The Civil Right of Tithes, Prayer – Postscript to the reader
A Prayer of the AUTHOR.
O LORD Jeſu Chriſt, which ſitteſt at the right hand of thy Father in fulneſs of Glory, Sith by thy Providence I have had Opportunity, by thy Grace been Directed, by thy Power Inabled to lay together theſe things, conducing, I truſt, to Thy Honor and Glory; I give thee humble and moſt hearty thanks for the Riches of thy Mercy vouchſafed herein, and Pray, both that Thy Bleſſing may go along with this Work of thine own Service, and that the Things may be ſucceſsfull Thereby for that Great end for which I have intended them. Give them Proſperity and good Succeſs abroad in the World, and Give thy Servant always Grace to reſt even abundantly and richly contented, ſatisfied, and rewarded in having attempted any thing to the Honour of Thy Name: Let thy Goſpel flouriſh by All means, Proſper All Courſes that tend That way, and if the continuance of theſe ſtated Dues be One (ſo looked upon by the eye of thy Providence, and requiſite in the nature of things,) I caſt my ſelf down before the foot-ſtool of thy Throne, Praying and Beſeeching, That it may not be in the Power of Man to withdraw or pervert, diſturb or deſtroy. Though thine adverſaries ſhould be many and rage horribly, yet Thou that dwelleſt on high art ſtill Mightier; Ariſe, O God, and let not Man have the upper hand; let thine enemies be judged in Thy ſight, and Put them in fear that they may know themſelves to be but Men.—Defend alſo thy ſervant, who putteh his truſt in Thee: And if he deſire before All things Thine Honour, The ſtability of thy Goſpel has been his chief and onelyonly aim, nor has Any line here but been meant to tend, (as directly as guided by humane frailty it could,) to that point to end in that Center, O give thou Not Him then over into the Will of his adverſaries, that if any Hate they may obtain Lordſhip over Him: Make good Thine Own Cauſe, in ſtanding by Him that laboureth for that Cauſe, Thy Truth and Thee; Stretch forth the right hand of thy Power evermore mightily to ſuccour and defend Him, Deliver him from the gathering together of the froward and from the inſurrection of Evil Doers; Let the ungodly or unjuſt fall into their own Nets together, but let him ever eſcape them. Give alſo, Good Lord, Merciful and Gracious, unto All that love thy Truth eyes to ſee it, Hearts to embrace it, Affections to cheriſh it, and a good will to Do accordingly: and vouchſafe likewiſe Prudence againſt the ſubtil Serpent that Any who bear good will to Sion, may never procure her Hurt, but ſtabliſh theſe due Means on Earth thy Providence looks upon and has appointed as neceſſary to accompliſh their juſt and holy ends, what they meant to eſtabliſh, by no improvidence ever diſturbing or deſtroying. Finally, Grant Victory to Truth, Progreſs to Juſtice, Stability to thy Church, Perpetuity to Thy Goſpel, and that no Lovers thereof Here may take up lower then with, That the Light thereof may continue ſhining Ever and Over All the world, to All ages and generations. Thus let thy Name be Hallowed, O our Father which art in Heaven, Let thy Kingdome come O Saviour and Bleſſed Redeemer, Let thy Will be done Moſt holy and bleſſed Spirit, in Earth as it is in Heaven: Give us, Forgive us, and preſerve us from Evill: For Thou only, O Chriſt, with the Holy Ghoſt, art moſt high in the glory of God the Father; To which God One and Three be All Honour and Praiſe for ever and ever. Amen.
Grace be with all thoſe that Love the Lord Ieſus Chriſt in Sincerity.
POST-SCRIPT.
