The Lawfulness of Tithes, Title page – Preface
THE LAWFULNES OF TITHES, Demonſtrated to the Convincing of ſuch of the QƲAKERS as pretend Conſcience againſt the Payment of them: OR, A Demonſtration for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE to the QƲAKERS in the Payment of their TITHES.
By W. J.
It is a Snare to the Man that devoureth that which is Holy, and after Vows to make Enquiry, Prov. 20.25.
LONDON, Printed for John VVilliams, in Croſs-Key-Court in Little Brittain, 1675
THE PREFACE TO THE COURTEOUS READER.
Reader,
LEt me find thee ſuch as I beſpeak thee, Courteous. Be not offended with this little Treatiſe at the firſt ſight of it, being ſo ſmall upon ſuch a Subject of concern; and of the which ſome Learned Men have writ already. It is ſmall, becauſe it is deſign'd for the uſe of thoſe that are wont to read but ſmall Books, (viz.) the meaner ſort of Quakers. It treats upon this Subject, not that I think to doe any great feats by it, but that it may mind thoſe that are Learned indeed to undertake this, and ſuch other things (wherein the Quakers do diſturb the Church) proving not only the Lawfulneſs of Tithes, viz. that they may be paid, (which I do) but alſo the neceſſity of them, that they ought to be paid, or at leaſtwiſe the Expediency of them, that they are beſt to be paid. The aime of ſuch Learned Men as have writ of this Subject already, was not the Satiſfaction of theſe Quakers (of whom they did not ſo much as dream) but the Confirmation of Princes and Rulers, to continue in the Land, and Nation ſuch Goſpel-Maintenance, as was of ſo long ſtanding, and had been ſo well begun: Now theſe Quakers being to be ſatisfied (if any thing will do it) require this Subject to be managed another way, if not for matter, yet for manner, method, and ſtile, which I leave to the Diſcretion of ſuch of the Learned, as shall have the Charity to travail with theſe poor Men (with the will of God) to reduce, and bring them back to the Eſtablishment, and Peace of the Church.
As St. Paul did acknowledge himſelf to be Debtor to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, to the Wiſe, and to the Unwiſe: So I think (under Correction) that the Learned in the Univerſities and elſe-where, are Debtors in theſe dayes unto all the Sects that are among us, viz. to endeavour to reclaim them: Among the which Sects, theſe of the Quakers (if it may rightly be called a Sect) and not rather a Rage, and a Tumult fomeing out their own shame: I ſay, this ſuch as it is, is not to be let go in malam rem, as deſperate as it ſeems to be▪
Again, as St. Paul profeſt that he was ready to preach the Goſpel to them which were at Rome alſo; ſo I hope our Learned men will not diſdain to take pains with theſe Quakers, though they be gone from us as far as Rome.
The Gain-ſaying of Tith, and crying out Hireling, is the main thing they cant withal; therein applying themſelves to the humor of ſuch as are prophainly Covetous amongſt us.
The more unlearned this Sect of Quaking is, the greater learning it requires for the Confuting of it; they being not to be wrought upon otherwiſe than by Demonſtrations; which I preſume, Learning, Leaſure, and Libraries may be able to make out unto them, by shewing them, as a Perpetuity of a Miniſtry, and a Maintenance to it: So alſo a propriety both of the one, and of the other; and this to be deduced through the whole Series of times, and ages; the univerſalities of People and Nations; and the variety of Empires, and Governments.
This little Tract was devis'd by me for the ſatisfaction of a private Man, my Neighbour: Why I have made it publique, I have given an account already; namely, to mind ſuch as are Learned, and have leaſure from Weekly Sermons to travail, as they do with the other Sects that are among us; ſo alſo with thoſe poor Men called Quakers: I ſay, to mind them; for it's posſible they hear not the clamours and out-cries of theſe Men, as poor Incumbents do. How good a Work the turning men from the Errour of their ways may be, appears by the great Good St. James pronounces to come of it. Reader, recommend this good Work to whom thou think'ſt it proper. Be Friendly, and Farewel.