Parliamentsâ—gainst â—gainst them and their Treasonable practices that they have frequently written petitioned for their Repeal Abolition as bloody Tyrannical Laws unlawfull Oaths and procured their Repeal or Suspension at least in their favour from some late and present Powers 3ly That when some consciencious pious Stationers late in their Beacons fired discovered to those then in Power The many sorts multitudes of Jesuites Popish Books printed in England within 3. years last past in defence of the Pope and Church of Rome all Popish Doctrines Ceremonies and reviling our Church Religion as Heretical desiring them to take it into their timely considerations to suppress this growing Mischief Design to corrupt the People and reduce them back to Popery ere they were aware Kiffin with other Anabaptists in the Army headed by Colonel Pride taking an Alarum thereat subscribed and printed a Book intituled The Beacons quenched penned they know best by whom not the Subscribers of it not yet inspired with the gift of all the Tongues therein contained pleading for a free Tolleration of such Popish Books printing dispersing amongst us of publick Disputes by those of that Religion traducing accusing the Presbyterians throughout that Pamphlet and those honest zealous Stationers in particular of no lesse than a New Gunpowder-plot Mine Train then ready to be sprung to blow up those Colonel Pride and his Confederates first made and then stiled The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and the Army too only for discovering thesâ— Popish Books and Trains to blow up our Religion Which Scandal as the Stationers then fully cleared by their satisfactory Reply to that impertinent Pamphlet so the Subscribers of it their Fellow-Souldiers of the Army better versed by far in Mines and Fireworks to blow up Parliaments and nearer related to old Guy Faux a Low-Country Souldier by reason of their Military profession than these Stationers and Presbyterians they thus falsly slandered have since cleared before all the World to be a malicious Calumny of which themselves only are guilty and given just cause of Jealousie Fear to all Presbyterians old Protestants and Pâ—ritans to apprehend that they now really joyn their Forces and Heads together with those thus pleaded for to ruine our Church Religion Ministry under the Notion and Project of suppressing Tithes and of all future compulsory Maintenance for the Ministers of England whom they intend to starve and famish such is their Charity if they can but vote Tithes down before they provide any other Maintenance which Vote once passed the next will be to vote them both out of their Rectories Glebes Churches Ministry too as Cannes Voice and the Kentish Petition against Tithes root and branch sufficiently discover to all who are not wilfully blind enough to make all men now to look about them That the Dominican Franciscan and other Popish Fryers were the first Broachers of this Opinion That Laymen were not bound to pay Tithes to their Ministers by any Divine law or right on purpose to draw the Tithes of Ministers and Curates to themselves and exempt whatever Lands or Things were given to them from payment of Tithes I have elsewhere evidenced out of Mr. Selden and others wheâ—eupon Johannes Sarisburiensis Bishop of Chartres thus censured them Miror ut fidelium pace loquar quodnam sit ut Decimas jura aliena usurpare non erubescunt Inquient sortè Religiosi sumus Planè Decimas solvere Religionis pars est Adding that their Exemptions from payment of Tithes did derogare constitutioni Divinae derogate from Divine institution And Petrus Blesensis Archdeacon of Bath in his 82. Epistle inveighs very much against the privileges of the Cistercian Monks exemption from payment of Tithes as injuriosa immunitas contra Dei justiciam seeing Justiciae Divinae manifestè resistit qui Ministris Ecclesiae nititur jus Decimationis auserre Which these Friers not only persisted in by substracting their own Tithes from the Ministers by colour of these Exemptions but likewise the Tithes of their other Parishioners especially such who contemning and deserting their own Parish Priests and Churches resorted to these Friers Chapels and acknowledged them for their Ghostly Fathers and Confessors This is most evident by the Petition of the Parish Priests and Rectors of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops in a Synode about the year of our Lord 1240. against the Dominicans and Franciscans who much impaired their profit wherein they complained That their Parishioners who at leastwise on Lords daies and Festivals are bound to frequent their Parish Churches and to receive Sacraments and Sacramentals in the same and devoutly to hear Divine Service as also to offer at Solemn Masses due and accustomed Oblations did repair to the places and Houses of these Friers and scorn and forsake their Parish Churches and so confer the due Rights of the Church wherewith the Churches were antiently endowed upon the Friers Also they who confess themselves to these Friers who before were accustomed annually by the Canon-law to pay Tithes of their Tradings to their Parish Churches from the time since they submitted themselves to the Confessions of these Friers modo debito ac consueto negociationes suas decimare non curant Neglect to pay Tithes of their Tradings after the due and accustomed manner And is not this the very present Grievance Complaint of most London and other Ministers throughout England that since these disguised Romish Friers Jesuits swarming in all places under the Masks and Titles of Anabaptists Quakers and other Sects have in imitation of these their Predecessors in their Writings Preachments and Conventicles declaimed against our Ministers Tithes as not due unto them by any Divine Right to rob our Ministers of and draw the value of them to themselves and since their Parishioners who are bound to resort to their Parish Churches on Lords daies and Feastivals to hear Divine Service Sermons and receive the Sacraments in a devout manner have resorted to the Conventicles and Meetings of these Friers and Jesuites and submitted themselves to these new Ghostly Fathers and Confessors they have quite contemned deserted their own Parish Churches neglected refused to pay any personal or predial Tithes or Oblations to their Ministers after the due and formerly accustomed manner and bestowed the due Rights and ancient endowments of their parish Churches in value or substance at least though not in kind upon these Friers and Romish Locâ—sts whose very Doctrin Practice in this particular of our Ministers Tithes and Oblations and their substraction of them yea in most other Tenents now broached by them for New light are the very same in all particulars which these Friers in former ages both at home and abroad as I have evidenced in my Quakers unmasked my New Discovery of Romish Emissaries and our London Lancashire Newcastle and other Ministers have plentifully demonstrated in sundry publications with Mr. Edwards in his Gangraenaes We may then most clearly
