Ages but this was still a time when the Church was subject to persecution and dangers and many poor and so a necessity to live in Societies as the people of God did in those dayes a full answer you have in my Justification of Tythes to belong to Christ and his Ministers Hom. 23. ad Epist 1. a Cor. â— in cap. 16 Ambros Tom. 5. Serm. in Ascenti Domini by Divine right and yet all places were not in like condition even in those times Now Sir you proceed forward and bring in Hierom and Chrysostome who you say did press payment of Tythes and Ambrose Bishop of Millan about the year 400 after Christ pressed the payment of Tythes Anthony Peirson's case And page 5. Augustine say you in Sermon de tempore in Tom. 10. This is the just custome of the Lord that if thou dost not give the Tenth to him thou shall be called to the Tenth thy self And after Decimae ex debito requiruntur tythes are required as due debt you add Leo Severine and Gregory Mr. Bourn's answer Thus you have now alledged divers Antients who do not only declare for payment of tythes but for payment of them by Divine right or as a duty Gregory's judgement was that the tenth of all was to be given to God as many others and truly any man that rightly considers the Histories of the Church and what is written by the Antients may see clearly that howsoever in the beginning and dangerous times tythes were not pressed for weighty Reasons as I have shewed in my Defence page 44 yet so soon as ever the Church came to a settlement and they were more free from persecution tythes were preached and pressed and payed as a duty not as alms or liberal devotions as you would make men believe Anthony Peirson's case Again page 6. he affirms that from the opinions of these and other antient Fathers who took their ground as he thinks from the Law tythes were brought into the Church but not received as a general Doctrine that Tythes ought to be payed till about 800 years after Christ Mr. Bourn's answer First how know you that these antient Fathers took their ground out of the Law that Tythes ought to be pay'd as if it had been the Levitical Law only why might they not take their ground long before that Law even from that payment of Tythes by Abraham to Melchizedeck the Priest of the most high God and from Jacobs Vow and what Christ spake and his Apostles writ in the Gospel and Epistles especially that to the Hebrews chap. 7. I am sure some of the Fathers do alledge arguments from divers of these See my Book pag. 59 60 61 62 c. and so it might be from a light to the conscience that Tythes are Gods part and Christs right for maintenance of his worship and service hence might press the payment of them For what you say that the Doctrine was not received till the 800 year certain it doth not appear but the contrary for many Writers before that time did assert the payment of Tythes and that as a due yea by Divine right as I have declared in my Defence of Tythes read my Book with Doctor Slater and Doctor Tilseley his Animadversions on Mr. Seldens History and others Anthony Peirson's case In his 7. page and following he endeavours to prove That Tythes belonged to the Poor above 800 900 1000 years after Christ and that the Clergy was not to use them as their own and people had more willing mind to give them for the poor than the Priests but after in the year 1274. there was a Law that people should not give them at their pleasures but to the Church this by Pope Gregory Mr. Bourn's answer I answer that before that time there were amongst the people divers things out of order it was some reason till Ministers of the Gospel were setled people should have more liberty to pay their Tythes where they pleased but yet they were paid and due to be paid long before that time and that Law was good by whomsoever it was made That Tythes should be payed to the Church where Ministers were setled to preach the Gospel or to be pay'd to them for their labour in the Word and Doctrine which was most agreeable to the Divine Institution Peirson's Case Now page 8 9. c. Peirson brings History to witness payment of Tythes I shall not trouble the Reader saith he with a relation of Joseph of Arimathea coming into Brittain sent by Phillip the Apostle in the Reign of Arviragus as History reports he about the year 600 of Augustine the Monk who came and preached the Gospel in this Land and when they had brought a great part of the Nation to the Faith they began to preach up the old Romish Doctrine that Tythes ought to be paid c. Mr. Bourn's answer For answer I desire the Reader to observe he relates indeed the story of Joseph Arimathea coming into Brittain to preach the Gospel but he leaveth out the History of that gift of Gleab lands in those dayes at Glassenbury for the maintenance of them that preached the Gospel yet he confesseth that when the people were converted to the Faith then they pressed the payment of Tythes this saith he about 600 years after Christ and yet he saith they began to preach the old Romish Doctrine that Tythes ought to be pay'd I would ask first how old the doctrine of payment of Tythes was at Rome 600 years after Christ if it was an old doctrine within 600 years after Christ certain then it was in or near the Primitive times as indeed it was in some places long before the Pope or the universal Bishop of Rome was born for Origen speaks of the payment of Tythes who lived near the Primitive times about 200 after Christ as I have shewed in my Justification of Tythes read page 59 60. Secondly I demand why old Romish Doctrine for Hierom was not Bishop of Rome and yet he approveth of Tythes and Augustine Bishop of Hippo in Alexandria and divers in other places in those times writ of Tythes as due to be paid and due by divine Right but he would fain make Tythes Romish that he might make them odious though they were thought by the Lord the best way to maintain his servants for his worship and service and indeed are Gods right and Christs right for the maintenance of his Ministers to the end of the world Anthony Peirson's case Anthony Peirson goeth on page 9. c. As concerning Laws saith he for Tythes in the year 786. of a King of Merceland and Elswolph King of Northumberland made Decrees that those two Kingdoms should pay Tythes And Ethelwolf King of the West Saxons in the year 855. made a Law that the Tythe of all his own Land should be given to God and he tells us out of the History that at that time the Nation being under heavy pressure by
