The Storming and Routing of Tithes, Text

The Storming and Routing of Tithes · Text

p. 1THE Storming or Totall Routing OF TYTHES, Or the humble Repreſentation, Declartion and Proteſtation of EDWARD BARBER, in behalf of himſelf and many thouſands of the Freemen of the Common-wealth of England.

SHeweth that whereas at the beginning of the Parliament, upon the conſideration of the abuſe done by the Prelates and their adherents to this Nation, both concerning the ſouls and bodies of the people, the Parliament was pleaſed to put forth a Proteſtation, wherein themſelves and the Kingdom amongſt other things did proteſt to defend and maintain with life, power and eſtate the true reformed Proteſtant Religion, expreſſed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, againſt all Popery and Popiſh Innovations contrary to the ſaid Doctrine, the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subjects (or rather the freemen of England) and (note this) every perſon that maketh this Proteſtation in whatſoever he ſhall do, in the lawfull perſuance of the ſame, and to their power, and as far as lawfully they may, oppoſe, and by all good waies and means endevour to bring p. 2to condign puniſhment all ſuch as ſhall either, by force, practice, Counſels, Plots, Conſpiracies, or otherwiſe, do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this preſent Proteſtation contained, &c.

Alſo in the Explanation thereof, it is ſaid that whereas ſome doubts have been raiſed by ſeveral perſons out of this Houſe, concerning the meaning of theſe words contained in the Proteſtation, lately made by the Members of this Houſe, viz. The true reformed Proteſtant Religion, expreſſed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, againſt all Popery and Popiſh Innovations within this Realm contrary to the ſame Doctrine, this Houſe doth declare that by theſe words, was and is meant onelyonly the publick Doctrine profeſſed in the ſaid Church, ſo far as it is oppoſite to Popery and Popiſh Innovations [and that the ſaid words are not to be extened to the maintaining of any form or Worſhip, Diſcipline or Governdment, nor of any Rites or Ceremonies of the ſaid Church of England] Reſolved that what perſon ſoever ſhall not take the Proteſtation, is unfit to bear Office in the Church or Common-wealth again.

2. Again by the Vow and Covenant, we are injoyned for the defence of the true Proteſtant Religion and Liberties of the Subjects, and this is made in the preſence of Almighty God, &c.

3. We are ingaged in the Reformation of the Churches of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government, to have it according to the Word of God, and the example of the beſt Reformed Churches.

4. That we ſhall without reſpect of perſons, to wit, from the Prelate to the Sexton, in like manner endevour the exterpation of Popery, & Prelacie, that is, Church-government by Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, their Chancelours Commiſſaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons, and all other Eccleſiaſticall Officers depending upon that Hirarchy (which theſe Prieſts extent do) Superſtition, Hereſee, Schiſme, Prophaneneſſe, and whatſoever ſhall be ſound to be contrary to ſound Doctrine [and the power of godlineſſe] leaſt we partake in other mens ſinns, and thereby be in danger to receive of their Plagues. Revel. 18. 4.

The performance of which Proteſtation and Covenant concerning the ſaid Mineſtery and Popiſh Tythes, ſo cruel and burthenſome to all inlightened conſcientious men hath been often deſired, as by the Declaration of the Army, and Petitions of diverſe Countries to the Houſe may appear, &c.

Now foraſmuch as the Lord ſaith Eccleſ. 5. 4. 5. When thou voweſt a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleaſure in fools: pay therefore that which thou haſt vowed; better is it that thou ſhouldſt not vow, then that thou ſhouldſt vow and not pay. And Deut. 23. 21. When thou ſhalt vow a vow p. 3unto the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt not ſlack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will ſurely require it of thee, and it would be ſin in thee. Compared with verſ. 22. 23. And Pſal. 76. 11. Vow and pay unto the Lord your God This David performs Pſalm. 66. 13. 14. I will go into thy houſe with burnt-offerings, I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath ſpoken when I was in trouble.

For the not performing whereof, I believe with Jeremiah the Land now mourneth, Jer. 23. 10. And Jer. 6. 14. They have alſo healed the hurt of the daughter of my people ſlightly, ſaying, peace, peace, when there is no peace. Compared with Iſa. 9. 15, 16. The Prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail; for the leaders of this people cauſe them to erre: And they that are led by them are deſtroyed.

