Considerations touching the likeliest means to remove hirelings out of the church wherein is also discourc'd of tithes, church-fees, church-revenues, and whether any maintenance of ministers can be settl'd by law / the author J.M.
         Milton, John, 1608-1674.
      
       
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             Considerations touching the likeliest means to remove hirelings out of the church wherein is also discourc'd of tithes, church-fees, church-revenues, and whether any maintenance of ministers can be settl'd by law / the author J.M.
             Milton, John, 1608-1674.
          
           [20], 153 p.
           
             Printed by T.N. for L. Chapman ...,
             London :
             1659.
          
           
             Attributed to John Milton. Cf. BM.
             First ed. Cf. BM.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Item incorrectly identified in reel guide as M2108.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Church of England -- Controversial literature.
           Church of England -- Clergy -- Salaries, etc.
           Fees, Ecclesiastical -- Early works to 1800.
           Tithes -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A50892  R12931  (Wing M2101).  civilwar no Considerations touching the likeliest means to remove hirelings out of the church. Wherein is also discourc'd of tithes, church-fees, church Milton, John 1659    19409 22 0 0 0 0 0 11 C  The  rate of 11 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           Considerations
           TOUCHING
           The
           likeliest
           means
           to
           remove
           HIRELINGS
           out
           of
           the
           church
           .
        
         
           Wherein
           is
           also
           discourc'd
           Of
           Tithes
           ,
           Church-fees
           ,
           Church-revenues
           ;
           And
           whether
           any
           maintenance
           of
           ministers
           can
           be
           settl'd
           by
           law
           .
           The
           author
           
             J.
             M.
             
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             :
          
           Printed
           by
           
             T.
             N.
          
           for
           
             L.
             Chapman
          
           at
           the
           Crown
           in
           Popes-head
           Alley
           .
           1659.
           
        
      
       
       
       
         
           TO
           THE
           PARLAMENT
           OF
           THE
           commonwealth
           OF
           
             ENGLAND
          
           with
           the
           dominions
           therof
           .
        
         
           OWing
           to
           your
           protection
           ,
           supream
           Senat
           ,
           this
           libertie
           of
           
           writing
           which
           I
           have
           us'd
           these
           18
           years
           on
           all
           occasions
           to
           assert
           the
           just
           rights
           and
           freedoms
           both
           of
           church
           and
           state
           ,
           and
           so
           far
           approv'd
           ,
           as
           to
           have
           bin
           trusted
           with
           the
           representment
           and
           defence
           of
           your
           actions
           to
           all
           Christendom
           against
           an
           
           adversarie
           of
           no
           mean
           repute
           ,
           to
           whom
           should
           I
           address
           what
           I
           still
           publish
           on
           the
           same
           argument
           ,
           but
           to
           you
           whose
           magnanimous
           councels
           first
           opend
           and
           unbound
           the
           age
           from
           a
           double
           bondage
           under
           prelatical
           and
           regal
           tyrannie
           ;
           
           above
           our
           own
           hopes
           heartning
           us
           to
           look
           up
           at
           last
           like
           men
           and
           Christians
           from
           the
           slavish
           dejection
           ,
           wherin
           from
           father
           to
           son
           we
           were
           bred
           up
           and
           taught
           ;
           and
           thereby
           deserving
           of
           these
           nations
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           not
           barbarously
           ingrateful
           ,
           
           to
           be
           acknowledgd
           ,
           next
           under
           God
           ,
           the
           authors
           and
           best
           patrons
           of
           religious
           and
           civil
           libertie
           ,
           that
           ever
           these
           Ilands
           brought
           forth
           .
           The
           care
           and
           tuition
           of
           whose
           peace
           and
           safety
           ,
           after
           a
           short
           but
           scandalous
           night
           
           of
           interruption
           ,
           is
           now
           again
           by
           a
           new
           dawning
           of
           Gods
           miraculous
           providence
           among
           us
           ,
           revolvd
           upon
           your
           shoulders
           .
           And
           to
           whom
           more
           appertain
           these
           considerations
           which
           I
           propound
           ,
           then
           to
           your selves
           and
           the
           debate
           
           before
           you
           ,
           though
           I
           trust
           of
           no
           difficultie
           ,
           yet
           at
           present
           of
           great
           expectation
           ,
           not
           whether
           ye
           will
           gratifie
           ,
           were
           it
           no
           more
           then
           so
           ,
           but
           whether
           ye
           will
           hearken
           to
           the
           just
           petition
           of
           many
           thousands
           best
           affected
           both
           to
           religion
           
           and
           to
           this
           your
           returne
           ,
           or
           whether
           ye
           will
           satisfie
           ,
           which
           you
           never
           can
           ,
           the
           covetous
           pretences
           and
           demands
           of
           insatiable
           hirelings
           ,
           whose
           disaffection
           ye
           well
           know
           both
           to
           your selves
           and
           your
           resolutions
           .
           That
           I
           ,
           though
           among
           many
           
           others
           in
           this
           common
           concernment
           ,
           interpose
           to
           your
           deliberations
           what
           my
           thoughts
           also
           are
           ,
           your
           own
           judgment
           and
           the
           success
           therof
           hath
           given
           me
           the
           confidence
           :
           which
           requests
           but
           this
           ,
           that
           if
           I
           have
           prosperously
           ,
           God
           so
           favoring
           
           me
           ,
           defended
           the
           publick
           cause
           of
           this
           commonwealth
           to
           foreiners
           ,
           ye
           would
           not
           think
           the
           reason
           and
           abilitie
           ,
           wheron
           ye
           trusted
           once
           ,
           and
           repent
           not
           ,
           your
           whole
           reputation
           to
           the
           world
           ,
           either
           grown
           less
           by
           more
           maturitie
           and
           longer
           
           studie
           ,
           or
           less
           available
           in
           
             English
          
           then
           in
           another
           tongue
           :
           but
           that
           if
           it
           suffic'd
           som
           years
           past
           to
           convince
           and
           satisfie
           the
           uningag'd
           of
           other
           nations
           in
           the
           justice
           of
           your
           doings
           ,
           though
           then
           held
           paradoxal
           ,
           it
           may
           as
           well
           suffice
           
           now
           against
           weaker
           opposition
           in
           matters
           ,
           except
           here
           in
           
             England
          
           (
           with
           a
           spiritualtie
           of
           men
           devoted
           to
           thir
           temporal
           gain
           ,
           )
           of
           no
           controversie
           els
           among
           Protestants
           .
           Neither
           do
           I
           doubt
           ,
           seeing
           daily
           the
           acceptance
           which
           they
           ▪
           
           finde
           who
           in
           thir
           petitions
           venture
           to
           bring
           advice
           also
           and
           new
           modells
           of
           a
           commonwealth
           ,
           but
           that
           you
           will
           interpret
           it
           much
           more
           the
           dutie
           of
           a
           Christian
           to
           offer
           what
           his
           conscience
           perswades
           him
           may
           be
           of
           moment
           to
           the
           
           freedom
           and
           better
           constituting
           of
           the
           church
           :
           )
           since
           it
           is
           a
           deed
           of
           highest
           charitie
           to
           help
           undeceive
           the
           people
           ,
           and
           a
           work
           worthiest
           your
           autoritie
           ,
           in
           all
           things
           els
           authors
           ,
           assertors
           and
           now
           recoverers
           of
           our
           libertie
           ,
           to
           deliver
           us
           ,
           
           the
           only
           people
           of
           all
           Protestants
           left
           still
           undeliverd
           ,
           from
           the
           oppressions
           of
           a
           Simonious
           decimating
           clergie
           ;
           who
           shame
           not
           against
           the
           judgment
           and
           practice
           of
           all
           other
           churches
           reformd
           ,
           to
           maintain
           ,
           though
           very
           weakly
           ,
           thir
           
           Popish
           and
           oft
           refuted
           positions
           ,
           not
           in
           a
           point
           of
           conscience
           ,
           wherin
           they
           might
           be
           blameles
           ,
           but
           in
           a
           point
           of
           covetousnes
           and
           unjust
           claim
           to
           other
           mens
           goods
           ;
           a
           conuention
           foul
           and
           odious
           in
           any
           man
           ,
           but
           most
           of
           all
           in
           ministers
           
           of
           the
           gospel
           ,
           in
           whom
           contention
           ,
           though
           for
           thir
           own
           right
           ,
           scarce
           is
           allowable
           .
           Till
           which
           greevances
           be
           remov'd
           and
           religion
           set
           free
           from
           the
           monopolie
           of
           hirelings
           ,
           I
           dare
           affirme
           ,
           that
           no
           modell
           whatsoever
           of
           a
           common-wealth
           
           will
           prove
           succesful
           or
           undisturbd
           ;
           and
           so
           perswaded
           ,
           implore
           divine
           assistance
           on
           your
           pious
           councels
           and
           proceedings
           to
           unanimitie
           in
           this
           and
           all
           other
           truth
           .
        
         
           John
           Milton
           .
        
      
    
     
       
       
         
           CONSIDERATIONS
           touching
           the
           likeliest
           means
           to
           remove
           hirelings
           out
           of
           the
           church
           .
        
         
           THe
           former
           treatise
           ,
           which
           leads
           in
           this
           ,
           begann
           with
           two
           things
           ever
           found
           working
           much
           mischief
           to
           the
           church
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           advancement
           of
           truth
           ;
           force
           on
           the
           one
           side
           restraining
           ,
           and
           hire
           on
           the
           other
           side
           corrupting
           the
           teachers
           therof
           .
           The
           latter
           of
           these
           is
           by
           much
           the
           more
           
           dangerous
           :
           (
           for
           under
           force
           ,
           though
           no
           thank
           to
           the
           forcers
           ,
           true
           religion
           oft-times
           best
           thrives
           )
           and
           flourishes
           :
           but
           the
           corruption
           of
           teachers
           ,
           most
           commonly
           the
           effect
           of
           hire
           ,
           is
           the
           very
           bane
           of
           truth
           in
           them
           who
           are
           so
           corrupted
           .
           Of
           force
           not
           to
           be
           us'd
           in
           matters
           of
           religion
           ,
           I
           have
           already
           spoken
           ;
           and
           so
           stated
           matters
           of
           conscience
           and
           religion
           in
           faith
           and
           divine
           worship
           ,
           and
           so
           severd
           them
           from
           blasphemie
           and
           heresie
           ,
           the
           one
           being
           such
           properly
           as
           is
           despiteful
           ,
           the
           other
           such
           as
           stands
           not
           to
           the
           rule
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           so
           both
           of
           them
           not
           matters
           of
           religion
           ,
           but
           rather
           against
           it
           ,
           that
           
           to
           them
           who
           will
           yet
           us●
           force
           ,
           this
           only
           choise
           can
           b●
           left
           ,
           whether
           they
           will
           force
           them
           to
           beleeve
           ,
           to
           whom
           it
           is
           not
           given
           from
           above
           ,
           being
           not
           forc'd
           thereto
           by
           any
           principle
           of
           the
           gospel
           ,
           which
           is
           now
           the
           only
           dispensation
           of
           God
           to
           all
           men
           ,
           or
           whether
           being
           Protestants
           ,
           they
           will
           punish
           in
           those
           things
           wherin
           the
           Protestant
           religion
           denies
           them
           to
           be
           judges
           ,
           either
           in
           themselves
           infallible
           or
           to
           the
           consciences
           of
           other
           men
           ,
           or
           whether
           ,
           lastly
           ,
           they
           think
           fit
           to
           punish
           error
           ,
           supposing
           they
           can
           be
           infallible
           that
           it
           is
           so
           ,
           being
           not
           wilful
           ,
           but
           conscientious
           ,
           and
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           best
           light
           of
           him
           who
           
           errs
           ,
           grounded
           on
           scripture
           :
           which
           kinde
           of
           error
           all
           men
           religious
           ,
           or
           but
           only
           reasonable
           ,
           have
           thought
           worthier
           of
           pardon
           ;
           and
           the
           growth
           therof
           to
           be
           prevented
           by
           spiritual
           means
           and
           church-discipline
           ,
           not
           by
           civil
           laws
           and
           outward
           force
           ;
           since
           it
           is
           God
           only
           who
           gives
           as
           well
           to
           beleeve
           aright
           ,
           as
           to
           beleeve
           at
           all
           ;
           and
           by
           those
           means
           which
           he
           ordaind
           sufficiently
           in
           his
           church
           to
           the
           full
           execution
           of
           his
           divine
           purpose
           in
           the
           gospel
           .
           It
           remanes
           now
           to
           speak
           of
           hire
           ;
           the
           other
           evil
           so
           mischeevous
           in
           religion
           :
           wherof
           I
           promisd
           then
           to
           speak
           further
           ,
           when
           I
           should
           finde
           God
           disposing
           
           me
           ,
           and
           opportunity
           inviting
           .
           Opportunity
           I
           finde
           now
           inviting
           ;
           and
           apprehend
           therin
           the
           concurrence
           of
           God
           disposing
           ;
           since
           the
           maintenance
           of
           church-ministers
           ,
           a
           thing
           not
           properly
           belonging
           to
           the
           magistrate
           ,
           and
           yet
           with
           such
           importunity
           call'd
           for
           ,
           and
           expected
           from
           him
           ,
           is
           at
           present
           under
           publick
           debate
           .
           Wherin
           least
           any
           thing
           may
           happen
           to
           be
           determind
           and
           establishd
           prejudicial
           to
           the
           right
           and
           freedom
           of
           church
           ,
           or
           advantageous
           to
           such
           as
           may
           be
           found
           hirelings
           therin
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           now
           most
           seasonable
           ,
           and
           in
           these
           matters
           wherin
           every
           Christian
           hath
           his
           free
           suffrage
           ,
           
           no
           way
           misbecoming
           Christian
           meeknes
           to
           offer
           freely
           ,
           without
           disparagement
           to
           the
           wisest
           ,
           such
           advice
           as
           God
           shall
           incline
           him
           and
           inable
           him
           to
           propound
           .
           Since
           heretofore
           in
           commonwealths
           of
           most
           fame
           for
           government
           ,
           civil
           laws
           were
           not
           establishd
           till
           they
           had
           been
           first
           for
           certain
           dayes
           publishd
           to
           the
           view
           of
           all
           men
           ,
           that
           who
           so
           pleasd
           might
           speak
           freely
           his
           opinion
           therof
           ,
           and
           give
           in
           his
           exceptions
           ,
           ere
           the
           law
           could
           pass
           to
           a
           full
           establishment
           .
           And
           where
           ought
           this
           equity
           to
           have
           more
           place
           ,
           then
           in
           the
           libertie
           which
           is
           unseparable
           from
           Christian
           religion
           ?
           This
           ,
           I
           
           am
           not
           ignorant
           ,
           will
           be
           a
           work
           unpleasing
           to
           some
           :
           but
           what
           truth
           is
           not
           hateful
           to
           some
           or
           other
           ,
           as
           this
           ,
           in
           likelihood
           ,
           will
           be
           to
           none
           but
           hirelings
           .
           And
           if
           there
           be
           among
           them
           who
           hold
           it
           thir
           duty
           to
           speak
           impartial
           truth
           ,
           as
           the
           work
           of
           thir
           ministry
           ,
           though
           not
           performd
           without
           monie
           ,
           let
           them
           not
           envie
           others
           who
           think
           the
           same
           no
           less
           their
           duty
           by
           the
           general
           office
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           speak
           truth
           ,
           as
           in
           all
           reason
           may
           be
           thought
           ,
           more
           impartially
           and
           unsuspectedly
           without
           monie
           .
        
         
           Hire
           of
           itself
           is
           neither
           a
           thing
           unlawful
           ,
           nor
           a
           word
           
           of
           any
           evil
           note
           ,
           signifying
           no
           more
           then
           a
           due
           recompence
           or
           reward
           ;
           as
           when
           our
           Saviour
           saith
           ,
           
             the
             laborer
             is
             worthy
             of
             his
             hire
             .
          
           That
           which
           makes
           it
           so
           dangerous
           in
           the
           church
           ,
           and
           properly
           makes
           the
           
             hireling
             ,
          
           a
           word
           always
           of
           evil
           signification
           ,
           is
           either
           the
           excess
           thereof
           ,
           or
           the
           undue
           manner
           of
           giving
           and
           taking
           it
           .
           What
           harme
           the
           excess
           therof
           brought
           to
           the
           church
           ,
           perhaps
           was
           not
           found
           by
           experience
           till
           the
           days
           of
           
             Constantine
             :
          
           who
           out
           of
           his
           zeal
           thinking
           he
           could
           be
           never
           too
           liberally
           a
           nursing
           father
           of
           the
           church
           ,
           might
           be
           not
           unfitly
           said
           to
           have
           either
           overlaid
           it
           or
           
           choakd
           it
           in
           the
           nursing
           .
           Which
           was
           foretold
           ,
           as
           is
           recorded
           in
           ecclesiastical
           traditions
           ,
           by
           a
           voice
           heard
           from
           heaven
           on
           the
           very
           day
           that
           those
           great
           donations
           and
           church-revenues
           were
           given
           ,
           crying
           aloud
           ,
           
             This
             day
             is
             poison
             pourd
             into
             the
             church
             .
          
           Which
           the
           event
           soon
           after
           verifi'd
           ;
           as
           appeers
           by
           another
           no
           less
           ancient
           observation
           ,
           
             That
             religion
             brought
             forth
             wealth
             ,
             and
             the
             daughter
             devourd
             the
             mother
             .
          
           But
           long
           ere
           wealth
           came
           into
           the
           church
           ,
           so
           soone
           as
           any
           gain
           appeerd
           in
           religion
           ,
           hirelings
           were
           apparent
           ;
           drawn
           in
           long
           before
           by
           the
           very
           sent
           thereof
           .
           
             Judas
          
           therefor
           ,
           the
           first
           
           hireling
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           present
           hire
           answerable
           to
           his
           coveting
           ,
           from
           the
           small
           number
           or
           the
           meanness
           of
           such
           as
           then
           were
           the
           religious
           ,
           sold
           the
           religion
           it self
           with
           the
           founder
           therof
           ,
           his
           master
           .
           
             Simon
             Magus
          
           the
           next
           ,
           in
           hope
           only
           that
           preaching
           and
           the
           gifts
           of
           the
           holy
           ghost
           would
           prove
           gainful
           ,
           offerd
           before-hand
           a
           sum
           of
           monie
           to
           obtain
           them
           .
           Not
           long
           after
           ,
           as
           the
           apostle
           foretold
           ,
           hirelings
           like
           wolves
           came
           in
           by
           herds
           ,
           
             Acts
          
           20.
           29.
           
           
             For
             ,
             I
             know
             this
             ,
             that
             after
             my
             departing
             shall
             greevous
             wolves
             enter
             in
             among
             you
             ,
             not
             sparing
             the
             flock
             .
          
           Tit.
           1.
           11.
           
           
             Teaching
             things
             which
             they
             ought
             not
             ,
             for
          
           
           
             filthy
             lucres
             sake
             .
          
           2
           Pet.
           2.
           3.
           
           
             And
             through
             covetousnes
             shall
             they
             with
             feigned
             words
             make
             merchandise
             of
             you
             .
          
           Yet
           they
           taught
           not
           fals
           doctrin
           only
           ,
           but
           seeming
           piety
           :
           1
           
             Tim.
          
           6.
           5.
           
             supposing
             that
             gain
             is
             Godlines
             .
          
           Neither
           came
           they
           in
           of
           themselves
           only
           ,
           but
           invited
           oft-times
           by
           a
           corrupt
           audience
           :
           2
           
             Tim.
          
           4.
           3.
           
           
             For
             the
             time
             will
             come
             ,
             when
             they
             will
             not
             endure
             sound
             doctrin
             ,
             but
             after
             thir
             own
             lusts
             they
             will
             heap
             to
             themselves
             teachers
             ,
             having
             itching
             ears
             :
          
           and
           they
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           as
           fast
           heaping
           to
           themselves
           disciples
           ,
           
             Acts
          
           20.
           30
           ,
           doubtles
           had
           as
           itching
           palmes
           .
           2
           
             Pet.
          
           2.
           15.
           
           
             Following
             the
             way
             of
          
           Balaam
           ,
           
           
             the
             son
             of
          
           Bosor
           ,
           
             who
             lovd
             the
             wages
             of
             unrighteousnes
             .
          
           Jude
           11.
           
           
             They
             ran
             greedily
             after
             the
             error
             of
          
           Balaam
           
             for
             reward
             .
          
           Thus
           we
           see
           that
           not
           only
           the
           excess
           of
           hire
           in
           wealthiest
           times
           ,
           but
           also
           the
           undue
           and
           vitious
           taking
           or
           giving
           it
           ,
           though
           but
           small
           or
           mean
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           primitive
           times
           ,
           gave
           to
           hirelings
           occasion
           ,
           though
           not
           intended
           ,
           yet
           sufficient
           ,
           to
           creep
           at
           first
           into
           the
           church
           .
           Which
           argues
           also
           the
           difficulty
           ,
           or
           rather
           the
           impossibility
           ,
           to
           remove
           them
           quite
           ;
           unless
           every
           minister
           were
           ,
           as
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           contented
           to
           teach
           
             gratis
             :
          
           but
           few
           such
           are
           to
           be
           found
           .
           As
           therefor
           we
           cannot
           justly
           take
           away
           all
           
           hire
           in
           the
           church
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           otherwise
           quite
           remove
           all
           hirelings
           ,
           so
           are
           we
           not
           for
           the
           impossibility
           of
           removing
           them
           all
           ,
           to
           use
           therefor
           no
           endevor
           that
           fewest
           may
           come
           in
           :
           but
           rather
           ,
           in
           regard
           the
           evil
           ,
           do
           what
           we
           can
           ,
           will
           alwayes
           be
           incumbent
           and
           unavoidable
           ,
           to
           use
           our
           utmost
           diligence
           ,
           how
           it
           may
           be
           least
           dangerous
           .
           Which
           will
           be
           likeliest
           effected
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           ,
           first
           ,
           what
           recompence
           God
           hath
           ordaind
           should
           be
           given
           to
           ministers
           of
           the
           church
           ;
           (
           for
           that
           a
           recompence
           ought
           to
           be
           given
           them
           ,
           and
           may
           by
           them
           justly
           be
           received
           ,
           our
           Saviour
           himself
           from
           the
           very
           
           light
           of
           reason
           and
           of
           equity
           hath
           declar'd
           :
           
             Luke
          
           10.
           7.
           
