and on the North side two thousand Cubits and the City shall be in the midst this shall be to them the suburbs of the Cities And among the Cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six Cities for refuge which ye shall appoint for the Manslayer that he may fly thither and to them ye shall adde forty and two Cities So all the Cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight Cities them shall ye give with their Suburbs And the Cities which ye shall give shall be of the possâ—ssion of the Children of Israel from them that have many ye shall give many and from them that have few ye shall give few Everyone shall give of his Cities according to his inheritance which he inheriteth This positive just command of God was given before the Israelites entrance into and conquest of the land of Canaan And this further positive law then likewise made against the sale and alienation of these Glebes and Possessions Levit. 25.32 33 34. Notwithstanding the Cities of the Levites and the Houses of the Cities of their possession may the Levites redeem at any time which others could not doe v. 30 31. And if a man purchase of the Levites then the House that was sold and the City of his possession shall go out in the year of Jubile for the houses of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel but the field of the Suburbs of their City may not be sold for it is their perpetual Possession After this when the land of Canaan was fully conquered by the Israelites and divided amongst the Tribes by bounds and limits we read Josh 21.1 to 43. Then came near the heads of the Fathers of the Levites unto Eleazer the Priest and unto Joshua the son of Nun and unto the heads of the tribes of the Children of Israel and they spake unto them at Shilo in the land of Canaan saying The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses in the text forecited To give us Cities to dwell in with the Suburbs thereof for our cattel And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites at the commandment of the Lord mark it all enemies of our Ministers Rectories Lands Glebes Maintenance these Cities and their Suburbs Then follow the Names and Places of the Cities allotted to the Levites proportionably out of every tribe and how they were divided by lot amongst them which you may read in the text it self over large to transcribe After which ensues this cloze of the story v. 8.41 42. And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these Cities and their Suburbs as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses all the Cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight Cities with their Suburbs These Cities were every one with their Suburbs round about them Thus were all the Cities In 1 Chron 6 We have a recital of the Sons and Families of Levi and the Office of the Priests and Levites with the names of all the Cities and Suburbs alloted to them out of every Tribe agreeing with this of Joshua where those who please may read them at their leisure These fourty eight Cities and their Suburbs as some conceive amounted to the tenth or at least twelfth Part of the Cities and Land of Canaan the Priests and Levites according to their number enjoying in proportion as large a share of the promised Land as any of the other Tribes for their Habitation and Glebes besides their Tithes first-Fruits Offerings and other Dues All which as Dr. George Downham and Mr. Samuel Purchas observe amounted to a far greater proportion for the maintenance of that small Tribe than all the Bishopricks Deaneries Benefices Cathedral and College lands Revenues Glebes Tithes and whatsoever Ecclesiastical Profits endowments of the Clergy and Scholars in our whole Kingdom and Nation After this when the Temple of Jerusalem was built where the Priests and Levites were to wait in their several Courses successively by Davids appointment 1 Chron. chap. 23 to chap. 27. 2 Chron. 8.14 15. chap. 23.8 and ch 13 10 11. ch 29.4 chap. 31.2 chap. 35. 2. Levit. 1.5 8 9. they had Houses Chambers lodgings provided for them at Jerusalem near the Temple where some of them constantly dwelt and attended and likewise for the Tithes first-fruits and oblations brought thither to them 1 Chron. 9.10 to 35. chap. 23.28 chap. 28.11 12 13. 2 Chron. 2 to 13. Ezra 8.29 Neh. 10.37 38 39. chap. 12.44 45 47. chap. 13.4 to 15. Ezech 40.4 to 45. chap. 42.1 to 19. chap. 44.19 chap. 46.19 These Cities Suburbs Habitations Chambers the Priests and Levits constantly enjoyed without interruption til the revolt of the ten tribes from Rehoboam when Jeroboam the usurper erected two Golden Calves in Dan and Bethel to keep the people from going up to Jerusalem to worship God there out of carnal fear and suspition saying in his heart Now shall the Kingdom return to the house of David if the people go up to Jerusalem to do Sacrifice in the House of the Lord there then shall the heart of this people turn back again to their Lord even unto Rehoboam King of Judah and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam King of Iudah 1 Kings 12.26 to 33. and then we read 2 Chron. 11.13 14 15 16. The Priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to Rehoboam out of all their Coasts For the Levites left their Suburbs and their Possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from executing the Priests Office unto the Lord and he ordained him Priests for the High Places of the lowest of the People and for the Devils and the Calves which he had made which King Abijah warring with him after his Fathers death when he claimed the right of his usurped Crown thus objected against him and the revolted Tribes 2 Chr 13.4 to 14. Hear me thou Jeroboam and all Israel Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the Kingdom over Israel to David for ever even to him and to his Sons by a Covenant of Salt Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the Son of David is risen up and hath rebelled against his Lord. And there are gathered unto him vain men the children of Belial and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the Son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted and could not withstand him And now ye think to withstand the Kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David and ye be a great multitude and there be with you Golden Calves which Jeroboam made you for Gods Have ye not cast out the Priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron and the Levites and have made you Priests after the manner of the Nations of other lands so that whosoever cometh to Consecrate himself with