1. They Preaching for hire, and divining for money; and yet will lean upon the Lord, and ſay, is not the Lord amongſt us? none evil can come upon us, Micha. 3. 11. Pulling down poor Wooden and ſtone Croſſes, and yet leaving that cruel Popiſh burthenſome Croſſe of their Prieſts and Tythes remaining.

2. Obſerve that whoſoever ſhall ſubmit to and receive any Miniſtery, ordained by virtue of a forraign power from Rome, is a Traytor by the known declared Laws of this Land: Now whether men receiving their Ordination beyond the Seas or here; it being done by one and the ſame power, ſpringing from one and the ſame root, for as the root is, ſo is the branches, Rom. 11. 16. Ye ſhall know them by their fruits, do men gather grapes of thorns, or figgs of thiſtle? And have not the Miniſtery of England their ordination from Rome? As by their Book of ordination appears, as alſo confeſt by many of them; yea, all that are true to their own principles, and therefore to be proteſted againſt, by all that have taken the Proteſtation or Covenant &c.

3. Chriſt ſaith, John 10. 1. to the 19. He that enters not in by the door into the ſheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the ſame is a thief and a robber, &c.

And are not theſe Tyth-takers guilty of the ſame Judgement, as Pſalm 50. 16. to the 19. To wit, theſe that enters not in by the door Chriſt Jeſus, that is, by his way, Laws and Ordinances? and are not the Miniſters of England ſuch, Ergo, are they not ſuch as are there ſpoken of, Judge ye Noble Bere…ns.

Hath all our Faſts and profeſſing Liberty, taking of Oaths and Ingagements, with the free-will-offrings of the Nation, bloud and taxations produc'd this, to wit, Ordinances for Tythes, with treble damages for thoſe who much like Eliahs ſons 1 Sam. 2. 13. to the 17. who came with a p. 4fleſh-hook of three teeth in his hand, while the fleſh was in ſeething, and he ſtrook it into the Pan or Kettel or Cauldron or Pot; all that the fleſh-hook brought up the Prieſt took for himſelf; alſo before they burnt the fat the Prieſts ſervant came, and ſaid to the man that ſacrificed, give fleſh to roſt, for the Prieſt, for he will not have ſodden fleſh but raw, and thou ſhalt give it me now, and if not, I will take it by force, (note this.) The like is theſe mens practice whereby they rob Chriſt of his Honour & Prieſthood, poor people of their goods, and without repentance, of their ſouls, as Iſa. 9. 16. Revel. 14. 9. 10. But would theſe conſider Deut. 18. 1, 2, 3. The Prieſts, the Levites, were to have no part nor inheritance with Iſrael; but were to eat the offrings of the Lord made by fire: and his inheritance, therefore ſhall they have no inheritance amongſt their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath ſaid unto them. But if theſe Prieſts will be circumciſed and do the work, ſlay the Beaſts &c. As Levit. 14. 13. Then ſhall they have the wages Deut. 18. 1. 2, 3. the ſhoulder, the two Cheeks and Maw alſo, the Tyth of the increaſe Deut. 14. 22. But out of that muſt be relieved the Levite; becauſe he hath no inheritance; and the ſtranger, and the fatherleſſe, and the widow, verſ. 29. which theſe men perform not in the leaſt, neither were they to take Tythes of any but of their brethren the Jews, not of us Gentiles, Heb. 7. 5.

