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

live hundred years before 1 Cor. 1 2● c. unto which work not many mighty were called but God made use of weak low instruments for this purpose so that opposers may like those despisers Acts 13.41 wonder at this great work of God Yet W. P. Is not ashamed to set them forth by the Names of Fryars Iesuits Seminary-Priests Seekers Gifted Brethren Dippers Quakers New-Lights Troopers Souldiers Mechanicks Anabaptists Impious Atheists Buff-Preachesrs Antitrinitarians Antiscriturians Blasphemous Sectaries Hereticks New Illuminates Ranters Itinery Prodicants Inspired Brethren c. As may appear in almonst forty Pages In his first part 36. 41. 43. 57. 81. 98. 102. 116 117. 119. 126. 131. 133. 134. 135. 143. c. And in his second part the Title Page and Pages there the 3. 22. 44. 37 47. 52. 66. 74. 81. 87. 90. 96. 116. 126 127. 141. 147 c Venting himself again the People of God Luke 16.14 Mark 6.3 in which he immitates the covetous Pharisees that derided Christ and what is done to believers is as done to their Master Mat. 25.40.45 They called his Pedigree to account Is not this the Carpenter being offended at him yea both the Priests and Temple Captain was grieved because Peter and John the Fishermen taught the people Acts 4.1.2 But what if we find a traitorous Iudas amongst the Twelve Acts 8.9.13 and Simon the Sorcerer amongst the Disciples Baptised Is it equity to call them all such or what if a Seminary Priest creep in amongst those called Quakers or a Iesuit takes upon him the form of a Baptist There is no justice to reproach the whole society with the names of Sorcerers Traitors Iesuits c. or if a Whoremaster should be found in his Parish he would not think him an honest man that should affirm they were all such Therefore it had been better to have first learned the royal Law Mat. 7.12 whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye EVEN SO to them c. Page 60. He yields there was no penal Laws inforcing Tyths in the primitve and purest times of the Gospel for 500 years after Christ yet he evades this by telling us there was no president in Scriptures for High Courts of Iustice Martial c. Answ It seems by his Answer to the Objection page 61. that he understands not the difference betwixt a Law for spiritual things made by the Lord and a Law for temporal things made by the creature Concerning such Courts that reach but to the body and estate the Power of a Nation may set up so they be not oppressive although there is no Scripture for it as a National power may make a Law for repairing of high wayes and punish offenders that refuse to do the same but this is no warrant therefore that the powers of a Nation may amend or change the wayes of God where his Gospel way is a free contribution for Ministers that men should in such a case amend or change the same way to Tyths and a setled Maintenance hence then observe that where the Lord hath made a law or left us presidents or examples what to do in spritual duties it is altogether unsafe for man to pull down Gods Law and set up a humane Law doing as the Iews which made the Commandment of God Mat. 15.6 of none effect by their tradition therefore as the true Ministerial work is the Lords and is a spiritual work so let that spiritual God command it and by his Law rule and gouern it but what is temporal and given to the creature let man content himself therewith not reaching beyond the power which God hath given him Page 82. He tells us Tyths are no burthen grievance or oppression to those that pay them c. Answ They are a burthen and grievance to the conscience to act in paying Tyths against the Gospel Law and Gospel practise for thereby many true Saints are forced to sin against God their consciences in giving away the tenth part of what they have toyled for Prov. 1● 14. or else they shall not enjoy their outward quietness and a wounded spirit who can bear and the oppression also is excessive for if a man have Land worth 3. s. the Acre by the year which he clears and improves upon his own meer charges to bestow 10. s. the Acre in cost and labour upon it the Tyth-takers will have the tenth of it all if there be but his seed again and so therein he takes Tyth of all the charge of all the servants labours of the Cattels labour of all other charges and of the seed Tythed the year before c. Page 86. He tells us that abolishing Tyths will be no ease to Tenants hut gains to Landlords who thereupon will raise their Rents Answ This contains a sum of his sixt Query and is there enlarged Page 113. He tells us that Tyth opposers do it not out of Piety or Conscience but meerly from Base Covetous Carnal Hearts Answ This he asserts here and then in his eight Query demands if it be not so In divers places he pleads the antiquity