Of Tithes, Text

Of Tithes · Text

VINDICIAE DECIMARVM. OF TITHES, a Plea for the IVS DIVINVM.

Drawne from the Text, BY IOHN CARTER Diacon.

ECCLES. 35. 9.

Dedicate thy Tithes with gladneſſe.

Div Auguſtin Serm. 219.

Decimae ex debito requiruntur, & qui eas dare noluerit res alienas invaſit.

Iſidor. Hiſpalenſ. in Gen. cap. 12.

Patriarcha magnus decim as omnis ſubſtantiae ſuae Melchizedec Sacerdoti poſt benedictionem dedit; ſciens ſpiritualiter melius ſacerdotium futurum in Populo Gentium quam Leviticum.

Printed at London by T. Cotes. 1640.

p. 1VINDICIAE DECIMARVM. Of Tithes, a Plea for the Divine Right.

Heb. 7. 8.

There he receiveth them, of whom it is witneſſed that he liveth.

AS of the whole Epiſtle, So of the Verſe now read: Aaron and Chriſt; the Law and the Goſpell; Death and Life; of it and that; theſe the foreign, they are the Summe. In it then, this Verſe, ye have Priesthood, compar'd p. 2with Prieſthood; upon the aaforeign. Oecumem. h….appearing of the one, of the other yee have the falling downe; foreign here, in this Levi's dying: in that, foreign there, Melchizedec's living; of the one the declining, it ſerves to ſet out the dignity of the other. When among many arguments of Saint Pauls, this portion of Scripture it is bbHic ponitur terita ratio quae talis eſt. Ille qui ſemper vivit major eſt eo qui …o …ur. Sed Sacerdotes vet. teſtam. erant mortales, non ſic autem Melchizedec. Ergo major eſt, & Sacerdotium ejus majus eſt Sacerdotio Levitico. Lyra hic Cum filii Levi ſint morientes & iſte vivens, apparet quis ſit praeſerendu…. Anſelm hic.One by which he intimates to the Iew, What a great Priest in reſpect of Aaron, Melchizedec was; that the Excellency of the Leviticall Prieſthood, it was nothing to that of the Meſsias: if an Hebrew could but tell him how much for worth living did excell dying; then happily hee might gueſſe in glory and in repute, how exceedingly the Prieſt-hood of the Goſpell doth tranſcend that of the Law. For touching the Prieſthood Iudaicall, it was of no other Make than its Prieſts, in its condition meerely mortall: a Life indeed it had, but ſuch a life that was but as a ſpan; in it it's Prieſt were foreign Men that dye: and this is that which the meaneneſſe doth denote, of this Prieſthood the worthleſſeneſſe. But now as for Chriſt: ccHic ver. 4.foreign Conſider how great this man is; who is a Prieſt, ddPſal. 110. 4. Non dici poteſt Leviticum Sacerdotium ſubintraſſe ut ceſſaret illud Melchizedec. Occurrenseni▪ Apoſtolus declaravit Melchizedec, eſſe vitae inſolubilis Pontificem. Leviticum igitur Sacerdotium ſubintravit poſt promiſſem, non ad abrogandum illud Melchizedec, ſed ad …oborandum potius & illuſtrius reddendum. Le… eo modo … promiſſionem Patrinoſtro Abrahe factam ſubintravit ut non evacuaret promiſſionem, ſed ut Legis in utilitate cognitâ clarior fieret promiſcia. Erat enim Sacerdotium non ſecus ac ipſae Legis promiſſiones; videlicet non ſpirituale ſed carnale ſacrificium, non ex ore Altiſſimi, ſed per os Moſis ſecundum mandatum carnale. Catharinus in priorem partem hujus capitis.Ps 110:4foreign: for ever after the order of Melchizedec: and in reſpect of this, his eternity is infer'd over the Legall, of his Prieſthood the praeeminentie: for this order of Melchizedec, as it was afore that of Aarons, ſo it is after; when the ^e Moſaicall in p. 3ſuch ſort it entred in, that in no wiſe it ſhould aboliſh that of Melchizedec; ſed ad r…borandum potius & illuſtrius readendum: but rather to be its Strength; and in a greater luſtre to ſet it forth: for this it came in that in publiſhing its owne unprofitableneſſe to the Excellency of that under which we are, it might give a grace; ffHoc ideo additum eſt, …e videatur poſterior Le… (ut moris est) priori quic quam derogaſſe. Eucipi enim al…qui poterat, jus illud quo cl…m potitur …rat Melchizedec, eſſe jam obſol…tum, qu… aliam legem Deus per Moſen tul…ſſet, qua illud tran…rebat ad Levitas▪ Sed occurrit Apostolus cum dicit ad tempus decimas Levitis ſol…tas ſuiſſe, quta ſemper non viverent. Melchizedec, vero qui immortali… …it retinere uſque in fi…em▪ quod a Deo ſemel illi datus eſt. Calvinus h…c.and ſo, no need for us now in point of Tithe to looke at Levi; no need to urge a duty from a Law that's dying; when from the Law firſt in force, the latter Law did no way derogate; Aarons claime touching theſe did no way prejudice Melchizedecs right. Ad tempus decimas Levitis. Tithes to Levi, they were but a temporary due; the Men that did receive, they were men that dye▪ to …em, theſe, they became dead, their order once laid in its grave. But now Melchizedec, Chriſt; in the text, the He who receives with diſconſolate Iob he could nere ſay, ggIob 17. 14.Job 17:14To corrupiion thou art my Father, to the worme thou art my Mother. hhRom. 6. 9.Rom 6:9Death over him it had nere power. iihic ver. 16.foreign. Hee, made he is a Prieſt after the power of an endleſſe life. Tithes then to receive, He it is who is alive; for he ſaith it, kkRev. 1▪ 18.Rev 1:18foreign, I am he that liveth and was p. 4dead; and behold I am alive for evermore. Thus the eternall debt of tithes to make it good, to him it is that we betake us; to no other than of Chriſt the everduring Prieſthood: for foreign there, in the Prieſthood of Melchizedec, of the Goſpell; foreign. There he receiveth them, of whom it is witneſſed that he liveth.

The Soveraigntie of Chriſts Prieſthood in the Text over the Iewiſh, being manifeſted from it's eternity; jus decimarum, the right too of Tithes, ſub Evangelio, it doth manifeſt to be as Laſting: a neceſsity there is of having theſe under the Goſpell, ſince of it's Prieſt we have ſuch certainety: when foreign there, in the Prieſthood of the Goſpell; Hee, Melchizedec, Christ receiveth Tithes; of whom it is witneſſed, that is, Witneſſed by the Scriptures: for ſo llConteſtatur; ſo. Scriptura, ut Anſelmus, Lyra, Dion. Carth, Cajetan, Catharinus, Eſtius, Iuſt nian, Lodovic. …ena, Cornel. a Lap. hic. Vel ut al i Conteſtatur, i. mecum teſtatur, vel Contestatur, idem in multis locis conteſtatur. Gen 14. Pſal 109. Hug. Card. Gorran. ibid.Gen 14Ps 109expoſitors give the meaning of testatum est. In the Scripture it is witneſſed, that he, Chriſt, Melchizedec liveth; who there, in the Prieſthood of the Goſpell receiveth Tithes. Of theſe words therefore for the clearer handling, I am to deliver them under a threefold Quaere: Quis, who receives? Quantum, how much he receives? Quare, why he receives?

1. Quis, who receives? for here wee doe begin; the Originall of Tithes, fetch it wee muſt from the condition of the party, whoſe of theſe was the firſt recept: then Quis, who receives? Is He; for his kinde of life, in the Text, He who receives; Is He; a Prieſt he is: for He whoſe p. 5dues theſe are, mmforeign; Chryſoſt in ver. 5. Quidecimas accipit Sacerdos eſt. Catharin. ubi ſupra. Sacerdotis eſt proprium decimas accipere. Salmeren in ver. 2. Tota decima… perceptio, eſt Sacerdotum propria Ludov. Tena. in ver. 4.foreign. None but a Priest he is, whoſe of theſe is the right primordiall: Tithes and a Prieſt, they are much of a ſtanding; of the **Gen. 14. 18.Gen 14:18Office no ſooner the appearance but unto it of the deſerved reverence yee have the performance. He then who receives in the Text is a Prieſt; and is to be conſidered two wayes; either

1. foreign, in the figure, or for the worke ſake which he underwent, and by way of ſubſerviencie; and ſo, Is He, is Melchizedec; who was of Chriſt the type; the Prieſt preſentative, He receives Tithes: or elſe conſider this Prieſt.

2. foreign in the truth, and of theſe dues as He is the Proprietarie; ſo none but Chriſt, who is nnChap. 4. 14.foreign the great high Prieſt, Is He, Ieſus Chriſt receives Tithes. This the He who in the Goſpell is the tithe-taker. In the Law, the Text foreign here, 'tis foreign Men; oohic. ver. 23.foreign, they were many Prieſts to whom this portion was delivered: but under Grace, in the Texts foreign there foreign no more than one He, one Prieſt. He who receives there, is foreign: the Prieſt God-man, He receives. This the firſt Quaere, Quis; who receives: the ſecond followes, which is

II. Quantum; how much it is this Prieſt receives? for that a right he hath to ſomewhat of each ones goods it will paſſe unqueſtioned: yet his right runs not at large: for the muchity of p. 6that he receives it t'end left at randome: that he ſhould take ſo much now, and thus much then; here this, and there that; more at one time, and leſſe at another; nor, doth the Prieſt referre himſelfe for what he receives, to the pleaſure of thoſe who are bound to give; but of that he takes the Quantum: So much it is, as he once and for ever hath beene pleaſed to determine of; in the text it is foreign Tithes: of what is yours, he hath ſevered for himſelfe a ſpeciall, a peculiar part. What he had of Abraham he requires now of you: You muſt give, as Abraham gave; As he, ſo the pp…u… Abraham id eſt fidelis dat decimas omnium. Gloffa ordinar. in ver. 2.faithfull. Now for the quantum which Abraham did impart, praecisē it was foreign a tenth; ſo much is the tithe in the Text. qqFranc. Sylvius in Aquinat. 2. 2. quae. 87. Act. 1.Acts 1Decima vocatur ex decem alicujus rei portionibus una: one portion in any thing of ten, this is that which we call a tenth. Of what the Prieſt receives this the quantum, the tithe; no other it is than what they had who were of Levies order, the dues of Men that die, to him alwayes they were and are alive. Therefore, it is our part now to weigh them, juſt ſo, in no otherwiſe then at firſt appearance, as by Abraham into the hands of Melchizedec they were delivered: in the handling then after a two fold manner they are to be treated on. Extenſivè quoad res; Intenſivè quoad perſonas.

1. Extenſivè, in regard of the matter, or the diverſity of ſeveralls, out of which they are to p. 7be taken; ſo your Tithes are foreign. Tithes of all: to him who in the Text receives, Abraham as it is at the ſecond verſe, foreign, He gave a tenth part of all. Any thing of which your ſelfe makes a gaine, it is matter for a tenth; all being good, nothing this way is to be refuſed; but in reſpect of the ſpecialties, foreign, Of all that ye poſſeſſe, out of Each your Prieſt is to receive a tenth; tithes in their latitude, being of all a tenth part: thus they are to be preach't Extenſivè: but beſide this they are to be weighed.