grounds policies hypocritically gilded over with the paint of Conscience Reformation Religion Propagation of the Gospel c. which makes the Design more detestable both to God and all good men The second sort of Tithe-Oppugners are professed Anabaptists Dippers Seekers Quakers and other blasphemous Sectaries and Heretiques lately sprung up amongst us many of which have crept into the Army for their greater security and the better accomplishment of their dangerous destructive Designs against our established Government Magistrates Laws but especially against our Religion Church Ministers Ministry their Tithes and Glebes Scarce one of a thousand of these poor Sneaks were of ability to pay any Tithes of late and those of this prevailing Faction who have crept into Sequestrations Offices Imployments of late and thereby gained any Estates for the most part have enriched themselves by sequestred Tithes Glebes Bishops Deans Chapters Lands and Revenues which these hungry Harpyes have most greedily preyed upon not out of any real grounds of Piety or Conscience as they pretend which I could yet seldom or never find in any of them but out of an unsatiable greedy HOLY HUNGER OR THIRST in the Poets sence after Gold Gain Spoyl the Revenues of our Church and an implacable bitter Enmity against our Ministers Persons Callings whether Presbyterians the chief Butt against whom their Malice is bent or Independents of a more moderate strain whose Ministry is the main Fort they level all their present power against to raze it even to the very Foundation now prosecuting the total abolition not only of their present Tithes Glebes but of all other future coercive maintenance in lieu of them only to subvert their Ministry and quite starve if they cannot violently storm them out of it This is most perspicuous not only by their manifold former libellous Pamphlets against our Ministers Calling and the late Ordinances for Tithes which I have elsewhere collected refuted but by their fresh Petitions both against their Tithes and Ministry too as Antichristian Jewish Popish c. especially by John Canne the old Amsterdam Anabaptists Second Voyce from the Temple or Synagogue of Satan rather newly dedicated to those he stiles The Supream Authority of the Nation wherein he exhorts and stimulates them by all the Art Rhetorick Motives false Arguments he can muster up to do execution and take vengeance upon Babylon to wit the National Ministry Church-worship Government of England as he explains it p. 2. till it be wholy desolate not a Stone left upon a Stone till it be thrown down To take a most effectual and certain course to starve and famish these Antichristian Idols by taking away the Food and Maintenance whereby hitherto as at this present they are nourished fed and left alive and more particularly their Tithes To repeal all Laws and Statutes formerly made whereby the Whore hath lived deliciously and proudly and keeps on to this Day her Whorish attire To make the Whore desolate and naked by making no Act or Law to stand in force which doth yield any relief to her To set themselves in array against her by the Armies power no doubt which he alludes to bend their Bow fan and empty her To set upon this work speedily in good earnest as it seems they do whiles it is to day And why so Because the Lord himself hath by a Call more than ordinarie called them to this more than ordinary Imployment if he could have proved it by Scripture or Law it had been more worth than all his Pamphlet put this fair or rather foul opportunity into their hands hath commanded his sanctified ones and called his Mighty ones the Army-Officers to fulfill his pleasure upon this great Whore the Church and Ministry of England and SION is in travel and ready to bring forth this Monster of Desolation and Confusion which if they neglect or delay then mark how he briefly menaces them with the Fates of their late Predecessors I would think you should never be sitting in that House but be thinking still on those who sate there before you and why not as well on Faux and the Gunpowder Traytoâ—s as those since there seems another Powder-plot in the Vault to blow them up intended by Canne and his Confederates if they fail in accomplishing this their desired work whom the Lord hath lade aside as despised broken Idols and Vessels wherein his Soul had no pleasure And why As they knew not their Generation-work which he excites them to neither were faithfull to the interest of Jesus Christ God is no respecter of Persons as men sow so they shall reap Ex ungue Leonem ex cauda Draconem You may see by these passages and his whole Pamphlet pursuing them what these malicious inhuman barbarous irreligious hypocritical Anabaptists aym at in their present violent prosecutions against Tithes even utterly to starve famish subvert extirpate our Ministers Ministry Church Worship Government and make our Land a mere Spoyl Desolation as their Predecessors did Munster and some parts of Germany whiles in their power But let Canne and his Anabaptistical Confederates remember what tragical ends their New King John with all his Princes Grandees Officers Prophets Followers came to in conclusion in Germany And what fatal ruine befell Jack Cade Iack Straw Wat Tyler Sharp and other levelling Companions who had the self-same Designs against our English Laws Lawyers Clergy Tithes Glebes as He and they have now animated thereto by the new-dipped Iesuites and other Romish Emissaries lately crept into their Anabaptistcal Fraternity to further this their Infernal Gunpowder-plot against our Church Religion Ministers Magistrates Government Laws and let them thereupon repent of desist from abominate this their Diabolical wicked Design lest they incur the self same punishments in conclusion by stirring up God and all the whole Nation against them as most accursed Rebels Traytors Instruments of Satan yea that very Antichrist and Whore of Rome they pretend they are blindly acting against whose designs in truth they are but accomplishing in the highest degree I must here observe and desire all others to take notice of three things First that in Cannes Voyce and in all other late Pamphlets Petitions of the Anabaptists wherein they seem to vent their most passionate zeal against Antichrist Babylon the Whore of Babylon their chief Instruments and Supporters I cannot find so much as one Clause or Syllable against Iesuites Popish Priests Papists Romish Emissaries or exciting the execution of any Laws or Statutes formerly made against them but the whole stream bent of them all is only against the Godly Ministers Ministry worship of the Church of England the Presbyterian Government and our present Church-worship the only Babylon Whore Antichrist they intend and fight against not the Pope and Church of Rome 2ly That they are so far from pleading against the Pope Popish Priests Iesuites and urging the execution of the good Oaths Laws made by late and former