           
             The
             laborer
             is
             worthy
             of
             his
             hire
          
           )
           next
           by
           whom
           ;
           and
           lastly
           ,
           in
           what
           manner
           .
        
         
           What
           recompence
           ought
           be
           given
           to
           church-ministers
           ,
           God
           hath
           answerably
           ordaind
           according
           to
           that
           difference
           which
           he
           hath
           manifestly
           put
           between
           those
           his
           two
           great
           dispensations
           ,
           the
           law
           and
           the
           gospel
           .
           Under
           the
           law
           he
           gave
           them
           tithes
           ;
           under
           the
           gospel
           ,
           having
           left
           all
           things
           in
           his
           church
           to
           charity
           and
           Christian
           freedom
           ,
           he
           hath
           given
           them
           only
           what
           is
           justly
           given
           them
           .
           That
           ,
           as
           well
           under
           the
           gospel
           as
           under
           the
           law
           ,
           say
           our
           English
           divines
           ,
           
           and
           they
           only
           of
           all
           Protestants
           ,
           is
           tithes
           ;
           and
           they
           say
           true
           ,
           if
           any
           man
           be
           so
           minded
           to
           give
           them
           of
           his
           own
           the
           tenth
           or
           twentith
           :
           out
           that
           the
           law
           therefor
           of
           tithes
           is
           in
           force
           under
           the
           gospel
           ,
           all
           other
           Protestant
           divines
           ,
           though
           equally
           concernd
           ,
           yet
           constantly
           deny
           .
           For
           although
           hire
           to
           the
           laborer
           be
           of
           moral
           and
           perpetual
           right
           ,
           yet
           that
           special
           kinde
           of
           hire
           ,
           the
           tenth
           ,
           can
           be
           of
           no
           right
           or
           necessity
           ,
           but
           to
           that
           special
           labor
           for
           which
           God
           ordaind
           it
           .
           That
           special
           labor
           was
           the
           Levitical
           and
           ceremonial
           service
           of
           the
           tabernacle
           ,
           
             Numb.
          
           18.
           21
           ,
           31.
           which
           is
           now
           abolishd
           :
           the
           right
           therefor
           
           of
           that
           special
           hire
           must
           needs
           be
           withall
           abolishd
           ,
           as
           being
           also
           ceremonial
           .
           That
           tithes
           were
           ceremonial
           ,
           is
           plane
           ;
           not
           being
           given
           to
           the
           Levites
           till
           they
           had
           bin
           first
           offerd
           a
           heave-offering
           to
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             Vers.
             24
             ,
             28.
             
          
           He
           then
           who
           by
           that
           law
           brings
           tithes
           into
           the
           gospel
           ,
           of
           necessity
           brings
           in
           withall
           a
           sacrifice
           ,
           and
           an
           altar
           ;
           without
           which
           tithes
           by
           that
           law
           were
           unsanctifi'd
           and
           polluted
           ,
           
             Vers.
             32.
          
           and
           therefor
           never
           thought
           on
           in
           the
           first
           Christian
           times
           ,
           till
           ceremonies
           ,
           altars
           ,
           and
           oblations
           ,
           by
           an
           ancienter
           corruption
           were
           brought
           back
           long
           before
           .
           And
           yet
           the
           
             Jewes
          
           ever
           since
           thir
           temple
           
           was
           destroid
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           Rabbies
           and
           teachers
           of
           thir
           law
           ,
           yet
           pay
           no
           tithes
           ,
           as
           having
           no
           Levites
           to
           whom
           ,
           no
           temple
           where
           to
           pay
           them
           ,
           no
           altar
           wheron
           to
           hallow
           them
           ;
           which
           argues
           that
           the
           
             Jewes
          
           themselves
           never
           thought
           tithes
           moral
           ,
           but
           ceremonial
           only
           .
           That
           Christians
           therefor
           should
           take
           them
           up
           ,
           when
           
             Jewes
          
           have
           laid
           them
           down
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           very
           absurd
           and
           preposterous
           .
           Next
           ,
           it
           is
           as
           cleer
           in
           the
           same
           chapter
           ,
           that
           the
           priests
           and
           Levites
           had
           not
           tithes
           for
           their
           labor
           only
           in
           the
           tabernacle
           ,
           but
           in
           regard
           they
           were
           to
           have
           no
           other
           part
           nor
           inheritance
           in
           
           the
           land
           ,
           
             Vers.
             20
             ,
             24.
          
           and
           by
           that
           means
           for
           a
           tenth
           lost
           a
           twelfth
           .
           But
           our
           levites
           undergoing
           no
           such
           law
           of
           deprivement
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           right
           to
           any
           such
           compensation
           :
           nay
           ,
           if
           by
           this
           law
           they
           will
           have
           tithes
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           inheritance
           of
           land
           ,
           but
           forfeit
           what
           they
           have
           .
           Besides
           this
           ,
           tithes
           were
           of
           two
           sorts
           ,
           those
           of
           every
           year
           ,
           and
           those
           of
           every
           third
           year
           :
           of
           the
           former
           ,
           every
           one
           that
           brought
           his
           tithes
           ,
           was
           to
           eat
           his
           share
           .
           
             Deut.
             14.
             23.
             
             Thou
             shalt
             eat
             before
             the
             Lord
             thy
             God
             ,
             in
             the
             place
             which
             he
             shall
             chuse
             to
             place
             his
             name
             there
             ,
             the
             tithe
             of
             thy
             corn
             ,
             of
             thy
             wine
             ,
             and
             of
             thine
             oyle
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Nay
           ,
           though
           
           he
           could
           not
           bring
           his
           tithe
           in
           kinde
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           his
           distant
           dwelling
           from
           the
           tabernacle
           or
           temple
           ,
           but
           was
           thereby
           forc'd
           to
           turn
           it
           into
           monie
           ,
           he
           was
           to
           bestow
           that
           monie
           on
           whatsoever
           pleasd
           him
           ;
           oxen
           ,
           sheep
           ,
           wine
           ,
           or
           strong
           drink
           ;
           and
           to
           eat
           and
           drink
           therof
           there
           before
           the
           Lord
           both
           he
           and
           his
           houshold
           ,
           
             Ver.
             24
             ,
             25
             ,
             26.
             
          
           As
           for
           the
           tithes
           of
           every
           third
           year
           ,
           they
           were
           not
           given
           only
           to
           the
           Levite
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           stranger
           ,
           the
           fatherles
           ,
           and
           the
           widdow
           ,
           
             Vers.
             28
             ,
             29.
             
          
           &
           
             Chap.
             26.
             12
             ,
             13.
             
          
           So
           that
           ours
           ,
           if
           they
           will
           have
           tithes
           ,
           must
           admitt
           of
           these
           sharers
           with
           them
           .
           Nay
           ,
           these
           tithes
           were
           not
           paid
           in
           
           at
           all
           to
           the
           Levite
           ,
           but
           the
           Levite
           himself
           was
           to
           come
           with
           those
           his
           fellow
           guests
           and
           eat
           his
           share
           of
           them
           only
           at
           his
           house
           who
           provided
           them
           ;
           and
           this
           not
           in
           regard
           of
           his
           ministerial
           office
           ,
           but
           because
           he
           had
           no
           part
           nor
           inheritance
           in
           the
           land
           .
           Lastly
           ,
           the
           priests
           and
           Levites
           ,
           a
           tribe
           ,
           were
           of
           a
           far
           different
           constitution
           from
           this
           of
           our
           ministers
           under
           the
           gospel
           :
           in
           them
           were
           orders
           and
           degrees
           both
           by
           family
           ,
           dignity
           and
           office
           ,
           mainly
           distinguishd
           ;
           the
           high
           priest
           ,
           his
           brethren
           and
           his
           sons
           ,
           to
           whom
           the
           Levites
           themselves
           paid
           tithes
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           best
           ,
           were
           eminently
           superior
           ,
           
             Num.
          
           
           18.
           28
           ,
           29.
           
           No
           Protestant
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           will
           liken
           one
           of
           our
           ministers
           to
           a
           high
           priest
           ,
           but
           rather
           to
           a
           common
           Levite
           .
           Unless
           then
           ,
           to
           keep
           their
           tithes
           ,
           they
           mean
           to
           bring
           back
           again
           bishops
           ,
           archbishops
           and
           the
           whole
           gang
           of
           prelatry
           ,
           to
           whom
           will
           they
           themselves
           pay
           tythes
           ,
           as
           by
           that
           law
           it
           was
           a
           sin
           to
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           did
           not
           ,
           
             v.
          
           32.
           
           Certainly
           this
           must
           needs
           put
           them
           to
           a
           deep
           demurr
           ,
           while
           the
           desire
           of
           holding
           fast
           thir
           tithes
           without
           sin
           ,
           may
           tempt
           them
           to
           bring
           back
           again
           bishops
           as
           the
           likenes
           of
           that
           hierarchy
           that
           should
           receive
           tithes
           from
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           desire
           to
           pay
           none
           ,
           may
           advise
           
           them
           to
           keep
           out
           of
           the
           church
           all
           orders
           above
           them
           .
           But
           if
           we
           have
           to
           do
           at
           present
           ,
           as
           I
           suppose
           we
           have
           ,
           with
           true
           reformed
           Protestants
           ,
           not
           with
           Papists
           or
           prelates
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           be
           deni'd
           that
           in
           the
           gospel
           there
           be
           but
           two
           ministerial
           degrees
           ,
           presbyters
           and
           deacons
           :
           which
           if
           they
           contend
           to
           have
           any
           succession
           ,
           reference
           or
           conformity
           with
           those
           two
           degrees
           under
           the
           law
           ,
           priests
           &
           Levites
           ,
           it
           must
           needs
           be
           such
           whereby
           our
           presbyters
           or
           ministers
           may
           be
           answerable
           to
           priests
           ,
           and
           our
           deacons
           to
           Levites
           :
           by
           which
           rule
           of
           proportion
           it
           will
           follow
           ,
           that
           we
           must
           pay
           our
           tithes
           to
           the
           deacons
           
           only
           ,
           and
           they
           only
           to
           the
           ministers
           .
           But
           if
           it
           be
           truer
           yet
           that
           the
           priesthood
           of
           
             Aaron
          
           typifi'd
           a
           better
           reality
           ,
           1
           
             Pet.
          
           2.
           5.
           signifying
           the
           Christian
           true
           and
           
             holy
             priesthood
             ,
             to
             offer
             up
             spiritual
             sacrifice
             ;
          
           it
           follows
           hence
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           now
           justly
           exempt
           from
           paying
           tithes
           ,
           to
           any
           who
           claim
           from
           
             Aaron
             ,
          
           since
           that
           priesthood
           is
           in
           us
           now
           real
           ,
           which
           in
           him
           was
           but
           a
           shaddow
           .
           Seeing
           then
           by
           all
           this
           which
           hath
           bin
           shewn
           that
           the
           law
           of
           tithes
           is
           partly
           ceremonial
           ,
           as
           the
           work
           was
           for
           which
           they
           were
           given
           ,
           partly
           judicial
           ,
           not
           of
           common
           ,
           but
           of
           particular
           right
           to
           the
           tribe
           of
           
             Levi
             ,
          
           nor
           
           to
           them
           alone
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           owner
           also
           and
           his
           houshold
           ,
           at
           the
           time
           of
           thir
           offering
           ,
           and
           every
           three
           year
           to
           the
           stranger
           ,
           the
           fatherles
           ,
           and
           the
           widdow
           ,
           thir
           appointed
           sharers
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           were
           a
           tribe
           of
           priests
           and
           deacons
           improperly
           compar'd
           to
           the
           constitution
           of
           our
           ministery
           ,
           and
           the
           tithes
           given
           by
           that
           people
           to
           those
           deacons
           only
           ,
           it
           follows
           that
           our
           ministers
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           being
           neither
           priests
           nor
           Levites
           ,
           nor
           fitly
           answering
           to
           either
           of
           them
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           just
           title
           or
           pretence
           to
           tithes
           ,
           by
           any
           consequence
           drawn
           from
           the
           law
           of
           
             Moses
             .
          
           But
           they
           think
           they
           have
           yet
           a
           better
           plea
           in
           the
           
           example
           of
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           who
           took
           tithes
           of
           
             Abram
          
           ere
           the
           law
           was
           given
           :
           whence
           they
           would
           inferr
           tithes
           to
           be
           of
           moral
           right
           .
           But
           they
           ought
           to
           know
           ,
           or
           to
           remember
           ,
           that
           not
           examples
           ,
           but
           express
           commands
           oblige
           our
           obedience
           to
           God
           or
           man
           :
           next
           ,
           that
           whatsoever
           was
           don
           in
           religion
           before
           the
           law
           written
           ,
           is
           not
           presently
           to
           be
           counted
           moral
           ,
           when
           as
           so
           many
           things
           were
           then
           don
           both
           ceremonial
           and
           Judaically
           judicial
           ,
           that
           we
           need
           not
           doubt
           to
           conclude
           all
           times
           before
           Christ
           ,
           more
           or
           less
           under
           the
           ceremonial
           law
           .
           To
           what
           end
           servd
           els
           those
           altars
           and
           sacrifices
           ,
           that
           distinction
           
           of
           clean
           and
           unclean
           entring
           into
           the
           ark
           ,
           circumcision
           and
           the
           raising
           up
           of
           seed
           to
           the
           elder
           brother
           ,
           
             Gen.
          
           38.
           8
           ?
           If
           these
           things
           be
           not
           moral
           ,
           though
           before
           the
           law
           ,
           how
           are
           tithes
           ,
           though
           in
           the
           example
           of
           
             Abram
          
           and
           
             Melchisedec
             ?
          
           But
           this
           instance
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           the
           just
           ground
           of
           a
           law
           ,
           that
           after
           all
           circumstances
           duly
           waighd
           both
           from
           
             Gen.
          
           14.
           and
           
             Heb.
          
           7
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           be
           allowd
           them
           so
           much
           as
           an
           example
           .
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           besides
           his
           priestly
           benediction
           ,
           brought
           with
           him
           bread
           and
           wine
           sufficient
           to
           refresh
           
             Abram
          
           and
           his
           whole
           armie
           ;
           incited
           to
           do
           so
           ,
           first
           ,
           by
           the
           secret
           providence
           of
           
           God
           ,
           intending
           him
           for
           a
           type
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           priesthood
           ;
           next
           by
           his
           due
           thankfulnes
           and
           honor
           to
           
             Abram
             ,
          
           who
           had
           freed
           his
           borders
           of
           
             Salem
          
           from
           a
           potent
           enemie
           :
           
             Abram
          
           on
           the
           other
           side
           honors
           him
           with
           the
           tenth
           of
           all
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           (
           for
           he
           took
           not
           sure
           his
           whole
           estate
           with
           him
           to
           that
           warr
           )
           of
           the
           spoiles
           ,
           
             Heb.
          
           7.
           4.
           
           Incited
           he
           also
           by
           the
           same
           secret
           providence
           ,
           to
           signifie
           as
           grandfather
           of
           
             Levi
             ,
          
           that
           the
           Levitical
           priesthood
           was
           excelld
           by
           the
           priesthood
           of
           Christ
           .
           For
           the
           giving
           of
           a
           tenth
           declar'd
           it
           seems
           in
           those
           countreys
           and
           times
           ,
           him
           the
           greater
           who
           receivd
           it
           .
           That
           
           which
           next
           incited
           him
           ,
           was
           partly
           his
           gratitude
           to
           requite
           the
           present
           ,
           partly
           his
           reverence
           to
           the
           person
           and
           his
           benediction
           :
           to
           his
           person
           ,
           as
           a
           king
           and
           priest
           ;
           greater
           therefor
           then
           
             Abram
             ;
          
           who
           was
           a
           priest
           also
           ,
           but
           not
           a
           king
           .
           And
           who
           unhir'd
           will
           be
           so
           hardy
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           
             Abram
          
           at
           any
           other
           time
           ever
           paid
           him
           tithes
           ,
           either
           before
           or
           after
           ;
           or
           had
           then
           ,
           but
           for
           this
           accidental
           meeting
           and
           obligement
           ;
           or
           that
           els
           
             Melchisedec
          
           had
           demanded
           or
           exacted
           them
           ,
           or
           took
           them
           otherwise
           ,
           then
           as
           the
           voluntarie
           gift
           of
           
             Abram
             ?
          
           But
           our
           ministers
           ,
           though
           neither
           priests
           nor
           kings
           more
           then
           
           any
           other
           Christian
           ,
           greater
           in
           thir
           own
           esteem
           then
           
             Abraham
          
           and
           all
           his
           seed
           ,
           for
           the
           verbal
           labor
           of
           a
           seventh
           dayes
           preachment
           ,
           not
           bringing
           ,
           like
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           bread
           or
           wine
           at
           thir
           own
           cost
           ,
           would
           not
           take
           only
           at
           the
           willing
           hand
           of
           liberality
           or
           gratitude
           ,
           but
           require
           and
           exact
           as
           due
           the
           tenth
           ,
           not
           of
           spoiles
           ,
           but
           of
           our
           whole
           estates
           and
           labors
           ;
           nor
           once
           ,
           but
           yearly
           .
           We
           then
           it
           seems
           by
           the
           example
           of
           
             Abram
          
           must
           pay
           tithes
           to
           these
           
             melchisedecs
             :
          
           but
           what
           if
           the
           person
           of
           
             Abram
          
           can
           either
           no
           way
           represent
           us
           ,
           or
           will
           oblige
           the
           ministers
           to
           pay
           tithes
           no
           less
           then
           other
           men
           ?
           
             Abram
          
           
           had
           not
           only
           a
           priest
           in
           his
           loines
           ,
           but
           was
           himself
           a
           priest
           ;
           and
           gave
           tithes
           to
           
             Melchisedec
          
           either
           as
           grandfather
           of
           
             Levi
             ,
          
           or
           as
           father
           of
           the
           faithful
           .
           If
           as
           grandfather
           (
           though
           he
           understood
           it
           not
           )
           of
           
             Levi
             ,
          
           he
           oblig'd
           not
           us
           but
           
             Levi
          
           only
           ,
           the
           inferior
           priest
           ,
           by
           that
           homage
           (
           as
           the
           apostle
           to
           the
           
             Hebrewes
          
           cleerly
           anough
           explanes
           )
           to
           acknowledge
           the
           greater
           .
           And
           they
           who
           by
           
             Melchisedec
          
           claim
           from
           
             Abram
          
           as
           
             Levi's
          
           grandfather
           ,
           have
           none
           to
           seek
           thir
           tithes
           of
           but
           the
           Levites
           ,
           where
           they
           can
           finde
           them
           .
           If
           
             Abram
          
           as
           father
           of
           the
           faithful
           paid
           tithes
           to
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           then
           certainly
           the
           
           ministers
           also
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           of
           that
           number
           ,
           paid
           in
           him
           equally
           with
           the
           rest
           .
           Which
           may
           induce
           us
           to
           beleeve
           ,
           that
           as
           both
           
             Abram
          
           and
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           so
           tithes
           also
           in
           that
           action
           typical
           and
           ceremonial
           ,
           signifi'd
           nothing
           els
           but
           that
           subjection
           ,
           which
           all
           the
           faithful
           ,
           both
           ministers
           and
           people
           owe
           to
           Christ
           ,
           our
           high
           priest
           and
           king
           .
           In
           any
           literal
           sense
           from
           this
           example
           they
           never
           will
           be
           able
           to
           extort
           that
           the
           people
           in
           those
           dayes
           paid
           tithes
           to
           priests
           ;
           but
           this
           only
           ,
           that
           one
           priest
           once
           in
           his
           life
           ,
           of
           spoiles
           only
           ,
           and
           in
           requital
           partly
           of
           a
           liberal
           present
           ,
           partly
           of
           a
           benediction
           ,
           gave
           voluntary
           tithes
           ,
           
           not
           to
           a
           greater
           priest
           then
           himself
           as
           far
           as
           
             Abram
          
           could
           then
           understand
           ,
           but
           rather
           to
           a
           priest
           and
           king
           joind
           in
           one
           person
           .
           They
           will
           reply
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           that
           if
           one
           priest
           paid
           tithes
           to
           another
           ,
           it
           must
           needs
           be
           understood
           that
           the
           people
           did
           no
           less
           to
           the
           priest
           .
           But
           I
           shall
           easily
           remove
           that
           necessitie
           by
           remembring
           them
           that
           in
           those
           dayes
           was
           no
           priest
           ,
           but
           the
           father
           ,
           or
           the
           first
           born
           of
           each
           familie
           ;
           and
           by
           consequence
           no
           people
           to
           pay
           him
           tithes
           ,
           but
           his
           own
           children
           and
           servants
           ,
           who
           had
           not
           wherewithall
           to
           pay
           him
           ,
           but
           of
           his
           own
           .
           Yet
           grant
           that
           the
           people
           then
           paid
           
           tithes
           ,
           there
           will
           not
           yet
           be
           the
           like
           reason
           to
           enjoin
           us
           :
           they
           being
           then
           under
           ceremonies
           ,
           a
           meer
           laitie
           ,
           we
           now
           under
           Christ
           ▪
           a
           royal
           priesthood
           ,
           1
           
             Pet.
          