Levitical Priests themselves especially after their abolition as he was a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck to whom Abraham himself and the Levites then in his loins paid Tithes of all Heb. 7.1 to 15. of which at large before Therefore he had a just Right to receive Tithes from them both before the institution and after the abolition of the Levitical Priesthood which he might have lawfully claimed exercised and his Apostles likewise in his Right though they did it not We read that Christ had a just Right Title by Inheritance and lineal descent from his Father King David to the Temporal Crown and Kingdome of Judah being therefore said by the Wise men Mat. 2.2 to be born King of the Iews an unanswerable Argument for the lawfullnesse Excellency of Hereditary Titles to Crowns and Kingdomes before that of Election only wherewith I frequently silenced vapouring Souldiers against Hereditary Kingship being the very Title of Christ himself both to his Spiritual and Temporal Kingdome and that which God instituted amongst his Church people as the best surest of all other taken up by most Heathen Nations Now though Christ neither claimed nor exercised this his Temporal Right but avoided it when the people would have made him King by force John 6.15 who yet after cryed him up for the King of Israel John 12.13 15. which even Pilate himself acknowledged when he said unto the Jews Behold your King demanded of them Shall I crucifie your King and wrote fixed this Title on his Crosse Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews John 19.14 15 19. will or can John Canne or any other of his antimonarchical confederates hence justly infer that it was unlawfull for Christ himself Right Heir by Descent to his Hereditary Temporal Kingdome kept and thrust out thereof by usurping Herod who murthered all the infants in Bethlehem and the Coasts thereof that were two years old and under and would have murthered our Saviour himself to secure his own usurped Power Mat. 2.13 16. such is the bloody cruelty Jealousie of Usurpers to have claimed or exercised this his just Hereditary Right to the Crown or unlawfull for the people to have thrust out this bloody Intruder Herod by force from his usurped Authority and made Christ King as they intended or because Christ did then voluntarily forbear relinquish his Temporal Right to Herod will it thence necessarily follow that it is therefore unlawfull for any other Hereditary Christian King or Right Heir to a Crown kept from or thrust out of his Throne Kingdome by armed violence against the generality of his peoples desires by any aspiring usurping Herod to lay claim to his Crown Kingdome or for the faithfull natural born Subjects according to their duty Oathes Allegiance to endeavour by all lawfull means and open force to expell dethrone such Herods and Crown set up their lawfull Soveraign on the Throne of the Kingdome Doubtlesse they cannot be so absurdly stupid to affirm it seeing Jehoiadah the high Priest the Captains of Hundreds Levites Souldiers and people too thrust out and slew with the sword Athaliah the bloody Usurper of the Kingdome and Throne of Judah in the second year of her Usurpation crowned Joash the Kings Son King as the Lord had said of the Sons of David and set him upon the Throne of the Kingdome whereupon all the people of the Land rejoyced and the City was quiet as is recorded at large to their eternal Honour by God himself and for others imitation in the like case 2 Chron. 23. and 2 Kings 11. The rather because all other men by our Laws may justly lay claim to and repossesse themselves of such Lands Houses Goods as others forcibly detain or take from them against all Law Right notwithstanding Christs Non-claim to his Rightful Crown Therefore by the self-same Reason our Ministers of the Gospel now may lawfully challenge and take Tithes from the people though Christ and his Apostles did it not albeit they had a just Right and Title to them which they might have exercised had they pleased without Sin or Judaism as our Ministers do now as Paul resolves in 1 Cor. 9.4 5 6 15 18. To clear which Right from Judaism and all other cavils beyond all contradiction I shall cite only two Prophecies relating joyntly to Christs Kingdom and Ministers under the Gospel The first is Jer. 33.15 to the end In those dayes and at that time will I cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David and he shall execute Righteousnesse and Judgement in the Land In those days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness For thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the house of Israel Neither shall the Priests the Levites want a man before me to offer Burnt-Offerings and to kindle Meat-Offerings and to do Sacrifices continually Thus saith the Lord if you can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night so that there should not be day and night in their season then may also my Covenant be broken with David my Servant that he should not have a Son to reign upon his Throne therefore our Covenants Oaths to our Kings their Heirs and Successors should be as stable as inviolable and strictly observed as Gods to David and his Posterity Ps 89.3 4 34. Ps 132.11 12. Hebr. 6.17 18. Ps 15.4 Eccles 8.2 Gal. 3.15 17. and with the Levites the Priests my Ministers As the host of heaven cannot be numbred neither the sand of the Sea measured so will I multiply the seed of David my Servant and the Levites that minister unto me c. The second is Isa 66.18 to 20. I will gather all nations and tongues and they shall come and see my Glory and I will set a Sign among them and I will send those that escape of them unto the Nations and to Tarshish c. and to the Isles afar off whereof England is chief and principally intended And they shall bring all your Brethren for an Offering unto the Lord out of all Nations upon Horses and in Chariots and in Litters and upon Mules and upon swift Beasts to my holy Mountain in Jerusalem saith the Lord as the Children of Israel bring an Offering in a clean Vessel unto the House of the Lord And I will also take of them for Priests and for Levits saith the Lord From which Texts I shall observe 1. That as Christs Title to his everlasting Spiritual Kingdom under the Gospel over all the converted Gentiles as well as Jews is expresly set forth to be neither elective nor by conquest but by DESCENT HEIRSHIP and lineal succession after the flesh from King David Whence he is stiled Heir of all things Heb. 1.12 And the Lord shall give unto him THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID and HE shall reign over the House of
a young Bullock and seven Rams the same may be a Priest of them that are no Gods But as for us the Lord is our God and we have not forsaken him and the Priests which minister unto the Lord are the Sons of Aaron and the Levites wait upon their business c. For we keep the Charge of the Lord our God but ye have forsaken him And behold God himself is with us for our Captain and his Priests with sounding Trumpets to cry allarum against you The issue of this Atheistical State-policy and Sacrilegious deprivation spoliation of Gods Priests and Levites of their Suburbs Possessions Ministry by Jeroboam and his Sons is very remarkable 1 It brought ruine upon his whole Army though double the number of Abijah his host of whom they had a great advantage by an ambushment God himself smiting him and his host so that they fled before Judah and Abijah and his people slâ—w them with a great slaughter so that there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men 2 Chron. 13.13 to 20. The greatest slaughter in one battel that ever we read of in Sacred or prophane Stories before or since 2. It brought Captivity on his Adherents and people who were brought under at that time pursued and had their Cities taken and plundered v. 18 19. 3. It drew down this misery and fatal Judgement on himself v. 20. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the dayes of Abijah and the Lord strook him and he died 4. It became sin to the house of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth 1 Kings 13.33 34. 5. It made all the succeeding Kings of Israel professed Idolaters and most of them bloudy Murtherers Vsurpers Persecutors and produced perpetual successive civil warrs between Judah and Israel 1 Kings 14.30 chap. 15.6 7 16 32. 2 Chron. 28.4 to 12. 