in his new Voice from the ALEHOUSE RATHER than the TEMPLE which certainly is as Jewish and Antichristian as he would have Tithes to be with sundry late Petitions Proceedings proclaim to all the World and strip them naked of all other coercive maintenance for the future to starve them and their families bodies and the peoples souls that so a new generation of ambulatory Fryers Mendicants and Itinerary Predicants fixed to no certain Parish or Parishes selected out of those swarms of Jesuits Seminary Priests and Popish Fryers now in England under the disguises of Anabaptists Gifted Brethren Dippers Seekers Quakers New-lights Mechanicks of all Trades Gentlemen Troopers and Souldiers too Ignatius Loyola their Father and founder of their Order being a SOULDIER by his profession as diverse of his Disciples are now amongst us as many wise men believe and some on their own knowledge averre may succeed them in their Ministry to subvert our Church Religion and reduce us back to Rome The Pope now living within these few years affirmed to some English Gentlemen of quality in Rome who out of curiosity only went to see him being Protestants that he hoped before he died though he were aged to see England perfectly reduced to her former obedience to the See of Rome having sent many Jesuits Priests Fryers from all parts into England and particularly into THE ARMY as Ramsy the late detected Jesuit at New-Castle under the vizor of a converted Anabaptized Jew confessed in his printed Examination there lately taken and sent up with him to Whitehall Against whom John Canne might have done well to have pressed those to whom he dedicated his Voice from the Temple to execute the Statute of 27 Eliz. c. 2. particularly made against them as most dangerous insufferable Traytors purposely sent over TO WORKE THE RUINE DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION OF THE WHOLE REALM as well as of our Church and Religion as that Statute resolves and not to have most ignorantly and maliciously wrested it contrary both to the very letter and intention against our godly Protestant Ministers only their greatest opposites eye-sores to strip them of their Benefices Livelihood and lives together the whole scope of his Lamentable Voice without so much as uttering one word against these wilde boars and beasts of Rome with whom he and his Companions the Anabaptists are apparent Confederates both in their principles and practices against our Ministers Maintenance Tithes Callings Laws and setled Government to their eternal Infamy The sad consideration whereof hath engaged me though no Impropriator whose cause I plead not nor other Tithe-receiver but a consciencious Tithe-payer as my Ancestors were before me without any retaining fee or other Solicitation to appear publickly in the defence of this common cause of God and all his faithfull Ministers Tithes and antient setled Maintenance being through his mercy and their Prayers enlarged from my long close remote Imprisonments as I did occasionally in private whiles a close Prisoner in Pendennis Castle in Cornwall in December and January last against some Officers and Souldiers there who publickly subscribed in the Castle by sound of Drum three several mornings and promoted in the Country a Petition for abolishing all Tithes though our Ministers own by all Divine and Humane Lawes Rights which neither our Souldiers nor any mortals now living gave to them nor have any pretence of Law Power or Authority from God or our Nation to take from them and all other compulsory Maintenance in lieu of them for Ministers sent to them and to other Garisons as they then informed me by the General Councell of Officers of the Army from St. James both for their own subscriptions though few or none of them or other subscribers of such Petitions Tithe-payers and such hands of Countrymen as they could procure Upon which occasion I had some brief discourses with some of them concerning the lawfulness and antiquity of Tithes First paid by Souldiers out of the very spoyls of Battel taken in the very first War we read of to the very first Priest of God we find recorded in the Scripture and therefore admired that our Army-Officers Souldiers in this age should so far degenerate as to be the very ring-leaders and chief oppugners of them drawing up some brief Notes of this subject out of Scripture to help passe the time in defence of Tithes relating more particularly to Souldiers to silence satisfie reclaim them from this Sacrilegious design which having since enlarged with Arguments and Answers to their chief Objections drawn from their own Military professions for the better satisfaction conviction of all Sword men and others I hope neither Officers nor Souldiers nor any others truly fearing God if they consider Levit. 19.17 Mat. 18.15 16 17. Prov. 19.25 10.17 12.1 13.18 15.10 31 32. 17.10 25.12 Psal 141.5 1 Sam. 25.32 33. 1 Tim. 5.20 Luke 3.14 will or can be justly offended with me no more for writing truth than speaking it to their faces as I did upon all occasions whiles among them not to defame but to inform and reform them for their own and the publick good in what I conceive not warrantable by but repugnant to Gods word and their duties as Souldiers as Christians and to those known fundamental Laws Liberties of the Nation they were purposely raised commissioned waged engaged by Protestations Covenants and their own voluntary printed Declarations inviolably to protect but not subvert and that they will not repute it a capital crime in me not to prove a flatterer dissembler or not to act or write wittingly against my Science and Conscience when our Ministers Maintenance Calling Religion Gods glory Laws Liberties all we have or hope for are in danger of such a sad sodain destructive Convulsion concussion if not Subversion as I long since by Authority of Parliament discovered in Romes Master-piece and since that in My Speech in Parliament and Memento well worth perusal now when so many known Jesuits under a new Provincial which Hugh Peters himself reported as I have been credibly informed are now even in London it self acting as busily and sitting there in Council as duely as when the reclaimed Author of that discovery purposely sent from Rome for the purposes therein discovered was resident amongst them O that these professed Enemies of our Church Religion Nation and those Janizaries of Rome may not sow their Tares of error and seeds of ruine and desolation amongst us whiles almost our whole Nation for ought I can discern if not those who call themselves Watch-men are in a dead sleep or Lethargy and heaving at our most faithfull Ministers Maintenance and Callings too in stead of enquiring after discovering these Arch-traytots and executing the good Laws against and administring those necessary Oaths of Supremacy Allegiance and Abjuration unto them to prevent those treasonable practices destructive designes miseries and that ruine to our Protestant Religion Kings Government Governors Laws Parliaments Church and Common-wealth which the