           2.
           9
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           coheirs
           ,
           kings
           and
           priests
           with
           him
           ,
           a
           priest
           for
           ever
           after
           the
           order
           or
           manner
           of
           
             Melchisedec
             .
          
           As
           therefor
           
             Abram
          
           paid
           tithes
           to
           
             Melchisedec
          
           because
           
             Levi
          
           was
           in
           him
           ,
           so
           we
           ought
           to
           pay
           none
           because
           the
           true
           
             Melchisedec
          
           is
           in
           us
           ,
           and
           we
           in
           him
           who
           can
           pay
           to
           none
           greater
           ,
           and
           hath
           freed
           us
           by
           our
           union
           with
           himself
           ,
           from
           all
           compulsive
           tributes
           and
           taxes
           in
           his
           church
           .
           Neither
           doth
           the
           collateral
           place
           ,
           
             Heb.
          
           7
           ,
           make
           other
           use
           of
           this
           
           story
           ,
           then
           to
           prove
           Christ
           ,
           personated
           by
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           a
           greater
           priest
           then
           
             Aaron
             :
             Vers.
             4.
             
             Now
             consider
             how
             great
             this
             man
             was
             ,
             &c.
          
           and
           prov●
           not
           in
           the
           least
           manner
           that
           tithes
           be
           of
           any
           right
           to
           ministers
           ,
           but
           the
           contrary
           :
           first
           the
           Levites
           had
           
             a
             commandment
             to
             take
             tithes
             of
             the
             people
             according
             to
             the
             law
             ,
             that
             is
             of
             thir
             brethren
             ,
             though
             they
             com
             out
             of
             the
             loines
             of
             Abraham
             ,
             Vers.
          
           5.
           
           The
           commandment
           then
           was
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           to
           take
           tithes
           of
           the
           
             Jewes
          
           only
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           the
           law
           .
           That
           law
           changing
           of
           necessity
           with
           the
           priesthood
           ,
           no
           other
           sort
           of
           ministers
           ,
           as
           they
           must
           needs
           be
           another
           
           sort
           ,
           under
           another
           priesthood
           ,
           can
           receive
           that
           tribute
           of
           tithes
           which
           fell
           with
           that
           law
           ,
           unless
           renu'd
           by
           another
           express
           command
           and
           according
           to
           another
           law
           :
           no
           such
           law
           is
           extant
           .
           Next
           ,
           
             Melchisedec
          
           not
           as
           a
           minister
           ,
           but
           as
           Christ
           himself
           in
           person
           blessd
           
             Abraham
             ,
          
           who
           
             had
             the
             promises
             ,
             Vers.
          
           6
           ;
           and
           in
           him
           blessd
           all
           both
           ministers
           and
           people
           ,
           both
           of
           the
           law
           and
           gospel
           :
           that
           blessing
           declar'd
           him
           greater
           and
           better
           then
           whom
           he
           blessd
           ,
           
             Vers.
          
           7
           ;
           receiving
           tithes
           from
           them
           all
           not
           as
           a
           maintenance
           ,
           which
           
             Melchisedec
          
           needed
           not
           ,
           but
           as
           a
           signe
           of
           homage
           and
           subjection
           to
           thir
           king
           and
           
           priest
           :
           wheras
           ministers
           bear
           not
           the
           person
           of
           Christ
           in
           his
           priesthood
           or
           kingship
           ,
           bless
           not
           as
           he
           blesses
           ,
           are
           not
           by
           their
           blessing
           greater
           then
           
             Abraham
             ,
          
           and
           all
           the
           faithful
           with
           themselves
           included
           in
           him
           ,
           cannot
           both
           give
           and
           take
           tithes
           in
           
             Abram
             ,
          
           cannot
           claim
           to
           themselves
           that
           signe
           of
           our
           allegiance
           due
           only
           to
           our
           eternal
           king
           and
           priest
           ,
           cannot
           therefor
           derive
           tithes
           from
           
             Melchisedec
             .
          
           Lastly
           ,
           the
           eighth
           verse
           hath
           thus
           :
           
             Here
             men
             that
             die
             receive
             tithes
             :
             There
             he
             received
             them
             ,
             of
             whom
             it
             is
             witnesd
             that
             he
             liveth
             .
          
           Which
           words
           intimate
           that
           as
           he
           offerd
           himself
           once
           for
           us
           ,
           so
           he
           received
           once
           of
           us
           
           in
           
             Abraham
             ,
          
           and
           in
           that
           place
           the
           typical
           acknowledgment
           of
           our
           redemption
           :
           which
           had
           it
           bin
           a
           perpetual
           annuitie
           to
           Christ
           ,
           by
           him
           claimd
           as
           his
           due
           ,
           
             Levi
          
           must
           have
           paid
           it
           yearly
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           then
           ,
           
             Vers.
             9.
          
           and
           our
           ministers
           ought
           still
           to
           som
           
             Melchisedec
          
           or
           other
           ,
           as
           well
           now
           as
           they
           did
           in
           
             Abraham
             .
          
           But
           that
           Christ
           never
           claimd
           any
           such
           tenth
           as
           his
           annual
           due
           ,
           much
           less
           resign'd
           it
           to
           the
           ministers
           ,
           his
           so
           officious
           receivers
           without
           express
           commission
           or
           assignement
           ,
           will
           be
           yet
           cleerer
           as
           we
           proceed
           .
           Thus
           much
           may
           at
           length
           assure
           us
           ,
           that
           this
           example
           of
           
             Abram
          
           &
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           though
           I
           see
           of
           late
           
           they
           build
           most
           upon
           it
           ,
           can
           so
           little
           be
           the
           ground
           of
           any
           law
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           it
           will
           not
           so
           much
           avail
           them
           as
           to
           the
           autoritie
           of
           an
           example
           .
           Of
           like
           impertinence
           is
           that
           example
           of
           
             Jacob
             ,
             Gen.
             28.
             22
             ,
          
           who
           of
           his
           free
           choise
           ,
           not
           enjoind
           by
           any
           law
           ,
           vowd
           the
           tenth
           of
           all
           that
           God
           should
           give
           him
           :
           which
           ,
           for
           aught
           appeers
           to
           the
           contrarie
           ,
           he
           vowd
           as
           a
           thing
           no
           less
           indifferent
           before
           his
           vow
           ,
           then
           the
           foregoing
           part
           thereof
           ;
           That
           the
           stone
           which
           he
           had
           set
           there
           for
           a
           pillar
           ,
           should
           be
           God's
           house
           .
           And
           to
           whom
           vowd
           he
           this
           tenth
           ,
           but
           to
           God
           ;
           not
           to
           any
           priest
           ;
           for
           we
           read
           of
           none
           to
           him
           greater
           then
           
           himself
           ?
           and
           to
           God
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           but
           he
           paid
           what
           he
           vowd
           ;
           both
           in
           the
           building
           of
           that
           
             Bethel
          
           with
           other
           altars
           els
           where
           ,
           and
           the
           expence
           of
           his
           continual
           sacrifices
           ,
           which
           none
           but
           he
           had
           right
           to
           offer
           .
           However
           therefor
           he
           paid
           his
           tenth
           ,
           it
           could
           in
           no
           likelihood
           ,
           unless
           by
           such
           an
           occasion
           as
           befell
           his
           grandfather
           ,
           be
           to
           any
           priest
           .
           But
           ,
           say
           they
           ,
           
             All
             the
             tithe
             of
             the
             land
             ,
             whether
             of
             the
             seed
             of
             the
             land
             ,
             or
             of
             the
             fruit
             of
             the
             tree
             ,
             is
             the
             Lords
             ,
             holy
             unto
             the
             Lord
             ,
             Levit.
             27.
             30.
             
          
           And
           this
           before
           it
           was
           given
           to
           the
           Levites
           ;
           therefor
           since
           they
           ceasd
           .
           No
           question
           ;
           
             For
             the
             whole
             earth
             is
             the
             Lords
             ,
             and
          
           
           
             the
             fulnes
             therof
             ,
             Psal.
             24.
             1
             ;
          
           and
           the
           light
           of
           nature
           shews
           us
           no
           less
           :
           but
           that
           the
           tenth
           is
           his
           more
           then
           the
           rest
           ,
           how
           know
           I
           ,
           but
           as
           he
           so
           declares
           it
           ?
           He
           declares
           it
           so
           here
           of
           the
           land
           of
           
             Canaan
          
           only
           ,
           as
           by
           all
           circumstance
           appeers
           ;
           and
           passes
           by
           deed
           of
           gift
           this
           tenth
           to
           the
           Levite
           ;
           yet
           so
           as
           offerd
           to
           him
           first
           a
           heaveoffring
           ,
           and
           consecrated
           on
           his
           altar
           ,
           
             Numb.
             18.
          
           all
           which
           I
           had
           as
           little
           known
           ,
           but
           by
           that
           evidence
           .
           The
           Levites
           are
           ceasd
           ,
           the
           gift
           returns
           to
           the
           giver
           .
           How
           then
           can
           we
           know
           that
           he
           hath
           given
           it
           to
           any
           other
           ,
           or
           how
           can
           these
           men
           presume
           to
           take
           it
           unofferd
           first
           to
           God
           ,
           unconsecrated
           ,
           
           without
           an
           other
           cleer
           and
           express
           donation
           ,
           wherof
           they
           shew
           no
           evidence
           or
           writing
           ?
           Besides
           ,
           he
           hath
           now
           alienated
           that
           holy
           land
           :
           who
           can
           warrantably
           affirme
           ,
           that
           he
           hath
           since
           hallowd
           the
           tenth
           of
           this
           land
           ;
           which
           none
           but
           God
           hath
           power
           to
           do
           or
           can
           warrant
           ?
           Thir
           last
           prooff
           they
           cite
           out
           of
           the
           gospel
           ,
           which
           makes
           as
           little
           for
           them
           ;
           
             Matth.
             23.
             23
             ;
          
           where
           our
           Saviour
           denouncing
           woe
           to
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharises
           ,
           who
           paid
           tithe
           so
           exactly
           ,
           and
           omitted
           waightier
           matters
           ,
           tels
           them
           ,
           that
           these
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           don
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           have
           paid
           tithes
           .
           For
           our
           Saviour
           spake
           then
           to
           
           those
           who
           observd
           the
           law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           which
           was
           yet
           not
           fully
           abrogated
           ,
           till
           the
           destruction
           of
           the
           temple
           .
           And
           by
           the
           way
           here
           we
           may
           observe
           out
           of
           thir
           own
           prooff
           ,
           that
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharises
           ,
           though
           then
           chief
           teachers
           of
           the
           people
           ,
           such
           at
           least
           as
           were
           not
           Levites
           ,
           did
           not
           take
           tithes
           ,
           but
           paid
           them
           :
           So
           much
           less
           covetous
           were
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharises
           in
           those
           worst
           times
           then
           ours
           at
           this
           day
           .
           This
           is
           so
           apparent
           to
           the
           reformed
           divines
           of
           other
           countreys
           ,
           that
           when
           any
           one
           of
           ours
           hath
           attempted
           in
           Latine
           to
           maintain
           this
           argument
           of
           tithes
           ,
           though
           a
           man
           would
           think
           they
           might
           suffer
           
           him
           without
           opposition
           in
           a
           point
           equally
           tending
           to
           the
           advantage
           of
           all
           ministers
           ,
           yet
           they
           forbear
           not
           to
           oppose
           him
           ,
           as
           in
           a
           doctrin
           not
           fit
           to
           pass
           unoppos'd
           under
           the
           gospel
           .
           Which
           shews
           the
           modestie
           ,
           the
           contentednes
           of
           those
           forein
           pastors
           with
           the
           maintenance
           given
           them
           ,
           thir
           sinceritie
           also
           in
           the
           truth
           ,
           though
           less
           gainful
           ,
           and
           the
           avarice
           of
           ours
           :
           who
           through
           the
           love
           of
           their
           old
           Papistical
           tithes
           ,
           consider
           not
           the
           weak
           arguments
           ,
           or
           rather
           conjectures
           and
           surmises
           which
           they
           bring
           to
           defend
           them
           .
           On
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           although
           it
           be
           sufficient
           to
           have
           prov'd
           in
           general
           the
           abolishing
           
           of
           tithes
           ,
           as
           part
           of
           the
           Judaical
           or
           ceremonial
           law
           ,
           which
           is
           abolishd
           all
           ,
           as
           well
           that
           before
           as
           that
           after
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           yet
           I
           shall
           further
           prove
           them
           abrogated
           by
           an
           express
           ordinance
           of
           the
           gospel
           ,
           founded
           not
           on
           any
           type
           ,
           or
           that
           municipal
           law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           but
           on
           moral
           ,
           and
           general
           equitie
           ,
           given
           us
           instead
           :
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           9.
           13
           ,
           14.
           
           
             Know
             ye
             not
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             minister
             about
             holy
             things
             ,
             live
             of
             the
             things
             of
             the
             temple
             ;
             and
             they
             which
             wait
             at
             the
             altar
             ,
             are
             partake●s
             with
             the
             altar
             ?
             so
             also
             the
             Lord
             hath
             ordaind
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             preach
             the
             gospel
             ,
             should
             live
             of
             the
             gospel
             .
          
           He
           saith
           not
           ,
           Should
           live
           on
           things
           which
           were
           of
           the
           temple
           or
           
           of
           the
           altar
           ,
           of
           which
           were
           tithes
           ,
           for
           that
           had
           given
           them
           a
           cleer
           title
           :
           but
           abrogating
           that
           former
           law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           which
           determind
           what
           and
           how
           much
           ,
           by
           a
           later
           ordinance
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           leaves
           the
           what
           and
           how
           much
           indefinit
           and
           free
           ,
           so
           it
           be
           sufficient
           to
           live
           on
           ,
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             The
             Lord
             hath
             so
             ordaind
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             preach
             the
             gospel
             ,
             should
             live
             of
             the
             gospel
             ;
          
           which
           hath
           neither
           temple
           ,
           altar
           nor
           sacrifice
           :
           
             Heb.
          
           7.
           13.
           
           
             For
             he
             of
             whom
             these
             things
             are
             spoken
             ,
             pertaineth
             to
             another
             tribe
             ,
             of
             which
             no
             man
             gave
             attendance
             at
             the
             altar
             :
          
           his
           ministers
           therefor
           cannot
           thence
           have
           tithes
           .
           And
           where
           the
           Lord
           
           hath
           so
           ordaind
           ,
           we
           may
           finde
           easily
           in
           more
           then
           one
           evangelist
           :
           
             Luke
          
           10.
           7
           ,
           8.
           
           
             In
             the
             same
             house
             remane
             ,
             eating
             and
             drinking
             such
             things
             as
             they
             give
             :
             For
             the
             laborer
             is
             worthy
             of
             his
             hire
             ,
             &c.
             
             And
             into
             whatsoever
             citie
             you
             enter
             ,
             and
             they
             receive
             you
             ,
             eat
             such
             things
             as
             are
             set
             before
             you
             .
          
           To
           which
           ordinance
           of
           Christ
           it
           may
           seem
           likeliest
           ,
           that
           the
           apostle
           referrs
           us
           both
           here
           and
           1
           
             Tim.
          
           5.
           18
           ,
           where
           he
           cites
           this
           as
           the
           saying
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           
             That
             the
             laborer
             is
             worthy
             of
             his
             hire
             :
          
           and
           both
           by
           this
           place
           of
           
             Luke
             ,
          
           and
           that
           of
           
             Matth.
          
           10.
           9
           ,
           10
           ,
           11
           ,
           it
           evidently
           appeers
           that
           our
           Saviour
           ordaind
           no
           
           certain
           maintenance
           for
           his
           apostles
           or
           ministers
           publickly
           or
           privatly
           in
           house
           or
           citie
           receivd
           ,
           but
           that
           ,
           what
           ever
           it
           were
           ,
           which
           might
           suffice
           to
           live
           on
           :
           and
           this
           not
           commanded
           or
           proportiond
           by
           
             Abram
          
           or
           by
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           whom
           he
           might
           easily
           have
           here
           cited
           ,
           as
           his
           manner
           was
           ,
           but
           declar'd
           only
           by
           a
           rule
           of
           common
           equitie
           which
           proportions
           the
           hire
           as
           well
           to
           the
           abilitie
           of
           him
           who
           gives
           as
           to
           the
           labor
           of
           him
           who
           receives
           ,
           and
           recommends
           him
           only
           as
           worthy
           ,
           not
           invests
           him
           with
           a
           legal
           right
           .
           And
           mark
           wheron
           he
           grounds
           this
           his
           ordinance
           ;
           not
           on
           a
           perpetual
           right
           of
           tithes
           from
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           
           as
           hirelings
           pretend
           ,
           which
           he
           never
           claimd
           either
           for
           himself
           ,
           or
           for
           his
           ministers
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           plane
           and
           common
           equitie
           of
           rewarding
           the
           laborer
           ;
           worthy
           somtimes
           of
           single
           ,
           somtimes
           of
           double
           honor
           ,
           not
           proportionable
           by
           tithes
           .
           And
           the
           apostle
           in
           this
           forecited
           chapter
           to
           the
           
             Corinthians
             ,
             Vers.
          
           11
           ,
           affirms
           it
           to
           be
           no
           great
           recompence
           ,
           if
           carnal
           things
           be
           reapd
           for
           spiritual
           sown
           ;
           but
           to
           mention
           tithes
           ,
           neglects
           here
           the
           fittest
           occasion
           that
           could
           be
           offerd
           him
           ,
           and
           leaves
           the
           rest
           free
           and
           undetermind
           .
           Certainly
           if
           Christ
           or
           his
           apostles
           had
           approv'd
           of
           tithes
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           
           either
           by
           writing
           or
           tradition
           recommended
           them
           to
           the
           church
           :
           and
           that
           soone
           would
           have
           appeerd
           in
           the
           practise
           of
           those
           primitive
           and
           the
           next
           ages
           .
           But
           for
           the
           first
           three
           hundred
           years
           and
           more
           ,
           in
           all
           the
           ecclesiastical
           storie
           ,
           I
           finde
           no
           such
           doctrin
           or
           example
           :
           though
           error
           by
           that
           time
           had
           brought
           back
           again
           priests
           ,
           altars
           and
           oblations
           ;
           and
           in
           many
           other
           points
           of
           religion
           had
           miserably
           Judaiz'd
           the
           church
           .
           So
           that
           the
           defenders
           of
           tithes
           ,
           after
           a
           long
           pomp
           and
           tedious
           preparation
           out
           of
           Heathen
           authors
           ,
           telling
           us
           that
           tithes
           were
           paid
           to
           
             Hercules
          
           and
           
             Apollo
             ,
          
           which
           perhaps
           was
           imitated
           
           from
           the
           
             Jewes
             ,
          
           and
           as
           it
           were
           bespeaking
           our
           expectation
           ,
           that
           they
           will
           abound
           much
           more
           with
           autorities
           out
           of
           Christian
           storie
           ,
           have
           nothing
           of
           general
           approbation
           to
           beginn
           with
           from
           the
           first
           three
           or
           four
           ages
           ,
           but
           that
           which
           abundantly
           serves
           to
           the
           confutation
           of
           thir
           tithes
           ;
           while
           they
           confess
           that
           churchmen
           in
           those
           ages
           livd
           meerly
           upon
           freewill
           offerings
           .
           Neither
           can
           they
           say
           ,
           that
           tithes
           were
           not
           then
           paid
           for
           want
           of
           a
           civil
           magistrate
           to
           ordain
           them
           ,
           for
           Christians
           had
           then
           also
           lands
           ,
           and
           might
           give
           out
           of
           them
           what
           they
           pleasd
           ;
           and
           yet
           of
           tithes
           then
           given
           
           we
           finde
           no
           mention
           .
           And
           the
           first
           Christian
           emperors
           ,
           who
           did
           all
           things
           as
           bishops
           advis'd
           them
           ,
           suppli'd
           what
           was
           wanting
           to
           the
           clergy
           not
           out
           of
           tithes
           ,
           which
           were
           never
           motiond
           ,
           but
           out
           of
           thir
           own
           imperial
           revenues
           ;
           as
           is
           manifest
           in
           
             Eusebius
             ,
             Theodorit
          
           and
           
             Sozomen
             ,
          
           from
           
             Constantine
          
           to
           
             Arcadius
             .
          
