. 15. Tythes a Mosaical Shadow Cap. 16. The Clergies Human Claim to Tythes considered as also the Testimonies of several eminent in the Church in their respective Ages against the Exaction thereof in Gospel Dayes Cap. 17. A TREATISE Relating to the Call Work Wages Of the Ministers of CHRIST As also to the Call VVork VVages Of the Ministers of ANTICHRIST CHAPTER I. Of the Divine Call into the Ministry ADAM consider'd as the Workmanship of the Lord that unsearchable Architect Master Builder Former of all things was truly Righteous truly Holy and was put into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Paradise that was his Store-house was his Work-house also blessed was he while under the Teaching of his Maker but being brought thorow the Insinuations of the Serpent to attend to his Teaching he fell into the Region of the Shadow of Death Death entred his Windows as the Lord had said and a World of Wickedness as a heady Current streamed in Now as a signal Testimony of the Riches of Divine and Never-failing Love the Everlasting Gospel was proclaimed and sounded in Adam's Ears That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head crush his Power bring him under After that in every Age and Generation the Lord called true and faithful Witnesses and by the Influence and Virtue of the Anointing qualified them to bear testimony to his constant immutable Loving-kindness and against the Wickedness of the World introduced by the Serpent and to stir up men to look after and wait for the Revelation and Manifestation of the blessed Seed in whom the Families of the Earth should be blessed Peter an Apostle of the Lamb bare record saying Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 So that the Testimonies of the Lord's Witnesses and Worthies in all Ages were derived from the Sourse or Spring of Heavenly Abilities the Spirit 's In-dwellings not from the strength of Acquired Natural Tongues Arts Sciences and Spoiling Philosophy herein are excluded all Testimonies and all Ministers made and brought forth by the Will of Man For the Confirmation of this a Cloud of Living Witnesses in the Scriptures of Truth is recorded Abel a Keeper of Sheep thorow the Word of Faith he became Righteous a Witness for the Lord in the Morning of the World he and his Offering found Acceptance with the Lord Gen. 4.2 4. Hebr. 11.4 Enech called of God by the Spirit the Word of Prophecy without which no true Prophet nor Prophecy Gen. 5.24 Hebr. 11.5 Jude 14 15. Joel 2.28 29. Noah a Husbandman Just Perfect and Righteous he walked with God he was called of God to be a Preacher of Righteousness made so without recourse to Heathen Arts and Sciences Gen. 9.20 Gen. 6.9 Gen. 7.1 Hebr. 11.7 2 Pet. 2.5 Lot was a Just and a Righteous Man called of the Lord to bear a Testimony against the World 2 Pet. 2.7 8. Abraham the Friend of God Isa 41 8. was a Prophet replenished with the Word of Prophecy Gen. 20.7 he knew the immediate Call of God Gen. 12.1 15.1 17.1 he was a Teacher in the Spirit Gen. 18.17 19. blessed thorough Obedience Gen. 22.18 Moses was a Keeper of Sheep Exod. 3.1 called of the Lord to the Work whereunto he was appointed Exod. 4.12 Numb 12.6 7 8. a Man of God Jos 14.6 thorow the living Word he was made a Minister and a Prophet Joshua was called of God Jos 1.5 37. the Lord's Power and Presence with him and in him was the Rule he walked by Gad David's Seer was called of the Lord he heard the Voice of the Lord and obeyed the same 1 Chron. 21.9 10. 2 Sam. 24.11 12. Aaron though excellently qualified admirably indued with Gifts yet he entered not upon the Priests Office without the Call of God thereunto Heb. 5.4 Exod. 28.1 when he and that Priesthood was instituted not a word was mentioned of School Sciences Natural Languages he was no Intruder into the High-Priest's Office but answered the Command of the Lord. Priests in the Latin Tongue are called Sacerdotes because their Office was Deo sacra dare to Sacrifice to God or because they were sacra dos consecrated and as it were severed from the rest of the People and given up to God as saith Ridley in his View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law Bezaleel and Aholiab were filled with the Spirit of God in Wisdom and in Understanding and in Knowledge and in all manner of Workmanship for the building of the Tabernacle Exod. 31. implying that such as in the Evangelical Dispensation are appointed for the building of the Spiritual Tabernacle be they Sons or Daughters their Preparation and Qualification for that Work is of the Lord and not of Man Nathan the Prophet was called of God the Word of the Lord came unto him 2 Sam. 7.4 5. 12.5 and David humbled himself before him David a Keeper of Sheep 2 Sam. 16.11 12. a Man after God's own Heart Acts 13.22 he was called of God 2 Sam. 23.1 2 c. the Spirit of the Lord the Word of Righteousness was the Spring of his Ministry Saul the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied 1 Sam. 10. but turning from it he went to the Dead to a Witch 1 Sam. 28. so became a Persecutor of David 1 Sam. 19.1 losing his Head it was sent into
Believers may not be thought to be gotten by the Power of man but by the Teaching of God Christ sent his Apostles saith Chrysostom as the Sun sends out his Rayes as the Rose sends out its sweet Odour as the Fire disperses its Sparks If you do not firmly believe saith Zuinglius that you may be taught of God without the teachings of men you are without true Faith De veritate verbi Christ said unto his Disciples Pray the Lord of the Harvest that he will send forth Labourers into his Harvest Mat. 9.38 He bad them not have recourse unto Schools and Colledges to natural Languages Arts and Sciences but to the Lord of the Harvest no other Fountain nor Well-spring he commended them to but to the Lord of the Harvest So the qualifying and sending of Gospel Ministers is the Lords Prerogative Royal. Fulke Augustin Marlorat Poole Bishop Jewel and many more which might be mentioned say on this Scripture That Ministers of the Gospel are sent of the Lord and are furnished and qualified by him for that Work and that all others are Intruders as Christ sent the Twelve so he sent the Seventy Luke 10. He said to his Disciples As my Father hath sent me even so send I you John 20.21 Bishop Vsher in Vindication of the Waldenses by way of Apology said God did chuse Fishermen that so he might not give his Glory to another the little Ones that asked Bread received the same but the Learned being busied about vain Contentions and Disputations were sent empty away Further Christ after his Resurrection bad his Disciples Wait for the Promise of the Father saying Ye shall receive Power after that the holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the outermost part of the Earth Acts 1.4 8. So that their Witness-bearing was an Effect of the Lords heavenly Appearance in them and among them And who run without this relying on their stock of Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences they will be found false Witnesses Without the concurrence of Spiritual Aid saith Spark the King 's Chapline the rarest Orators are but as sounding Brass and tinkling Cimbals Christ's Disciples were unlearned men but he gifted them and made them learned in Spiritual Learning before he sent them abroad insomuch that the Rulers Elders Scribes High Priest c. marvelled at the boldness of Peter and John perceiving that they were unlearned and ignorant men and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Acts 4.13 As Bishop Jewel said of Councils God is able not only without Councils but also against Councils both to defend and to enlarge his Kingdom in Apol. So I say Christ the same yesterday to day and forever is able to qualifie and accomplish and doth qualifie and accomplish for the Ministry such as are his Ministers without sending them to the bitter Waters of Heathen Wisdom Heathen Learning 'T is Heathen not Christian Education I speak against Further the Apostles chusing seven Deacons we read not that they enquired for men profound in Heathen Arts and Sciences but for men of Honest Report full of the holy Ghost and Wisdom Acts 6.3 So that the holy Spirit only qualified for that Work Paul was called of the Lord for the Gospel Ministry While untouched with the Finger of Heaven his Recourse was unto the High Priest to receive Commission from him but after the heavenly Touch his Cry was Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. While he had nothing but what he received at the Feet of Gamaliel he ran a fierce Carreer saith one to the zenith of Persecution at length a heavenly Siste gradum Saule caused him to run Retrograde and in his Apology before King Agrippa he ascribes his Call not to Gamaliel but to the Lord Acts 26. Acts 20. Gal. 1. 2 Cor. 3.5 6. A Call saith Aug. Marl. cannot be lawfull except it be of God As for Bishops Gospel-Bishops they are called of the Lord therefore Paul said Take heed to your selves and to all the Flock over the which the holy Spirit hath made you Over-seers that is Bishops Acts 20.28 They are made such truly such by the holy Spirit Aug. Marl. testifies the very same Now if any bear that Name or pretend that Office without the Spirit such are Aposcopi saith Espeusaus rather than Episcopi By-seers rather than Over-seers Further Paul called of the Lord bare this Testimony saying How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 Aug. Marl. said on this place This is spoken against them who go to the Ministry without a Call who run not being sent hereupon they do no good what they do 't is for their Belleys sake not for the Glory of God Poole on the same place speaks to the same purpose Further Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians said When he ascended up on High he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry Ephes 4. So that Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers Bishops Elders Deacons as truly such are qualified by the Gift of the Lord not by Natural Tongues Heathen Arts Sciences Endowments Accomplishments though Tongues may be and are useful in their place Gave Gifts to men saith the Apostle the Hebrew Psalmist hath it Psal 68.18 Thou received Gifts for men Christ received them that he might give them Gave Gifts to men the Psalmist adds Even to the Rebellious The Rebellious have a Gift to lead them out of the state of Rebellion or to leave them inexcusable if they continue therein Paul to Timothy and Titus setting down the required Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons mentions no Mathematicks Logicks Spoiling Philosophy but Gravity Blamelesness Sobriety Justice Holiness Temperance c. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. Were such men taken into holy Orders saith the Author of the Book called The Naked Truth and constituted Pastors the Church of Christ would be better edified though Plato Aristotle Euclid Scotus Aquinas were never known to them the holy Sciptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus If so why are Heathen Philosophers so much doted upon And all Scripture is given by the Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished unto every good Work 2 Tim. 3. Mark throughly furnished without Logick Spoiling Philosophy Pagan Ethicks Physicks Metaphysicks School-Divinity If throughly furnished without these what need of these The Ministerial Office may be better performed saith the Author by Grave and Conscientious men though they never saw University nor know any Language but their Mother-Tongue than by any Aristotelist Scotist Aquinatist with their knacks of Quiddities Qualities Syllogisms Enthimems Distinctions
