A Gospel Plea for Maintenance of the Ministers, Chapter 4

A Gospel Plea for Maintenance of the Ministers · Chapter 4

p. 82CHAP. IV.

I Now march to the 4th. Propoſition,Propoſition 4. That our Miniſters Tithes are really no Burthen, Grievance or Oppreſſion to the People; but a juſt antient charge, debt, annuity or duty, as well as their Landlords rents, or Merchants poundage. That the aboliſhing of them, will be no real Eaſe, Gain, or advantage to Farmers, Leſſees, and the poorer ſort of People (as is falſely pretended) but only to rich Landlords and Landed-men, and a loſs and detriment to all others.

There have been divers clamorous Petitions of late againſt Tithes, ſubſcribed by many poor People, Labourers, Servants, Apprentiſes, who never were capable in their Eſtates to pay any (not by the Nobility, Gentry, and Freeholders of the Nation, or the generality of thoſe whoſe Eſtates are moſt charged with them, who repute them no Burden nor Grievance, and deſire their continuance) as if they were the very Bonds of Wickedneſſe, the heavy Burdens and Yoak, which God himſelf aaThe Kentiſh Petition againſt Tithes, John Canne, Voyce from the Temple, and others.by an extraordinary Call, hath called forth ſome in preſent Power ſpeedily to looſe, undo and break, Iſay 58.6, 7. to which they allude, and much inſiſt on, when as it is moſt clear, That this perverted Text was never once intended of Tithes, which God himſelf impoſed on his people, as a juſt reſerved Rent and Tribute due unto himſelf and his Miniſters, and adjudgeth it plain bbMal. 3.8, 9.Mal 3:8Mal 3:9ROBBING p. 83OF GOD to ſubſtract, much more then to aboliſh, and thoſe who preſs the aboliſhing of Tithes from this Text, may with much more colour urge it againſt all Landlords Rents, Annuities, Tonnage, Poundage, the antient Cuſtoms of Wool, Woolfels, Leather, Tinne, Lead, which they and their Anceſtors by their Tenures and our known Laws have paid time out of mind: and preſſe thoſe in power to expunge theſe Texts out of the very Goſpel, as Apochryphal and burdenſom, Mat. 22.21. Render to Caeſar the things that are Caeſars; and unto God the things that are Gods (a clear Goſpel-Text for the payment of Tithes, which are Gods own Tribute and Portion, Levit. 27.30, 32. Mal. 3.8, 9.) and Rom. 13.7 Render therefore to all their Dues, Tribute to whom Tribute is due, Cuſtom to whom Cuſtom, &c. againſt both which they directly Petition, as the premiſes demonſtrate. This calumny and wreſting of Scripture being removed, I ſhall thus make good the firſt Branch of the Propoſition.

I have already manifeſted by undeniable Antiquities, Laws, Records, That Tithes were freely given to and ſetled on our Church and Miniſters, by our pious Kings Munificence, Charters, Laws, with the general applauſe and conſent of all the Nobility and People, upon the very firſt ſetlement of Religion in this Iſland, many hundred years before we read of any publick Taxes for Defence of the Realm, or maintenance of the Warres by Land or Sea, the firſt whereof was aaMatthew Weſtm. & Florentius Wigornienſis. An. 983. See my Humble Remonſtrance againſt shipmoney p. 19, 20, 21.Dane-gelt (firſt impoſed by common conſent of the Lords in Parliament, An. 983.) or before the antientest yet continued Cuſtome on Wool Woolfels and Skins exported, firſt granted by Parliament in 3 E. 1. Anno Dom. 1276. at leaſt 500. years after the firſt extant grant, Law and ſetlement of Tithes in perpetuity, as a Divine Duty, Rent and Service for the neceſſary maintenance of Gods Miniſters and publick Worſhip. This moſt antient, annual Rent, Charge or Tribute unto God, hath inviolably continued in all publick Changes and Revolutions of Church and State; Britons, Saxons, Danes, Normans, Engliſh, Papiſts, Proteſtants, Conquerors, Invadors, Right Heirs, and Lawfull Purchaſers, Intruders, Diſſeiſers, Leſſees of all ſorts, whether p. 84Publick Perſons or Private, maintaining, confirming, rendring their Tithes ſucceſſively, as a Divine and Sacred Quit-Rent due to God, wherewith they came charged into the world, till they departed out of it; laying down this for a Principle of Divinity, Law, Equity; bbSpelman. Concil. 610.That God alone hath given to every Man the Lands and all he holds and poſſeſſeth, whereby he gains his food and living; and therefore out of the Land and Trade, whereby every one gets neceſſary ſupply for his body, he ought to contribute a Tenth and Tribute towards the Service of God, and Salvation of his Soul, much better than his Body; as Auguſtine in his 229. Sermon. Tom. 10. and the Antient Saxon Canons of an uncertain time and Author reſolve. There was no Purchaſer, Heir, Inheritor, Farmer, Tenant, or Leſſee of Lands in our whole Nation, that paid Tithes out of it, ſince Tithes firſt ſetled in this Kingdome; but he inherited, purchaſed, took and held his Lands charged with Tithes; Whence our aaCooks 2d. Report, The Biſhop of Wincheſters caſe. Summa Angelica. Tit. Decima.Law-books reſolve, That no Lay-man can by the very Common Law of England, allege any Cuſtome or Preſcription, for not paying Tithes; but only a Modus Decimandi in recompence of his Tithes; which he may in ſome caſes plead, becauſe grounded on ſome antient Contract and a valuable conſideration in Lieu of Tithes. Moreover, as all Men took their Purchaſes, Farmes, Leaſes or Inheritances, by Deſcent thus charged; ſo this charge was univerſally known to all Purchaſers, Leſees, and the full annual value of the Predial Tithes they pay out of their Lands, or Leaſes, abated them in their Purchaſes, Rents, Fines, by the Venders and Leſſers, of purpoſe to defray the publick neceſſary annual Charge; which if the Lands had been Tithe-Free, had been proportionably raiſed, to the common value of the Tithes, in the Purchaſe-Moneys, Fines, or Rents; and will be ſo by every Seller of Lands, and Land-lord, when ever Tithes be ſuppreſſed. This being a clear undeniable Truth, which every rational man muſt ſubſcribe to; it is certain, no perſon this day living, complaining or not complaining againſt Tithes, can in Verity, Equity, Juſtice, Reaſon, repute or call them, either an unjuſt or oppreſſing Yoak, Bond, Burden (as many Ignoramuſſes do, without ſenſe or reaſon) nor any burden or charge at all to him, p. 85ſince he had, or rather hath the full annual value of them allowed him in his Purchaſe, Fine, or Rent, by him that ſold or leaſed his Lands unto him. And although it be true, that in ſuch Tithes as the Earth doth not naturally produce without labour (as it doth Graſſe, Wood, Fruits,) viz. Corn, Hops, Saffron, Woad, and the like, the Miniſter enjoyes the Tenth of the Husbandmans increaſe, ſeed, labour and coſts in tillage and improvement (the great Objection againſt Tithes as an Heavy Burthen, and Oppreſſion) yet all this pretended great coſt and charge (except only in Caſes of Improvements) was altogether, or for the moſt part allowed and defalked in the Purchaſe, Rent, or Fine; which if Tithe-free would have aaFor which there is ſuffient Allowance given in caſe of mere Heath and Baren grounds by the Stat. or 2 E. 6. c. 13.been, (and when made Tithe-free, will be) raiſed to the full value of the Tithes, even one years purchaſe more in ten ſales, and 28. Rent more in every pound each year upon Leaſer, as all underſtanding men knowing what belongs to Purchaſes, Sales of Lands or Leaſes muſt acknowledge. And that Farmer, Purchaſer, or Improver of Lands, who deems not his faithfull Miniſters Prayers, Preaching, Pains, and Gods bleſſing on his Seed, Crop, Eſtate, Soul, Family, bbSee Auguſtine, Serm. 219. Mal. 3.8, 9, 10, 11.Mal 3:8Mal 3:9Mal 3:10Mal 3:11promiſed and entayled to the true payment of Tithes, and are only procured by his Miniſters prayers, without which his ſeed, crop, and all his eſtate would be blaſted with a Curſe, & amount not to a tenth part, of what he now enjoys by Gods promiſe and bleſſing by paying Tithes, and his Miniſters prayers; deſerves not the name of a rational man, much leſſe of a Chriſtian; and can expect nothing but Gods curſe upon all he ſowes, plants, enjoyes, inſtead of a bleſſed Crop or Harveſt. All which conſidered, I appeal to any Chriſtian, or rational mans Conſcience, whether Tithes be any ſuch heavy, oppreſſing, intollerable, diſcouraging Yoak, Bondage, Burden, Oppreſsion as ſome now declaim them, which Gods chiefeſt Saints before the Law voluntarily rendred without murmuring, and chearfully vowed, paid unto God without a Law, and his antient people rendred without murmuring (though double to our Tithes now) by an expreſs Law, during all the Levitical Priesthood, and all our own Anceſtors, as well Proteſtants as Papiſts, have for ſo p. 86many hundred of years chearfully rendred without diſpute, and all now living came charged with into the world, and were thus allowed the value of them in their Purchaſes, Fines, and Leaſes. And whether all Tithe payers have not far more cauſe to Petition againſt all Old and New Rent-Services, Rent Charges, Annuities, Quit-Rents, Statutes, Debts, wherewith they were charged by their Anceſtors Grants or Contracts, and of all the antient Cuſtoms for Merchandize for defence of the Seas or Realm, as intollerable oppreſsing Burdens, Yoaks, Grievances (as the Levellers and Anabaptiſts in ſome late printed papers ſtile all Cuſtoms, Tonnage, Poundage, Impoſitions whatſoever, as well as Tithes, our Exciſes, or monthly Taxes, of new illegal formation, as well as Impoſition) than thus to murmur, complain, Petition againſt their predial Tithes, our Miniſters chiefeſt Livelihood, except in Cities which have no Tillage, Woods, or Meadows? And ſo much brieflly for proof, That Tithes are no real Grievance, Burden, Oppreſsion, to Gods people; eſpecially ſince orignally granted and commanded by God himſelf, whoſe Commandements are not grievous, 1 John 5.3. and whoſe heavieſt Yoak is eaſie, and Burden light, Matth. 11.30. And thoſe New-Saints, who ſhall think otherwiſe of this Divine Commandement, Yoak, and Burden of Tithes, under the Goſpel, give the Goſpel it ſelf and Chriſt the lye herein.