           Hence
           those
           ancientest
           reformed
           churches
           of
           the
           
             Waldenses
             ,
          
           if
           they
           rather
           continu'd
           not
           pure
           since
           the
           apostles
           ,
           deni'd
           that
           tithes
           were
           to
           be
           given
           ,
           or
           that
           they
           were
           ever
           given
           in
           the
           primitive
           church
           ;
           as
           appeers
           by
           an
           ancient
           tractate
           inserted
           in
           the
           
             Bohemian
          
           historie
           .
           Thus
           far
           hath
           the
           church
           bin
           alwaies
           ,
           
           whether
           in
           her
           prime
           ,
           or
           in
           her
           ancientest
           reformation
           ,
           from
           the
           approving
           of
           tithes
           :
           nor
           without
           reason
           ;
           for
           they
           might
           easily
           perceive
           that
           tithes
           were
           fitted
           to
           the
           
             Jewes
          
           only
           ,
           a
           national
           church
           of
           many
           incomplete
           synagogues
           ,
           uniting
           the
           accomplishment
           of
           divine
           worship
           in
           one
           temple
           ;
           and
           the
           Levites
           there
           had
           thir
           tithes
           paid
           where
           they
           did
           thir
           bodilie
           work
           ;
           to
           which
           a
           particular
           tribe
           was
           set
           apart
           by
           divine
           appointment
           ,
           not
           by
           the
           peoples
           election
           :
           but
           the
           Christian
           church
           is
           universal
           ;
           not
           ti'd
           to
           nation
           ,
           dioces
           or
           parish
           ,
           but
           consisting
           of
           many
           particular
           churches
           complete
           
           in
           themselves
           ;
           gatherd
           ,
           not
           by
           compulsion
           or
           the
           accident
           of
           dwelling
           nigh
           together
           ,
           but
           by
           free
           consent
           chusing
           both
           thir
           particular
           church
           and
           thir
           church-officers
           .
           Wheras
           if
           tithes
           be
           set
           up
           ,
           all
           these
           Christian
           privileges
           will
           be
           disturbd
           and
           soone
           lost
           ,
           and
           with
           them
           Christian
           libertie
           .
           The
           first
           autoritie
           which
           our
           adversaries
           bring
           ,
           after
           those
           fabulous
           apostolic
           canons
           ,
           which
           they
           dare
           not
           insist
           upon
           ,
           is
           a
           provincial
           councel
           held
           at
           
             Cullen
             ,
          
           where
           they
           voted
           tithes
           to
           be
           
             Gods
             rent
             ,
          
           in
           the
           year
           three
           hundred
           fifty
           six
           ;
           at
           the
           same
           time
           perhaps
           when
           the
           three
           kings
           
           reignd
           there
           ,
           and
           of
           like
           autoritie
           .
           For
           to
           what
           purpose
           do
           they
           bring
           these
           trivial
           testimonies
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           might
           as
           well
           prove
           altars
           ,
           candles
           at
           noone
           ,
           and
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           those
           superstitions
           ,
           fetchd
           from
           Paganism
           or
           Jewism
           ,
           which
           the
           Papist
           ,
           inveigl'd
           by
           this
           fond
           argument
           of
           antiquitie
           ,
           retains
           to
           this
           day
           ?
           to
           what
           purpose
           those
           decrees
           of
           I
           know
           not
           what
           bishops
           ,
           to
           a
           Parlament
           and
           people
           who
           have
           thrown
           out
           both
           bishops
           and
           altars
           ,
           and
           promisd
           all
           reformation
           by
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ?
           And
           that
           altars
           brought
           tithes
           hither
           ,
           as
           one
           corruption
           begott
           another
           ,
           is
           evident
           by
           one
           of
           
           those
           questions
           which
           the
           monk
           
             Austin
          
           propounded
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           
             Concerning
             those
             things
             ,
             which
             by
             offerings
             of
             the
             faithful
             came
             to
             the
             altar
             ;
          
           as
           
             Beda
          
           writes
           ,
           
             l.
          
           1.
           
             c.
          
           27.
           
           If
           then
           by
           these
           testimonies
           we
           must
           have
           tithes
           continu'd
           ,
           we
           must
           again
           have
           altars
           .
           Of
           fathers
           ,
           by
           custom
           so
           calld
           ,
           they
           quote
           
             Ambrose
             ,
             Augustin
             ,
          
           and
           som
           other
           ceremonial
           doctors
           of
           the
           same
           leaven
           :
           whose
           assertion
           without
           pertinent
           scripture
           ,
           no
           reformed
           church
           can
           admitt
           ;
           and
           what
           they
           vouch
           ,
           is
           founded
           on
           the
           law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           with
           which
           ,
           every where
           pitifully
           mistaken
           ,
           they
           again
           incorporate
           the
           gospel
           ;
           
           as
           did
           the
           rest
           also
           of
           those
           titular
           fathers
           ,
           perhaps
           an
           age
           or
           two
           before
           them
           ,
           by
           many
           rights
           and
           ceremonies
           ,
           both
           Jewish
           and
           Heathenish
           introduc'd
           ;
           whereby
           thinking
           to
           gain
           all
           ,
           they
           lost
           all
           :
           and
           instead
           of
           winning
           Jewes
           and
           Pagans
           to
           be
           ▪
           Christians
           ▪
           by
           too
           much
           condescending
           they
           turnd
           Christians
           into
           Jewes
           and
           Pagans
           .
           To
           heap
           such
           unconvincing
           ▪
           citations
           as
           these
           in
           religion
           ,
           wherof
           the
           scripture
           only
           is
           our
           rule
           ,
           argues
           not
           much
           learning
           nor
           judgment
           ,
           but
           the
           lost
           labor
           of
           much
           unprofitable
           reading
           .
           And
           yet
           a
           late
           hot
           Quaerist
           for
           tithes
           ,
           whom
           ye
           may
           know
           by
           his
           wits
           lying
           ever
           
           beside
           him
           in
           the
           margent
           ,
           to
           be
           ever
           beside
           his
           wits
           in
           the
           text
           ,
           a
           fierce
           reformer
           once
           ,
           now
           ranckl'd
           with
           a
           contrary
           heat
           ,
           would
           send
           us
           back
           ,
           very
           reformedly
           indeed
           ,
           to
           learn
           reformation
           from
           
             Tyndarus
          
           and
           
             Rebuffus
             ,
          
           two
           canonical
           Promooters
           .
           They
           produce
           next
           the
           ancient
           constitutions
           of
           this
           land
           ,
           
             Saxon
          
           laws
           ,
           edicts
           of
           kings
           ,
           and
           thir
           counsels
           ,
           from
           
             Athelstan
             ,
          
           in
           the
           year
           nine
           hundred
           twenty
           eight
           ,
           that
           tithes
           by
           statute
           were
           paid
           :
           and
           might
           produce
           from
           
             Ina
             ,
          
           above
           two
           hundred
           years
           before
           ,
           that
           
             Romescot
             ,
          
           or
           
             Peters
          
           penny
           ,
           was
           by
           as
           good
           statute
           law
           paid
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           from
           
           seven
           hundred
           twenty
           five
           ,
           and
           almost
           as
           long
           continu'd
           .
           And
           who
           knows
           not
           that
           this
           law
           of
           tithes
           was
           enacted
           by
           those
           kings
           and
           barons
           upon
           the
           opinion
           they
           had
           of
           thir
           divine
           right
           ,
           as
           the
           very
           words
           import
           of
           
             Edward
          
           the
           Confessor
           ,
           in
           the
           close
           of
           that
           law
           :
           
             For
             so
             blessed
          
           Austin
           
             preachd
             and
             taught
             ;
          
           meaning
           the
           monk
           ,
           who
           first
           brought
           the
           
             Romish
          
           religion
           into
           
             England
          
           from
           
             Gregory
          
           the
           Pope
           ▪
           And
           by
           the
           way
           I
           add
           ,
           that
           by
           these
           laws
           ,
           imitating
           the
           law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           the
           third
           part
           〈◊〉
           tithes
           only
           was
           the
           priests
           due
           ;
           the
           other
           two
           were
           appointed
           for
           the
           poor
           ,
           and
           to
           adorne
           or
           repare
           churches
           ;
           as
           
           the
           canons
           of
           
             Ecbert
          
           and
           
             Elfric
          
           witnes
           :
           
             Concil.
             Brit.
          
           If
           then
           these
           laws
           were
           founded
           upon
           the
           opinion
           of
           divine
           autoritie
           ,
           and
           that
           autoritie
           be
           found
           mistaken
           and
           erroneous
           ,
           as
           hath
           bin
           fully
           manifested
           ,
           it
           follows
           ,
           that
           these
           laws
           fall
           of
           themselves
           with
           thir
           fals
           foundation
           .
           But
           with
           what
           face
           or
           conscience
           can
           they
           alleage
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           or
           these
           laws
           for
           tithes
           ,
           as
           they
           now
           enjoy
           or
           exact
           them
           ;
           wherof
           
             Moses
          
           ordains
           the
           owner
           ,
           as
           we
           heard
           before
           ,
           the
           stranger
           ,
           the
           fatherles
           and
           the
           widdow
           partakers
           with
           the
           Levite
           ;
           and
           these
           fathers
           which
           they
           cite
           ,
           and
           these
           though
           Romish
           rather
           then
           English
           laws
           ,
           allotted
           
           both
           to
           priest
           and
           bishop
           the
           third
           part
           only
           .
           But
           these
           our
           Protestant
           ,
           these
           our
           new
           reformed
           English
           presbyterian
           divines
           ,
           against
           thir
           own
           cited
           authors
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           shame
           of
           thir
           pretended
           reformation
           ,
           would
           engross
           to
           themselves
           all
           tithes
           by
           statute
           ;
           and
           supported
           more
           by
           thir
           wilful
           obstinacie
           and
           desire
           of
           filthie
           lucre
           then
           by
           these
           both
           insufficient
           and
           impertinent
           autorities
           ,
           would
           perswade
           a
           Christian
           magistracie
           and
           parlament
           ,
           whom
           we
           trust
           God
           hath
           restor'd
           for
           a
           happier
           reformation
           ,
           to
           impose
           upon
           us
           a
           Judaical
           ceremonial
           law
           ,
           and
           yet
           from
           that
           law
           to
           be
           more
           irregular
           and
           
           unwarrantable
           ,
           more
           complying
           with
           a
           covetous
           clergie
           ,
           then
           any
           of
           those
           Popish
           kings
           and
           parlaments
           alleagd
           .
           Another
           shift
           they
           have
           to
           plead
           ,
           that
           tithes
           may
           be
           moral
           as
           well
           as
           the
           sabbath
           ,
           a
           tenth
           of
           fruits
           as
           well
           as
           a
           seaventh
           of
           dayes
           .
           I
           answer
           ,
           that
           the
           prelats
           who
           urge
           this
           argument
           ,
           have
           least
           reason
           to
           use
           it
           ;
           denying
           morality
           in
           the
           sabbath
           ,
           and
           therin
           better
           agreeing
           with
           reformed
           churches
           abroad
           then
           the
           rest
           of
           our
           divines
           .
           As
           therefor
           the
           seaventh
           day
           is
           not
           moral
           ,
           but
           a
           convenient
           recourse
           of
           worship
           in
           fit
           season
           ,
           whether
           seaventh
           or
           other
           number
           ,
           
           so
           neither
           is
           the
           tenth
           of
           our
           goods
           ,
           but
           only
           a
           convenient
           subsistence
           morally
           due
           to
           ministers
           .
           The
           last
           and
           lowest
           sort
           of
           thir
           arguments
           ,
           that
           men
           purchas'd
           not
           thir
           tithe
           with
           thir
           land
           and
           such
           like
           pettifoggerie
           ,
           I
           omitt
           ;
           as
           refuted
           sufficiently
           by
           others
           :
           I
           omitt
           also
           thir
           violent
           and
           irreligious
           exactions
           ,
           related
           no
           less
           credibly
           :
           thir
           seising
           of
           pots
           and
           pans
           from
           the
           poor
           ,
           who
           have
           as
           good
           right
           to
           tithes
           as
           they
           ;
           from
           som
           ,
           the
           very
           beds
           ;
           thir
           sueing
           and
           imprisoning
           ;
           worse
           then
           when
           the
           canon
           law
           was
           in
           force
           ;
           worse
           then
           when
           those
           wicked
           sons
           of
           
             Eli
          
           were
           priests
           ,
           
           whose
           manner
           was
           thus
           to
           seise
           thir
           pretended
           priestly
           due
           by
           force
           ,
           1
           
             Sam.
          
           2.
           12
           ,
           
             &c.
             Whereby
             men
             abhorrd
             the
             offering
             of
             the
             Lord
             ;
          
           and
           it
           may
           be
           feard
           that
           many
           will
           as
           much
           abhorr
           the
           gospel
           ,
           if
           such
           violence
           as
           this
           be
           sufferd
           in
           her
           ministers
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           which
           they
           also
           pretend
           to
           be
           the
           offering
           of
           the
           Lord
           .
           For
           those
           sons
           of
           
             belial
          
           within
           som
           limits
           made
           seisure
           of
           what
           they
           knew
           was
           thir
           own
           by
           an
           undoubted
           law
           ;
           but
           these
           ,
           from
           whom
           there
           is
           no
           sanctuarie
           ,
           seise
           out
           of
           mens
           grounds
           ,
           out
           of
           mens
           houses
           thir
           other
           goods
           of
           double
           ,
           somtimes
           of
           treble
           value
           ,
           for
           that
           ,
           which
           did
           
           not
           covetousnes
           and
           rapine
           blinde
           them
           ,
           they
           know
           to
           be
           not
           thir
           own
           by
           the
           gospel
           which
           they
           preach
           .
           Of
           som
           more
           tolerable
           then
           these
           ,
           thus
           severely
           God
           hath
           spoken
           :
           
             Esa.
             46.
             10
             ,
             &c.
             They
             are
             greedy
             dogs
             ;
             they
             all
             look
             to
             thir
             own
             way
             ,
             every
             one
             for
             his
             gain
             ,
             from
             his
             quarter
             .
          
           With
           what
           anger
           then
           will
           he
           judge
           them
           who
           stand
           not
           looking
           ,
           but
           under
           colour
           of
           a
           divine
           right
           ,
           fetch
           by
           force
           that
           which
           is
           not
           thir
           own
           ,
           taking
           his
           name
           not
           in
           vain
           ,
           but
           in
           violence
           ?
           Nor
           content
           as
           
             Gehazi
          
           was
           to
           make
           a
           cunning
           ,
           but
           a
           constraind
           advantage
           of
           what
           thir
           master
           bids
           them
           give
           freely
           ,
           
           how
           can
           they
           but
           returne
           smitten
           ,
           worse
           then
           that
           sharking
           minister
           ,
           with
           a
           spiritual
           leprosie
           ?
           And
           yet
           they
           cry
           out
           sacrilege
           ,
           that
           men
           will
           not
           be
           gulld
           and
           baffl'd
           the
           tenth
           of
           thir
           estates
           by
           giving
           credit
           to
           frivolous
           pretences
           of
           divine
           right
           .
           Where
           did
           God
           ever
           cleerly
           declare
           to
           all
           nations
           ,
           or
           in
           all
           lands
           (
           and
           none
           but
           fooles
           part
           with
           thir
           estates
           ,
           without
           cleerest
           evidence
           ,
           on
           bare
           supposals
           and
           presumptions
           of
           them
           who
           are
           the
           gainers
           thereby
           )
           that
           he
           requir'd
           the
           tenth
           as
           due
           to
           him
           or
           his
           son
           perpetually
           and
           in
           all
           places
           ?
           Where
           did
           he
           demand
           it
           ,
           that
           we
           might
           certainly
           know
           ,
           as
           in
           
           all
           claimes
           of
           temporal
           right
           is
           just
           and
           reasonable
           ?
           or
           if
           demanded
           ,
           where
           did
           he
           assigne
           it
           ,
           or
           by
           what
           evident
           conveyance
           to
           ministers
           ?
           unless
           they
           can
           demonstrate
           this
           by
           more
           then
           conjectures
           ,
           thir
           title
           can
           be
           no
           better
           to
           tithes
           then
           the
           title
           of
           
             Gehazi
          
           was
           to
           those
           things
           which
           by
           abusing
           his
           masters
           name
           he
           rookd
           from
           
             Naaman
             .
          
           Much
           less
           where
           did
           he
           command
           that
           tithes
           should
           be
           fetchd
           by
           force
           ,
           where
           left
           not
           under
           the
           gospel
           whatever
           his
           right
           was
           ,
           to
           the
           freewilloffrings
           of
           men
           ?
           Which
           is
           the
           greater
           sacrilege
           ,
           to
           bely
           divine
           autoritie
           ,
           to
           make
           the
           name
           of
           Christ
           accessory
           to
           
           violence
           ,
           and
           ,
           robbing
           him
           of
           the
           very
           honor
           which
           he
           aimd
           at
           in
           bestowing
           freely
           the
           gospel
           ,
           to
           committ
           Simonie
           and
           rapin
           ,
           both
           secular
           and
           ecclesiastical
           ,
           or
           on
           the
           other
           fide
           ,
           not
           to
           give
           up
           the
           tenth
           of
           civil
           right
           and
           proprietie
           to
           the
           tricks
           and
           impostures
           of
           clergie
           men
           ,
           contriv'd
           with
           all
           the
           art
           and
           argument
           that
           thir
           bellies
           can
           invent
           or
           suggest
           ;
           yet
           so
           ridiculous
           and
           presuming
           on
           the
           peoples
           dulnes
           or
           superstition
           ,
           as
           to
           think
           they
           prove
           the
           divine
           right
           of
           thir
           maintenance
           by
           
             Abram
          
           paying
           tithes
           to
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           when
           as
           
             Milchisedec
          
           in
           that
           passage
           rather
           gave
           maintenance
           to
           
             Abram
             ;
          
           in
           whom
           
           all
           both
           priests
           and
           ministers
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           lay-men
           paid
           tithes
           ,
           not
           receivd
           them
           .
           And
           because
           I
           affirmd
           above
           ,
           beginning
           this
           first
           part
           of
           my
           discourse
           ,
           that
           God
           hath
           given
           to
           ministers
           of
           the
           gospel
           that
           maintenance
           only
           which
           is
           justly
           given
           them
           ,
           let
           us
           see
           a
           little
           what
           hath
           bin
           thought
           of
           that
           other
           maintenance
           besides
           tithes
           ,
           which
           of
           all
           Protestants
           ,
           our
           English
           divines
           either
           only
           or
           most
           apparently
           both
           require
           and
           take
           .
           Those
           are
           ,
           fees
           for
           christnings
           ,
           marriages
           ,
           and
           burials
           :
           which
           ,
           though
           whoso
           will
           may
           give
           freely
           ,
           yet
           being
           not
           of
           right
           ,
           but
           of
           free
           gift
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           exacted
           or
           
           establishd
           ,
           they
           become
           unjust
           to
           them
           who
           are
           otherwise
           maintaind
           ;
           and
           of
           such
           evil
           note
           ,
           that
           even
           the
           councel
           of
           
             Trent
             ,
             l.
             2.
             p.
             240
             ,
          
           makes
           them
           lyable
           to
           the
           laws
           against
           Simonie
           ,
           who
           take
           or
           demand
           fees
           for
           the
           administring
           of
           any
           sacrament
           :
           
             Che
             la
             sinodo
             volendo
             levare
             gli
             abusi
             introdotti
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           And
           in
           the
           next
           page
           ,
           with
           like
           severity
           condemns
           the
           giving
           or
           taking
           for
           a
           benefice
           ,
           and
           the
           celebrating
           of
           marriages
           ,
           christnings
           ,
           and
           burials
           ,
           for
           fees
           exacted
           or
           demanded
           :
           nor
           counts
           it
           less
           Simonie
           to
           sell
           the
           ground
           or
           place
           of
           burial
           .
           And
           in
           a
           state
           assembly
           at
           
             Orleans
             ,
          
           1561
           ,
           it
           was
           
           decreed
           ,
           
             Che
             non
             si
             potesse
             essi
             ger
             cosa
             alcuna
             ,
             &c
             ,
             p.
             429.
             
             That
             nothing
             should
             be
             exacted
             for
             the
             administring
             of
             sacraments
             ,
             burials
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             spiritual
             funstion
             .
          
           Thus
           much
           that
           councel
           ,
           of
           all
           others
           the
           most
           Popish
           ,
           and
           this
           assembly
           of
           Papists
           ,
           though
           ,
           by
           thir
           own
           principles
           ,
           in
           bondage
           to
           the
           clergie
           ,
           were
           induc'd
           ,
           either
           by
           thir
           own
           reason
           and
           shame
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           light
           of
           reformation
           then
           shining
           in
           upon
           them
           ,
           or
           rather
           by
           the
           known
           canons
           of
           many
           councels
           and
           synods
           long
           before
           ,
           to
           condemne
           of
           Simonie
           spiritual
           fees
           demanded
           .
           For
           if
           the
           minister
           be
           maintaind
           for
           his
           whole
           ministry
           ,
           why
           
           should
           he
           be
           twice
           paid
           for
           any
           part
           therof
           ?
           why
           should
           he
           ,
           like
           a
           servant
           ,
           seek
           vailes
           over
           and
           above
           his
           wages
           ?
           As
           for
           christnings
           ,
           either
           they
           themselves
           call
           men
           to
           baptism
           ,
           or
           men
           of
           themselves
           com
           :
           if
           ministers
           invite
           ,
           how
           ill
           had
           it
           becomd
           
             John
          
           the
           Baptist
           to
           demand
           fees
           for
           his
           baptising
           ,
           or
           Christ
           for
           his
           christnings
           ?
           Far
           less
           becoms
           it
           these
           now
           ,
           with
           a
           greedines
           lower
           then
           that
           of
           tradesmen
           calling
           passengers
           to
           thir
           shop
           ,
           and
           yet
           paid
           before-hand
           ,
           to
           ask
           again
           ,
           for
           doing
           that
           which
           those
           thir
           founders
           did
           freely
           .
           If
           men
           of
           themselves
           com
           to
           be
           baptiz'd
           ,
           they
           are
           either
           brought
           by
           
           such
           as
           already
           pay
           the
           minister
           ,
           or
           com
           to
           be
           one
           of
           his
           disciples
           and
           maintainers
           :
           of
           whom
           to
           ask
           a
           fee
           as
           it
           were
           for
           entrance
           ,
           is
           a
           piece
           of
           paultry
           craft
           or
           caution
           ,
           befitting
           none
           but
           beggarly
           artists
           .
           Burials
           and
           marriages
           are
           so
           little
           to
           be
           any
           part
           of
           thir
           gain
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           consider
           well
           ,
           may
           finde
           them
           to
           be
           no
           part
           of
           thir
           function
           .
           At
           burials
           thir
           attendance
           they
           alleage
           on
           the
           corps
           ;
           all
           the
           guests
           do
           as
           much
           unhir'd
           :
           But
           thir
           praiers
           at
           the
           grave
           ;
           superstitiously
           requir'd
           :
           yet
           if
           requir'd
           ,
           thir
           last
           performance
           to
           the
           deceasd
           of
           thir
           own
           flock
           .
           But
           the
           funeral
           sermon
           :
           at
           thir
           choise
           :
           or
           if
           
           not
           ,
           an
           occasion
           offerd
           them
           to
           preach
           out
           of
           season
           ,
           which
           is
           one
           part
           of
           thir
           office
           .
           But
           somthing
           must
           be
           spoken
           in
           praise
           :
           if
           due
           ,
           thir
           duty
           ;
           if
           undue
           ,
           thir
           corruption
           :
           a
           peculiar
           Simonie
           of
           our
           divines
           in
           
             England
          
           only
           .
           But
           the
           ground
           is
           broken
           ,
           and
           especially
           thir
           unrighteous
           possession
           ,
           the
           chancel
           .
           To
           sell
           that
           will
           not
           only
           raise
           up
           in
           judgment
           the
           Councel
           of
           
             Trent
          
           against
           them
           ,
           but
           will
           lose
           them
           the
           best
           champion
           of
           tithes
           ,
           thir
           zealous
           antiquary
           ,
           Sir
           
             Hen
             :
             Spelman
             ;
          
           who
           in
           a
           book
           written
           to
           that
           purpose
           ,
           by
           many
           cited
           canons
           ,
           and
           som
           even
           of
           times
           corruptest
           in
           the
           church
           ,
           proves
           that
           fees
           
           exacted
           or
           demanded
           for
           sacraments
           ,
           marriages
           ,
           burials
           ,
           and
           especially
           for
           interring
           ,
           are
           wicked
           ,
           accursed
           ,
           Simoniacal
           and
           abominable
           .
           Yet
           thus
           is
           the
           church
           ,
           for
           all
           this
           noise
           of
           reformation
           ,
           left
           still
           unreformd
           ,
           by
           the
           censure
           of
           thir
           own
           synods
           ,
           thir
           own
           favorers
           ,
           a
           den
           of
           theeves
           and
           robbers
           .
           As
           for
           marriages
           that
           ministers
           should
           meddle
           with
           them
           ,
           as
           not
           sanctifi'd
           or
           legitimat
           without
           their
           celebration
           ,
           I
           finde
           no
           ground
           in
           scripture
           either
           of
           precept
           or
           example
           .
           Likeliest
           it
           is
           (
           which
           our
           
             Selden
          
           hath
           well
           observd
           ,
           
             l.
          
