A Gospel Plea for Maintenance of the Ministers, Chapter 2 (1 of 2)
CHAP. II.
I Now proceed to the proof of the 2. Propoſition, wherein the Hinge and Marrow of the Controverſie concerning Tithes is included.
That the maintenance of the Miniſters of the Goſpel (and of Places, Houſes for Gods publick worſhip) by Tithes, Glebes, Oblations, Propoſition 2.(yea by ſpoyls won in battel by Generals, Collonels, Captains, Soldiers,) is not only lawfull, expedient, but the moſt fitting, rational, convenient Maintenance of all other, warranted by direct Precepts, Precedents, both before and under the Law, which doth no waies aboliſh, condemn, but approve and confirm this way of Maintenance.
Before ever the Levitical or Ceremonial Law was inſtituted; as the godly Patriarchs built Altars and Houſes for publick worſhip unto God, Gen. 4.3, 4. c. 8.20. c. 12.7, 8. c. 13.4, 18. c. 22.9: c. 26.25. c. 28.20, 21, 22. c. 33.20: & 35.1, 3, 7. So they likewiſe gave Tithes to the Prieſts of God. The very law of Nature, (z)Rom. 2.14, 15.engraven in their hearts, before any written Moral or Ceremonial law, dictating thus much to them, That, as there was a God who created them, in whom they lived, moved, and had their being; ſo likewiſe this God was to be ſolemnly worſhipped by them, as well in publick as private; by way of homage, gratitude, and bounden dutie, Pſal. 95.1, to 8. Pſ: 100.1, 2, 3, 4. Iſa. 17.7, 8. Acts 17.26, 27, 28. Which worſhip of his (eſpecially when men multiplied into great and many Families, Villages, Cities, Kingdoms, Republicks) could not be decently, orderly, conſtantly performed in publick, without appointing ſome certain Times and Places of worſhip; aHeb. 5.1.ſome certain holy perſons and Prieſts to diſcharge the publick duties, ſolemnities of their worſhip; and ſome convenient certain portion out of their Eſtates for the maintenance, encouragement of thoſe Prieſts in the execution of their Office, on which they were to give attendance. Upon which grounds, as the Patriarchs before the Law from the very Creation; (as bDr. Bound, Dr. Twiſſe, Mr. Sprint, Mr. Bernard, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Caudry & others of the Sabbath. Mr. Dod, Clever, and others on the 4 Commandement.many Divines infer from Gen: 2.2, 3. Exod: 16.22, to 27. & 20.11. & 31.17. Deut. 5.14. Heb. 4.4.) dedicated every ſeventh day to Gods peculiar worſhip, by his example and preſcription; ſo they likewiſe offered a certain portion of the fruits of their ground, Fields, Flocks to God in Sacrifice, as a Tribute due to him, by and from whom they received, enjoyed all the reſt they had. Whence the Scripure expreſly records of Cain and Abel (the two firſt-born of the world) Gen: 4.2, 3, 4, 5. That Cain being a tiller of the ground, brought of the fruits of the ground an offering to God; and that Abel being a feeder of ſheep, he alſo brought of the firſtlings of his flock, and the fat thereof for an Offering to the Lord; as moſt conceive their father Adam did before them: by whoſe precept and example they did it: After them we read, that Noah built an Altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the Altar, when he went out of the Ark, Gen. 8.20. (which he and his anceſtors from the Creation in all probability uſually practiſed, though not ſpecially recorded by Moſes, no more than many other memorable accidents, actions, for brevity ſake.) Now theſe clean Beaſts and Fowls which he ſacrificed entring into the Ark by ſevens: that is, ſeven of every ſort: Gen: 7.2, 3. he offered one of each kind at leaſt (and ſo one of ſeven) unto God, who conſecrated, reſerved one day of ſeven from the Creation to himſelf. What proportion of their goods, Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob offered on their erected altars in ſacrifice to God, is not expreſſed, though probably it was ſuch as God afterwards preſcribed the Iſraelites, their poſterity, not long after by his written law in Moſes time, augmented upon any extraordinary emergent occaſion, though never diminiſhed from its uſual rate. And for the Prieſts encouragement (directed by the very dictate of Nature, Reaſon informing them, That every Labourer was worthy of ſome competent hire, as Chriſt reſolves Mat. 10.10. Luke 10.17.) they pitched upon cGen. 14.20. & 28.21, 22. Heb. 7.2, 4.the tenth of their encreaſe and gains of every kinde, as a competent fitting allowance, guided therein by divine inſpiration (as is moſt probable, if not infallible) it being the ſelf-ſame proportion God himſelf afterwards preſcribed, ratified by his own written Law in the Old Teſtament, and approved in the New, as I ſhall manifeſt by theſe enſuing Scriptures.