them how to carry and demean themselves to them that received them not saying Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your Words when ye depart thence shake off the Dust of your Feet for a Testimony against them Matth. 10. Mark 6. Luke 9. This was all the Extremity they were to use he told them not they should apply themselves to Magistrates and force People to maintain them whether they received them or no this is the Beasts Doctrine and his unclean Flogs The Apostles duly and faithfully observed this Ordinance of Dust-shaking Acts 13.51 Now you Non-conformists of what denomination soever who make Conscience of Non-compliance with the National publick Ministers of not ministring Carnal things unto them it seems you are such as receive them not Do they observe Christ's Ordinance Do they content themselves with shaking the Dust off their Feet against you My thinks I hear a general Answer in the Negative No No they Sue us in Courts of Judicature at Courts Assizes they Imprison us they recover Treble damages of us for very Trifles and inconsiderable things as Smoke-Pennys Mortuaries Easter-Reckonings Midsummer-Dues Popish Inventions they make Havock and Spoil of our Goods In thus doing they trangress Christ's Ordinance of Dust-shaking which the Apostles were observant of who used no Weapon but what was Spiritual no Sword but that of the Spirit Rev. 11.5 If any man hurt my Witnesses Fire proceeds out of their Mouth and devoureth their Enemies The Sword of the Spirit the Word of God is the Weapon of the Lords Witnesses Gospel-Ministers but the Beast that ascends out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against the Witnesses overcome them and Kill them Rev. 11. Now notwithstanding the specious pretences of men as of Religion Ordinances Reformation Antiquity yet if Christs Ordinance of Dust-shaking against such as receive them not be not observed but a Co-ercive Power used Tythe and other Maintenance forced a procedure in Persecution Imprisonments Spoiling of Goods of such as for Conscience-sake cannot receive them they that act these things are out of Christ's Doctrine darkned by the Smoke of that Pit which the Beast ascended from taking part with him and not with the Lamb So that Man-made Ministers stand for another Call Work Wage and Weapons than Gospel Ministers contend for But to return to my Intention which is to shew That the Maintenance of the Ministers of Christ in the primitive Times was free and voluntary and that from such as received them Paul bare record unto the Elders of Ephesus saying I have coveted no mans Silver or Gold or Apparel yea you know that these hands have ministered unto my Necessities and to them that were with me Acts 20.33 34. Whence we gather saith Aug. Marl. on this place that no man is a true Minister of the Word but he is also a Despiser of Money Abraham of old shewed a noble Mind in taking nothing of the Spoil got from his Enemies Gen. 14. But saith Poole Paul shewed a far Nobler Mind whenas he refused to take Necessaries for his weighty and Salutiferous Labour relieving his Necessities with his own hands In the ackowledgment of Christs Doctrine to his Disciples Paul said Have we not Power to eat and to drink Yes Paul had received Christ the Power of God whose Ordinance to his Disciples was To eat and to drink such things as were set before them by them that received them He had power to eat drink and receive Necessaries from the Corinthians who received him and his Message though he wrote not for such and such ends judging it his reward to make the Gospel without Charge that he might not abuse his Power in the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. This makes nothing for Man-made Ministers to force a Maintenance from such as receive them not Man-made Ministers pursuing Tythes and other Antichristian Wages as the Summum bonum the chiefest good thunder out the words of Paul Who goeth a Warfare at any time at his own Charges Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the Fruit thereof Who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk thereof Answ This contraries not Christ's Ordinance but herein the Apostle shews by three Arguments That Gospel Ministers may with a good Conscience receive Necessaries from such as receive them and their Doctrine Aug. Marl. tell me this At whose Charge ought the Souldier to go but at his for whose Defence and Security he fights The Apostles of the Lamb were Warriors harnessed out of the Lord's Armory fighting under the Banner of Christ the Captain of their Salvation in whose hands they were Instruments to conquer many to rescue them from the Power of Satan to reduce them into the Obedience of the Son of God that they might be eternally Happy Thus Warring for the good security and defence of them according to Christ's Ordinance they might reap necessaries from them You that are made Ministers by the Will of man this is no ground for forcing Tythe and other Dues as you call them from such as receive you not you war not for such but against them rendring them as Hereticks persecuting and imprisoning them stirring up Magistrates against them Let such as own you for their Warriors maintain you He that plants a Vineyard may eat of the Fruit of the Vineyard which he hath planted 't is but Reason Instruments in the hand of the Lord of transplanting others out of the wild Olive into the good Olive out of the putred stock old Adam into the virtuous Root the second Adam the Lord from Heaven may by virtue of the Lord's Ordinance eat of the Fruit of their Plantation their Vineyard eat and drink with and receive Necessaries from such as they have gathered to be fruitful Branches lively Plants in their Plantation No ground for Man-made Ministers to force a Maintenance from those that receive them not who are not of their Plantation their Vineyard Let your own Vineyards maintain you He that feeds a Flock may eat of the Milk of the Flock but it must be of the Milk of that Flock which he feeds The Apostles and their Successors in the Word of Faith Power and Reconciliation gathered others into the Unity of Faith to the holy Hill of Sion these were Flocks as Flocks of Sheep which come up from the Washing whereof every one bears Twins and none are barren these they feed with convenient Food And let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6.6 This we own And the Apostle said If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things The Law commanded Thou shalt not muzel the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn Deut. 25.4 The Equity of the Law required That the Ox that trod out the Corn was not to be muzled but be fed by him whose Corn he trod out And 't was not agreeable to the Equity of that Law
not Protestant Writers say That the Beast and his ten Horns is the Pope and Popish Kings And by what hath been spoken it may appear how Tythes came into Churches professing Christianity and a Compulsary Maintenance Now is it honourable for or besseming such as pretend to be Ministers of Christ to have no Command nor Example from Christ for what they act but from the Beast and his Horns the Pope and his Auxilliaries Do they not offer great affront to Christ who establish that which he dissanulled Now if every Ordinance of man of what Nature so ever must be submitted to strange Consequences might follow then if one and the same Individual Person should remove into twenty several Nations of different Religions he is bound to hoist up his Sails to all these Winds to comply with the Worship of every respective Nation if the Supream Authority command it Having touched that no Patriarchal Act nor the Levitical nor Evangelical Dispensations nor Ordinances of man can assure Tythes to Gospel Ministers as truly such I may subjoyn a few Testimonies of men eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes who in their Respective Ages bare Testimony against the grand Oppression of Tythes and other things The Teachers of the Waldenses saith a certain Inquisitor are Weavers Taylors they encrease not Riches but are content with Necessaries Vsher de Succes Eeclesia These Waldenses were a People of great Sincerity and Godly Simplicity in their day and endured fiery Tryals storms of Persecutions for their Testimony against the Romish Faith Gildas speaking of the Brittish Clergy being Locusts come out of the Smoke said They are Pastors in name but indeed Wolves not called to but seizing on the Ministry as a Trade not as a spiritual Charge seeking after Preferments and Degrees in the Church more than after Heaven and so gain'd make it their whole study to keep them by any Tyranny And what sufferings are in this our day for the Denyal of Tythe what Imprisonments what Havock and Spoil is and hath been made I need say nothing the Statute of Tâ—ible Damage hath been leaned to as if it were from Heaven and not of men The Waldenses saith Bishop Vsher gave Testimony That Ministers ought to be poor content with the free Benevolence of the People The Papists saith this Vsher judged this a pestilent and damnable Opinion And many that would be accounted Reformed Churches approve not of it Primitive Christianity had other thoughts of it their Maintenance being free and voluntary These Waldenses on a certain account testified saying We are not ashamed of our Ministers in that they labour with their hands seeking a Maintenance according to their Ability because the Doctrine