For the 2d. Branch, That the aboliſhing of Tithes will be no real Eaſe, Gain, or Advantage to Farmors, Leſſees, and the poorer ſort of People, lyable to pay Tithes (other poor being not concerned in the Controverſy, whoſe poverty it ſelf ex-exempts them from this ſurmiſed Grievance) but a Gain and Benefit, only to rich Landlords and Landed-men, is apparent by the premiſes. For no ſooner ſhall Tithes be abrogated, but every Landlord will raiſe the full annual value of them in his annual Rents, or Fines, and exact more for them from his poor Tenants, Farmers, Leſſees, than they might have compounded for with their Miniſters: and where then is their expected Gain, or Eaſe, wherewith they are deluded by Impoſtors? As for the rich Landlords, they complain not of Tithes as a Burden, and need no exemption from p. 87them: and as all predial Tithes now really iſſue out of their Inheritances charged with them in perpetuity, who therefore abate, allow the full value of them to their Farmers and Tenants in their Fees and Rents, by way of Defalcation, they being in truth the greateſt and moſt conſiderable Tithe-payers, not the poor Farmers, or under Tenants: So their Inheritances only will be much improved, augmented by Tithes aboliſhing at leaſt one part in ten; whiles the poor Miniſters and Families ſhall be ſtarved, and the Tenants then more racked by the Landlords than by the Miniſters now. And this is the Godly goodly Eaſe this Saint-like Project will effect, if put into execution, by which none will be real Gainers, in their Temporal Eſtate, but thoſe who have Inheritances; and all loſers in their Spiritual Eſtate, by the loſſe or great diſcouragements of their Miniſters, Hebr. 13.17. This will appear by the practice of ſome greedy Land-lords of old, thus recited, condemned in this Decree of the Council of Lateran under Pope Innocent the 3^d Anno 1215. In aliquibus Regionibus, &c. (I will Engliſh it, that our Country Farmers may the better underſtand it,) In ſome Countries there are a ſtupid (or mungrel) ſort of people who living according to their Cuſtom, although they have the name of Chriſtians (I doubt Canne will ſay they were Anabaptists, and his godly Predeceſſors) ſome Lords of Farms (or Lands) let them out to theſe men to manure (ut Decimis defraudentes Eccleſias, majores inde redditus aſſequantur) That by defrauding the Church of Tithes, they may gain the greater Rents from their Tenants (equivalent no doubt to their Tithes, where then is the tenants gain by any hoped exemptions from Tithes?) Being willing therefore to provide remedy for theſe prejudices, for the Indemnity of Churches, we ordain that the Landlords themſelves ſhall commit their Farms to be leaſed to and tilled by ſuch Perſons, and in ſuch ſort, That without contradiction they may pay Tithes to Churches with Integrity (or their intire Tithes without any Deduction:) and if there ſhall be need, let them be thereto compelled by Eccleſiaſtical cenſure, for theſe Tithes are neceſſarily to be paid, which are due by Divine law, or approved by the Cuſtom of the place (though not within p. 88the Letter of the Divine law, is the Councils meaning, not any Modus decimandi of ought within Gods law, againſt which no Cuſtom can or muſt preſcribe) Let all Countrymen learn from hence, what they will get by aboliſhing Tithes, if voted quite down. Nay let them conſider well, whether the real deſigns now on foot, proſecuted by ſome Army-Officers and Souldiers, be not to vote down Tithes, juſt as they did the Crown lands (formerly aaCottoni …oſthuma, p. 174, 179. The Acts of Reſumption, 6 H. 3.5, 9.10 E. 2.1. 2 R. 2.6. 6 H. 4 1.2 H. 5.28, 29. 33 H. 6.2.1 H. 7.4, 5.12 E. 4.reputed ſacred, and incapable of any ſale, becauſe the common ſtanding Inheritance of the whole Realm to defray all ordinary publick expences in times of peace and war, to caſe them of all Subſidies and Taxes whatſoever, except one in three or four years upon extraordinary occaſions, granted in full Parliament for their ſafety) even to vote them only from the Miniſters, and get them into their own hands, to help pay themſelves and the Army, under pretext to eaſe the People in their Taxes; and yet continue their Taxes ſtill upon them in the ſame extream (or an higher) proportion as heretofore, though they take their Tithes to boot, without eaſing them one farthing in their Contributions, as in caſe of the Kings, Princes, Biſhops, Deans and Chaptets lands. Surely theſe Officers and Souldiers who pretend ſo much liberty and eaſe to the people in words, and ſtill ſo oppreſs them in deeds, as not to eaſe them one penny in their former unſupportable Taxes, Exciſes (which their Anceſtors never knew nor paid) under which they have for ſome years groaned, though all Ireland be now reduced, England in peace within it ſelf, and Scotland under Contribution, and take upon them to impoſe ſuch illegal Taxes now without any Parliament by their own Super-Regal Authority, tranſcending all Preſidents of our Kings and their Councils out of Parliament, can never be preſumed, to tender their Eaſe and Gain ſo much, as to permit them or their Land-lords, to put up into their own private Purſes ſo great and conſtant an Annual Revenue as their Tithes amount to, unto which they have neither legal Right nor Title, but will appropriate it to themſelves (as they have done Church-Land and Crown-Land too) for their future pay, or paſt A…rears; and ſome of them have confeſſed ſo much. And which then think you will prove the better Tithe Lords, Miniſters or Souldiers?

p. 89For the third Branch: That the aboliſhing of Tithes, will be a loſs and detriment to all others, excepting Land-Lords, and Landed men; I ſhall thus demonſtrate. 1. It will be ſo to all our Miniſters and their families, Tithes being their principal livelihood. 2ly. To all ſuch Colleges, Hoſpitals, Corporations, Schools, all or part of whoſe Revenues depend on appropriated Tithes and Rectories, and to all their Farmers and Families. 3ly. To all impropriators and their Leſſees, which are very many; there being by aaBritan. p. 161, 162. Purchas Pilgrimage, p. 133.Mr. Cambdens and others Computation, 9284. Pariſhes in England, whereof 3845. (of the beſt value, for the moſt part) are impropriated or appropriated. And the abrogation of Tithes without giving competent recompence to all Impropriators, as well body Politicks as natural and their Leſſees, (which how it can be done now Biſhops, Deans and Chapters Lands devoted and voted once for their ſatisfaction, are ſold to pay the Souldiers, I cannot yet diſcern) will ruine many Colleges, Hoſpitals, Schools, with other Corporations, and thouſands of families depending on them. 4ly. All Tenants and Farmers will be loſers by it, in their eſtates, as well as ſouls; For then the Land-lords will raiſe the full improved value of their aboliſhed Tithes in their Fines and Rents; and if they have a godly able Miniſter to inſtruct them for their Salvation, and ſpiritual Weal, they muſt hire and pay him out of their own private purſes only, while their Land-lords or others purſe up their Tithes whereon now their Miniſters live without further charge unto them; and which is more chargable, they muſt pay their Miniſters ſhare of Taxes and other publick Payments to boot out of their own purſes and eſtates, which now are defrayed wholly by Miniſters themſelves: And ſo inſtead of hoped Eaſe, by Aboliſhing Tithes, they ſhall but draw a cauſleſs perpetual Charge on themſelves and their Poſterities, as our New Projectors have done, by the ſale of all the Crown Lands and Revenues to themſelves, and their Friends and Souldiers at eaſie rates, to enrich themſelves, which ſhould have defrayed all publick Ordinary Charges as they ever have done, which now muſt be raiſed out of the peoples private purſes only, p. 90whiles theſe New Stateſmen and Souldiers purſe up and enjoy the publick Revenues which ſhould defray them; and Tax the impoveriſhed Nation at what extraordinary unceſſant Rates they pleaſe, and then diſpoſe of them at their pleaſures, when levyed to themſelves and their Creatures; the only way to make our Taxes both Eaſeleſs and Endleſs, to the peoples utter ruin, and their own extraordinary enriching by their ſpoils. 5ly. The poor people in every Pariſh will loſe the charitable relief they receive from their Miniſters, who in many places were and ſtill are a grest relief to the poor and impotent by their liberal Charity and aa1 Tim. 3.2.1 Tim 3:2Hoſpitality; now much decayed by heavy and endleſs Taxes, and unconſcionable Subſtractions of their Tithes, by Sectaries, Souldiers and lawleſs Covetous Earth-wormes. 6ly. I muſt truly inform and tell all ſuch Farmers, Tenants and other deluded Countreymen, who think to gain much eaſe and profit, by the aboliſhing of Tithes for the future, they ſhall ſoon repent of, and be doubly burthened hereafter to the uttermoſt improved value of them in the augmentation of their Taxes to the Souldiers, who will be harder new Iron Land-lords, Tithe-lords to them, than their Miniſters now are. This was St. bbSermo. 219. Tom. 10.Auguſtines obſervation long ago, recorded by ccCauſa 16. qu. 7.Gratian, ddDecret. Eccleſ. Gall. l. 6. T… 3. c. 19.3… ▪Bochellus with many others, and made good by many practical Experiments in former and latter ages: His words are theſe. Our Ancestors did therefore abound with plenty of all things, Becauſe they gave Tithes to God, and rendred Tribute to Caeſar. Modo autem quia deceſſerit Devotio Dei, acceſſit Indictio Fiſci. Nolumus partire cum Deo Decimas, modo tollitur totum. Hoc tollit fiſcus quod non accepit Chriſtus. That is, But now becauſe our devotion to God (in paying Tithes) is departed, the Sequeſtration of the Exchequer is come, (both on Tithes and Lands) We would not pay our Tithes unto God, now the whole is taken away (in Taxes and Sequeſtrations) The Exchequer ſweeps away that which Chriſt doth not receive. And how many have found this true in our dayes, by Sequeſtrators and Swordmen, who have ſequeſtr…d all the Profits of their Lands, as well as their Tithes, and the Miniſters Tithes and Glebes to boot? He p. 91addes. This is a moſt just Cuſtome, that if thou wilt not give God his Tenth, thou ſhalt be reduced to a Tenth of thy Eſtate, Et dabis impio militi, quod non vis dare Deo et ſacerdoti; and thou ſhalt be forced to give that to a wicked Souldier, which thou wilt not give to God and thy Pious Miniſter. This the whole Synod. of Lingon in France, Anno 1404. declared for, and obſerved as a truth in thoſe daies. And Angelus de Clavaſio in his Summa Angelica Tit. Decima ſect. 20. in his time. Petrus Bleſenſis, Arch-Deacon of Bath (who flouriſhed about the year of our Lord 1160.) writes thus to the Ciſtertian Monks, who had then procured from the Pope, a Bull of Exemption from paying Tithes out of the Lands and Poſſeſsions of their Order, Epiſt. 82. ad Ciſtercienſes. You know that Covetouſneſs is the root of all Evil: yet it is ſaid, and we relate it with tears, that this Mother of Tranſgreſſion, this Miſtris of Ambition, this Captain (or Ringleader) of Iniquity, this Wagoner of Miſchief, this Cutthroat of Ʋertues, this Original of Sedition, this Sink of Scandals, hath dared to break in even to your Congregation; the Ʋotes and Tongues of all men would be looſened into the commendation of your Sanctity, if you did not forcibly ſnatch away that which is anothers; If you did not take away Tithes from Clergy-men. This is a Convectio (or Rapine) little enough, but that which doth not a little diſhoneſt your life. By the Teſtimony of the Scriptures, they are the Tributes of needy Souls. And what is this injurious Immunity that you ſhould be exempted from the payment of Tithes to which the Lands were ſubject, before they were yours, and which are hitherto rendered to Churches, not out of reſpect of Perſons, but by conſent of the Territory (mark now the juſt puniſhment upon them, for this their Covetouſneſs and exemption from Tithe-paying) Milites Galliarum ſibi jus Decimarum uſurpant, &c. The Souldiers of France uſurp to themſelves the Right of Tithes, and have no regard of your Privileges: Eas a vobis potenter extorquent: They extort them from you by the Power of the Sword. Adverſus eos debetis inſurgere, non adverſus Clericos, aut Eccleſiaſticos Clericos. You ought to riſe up againſt them, but not againſt Clergy-men, Or the Churches of Clergy-men. Laurentius Bochellus recites p. 92& inſerts it into his Decret. Eccleſ. Gall. l 6. Tit. 8. c. 19. p. 966. printed An. 1609. From which Authorities, I muſt tel all Country Farmers and others, now buſling to exempt themſelves by the power of the Souldiers from paying their antient due ſetled Tithes to their Miniſters, that they ſhall at laſt but only change the hand, and be enforced to pay Tithes with a Witneſs to the Souldiers, even by obtaining their deſires. Whiles I was a late cloſe Priſoner in Pendennys Caſtle in Cornwall under Souldiers (I never yet knew why) I heard ſome Officers there (who had purchaſed Crown-lands in Cornwall, not for Mony, but Arrears of pay) amongſt other their New Projects oft times peremptorily ſaying, We will have all Tithes put down; Whereupon I told them, they ſhould have done well to have added Saint James his adviſe to their peremptory words and wills; which he much cenſures; by ſaying, as they ought to do: If the Lord will, we will do this or that, James 4.13, 14, 15, 16. Which I thought they durst or could not ſubjoyn to their former words, becauſe it was both againſt the will and command of God, that Miniſters Tithes ſhould be put down, eſpecially by Souldiers, who received far above the tenth part of them in Monthly Taxes for their pay; and from whoſe practice of receiving conſtant pay for their Military ſervice, the Apoſtle proves the lawfulneſs of Miniſters Tithes and Salaries under the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.7. After which diſcourſing merrily with them, I told them, I conceived the true reaſon, why they and other Officers formerly for Tithes and Miniſters, were now ſo eager againſt both, was, becauſe most of them had lately purchaſed ſo much Crown, Biſhops, Deans, and Chapters Lands charged with Tithes, that now out of mere covetouſneſs they would pull down Tithes, to hook them into their own Purſes from the Miniſters, and though they were never purchaſed by them in their particulars to improve their over cheap Purchaſes, to the higheſt Advantage; and becauſe others ſhould not blame them for it, they turned Preachers themſelves, that they might claim ſome ſeeming Right to their own and others Tithes, and ſave the charges of a Miniſter. At which they gave a ſilent bluſhing Smile, without a Reply. Not long after, about the beginning of January laſt there came a Petition ready drawn to the Caſtle, from the General Council of the Army-Officers, ſitting at St. James's (as the Souldiers themſelves informed me) directed p. 93to thoſe, who then were ſtiled, The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England, and Supream Authority of the Nation: though thoſe who ſent it knew the contrary, the Supream Power lay in others hands; The effect of which Petition was, For the total Abolition of Tithes of all ſorts, as a Jewiſh and Antichriſtian Bondage and Burden on the Eſtates and Conſciences of the Godly; and that for the future they and the People might not be inſnared or oppreſſed with Tithes, or any forced Maintenance to the Miniſters, or any thing like it in the ſtead thereof. This Petition all the Officers and Souldiers in the Garriſon by beat of Drum, upon the change of the Gards, were ſummoned three ſeveral Mornings, (juſt before my Chamber window) to ſubſcribe, together with a Printed Letter ſent from the ſaid Council of Officers, to all the Garriſons and Souldiers in England. Scotland, and Ireland, concerning the heads of their Intentions and Deſigns then on foot (and ſince executed) deſiring their opinions of, and concurrence with them therein by their Subſcriptions. This Letter with the Petition againſt Tithes, were both read together to the Souldiers three ſeveral mornings, who at the cloſe every morning, gave two or three great ſhouts; and afterwards ſubſcribed both the Letter and Petition. One Enſign and two common Souldiers (who had formerly read the Worcester Petition for Tithes, which this was to countermine) though they readily ſubſcribed the Letter, yet refuſed to ſign the Petition; becauſe they thought it very unreaſonable to take away Miniſters Tithes altogether, and provide no other maintenance in lieu of them; for which they were threatned to be turned out of the Garriſon and caſhiered ere long (as I was informed by other Souldiers) all the reſt ſubſcribed it, and divers of them againſt their Conſciences (as they confeſſed to me) becauſe they durſt not diſpleaſe their Officers, nor thoſe who ſent it to them. Some Officers and Souldiers of the Caſtle (who were moſt againſt all publick Ordinances and Miniſters, never reſorting even to their own meetings, and unordained ſpeaking Chaplains in the Caſtle) were ſent and imployed into the Country to get Country-mens Subſcriptions to the Petition againſt Tithes, in the name of the Well-affected Godly people in the County of Cornwall; as if it proceeded from the Country-men, not the Officers p. 94and Souldiers. In which ſervice, theſe active ſtirring Spirits were very induſtrious in all parts to procure hands to this Petition, ſeducing divers to ſubſcribe it, by miſinforming them, That it was only againſt Impropriators Tithes; which ſome honeſt Religious Gentlemen, ſubſtantial Freeholders, and Grand Jury-men of the Country being informed of, drew up a Petition (in the name of the Gentry, Freeholders, and others of the County, for the continuance of Tithes and Miniſters ſetled Maintenance, ſubſcribed with many hands, and preſented by the grand Jury men to the Juſtices at their General Quarter Seſsions, to ſend up to thoſe then in power, as the deſire of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and the Generality of the County) which Petition (as I have been informed) was preſented accordingly by one of the Juſtices, by Order from the Bench, though one of his Companions when it was delivered by the Grand Jury to him to preſent to the Bench, had the impudence to tear the Petition in pieces in open Court, before he acquainted his Aſſociates with it; for which he received a publick check. After the Souldiers Subſcription of the foreſaid Petition againſt Tithes in the Caſtle, the like whereunto (as ſome Souldiers acquainted me) was ſent to moſt other Garriſons and Counties to ſubſcribe, (by which we ſee whence ſuch and other Petitions originally ſpring) I demanding the reaſon (of two or three Souldiers who were ingenuous) why they were ſo eager againſt Miniſters Tithes, ſince they were (Spiritual) Souldiers as well as they, and themſelves received above the Tithes of their Tithes in Taxes for their pay? Who returned me this blunt clamorous Anſwer, That they conceived the true reaſon of it was, that their Officers intended to have the Tithes themſelves, or at leaſt the full value of them IN TAXES for their pay; that ſo the people much impoveriſhed and complaining of their heavy Taxes, might be able to hold out the longer to pay them, being ſeemingly eaſed by the Souldiers in their Tithes, though they took them all out again in their increaſed Monthly Contributions; and that this was the private talk and opinion they had of this Petition amongſt themſelves, but they must not ſpeak of it in publick to any. I am not apt to be ſuſpicious of any mens Actions or Deſigns, unleſſe I ſee ſome probable grounds of Inducement; but if this be one principal Deſign of the Officers and Souldiers p. 95preſent ſtickling againſt Miniſters Tithes, to get them into their own hands in kind, (as they have done much of the Biſhops, Deans, Chapters and Crown-lands, & the reſt in monies in their Sales for their Arrears & pay) or at leaſt to fetch them out of the Peoples Purſes in doubled or augmented Taxes, equivalent to their Tithes in value, or exceeding them, (as the premiſes perſwade me to incline to) the Eaſe and Gain either promiſed to, or expected by the People upon the aboliſhing of Tithes, wil prove but a mere Deluſion and Cheat at laſt; and inſtead of eaſing them, will only double, treble and augment their heavy intollerable Taxes (now impoſed and diſpoſed too by the Souldiers themſelves alone, beyond all Preſidents of former Ages, or Kings of the worſt edition) and continue them the longer on their broken Eſtates and drained Purſes. Which will be but a moſt juſt, deſerved Divine puniſhment on them, for detaining their Miniſters Tithes, as the forecited Authors reſolve. Whereas if theſe Saint-ſeeming Officers and Souldiers, ſo much pretending the peoples eaſe and weal, would caſt off the veil of Diſſimulati…n, and really eaſe the people in good earneſt out of Conſcience and Juſtice, they ſhould do it, as I told them, by disbanding all unneceſſary Garriſons (mere uſeleſs Toyes to ſecure the Country either from an invading or pillaging Enemy by Sea or Land, as I have made many Garriſon-Souldiers acknowledge by unanſwerable Demonſtrations) disband their long-continued Army and Forces, kept up on the peoples drained Purſes to their undoing (for what ends the very blindeſt men now ſee) put the peoples neceſſary defence when there is occaſion into their own hands and elected Militia, and aboliſh all theſe heavy inceſſant Monthly Contributions, Taxes, Exciſes ſo long continued on them, to maintain the Army and inrich the Officers; being the Peoples ſoreſt Grievance (not Miniſters Tithes, which few count a Burden, and then upon mere Miſtakes) which late created Monſters, (unknown to our Fore-Fathers, who knew none but Tenths, Fifteenths, and Subſidies duly granted, one or two in ſeveral years) will in ſhort time eat out not only our Miniſters and Peoples Tithes, but the remaining Nine parts too, and leave them moſt miſerable Beggers in concluſion, without any Food or Proviſion p. 96for their Souls or Bodies: and no other Magiſtracy, Miniſtry, Government, Laws, Liberties, Privileges, but what the Army-Officers and Souldiers, (their late pretended humble Servants, but now their Supream Lords and Maſters) ſhall out of their mere Grace and Favour allow them, as their conquered Ʋaſſals, as many of them are not aſhamed even publickly in my hearing, as well as others, for to ſtile our own enſlaved Nation, as well as Scots and Iriſh. And then they ſhall all lament their folly when too late, in concurring with theſe Swordmen to aboliſh their Miniſters Tithes, in the old Poets Elegie, in a like eaſe as ours,