2. Intenſivè; that is, they are to be treated on, as they reſpect the frame and diſpoſition of his ſoule; who, to him who receives is to pay tithes of all: thus the tenth it is rrhic ver. 4.foreign; the tenth of all, in each ſort, it ſhould be the beſt of all; for ſo of old runnes the reading at the fourth verſe. Cui & decimas dedit de praecipuis Abraham Patriarcha. ssSee the right reverend Lord Biſhop of Norwich againſt Selden. chap. 1. pag. 173.To whom the Patriarch Abraham gave even the tenth of the chiefeſt: to tranſlate it decimas ſpoliorum, as you have it, the tenth of the ſpoyles; is a conſtruction too reſtrain'd: when foreign primarilie in reſpect of chiefeneſſe, it hath reference to the quality of a thing, and for the ſake of this, the quality doth import the matter, or ſubject. If then of ſpoyles it be tranſlated to the meaning of foreign it will come nearer, to render it ttGrace de primitiis frugum. Nam foreign ſignificat principale quod eſt in frugis cumulo, id quod eſt in vertice cumuli, &c. Et regrediens triumphator Abraham, ſpoliorum optima quaeque in dec… mas obtulit Melchizedec. Michael. de Palacio in ver. 4.de praecipuis ſpoliorum; a tenth of the beſt or chiefeſt p. 8of the ſpoyles. This reading uuforeign. Theophylact, in ver. 4. Non conſtat foreign exuvias ſignificare, & ſi constar, &c. Dris Prideaux orat. de decimis. Num. 5 foreign Socrat Hiſt. Eccleſiaſt. lib. 1. cap. 5.Num 5unto the Greeke Church is not unknowne; and in the Latine foreign went ever for praecipua till the Centurie that is laſt paſt. As then of all is to be received a tenth, ſo too, that tenth of all it ſhould be the moſt eſpeciall. By Abraham what in tithes was rendred to Melchizedec, of all it was the primeſt; all and of all the beſt it is that muſt be for tithes. Now thus ſtands the point touching the quantum: it is a tenth that doth determine the how much the Prieſt receives; concerning which was our ſecond Quaere: there is yet the third and the laſt which is

III. Quare; why he receives? the reaſon why; foreign It is witneſſed that he liveth: therefore the Prieſt receives tithes, becauſe it is witneſſed that he liveth. Of him here foreign the life, it is ratio proxima, the very reaſon or cauſe immediate, why theſe are now due: of tithes, this the why durative. VnderUnder the Goſpell, the claime for theſe 'tis ſtill of force, in that the Goſpell to receive Tithes, hath a Prieſt that liveth: of this portion for the receit, ye may ſee it in the Text; the very ground or warrant, it is from the perpetuity of the Prieſts life. Therefore his dues ever tithes, he a Prieſt ever being; from his ever living, is the cauſe that tenths are never-dying. For, foreign. There he receiveth them, of whom it is witneſſed that he liveth. Thus of theſe words the ſeveralls; the Quaere we begin with, is Quis, who p. 9receives? expreſt in our text by the particle, Is he, a Prieſt receives.

I. Is he; a Priest receives. Now this Prieſt no other wiſe in this Quaere, ye are to behold him, than as Abrahams tithing ſets him forth: not xxEx ſupra dictis vidiſtis qualis fuerit Melchizedec ſed nunc Intuemini quantus ſit hic, id est quantae dignitatis, ſanctitatis, & perfectionis, &c. Anſelmus in ver. 4.Qualis, ſuch as he is quà Prieſt, but quantus in his Office how great he is, ye a…e to take notice of him: for this it is from his receiving at Abrahams hands in the fourth verſe, Saint Paul would have conſidered. foreign. Conſider, ſaith he there, how great this man was, in the text the He, unto whom the Patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the chiefest. That then for which tithes ſerve, it is of,

Prieſthood to ſet out the greatneſſe; to ſignifie unto us of how eminent a quality this holy function is, this it is for which at firſt tithes had their inſtitution. yyChryſoſtom. Ipſe Abraham nullo modo decimas Alienigenae dediſſet, niſi plurimus et excellens ejus Authoreſſo…. Ambroſius. foreign Oecumen. Abraham … Alie…igenae decimas non dediſſet niſi excellentiorem eſſe ſciret. Anſelm. Abrah. decimas non dediſſet, niſi …o major fuiſſet. Dion Carthus. Iſte Melchizedoc tantus eſt, quod ipſe Abraham Pater Sacerdotum Regalium & totius Populi dedit ei decimas. Cajetan ut priores in ver. 5. See the Lord Biſhop of Norwich. p. 174. Ipſa decimarum oblatione Abraham minorem ſe Melchiz. profeſſus eſt. Eſtius in ver. 4.foreign. It was for the houour of Melchizedec, that theſe dues Abraham paid. The Finis ultimus then why tithes were ordained, it was to manifeſt of the Prieſt the excellency; to denote of how great digni…y He who receives, for this cauſe it is that they were appointed; p. 10to point out unto us the Prieſts foreign; his Praerogative to be very great. For tithes they are the medium by which our Apoſtle proves, in the perſon of Melchizedec, of Chriſts Prieſthood the ſublimity; in that Abraham who paid tithes, zzAbraham dans decimas Melchizedec, hoc ipſo confeſſus eſt ſe illo eſſe minorem, & hoc ipſo ſe illi ſubjecit. Cornel. a Lapide, in ver. 5.hoc ipſo in this very thing, he was made lower than Melchizedec, who received. What then in this part we muſt purſue, it is that for which tithes had their riſe: in the beginning theſe they were aſsigned to diſcover unto us what high eſteeme is due unto Prieſthood; yea even to that of Moſes. For this was the ground, as from the fift verſe aaforeign. Oecumen. in ver. 5. Iudai non dediſſent Sacerdotibas decimas niſi propter excellentiam Sacerdotum, quam ex divina ordinatioue habebant. Dion Carthus. ibid. Omnes Hebraei in ſubjectionis fignum ſubminiſtrabam & Levi…is & Sacerdotibus decimas. Mich. de Palac. ibid. In lege populares Sacerdotibus Levitici generis tanquam majoribus decimas perſolvebant, quâ ration… Populus ille fatcbatur Sacerdotes eſſe cujuſdam excelſioris dignitatis. Iuſtinian. ibid Deus juſſit omnibus Iudaeis etiam Levitis ut decimas darent Sacerdotibus Aaronicis, volens hac ratione honor are ac praeferre Sacerdotes. Cornel. a Lap…de, ibid.the learned do obſerve, Why to Aaron the children of Iacob in this duty ſtood obliged; when this portion which beneath Melchizedec, did argue Abraham, above any of the Hebrewes, Levies tribe they did praepoſe: as him, who received their tenths, with thoſe of Iſrael, none ſo honourable; though one with another People and Prieſt, all alike honorably deſcended; yet with theſe the honour due to the Office outſtrips the honor had by the birth. bbTanta erat Sacerdotij excelleatia, ut qui ſimiles eſſent honoris progenitoribus, & enudem haberent progenitorem, tamen ut multo meliores eſſent fratribus ſuis quo Sacerdotio digni effi…erentur. Ambros. Chryſoſt. Theodor. Anſ…lm. Gloſ. ordin. Hug. Card. in ver. 5Tanta enim erat Sacerdotii …xcellentia, p. 11&c. ſay the Fathers. Even of Levies Prieſthood the excellency it was ſo ample, that all of ſuch a kinde, it exalts them above all of the ſame kinne: to Aarons order, paying of tithes, their dignity, that it did ſurpaſſe any of the race of Iacob it doth aſcertaine. But to let paſſe the Legall Prieſthood; to that of the Goſpell it is, that I muſt keepe me; and muſt tell you from the rendring of tithes, over all whomſoever of its Prieſt the ſuperexcellency; this to be it which is inferred. For our Evangelicall Doctor ſaith. I…tuemini quantus ſit hic. He who receives, Conſider how great he is to whom the Patriarch Abraham gave &c. Marke well who gave. foreign, Abraham the Patriarch; this eminent Chriſtian in the top of his dignity is ſet before you to uſher in the greater dignity of the Chriſtian Prieſt; it is the Patriarch Abraham: ccVi habent Anſelm. Lyra. Hugo Cardin, Eſtius, Iuſtinian. Gorran. Co…. a Lap. &c. in ver. 4.that is, Abraham the chiefest of Fathers, the very firſt Father; Princeps Patrum Abrahamus. If literally the terme Patriarch be taken, then ſuch a Father he from whom all the Fathers in Iſrael had their beginning: but if Myſtically and Spiritually, then Abraham he is, ddRom. 4. 11.Rom 4:11foreign: the Father of all them that beleeve: which of the two was the greater glory. Now then, let the renowne of Abraham, nere ſo much exceed, be his fame nere ſo flouriſhing; tis but that which the Apoſtle would, that none among the Iſrael of God in glory ſhould be ſo great as he: for in p. 12that one ſo glorious did tithe it to Melchizedec, how glorious then muſt Melchizedec be? This is it which Saint Paul would have conſidered: and too, he would have all hence to learne the leſſon which Abraham tithing reades unto them; which is this, that when

Tithes ye give of your ſelves to your Melchizedec, it teacheth you the humbling; that wherein it inſtructs you, tis naught elſe than of your ſelves, unto him in the lowly ſubmiſsion: for theſe they are the teſt of the awefull reverence that to the Prieſt is due; in giving up of theſe as Abraham, ſo every man elſe, to his Melchizedec, he doth declare his ſubjection; eeOecumen in ver. 5.foreign: ffOfferre decimas alteri fignum eſt ſubjectionis & inferioritatis. Ludo. Tena difficul. prim. in hoc cap. Decimas perſolvere certum est ſymbolum ejus ſubjectionis cui nullam parem homines hominibus debent. Probat Apoſtolus hanc decimarum oblationem ſignum eſſe ſubjectionis ab ex…mplo Levitarum, qui a caeteris tribubus hoc veluti tributum ex mandato Dei accipiant, quod ultro Abraham Melchizedec obtulit. Bezae majores annotat. in ver 4 & 5.Signum ſubjectionis; ggScultet. in ver. 4. Quod Melchizedec Sacerdoti primarius Dei ſervus & Propheta Abraham obtulit decimas, eo confeſſus eſt honoris gradu ſupra ſe excellere. Calvin in ver 4.teſtimonium erant reverentiae erga eum cui pendebantur. He ſtill paſſeth a great deale for the better man, to whom hhQuod Abraham Dea debebat propter partam victoriam, Deo ſ…lvit per manum Melchizedec. Salmer in ver. 5. Quod debebat Abrah. Deo, ſolvit in manum Melchiz. decimarum ergo ſolutione ſe minorem profeſſus eſt. Calvin. ut ante:Gods dues, his tenths they are delivered: of a whole people the man moſt chiefe, tithes ſets him below the Prieſt; the charge it warrants to be right high, to which of theſe the payment is referred: betweene man and man they put a difference, but the receiver, ſtill they aſſure him to be the more p. 13worthy: that here which is inferred from the Patriarchs paying of tithes, it is before himſelfe of his Prieſt the preferring: for tis foreign. &c. Confid. &c. It tells him that gives, that he is not like to him who takes for dignity, before any other, theſe tithes, they are the ſeales of the Prieſts promotion; here above the Patriarch they ſet Melchizedec. Your rendring then of theſe to your Prieſt; they are the reall the manifeſt profeſsion of your ſubmiſsion. For of whom Religion requi…es this fe…liy, over all ſuch it ſhewes its authority; and learnes them their owne humbling, in this ſort enjoyning their obedience. iiIoh. 6. 60.John 6:60foreign. This is an hard ſaying, I dare ſay to the moſt that heare it; to heare that honour's due to an outcaſt Prieſt, and that by tithes; to you, to whom the very ſound of Prieſt is even ominous, is not this a theme that's ſowre? It exacts therefore the cloſer preſſing. Know, then know, that the reverence had to thoſe who are entruſted with the diſpenſing of Sacred verities, tithes denotes it to be of a more del cate ſtraine, than what's borne to other men; though men to be admired for their condition, amiable for their graces, and for their piety even imirable of the Prieſt himſelfe; yet of theſe with the Prieſt, none to be compared. For as the Patriarch among men, for dignity none ſo ſupreme; Yet to the He who receives, here he ſtoopes and lets downe his ſaile; to Melchizedec, Abraham, be p. 14… it in his glory; in honor unto God before himſelfe, he preferres his Prieſt, and did publiſh to the world his owne lowlineſſe when he tithed it to Melchizedec. With a ſerious eye then of the Goſpell Prieſt, weigh now the Superexcellency: that Abraham, that he who for his glory of all his poſterity was the moſt unmatchable; that he, who for his worth had never any that could ever equall him: but all, at all times he did ſurpaſſe: yet this man who did outſtrip all; that Melchizedec the He, who in the text receives, that the Prieſt ſhould ſurmount him? foreign. &c. Conſider how great this man is; this He of how great perfection. kkCui non ſolum multas alias venerationes ſed & decimas dedit Abraham. Vade maximus apparet & ineſtimabills magnitudinis, cui Pater aliorum Patrum decimas dedit, in quoſe longe inferiorem iſſo eſſe reputavit. Anſelmus. in ver. 4.That beſides many venerable reſpects that Abraham bore him, that to him too he ſhould give tithes; it was an argument more than prevailing, that of Melchizedec, the dignity it was non-pareil: of devouter Abraham this devouter act, foreign by many, very many degrees, it puts him below Gods Prieſt, though a Patriarch than any in Iſrael much more illuſtrious. This, of tithes the effect; of their payment the iſſue, 'tis to confirme how great a Prieſt, the Prieſt of the Goſpell: for Abraham to the He who receives, theſe argue him much unaequall Abraham for dignity to Melchizedec; and make the Patriarch too meane to come in ballance with the Prieſt; ſince to this great man theſe they doe ſubject Abraham: this deed preacheth aloud, that Melchizedec to this loyall Saint he was ſuperior; p. 15and declares the good man obſequious to Gods Prieſt, though he triumpht it over Kings. Thus Melchizedec the figure; for all that was done, verily to him it was done who was the type, and did the ſervice for him who indeed in the text receives. Now then, if Melchizedec for repute even to aſtoniſhment was ſo wondrous as that to his ſheafe Abrahams muſt bow? then Chriſt, the great high Prieſt, Ieſus Chriſt, how he? If the ſemblance doth beare downe all before it, then the ſubſtance what? llforeign. Chryſoſt. in ver. 4. Occum. in ver. 4. & 5.foreign &c. If of command ſo powerfull be the appearance; then of the truth it ſelfe how glorious the royalty; mmVnde … veritatis in Chriſto majeſtatem. Iunius lib. 3. Paral. in hoc cap.its Majesty how perſpicuous? to Ieſus Christ, in what to him did Abraham ſtand bound? in what? verily by the current of our text in naught elſe but in that which he receives, that is, foreign, tithes; that which Abraham owed here it is them, foreign: He receiveth them, tithes. The upſhot then of that, which as hitherto hath beene promiſcuouſly delivered out of this firſt Quaere; distinctly it is but Quis and Quare.