Courteous Reader,
FOR ſo I ſtyle thee, and hope to finde thee, or have need to Make thee, and the moſt bountiful dilatation of thy Courteſie drawn forth to Cover or Pardon thoſe many imperfections this my firſt-born hath brought with it into the world. Some doubtleſs both in matter and form; for Who ever Spake that Erred not, Much in More then a little? (In multiloquio nunquam deerit Vanitas, This at the leaſt, as the Wiſe man aſſured,) from Shortneſs of Inquiry, Dimneſs of Underſtanding, Weakneſs of Judgement, Diſtraction of Buſineſs, Inadvertency or ſome fruitful Cauſe of Errour or other, Moſt men being forced to number their miſtakes by their Pages; OnelyOnly as to purpoſedly Erroneous, Deceiving or being Deceived, I Sacredly and Seriouſly diſavow. At the Preſs alſo Poor Mephiboſheth caught ſome miſchance: Blemiſhed in his face? nay, crippled in his limbs, lamed at leaſt in his feet, and complaining oft he can hardly go right forth for want of ſenſe; which bruiſes require thy Healing Correcting hand; Some of Many are collected, and annexed, The reſt, like our daily ſlips, almoſt innumerable.
Thou art to be, 1. Remembred, that In multis labimur omnes, None (below) goes ſo ſure but he ſlips ſometimes, None ſo firm and upright but he ſteps a little awry, and Thy ſelfe wilt,Matth. 7. 12. I truſt, ask pardon for thy daily failings. 2. Intreated, to Do as thou wouldſt he Done to; Ib ver. 1.Judge (or Judge not) as thou wouldst (or wouldſt not) be judged; Gal. 6. 1.in the ſpirit of meekneſs, Conſidering Thy ſelf, leſt Thou alſo be tempted.
3. Informed, That a purpoſe was of attempting ſatisfaction of thoſe many whether frivolous or more weighty and ſubſtantiall doubts that uſually occurre about this eſtabliſhed Courſe (the frame whereof was likewiſe contrived, and divers of the materials brought together) As that, This proportion is too much, The Receivers are Ill Men, Good Men take offence at Both, Exactions throng in with Suits, and Injuries with Exactions, The bottome of all is in Canaan, ſome Jewiſh Laws, The people ſhrink under the Heavineſs of the Burden, Iure Divino is declined by Many, (and Here) The Supream Power may alter all Humane Conſtitutions, &c. But, becauſe Theſe would both lead toward the footſtool of the Throne, (whether, ſave in my Devotions, I conſtantly decline to look) That which Is is Much, Theſe might make Too Much, And here are Principles (eſpecially from the Main of Civill Right made unqueſtionable, and the Morall and Indiſpenſable duty of Juſtice in paying which muſt needs follow thereon,) upon which common reaſon may work out ſatisfaction to the Moſt, I therefore Suppreſs or Delay, as Accepts of what is here may further encourage or diſſwade. Be requeſted, 4. and laſtly, not to take Cauſeleſs exceptions at any of thoſe things which as they come from us and in our Humane frailty cannot but afford thoſe that are Material, Reall, Weighty, and Subſtantiall enough. I ſpeak of moſt things As They Were, and as in the Times When They Were (How elſe ſhould I reach home) as Churches, Clergy, Royalties, Rights, Juriſdictions, Princes, Peers, Powers, Priviledges, and Preeminencies, &c. Not that I am willing to engage for All another may think good to oppoſe about them,Philip. 3. 13. Or ſtand in Defenſive of Any thing howſoever ſince altered: But. (foreign, as the Apoſtle ſuggeſted with much quickneſs in another caſe,) One Thing I doe, That I am about I keep to, and ſo that be Secured, would not willingly intromix, draw or be drawn in to other accidentall by-Quarrels; So I may have leave to conveigh my Parlee to the World in the language of the World, beſt underſtood by the World, I would not willingly inwrap my ſelf in controverſie about any other of Thoſe Things they yet ſtiffely enough maintained, and in a rigid import who took up the words and gave them Us in their firſt and full ſenſe; Nor haſt thou reaſon to be offended that I balk not the publick tone, to conform to thy Singularity, for the Many are to be regarded in A Multitude, and the Moſt in moſt large by diffuſive Communication to All; But if thou remain obſtinate and undeniable in thy expectation or otherwiſe ſatisfaction, I conform to Thy deſire: Change what thou wilt, ſo thou keep the matter; Retain the ſubſtance and vary the phraſe; Hold to the Body, New-ſhape my outward form of Expreſſion, conform to thine own will, judgement, or fancy; At thine own charge I approve, or (if thou wilt) Suppoſe the thing Already done.