Impius haec tam culta novalia Miles habebit?

Barbarus has Segetes? En quò diſcordia Cives

Perdurit miſeros! En queis conſevimus Agros!

aaSuidas in Leone.Suidas records of Leo the Emperour, that when on a time he commanded Eulogius a learned Philoſopher ſhould have a Liberal Princely Reward bestowed on him▪ A great Officer and Courtier ſtanding by ſaid, That mony would be better bestowed for the maintenance of Souldiers. To which the Emperor replyed, Nay, I would rather it might be brought to paſs in my time, That the Riches now beſtowed upon Souldiers, might be given to maintain Philoſophers. And I ſuppoſe all rational wiſe men now will be of the ſame mind concerning Ministers, and rather they ſhould enjoy their Tithes and Glebes, than Souldiers and Buff-Preachers. All which out of true Affection to our Miniſtry and my Native Country, without any private deſign to ſcandalize the Souldiers, I ſubmit to all prudent mens conſideration, who by this will be able to judge of the truth of this Propoſition, without further proof.

In the bbA thing formerly propoſed by them in their Agreement of the People, preſented to the Commons Houſe, Jan. 20. 1649. p. 24.Officers printed Propoſals, Auguſt 13. 1652. to thoſe they then ſtiled, the Supream Power of the Nation; I found the firſt of all to be, The aboliſhing of all Tithes, as an unequal, troubleſom and contentious way of Maintenance, reſpect being had therein to others Rights, but not to the Miniſters: who have the only true, proper, legal Right unto them; and this to propagate the preaching of the Goſpel. I p. 97profeſs when I read it in the Diurnal, I told ſome Souldiers who brought it me to read in Pendennys, 1. I could not poſſibly conceive, that the putting down of Miniſters Tithes, ſhould be a means to propagate the preaching of the Goſpel, but rather to ſuppreſs it, the very Scripture reſolving the contrary, Neh. 13.10, 11, 12. and 2 Chron. 31.3, &c. and the Heathen Poet concluding, Quis enim virtutem amplectitur ipſam, Praemia ſi tollas? 2ly. That I wondred men profeſsing Conſcience, Juſtice and Religion, ſhould have more regard to Impropriators and others Rights to Tithes, who had no original right at all unto them, but only by Popes Bulls and Diſpenſations, and did no ſervice for them, without any ſpecial regard to Miniſters Rights, who had only a due and true Divine and human Right to them, and received them as due wages for their Miniſtry: I doubted, the only cauſe was, becauſe they or ſome of their Friends were owners of Leſſees of ſome Impropriations, which they were loath to part with for the Peoples eaſe, or give in to the Church, without a conſiderable Recompence. 3ly. That the ſuggeſtion of the unequal, troubleſom and contentious way of Tithes, was a very ſtrange and daring Objection againſt the very wiſedom and Juſtice of God, who inſtituted and preſcribed them to his own choſen people: againſt the wiſdom, juſtice, prudence of our own, and all other Chriſtian Kings, States, Parliaments, Churches, that have at firſt pitched upon, and ſo long continued, eſtabliſhed by ſucceſsive Laws and Edicts this way of Maintenance as moſt equal; rich and poor paying a Tenth alike according to the greatneſs or ſmallneſs of their Eſtates, and the poor Farmer and Tenant paying them out of his Landlords Eſtate, as allowed in his Rent or Fine, not out of his own private purſe alone, being more equal than any Taxes or Exciſes for the Armies pay. As leaſt troubleſom to the Miniſters at leaſt, who were only at the coſt and trouble to carry in their Tithes at Harveſt, when cut and ſevered from the Crop to their hands, to prevent the trouble of plowing, ſowing, weeding, mowing, reaping, gathering, which might divert them from their Studies and Miniſtry: And as little troubleſom, or not overtroubleſom at leaſt, it is to the Husbandman, who ſows, p. 98cuts and makes it up together with his own, and then only ſevers it out, and is not now bound to carry it into his Miniſters Barn, much leſs to threſh, cleanſe and ſever his Corn, Wine or Oyl, and other Tithes, and carry it to Hieruſalem…, and the Treaſuries of the Prieſts and Levites at his own coſt; as the aaDeut. 12.17, 18. Neh. 13.12, 19. 2 Chro. 31.5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Purchaſe Pilgrimage. l. 2. c. 7. p. 130, 131.Deut 12:17Deut 12:18Neh 13:12Neh 13:192 Chr 31:52 Chr 31:62 Chr 31:72 Chr 31:82 Chr 31:9Iſraelites were obliged by God to do: which theſe Officers (had they lived amongſt them, and payed a ſecond Tenth, as well as a firſt, and firſt-fruits beſides) would have petitioned God himſelf to aboliſh, as a troubleſome way of Maintenance, which they could not brook, though the godly Iſraelites and Jews repined not againſt it, but chearfully brought up their Tithes to the Prieſts Treaſuries as they were enjoyned. And as no waies contentious or litigious in it ſelf, were people as juſt and conſcionable to pay their Tithes, there being many Pariſhes in England, (and that wherein I live one) wherein I never heard of any ſute or quarrel betwixt the Miniſters and Pariſhioners for Tithes, there being farre more ſutes and contentions for juſt Rents, Annuities and Debts throughout the Nation than for Tithes (at leaſt ten for one in proportion) before theſe late contentious Lawleſs times, when many unconſcionable, unrighteous Wretches (pretending Religion, to cover their fraud, covetouſneſs and oppreſſion) will pretend Conſcience for not paying their very Rents, and Debts, as well as Tithes: And ſuch who have ſo little grace or fear of God as to contend with their Miniſters for their juſt Tithes, will be altogether Litigious towards them, for any other Annuity, or ſetled way of Maintenance that can be deviſed in lieu of Tithes, ſeeing nothing will content ſuch perverſe and contentious Wretches, but a Liberty to pay their Miniſters only what they pleaſe, and that in concluſion ſhall be juſt nothing, as their ſubſequent Petitions and preſent Practices now manifeſt to God, Angels and men. And I doubt the Change of this antient, known, long approved certain Maintenance by Tithes, to any other certain or uncertain way, will create more ſutes and troubles among people, than ever our Tithes did ſince their firſt inſtitution. This was my ſubitan opinion of their Propoſition, when I firſt read it; and p. 99ſhall ſerve for a publick anſwer to it now, if any inſiſt upon it to prove Tithes inconvenient and burdenſom to the People, and therefore ſit to be totally aboliſhed.