1. Quis, who receives? in reſpect of Service and aſsignement Melchizedec he receives; but in regard of Lordſhip and propriety, the He who receives is Chriſt▪ for He is Lord of the ſoyle, out of which theſe fruites are gathered; of theſe his is the right originall; tithes in the primary claime they are his, who foreign is the Prieſt; p. 16to none but to him they appertaine in their primier Seizint his jus decimandi in the firſt tenure, by way of ſelfe-owning and title indubitate he receives tithes who is nnIoh. 1. 41.John 1:41the Chriſt, our Ieſus. This the … who will ſatisfie you, whenſoere in this point ye put forth Quis. But then

2. Quare, it may be demanded for what cauſe at firſt this Prieſt received tithes? I have told you the cauſe why; in the beginning it was no other, but of Prieſt-hood by the payment of theſe that the greatneſſe might be declar'd; and ſo, this of tithes is the why inſtitutive: of the Prieſthood of the Goſpell to ſet out the great honour which is due unto it, to this they are appointed; unto Chriſts Yoke, the badges and tokens they are of his ſubjection, who ſoere payes: for this cauſe at firſt ordained, that at all times by theſe the people might witneſſe what reverent abearance they owe unto their Prieſt: over all from whom he receives his Superiority they are to denote. And this of the firſt Quaere, in its ſeverall branches is the Summe: we proceed now to the ſecond, which we propoſed in the terme.

II. Quantum; how much this Prieſt received? in the Text definitely ſet downe to be foreign tithes or tenths: ſo much by Abraham was given to Melchizedec. Theſe tenths then p. 17they are to be treated on either,

Firſt in reſpect of the things offered; and ſo Abrahams tithes, they were foreign tithes of all: or elſe,

Secondly, in reſpect of the perſons offering, and ſo the Patriarchs tenth, foreign, of whatſoere his tenth was, of the Chiefeſt it was a tenth. Of theſe two, that which muſt firſt be ſet before you, it is that which ſhewes how large a ſpread Abrahams tithing had; to all it did extend. foreign ooHic. ver. 2.He gave unto Melchizedec a tenth part of all; which is the firſt part of our ſecond Quaere, touching the Quantum, and comes now to be handled.

1. foreign: of each ones goods his Extenſive qu… adres.part who lives, it is a tenth part of all: for this quantity of his Prieſts, this the claime; this Melchizedec did receive, this Abraham did impart, of all the tenth.

Of any thing then you doe poſſeſſe, of this portion there is no exempting: with what ye are bleſt no stinting of Chriſt, otherwiſe than he hath beene pleaſed to ſtint himſelfe. His command is ppLuk. 11. 42.Luke 11:42foreign, Yee ought to tithe all manner of herbes, qqGen. 28 22.Gen 28:22Et Omnium decimas. Of all that thou ſhalt give me I will ſurely give the tenth unto thee: of bleſſed Iacob this was the righteous vow. rrforeign. Chryſoſt. 54. in Gen.foreign. This of Iacob by no meanes the Chriſtian let it paſſe: foreign; but what he p. 18afore the Law, under Grace, it is ours to doe as much: decimas omnium Iacob. And under the Law, ssDeut. 14. 22.Deut 14:22'tis Omnem proventum ſement is tuae. Thou ſhalt truely tithe all the encreaſe of thy ſeed that the field bringeth forth yeare by yeare. And againe, the Iſraelites upon the charge of King Hezekiah: tt2 Chron. 31. 5. 6.2 Chr 31:52 Chr 31:6Copioſe decimas omnium. The tithe of all things brought they in aboundantly. yea tithe of Oxen. Tis too in the Prophet. Inferte omnem decimam. uuMalac. 3 10. Tobi. 1. 7. Luk. 18. 12.Mal 3:10Luke 18:12Bring ye all the tithe into the ſtorehouſe; which could not be all the tithe, if not of all. Thus precept as well as practice makes it good, that the tenth, his dues who receives, Of whatſoere was to be tithed to be a renth; implying Abrahams duty whiles to Melchizec; Ex omnibus, of all that religiouſly he might, he paide tithes. ForxxTouching the extent of foreign, See the Biſhop of Norwich againſt Selden chap. 1. p. 140. &c.

foreign of all, it is ſet downe in the largeſt ſenſe; and ſo not to be confinde by any particular. That then ſome would have all of theſe, and others all of thoſe, of all to be the all; this their opinion paſſe it doth with me for the instance of the Patriarchs action, not for the reſtraint. It is not I that deny Abraham to have imparted of the ſpoyles a tenth; yyDecimas praedae at que victorie Ambroſ. foreign. Chryſoſt. Praedae decimam Theodoret. foreign. Oecumen.the Fathers ſay he did: nor yet is it I who dare gaine ſay him to have tithed all zzDecimas omnie ſubſtantiae ſuae. Iſidor Hiſpal. De omnibus re… ſu…s dedit decima…. Toſt. in Gen. 14.Gen 14the goods that were his owne: aaBiſh. Norw. pag. 150.when he who ſaith of all excludeth nothing. bbDecimas omnium non ſolum frugum ſed & praeliorum. Hugo. Cardi in ver. 2. De omnibus spol…is aut etiam aliis rebus. Dion. Cart. in Ge. 14.Decimas praeliorum, a tenth of p. 19the ſpoyles that he got in battle that he did pay, I doe beleeve it; and too, decimat frugum, with the tithes of the fruites of the Earth that were his, with theſe that he did preſent his Prieſt, I am verily perſwaded. If then any ſay, ccAn de facultatibus ſuls, an etiam de ſpoliis hoſtium? Sic Apoſtolus, Heb. 7. 4. Patri archa dedit ei decimas ex ſpoliis. A…ui hit ver. 23. Abraham recuſ…it ex ſpoliis vel cor: igiam accipere. Non ergo ex his dedit et decumas. Reſpondeo diſting…t…da ſunt ſpolis. Hoſtibus non ſolum praedam Sodomiticam, ſed & reliquam aliunde compilatam eripuit, quoniam caſtris penitus eos …. Ex Sodomiticâ prada quicquam ac…ipere recuſavit, ex coigitur Melchizedec non dedit, quia non ſuam ſed alienam duxit. Hoſtium vero ſpolia … dixit. Ex his igitur Melchizedec tribuit. Pareus in Gen. 14 Quoniam in lib. Gen. recuſ…vit Abraham quicquam de ſpoliis ex hostibus detractis, mirum videri poſſit quomodo ex manubiis dicimas obtulerit? An Abraham cum dixit, Levo manm, &c Non de … ſpoliis, ſed de ipſius Regis Sodomae bonis loquebatur, de exuviis omnibus qua ad ſe pertinebant decimas dederit Melchizedec. Iuſtinian. hic in ver. 4.Heb 7:4Gen 14that

1. Abraham gave theſe dues out of the ſpoyles that he gained from Chedorlaomer and thoſe other Kings againſt whom he raiſed the warre; that of all theſe as included the foreign ſhould be meant, 'tis confeſt: for as our tithepayer jure belli ddBiſh. Norw. pag. 147.had a right to theſe, in that they were the peculium of the Aſſyrian Princes whom he vanquiſht; ſo to the tithe of theſe in reſpect of him who gained them, Melchizedec alſo had a right, Or if as it pleaſethee2 … Vel quod video aliis platere, oblatio decimarum praſente Rege nec contradicente facta eſt, atque ita, iis ſi…t dubio exceptis, ut etiam excepta ſunt illa quae tulerant ſ…ij Abrahae, cuncta Regi reſtituit. Iuſtinian ut ante. De omnibua puta quae recuperaverat ca ſis belle Regibus. Iunius in Anal. Gen. 14. Videtur de ſuis rebue decimas dediſſe; niſi intell gamu… eum priuſquamid diceret Regi Sodomorum ut ordo Historia poſtulare videtur, has Melchizede… obtuliſſe, ut poſtea decimis exemptis reliqua pradaprater id quod excipi voiuit Abraham, reſtitita fuerit Regi Sodomorum. Mercerus in Gen. 14. De quibus rebus decimas Abraham obtulerit Melchizedec? Pro ſolutione notandum eſt duo genera honorum poſſe hic confiderari: Primum eorum qua a quatuor Regibus Veriſimile eſt accepiſſe Abraham. quanquam ſacra Scriptura id non declarat: quoniam ad comple… entū victoriae ſufficiens fuit declarare bona Sodomorum fuiſſe recuperata. Secundum genus eſt eorum bonorum quae quatuor Reges a Sodomis acceperant eiſq Abraham poſtea reſtituit; & haec omnia verè ſunt ſpolia. De quorum primis at Pe…iera quod Abraham decimas dedit. Meliu tamen aſſerit C…jetanus de his omnibus ſpoliis decimas dediſſe, quia hic omnia ſu runt ve…e spolia ill us victoriae, & ita melius ſalvatur quod Gen. 14. dicitur abſolute El dedit ei decimas ex omnibus. Lud. Tena difficul. 4 in hoc cap.Gen 14

