Tithe Robbers Discovered, Title page – Dedication
LAWLES TYTHE-ROBBERS Diſcovered: Who make Tythe-Revenue a Mock-Mayntenance, Being encouraged thereunto by the Defect of Law and Juſtice about Miniſters maintenance; and by the Cavills and pretended Objections againſt it.
WHICH Defect of Law and Juſtice is herein fully diſcovered, together with the Frauds and Wrongs occaſioned by that Defect, that they may be prevented by better Laws, and more impartiall Juſtice, now in Parliament-time, wherein Remedies have always been moſt ſpeedy and certain.
HEREIN The many Cavills and pretended Objections made againſt Tythes, and all ſetled maintenance of Miniſters are recited and confuted.
Herein alſo, Some Motives to the Higher Powers for ſpeedy relief of Miniſters, by better Laws.
Together with Some humble Propoſals of means for the rooting out and preventing of thoſe Frauds and Wrongs.
Seeke judgement, relieve the oppreſſed.
Eſa. 1.17.
Be not deceived, God is not mocked.
Gal. 6.7.
Ex malis moribus, bonae naſcuntur Leges.
Imprimatur,
Edm. Calamy.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Newbery. in Cornhil neer the Royall Exchange, 1655.
To the Right HONOVRABLE The High Court of Parliament of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, &c.
Honourable Sirs,
ALthough the many ſtrong endeavours which have of late been uſed, to take away or unſettle by law the publique maintenance of the ſetled Miniſtry of this Nation, have hitherto proved abortive: yet woful experience tells us, that for want of better Lawes for the true payment thereof, that maintenance is, de facto, very much impeached all the Nation over, both in City and Countrey; to the utter undoing of many Miniſters, their Wives and Families, whoſe cries are gone up to Heaven, of which cries this is but an Eccho: For remedy of which crying grievance and oppreſſion, the putting of all former Lawes and Ordinances for Tithes in force will not prove a plaiſter large enough, without better Lawes, as is herein cleerly demonſtrated.
Two things (I conceive) will be alledged againſt the enſuing Diſcovery: The one is, that it teacheth men to defraud in Tything: But the truth is, Tythe-payers, as experience ſhewes in all places, are not now to learn any of thoſe fraudulent practices, which are grown an Hereditary diſeaſe in many Families being propagated from the unrighteous Father to the Son.
The other Objection againſt ſuch Tracts as theſe, is, That they are but the voice of Covetouſneſs: But ſuch cavillers are wilfully, ignorant: For this cauſe touching Miniſters maintenance is not cauſe of any private Intereſt; but a cauſe which God himſelf by his Prophets and Apoſtles hath aſſerted, and been zealo… in, as Scrip… …he…: And the Primitive Fathers … of the Church have cried out againſt ſuch … Miniſters maintenance; which maintenance hath not onelyonly been aſſerted by Miniſters, who may ſeem to ſeek themſelves (this Intereſt of Religion being mixed with their own Intereſt▪) But hath been learnedly and zealouſly aſſerted by thoſe which have been no Miniſters nor Preachers: yet men of Renown for godly wiſdome in all Ages, who againſt their own private Intereſt have (as their Books declare) aſſerted, and pleaded in this cauſe: The Catalogue of their writings I need not rehearſe, nor tell you, how many Worthies have freely given up their eſtates in Impropriations to advance and increaſe the liberal and certain maintenance of Miniſters by Tythes: And for further ſatisfaction to ſuch as ſhall ſay that imputation upon this Diſcovery, I hope they are convinced, that, Robbed People cannot be juſtly aſperſed with Covetouſneſſe, becauſe they raiſe a Hue and Cry after Theeves, and cry out for Law and Juſtice againſt them, and give evidence againſt them to the Magiſtrate, deſcribing their villanies in every Circumſtance, which is the chief aime of the following Diſcourſe, which I humbly preſent to your Honours wiſe and favourable Conſtruction: And craving pardon for my boldneſſe, in all ſubmiſſion, I remain.
Your daily Oratour at the Throne of Grace, Richard Culmer▪