Thou ſhalt but wrong thine own Diſcretion to thy judging friends, if thou quarrel with ſhadows, or take advantage of that I confeſs to take licence and ſcope enough in, a free and plentiful uſe of Tropes and Figures. Alluſions or Similitudes, thou knoweſt, are no good ground of Argument, not ſhould, thou knoweſt as well, of Arguing or Accuſation, Theſe ſporting excurſions of buſie and active fancy have been allowed to accompany and recreate the work of graveſt pens, Of no worſe uſe in conſequence then flowers to ſtraw and adorn the work finiſhed; True Charity, if thou haſt any, will never make the worſt of any thing is doubtful or may reaſonably be interpreted with Candour to a better ſenſe, Nor can thy Chriſtian Charity, if it be true, but be large enough to cover a heap of worſer ſinnes. I confeſs already to ſay many things I would not ſtand to in the ſtricteſt ſenſe, (Examine Scripture, if thou wouldſt be ſuch a Judge,) much leſs in Any thy Wit at leiſure can affixe, leſt in what is Heterodox to the Eſtabliſhed and ſo like to be Troubleſome, or indeed any but what I uſe or mean, (And yet hope All may paſs with Candid and Ingenuous Mindes:) Think not if I mention a Temple or Oracle, An Altar, Prieſt, or Sacrifice, Croſs, or Suppoſed Saint that I am preſently at my Adoration, or love All I mention without any ſignified diſlike: Of moſt things I ſpeak as they Have been taken, My eye upon the main, diverts and takes me off from purpoſed medling or giving all I think of the intermediates, and ſo I come right to my ways end, what matter if I have been a little out in what tended thither? So I come ſafe and ſure Home, I will not ſhun to own miſtakes (involuntary) by the way. I conform my ſelf, (at leaſt I think I do) to the preſent ſtate and condition of Things, being no Prophet or the ſon of a Prophet to judg of Future, or foretel in the leaſt meaſure any thing of that which is to come: And therefore unreaſonably ſhall any expect I come up to that which Shall be I know not What, or When, or Whether it ever ſhall be, Antedating obedience to the Law, (which is a path narrow enough as it is, and hard to keep in the manifold obſervances it requires;) But if any thing ſhall be changed, I have no doubt ready enough the Lawful obedience of a Chriſtian, as keeping my ſelf cloſe to that I often glance at, ſometimes expreſs, never but mean, that Religion tendeth much to peace, Civil peace, and in this world, nor can that is truly Chriſtian, (being alſo truly taught and underſtood) ever tempt or permit to ſeditious diſturbance in Any Civil State. Howſoever, Till Change be Made, What is Preſent is the rule, and ſhould be the defence of any that adhere or ſtick cloſe to their known allowed guide, Importing nothing but innocence and justification till it be altered; Further conformity will come early enough when the Law is fixed, Till then there is no foreign and ſhould be no foreign,Rom. 4. 13. for Where is no Law there can be no Tranſgreſſion.
There may be whom other courſes like better: Learned and pious who ſtand to the Good Will of their people, (not like to be any great loſers neither if their own Canons take place,Matth. 10. 10▪ The Labourer is Sure worthy of His reward, The Catechumene with his Catechist, Luk. 10. 7.the Taught with his Teacher, foreign Communicating in all his Goods, Gal. 6. 6.they being further but reaſonably allowed to interpret their choſen rule, as, Who but the Prieſt ſhould give the minde of His Oracle?) And theſe may think it Mercenary to make any bargaine (as 'twere before-hand) for Certain Wages for this outward Humane work in bringing in the Lords Harveſt, accounting it Covetouſneſs, Improvidence, Diſtruſt of God, or Ʋndervaluing the Work to condition or expect any thing ſtate… before-hand, (as of the Tenth,) They will rely on what is after Given. May they do ſo, and alſo have ſo; yet ſo as they reaſonably allow Others to keep Their Own ſeveral Way; elſe they tyrannically impoſe who would leave moſt at liberty; Petimuſque damuſque, or if not both Mutually No reaſon either ſhould inforce or be at Liberty. Peters faith we know was ſtrong enough to walk to Jeſus upon the Waters; and when he but ſaw Him on the other ſide,Iohn 21. 