Christ and the Petitions delivered to many Parliaments by that Generation of men poor deceived souls confirm this to the full But the Lord hath yet put it into the heart of the Parliament not to destroy but to defend the Faithful and Godly Ministers of the Gospel and their just Maintenance established both by the Laws of God and the Land for which let us praise God and pray to the Lord still to be so present with them as to guide and rule their hearts that our wise Senatours may rather establish and increase the maintenance of the Godly and Faithful Ministers of Christ in the Nation than take away or diminish any part of it for this will be not only for the honour of the Parliament but for the Glory of God and good of the Nation whatsoever seduced Spirits would perswade to the contrary for whom let us pray as Christ did for his Persecutors Father forgive them they know not what they do And my beloved Brethren let us who are the Lords remembrancers give God no rest nor day nor night till he establish his Gospel and Faithful Ministers and their just maintenance and by enabling us by the assistance of his blessed Spirit to perform constantly our duties in our several places that his and our Jerusalem may be made a praise in the earth But if our adversaries the adversaries of the Gospel should prevail against us all should be taken away though they cannot take Christ away nor Heaven away Let us labour to live by Faith and depend upon God who hath provided for many of us when we had lost all preserved our lives when we were in eminent dangers and will preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom In the mean time Honoured and Reverend Brethren let us labour by wisdom and power from Christ to fulfil our Ministry which we have received from the Lord to preach the Word in season and out of season to Catechise and instruct our people in the first Principles of the Oracles of God and this both publickly and from house to house often to confer with them and to build them up and confirm them in the knowledge of Christ that if it please God they may know the Lord as the truth is in Jesus that they may walke as becometh the Gospel of Christ and manifest the truth of their Faith by fruitfulnesse in all good works that they and we may by our holy and righteous lives put to silence the malevolent spirits of all our adversaries and bring forth abundantly like trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that God may be glorified And for our selves especially let us by the Grace of God endeavour the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and although our light be not equal in all respects yet let it be far from us by our divisions to rent in pieces the seamlesse coat of our Lord and Saviour but rather in love enlighten and by our frequent communion strengthen one another that though they speak evil of us as the wicked and deceived souls have done of the Prophets and Apostles yea of Christ himself yet seeing our holy lives faithful performance and discharge of our duties in our Ministerial Office they may be convinced and glorifie God in the day of visitation knowing that if we fight the good fight of Faith and keep the Faith and be faithful to the death there is laid up for us the Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give us at that day and not to us only but to all them that love the Lord Jesus and wait for his appearing Which that we may persevere to do and enjoy is the most humble hearty and daily prayer of London June 18 1659. Your most unworthy Brother and Fellow-Labourer in the work of Christ Immanuel Bourne A Defence Justification OF Ministers Maintenance by Tythes Humane Learning Infant Baptism and The Sword of the Magistrate In a Reply to the Answer of some Anabaptists or Antipedobaptists Declaring their Grounds of Separation For John Darker and Tobias Watson and the Thirty Congregations of Antipedobaptists The blessing of Truth with freedom from Errors and false foundations if it be the will of God in Christ Jesus FRIENDS FOr so I desire you may be in and for Christ hoping better things of some of you and such as accompany salvation although for the present too many of you appear to be Adversaries if not Enemies to the Truth of the Gospel and to the Godly faithful Ministers of Christ in England and in other parts of the Christian world Unto the Paper I sent Novemb. 11. 1658. unto one of you living within the limits of the Town and amongst the People to whom God in his Providence hath called me to preach the Gospel I received your Answer in writing Decemb. 