of Tyths to be of old standing and therefore to be continued Answ Drunkenness may be proved from Noah Adultery from David Idolatry from Solomons time c. yet they are not good because they are old but if he had said the antiquity or oldness of Popery Tytbs and the Mass-book makes them good his plea had been as weighty He complains that those which he so often reproacheth have not wrote against Iesuits Ro●●s Emissories c. Answ He h●ving no just plea against them would now caluminate their persons devising devices to stain their reputation Ier. 18.18 Acts 6.12.1 by Iesuits c. as the Iews did to Ieremiah and Steven but the pure people of God own no Iensit c. yet possible it is for such a one to creep in and not be found out at present yea to have divers false Members form in the outward and not discovered suddainly as Iudas amongst the twelve Simeon the Sorcerer amongst the Disciples c. so to have d●ceivers creep in with the people of God is no new thing He often stikes at one Iohn Canne by reproaches scoffs c. upbraiding him by being an excise man c. Answ I know neither of you by face but may not an Excise man be a Disciple as well as a Custome-taker Luke 5.27 It is evident how God looks upon the present condition Who shews his esteem of former works both good and bad Ezek. 18.26 27. And when the Lord will rec●ive Publicans in mercy why should the self justifying Pharisees blame him because they had been sinners Mary Magdalen was a sinner Luke 15.1.2 Mark 16. but the seven Devils being cast out she became a true convert unto whom Christ first appeared after he was risen from the dead What if I had been a Shepherd like Moses A Thresher of Wheat like Gedeon

c. of such adding something his old matter about Abraham and of Gods in●tuting them c. Answ This query is but Abbreivate of his long f●● about Abrahams paying Tythes c. which was 〈◊〉 answered before therefore I shall avoid Tautolog● only this I shall remind you of First how none Abraham ever paid Tythes before the Levitical 〈◊〉 being once done in a Voluntary way secondly how People in the World was ever commanded of God to ●y Tythes but the Jews only thirdly how the Vir●in Gospel Churchs never took Tythes of any or ●aid any nor demanded any fourthly how there was ●o kind of setled Maintenance then for any Gospel Mi●isters fifthly note how forcing unto forms and com●elling of Maintenance were all from Rome when the ●east like power got the Victory six●hly see how far William Prynne is from a Gospel plea that hath no Gospel whatsoever to prove that which he pretends 8. He queries of Faith and piety in Tythe refusers c. but ends with a farther misery then punishments and Banishment he also runs much upon Abraham voluntary act of giving Tythes questioning ●f opposers may not come to Hell Torments for ●t Answ Faith and piety consist not in a work opposite to the Gospel but these things he asserted before ●nd now he queries if it be not so yet thus much I may tell him that men may possibly seem to have Faith and piety yet be without it neither can he or ● know what Principle a man acts from in seeing his outside so we cannot tell him what Faith and piety is within others 9 He queries if Tythes opposing be not imagina●y fraud covetousness c. Answ To tell him this we must know mens hearts which God only can discover but if any act ●o or do deny them on that account I heartily wish ●hey were well known that the godly who cannot pay a forced Maintenance without sinning against the Lord and making a breach in his Royal Gospel char●er and wounding their own consciences might not ●e censured because some do dissemble 10. He queries what danger may come on the Na●ion if Tyths should be taken away yet ends with a scoff How such Tythe opposers may be inrold Saints in the Roman Kalender Answ To take away Tyths would be the like dan● as it was to tread on Dagons threshold 1 Sam. 5.5 or for K● Henry the 8. to take away the Popes Supremacy 〈◊〉 Monastries Abbies c. from Popish uses bu● terrifie People with dangers and fears is no t● thing for thus the Spies acted when Isreal should into Canaan Numb 13.32 which much dismaid the People 〈◊〉 so now we have many thus hindering the glorious ●berty of the Sons of God that like Israels adversar● at rebuilding of the Material Temple in formd t● were a rebellious People Ezra 4.4 12 13. Nehem. 