1. That Tithes were paid and vowed to God by the religious Patriarchs before the Aaronical Prieſthood inſtituted, or Levitical Law given, is undeniable by two Scripture inſtances: the firſt of them is thus recorded, Gen: 14.17, 18, 19, 20. That Abraham returning victoriouſly from the ſlaughter of Chederlaomer and the Kings that were with him; Melchiſedec King of Salem met him, and brought forth bread and wine, and he was The Prieſt of the moſt High God: and he bleſſed him and ſaid, Bleſſed be Abraham of the moſt high God, poſſ…ſſor of heaven and earth; and bl…ſſed be the moſt high God, which hath delivered thy Enemies into thy hand. And he gave him Tenths of all. This Hiſtory is thus recited and amplified in the New Teſtament, Heb. 6.20. & 7.1, &c. Jeſus, made an high Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchiſedec King of Salem, Prieſt of the moſt High God, who met Abraham returning from the ſlaughter of the Kings and bleſſed him: to whom Abraham gave a Tenth part of all; firſt being by interpretation, King of righteouſneſs, and after that alſo King of Salem, which is King of peace: without Father, without Mother, without deſcent, having neither beginning of dayes, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a Prieſt continually. Now conſider how great this man was, unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the ſpoils. And verily, they that are of the Sons of Levi, who receive the office of the Prieſthood, have a Commandement to take Tithes of the People, according to the Law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loyns of Abraham: But he whoſe deſcent is not counted from them, received Tithes of Abraham, and bleſſed him that had the Promiſes. And without all contradiction the liſſe is bleſſed of the better. And here Men that die receive Tithes, but there he [received them] of whom it is witneſſed that he liveth. And, as I may ſo ſay, Levi alſo who receiveth Tithes paid Tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loynes of his Father, when Melchiſedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Prieſthood, (for under it the people received the Law) what further need was there, that another Prieſthood ſhould riſe after the order of Melchiſedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the Prieſthood being changed, there is of neceſſity a change alſo of Law, &c.
I ſhall draw my Obſervations, Arguments concerning Tithes from both theſe Scriptures here recited, and then anſwer the main (if not ſole) Scripture objected againſt Tithes, drawn from the cloze of the Apoſtles words.
1. It is undeniable from theſe Texts, that Abraham the Father of the Faithfull, is the firſt perſon we preciſely read of who gave and paid Tithes, recorded both in the Old Teſtament and New, for his greater honour, and the imitation of all the faithfull under both Teſtaments.
2. That he gave and paid Tithes to Melchiſedec, the firſt Prieſt of the moſt high God, mentioned in ſacred writ. Who this Melchiſedec ſhould be, there is great controverſie among the Learned; ſome affirming him, to be *See Mr. Seldens Review of his Hiſtory, ch. 1. Sixtus Senenſis Bibl. Sanctae, l. 5. Annot. 90, 91.Sem; others a Canaanitiſh King and Prieſt of that Name, and dDr. Griffith Williams of the Incarnation of Chriſt, in his works in fol. p. 807, to 813. Petrus Cunaeus de Repub. Jud. l. 3. c: 3.Dr. Griffith Williams very probably and ſtrongly arguing him to be CHRIST himſelf then appearing to Abraham in his humane ſhape: As Petrus Cunaeus held before him. I ſhall not decide the Controverſie: certain it is, he was either Chriſt himſelf, or a real Type of Chriſts and his eternal Prieſt-hood; as the Apoſtle oft reſolves.
3. That he was a Prieſt of a far antienter, better and more excellent order, than the Levitical Prieſt-hood; and that this payment of Tithes was long before the Law given by Moſes for payment of Tithes to the Levitical Prieſts; and before their order inſtituted. Therefore Tithes are not meerly nor originally in their own nature Jewiſh or Levitical, (as ſome raſhly now a verr) nor eternally aboliſhed as ſuch by Chriſts incarnation, and Prieſthood, they being originally paid and given, not to the Levitical Prieſts, but to M…lchiſedec, who was either Chriſt himſelf, or a Type of him and his Prieſthood, not of Aarons.