8. in one sheet of paper with a Confession of thirty Congregations and I conceive you have consulted with your Church as you esteem it and other Congregations of your opinions to give answer unto my Demands and it was my desire you should so do that I might know your strongest Arguments or Grounds of your Separation from our Reformed and Reforming Congregations that if it be the will of God I might convince you by the help of the Spirit of Truth of the weakness and error of your Grounds and your eyes might be enlightned to see you have been deceived and now be perâ—waded to return and joyn with our Reformed and Reforming Congregations for your edification in the Truth of the Gospel and good of your Souls which I pray for And friends I have read your Answer and am sorrowful to see such pride of spirit self-conceit and vain boasting That your foundation-principles of the Church of God as you esteem your selves have Scripture proof as clear as the Sun at noon day without the help of Consequences or Illustrations with such rash censurings and uncharitable unchristian expressions telling me I alledge Scripture out of ignorance or weakness and that I am like the Tempter who brought Scripture against Christ and that the old Romish principle groweth still in the hearts of many of us to make Reason to be our Rule and cast away the Scriptures And your comparing me to Popish D. Story in his plea against Philpot the Martyr But whether your vain boasting be a truth or falshood Thil. 1.27 and whether your rash censurings and unchristian charge be as becometh the Gospel of Christ I leave to God and your own better enlightned consciences to judge and the Christian Reader to consider Anabaptists Answ First you say You have received some lines of my writing which I sent you upon the Eleventh of Novemb. and having weighed them in the ballance of the Sanctuary you find them very light Mr. Bourâ—â— Reply To which I reply Certainly you were mistaken it was not the Ballance of the Sanctuary in which you weighed my lines for God requireth his people should have
weak in the Faith receive but not to doubtful Disputations Besides there are several Disputations in print already enough to satisfie Yet if you John Darker would write your Arguments drawn out of the holy Scriptures to prove what you affirmed yesterday as I apprehended you That the godly preaching Ministers in England are all Antichristian and our Reformed and Reforming Churches Babylon and to be departed from and our preaching not to be heard with your hand and the hand of your cheif Teacher I should God willing give you my Answer And to this I subscribed my name Immanuel Bâ—urne For your wresting and misrepresenting my words and opprobrious terms you give me and false consequences you put upon me I have learned not to give reviling speeches for reviling But I may tell you That you raise a false position like a man of straw and then you will father it on me and fight against me for it when it is a Bastard of your own begetting I pardon this also The Anabaptists Answer Then you proceed in a magesterial way and with a high vapour But Sir say you we must let you understand that those foundation-Principles of the Church of God which we suppose you well know would have been the matter of our discourse hath Scripture as clear to prove them as the Sun at noon day without the help of your consequences or illustrations and you set down divers of your grounds or foundation-principles as that God made the Heaven and the earth Gen. 1.1 That all men are sinners Rom. 3.23 That God made men upright Eccles 7.29 That God sent his Son to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 The Resurrection from the dead Joh. 5.29 Mr. Bourns Reply For Reply These are plain Truths and full proof without consequence But these Truths are not in controversie between us But now you come to shuffle in matters of controversie amongst the rest like a man that mingles corrupt wares among good the more easily to sell them and deceive the people As it follows in your Answer The Anabaptists Answer If I would dispute say you that the subjects of baptism are men and women and Repentance and Faith go before to fit them for it it is clear without dubiousness Act. 8.12.37 and 2.38 And you further tell me The Ana ∣ baptists Grounds of Separa ∣ tion That to satisfie my desire to know the grounds of your Separation and why you look upon us as none of the Church of Christ or Ministers of the Gospel for which in the whole you give three Reasons First Reason 1 Because as you conceive we frame not our Church of right materials that is as you explain your self not of men and women of riper years converted but of Infant children who can make no profession of Faith or Repentance Secondly Reason 2 A second ground is Because as you dream we walk in parallel with those the Scripture speaketh of who make merchandise of the word of God for which you name divers places of Scripture Micah 3.11 Ezek. 22 26 c. Jer. 5.30 31. and 23.14 15. Phil. 3.18 All which you wrest and most falsly apply to the godly faithful Ministers of Christ in England which most truly may be applied to your selves as I have proved at full and made ready to have sent you though now I shall not trouble the Press with it being nothing but your fals Quaking scandal and the like to be retorted upon you which I conceive is unchristian like Reason 3 Your third Reason or Ground of Separation is Because as your opinion is our Church standeth upon these four sandy Pillars or Popish foundations Four sandy Pillars 1. Humane Learning 2. Say you Baptizing as you call it but Rantizing or rather cousening of Babes in their cradles take away that say you and you would have no Church 3. Your Tythes or forced Maintenance the wages of unrighteousness say you after which you all run astray take away that and preach who will 4. The Magistrates sword which