Tithes Vindicated from Anti-Christianism and Oppression, Part

Tithes Vindicated from Anti-Christianism and Oppression · Part

p. 4Concerning the maintenance of Ministers.

THis is the best posset ale to help the quakers vomit up their choler: being also one of the most likely arguments to take with those whose mammon is their God. Ah Jesuit are you there? we see Joabs hand both fingers and thum. R.H. against Mr Stalham P. 56. calls it, the cursed practise of maintenance, which is the greatest oppression this day in England. Applying the words of Jsa. 56.11. and Micah. 3.11. to us, as if we were such vile prophets and Priests as there are mentioned. The Lord said to p. 1Satan the Lord rebuke thee, Zech. 3:2.

As to the Ministers maintenance take these propositions.

1. Proposition. Prop. 1.It is agreeable to the Law of Christ [the King of his Church] that the Ministers of his Gospel should be maintained. Let us hear Paul pleading this cause for himself and for us, [who is so much brought against us] Gal. 6.6. 1. Tim 5.17.18. but chiefly in 1 Cor. 9.6. to 15. the question is, may Paul and Barnabas leave of working with their hands, and by consequence require maintenance of the Churches? he answers in the affirmitive, they may, and this he proves

First, from the examples of other of the Apostles: v. 6. or I Only; which word plainly carries it, that all but he and Barnabas were maintained by the Churches.

Secondly, from natural and civil equity, v. 7. similitudes taken from Soldiers, planters of vineyards, shepherds; if they, then we.

Ob. The citizens of Kent [not Sion, as they stile themselves] P. 5. tell us, we water forrests, feed goat-herds, &c.

A. 1. Through mercy we have in many of our Churches where tithes are taken, as good sheep, and plants which bear as good grapes, as any of them, and better.

2. What if Ierusalem bring forth wild grapes, Isa. 5.4. must not the true Ministers have maintainance? they had sure.

3. There were goates in this Church of Corinth, yet these Paul might demand maintenance of; if of the goats then of the sheep?

4. While we labour to make vineyards of forrests, and sheep of goats, shall we have nothing? let the labourer stay tell we see there comes a good crop or vintage of his labour before we will pay him. This is honesty amongst these citizens. As for milking of you till blood come, I shall speak to that anon.

Thirdly, He proves it from the Testimony of the law: v. 8.9. concerning the not muzling of the mouth of the Oxe. which, v. 10. Paul saith, was spoken altogether for our sakes. The Lord then muzzle up your reviling mouths.

p. 12Fourthly, from the rule of justice. v. 11. spiritual things, will deserve carnal.

Fifthly, from the example of their own officers; if they may take them, much more we. v. 12.

Sixthly, from the example of the Levites, under the old ministration, v. 13. who were maintained, & that liberally.

Seventhly, If you will have him speak out plainly, even so the Lord [no lesse authority] hath ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel

Now quakers compare this belchings of yours with these three holy Scriptures, and see whether maintenance be not due to the Ministers of the Gospel.

2. Prop. 2.Proposition: The maintenance of the ministry ought not to be beggarly, but honorable.

1. 1 Tim. 5.17.18. Paul calls for double honor, respect, and maintenance, both which the quakers deny us. Almes is not Honor.

2. 1 Tim. 3.3. and Tit. 1.8. Ministers must be given to Hospitality, but if their maintenance be such as will not maintain their own families, how can they entertain others. It is my one case, and so of many more hundred ministers; had we no more then what we have from our people, we could not tell how to subsist; and yet live at a low rate: I could speak more but refrain.

3. It is the duty of ministers to provide for their own families, as well as others, they must not be Infidels. How shall they do this if they cannot lay by something out of their maintenance. To work with hands, was never their calling; we are commanded, 1 Tim. 4.15. to give our selves wholy to these things. How can we be wholly in these [and all little enough for so weighty work] and yet goe to other works to maintain our selves? 2. Tim. 2.4. not entangle our selves with the affairs, &c.

4. The place and work are honorable; Majors & Colonels in their warfare think they deserve honorable pay: and why not the Ministers of the Gospel in their warfare.

5. The Lord allowed the old ministers very honorable maintenance, such as the quakers would gruge to see us p. 13enjoy now, but yet a proportion is due. So hath God ordained: 1. Cor. 9.14.