and Example of the Apostles allows of this thing Vsher de Succes Ecclesiae Further this Vsher affirms That these Waldenses condemned all the Clergy because of their Idleness saying They ought to labour with their Hands as the Apostles did Robert Abbot of Molisme in Burgundy perswaded his own Disciples To live with their handy Labour and to forsake Tythes and Oblations The Bohemians descended from the Waldenses professed That all Ministers ought to be poor and to be content with the Free Gift of the People Aen. Syl. in his Bohemian History The Dominicans and Franciscans taught That Tythe was not due by Divine Right nor a necessary duty to Gospel Ministers but that they might be detained and disposed of at the Owners pleasure especially if the Pastor did not well perform his Office 'T was generally the judgment of the Wickliffians as of the Waldenses and Bohemians being all Protéstants That Ministers ought to be poor and content with the free Gifts of the People Aen. Syl. his Bohemian History John Wickliff whose works are much esteemed by Protestants in England and Bohemia whose Bones were taken up and burnt by Papists forty one years after his Death gave Testimony in this manner That Tythes were and are a free Gift as among the Christians and only pure Alms and that Parish oners might for the Offence of their Curates detain and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own Will and Pleasures Fox Acts and Mon. John Hus burnt at Constance for his Testimony said thus The Clergy are not Lords and Possessors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be bestowed on the Poor and if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Thieves and Robbers and Sacriledges Persons and except they do Repent by the just judgment of God they are to be condemned Fox Acts and Mon. At the Reformed Church in Geneva they live upon free Gifts and Tythes of all sorts are taken up for the use of the State and said up for the publick Treasury William Thorp Martyr being complained of by the Popish Clergy was brought to Examination in the year 1407. being accused before Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England as against divers other abuses crept into the Church so also against Tythes he gave faithful Testimony saying In the New Law neither Christ nor his Apostles ever took Tythe of the People neither commanded they the People to pay Tythe And Christ and his Apostles preached the Word of God to the People and lived of pure Alms or free Gifts and after Christ's Assention when the Apostles had received the Holy Spirit they travelled labouring with their Hands not to be Chargeable Further saith he Tythes were given in the old Law to Levites and Priests but our Priests come not of Levi ergo by the Law our Priests cannot challenge Tythes for as the Priesthood is changed so is the Law but since Christ in the time of his Ministry and also his Apostles lived by pure Alms or else by the Labours of their Hands for the Servant is not greater than his Lord. At which words the Bishop said unto him God's Curse have you and mine for thus teaching Further William Thorp said Those Priests that do take Tythes they deny Christ to be come in the Flesh Further bearing Testimony against the Covetousness and Pride of the Priests The Bishop answered By God I deem him more meek that goes every day arrayed in his Scarlet Gewn than thou in thy Thred-bare blew Gown Language not savouring of a primitive Bishop but of an Apostate Lording Bishop Fox Acts and Mon. William Swinderby testified to this purpose If Parishioners pay Tythes to wicked Priests or Curats they are guilty before God of upholding them in their Sins and Evil Deeds Further saith he Christs Law commands to minister freely to the People the Pope with his Law â—ells or Money Christs Law teaches his Priests to be Poor the Pope justifies and maintains Priests to be Lords Fox Acts and Mon. Walter Brute testified as appears by the Articles charged against him 1st That no man is bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times 2dly If any Priest
the Land of the Philistins 1 Sam. 3.9 When it was scornfully demanded Is Saul also among the Prophets one answered But who is their Father As who should say Prophecy comes not so much by Man's Teaching as by God's therefore wonder not that Saul prophesies though not bred a Schollar 1 Sam. 10. Trap. on the Acts. The Seventy Elders were called of God without recourse to Heathen Education Prophane Arts and Sciences the Spirit the Word of Prophecy came upon them Numb 11. Eldad and Medad were called of the Lord the Spirit of Prophecy came upon them Numb 11.26 c. Joshua the Servant of Moses said My Lord Moses forbid them He said not Stock Stone Imprison Persecute Beat them with Staves Bibles as the Language of many in our dayes have been who would be accounted Ministers of the Gospel Moses answered Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's People were Prophets and that he would put his Spirit upon them Here was a precious Frame of Spirit Fervency for the Propagation of the Truth Samuel a Prophet was called of God contrary to the Will of Man 1 Sam. 3. Oded a Prophet was called of the Lord 2 Chron. 28. his Testimony from the Mouth of the Lord was effectual Ahâ—jah the Prophet was called of the Lord 1 Kings 11.29 14.26 If thou comest uncalled God will say unto thee Friend how camest thou hither The Calling is Null if it have not the Living God for the Author and Caller Wilson's Christian Dictionary Iddo the Seer was called of God 2 Chron. 9.29 Jehu the Prophet was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him 1 Kings 16.1 Jahaziel a Prophet was called of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord came upon him 2 Chron. 20.14 15. Elijah was called of the Lord made a Prophet by the Living Word 1 Kings 17.1 2. his Testimony was against Ahab and Jezebel for their Idolatry and worshipping of Images for the which they persecuted him calling him A Troubler of Israel 1 Kings 1.8 Elisha a Plough man was called of God 2 Kings 2.15 he reproved the Idolatry of Priests and People in his Age he cured Naaman of his Leprosie upon which Naaman testified saying I know that there is no God in all the Earth but in Israel Naaman offered him a Gift and urged him to take it but Elisha refused shewing forth another manner of Spirit than is in Man-made Ministers who speak much the Horsleeches Language Give Give 2 Kings 5. Micajah a Prophet called of the Lord concerning whom the King of Israel said I hate this Micajah for he doth not prophesie good concerning me but Evil One advised Micajah To speak well of the King as the Four Hundred Prophets had done Micajah answered As the Lord liveth what the Lord saith unto me that will I speak 1 Kings 22. shewing forth another Spirit than is in Man-made Ministers Men pleasers Huldah a Prophetess was called of the Lord the living Word came to her and she bare Testimony against the Backsliding and Idolatry of that time 2 Kings 22. Shemaiah a Prophet a Man of God called of God the Word of the Lord came to him 1 Kings 12. 2 Chron. 12. Azariah the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he preached true sound and wholsom Doctrine 2 Chron. 15. Hunani the Seer in the Word of Prophecy reproved Asa King of Judah for his Reliance upon the Arm of Flesh and for his Non-reliance upon the living God Asa imprisoned him for his Message 2 Chron. 16. Zechariah a Prophet was called of the Lord the Spirit of the Lord came upon him he reproved the People for that they forsook the Lord saying The Lord had forsaken them for the which they conspired against him and stoned him 2 Chron. 24. Thus they that are in the Flesh they swell against them that are in the Spirit Balaam was called of God he heard his Voice the Spirit of God came upon him he prophesied of the coming of Christ but by looking after Gifts and Rewards he went astray Numb 22 23 24 Chapters Miriam a Prophetess was called of the Lord Exod. 15. for Murmuring against Moses she became Leprous and was shut out of the Camp seven dayes Numb 12. Isaiah the Prophet was called of the Lord Isa 38.1 48.16 he bare Testimony against such Teachers as came by the Will of Man saying His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all Dumb Dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber yea they are Greedy Dogs which can never have enough they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Isa 56.10 11. Who are called of God now they see and comprehend such as come by the Will of Man who have nothing but what they receive from Schools and Colledges Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences School-Divinity to be the blind and ignorant Watchmen seeking yea Extorting Gain from their Quarters from their Parishes watching for the Fleece more than for the Good of the Flock Trap on the Corinthians saith That Luther never found himself once tempted to Covetousness Among Man-Made Ministers herein few are Lutherans Jeremiah was called of the Lord when a Child without recourse to Heathen Education Jer. 1. he said Ah! Lord God behold I cannot speak for I am a Child The Lord said Say not I am a Child thou shalt go to all that I send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak Here he is drawn from Man to the Mouth of the Lord. I will give you Pastors according to mine Heart saith the Lord which shall feed you with Knowledge and Vnderstanding Jer. â— 15 Such Teachers are of the Lord 's giving not of Man's sending He reproved their great Corruption as in the Civil so in the Ecclesiastâ—cal State saying A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the Land the Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their Means and my People love to have it so Jer. 5.30 31. In the Light of Truth such as these are found out Again He testified against such as ran and were not sent saying They make you Vain they speak a Vision of their own Heart and not out of the Mouth of the Lord I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied but if they had stood in my Counsel and had caused my People to hear my Words then they should have turned them from their Evil Way and from the Evil of their Doings Jer. 23. In the Prophetical Dispensation such as ran for Self-ends not being sent of the Lord the Prophet's Testâ—mony was against them for his Testimony the People stroke him stocked him imprisoned him and sorely persecuted him The same is fulfilled in our dayes Ezekiel was called of the Lord chap. 1. he bare Testimony against such as came by the will of Man without a heavenly Call he prophesied That the Lord would deliver his
