Tithes Vindicated from Anti-Christianism and Oppression, Postscript
Postscrip.
Obj. The K. Petitioners tell the Parl. p. 23. by reason of tythes lesse land is tilled, men turning it to pasture which will bring a sacrifice of corn, men being discouraged to improve the land by dung, Marle &c. [And this is the oppression, we partake of the tenth of their labour, sweat, cost, &c.
Ans. I hear not of one man about us who improves the lesse upon this account; as for scarcity, the Lord hath witnessed against them, since their petition, corn being so cheap through the plenty of it, that the farmer did scarce know how to live, tell the Parl. made an Act for the exportation of corn.
Secondly, men may choose whether they will dung the land or not: Ministers doe not use to complain of the people because they do not improve their lands to augment their tythes, they can have but their tythes, if they rise but to a handful, they may throw it up to pasture if they will, the Ministers do not oppose them.
Thirdly, If tythes could be justly taken from us, then let the tenant see if he can parswade his landlord not to raise his rent [the land being now tythe-free] because he improving his ground with dung, &c. It would be oppression to raise the rent. Then neither is it oppression now.
Fourthly, VponUpon this account, tythes were a great oppression in Canaan, for the Levite did partake of the tenth of the labour, sweat, cost of the people.
Obj. But God gave them Canaan freely, and blessed them much (say they.)
Ans. If God gave them the land freely, and you buy or hire land with so much abatement of price because of tythes, which else you should pay if land were tythe-free, [the seller or letter of land allowes you in his price for tythes] the tythes are free to you; and so no wrong to pay them.
Secondly, Abundance of ours have their lands by Inheritance, or gift and so as free unto them, as Canaan to the Jew.
Thirdly, in Canaan they sould their lands though not for ever Levit. 25.23.28. he that bought the land, let him improve the land as he would, the Levite had the tenth of his cost and labours, and this was oppression; it seems if a poor Jew hired land, and payed the tythes the rent was according, the more the Lord blessed them the more the Levite had. They payed first fruits a second tenth appeared thrice before the Lord in a year not empty, had divers offerings out of wheat, [which required a blessing] from which ours are free.
If Ministers do not pay first fruits and tenths to the state, the state will turn us out of our places.
ERRATA.
PAge 1. line 2. read words, p. 5. l. 5. comma at this, p. 6. l. 8. r. these Churches were, p. 9. l. 31. pack for part. l. 35. 5 Tim. 22. p. 10. l. 16. Haire-cloth, l. 21. blot out a christ or, l. 32. thumb, p. 12. l. 10. these, l. 16 are for is, l. 21. own case, l. 38. grudge, p. 16. l. 16. One text.
Books lately published by this Author.
1. Establishing against quaking, Being a Discovery of the Quakers.
2. The Power of the civill Magistrate in matters of Religion vindicated; and the extent of it determined, by Mr. Stephen Marshall. Published by his own Copy since his death, with Notes upon the Sermon by Mr. Firmin.
3. Of Schism, Parochiall Congregations in England, and Ordination by Imposition of Hands.
FINIS.
End of the text · Giles Firmin, Tithes Vindicated from Anti-Christianism and Oppression (1659)