An Indictment Against Tithes, Title page – Dedication
AN INDICTMENT Againſt TYTHES: OR, Tythes no Wages for Goſpel-Miniſters: Wherein is declared,
I. The time when Tythes were firſt given in England.
II. By whom, and by whoſe Authority and power Tythes were firſt by a Law eſtabliſhed in England.
III. To whom, and to what end and purpoſe Tythes were firſt given, and after continued in England.
IV. Miniſters pretending a threefold Right to Tythes, 1. By Donation. 2. By the Laws of the Nation. And 3. By the Law of God; examined and confuted.
By John Osborne, a Lover of the Truth as it is in Jeſus.
To which are added, Certain Reaſons taken out of Doctor Burgeſs his CASE, concerning The buying of BISHOPS LANDS, Which are as full and directly againſt Tythes, as to what he applied them.
Likewiſe a QUERY to William Prynne.
By JOHN CANNE.
Micah 3. 5. Thus ſaith the Lord concerning the Prophets that deceive my people, and bite them with their teeth, and cry Peace; but if a man put not into their mouths, they prepare war againſt him.
Iſa. 57. 14. And he ſhall ſay, Caſt ye up, prepare the way, take up the ſtumbling-block out of the way of my people.
London, Printed for Livewel Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-Head-Alley. 1659
To the Supreme Authority, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, now ſitting at Weſtminſter.
FOraſmuch as it hath pleaſed the great Jehovah, who is the onelyonly wiſe Diſpoſer of all things, to re-call You to Your Places, from whence You were unjuſtly depoſed by an Uſurped Power; Therefore I beſeech You conſider, that great things are now expected from You: And I do humbly intreat and beſeech You, that You will be pleaſed to act prudently and vigorouſly for the Glory of GOD, the Peace and Tranquillity of this Nation, and the Comfort, Liberty and Freedome of all the faithful Servants of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, within this Commonwealth. And foraſmuch as ſome grievances and preſſures reſt upon the hearts and Spirits of many Godly, Conſcientious People of this Land; and one eſpecially upon mine own Spirit and Conſcience in particular, (as well as upon divers others) I mean that unſupportable burden of Tythes, ſo diſhonorable to God, and deſtructive to his true Worſhip, and ſo much tending to the abaſement of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the advancement of the power and dominion of Satan and Antichriſt: This, I ſay, is a grievance neceſſary to be conſidered, and ſpeedily reformed; Becauſe I do not finde any Warrant in in the Word of God, to uphold Miniſter Maintenance by Tythes. And therefore, I, as a Lover of the Truth as it is in Jeſus, and as an obedient Servant and Subject to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, do exhort and beſeech You, that You will have a tender care and compaſſion upon all fad oppreſſed Souls. And to ſtir You up thereunto, am bold to offer to Your view the ſhort enſuing Treatiſe, humbly deſiring that You will be pleaſed to read it deliberately, and conſider it ſeriouſly: and to make it a chief part of Your work, according to the counſel of the Lord, by the Prophet, Iſa. 58. 6. To looſe the bands of wickedneſſ, to take off the heavy burdens, and let the oppreſſed go free, and that You break every yoke. And then in ſo doing, God will bleſs You in all Your conſultations and actions.
But I beſeech You miſtake not my good intent and meaning herein: For I purpoſe not to take upon me to teach You Your Duties in Your places and callings; but to inform You of ſuch a growing evil in this Commonwealth, as if it be not timely ſuppreſſed, may ſpeedily draw down the wrath and judgements of God upon this Nation.
Wherefore I deſire to ſtir up your mindes, that by your godly actings and proceedings, God may be glorified, your own ſouls comforted, and poor oppreſſed Conſciences relieved.
Which ſhall ever be the Prayer of
Your moſt humble Servant in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, John Osborne.