6. It brought final captivity ruine and desolation in conclusion to the whole kingdom of Israel and the ten revolting Tribes 2 Kings 17.20 21 22 23. where this sad story is recorded And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel and afflicted them and delivered them into the hand of spoilers until he had cast them out of his sight For he rent Israel from the house of David And they made Jeroboam the Son of Nebat King of which God thus complains Hos 8.4 They have set up Kings but not by me they have made Princes and I knew it not and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord and made them sin a great sin for the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did they departed not from them untill the Lord removed Israel out of his sight as he had said by all his servants the Prophets So was Israel carried away out of their own Land to Assyria till this Day when as the Kingdom of Judah continued above 134. years after in Davids royal posterity enjoying Gods Priests Levites Prophets and Ordinances till their captivity for their sins in mocking abusing his Messengers Prophets and despising his words 2 Chron. 36.16 17. And then after 70. years captivity they were restored again to their Country re-edified Jerusalem and the Temple and with them the Priests and Levites returning from bondage were restored likewise to their Cities and Glebes of which the Kings of Judah never deprived them as Jeroboam and his Sons and the Kings of Israel who were all Idolaters did whence thus we read Ezra 2.70 So the Priests and the Levites and the Singers and the Porters the Nethinims dwelt in their Cities and all Israel in their Cities Thus seconded Neh. 11.18 20. All the Levites in the holy City were 284. and the residue of Israel of the Priests and Levites were in all the Cities of Judah every Man in his Inheritance and Neh. 13.10 The Levites and Singers that did the work were fled every one to his field In the Prophecie of Ezechiel written during the Jews Captivity in the Land of the Chaldeans Ezech. 1.1 2 3. prophesying of the re-edifiing of the Temple the dimensions and whole fabrick thereof ch 40.1 to 45. we find frequent mention of holy Chambers therein provided for the Priests and their vestments And ch 45.1 to 5. God enjoyns the Israelites by this Prophet upon their restitution to their own Land when they should divide it by Lot for an Inheritance That they should offer an holy portion of the Land an oblation unto the Lord the length thereof twenty five thousand reeds and the breadth ten thousand This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about Of this there shall be for the Sanctuary 500 reeds in length with 500 in breadth square round about and fifty Cubits round about for the Suburbs thereof Then he addes The holy Portion of the land shall be for the Priests the Ministers of the sanctuary which shall come neer to minister unto the Lord and it shall be a place for their Houses and an holy place for the Sanctuary And the 25000. of length and 10000. of breadth Shall also the Levites the Ministers of the House have for themselves for a possession for twenty Chambers In the 47. Chapter verse 13. to the end of the Prophecy he writes of the bounds and division of the land of Canaan after their restitution according to their several tribes in relation to and imitation of the bounds and division of it formerly made and recited by Joshua out of which there was a special portion reserved for the Priests and Levites as there was in Joshua's division forecited Thus expressed Ezeck 48.8 to 15. And by the border of Judah from the East side unto the West side shall be the offering which they shall offer of 25000. reeds in breadth and in length as one of the other parts from the East side unto the West side and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it The oblation ye shall offer unto the Lord shall be of 25000. in length and 10000 in breadth And for them even for the Priests shall be this holy Oblation toward the North 25000. in length and toward the West 10000. in breadth and toward the East 10000 in breadth and toward the South 25000 in length and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof It shall be for the Priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadock which have kept my charge which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray after Jeroboam and his calves as the Levites went astray And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites And over against the border of the Priests the Levites shall have 25000. in length and 10000. in breadth all the length shall be 25000 and the breadth 10000. reeds And they shall not sell of it neither exchange nor alienate the first fruits of the land for it is holy unto
there is occasion there being far more Equity and Gospel-justice for it than that our Ministers out of their small scarce competent and many very incompetent livings should pay the first-fruits and first years profits of their livings to the King or State as formerly they did unto the Pope through Papal Vsurpation onely by the Statutes of 26 H. 8. c. 3.27 H. 8. c. 8.1 1 Eliz. c. 4. and almost or above the tenth of all their livings to the Souldiers amounting to treble their Tenths to the King or Pope without any Grant at all by them or their Proxies in the usual legal just Parliamental way against all their Rights Privileges and our Laws The Jewish Priests and Levites under the Law being never burthened with such first-fruits or taxes by their Soveraigns and exempted from them even by a heathen Conqueror Ezra 7.24 Which those who now endeavour to deprive them of their Tithes Glebes and yet exact both first-fruits Tenths and Contributions from them may do well to consider Having thus related at large what a liberal various full and competent maintenance God setled on his Priests and Levites under the law by Glebes Tithes Oblations Sacrifices Poll-money first-fruits besides the Tenth and Tribute out of the very spoyls of war formerly insisted on I shall now apply it home to the Ministers of and Christians under the Gospel in these short Aphorisms 1. Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel inwardly qualified with sufficient Gifts Graces and lawfully called ordained are Gods and Christs own institution and Ministers as well as Priests and Levites under the Law Mat. 10.5 6 7. ch 28.19 20. Luke 10.1 2 c. ch 24.47 49 53. Mark 6.7 8 c. ch 16.15 20. Acts 11.2 3 4 c. ch 14.23 ch 19.1 6 7. ch 26.17 18 28. Rom. 12.6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12.4 8 9 28 29 30. ch 14.29 30 31 32 40. Ephes 4.8 to 17. Col. 4.17 1 Tim. 3.1 2. ch 4.14 15 16. ch 5.21 22. Tit. 1.5 6 7. Heb. 13.17 Jam. 5.14 15. 1 Thes 5.13 1 Cor. 4.1 2 Cor. 3.6 ch 11.23 2. That their Ministry and Calling is far more Honorable Glorious necessary beneficial to mens souls than that of the Priests and Levites under the Law 2 Cor. 3.6 to 12. Heb. 7.1 to 14. 3. That it is far more painfull laborious than the Ministery of the Priests and Levites under the Law Acts 8.4 2 Cor. 11.23 to 30. 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15. 2 Tim. 4.1 1 Thes 5.2 2 Pet. 1.12 Rom. 15.19 20. ch 12.7 8. 4. That therefore there is as just as competent as full as honorable and setled a maintenance and as much honour reverence obedience love as great recompence due unto them for their very work and calling sake from all Christians under the Gospel as there was from Gods people to the Priests and Levites under the Law as I have already proved in the first Proposition and that by divine institution 1 Cor. 9.13 14. 