           2.
           
             c.
          
           28
           ,
           
             ux
             .
             Eb.
          
           )
           that
           in
           imitation
           of
           heathen
           priests
           who
           were
           wont
           at
           nuptials
           
           to
           use
           many
           rites
           and
           ceremonies
           ,
           and
           especially
           ,
           judging
           it
           would
           be
           profitable
           ,
           and
           the
           increase
           of
           thir
           autoritie
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           spectators
           only
           in
           busines
           of
           such
           concernment
           to
           the
           life
           of
           man
           ,
           they
           infinuated
           that
           marriage
           was
           not
           holy
           without
           their
           benediction
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           better
           colour
           ,
           made
           it
           a
           sacrament
           ;
           being
           of
           it self
           a
           civil
           ordinance
           ,
           a
           houshold
           contract
           ,
           a
           thing
           indifferent
           and
           free
           to
           the
           whole
           race
           of
           mankinde
           ,
           not
           as
           religious
           ,
           but
           as
           men
           :
           best
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           undertaken
           to
           religious
           ends
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           the
           apostle
           saith
           ,
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           7
           ,
           
             in
             the
             Lord
             .
          
           Yet
           not
           therefor
           invalid
           or
           unholy
           without
           
           a
           minister
           and
           his
           pretended
           necessary
           hallowing
           ,
           more
           then
           any
           other
           act
           ,
           enterprise
           or
           contract
           of
           civil
           life
           ,
           which
           ought
           all
           to
           be
           don
           also
           in
           the
           Lord
           and
           to
           his
           glorie
           .
           All
           which
           ,
           no
           less
           then
           marriage
           ,
           were
           by
           the
           cunning
           of
           priests
           heretofore
           ,
           as
           material
           to
           thir
           profit
           ,
           transacted
           at
           the
           altar
           .
           Our
           divines
           denie
           it
           to
           be
           a
           sacrament
           ;
           yet
           retaind
           the
           celebration
           ,
           till
           prudently
           a
           late
           parlament
           recoverd
           the
           civil
           liberty
           of
           marriage
           from
           thir
           incroachment
           ;
           and
           transferrd
           the
           ratifying
           and
           registring
           therof
           from
           the
           canonical
           shop
           to
           the
           proper
           cognisance
           of
           civil
           magistrates
           Seeing
           then
           ,
           that
           God
           hath
           
           given
           to
           ministers
           under
           the
           gospel
           ,
           that
           only
           which
           is
           justly
           given
           them
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           a
           due
           and
           moderat
           livelihood
           ,
           the
           hire
           of
           thir
           labor
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           heave-offering
           of
           tithes
           is
           abolishd
           with
           the
           altar
           ,
           yea
           though
           not
           abolishd
           ,
           yet
           lawles
           ,
           as
           they
           enjoy
           them
           ,
           thir
           Melchisedecian
           right
           also
           trivial
           and
           groundles
           ,
           and
           both
           tithes
           and
           fees
           ,
           if
           exacted
           or
           establishd
           ,
           unjust
           and
           scandalous
           ,
           we
           may
           hope
           ,
           with
           them
           remov'd
           ,
           to
           remove
           hirelings
           in
           som
           good
           measure
           ,
           whom
           these
           tempting
           baits
           ,
           by
           law
           especially
           to
           be
           recoverd
           ,
           allure
           into
           the
           church
           .
        
         
         
           The
           next
           thing
           to
           be
           considerd
           in
           the
           maintenance
           of
           ministers
           ,
           is
           by
           whom
           it
           should
           be
           given
           .
           Wherin
           though
           the
           light
           of
           reason
           might
           sufficiently
           informe
           us
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           best
           to
           consult
           the
           scripture
           :
           
             Gal.
          
           6.
           6.
           
             let
             him
             that
             is
             taught
             in
             the
             word
             ,
             communicate
             ,
             to
             him
             that
             teacheth
             ,
             in
             all
             good
             things
             :
          
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           in
           all
           manner
           of
           gratitude
           ,
           to
           his
           abilitie
           .
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           9.
           11.
           
             if
             we
             have
             sown
             unto
             you
             spiritual
             things
             ,
             is
             it
             a
             great
             matter
             if
             we
             reap
             your
             carnal
             things
             ?
          
           to
           whom
           therefor
           hath
           not
           bin
           sown
           ,
           from
           him
           wherefor
           should
           be
           reapd
           ?
           1
           
             Tim.
          
           5.
           17.
           
             let
             the
             elders
             that
             rule
             well
             ,
             be
             counted
             worthie
             of
             double
             honor
             ;
          
           
           
             especially
             they
             who
             labor
             in
             the
             word
             and
             doctrin
             .
          
           By
           these
           places
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           recompence
           was
           given
           either
           by
           every
           one
           in
           particular
           who
           had
           bin
           instructed
           ,
           or
           by
           them
           all
           in
           common
           ,
           brought
           into
           the
           church-treasurie
           ,
           and
           distributed
           to
           the
           ministers
           according
           to
           thir
           several
           labors
           :
           and
           that
           was
           judgd
           either
           by
           som
           extraordinarie
           person
           ,
           as
           
             Timothie
             ,
          
           who
           by
           the
           apostle
           was
           then
           left
           evangelist
           at
           
             Ephesus
             ,
          
           2
           
             Tim.
          
           4.
           5
           ,
           or
           by
           som
           to
           whom
           the
           church
           deputed
           that
           care
           .
           This
           is
           so
           agreeable
           to
           reason
           and
           so
           cleer
           ,
           that
           any
           one
           may
           perceive
           what
           iniquitie
           and
           violence
           hath
           prevaild
           since
           in
           
           the
           church
           ,
           whereby
           it
           hath
           bin
           so
           orderd
           ,
           that
           they
           also
           shall
           be
           compelld
           to
           recompence
           the
           parochial
           minister
           ,
           who
           neither
           chose
           him
           for
           thir
           teacher
           ,
           nor
           have
           receivd
           instruction
           from
           him
           ,
           as
           being
           either
           insufficient
           ,
           or
           not
           resident
           ,
           or
           inferior
           to
           whom
           they
           follow
           ;
           wherin
           to
           barr
           them
           thir
           choise
           ,
           is
           to
           violate
           Christian
           liberty
           .
           Our
           law-books
           testifie
           ,
           that
           before
           the
           councel
           of
           
             Lateran
             ,
          
           in
           the
           year
           1179
           ,
           and
           the
           fifth
           of
           our
           
             Henry
             2
             ,
          
           or
           rather
           before
           a
           decretal
           epistle
           of
           Pope
           
             Innocent
          
           the
           third
           ,
           about
           1200
           ,
           and
           the
           first
           of
           king
           
             John
             ,
             any
             man
             might
             have
             given
             his
             tithes
             to
             what
             spiritual
             person
             he
          
           
           
             would
             :
          
           and
           ,
           as
           the
           L.
           
             Coke
          
           notes
           on
           that
           place
           ,
           
             instit.
             part
             2
             ,
          
           that
           
             this
             decretal
             bound
             not
             the
             subjects
             of
             this
             realm
             ;
             but
             ,
             as
             it
             seemd
             just
             and
             reasonable
             .
          
           The
           Pope
           took
           his
           reason
           rightly
           from
           the
           above
           cited
           place
           ,
           
             1
             Cor.
             9.
             11
             :
          
           but
           falsly
           suppos'd
           every
           one
           to
           be
           instructed
           by
           his
           parishpriest
           .
           Whether
           this
           were
           then
           first
           so
           decreed
           or
           rather
           long
           before
           ,
           as
           may
           seem
           by
           the
           laws
           of
           
             Edgar
          
           and
           
             Canute
             ,
          
           that
           tithes
           were
           to
           be
           paid
           ,
           not
           to
           whom
           he
           would
           that
           paid
           them
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           cathedral
           church
           or
           the
           parishpriest
           ,
           it
           imports
           not
           ;
           since
           the
           reason
           which
           they
           themselves
           bring
           ,
           built
           on
           fals
           supposition
           ,
           
           becoms
           alike
           infirme
           and
           absurd
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           reap
           from
           me
           ,
           who
           sows
           not
           to
           me
           ;
           bee
           the
           cause
           either
           his
           defect
           ,
           or
           my
           free
           choise
           .
           But
           here
           it
           will
           be
           readily
           objected
           ,
           What
           if
           they
           who
           are
           to
           be
           instructed
           be
           not
           able
           to
           maintain
           a
           minister
           ,
           as
           in
           many
           villages
           ?
           I
           answer
           ,
           that
           the
           scripture
           shews
           in
           many
           places
           what
           ought
           to
           be
           don
           herin
           .
           First
           I
           offer
           it
           to
           the
           reason
           of
           any
           man
           ,
           whether
           he
           think
           the
           knowledge
           of
           Christian
           religion
           harder
           then
           any
           other
           art
           or
           science
           to
           attain
           .
           I
           suppose
           he
           will
           grant
           that
           it
           is
           far
           easier
           ;
           both
           of
           it self
           ,
           and
           in
           regard
           of
           Gods
           assisting
           spirit
           ,
           not
           particularly
           
           promisd
           us
           to
           the
           attainment
           of
           any
           other
           knowledge
           ,
           but
           of
           this
           only
           :
           since
           it
           was
           preachd
           as
           well
           to
           the
           shepherds
           of
           
             Bethleem
          
           by
           angels
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           eastern
           Wisemen
           by
           that
           starr
           :
           and
           our
           Saviour
           declares
           himself
           anointed
           to
           preach
           the
           gospel
           to
           the
           poore
           ,
           
             Luke
             4.
             18.
          
           then
           surely
           to
           thir
           capacitie
           .
           They
           who
           after
           him
           first
           taught
           it
           ,
           were
           otherwise
           unlearned
           men
           :
           they
           who
           before
           
             Hus
          
           and
           
             Luther
          
           first
           reformd
           it
           ,
           were
           for
           the
           meanenes
           of
           thir
           condition
           calld
           ,
           
             the
             poore
             men
             of
             Lions
             :
          
           and
           in
           
             Flanders
          
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           
             les
             gueus
             ,
          
           which
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           beggars
           .
           Therefor
           are
           the
           scriptures
           translated
           into
           every
           
           vulgar
           tongue
           ,
           as
           being
           held
           in
           main
           matters
           of
           belief
           and
           salvation
           ,
           plane
           and
           easie
           to
           the
           poorest
           :
           and
           such
           no
           less
           then
           thir
           teachers
           have
           the
           spirit
           to
           guide
           them
           in
           all
           truth
           ,
           
             Jo●.
          
           14.
           26
           ,
           &
           16.
           13.
           
           Hence
           we
           may
           conclude
           ,
           if
           men
           be
           not
           all
           thir
           life
           time
           under
           a
           teacher
           to
           learn
           Logic
           ,
           natural
           Philosophie
           ,
           Ethics
           or
           Mathematics
           ,
           which
           are
           more
           difficult
           ,
           that
           certainly
           it
           is
           not
           necessarie
           to
           the
           attainment
           of
           Christian
           knowledge
           that
           men
           should
           sit
           all
           thir
           life
           long
           at
           the
           feet
           of
           a
           pulpited
           divine
           ;
           while
           he
           ,
           a
           lollard
           indeed
           over
           his
           elbow-cushion
           ,
           in
           almost
           the
           seaventh
           part
           of
           40.
           or
           50.
           
           years
           teaches
           them
           scarce
           half
           the
           principles
           of
           religion
           ;
           and
           his
           sheep
           oft-times
           sit
           the
           while
           to
           as
           little
           purpose
           of
           benifiting
           as
           the
           sheep
           in
           thir
           pues
           at
           
             Smithfield
             ;
          
           and
           for
           the
           most
           part
           by
           som
           Simonie
           or
           other
           ,
           bought
           and
           sold
           like
           them
           :
           or
           ,
           if
           this
           comparison
           be
           too
           low
           ,
           like
           those
           woemen
           ,
           1
           
             Tim.
             3.
             7.
             ever
             learning
             and
             never
             attaining
             ;
          
           yet
           not
           so
           much
           through
           thir
           own
           fault
           ,
           as
           through
           the
           unskilful
           and
           immethodical
           teaching
           of
           thir
           pastor
           ,
           teaching
           here
           and
           there
           at
           random
           out
           of
           this
           or
           that
           text
           as
           his
           ease
           or
           fansie
           ,
           and
           oft-times
           as
           his
           stealth
           guides
           him
           .
           Seeing
           then
           that
           Christian
           religion
           
           may
           be
           so
           easily
           attaind
           ,
           and
           by
           meanest
           capacities
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           much
           difficult
           to
           finde
           waies
           ,
           both
           how
           the
           poore
           ,
           yea
           all
           men
           may
           be
           soone
           taught
           what
           is
           to
           be
           known
           of
           Christianitie
           ,
           and
           they
           who
           teach
           them
           ,
           recompenc'd
           .
           First
           ,
           if
           ministers
           of
           thir
           own
           accord
           ,
           who
           pretend
           that
           they
           are
           calld
           and
           sent
           to
           preach
           the
           gospel
           ,
           those
           especially
           who
           have
           no
           particular
           flock
           ,
           would
           imitate
           our
           Saviour
           and
           his
           disciples
           who
           went
           preaching
           through
           the
           villages
           ,
           not
           only
           through
           the
           cities
           ,
           
             Matth.
             9.
             35
             ,
             Mark
             6.
             6
             ,
             Luke
             13.
             22
             ,
             Acts
          
           8.
           25.
           and
           there
           preachd
           to
           the
           poore
           as
           well
           as
           to
           the
           rich
           ,
           
           looking
           for
           no
           recompence
           but
           in
           heaven
           :
           
             John
             4.
             35
             ,
             36.
             
             Looke
             on
             the
             fields
             ;
             for
             they
             are
             white
             alreadie
             to
             harvest
             :
             and
             he
             that
             reapeth
             ,
             receiveth
             wages
             ,
             and
             gathereth
             fruit
             unto
             life
             eternal
             .
          
           This
           was
           their
           wages
           .
           But
           they
           will
           soone
           reply
           ,
           we
           our selves
           have
           not
           wherewithall
           ;
           who
           shall
           bear
           the
           charges
           of
           our
           journey
           ?
           To
           whom
           it
           may
           as
           soone
           be
           answerd
           ,
           that
           in
           likelihood
           they
           are
           not
           poorer
           then
           they
           who
           did
           thus
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           have
           not
           the
           same
           faith
           which
           those
           disciples
           had
           to
           trust
           in
           God
           and
           the
           promise
           of
           Christ
           for
           thir
           mainten●nce
           as
           they
           did
           ,
           and
           yet
           intrude
           into
           the
           ministerie
           
           without
           any
           livelihood
           of
           thir
           own
           ,
           they
           cast
           themselves
           into
           a
           miserable
           hazzard
           or
           temptation
           ,
           and
           oft-times
           into
           a
           more
           miserable
           necessitie
           ,
           either
           to
           starve
           ,
           or
           to
           please
           thir
           paymasters
           rather
           them
           God
           :
           and
           give
           men
           just
           cause
           to
           suspect
           ,
           that
           they
           came
           neither
           calld
           nor
           sent
           from
           above
           to
           preach
           the
           word
           ,
           but
           from
           below
           ,
           by
           the
           instinct
           of
           thir
           own
           hunger
           ,
           to
           feed
           upon
           the
           church
           .
           Yet
           grant
           it
           needful
           to
           allow
           them
           both
           the
           charges
           of
           thir
           jorn●y
           and
           the
           hire
           of
           thir
           labor
           ,
           it
           will
           belong
           next
           to
           the
           charitie
           of
           richer
           congregations
           ,
           where
           most
           commonly
           they
           abound
           with
           teachers
           ,
           to
           send
           som
           
           of
           thir
           number
           to
           the
           villages
           round
           ,
           as
           the
           apostles
           from
           
             Jerusalem
          
           sent
           
             Peter
          
           and
           
             John
          
           to
           the
           citie
           and
           villages
           of
           
             Samaria
             ,
             Acts
          
           8.
           14
           ,
           25
           ;
           or
           as
           the
           church
           at
           
             Jerusalem
          
           sent
           
             Barnabas
          
           to
           
             Antioch
             ,
             chap.
          
           11.
           22
           ;
           and
           other
           churches
           joining
           sent
           
             Luke
          
           to
           travail
           with
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           2
           
             Cor.
          
           8.
           19
           :
           though
           whether
           they
           had
           thir
           charges
           born
           by
           the
           church
           or
           no
           ,
           it
           be
           not
           recorded
           .
           If
           it
           be
           objected
           that
           this
           itinerarie
           preaching
           will
           not
           serve
           to
           plant
           the
           gospel
           in
           those
           places
           ,
           unless
           they
           who
           are
           sent
           ,
           abide
           there
           som
           competent
           time
           ,
           I
           answer
           ,
           that
           if
           they
           stay
           there
           a
           year
           or
           two
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           longest
           time
           
           usually
           staid
           by
           the
           apostles
           in
           one
           place
           ,
           it
           may
           suffice
           to
           teach
           them
           ,
           who
           will
           attend
           and
           learn
           ,
           all
           the
           points
           of
           religion
           necessary
           to
           salvation
           ;
           then
           sorting
           them
           into
           several
           congregations
           of
           a
           moderat
           number
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           ablest
           and
           zealousest
           among
           them
           to
           create
           elders
           ,
           who
           ,
           exercising
           and
           requiring
           from
           themselves
           what
           they
           have
           learnd
           (
           for
           no
           learning
           is
           retaind
           without
           constant
           exercise
           and
           methodical
           repetition
           )
           may
           teach
           and
           govern
           the
           rest
           :
           and
           so
           exhorted
           to
           continue
           faithful
           and
           stedfast
           ,
           they
           may
           securely
           be
           committed
           to
           the
           providence
           of
           God
           and
           the
           guidance
           of
           his
           holy
           
           spirit
           ,
           till
           God
           may
           offer
           som
           opportunitie
           to
           visit
           them
           again
           and
           to
           confirme
           them
           :
           which
           when
           they
           have
           don
           ,
           they
           have
           don
           as
           much
           as
           the
           apostles
           were
           wont
           to
           do
           in
           prop●gating
           the
           gospel
           ,
           
             Acts
          
           14.
           23.
           
           
             And
             when
             they
             had
             ordaind
             them
             elders
             in
             every
             church
             ,
             and
             had
             praied
             with
             fasting
             ,
             they
             commended
             them
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             on
             whom
             they
             beleevd
             .
          
           And
           in
           the
           same
           chapter
           ,
           
             Vers.
          
           21
           ,
           22
           ,
           
             When
             they
             had
             preachd
             the
             gospel
             to
             that
             citie
             ,
             and
             had
             taught
             many
             ,
             they
             returned
             again
             to
          
           Lystra
           
             and
             to
          
           Iconium
           
             and
          
           Antioch
           ,
           
             confirming
             the
             soules
             of
             the
             disciples
             ,
          
           and
           
             exhorting
             them
             to
             continue
             in
             the
             faith
             .
          
           And
           
           
             Chap.
             15.
             36.
             
             Let
             us
             go
             again
             and
             visit
             our
             brethren
             .
          
           And
           
             Vers.
          
           41.
           
           
             He
             went
             thorow
          
           Syria
           
             and
          
           Cilicia
           ,
           
             confirming
             the
             churches
             .
          
