A Second Voice from the Temple to the Higher Powers, Questions – Epigraph
CERTAIN QUESTIONS Propounded to the LAWYERS, who are retained by the Miniſters, to plead on their behalfe for TYTHES.
I. WHether by any Acts of Parliament confirming the propriety of Tythes to the Church, any man (as an Eccleſiaſticall perſon) can claim any right or propriety to Tythes, that is neither Biſhop, Prieſt, nor Deacon, ordained according to the Law, made in that caſe.
II. Who by the Law of this Nation, are formally and actually Eccleſiasticall perſons, as to claime Tythes.
III. Whither thoſe Statutes and Acts of Parliament confirming Tythes to Eccleſiaſticall perſons, do ſtand with the Rules of juſtice and equity, contained in the morall Law of God, and nature, or ſound naturall reaſon.
IV. Whether Biſhops, Deans, Prebends, &c. and before them, Monks, and Fryers, had not Tythes ratified, ſettled, and confirmed upon them by the Law of the Land, as firmly and fully as any preſent Incumbent.
V. Whether the State in taking away Tythes and other Revenues from Monks, and Fryers, and ſince from Biſhops, &c. (as their Civil right) did juſtly and lawfully in it.
VI. Whether the Nationall Miniſters can prove themſelves (or you for them) to be legally ſucceſſors to the Prieſts in whom Tythes were first ſettled and veſted, and how: if not, whether they fall not into the States hand, for want of right Heirs.
VII. Whether there be not juſt cauſe of ſuſpition, that thoſe who pretend to be Miniſters of the Goſpel, waving to plead their own caſe in matter of maintenance, and ſeeke to Lawers for Counſel, have any thing to ſay for themſelves, as in that particular, from the word of God.
VIII. Whether thoſe Lawers that are to plead for the Miniſters, who have retained them, cannot juſtifie by Acts of Parliaments, that the Tythes of this Nation, are more properly and legally due (as a civil right) to Popiſh Prieſts, then to the Ministers they are to plead for, and if they were as well feed, whether they would not plead for them: or why not.
IX. Whether thoſe Lawers who are to plead for Tythes are not bound, if not in point of Law, yet of conſcience, truly to declare before the Honourable Committee, that neither the Independent, nor Presbyterian Miniſters, who were not ordained Prieſts and Deacons by the Biſhops, or have ſince renounced the ſame, are not (by any Act of Parliament confirming the right of Tythes, to the Church and eccleſiasticall perſons) in a capacity to receive Tythes, neither doth the Parochiall Tythes legally belong to any ſuch perſons.
X. Whether thoſe Lawers in point of conſcience ſhould not firſt weigh and conſider the Reaſons before. And if they find it plainly proved (as eaſily they may, if they know halfe ſo much of the Goſpel, as Law) that the Nationall Miniſtry is unlawfull and Antichristian, eſtabliſhed by Popiſh Princes againſt Ieſus Chriſt. Whether (I ſay) they ought not to give the Miniſters their money back againe, and let Baal plead for himſelfe.
Though I have done this without any Fee, yet not without aſſurance of profit: I ſhall onelyonly commend to theſe Lawers, the good adviſe which a great Doctour of the Law gave his Brethren: If this Counſell, or this worke be of men, it will come to nought.
REV. 18.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
The Merchants of theſe things which were made rich by her, ſhall ſtand afar of, for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
And ſaying, Alas, alas, that great City, that was cloathed in fine linen, and purple, and ſcarlet, and decked with gold, and precious ſtones, and pearls.
For in one hour ſo great riches is come to nought. And every ſhip-maſter, and all the company in ſhips, and ſailers, and as many as trade by ſea, ſtood afar off,
And cryed when they ſaw the ſmoke of her burning, ſaying, What City is like unto this great City?
And they caſt duſt on their heads, and cryed, weeping and wailing, ſaying, Alas, alas, that great City, wherein were made rich all that had ſhips in the ſea, by reaſon of her coſtlineſſe: for in one hour is ſhe made deſolate.
Rejoyce over her, thou heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets, for God hath avenged you, on her.
JER. 51.10.35.
The Lord hath brought forth our righteouſneſſe: come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.
The violence done to me and to my fleſh, be upon Babylon, ſhall the inhabitant of Zion ſay; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Caldea, ſhall Jeruſalem ſay.
JER. 50.45.
Surely the leaſt of the flock ſhall draw them out.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Canne, A Second Voice from the Temple to the Higher Powers (1653)