The main Objection,Object. I ever yet aaThis Objection I finde recited in the Council of Lingon Anno 1404. & there Anſwered. Bochellus Decret. Eccleſ. Gall. p. 963.read or heard againſt Tithes, is this, That Tithes are a great diſcouragement and hindrance to Husbandmens induſtry and improvements; ſince Miniſters must have not only the Tenths of their Lands, as they found them, but likewiſe of their Crop, Labour, Induſtry and Improvements, which is now (writes Canne and others more largely) one of the ſoreſt Burthens and greateſt Oppreſſions and Tyranny that lies upon them, and diſcourages many from improving the Lands to the publick prejudice.

I anſwer,Anſw. 1. That this Objection no waies concerns Soldiers, Weavers, Tailors, Tradeſmen, Townſmen and other Mechanicks, who are the moſt and greateſt Sticklers and Petitioners againſt Tithes; but only Husbandmen and Countrey Gentlemen and Farmers living upon Tillage, very few of which (not one of a thouſand) ever yet petitioned againſt Tithes, as ſuch a grievous Oppreſſion (at leaſtwiſe as a Farmer) for the burdenſomneſs of Tithes, but only as an Anabaptiſt, or other Sectary, out of hatred and oppoſition to our Miniſters Callings or Perſons. And till the Generality or Major part of the Gentry, Yeomanry and Country Farmers in each County Petition and declare againſt their Predial Tithes as ſuch an intollerable Grievance, no Officers, Soldiers, Citizens, Anabaptiſtical Mechanicks, and buſie-bodies in other mens Callings and Grievances which concern them not, are no waies to be heard, countenanced or credited in this particular, by any Powers whatſoever in point of Juſtice or Prudence. 2ly. The payment of Tithes, never yet diſcouraged any Perſon, either in the Land of Canaan, England, or other Countreys, (at leaſt not any conſiderable number of men, or any that had either true Wiſdome, grace, honeſty, or love to God and the Miniſtrey) from any ſort of Tillage or improvement whatſoever out of which Tithes are paid, the gain by the good husbandry and improvement being abundantly recompenced in the nine Parts, over and above the Tithes. And therefore till the Objectors can make good p. 100their allegation, by preſidents of conſiderable number of wiſe, godly men and others, diſcouraged from Tillage and Improvements meerly by the payment of Predial Tithes out of them, in all former ages, or of late years, to the real prejudice of the Publick, (which they can never do) this grand Objection againſt Tithes muſt be decried, both as Fabulous and Ridiculous, yea as Scandalous: The late Petition of the Corniſh Gentlemen, Farmers and Yeomen (where ſuch improvements are moſt made to their great Charge) for the continuance of Tithes, being a ſufficient Evidence to prove it ſuch. 3ly. It is obſervable, that the Petitioners againſt Tithes upon this ground, are as eager aaSee the Levelers New Printed paper intituled, Englands Fundamentall Laws and Liberties claimed, &c. and many Petitions of late.Writers and Petitioners againſt all antient Cuſtoms, Tonnage, Poundage, and uſual moderate Impoſitions upon Merchandize imported or exported, for the neceſſary defence of the Sea and Trading (amounting to as much upon every pound of Merchandize, as Tithes do upon Huſbandmens Tillage and Improvements, the charges of the Fraight, Tranſportation and Cuſtoms in forein parts conſidered, and to far more and that as a very great diſcouragement to Merchandize and Trading. Which as all wiſe men know to be a mere fabulous untruth, contrary to the experience of all States, Kingdoms, Republicks in the World, and of Holland it ſelf, ſubſiſting by Merchandize, where they pay as high Customs or higher, than bbSee all Acts for Tonnage Poundage and Impoſitions, Mr. Hackwels argument againſt Impoſitions, Cooks 2. Inſtit. p. 58, 59, to 64.our antient Legal Merchants Duties to the State amount to, which never made any Merchants to give over trading; (So if, when, and where rightly impoſed, managed, they are the greateſt encouragements of Trade and Merchandize, by Guarding the Seas, and ſecuring Traders againſt Enemies and Pirates, the only encouragement to Merchant-Adventurers; who muſt and will all give over trading, when they cannot ſafely put to Sea without apparent loſſe of all they trade for, by Enemies or Pirates. And therefore this clamourous Objection againſt Tithes ſhould have no more weight with Wiſemen to ſuppreſs them; than their idle clamour againſt all old Legal Cuſtoms, Rates and Duties for the neceſſary defence of the Sea and Trade, to abrogate them altogether, to the ruine both of our Traffique, Navy, and Merchants too that pay them. 4ly. This Objection is directly made againſt the providence, wiſdom, and policy of p. 101God himſelf, who preſcribed Tithes amongſt his own people out of all their Tillage and Improvements; and knew it would be no impediment to them, his bbMal. 3.5, 10, 11, 12. See Auguſtine Sermo. 219.Mal 3:5Mal 3:10Mal 3:11Mal 3:12Bleſsing promiſed to their payment of Tithes, being a greater improvement to them in their Crops, than all their extraordinary coſt and pains amounted to: Wherefore it can be no impediment or diſcouragement to any real Saints good Husbandry or Improvement now; who deſerves to reap no benefit by his Labour or Improvements, if God himſelf ſhall have no ſhare or portion out of them for the maintenance of his publick worſhip and Miniſters. 5ly. If there were any truth or ſtrength in this Objection, yet it extends not unto all tithes, but only to ſuch as are paid out of extraordinary chargeable Improvements; as to make mere barren Heath, Ling and Sands, out of which no former profits naturally grew, manurable for Corn or Paſture, Tillage and Meadows, Woods, out of which moſt predial Tithes ariſe; So there is a ſufficient remedy againſt this pretended Miſchief already provided in the beſt and stricteſt Statute made by the beſt of our Proteſtant Kings, for the true payment of Tithes, at the beginning our Reformation, when Popery was baniſhed in the Parliament of 2 E. 6. c. 13. which provides, That all ſuch barren Heath, or waſte Grounds, which before that time have lyen barren, and paid no Tithes by reaſon of the ſaid barronneſs, and now be, or hereafter ſhall be improved or converted into arable Ground or Meadow, ſhall from henceforth after the term and end of ſeven years, next after ſuch Improvement fully ended and determined, pay Tithe of the Corn and Hay growing on the ſame, and be diſcharged in the interim, as the words import, and our Judges have expounded it. All which conſidered, this Objection muſt be henceforth exploded and LEVELLED to the ground.

Now becauſe I find a clear Deſign and Endeavour in ſundry Anabaptists, Officers, Souldiers, if they cannot prevail to put down Tithes upon other pretexts, yet to rob the Miniſters of them at preſent, if not in perpetuity, upon this pretence, to ſequeſter and convert them to the uſe of the Army, for the pretended eaſe of the people in their future taxes. I ſhal for the cloze of this Propoſition, and prevention of this deteſtable impious Sacrilegious plot againſt our Miniſters and Religion too, p. 102propound and anſwer all ſuch ſpecious Arguments, Pretences, as may be produced by them to delude the people, veil over the execrable Impiety, and take off the odium of this prodigious Villany.

Firſt, they may and will ſuggeſt, that they have ſome ancient punctual Preſidents to warrant, countenance, juſtifie this their Project. As namely, the practical example of Charles Martel King of France, who (about the year of our Lord, 730. as the Marginal aaGul. Malmeſburienſis, De Geſtis Regum Angl. l. 1. c. 4. Juocus Chron. in Carolo Simplici. Cent. Magd. 8. c. 7. & 9. Dr. Tilleſly in his Animadverſions on Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes, p. 64, to 69.Authors report) having perpetual wars, and ſeldom or never peace in his Kingdom, Ideo res Eccleſiarum ſuis Militibus in ſtipendium contulit maxima ex parte; did thereupon beſtow the Lands, Revenues, Rents, and Tithes too (as the Act of Reſtitution with others prove) of Pariſh-Churches, Monaſteries, Biſhops, Deans and Chapters upon his Souldiers for their Pay and Arrears; for the greateſt part: And ſurely upon a very Godly and juſt reaſon (as John Canne, and ſome Army-Officers will ſwear) thus expreſſed in his Decree recorded inbbTom. 3. p. 648. Goldaſtus and Mr.ccReview, p. 466. Selden: ut ſubveniatur neceſſitatibus Publicis, et Salariis Militum, pro Dei Eccleſiae & bono ſtatu Reipublicae, & uniuſcujuſque propria pace pugnantium: That he might relieve the Publick Neceſſities, and pay and reward the Souldiers fighting for the Church of God, and the good of the State of the Common-wealth, and the proper peace of every one: as our Officers and Souldiers now ſay they do. And is it not then moſt juſt they ſhould have all the Lands, Glebes, and Tithes of the Church, King, Common-wealth, and of every particular Perſon too, who have fought all this while for them and their defence? To this they may chance to adde, the Preſident of the aaExtravag. De Decimis, c. 10. Joannes Sarisbur. De Nugis Curialium, l. 7. c. 21. Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes, c. 6. p. 120, 121.Templers and Hoſpitalers, who being no part of the Clergy, but Religious Souldiers, imployed only to fight in the defence of the Church, were by ſpecial Bulls and Grants of ſeveral Popes exempted from paying any Tithes at all to any Ministers out of the Lands belonging to their ſeveral Orders, Becauſe they fought for the Church againſt her Enemies, as Turks, Saracens, and other Infidels. Therefore there is great reaſon, equity all our Officers and Souldiers who have lately fought, or are now or hereafter fighting for the Church againſt her Enemies and Malignants, ſhould be totally and finally discharged from paying any p. 103Tithes at all out of their Old or New Purchaſed Lands, Leaſes, Cattel, Eſtates, Spoyls, Pay or other increaſe. Beſides, moſt of our Army-Officers, and very many of the Souldiers, are extraordinarily gifted, inſpired from Heaven, and conſtant Speakers or Preachers bbCannes 2d. voyce from the Temple, p. 24, &c.tranſcending all Black-coated Ministers, yea the undoubted new Ministers and Prieſts of Jeſus Chriſt, as many deem them; So as they may be truly ſtiled cc1 Pet. 2.5, 9.1 Pet 2:51 Pet 2:9a choſen Generation, a Roy… Prieſthood, yea Army of Prieſts, being ddRev. 1.5.Rev 1:5made Kings and Prieſts by Chriſt himſelf to God the Father: as John Canne hath publiſhed in his Voyce, p. 24, 27, 28, 29. Therefore they may not only enter into our Miniſters Churches, Pulpits, and diſpoſſeſs them of them (as he there aſſerts and preſſeth them to put in execution;) but be capable in right, equity, juſtice, to receive all their Tithes to their own uſe: Nay one ſtep more, John Canne in his Ʋoyce, p. 27. thus peremptorily concludes, I will affirm, and abide by it; ſince it hath pleaſed the Lord to draw out the hearts of ſome Souldiers and others, (who were never brought up at Univerſities to learning) publickly to preach, (which is not above 10, or 12. years) the People of this Common-wealth have had more true Light and glorious Diſcoveries of Chriſt and his Kingdom, than all the Nations Miniſters ever before made known to them, ſince firſt they took their calling from the Sea of Rome, till this Day. On the contrary, the greateſt Hereſies and Blaſphemies which have been in the world have been broached by Miniſters (and Scholars) whereas Lay-men at the ſame time have been ſound in the Faith, and zealouſly earneſt againſt ſuch abominable Doctrines. Therefore there is juſt ground that both our Ʋniverſities, and all Colleges for Advancement of Learning, ſhould be ſuppreſſed as the very poyſon, bane, ſubverſion of Religion, Church and Common-wealths, (as ſome Souldiers and the Anabaptiſts generally deem them) and their Lands (as well as Biſhops, Deans, Chapters, and Miniſters Glebes and Tithes) ſold or conferred on the Officers and Souldiers, of the Army for their better encouragement, reward and ſupportation, to propagate defend Religion and the Common wealth: A deſign now eagerly proſecuted by ſome.