4. Chriſts Miniſters, Ambaſſadors, or the ſervants of the Churches muſt be content with their Maſters wages, and not to trouble the Civil Mageſtrate, to have Statute-Laws or Ordinances of Parliament to ſtrain on mens goods, or have them committed to Priſon without Bayl or Mainprize, untill they pay treble damages beſides coſts and charges, the which hath been inflicted on divers to the utmoſt; whereas for the dueſt debts men are ſo tortured in Law, that many chooſe rather to looſe their debts, then to endure the torture of the Laws as they are now adminiſtred, wherein this Clergy makes good that Scripture Revel. 9. 10. In making the Civil Magiſtrate the Tayl of the Beaſt; for their ſtrength is in their Tayles, and with them do they hurt, to wit, force and ſtrain mens conſciences and goods; and therefore if theſe men and the Synod would have given themſelves to have truly Tranſlated the Bible, knowing there be many groſſe Errours, they would have much diſcovered the myſtery of iniquity and their own deceits, done the beſt ſervice they could to this State, brought much glory to God as Balaam did in acknowledging the Truth, dealing plainly with King Balack, who told his ſervants that if he would give him his houſe full of ſilver and gold, he could not go beyond the word of the Lord to do leſſe or more, deſiring to die the death of the righteous, and that his laſt end might be like theirs, Numb. 22. 18. 38. and 27. 8. 10. which if theſe had p. 5done, thus they would have brought much glory to God and peace to this bleeding nation.

As by experience with us is manifeſted, as formerly cauſing the Civil Magiſtrate to oppreſſe the Conſcience and take away the life of many, as in Queen Maries, Queen Eliſabeths and King Charles his dayes, whoſe bloud I fear lies fall on this nation, as Barrows, Greenwoods and Penries &c. Alſo who ſtirred up the King againſt the Scots and againſt the Parliament; but thoſe unclean ſpirits like froggs, Revel. 16. 13. 14. being the ſpirits of Devils working Miracles, that go out unto the Kings of the Earth, &c.? Conſider again their practice at Zion Colledge, and their morning Lectures, Courts of Juſtice, yea, at the Parliament and Committees where they like Locuſts ſwarm; And therefore note that as Judgement is to be powred forth upon the nations in general that have given their power to the ſetting up or upholding that State of Antichriſt, without ſubmitting and turning to Chriſt by Repentance; ſo upon them in eſpecial, they having been the Inſtruments whereby they with the Nations their Kings and Rulers have been made drunck and committed fornication, with the Whore, and therefore ſhall the Jndgements of God be powred fourth upon them, as Revel. 17. 12. to the 14. and 18. 9, 23, 24. Compared with Iſa. 60. 12. For that Nation and Kingdom that will not ſerve thee ſhall periſh, yea thoſe Nations ſhall be utterly waſted, &c.

Again Chriſt ſaith, Mat. 10. 38 to his Miniſters as ye go preach, ſaying, The Kingdom of heavenis at hand. Heal the ſick, cleanſe the Lepers, raiſe the dead, and caſt out Devils, freely ye have received, freely give, compared with 1 Cor. 4. 9. to the 12. Acts 20. 33. 34. where the Apoſtle ſaith, I have coveted no mans ſilver nor gold, nor Apparel; yea, you your ſelves know that theſe hands have miniſtred to my neceſſities, and to thoſe that were with me, I have ſhewed you all things, how that ſo labouring ye ought to ſupport the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jeſus, how he ſaid it is more bleſſed to give then to receive, &c. compared with 1 Theſ. 2. 9. and 2 Theſ. 3. 8. 2 Cor. 12. 14. 15. or as Fox in his Acts and Monuments ſaith, The maintenance of the Miniſters is the pure Alms of the Church; but have not they, as Chriſt ſaith to the Jews, Mat. 15. 6. 9. made the word of God of no effect by their traditions?

Now conſider the vaſt difference between the Commiſſion and Commands of Chriſt to his Miniſters and Servants, Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. Mark 16. 15. 16.

And the ſeveral Cannons, Statute-Laws, and Ordinances of Parliament to their Miniſters: as alſo the adminiſtration thereof; and know that their p. 6Servants you are, to whom ye yield your ſelves Servants to obey, whether the Church and State of Rome, or the Prelates and Parliament of England, &c.

5. It being againſt or beyond the Law of the Land, every free man of Englands Birth-right, to be ſo by them tyranized over for Tythes, it being firſt given for the maintenance of Prelates, Prieſts, Abbots, Moncks, and Friers, as in the councel of Lateren. But now God having diſcovered them to be Antichriſtian and Popiſh; ſo alſo muſt be their maintenance, there being not one word of God for it, but was taken by force and violence, or given for ſuperſtitious Tithes of the ſame nature, Popiſh and Antichriſtian, and more burthenſome and oppreſſive then Nebuchadnezars golden Image was to the Jews, which he ſet up in the plain of Dura; for although he required worſhip from them to his Idol, yet not maintenance for the Idol-Prieſts.