1 Tim. 5.17 18 21. From whence Hemingius with most Orthodox Protestant Divines I have seen besides as well as Papists and Jesuites concludes thus Admoniantur igitur Pii quod Iure Divino Ecclesiae Ministris debeant Stipendia That all the godly are to be admonished that by Divine Right they owe wages to the Ministers of the Gospel And if so then 5. It follows inevitably that there being no other setled way of maintenance particularly prescribed for them in or by the Gospel and convenient Houses Glebes for them their families and necessary Cattel with Tithes of the increase of the fruits of the earth and Cattel of all sorts being as necessary as requisite for the habitation food clothing support of them their families Ministry and supply of all their necessaries with as little charge trouble diversion from their studies functions as may be as for the Priests and Levites under the Law that Godly Christians Kings States Parliaments cannot pitch upon any equaller fitter juster better wiser rationaller convenienter diviner way of maintenance for them than that of necessary Houses Rectories Glebes in every Parish and Tithes and Oblations of all things needfull for food raiment hospitality it being the constant standing setled maintenance which the most wise just and holy God himself invented prescribed for his own Priests and Levites maintenance amongst his own people when setled by him in the land of Promise and that which all setled Christian Empires Kingdoms States Churches generally through the Christian world have in all ages pitched upon as most agreeable to Gods will and word under the Gospel which no ways repeals nor contradicts his own former prescriptions of this kinde in the old Testament 6. That the Glebes Tithes of the Priests and Levites under the Law were reserved by God himself the Supreme Land-lord of all Kingdoms Countries Nations Churches People in the world and the special God Lord King Father Saviour Preserver of his own people as a Sacred Holy Tribute Rent Portion and Homage due unto Himself from poor Creatures Servants Vassals who are no true Proprietors but only Stewards and Tenants at will of all the lands goods earthly blessings and possâ—ssions they enjoy The earth being the Lords and the fulnesse thereof and the Corn Wine Cattel fruits and earthly creatures we possess not really ours but Gods own 1 Chr 29.11 to 17. Psal 24.1 Psal 97.5 Psal 50.9 10 11 12. Ezech 16.18 19 20. Hos 2.8 9. Dan. 4.32 35. Mat 6.10 11. The use and possession of which tribute He allotted to the Priests and Levites under the Law for their maintenance salary and reward of their labour in his service for the advancement of his worship glory honour and his peoples spiritual good reserving the inheritance and right thereof alwayes to himself as the premises sufficiently evidence Now God himself to whom alone Tithes and Glebes were originally impropriated not to the Levitical Priesthood being unchangeable without any variableness or shadow of turning Jam 1.17 Psal 102.26 27. Mal 3.6 and Jesus Christ to whom Tithes were first paid by Abraham in the person of Melchisedeck having an unchangeable Priest-hood and being a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb 7.8 16 11 24. c. 13.8 And all Christians whatsoever under the Gospel being as much his absolute Creatures Vassals Servants Stewards and Tenants at will as the Israelites under the Law and all their Lands Goods Earthly blessings Corn Wine Cattel wealth imployments his in right and not their own as well as theirs too why they should not all render to him the self-same sacred Tribute holy Portion Rent Homage of Glebes and Tithes of all they have as well as they though the Levitical Priesthood be abolished they being so specially reserved and consecrated to himâ—elf for the support maintenance reward encouragement of his faithfull Ministers under the Gospel imployed in his Service for his honour glory and their everlasting salvation
thereof authorized by the late Parliament infallibly evidence If so John Canne with his perfidious Oath-Vow-Covenant-breaking Tithe-abjuring disciples must renounce that true and only God they say they worship in greatest truth and sincerity as a Jewish unchristian antichristian God likewise I speak it with reverence and horrour too for their fuller conviction because he alwayes hath been now is and will be a most true faithfull Oath-observing Covenant-keeping Vow-performing God who reputes his Oathes Vows Covenants Immutable things and will never violate falsifie forget or neglect them in the least degree though made to sinfull treacherous and perfidious men Psal 89.3 4 28 to 38. Psal 120.4 Neh. 1.5 cap. 9.32 Psal 111.5 9. Isa 54.10 cap. 55.3 Jer. 33.20 21. Luke 1.72 73. and 2 Chron. 21.6 7. a memorable Text 2 Cor. 1.18 whom all those who own or challenge him to be their God are peremptorily obliged to imitate herein else they shall never enter into his holy hill or dwell with him in his Tabernacle Ps 15.1 2 14. Psal 24.3 4. Rom. 1.31 32. 1 Tim. 1.10 Rev. 22.15 and that in this very case of Tithes If not then why should not Tithes Glebes Oblations which our ancestors and wee have vowed and devoted to God continue and still be paid under the Gospel without superstition sin antichristianism or Judaism as well as other Vows Oaths and the religious observation of them Upon these Considerations all or most Christian Kingdoms States Churches upon the very fiâ—st preaching and embracing of the Gospel amongst them not only edified Churches Chapels for Gods worship and publike Assemblies but likewise endowed the Ministers thereof with convenient Glebes Tithes Oblations as Eâ—sebius Socrates Scholasticus Theodoret Nicephorus Calistus the Câ—ntury Writers Baronius Spondanus with other Ecclesiastical Historians and Hospinian De Origine Templorum prove at large for forein Parts and our own antientest Annalists with Antiqu. Ecclesiae Britanicae Sir Henry Spelman Conciliorum Angl. Tom. 1. and learned Dr. Vsher in his Britanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates manifest for our own Nations and Realms Now because John Canne out of his learned ignorance hath newly published in his Second Voice from the Temple or Ale-house rather for which Cannes are more proper That Pope Gregory the tenth was the first that ordained Tithes to be paid to Priests in the year 1214. and that the Customs for paying Tithes at this day were setled upon the Kingdom by the Popes Legates in Provincial and Synodal Constitutions about the time of Henry the third and Henry the fifth Vouching Thorp and Ridley the Civilian to prove it I shall give you a brief touch concerning the Original of Churches Glebes Tithes in this our Iland About the year of our Lord 48. as our Historians record Joseph of Arimathea who interred our Saviour with XI more Disciples were sent into Britain to preach the Gospel by Philip the Apostle in the raign of Arviragus who arriving here were courteously entertained by this Pagan King and preached the Gospel to him and his people he perceiving the purity of their Doctrine and the holinâ—ssâ— of their Conversation gave them twelve Hides of land in the Isle of Avalon since called Glastenbury for to build a Church and to support them till this day called and known by the name of the twelve Hides of Glastenbury where they built the first Church erected for Gods worship in this Islâ— made of Wattle and Reed and there continued together preaching the Gospel living upon this their Glebe now of great value which was afterwards confirmed to them and the Ministers of the Gospel theâ—e succeeding them both by King Marius and Coilus next successors to Arviragus whom they instructed in the Christian Religion to which they wâ—re well affâ—cted albeit neither of them