To which let them receive this Anſwer before hand, ſince p. 104I intend not any future Treatiſe of this nature, 1. That I never read of any pious Generals, Armies, Officers, or Souldiers in Scripture (the aaGal. 6.16. 1 Cor. 15.1, 2, 3.Gal 6:161 Cor 15:11 Cor 15:21 Cor 15:3rule of Faith and Manners) that ſpoyled the Church or Miniſters of their Lands and Tithes to maintain their wars, or enrich, reward themſelves; but we find it expreſly recorded of bbGen. 14.20. Hebr. 7.2, 4, &c.Gen 14:20Heb 7:2Heb 7:4Abraham, the Father of all the Faithfull, that he paid Tithes even of the Spoyls of the firſt Wars, to the firſt P…ſt we find in Scripture, unto Chriſt himſelf, both in the Old and New Teſtament, for other Chriſtian Souldiers imitation. The like we read of cc1 Chron. 26.26, 27, 28.1 Chr 26:261 Chr 26:271 Chr 26:28David, and all his Officers, Captains of the Army, with ſundry others fore-cited; whoſe Preſidents are more obliging and commendable than Charles Martels. 2ly. That it was the Cuſtom, uſe and pious practice of many Pagan Warlike Nations, as the Romans, Graecians, Carthaginians, Tyrians, Saxons to do the like, who conſecrated the Tenths of all their Spoyls to their Idol-Gods and Prieſts, as we may read at large in Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes and Review, c. 3. and in Mr. Richard Mountague his Diatribe thereon, ch. 3. Therefore they are worſe than Pagans who neglect not only to pay their Miniſters the Tenth of their Spoyls, but will even ſpoyl them of their Glebes and Tithes beſides. 3ly. It is very obſervable (and let our Souldiers and Officers conſider it in good earneſt) That God himſelf ſpecially conſecrated and devoted the future Spoyls, a Sacrifice for and to himſelf, and all the Spoyls, City of Jericho (the very firſt City taken by the Iſraelites in the Land of Canaan) as a ſacred Firſt-fruits and kind of Tenth for the uſe of his Sanctuary and Prieſts, in theſe memorable words, Joſh. 6.17, 18, 19. And the City ſhall be devoted, even it and all that is therein (except Rahab and her Family and Houſe) to the Lord, and you in any wiſe keep your ſelves from the devoted thing, leſt you make your ſelves accurſed, when ye take of the devoted thing, and make the Camp of Iſrael a curſe and trouble it. But all the Silver and Gold and Veſſels of Braſs and Iron are conſecrated unto the Lord, they ſhall come into the Treaſury of the Houſe of the Lord. Whereupon when the City was taken, they burnt it and all that was in it (as a Sacrifice to the Lord) But the Silver and Gold and the Veſſels of Braſs p. 105and of Iron, they put into the Treaſury of the Houſe of the Lord, v. 24. But Acban (a covetous plundring Souldier) ſeeing among the rich Spoyls of the City a goodly Babyloniſh Garment, and two hundred Shekels of Silver, and a wedge of Gold, coveted, took and hid them in the midſt of his Tent ; which ſo much kindled the Anger of God againſt the Children of Iſrael for this his Treſpaſs in theſe devoted things; That they were preſently ſmitten before their Enemies of Ai, and fled before them. Whereupon Joſhua their General and chief Governour humbling himſelf before God, and requiring the cauſe of this ill ſucceſs; God returned him this Anſwer, Iſrael hath ſinned, and they alſo have tranſgreſſed my Covenant which I commanded them; for they have taken of the devoted thing, and have alſo ſtollen and diſſembled alſo, and they have alſo put it among their own ſtuff. Therefore the children of Iſrael could not ſtand before their Enemies, but turned their backs before Enemies, Becauſe they were accurſed, neither will I go with you any more. O Iſrael thou canſt not ſtand before thine Enemies, untill thou haſt taken away the accurſed devoted thing from among you. Whereupon this Sacrilegious Robbery of Achan being diſcovered by Lot and his own Confeſsion; and hid ſtoln Plunder devoted to God taken forth of his Tent, and powred out before the Lord in the preſence of Joſhua, and all the Children of Iſrael: Joſhua paſſed this Judgement againſt him for his Sacrilege, Why haſt thou troubled Iſrael? the Lord ſhall trouble thee this day: and all Iſrael ſtoned him with Stones, and they burned them with fire (as a devoted Sacrifice to God) after they had ſtoned him with stones. And they raiſed over him a great heap of ſtones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceneſſe of his Anger. Wherefore the place is called the Ʋalley of Achor (that is Trouble) to this day. And when Hiel, many hundred years after in Idolatrous Ahabs daies, would needs ſeize upon the devoted Spoyl of Jericho, and build it again for his own habitation; he laid the Foundation thereof in his firſt-born Abiram, and ſet up the Gates thereof in his youngest Son Segub, (that is, God deſtroyed, and cut off all his Poſterity before the Gates were ſet up, and the Building finiſhed) according to the word of the Lord, which he ſpake by Joſhua the Son of Nun; as we read at large, Joſh. 7. p. 106throughout, 1 Kings 16.34. and Joſh. 6.16. I read of aaHerodotus, l. 5. c. 25. Valerius Maximus, l. 5. c. 3. Diodorus, An. 4. Olymp. 98. Dr. Vſher Annales Veteris Teſtamenti, p. 260.Ataxerxes, that (in imitation of Cambyſes before him) he cauſed ſome Judges (betraying their Truſts, like bbSee Holinſhed, Speed, and others. 10, & 11 R. 2. Mr. St. Johns Speech againſt the Shipmony-Judges.Treſylian of old, and too many of late) to be excoriated alive, and their Skins to be hanged up round about the Tribunals, that the other Judges ſitting upon them might have an example hanging before their eyes, what puniſhment the pravity of Iudges did demerit. I deſire all Souldiers, Officers, and Sacrilegious Anabaptiſts, would hang up theſe Skins and Examples of Achan and Hiel before their eyes, recorded in ſacred Writ: and then make this uſe and application to themſelves of them. If Achan for ſtealing away only a Babyloniſh Garment and a few Shekles of Silver and Gold of the very Spoyls of Iericho devoted to the ſervice or Treaſury of the Houſe of the Lord, brought ſo much wrath, miſery upon the whole Nation, and Camps of Iſrael, and ſuch a fatal death and exemplary puniſhment upon himſelf; and Hiel only for building upon the ruines of the Soyl of this devoted City drew down ſudden Death and Destruction upon all his Sons and Poſterity; O what ſtrange exemplary wrath, vengeance, and judgements ſhall we then draw upon the whole Nation, Army, our Souls, Bodies and Poſterities to their utter extirpation, if inſtead of rendring unto God and his Miniſters the Tenth of our warlike Spoyls belonging of right unto them; we ſhall ſacrilegiouſly rob them not only of theſe Tenthes, and all other iſſuing out of our Lands and Eſtates, but even of all their other Glebes, Rectories, Tithes, Revenues; demoliſh the very Churches, Houſes, dedicated to Gods worſhip, or turn them into Houſes for us and our Poſterities to inhabit: and obſtinately, yea atheiſtically refuſe to take warning by their, and other ſacrilegious Perſons tragical examples? 4ly. Let thoſe who will imitate Charles Martels Preſident, remember 1. his puniſhment: aaGul. Malmesburi. De Geſtis Regum, l. 1. c. 4. Vita Eucherii apud Surium, Tom. 1.10. F. Gratian, Cauſ. 16. qu. 1. Edit. Gregoriana. Flodourdus Rhem. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 12. Juonis Chron. Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes, p. 51.465. Dr. Tilleſley, p. 67.Hiſtorians record, That for this his Sacrilege, he was ſmitten with a long and terrible Convulſion of all his Members whereof he died in great anguiſh: that Eucherius Biſhop. p. 107of Orleans in a Ʋiſion SAW HIM DAMNED FOR IT; and that upon ſearch made in his Tomb (by an Angels Admonition) it was alſo confirmed for truth, no relique of his Corps being found therein, but only a dreadfull Serpent. **Mat. … Flores … An. 853. …. 306.Apud Frances Carolus Martellus inſignis vir fortitudinis, exactis vitae ſue diebus in Eccleſia beati Dionyſii legitur eſſe Sepultus, ſed quia Patrimonia cum Decimis omnium fere Eccleſiarum Galliae, pro ſtipendio commilitonum ſuorum mutilaverat, miſerabiliter à malignis Spiritibus de Sepulchro corporaliter avulſus, uſque in hodiernum diem nuſquam comparuit; as Matthew Weſtminſter ſtories of him. 2ly. The cenſure paſſed againſt him for this Sacrilegious Robbery, by the Marginal Authors and others: eſpecially by Agobardus Biſhop of Lions, An. 828. in his Book **Bibliotheca Patrum, Tom. 9. pars 1. p. 600, 601.De Diſpenſatione, & Rei Eccleſiaſticae contra Sacrilegos, worthy the reading, who thus complains, p. 269. Nunc non ſolum poſſeſſiones Eccleſiaſticae, ſed ipſae etiam Eccleſiae cum poſſeſſionibus venundantur, &c. Which he condemns as deteſtable Sacrilege execrable to God and men: By Petrus Damianus, Anno 1060. l. 1. Epiſt. 11. where he gives this cenſure of his practice, and others: Inter omnia vero hic mala, Illud excedit, et Diabolicam fere modum videtur aequare nequittam. Quia pradiis in Militem profligatis, &c. Moreover among all wicked Acts, this exceedeth, and ſeems almoſt to equal the very wickedneſſe of the Devil, That all the Farms and Poſſeſsions of the Church being prodigally ſpent upon Souldiers, inſuper etiam et Decimae & plebes adduntur in Beneficium Secularibus: Moreover Tithes and people are likewiſe added and conferred on (theſe) Secular men for a reward: which in his lib. 4. Epiſt. 12. & lib. 5. Epiſt. 9. he ſtiles a great Sin, Sacrilege, and Prophanation of holy things; concluding, What is it to turn Tithes to the uſe of Souldiers and Secular men, niſi mortiferum iis virus, quo pereant, exhibere? but to give them deadly Poyſon whereby they may perith? Petrus Bleſenſis Arch-deacon of Bath: Epiſt. 82. & Joannis de Belith De Divinorum Officiorum Explicatione, c. 5. write much to the ſame effect; making it a greater Robbery and Sacrilege to take away Miniſters Tithes, though it be by the Popes own Bulls, than violently to take away and plunder Mens Horſes as they are riding or carting in the High way, and convert them to their proper uſe; as p. 108Souldiers uſe to do. 3ly. Let them remember, That Charles Martels immediate Succeſſors ſo much deteſted both his practice and Sacrilege, that byaaAventinus, Annal. Boyorum, l. 3. p. 179. Centur. Magd. 8. c. 7, & 9. Goldaſtus Conſtit. Imp. Tom. 1. p. 15. Dr. Tilleſley Animadverſions on Mr. Selden, p. 64, to 75.publick Edicts they decreed in theſe terms, That the Tithes and Eccleſiaſtical Lands and Goods ſeiſed upon by prophane Perſons, (ſo they ſtiled the Souldiers poſſeſsing them) ſhould be all reſtored: and ſo they were accordingly, and thoſe Harpyes robbed of their Sacrilegious prey. Let the late Purchaſers of ſuch Tithes and Lands remember it, and think of a poſsible, if not probable Act of Reſumption, in caſe they make no voluntary reſtitution.

