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A81789 The Due right of tithes examined: in a letter from a gentleman to his friend, wherein is proved that Jesus Christ did not work as a carpenter, nor did ever command his Apostles or ministers to work for a livelihood: by way of answer to some passages in Mr. Fishers Baby-baptism. By an aged gentleman, who cannot long expect to have the comfort of ministers of their ministery. 1653 (1653) Wing D2441; Thomason E714_16; ESTC R207243 7,019 13

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them forth to preach the Gospel Matth. 10.7 8 9 10. and Luke 10.3 4 5 6 7. For the labourer is worthy of his hire or did Christ ever forbid tithes to be paid to the Pharisees which was for their maintenance but approved thereof for doth not Christ say Luke 11.42 For ye tithe Mint and Rue and all manner of herbs and pass over judgement and the love of God these ought you to have done and not to leave the other undone where they may observe how our Lord Jesus Christ reproved the Pharisees for their passing over judgement and the love of God wherein they should have instructed the people but not for their tithing those small things which lawfully they might but in subordination to the weightier matters of the Law neither can those men who are so earnest to have all Maintenance taken from Ministers shew that either Christ Jesus or his Apostles and Ministers have any where in Scripture forbidden their successors and followers either the taking of Tithes or other Maintenance for to be allowed unto them Nay may it not be said unto those men that Christ Jesus received Tithes The reason for that Abraham gave Tithes unto Melchisedeck of all Gen. 14. which was long before the Lord appointed them to be given unto Aaron his successors for Christ Jesus was not an High Priest after the order of Aaron but of Melchisedeck unto whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all of whom it is said without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life but made like the Son of God abideth a Priest continually and in Psal ●●0 and Heb 7. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent Thou art a Priest for sever after the order of Melchisedeck Now for that it plainly appeareth that Melchisedeck was a Priest figure and type of Christ Jesus And his Priesthood unto whom tithes were paid by Abraham the father of all the faithful Let those Zelots from Scripture prove that neither tithes nor other maintenance ought to be given unto the successours of Christ Jesus but that they ought to labour working with their own hands for a livelihood as those men say but I affirm that I never read neither shall those men ever in Scripture read that although Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour was called Matth. 13.55 Is not this the Carpenters son Is not his mother called Mary and Mark 6.3 Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary but yet that he ever wrought as a Carpenter the Scripture no where testifieth but the Scripture saith That at twelve yeeres of age he was found in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions Luke 2.42.46 48. And his mother said unto him Son why hast thou thus dealt with us Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing Now will any man but a blinde one from these words of Mary say that Joseph her husband was Christs father I believe not but heare Christ his answer Verse 49. And he said unto them How is it that ye sought me wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business and they understood not the saying Now if Christ Jesus was thus early about his heavenly Fathers business can any man that hath his understanding believe or think that ever he followed his supposed fathers calling a Carpenter And I would have such men as are so earnest against Maintenance for Ministers and that say they ought to labour with their hands to declare unto the World what outward trade calling or secular employment John Baptist had or that he wrought with his hands to get a livelihood What Scripture-proof they can produce or that any one of the Apostles Evangelists or Ministers did work with their own hands save Paul and Barnabas who did it of their own voluntary accord for they had neither precept nor command from Christ Jesus so to do for if they had surely it would have been mentioned in Scripture And no doubt had there been any but that Paul would have charged Timothy and Titus whom he calleth his sons and those other Pastors and Teachers of the Churches whom he chargeth to feed the flock of Christ Jesus also to have laboured with their hands for a livelihood had there been any such precept or command Nay Paul doth evidently testifie the contrary in sundry places of Scripture for he saith he had power and might have been chargeable as well as other the Apostles of Christ And let all men consider and read seriously what Saint Paul saith 1 Cor. 9.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 and 14 Verses how many arguments doth the Apostle there use to prove that Ministers ought to be maintained as first from the power that Christ hath given Secondly from warfare Thirdly from the planter of a Vineyard and feeder of a flock Fourthly from the Law of God Fifthly from Equity Sixthly from the example of those that served at the Altar Seventhly because The Lord hath ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Eighthly from 2 Cor. 5.20 They are called Ambassadours for Christ and was it ever known but that Ambassadours and Souldiers were provided for and doth not the same Paul 2 Cor. 11.8 say I robbed other Churches taking wages of them to do you service and 1 Thess 2.6 he saith Nor of men sought we glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ And I pray God that the same minde might be in those men who are so eager against all Maintenance for Ministers that was in Saint Paul Not to seek glory from men nor their followers or admirers by so doing And let these men cōsider what Paul saith Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Therefore I say to such men as the Apostle in the next Verse saith Be not deceived God is not mocked nor will not be mocked For whatsoever a man soweth so shall he also reap and 1 Thess 5.12 13. and 1 Tim. 5.18 For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadethout the corn and The labourer is worthy of his reward and Philip. 4.10 Paul saith I rejoyced greatly that now at last your care for me hath flourished again wherein ye were also careful but ye lacked opportunity by all which above-said I am fully perswaded that it is the will of God the Father and of Jesus Christ our Lord Redeemer and Saviour and of the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier that the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel should be provided for with a competent means and allowance whereby they may cheerfully perform the work of their Ministery and calling without grief of minde and spirit or their working with their own hands for a livelihood although Mr. Fisher in his great book lately set forth against Infants-Baptisme the