2. Others; the ſpoyles to be thoſe which Abraham recovered from the conquered Kings, and p. 20were the very goods of Lot, and of the Kings of Sodome and Gomorrah; ſuch there are who ſay, theſe to be the all, of which he paid tithes. With theſe men ſo of all, theſe ſpoyles might goe for one part, Ide joyne hands: when foreign is large enough to comprehend theſe alſo. For conſider, that albeit ffBiſh. Norw. pag. 176. Piè & Sancte Abraham hanc partem Deo dicatam excepit ip…e, quia plora poterat exeipere, Deumque ex officio hac parte muneratus eſt. Nam cum etiam juſte & honeſte ſibi ſuiſque mercedem ſervare potu…ſſ…t, ea liberaliter ceſſerat: tantum quod debebatur Deo, de cujus poteſtate nihil volutt aut potuit cedere illud ex pretatis & religionis officio pralibavit ſive praecerpſit Iunius ut ſupra.Abrahams Iuravi elatâ manu meâ ad Iehovam, &c. That himſelfe would take nothing of the King of Sodome; yet his vow did not tye him, nor could it withhold him from giving to the Prieſt of the moſt High God, that which belonged to him; even the tenth part of all the ſpoyles that were recovered. Once more, be thereggQuod additur de omnibus dediſſe decimas, id neutiquam ad praed moſt referendum. quia textus paulo poſt clare do…et neque cordulam neque corrigiam voluiſſe Abraham a…cipere de prada cum offerretur a Regibus. Igitur particula (de omnibus) non ad praedam eſt referenda, ſed ad f…cultates Abrahae. Luther in Gen. 14. Incertum eſt spoliorumne decimas an honorum quae domi poſſidebat ob…u…erit? Sed quia Veriſimile, non eſt liberalem ſuiſſe de alteno, & praedae decimam partem largitum eſſe, ex qua ne filum quid matting …, potiut Coniicio Sumptas foiſſe decimas has ex propriis ejus fructibus. Cal…mus ibidem.Gen 14

3. Others who put aſide the ſpoyles, and deliver the all to be Abrahae facultates; this with p. 21me of the all, as another … all it will … foreign bellie, all this it will hold and …, burſt. That Abraham payd tither of all where: with himſelfe was enrich't, I gladly yeeld it, and of all that he gave, it was too of all that was his owne: for if the Patriarch did pay. tit be … all the ſpoyles; ſhall we deny him to have diſcharged, this debt with the the of all that he had, out of his certaine and ſtanding poſſeſsions? About what then our Moderner tugge, and to; the exempting of all the reſt, for ſuch a ſpecialty would conclude: goe it may, not for the bound; but for that which of the all may helpe to the making up. In briefe of all that the Patriarch gave, would you have the totull? Touching it, hhBiſh. … pag. 150.what I have received, that I deliver to you: in all humble obedience to his Prieſt he gave a tenth part of all; that is, of all whatſoere be had; Of all the ſpoyles that for himſelfe of the enemy he gained; the tithe of all the ſpoyles of Sodome, and ſubſtance of Lot, which he brought backe and recovered; of all that he carryed out with him, and of all that he left at home; euen of all that any way he poſſeſt. Thus, his decim… omnium without any the leaſt violence offered to the text, to all tithe able ſtuffe whatſoever that was within his power, it may be ſtretcht.

Well then, to make no hue and hue after any who hath ſtole from Abrahams foreign: oneone-onelyonly weele put forth a Si quis. If then there be any manner of man, who cannot be induct p. 22to allow Abrahams piety of his goods to be ſo laviſh; but that it ſtood better with his wiſer thrift to have offered once, and no more, to his Prieſt a tenth of the ſpoyles, out of that ſo renowned a victory; if there be any ſuch that can be found? ſuch a foundling, for my part let him have his will: for once to the theology that is municipall weele endeavour meekely to ſubſcribe; that onelyonly of the ſpoyles, and of nothing elſe, but of theſe onelyonly, a tenth part was onelyonly imparted: as by the Moncke of the order of Cleroborus it hath beene onelyonly ſaid, ſo be it; that what Abraham gave was of onelyonly ſpoyles, meerely ſpoyles: if onelyonly ſo, what then followes? In ſo ſaying, this divine Solus, he did not prejudice the Prieſts right, but onelyonly of the Patriarch, from the wellknowne zeale he doth detract: he onelyonly delivers to the world Abraham to God-ward, to have beene pitteouſly penurious; that of his dues to Religion he was a niggardly micher, that he was an Abraham clunchfiſted; and all that this way went, he thought it onelyonly …aſte; that the good child Iudas that he did, he did learne of his father Abraham, iiMar. 14. 4.Mark 14:4Quorſum perditiohaec? Not at all from Melchizedec he doth withdraw. For once then, in this pinching ſparing, ſcraping wiſe, let it be admitted; that Abraham gave a renth of nothing but onelyonly of the ſpoyles, which at ſuch a time he got at ſuch a battle: but withall then let it be admitted what Saint Chryſoſtome hath left; for indeed p. 23he ſayes kkforeign Hom. 35. in Gen. Abraham decimas Melchize. dedit, viz. omnium manubiarum quas ſecum ferebat: his ſc. Melchizedec ſecretis vicem … rependit; … facto mortales omnes docet ut ſe gratos erga Sacerdotes exhibeant, … decimas omnium dent, qu… Deus ipſe …: Elias Cretenſis e Catalogo Dri… Tilleſlie An. 1020foreign: and we ſay ſo too: if you will, let the father ſay, that onelyonly with the ſpoyles: for, doth he not ſay in that famous Homilie de Autolico made to the Legiſts of Praedonia; there, doth he not ſay there that Abraham was the firſt who put in practice modus decimandi? Be it ſo then, that Saint Chryſoſtome ſayes that onelyonly with the ſpoyles, which Abraham brought backe, he gratifyed Melchizedec, But then of this holy Father the foreign we would have you to take home unto you: for ſaith he foreign, by his giving a tenth of the Spoyles; foreign; Hence, to all Abraham is made a teacher; foreign. This Abraham in giving a tenth of the ſpoyles, preacheth unto us, that as he, ſo each man elſe ſhould give unto God, the first fauites of what hee gives unto him. foreign, &c. of all which he did bring backe a tenth he ſevered for Melchizedec: hence to all Abraham is made a teacher; Now to no more we urge you, than from Abrahams deed, Saint Chryſoſtome enjoynes: be it a tenth part onelyonly of the ſpoyles that he got; we preſſe you to no more, than onelyonly to the rendring of a tenth part of that you get. Thus the payment from the ſpoyles, Melchizedec's dues it doth no way impeach; for unto him as to each Prieſt elſe, there was no more due than the tenth of all that did anew come p. 24in: of your lateſt incre…ſe, ſo much that yee ſhould contribute, from Abrahams fact this it is of the golden-mouth'd Greeke that is requir'd. And therefore now to proceed, your

Duty, ſute it ſhould with his practice; of all that you get bound it is to the giving up of a tenth part. For llAmbros Ser. 33 fer. 2. poſt. Dominic prim. Quadra. tom. 5Decimas nostras annis ſingulis decunctis frugibus, pecoribus praecipit erogand…s Dominus. Of all fruites, of all cattle, each yeare the Lord commands a tenth to be given out. And mmDe grano ſuo aut de vino ſuo, out de fruct … arborum, aut de pecoribus, aut de horto, aut de negotiis, aut de ipſa venatione ſua. Quia de omni ſubſt &c. Idem fer. 3. ut ante. Vide Doctris Tilleſlie catalogu…s, Annis. 430. 6. 0. 630. 786. 791 812. 813. 940. 1050 1191.De omni ſubſtantia quam Deus homini donat decimam partem ſibi ſervavit, For himſelfe God keepes the tenth of all the ſubſtance which he gives to men. nn1. Cor. 9 11.1 Cor 9:11If we have ſowne unto you, ſaith the Apoſtle, ſpirituall things, foreign, Is it a great thing if we ſhall reape your carnall things? foreign, your carnall things. ooDe … re eſt judicandum ſecundum ejus radicem. Radix autem ſolutionis decimarum eſt debitum quo ſeminantibus ſpiritualia debentur carnalia, ſecundum illud Apoſtoli, 1 ad Cor 9. Si nos vobis ſeminav, &c. Super hoc enim debitum fundavit Eccleſia determinationem ſolutionis decimarum. Omu…a autem quae homo poſſidet ſub carnelibus continentur; & ideo de omnibus decimae ſunt So vendae. Aquinas. 2. 2. quae. 87. art. 2. in corp.Super hoc debitum, upon this debt of returning things carnall for receiving things ſpirituall, ſaith Aquinas, doth the Church ground its determination for the paying of tithes. omnia quae homo poſsidet, all that a man hath ſub carnalibus continentur, under carnall things it is contained: and therfore de omnibus poſſeſsis, it is inference, Of all that a man hath, hee muſt pay tithes. p. 25De ppSi jus Scriptum …. Leſſius. lib. 2. de Iur. & Iuſt. cap. 39. dub▪ 3.fructibus & quaſi fructibus omnium …erum quae quodam modo nobis ſunt frugiferae: of fruites and of each thing fruite-like, that bringeth in increaſe; Omniumquè negotiorum lucroſorum: VntoUnto your Prieſt, the manifeſt of your ſubjection it muſt be from all your affaires, whence yee have your gaine. qqChryſ…ſt in ver. 4.foreign. Out of the very fruites of his very labours theſe dues Abraham raiſed for his Melchizedec. rrCarnalium nomine continentur omnia quae poſſidemus, ne que eſt … quare ex … … praebeantur deci…, & non ex aliis. Franc. Sylvius in praed. Aquinat.Neque eſt ratio: neither is there any reaſon ſince all that is yours, comes under things carnell, why of ſome of theſe you ſhould pay tithes, and not of others. Of the trade then that any of you drive, thence it is to your Prieſt in this matter that your obedience ye muſt make good; of each one from each thing righteouſly got, thence Heavens quota pars. With Abraham he gives not tithes of all, who is conſcious of any one thing to the keeping backe. Therefore, ssSi decimas non habes fructu…m …errenorum quod habet Agricola; quodcunque te paſcit ingenium, Dei eſt; & inde decimas expetit … viv…; de militia, de negotio; de artificio redde decimas Auguſtin. Serm. 219. Tom. 10.Si decimas non habes fructuum terrenorum quod habet Agricola. If of fruites of the earth ye hand tithes as the Husbandman; yet quod cunque te paſcit ingenium, whatſoere craft ſuſtaines thee, inde decimas expetit, unde vivis; our tenths are to be demanded whence ye live: Courtſhip, Campe, Or Barre; Shop Or Plow; all in theſe are alike ingag'd. ttSicut decima praediales debentur ex fructibus praediorum, ita perſonales ex … perſonarum; qui fructus ſunt actiones & labores ipſius perſonae & l…cra illorum.Be then thy gaines p. 26from the earth, that is thy poſſeſsion, or from the very labours of thy very perſon; if of thy Suarez. lib. 1. tract, 2. de Virtut. Religi. cap. 31. num. 7 Cum non minus fructus noſtrorum laborum ſint a Deo quam fructus terrae, non minus decet ut ex illis Deum colamus quam exiſtis. Ibid. ca. 32. num. 2.paines thou findeſt the fruites, thence with a tenth Melchizedec muſt be ſerved; in theſe matters of your travaile tithes followes the ſucceſſe; nor of what ſort of calling the tithepayer be, ſo a lawfull, upon that Religion does not ſtand, but to all that a man gets its dues it doth extend: for as of Abraham, ſo of each man elſe that which he hath obtained, it is titheable: even thoſe minutula, things which in themſelves are little worth, and ſeeme of no account; as Rue, Anniſe, Cumin, yet of theſe for tithe no omiſsion, uuMat. 23. 23. Vide dilegentius quomodo ſermo Domini vult fieri quidem omnimode quae majora ſunt Legis non tamen, omuti & haec quae ſecundam literam deſignantur. Quod ſi dicas, quia haec ad Phariſaeos dicebat, non ad diſcipulos: audi iterum ipſum dicentem ad diſcipulos. Niſi abundaver… juſtitia veſtra pluſqu. &c. Quod ergo vult fieri a Phari…is multo magis & cum majore abundantia vult a Diſcipulis impleri, quod autem fieri a Diſcipu…is non vult, nec Phariſaeis imperat faciend…. Origen Hom. 11. in Num. Commendat Deas haec ſacienda ubi ait Vae Vobis Scrib & Phariſ. Cum ilico ſubjungit Hecoport. facere. Oporterigitur, & ſemper oportet quod Deus oportuſſe teſtatur; neque parvi-pendendum ſuit, aut erit unquam, quod Deus vel furi fuſſit, vel factum, facientis devotione commendavit. E catalog. Doctris Tilleſlie. An. 828.Matt 23:23Theſe ye ought not to leave undone. For though in his xxLicet ſingula in his videantur eſſe parva, & nullius aeſtimationis, tamen omnium cumulus magni aeſtimari debet, & neceſſarius vel valde commodus ad convenientem ſuſtentationem Ministrorum. Rapinel de la Torre. …n praedicta Aquin. diſput. 3.ſingula, of theſe each ſeverall may ſeeme of little or no moment, yet omnium cumulus, in their heape and ſaile, they may amount to much: now that cannot but ſtead the Prieſt which to the owner is advantageous. It is a tenth then, and a tenth of all that is ſub manu, which of the Prieſt is the portion. yyGal. 6. 6. 7.Gal 6:6Gal 6:7Let him that is taught in the word, ſaith the Apoſtle, p. 27communicate to him that reacheth in all good things. Here is a Text for you of London: Men much addicted to him that teacheth, but nothing to the Prieſt, to Melchizedec; For you then; What we heare of you it is no good report; in the buſineſſe that we are now about, it is too well knowne that ye deale double. Therefore (in the behalfe of the Curates of London, to keepe cloſe to that taking device of the incomparable Selden, and withall to bring you to your duty) that he who teacheth may be provided for of ſufficient living: we adviſe you that ye doe not deceive, and your ſelves be not deceived, for God is not mockt. For him then whom ye would have, your teacher; what for him that teacheth, ye are commanded to ſet aſide, ſomewhat it is, foreign, in all good things. Now as a zzCum hac verba audio, foreign: ſimilis mini ſonus videtur at que illorum ad Heb. 7. foreign; ut conjectura ſit, nec Illa levis foreign Apoſtolum ad illud Geneſ. recté illam foreign inſinuare qua uſus eſt Abraham, fidei ſuae filiis per omnia ubi & quantum datur imitandus. Quid ſi autem ſic? Praeceptum illud quod vel optime conſalit foreign, antiquandum non eſt. Iſt…c autem quin ſit ſanctio de decimis dubium non est. Per eam namque vera eſt, & (ſi per vos liceat dicere dicam) realis communio bonorum omnium, tum fractuum, tum fatuum, terrae, plantarum, animalium; vos ipſi apud vos reliquam inductionem contexite. Stipem ejus loco ponite, Capite cenſionem, taxationem aedium: multi errores; pars celatur, pars ſubducitur, aufim dicere foreign Lancelot. Epiſt. Winton. de Decimis inter opuſcula poſthuma pag. 147.Heb 7Right Reverend of our owne hath it, this all of Saint Paul, in all good things; no other it doth inſinuate, than the al of which we have hitherto treated; naught elſe but Abrahams all: it would that you of the City, as well as thoſe of the Country ſhould impart to him that p. 28teacheth in all goodthings, one part in tenne. For attend; as Chriſt in our Text muſt be honored, So are ye to communicate; now the tenth is that which he receives, and the tenth is that which ye of London ought to give. For otherwiſe than the Prieſt takes in all good things, ſhould we allow ye to contribute. We ſhould make Saint Paul to the Galatians thwart and claſh with Saint Paul to the Hebrewes: but, my beloved Londoners, no ſuch matter; ſince the Text that's looſe, is to be bound by the Text that's strict: what then in one place in all good things, he leaves unlimitted, that is to take quantity from the place that doth determine; the Scripture tith'd, is to be the rule to the Scripture which is unti…hed: and ſo, the part in our text Christs right being a tenth; it remaines in the behalfe of him; as Abraham, ſo yee Citizens to him that teacheth, ye ſhould enſure your ſubjection in all good things of a tenth, by the communicating. Of tithes touching the extent thus ſtands the caſe: foreign, in each kinde it ought to be a tenth part of all comming in. But here we reſt not; all is not all, unleſſe as Abrahams all it be de praecipuis, of all the moſt chiefe. Abrahams all, which for the quantity was the tenth; that too for the quality of all, it was the moſt principall.