4ly. Let them conſider the large Revenues the Popiſh Clergy at this day enjoy in France, amounting to above 12. Millions of Annual Rents, at a moderate value, beſides mony and oblations; as Bodine, Thuanus, Hiſt. l. 28. Ioannes de Laety Deſcriptio Galliae, c. 17, 18. record. To which I might adde the extraordinary great Revenues of the Popiſh Clergy in Spain, recorded by Lucius Marineus, Siculus, Ioannes de Laet, in his Hiſpaniae Deſcriptis, cap. 20. & Jo. Boterus in his Hiſt. Univerſalis, and of the Popiſh Clergy in the Kingdom of Naples in Italy, regiſtred by Thomas Segethus, De Principibus Italiae, p. 121. Which they ſtill enjoy, notwithſtanding their manifold Wars, without ſale or Diminution for their Soldiers pay. And will it not be an intollerable Impiety, Sacrilege, diſhonor for Proteſtant Souldiers, and our new Republick, not to allow our Miniſters ſo much as their inconſiderable remaining Rectories, Glebes, Tithes, to ſupport our Religion, and inſtruct and ſave the Peoples Souls?

5ly. The reaſon rendred by Martel and others, That the Officers and Souldiers deſerve the Lands and Tithes of the Church and Ministers, becauſe they fight for the defence of the Church, is very ſtrange, and juſt the ſelf-ſeeking Plea and Practice of ſundry of our Officers and Souldiers at this day, ſcarce to be parallel'd in any Age, 1. They were raiſed for the aaExact Collection. p. 340, 342, 376, 572, 631, 632, 641, 743. A Collection, p. 428, 8, 13, 41, 43, 44, 49, 51, 61, 64, 96, 99, 623, 696, 879. Appendix p. 15. and elſewhere.Defence and Preſervation of the late Kings Perſon, Poſterity, and juſt Rights of his Crown: Ergo in diſcharge of this Truſt they have moſt juſtly ſentenced, beheaded the King; outed, diſ-inherited his Poſterity; and ſeized upon all the Crown-Lands and Revenues in his three Kingdoms for their own uſe, pay, ſupport, p. 109reward and inheritance. 2ly. They were raiſed and fought for the preſervatirn and defence of the Kingdom, Parliament, and Members Privileges, and Laws and Liberties of England: Therefore they have juſtly by armed violence invaded, ſubverted them all, diſpoſed of all the Common wealth and Revenue of the Nation to themſelves and their Inſtruments to ſupport themſelves and their uſurped Arbitrary Power and Government over us; and may null and pull down not only our Old, but their own New-created Parliaments, and State-Councils (as they ſtile them) and change both Government & Governors at their pleaſure. 3ly. They fought for the particular Defence, Peace, Safety of every mans Perſon and Eſtate in our three Kingdoms: Therefore they may ſeize upon and diſpoſe of all their Perſons, Lands, Eſtates at their pleaſures, and impoſe what Taxes, Exciſes, Impoſts they liſt, and exerciſe a legiſlative abſolute Arbitrary and Tyrannical Power over them, without a lawfull Parliament, to eat them quite out of all, Laſtly, They fought for our Church, Miniſters, Religion: Ergo they may ſubvert them all, and ſeiſe upon all Church-Lands, Revenues, Rectories, Glebes, Tithes, yea Churches and Church-yards too, for to reward, ſupport and pay the Army; and poſſeſs themſelves of what ever our Anceſtors ſetled on the Church and Miniſters to inſtruct and ſave the Peoples Souls, as a juſt Salary for killing their Chriſtian Brethrens Bodies, and deſtroying the peoples Souls and Bodies too. Certainly the worſt Enemies they fought againſt, would not, could not have done worſe than this, nor yet ſo bad. This certainly is a Devaſtation, Deſtruction, not a Defence or Preſervation, of what they were rayſed and payed to protect, an Invaſion and Depredation, not a Patronage and Protection: a Remedy more deſtructive than the worſt Diſeaſe, War, Enemy, who could but have ſtript us of no more had they conquered us, than theſe our new armed Defenders of the Faith, Church, King, Parliament, Laws and Liberties have done or intend to do, as many fear. It was John Baptists Evangelical Precept to all Souldiers whatſoever, aaLuke 3.14.Luke 3:14Do violence to none, (in Perſon, Lands, or Eſtate; much leſſe to Miniſters privileged by the Law of War from Violence:) and to be content p. 110with their Wages: without ſeiſing, ſequeſtring, invading the Lands, Eſtates, Glebes, Tithes, Perſons of Miniſters, King and Members or any others they fought for, who never raiſed, nor waged Souldiers to deprive them of their Patrimonies, Eſtates, Callings, Rights, Laws, Liberties, Privileges of Parliament, Government, Governours, but only to ſecure them in the full poſſeſſion of them all. This new Martial law and practice then, is both irrational and unevangelical, fitter for profeſſed Theeves, Turks, and Pyrates, than Chriſtian Souldiers; and far different from the foreſaid Chriſtian Souldiers practice in former Ages; who as they would by no means be engaged by their aaAmbroſ. Orat. in Julianum, & Grotius de Jure Belli, p. 35, 88.Pagan Emperors or Generals commands to fight againſt any of their Chriſtian Brethren, chooſing rather to obey God their Supream Emperour than Men: So the famous bbGrotius de Jure Belli, l. 1. c. 2. ſect. 3. p. 35, 36, 88. Crantzius Saxonitorum, l. 7. c. 16.Thebean Legion of Chriſtian Souldiers and their Officers under Julian the Apoſtate, when he commanded them to bring forth their Arms againſt the Christians, returned him this moſt Heroick Anſwer, worthy to be written in Golden Letters, briefly, fully and elegantly expreſſing the Duty of every true Chriſtian Souldier in all Ages and Caſes; Offerimus noſtras in quemlibet hoſtem manus, quas ſanguine innocentium cruentare nefas ducimus. Dexterae ipſae pugnare adverſus Impios & Inimicos ſciunt, laniare, pios et Cives neſciunt. Meminerimus nos (and O that our Army-Officers and Souldiers would remember it likewiſe) Pro Civibus potius quam adverſus Cives arma ſumpſiſſe. Pugnabimus ſemper pro Iuſtitia, pro pietate pro innocentium ſalute (not for Kings, Biſhops, Deans, Chapters, Miniſters Lands, Revenues, Tithes, Eſtates, the things now fought for:) Haec fuerunt hactenus pretia periculorum. Pugnavimus pro fide, quam quo pacto conſervemus tibi (Imperatori) Si hanc Deo noſtro non exhibemus? O that this Reſolution were now engraven in every Army-Officers and Souldiers heart! our Miniſters then needed not to fear the loſſe of their Tithes, Rectories, Churches, nor our Univerſities, Colleges, Corporations, or any other the diſinheriſ on of their Lands, Laws, Liberties, Powers, by Military Rapines, violences, and uſurpations.

6ly. The Exemptions of the Hoſpitalers and Templers p. 111Lands from paying of Tithes, was a aaExttavag. De Decimis, c. 10 Mr. Seldens Hiſtory p. 120, 121.meer Papal Innovation and Deviſe, which Canne, who pleads ſo much againſt Tithes upon this miſtake that they are Popiſh, and all his Confederates ſhould be aſhamed to own and imitate: The Iſraelites Gods own people during their poſſeſſion of Canaan, had many forein and Civil wars in moſt of their Judges, bbSee the Book of Judges, Kings, Chron. Maccabes, Joſephus, Paul Eber and others.Kings and High Priests ſucceſſive Reigns, and Roman Governours over them: yet we never read, that any of their Generals, Officers or Souldiers, fighting for their Churches, Prieſts and Religions Defence againſt forein or Domeſtique idolatrous Enemies, pretended the leaſt Exemption of their Lands or Eſtates from paying all their antient forementioned accuſtomed Tithes to the Levites, Prieſts and Poor: nor any Chriſtian Souldiers elſe but the Popiſh Templers and Hoſpitalers for the Lands conferred on their Orders, not for their private Inhabitances. And if Souldiers be obliged to pay Tithes of all their Spoyls and Gains of war (as I have abundantly proved) much more then of their real and perſonal Eſtates, as well as any others not in armes: eſpecially where they are well paid and war not on their own expences, but other mens purſes: Amongſt the Jewes we never read of any Taxes, Tributes or Contributions impoſed on the Cities, Houſes, Lands or Tithes of the People and Levites for the maintenance of wars, or pay of Souldiers, from which even Artaxerxes (a heathen Conqueror) exempted them by an expreſs Decree, Ezra 7.24. Yet they received Tithes of all their Kings, Generals, Captains, Souldiers, as well as Peoples Lands and increaſe both in times of war and peace. But our Army-Officers and Souldiers now receive above the Tithes of all our Miniſters Tithes, Glebes in Monthly Taxes and Contributions by arbitrary, illegal Impoſitions without their or Conſents in Parliament, contrary to their ccAntiqu. Eccleſiae Brit. p. 209, to 220, 282, 284, 299, 300. Thomas Walſingham. Hiſt Angl p. 348. See the Acts for the Clergies Subſidies in all our Kings reigns, granted only by themſelves in Convocation.antient Privileges, all former Preſidents and our Laws. Therefore there is all Equity and Juſtice they ſhould receive the Tenths both of their Lands, Goods and Gains of war too, and that no Officers or Souldiers ſhould be exempted from Tithes as the Templers and Hoſpitalers were, who had no other Pay or Salaries but their Lands, and received no conſtant Contributions from the Clergy. ddXenophon Helien l. 4. Mountague Diatriba p. 500, 501.Xenophon, that famous learned Greek p. 112Heathen Commander, having made the moſt Noble retreat we ever read of in Story, out of the upper part of Aſia with ten thouſand men through mountains, froſt and ſnow, in memorie of his thankfullneſs to the Gods for this ſafe return, ſeparated the Tenth of all the Spoyls that his Army had gained in the wars, and by general conſent, commited them to the Captains to be dedicated to Apollo and Diana; That for Apollo, was layd up at Delphos in the Athenean Treaſury; but with that other Tenth Dianas ſhare, Xenophon himſelf purchaſed a Peece of Land, and built thereon a Temple and an Altar to Diana, and appointed the Tenth of the yearly increaſe forever unto it. This Pagan Commander and his Captains and Souldiers were ſo far from exempting their Lands from Tithes to their Idol- Deities, that they Tithed the very Spoyls of their wars to them, and built and endowed a Temple to Diana with Lands, and Tithes out of their own Lands and Eſtates for ever. Which ſhall for ever ſilence and ſhame thoſe Chriſtian Army-Officers, Souldiers, Templers and Hoſpitalers, who would exempt not only their Spoyls, but their Lands and Eſtates from all Tithes to God and his Miniſters becauſe they are Souldiers, and pretend to fight for their Defence.