purposely sent from Rome and the greatest sticklers against our Ministers Tithes and Calling must presently depart and none of them return into the Kingdom as many have lately done or else be executed for Traytors But why so what is their crime work imployment here and by what marks or fruits shall we know discover both them and their confederates Let the words of the Statute compared with all our late troubles changes resolve the ignorant and incredulous that there are many such amongst us and of Iohn Cannes fraternity Whereas divers persons called or professed JESUITES these Canne wittingly conceals though the first in the Bead-roll and therfore is a Felon by the law Seminary Priests and other Priests which have been and from time to time are made in parts beyond the Sea by or according to the Order and Rites of the Church of ROME and when Canne can prove that all or any of our Ministers were thus made as he hath confidently averred in print to those he calls the Higher Powers and Supream Authority of the Nation Let them be hanged for Traitors and Antichristian Ministers in good earnest else let him be hanged in their stead for this his impudent slander of them all as well Independents as Presbyterians Have of late years come and been sent into this Realm of England and were any of our Ministers such and not rather Canne himself coming hither from Amsterdam for the purposes following and other the Queens Dominions OF PURPOSE AS IT HATH APPEARED as well by some of their own examinations now out of date as by divers other Manifest means and proofs more visible of late years than ever not only to withdraw her Highness subjects from their due obedience to her Majesty but also to stir up and move Sedition Râ—bellion and open Hostility within the same her Highness Realms and Dominions to the great endangering of the safety of her most Royal Person and to the utter ruine desolation and overthrow of the whole Realm now effected as a Realm if the same be not the sooner and now pray God it be not over-late by some good means foreseen and prevented For reformation whereof be it ordained c. That All Priests and Jesuits Canne cannot spy such good friends within the Act but deletes them out of it Seminary Priests and other Priests whatsoever made and ordained out of the Realm of England c. shall depart the Realm under the penalties therein mentioned Had Canne pressed this Statute to those he dedicates his Pamphlet for the speedy execution of it against those many Jesuits and Seminary Priests now in England for their traiterous Practices and Designes therein mentioned of late and now driven on and almost compleated by them it had been a commendable zeal but not to write one word or syllable against these Romish Vermine Arch-Engineers and Janizaries of the Romish See now swarming among us to ruine our Protestant Kings Kingdoms Parliaments Laws Liberties Church Ministers Ministry Religion and foreign Protestant Kingdoms States Churches now engaged by them in bloody Warres both by Land and Sea and to omit the very name of the Jesuits the first Popish Agents mentioned and chiefly intended in this Act and presse it only against our Ministers Calling Ministry Tithes Maintenance of purpose to ruine them and theirs and by consequence our Church and Religion the Designe and scope of his whole Pamphlet is such a malicious unchristian Antichristian Practice as proclaimes him to all the world either a new converted Jesuit or Romish Factor under the Garb of an old Anabaptist or an over-grown cankered Anabaptist void of Piety Honesty inspired by the very Father of Lyes For not one of our English Ministers I know or hear of except two or three Jesuits and Popish Priests crept into livings in Staffordshire and elsewhere very lately I know not by whose favour or negligence was ever ordained by any such Jurisdiction or authority as is here mentioned which all our Ministers and their Ordainers too whether Prelates or Presbyters particularly and publickly abjured both at the time of their respective Ordinations and admissions to their Benefices and likewise when they took any Degree of learning in our Vniversities by the two known famous Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance purposly made and ratified by sundry zealous Protestant Parliaments against the usurped Papal Jurisdiction and authority of the See of Rome and the Popes Jesuits Papists practices to blow up destroy our Protestant Kings Parliaments Laws Liberties Religion and subvert our Kingly Government whole State and Commonwealth and for the better discovering of them yet lately suspended abrogated as dangerous unlawful Oathes by some of Cannes good friends who would be reputed Zealots against the Popes Iurisdiction and his Creatures too Now how those Ministers of our Church who thus abjure the Iurisdiction of Rome at the time of their very Ordination and their Ordainers too before them and since have done the like in their Solemn League and Covenant can without the highest slander be said to derive their Ministry from it and that by Canne and his Iesuitical Anabaptistical Fraternity who never took one of these Oathes or the Covenant and revile repeal them as unlawful out of love to the Popes Jurisdiction Jesuits Priests their Jesuitical Treasonable Conspiracies Treasons Practices or for want of zeal against them Let the world and this slanderers own Conscience if he have any left now determine Besides who knows not but this Ignoramus that the Rites and Ceremonies of Ordination in the Church of Rome recorded at large in Ceremoniale Pontificiale Pontificum Romanorum and the ends of Ordination likewise viz. to say Masse create their Creator offer up Christ in Sacrifice at the altar to his Father Invocate Saints adore Images yield Canonical obedience to the Pope and his Supremacy c. are far different from the form and ends of our Ministers Ordination in the Church of England prescribed by the Parl. of 5. 6. Ed. 6. c. 1. ratified by the Statutes of 1 Eliz. c. 1 2. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. and 39 Eliz. c. 8. made only by Protestant Parliaments which as they particularly condemn renounce the Popes Power and Jurisdiction so they declare and resolve our Ministers Ordination to be lawfull and them in very deed to be Ministers and rightly made ordained and consecrated according to Gods word without any derivative power or Ordination from the Church of Rome Therefore for this New old pander for the Whore of Rome to averre they receive their Ministry and ordination thence is a Notorious Ly. Yea but saith he Francis Mason of Consecration and Mr. Yates in his Modell of Divinity prove and confesse That the Ministry of the Church of England established by the Law of the Land is derived from the Pope and Rome True but in what sense onely by way of Succession as his own Ministry and Faith if he hath any were derived from John of Leyden
to Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods a clear Gospel-Text for the payment of Tithes which are Gods own Tribute and Portion Levit. 27.30 32. Mal. 3.8 9. and Rom. 13.7 Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom c. against both which they directly Petition as the premises demonstrate This calumny and wresting of Scripture being removed I shall thus make good the first Branch of the Proposition I have already manifested by undeniable Antiquities Laws Records That Tithes were freely given to and setled on our Church and Ministers by our pious Kings Munificence Charters Laws with the general applause and consent of all the Nobility and People upon the very first setlement of Religion in this Island many hundred years before we read of any publick Taxes for Defence of the Realm or maintenance of the Warres by Land or Sea the first whereof was Dane-gelt first imposed by common consent of the Lords in Parliament An. 983. or before the antientest yet continued Custome on Wool Woolfels and Skins exported first granted by Parliament in 3 E. 1. Anno Dom. 1276. at least 500. years after the first extant grant Law and setlement of Tithes in perpetuity as a Divine Duty Rent and Service for the necessary maintenance of Gods Ministers and publick Worship This most antient annual Rent Charge or Tribute unto God hath inviolably continued in all publick Changes and Revolutions of Church and State Britons Saxons Danes Normans English Papists Protestants Conquerors Invadors Right Heirs and Lawfull Purchasers Intruders Disseisers Lessees of all sorts whether Publick Persons or Private maintaining confirming rendring their Tithes successively as a Divine and Sacred Quit-Rent due to God wherewith they came charged into the world till they departed out of it laying down this for a Principle of Divinity Law Equity That God alone hath given to every Man the Lands and all he holds and possesseth whereby he gains his food and living and therefore out of the Land and Trade whereby every one gets necessary supply for his body he ought to contribute a Tenth and Tribute towards the Service of God and Salvation of his Soul much better than his Body as Augustine in his 229. Sermon Tom. 10. and the Antient Saxon Canons of an uncertain time and Author resolve There was no Purchaser Heir Inheritor Farmer Tenant or Lessee of Lands in our whole Nation that paid Tithes out of it since Tithes first setled in this Kingdome but he inherited purchased took and held his Lands charged with Tithes Whence our law-Law-books resolve That no Lay-man can by the very Common Law of England allege any Custome or Prescription for not paying Tithes but only a Modus Decimandi in recompence of his Tithes which he may in some cases plead because grounded on some antient Contract and a valuable consideration in Lieu of Tithes Moreover as all Men took their Purchases Farmes Leases or Inheritances by Descent thus charged so this charge was universally known to all Purchasers Lesees and the full annual value of the Predial Tithes they pay out of their Lands or Leases abated them in their Purchases Rents Fines by the Venders and Lessers of purpose to defray the publick necessary annual Charge which if the Lands had been Tithe-Free had been proportionably raised to the common value of the Tithes in the Purchase-Moneys Fines or Rents and will be so by every Seller of Lands and Land-lord when ever Tithes be suppressed This being a clear undeniable Truth which every rational man must subscribe to it is certain no person this day living complaining or not complaining against Tithes can in Verity Equity Justice Reason repute or call them either an unjust or oppressing Yoak Bond Burden as many Ignoramusses do without sense or reason nor any burden or charge at all to him since he had or rather hath the full annual value of them allowed him in his Purchase Fine or Rent by him that sold or leased his Lands unto him And although it be true that in such Tithes as the Earth doth not naturally produce without labour as it doth Grasse Wood Fruits viz. Corn Hops Saffron Woad and the like the Minister enjoyes the Tenth of the Husbandmans increase seed labour and costs in tillage and improvement the great Objection against Tithes as an Heavy Burthen and Oppression yet all this pretended great cost and charge except only in Cases of Improvements was altogether or for the most part allowed and defalked in the Purchase Rent or Fine which if Tithe-free would have been and when made Tithe-free will be raised to the full value of the Tithes even one years purchase more in ten sales and 28. Rent more in every pound each year upon Leaser as all understanding men knowing what belongs to Purchases Sales of Lands or Leases must acknowledge And that Farmer Purchaser or Improver of Lands who deems not his faithfull Ministers Prayers Preaching Pains and Gods blessing on his Seed Crop Estate Soul Family promised and entayled to the true payment of Tithes and are only procured by his Ministers prayers without which his seed crop and all his estate would be blasted with a Curse amount not to a tenth part of what he now enjoys by Gods promise and blessing by paying Tithes and his Ministers prayers deserves not the name of a rational man much lesse of a Christian and can expect nothing but Gods curse upon all he sowes plants enjoyes instead of a blessed Crop or Harvest All which considered I appeal to any Christian or rational mans Conscience whether Tithes be any such heavy oppressing intollerable discouraging Yoak Bondage Burden Oppression as some now declaim them which Gods chiefest Saints before the Law voluntarily rendred without murmuring and chearfully vowed paid unto God without a Law and his antient people rendred without murmuring though double to our Tithes now by an express Law during all the Levitical Priesthood and all our own Ancestors as well Protestants as Papists have for so many hundred of years chearfully rendred without dispute and all now living came charged with into the world and were thus allowed the value of them in their Purchases Fines and Leases And whether all Tithe payers have not far more cause to Petition against all Old and New Rent-Services Rent Charges Annuities Quit-Rents Statutes Debts wherewith they were charged by their Ancestors Grants or Contracts and of all the antient Customs for Merchandize for defence of the Seas or Realm as intollerable oppressing Burdens Yoaks Grievances as the Levellers and Anabaptists in some late printed papers stile all Customs Tonnage Poundage Impositions whatsoever as well as Tithes our Excises or monthly Taxes of new illegal formation as well as Imposition than thus to murmur complain Petition against their predial Tithes our Ministers chiefest Livelihood except in Cities which have no Tillage Woods or Meadows And so much brieflly for