4. That this Melchiſedec, as he had neither beginning of daies, ſo he had no end of life, but was made like the Son of God, and abideth a Prieſt continually (in (e)See Hemingiu… on the place.reſpect of the truth he typified) as Chriſt himſelf doth, of whom he was a Type, who hath an endleſs life; and becauſe he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Prieſt-hood; and is by the very oath of God, made a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchiſedec, Heb. 6.20. & 7.3, 8, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 25. Pſal. 110.4. Therefore Tithes being firſt paid to ſuch an everliving, everlaſting, unchangeable Prieſt and Prieſt-hood, for the execution thereof; may and ought to continue and abide for ever, as long as the Prieſt and Prieſt-hood laſt: and if ſo, then Tithes are ſtill due, payable to the Miniſters of Chriſt under the Goſpel by all the (f)Rom. 4.4, 16, 17. & 9.8. Gal. 4.7, 8, 9.29,Spiritual ſeed of faithfull Abraham, as well as they were by all his Sonnes after the fleſh to the Levitical or Aaronical Prieſt-hood whiles in being, and that in the right of Chriſt; they being Ambaſſadors repreſenting his perſon, beſeeching men in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.20, 21. Forgiving men in tho perſon of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 2.10. and in whoſe perſons Chriſt himſelf ſtill ſpeaks unto men, 2 Cor. 13.3. Whence Chriſt himſelf a verres, Verily, verily I ſay unto you, he that receiveth whoſoever I ſend, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that ſent me: He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me, Mat. 10.40. Luke 10.16. John 13.20. That whatever is given or paid to them for their Miniſtry is given and paid to himſelf, Mat. 10.42. & 25.35, to 41. and is a Sacrifice acceptable, well-pleaſing unto God, Philip. 4.18.
5. That Abraham gave Tithes to Melchiſedec for the execution of his Prieſtly office; and that not in offring any carnal or Levitical Sacrifices to God for him upon an Altar, but only for bleſſing him, and rendring thanks and bleſſing to the moſt high God for his victory; which being one chief part of the Miniſters of the Goſpels duty ſtill continuing, even to bleſſe the people, to praiſe and bleſſe God for them, and their ſucceſſes in ſpiritual and temporal things, Rom. 1.7, 8, 9. & 10.24. 1 Cor. 1.3, 4, 5. & 16.23. 2 Cor. 1.1, 2, 3. & 9.10, 11. & 13.14. Gal. 1.2. & 6.18. Epheſ. 1.1, 2, 3, 16, 17, 18. & 3.14. to the end, & 6.23, 24. Phil. 1.2, 3, 4. & 4.20, 23. Col. 1.2, 3, 9, to 14. & 4.18. 1 Theſſ. 1.1, 2, 3. & 2.13. & 5:23, 28.2 Theſſ. 1.2, 3, 11, 12. & 2.13, 16, 17. & 3.18. 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Heb. 13.25. 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4. & 5.14. 2 Pet. 1.2. Revel. 5.12, 13. as likewiſe to bleſſe the Sacramental bread and wine for their uſe, 1 Cor. 10.16. Mat. 26.26. typifyed, as moſt hold, by the bread and wine Melchiſedec brought forth to Abraham: is a convincing Argument to me, that Tithes are no way Levitical or Jewiſh in their primitive inſtitution, or intrinſecal nature, but rather Evangelical; and are as juſtly due and payable by all believing ſons and children of faithfull Abraham, to the Miniſters of the Goſpel for bleſſing them, and praying, bleſſing, prayſing God for them, and other Miniſterial duties, as they were by Abraham to Melchiſedec, for performing the ſelf-ſame Prieſtly duties towards him.
6. That the ſcope of the Apoſtle in the Hebrews, being to prove the Honour, Dignity, Excellency of the order of Melchiſedecs (and by conſequence of our Saviours) Prieſt-hood above Aarons; he uſeth this as one demonſtration thereof:
1. That he received Tithes of the Patriarch Abraham himſelf, Heb. 7.2, 4, to 11. whereas the Levitical Prieſts received Tithes only of their Brethren, that came out of the loynes of Abraham.