2.17 Nehem 4.1 7. But God will have 〈◊〉 work done although Sanballat and other Enim● scoff at it Thus have I declared an answer according to t● Lords leading me forth in it I must deliver som●what more which God hath designed me to do 〈◊〉 five and twentieth day of the 3d. month cally May 1660. Ier. 18.3.4 O Powers of England the fountain of Gods M●cy is still open unto us and his work is upon the whe● wherein he makes men instrumental in turning 〈◊〉 about and hath tryed several parties in doing of i● when Prebitery had groaned for Liberty under pr●lacy he at last obtaind it but then he sought to 〈◊〉 up himself and thought much to grant that Liber● to his fellow Creatures which he groaned for und● another so he being laid by God set Independe● to work Hosea 6.4 who made a shew of righteousnes like Eph●im but as the dew it soon wasted and their day w● past also whereupon the Baptist party had their t●●● who proving self seekers like the former their d● soon ended 2 Sam. 15.4 yet all these c. before their day ca● to work at the wheel seemd to be wishing like A●solam O that I were made Judge in the Land 〈◊〉 note the proceedings how these made shews like Iehu 〈◊〉 Iehonadab but what was effected of that pretend● woful experience can Testifie thereof 2 King 10.15 29. Cor. 3 5. Iehu de●rted not from Ieroboams Idolatry nor did these ●ave their ptide and covetousness which is Idola●y As it is just with God to try men so thereby he ●aves them without excuse likewise it is his mercy Mat. 22.2 c. ●hen one proves unfaitfull or refuseth his spiritual ●ovision to call in others all which he hath done ●d now is your day to be instruments in his hand for ●ting forth his glory and doing his work look there●re to it and remember what many of you have ●ought upon in times past to do if ever you had such ●day see now and consider the things that belong unto ●●urs and our peace lest our case become as Ie●●salems Many talk of setling religion who under●●and it not Luke 19.42 but where or how can it be astablisht ●ithout if it be not setled within the heart and if it be ●ithin there is no man can mend it therefore it is not ●●tward Laws or inforcements to an externall form at makes a Christian and concerning Tyths if ●y man will voluntarily pay them still let him do it ●a if he will give half he hath to his Minister or ●ake his goods common any of these men may do they will so they do it freely for the Saints look ●●on a free ministry a free maintenance according 〈◊〉 the pure Gospel practise but what is otherwise is ●pure nor can all outward inforcements adde any ●ing of inward purity more then life can be detained ●hen it is expiring forth of the body As the Gospel manifestation of God is clearer so ●ints in this come to a more glorious Light Mat. 5.16 28. Iohn 4.23 being ●quired to walk in a more perfect obedience not ●ith a lustfull eye but a single heart no observation 〈◊〉 places but in spirit and Truth to walk in love using no filthiness jesting or foolish talking wh● in no lyers Eph. 2.4 Rev. 22.19 Mat. 7.12 c. shall have part in the blessed inh●tance therefore to be mindful of that Royall Law doing what we would be done unto And this is the sum of that message God hath set upon wherein may be observed how W. P. ple● opposite to the Gospel Letter and Practise there● I am to conclude That there is no Gospel Ple● Tyths nor any forced Maintenance for Minister● the Gospel THE END LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Rob● Wilson at the sign of the Black-Spread Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins near Aldersgate 1660.

Exod. 3.1 Iude 6.11 a Plow man like Elisha 1 King 19.19 A Herd-man like Amos 7.14 15. A Tent-maker like Paul a Fisher-man like Peter James and John yea if I were a Cobler or a Tinker must I not therefore obey Gods call to answer W. P. because of an outward mean imployment The Priests and Pharisees liked well of Paul when he took their parts in persecuting but becoming a convert they were like mad men against him Acts 22.4.22 The flesh of Dives was richly clad and fed looking loftily over the flesh of Lazarus but although flesh makes such difference God looks on high and low alike to call unto or imploy in his work be they Iews or Gentiles Learned or Unlearned he respects not Persons nor eyes his spiritual gifts any more to a Universitie Scholler than to poor wretch that beggs at the door Acts 10.34 and if Gods call and Gods spiritual gifts bestowed make the fittest Persons for Gospel Ministers then envy not mean men because they receive the same let not thine eye be evil seeing God is good as to make him that was least and last in learning Mat. 20.14 15. to be equal with the first Having passed his second part he makes a Postscript how Canutus King of Denmark would have his people to pay Tyths but his brother Olaf and the People refused and slew Canutus but presently followed a great scarcity of corn c. Answ God sometimes sends judgments on men after good performances thereby to prove their faithfulness in the work as Job 1.5.14 having Sacrificed had divers tydings of several miseries to try him Abraham lived with his kindred in Haran and God bid him depart thence to Canaan where he stayed but a time and then came