Flock from the Mouth of such and set up One Shepherd who should feed them This one Shepherd is known and the Shepherds that mind the Fleece more than the Flock are turned from Ezek. 34. Daniel through the virtue and influence of the living Word was made a Prophet he fore-saw the Messiah and his Kingdom and how the Saints should take his Kingdom and of the â—â—ishing of Transgression and of the putting an End to Sin and of making Reconciliation for Iniquity and of bringing in Everlasting Righteousness Hosea was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against prophane Priests saying My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge because thou hast rejected Knowledge I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no Priest unto me Hos 4. And as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so the Company of Priests Murder in the Way by Consent for they commit Lewdness Hos 6.9 Joel the Prophet was called of the Lord Joel 1.1 he prophesied of the Glory of the Evangelical Dispensation saying It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dream Dreams your young men shall see Visions and upon the Servants and Hand-maids in those days I will pour out my Spirit Joel 2.28 29. So 't is the Spirit of the Lord that enables to Pray to Preach to Prophesie to bear a faithful Testimony for the Lord not acquired Heathen Arts Sciences and natural Tongues Amos a Herds-man and a Gatheres of Sicomore Fruit was called of the Lord to be a Prophet Amos 1.1 he rebuked Israel for that they would have had the Lords Prophets silent Amos 2.12 Amaziah said unto Amos O thou Seer flee into the Land of Judah there eat Bread and Prophesie there but Prophesie not any more aâ— Bethel for it is the Kings Chappel and it is the Kings Court Amos 7. Thus he who had the Letter without the Spirit would have limitted him that was in the Spirit the Key which opens and no man can shut And how man-made Ministers now and others in the Will of the Flesh have and do labour to stop the Testimony of Truth because not born by Artists Logicians Philosophers I need say little Obadiah was called of the Lord contrary to the Will of Man cap. 1.1 he prophesied That Saviours should come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdom should be the Lords vers 21. Jonah was called of the Lord the Word of the Lord came unto him That he should preach Repentance unto Nineveh but consulting with Flesh and blood he steared his course to Tarshish a great Fish swallowed him up through Repentance he was delivered and sent to preach Repentance to Nineveh Jonah 1 2 3. chap. Micah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against such as came by the Will of man saying Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my People Err and cry Peace Peace and he that puts not into their Mouthes they prepare War against him In the Living Word that came to Micah such Teachers are now seen preparing War against them that put not into their Mouthes that refuse to give them Tythe Easter-reckonings Midsummer-dues Martin-Mass-Calves Mortuaries Reek-pennies such they Sue recover Tribble Damages Imprison what spoil is made on this account very many Parishes in England affords Examples The Sun was gone down over such Prophets yea Night was upon them and they had no Vision nor Answer of God Micah 3.5 6 7. Now such as deny Revelation and Vision the Sun is gone down unto them Night is upon them Further saith Micah The Heads judge for Rewards and the Priests teach for Hire the Prophets divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us Micah 3.11 In the same Spirit now revealed such are now seen Nahum was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he spake of slumbering Shepherds cap. 3.18 In the Soul-quickning Life-restoring Word such Slumberers and Sleepers are now seen who are not kept waking to Righteousness nor vigilant for the good of their Flocks Habakkuk was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he prophesied of a comfortable Dispensation of the scattering of the Exhalations of Darkness and Ignorance saying The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as Waters cover the Sea cap. 2.14 Zaphaniah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he testified That the Lord would cut off the Names of the Chemarims that is Black coats with the Priests Zeph. 1.4 He said of Jerusalem That her Prophets were Light and Treacherous Persons that her Priests had polluted the Sanctuary and had done Violence to the Law cap. 3.4 Such as have no Call but of man will be found guilty hereof Haggai was called of the Lord he cryed out saying Is it time for you to dwell in your Ceiled Houses and this House lie waste cap. 1. Such are in Transgression who dwell in their own who cover themselves with the black Curtain of Self and natural Endowments and neglect the Dispensation of God where the building of the true Temple is Zechariah was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he bare Testimony against such as ran unsent saying Wo to the Idol Shepherd that leaveth the Flock the Sword shall be upon his Arm and upon his Right Eye his Arm shall be clean dryed up and his right Eye shall be utterly darkned cap. 11.17 Malachi was called of the Lord cap. 1.1 he reproved the Priests for neglecting the Covenant cap. 2.1 2. as man made Ministers now are justly reproveable for neglecting the new Covenant the Law written in the Heart the Spirit put in the inward Parts the great blessing of the Evangelical Dispensation John the Baptist was called of the Lord without recourse to Heathen Arts and Sciences spoiling Philosophy Luke 1.15 Luke 3.1 2. Christ Jesus the End of the Law the End of the Prophets in his prepared Body called not the Wise and Prudent Painted Oraters Subtil Sophisters Crafty Logicians and spoiling Philosophers but weak and contemptible Instruments as unlearned Fisher-men to preach the Everlasting Gospel that they might be in him what they were that they might be Work-men solely and wholely thorow his Power Virtue and Influence not thorow acquired Arts Parts and Sciences Mat. 4.18 c. Christ sent not Orators saith Augustin to work upon Fisher-men Andrew and others but by these Fisher-men he reduced Kings and Emperors to the saving Knowledge of the Truth Omnipotency being Agent faith one it matters nothing what like the Instrument be Of Fisher-men he made them Fishers of men they came to the Discipleship to learn of Christ before they came to the Apostleship to be Preachers of Christ they were taught and caught by him before they taught and caught others Unlearned Fishermen saith Jerom are sent to preach that the Faith of
Subsumptions c. Were such Grave and Conscientious Persons saith this Author admitted into the Ministry as the Apostles ordained such Preaching set up as they practised and all other decryed then Thousands in the Nations would preach the Gospel for Conscience sake Paul speaking of the Aaronical Priesthood said No man taketh this Honour to himself but he that is called of God as Aaron was Heb. 5.4 Aaron was not to execute the Priests Office till called of God he was to be anointed with Oyl to have a Breast-plate and the Vrim and Thummim in it a Girdle c. Exod. 28. Without these he was not to Minister a Type of Christ and of the Evangelical Ministry fulfilled in the Substance Christ Jesus a Kingdom of Priests a Royal Priesthood into which no man is to intrude nor pretend till called of God furnished with the heavenly Anointing Breast-plate of Righteousness Urim and Thummim Light and Perfection Girdle of Truth c. Such as deny an Immediate Call and confess they have not the Apostles Spirit they want their Armour their Breast-plate they plead against their Urim and Thummim Light and Perfection so are man-made Ministers excluded from the Call of the Aaronical Priesthood the Type and of Christ the Substance and of the Evangelical Ministry The Call of God saith Aug. Marlorat on this place makes a Lawful Office this was common to Christ Aaron for God call'd them both Let such saith one as run before they be sent with their Dead Carnal Formal Worship and Erronious Doctrines remember Nadab and Abihu with their strange Fire such as was not sent down from Heaven Lev. 10. Core and his Complices with their dismal Usurpations Numb 16. Vzza with his exemplary Punishment 1 Chron. 13. The Lord commanded That such of the Sons of Aaron as had Blemishes and Corporal Deformities should not execute the Priests Offiâ—e Lev. 21. Implying that Gospel Ministers should be freed from Spiritual Blemishes the Defilements of Sin Iniquity Superstition and Idolatry whom the Lord calls to be his Witnesses he reconcils them to himself and cleanses them from the Defilements of Body Soul and Spirit The legal Priest was not to be blind but was to have his Eye-sight implying that Gospel Ministers anointed with heavenly Eye-salve are Quick-sighted not Blind but Openers of Blind Eyes 'T is said of Hagar That God opened her Eyes and she saw a Well of Water Gen. 21. So the Lord opens the Eyes of his Witnesses to see the Well of the Water of Life and to feel its comfortable Virtue so they cannot but invite others thereunto and that Freely and blind Watch-men are offended such as have no Call but from Man commended thereto through Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences These are Blind not Gospel Ministers The legal Priest was not to be Lame Lameness was prohibited Gospel Ministers are not Spiritually Lame They run without Weariness walk without Fainting but Man made Ministers are in Spiritual Lameness not knowing the use of that Foot that leads to Life these halt in the Way How can they say as Paul that excellent Way-guide said Be ye Followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. 