2. That even Levi himſelf who received Tithes of his Brethren, paid Tithes in Abraham, (being then in his Fathers loynes) to Melchiſedec, as his ſuperior, yea even as the Levits under the Law paid the tenth of their Tithes to the Priests, as their ſuperiours, Numb: 18.26, 27, 28. And this payment of Tithes to Melchiſedec, he recites in the Goſpel no leſſe than five ſeveral times one after another, inſiſting longer on it then on any other Argument, to prove the preeminency of Melchiſedecs Prieſthood above Aarons. Whence it undeniably follows,
1. That Tithes are not originally Jewiſh and Levitical.
2. That the receiving of Tithes by faithfull Miniſters now, is no diſparagement, but an honour to their Miniſtry and function, as well as to Melchiſedecs heretofore.
3. That Miniſters receiving Tithes now, doth no more prove their Miniſtry to be Judaical or Levitical, than it proved Melchiſedecs Prieſthood to be ſuch, which is put in contradiſtinction to it, and exalted above it by the Apoſtle, even by the very receiving of Tithes from Abraham. Therefore thoſe Jeſuitical and Anabaptiſtical furies againſt Tithes, who rail againſt our Miniſters and their Miniſtry as Jewiſh and Aaronical becauſe they receive Tithes, and urge this as a diſparagement to their Perſons, Miniſtry, rejecting Tith-receiving Miniſters, as Jewiſh, Antichristian, unlawfull, doe herein argue point-blank againſt the Apoſtle, and thereby conclude Melchiſedecs (and by conſequence our Saviours own Prieſthood after the order of Melchiſe dec) to be Jewiſh, Antichriſtian, diſhonourable and unlawfull, (becauſe Melchiſedec himſelf received Tithes,) which to do is the higheſt blaſphemy.
7. That the Apoſtle informs us, that God had never but two orders of Prieſts in the world.
The firſt, after the order of M…lchiſedec, in Abrahams dayes; diſcontinued under the Law for a time, but revived again in our Saviour Chriſt, and continuing now and for ever in him; compared here to Melchiſedec, eſpecially in his Nature, the ſeat of his Kingdom, the perpetuity of his life, his Sacerdotal bleſſing, and IN THE RIGHT OF RECEIVING TITHES (as Hemingius on the place obſerves.)
The ſecond, after the order of Levi and Aaron, aboliſhed and changed by Chriſt; that Tithes were paid and belonged of right to both theſe orders of Priests, for the exerciſe of their function by Gods own approbation and appointment; as a juſt, fitting, righteous maintenance and reward; which ſince they cannot now be paid to Chriſt himſelf in perſon, being aſcended into heaven, and there ſitting at Gods right hand, a great high Priest for ever after the order of Melchiſedec; there is great Juſtice, Reaſon, they ſhould be ſtill paid to, and received by his Miniſters, whom we have alwaies with us (as well as the poor) who are his Ʋicegerents and g1 Cor. 4.1, 2. Tit. 1.7.Stewards, with whom he hath promiſed to be alwayes preſent to the end of the World, Mat: 28.20. and that as the propereſt, juſteſt, beſt, fitteſt maintenance of all other, appointed, preſcribed by God, paid by Abraham and all the faithfull by Gods direction and approbation, both before and under the Law, and is recited, juſtified, allowed, but no wayes condemned or abrogated by the Apoſtle and Gods Spirit under the Goſpel. Wherefore thoſe who inconſiderately revile and declaim againſt Tithes as hSee the late Petitions againſt Tithes.heavy Yokes, Jewiſh Burdens, an unequal, unrighteous, wrangling, troubleſom maintenance, &c. do herein blaſphemouſly traduce, cenſure the very wiſdom, juſtice, diſcretion not only of Abraham, and all the faithfull ſervants of God, approving and paying Tithes in former ages, but of God himſelf who preſcribed them, and of the Apoſtle pleading for them, as appertaining to both theſe orders of Gods Prieſts for their perpetual maintenance.