nor Arviragus himself proceeded so far as to be baptized for fear of displeasing their Pagan subjects though Harding in his Chronicle chapter 48. against the stream of our other Historians writes that King Arviragus himself was Baptized by Joseph of Arimathea After this Lucius King of Britain being converted to the Christian faith and Baptized with his Subjects and many other petty British Kings by his Example about the year of our Lord 176. by Faganus and Damianus sent to him at his earnest request by Elutherius then Bishop of Rome long before Pope or Popery were there erected or known in the world he upon the reception of the faith built and endowed Churches throughout his Dominions with Glebes and Tithes to support the Ministry whence our antient Poets thus write of him Lucius in Christum credit Christoque dicatas Ecclesias dotat distinctas ordinat Vrbes Many of our antient Historians adde that in his time there were 28 Flamins and 3 Arch-Flamins in Britain endowed with great Revenues for the service of their Idol gods to whom they had erected so many fair Temples and that Lucius after his conversion Turned these into 28 Bishopricks and three Arch-Bishopricks and purging these polluted Temples from their Idols and heathenish pollâ—tions dedicated them to the service of the true God which Sir Henry Spelman Bp. Vsher Godwin and the most judicious of our later Antiquaries justly reject as fabulous After Lucius Churches were here and in other places endowed with Glebes and Bishops with rich Lordly possessions by Constantine the great And about the year of Christ 312. the Christians being here and elswhere restored to peace and freed from persecution by Constantine began to build and repair those Churches which Dioclesian and other persecutors had rased to the ground and to endow them with maintenance for the Ministry In succeeding times the English Saxons who at their first arival being bloudy Pagans cruelly wasted the British Churches and butchered their Ministers Scholars Saints being converted to the Christian Faith by Augustine sent hither for that purpose by Pope Gregory the first who disclaimed that Papal Supremacy his Successors since challenged Aethelbert King of Kent and his Saxons being baptised by Augustine about the year of Christ 603. thereupon they began to repair the old ruinated Churches and to build new throughout his Dominions this King turning his Royal Palace at Canterbury into the Church of Christ and that City the seat of his Kingdom into a Bishops See and bestowing them on Augustine who converted him and his subjects to Christianity whom he made Archbishop of Canterbury and endowed wiih large Possessions Not long after divers other Saxon Kings and their subjects being converted and baptized built and endowed sundry other Churches both with Glebes and Possessions of good value and likewise with Tithes And in Anno 854. Aethelwolf King of the West-Saxons considering the perillous times then fallen upon him and his Realm by reason of the burnings of the Wars the Plunders of the Goods the devastations of the Territories of his Kingdom by the most cruel depredations of barbarous Enemies and Pagan Nations and the manifold Tribulations afflicting
Jacob for ever c. Luke 1.32 33. Ezech 27.22 24. Jer 23.4 5. c. 33.14 15 16. even as all the regenerated Sons of God are by their Right of Son-ship and new-birth in like sort intituled to the Kingdom of heaven whence they are stiled HEIRS and INHERITORS OF THE KINGDOM Jam 2.5 Gal 3.27 Rom 8.17 Titus 3.17 Heb 1.14 chap 6.17 1 Pet 3.7 Mat 25.34 and this Kingdom THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS Col 1.12 Ephes 1.11 14 18. 1 Pet 1.4 Acts 20.32 an unanswerable argument that Heirship and Birthright is the Best Surest Justest Honorablest Lawfullest Title of all other to Crowns Kingdoms and Possessions on earth being the very Title of Christ himself to his everlasting Kingship Kingdom and of the Saints in and by Christ to the Kingdom of heaven it self and Crown of Glory so the Seat Throne of this his Kingdom is said to be in Zion and Jerusalem most emphatically expressed Isa 24.23 The Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem before his Ancients gloriously A type of the Church of God under the Gospel first planted in Jerusalem and propagated from thence throughout the world according to the Prophecies Isa 2.3 Micah 4.2 Whence the Church under the Gospel is called the New Jerusalem c. Rev. 3.12 chap. 21.2 10. Gal 4.26 Heb 12.22 2. That the Ministers of and under the Gospel are expresly stiled in these Prophecies Priests and Levites several times 3. That their Office under the Gospel in a mystical sense is to offer Burnt-offerings to bake or kindle Meat-Offerings to do Sacrifices continually and to Minister unto God 4. That these Priests and Levites should be taken out of the converted Gentiles and Isles afar off whereof our Isle was chief 5. That these Priests and Levites should never fail cease nor want a man under the Gospel and that God would multiply them as the Host of Heaven as well as the Seed of David 6. That they should convert and bring their brethren for an offering out of all Nations and the Isles afar off to Gods Mountain and House in Jerusalem as the children of Israel used to bring their offerings thither Since therefore the Ministers of the Gospel in these prophecies are thus expresly stiled Priests and Levites and are to offer Burnt-Offerings Meat-Offerings Sacrifices and Oblations to God in his Mountain and House at Jerusalem c. under David their King in an Evangelical sence without any Judaism or denying of Christs coming in the flesh they may undoubtedly in the self-same sence and Right receive all Glebes Tithes Oblations and other dues from Christians and converted Jews under the Gospel which the Priests and Levites did at Jerusalem under King David and his Successors seeing they succeed them in their Office in an Evangelical sence according to these prophecies which as strongly confirm the Maintenance of their Priestly Function and their Tithes as their Evangelical Priesthood 7. Although Christ his Apostles and the Ministers of the Gospel in the Primitive times whiles the Church was in the Wilderness under grievous bloudy Antichristian Kings Magistrates Persecutors by reason of the present persecution neither did nor could receive Tithes and Glebes for their Maintenances from the persecuted Christians and therefore were necessitated to live by private Contribution and extraordinary wages in that case of extremity yet it no way follows that therefore all Ministers of the Gospel afterwards shall and must do so in setled Kingdoms States Nations converted to the faith where Kings Magistrates People do all generally embrace professe the Gospel where Churches are established and Ministers Glebes Tithes are or may be confirmed by setled Laws which I shall irrefragably prove by these instances 1 The Priests and Levites under the Law had no Glebes nor Tithes at all whiles the Israelites wandred 40 years together in the wildernesse though they had then a Law and right to receive them Will the Objectors thence inferre Therefore they ought to have no Tithes nor Glebes when the Israelites were possessors of and setled in the land of Canaan in peace when they enjoyed both without dispute 2. The Priests and Levites had no Tithes nor Glebes in the Realm of Israel under the Vsurper Jeroboam and his Idolatrous successors who deprived them of their possessions Cities Suburbs Tithes and Priests Office too 2 Chron. 