11. And walk as you have us for an Example Phil. 3.17 The legal Priest was not to have a flat Nose such as have their Olfactory Nerve is often obstructed so that they are void of the sense of Savour Gospel Ministers called of the Lord they savour the things of the Lord they savour the Sweetness of Christ's good Oyntment and are refreshed thereby but Man made Ministers through a spiritual Obstruction they savour not the Things of God but their Understandings are so darkned and depraved as that they call Evil Good and Good Evil and put Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness and put Bitter for Sweet and Sweet for Bitter Isa 5.20 The legal Priest was not to have any thing Superfluous Excess in Number Quantity or Quality implying that such as are truly called to the Evangelical Ministry to the Gospel Dispensation what they are they are in the Lord New Creatures Old Things are put off all things are become New James admonished the scattered Tribes To lay apart all Filthiness and Superfluity of Naughtiness and to receive with Meekness the Engrafted Word which was able to save their Souls James 1.21 The legal Priest was not to be broken Footed nor broken Handed What implies this That such as are truly called into the Gospel Ministry they are Sound Footed and Handed the Foot of their Mind keeps in Sions Way it breaks not off from the Way of God it keeps in the Path of Judgment their Hands handle the Word of Life but such as have no Call but of man they are Revolters broken off from the Path of Life The legal Priest was not to be Crook-Backt What implies this but that Gospel Ministers made so contrary to the Will of Man are not pressed down with the weight and burden of worldly Cares Now what but the World its Pleasures Profits Lucre Gain Advantages and Preferments is in the Eye of Man made Ministers The legal Priest was not to be a Dwarf of small Bodily stature implying That the Ministers of the Gospel impowered from above must not be stinted in spiritual Growth not Novices of low stature in the saving Truth but grow like the Palm Tree Tall Upright always Green Flourishing Fruitful in spiritual Growth always tending Heaven-ward till they attain unto the measure of the stature of the Fulness of Christ Ephes 4. But such as are called by the will of Man and stand therein they are strangers to the first Principle of pure Religion not so far as the Novice or young Schollar's state so no Ministers of Christ The legal Priest was not to have a Blemish in his Eye whereby his sight might be diminished or depraved implying That the Evangelical Witnesses whose Eyes are anointed with spiritual Eye-salve grow up in clearness of Understanding for their comfortable walking with God and for bringing of others into the Path of the Ransomed but Man made Ministers may be exquisite in Tongues Arts Histories Civil and Ecclesiastical Councils Fathers Schoolmen yet spiritually blind The legal Priest was not to be Scorbutical nor Scabbed wherein the Peccant humor of corrupt Blood so abounded that it brake out and deformed the Flesh this rendred a man uncapable of discharging the Priests Office What implies this but that the Gospel Ministers should through the Power Virtue and Influence of the Cross of Christ know the Flesh Crucified with the Affections and Lusts thereof and lift up pure Hearts and clean Hands without wavering and doubting but such as have no Qualification but from Man from Natural Tongues Arts Sciences Pagan Metaphysicks the Virtue of the Cross not being known Flesh ruling within manifests it self without The legal Priest was not to be Concussus testiculo that is have his Stones broken this Imperfection unqualified the Sons of Aaron dis-inabled them
from executing the Priests Office This implies that the Lord's Witnesses under the Evangelical Dispensation should be enabled to beget others into the healing Power of the Living God Paul told the Corinthians saying In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4.15 Phil. 10. Now Man made Ministers beget others into dry partched sandy Forms without Power and persecute others for Non-Compliance thereunto Peter the Apostle gave a pregnant and lively Testimony for a Divine and Immediate Call saying As every man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 So Gospel Ministers minister out of the Treasure of God's Gift not from a stock acquired by Natural Languages Arts and Sciences Further saith Peter If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God If any man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth vers 11. So that the true Ministry proceeds from the Spring of divine Ability not from the muddy Lake of acquired Pagan Arts Parts and Endowments Nothing conduces more saith Aug. Marl. on this place to correct Murmurings then in considering that we minister not of our own but what the Lord hath given us Further 't is said I will give Power unto my two Witnesses and they shall Prophesie a Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore Dayes clothed in Sackcloth Rev. 11.3 Gospel Ministers saith Pareus on this place who are the Lords Witnesses are impowered and qualified by the Lord for the Performance and Discharge of their Work After three dayes and a half the Time of the Beasts Reign that ascended out of the Bottomless Pit and Locusts coming out of the Smoke Anti-christian Teachers bred and qualified in the Smoke of humane Wisdom Spoiling Philosophy Unsavory School Divinity whereby Kindreds Tongues and People are made Drunk I say after the Reign of the Beast and of the Locusts Antichrist and his Man made Ministry John fore-tells the Restoration of Witnesses and of their Call to the Ministry saying The Spirit of Life from God entred into them Rev. 11.11 So that the Succession of true Witnesses of the true Ministry after the Apostacy shall be through the Operation of the Spirit not through the Smoke of the Pit Spoiling Philosophy School Divinity and through the Operation of the Finger of the Antient of Dayes The Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign forever and ever Rev. 11.15 So that the Spirit of Life entring into men after the Beast and his Locusts Anti-christ and his Ministers have had their Day is to be the only Qualifier for the Evangelical Dispensation Most of the Ministers among the Waldenses were Trades-men as Merchants Fisher-men Taylors Shoe-makers Husband-men and these Waldenses antient Pratestants Witnesses against the apostatised Roman Church bare Testimony That it were lawful for any to Preach who were called of God Though Strangers to Natural Tongues Arts Sciences Philosophy such the living God is raising up to stand on their Feet and they must bear their Testimony in order to Season and rectifie the Nations though by the Sons of Belial under the Delusion of Anti-christ they be branded as Anti-magistratical and Anti-ministerial and Persecuted CAP. II. Of a Humane Call into the Ministry WHile the Primitive Faith was kept the Ministers of the Gospel were Stars in Heaven shining as Stars through purity of Doctrine and heavenly Spotless Coversation while Stars in Heaven fixt in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus they had the heavenly Key letting them into the royal Court of the Lords Presence they entertained no Wisdom in Church or School but what was Heavenly no Call into the Ministry but what was Divine Immediate contrary to the Will of Man Holy men of God as Peter said spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost Yea and these in the Life of Righteousness Power of Godliness saw such as got the Letter without the Spirit the Scriptures without the Power and bare Testimony against them to be false Teachers Antichrists Preaching for filthy Lucre Gifts and Rewards Yea Paul spake of the Rise of Self-lovers Covetous c. who should have the Form of Godliness without the Power thereof Scriptures without the Spirit such said he are to be turned from 2 Tim. 3. John foresaw a great Star fall from Heaven to Earth then being in the Earth an earthly Key was thrust into the hand of his Mind even the Key of the Bottomless Pit out of the Pit arose a Smoke darkning Sun and Air Spoiling Corrupting and Depraving the Glory and Purity of the Primitive Church What was this Smoke Earthly Wisdom gushing as a heady Torrent into Church and School Traditions Errors Lyes strange Doctrines Superstition Idolatry Lacivious Poems Wanton Comedies Vain Tragedies Frivolous Fables Spoiling Philosophy Heathen Logicks Ethicks Metaphysicks As this Smoke steamed into Church and School the Pearl of heavenly Wisdom and the Pure Divine Immediate Call into the Ministry was lost in the Smoke Yea and John foresaw Locusts come out of the Smoke What 's that Swarms of Man-made Ministers bred and qualified in the Smoke of earthly Wisdom be they Garduates or Under-graduates if they have nothing but from Man so that since the steaming in of that Smoke the Call hath been of Man through Natural Languages Heathen Arts Parts Endowments Qualifications at Schools and Colledges yea and the Locusts have been so senseless and benummed as to plead against any other Call or Manner of Qualification The true Ministry was and is peculiar to the New man 2 Pet. 1.21 John 20.21 But the heavenly Capacitating Ability being lost through the Smoke of the Pit a Qualification without was set up in the place of it gained by Schools Universities Languages Spoiling Philosophy so Preaching is made an Art of the old Man by Antichrist Let none apprehend that I deny Schools of Learning for Schools teaching the knowledge of the Creation and of useful and necessary Things and Languages useful in their place I own but 't is the Lord of the Harvest that must send forth Labourers into the Harvest Universities cannot do that I might produce a Cloud of Witnesses shewing that after the Beast was risen out of the Sea and Earth Apostatised Christendom was become as Waters Kindreds Tongues People and Nations professing Christianity yet were made drunk with the Cup of Fornication Spiritual Idolatry no other Call into the Ministry was admitted but what was gained at Schools and Universities by Acquired Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences though in all or most of Ages as by the Waldenses Albigenses c. the Lord had his Witnesses bearing Testimony to the Virtue and Power of a divine Call and that without it all Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences were insignificant and insufficient In the dayes of King Henry the 4th the King Lords and Bishops agreed That no man within his Dominions should preach privily