6. That theſe men, as their Fathers have uſually been, ſtill are the cauſe and fomenters of the troubles, and ruine of all or moſt Nations where they come or have any power, as by experience with us is manifeſted.

7. Divers faithful Subjects, and good Common-wealthsmen, have been forc't through (their) tyranny to leave the…r houſes and Kingdom, chuſing rather to expoſe themſelves to a deſart Wilderneſs, then to endure that miſery at home, by them forc't upon their bodies and minds, others ſhut up in priſon ti…l they have paid treble damages; beſides Priſon Fees and Charges, yea ſome loſt their lives, others having their Cattel ſtrained on, and for legal replying them committed to priſon; yea, the Bayliffs and Atourney fined for their proſecuting the ſame according to Law, who paid 61. per peece by force to eſcape impriſonment: this was done by the means of the good Lord Say, and the houſe of Lords in Browns of Hanworths buſineſs.

So that from what hath been ſaid it doth clearly appear, that although we are freed from Prelacy, Book of Common-Prayer, with divers other Ordinances, yet do their Sonnes ſucceed in cruelty, they being as like their Fathers as ever they can look, or Rheoboam-like, exceeding in cruelty: their little finger (as his) being thicker then their Fathers loynes, 1 Kings 12. 10.

And although Henry 8, Edward 6. & Queen Elizabeth took away part of the ſaid Orders; yet as then the maintenance thereunto belonging was continued and inforced from the people: even ſo now this burthen of tythes, ſtill continues and cleaves cloſe unto us; and that not only on our temporals and eſtates, but upon our Conſciences; for if this Popiſh Ordinance p. 7be continued, for we can judge it no other, being inſtituted, as before ſhewed, for the maintenance of Prelates, Prieſts, Monks and Fryers, &c.

If this we ſay be continued to Presbyters, who received Orders from them, as to the ſaid Orders before, then are we forced ſtill to Popery, and Popiſh Innovations, no leſſe ſinful then the others.

And whether this be not a breach of our Proteſtation, Oaths, and Covenant, which we have made with hands lift up to the moſt high God, we refer to all judicious men to judge: And whether theſe are not ſuch as the Prophet ſpeaks of, Ezek. 33. 31. 32. 33. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they ſit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they ſhew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetouſneſs, &c.

Again, we deſire to declare as believers, Chriſtians & free men of England, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as he hath ordained another Miniſtry, then that under the Law: ſo alſo hath he appointed another maintenance for the Goſpel-Miniſtry then Tythes; there being not one word in the Goſpel for it, they being to live upon their own hand-labor, as before ſhewn, or the peoples free gift, Mat 10. 8. And to eat ſuch things as they have by their labor, or is ſet before them, Luke 10. 7. 8. For the Workman is worthy of his meat, Mat. 10. 9.

Alſo the firſt dayes collection, 1 Cor. 16. 1. 2. As God hath proſpered every man; who loveth a chearful giver, and for the orderly diſpenſation of the ſame, he hath ordained an Office in the Church, to wit, the Deacons, who is to diſpoſe of the ſaid free gift, as every one needeth, Miniſter or other poor Saint, without reſpect of perſons: now compare Chriſts Commiſſion, and the Apoſtles practice with the Ordinance of Parliament, and theſe mens practice in theſe times, and you ſhall find a wide difference between them. And upon examination, you ſhall find that to ſet up or allow another humane invention for Miniſters maintenance, then the Lords own, who is the only Law-giver to his Church, is to fruſtrate the Deacons Office, and ſo make the word of God of no effect by mens traditions, as the Jews did, Mat. 15. 6. 9. and ſo deny Chriſt to be come in the fleſh, &c.

