The Storming and Routing of Tithes, Postscript
Poſtſcript.
ANd although the ſubject Matter of this diſcourſe be principally againſt Tyth-takers and Tyth-payers, yet not excluding others of the like nature, but that the ſame condemnation lies againſt pretended high Lights, above Ordinances, ſpiritualized, above Chriſt, above Scripture, and what is Written, contrary to Pauls advice 1 Cor. 4. 6. (to wit) not to preſume above what is Written, thereby winking at iniquity that will not do it themſelves, but appoint & ſuffer others to do it, as ſprinkling of Infants, take Tythes or contract for Preaching, &c. Neither will they diſcover the evil thereof, and ſhew … Judgement that lies upon the Nation for permitting thereof by thoſe in author…ty, contenting …ſelves with a half-Reformation (to wit) ſo far as will ſtand with their Honour and profit, not ſhewing ſuch repentance as Simon Magus Acts 8. 13. nor thoſe Conjurers Acts 19. 18 19. Who believing confeſſed and ſhewed their deeds▪ and thoſe of them which uſed curious arts brought their Books together and burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them and found it fifty thouſand pieces of Silver, ſo mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed, … Demetrius like, verſe 24. to the 29. Who made Silver ſhrines for Diana, wh… called the Craftsmen together with the Workmen of like occupation, ſaying ſirs ye know that by this Craft we have our Wealth; Moreover ye ſee and hear that not onelyonly at Epheſus, but almoſt throughout all Aſia, this Paul hath perſwaded and turned away much people, ſaying, that they be no Gods that be made with hands, ſo that not onelyonly this our Craft is in danger to be ſet at naught; But alſo, that the Temple of the great goddeſs Diana ſhould be deſpi…ed, and her magnificence ſhould be deſtroyed, whom all Aſia and the World worſhippeth, and when they heard theſe ſayings, they were full of wrath, and cryed out, ſaying, great is Diana of the Epheſians, and the whole City was filled with confuſion &c. compare with John 11. 48. Where the Jews ſaid concerning Chriſt, if we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him &c. And if any deſire farther Information concerning the unlawfulneſs of paying or taking Tythes, let them Read, John Turner on Tythes, Tyth-gatherers no Goſpel-Teachers, Gentil-Congregations no Tyth-payers, or the Ordinances of Tythes diſmounted, and if all this will not ſerve thoſe greedy Cormorants the Prieſts of theſe times, to take them off from their ungodly gains, let them then expect no quarter according to Zach. 13. 2. 3. Where it is ſaid it ſhall come to paſs in that day, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, that I will cut off the n…mes of the Idols out of the Land, and they ſhall no more be remembred; And I will cauſe the Prophets and the unclean ſpirits to paſs out of the Land, and it ſhall come to paſs that when any ſhall yet Propheſie, then his father and his mother that begate him ſhall thruſt him through when he Propheſieth, and it ſhall come to paſs in that day that the Prophets ſhall be aſhamed every one of his Viſion when he Propheſieth, neither ſhall they wear a Rough or Inckie garment to deceive, or lie, compare with 1 Kings 18. 21 to the 24. And Elijah came unto all the people, and ſaid, How long halt yee between two opiniors? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him: and the people anſwered him not a word &c. compared with the 2 Kings 23. 4. 5. 6. Hoſea 10. 5. Acts 6. 8. to the 13. And Stephen full of faith, and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Then there aroſe certain of the Synagogue, which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Aſia, diſputing with Stephen.
And they were not able to reſiſt the wiſdom and the ſpirit by which he ſpake.
Then they ſuborned men which ſaid, We have heard him ſpeak blaſphemous words againſt Moſes and againſt God.
Rom. 2. 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds, &c.
Revel. 14. 9. and 10. And the third Angel followed them, ſaying with a loud voice, If any man worſhip the beaſt and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.
The ſame ſhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he ſhallbe tormented with fire and brimſtone in the preſence of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb. Compared with Revel. 18. 23. 24. And the light of a candle ſhall ſhine no more at all in thee: and the voice of the bridegrome and of the bride ſhall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth: for by thy ſorceries were all nations deceived.
And in her was found the bloud of Prophets, and of Saints, an of all that were ſlain upon the earth.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Barber, The Storming and Routing of Tithes (1651)