8. Here is one notable obſervation for all the Officers and Souldiers of the Army ſeriouſly to conſider (and O that God would fix it effectually on their Spirits!) That Abraham the Father of the faithfull (as the Goſpel ſtyles him, Rom: 4.16.) returning victoriouſly from the firſt Warrs we read of in the world, gave the *See Mr. John Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes, c. 1, 3. & his Review, c. 1. with the Authors there cited.TENTH OF THE SPOYLES taken from the Enemy in the warrs, to Melchiſedec, the firſt Prieſt of the moſt high God we finde in the Word or World, and an expreſs type of Chriſt, our only high Prieſt, if not Chriſt himſelf, as ſome affirm: To teach all Generals, Officers, Souldiers, who profeſſe themſelves the Sons or Children of Abraham after the faith, to do the like: And (which is very conſiderable) though this victorious General and Souldier was urged by the King of Sodom, to take all the Spoyl and goods he had taken and reſcued from the Enemy to himſelf, and to give him only the perſons reſcued; which he magnanimouſly refuſed; ſaying, I have lift up my hand unto the Lord, the most high God, poſſeſſor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a ſhoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing that was thine, lest thou ſhouldeſt ſay, I have made Abraham rich, Gen: 14.21, 22, 23. (And O that all Commanders, Souldiers now, were as conſcionable and juſt in performing their Oathes, Covenants, Vowes, made with hands lifted up unto the Lord, as faithfull Abraham was!) yet he would not renounce, nor give away Gods and the Prieſts portion upon any condition; but GAVE THE TENTH OF ALL THE SPOYL TO THEM, reſtoring only the Surpluſage. And ſhould not our Generals, Officers, Souldiers, in theſe dayes (who profeſſe and ſtyle themſelves, the Eminentest, moſt precious Saints, and ſpiritual ſeed of faithfull Abraham) more really prove themſelves ſuch indeed, to God, the World, and their own Conſciences, by giving the Tenth of all their ſpoils and gains of Warres to God and his faithfull Miniſters (which I never heard one of them yet did) and making good all their ſolemn Oathes and Covenants to God, (whereof this was one clauſe; iThe words of the ſolemn League and Covenant.That they ſhall ſincerely, really, and conſtantly endeavour in their ſeveral places and callings, the preſervation of the reformed Religion, from utter ruine and deſtruction, againſt all the treacheries and bloudy Plots, Conſpiracies, Attempts and practices of the Enemies thereof; whereof this in preſent agitation to deprive our Miniſters of all Tithes and ſetled maintenance, is one of the principal, which will ruine our Miniſters, Miniſtry and Religion with them) as faithfull Abraham really did; rather than by endevouring what they can (as too many of them do) TO SPOYL THEM OF ALL THEIR TITHES, both predial, mixt and perſonal, which they have ſo long enjoyed, not only by a juſt, civil right and title, confirmed by Preſcription, the great Charter, all ſorts of Lawes, Statutes, Ordinances in antient and late times, but likewiſe by a divine Warrant, from this Precedent of Abraham, inſtead of giving them THE TENTH OF THEIR SPOYLS? Which practice, if purſued, as it will inſallibly demonſtrate them to be no real Saints. or Children of faithfull Abraham (our Saviour reſolving, Joh. 8.39. If ye were Abrahams children, ye would do the works of Abraham, in paying Tithes as he did) ſo it will probably exclude both them, and others guilty of it, out of Abrahams boſome, Luke 16.22. who will never own nor receive thoſe as his friends or children into his boſome, who are ſuch virulent Enemies to his moſt commendable Practice, of paying Tithes even of the very ſpoyls he took in Warr. With this Argument I have ſo routed ſome Officers and Souldiers, that they bluſhed for ſhame; had not one word to reply, and gave over further rayling diſcourſes againſt Tithes, as men quite confounded, and I hope it will have the ſelf-ſame effect in all others, when they have well adviſed on it.
That they may have no Evaſion from the dint thereof, I ſhall anſwer all Cavils I know of to elude it.
Object. 1.The 1. Evaſion is this, That this Precedent of Abraham in giving the tenth of the ſpoyls of Warr is ſingular and voluntary, not obliging other Souldiers to doe the like, or to devote any of their ſpoyls to God and his ſervice.
To this I anſwer,
Anſw.1. That this practice and Precedent of Abraham, ſo tranſcendently eminent for his faith in the old and new Teſtament, in both which it is recorded; was undoubtedly written for our imitation and inſtruction, to do the like, as may be evidenced from Job. 8.39. 1 Cor. 10.11. Rom. 15.4. 2 Theſſ. 3.7, 9. Heb. 13.7. 1 Theſſ. 2.14. the rather, becauſe the Apoſtle Heb. 6.12. commands us, To be followers of thoſe who through faith and patience inherit the promiſes; and then preſently after inſtanceth in Abraham, and fals upon his practice of paying Tithes of the ſpoyl to Melchiſedec. Therefore all Chriſtian, Generals, Officers, Souldiers muſt follow him in paying Tithes of all their ſpoyls, as well as in faith and patience; his Precedent, having been the original impulſive ground of all Tithes vowed or paid to Gods Prieſts or Miniſters ever ſince, and of Gods ſubſequent commands to Abrahams poſterity, to pay Tithes to the Prieſts and Levites under the Law, as the Apoſtle inſinuates, Heb. 7.4, 5, 6, 8. compared together; and of all Laws, Canons ſince enacted by Chriſtian Kings and Councils for due payment of Tithes to Miniſters of the Goſpel in Chriſtian Realms and Republicks.