Again, it becomes not a true reformation, to borrow of a falſe Church, eſpecially ſuch as Rome, ſo main a Pillar, as Miniſters or maintenance: Inas much as Jeremiah ſaith, Jer. 51. 25. 26 The Lord is againſt Babilon, that deſtroying Mountain, that deſtroyeſt the earth, &c. And they ſhall not take of thee a ſtone for a corner, nor a ſtone for a foundation; but thou ſhalt be utterly deſtroyed for ever, according to the Covenant, root and branch, compared with 2 Cor. 6. 14 to 18.

p. 8The ſaid practice of taking Tythes, alſo introduceth Prelatical pride, and time-ſerving with great men in Authority, as Ezek. 13. 1. all the Miniſters by that means being lifted up ſo far above their poor Brethren, which cauſeth unaptneſs to teach, their care being ſet upon the things of this life (as how to get, ſo alſo to keep the things of this World; whereby he becomes a brawler, a man of contention, as too ſad experience ſheweth, Courts of Iuſtice, Committee for Plundered Miniſters, Seſſions, Iuſtices of Peace, by their trouble and daily vexations, & Sutes, through their covetouſneſs can witneſs, which cauſeth great covetouſneſs and contention; for the contending of which, as the Apoſtle ſaith, is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. for inſtead of being given to hoſpitality, theſe rob the poor that are forc'd to begg, taking that by force which others get by great labor and toyl. All which is clear againſt what the Miniſters of Chriſt ought to be, yea, and muſt be, if they perform their duty, as 1 Tim. 3. 2. 3. where the Apoſtle ſaith. A Biſhop then muſt be blameleſs, the Husband of one wife, vigilant, ſober, of good beheaviour, given to hoſpitality, apt to teach, not a brawler, much leſſe a plunderer for Tythes, not covetous, &c. And therefore if you will pretend your ſelves Miniſters of Chriſt, prove your ordination by the word, and be content with your wages.

This is clear, Acts 6. 2. where the Apoſtles and Miniſters of the Goſpel of Chriſt, would not leave the word to ſerve Tables, to wit, to ſupply the want of the poor Saints, but gave direction for Deacons to be choſen for that ſervice; much leſſe would they look after Tythes, as theſe do by compulſion and cruelty.

A Husband-man one day declared at the Parliament door, that he rented 300. Acres of Land, and that he proffered the Prieſt 100 thereof gratis, ſo as that he would manure it; but he would not accept thereof, now judge ye what a caſe we are fallen into.

Again, conſider how diſhonourable it is, that ſuch as pretend that they are put in truſt with the unſearchable treaſure of the Goſpel, ſhould ſo diſhonour their pretended Maſter, and hinder the receiving thereof by their forcing maintenance from people, which themſelves confeſs, have not received the Goſpel from them, nor have they begotten them to the faith; ſo that they are neither Fathers, Planters, Teachers, Biſhops, &c. unto them.

And yet will they force maintenance from them, contrary to 2 Cor. …2. 14. 15. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burthenſome to you; for I ſeek not yours but you; for the Children ought not to lay up for the Parents, but the Parents for the Children. And p. 9I will very gladly ſpend and be ſpent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the leſſe I be loved.

But inſtead of this I have ſeen that cruelty exerciſed by the Magiſtrate, through theſe mens means already, that I never ſaw in four years waiting at the high Commiſſion Court; But why have we not as well a Doctor of Phyſick, and a Lawyer forc'd on every Pariſh as theſe, would it be any more but the like Monopoly? but that we ſhould be forced to pay theſe men Tythes, not owning them nor their work, they having been the Prieſts of the Nation, and chief cauſe of all the blood-ſhed, yet now oppreſſing cruelly ſuch as have adventured life and eſtate for the preſervation of the ſame, yet this to be call'd Primo Libertatis Angliae, when inſtead of take him Jaylor at the high Commiſſion Court, it is ſaid now take him into Cuſtody; where is demanded 10. times greater charge, Oh Rehoboams Reformation, was ſuch proceedings cruel then, and againſt Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right? and is it not much more in the firſt year of Englands Jubilee, Englands Liberty?

Again, conſider the great burthen to the Common-wealth, for the free Commones of England do hereby in ſome places looſe the profit of one half of their Land by the year, as may be made appear, if it be duely conſidered; to wit, to the Landlord and the Prieſt or Parſon, they only being Gentlemen, the reſt being ſlaves, and it were well if they were board through the eares, that they might know themſelves to be ſo, they being under ſervice and oppreſſion, worſe then the Iſraelites, in Egypt who labour with much ſweat and pains, hunger and cold, wet and dry: for that which the other like drones or Caterpillers, conſume on their backs and bellies, &c.