           To
           these
           I
           might
           add
           other
           helps
           ,
           which
           we
           enjoy
           now
           ,
           to
           make
           more
           easie
           the
           attainment
           of
           Christian
           religion
           by
           the
           meanest
           :
           the
           entire
           scripture
           translated
           into
           English
           with
           plenty
           of
           notes
           ;
           and
           som
           where
           or
           other
           ,
           I
           trust
           ,
           may
           be
           found
           som
           wholsom
           bodie
           of
           divinitie
           ,
           as
           they
           call
           it
           ,
           without
           schoole
           terms
           and
           metaphysical
           notions
           ,
           which
           have
           obscur'd
           rather
           then
           explan'd
           our
           religion
           ,
           and
           made
           it
           seem
           difficult
           without
           cause
           .
           Thus
           taught
           once
           for
           all
           ,
           and
           
           thus
           now
           and
           then
           visited
           and
           confirmd
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           destitute
           and
           poorest
           places
           of
           the
           land
           ,
           under
           the
           government
           of
           thir
           own
           elders
           performing
           all
           ministerial
           offices
           among
           them
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           trusted
           to
           meet
           and
           edifie
           one
           another
           whether
           in
           church
           or
           chappel
           ,
           or
           ,
           to
           save
           them
           the
           trudging
           of
           many
           miles
           thether
           ,
           neerer
           home
           ,
           though
           in
           a
           house
           or
           barn
           .
           For
           notwithstanding
           the
           gaudy
           superstition
           of
           som
           devoted
           still
           ignorantly
           to
           temples
           ,
           we
           may
           be
           well
           assur'd
           that
           he
           who
           disdaind
           not
           to
           be
           laid
           in
           a
           manger
           ,
           disdains
           not
           to
           be
           preachd
           in
           a
           barn
           ;
           and
           that
           by
           such
           meetings
           as
           these
           ,
           being
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           
           most
           apostolical
           and
           primitive
           ,
           they
           will
           in
           a
           short
           time
           advance
           more
           in
           Christian
           knowledge
           and
           reformation
           of
           life
           ,
           then
           by
           the
           many
           years
           preaching
           of
           such
           an
           incumbent
           ,
           I
           may
           say
           ,
           such
           an
           incubus
           oft
           times
           ,
           as
           will
           be
           meanly
           hir'd
           to
           abide
           long
           in
           those
           places
           .
           They
           have
           this
           left
           perhaps
           to
           object
           further
           ,
           that
           to
           send
           thus
           and
           to
           maintaine
           ,
           though
           but
           for
           a
           year
           or
           two
           ,
           ministers
           and
           teachers
           in
           several
           places
           ,
           would
           prove
           chargeable
           to
           the
           churches
           ,
           though
           in
           towns
           and
           cities
           round
           about
           .
           To
           whom
           again
           I
           answer
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           not
           thought
           so
           by
           them
           who
           first
           thus
           propagated
           the
           
           gospel
           ,
           though
           but
           few
           in
           number
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           much
           less
           able
           to
           sustain
           the
           expence
           .
           Yet
           this
           expence
           would
           be
           much
           less
           ,
           then
           to
           hire
           incumbents
           or
           rather
           incumbrances
           ,
           for
           life-time
           ;
           and
           a
           great
           means
           (
           which
           is
           the
           subject
           of
           this
           discourse
           )
           to
           diminish
           hirelings
           .
           But
           be
           the
           expence
           less
           or
           more
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           found
           burdensom
           to
           the
           churches
           ,
           they
           have
           in
           this
           land
           an
           easie
           remedie
           in
           thir
           recourse
           to
           the
           civil
           magistrate
           ;
           who
           hath
           in
           his
           hands
           the
           disposal
           of
           no
           small
           revenues
           ;
           left
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           anciently
           to
           superstitious
           ,
           but
           meant
           undoubtedly
           to
           good
           and
           best
           uses
           ;
           and
           therefor
           ,
           once
           made
           publick
           ,
           appliable
           
           by
           the
           present
           magistrate
           to
           such
           uses
           as
           the
           church
           or
           solid
           reason
           from
           whomsoever
           shall
           convince
           him
           to
           think
           best
           .
           And
           those
           uses
           may
           be
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           much
           rather
           then
           as
           glebes
           and
           augmentations
           are
           now
           bestowd
           ,
           to
           grant
           such
           requests
           as
           these
           of
           the
           churches
           ;
           or
           to
           erect
           in
           greater
           number
           all
           over
           the
           land
           schooles
           and
           competent
           libraries
           to
           those
           schooles
           ,
           where
           languages
           and
           arts
           may
           be
           taught
           free
           together
           ,
           without
           the
           needles
           ,
           unprofitable
           and
           inconvenient
           removing
           to
           another
           place
           .
           So
           all
           the
           land
           would
           be
           soone
           better
           civiliz'd
           ,
           and
           they
           who
           are
           taught
           freely
           at
           the
           publick
           
           cost
           ,
           might
           have
           thir
           education
           given
           them
           on
           this
           condition
           ,
           that
           therewith
           content
           ,
           they
           should
           not
           gadd
           for
           preferment
           out
           of
           thir
           own
           countrey
           ,
           but
           continue
           there
           thankful
           for
           what
           they
           receivd
           freely
           ,
           bestowing
           it
           as
           freely
           on
           thir
           countrey
           ,
           without
           soaring
           above
           the
           meannes
           wherin
           they
           were
           born
           .
           But
           how
           they
           shall
           live
           when
           they
           are
           thus
           bred
           and
           dismissd
           ,
           will
           be
           still
           the
           sluggish
           objection
           .
           To
           which
           is
           answerd
           ,
           that
           those
           publick
           foundations
           may
           be
           so
           instituted
           ,
           as
           the
           youth
           therin
           may
           be
           at
           once
           brought
           up
           to
           a
           competence
           of
           learning
           and
           to
           an
           honest
           trade
           ;
           and
           the
           
           hours
           of
           teaching
           so
           orderd
           ,
           as
           thir
           studie
           may
           be
           no
           hindrance
           to
           thir
           labor
           or
           other
           calling
           .
           This
           was
           the
           breeding
           of
           S.
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           though
           born
           of
           no
           mean
           parents
           ,
           a
           free
           citizen
           of
           the
           Roman
           empire
           :
           so
           little
           did
           his
           trade
           debase
           him
           ,
           that
           it
           rather
           enabld
           him
           to
           use
           that
           magnanimitie
           of
           preaching
           the
           gospel
           through
           
             Asia
          
           and
           
             Europe
          
           at
           his
           own
           charges
           :
           thus
           those
           preachers
           among
           the
           poor
           
             Waldenses
             ,
          
           the
           ancient
           stock
           of
           our
           reformation
           ,
           without
           these
           helps
           which
           I
           speak
           of
           ,
           bred
           up
           themselves
           in
           trades
           ,
           and
           especially
           in
           physic
           and
           surgery
           as
           well
           as
           in
           the
           studie
           of
           scripture
           (
           which
           is
           the
           only
           true
           
           theologie
           )
           that
           they
           might
           be
           no
           burden
           to
           the
           church
           ;
           and
           by
           the
           example
           of
           Christ
           ,
           might
           cure
           both
           soul
           and
           bodie
           ;
           through
           industry
           joining
           that
           to
           their
           ministerie
           ,
           which
           he
           joind
           to
           his
           by
           gift
           of
           the
           spirit
           .
           Thus
           relates
           
             Peter
             Gilles
          
           in
           his
           historie
           of
           the
           
             Waldenses
          
           in
           
             Piemont
             .
          
           But
           our
           ministers
           think
           scorn
           to
           use
           a
           trade
           ,
           and
           count
           it
           the
           reproach
           of
           this
           age
           ,
           that
           tradesmen
           preach
           the
           gospel
           .
           It
           were
           to
           be
           wishd
           they
           were
           all
           tradesmen
           ;
           they
           would
           not
           then
           so
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           another
           trade
           ,
           make
           a
           trade
           of
           thir
           preaching
           :
           and
           yet
           they
           clamor
           that
           tradesmen
           preach
           ;
           and
           yet
           they
           
           preach
           ,
           while
           they
           themselves
           are
           the
           worst
           tradesmen
           of
           all
           .
           As
           for
           church-endowments
           and
           possessions
           ,
           I
           meet
           with
           none
           considerable
           before
           
             Constantine
             ,
          
           but
           the
           houses
           and
           gardens
           where
           they
           met
           ,
           and
           thir
           places
           of
           burial
           :
           and
           I
           perswade
           me
           ,
           that
           from
           them
           the
           ancient
           
             Waldenses
             ,
          
           whom
           deservedly
           I
           cite
           so
           often
           ,
           held
           ,
           
             that
             to
             endow
             churches
             is
             an
             evil
             thing
             ;
          
           and
           ,
           that
           the
           church
           then
           fell
           off
           and
           turnd
           whore
           sitting
           on
           that
           beast
           in
           the
           
             Revelation
             ,
          
           when
           under
           Pope
           
             Sylvester
          
           she
           receivd
           those
           temporal
           donations
           .
           So
           the
           forecited
           tractate
           of
           thir
           doctrin
           testifies
           .
           This
           also
           thir
           own
           traditions
           of
           that
           
           heavenly
           voice
           witnesd
           ,
           and
           som
           of
           the
           ancient
           fathers
           then
           living
           ,
           foresaw
           and
           deplor'd
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           how
           could
           these
           endowments
           thrive
           better
           with
           the
           church
           ,
           being
           unjustly
           taken
           by
           those
           emperors
           ,
           without
           suffrage
           of
           the
           people
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           tributes
           and
           publick
           lands
           of
           each
           citie
           ,
           whereby
           the
           people
           became
           liable
           to
           be
           oppressd
           with
           other
           taxes
           .
           Being
           therefor
           given
           for
           the
           most
           part
           by
           kings
           and
           other
           publick
           persons
           ,
           and
           so
           likeliest
           out
           of
           the
           publick
           ,
           and
           if
           without
           the
           peoples
           consent
           ,
           unjustly
           ,
           however
           to
           publick
           ends
           of
           much
           concernment
           to
           the
           good
           or
           evil
           of
           a
           common-wealth
           ,
           
           and
           in
           that
           regard
           made
           publick
           though
           given
           by
           privat
           persons
           ,
           or
           which
           is
           worse
           ,
           given
           ,
           as
           the
           clergie
           then
           perswaded
           men
           ,
           for
           thir
           soul's
           health
           ,
           a
           pious
           gift
           ,
           but
           as
           the
           truth
           was
           ,
           oft
           times
           a
           bribe
           to
           God
           or
           to
           Christ
           for
           absolution
           ,
           as
           they
           were
           then
           taught
           ,
           from
           murders
           ,
           adulteries
           ,
           and
           other
           hainous
           crimes
           ,
           what
           shall
           be
           found
           heretofore
           given
           by
           kings
           or
           princes
           out
           of
           the
           publick
           ,
           may
           justly
           by
           the
           magistrate
           be
           recalld
           and
           reappropriated
           to
           the
           civil
           revenue
           :
           what
           by
           privat
           or
           publick
           persons
           out
           of
           thir
           own
           ,
           the
           price
           of
           blood
           or
           lust
           ,
           or
           to
           som
           such
           purgatorious
           and
           superstitious
           
           uses
           ,
           not
           only
           may
           but
           ought
           to
           be
           taken
           off
           from
           Christ
           ,
           as
           a
           foul
           dishonor
           laid
           upon
           him
           ,
           or
           not
           impiously
           given
           ,
           nor
           in
           particular
           to
           any
           one
           ,
           but
           in
           general
           to
           the
           churches
           good
           ,
           may
           be
           converted
           to
           that
           use
           ,
           which
           shall
           be
           judgd
           tending
           more
           directly
           to
           that
           general
           end
           .
           Thus
           did
           the
           princes
           and
           cities
           of
           
             Germany
          
           in
           the
           first
           reformation
           ;
           and
           defended
           thir
           so
           doing
           by
           many
           reasons
           ,
           which
           are
           set
           down
           at
           large
           in
           
             Sleidan
             ,
             l.
             6
             ,
             an.
          
           1526
           ,
           and
           
             l.
             11
             ,
             an.
          
           1537
           ,
           and
           
             l.
             13
             ,
             an.
          
           1540.
           
           But
           that
           the
           magistrate
           either
           out
           of
           that
           church
           revenue
           which
           remanes
           yet
           in
           his
           hand
           ,
           or
           establishing
           
           any
           other
           maintenance
           instead
           of
           tithe
           ,
           should
           take
           into
           his
           own
           power
           the
           stipendiarie
           maintenance
           of
           church-ministers
           ,
           or
           compell
           it
           by
           law
           ,
           can
           stand
           neither
           with
           the
           peoples
           right
           nor
           with
           Christian
           liberty
           ,
           but
           would
           suspend
           the
           church
           wholly
           upon
           the
           state
           ,
           and
           turn
           her
           ministers
           into
           statepensioners
           .
           And
           for
           the
           magistrate
           in
           person
           of
           a
           nursing
           father
           to
           make
           the
           church
           his
           meer
           ward
           ,
           as
           alwaies
           in
           minoritie
           ,
           the
           church
           ,
           to
           whom
           he
           ought
           as
           a
           magistrate
           ,
           
             Esa.
             49.
             23
             ,
             To
             bow
             down
             with
             his
             face
             toward
             the
             earth
             ,
             and
             lick
             up
             the
             dust
             of
             her
             feet
             ,
          
           her
           to
           subject
           to
           his
           political
           drifts
           
           or
           conceivd
           opinions
           by
           mastring
           her
           revenue
           ,
           and
           so
           by
           his
           examinant
           committies
           to
           circumscribe
           her
           free
           election
           of
           ministers
           ,
           is
           neither
           just
           nor
           pious
           ;
           no
           honor
           don
           to
           to
           the
           church
           ,
           but
           a
           plane
           dishonor
           :
           and
           upon
           her
           ,
           whose
           only
           head
           is
           in
           heaven
           ,
           yea
           upon
           him
           ,
           who
           is
           her
           only
           head
           ,
           sets
           another
           in
           effect
           ,
           and
           ,
           which
           is
           most
           monstrous
           ,
           a
           human
           on
           a
           heavenly
           ,
           a
           carnal
           on
           a
           spiritual
           ,
           a
           political
           head
           on
           an
           ecclesiastical
           bodie
           ;
           which
           at
           length
           by
           such
           heterogeneal
           ,
           such
           incestuous
           conjunction
           ,
           transformes
           her
           oft-times
           into
           a
           beast
           of
           many
           heads
           and
           many
           horns
           .
           For
           if
           the
           
           chu●ch
           be
           of
           all
           societies
           the
           holiest
           on
           earth
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           be
           reverenc'd
           by
           the
           magistrate
           ,
           not
           to
           trust
           her
           with
           her
           own
           belief
           and
           integritie
           ,
           and
           therefor
           not
           with
           the
           keeping
           ,
           at
           least
           with
           the
           disposing
           of
           what
           revenue
           shall
           be
           found
           justly
           and
           lawfully
           her
           own
           ,
           is
           to
           count
           the
           church
           not
           a
           holy
           congregation
           ,
           but
           a
           pack
           of
           giddy
           or
           dishonest
           persons
           ,
           to
           be
           rul'd
           by
           civil
           power
           in
           sacred
           affairs
           .
           But
           to
           proceed
           further
           in
           the
           truth
           yet
           more
           freely
           ,
           seeing
           the
           Christian
           church
           is
           not
           national
           ,
           but
           consisting
           of
           many
           particular
           congregations
           ,
           subject
           to
           many
           changes
           ,
           as
           well
           
           through
           civil
           accidents
           as
           through
           schism
           and
           various
           opinions
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           decided
           by
           any
           outward
           judge
           ,
           being
           matters
           of
           conscience
           ,
           whereby
           these
           pretended
           church-revenues
           ,
           as
           they
           have
           bin
           ever
           ,
           so
           are
           like
           to
           continue
           endles
           matter
           of
           dissention
           both
           between
           the
           church
           and
           magistrate
           ,
           and
           the
           churches
           among
           themselves
           ,
           there
           will
           be
           found
           no
           better
           remedie
           to
           these
           evils
           ,
           otherwise
           incurable
           ,
           then
           by
           the
           incorruptest
           councel
           of
           those
           
             Waldenses
             ,
          
           our
           first
           reformers
           ,
           to
           remove
           them
           as
           a
           pest
           ,
           an
           apple
           of
           discord
           in
           the
           church
           ,
           (
           for
           what
           els
           can
           be
           the
           effect
           of
           riches
           and
           the
           snare
           of
           monie
           in
           religion
           ▪
           )
           
           and
           to
           convert
           them
           to
           those
           more
           profitable
           uses
           above
           expressd
           or
           other
           such
           as
           shall
           be
           judgd
           most
           necessarie
           ;
           considering
           that
           the
           church
           of
           Christ
           was
           founded
           in
           poverty
           rather
           then
           in
           revenues
           ,
           stood
           purest
           and
           prosperd
           best
           without
           them
           ,
           receivd
           them
           unlawfully
           from
           them
           who
           both
           erroneously
           and
           unjustly
           ,
           somtimes
           impiously
           ,
           gave
           them
           ,
           and
           so
           justly
           was
           ensnar'd
           and
           corrupted
           by
           them
           .
           And
           least
           it
           be
           thought
           that
           these
           revenues
           withdrawne
           and
           better
           imploid
           ,
           the
           magistrate
           ought
           in
           stead
           to
           settle
           by
           statute
           som
           maintenance
           of
           ministers
           ,
           let
           this
           be
           considerd
           first
           ,
           that
           
           it
           concerns
           every
           mans
           conscience
           to
           what
           religion
           he
           contributes
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           civil
           magistrate
           is
           intrusted
           with
           civil
           rights
           only
           ,
           not
           with
           conscience
           ,
           which
           can
           have
           no
           deputy
           or
           representer
           of
           it self
           ,
           but
           one
           of
           the
           same
           minde
           :
           next
           ,
           that
           what
           each
           man
           gives
           to
           the
           minister
           ,
           he
           gives
           either
           as
           to
           God
           ,
           or
           as
           to
           his
           teacher
           ;
           if
           as
           to
           God
           ,
           no
           civil
           power
           can
           justly
           consecrate
           to
           religious
           uses
           any
           part
           either
           of
           civil
           revenue
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           peoples
           ,
           and
           must
           save
           them
           from
           other
           taxes
           ,
           or
           of
           any
           mans
           proprietie
           ,
           but
           God
           by
           special
           command
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           by
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           or
           the
           owner
           himself
           
           by
           voluntarie
           intention
           and
           the
           perswasion
           of
           his
           giving
           it
           to
           God
           ;
           forc'd
           consecrations
           out
           of
           another
           mans
           estate
           are
           no
           better
           then
           forc'd
           vowes
           ;
           hateful
           to
           God
           ,
           who
           
             loves
             a
             chearful
             giver
             ;
          
           but
           much
           more
           hateful
           ,
           wrung
           out
           of
           mens
           purses
           to
           maintaine
           a
           disapprov'd
           ministerie
           against
           thir
           conscience
           ;
           however
           ,
           unholy
           ,
           infamous
           and
           dishonorable
           to
           his
           ministers
           and
           the
           free-gospel
           ,
           maintaind
           in
           such
           unworthy
           manner
           as
           by
           violence
           and
           extortion
           :
           If
           he
           give
           it
           as
           to
           his
           teacher
           ,
           what
           justice
           or
           equitie
           compells
           him
           to
           pay
           for
           learning
           that
           religion
           which
           leaves
           freely
           to
           his
           choise
           whether
           
           he
           will
           learn
           it
           or
           no
           ,
           whether
           of
           this
           teacher
           or
           another
           ,
           and
           especially
           to
           pay
           for
           what
           he
           never
           learnd
           ,
           or
           approves
           not
           ;
           whereby
           ,
           besides
           the
           wound
           of
           his
           conscience
           ,
           he
           becoms
           the
           less
           able
           to
           recompence
           his
           true
           teacher
           ?
           Thus
           far
           hath
           bin
           enquir'd
           by
           whom
           church-ministers
           ought
           to
           be
           maintaind
           ;
           and
           hath
           bin
           prov'd
           most
           natural
           ,
           most
           equal
           and
           agreeable
           with
           scripture
           ,
           to
           be
           by
           them
           who
           receive
           thir
           teaching
           ;
           and
           by
           whom
           ,
           if
           they
           be
           unable
           .
           Which
           waies
           well
           observd
           ,
           can
           discourage
           none
           but
           hirelings
           ,
           and
           will
           much
           lessen
           thir
           number
           in
           the
           church
           .
        
         
         
           It
           remanes
           lastly
           to
           consider
           in
           what
           manner
           God
           hath
           ordaind
           that
           recompence
           be
           given
           to
           ministers
           of
           the
           gospel
           :
           and
           by
           all
           scripture
           it
           will
           appeer
           that
           he
           hath
           given
           it
           them
           not
           by
           civil
           law
           and
           freehold
           ,
           as
           they
           claim
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           benevolence
           and
           free
           gratitude
           of
           such
           as
           receive
           them
           :
           
             Luke
             10.
             7
             ,
             8.
             
             Eating
             and
             drinking
             such
             things
             as
             they
             give
             you
             .
             If
             they
             receive
             you
             ,
             eate
             such
             things
             as
             are
             set
             before
             you
             .
             Matth.
             10.
             7
             ,
             8.
             
             As
             ye
             go
             ,
             preach
             ,
             saying
             ,
             The
             kingdome
             of
             God
             is
             at
             hand
             ,
             &c.
             
             Freely
             ye
             have
             receivd
             ,
             freely
             give
             .
          
           If
           God
           have
           ordaind
           ministers
           to
           preach
           freely
           ,
           whether
           they
           
           receive
           recompence
           or
           not
           ,
           then
           certainly
           he
           hath
           forbidd
           both
           them
           to
           compell
           it
           ,
           and
           others
           to
           compell
           it
           for
           them
           .
           But
           freely
           given
           ,
           he
           accounts
           it
           as
           given
           to
           himself
           :
           
             Phillip
             .
             4.
             16
             ,
             17
             ,
             18.
             