7, 8. he forſook all preſently, and girding his fiſhers Coat unto him cast himſelf into the Sea, and ſo came ſafe to him in a way moſt others feared, or might have been drowned by; And Yet John and the other Diſciples ſtaid for a little ſhip, Their zeal awaited a Convoy, and by ſuch Helps alone as others uſed They would come to their Maſter a land; Whither alſo Thus with ſafety they Did come, and were with equal welcome admitted to be where Peter was: Perpetually Aſſuring that though the boldneſs of the faith of ſome dare venture on miraculous wonderfull ways (wherein others may have miſcarried, or are like to do) venturing to tread on the Waves which many tremble at, making Their paſſage in the Sea, and their foot-path even on the waters as the Pſalm ſpeaketh, Yet their fellows may with approbation of acceptance, and aſſurance of that approbation enough, expect and require the conduct and help of due and accuſtomed uſual ordinary means to come unto Chriſt; and (though they fear to venture on the waves, truſt the ſlipperineſs of meer voluntary ſtayes which have deceived and ſunk many low enough,) Theſe as Thoſe with ſafety, ſpeed, ſucceſs, and ſure, and ſoon enough come Alſo to their Saviour. He that will not be Certain has no reaſon to blame Him that Would,Rom. 14. 1. any more then He that is ſtrong ought but to bear the infirmities of the weak, for the common edifying or ſupport of both, Not pleaſing himſelf alone. If That may do Well, This Better, and is Likelier, if not yet Surer, and Full as Lawfull.
And yet for Theſe neither have I done more then I undertook, or attempted any thing for their Jure divino, which as it was without my bounds, ſo would I not incur the blame of Tranſgreſſion by medling with either way. Sometimes I muſt have touched upon it, for it was upon the very borders, ſcituate in the Confines of mine own walk, yet have I done it with that Warineſs as not to intromix. Which it might be alſo needfull to note with ſo often repeated Declaration, leaſt any ſhould interpret doubtfull inſinuations to a perverſe ſenſe, or that I do, what I often ſay I do not diſclaim or oppoſe it. By no means, & under this very ſolemn proteſtation, ſubmonition, and concluding Aſſeveration; The moſt likely that way being in a fair and rational conſtruction otherwiſe I think interpretable;…n the end of Chap. 29. and what has moſt Colour retaining yet à Salvo being warily read, to redeem it to conſtancy and from holding contradiction to firm purpoſe and All the reſt. Nay ſo far were things minded and condeſcended to This way, and in favour that upon His motion, who peruſed, approved, liked well, and after many other encouragements Honoured All with acceptance of a Dedication, ſomewhat of Divine Right Should have been added and annexed (by another Pen) and in me it lay not that it was hindered, and came not forth. None of that which is, 'tis hoped, can be offen…ive to any to whom Juſtice, Truth, and Law create not a ſcandall; While our Records and Thoſe Laws are preſerved; to what other end could I think them kept and declared for, but that they might, when occaſion is, be produced and alledged? Nor can I prejudge any, bearing the Name of a Chriſtian, of ſo vicious a tenderneſs, as that the evidence they give to Truth and Righteouſneſs any where or here can offer him any the leaſt occaſion of diſpleaſure or diſlike.
