Defense and Justification of Tithes and Infant Baptism, Conclusion – Argument and answer 33
I Shall add but a little concerning our Gleab-lands, and haſte to a Concluſion. Anthony Peirſon (or at leaſt many of his Society) or erring way, have cryed out againſt our Houſes, and Gleab lands alſo, yea would have all our Meeting-places, our Churches, our Steeple-houſes (as they call them) pulled down to mend High-wayes: ſo Churches and Pariſh-Miniſters, all muſt be caſt away together. And would not this prove Sacriledge?
If you read Numb. 34.13. &c. the Land of Canaan was commanded to be divided by Lot; and Numb. 35.2, 3.4. the Lord commands the Children of Iſrael, that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their poſſeſsion Cities to dwell in, and ſhall give alſo for the Levites ſuburbs for the Citysround about them, and their Cities ſhall they have to dwell in, and the ſuburbs of them ſhall be for their Cattel, and for their Goods, and for all their Beaſts; and the ſuburbs of the City which ye ſhall give to the Levites, ſhall reach from the wall of the City and outward, a thouſand Cubits roundabout. A Cubit was from the top of the point of the elbow to the top of the middle finger (as learned Weames affirms.) Doctor VVeams his Chriſtian Synagogue, p. 192.And the Cubit of the Sanctuary was a handbredth more than the common Cubit was, ſo that here it is evident, the Lord had not only given the Levites Tythes, but convenient Houſes to dwel in, and Gleab-lands for their Beaſts and Cattel; and our Godly and Learned Countryman Mr. Ainſworth upon that affirms, that the equity of this Law both for honouring the Lord with our ſubſtance, Prov. 3.9. and for maintenance of his Miniſters, Gal. 6.6. is perpetual, Joſh. 21.and theſe Lands were ſet out to the Levites according to Gods command, and they taught the people by office, as Nehem. 8.8. and theſe Lands were never to be ſold or alienated from the Levites; and certainly the equity of this remaineth ſtill, that the faithful Preachers of the Goſpel ſhould have not only Tythes, or value of them by redemption, but convenient Gleab alſo, & the taking away of theſe, what is it but Sacriledge? (Caveat Emptor.)
Again you ſeem to be charitable to the Poor, and would be profitable to the Common-wealth to pay the Souldiery, and provide for the Poor; and it is with our Tythes and Gleab-Lands (as many of you profeſs.) You would have us robbed, that others may be relieved; is this your charity and piety, like a Thief that ſteals to give Alms, robs by the High way, and giveth liberally to the Beggars and poor Cripples that are there waiting for an Alms; certainly this charity is not Chriſtian charity, but abominable iniquity. In our Honourable Army I know there are many truly religious and godly Gentlemen, who would not be pay'd with that which belongs to Chriſt, but with the Money and Eſtate of the Common-wealth, and good reaſon they ſhould, For who goeth a warfare at their own charge, ſaith that great Apoſtle Paul, 1 Cor. 9.7. I have done with this alſo.
But a word to your word to the Pariſh Miniſters.
Anthony Peirſons caſe.
Thirdly ſay you to the Pariſh Miniſters,With theſe I deſire to expoſtulate the matter; Firſt, as touching the end of their work. Secondly, as to the way of their maintenance, &c.
Mr. Bourn's anſwer.
I anſwer to your quarrel, why in Market-towns, and other places where there is ſmall Maintenance, there is but a poor Vicar, or poor reading Curate, and the people untaught; you mean, why do not Miniſters preach there without Maintenance, or take ſuch ſmall places: is this your meaning? I anſwer, that there is not maintenance in ſuch places, ſee where the fault is, I am ſure it is none of ours, we muſt live of the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.14. And Secondly for Preaching, if your eyes be not blind, or your ears deaf, and refuſe to hear, you might hear and know that many godly Miniſters do preach in Market-Towns, and many other places freely, witneſs weekly Lectures, and monthly Exerciſes, in which commonly two Miniſters joyn together, and preach to the great comfort of Chriſtian ſouls, whoſe hearts God moveth to attend at wiſdoms gates; Prov. 8.34.this is the practice in London, in Derby-ſhire where I lived, and is in Leiceſter-ſhire where I now live, and in Lincoln-ſhire, and Rutlandſhire, Northampton-ſhire, and in many other places: and this I have known near this fifty year, and have Preached my ſelf in many places; but you would fain find ſome fault with the Miniſters of Chriſt, that you like other Antichriſtian enemies might root us out, if it lay in your power. But this I ſhall and do tell you, that if Epheſus judgement fall upon England for the loſs of our firſt love, if God remove the Candleſtick of the Church and Goſpel, then England is undone, Rev. 2.3, 4.as was Epheſus, and thoſe Eaſtern Churches; I have ſaid enough to anſwer your quarrel againſt our Tythes, enough to ſatisfie any godly undeceived man whatſoever; and ſpoken ſufficient concerning our Gleab-Land, at which it ſeemeth you have an evill eye.
Anthony Peirſon's caſe.