3. Proposition: Prop. 3.The Apostles themselves did not all work for their livelihood, but even all of them sometimes, and most of them [I conceive] alwaies did receive maintenance from the Churches.

Paul saith of himself, 2 Cor. 11.8. I robbed other Churches taking wages of them to doe you service. The other Apostles, whose callings before were to be fisher men, I conceive they did wholly lay them by, and were maintained: Thus Acts 2 & 4.35. when brought the prices of their possessions, they laid them down at the Apostles feet. The Apostles then were maintained out of the common stock, as the rest.

1. Cor. 9.6. Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? the other Apostles can forbear why, not we? where do you find the eleven after the holy Ghost came upon them Acts 2. wrought with their hands for their livelihood. the 6. Acts. 4. I think will confute it.

4. Proposition. Prop. 4.Though Paul did labour with his own hands, yet this doth not forbid us to take maintenance nor enjoyn us to work with our hands for our livelihood, when the Churches are able to maintain us.

1. Paul had then power to leave working, 1. Cor. 9.6. he had a jus to maintenance, though upon some grounds he forbare, 1 Cor. 9.12. and 2 Cor. 11.12. no law of Christ kept him from it.

2. Paul had his skill of Tent-making before he was called to be an Apostle, as I conceive. Being of the Tribe of Benjamen, a Pharisee, must look to live by himself: so were these elders to whom Paul wrote, they had their trades and callings by which they lived in the cities before they heard of a gospel, & could live by their trads, as other citizens did. But tis not so now, unlesse with those Weavers, Taylours, Shoomakers, and other Tradesmen, who turn Ministers.

3. Paul was extraordinarily qualified, needed no study p. 8to preach nor to confute heresies, which extraordinary gifts we have not, but must take pains unlesse we should babble as some quakers doe, or set up a new ridiculous worshiping of God in Silence, as other quakers, then indeed we shall need no preparation, were our lives twice as long as they are; we find the work of the ministry so large and difficult, that though we tend nothing else, and follow this hard, yet we shall have cause to say, who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor. 2.16.

5. Prop. 5.Those ministers who were industrious in their work, preached the word of God soundly, and endeavored to walk accordingly, God never called one of these hirelings, or upbraided them as being greedy of gain, because they took maintenance. Let all the quakers, and fifty monarchymen, bring forth One, whom ever God reproved, that was qualified as I have mentioned; and I am sure we have many hundreds of such in England [we doubt not to prove it against all adversaries, if they be rational men who will undertake the contrary] against whom yet these quakers have turned the Lords words spoken against his vile enemies, but they must remember, they must give an account for abusing his holy word, taking his name in vain.

Surely we have as good as title to maintenance, as the seducing quakers, to whom the seduced give entertainment and contribution. Those who make use of Mat. 10.8. against us, do but shew their ignorance, in not observing that Christ speaks of gifts of healing, and of miracles, which he freely gave them, not to gain mony by them [as they might abundance] but as subservient to the preaching of the Gospel; therefore freely gives them, yet adds in v. 10. the workman is worthy of his meat.

We have then the Lord Christ, and Paul from Christ confirming the maintenance of the ministry, for the others who oppose it, let them bark still.

Obj But though maintenance be allowed, yet not tythes. Here two things they plead.

1. Conscience. Thus the citizens of Kent: in their petition to the Parliament. P. 2. and P. 17. so. P. 24. the law p. 5which foreeth Tythes burdens our consciences.

2. Oppression. as R H. before quoted. and, the same Kentish citizens.

For Conscience; though I conceive, it would not trouble their Consciences to deny all maintenance to the ministry, whose consciences are wounded [as they say] by paying of tythes, yet let us see what it is wounds their consciences, and this I finde, 1 Tyths deny Christ come in the flesh. Thus the Kentish citizens P. 6. thus Clark P. 24. All they who do pay tythes, and all they who receive tythes, deny Christ Jesus by their works to be come in the flesh. This our quakers mouths are full of about us, that we are guilty of this Antichristianisme. And upon this ground, they deny the payment of tythes and suffer imprisonment, in their testimony that Christ is come. ib.

But which way doe tythes deny? they were appointed for Tabernacle, and Alter service, now the Tabernacle and Alter being gone, Tyths ought also to cease. The force of the reason, and that text Heb. 7.12. [which is all the ground they can bring, all the rest of their words, being but florishes] I will consider of anon.