7ly. This Reaſon, that they ſhould enjoy not only their own but our Miniſters Tithes, becauſe they are an Army of Preachers and Priests, and more Officers, Souldiers in the preſent Army Preachers or Speakers (as they phraſe them) than ever in any Army in the world before, hath frequently minded me of that ſaying of eeLib. 4. Epiſt. 38.Pope Gregory the firſt (which famous ffIn his Expoſition on 2 Theſſ. 2. p. 116.2 Thess 2Biſhop Jewel much inſiſted on) concerning Antichriſt. The King of Pride (Antichriſt) is at hand, and which is an horrible Thing to be ſpoken, Sacerdotum eſt praeparatus Exercitus, an Army of Prieſts is prepared to gard and uſher him in. Certainly I never heard nor read of ſuch an Army of Prieſts (as our Army now is, before; wherein there are not only ſome hundreds of diſguiſed Popiſh Antichriſtian Priests and Jeſuites (as moſt wiſemen conceive) under the diſguiſe of Souldiers) preaching, venting, many notorious Errors, Blaſphemies and Antichriſtian Tenents, to infect the Army and Nation too, but many preaching Colonels, Captains, Officers, Souldiers of all ſorts, not a preaching General (as ſome ſay) too; And among p. 113others, one of theſe Army-Preachers not long ſince publiſhed a Book with this Title: Antichriſt with us; by John Spittle-houſe, a member of the Army : printed at London, 1648. which intimated to me at firſt ſight, that Antichriſt was in the Army: and truly if they proceed (as Canne would have them) to uſurp our Ministers Office, Rectories, Glebes, Tithes, Churches to themſelves, and Suppreſſe our Miniſters, Churches, Pariſhes, as Antichriſtian; I ſhall then juſtly ſuſpect, and others will confidently conclude, they are the very Army of Prieſts prophecied of by Pope Gregory, who ſhall forcibly uſher and bring in Antichriſt the King of Pride (who aa2 Theſſ. 2.42 Thess 2:4exalteth himſelf above all that is called God or Worſhipped, that is, above Kings, Lords, Parliaments, and all Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Powers whatſoever, as bbSee Dr. Abbot, Dr. Beard, Dr. Squire of Antichriſt, and Dr. Sclater on that place.Expoſitors reſolve) into our Church, and re-eſtabliſh him in his Throne.

8ly. I never read in the Old Teſtament or New, that Chriſt Authorized, Commiſſioned or ſent out any Captains, or Souldiers to preach the Goſpel, or made choyce of ſuch to be his Apoſtles and Miniſters of the Goſpel: Surely had this been a part of their duty as Chriſtian Officers and Souldiers, John Baptist Chriſts forerunner would have inſtructed thoſe ccLuke 3.14.Luke 3:14Souldiers who came purpoſely to and demanded of him: what ſhall we do? in another manner than he did; and ſaid unto them; Go and preach the Goſpel, and inſtruct the ignorant Souldiers and people publickly where ever you quarter: in the firſt place; and then, Do violence to no man, and accuſe no man falſly, and be content with your wages: The only precepts he gave them; Which our Army-Officers and Souldiers ſince they turned Preachers have much forgotten and neglected: I read of 2. devout Centurions in the New Teſtament eminent for their faith, piety, Charity, and of one devout Souldier; yet neither of them a publick Preacher: The firſt of theſe Colonels or Centurions ddLuke 7.2, to 11.Luke 7:2–11built a Synagogue for the Jews and others to meet and preach in who were Prieſts and Miniſters; but I read not he ever preached in it publickly himſelf. The latter (Centurion) is thus characterized, Acts 10.1, 2. That he was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his Houſe, which gave much Alms to the people, and prayed to God continually: but doubtleſſe he never preached, for then it would have been there p. 114recorded, that he preached continually as well as prayed: Yea, he was ſo far from this, that when the Angel of God came to him in a viſion; he ſayd, Thy Pr…yers and thine Alms (not thy preaching, therefore he preached not at all, or if he did God accepted it not, but diſliked it as againſt his word and will) are come into remembrance before God: And now ſend men to Joppa and call for Simon Peter, he ſhall tell thee what thou oughteſt to do. Whereupon he preſently ſent two of his Servants, and a devout Souldier continually waiting on him (but not on preaching) for the Apoſtle Peter to preach to him, his Friends and Family; who repairing to him, Cornelius goeth forth to meet him, falls down at his feet, worſhippeth him, talks with him, brings him into his Houſe, where many were come together; relates his viſion to Peter (mentioning again his Prayers and Alms, but not his preaching) concluding thus: Now therefore are we all here preſent before God TO HEAR (not preach) all things that are COMMANDED THEE of God; Whereas ſome Centurions, Colonels, Captains and Souldiers of this Age, if Peter himſelf ſhould come to their Aſſemblies or Quarters, would be readier to teach and preach to him, than to hear him, and apter to be his Teachers than Auditors, as theſe only were: After which Peter preached to him and his company; I find another ſort of Captains and Souldiers in the New Teſtament bbMatth. c. 26, & 27, & 28. Mar. 14, & 15. Luk. 22, 22. John 18, & 19.Matt 26Mark 14Luke 22:22John 18Who went out and apprehended our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, mocked him, derided, crowned his Head with Thorns, ſtripped him of his Rayment, put him on a purple Robe, bowed their Knees before him in ſcorn, ſaying, Hayl King of the Iews, blind folded, and then ſtrook him with their hands, and bade him prophecy who ſmote him: guarded him to his Tryal, carried and nayled him to his Croſſe, crucified him between two Theeves, pierced his ſide with a Spear, gave him Gall and Vinegar to drink, parted his Garments amongſt them, caſt lots upon his Veſture, and would have broke his Legs but that he was dead. After which they watched and guarded his Sepulchre; took large Mony of the Prieſts to ſmother the truth of Chriſts Reſurrection by reporting a Lye, that his Diſciples came and ſtole him away whiles p. 115they were aſleep; who TOOK the mony and did as they were taught; and are branded for ever with this Epiphomena, Theſe things therefore the Souldiers did. After which ſome of this rank of Officers and Souldiers by aaActs 12.1, to 12.Acts 12:1–12Herods command killed James the Brother of John with the Sword, apprehended, impriſoned, chained, and moſt ſtrictly garded the Apoſtle Peter, in order to put him to death the next day; but that the Angel of God miraculouſly delivered him. Others of them bbActs 21.31, 32, 33, &c. c. 22.24, &c. c. 23.23, &c. to 35. c. 27, & 28.Acts 21:31Acts 21:32Acts 21:33apprehended, bound, and would have ſcourged Paul; garded and carried him from priſon to priſon; and when he was ſent Priſoner to Rome; when the ſhip was wracked, and their lives ſaved only for Pauls ſake, they gave the Centurion counſel to kill Paul, and all the other Priſoners, leſt they ſhould eſcape from them by that wrack. Theſe Souldiers no doubt were truly Antichriſtian; and if the ccMatth. 12.33. Luk. 6 43, 44.Matt 12:33Luke 6:43Luke 6:44Tree may be judged and known by its Fruits, and Souldiers by their Actions and Intentions, I doubt there are far more of this later ſort than of the firſt in this Age, and if John Cannes Voyce from the Temple be imbraced for Goſpel in every point by the whole Army, no doubt they will then be all of this later rank, not the Miniſters anddd2 Tim. 2.3.2 Tim 2:3 Soldiers of Jeſus Chriſt, but of Antichrist alone; and theeeHebr. 6.6.Heb 6:6 Crucifiers of Chriſt again in his faithfull Miniſters and Members; which I deſire them all ſadly to conſider.

9ly. Admit them to be made Kings and Prieſts to God the Father by Chriſt, in a ſpiritual ſence, as aaRev. 1.5. 1 Pet. 2.5, 9.Rev 1:51 Pet 2:51 Pet 2:9all the Elect Saints of God are; will it thereupon follow, that they may all lawfully preach in publick, adminiſter Sacraments, and exerciſe the proper Function of Prieſts and Miniſters? If ſo, then by the ſelf-ſame reaſon, they may all lawfully exerciſe the office and power of Kings, as well as of Prieſts (as ſome of them do in the higheſt degree beyond all Preſidents of any our Kings before them) and ſo under pretext of ſuppreſſing our Monarchy, and one ſole King as dangerous and pernicious; we ſhall have now no leſs than an whole Army of Kings to rule and reign over us, and to engroſs not only all the old Kings Lands and Revenues, but the greateſt part of the Peoples far ſurmounting of a Million or two each year p. 116in Contributions and Exciſe to ſupport their new Royal State and Dignity; as well as an Army of Prieſts, who have and would ſwallow up our whole Churches Revenues, Glebes, Tithes, Patrimony, and our Miniſtry too, for to ſupport their new Evangelical Prieſthood; that ſo they may reſemble both Chriſt and Melchiſedec in their Kingly and Prieſtly Offices united in one Perſon; though not in the Title of their Kingdom as the Apoſtle interprets it, Hebr. 7.2. being by Interpretation KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESSE, and after that alſo, King of SALEM, which is KING OF PEACE; which Souldiers who make a gainfull Trade of War and Rapine delight not in.

10ly. I do affirm, and will abide by it, that ſince the time ſome diſguiſed Popiſh Priests, Jeſuits, Sectaries, Hereticks, Anabaptiſts and other Seducers (rather than the Lord) drew out the heart of ſome Souldiers and other Mechanicks (in truth or diſguiſe) publickly to preach, the People of this Common-wealth, have had more abominable, falſe, damnable, atheiſtical, Antichriſtian Hereſies, Errors, Blaſphemies, New Opinions, and old exploded Heterodox Hereſies and Tenents of all ſorts whatſoever against the very Eſſence, Nature, Attributes of God himſelf, the three ſacred Perſons in the Trinity, the Old and New Teſtament, Law, Goſpel, all the fundamental Articles of Faith and Salvation, the Sacraments, Miniſters, Ordinances of God; and practical publick, private Duties of Piety and Christianity, under the Names and ſpecious Titles of New Lights, and glorious Diſcoveries of Chriſts Kingdom, broached by Souldiers and Lay-Preachers, than in all the times ſince the Goſpel was firſt preached in this Iſland, and more than ever any one Age, Church, Nation, or all our Miniſters put together ſince the Creation till now were guilty of, and theſe publickly averred both in Preſſe and Pulpit, and the Authors of them exempted from any corporal or pecuniary puniſhments, by the Civil Magiſtrates, by the avowed aaSee Col. Prides Beacon quenched.printed Poſitions and Propoſals of the General Council of Army-Officers and Souldiers in ſundry Papers. For full and infallible proof whereof, I ſhall remit the Reader to Mr. Edwards Gangrenaes, the Catalogues of the Hereſies, Blaſphemies, Errors, collected by the London and Devonſhire Miniſters, the Stationers Beacon fired, and New Law, p. 78, 97. Which ſtiles Heaven, p. 117Hell, the reſurrection of the Fleſh, a Dream of our Preachers; The Hiſtory of the Scripture an Idol, &c. And all this by the malice of Satan, the underhand practices of Jeſuites and our Popiſh Adverſaries to defame, ruine our Church, Miniſters, Religion, ſeduce thee to Popery, Atheiſm, and reduce us back to the Antichriſtian Tyranny of the Sea of Rome, as I have largely manifeſted in the fifth Chapter. Whereas Canne cannot charge our Parochial Miniſters and Presbyterians with any ſuch Blaſphemies, Hereſies, Errors, as thoſe he pleads for are guilty of in the higheſt degree, nor with thoſe Jeſuitical, treacherous, perfidious, ſacrilegious, unclean, beaſtly ranting, unrighteous, prophane, atheiſtical Innovations, Practices, Rapines, Uſurpations, as they have plunged themſelves into over head and ears without any Conſcience or dread of God or Man.

11ly. What, that more true Light and glorious Diſcoveries of Chriſt and his Kingdom made known to the people of this Common-wealth within theſe 10, or 12. years by the publick preaching of ſome Souldiers and Laymen, exceeding all the Nations Miniſters ever made known unto them before, are, is concealed by Canne, and unknown to me or others, unleſs it be the flat atheiſtical denyal of God, of Chriſt and all his Offices, of the Holy Ghoſt, Scriptures, Sacraments, all publick Ordinances in the Church, of all Kings, Princes, Parliaments, lawfull Magiſtrates, Laws, Oaths, Vows, Covenants, Proteſtations, Engagements, by many of them in their words, writings, and moſt of them in aaTitus, 1.16.their works, with their Jeſuitical poſitions, plots, practices, recited in the fifth Chapter. And if theſe be not true bb2 Pet. 2.1, 2. Acts 26.13.2 Pet 2:12 Pet 2:2Acts 26:13infernal Darkneſſe, and clear inglorious Diſcoveries of cc2 Theſſ. 2.2 Thess 2Antichriſt and his Kingdom in the higheſt Degree, that ever yet appeared amongſt the people of this Common-wealth, let the fifth Chapter, with the poſitions and practices themſelves, compared with the Old and New Teſtament, determine.