11.13 14. c. 13.9 Therefore the Priests and Levites in the Kingdom of Iudah might not lawfully claim nor enjoy any Glebes or Tithes nor Ministers under the Gospel nor yet those in Israel under David and Solomon who were no Persecutors but Patrons of them 3. When both these Kingdoms with their Priests and Levites were carried away captives into Assyria and Babylon the Priests and Levites during the 70 years capivity enjoyed neither Glebes nor Tithes Will it thence follow Therefore they might lawfully enjoy neither after their restitution to their Country and execution of their Priestly Function and the re-edifying of the Temple as we read they did Neh 10.38 c. 12.44 c. 13.1 to 13. Whence the people were charged with robbing of God when they neglected to pay Tithes and Oblations to them Mal. 3.7 8 9 10. 4. Christ himself so soon as born was forced to fly out of his Country into Aegypt by bloudy Herod and to remain there till after his death Mat 2.13 14 15. After which he complained That Foxes had holes and Birds of the ayr nests yet he had not where to lay his head Mat 8.20 Luke 9.58 And at last he was apprehended mocked reviled crowned with thorns crucified by the malicious Iews and SOLDIERS who parted his Garments among them and cast Lots upon his Vesture The Evangelists closing up the Tragedy of his Passion with this perpetual brand upon the Domineering cruel soldiers These things therefore the Soldiers did Iohn 19.24 For which and for reporting a Lye to smother the truth of Christs Resurrection the High Priest Gave large money to the Soldiers Matt. 28.12 15. Will Canne therefore hence conclude Therefore our Soldiers now must force our Ministers to fly into Aegypt till Herods death leave them neither Rectory Personage house nor Vicarige nor yet so much as a Bed Bolster Tithe-Hay or Straw whereon to lay their heads then nail them to the Crosse peirce their sides with their spears-points revile deride them and at last part not only all their Glebes Tithes Goods but their very Garments and Gowns between them to make them like our Saviour Surely if they must and shall do so let them beware of another perpetual memento like the former These things therefore the Souldiers did So the Souldiers took the money and did as they were taught by Canne and Popish Priests and Jesuites 5. The Apostles who succeeded our Saviour in those dayes of persecution were thus handled by Pauls own relation 1 Cor. 4.9 c. We are made a spectacle unto the world unto Angles and to men we are fools for Christs sake we are weak
beneficial to others than that of Souldiers and Commanders for they are the very Embassadors of God himself and Jesus Christ the King and Lord of glory the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Prince of the Kings of the earth and only Potentate to whom all other Powers and knees must bow beseeching men in Christs stead to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5 20. The Ministers servants messengers of Jesus Christ workers together with him Stewards of the mysteries of God and the glory of Christ 1 Cor 4.1 2. 2 Cor 6.1 8.23 2 Tim 2.24 imployed to preach to sinfull men the unsearchable riches of Christ to turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Eph 3.8 Acts 26.18 to rescue their souls from the slavery and power of sin Satan hell death everlasting damnation and make them the sons of God heirs and coheirs with Christ of everlasting glory and felicity in Gods heavenly Kingdom through the power of Gods Grace and Spirit working in with by and through their Ministry on their hearts Now the calling of a Souldier though it be honourable and in some cases lawfull and necessary if rightly managed yet it is for the most part sinfull hurtfull pernicious dangerous unbeseeming the Gospel in respect of the cause managing abuses thereof it being accompanied with murther violence rapine treachery perjury sacrilege cruelty inhumanity profaneness blasphemy contempt of God of all sacred civil Laws and Ordinances ambition treason and the worst of sins tending usually like an overflowing Deluge to the subversion desolation ruine of whole Families Cities Countries Kingdoms Churches yea Mankinde it self Religion Lawes Liberties Properties turning whole famous Cities into ashes and Kingdoms into Golgothaes Acheldamaes fields of bloud and dead mens sculs yea very wildernesses as the Scripture Histories and experience manifest Hence God styles great Warriers and Armies The rod of his anger the Battel-Axe with which he breaketh in pieces the Nations destroyeth Kingdoms and treadeth them down like the mire in the streets and then at last destroyes them in his wrath when they have executed his judgements for their rapines violence and bloudy cruelty Isa 10.5 c. Jer. 50.1 to 48. c. 51.20 c. They being really carried on from one war to another out of vainglory ambition covetousness a mad humour of false greatness nullus supra caeteros eminendi modus in sua fata pariter ac publica to their own and the publick ruine yet still under a pretext of publick good and safety as Seneca excellently writes in his 94 Epistle a piece worth the reading of Alexander the great Caesar Pompey Marius qui cum omnia concuterent concutiebantur cum multis fuerunt Authores mali pestiferam illam vim qua plerosque nocuerunt ipsi quoque sentiunt Indeed the Profession of a Souldier even in the best of men and warres is so full of danger pollution that it leaves some scarrs of sin and tincture of pollution on them however they demean themselves Whence we read that though David were a man after Gods own heart and fought the battels of the Lord against his professed enemies by his special command with constant success yet God would by no means permit him to build an house and Temple to him for this very reason Because he had been a man of Warr and made great Battels and shed much Blood upon the Earth in his sight And the 12000. Israelites who by Gods special command went up to war against the Midianites and slew them returning with victory and great spoils without the loss of one man though treble their number when as they came back from the war were all of them whosoever had killed any person or touched any slain enjoyned by God and Moses to remain without the Camp seven dayes and to purifie themselves on the third and seventh day as unclean and polluted persons Numb 31.1 17 19 20. and all the Officers and Captains of hundreds and thousands in the host brought an oblation what every man had gotten of Jewels of Gold Chaines Bracelets Rings Ear-rings and Tablets to make an Oblation for their souls before the Lord v. 48 49 50. Such a stain and guilt was there adhering to their War-like calling in this best of Warrs against Gods professed idolatrous enemies And may not all Officers Souldiers whatsoever then justly fear finde a deeper guilt of sin and stain of blood than was in David or those Officers and Souldiers adhering to their persons profession in our unnatural uncivil Wars even with and against their very Christian nearest dearest Kings Brethren Friends Kindred Neighbours of the self-same reformed Protestant Religion and thereupon make the like or a far richer oblation than they did out of their spoils and gains by Warr as an attonement for their Souls in stead of provoking God and encreasing their guilt by seeking to spoil his faithfull Ministers of their long enjoyed maintenance In all these 6. particulars wherein the calling of Ministers excells in merit that of common Souldiers Captains and Officers of War both in respect of time studie costs labour diligence parts danger honour excellencie use profit and necessitie to which