the Priests have run to in many Generations take away that say you which hath ever been the fundamental of your livelihood and then you would be in danger of starving amongst them whom you call Christians Mr. Bourâ—â— Reply Now I see friends you have changed your method for before your first ground was admission of Infants to be members by baptism of our Churches And in your four sandy pillars you put Humane Learning before Infant Baptism I shall in like manner take liberty to change your method and for my Reply begin first with that which is your third sandy Pillar or popish Foundation as you may please to term it and this is our Tythes or forced maintenance which you call the wages of unrighteousness Because it is so much opposed and spoken against by too many in these times who are not onely adversaries to Ministers Maintenance by Tythes but to the Ministery it self First let us look into the Book of God even from the Creation read Genes ch 1. 2. and you shall find That howsoever the Lord the Creator of heaven and earth the chief Lord of all the world did and hath entrusted Adam and Eve and their sons and daughters with the keeping and possession of inferior creatures and dominion over them and with the fruits of the earth and the increase thereof yet the Lord hath reserved a twofold right yet in the creature First general over all the world and the kingdoms of the earth and goods therein to dispose of them when and where and to whom he pleaseth This the Scripture witnesseth at full He gave the land of Canaan to the seed of Abraham Gen. 15.18 And Hanna tells us that the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich he bringeth low and lifteth up 1 Sam. 27.8 And the Psalmist tels us The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Psal 24.1 So the Psalmist again bringeth in God himself speaking All the beasts of the forrest are mine and so are the cattel upon a thousand hills and if I were hungry I would not tell thee for the world is mine and the fulness thereof as is expressed Psal 50.10 12. And the word of the Lord to Jeremiah from the Lord Thus shall ye say I have made the heaven and the earth the man and the beast that are upon the ground by my great power and by my outstretched arm and have given it to whomsoever it seemed meet unto me And now I have given all these lands into the hands of the king of Babylon my servant as you may find recorded Jer. 27.5 6. This Daniel declares in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the high tree in the midst of the earth which was decreed to be cut down The decree was for bringing down Nebuchadnezzar himself till he did know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will Witness Daniel ch 4.25 Thus hath God a general right over all the world and
and his Ministers by Divine right and this was two hundred years before the Pope or Antichrist of Rome was born But I might go on with a long Catalogue of antient Writers to the rising of Antichrist yea and since that Antichrist of Rome did exalt himself and give evidence from many godly men in several ages who have witnessed and confirmed by divers arguments the Divine right of Tythes as due to Christ's faithful Ministers in the Gospel by Divine right But I commend those that desire to see many more testimonies D. Tillesley in his Animad on M. Seldens hist of Tythes to that excellent Catalogue composed by learned Dr. Tillesley wherein he produceth about Threescore witnesses that assert the Divine right of Tythes or give arguments to that purpose That they have been and ought to be so paid And I might add the judgement of the godly learned of later times But these before Antichrist's time are sufficient to witness Tythes are not Antichristian nor any popish invention whatsoever the Quakers or Anabaptists or others imagine to the contrary But when did Antichrist arise Object 1 Joh. 2.18 may some demand Doth not St. John say there were many Antichrists in his time 1 John 2.18 I answer It is true the Apostle doth witness that there were then many Antichrists and so there are now many Antichrists many adversaries to Christ and his Ministers now in the world Those malignant Quakers who plot and labor the overthrow of the Gospel established Ministery what are they but the spawn of Antichrist Rev. 16.13 and creeping frogs out of the mouth of the Beast of the Dragon and the false Prophet But the Apostle in the same Chapter and the same verse 1 Joh. 2.18 he spake of another Antichrist that Antichrist that principal Antichrist whom St. Paul describes 2 Thess 2.3 4. The man of sin the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God or as if he were God we may say suffering himself by his flatterers to be called God as some Popes have done that scarlet coloured Beast full of names of Blasphemy As Jewel against Harding proveth to whom the ten Kings give their power and strength to fight against the Lamb Christ as Antichrist and the whore of Babylon is decyphered Rev. 17. Rev. 17.1 2 c. This Antichrist did not arise until about six hundred years after Christ Gregory the Great 600 years after Christ We read of Gregory the Great who was Bishop of Rome about the year six hundred that he foretold whosoever he was that should take unto him the name and title of Universal Bishop he was either Antichristus or praecursor Antichristi Antichrist or the forerunner of Antichrist and this was fulfilled in his next Successor Boniface the Third For when that peremptory proud Centurion Phocas Phocas killed Mauritius the Emperor about 600 years after Christ The papacy began as the great Autichrist had wickedly and treacherously killed his Lord