stuffed with the Opinions of Sciences these leave no room for the holy Spirit saith Cornel. Agrip. Of the Vanity of Sciences Obj. 1 Tim. 4.14 Answ This is nothing to prove a Humane Mediate Call but the contrary Paul writing to Timothy said Neglect not the Gift that is in thee There was a Divine Gift in him which he was not to neglect but to improve for the Edification of others Timothy was a holy man and he was to minister and did minister from the virtue and influence of a heavenly Gift in him hereby he came to the Ministry not through Natural Tongues Heathen Arts Sciences Metaphysicks Spoiling Philosophy From the dignity of the Calling saith Aug. Marl. on this place Paul exhorted Timothy That for the Edification of the Church he would improve that Grace wherewith he was endued To the same purpose he wrote to him a second Epistle saying Wherefore I put thee in remembrance That thou stir up the Gift of God that is in thee chap. 1.6 There was a heavenly Gift in him out of which as a faithful Steward he was to minister for the good of others Timothy saith Aug. Marl. on this place wanted not this Gift before but then it shewed it self more evidently when the Charge or Care of Teaching others was imposed upon him I put thee in remembrance saith Paul that thou stir up the Gift of God that is in thee rather that thou clear up the heavenly Spark that is in thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Spark buried in Ashes lies as it were dead useless and unprofitable but through the Breath of the Bellows it is quickned cleared puts forth its virtue and influence kindling combustible matter giving light and heat to others Paul would not have Timothy to bury in Ashes the heavenly Spark of divine Grace in him but that through Faith and Vigilancy it might be stirred up cleared and he by it be kindled into Fervency to minister Light spiritual Heat Benefit and Advantage to others An Allusion saith one to the Fire of the Altar that came from Heaven which should always be burning and never go out Lev. 6.13 To the Candle of the Virtuous Woman that went not out by Night Prov. 31.18 To the wise Virgins Lamps Mat. 25.8 To the Lights of the Disciples which Christ commanded to be burning Luke 12.35 Obj. 2 Tim. 2.2 Answ This proves not a mediate humane Call into the Ministry by acquired Natural Languages Heathen Arts and Sciences but expresly the contrary The things that thou hast heard of me saith Paul in this place to Timothy the same commit thou to Faithful men who shall be able to teach others also Faithful men men full of Faith are any full of Faith but through the indwellings of Christ the Author and Finisher of Faith And are any able to teach others but who are taught of Christ Who witness these things in a great measure they witness Flesh Crucified So who are able to teach others or truly desire to be serviceable to others they are Spiritually called thereto Is it not said that It is God that worketh in man to will and to do of his own good pleasure This I say that the Call of faithful men of men able to teach others is of God and not of man No Talent saith Trap on this place is given for private and proper use but for the transmitting it to others for their benefit and advantage Obj. We learn Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences to enable us to understand Scriptures and the Scripture and Spirit are inseperable so though we be ordained of men yet we exclude not the Spirit for the Spirit and Scripture are inseparable Answ This Doctrine if truly understood and weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary savours of Simony Simon offered Money for the Spirit but could not have it Now if the Letter and Spirit had been inseparable as many have taught and affirmed he might have had it for Money for the Bible may be had for Money Further Simon had this acknowledgement that the holy Spirit was the Power of God and that mans having the Scripture without the Power signified little but many teach and affirm now that he that hath the Scripture he hath the Spirit also for they are inseparable and that the Scripture is the Power of God herein coming short of Simon Further Simon bewitched the People so man made Ministers who have nothing but from man who keep people in their corrupt Interpretation of the Letter out of that which gave out the Letter the Spirit and bring them not to Shiloh to whom the true gathering is such are in spiritual Witchcraft drawing People from the Life of Righteousness the Seed in which the Families of the Earth are blessed into the Dungeon of dead dry empty sapless Forms Again Simon gave out himself to be some great one so man made Ministers who know no Call but from man be they Graduates or Under-graduates they are puft up with Heathen Education that knowledge puffs up but Love Edifies If the Lord of the Harvest raise any to be his living Witnesses wanting Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences such are branded as Illiterate ignorant Mechanicks and Persecuted as if the Gospel Ministry were entailed upon Natural Languages Heathen Arts and Sciences yet the knowledge of Languages is useful in its place but the Gospel Ministry stands in that which was before Natural Languages Though it be clear by History that the Mahometans descended from Hagar the Bond-woman which thing they cannot deny yet for Name and Kindreds sake they had rather be called Saracens as if they descended from Sarah the Free-woman the Wife of Abraham So man made Ministers though they plead against any Call but of man and brand them as Hereticks Schismaticks Fanaticks Enthusiasts who plead for the Call of the Lord of the Harvest or for seeing the Lord or for the hearing of his Voice yet these man made Ministers would be called Ministers of Christ not of man Furthermore Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences are but such qualifications as a Natural man may have and the Natural man knows not the things of the Spirit of God they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 So 't is the Spirit the heavenly Key that opens Scriptures not Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences 'T is said of Christ that he opened their Understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luke 24.45 He told them not that they must have recourse to Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences for to accomplish them to understand Scriptures No Scriptures being things of God they are not truly understood but by the Spirit of God Obj. Vniversities as Cambridge and Oxford are Well-springs of Divinity the Fountains of Gospel Ministers Answ Israel being Apostatized from the living God the Lord by his Prophet complained saying My People have committed two Evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Waters and have hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2.13
Thus Israel was guilty of forsaking the Fountain of Life of Living Mercies and of having recourse to broken Cisterns The labour of the Apostles and their living concern was to bring People to Shilo the Store-house of heavenly Wisdom Knowledge and sound Understanding the Fountain of Life the Well-spring of pure Wisdom spiritual Treasures Virtue Peace Joy Consolation and Spiritual Refreshments in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells Bodily of whose plenitude that is fulness his receive Grace for Grace Now after the Apostles dayes the Star being fallen Smoke arisen Sun and Air darkned the Purity of the Primitive Church spoiled in a word upon the encroachment of the Apostacy the golden Cup of Abomination and Fornication was received by Christendom which became as Waters in this smoke evaporating out of the bottomless Pit the pure Fountain of Life was lost the truly impowering Call of the Lord of the Harvest was lost then in the Apostatized Roman Church Schools and Colledges were erected into which were received Heathen Poems Comedies Tragedies Fables spoiling Philosophy Heathen Metaphysicks and in and through learning of these Youth was qualified for the Gospel Ministry as they say and these Universities were called by the Apostatized Roman Church Well-springs of Divinity Fountains of the Gospel Ministry Thus the Fountain of Life being turned from broken Cisterns were entertained Luther on 2 Pet. 2.1 spake freely of Apostatized Popish Universities The whole World saith he is of this Opinion that these are Fountains or Well springs from which proceed such as ought to teach the People This is a horrible Error saith he forasmuch as nothing so detestable proceeds from any thing or place as from Universities c. The Roman Popish Religion being brought into this Nation by Austin the Monk and others in process of time Cambridge and Oxford came to be founded and made Universities and were called Well-springs of Divinity c. And though Protestantism and a great share of Reformation be pretended and professed yet the divine Call into the Ministry is denyed and altogether or in a high measure ascribed to Schools of Humane Learning yea and Cambridge and Oxford are still termed Well-springs of Divinity the two Fountains and the two Eyes of the Nation The Almighty is opening an Eye to see the Living Fountain the Well-spring of Life and to press after the same and to deny the Idolatrous use and abuses of Man made Well-springs and Fountains though Schools teaching the knowledge of the Creation of useful and necessary Accomplishments are to be contended for but out of their place Idolatrous as in setting them in the room of the Lord of the Harvest William Tindall in his Parable of the wicked Mammon saith Many are not ashamed to rail and blaspheme saying How should he understand the Scripture seeing he is no Philosopher hath never seen his Metaphysicks and how can he be a Divine who knows not what is Subjectum in Theologia Nevertheless as a man without the Spirit of Aristotle or Philosophy may by the Spirit of God understand Scriptures even so by the Spirit of God understands he that God is to be sought c. and yet knows not what meaneth Subjectum in Theologia that is the Subject in Divinity because it is a term of their own making Drawing to a Conclusion let me say that to confine the Ministry to Natural Tongues Arts and Sciences is contrary to the Lords Call in the Patriarchal Mosaical and in the Morning of the Evangelical Dispensation yea and contrary to the Call promised after the Apostacy after the three dayes and an half wherein the Beast and the Locusts Anti-christ and his apostatized Ministry should be bred fitted and qualified in the Smoke of the Pit earthly and fallen Wisdom Rev. 11.11 Besides this my Testimony take the Testimony of our Country-man Gell who said I do not here confine the Gifts of God unto mans Approbation or Ordination Surely saith he the Lord may fill whose Hand he will speak by whom he will In all Ages saith this Gell God raised up Priests and Prophets without the Authority yea against the Authority of Men Amos 3.8 Acts 4.18 19 20. 