There is a way (ſay you page 41.) which would eſtabliſh the Nation upon a ſure foundation of true freedom, and give ſatisfaction (to ſome) ſeparated Congregations, as to Miniſtry, and maintenance, but it is ſuch a way as is not yet ſo fit to be revealed.
Mr. Bourn's anſwer,
It is ſome myſtery of Iniquity ſure, or depth of Sathans policy you are ſo fearful to diſcover it; Rev. 2.24.but if it be for ſelling our Tythes, and Gleab, and putting out the godly learned Miniſtry, and putting in Jeroboams Prieſts, Coblers, and Taylers, and Tinkers, and ſuch like to be Preachers: this way will pleaſe but a few people in the Nation I am confident; & for our gleab-lands, I have ſhewed they had a higher Foundation than Pope or Popery by Humane teſtimony, beſides Divine; they were given in divers places before Pope and Popery began, as in the times of Arviragus whom you name in page 8. here in this Land, as I have ſhewed at Glaſſenbury within a hundred years after Chriſt, a fair Gleab-Land was given to the Church to maintain the Preaching of the Goſpel there; this witneſſed by divers antient Writers, ſome of which I have named in my Defenc… before.
I ſay no more, but deſire all to conſider, whether if to devour that which was ſanctified and ſet apart for a Divine uſe approved by God himſelf (as the Gleab to the Levites was) and after the Vow to make enquiry, Prov. 20.25.may not prove a ſnare to the Nation? The Lord keep us from making Snares for our ſelves, we have Enemies enough, whoſe daily deſigns are to make and lay ſnares for us; but the Lord hath delivered us, the Lord deliver us ſtill, as he hath done for many years ſince, from the Powder-Treaſon, 1605.and ſince that from many deep deſigns of Antichriſt, ſo that England may ſing that Song of Praiſe which Iſrael did, Pſalm 124. If the Lord had not been on our ſide (may England now ſay) when men roſe up againſt us, they had ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled againſt us, &c. Bleſſed be the Lord who hath not given us as a pray to their teeth: and the Lord continue the preſervation of theſe Nations in truth and peace to his Glory, and our Eternal comfort. So prayeth he who wiſheth no worſe to Anthony Pierſon, nor to any that ſincerely ſeek true Happineſs in Chriſt Jeſus, but that when this Life is ended, we may live together with Chriſt in Heaven for ever.
Immanuel Bourne. June 25. 1659.
THere are divers others who have writ againſt Tythes, that they may overthrow the Miniſters of England as well as Tythes, that Pamphlet called, The Tythe-Cart overthrown; ſeveral Quakers and others in ſeveral Petitions to the Parliament; all which may receive a full Anſwer in my Juſtification of Miniſters Maintenance by Tythes, if God be pleaſed to open their Eyes, which I pray for.
I. B.
A DEFENCE OF Infant-Baptiſm.
I Now proceed to your ſecond Sandy foundation, The Anabaptiſts Anſwer. The Second ſandy Pillar, Infant-Baptiſm. M Bour. Reply. foreign aſpergo, I ſprinkle, of foreign à foreign fluo to flow, Hence foreign aſperſus ſprinkled. Heb. 12.24.which indeed was your firſt you named in your Paper, before … joyn them together: This is Infants memberſhip by Baptizing or Rantizing of Infants (as you call it) and our accepting of them by Baptiſm as members of our Church. Take away that (ſay you) and you would have no Church.
For Reply, Firſt to your terms, not Baptizing, but Rantizing of poor Infants, I may demand of you that ſpeak ſo much againſt humane Learning, and call it a Popiſh foundation, whence had you your term of Rantizing? Can you ſpeak Greek? what, and without humane Learning? this were a kind of miracle, or at leaſt an extraordinary gift of that tongue which is now ceaſed. For Rantizo in Greek ſignifieth to ſprinkle in Engliſh. And is this that you call cozening of poor Infants in their cradles? Certainly that child that is ſprinkled with the blood of ſprinkling, is not cozened; and ſo Infants have been, elſe they were not ſanctified from their mothers womb, as the Prophet Jeremy, Jer. 1.5. Lu. 1.15.and John the Baptiſts; and ſo Infants may be ſtill for what you have proved to the contrary. Nor can you or any of your ſeparation bring any Scripture proof to the contrary, as clear as the Sunne at noon day, without a conſequence or illuſtration, as you vainly boaſted. If we examine your Scriptures alleadged againſt Infants to exclude them from being members of the Church of Chriſt, it will be evident.
The Anabaptiſts Anſwer.
Your firſt place was John 13.34, 35. from whence you argue, That becauſe Children cannot love or declare their love one to another, as thoſe Diſciples might who were men of ripe years, …, you conclude they are not, they cannot be Diſciples of Christ, or Members of the Church.
Mr. Bourns Reply.
To which I reply, Firſt, Where is your boaſt of Scripture proof as clear as the Sun at noon-day, without a conſequence or illuſtration, Is not this a conſequence? What is ergo elſe? but I leave the Reader to ſee your weaknes.