Its a question much controverted quo jure, Q.Tythes are required and payed under the Gospel?

1. Some conceive they are due jure divino to the Ministry, now under the Gospel, yea so that though the Magistrate should otherwaies provide for the maintenance of the Ministry, yet Tythes are due to them, and cannot be alienated, and this by Divine right This is the title by which the quakers suppose we claim tyths, and the citizens of Kent, spend the chiefest part of their book against it; but against this many of our Divines dispute, asserting that neither jure naturali, nor jure divino positivo, tythes are due to Gospel ministers, and they have argued the case a little better then the Kentish citizens, so that they might have spared their pains, or now make use of their book to light Tobaccho

Not only our divines, but the most learned of the Papists [schoolemen, &c] are against the Canonists in this p. 16point. As Aquin. who denyeth Tythes to belong to the moral law: so Grego. de valen. To. 3. Dis. 6. q. 5. p. 1. So Arragon upon Thom. 2. 2ae. q. 37. a. 1.p. 697. So Suarez de legibus. p. 93. col. 1. So Bellarim. To. 2. p. 127.

Secondly, The Papists say they are due to the Mimisters, jure ecclesiastico. Thus Arragon. Decimae quantum ad quotam, in lege evangelica ex jure tantum humano pontificio institutae sunt, &c. ib. Thus also Valentia, ib. This also we renounce, we claim no Tythes by any such title. If you say, how then? I answer.

Thirdly, Maintenance we claim jure divino, by Gods law, but Tythes we claim jure humano politico. By mans law: this being the maintenance which the civil power hath given and appointed for the Ministry of England. So that I answer to the quakers, who so often urge our people, shew but own text in the New Testament by which your Ministers receive Tythes?

For maintenance I goe to the New Testament [I gave you several texts before] but for Tythes I goe to Westminster.

But further let us examine one question, whether may the civil power appoint Tythes for the maintenance of Ministers?

Our adversaries say they must not. Thus Clark p. 24. charge those who make such laws, to deny Christ come in the flesh.

How this phansie of these-men, and our Creed wherein we so professe Christ come, born of the Virgin &c. Our faith in him and preaching of him can stand together, I know not: but however, to make way to my answer take these propositions:

First, Prop. 1.All Christian and godly Magistrates are bound to take care that that God and Christ whom they know and believe in, be also made known unto their people, that so (if possible) their people with them may know and believe in the same God and Christ and live in all godlinesse, 1 Tim. 2.1 Tim 2as well as Honesly. This I goe not about here to prove, it is done elsewhere, see in Mr. Marshalls Sermon, p. 17upon the civil Magistrates power, in matters of Religion. With my notes upon it. p. 14.15.

Secondly, If so: Prop. 2.Then they are bound to send out qualified men called and gifted, according to the laws of that God and Christ whom they believe in, to teach their people the knowledge of God and Christ; and what ever duties else Christ requires: this also is easily proved: but see Mr. Marshall. ib.

Thirdly, The law of nature, the law of nations, Prop. 3.and the law of God [as before proved] teach these Magistrates, that these men labouring in this manner, ought to be maintained; and if they are bound to the former then to this as well.

The quakers here Object: The Kings and Rulers of the earth may with the consent of the people assembled in Council, raise mony for the publick good, to preserve the Nations peace and welfare, but they ought not to take away the peoples good, the increase of their seed &c. and give to their own Ministers, this is evil and abominable. It is too tedious to transcribe all: Clark: p. 54.

Let this quaker leave out these words, take away, and own Ministers, and let it run as it did before, may not raise mony or maintenance, not for their own, but for Christs Ministers; and then give us a wise reason why the Magistrate may not as well raise mony [If you will call it so] for the interest of God and Christ, as for himself. How he comes to have more power over the estates of men for himself and his interest or the nations safety, then for God and his interest, who gave them their estates, when as the fulnesse of the world is the Lords. Psa. 24.1. Magistrates raise mony for offensive warrs, as well as defensive, but it may be the quakers will not allow this.

Nehemiah in the chap. 10. and Hezekiah 2. Chron. 31.4. Took care for the maintenance of the Priests, and Levites then it is as much the duty of godly Kings and Magistrates now to command the people to maintain those who are Gods Ministers.

Obj: But there was a command for Tythes.

p. 18Ans. I am not come at Tythes yet, there are as clear commands for maintenance, and that I am yet pleading for, the Magistrate is bound to look to; as Hezekiah and Nehemiah to tythes.