Therefore our denying the paying of Tythes, is not in the leaſt in any contempt againſt Civil Authority who are Gods Miniſters not onelyonly to take vengeance on them that do evil, and ſhould cauſe them to work and eat their own bread; but for the praiſe of them that do well, and ſhould ſee ſuch not to eat that will not work; but in obedience to God and the rule of the Goſpel given forth by his ſpirit to all Nations that believe and obey him as before is ſhewed.

2. It is not in contempt to the perſons of theſe men, who pretend they are Miniſters of Chriſt; But rather deſire they might be imployed in ſome lawfull way or calling to get their own bread, that ſo he that hath ſtolen (to wit, Miniſter (or in Engliſh Servant) as well as Member) might ſteal no more; but labour with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth, &c. according to the Apoſtles words Epheſ. 4. 28. But p. 10our denying the payment of Tythes, is firſt in obedience to God: all that do pay them, therein denying Chriſt to be come in the fleſh, by their upholding thoſe Jewiſh Rites and Ceremonies which ended in Chriſt; which theſe ſelf-ſeeking and time-ſerving men, ſtill ſeek to uphold ſo far as they will make for their own ends, robbing Chriſt of his Prieſthood; poor men and women of their goods, and without the great mercy of God of their ſouls, for might they not as well have their Linnen Ephod, or Surplus Altars, Sacrifices of all ſorts, right ſhoulder and the Maw, Tempel at Jeruſalem, none Inheritance for the Prieſts, yea Circumciſion & killing of Beaſts &c. is Tythes, that ſo they that take the wages might do the work injoyned for the wages, as to feed the Levit, the ſtranger, fatherleſſe and widow Deut. 14. 29? But if through pride or Lazines they will not do the work, which they refuſe to do, then let them not wrong the people and Nation ſo grievous as to take the wages: for to him that worketh is the wages reckoned of debt, not of grace; But not to him that worketh not, it muſt be of grace, to wit, of free gift.

2. Their ordination being falſe and not according to the rule of the Goſpel; But againſt the Rule, Government and Authority of Chriſt the Son of God, his Crown & dignity, who is therein the onelyonly King and Law-giver, whom they ſay is their Maſter, yet do they as the Heathen Tyrants of old, who clothed men in Beaſts skins, that ſo they might be the more eagerly devoured: ſo theſe make the true worſhippers of God in Chriſt as odious as they can by ſlanders and revilings under the name of Hereticks and Schiſmaticks &c. Never ſhewing wherein, much leſſe proving the thing true, that ſo they may make the Magiſtrates and common people, as thoſe deluded by the Friers and Prieſts in Germany againſt the Hugnotes as they called them, cry out againſt them before they ſee them, Judging them to be ſtrange Monſters; unhumane Creatures, and ſo do theſe, before they know them, &c.

3. It being againſt the known declared Laws of the Land, as Statute decimo rertio Eliſabeth, they not upon every induction into any place publickly Reading the Book of Articles and ſubſcribing it, which by the Proteſtation and Covenant theſe cannot do except perjured, are to injoy no more benefit then if they were naturally dead.

4. It being againſt the Proteſtation, Covenatn, Declarations of Parliament and Army, that the Kingdom have Generally taken and entred into, to wit, to uphold and maintain the true Proteſtant Religion in oppoſition to Popery and Popiſh Innovations, and as aforeſaid they alſo receiving their Power and Ordination from Rome, yet not performing that they were p. 11injoyned, and for what Tythes was given neither in the time of the Law nor by the Counſel of Lateran as before ſhewed.

5. It being againſt the Ingagement and Covenant, not onelyonly of the Parliament; but alſo the Kingdom in general, with their hands lift up to the moſt high God, the ſearcher of all hearts, to Root out Popery Root and Branch, and the Government by Lord Arch-Biſhop, Biſhops, and all other Eccleſiaſtical Officers depending on that Hierarchy as theſe do, &c. And each one to go before another in a real (not a fained) reformation, it being better not to vow, then to vow and not perform, &c.