a Famine Gen. 12.1 c. that he left that Land and went into Egypt where he denyed his Wife c. now the carnal man might reason it thus Abraham was not content to live with his Father but would be of a new sect in Canaan pretending God calld him thither but now you may see God against him driving him out thence into Egypt for a little victuals c. so if the story of Canutus be true there might be a work in it as in that of Abraham which the natural man perceives not Page 149. He sets down his admonition c. whose scoffs and mocks therein I shall leave to each Christian beholder who may consider whether they are badges of the flesh or of the Spirit demanding this question whether mocks and malice are suitable in a professor One thing I had almost passed by which is the description of W. P's sufferings in the front of his book wherein I note first his picture is set by his sufferings which was neither the practice of Christ not his Apostles secondly Pauls sufferings are set underneath his sufferings 2 Cor. 11.23 c. yet I esteem Pauls the worthiest Thirdly verses are added as to illustrate the shew which the Apostles did not but went away rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ Iesusr Fourthly on each side his picture stands a coat of Arms or Crest Acts 5.41 as if the shell or the Creatures picture therein or such like dead things did suffer also which outward inanimate figures to set forth mans sufferings have no warrant in Scriptures nor any such examples left us from Christ nor his Apostles He concludeth with ten Queries made out of the matter in his Book therefore a short answer may serve to each of them thus abreviated 1. He Queries if divers poor Petitioners against Tyths are not fitter to be punished as factious than encouraged as zealous c. Answ Gods Gospel Law doth not allow Tyths to us Gentile Churches therefore those that oppose them shew the more loyalty to our Lord and his Law for which they ought not to be punished but encoura●ed for their obedience 2. He Queries if Petitioners against Tyths be ●ot greater enemies to the Ministers than the Tyths ●nd so fitter to be banished c. Answ If he knows any to be so let him discover ●hem and their envy fall upon themselves it is the ●ord searcheth the heart Ier. 17.10 and will reward accordingly ●ut here he shews his own envy and cruelty first he Queries and then gives judgment before he knows ●hether it be thus or not whose sentence is persecuter ●ke from before in punishment he is now come to ●anishment O Sir the Gospel work is a work of mercy 3. He Queries if there be not above 100. Religious Persons c. lyable to pay Tyths and desire ●he continuance thereof Answ I question not but above 100. Religious Persons joyned with Aaron in the Calf all which made 〈◊〉 no God and there might be above 100. Exod. 32. Persons ●f quality consent to Jehu for continuing the Idols in ●an and Bethel which they could plead antiquity ●or as some have done for Tyths 2 King 16.29 Mark 7.3 c. yet all these and ●he Jewish traditions were against the Lord so it is ●ot the Number Goodness or wisdome of the Crea●ure will make such a Law good which Gods Law ●ill not hold forth 4. He Queries if the down-fall of Tyths will not ●e a bteach of Englands Charter c. Answ Concerning Free-men Free-holds or ●ther Tenures c. as also Customes Mannors ●ents and the like in temporal things to a temporal ●se and end may be in Englands Charter but for ●yths and Ministers Maintenance we have Gods ●harter which was made before and according to ●aw the first Deed and Statute stands in force until another be made that commands or nulls the form● so here is Gods Charter first by a Gospel Law wh● allows no Tyths nor any setled Maintenance Gospel Ministers but Peoples free contribution m● long before Englands Charter from whence I c●clude he that enforceth Tyths on Gentile Church makes a breach in the Gospel Charter and as W. ● pretends he that refuseth to pay Tyths breaks En●lands Charter which I close with that of the Apost● whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken u● you Acts 4.19 more than unto God Judge ye 5. He Queries if Iohn Canne and other Tyth op●sers should not have proved their proceeding agai● Tyths by Scriptures c. Answ The Lord hath called me to do it 6. He Queries if Tyths be taken away wher● they may not be doubled in other Taxes or raised Land-lords Rents c. Answ It matters not for the goods it self wel● not upon that but the sin and snare it brings uppon in paying it to such a use and end both against Gospel Law and our own consciences let them doubled or trebled in a temporal work I hope Sai● will not regard that if God be not dishonoured the● by 7. He calls Tythe deniers giddy pated c. and queries if it be not a most arrogant inexcusa● high Presumption