Obj. The citizens of Kent p. 12. tell the Parliament, that we should goe to the Church, according to Mat. 18. and not to them, if we want maintenance.

1. Ans. Are you so wise? then by you we shall have a Church. The poor must be maintained also, but I doubt the poor will hardly venter themselves in England upon your obedience to that rule, nor doth the Magistrate leave them only to that. Mens covetuous lusts they know would make bold with the rule, and much more with Ministers, who are opposing of their lusts.

2. The civil power I hope may make laws to force men to doe those things which the word of God also commandeth in many cases, or else Meum & Tuum, and mens lusts would ruine England quickly. And this case which the word, and light of nature, and law of Nations, maintaines, they may as well provide for, and we may seek to them for it.

4. Proposition: Prop. 4.The text speaketh plainly, Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in All good, here is jus Divinum. The word All [foreign] is a large word. Now I think, Corne, wool, hay, &c. Such things as are payed for Tythes, must needs be comprehended under the word All; Vnlesse they be no goods, or good things. The Lord hath tyed us up to take Money only, but certainly such things as do concern our livelihood, directly as well as Virtually we may demand, and the Magistrate may appoint: this text giveth him clear ground; and out of such things his old Ministers were maintained who did teach the people, &c.

We do not read in the N.T. of whole Nations that received the Gospel; that which we read is, that some Cities received it [I mean some of the people, not a whole city] we have but litle of Country villages if any thing at all, p. 19whence no wonder though we do not find mention of the Tythes of Corn payed to Ministers in the new Testament.

5. Proposition: To pay out of the increase, Prop. 5.can be no way repugnant to reason or Scripture; Let the quakers produce one Scripture against it.

First, it seems most proper, and the most easie to pay out of increase

Secondly, in one sense it cannot be otherwise. For if Gal. 6.6. will allow me Corn, wooll, &c. These must be of the increase; if not this year, then some other year; but to be sure there was increase. The same for the increase of Money.

Thus farr then I have brought it, that the civil power may make laws to command their subjects to pay, Corn, wooll. &c. [what things are communicable, &c. according to Gal. 6.6.] and that must be of the increase, as I have shewed, unto the Ministers of the Gospel.

Now I come to the pinch of the question, why may not the civil power command the Tenth part of the increase to be payed to the Ministers of the Gospel.

If the 7. Heb. 12. Will not carry it for the negative I am sure no text in the N.T. will: I would have bestowed some words in opening of the verse, but that I see I exceed what I intended at first for shortnesse: Thus the Apostle argues: Perfection is not by the Levitical Priesthood: How do you prove it? because another priesthood must rise after the order of Melchisedek, &c. v. 11. Obj. But suppose a Priest must rise after Melchisedeks order, may not yet the order of Aaron stand; no, v. 12. The Priesthood being changed, the law, the institution of Aaron, or the old Covenant, must be changed also. This is the true sense of the Apostle. Though he made mention of Tythes, his businesse was not to argue against tythes, but the change of the Priesthood.

Obj. But if the Levitical Priesthood be changed, then the law of tythes which were the maintenance, is also Changed, and must not be imitated.

p. 20Ans. I deny the consequence. Observe, I do not speak of the meat offerings, sin-offerings, trespasse-offerings, heave-offerings, wave-offerings, nor of other Sacrifices, whereof the Priests had a breast or shoulder &c. as they had of all besides the Holocaust being Types of Christ besides divers other things, which heightned their maintenance; but I speak only of those tythes which the people paid to the Levites, of the which Levites payed the tenth to the Priests, as also of what rose the Suburbs of their own cities [as some conceive.] The work may be changed, but not the wages, so the consequence holds not, unlesse the wages were of the same nature, with the work: Typisying Christ as did the work. Neither was a great part of their work typical, for which they had the wages, i e. Teaching of the people, which is our work now. The tythes must typifie Christ, or else they do not deny him come in the flesh.