p. 29II. foreign; the tenth of all than any of the other nine parts, was m…ch were Intenſivè quoad Perſonas.choyce: for this terme foreign, aaBiſh. Norw. pag 181. b 171. 194. Touching the divers modification of this word foreign. See this right worthy Author. pag. 163. 164. & 165. Biſh. of Chicheſt treat. of tith. chap. 2. pag. 7. Graca vox foreign ſignificat praecipua; qua five de ſingibus, ſive en ſpol…is Deo offerri ſolent. Eſtius in ver. 4.the Apoſtle uſeth to extend it to all ordinary tithes of encreaſe; ^b and unto that eternall duty of paying tithes it will fetch in the beſt and principall of mens poſſeſſions. Hence then we urge; each one of this duty whiles he is in the performance, of each parcell that he offers unto a diligent ſurvey: in theſe matters not to deale with God hand over head; but as for himſelfe in every thing he would that which is moſt ſingular, ſo in point of tithe to be as studious; not to ſet apart that for him who receives with which himſelfe can not away; to the Prieſt no offering of that, which ſo it be gone, we care not much who hath it. Such dealings as theſe they ne're ſtood with the fidelity of Abraham. God who ccNeh. 9. 8.Neh 9:8found his heart faithfull before him, for the choyſeneſſe of that wherewith he miniſtred to his Prieſt, no doubt but he found him very Solicitous; to give that which did more excell right induſtrious. He who lov'd ſo much what was of little or no value for his Prieſt, a meete preſent he could nere thinke it: but what in honour to his Melchizedec he did performe, foreign no other from Abraham could proceed than of the chiefeſt even a tenth. Ye may then beleeve me, to pay his Saviour with his traſh to his beleeving ſoule it was abhorrent; nay rather, his tenths though nere ſo precious, of what they p. 30ſhould in his owne eſteeme, did they not faile? Indeed, to give tithes of any thing, no matter what, ſo it be a tenth; it denotes a feare had to him who doth command, but of the Sonne not the feare: the Son-like feare, if this way a worke; for the ſort 'tis dainty, it ſevers, and culs, and pickes, and weighes, and chooſeth that which is moſt pleaſing for him who hath its reverence, its love puts its God before it ſelfe in each part of its ſubſtance. As then in all morall duties it fares with each agent, ſo with him who tithes it. ddChryſoſt. Hom. 18. in Gen.foreign. Tithing aright hath a ſtrong and moſt eſpeciall regard to the minde and purpoſe of him that offers; that hee doe it out of a willing and ready diſpoſition, with all ſtrength of affection: which neere ſo well appeares as when his ſubjection to him that lives ſavours of all his ſoule; as when his tenths ſhewes that for his Redeemer, he thinkes nothing too good; when the tenth of every thing is better than that which he reſerves for himſelfe; and his owne profit is put behinde his dues to Religion; not ought more worth, and that no preſent for the Prieſt: in a word, when a man gives a bare tenth, he gives of his goods, but he gives himſelfe whom his tenth gives up the beſt. Now whoſoere doth thus, doth no more than to what he ſtands bound. eeNum. 18. 29Num 18:29Out of all your gifts, optima & electa cuncta; ye ſhall offer, ſaith the Text, of all the beſt thereof. ffGen. 4. 4. Mal. 1. 8. 13. 14 Iude 11.Gen 4:4Mal 1:8Mal 1:13Mal 1:14Jude 1:11Righteous Abel, ex primogenitis p. 31& pinguiſsimis; unto the Lord hee-brought the firstlings of his flocke, and of the fat thereof. On this offering of Abels, will ye heare Saint Chryſoſtome to deſcant? thus then he ggforeign. Chryſoſt. ut ſupra.foreign: unto the Lord meerely o his ſheepe Abel did not bring: but What? foreign, of the firſt of his flocke, he; foreign that is, foreign, of thoſe that were prize-worthy, of the delicate; foreign: and after that out of thoſe firſtlings which were choyſe, againe did Abel ſelect the choyſer. Now did Abraham in his oblation come behinde the pious Abel? Non hhAnſelm. Dion, Carth. Hug Card. Salmer. Gorcan. &c. in ver. 4.devilioribus, he, ſed de praecipuis ac melioribus dedit ei decimas. To give unto Melchizedec the refuſe of his ſtore, it nere ſtood with Abrahams piety. He, whoſe Lord had long afore his heart, in his tenths unto him he could nere be heartleſſe; but what he payd with a deale of care he did all; not ſet apart he, and of what not fore thinke; but what was of moſt eſteeme he did firſt diſcerne, and then let it goe; with a buſie eye bee over-lookt all; but naught his Prieſt he did aſsigne, but what for worth the reſt did overtop. Abrahams tenths, they were foreign, the richeſt of the ſpoyles, the moſt liking of his cattle, the pureſt of his gold, of his ſilver the moſt refin'd. For iiGen. 13. 2.Gen 13:2Abraham, as the letter hath it, was very rich in cattle, in ſilver, and in gold. Touching the matter then of this preſent duty how much it is? that it is decima a p. 32tenth; and too, a tenth of all, ye are not ignorant: but as for the manner, how good it muſt be? the Apoſtle tels you that it muſt bee foreign, the prime, ſomething more ſurpaſsing in that kind any of the reſt; this at leaſt it muſt be: but whether? to put that to the queſtion which indeed is out of queſtion. As it is then,

Whether nothing ſo good? of all whether it ſhould be the beſt; looke you to that? ſuch as is your offering, ſuch is your devotion; if ye faile not of ſo much as you are commanded, for you give a tenth; yet render not ſo good as ye are able: kkMar. 22. 37.foreign; with all the heart, as ye ſhould, doe ye love the Lord your God? If in what ye tithe, ye give Christ what is good, yet in that kinde keepe backe ſomewhat that is better, above all, is Chriſt then, is he preferr'd before all? llAnſelm. in ver. 4.Cui meliora, ille melior. That's better than God, for which is reſerv'd a better thing; and whiles of your eſtates ye returne him the common ſtuffe, no affection it denotes but what's common; ſleightly ſerv'd he, and as ſleightly priz'd. In your tithes then the choyſeneſſe of what you bring; What reverence ye bare him who receives, hence is the lively evidence: in religion cold and frozen, nay dead is that Soule, which could ſet out his gleanings, and withdraw his ſheaves; make ſhew of the gudgeon, but to conveigh away the Salmon; that hee might gaine-ſay his timber would flatter you with the chips; when p. 33he ſhould pay the pearle, doth very frankely ſet downe the pibble. But not ſo Abraham, of what he made up his tenths, of that he was curious for the kinde; God was firſt in his ſoule, and too firſt in his poſſeſsions; ſtill the beſt that a man hath, it is for his ſervice, who hath the beſt of a man. naught too deare for God, if once in our better part, we are indear'd to him: Tithes then cannor but be de praecipuis, unleſſe in our ſelves the High Prieſt be ende praecipuus. Thus did Abraham, and ye muſt no otherwiſe: his tenths they were of all, and of all the moſt choyſe; your duty of no other stampe; of your encreaſe the tenth of all in each ſeverall, and in each of all no other than the chiefeſt. Of …i…hes this the condition, when Abraham tith'd it to Melchizedec; ſo much they were, and in ſuch a manner to be deliver'd up: and in this matter at this day no change: for the old honorary, the old clame, ſince no Prieſt now, but the Prieſt of old; when your Prieſt than Abrahams Prieſt he is no other. mmHeb. 13. … ▪Heb 13Ieſus Chriſt the ſame yeſterday, and to day, and for ever: it was Goſpel then, it is Goſpel now, therefore the ſame tithes, ſince the very ſelfe ſame Prieſt; there being no other Prieſt, there needs no honor of a new Edition: So that your dutie's not a whit altered; his dignity being full as freſh, he as great as he was before. To him then even in theſe times by tithes the ſame ſubjection holds firme; in that in office he the ſame continues: that, which unto us and all p. 34that come after us brings downe the why inſtitutive; it is of tithes the why durative: for the awefull reverence, which by this tribute Abraham ſhewed to the greatneſſe of the Priest; why at this day it muſt be obſerved, it is at this day of the Prieſt from the endurance. In the very way then of Abrahams payment, we come now to the reaſon for which tithes are to be continued; for touching your duty, wherefore in conſcience to render theſe ye are obliged, and that we have authority upon the perill of your ſoules to command the fulfilling; in the text the ground, of the Prieſt is foreign: of your obeying and our enjoyning, the life it is the warrant; for, He who receiveth tithes, foreign Of him it is witneſſed that he liveth: of the Prieſt the life, why tithes are now due it is the Quare; and of the three Quaeres as the laſt propoſed comes to be conſidered foreign, that he l…veth.