or just as our Bibles Religion Baptism Churches were derived thence and all now living with Canne himself derived from Popish Ancestors many even from Popes Popish Priests Prelates Friars by natural generation as their surnames discover God used the Popes of Rome and their Instruments to convert the Britains and Saxons from their Paganism to the Christian not Papal or Roman Faith which through Gods mercy hath continued amongst us ever since yet mixed of later times with manifold Popish Errors and Superstitions These Errors Superstitions our godly Martyrs and by them our Kings and Parliaments discovering did thereupon by special Acts of Parliament abolish as derived from the Church of Rome together with the Popes usurped power and Gain which they served only to support retaining only the Scriptures Sacraments Soul-saving Doctrines thence derived by succession onely but authoritatively originally from God and Christ himself with such Godly Orthodox Bishops and Ministers who though first ordained in the Church of England when Popish did yet renounce all her Popish Errors Corruptions with the Popes Supremacy and all Popish additional Rites to the form of their Ordination and Baptism which made neither of them void in Substance no more than their annexing of the Apocrypha to the Canonical Scriptures made them uncanonical These afterwards ordained other Bishops Ministers without any Popish Rites in such manner as the Gospel prescribes which Mr. Mason Mr. Yates and others prove against the Papists to be a lawful Ordination though not made by the Popes Authority nor according to former Popish Ceremonies In this Sense onely they write the bare Succession not the Office and Calling of our Ministers as this woodden Canne mistakes was derived from the Church of Rome but their Ministry it self from Christs own Institution And if this makes them Popish and Antichristian then all our Protestant Kings Parliaments Magistrates Judges Officers of all sorts must be Popish too if not Paganish because their Predecessors were such and all Officers Souldiers of the Army and Anabaptistical Saints too who have purchased any Lands Rents Revenues of Abbies Priories Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters Archdeacons must likewise be both Antichristian and Popish because their Predecessors who first enjoyed and from whom they do derive them were such at least in their and Cannes repute I hope therefore they will all now renounce these their Purchases to avoid the Guilt and high scandal of Popery and Antichristianism or disclaim this Second Loud-lying Voice against our Ministers and their Ministry as a Voice only from a prophane empty Canne not from a Sacred Temple or Gods holy Spirit But to return from this necessary digression touching the Lawfulness of our Ministers Calling unto their Tithes We have secondly in this Text 1 Cor. 9.13 14. a Gospel Ordinance for their very Tithes confirmed by the old Levitical Law and grounded on its Equity But how doth this appear By these emphatical words Even so hath the Lord Ordained in the Preterperfect Tense That they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel But where hath the Lord ordained this The Apostle thrice resolves expresly that he hath done it in the Levitical Law v. 9. For it is written in the Laws of Moses Deut. 25.4 Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn doth God take care for Oxen Or saith he it altogether for our sakes For our sakes no doubt this is written that he that ploweth should plow in hope and he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope Which he again recites 1 Tim. 5.18 If this Precept concerning the meat and maintenance of Oxen only in the Letter though part of the Levitical Law was doubtless written for and really intended of the Ministers of the Gospels food and maintenance and in full force under the Gospel as the Apostle clearly resolves then a fortiori the Precepts of the Law concerning the food and livelihood of Gods Priests and Levites under the Law by Glebes and Tithes not purely Ceremonial as I have already proved must doubtlesse be intended of them and be in full force likewise in their natural equitable Sence and Proportion in relation to their Livelihood for preaching of the Gospel there being a greater Analogy Proportion between them and Preachers of the Gospel than betwixt them and Oxen. To put it out of doubt he subjoyns Do not ye know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar To wit by Gods expresse Ordinance in the Levitical Law which ye know and therefore I need not particularly cite the words as I did the other of not muzzling the Ox c. which were more obscure and needed my former Paraphrase on them but thus mind you of them in the general And then he inferrs and subjoyns Even so hath the Lord ordained to wit by the very natural moral Equity of the Lawes Ordinances he made for the Priests and Levites Maintenance by Tithes Glebes and Free-will-offerings for officiating in the Temple and at the Altar under the Law that the Preachers of the Gospel who now succeed and supply their places though in different services in the Churches of Christ under the Gospel should live of the Gospel even so fully comfortably and in such sort as they did under the Law Or at least by this Gospel text superadded to them by Gods Spirit To make this out more fully and clear it from the censure of Judaism take notice of these four particulars 1. That in the Holy Ghosts Gospel phrase and language there is a Temple among and for Christians under the Gospel as well as among and for the Jews under the Law else Cannes Voice from the Temple if there be no such place must be thus amended in his next Edition A Voice from the Canne or Alehouse and that this Temple is nothing else but the Church and Saints of Christ 2 Cor. 6.16 1 Cor. 3.16 17. chap. 6.19 Ephes 2.21 2 Thess 2.4 Rev. 3 12. chap. 7.15 chap. 11.1 2 19. chap. 14 15. chap. 15.5 6 8. chap. 16.1 17. compared together 2. That Christians under the Gospel have likewise an Altar as well as the Jews though different from theirs Heb. 13.14 We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle oft mentioned Rev. 6.9 chap. 8.3 5. chap. 9.13 ch 14.18 yea coupled with the Temple Rev. 11.1 Rise measure the Temple of God and the Altar 3. We have Sacrifices to be offered in this Temple on the Altar as well as the Jews in theirs 1. The Sacrifice of Prayer Rev. 8.3 4 5. 2. The Sacrifice of Praise Heb. 13.15 3. The Sacrifice of Charity alms and good works Heb. 13.16 4. Our own bodies which we must present as a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God by serving him according to his word as rational men not beasts that were both slain and sacrificed