I looked for this, but none of my adversaries, did shew how tythes were a type of Christ: and now I challenge all the quakers, the citizens of Kent, with all other adversaries of tythes to give a clear account, What the number Ten, did Typifie in Christ? The Corn, oyl, lambe, wooll, wine, &c. Aquinas, 22 ae. q. 87. a. 1. hath a pretty fancy about the number ten, if the Quakers like it they may take it: and Gomarus his opinion of it, in 7 Heb. I add only the number seven in Scripture seems to be rather a perfect number.Heb 1The matter of the tythes were no type of Christ, for by Gal. 6.6. you are bound to communicate of these unto us, and increase must be, else you can have none. So that the type must be in the bare number Ten. Shew your selves men in giving a convincing proof, what Ten typified, else you have lost the cause.

2. If Ten be typical, then that number must be avoided in all our maintenance, and then that Gentleman of a Congregational Church did very ill to give ten pounds per annum to two Ministers freely.

3. Then the houses and lands, the cities and suburbs, were also typical of Christ, and so we must have neither house to dwell in, nor any land to help us. Set down convincingly what the Levites houses did typifie, and lands. If you say [as some do] Cannan was a type of heaven. A. 1 Heaven and Christ are not the same. 2. The p. 21type is not removed but by the Antytype; I will promise you we wil ask you no tythes nor houses or lands, when the Antitype, heaven is come. 3. Canaan, not the Levites Cities only was a type of heaven; what then, you must have no lands or houses, no more then we? pray remember their cities and suburbs were part of their maintenance as well as tythès.

4. The tythes which were payed into the Levites [for of them I speak strictly] together with their cities, and suburbs, belonging to the judicial and not to the Ceremonial law. Gomarus upon Heb. 7 [one who wil not allow tythes to be due jure divino] saith, there was a natural equity in the tythes given to the Levites in recompence of a double losse. 1. That the 12. part of the inheritance of the Jsraelites: was taken from the Levites, and translated to the Sons of Joseph: [This is plain in Scripture, and thus farr they belonged to the judicial law] 2. Because they were segregated to the worship of God, and so could not attend to provide for their Families as others.

If Gomarus stretch the natural equity unto the quotam [as they say] that would make much for us, but I will not defend that under his second head.

The Schoolemen speak the most rationally to this point their reason, more solid, then theirs who would have them to belong to the Ceremonial [upon the ground I mentioned in my third head] and partly to the judicial law. See: Hales p. 3. q. 51. m. 3. Thus Aquinas 22. q. 87. a. 1. Arragon. ib. Suares de leg. p. 683. Bellermins reason is very clear that the law of tythes did not belong to the Ceremonial law, but judicial. Nam non ordinatur immediate ad colendum Deum sed ad aequitatem inter homines constituendum. To 2. p 127.

They were immediately appointed for the comfort and sustaining of the natural lives of the Levites and their Families, and there ended

If then these belonged to the judicial law, the Magistrate is no more hindered [for any peculiar reason that p. 22appeares] from making a law for the payment of tythes, then he is hindered from making that law against Thieves. Exod. 22.1. which did belong to their judicial law, and I believe would please some of our honest Judges better then the laws now extant.

This is sufficient to shew how empty and vain the cry of Antichristianisme is by these Antidecimists, and to shew that the 7. Heb. 12. will not be sufficient, to hinder the Magistrate, but he may do as God did. Taking Gods allowance for the best proportion.

But yet to clear our selves further.

1. Many Ministers who take tythes take the eleventh sheafe, some Impropriators have done it; if any man who shews himself indeed a conscientious man, would desire that of his Minister, I am confident no Minister would deny it who were godly: Now here your conscience is fully cleared, unlesse you can make Ten and eleven to be the same number.

2. Many Ministers compound for the tythes, which the Levites did not, they were bound to pay them in kind, and did so. Our Compositions below the worth, in our Town some of my people tell me, they compound at two Shillings six pence in the pound. So much it cost them to the Impropriator and my self. Yet few complain, if any, when some have forced me in hard years to take my tythe in kind or else I could have nothing; the next year I took in kind, and that year have payed for three years, and yet the Commodity [Hops] bare but an ordinary price.

Obj. But the Kentish citizens say p. 25. that we take tythe-pigs, and in this the Parson hath gotten the advantage of the Jew.

A. First, This is a clear proof the law is changed [if that be the meaning of Heb. 7. as you plead] we take not tythes by their law, so you have the thing you plead for.

Secondly, We are not tyed to the tenth pig, but the people pay us the seventh, which still proves the Levitical law and ours are different. I do not know that ever I p. 23heard any man complain because he payed the seventh pig; nor have some any cause to do so, being scarce worth the sending.