and Master the Emperor Mauritius then Boniface the Third being Bishop of Rome by the countenance of the Murderer Phocas did take upon him that Antichristian name and title of Universal Bishop So fulfilling the the Prophesie of Gregory the Great his Predecessor And this pride of papal dignity his successors imbrace as well as he then laboring by all means to exalt the Papacy yet many hundred years after yea and to this day God preserved some holy men to preserve the Truth and to defend Gods right and the right of his servants As in the days of Ahab and Jezabel God had seven thousand in Israel which had not bowed the knee to Baal Divers Councils confirmed and good Laws were enacted to maintain the Divine right of tythes I shall omit the Councils and give you an antient Law or two for this purpose First King Ethelstan a King of this land about nine hundred and thirty years after Christ by the advice of his Council at that time I do command all my chief Officers saith he in all my Kingdom in the name of the Lord that first of my own proper estate they give the tenth to God as well in my living goods as in the dead fruits of the earth and the same he requires his Bishops Aldermen and others to do Thus he doth as out of conscience acknowledge Gods due And that Law of King Edward the Confessor The Laws of K. Edw. the Confescited pag. 224. 1050 years after Christ who lived about a thousand and fifty years after Christ six hundred years since De omni decima garba Deo debita est ideo reddenda c. Of all the corn the tenth sheaf is due to God and therefore to be paid And if any one hath a flock of Mares he is to give the tenth Foal and if he have but one or two he shall give for every one a penny and he that shall have many Kine he shall give the tenth Calf and he that hath but one or two he shall give for every one a half-penny And he that maketh cheese let him give God the tenth and if he make none then the milk the tenth day likewise the tenth Lamb the tenth Fleece and of Bees the tenth of the profit and so of lesser Tythes of Boss Gardens and other things And this Law you see doth witness Tythes due to God by divine right many hundred years since to let pass Statutes made of later years but I cannot pass over that of Sir Edward Coke that learned Judge and famous Oracle of the Law who affirms That in the very body of the antient Common Law of England Tythes are due Jure Divino by Divine Right and we have declared they were so judged for the first six hundred years after Christ and after that again until the time of King Edward the Confessor about a thousand and fifty years after Christ When the Pope would appropriate Tythes to Abbies ben began the opinion that Tythes were not due by Divine Right the same opinion continued in the Church But after that the Popes of Rome began to be more politick to maintain their own greatness by enlarging the maintenance of their Abbots Monks and Fryers in the Monasteries of several orders devised to maintain the Popes great ness not content with those Lands which out of fair pretence were given to them by men and women religiously Gratian c. 3 q. 2. Leo 4. Cited by D. Carleton in Tythes examined and some superstitiously affected but seeking also to get the Tythes from the particular Parish Ministers to whom they were antiently setled as their proper right which was done in part by Dionysius Bishop of Rome about two hundred and seventy years after Christ Mr. Hanmer his Cronography pag. 577. Jo Canne his second voice from the Temple which was many
them away from God and the right use and end the Donor gave them what can it be less then the sin of sacrilege And upon this ground and reason I believe was the gift of King Lucius Lucius king of Britain Dr. Vsher his British Antiq. and his endowment of Churches both with Glebe-lands and Tythes within or near two hundred years after Christ besides all the practice of holy men converted to the faith then and in succeeding ages And what other can we conceive of that Donation of Pipin King of France the son of Charls Martel that Church-robber certainly out of conscience they were Gods due and belonging to the Ministers of the Gospel he did restore those tythes which he and Charls his father had taken away Dr. Tilsley his Animadvers p. 64 65 66. So Dr. Tilsley in his Record of the History of Charls Martels Sacrilege and Animadversions upon Mr. Selden's History of Tythes observes This King Pipin lived about eight hundred years after Christ Molanus de sanctis Belgii In 18 Octo. bris in vita Monen and royally gave the tythe he had between Lesche and Ourt to Monon that blessed man who was slain for his profession of Christ But what need I travel beyond sea for proof That excellent example of King Ethelwolph the Son of King Egbert a King of this land of the Saxon race who brought the Heptarchie or Sevenfold Kingdom of the Saxons into a Monarchy this King Ethelwolph having received the Christian Faith he had by his conquest all the lands in England for his Demesn as is acknowledged by that learned Judge and judicious Lawyer Sir Edward Coke in his Commentary upon Littleton and conferred the Tythes of all his Kingdom upon the Church by his Royal Charter Sir Ed Coke his com on Littleâ—on Sir H. Spel. com 85. dated in the year of Christ Eight hundred fifty five related in these words King Ethelwolph by the consent of his Prelates and Princes which ruled in England under him in their several Provinces did enrich the Church of England with Tythes of all his lands and goods by his Charter Royal c. Adding in the end That whoso should increase that gift God would please to prosper and increase his