Joannis Sarisburiensis De Nugis Curialium l. 7. c. 21. De Hypocritis qui ambitionis labem falsae Religionis imagine nituntur occultare Hi sunt qui potestatibus persuadentes ut propter vitia personarum jure suo priventur Ecclefiae Decimationes et Primitias Ecclessis subtrahunt et Ecclesias ipsas accipiunt de manu Laicorum Episcopis inconsultis Hi sunt qui praedia avita subtrahentes indigenis vicos pagos redigunt in solitudinem in suos usus vicina quaeque convertunt Ecclesias diruunt ut in usus revocant seculares Quae Domus Orationis fuerat aut efficitur stabulum pecoris aut opilionis aut Ianificli Officina Et ut se possunt plenius exhibere charitatis implere manus ne decimas dent Apostolico privilegio muniuntur Miror tamen ut Fidelium pace loquar quidnam sit quod Decimas et Iura aliena usurpare non erubescunt Inquient fortè Religiosi sumus Planè Decimas solvere Religionis pars est Et eas a Deo populus duntaxat religionis solvere exigitur Hi adeo religiosi sunt quod in Decimis vandis derogare possunt constitutioni Divinae in eo licenter minus grati sunt gratiae Dei quo eam amplioribus beneficiis éxperiuntur FINIS A POSTSCRIPT IT is storied of Canutus the 4th the 77 King of Denmark an eminent professor of Piety and Religion and great lover of Justice that perceiving his Subjects to stick at many things pertaining to Christian Religion and not to conform to other Christians throughout the world in Laws and Ceremonies specially in the due payment of Tithes to their Ministers he urged them out of religious Piety at ritu aliarum Nationum Christianam Religionem profitentium Decimas Sacerdotibus suis soluerent that after the custome of other Nations professing Christian Religion they would pay Tithes to their Priests remitting to them a great fine imposed on them for their Rebellion and contempt in refusing to accompany him in an Expedition against the English to induce them thereunto But they being perswaded the contrary by his Brother Olaf thereupon rose up in Rebellion against him specially the Northern Jutes frequently perfidious whom he could never induce to pay Tithes and pursuing him to Othense cruelly murdered this their just and pious King in the Church of St. Alban Anno 1088. whom Olaf succeeding God presently sent such a great scarcity of Corn and provision in Denmark for 7. years space together the intemperatenesse of the air blasting all their Corn that many families not only of the poorer but richer and nobler sort died of famine the people fighting with one another even for grasse to eat At last the famin invading King Olaf his Court he prayed to God that if he had conceived any anger against his Subjects for not paying Tithes and murdering their King he would satisfie his wrath upon him not them and the same night Esurientem parricidii paenitentem animam efflavit he died of hunger repenting of his paricide O that all English Tithe-Oppugners and Regicides would seriously meditate on this memorable president of Divine Justice upon such Delinquents and be brought to timely repentance thereby to prevent the like National and Personal Judgements upon our Nation themselves and their posterities ERRATA COurteous Reader correct these mistakes and omissions of the Presse occasioned by the Authors absence in the Country Page 2. l. 34. if r. of p. 8. l. 24. r Wagria p. 14. l. 20. r. inservierat pietati l. 26. r. Wilfrid p. 21. l. 39. these those p. 25. l. 11. Decima l. 15.17 aliendis alienandis p. 27. l. 27. r. 17 E. 4. c 7. l. 37. Parliament l. 38. sommoneri p. 28. l. 6. Heu licet quod eo r. Quod licet de l. 13. dele ut l. 16. indulgere r. inducere l. 19. quamplurimum p. 29. l. 19. superiors p. 30. l. 3. Lord God p. 34. l. 4. form r. former l. 6. last r. lasting l. 11 12. r. peril reproach and slander of the Gospel l. 18. to r. of l. 27. bow down p. 35. l. 25. who builded l. 28. Paris r. Parker p. 39. l. 2. in Egercituisse r. his Chaplain p. 44. l. 34.11 r. 1. p. 46. l. 13. they shall p. 50. l. 6. Balivis l. 14 bonis l. 15. praestiterunt p. 51. l. 9. dele Siquis igitur insanus importunitate p. 63. l. 38. dele li p. 66. l. 11. more r. none l. 36. or r. of p. 71. l. 3. for r. from p. 74. l. 4. jure r. pure p. 75. l. 2. Partimacensis Portiniacensis Abbatem Nautire r. Majoris l. 6. Clamianensis Cluniacensis p. 76. l. 11. 6.8 l. 18. Elegant supremam r. Eligant sepulturam l. 32. Iliburg Friburg p. 77. l. 8. Praemonstratensian l. 17. abuse l. 31. Deformations Reservations l. 38. at least p. 78. l. 15. Replain r. Mepham l. 37. grand p. 80. l. 14. Oxenetius Opmerus p. 84. l. 23. r. charge of the cure p. 85. l. 15. in sales l. 23 only r. chiefly p. 87. l. 4. fees r. fines l. 9. r. their families p. 97. l. 17. of r. or p. 98. l. 27. as litigious p. 101. l. 20. our r. of p. 104. l. 8. or unto recorded both l. 25. spoyls r. soyl p. 105. l. 10. requiring r. inquiring l. 33. spoyls r. soyl p. 107. l. 21. fere modum r. propemodum p. 110. l. 27. pugnavimus p. 111. l. 16. inhabitances r. inheritances l. 23. people r. priests l. 31. dele or p. 112. l. 39. if not p. 113. l. 2. within us p. 115. l. 39. dele of p. 117. l. 5. thee r. men p. 118. l. 21 Lucius Licinius p. 120. l. 35. brought r. bright p. 125. l. 27. for or p. 133. l. 20. which with p. 136. l. 13. Syms Syrus p. 150. l. 3. proceed not p. 156. l. 28. Nicetas l. 29. Beyerlink In the margin p. 6. over against good space l. 32. read At least 14. years as is evident by Gen. 15.1 c. 16.3.16 c. 17.24 25. p. 41. l. 8 9. Monasteries p. 47. l. 7. r. 757. p. 102. l. 5. Ivonis p. 110 l. 11. Saxonicorum p. 118. l. 22 23. Ruffinus p. 155. l. 15. am um An Admonition to all Protestants Ministers Lawyers and others of whatever Quality within our three Nations BE pleased to take notice that as the new dissolved Anti-Parliamentary Juncto at the beginning of their last Session and a little before their sodain dissolution did by their Conscientious Speaker give the hearty thanks of the House and mock Parliament to the Petitions of sundrie Anabaptists and other Sectaries headed by Jesuites and Popish Franciscan Freers for their good Affections when they petitioned against Tithes So the General Council of Officers of the Army usurping to themselves the Soveraign Legislative Power and Authority of the Great Geâ—eral Council and Parliament of England to evidence to the world by whose Counsels they are steered whose designs they prosecute and that they deserve