             Ye
             sent
             once
             and
             again
             to
             my
             necessitie
             .
             Not
             because
             I
             desire
             a
             gift
             ;
             but
             I
             desire
             fruit
             that
             may
             abound
             to
             your
             account
             .
             Having
             receivd
             of
          
           Epaphroditus
           
             the
             things
             which
             were
             sent
             from
             you
             ,
             an
             odour
             of
             sweet
             smell
             ,
             a
             sacrifice
             acceptable
             ,
             well
             pleasing
             to
             God
             .
          
           Which
           cannot
           be
           from
           force
           or
           unwillingnes
           .
           The
           same
           is
           said
           of
           almes
           ,
           
             Heb.
             13.
             16.
             
             To
             do
             good
             and
             to
             communicate
             ,
             forgett
             not
             :
             for
             with
             such
             sacrifices
             God
             is
             well
             pleasd
             .
          
           Whence
           
           the
           primitive
           church
           thought
           it
           no
           shame
           to
           receive
           all
           thir
           maintenance
           as
           the
           almes
           of
           thir
           auditors
           .
           Which
           they
           who
           defend
           tithes
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           made
           for
           thir
           cause
           ,
           when
           as
           it
           utterly
           confutes
           them
           ,
           omitt
           not
           to
           set
           down
           at
           large
           ;
           proving
           to
           our
           hands
           out
           of
           
             Origen
             ,
             Tertullian
             ,
             Cyprian
             ,
          
           and
           others
           ,
           that
           the
           clergie
           livd
           at
           first
           upon
           the
           meer
           benevolence
           of
           thir
           hearers
           :
           who
           gave
           what
           they
           gave
           ,
           not
           to
           the
           clergie
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           church
           ;
           out
           of
           which
           the
           clergie
           had
           thir
           portions
           given
           them
           in
           baskets
           ;
           and
           were
           thence
           calld
           
             sportularii
             ,
             basket-clerks
             :
          
           that
           thir
           portion
           was
           a
           very
           mean
           allowance
           ,
           
           only
           for
           a
           bare
           livelihood
           ;
           according
           to
           those
           precepts
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           
             Matth.
             10.
             7
             ,
          
           the
           rest
           was
           distributed
           to
           the
           poore
           .
           They
           cite
           also
           out
           of
           
             Prosper
             ,
          
           the
           disciple
           of
           St.
           
             Austin
             ,
          
           that
           such
           of
           the
           clergie
           as
           had
           means
           of
           thir
           own
           ,
           might
           not
           without
           sin
           partake
           of
           church-maintenance
           ;
           not
           receiving
           thereby
           food
           which
           they
           abound
           with
           ,
           but
           feeding
           on
           the
           sins
           of
           other
           men
           :
           that
           the
           holy
           ghost
           saith
           of
           such
           clergie
           men
           ,
           they
           eat
           the
           sins
           of
           my
           people
           :
           and
           that
           a
           councel
           at
           
             Antioch
             ,
          
           in
           the
           year
           340
           ,
           sufferd
           not
           either
           priest
           or
           bishop
           to
           live
           on
           church-maintenance
           without
           necessitie
           .
           Thus
           
           far
           tithers
           themselves
           have
           contributed
           to
           thir
           own
           confutation
           ,
           by
           confessing
           that
           the
           church
           livd
           primitively
           on
           almes
           .
           And
           I
           add
           ,
           that
           about
           the
           year
           359
           ,
           
             Constantius
          
           the
           emperor
           having
           summond
           a
           general
           councel
           of
           bishops
           to
           
             Ariminum
          
           in
           
             Italie
             ,
          
           and
           provided
           for
           thir
           subsistence
           there
           ,
           the
           
             British
          
           and
           
             French
          
           bishops
           judging
           it
           not
           decent
           to
           live
           on
           the
           publick
           ,
           chose
           rather
           to
           be
           at
           thir
           own
           charges
           .
           Three
           only
           out
           of
           
             Britain
          
           constraind
           through
           want
           ,
           yet
           refusing
           offerd
           assistance
           from
           the
           rest
           ,
           accepted
           the
           emperor's
           provision
           ;
           judging
           it
           more
           convenient
           to
           subsist
           by
           publick
           then
           by
           
           privat
           sustenance
           .
           Whence
           we
           may
           conclude
           ,
           that
           
             bishops
          
           then
           in
           this
           Iland
           had
           thir
           livelihood
           only
           from
           benevolence
           :
           in
           wch
           regard
           this
           relater
           
             Sulpitius
             Severus
             ,
          
           a
           good
           author
           of
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           highly
           praises
           them
           .
           And
           the
           
             Waldenses
             ,
          
           our
           fi●st
           reformers
           ,
           both
           from
           the
           scripture
           and
           these
           primitive
           examples
           ,
           maintaind
           those
           among
           them
           who
           bore
           the
           office
           of
           ministers
           ,
           by
           almes
           only
           .
           Take
           thir
           very
           words
           from
           the
           historie
           written
           of
           them
           in
           
             French
             ,
             Part.
             3.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             2.
             
             La
             nourriture
             &
             ce
             de
             quoy
             nous
             sommes
             couverts
             &c.
             
             Our
             food
             &
             cloathing
             is
             sufficiently
             administerd
             &
             given
             to
             us
             by
             way
             of
             gratuitie
             and
             almes
             ,
             by
             the
             good
             people
          
           
           
             whom
             we
             teach
             .
          
           If
           then
           by
           almes
           and
           benevolence
           ,
           not
           by
           legal
           force
           ,
           not
           by
           tenure
           of
           freehold
           or
           copyhold
           :
           for
           almes
           ,
           though
           just
           ,
           cannot
           be
           compelld
           ;
           and
           benevolence
           forc'd
           ,
           is
           malevolence
           rather
           ,
           violent
           and
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           gospel
           ;
           and
           declares
           him
           no
           true
           minister
           therof
           ,
           but
           a
           rapacious
           hireling
           rather
           ,
           who
           by
           force
           receiving
           it
           ,
           eats
           the
           bread
           of
           violence
           and
           exaction
           ,
           no
           holy
           or
           just
           livelihood
           ,
           no
           not
           civilly
           counted
           honest
           ;
           much
           less
           beseeming
           such
           a
           spiritual
           ministry
           .
           But
           ,
           say
           they
           ,
           our
           maintenance
           is
           our
           due
           ,
           tithes
           the
           right
           of
           Christ
           ,
           unseparable
           from
           the
           priest
           ,
           no where
           repeald
           ;
           if
           
           then
           ,
           not
           otherwise
           to
           be
           had
           ,
           by
           law
           to
           be
           recoverd
           :
           for
           though
           
             Paul
          
           were
           pleasd
           to
           forgoe
           his
           due
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           use
           his
           power
           ,
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           9.
           12
           ,
           yet
           he
           had
           a
           power
           ,
           
             v.
          
           4
           ,
           and
           bound
           not
           others
           .
           I
           answer
           first
           ,
           because
           I
           see
           them
           still
           so
           loath
           to
           unlearn
           thir
           decimal
           arithmetic
           ,
           and
           still
           grasp
           thir
           tithes
           as
           inseparable
           from
           a
           priest
           ,
           that
           ministers
           of
           the
           gospel
           are
           not
           priests
           ;
           and
           therefor
           separated
           from
           tithes
           by
           thir
           own
           exclusion
           ;
           being
           neither
           calld
           priests
           in
           the
           new
           testament
           ,
           nor
           of
           any
           order
           known
           in
           scripture
           :
           not
           of
           
             Melchisedec
             ,
          
           proper
           to
           Christ
           only
           ;
           not
           of
           
             Aaron
             ,
          
           as
           they
           themselves
           will
           confess
           ;
           and
           
           the
           third
           priesthood
           ,
           only
           remaining
           ,
           is
           common
           to
           all
           the
           faithful
           .
           But
           they
           are
           ministers
           of
           our
           high
           priest
           .
           True
           ;
           but
           not
           of
           his
           priesthood
           ,
           as
           the
           Levites
           were
           to
           
             Aaron
             :
          
           for
           he
           performs
           that
           whole
           office
           himself
           incommunicably
           .
           Yet
           tithes
           remane
           ,
           say
           they
           ,
           still
           unreleasd
           ,
           the
           due
           of
           Christ
           ;
           and
           to
           whom
           payable
           ,
           but
           to
           his
           ministers
           ?
           I
           say
           again
           ,
           that
           no
           man
           can
           so
           understand
           them
           ,
           unless
           Christ
           in
           som
           place
           or
           other
           so
           claim
           them
           .
           That
           example
           of
           
             Abram
          
           argues
           nothing
           but
           his
           voluntarie
           act
           ;
           honor
           once
           only
           don
           ,
           but
           on
           what
           consideration
           ,
           whether
           to
           a
           priest
           or
           to
           a
           king
           ,
           whether
           
           due
           the
           honor
           ,
           arbitrarie
           that
           kinde
           of
           honor
           or
           not
           ,
           will
           after
           all
           contending
           be
           left
           still
           in
           meer
           conjecture
           :
           which
           must
           not
           be
           permitted
           in
           the
           claim
           of
           such
           a
           needy
           and
           suttle
           spiritual
           corporation
           pretending
           by
           divine
           right
           to
           the
           tenth
           of
           all
           other
           mens
           estates
           ;
           nor
           can
           it
           be
           allowd
           by
           wise
           men
           or
           the
           verdit
           of
           common
           law
           .
           And
           the
           tenth
           part
           ,
           though
           once
           declar'd
           holy
           ,
           is
           declar'd
           now
           to
           be
           no
           holier
           then
           the
           other
           nine
           ,
           by
           that
           command
           to
           
             Peter
             Act.
          
           10.
           15.
           28
           
           :
           whereby
           all
           distinction
           of
           holy
           and
           unholy
           is
           remov'd
           from
           all
           things
           .
           Tithes
           therefor
           though
           claimd
           ,
           and
           holy
           under
           the
           law
           ,
           yet
           are
           now
           releasd
           
           and
           quitted
           both
           by
           that
           command
           to
           
             Peter
             ,
          
           and
           by
           this
           to
           all
           ministers
           ,
           above-cited
           
             Luke
          
           10
           ;
           
             eating
             and
             drinking
             such
             things
             as
             they
             give
             you
             :
          
           made
           holy
           now
           by
           thir
           free
           gift
           only
           .
           And
           therefor
           S.
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           9.
           4
           ,
           asserts
           his
           power
           ,
           indeed
           ;
           but
           of
           what
           ?
           not
           of
           tithes
           ,
           but
           ,
           
             to
             eat
             and
             drink
             such
             things
             as
             are
             given
          
           in
           reference
           to
           this
           command
           :
           which
           he
           calls
           not
           holy
           things
           or
           things
           of
           the
           gospel
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           gospel
           had
           any
           consecrated
           things
           in
           answer
           to
           things
           of
           the
           temple
           ,
           
             v.
          
           13
           ,
           but
           he
           calls
           them
           
             your
             carnal
             things
             ,
             v.
          
           11.
           without
           changing
           thir
           property
           .
           And
           what
           power
           had
           he
           ?
           not
           the
           
           power
           of
           force
           but
           of
           conscience
           only
           ,
           whereby
           he
           might
           lawfully
           and
           without
           scruple
           live
           on
           the
           gospel
           ;
           receiving
           what
           was
           given
           him
           ,
           as
           the
           recompence
           of
           his
           labor
           .
           For
           if
           Christ
           the
           master
           hath
           professd
           his
           kingdom
           to
           be
           not
           of
           this
           world
           ,
           it
           suits
           not
           with
           that
           profession
           either
           in
           him
           or
           his
           ministers
           to
           claim
           temporal
           right
           from
           spiritual
           respects
           .
           He
           who
           refus'd
           to
           be
           the
           divider
           of
           an
           inheritance
           between
           two
           brethren
           ,
           cannot
           approve
           his
           ministers
           by
           pretended
           right
           from
           him
           to
           be
           dividers
           of
           tenths
           and
           free-holds
           out
           of
           other
           mens
           possessions
           ,
           making
           thereby
           the
           gospel
           but
           a
           cloak
           of
           carnal
           
           interest
           ,
           and
           ,
           to
           the
           contradiction
           of
           thir
           master
           ,
           turning
           his
           heavenly
           kingdom
           into
           a
           kingdom
           of
           this
           world
           ,
           a
           kingdom
           of
           force
           and
           rapin
           .
           To
           whom
           it
           will
           be
           one
           day
           thunderd
           more
           terribly
           then
           to
           
             Gehazi
             ,
          
           for
           thus
           dishonoring
           a
           far
           greater
           master
           and
           his
           gospel
           ,
           
             is
             this
             a
             time
             to
             receive
             monie
             and
             to
             receive
             garments
             and
             olive-yards
             and
             vinyards
             and
             sheep
             and
             oxen
             ?
          
           The
           leprosie
           of
           
             Naaman
          
           linkd
           with
           that
           apostolic
           curse
           of
           
             perishing
          
           imprecated
           on
           
             Simon
             Magus
             ,
          
           may
           be
           feard
           will
           
             cleave
             to
          
           such
           
             and
             to
          
           thir
           
             seed
             for
             ever
             .
          
           So
           that
           when
           all
           is
           don
           ,
           and
           bellie
           hath
           us'd
           in
           vain
           all
           her
           cunning
           shifts
           ,
           I
           
           doubt
           not
           but
           all
           true
           ministers
           ,
           considering
           the
           demonstration
           of
           what
           hath
           bin
           here
           prov'd
           ,
           will
           be
           wise
           ,
           and
           think
           it
           much
           more
           tolerable
           to
           hear
           ,
           that
           no
           maintenance
           of
           ministers
           ,
           whether
           tithes
           or
           any
           other
           ,
           can
           be
           settl'd
           by
           statute
           ;
           but
           must
           be
           given
           by
           them
           who
           receive
           instruction
           ;
           and
           freely
           given
           ,
           as
           God
           hath
           ordaind
           .
           And
           indeed
           what
           can
           be
           a
           more
           honorable
           maintenance
           to
           them
           ,
           then
           such
           whether
           almes
           or
           willing
           oblations
           as
           these
           ,
           which
           being
           accounted
           both
           alike
           as
           given
           to
           God
           ,
           the
           only
           acceptable
           sacrifices
           now
           remaining
           ,
           must
           needs
           represent
           him
           who
           receives
           them
           
           much
           in
           the
           care
           of
           God
           and
           neerly
           related
           to
           him
           ,
           when
           not
           by
           worldly
           force
           and
           constraint
           ,
           but
           with
           religious
           awe
           and
           reverence
           ,
           what
           is
           given
           to
           God
           ,
           is
           given
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           what
           to
           him
           ,
           accounted
           as
           given
           to
           God
           .
           This
           would
           be
           well
           anough
           ,
           say
           they
           ;
           but
           how
           many
           will
           so
           give
           ?
           I
           answer
           ,
           as
           many
           ,
           doubtles
           ,
           as
           shall
           be
           well
           taught
           ;
           as
           many
           as
           God
           shall
           so
           move
           .
           Why
           are
           ye
           so
           distrustful
           both
           of
           your
           own
           doctrin
           and
           of
           Gods
           promises
           ,
           fulfilld
           in
           the
           expèrience
           of
           those
           disciples
           first
           sent
           :
           
             Luke
          
           22.
           35.
           
           
             When
             I
             sent
             you
             without
             purse
             and
             scrip
             and
             shooes
             ,
             lackd
             ye
             anything
             ?
             And
             they
             said
             ,
             Nothing
             .
          
           How
           
           then
           came
           ours
           ,
           or
           who
           sent
           them
           thus
           destitute
           ,
           thus
           poor
           and
           empty
           both
           of
           purse
           and
           faith
           ?
           Who
           stile
           themselves
           embassadors
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           and
           seem
           to
           be
           his
           tithegatherers
           ,
           though
           an
           office
           of
           thir
           own
           setting
           up
           to
           his
           dishonor
           ,
           his
           ex●cters
           ,
           his
           publicans
           rather
           ,
           not
           trusting
           that
           he
           will
           maintain
           them
           in
           thir
           embassy
           ,
           unless
           they
           binde
           him
           to
           his
           promise
           by
           a
           statute
           law
           that
           we
           shall
           maintain
           them
           .
           Lay
           down
           for
           shame
           that
           magnific
           title
           ,
           while
           ye
           seek
           maintenance
           from
           the
           people
           :
           it
           is
           not
           the
           manner
           of
           embassadors
           to
           ask
           maintenance
           of
           them
           to
           whom
           they
           are
           sent
           .
           But
           he
           who
           is
           
           Lord
           of
           all
           things
           ,
           hath
           so
           ordaind
           :
           trust
           him
           then
           ;
           he
           doubtles
           will
           command
           the
           people
           to
           make
           good
           his
           promises
           of
           maintenance
           more
           honorably
           unaskd
           ,
           unrak'd
           for
           .
           This
           they
           know
           ,
           this
           they
           preach
           ,
           yet
           beleeve
           not
           :
           but
           think
           it
           as
           impossible
           without
           a
           statute
           law
           to
           live
           of
           the
           gospel
           ,
           as
           if
           by
           those
           words
           they
           were
           bid
           go
           eat
           thir
           bibles
           ,
           as
           
             Ezechiel
          
           and
           
             John
          
           did
           thir
           books
           ;
           and
           such
           doctrins
           as
           these
           are
           as
           bitter
           to
           thir
           bellies
           :
           but
           will
           serve
           so
           much
           the
           better
           to
           discover
           hirelings
           ,
           who
           can
           have
           nothing
           ,
           though
           but
           in
           appearance
           ,
           just
           and
           solid
           to
           answer
           for
           themselves
           against
           
           what
           hath
           bin
           here
           spoken
           ,
           unless
           perhaps
           this
           one
           remaning
           pretence
           ,
           which
           we
           shall
           quickly
           see
           to
           be
           either
           fals
           or
           uningenuous
           .
           They
           pretend
           that
           thir
           education
           either
           at
           schoole
           or
           universitie
           hath
           bin
           very
           chargeable
           ;
           and
           therefor
           ought
           to
           be
           repar'd
           in
           future
           by
           a
           plentiful
           maintenance
           :
           whenas
           it
           is
           well
           known
           that
           the
           better
           half
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           oft
           times
           poor
           and
           pittiful
           boyes
           of
           no
           merit
           or
           promising
           hopes
           that
           might
           intitle
           them
           to
           the
           publick
           provision
           but
           thir
           povertie
           and
           the
           unjust
           favor
           of
           friends
           ,
           have
           had
           the
           most
           of
           thir
           breeding
           both
           at
           schoole
           and
           universitie
           by
           schollarships
           ▪
           
           exhibitions
           and
           fellowships
           at
           the
           publick
           cost
           ;
           which
           might
           ingage
           them
           the
           rather
           to
           give
           freely
           ,
           as
           they
           have
           freely
           receivd
           .
           Or
           if
           they
           have
           missd
           of
           these
           helps
           at
           the
           latter
           place
           ,
           they
           have
           after
           two
           or
           three
           years
           left
           the
           cours
           of
           thir
           studies
           there
           ,
           if
           they
           ever
           well
           began
           them
           ,
           and
           undertaken
           ,
           though
           furnishd
           with
           little
           els
           but
           ignorance
           ,
           boldnes
           and
           ambition
           ,
           if
           with
           no
           worse
           vices
           ,
           a
           chaplainship
           in
           som
           gentlemans
           house
           ,
           to
           the
           frequent
           imbasing
           of
           his
           sons
           with
           illiterate
           and
           narrow
           principles
           .
           Or
           if
           they
           have
           livd
           there
           upon
           thir
           own
           ,
           who
           knows
           not
           that
           seaven
           years
           charge
           of
           living
           
           there
           ,
           to
           them
           who
           fly
           not
           from
           the
           government
           of
           thir
           parents
           to
           the
           license
           of
           a
           universitie
           ,
           but
           com
           seriously
           to
           studie
           ,
           is
           no
           more
           then
           may
           be
           well
           defraid
           and
           reimbours'd
           by
           one
           years
           revenue
           of
           an
           ord'nary
           good
           benifice
           ?
           If
           they
           had
           then
           means
           of
           breeding
           from
           thir
           parents
           ,
           't
           is
           likely
           they
           have
           more
           now
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           have
           ,
           it
           needs
           must
           be
           mechanique
           and
           uningenuous
           in
           them
           to
           bring
           a
           bill
           of
           charges
           for
           the
           learning
           of
           those
           liberal
           arts
           and
           sciences
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           learnd
           (
           if
           they
           have
           indeed
           learnd
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           seldom
           have
           )
           to
           thir
           own
           benefit
           and
           accomplishment
           .
           But
           
           they
           will
           say
           ,
           we
           had
           betaken
           us
           to
           som
           other
           trade
           or
           profession
           ,
           had
           we
           not
           expected
           to
           finde
           a
           better
           livelihood
           by
           the
           ministerie
           .
           This
           is
           that
           which
           I
           lookd
           for
           ,
           to
           discover
           them
           openly
           neither
           true
           lovers
           of
           learning
           ,
           and
           so
           very
           seldom
           guilty
           of
           it
           ,
           nor
           true
           ministers
           of
           the
           gospel
           .
           So
           long
           agoe
           out
           of
           date
           is
           that
           old
           
             true
             saying
             ,
             1
             Tim.
             31.
             if
             a
             man
             desire
             a
             bishoprick
             ,
             he
             desires
             a
             good
             work
             :
          
           for
           now
           commonly
           he
           who
           desires
           to
           be
           a
           minister
           ,
           looks
           not
           at
           the
           work
           but
           at
           the
           wages
           ;
           and
           by
           that
           lure
           or
           loubel
           may
           be
           toald
           from
           parish
           to
           parish
           all
           the
           town
           over
           .
           But
           what
           can
           be
           planer
           Simonie
           ,
           then
           thus
           
           to
           be
           at
           charges
           beforehand
           to
           no
           other
           end
           then
           to
           make
           thir
           ministry
           doubly
           or
           trebly
           beneficial
           ?
           to
           whom
           it
           might
           be
           said
           as
           justly
           as
           to
           that
           
             Simon
             ,
             thy
             monie
             perish
             with
             thee
             ,
             because
             thou
             hast
             thought
             that
             the
             gift
             of
             God
             may
             be
             purchas'd
             with
             monie
             :
             thou
             hast
             neither
             part
             nor
             lot
             in
             this
             matter
             .
          