days But if any should presume to diminish the same An item against Sacriledge or sundry Queries concerning Tythes printed 1653. that he should be called to an account for it at Gods Judgement seat c. And this he did not onely as Lord Paramount but as Proprietary of the whole land the Lord and great men having no propiety or estates of permanency but as accountants to the King whose the whole land was and yet they also gave their free consents which the King required that thereby they might be barred from pleading any Tenant right as also to oblige them to stand in the maintenance of Tythes against all pretenders that might come in after-time Here you see was a free and full donation of all the Tythes of England unto God and to the Church of Christ for the maintenance of the Gospel and Gospel-Ministery and this no doubt out of conscience informed by the word of God that they were due to them by Divine Right Now if all the Tythes of England be be God's First by reservation as his own proper right Secondly God's by dedication and consecration unto him for his service Rev. 20.12 Then I desire that men would enquire into the Book of Conscience which one day shall be opened and be fully resolved whether to take away Tythes from their proper use for which God and good men did give them be not horrid Sacriledge Mal. 3.8 that dreadful sin which subjects men to the wrath and curse of God To quicken your meditation upon this case of Conscience now consciene hath so much liberty and to move it to look within doors and truly to see if it know its own face let me mind you of some few examples of Gods direful Judgements against this sin of Sacriledge First Gen. 3.132 3 4 5 c. We have all cause to remember the sacriledge of our first parents in taking of Gods reserved part the forbidden tree for which they were driven out of Paradise and they and all their posterity subject to death and the curse of God yea Gen. 3.15 all miseries in this life and the life to come had not God given the seed of the woman Christ our Savior to break the serpents head and make our peace with the blood of his cross Col. 1.20 had not God in his unspeakable love in Christ reconciled us unto himself as the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 5.19 yea by the death of his son Rom 5.10 without which we were all the children of wrath as well as others Ephes 2.3 Eph. 2.3 Secondly And what need I rehearse that judgement of God that fell upon sacrilegious Achan Josh 7.1 2 3 4 c. yea that great affliction that fell upon the Army of Israel for Achan's sin First the Army of Israel did flie before the men of Ai vers 4. And Achan his sons his daughters Jos 24 25 all he had were stoned with stones and burnt with fire for that sin Thirdly Sacrilegious Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar his son 2 Chro. 38.18 Dan. 5.1 2 3 c. the Father took away all the consecrated Vessels of the house of God and brought them to Babylon and the Son Belshazzar he repented nor of his Fathers sacriledge but prophaned those holy vessels in his drunken Feasts and what was his punishment God smites him on a sudden with trembling terror and amazement his knees smite one against another and the joynts of his loyns are loosed the hand-writing upon the wall witnesseth an end of his life and Kingdom he was weighed in the ballance and found wanting and that night was Belshazzar slain and Darius the Median took the Kingdom Dan. 5.31 Fourthly How sudden and fearful the death of Ananias and Saphira was Act. 5.1 2 3 4 c. I related before Fifthly King Herod committed Sacriledge in robbing God of his honor taking that glory to him him which was due to God and you may read both his sin and judgement The Angel of God did strike him that he was eaten of wormes and gave up the ghost Act. 12. Act. 12.23 Sixthly In particular the sin of Sacriledge in taking away of the Tythes the tenth part which is Gods part Mal. 3.8 it was to be cursed with a curse a fearful curse Mal. 3. Seventhly If we proceed to the antient History of the Church and Records of latter times wherein the acts of Gods providence and his works of Judgement are registred we may finde too great a number of sacrilegious persons and fearful judgements to be their portion 1. I shall onely name that wicked Emperor that Apostate Julian Socrat. Ecel Hist lib. 3. cap. 12 14 16 â—7â— â—8
Tongues at Babels building Gen. 11. we lost those Original Languages of Hebrew and Greek in which it pleased the holy Ghost the holy Scriptures should be written for our Learning Rom. 15.4 that we through patience comfort of them might have hope And although God did miraculously bestow the gift of Tongues to the Apostles and others in the Primitive times as we read Acts 2.4 yet that gift is not now obtained without mens teaching and much labour and industry And had it not been for humane learning how could you have had the Holy Bible translated into the English Tongue or how could you spell or read or write English or have gotten any measure of that knowledge you pretend to have I will easily grant that if you had been trained up in the Universities and had as much Learning Divine and Humane and as much Grace and natural parts and gifts of God as Gods faithful Ministers have you might preach as well as we and as lawfully too if you had as lawful a Call and Ordination to the ministerial Office and therefore whatsoever high thoughts you have of your selves you are but meer intruders and furtherers of the Kingdom of antichrist of errours Mat. 13.25 in stead of Truths which such Teachers do sow as the envious man did tares amongst the good wheat of Christ The Lord open