to be canonized for Saints by the Pope of Rome in his Roman Kalendar have voted down our Ministers Tithes and therewith our Ministry too and in their printed Declaration 27 October 1659. p. 18. since this Gospel Plea was finished at the Press Declare to the world that it is upon their Spirits and they earnestly desire and shall endeavour That a full and through Reformation of the Law may be effected by abolishing those Lawes they were raised waged commissioned to defend and suppressing Lawyers and Terms at Westminster if not Innes of Court as also that a faithfull godly and painfull Gospel-preaching Ministry may be encouraged and provided for by some certain way that may be lesse troublesem to them and lesse vexations to the people than Tithes Ex cauda Draconem What debates Speeches many of our Army-Saints have lately had concerning the totall extirpation of Tithes Ministers Law Lawyers Vniversities Corporations several others can inform those whom it most concerns Whether Saint Johns description of the Army of Romish Locusts Rev. 9. coming out of the smoak of the bottomless pit who bad a KING or GENERAL over them whose name is Apollyon that is to say A Destroyer be not a true Character of our present Army of Saints let all real English Protestants judge and what Good cause they have to continue and pay them out of our quite exhausted bankrupt estates to accomplish these good endeavours after all their Commissions nulled expired forfeited by their Treacheries and Rebellions against their old and new Superiors Faithfulness Loyalty Obedience in the most inferiour Degree to their Old Parliament new Protector and Anti-Parliamentary Juncto Trees whose fruit is withered twice dead plucked up by the roots by them after all old Protestations Covenants new Commissions Ingagements Declarations Addresses to be True Faithfull Constant to them and live and die with them being such a Capital crime in their General Councils eyes even in their own Colonels Captains Souldiers as to demerit and incurr an unpardonable Censure of utter cashiering out of the Army as Traytors Enemies to and Apostates from the Armies Interest which is to be Faithless Perfidious Treacherous to all Superiors whatsoever witâ— in the Vindication of 167. Officers come off from and turned out of the Army in March 1647 for their obedience to the old Parl. the late cashiering of Col. Whaley Ingoldesby Goffe and others for their fidelitie to Richard Pr. of Col. Okey Mosse Morley and others for their adhering to the dissolved Juncto though they drew not a sword nor discharged one pistol in their defence which may be justly recompenced ere long by the Common Souldiers Disobedience Treacherie and Infidelitie towards their present Commanders when they stand in most need of their assistance Isa 33.1 2. FINIS Isa 45.15 46.9 Mat. West An. 1055. p. 422. Antiq. Eccles Brit. p. 88 89. Psal 73.25 Acts 17.28 Psal 73.26 1 Thess 5.23 Rom. 11.36 Psal 139.15 16 17. Psal 100.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Job 7.20 Gen. 48.16 Dan. 6.16 2 Tim. 4.17 Dan. 3.19 20 c. Jonah 1. 2. In my Histriomastix Healths sicknesse Love-locks Cosens Cosening Devotions Breviate Quench-cole Memento Speech in Parliament other Books Jude 3. Levit. 19.17 Tit. 1.13 Rom. 13.1 2. Deut. 7.9 Neh 1.5 Psa 89.2 28 to 38. 110.4 111.5 Jer. 33.20 21 c. Heb. 5.17 18. Gen. 50.5 6 Levit. 19.12 Num. 30.2 Josh 1.17 6.22 9.15 to 22. Psa 15.4 Hos 10.4 Zech. 5.4 Eccles 8.2 Ezek. 17.16 18 19. Prov. 24.21 22. Rom. 16.17 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3. Rev. 19.1 2. Psalm 20.5 6 7 8. Psal 107.16 Acts 12.4 to 11. See the Beacon fired and Nicolas Causins the Jesuit's holy Court printed at London 1650. in folio Psal 146.7 Isa 49.9 42.7 1 Sam. 7.12 Psal 83.4 5 6 7 8. Act. 6.10 1 Cor. 14.25 Psal 83.9 10 11 c. Psal 79.13 Psal 146.2 104.33 Jer. 46.16 50.16 give it this Title Isa 5.25 Ezek. 13.5 22.30 Magna Carta of King Henry the 1. and K. John Mat. Paris Hist Angl. p. 53.230 246. 9 H. 1. c. 1.29.37 times since confirmed in Parliam Isa 49.23 60.9 10. Psa 72.10 11. Rev. 21.24 Jer. 47.6.7 A Collection of ordinances c p. 124 125. Mat. 15.13 Gal. 3.9 Gen. 14.20 Heb. 7.1 to 12. Dr. Griffith Williams in his Workes in folio p. 811. Contrary to Magna Carta c. 1.29.25 E. 1. c. 1 2 3.28 E. 1. c. 1.5 E. 3. c. 9.25 E. 3. c. 4.28 E. 3. c. 3.37 E. 3. c. 18.42 E. 3. c. 1 3. 2 H. 4. c. 4.5 H. 4. c. 11.27 H. 8. c. 20 21.32 H. 8. c. 7. 2 E. 6. c. 13. The Petition of Right 3 Caroli and are Ordinances for Tithes Augmentations The Kentish Petition and others Maffaeus Vegius Rabadenira both Jesuits in vita Ignatii Loyolae Heylins Microcosm p. 197. This one of them affirmed lately to a friend of mine The false Jew newly printed p. 4 5 11 12 13. Dan. 6.20 See Mr. Seldens History of Tithes c. 7. p. 166 167 170. Gen. 14.20 Heb. 7.4 A Collection of Ordinances p. 539 623 878 879. June 5. 14. 1647. See Oliver Cromwells Speech 1654. Sept. 4. p. 16 17. Mat 13.25 26 27. Exact Collection p. 3 to 20 498 617 698 664 665 681 491 492 816 826 827 571 635 636 918 666. A Collection p. 218 227 214 c. 267 275 883 309 313 354 360 363 371 379 412 417 424 429 452 457 470 489 706. and elsewhere Exact Collection p. 666. A Collection p. 218 254 363 424 706. which I desire may be now seriously perused together with my Romes Master-piece Luke 19.42 1 Pet. 2.23 Psa 37.5 6. Psal 7.16 Esth 4.16 Eph. 3 1. 4. 1. â—hilem 9.23 2 Tim. 1.8 2 Cor. 11.23 2 Tim 4.7 8. (a) See Spelmanni Concil Tom. 1. p. 308 348.350 (b) 2 Thes 3.2 (c) Ezek. 21.31 Psal 92 6. Psal 94.8 Proposition 1. * See Huldrici Zuinglii Explanatio Artic 63. OperuÌ„ Tom. 1. f. 106. Benedicti Aretii Problemata Locus 142. De Stipendiis Ministrorum d See Dr. Carltons Tithes proved to be by Divine Right Dr. Burges Calvin and others on this Text. * See Huldrici Zuinglii Explanatio Articuli 64. e Deut. 25.4 f 1 Tim. 4.1 2. 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. g Heb. 2.10 * Gen. 24.25.32 c. 42.27 c 43.24 Jud. 19.21 Isay 30.24 (h) Ps 49.20 Prov. 30. â— (i) See 1 Cor. 8.1 10. 10.30 21. * See Nicephorus Zonaras and Grimston in the life of Phocas Platina and Bale in the life of Pope Gregory the 7. ‖ Fox Acts and Monuments vol 3 Hist De vita et obitu M. Buceâ—i k 2 Kings 17.16 17 18. l See Rom. 13.4 5 6 7. backing these Reasons * Act. 2.46 c. 20.20 2 Tim. 4.1 2. Rom. 15.19 20. 1 Tim. 4.15 16. m 1 Tim. 6.15 16. Rev. 1.5 17.14 1â— 16 Ps