'T is unreasonable saith he to confine the Spirit of God unto certain Theses Articles Confessions and Opinions of mens making they seem to dare and provoke the wise God in that they cannot say that their Dictates proceed from an infallable Spirit yet would they limit and bound the infallable Spirit of the God of Truth by their presumtuous humane Spirit which as themselves confess is Fallable and subject to Error We stay so long saith Bishop Hall upon the Shell of Tongues that we can hardly have time to chew the sweet Kernel of Knowledge So may I say Natural Tongues Arts Sciences and Endowments are so doted upon and concluded to be the enabling qualification for the Gospel Ministry as that the heavenly Anointing the real ability for the Gospel Ministry is not waited for but by most of the Worldly wise Linguists and Sophisters derided CAP. III. Of the Original of Bishops in Gospel dayes and of the Identity that is Oneness and Sameness of Bishops and Elders in the Primitive Age. THe Apostles in the Power of the Lord laboured and were livingly concerned to turn the Jew from Judaism and the Gentile from Gentilism to Christ in whom Oneness and the new Creature is witnessed After visiting the Churches before gathered and in the Spirit of discerning observing a Care begot in some particular Members for the good prosperity growth and decent order of their fellow Members the oversight care and charge of particular Assemblies were commended to such and they were called Elders because chosen for the most part of the elder sort of People and the same were also called Bishops that is Overseers or Superintendents because of their Office of overseeing and taking care of the rest They were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Presbyters or Elders for that they were so in Age the Law having so provided that no man should be promoted to that Dignity till he was thirty five Years old or else because they ought to be such in Manners and circumspect Carriage saith Sr. Thomas Ridley in his view of the Civil and Eccleslastical Law Pope Boniface the First thought good that not any under thirty Years of Age should be ordained a Presbyter that is an Elder Afterward it was decreed by the Authority of the Lateran Council that one might be made an Elder at twenty five Years old Polydor. de Invent. lib. 4. But this limiting to a certain Year savours of the Will of Man not of the Spirit Now 't is my Judgment that the same Individuals particular Persons that in the Purity of the Primitive Age were sometimes called Elders they were also called Bishops that is Overseers as the same Person may be sometime called a Minister sometime a Teacher this Doctrine in the Beauty of the Primitive Church was not called Heretical but
be the true Light the Way to the Father the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God and Paul was sent to turn People from Darkness to Light from the Power of Satan unto God Peter exhorted To take heed unto the sure Word of Prophecy as to a Light shining in a Dark Place until the Day did dawn and the Day-star did arise in their Hearts John 1.9 John 8.12 Acts 26.18 2 Pet. 1.19 But Man-made Ministers say The Scripture is the Light Such walk in the Region of the Shadow of Death the Scripture was given out by the Eternal Light a Declaration of it of God whence it came 6. The Apostles preached up the Baptism by one Spirit into one Body 1 Cor. 12.13 as the permanent Baptism of the Evangelical Dispensation the Heart-cleansing and Soul-saving Baptism the Substance 1 Pet. 3.21 Man-made Ministers Sprinkle Infants saying thereby they are made Members of Christ Children of God Inheriters of the Kingdom of Heaven Thus the Visible is inthroned and the Invisible is dis-throned which truly makes Members of Christ Paedorantism that is Sprinkling of Infants came not in till Hundreds of Years after the Apostles dayes 7. The Apostles knew Christ to be the Bread of Life the Soul's Food heavenly Manna here they fed at the Table of the Lord had fellowship one with another were written in one anothers Hearts these knew the Table and Supper of the Lord. Man-made Ministers tell of a Sacrament for which there is no Scripture 't was the old Heathen Roman Military Oath their Communion is in visibles Meat that perishes Christendom Professing this Communion is become as Golgotha a Place of Skulls as Aceldama a Field of Blood 8. True Minsters knew the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World to be the Everlasting Covenant Glad Tidings to Captive Souls to Prisoners of Hope this Gospel was preached to Adam Gen. 3.15.10 Abraham Gal. 3.8 Man-made Ministers say Matthew Mark Luke and John is the Gospel Their Writings are a Declaration of the Everlasting Gospel Luke 1.1 9. The Apostles preached Christ the Fountain of Life the Treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells Bodily Man-made Ministers say That Oxford and Cambridge are the Fountain Well-spring or Well-head of Divinity the two Eyes of the Nation Though founded in Popish Times for the Propagation of their Doctrine and Religion 10. The Apostles preached the Word which was in the beginning to be the Original which was before Babel many Languages by which the Prophets and Apostles were called and drew others into the one pure Language to know the Virtue of the Everlasting Gospel Man-made Ministers say that Hebrew and Greek is the Original The Hebrews persecuted Christ the Greeks accounted the Cross of Christ Foolishness Pilate who had Latin Greek and Hebrew the World 's Original he crucified Christ Alpha and Omega the Beginning and Ending the First and Last the Original the Author of the pure heavenly Language 11. The Apostles preached the Saints to be the Temple of the Living God Christ the Anti-type reigning in their mortal Bodies Man-made Ministers say That a House of Lime and Stone is the Temple An Imitation of Solomon's Temple a Type fulfilled and ended in Christ the Substance Stephen was stoned to Death for witnessing against the Temple the Figure when Christ the Substance was manifested 12. The Apostles preached Christ the one Offering perfecting forever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. They preached Christ the end of that Priesthood that took Tythe the end of the Law that gave Tythe Heb. 7.12 Man-made Ministers preach up Tythe the Heave-offering Numb 18. the Shadow so deny Christ the One Offering And by the same Rule they may introduce and uphold all the other Offerings of the Aaronical Priesthood 13. The Apostles as Freely they received so they Freely gave Mat. 10. 1 Pet. 4.10 Buy the Truth but sell it not saith Solomon Prov. 23. The Wine and Milk of the Kingdom is to be bought but how Without Money and Price Isa 55.1 Man-made Ministers say They are gifted men but will not part with their Gift but for a certain yearly Sum Wisdom the Gift of God is Free and cannot be bought and sold for Money Wisdom saith Job cannot be ' gotten for Gold nor Silver nor for Coral Pearls nor Rubies cap. 28. Who think to purchase it they are in the Gall of Bitterness in the Bond of Iniquity as Simon was Acts 8. 14. Such as Christ sent they preached That every one had a measure of Light in him leading to Life such as received it the Condemnation of such as received it not Joh. 1.5.9 Joh. 3.19 Rom. 1.19 Luke 17.21 Man-made Ministers deny this Doctrine saying 'T is a Natural Light and belch out Approbious Language against it and that the Improvement of it advantages nothing And all this to keep People in a Reliance and Dependance upon them never to witness the new Covenant the Law written in the Heart the Spirit put in the Inward Parts 15. Paul told the Corinthians That they might all Prophesie that all might learn and be comforted and if any thing was revealed to him that sate by the first was to hold his Peace 1 Cor. 14. This was Order in the true Church Man-made Ministers accounts this Confusion and Disorder for if any should come in and speak while the publick Minister is speaking or when he hath done how cruelly such have been used I need not mention shewing that their Church-members are Branches of that old putred stock that they were of who stoned Stephen to Death Acts 7. 16. The Apostles preached Freedom from Sin Rom. 6.6 7 18. Freedom from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 A Sanctified State 1 Cor. 6.11 A Cleansing from all Sin by the Blood of Jesus 1 John 1.7 Man-made Ministers teach another Doctrine That there is no Freedom from Sin in this Life and that a man must carry a Body of Sin and Death about with him while upon Earth 17. The Apostle James owned Christ's Doctrine who said Swear not at all Mat. 5. James 5. But Man-made Ministers plead for Swearing saying The Denyal thereof is an old Heresie yea and many eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes have born faithful Testimonies against Swearing as Christ did who spake with Authority 18. The Apostles owned Revelation without it God is not known Mat. 11.27 Till this was witnessed Paul was Saul a grand Persecutor Gal. 1.16 Who are of God now they bear witness to this But Man-made Ministers say Revelation is ceased So conclude all to be excluded from the Knowledge of the Living God 'T is true who are in the Will of Man Night and Darkness is upon them the Sun is set Vision and Revelation such know not 19. The true Ministers of Christ preached Present Salvation Ephes 2.8 By Grace they were saved Tit. 3.5 1 Pet. 3.21 Man-made Ministers preach Christ and Salvation at a Distance telling
receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth Heb. 7.8 Answ In the Scripture the Word Here is abused and wrested as the Words Even So are abused and mis-interpreted by many in this place the Apostle is exalting the Priesthood of Christ above the Priesthood of Levi shewing that Melchizedec was greater then Abram here men that dye receive Tythes this relates to the Levites who by the command of the Lord received Tythes and dyed but there he receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth this relates to Melchizedec who received Tythes of Abram of whom it is written that He was without Father without Mother without descent having neither beginning of Dayes nor end of Life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a Priest continually Heb. 7.3 And Christ is a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedec So that this place makes nothing for the continuance of Tythes in Gospel-dayes relating to Levi and Melchizedec Aug. Marl. touches this saying They to whom the Law assigned Tythes were mortal men and to whom did the Law assign Tythes To the Levites So when the Apostle said Here men that dye receive Tythes he related to the Levites to that Priesthood that was to be abrogated that a Priesthood of a higher Nature might be established The Apostles sent by Christ a Priest forever after the Order of Melshizedec who were to teach all Nations to observe all that he commanded them Mark All and every thing and nothing else according to my reading in Scripture and sound Ecclesiastical History never taught any that the Maintenance of the Gospel-Ministry was to be by way of Tythes which may sufficiently evidence that that Levitical course of Maintenance was not in the Charter of their Ambassage and Commission to be perpetuated in Gospel dayes CAP. XVI Tythes proved to be a Mosaical Shadow Obj. IF Christ put an and to Tythes more then to any outward property then Tythe must be a peculiar Figure of something to come If Tythe was a Type what was the Antitype thereof Answ Nehemiah reforming Abuses in the Jewish Church appointed 1st Treasuries a figure of Jesus Christ that inexhaustible Treasury 2dly Tythe as of Corn Wine Oyl was the Earthly Treasure brought into Nehemiah's Treasuries this earthy Treasure figured forth the Heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus for in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge So Tythe the earthly Treasure in the earthly Treasuries pointed at the heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus the heavenly Treasury in whom is Corn Bread that strengthens Wine that comforts and refreshes Oyl that makes truly glad 3dly Shelemiah by Interpretation The Peace of God Zadock that is Just Pedaiah that is by Interpretation The Lords Redeemer These being made Treasurers distributed of Tythe the earthly Treasures to their Brethren outward Jews So Christ Jesus the Peace of God the holy and just One the Redeemer of God he distributes of the heavenly Treasures Bread Wine Oyl living Mercies heavenly Blessings to his little Flock inward Jews Nehem. 13. Who are of God they see Nehemiah's Treasuries Treasures and Treasurers to be Shadows Figures Types fulfilled in the Substance Christ Jesus the second Adam a quickening Spirit who said He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you John the 16th The true and faithful Remembrancer In the dayes of Malachi the outward Jews had a Store-house into which Tythe was to be brought that there might be Meat in the Lord's House Mal. 3. This Store-house into which Tythe the Earthly Store was brought was a Figure a Type of Christ Jesus the Substance the Heavenly Store-house in whom all fulness dwells who distributes of heavenly Riches to the Israel of God Col. 1.19 Out of Tythes the earthly Treasures earthly Store the Necessities of the outward Jews Levites Fatherless Widows and Strangers were answered and supplied Deut. 14. that there might be no Beggar in Israel no Complaint of want So out of the heavenly Treasures heavenly Store in Christ Jesus the Substance the Necessities of all inward Jews are answered so that among such as have recourse to this Treasury this Store-house there is no Complaint no Poverty no Leanness of Soul in him are Soul-enriching Treasures John 14.2 John 4.14 Again Paul spake of Tythes in Abram's dayes Heb. 7. And of Tythes in Levi's dayes of the Priesthood Law and Carnal Commandment then saith expresly That Christ Jesus the high Priest was the Sum of the things whereof they had spoken Heb. 8.1 If any should have enquired What have you spoken of Paul He answers of Tythe in Abram's day of Tythes in Levi's days of the Priesthood Sacrifices for Sin Carnal Commandment and further saith that Christ is the Sum of all this Who are of God they see Christ the Substance of the aforesaid Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Honey with pure Springs Vineyards Oliveyards and Corn was the Lord's wherewith he fed the outward Israelites Levit. 25.23 So the Christ of God his Flesh is Meat indeed Blood Drink he hath in his spiritual Store-house heavenly Milk Honey hidden Manna Bread Water of Life heavenly Grapes Oyl of gladness for his Spiritual Israelites Sons and Daughters of Abraham and nourishes them to Eternal Life Melchizedec was but a Type of the everlasting Order shadowing out the Eternal high Priest Christ Jesus Christ was not the Melchizedec but after the Similitude of Melehizedec if after the Similitude Shadow or Type then Melchizedec could not be the Substance the thing typified for the thing similating cannot be the thing similated So that Abram gave Tythe to Melchizedec made like unto the Son of God a Figure Shadow Type Now the Priesthood of Christ must needs be the End Sum Substance of the Shadow which Substance being come the Shadow with all its appurtenances whereof Tythe was one must vanish and be of no longer force The paying of that which was proper and peculiar to the Similitude or Type shews that the Similitude or Type is still in force So the Substance not come for while the Shadow is in force there is no place for the Substance therefore the exaction of Tythes for the Ministers of the everlasting high Priest is a denyal of Christ come in the Flesh Again all the Tythe of the Land whether of the Seed of the Land or of the Fruit of the Tree it was the Lord's it was Holy unto the Lord hereby Priest Levite and the Poor were relieved Levit. 27. A Type of Christ the Substance who was called the Holy thing in whom the Obedient are sanctified nourished transformed by the renewing of their minds a living Sacrifice unto God Again Tythe or at the least some part thereof was an Heave-Offering offered unto the Lord Numb 18. A Shadow a Figure saith Wilson in his compleat Christiain Dictionary as other Oblations were So that the pleading for this Jewish Offering is a denyal of Christ to be come in the Flesh and you may as well plead for the Meat-Offering
receive any thing by way of Bargain or yearly Stipend in so doing he is a Schismatick and accursed 3dly That if we be bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times then are we Debtors to keep the whole Law for he that was the End of one part was the end of the whole 4thly Seeing that neither Christ nor any of his Apostles commanded to pay Tythes 't is manifest and plain that neither by the Law of Moses nor by the Law of Christ Christians are bound to pay Tythes but by mans Traditions Fox Acts and Mon. A Sound Testimony and true but opposed by Man made Ministers About the year 1431. Lodovicus a man much praised for Constaney and Wisdom said to the Clergy If you were true Bishops and true Pastors of Souls you would not doubt to put your Lives in hazard for your Sheep neither be afraid to shed your Blood for the Church in the Cause of Christ but at this present saith he 't is too rare to find a Prelate which doth not prefer his Temporalities before his Spiritualities with the Love whereof they are so withdrawn that they study rather to please Princes than God c. Aen. Syl. his History of the Council of Basil Pareus speaking of the drying up the River Euphrates brings in the judgment of his Anonymus that is Nameless Author which he approves of which is That the preaching of the Gospel doth shall cause men to take away all Temporal Things that is Possessions and Earthly Dominion from the Clergy and they shall no more be given them Herein I accord with him that as far as the Virtue and Power of the Gospel truly renews transforms and changes men so far 2 Faithfull and Living Testimony shall be born to the Free and Voluntary Maintenance of the Gospel and against the Antichristian Maintenance by Tythes and other Groundless Scriptureless Co-ercive Maintenance Truth prevailing this shall be scoured away It is against the holy Scripture saith Wickliff for Church-men to have Possessions Gerardus Sagarellus who lived before Wickliff's time denyed a divine Right to Tythes in Gospel days Erasmus boldly affirmed That the common exacting of Tythes by the Clergy in his Time was no better than Tyranny In Augustin's time it was no general Law nor Custom in the Church that Tythes should be paid Willet's Synopsis of Popery When the Disciples saith Walter Brute said to Christ Behold we have left all and have followed thee what shall we have He answered not thus Tythes shall be paid you neither did he promise them a Temporal but an Everlasting Reward in Heaven for Food and Apparel he taught his Disciples not to be careful Paul right-well remembring his Doctrine gave Timothy this Instruction Having Food and Rayment let us therewith be content Fox Acts and Mon. Primitive Non-payment of Tythes saith one is a pregnant Argument that they did not understand Tythes to be appointed by Christ for his Ministers He that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many Stripes Had it been saith Selden of Tythes the Apostles Ordinance or the Use of the Church in the Primitive Times Origen Tertullian and Cyprian could not have been so silent in it Is it likely saith he that all the old Councils from thence till near six Hundred Years after Christ which have special Canons for the Lands and Goods possest by the Church c. could have omitted the Name of Tenths if either such Use or Apostolical Law had preceeded Some of the aforesaid for their Testimony against Tythes as against other Errors Heresies Superstition and Idolatry of Italian Babylon suffered in Flames as Histories demonstrate To draw to a Conclusion By what hath been said 't is apparent to all seeing Eyes that according to Christ's Doctrine the Apostles were not to receive any thing but from such as received them and their Doctrine from such as reaped their Spiritual Things But now all that are found within the Limits Precincts Bounds of such or such a Parish first set up by the Pope and his Emissaries after ratified by Earthly Princes whether Believers or Unbelievers Prophane Schismaticks Hereticks Excommunicated Persons yea such as they 'l Curse and give up to Satan of these they 'l have Tythes Easter-Reckonings Midsummer-Dues Mortuaries Oblations Smoke-Money which they claim as Due being introduced by Apostatized men bringing for a Cloak He that preaches the Gospel must live of the Gospel when as the Gospel warrants no such thing In the Apostles time they had places of Worshop where Jews gathered from Jewdaism and Gentiles from Gentilism met together to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth yet no man was limitted to this or that Place nor to pay to such or such a Place or minister so much per annum these Anti-evangelical Antichristian Customs crawled out of the Apostolical Womb Honorius who succeeded Austin at Canterbury about the Year 630. divided his Province into Parishes as Selden of Tythes chap. 9. saith THE END