your eyes to see your presumptuous sin if it be his will Thus I have said sufficient for Reply to your third sandy Pillar and Popish foundation of Humane Learning which may much rather be charged upon your selves as favourers of antichrist The Triumph of Learning by R. B. B. D. Fellow of Trin. Col. in Cam. 1653. Mr. Hall Pulpit guarded the 3 Edition and many Popish errours broached amongst you by divers of your Society But if you would see more to convince you of your erroneous opinion of Humane Learning and your unlawful practise of preaching at unfit times and unfit places to oppose and withdraw from the godly Sermons of Gods faithful Ministers Read those Books of the Advancement and Triumph of Learning over Ignorance and Truth over Falshood written by Mr. Boreman and others And the Pulpit guarded written by Learned Mr. Hall occasioned by a dispute with a Nayler a Baker a Plow-wright and a Weaver publick Preachers nibled at but yet not answered nor can be to justifie your practices whatsoever you or any of your company pretend to the contrary A DEFENCE of the Sword of the Magistrate Anabapt Answer Fourth sandy Pillar and Popish Foundation I Am now at last come to your last Sandy Pillar and Popish Foundation which so much troubleth you and causeth you to separate from our Reformed and Reforming Congregations and this is you say The Sword of the Magistrate which say you the Priests have in all generations run unto Take that away and then you tell us we would be in danger to starve amongst those we call Christians Mr. Bourns Reply For Reply I cannot but wonder you should dare to speak against the Magistrates sword since you enjoy such Liberty of Conscience and such Protection under it I had thought Tertullus Oration before Felix might rather have befitted you Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietnesse Acts 24.2 3. and that very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation by thy Providence we accept it alwaies and in all places most noble Felix with all thankefulnesse much more living under Christian Magistrates A Christian Parliament and Christian Judges and Justices such as have been and are so tender over and for truly tender Consciences and of peaceable spirits though of different Judgements in their Worship of God through Christ Jesus according to the Scriptures Can you justly desire more than you have except you would have all in your own power and if so then we have cause by your expressions of your minds to fear it would be very much against the Godly-faithful Ministers in England and their established Maintenance both by the Laws of God and the Nation as we hinted before But I believe I may guess at your meaning you are not offended at the Magistrates Sword as it is a defence unto you and your peace but as the Magistrates blessed be God for it by their Power defend Us and Our Maintenance by Tythes according to the Law and present Government established and why I pray you may not we have protection by the Magistrates Sword as well as You Is this a Peaceable and Christian behaviour to desire and be well-pleased with Liberty of Conscience and quietness for your selves and to desire and endeavour the same may be denied unto us yea to have us denied our setled maintenance by Tythes and We and our maintenance to be banished the Common-wealth as Antichristian Is this according to our Saviours rule Mat. 7.12 to do as you would be done unto certainly no this rather discovers a spirit of Antichrist a persecuting spirit rather than a spirit of love and peace such as becometh Saints But let me reason the case a little with you Is not the office and calling of a Magistrate an Ordinance of God Rom. 13.1 2 3 4. read Rom. 13. and consider it well Let every soul â—e subject to the higher Powers for there is no power â—ut of God and the Powers that be are ordained of God and he that resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation for Rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evill VVilt thou then not be afraid of the Power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same for he is the Minister of God to thee for good but if thou do that which is evill be afraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute vengeance upon him that doth evill wherefore you must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for Conscience sake But your conscience is against the faithful Ministers of God in England and their maintenance by Tythes and therefore You cannot be subject and what if Yours be an erroneous deluded deceived conscience do You not then sin in refusing to give obedience to the Christian Magistrate and good Laws of the Nation which require the payment of Tythes certainly you will confess you do if there be christianity or conscience or ingenuity in you but if you do not can you well say why should any Minister appeal unto or make use of the Magistrates Sword to compel you to do your duties are you not free and have Liberty of Conscience I answer if it were demanded would you not have liberty not only from Tythes but from Taxes also if it were in your power You will answer as these thirty Congregations the Faith of which you sent me do in the Postscript of that Book That you do own a Magistratical Power for the governing this our