12ly. The decrying of our Ʋniverſities, Colleges, Schools of human Learning, Innes of Court, and ſome mens endeavouring to ſeiſe upon their Lands and Revenues for the Armies uſe, is no doubt a Jeſuitical Papal plot, to extinguiſh the light of p. 118our Knowledge both Divine and humane, by puting out the Eyes of our Nation, that ſo Jeſuitical Popiſh darkneſs might over-ſpread our Church and State; and ſo the aaMat. 15.14.Matt 15:14blind leading the blind in both, they muſt fall into the Pit of Deſtruction in a moment. It is ſtoried of bbEutropius, Grimſton in his Life, Theodoret, Nicephorus, l. 10. c. 3, 4, 5, 24, 25, 32, 33. Mr. Fox, Baronius, Spondanus, and others. Centur. Magd. 4. c. 3, 14. Col. 114, to 120, 1438, 1439. Nazianzen Orat. 2. in Julianum, Ambroſ. Epiſt. l. 5. Ep. 29. zozomen l. 5. c. 22. Ruſhamus, l. 1. c. 28.Julian (that blaſphemous Apoſtate, and profeſſed Enemie of Chriſt and Chriſtian Religion) That he ſuppreſſed all the Schools of Chriſtians, prohibiting by general Laws and Decrees, that any ſhould profeſs, practice or ſtudy any Arts or Sciences in any Schools, that ſo they might become and remain Ideots, without learning, and ſo be inſufficient and unable to preach the Chriſtian Faith, oppoſe or refute any Pagan or other Errors, Blaſphemies againſt the true God and his worſhip, deviſing by all means poſſible (whereof this was one of the Principal) TO MAKE WAR AGAINST JESUS CHRIST, and extirpate Chriſtianity, without ſhedding any Chriſtian blood; finding by experience, that the Chriſtian Faith and Chriſtians were greatly increaſed by the torments and blood of the Martyrs: So that bloody Apoſtate from and Perſecutor of the Chriſtian Faith ccEuſebius, Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 8. c. 13. l. 10. c. 8. Eutropius, and Grimſton in his Life. Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 1. p. 113. Biſhop Jewels Sermons, p.Lucius the Emperour, as he ruined the Churches, Temples he commanded to be built for Chriſt, caſt out of his Houſe, Service and all Offices and place of Command whatſoever he that was a Chriſtian, commanded all thoſe Chriſtians to be ſlain who would not adore his Idols, prohibited all Aſſemblies of Chriſtians either for worſhip or conſultation; ſo he was ſuch an Enemy to Learning, that he named the ſame (as ſome do now) A Poyſon and common Peſtilence and the Overthrow of Common-wealths; and eſpecially the knowledge of the Laws: And thought no vice worſe became a Prince than Learning, becauſe he himſelf was unlearned; and thereupon prohibited Schools and Meetings for Inſtruction: Whereas on the contrary ddSee Euſebius in vita Conſtantini: Bacons Advancement of Learning: Mr. Edward Waterhouſe his Apology for Learning and Learned men.Conſtantine the Great, and all other Godly prudent Chriſtian Emperors, Kings and Princes, founded Schools of Learning and Univerſities in all places, encouraged and advanced learned men of all Arts and Profeſſions, eſpecially Divines, Lawyers, and Philoſophers;well knowing p. 119that Learning was the principle means to promote Religion, and the glory, honour, wealth and greatneſs of any Nation, more neceſſary than any Arms or Souldiers, and the chief means to preſerve them from Idolatry, Superſtition, Confuſion, ruine. We may therfore clearly diſcern whence the preſent Outcries againſt our Ʋniverſities, Inns of Court, Schools of Learning, and all human learning proceed, even from deſperate Apoſtates from true Religion and Gods Church, and thoſe who would erect a New Babel of Confuſion amongſt us in Church, State, and thereby build up the demoliſhed walls of the Romiſh Jericho within all our Dominions: For proof whereof, I ſhall tranſcribe this notable paſſage of our famous learned Biſhop Jewel in his Sermon on Joſhua 6. in his works in Folio, p. 167, 168. which is very pithy, learned and ſatisfactory, omitting all others.

Now to ſtay the reſtoring of Jericho, many good waies may be deviſed. The 1. maintenance of Schools and Learning. That Learning and Knowledge is able to hinder the Building of Jericho is ſo plain that it needeth no ſpeech. In the time of Moſes Law, Aaron the great Biſhop and High Prieſt had written in a Tablet before his Breaſt, Doctrin and Truth; not only Learning, but alſo Truth; whereby was meant, that neither ought to be without the other For, as Learning is dangerous and hurtfull (in ſome caſes) without Religion: So is Religion unable to defend it ſelf, & to convince the Gain-ſayers without Learning. For this cauſe the Heathen when they erected Temples in honour of their Gods, they did alſo build Libraries, that is, places to keep Books, that by ſuch means their Prieſts might grow in Knowledge, and be better able to perſwade others to their Religion. Strabo of the Sinprincians, that they built a Temple in honour of Homer, and joyned thereto a Library. Auguſtus the Emperor built a Temple, and alſo a Library in the honour of Apollo. Trajanus in like manner built a Library, and called it Ʋlpia, after his own name. At Rome in the Capitol, where all the Gods had a Solemn place for to be worſhipped in, there was alſo placed a Library. Athens was a famous Univerſitie, and had many Colleges and Schools of Learning, p. 120Academia, Stoa, Lycaeum, Canopus, Prytanneum, Tempe, Cynoſura: in which places were divers Sects of Philoſophers. Such were in Perſia, the Wiſemen, whom they called Magi: in Babylon the Chaldees, in India Brachmanes, in Aethiopia Gymnoſophiſtae: in France and England Druides: and others in other Countries. In all times the Kings and Princes which did ſet forth Religion, were alſo Builders of Schools and Colleges, and Advancers of Learning. The people of Iſrael were never in better ſtate, (as P. Phagius a learned man noteth out of their Story) than when they had in every Town and Village Bathe cheneſioth, and Bathe medraſchoth, that is, Synogogues wherein they aſſembled together, and places to preach in. The ſame Phagius, relateth of Hieruſalem, that there were in it more than four hundred common Schools and Synagogues wherein the Law of God was taught. The Patriarch Jacob was called A Miniſter of the Houſe of Learning, becauſe he applyed himſelf to the knowledge of the Law of God, and to Godlineſs. The Prophets of God had their Schools to breed up under them ſuch as might after their death draw the people from Idolatry, and reſiſt the falſe Prophets. They which were ſo taught by them were called the Sons of the Prophets. Samuel taught in ſuch ſort at Rama: Elias and Elizeus the Prophets, taught the Law of God beſides Jericho. St. John the Evangeliſt taught at Epheſus, and Euſebius reporteth out of Philo, that St. Mark had at Alexandria ſundry Scholars which gave themſelves to reading, and reaſoning and expounding of the Scriptures. Others did the like at Antioch, and at other places. Out of ſuch Schools it pleaſed God to take many excellent men, and place them in his Church, as Origen, Tertullian, Cyprian, Lactantius, Arnobius, Baſilius, Nazianzenus, Chryſoſtomus, Hieronimus, Ambroſius, Auguſtinus, &c. who were brought up in all kind of Learning, and became ſhining Stars, and brought Lights in the Houſe of God, notable Defenders of Religion, Over-throwers of Idols, and Confounders of Hereticks. Chriſtian Princes herein have witneſſed their Zeal in ſetting forth the Glory of God. After Charles the Great had, made his notable Conqueſts p. 121(let our Conquerors remember it) he erected five famous Univerſities, one at Paris, another at Tolouſe, another at Papia, another at Padua, and another at Prague: (to which our King aaAſſer Menevenſis in his life, Camdens Britannia: Oxford Univerſitie and Cambridge.Alfred founder of out famous Univerſitie of Oxford with the founders of all the Colleges therein, and of the Univerſities of Cambridge, Dublin, and thoſe in Scotland, to omit thoſe Univerſities in Germany, Spain, Portugall, Poland, Denmarke, Sweden, Hungary, and other Parts of Italy and France, mentioned by Heylen and others, might be added:) bbSuidas in Leone.Suidas reporteth of Leo the Emperour, That when Leo on a time commanded Eulogius a Philoſopher ſhould have his Princely reward; a Noble man of the Court, ſayd: (as ſome do now of our Univerſities and Colleges Lands and Revenues) that that money would be better imployed for the maintenance of Souldiers. Nay, (ſaith he, and ſo all wiſe men now) I would rather it might be brought to paſs in my time, that the wages which are now beſtowed upon Souldiers might be given to maintain Philoſophers. ccCharion. Chron. l. 3. Alexander Severus.Alexander Severus, ſo highly eſteemed that notable famous Lawyer, Vlpian, that when certain of his Soldiers ran feircely upon Ʋlpian to ſlay him, the Emperor ſtept forth, and ſet himſelf between the body of Ʋlpian, and the fury of his Souldiers, and covered him with his own Robes, that the Souldiers might know how carefull he was for the good eſtate of Ʋlpian: (Let our Souldiers who hate and ſtudy to ſuppreſs Philoſophers, Scholars, Lawyers, conſider theſe two laſt Stories:) And alſo for the contrary; ſuch as have practiſed cruelty upon learned men, and have hated knowledge were worthily diſcommended in the Stories of all ages; He inſtanceth in the wicked Apoſtates, Julian and Licinius, forecited examples. The like is reported of Caligula, Caracalla and Domitianus, that either they utterly hated all manner of Learning,Note or had ſome ſpecial malice againſt the writings of ſome one notable man, and therefore ſought to deſtroy them. Such was the policy of Satan, ſo thought he to get the upper hand, and to reſtore again his wicked Jericho. And were theſe the Practices of Heathen Princes only? may not we remember the like attempts p. 122wrought in our dayes? who will call to mind the time that is not far paſt, ſhall find that this ignorant Iericho had many friends: (and hath it not now as many and the ſame?) who by all means drew men from knowledge; they gave Liberty rather to do any thing, than to ſeek underſtanding; and yet ſuffered rather the uſe and reading of fabulous and unclean writers than of the Holy Scripture, and Books which carried fruitfull inſtruction. Good Letters to increaſe knowledge are not to be neglected. Such as preſume of Gods Spirit over-boldly, that without endeavour to uſe the wholſome means which God hath left unto his Church, they ſhall and doe by ſpecial inſpiration, underſtand his will, do tempt God. He adds much more.

In brief, learning, knowledge in Arts, Tongues, Hiſtories of all ſorts, and in the Laws, Governments of former ages, are ſo abſolutely neceſſary for the right underſtanding and interpretation of the Scriptures, and good Government of all Common-wealths and Kingdoms, that without them there neither will nor can be any true Religion, ſound Knowledge of God, his word, or works, nor orderly Government, Humanity, Civility, Navigation, or Commerce almoſt in the world; and men deprived of it will be little different from Beaſts, as appears by the brutiſh Sottiſhneſſe, Barbarouſneſſe, Savageneſſe, ignorance of the illiterate Indians in America, and of ſome other African and Northern Nations, voyd both of Religion, Government and Humanity it ſelf, becauſe deſtitute of Learning, as Purchas his Pilgrimage, Mr. Hackluits voyages, Peter Martyrs Indian Hiſtory, Mercator, and others record. Hereupon our antient Anceſtors were ſo carefull of Learning, Religion, Miniſters, Scholars, Lands, Eſtates, Tithes, that they placed them in the very front of all thoſe antient Laws, Liberties, Cuſtoms which they claimed, enjoyed, and preſented to William the (pretended) Conqueror upon Oath in the 4th. Year of his Reign, who ratified them in Parliament, without the leaſt Alteration or Diminution, to his eternal Honour, and the great contentment of the whole Nation, whoſe affections elſe he would have loſt, to the endangering of his new acquired Royalty, p. 123as I have proved in the bbHoveden, Annal. pars poſt. p. 601. Mr. Selde…, ad Eadmerum Notae, p. 173.2d. Chapter. Which our New pretended Conquerors, may do well to conſider. And ſo I proceed to my concluding Aſſertion.