For thoſe are intereſſed (deeply) for the profit, eſpeceially the Reverend and Learned, my Fathers and Brethren of moſt Sacred and Divine Profeſſion, of Them have onelyonly to crave, (I muſt and ought) exceeding Pardon, Pſal. 135. 2.(Vos qui ſtatis in domo Jehovae, in atriis domus Dei nostri) that I have ſo weakly, …amely, and in many regards inſufficiently performed, by bold attempt of ſingle ſolitary induſtry, what might have well required the beſt of Their Conjoyned furtherance, Humbly acknowledging that a Work of this Difficulty in it ſelf, and high Concernment unto Truth and Them, might fittingly have awaited the Conjunction of many heads, and been more happy by falling into the hands of many co-operating Advancers, who might have both made out performance ſomwhat anſwerable to deſert, and added alſo the Countenance of Authority, which the privacy of my Condition or unequal abilities Could neither expect or promiſe my ſelf or Others: But then withall when I conſidered and They ſhall pleaſe to reflect on; The darkneſs and untroddenneſs of the way, wherein I have been forced to go, moſtly Alone, and (looking downward) in Their onelyonly Service, The number and diſtance of the flowers from which this honey, as little of it as it is, muſt needs have been gathered, (without any help,) The Labour of the Work; The difficulty of the whole, And ſo little encouragement for any part, that (in ſuch ſtormy Times, when mens greedy affections are alſo checked, their luſts croſſed, and their tender ruptions touched to danger of offence) Impunity is towards the higheſt of Hopes, They will Then, 'tis hoped, if not for any deſert abroad, at leaſt from the Innate Candour and Ingenuity of which the World acknowledges ſuch ſtore within their own boſomes, Vouchſafe it this humbly craved and much deſired and needed Pardon, or perhaps yet a little farther and more favourably accept this pledge of Love and Evidence of Good will, none can but ſee was meant (in way to the glory of God and eſtabliſhing his Book) to end (as to here below) Cheifly (for his Own is inconſiderable) in Their Profit, Advantage, and Benefit: It is left to their better skill, and united endeavours if they may be had, to ſmooth up by degrees unto the higheſt Requiſite of all neceſſary perfection what I have, I hope, not altogether unluckily begun (for this is but the drawing of my Ruder Coal,) and to add the Exactneſs of Art, Proportion of Lineaments, Symmetry of parts, Life of Colours, and all other Imbelliſhments of Ornament, Circumſtance, or Subſtance, (very needfull in ſo very needfull a Work) to the degree of How, What, and As they Pleaſe,
In the great variety that is in the World, and ſome oppoſition of Judgements, it remaineth hard if not impoſſible to pleaſe All; While One deſireth This, Another That, One is for Antiquity, Another for Novelty, Such Laws pleaſe Some, The Contrary Others, and Some like None at all, Stubbornneſs making it out to a Prodigality of life often in Defence of bare Opinion: In which Caſe what ſhould now the Speaker Do or ſay? What, but even ſit down in the Conſcience of his Integrity? Acquieſce in that he meant to offer His Sacrifice of Service to None but God and Truth; and if a few Sober and Grave either Approve or Pardon, to Account This (or but even the Laſt) a full accompliſhment of Deſire; Taking aſſurance it is very unlikely to meet with any thing but Contradiction from Thoſe Many, who Agree chiefly to Contradict and croſs each other: When All Men are of a Minde, then may it be hoped One Thing will pleaſe All; But This not like, till the ſame Gale of Winde fits ſeverall mens Voyages, who have their diſtinct and oppoſite ways to All points of the Compaſs.
Now ſit down and Conſider, Judge, Differ, and Be Charitable, O Chriſtian! Remember much That thy Great Name of a CHRISTIAN, implying nothing More then To Be, to Be nothing more then Good and Vertuous, to be Good and Vertuous ſcarce in Any thing So Much as thoſe neceſſary accompliſhments of a Chriſtian,Epheſ. 4. 2, 3. in Meekneſs, Mercy, Tender-heartedneſs, Grace, Peace, and Love; endeavouring to keep the Ʋnity of the Spirit in that Bond of Peace, as the Apoſtle counſels, foreign, &c. with all Humbleneſs, Lowlineſs, Gentleneſs, and Long-ſuffering, Bearing and Forbearing; As knowing that Rage is Brutiſh, Col. 3. 12, 13.Cruelty Inhumane, Fierceneſs Heatheniſh, and Thou art thy Thy Self Nothing more then in Readineſs to Give and Forgive, Phil. 4. 7.Him that offends, even Purpoſely, till Seven times, and Seventy times Seven. So Put on Therefore (as the Elect of God, Holy and beloved of Him) Bowels of Mercies, Kindneſs, Humbleneſs of Minde, Meekneſs, Long-ſuffering, Forbearing, and Forgiving; even as God for Christ his ſake forgave both Us; And then the Peace of God, foreign, that paſſeth all Thought ſhall no doubt dwell in thy Heart by Jeſus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Imprimatur,
Febr. 4. 1649. JOHN DOVVNAM.
FINIS.
End of the text · Christopher Elderfield, The Civil Right of Tithes (1650)