Obj. The quakers tell us, that the Tythes were to be carried all to Jerusalem, and that the fatherlesse, widdow, and strangers were to eate thereof. But 'tis not so with us.

A. The men shew their ignorance: the people payed more then one sort of Tythes: the first tythe they payed to the Levites in kind; and this tythe in the judgement of divers learned men was not carried to Jerusalem, but payed to the Levites at home. To be sure this Tythe they were not bound to eate at Jerusalem, but any where, Num. 18.31. Of these Tythes the Levites payed a tenth to the Priest [true, we pay Tenths, but not to a Priest but to the civill Magistrate.]

Secondly, then the people were bound to separate a second Tythe [this our people would grudge at] and this they were not bound to pay in kind, but might turn into money [exact to the worth] if they lived far from Jerusalem, Deut. 14.23, 24, 25. with which they feasted before the Lord. Some say the husbandman made a kind of a love-feast at Jerusalem, and invited the Priest and Levite to it. But this was the 1, 2, 4, 5. years, not the 3, or 6.

Thirdly, every third yeare they payed the poore folks Tythe: now this yeare they were not bound to carry that Tythe to Jerusalem, but might eate it within any of their gates, Deut. 14.28. and there the Levite, stranger, &c. did eate, v. 29. for these different tythes, you may see how Tobit. 1. ch. 7.8. saith he payed them; which book, though I quote not, as Parnel the quaker did Wisdom 4.8, 9. to oppose Levit. 19.32. Apochrypha to oppose the Canon, yet in matter of fact, being agreeable to the canon, it serves to clear it; the Hebrews in their writings agreeing to what is said.

To conclude, if men be thus troubled in their consciences for paying of Tythes, then let them, 1. buy Land which is to pay no Tythes, if they can: or, 2. agree with p. 24their Landlord before hand, let him pay the tythe, and he pay his landlord his rent accordingly. Or, 3. get the Minister to take the eleventh sheafe. Or, 4. compound about two shillings in the pound else it wil be like to Tyths; the tenth shilling. Or 5. occupy no land, put turne all Tradesmen. Any of these waies will save conscience, if my former discourse convince them not, that upon the law of the Nation they are bound to pay the Tenth.

The Second thing they cry out of, is Oppression.

If this law for Tythes were now made when Tennants had hired their farmes at such rents, and yet now must pay Tythes, which they were not pound unto when they hired them; then there were some cause why men should cry out of Oppression; but now there is not the least cause for this word.

2. Could the civil power secure our inheritance, and provide for us some other way for two or three years, & make a law that all Landlords should have power to make new Leases of their farmes, because now Tythes were not payed to the ministers, as they were when they made their Leases; then should men see whither the payment of Tythes to the ministers were Oppression or not. Did not your Landlord let you a farm at such a rent, considering it, as paying tythes, as well as Constable, Oversers, and Church-wardens rates? some farms pay twenty pound perannum for Tythes, if the farme did not pay so, doe you think the Landlord would not looke on his farme as worth so much more rent to him.

If the Landlord were to sell this farm which payes 20 pound… per annum for Tythes, if he could sell it Tythefree, would he not aske so much the more for his farme? so many hundreds of Pounds: which now he cannot doe, being he must sell it, as paying yearely so much for Tythe.

3. Put case some rich man should upon some service he requires of you and your posteritie, give to you and your posteritie for ever the tenth part of the increase of some great farme, and this farme whither it be sold or let, yet p. 25must be so sold to him that buyes it, or let to him who hires it, as paying the tenth part of the Increase to you and your posteritie; would you thinke when you or your posteritie [performing the service] came for the tenth part of the increase, that the man did well to charge you with oppression for so doing? Is not the case the same? The King, Lords, and Commons, many years since, did make the law for the payment of the tenth of the increase of the land, to the Ministry, and were content their owne lands as well as other mens should not be exempted, but pay Tythes: and thus for some hundred of yeers have sold and Let Lands; and people have bought, and hired lands as paying Tythes; where then is there a shadow of Oppression?

4. Shew me the man whom paying of Tythes did ever undoe. If farmers have had skill to manage their farmes, were industrious, not given to potting, or other evil courses; nor some eminent hand of God against them; and the rent not oppressing: [for I conceive usurers who lets out mony at 12. per cent. [if any such be] are not such oppressors as some Landlords are in the renting of their farmes] I say, if the cause have not lien in some of the forementioned heads shew us the man who by pa…ing of Tythes hath decayed? do we not see the contrary, how men live comfortably, and bring up ther families well, and yet pay Tythes? Since Taxes have come, many have complained who did never complain as Tythes that I heard of.