           Next
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           fond
           error
           ,
           though
           too
           much
           beleevd
           among
           us
           ,
           to
           think
           that
           the
           universitie
           makes
           a
           minister
           of
           the
           gospel
           ;
           what
           it
           may
           conduce
           to
           other
           arts
           and
           sciences
           ,
           I
           dispute
           not
           now
           :
           but
           that
           which
           makes
           fit
           a
           minister
           ,
           the
           scripture
           can
           best
           informe
           us
           to
           be
           only
           from
           above
           ;
           whence
           also
           we
           are
           bid
           to
           seek
           
           them
           ;
           
             Matth.
             9.
             38.
             
             Pray
             ye
             therefor
             to
             the
             Lord
             of
             the
             harvest
             ,
             that
             he
             will
             send
             forth
             laborers
             into
             his
             harvest
             .
          
           Acts
           20.
           28.
           
           
             The
             flock
             ,
             over
             which
             the
             holy
             ghost
             hath
             made
             you
             over-seers
             .
          
           Rom.
           10.
           15.
           
           
             How
             shall
             they
             preach
             ,
             unless
             they
             be
             sent
             ?
          
           by
           whom
           sent
           ?
           by
           the
           universitie
           ,
           or
           the
           magistrate
           ,
           or
           thir
           belly
           ?
           no
           surely
           :
           but
           sent
           from
           God
           only
           ,
           and
           that
           God
           who
           is
           not
           thir
           belly
           .
           And
           whether
           he
           be
           sent
           from
           God
           or
           from
           
             Simon
             Magus
             ,
          
           the
           inward
           sense
           of
           his
           calling
           and
           spiritual
           abilitie
           will
           sufficiently
           tell
           him
           ;
           and
           that
           strong
           obligation
           felt
           within
           him
           ,
           which
           was
           felt
           by
           the
           apostle
           ,
           will
           often
           express
           
           from
           him
           the
           same
           words
           :
           1
           
             Cor.
             9.
             16.
             
             Necessity
             is
             laid
             upon
             me
             ,
             yea
             ,
             woe
             is
             me
             ,
             if
             I
             preach
             not
             the
             gospel
             .
          
           Not
           a
           beggarly
           necessity
           ,
           and
           the
           woe
           feard
           otherwise
           of
           perpetual
           want
           ,
           but
           such
           a
           necessitie
           as
           made
           him
           willing
           to
           preach
           the
           gospel
           
             gratis
             ,
          
           and
           to
           embrace
           povertie
           rather
           then
           as
           a
           woe
           to
           fear
           it
           .
           1
           
             Cor.
             12.
             28.
             
             God
             hath
             set
             som
             in
             the
             church
             ,
             first
             apostles
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Eph.
           4.
           11
           ,
           
             &c.
             He
             gave
             som
             apostles
             ,
             &c.
             
             For
             the
             perfeting
             of
             the
             saints
             ,
             for
             the
             work
             of
             the
             ministerie
             ,
             for
             the
             edifying
             of
             the
             body
             of
             Christ
             ,
             till
             we
             all
             come
             to
             the
             unitie
             of
             the
             faith
             .
          
           Whereby
           we
           may
           know
           that
           as
           he
           made
           them
           at
           the
           first
           ,
           
           so
           he
           makes
           them
           still
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           worlds
           end
           .
           2
           
             Cor.
             3.
             6.
             
             Who
             hath
             also
             made
             us
             fit
             or
             able
             ministers
             of
             the
             new
             testament
             .
          
           1
           Tim.
           4.
           14.
           
           
             The
             gift
             that
             is
             in
             thee
             ,
             which
             was
             given
             thee
             by
             prophesie
             and
             the
             laying
             on
             of
             the
             hands
             of
             the
             presbyterie
             .
          
           These
           are
           all
           the
           means
           which
           we
           read
           of
           requir'd
           in
           scripture
           to
           the
           making
           of
           a
           minister
           .
           All
           this
           is
           granted
           you
           will
           say
           :
           but
           yet
           that
           it
           is
           also
           requisite
           he
           should
           be
           traind
           in
           other
           learning
           ;
           which
           can
           be
           no where
           better
           had
           then
           at
           universities
           .
           I
           answer
           ,
           that
           what
           learning
           either
           human
           or
           divine
           can
           be
           necessary
           to
           a
           minister
           ,
           may
           as
           easily
           and
           less
           chargeably
           
           be
           had
           in
           any
           private
           house
           .
           How
           deficient
           els
           and
           to
           how
           little
           purpose
           are
           all
           those
           piles
           of
           sermons
           ,
           notes
           ,
           and
           comments
           on
           all
           parts
           of
           the
           bible
           ,
           bodies
           and
           marrows
           of
           divinitie
           ,
           besides
           all
           other
           sciences
           ,
           in
           our
           English
           tongue
           ;
           many
           of
           the
           same
           books
           which
           in
           Latine
           they
           .
           read
           at
           the
           universitie
           ?
           And
           the
           small
           necessitie
           of
           going
           thether
           to
           learn
           divinitie
           ,
           I
           prove
           first
           from
           the
           most
           part
           of
           themselves
           ,
           who
           seldom
           continue
           there
           till
           they
           have
           well
           got
           through
           Logic
           ,
           thir
           first
           rudiments
           ;
           though
           ,
           to
           say
           truth
           ,
           Logic
           also
           may
           much
           better
           be
           wanting
           in
           disputes
           of
           divinitie
           ,
           then
           in
           
           the
           suttle
           debates
           of
           lawyers
           and
           statesmen
           ,
           who
           yet
           seldom
           or
           never
           deal
           with
           syllogisms
           .
           And
           those
           theological
           disputations
           there
           held
           by
           Professors
           and
           graduates
           are
           such
           as
           tend
           least
           of
           all
           to
           the
           edification
           or
           capacitie
           of
           the
           people
           ,
           but
           rather
           perplex
           and
           leaven
           pure
           doctrin
           with
           scholastical
           trash
           then
           enable
           any
           minister
           to
           the
           better
           preaching
           of
           the
           gospel
           .
           Whence
           we
           may
           also
           compute
           ,
           since
           they
           com
           to
           recknings
           ,
           the
           charges
           of
           his
           needful
           library
           :
           which
           ,
           though
           som
           shame
           not
           to
           value
           at
           600
           l
           ,
           may
           be
           competently
           furnishd
           for
           60
           l.
           
           If
           any
           man
           for
           his
           own
           curiositie
           or
           delight
           
           be
           in
           books
           further
           expensive
           ,
           that
           is
           not
           to
           be
           recknd
           as
           necessarie
           to
           his
           ministerial
           either
           breeding
           or
           function
           .
           But
           Papists
           and
           other
           adversaries
           cannot
           be
           confuted
           without
           fathers
           and
           councels
           ,
           immense
           volumes
           and
           of
           vast
           charges
           .
           I
           will
           shew
           them
           therefor
           a
           shorter
           and
           a
           better
           way
           of
           confutation
           :
           
             Tit.
             1.
             9.
             
             Holding
             fast
             the
             faithful
             word
             ,
             as
             he
             hath
             bin
             taught
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             be
             able
             by
             sound
             doctrin
             ,
             both
             to
             exhort
             and
             to
             convince
             gain-sayers
             :
          
           who
           are
           confuted
           as
           soon
           as
           heard
           ,
           bringing
           that
           which
           is
           either
           not
           in
           scripture
           or
           against
           it
           .
           To
           persue
           them
           further
           through
           the
           obscure
           
           and
           intangld
           wood
           of
           antiquitie
           ,
           fathers
           and
           councels
           fighting
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           is
           needles
           ,
           endles
           ,
           not
           requisite
           in
           a
           minister
           ,
           and
           refus'd
           by
           the
           first
           reformers
           of
           our
           religion
           .
           And
           yet
           we
           may
           be
           confident
           ,
           if
           these
           things
           be
           thought
           needful
           ,
           let
           the
           state
           but
           erect
           in
           publick
           good
           store
           of
           libraries
           ,
           and
           there
           will
           not
           want
           men
           in
           the
           church
           ,
           who
           of
           thir
           own
           inclinations
           will
           become
           able
           in
           this
           kinde
           against
           Papist
           or
           any
           other
           adversarie
           .
           I
           have
           thus
           at
           large
           examind
           the
           usual
           pretences
           of
           hirelings
           ,
           colourd
           over
           most
           commonly
           with
           the
           cause
           of
           learning
           and
           universities
           :
           as
           if
           with
           
           divines
           learning
           stood
           and
           fell
           ;
           wherin
           for
           the
           most
           part
           thir
           pittance
           is
           so
           small
           :
           and
           ,
           to
           speak
           freely
           ,
           it
           were
           much
           better
           ,
           there
           were
           not
           one
           divine
           in
           the
           universitie
           ;
           no
           schoole-divinitie
           known
           ,
           the
           idle
           sophistrie
           of
           monks
           ,
           the
           canker
           of
           religion
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           who
           intended
           to
           be
           ministers
           ,
           were
           traind
           up
           in
           the
           church
           only
           ,
           by
           the
           scripture
           and
           in
           the
           original
           languages
           therof
           at
           schoole
           ;
           without
           fetching
           the
           compas
           of
           other
           arts
           and
           sciences
           ,
           more
           then
           what
           they
           can
           well
           learn
           at
           secondary
           leasure
           and
           at
           home
           .
           Neither
           speak
           I
           this
           in
           contempt
           of
           learning
           or
           the
           ministry
           ,
           but
           hating
           
           the
           common
           cheats
           of
           both
           ;
           hating
           that
           they
           who
           have
           preachd
           out
           bishops
           ,
           prelats
           and
           canonists
           ,
           should
           ,
           in
           what
           serves
           thir
           own
           ends
           ,
           retain
           thir
           fals
           opinions
           ,
           thir
           Pharisaical
           leaven
           ,
           thir
           avarice
           and
           closely
           thir
           ambition
           ,
           thir
           pluralities
           ,
           thir
           nonresidences
           ,
           thir
           odious
           fees
           ,
           and
           use
           thir
           legal
           and
           Popish
           arguments
           for
           tithes
           :
           that
           Independents
           should
           take
           that
           name
           ,
           as
           they
           may
           justly
           from
           the
           true
           freedom
           of
           Christian
           doctrin
           and
           church-discipline
           subject
           to
           no
           superior
           judge
           but
           God
           only
           ,
           and
           seek
           to
           be
           Dependents
           on
           the
           magistrate
           for
           thir
           maintenance
           ;
           which
           two
           things
           ,
           independence
           and
           
           state-hire
           in
           religion
           ,
           can
           never
           consist
           long
           or
           certainly
           together
           .
           For
           magistrates
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           ,
           not
           like
           these
           at
           present
           our
           patrons
           of
           Christian
           libertie
           ,
           will
           pay
           none
           but
           such
           whom
           by
           thir
           committies
           of
           examination
           ,
           they
           find
           conformable
           to
           their
           interest
           and
           opinions
           :
           and
           hirelings
           will
           soone
           frame
           themselves
           to
           that
           interest
           and
           those
           opinions
           which
           they
           see
           best
           pleasing
           to
           thir
           pay-masters
           ;
           and
           to
           seem
           right
           themselves
           ,
           will
           force
           others
           as
           to
           the
           truth
           .
           But
           most
           of
           all
           they
           are
           to
           be
           revil'd
           and
           sham'd
           ,
           who
           cry
           out
           with
           the
           distinct
           voice
           of
           notorious
           hirelings
           ,
           that
           if
           ye
           settle
           not
           
           our
           maintenance
           by
           law
           ,
           farwell
           the
           gospel
           :
           then
           which
           nothing
           can
           be
           utterd
           more
           fals
           ,
           more
           ignominious
           ,
           and
           ,
           I
           may
           say
           ,
           more
           blasphemous
           against
           our
           Saviour
           ;
           who
           hath
           promisd
           ,
           without
           this
           condition
           ,
           both
           his
           holy
           spirit
           and
           his
           own
           presence
           with
           his
           church
           to
           the
           worlds
           end
           :
           nothing
           more
           fals
           (
           unless
           with
           thir
           own
           mouths
           they
           condemne
           themselves
           for
           the
           unworthiest
           and
           most
           mercenary
           of
           all
           other
           ministers
           )
           by
           the
           experience
           of
           300.
           years
           after
           Christ
           ,
           and
           the
           churches
           at
           this
           day
           in
           
             France
             ,
             Austria
             ,
             Polonia
             ,
          
           and
           other
           places
           witnessing
           the
           contrary
           under
           an
           advers
           magistrate
           not
           a
           favorable
           :
           
           nothing
           more
           ignominious
           ,
           levelling
           or
           rather
           undervaluing
           Christ
           beneath
           
             Mahomet
             .
          
           For
           if
           it
           must
           be
           thus
           ,
           how
           can
           any
           Christian
           object
           it
           to
           a
           Turk
           ,
           that
           his
           religion
           stands
           by
           force
           only
           ;
           and
           not
           justly
           fear
           from
           him
           this
           reply
           ,
           yours
           both
           by
           force
           and
           monie
           in
           the
           judgment
           of
           your
           own
           preachers
           .
           This
           is
           that
           which
           makes
           atheists
           in
           the
           land
           ,
           whom
           they
           so
           much
           complain
           of
           :
           not
           the
           want
           of
           maintenance
           or
           preachers
           ,
           as
           they
           alleage
           ,
           but
           the
           many
           hirelings
           and
           cheaters
           that
           have
           the
           gospel
           in
           thir
           hands
           ;
           hands
           that
           still
           crave
           ,
           and
           are
           never
           satisfi'd
           .
           Likely
           ministers
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           to
           proclaim
           the
           
           faith
           or
           to
           exhort
           our
           trust
           in
           God
           ,
           when
           they
           themselves
           will
           not
           trust
           him
           to
           provide
           for
           them
           in
           the
           message
           wheron
           ,
           they
           say
           ,
           he
           sent
           them
           ;
           but
           threaten
           for
           want
           of
           temporal
           means
           to
           desert
           it
           ;
           calling
           that
           want
           of
           means
           ,
           which
           is
           nothing
           els
           but
           the
           want
           of
           thir
           own
           faith
           ;
           and
           would
           force
           us
           to
           pay
           the
           hire
           of
           building
           our
           faith
           to
           their
           covetous
           incredulitie
           .
           Doubtles
           ,
           if
           God
           only
           be
           he
           who
           gives
           ministers
           to
           his
           church
           till
           the
           worlds
           end
           ;
           and
           through
           the
           whole
           gospel
           never
           sent
           us
           for
           ministers
           to
           the
           schooles
           of
           Philosophie
           ,
           but
           rather
           bids
           us
           beware
           of
           such
           
             vain
             deceit
             ,
             Col.
          
           2.
           8.
           
           (
           which
           
           the
           primitive
           church
           ,
           after
           two
           or
           three
           ages
           not
           remembring
           ,
           brought
           herself
           quickly
           to
           confusion
           )
           if
           all
           the
           faithful
           be
           now
           
             a
             holy
             and
             a
             royal
             priesthood
             ,
          
           1
           
             Pet.
          
           2.
           5.
           9
           ,
           not
           excluded
           from
           the
           dispensation
           of
           things
           holiest
           ,
           after
           free
           election
           of
           the
           church
           and
           imposition
           of
           hands
           ,
           there
           will
           not
           want
           ministers
           ,
           elected
           out
           of
           all
           sorts
           and
           orders
           of
           men
           ,
           for
           the
           Gospel
           makes
           no
           difference
           from
           the
           magistrate
           himself
           to
           the
           meanest
           artificer
           ,
           if
           God
           evidently
           favor
           him
           with
           spiritual
           gifts
           ,
           as
           he
           can
           easily
           and
           oft
           hath
           don
           ,
           while
           those
           batchelor
           divines
           and
           doctors
           of
           the
           tippet
           have
           bin
           
           passd
           by
           ▪
           Heretofore
           in
           the
           fi●st
           evangelic
           times
           (
           and
           it
           were
           happy
           for
           Christendom
           if
           it
           were
           so
           again
           )
           ministers
           of
           the
           gospel
           were
           by
           nothing
           els
           distinguishd
           from
           ▪
           other
           Christians
           but
           by
           thir
           spiritual
           knowledge
           and
           sanctitie
           of
           life
           ,
           for
           which
           the
           church
           elected
           them
           to
           be
           her
           teachers
           and
           overseers
           ,
           though
           not
           thereby
           to
           separate
           them
           from
           whatever
           calling
           she
           then
           found
           them
           following
           besides
           ,
           as
           the
           example
           of
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           declares
           ,
           and
           the
           first
           times
           of
           Christianitie
           .
           When
           once
           they
           affected
           to
           be
           calld
           a
           clergie
           ,
           and
           became
           as
           it
           were
           a
           peculiar
           tribe
           of
           levites
           ,
           a
           partie
           ,
           a
           distinct
           order
           in
           the
           
           commonwealth
           ,
           bred
           up
           for
           divines
           in
           babling
           schooles
           and
           fed
           at
           the
           publick
           cost
           ,
           good
           for
           nothing
           els
           but
           what
           was
           good
           for
           nothing
           ,
           they
           soone
           grew
           idle
           :
           that
           idlenes
           with
           fulnes
           of
           bread
           begat
           pride
           and
           perpetual
           contention
           with
           thir
           feeders
           the
           despis'd
           laitie
           ,
           through
           all
           ages
           ever
           since
           ;
           to
           the
           perverting
           of
           religion
           ,
           and
           the
           disturbance
           of
           all
           Christendom
           .
           And
           we
           may
           confidently
           conclude
           ,
           it
           never
           will
           be
           otherwise
           while
           they
           are
           thus
           upheld
           undepending
           on
           the
           church
           ,
           on
           which
           alone
           they
           anciently
           depended
           ,
           and
           are
           by
           the
           magistrate
           publickly
           maintaind
           a
           numerous
           faction
           
           of
           indigent
           persons
           ,
           crept
           for
           the
           most
           part
           out
           of
           extream
           want
           and
           bad
           nurture
           ,
           claiming
           by
           divine
           right
           and
           freehold
           the
           tenth
           of
           our
           estates
           ,
           to
           monopolize
           the
           ministry
           as
           their
           peculiar
           ,
           which
           is
           free
           and
           open
           to
           all
           able
           Christians
           ,
           elected
           by
           any
           church
           .
           Under
           this
           pretence
           exempt
           from
           all
           other
           imployment
           ,
           and
           inriching
           themselves
           on
           the
           publick
           ,
           they
           last
           of
           all
           prove
           common
           incendiaries
           ,
           and
           exalt
           thir
           horns
           against
           the
           magistrate
           himself
           that
           maintains
           them
           ,
           as
           the
           priest
           of
           
             Rome
          
           did
           soone
           after
           against
           his
           benefactor
           the
           emperor
           ,
           and
           the
           presbyters
           of
           late
           in
           
             Scotland
             .
          
           Of
           which
           
           hireling
           crew
           together
           with
           all
           the
           mischiefs
           ,
           dissentions
           ,
           troubles
           ,
           warrs
           meerly
           of
           their
           kindling
           ,
           Christendom
           might
           soone
           rid
           herself
           and
           be
           happie
           ,
           if
           Christians
           would
           but
           know
           thir
           own
           dignitie
           ,
           thir
           libertie
           ,
           thir
           adoption
           ,
           and
           let
           it
           not
           be
           wonderd
           if
           I
           say
           ,
           thir
           spiritual
           priesthood
           ,
           whereby
           they
           have
           all
           equally
           access
           to
           any
           ministerial
           function
           whenever
           calld
           by
           thir
           own
           abilities
           and
           the
           church
           ,
           though
           they
           never
           came
           neer
           commencement
           or
           universitie
           .
           But
           while
           Protestants
           ,
           to
           avoid
           the
           due
           labor
           of
           understanding
           thir
           own
           religion
           are
           content
           to
           lodge
           it
           in
           the
           breast
           or
           rather
           in
           the
           books
           
           of
           a
           clergie
           man
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           it
           thence
           by
           scraps
           and
           mammocks
           as
           he
           dispences
           it
           in
           his
           sundays
           dole
           ,
           they
           will
           be
           alwaies
           learning
           and
           never
           knowing
           ,
           alwaies
           infants
           ,
           alwaies
           either
           his
           vassals
           ,
           as
           lay-papists
           are
           to
           their
           priests
           ,
           or
           at
           odds
           with
           him
           ,
           as
           reformed
           principles
           give
           them
           som
           light
           to
           be
           not
           wholly
           conformable
           ,
           whence
           infinit
           disturbances
           in
           the
           state
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           ,
           must
           needs
           follow
           .
           Thus
           much
           I
           had
           to
           say
           ;
           and
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           what
           may
           be
           anough
           to
           them
           who
           are
           not
           avariciously
           bent
           otherwise
           ,
           touching
           the
           likeliest
           means
           to
           remove
           hirelings
           out
           of
           the
           church
           ;
           then
           which
           nothing
           
           can
           more
           conduce
           to
           truth
           ,
           to
           peace
           and
           all
           happines
           both
           in
           church
           and
           state
           .
           If
           I
           be
           not
           heard
           nor
           beleevd
           ,
           the
           event
           will
           bear
           me
           witnes
           to
           have
           spoken
           truth
           :
           and
           I
           in
           the
           mean
           while
           have
           borne
           my
           witnes
           not
           out
           of
           season
           to
           the
           church
           and
           to
           my
           countrey
           .
        
         
           The
           end
           .