6. The Goſpel-weapons being not carnal, but ſpiritual, mighty through God, &c. 2 Cor. 10. 4. and 2 Tim. 2. 24. 25. 26. The Apoſtle ſaith, The Servant of the Lord muſt not ſtrive, but be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, patient in meekneſs, inſtructing the contrary minds, proving if God at any time will give them repentance. Compared with Mat. 8. 10. 11. 12. and Titus 3. 2. Rom. 14. 11. where the Apoſtle ſhewes, we ſhall all ſtand before the judgement-Seat of Chriſt, where every one ſhall give an account for himſelf to God, &c.

And ſurely the way that Chriſt hath appointed for his Miniſters of the Goſpel to walk by in all Goſpel-Adminiſtrations, is the ſword of the ſpirit, the word of God, and not the Authority of the civil Magiſtrate, or ſword of ſteel, by which Antichriſt hath ſo inlarged his Dominions, as Revel. 13. 3. 7. 16. 17. And therefore to eſcape his puniſhment, verſe 10. Let all the people of God ſhun this practice, compared with Revel. 18. 4. where it is ſaid, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

It being very conſiderable, whether the civil Magiſtrate giving their power as to raiſe ſo to the upholding of that ſtate of Antichriſt, ruling over the bodies and conſciences of the people in Eccleſiaſtical things, by intrenching upon the prerogative Royal of King Jeſus, whereas (he) would not intermeddle with that which was their due, Luke 12. 14. whether that I ſay be not the cauſe why the Lord lets the ſword remain ſo long amongſt us and other parts, even to the depopulating of the Nations of the earth, being now even drunk with the blood of the ſlain amongſt us, for many years paſt, according to Revel. 16. 6. They have ſhed the blood of Saints and Prophets, and thou laſt given them blood to drink; for they are worthy: And as was once ſaid by Jehu to Joram, 2 Kings 9. 22. being asked, Is it peace? what peace anſwered he, ſo long as the whoredoms of thy Mother Jeſabel and her Witch-crafts are ſo many? ſo what hope of peace have we ſo long as the Whordoms, Witch crafts and Sorceries of that Jeſabel of Rome, p. 12England & Scotland, that great City Babylon, though divided into 3 parts, Rev. 16. 19. remain with that ſpirit of perſecution, hatred, malice, evil contention, and diviſion, againſt the Statute Laws of King Jeſus, it being contrary to Vows and Covenants, &c. in thoſe that profeſs themſelves Miniſters of the Goſpel of King Jeſus, who is that Prince of peace; ſeeing the Lord hath ſaid, Iſaiah 6. 1…. The Nation and Kingdom that will not ſerve him ſhall periſh, yea, thoſe Nations ſhall be utterly waſted, which I cannot but judge to be one cauſe of the diſtractions, Warres, ſhedding of blood in the Nations (of Chriſtians as they pretend) to wit, the civil Magiſtrate intrenching upon the prerogative Royal of King Jeſus, and not permitting him to rule and raign by his own Laws in his Kingdom, to wit, over the Saints in the Churches, as before is ſhewed.

Theſe things conſidered, we could not but in obedience to God, love to the truth, and eaſe of our own Conſcience, diſcharge our dutie herein to reminde you of the Proteſtation, Covenant, Declarations, &c. deſiring to be eaſed of theſe burthens of popiſh Tythes, &c. That ſo the Land mourn not becauſe of Oaths, and no longer to inforce the ſame for Miniſters maintenance, they therein denying Chriſt to be come in the fleſh: As alſo wherein the civil Magiſtrate gives his power unto the Beaſt, in upholding that popiſh practice and innovation by their Clergy, &c. And let the Miniſters or Servants of the Goſpel, live upon the Goſpel, even upon their own hand-labor, or the free and voluntary gift of the people, which the Goſpel allows them, wherewith they will and ought to be content, being better to be without a livelihood, then rob and ſteal, and ſin againſt God, in getting it by unlawful wayes and means. But I doubt not but all true Miniſters will be content with their true wages alotted for them by Chriſts appointment, which we are confident will ſufficiently ſatisfie all ſuch godly ones as deſire and ſeek not the fleece, but the flock; and with Paul ſeek them, not theirs; ſuch as take the word of God for their Guide and Rule, they having a word for their warrant, not traditions of men of corrupt minds, and deſtitute of the truth, ſuppoſing gain is godlineſs, or their own covetous hearts, and mens precepts: it being a meanes to hinder the free progreſs, and imbracing of the Goſpel-Adminiſtrations: ſo ſhall we the Freemen of England be free from that burthen that doth ſo much inſlave us, making our very lives uncomfortable to us, they eating up Caterpiller-like, the beſt fruits of the Land, and a great part of the Peoples Labours.