5. I pay Tythes my self to the Impropriatour, he comes into my ground and takes a way every tenth sheafe, and never thanks me for it; nor am I such a foole to expect he should; the question is, whither the tenth sheafe be mine or his? if it were mine, he should not have a handful of a sheafe; but being its his, I can say nothing to him. I bought the Land as paying Tythes.

Here by the way while the Quakers, and Citizens of Kent charge us with Oppression; let us see whither they be not guilty of Theft, in detaining of our Tythes from us.

p. 26Those who possesse goods to which they have not a just and due Title, they are guilty of theft.

But the Quakers, and others who detaine Tythes, possesse goods to which they have not a just and due title. Ergo they are guilty of theft.

The major is plaine, for it is the affirmative part of the eight Commandement, that we have a just and due Title to what ever we possesse; else we breake the Commandement, and steale.

The minor is denied; the Quakers and Kentish citizens say, the Tythes are their owne, 1. P. 24. but this is false; for,

Those who buy, hire, or inherit lands, which are to pay the Tenth of the increase to another, they cannot have a just title to the Tenth of the increase themselves.

But the quakers and others, buy, hire, or inherit lands, which are to pay the Tenth of the increase to Another, [unlesse they have some particular exemption by law] Therefore the quakers have not any just title to the Tenth themselves. And consequently they are not their own.

Unlesse the law (as I said) exempt, as some particular grounds are from payment of the great Tythes. You can buy no lands, nor hire, nor can inherit, nor can a friend give lands, but they must all pay Tythes, and cannot be possessed honestly, but as paying Tythes. As out of divers lands men have given so much yearly to the poor of such or such townes, and schooles, who ever buy or inherits those lands, must pay so much out, if he doth not, but detaines it, he is guilty of theft. For he hath no title to it. Hence the quakers lying in prison for not payment of tythes is a Testimony they are guilty of theft, being guilty of the breach of Christs law, rather then any Testimony that Christ is come in the flesh.

Obj. The Kentish citizens tell the Parliament: p. 19. If they will repeal the law for Tythes, then our right is gone.

Ans. This belongs to some others to plead; whether p. 27the Parliament can do it justly. I cannot as yet see but the Parliament may as well take away any of their lands, as our Patrimony, but then the citizens would cry out of injustice.

If the same individual persons, and Parliament which first made the law, and gave away of their own estates to the maintenance of the Ministry, were now extant, then there might be more said for the justnesse of the repeale: but these persons being dead so many hundreds of years since, and lands having been since inherited, bought, sold, hired, &c. As paying tythes, I know not how a Parliament now can justly take away our, more then another mans Inheritance. As a Grand-child cannot take away what his Grand-father gave out of his lands, for maintaining of schools, the poor, &c.

If the Parliament should take away these tythes, yet then they must settle some other maintenance, else they would not shew themselves to be Christians, nor so just as the moral Heathen.

No wise state will ever do it: Because here is maintenance already provided for the Ministry, which no man can claim as his own, how then can a state provide better. As for the cryes of conscience and oppression, these are flamms.

The state then will wrong those men, who have sold their lands under, as paying of tythes, which they would not have done; Also the state must wrong all the Landlords who have made leases of their farmes, unlesse they will make a law, that since men shall pay no more tythes they may make new leases of their farmes, and then shall men see, whether tythes, be their own, and whether it be oppression to pay them; as now they say: they will finde new Rents set upon farmes.

But to conclude, these enemies of our maintenance, whose mouthes the authority of Christ and his Apostles will not stop, nor sound reason, I will send them to the Heathen King, Gen. 47.22. who gave to his Idolatrous Priests, [so the Chalde, Greek, Syriac, and Arabick, render p. 28the word] portions out of his own treasuries, their lands reserved for them and not sold in that time of famine, [this long before tythes were appointed to Levi] and besides these lands they had the third part of all yearly tributes and levies, as Diodo: Siculus tels us.

The sum is. Heathen men have been far more kind to their Idolatrous Priests, then English Christians are unto the Ministers of Christ, whom Christ hath so much owned, and will own, when men and divils have done their worst.