III, On foreign. Helives, and he lives a Prieſt, for under nnQuiseſt qui vivit? Ille factus eſt Sacerdos in aternum ſecundum ordinem Melchizedec …ypum gerentis Pontificis noſtri, qui ſe metipſum obtulit hoſtiam Deo placentem, non ex neceſſitate qualibet ſed ex voluntate propriae poteſtatis: qui nihil morti debuit, ideirco pontificali ſacrificio ſui corporis omnium abluit peccata. Ambroſ hic. Biſh. Chicheſt. treat. of tithes. chap. 2. &. 3.this notion it is, that we are to preſent him to you; and in the kinde you wot of, why Abrahams duty to Abrahams Children it ſhould deſcend; the grand quaere is; not in that ſimply belives; but becauſe he alwayes lives a Prieſt. What then is of notice moſt eſpeciall, why tithes ſtill are your debt; of his life it is the diverſity of conſideration: which is to be ſet before you either primitivè or diſpenſativè.

p. 35Firſt primitive, ye are to behold it, as Chriſt, he who lives for your eternall profit, puts it into action; and ſo, this his life, being unto you the life of a Prieſt; hence it is that in the firſt riſe unto him, from you tithes are due; foreign, in that for you he liveth now a Prieſt.

Secondly, this his life is to be weighed diſpenſativè; as the Melchizedec's here below have the manageing of it, to diſcover what pretious fruites doe accrue unto you from this his life; it being a life for your ſpirituall good, wholely behoofefull: and this is the Quare why of the Goſpel the now Prieſts, they of tithes are among you made the receivers; it is becauſe the word which they bring, it is the ooPhil. 2. 16.Phil 2:16word of life: for thus, foreign. &c. Of him it is witneſſed that in them he liveth. What then in the firſt place warrants unto him Abrahams performance to be your ſervice, it is in that

1. Primitivè and in ſe, in his owne perſonlie l…ves a Priest: and no meane motive this from all Chriſtians for the pleaded-for ſubjection, if but duely thought on: when this Prieſt, foreign, in that he lives; it is to pray, and ppEſay 53. 12:Isa 53:12for the tranſgreſſors to make interceſsion. qq1 Iohn 2: 1.1 John 2:1If any man hath ſinned, ſaith Saint Iohn, foreign, Wee have an Advocate with the Father, Ieſus Chriſt the righteous. For, rrIere. 30. 21. Zach 1 12. Rom. 8. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Apoc. 8. 4.Jer 30:21Zech 1:12Rom 8:341 Tim 2:5Rev 8:4who is this but hee who hath engaged his heart to approach unto the Lord? In reſpect then of him for the abidance of tithes, this the p. 36Quare: in that in himſelfe a Prieſt he lives; even now to be our ſpokesman, to pleade, and ſue out our pardon, to reconcile and ſet us at one with him, whom our ſinnes hath ſet at oddes. sschap. 2. 17.foreign: It is for us that he is at this preſent, the mercifull and faithfull High Prieſt, in things pertaining to God: When none of us without this life that dares deale above; that can goe to God, and yet goe without Chriſt; who is it that can appeare an offender before his Iudge, and not provided of a ſatisfaction? would a releaſe of his bonds, and neglect the life that payed the ranſome; ſtands in neede of mercy, and yet ttDan. 9. 17.Dan 9:17for the Lords ſake does not petition it? Behold then the life I ſet before you this day, and of the Priests clame, yeeld to the Iuſtice; hence in Abrahams way, ought ye not to apply your ſelves to Abrahams ſubjection? for as to Abraham, ſo to you he lives a Prieſt; this his life in your behalfe he wholely employes it; where he is, the manageing of your affaires altogether takes him up: On foreign that he liveth, as a good Prieſt ſhould he abides our ſuitor, and that thither we may come whether he hath aſcended, for this he lives to requeſt the Father. Prayers then hee doth offer up, and in uuforeign. Oecumen. in ver. 25.this a Prieſt: but this is not all at which wee are to looke; foreign, that he liveth and intercedes; but too, the ſacrifice, we muſt regard, xxhic. ver. 25.which he did once when he offered up himſelfe: ſince this alſo in ſe, as in himſelfe he is a Priest, it is to be conſidered. p. 37That then yyEſay 53. 5, 6. Iohn 1. 19. Tit. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19 2 24. 1 Ioh. 1. 7. Gal. 3. 13.Isa 53:5Isa 53:6John 1:19Titus 2:141 Pet 1:181 Pet 1:191 John 1:7Gal 3:13for our tranſgreſsions hee was wounded, and bruiſed for our iniquities; as ever, ſo now, zzOfficium Interceſſionis & Redemptionis ita ſunt conju… cta, ut dignitatē, virtutem, ſe… efficaciam interceſſionis Chriſti ex meritis. Redemptionis pendere oſtendat Apoſtolm ad Heb. c. 7. &. 9, Chemnit. ex. am. Concil. Trident. de In. vocat. Sanct. p. 169. col. 1. interceſſio nihil allud eſt quam Redemptionis applicatio, & continum quaſi vigor … apud Deum concilians, &c. Mediatoris noſtri apud Deum Interceſſio niſttur ejuſdem ſatisfactione & merito: unde in Sacerdota…i Chriſti officio ſatisfactio, meritum & interceſſio indivulſo nexu conjunguntur. Gerardi. loc. com. tom. 8 de Morte. § 385. 4, § 389. 5.Heb 7this is that which makes him a powerfull Orator: when from the redemption that he wrought, is the life of his interceſſion; the ſtrength of his interpleading, it is from the dignity of his merit; from his paſsion, of his prayers, is the prevalency. So then, for the point in hand, ye ſee upon what warrant we ground the urging; this homage of yours what now commands; but that in which conſiſts your bliſſe eternall? from that which of the Goſpel is the very pith; ab Evangelii Evangelio, from the life of a Saviour, hence the now Quare: his Prieſtly being is the why at your hands this ſervice why now he muſt receive; from a perpetuall benefit, it is that the bond is perpetuall when for us it is inſe, foreign, that a Priest be liveth in himſelfe: for our ſakes, it is that the Deity is ſtill ſolicited; to appeaſe the wrath that we have provokt, this the cauſe that before juſtice eye his precious ſufferings are ſtill ſet; that the remembrance of his fore-paſt Chaſtiſement this Prieſt renues, tis to effect our peace; and now powres out the deſires of his ſoule for that onelyonly which wee all deſire. Yet further; that which addes to the worth of this his executing his Prieſtly office; and ſo, unto you makes the enforcement the more ſtrong; it is p. 38foreign that now he lives a Prieſt enthron'd: for, aachap. 9. 24.foreign: into heaven it ſelfe he is entred now to appeare in the preſence of God for us. Therefore, all his doings ye are ſo to conſtrue them, as of his infinite glory they ſute with the preſent condition: weighwell ye ſhould of the now Prieſt, the now ſtate; an allglorious life it is of an all glorious Prieſt. Chriſts then bbƲnigenito filio pro homine interpellare, eſt apud coateruum Patrem ſeip ſum hominemdemonſtrare; et que pro humana natura rogaſſe eſt ean dem naturam in Divinitatis ſuae celſitudine ſuſcepiſſe. Gregor. magn. Moral. lib. 22. cap. 13. Illa interpellatic Chriſt. Doctorum omnium vera aſſertione, non ſummiſſa eſt poſtulatio, ſed ejus paſſionla quae ſemel ſuſcepta, ſemel pro nobis in ſacrificium oblata eſt, aeterna commemoratio, &c. Rupertus de divinis officiis lib 9 cap. 3. Vide Eſtium hic in ver. 25.pro humanâ naturâ rogaſſe; at this day his mediating for us, no other it is than in the ſtatelineſſe of his Divinity his taking to him our nature; and thus, in his owne Perſon having aſſum'd it, in our behalfe what he will he obtaines of this by the preſenting; all things then to him are granted, not from the ſubmiſſeneſſe of his deſire, but upon the knowledge of his deſert; as a ſupplyant he does not now crave, but as a conquerour he procures. What I ſay ye may beleeve, when ccChap 8 1.we have ſuch an High Prieſt, who is ſet, foreign: on the right hand of the throne of the Majeſty in the heavens. To his clame then unto the debt we preach for, ought ye not to have regard? when this Prieſt though he liveth ſo ddPhil 2. 9.Phil 2:9highly exalted; yet in naught fallen from his office; but the Prieſts worke, it is ſtill his eeEſtius ut ante.Non otioſum gerit Chriſtus ſacerdotium: from the buſineſſe due to the Prieſthood, though he be in heaven he is not diſcharged; but for your heale it is that even there, he abides a Prieſt all-ſufficient: ſince, ffHiever. 25.He is able to ſave, foreign, to the uttermost p. 39them that come unto God by him, ſeeing hee ever liveth to make interceſsion for them. The remiſsion then of your ſinnes; unto a better hope, the acceptance of your perſons; for your time of being here, your Prieſts plighting of his word for your upright abearing; upon his owne backe his taking of your load; his fulfilling whatſoere you faile in; of his now being the now majeſty: in a word, all that the Goſpell reveales touching this Prieſt, all ſerves but to make the continuing Quare the more weighty; that yee may be the more eaſily induced by …ithes to evidence your ſubmiſsion. Thus, to the Sonnes he that lives being the ſame Prieſt that he was to the Father, Abrahams dues, that they ſhould be your debt is it any more than right? ggTertul. lib. 4. contra Marcion. cap. 9.Chriſtus Ieſus Catholicus Pa…ris Sacerdos. He being of his Father the Catholique Prieſt, is there any reaſon that he ſhould be denyed a **Videtur totam tribum Levi conferre cum Melchizedec in hunc modum. Cum Levitis Deus conceſſerit jus exigendi decimas, Iſraelitis omnibus eos praefecit, licét en eodem eſſent omnes progeniti. Atqui Abraham qui omnium eſt Pater Sacerdoti alienigenae decimas ſolvit; ergo omnes Abrahae poſteri huic Sacerd…i ſunt ſubjecti. Ita jus illud reliquit quod in fratres delatum eſt, in Levitis. Sed Melchizeder, ſine exceptione Deus in omnes praeſecit. Salmeron in ver. 5. Cauſam non reddit Apoſtolus, ac ſi decimas ideo Sacerdotes accipiunt, quod ſint ex Filiis Levi, ſed totam illam tribum conſert cum Melchizedes in hunc modum Cum Levitis Deus conceſſerit jus exigendi decimas a Populo ita Iſraelitis eos praefecit omnibus, & ſi ex eodem Parente eſſent omnes ſimul progeniti. Atqui Abraham qui omnium Pater eſt Sacerdoti Alienigenaeſolvit decimas; ergo huic Sacerdot; omnes poſte…i Abraha ſunt ſubjecti. Ita jus Leviticum particulare ſuit in reliquos fratres; ſed Melchizedec ſine enceptione ſummoloco ſtatuitur ut ſibi ſubjiciat omnes Calvinuss. ibid.Catholique ſubjection? according to that he receives, of all is it not neceſſary that there be rendred to him one and the ſame obedience? ſince as for Abraham p. 40ſo for all, foreign: Of him it is witneſſed that a Prieſt he liveth: from him quà Prieſt, there flowing an univerſall good, unto him ought there not to be returned a duty univerſall? Of tithes for the permanency in this manner ſtands the Quare, in regard now of the right primitive: in ſe, he who receives, as he is in himſelfe if beheld; ye finde unto you foreign, that he liveth ſtill a Priest: and therefore for this cauſe it is by tithes your allegeance unto him ye ought to make apparent. But yet, in the ſpring head and aſcent upmoſt, though his they are: yet as he lives otherwiſe, than in himſelfe a Prieſt, ſo too, for the laſting of tithes, an other ſort of right, his life it doth produce, a right derivative; when