Ministery and Ministers of all Christendome page 598. saith You plead That the mouth of the Ox must not be muzzled that treadeth out the corn that it is the will of God that such as preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel I answer it is most true there is a power and liberty allowed for such as serve the Church to eat and to drink and to subsist in case they cannot subsist otherwise at the charges of the Church but it is most commendable and thank-worthy in the Ministery to serve the Church and preach the Gospel freely and as far as it is possible not to be burthensome in this kinde at all as namely in case they have any estates of their own or can improve themselves in any such outward employment labour or lawful calling whereby to obtein a competent livelihood And thus the Apostle Paul and the first Ministers of the Gospel did they laboured working with their own hands as oft as they could conveniently and their own hands ministred to their own necessities and they had some honest outward occupation as also Christ himself had and followed too till he was wholly taken up in travel to preach the Truth Therefore Mark. 6.3 Is not this the Carpenter wherein they wrought at all times saving when they were actually employed in some service of preaching to the World writing disputing visiting c. as is plain to him that consults these Scriptures Acts 18.3 4 and 20.33 34 35. 2 Cor. 11.7 and 12.12 13 18. 1 Cor. 4.11 12. 1 Thess 29. 2 Thess 3.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Thus far Master Fisher To all which I briefly thus say and hope that which is above written will satisfie all men whose understandings are not blinded and whose judgements are free and unprejudicated doth not fully confute what Mr Fisher hath there written and likewise cited by me and I must needs further say that Mr. Fisher did not do well for to leave out in his allegation of Mark 6.3 the Son of Mary Shall I say he was blind did not see it or that he did it wilfully to deceive his simple followers I leave all men to judge as they please for I am perswaded that Mr. Fisher knoweth full vvell being so vvell acquainted with the Scriptures as himself pretendeth to be that those speeches and sayings were onely used by such as could not endure Christ his teaching and doctrine thereby to disgrace both him and it as is plain in Matthew and Mark in the Verses before and after above-alledged And may not I truly say that some formerly and that some men there were and are of latter times even in our memories that have spoken against the faithfullest and painfullest Ministers and Preachers that have boldly reproved sin hoping thereby to draw men to repentance have they not been scoffed at and called one the son of an Oatmeal-man another the son of a Smith another the son of a Carpenter and by other names according to their fathers Trade or occupation thereby to disgrace them and their Ministery now because they were so called did they therefore labour in their fathers calling surely no. Secondly to his proofs out of the Acts how doth it thereby appear that Paul was either by precept or command to labour in some Trade or Occupation to get his living more then the rest of the Apostles or Disciples As for Mr. Fishers proofs out of the Corinth examine his and mine and approve of them which are most agreeing to the minde of the Spirit of God and the practice of Christ Jesus himself and of his Apostles Disciples and Ministers declared and set down in the New Testament And for Mr. Fishers text 1 Thess 2.9 I desire you to compare mine with his taken out of the same Chapter 6 Verse and that out of Chap. 5.12 13. as also that out of 1 Tim. 5.18 by all which places I hope it will cleerly appear that Ministers ought to have maintenance Now concerning Mr. Fishers last proof viz. 2 Thess 3.6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Verses I say that the Apostle there speaketh not of Ministers but of such that professed themselves to be Christians and yet would live idlely upon the Churches charge if you will but duly read and consider the said Verses Lastly I desire all such men as are so opposite against a Ministery or maintenance for Ministers to consider seriously with themselves what judgements the Lord in Scripture did not onely threaten but brought upon those places and persons who have contemned his faithful Ministers and Messengers taking from them their maintenance which was due unto them from the Law and Gospel or ever did those places and persons enjoy peace and quietness from the Lord till they repented and till the Lords worship was first restored and his Ministers and messengers provided for Let these men declare from Scripture if they can and may not such men be termed worse then Pharaoh for he allowed a portion for the Priests of Egypt Gen. 47.22 Neither did the Heathen Monarchs that ever I read of suffer their Priests to labour for their livelihood but allowed maintenance unto them And will Christians professing the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ labour to deprive his Ministers and Messengers of maintenance forcing them to labour for a livelihood God forbid but I trust the Lord by his Providence hath raised up these men that now are the Supream Power of this Common-weal to perform the Lords will for the setling of a competent maintenance for his Ministers or Messengers to the rejoycing I hope of the hearts of all that truly love and fear the Lord. And that they may so do the good God of heaven and earth make them as so many Zerubbabels and Nehemiahs for the setting up of his worship in purity among us and the upholding of pious able and godly Ministers in the Common-weal over which the Lord hath set them that so not onely we but our posterities may bless and praise the Lord therefore Now leaving what I have written to your self and all others that fear the Lord and whose consciences are unbiassed to judge of what I have written And if it be not according to truth let them not approve of it but if not rather reprove it Farewell From my house the 11th of the sixth Moneth 1653. FINIS