2. I anſwer, That this practice of his was frequently purſued by Generals, Officers and Souldiers, in ſucceeding ages, of which we have very memorable Precedents in Scripture, wherewith I have ſhamed and confounded Souldiers in diſcourſes with them about Tithes. It is ſpecially recorded Num. 31. that when the 12000. Officers and Souldiers of the Iſraelites under the conduct of Phinehas, returned from the ſlaughter of the Midianites with an extraordinary great booty of all ſorts; God gave a ſpecial charge, to levy a Tribute unto the Lord of the men of Warr that went out to Battel, and to give it to Eleazar the Prieſt for an heave-offering of the Lord (which kind of offerings was Aarons and his Sonnes for ever, from the children of Iſrael, as a due wages for their ſervice, Exod. 29.27, 28. Levit. 7.32, 33, 34. Numb. 18.24, 27, 29. Deut. 12.11. and is coupled with Tithes as being of the ſame Nature, in the two laſt of theſe Scriptures) which tribute was accordingly levyed: And becauſe the prey was firſt equally divided between them who took the Warr upon them, and went out to Battel; and between all the Congregation, which had the other moity of it; God out of the Souldiers moity (the prey being very great) reſerved onelyonly one of five hundred out of the Captives, Beeves, Aſſes and Sheep, for the Priests, which were but few; and one of every fifty for the Levites, of the peoples moity; the Priests ſhare amounting to 675. Sheep, 78. Oxen, 64. Aſſes, 32. Captives; and the Levites ſhare to tenne times ſo many. After which tribute levyed, v. 48, 49. the Officers which were over thouſands of the Hoſt, the Captaines of Thouſands and Captaines of Hundreds brought an oblation, to the Lord, what every man had gotten of Iewels of Gold, Chaines and Bracelets, Kings, Ear-Rings and Tablets to make an atonement for their ſouls before the Lord, amounting to ſixteen thouſand ſeven hundred and fifty ſhekels, (every (k)Purchas pilgrimage p. 132 Gerundenſis and Godwins Jewiſh Antiquitiesſhekel weighing half an ounce) Which Eleazer the Prieſt took of the Captains of thouſands, and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tabernacle of the Congregation for a Memorial of the children of Iſrael before the Lord, Numb. 31.48, to the end. Here were ſelf-denying ſaint-like Officers, Colonels and Captains indeed, after all the former deductions and tributes out of their ſpoyl, to bring to the Prieſt, and offer up to God all their Jewels of Gold, Chains, Bracelets, Rings, Ear-Rings, Tablets and richeſt plunder they had gotten in the Warrs, for the maintenance of his worſhip; when our Officers, Colonels, Captains, Souldiers ſhall do the like, and pay a tribute of the beſt of their ſpoyls to our Miniſters, as theſe by Gods command did to the Prieſts and Levites, not purchaſing Church-Lands and Revenues with them, (l)See the ordinances for Augmentationsdevoted to the augmentation of our Ministers ſmall Stipends; we ſhall cry them up for ſelf-denying Saints and Souldiers indeed; and ſay, they are no ſelf-ſeekers. If this Scripture Precedent be not enough, behold a whole cloud of Precedents, imitating them and faithfull Abraham, recorded, united in one memorable Text ſeldome read or taken notice of, 1 Chron. 26.26, 27, 28. Which Shelomith and his Brethren, were over all the Treaſures of the dedicated things, which David the King, and the chief Fathers, the Captains over Thouſands and Hundreds, and the Captains of the Hoſt, had dedicated: out of the Spoyls won in Battels did they dedicate to maintain the Houſe of the Lord (mark and imitate it O ye Army-Officers, Captains, Souldiers!) And all that SAMUEL the ſeer, and SAUL the Son of Kiſh, and ABNER the Son of Ner, and JOAB the Son of Zerviah had dedicated, was under the hand of Shelomith and his Brethren. Here we have examples of all ſorts and ſizes for our Army-Officers and Souldiers imitation.