But if theſe Scriptures and Reaſons cannot take place, and ceaſe upon page missing p. 17your ſpirits to grant us relief, in freeing us from this more then Egyptian bondage; yet we having declared the truth, we have diſcharged our duties and ſhall have peace of Conſcience in warning you of it, according to Ezek 3. 17. to the 21. & 33. 2. to the 7. and ſhall with heart go on in the ſtrength of the Lord, in oppoſing that ſtate of Antichriſt, head and tail, root and branch, Miniſtery and maintenance, by Tythes or otherwiſe, if we periſh, we periſh: and ſo in all other their practices, that are contrary, or without the word of God, not daring to preſume above what is written, ſubmitting our perſons with Daniel and thoſe worthies, the three Children, Apoſtles and Primitive Chriſtians, as in that Catalogue Heb. 11. Paſſively to the will and command of the Civil Magiſtrate, as to the Fathers of our fleſh; but, unto God who in Chriſt is the father of our ſpirits Actively that ſo we may live, although in ſufferings here, yet in Glory hereafter. For ſuch as ſuffer with him or for him now, ſhall one day raign Glorified with him, and whoſoever ſhall be aſhamed of him and of his ſayings, to wit, his Ordinances in this adulterous and ſinfull generation of Tyth-taking Prieſts, of him alſo ſhall the Son of man be aſhamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels, to execute Judgment without reſpect of perſons; and whether theſe Tyth-takers be not as truly by the Goſpel Thieves, as ſuch as Rob by the High-way ſide, or break Houſes, and the upholders by pay or otherwiſe guilty of as great evils as they that uphold or countenance the other; I leave to every inlightned man to Judge; and although it be not ſo well known, by reaſon they have deluded and bewitched the Nations, yet now God having inlightned the Earth, he requires an anſwerable obedience thereunto: for where much is given, much will be required. Luke 12. 48.

Thus have we declared our reſolutions to go on in the Lord and the Power of his might, in whom is our ſtrength, and no more to bow the knee to Baal or thoſe Amalakites or Hamans of the times, to whom as Mordecai, ſo we reſolve not to bow, Hester 5. 9. to the 12. Although it coſt us our goods by Plundering; as they have done, or our Liberties; for if we periſh, we will periſh with them and thoſe worthies, Dan. 3.

The Lord being now at work, intending to Level the Mountains, Pſal. 113. 7. 8. He raiſeth up the poor out of the duſt, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill, that he may ſet him with Princes, &c.

Yea, that great deſtroying mountain of Bable that deſtroyeth all the Earth, Jer. 51. 24. 25, 26. ſaying, Behold I am againſt thee oh deſtroying mountain, ſaith the Lord, which deſtroyes all the Earth; and I will ſtretch out my hand upon thee and rowl thee down from the Rocks▪ to wit, the ſhelter of Magiſtrates and I will make thee a burnt mountain, and they p. 18ſhall not take of thee a ſtone for a Corner nor a ſtone for Foundations; but thou ſhalt be deſolate for ever ſaith the Lord.

This ſhall be done by the Lord Chriſt, he being mounted on the white Horſe, Riding on Conquering and to Conquer▪ Revellations 6. 2. by the Sword that proceedeth out of his mouth, Iſa. 30. 15. not by Carnal weapons, 2 Cor. 9. 10. 4. Zach. 4. 6. Not by might, [or Army or Arm of fleſh,] but by my ſpirit, ſaith the Lord, this being publiſhed for the conviction of the Prieſts, and direction of all that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity, reſting your ſervant in the Faith and Order of the Goſpel of King Jeſus,

EDWARD BARBER.