I might add that the Ministers frequent tears prayers in times of War and Judgements are far more prevalent beneficial victorious than the Souldiers Arms besides their constant use and benefit in daies of peace when Souldiers are needless useless I referr it to the unprejudiced judgements consciences of all rational Christian men and Souldiers themselves whether our faithfull preaching Ministers be not worthie of as large as liberal as constant setled honourable coercive a maintenance from the people as any Souldiers Officers Captains Collonels Majors or Major Generals whatsoever if not a better larger salarie and reward than they enjoy for the premised reasons when as yet some ordinarie Soldiers Troopers receive as much or more pay by the year as many of our godly Ministers and every Ancient Serjeant Lieutenant as much as the most and best beneficed Ministers and most Captains Collonels Majors five or six times more than our ablest best deserving Ministers and some general Army-Officers have received gained more monie lands wealth in few moneths or years space at least than hundreds of our most meritorious Ministers put together can gain in all their lives by their Ministry How then can they tax them as covetous oppressive yea as caterpillars of the people by their Tithes and Duties for receiving only 30 40 50 80 100 200 or 300 l. a year and very few of them more or so much from the people by an antient right paid once a year when as they receive ten times more from the impoverished people and at least the tenth part or more of all our poor Ministers livings by monthly enforced contributions and yet will neither give them the Tenthes of their pay and spoyles of Warr as Abraham and others did Gen 14.10
every man duly giving alms doth as he ought to do and so he that giveth Tithes They are their expresse words 3. Whereas they allege That neither doth debt utterly exclude the purity of Alms before God and that it is no argument that if the Curate doe perform his corporal Ministry that hee ought therefore to challenge Tithes by any civil title Because that as well on the behalf of him that giveth the Tithes as also in the behalf of the Curate every such Ministry ought freely to be given and not by any civil exchange I conceive it both a fallacy and errour in them being a just debt which may be demanded by a Divine and Civil right too when and where setled by a civil law though freely to be given to the Minister without coercion or sute of Law both in point of conscience and by way of civil exchange too out of a civil compact or contract 4. This opinion that Tithes were pure almes and not due To Ministers by a divine right JVRE JVSTITIAE was first introduced by the Friers MENDICANTS to gain them to themselves and to exempt themselves and their Lands from payment of them as Mr. Selden proves Therefore to be rejected as Antichristian And thus much in confirmation of the first Proposition and refutation of all Arguments I yet know made against it CHAP. II. I Now proceed to the proof of the 2. Proposition wherein the Hinge and Marrow of the Controversie concerning Tithes is included That the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel and of Places Houses for Gods publick worship by Tithes Glebes Oblations yea by spoyls won in battel by Generals Collonels Captains Soldiers is not only lawfull expedient but the most fitting rational convenient Maintenance of all other warranted by direct Precepts Precedents both before and under the Law which doth no waies abolish condemn but approve and confirm this way of Maintenance Before ever the Levitical or Ceremonial Law was instituted as the godly Patriarchs built Altars and Houses for publick worship unto God Gen. 4.3 4. c. 8.20 c. 12.7 8. c. 13.4 18. c. 22.9 c. 26.25 c. 28.20 21 22. c. 33.20 35.1 3 7. So they likewise gave Tithes to the Priests of God The very law of Nature engraven in their hearts before any written Moral or Ceremonial law dictating thus much to them That as there was a God who created them in whom they lived moved and had their being so likewise this God was to be solemnly worshipped by them as well in publick as private by way of homage gratitude and bounden dutie Psal 95.1 to 8. Ps 100.1 2 3 4. Isa 17.7 8. Acts 17.26 27 28. Which worship of his especially when men multiplied into great and many Families Villages Cities Kingdoms Republicks could not be decently orderly constantly performed in publick without appointing some certain Times and Places of worship some certain holy persons and Priests to discharge the publick duties solemnities of their worship and some convenient certain portion out of their Estates for the maintenance encouragement of those Priests in the execution of their Office on which they were to give attendance Upon which grounds as the Patriarchs before the Law from the very Creation as many Divines infer from Gen 2.2 3. Exod 16.22 to 27. 20.11 31.17 Deut. 5.14 Heb. 4.4 dedicated every seventh day to Gods peculiar worship by his example and prescription so they likewise offered a certain portion of the fruits of their ground Fields Flocks to God in Sacrifice as a Tribute due to him by and from whom they received enjoyed all the rest they had Whence the Scripure expresly records of Cain and Abel the two first-born of the world Gen 4.2 3 4 5. That Cain being a tiller of the ground brought of the fruits of the ground an offering to God and that Abel being a feeder of sheep he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof for an Offering to the Lord as most conceive their father Adam did before them by whose precept and example they did it After them we read that Noah built an Altar unto the Lord and took of every clean beast and of every clean fowl and offered burnt-offerings on the Altar when he went out of the Ark Gen. 8.20 which he and his ancestors from the Creation in all probability usually practised though not specially recorded by Moses no more than many other memorable accidents actions for brevity sake Now these clean Beasts and Fowls which he sacrificed entring into the Ark by sevens that is seven of every sort Gen 7.2 3. he offered one of each kind at least and so one of seven unto God who consecrated reserved one day of seven from the Creation to himself What proportion of their goods Abraham Isaac and Jacob offered on their erected altars in sacrifice to God is not expressed though probably it was such as God afterwards prescribed the Israelites their posterity not long after by his written law in Moses time augmented upon any extraordinary emergent occasion though never diminished from its usual rate And for the Priests encouragement directed by the very dictate of Nature Reason informing them That every Labourer was worthy of some competent hire as Christ resolves Mat. 10.10 Luke 10.17 they pitched upon the tenth of their encrease and gains of every kinde as a competent fitting allowance guided therein by divine inspiration as is most probable if not infallible it being the self-same proportion God himself afterwards prescribed ratified by his own written Law in the Old Testament and approved in the New as I shall manifest by these ensuing Scriptures 1. That Tithes were paid and vowed to God by the religious Patriarchs before the Aaronical Priesthood instituted or Levitical Law given is undeniable by two Scripture instances the first of them is thus recorded Gen 14.17 18 19 20. That Abraham returning victoriously from the slaughter of Chederlaomer and the Kings that were with him Melchisedec King of Salem met him and brought forth bread and wine and he was The Priest of the most High God and he blessed him and said Blessed be Abraham of the most high God possâ—ssor of heaven and earth and blâ—ssed be the most high God which hath delivered thy Enemies into thy hand And he gave him Tenths of all This History is thus recited and amplified in the New Testament Heb. 6.20 7.1 c. Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec King of Salem Priest of the most High God who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom Abraham gave a Tenth part of all first being by interpretation King of righteousness and after that also King of Salem which is King of peace without Father without Mother without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a Priest continually Now consider