thy children the desire of whole Souls is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee yea whose souls desire thee in the night and whose spirits within them seek thee early in the morning but thy Kingdom outwardly seemeth like a tottering state a broken Nation a people ready to be destroyed by a common enemy I confess Lord that it hath been so in former Ages Jerusalem was brought to great ruine Lam. 1.5 and their enemies were Lords over them and adversaries the chief by occasion of their dismal divisions yea the Romans Titus and Vespatian destroyed that City The Eastern churches falling into Error and Heresies were desolate by that false Prophet Mahomet and the Turkish Tyrants as the Western were by the strong delusions of an Antichrist in Rome and what will become of thy Churches in these Nations if thou delay to heal our breaches and to give Grace Ps 60.2 the Graces of union and peace amongst thy people O most blessed Lord Rom. 8.34 Ephes 1.17 James 1.17 wilt thou not intercede for us to thy Father the Father of glory from whom cometh every good and perfect gift for thy merits and righteousness sake to enlighten the minds and move the hearts of thy chosen ones to see and consider the great evill of that sin of fad Divisions and Schisms in the Churches or among them that pretend at least that they fear thy Name and the great evill and misery that hangeth over all our heads if thou in thy infinite mercy be not our Protector and preserver O that thou wouldst discover the plots and designs of Antichrist Psal 37.12 13 Mat. 1.16 Psal 124.6 7. 1 Cor. 4.13 and the abettors of that Kingdom of Darkness and make thy children though harmless as Doves yet wise as Serpents to escape the destructive traps and snares they have and do daily lay for thy servants Remember O blessed Saviour the reproach and scorn that is cast upon thy Ministers thy Ambassadors whom thou hast sent to the people of these Nations to turn them from darkness to light Acts 26.17 18 and from the power of Satan to God We confess O Lord too many of us have by our unfaithfulnâ—ss in our places justly provoked the eyes of thy glory Isai 3.8 and because we have not been more careful to separate the pretious from the vile Mal. 2.9 thou maist in justice cause us to appear vile base and contemptible before the sons of men yet Lord remember that although some unworthy ones have dishonoured thy name and that holy and honourable calling yet thou hast many that are faithful in the Land 1 King 19.18 that have not bowed their knee to Baal for their sakes therefore and for thy own glory sake and the honour of thy great name remember thy servants and remember I most humbly pray the enemies of thy Church and of thy painful holy Ambassadors Remember and rebuke O Lord the sacriledg that is committed in the Nations Rom. 2.22 Luke 10.7 robbing thee of thy reserved part which thou hast kept for the maintenance of thy faithful Labourers Move the hearts and touch the consciences of all thy servants in Power and Authority and put it into the hearts of the Parliament to reform what thy all-seeing eye seeth amiss in the Land and give Repentance to all estates that thy Judgements which hang over our heads may be removed Psal 39.10 John 1.3 and thy great mercies continued if it be thy blessed will and work such a gracious union in the hearts of all thy Saints here that walking in thy truth and love one with another we may all enjoy a blessed communion in Grace in this life John 17.20 21 24. and in the end that most glorious union and communion with thy own glorious Majesty yea with God thy Father the Blessed Spirit and all blessed Saints and Angels for ever in Glory This is the most Humble Petition of June 12. 1659. Thy most unworthy Servant and Ambassador for thy Majesty Immanuel Bourne FINIS Books sold by John Allen at the Rising Sun in Pauls Church-yard Mr. Caryl's 5th Vol. 7th Vol. 8th Vol. 9th Vol. on Job Several Cases of Conscience concerning ASTROLOGY and seekers unto Astrologers answered both from the VVord of God and from the Testimony of our most godly and eminent Divines published by a Friend to the Truth in which Book Judicial Astrologie is proved to be 1. Expresly forbidden by the VVord of God as a grand offence and ought not to be practised countenanced and tollerated Deu. 18.10 11. Lev. 20.6 Isai 47.13 14. Jer. 10.2 The Reasons why it is so expresly forbidden are 1. It is a practice whereby men do assume to themselves that which is peculiar unto God viz. Judgement concerning future events either concerning Kingdoms or Persons Isai 41.22 23. 2. Because it draws the heart of men from God the Father and Christ his Son from considering the VVorks of the one hearkning to the words of the other Isai 5.12 Col. 1.8 18 19. Deut. 18.10 16. 3. Because it is false delusive and uncertain Isa 44.15 4. Because it nourisheth vain and forbidden hopes and fears Jer. 10.2 All which Considerations published are to this end 1. As an alarum that the Consciences of those that study it may be awakened that they may be fully convinced of the great evill that is in it that abhorring such an abominable evill that is so hateful to God and a reall trouble to the Consciences of good men by leaving the sin they may avoid the punishment 2. That Conscientious Magistrates may know how nearly it concerns them to do their duties in vindicating the Glory of God by putting a period to the study of Judicial Astrology a practise indeed that brings the honour of God into so much contempt in the world 3. Lastly That all those that have a desire to learn it and those who enquire of Astrologers what good or ill Fortune as they term it shall happen to them in the course of their lives may through Gods Grace stifle such unlawful desires all which through the Grace of God shall be the prayers and supplications of him put up in the name of the Lord Jesus who is their friend to his power JOHN ALLEN He that converâ—eth a sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins James 5.20