2. Diſpenſativè; in a ſecond way wee told you, that in thoſe he lives to whom of this his life he hath committed the diſpenſing. Thus wee are fallen upon the point wherein wee are to diſcover how to tithes the now Prieſts of the Goſpell they lay clame: when tithes not onelyonly primarily as they are owned; but too, Secundarily they are to be treated on as they are aſsigned: indeed it is in heaven that the receipt is ratifi'd, though the payment nere were but upon the earth; ye give here to the hand, what's there due to the body. Now then, to come to thoſe to whom tithes ſub Evangelio are to be deliver'd: of theſe touching the endurance to handle the p. 41Quare as it concernes us. The reaſon why alſo tithes are our dues, for theſe in a ſurer way we cannot lay the ground, than in the Text upon the foreign: ſince to the now Melchizedec's, of the Priest, of Chriſt here foreign, of all their labors it is the life: that which makes us bring hhRom. 10. 15.Rom 10:15glad tidings of good things unto you, is it not in that with this life we come fraught? for ii2 Cor. 2. 16.2 Cor 2:16foreign: of life unto life we are the Savour; and our now charge kkAct. 5. 20.Acts 5:20it is to ſtand and ſpeake to the people foreign: all the words of this life. Hence then it is that we receive tithes, ſince of his life, the ſaving benefits effectually to impart we are enabled: for their Worke ſake here below to the Melchizedecs, of the Goſpell the now Prieſts, llRom. 15. 16.Rom 15:16whoſe it is foreign, to them this honour, hence it is that they have it warranted; the Prieſt lives in them to communicate his life; and of his living Prieſt-hood theſe ſacred annexa in them he receives. But that we may take the whole Scripture which concernes this matter along with us; it doth well be ſeeme us in the old way to ſet our footing: and ſo, it is our duty to ſet before you of Melchizedec and of Aaron the Quare; that from their why for ou… conſtant receit of tithes, we alſo may fetch our Why: which may ſo be done, and yet of the Prieſt from the life we not all together turne aſide. What then firſt of

1. Melchizedec was the Quare; that which p. 42was the reaſon wherefore of this ſtanding tribute, he was daigned the honour; the cauſe was a benedicendo: from the bleſsing, which on Abraham he did conferre. Melchizedec mmhic. ver. 1. 2.bleſſed him ſaith the Text, to whom alſo Abraham gave a tenth part of all. Now then, marke; if Melchizedec of the Patriarch upon his nnQuaero de jur…, quo jure? non ſacrificii, nullum enim obtulit. Benedictionis ergo. Coharent enim iſte, Benedixit Melchiſedec, decimas pendit Abraham. I am aſſumo. Melch. benedicenti debentur decimae. Idem jus ſub Christo manet. Qui id conſtare potest? ex ver. 12. ad 7. Heb. Non ſit foreign. Ius non transfertur niſi tranſlato ſacerdotia. Atqui idem Chriſti ſacerdotium & Melchizedec (pro quo ſi opus eſt Deus ipſe jus jurandum interponet) Pſ…l 110. Ergo idem ſub utroque jus. Chriſto igitur debentur, in quo, & a quo, & per quem omnes benedicti ſumus benedictus ipſe in ſecula. Quas aequum est ut illi Chriſti nomine percipiant, qui Chriſti nomine nobis benedicunt, &c. Manet ergo ſub Ch isto decima…um jus. Epiſc. Winton. de decimis pag. 143. &. 144.Ps 50:110bleſsing did receive tithes? in his way in the behalfe of us for the ſame debt is there not the ſame cauſe? ſince as he to Abraham, ſo we to all that are of Abraham doe impart the bleſsing; ooGen. 14 19.Gen 14:19even the bleſsing of the moſt high God Poſſeſſour of heaven and earth. This bleſſing we diſpence; which is no other in the richneſſe of it, than the life of him, of whom in the text it is witneſſed, &c. For the Quare then, why unto us of Melchizedec tithes the endurance; there being from us naught now but the ſame bleſsing, what ſhould be to us, if not the ſame ſubjection? when whoſe at this day is the very office, is not theirs too, the very rights, tithes? for Melchizedec bleſt, and ppTanquam sacerdos & Propheta ordinarius benedixit illi. quo nomine etiam Ab…a. illi decimas ex omn bus impertitus est, & ille ab co non dubitavit accipere tanquam fretus autoritate Dei, & ex ea rite perfungens Sacerdotis officio. Iunius lib. 3. Paral. in hoc cap.eo nomine, of a tenth part of all he was made partaker. To the ſame purpoſe then that by Abraham theſe dues were given to his Prieſt; the ſame end in your rendring of tithes it ought to be obſerved: p. 43now to him the tenth it was aſſigned to ſet out hom great a Priest he was. And for our parts, ſince we are to you, qq2 Cor. 5. 20.2 Cor 5:20foreign. in stead of him that liveth; and naught doe, but rr…. 10.foreign, in the perſon of Chriſt what we doe; and if any where received, ssGal. 4. 14. Luk. 10. 16.Gal 4:14Luke 10:16as Ieſus Chriſt we are to be received; and ſince, ttObad. 21.Obad 1:21Servatores ſumus, we are the Saviours that come up on mount Sion: this being conſidered; as tithes did from Abraham to Melchizedec, ſo from you being payed; are they not to demonſtrate of our Callings excellency, your dreading approvement? In reſpect then of each particular duty, our high function enjoynes, theſe are to enſure your obedience unto us, who have uuHeb. 13. 17.Heb 13:17the rule over you. To this tithes ſerve, that to the world they may declare, what great men they are, who now are Evangelicall Prieſts; in that the honour which for himſelfe Prieſt-Chriſt commands, to us he vouchſafes, his tenths, In token then of your ſubmiſsion to our authority, of all encreaſe, of all your ſubſtance the beſt in tithes is to be imparted: when Melchizedecs ſuperiority doth follow the charge of Melchizedec; the life which in the bleſsing of Melchizedec, was the very creame, the life of the Prieſt, this is the bleſsing we bring: with the Bread and with the Wine; with the Body and with the Blood: with an foreign, and a foreign, we come. From Melchizodec then unto us for the continuance of tithes we inferre the Quar…: being enjoyned his taske, this the why in dis

p. 46Even ſo hath the Lord ordained that they ſhould live who Preach the Goſpell. eeOecumen …n 1 Cor. 9. 13. Biſh. Chich. treat. of tith. chap. 1. pag. 3. chap. 4 pag. 231 Cor 9:13foreign. In matter of maintenance the Apoſtle does not bring in, any new, ſtrange, unheard of thing, he innovates nothing at all; with a new egge of his owne addling hee does not preſent the Corinthians: but the old practiſe upon former precept to be continued that it is ordain'd this he preacheth. The power that he had ff1 Cor. 9. 4.1 Cor 9:4to eate and to drinke, it was foreign, Even ſo, as that of Levies, who gghic. ver. 5.to take tithes had a commandement. Touching thoſe then who ſub evangelio officiate for him, Of whom it is witneſſed that &c. Aarons portion why their pay ye have the Quare; the ſtile of the now Law warrants it to be according to the Law afore; foreign to be no other than even ſo. Thus looke which way you pleaſe; to the ſubjection due to Melchizedec, or to the maintenance owed to Aaron; to hoc fac, or to Crede hoc; to the hhRom. 3. 27.Rom 3:27Law of Faith, or to the Law of workes; to the rule by which ye are juſtifyed, or to the line by which ye are ſanctifye; of theſe take which ye will; and of the Prieſts life the now diſpenſers, of theſe rents how they authorized to be the takers up, ye will eaſily diſcerne. Or, if either of theſe plea's the now Prieſts ſhould let goe; yet in the Text a hold they have impregnable; when out of all danger of aſſault is: foreign, of the Prieſt the life: Of a right then unto theſe dues, ii1 Cor. 4. 1.1 Cor 4:1foreign, p. 47thoſe who unto you are the ſtewards of the mysteries of God; of a title unto tenths, theſe they can nere faile, unleſſe our Text faile: keepe then to this, and keepe up tithes: when this aſſures you of an foreign there, where tithes are ever to be received; for foreign there, in the Prieſthood of the Goſpell, foreign. There he receiveth them, of whom it is witneſſed that he liveth. And here, to our diſcourſe a period it might be put; but that other things are yet behind needfull to be obſerved, As firſt,

1. All this while, by the Text what's received, and whats payed, it is but tithes, than a tenth, 'tis no more. Therefore, as if this portion were too exceeding; or that, in the requiring of theſe we went beyond our commiſsion, that ye may not repine, or what we write with a head hung downe entertaine: we are further to acquaint you, and as the troth is deliver it; that to the

Now Prieſts of the Goſpell, kkPopulus novae legis ad majora obligatur Miniſtris Dei quā Populus vet. &c Si dignitas Miniſtrorum attendatur plus ila debetur quam Miniſtris Legis. Cajetanus in praedict. Aquinat. ſolut. ad dub. ſecundum Populus Chriſtianus accepit a Chriſto majora beneficia quam Iſraelitae, ideoque ad plura Deo obligatur, Sylv. ibi. Concluſ. 4 rat. 2.tithes to be the leaſt of that which juſtly they may clame; but a very pittance of that greater ſumme in which ye all ſtand engaged. Indeed if we looke at Scriptum eſt, and jus ſtrictum in reſpect of a part determined; than a meere, a bare tenth, no more can be chaleng'd: but if the worth of that we bring were it poſsible to value it; how little then of that great deale ye owe would a tenth prov? for conſider, thus much, tithes, the Chriſtians gave p. 48who were afore the Law; and thoſe who were under the Law payed tithes, all which had the Prieſt that lives in a promiſe onelyonly, and in a ſigure; ſo much as this they imparted, and all upon the beleife that he was to come: now that he is come, and llRom. 8. 32.Rom 8:32in giving of himſelfe hath freely given all things unto us: to be return'd than the wonted tenth whether there be no more? judge ye. In this matter to your ſelves I doe appeale: does not Nature teach, that the better ye are uſed, the deeper ye are obliged; and ſuch as is the fare, ſuch ſhould be the pay; and that a more abounding crop, ſhould follow a more plenteous ſowing; and that we ſhould receive in, according to that we have laid out? Bethinke your ſelves; in the breſt within, have ye not a thing that to this beares witneſſe? But to keepe to Scripture: for the legall Prieſts then, if firſt fruits and tithes, and what not were due to thoſe, whoſe mmHeb. 9. 10.Heb 9:10Service ſtood in ordinances that were carnall; and all that they did, tended no further than nn13.foreign, to the purifying of the fleſh? if of ſuch the Miniſtery had ſo ample an endowment? then to him oo14.whoſe blood from dead workes is able to purge the conſcience, that ye may ſerve the living God: to him, I ſay, in his now Prieſts, can a tenth be a taxe ſo intolerable? ppforeign. Chryſoſt. Hom. 4. in Ephes. Si is qui dat dim dium … operatur, quanti erit is qui ne decimam quid…m praebet. E catalogo Anno. 544.foreign p. 49foreign. If under the Old Teſtament ſuch doings there were as theſe, then much more ſhould there not be under the New? This quantity of Levies order, to ſet out the excellenty it was apppointed, whoſe Worke was but the qq2 Cor 3 7, 8,2 Cor 3:72 Cor 3:8miniſtration of death; and to thoſe of our rule, whoſe is the miniſtration of the ſpirit, to us than a tenth ſhall there be due no more? Our Prieſthood then as it is rrLevitis jus decimarum. At miniſterinm noſtrum ut eſt natura praestan… dignitate eminentius, ita uſu fructuoſius. Et plura & majora Populus noſter a nobis commoda percipit; debentitaque majora rotio ſiation dictat. Quis pudor eſt Chriſtianos qui debent majora non ſolvere pavia? Vberiores fructus recipere poſſimus ſi ratio audiatur, tennior…s non poſſumus. Epiſc. Winton de deci. pag 155.Natura praeſtantius, dignitate eminentius, ita uſu fructuoſius. As in its nature that of Aarons it doth farre ſurmount, and in its exerciſe being farre more fruitfull, and in that we of the Goſpell come loaded to our people with better commodities, and farre more precious than thoſe of the Law: this being ſo, in your offering to us, your reverence how ſhould it exceed that of Iſrael; how outſtrip that? Quis pudor eſt Christianos qui debent majora, non ſolvere paria? Oh the fhame! that Chriſtians who owe more, ſhould nere be found to returne ſo much. What ſhall we ſay? Did not the Scribes and Phariſees pay tithes of all that they poſſeſt? Now ssMat. 5. 20.Matt 5:20Except your righteouſneſſe ſhall exceed the righteouſneſſe of the Scribes and Phariſes:—from What followes God defend; but except your righteouſneſſe, &c. foreign ye ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdome of Heaven. Deceive not your ſelves; of theſe miſcreants the righteouſneſſe how doth yours ttQuomodo abandat justitia noſtra pluſquā Scribarum & Phariſaorum? fi illi de fructibus terrae ſuae guſtare non audent priuſquam Sacerdotibus primitias off… ranrant, & Leviti… decimae ſeparentur: & ego nihil borum ſaciens fructibus terrae ita abutar ut Sacerdos▪ neſciat, Levites ignoret, divinum altare non Sentiat Origen Hom. 11 in Numer.exceed? if in that ye are p. 50ever peccant wherein they were never guilty? uuExime aliquā partem reddituum …, decimas vis? decimas excipe; q…anquam parum ſit. Dictum eſt enim quia Pha…ſ…i decima… dabant, &c. Et quid ait Dominus? Niſi abundaverit, &c Et ille ſuper quem debet abundare juſtitia tua decimas dat, tu autem …ec mille…imam das. Quomodo ſuperabis eum, cui non aequaris? Auguſt. in Pſal. 146. tom. 8.Ps 146Qnomodo ſuperabis eum, cui non aequaris? In this duty if theſe yee doe not aequall, that ye goe beyond ſuch when will be the time that it may be found? Of the Scribes and Phariſes ye are yet to learne; theſe though too bad, yet to teach you truely to … it wondrous and Sufficient: of your profeſſion is not this the blot; that to Scribes and Phariſes ye ſhould be to go to Schoole? Now then, if it be tithe, and more than a Tithe to which the now Prieſts have now right,