the Lord. From all these Scriptures here recited at large for the Readers fuller satisfaction conviction and ease in turning to them these conclusions undeniably arise 1. That the Priests and Levits had by Gods special command precept oft repeated both Cities Houses Suburbs Lands Glebes designed to setled on them by their brethren out of all the other tribes of Israel for their habitation and the keeping feeding of their Cattel Goods Beasts and that in a very large and bountifull proportion And likewise necessary convenient houses chambers lodgings neer the Temple when first built and when re-edified afterwards which refutes the common errour of those ignorant Simpletons and illiterate New-lights who from Numb 18.20 Deut. 10.9 chap. 18.1 2. The Priests the Levites and all the tribe of Levi shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire and his inheritance Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren the Lord is their inheritance as he hath said unto them Conclude That the Priests and Levites amongst the Israelites had no Cities houses lands suburbs or possessions of their own belonging to their Office and were expresly forbidden by God to receive or enjoy any among their brethren And hence inferr That Ministers of the Gospel ought not to enjoy any Rectories Houses Lands or Glebes Whereas all the forecited Scriptures directly record the contrary and the meaning of these seeming repugnant texts is only this That they should have no inheritance amongst their Brethren in such sort and manner as they had set out altogether in one parcel by Joshua and the rest who divided the land amongst the tribes by lot which would have hindred them from their duties but only a subsequent assignment of certain Cities houses and suburbs seattered and divided one from another in and out of every tribes inheritance that so they might perform their offices with more ease and be alwayes ready at hand in every tribe to teach and instruct the people upon all occasions 2. That the inheritance of the Cities houses and suburbs which they enjoyed were not reputed their own proper inheritance though they enjoyed the possession and profits thereof but Gods inheritance as a thing devoted and dedicated unto God himself and therefore stiled by Ezekiel an Oblation unto God and an holy portion as Histories Divines Common Civil and Canon Lawyers stile all our Rectories Church-lands and Glebes with the Charters that first setled them being given and consecrated Deo et Ecclesiae an oblation unto God and the Church 3. That these endowments and Glebes of theirs were called reputed Gods own Portion and Inheritance 1. Because given by his special command and appointment by all the tribes 2. Because originally consecrated devoted to God and to his Priests and Ministers onely in Gods right for his sake 3. Because given to promote Gods worship service glory and for an habitation support to Gods own Priests and Levites imployed wholly in his immediate service 4. That they were expresly prohibited to be sold exchanged or alienated by the Priests Levites or any others because they were reserved by and given unto God himself as an holy Portion and Oblation and to the Priests and Levites for a perpetual possâ—ssion in regard of the perception of the profits the inheritance of them residing only in God himself Therfore not possible to be justly and lawfully sold exchanged or alienated by the Priests Levites or any other mortal Powers whatsoever who could claim no power right property or disposing interest in or over them against Gods own Soveraign and sacred title 5. That these Cities Suburbs Glebes were ratably set out in and by every tribe in an equal proportion according to the multitude or paucity of their Cities as a Tenth of their Cities and lands to which their 48 Cities and Suburbs amounted as some probably conceive And yet besides these 48 Cities there were Houses and Schools of Prophets and Prophets children in nature of our Universities in Bethel and in Jericho 2 Kings 2.3 4 5 7 to 24. chap. 6.1 2 3 4. which were none of these 48 Cities 6. That none of the Kings and Princes of Judah though many of them were Idolatrous wicked and put to great extremities to raise monies to pay their Armies and Tributes to forein Invaders and Conquerors did yet ever attempt to sell or alienate the Cities Suburbs or revenues of the Priests and Levites to maintain their warrs or pay publike Debts or tributes though King Asa Jehoash Hezekiah by way of loan made bold with the Silver and Gold in the treasure of the Lords house in cases of publike extremity which might be and was afterwards re-paid 1 Kings 15.18 cap. 18.15 2 Chron. 16.2 Yea the Scripture expresly records that in the great famine in Aegypt when all others sold their lands to buy bread to King Pharaoh only the Lands of the Priests bought he not For the Priests had a Portion assigned them of Pharaoh and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them wherefore they sold not their Lands Gen. 47.20 to 27. 7. That the Idolatrous usurper Jeroboam out of a carnal fear and policy to keep the people from returning to their rightfull Soveraign and establish the crown on himself and his Posterity was the first man we read of and his Idolatrous sons and successors after him who cast out Gods Priests and Levites out of their offices and then out of their Cities Suburbs and Possessions which he enforced them to desert though we read not that they sold them to maintain their Warrs or pay Soldiers arrears who thereupon repaired to Jerusalem to Rehoboam the right heir and after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem to enjoy Gods Ordinances strengthned Rehoboam and his kingdom against this persecuting usurper 2 Chron. 11.13 to 18. 8. That this his casting out of the Priests and Levites from their Offices and Pâ—ssâ—ssions making Priests of the lowest of the People and suffering every one that would to consecrate himself a Priest without a lawfull call is objected against Jeroboam by Abijah as a very high crime and provocation against God and the maintaining encouraging of Gods lawfull Priests and Levites in their Offices and setled possessions alleged by him as a certain argument of Gods presence with him and so with any other King and people and of victory successe in conclusion against sacrilegious Usurpers 9. That when Gods lawfull Priests and Levites are deprived of their Glebes and Possessions we must presently expect a base contemptible time-serving Idolatrous ignorant Priestood Jeroboams Golden Calves with their new Feasts and Sacrifices and a universal inundation of Idolatry wickedness prophanness to ensue with all the forementioned calamities which befell Ieroboams Army adherents subjects Person Family Kingdom which the Lord now set home on all our hearts that we may