2. What warrant then for that unwarrantable competency that every where is in practice? or what conſcience will allow you to abide by a mouldy cuſtome fetcht from time out of minde? or for your teacher to thinke that right meete which comes from the raw diſcretion of an upſtart Veſtry? or what ground is there for a xxIudg. 17. 10.Judg 17:10Be unto me a Father and a Prieſt, and I will give unto thee ten ſhekels of ſilver by the yeare, &c. yyEzek. 18. 2.Ezek 18:2Have not our Fathers eaten ſowre grapes; and the childrens teeth are they not ſet on edge? As if the now Prieſts were the accurſed progeny of unhappy Eli. zz1 Sam. 2. 36.1 Sam 2:36Doe they not come and crouch for a piece of ſilver? and for their putting into one of the Prieſts offices; for the moſt part is it not the end, Vt panis frustum, that they may eate a piece of bread? when tithes which were ever due, they are now no where paid. 'Tis in the text a Prieſt & p. 51tithes; of the bleſsing upon Abrahams receiving, of theſe is Abrahams rendring. To the goodwill then of the many no referring of the Prieſt for that which muſt ſuſtaine him; and upon the hearing of the man, no giving accordingly as you like him; and amend his pay, thereafter as he mends his Preaching; for if in your wifedomes he chance to improve his talant, perhaps he ſhall be conſidered for it: or if for his bigger preferment he can hire out himſelfe for more, then to trucke it with him for his longer tarriance: as if, He who lives ſhould not all this while receive tithes? or for thoſe who of his Goſpell are the ſetters forth he had no way provided; onelyonly their allowance he hath ſo left it, that nothing's theirs but what it pleaſeth you to give. Now is this the honour that ye doe your Prieſt? aaZach. 11. 13.Zech 11:13Thirty pieces of ſilver, a goodly price that I was prized at of them: ye know full well of whom tis ſaid. In the name of God then, from the beginning of the World to this praeſent time, and ever after; from the bond of tithes have ye had a generall acquittance? that concerning the worſhip due unto your Prieſt, ye are ſo ſapinely negligent? It is witneſſed that he liveth? and here on Earth muſt he be ſo abaſed; that thoſe who negotiate for him muſt ſtand to your good liking for what they have? naught receive, but what wherewith to part ye thinke fit? was this the awefull regard that Abraham bore to his Melchizedec? that ye ſhould handle your bb1 Cor. 4. 15.1 Cor 4:15Inſtructours p. 52in Chriſt, as ye doe thoſe who have the charge of your bounds? the man now in the Stable, and him in the Church betweene one and other is there any difference? for what muſt keepe them, both alike doe they not rely onelyonly upon that which your owne inventions have imagined behoovefull? the Kitchin and the Pulpit doe they not Worke as you and they, thereafter as ye have agreed? As if tithes had nothing to doe with conſcience; nor God ere call to a reckoning, of this Sacred Revenue for the vile unhallowing. So long then as ye heare of a tenth, and of one who lives tithes to receive, ſo long as ye have tidings; ſo long know it is not left to you to diſpoſe of the Priesthoods dues according as you laſt: but that it is yours firſt to quit you of your debt, and then to talke of your gratuity; till ye have perform'd your bounden duty, let alone your benevolence: if what ye owe, yee faile to pay, with a largeſſe of the n'one comming to d' of God, nere dreame; nere build upon a piece of ſelfewilled charity, till in what juſtice would ye have ſatisfied your Prieſt, in his tithes. Indeed a freewill offering it may not be denyed, that to the now Prieſts it is due: and over and above your tenths that much more ye owe, we grant it to you: for, Except your righteouſneſſe exceed, &c. We confeſſe too, that the overplus which to render ye are enjoyned, in reſpect of a fixt, a ſet part, in this ye are left to your owne liberty; as a tenth; ſo more than a tenth p. 53is neceſſary upon praecept; but than a tenth how much more ye ought to give? In regard of you this is the matter onelyonly arbitrary; to your owne power, ye are to be refer'd to define of that which muſt exceed; free in this ye are at your owne choyſe for the muchity to offer to your Prieſt. Seriouſly but weigh this, and will ye not finde it damnable and deadly to your Soules; when to the prejudice of tithes, to carve as ye liſt to your Melchizedec ye nere feare to preſume? For whiles by contributing leſſe than a tenth, of your debt ye fancy the diſcharging: what doe ye but run more upon the ſcore, and make your burthen the more grievous? In diminiſhing the Summe, ye adde to your diſobedience; and eternally undoe your ſelves in impoveriſhing the Prieſt. To draw to an end; on your parts, what then remaines now, but to the

3. Prieſt, ccIudeorum imitemur e…ordia, ut Sacerdotibus & Levltis bonorem debitum deferamus?. Hierom. in cap. 3. Malac. tom. 6.ut honorem debitum deferatis? naught but of your faithfull ſervice this humble tender; that in paying of tithes, as tithes require ye make good your ſubjection; it is true, with a great deale of goods ye muſt part; but too ye muſt doe it with a great deale of ſubmiſsion: becauſe ye enrich the man, by no meanes your ſelves exalt. The Prieſt fares well, and indeed muſt: ddforeign. &c. foreign. Chryſ. in 1 Cor. 9. Homil. 22.1 Cor 9yet for the fliece never a whit beholding to the Sheepe; becauſe of the Pariſh ſustained, he is not therefore brought under of the meanes ye have it is that he lives, but not of you; at the p. 54peoples hands it is that he doth receive, yet on the people it is not that he doth depend; but onelyonly thence his livelihood, whence his Office. eeOecumen. ibidem.foreign. For the worke of the Goſpell it is that he is appointed; and too, not of thoſe he teacheth, but that he live of the Goſpell it is ordain'd. ffAmbros.Ipſa naturalis ratio hoc habet, ut quis inde vivat ubi laborat. This of nature 'tis the dictate, that of each one thence be the ſupport, whence is the ground of his employment. Ye give then, and ye give to him; yet what he receives, 'tis that which of you the Goſpell clames; the duty which ye owe him, 'tis for the ſervice which he doth it. Hence of the Prieſt your obeying; by your ſubſtance his ſubſiſting doth not make you his Good Maſters; but in what he takes, in that ye declare your ſelves debtors. In the behalfe then of the Prieſt that ye are put to charges. Non ggFecit (D Paulus) ſecurit caſtum Evangliſtam (ſc. Timotheum) &c. ut intelligeret quod neceſſarium ſibi ſume bat ab tis, quibus tanquam provincialibus militabat, & quos tanquam vi…e…m calturà excreebat, vel tanquam gregem paſcebat, non eſſe mendicitatem ſed poteſtatem. Auguſtin. lib d…opere Monachorum cap. 15. tom. 3.eſt mendicitas, ſed poteſtas. In this ye relieve not his penury, but beare witneſſe to his authority; in ſo doing, ye doe not helpe his wants, but yeild to his power. It would be his ſinne then to crave, that which of right he may command; and in you a foule fauli to expect his asking, when 'tis your duty to deliver up. For ſo long as your tithes yee doe with hold, ſo long of your Priest from the dignity ye doe withdraw; ye leſsen his reverence, in denying his maintenance; and make him little, in keeping from him tithes which ſhould make him great; whiles ye defraud him of his p. 55portion, ye avile his function; ye hhMalac. 3. 8.Mal 3:8rob and ſteale from God, in depriving him of his goods. It is high time then to betake you to your charge, and of this debt in the performance, as it would thereafter to demeane your ſelves: Ever remembring that this way whiles ye advance your Religion, your obedience thereunto ye doe but anew teſtifie, and that all is for the honour of your Priest, when this part ye doe ſo devoutly dedicate; to make apparent his praeeminence over you, to this it is that tithes they were alotted: for that which made Melchizedez greater than Abraham, was it not tithes? To ſhut up all: I onelyonly exhort you of theſe to the payment; ye have a Prieſt who lives to receive, and whom may ye better follow than him whom yee have for your Father. Abraham, he paide tithes of all, and the best of all in honour to his Melchizedec: now, iiIohn 8. 39.John 8:39If ye were Abrahams children, ye would doe the workes of Abraham: what he performed that of you it is required. Therefore, kkAmbros. Fer. 3. poſt Domin. prim Quadrag. tom. 5.Quicunque recognoſcit in ſe quod fidellter non dederit decimas ſuas. This of Saint Ambroſe 'tis wholeſome counſaile. Whoſoever among you doth acknowledge that in matter of tithe he nere dealt faithfully: modo emendet quod minus fecit: now, let him now amend that of which afore he fell ſo ſhort. Quid eſt fideliter dare decimas: to give tithes faithfully wherein doth it conſiſt? niſi ut, nec minus nec pejus aliquando Deo offerat. But that to God of whatſoere p. 56ye have, ye offer neither worſe nor leſſe. Abrahami actio, eſt nostra institutio, Abrahams action, tis our inſtruction.

March. 16. 1639. Imprimatur,

Tho. Wykes.

Errata.

PAg. 13. line. 3. foreign. l. 14. foreign. p. 17. l. 28. foreign. p. 24. l. 16. foreign. p. 25. l. 26. court, or ſhip; p. 29, l. 26. foreign. p. 30. l. 26. who in. p. 32. l. 10. beſt? that 3 p. 40. l. 25. receit. p. 44 l. ult, their b medium. p. 45. l. 8. through. p. 52. l. 20 coining.

Margin.

PAg. 2. c Non dici po. p. 3. Promiſſio. p. 6. Art. i. p. 17. foreign. p. 25 Elocatarum. p. 27. Epiſc. p. 31. foreign. Dion. Carth, Gorran. p. 4… foreign.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Carter, Of Tithes (1640)