Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	king_n	power_n	royal_a	3,851	5	7.6957	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91192	A Gospel plea (interwoven with a rational and legal) for the lawfulnes & continuance of the ancient setled maintenance and tenthes of the ministers of the Gospel: proving, that there is a just, competent, comfortable maintenance due to all lawfull painfull preachers and ministers of the Gospel, by divine right, institution, and expresse texts and precepts of the Gospel: that glebes and tithes are such a maintenance, & due to ministers by divine right, law and Gospel: that if subtracted or detained, they may lawfully be inforced by coercive laws and penalties: that tithes are no reall burden nor grievance to the people; the abolishing them, no ease or benefit to farmers, husband-men, or poor people, but a prejudice and losse. That the present opposition against tithes, proceeds not from any reall grounds of conscience, but base covetousnesse, carnall policy, &c. and a Jesuiticall and Anabaptisticall designe, to subvert and ruin our ministers, Church, religion. With a satisfactory answer to all cavils and materiall objections to the contrary. By William Prynne of Swainswick, Esq;	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1653 (1653)	Wing P3971; Thomason E713_12; ESTC R203238; ESTC R26600	128,273	175

Bishopricks De●neries Benefices Cathedrall and Colledge Lands Revenues Glebes Tithes and whatsoever Ecclesiasticall Profits and endowments of the Clergy and Schollers in our whole Kingdome and Nation After this when the Temple of Jerusalem was built where the Priests and Levites were to wait in their severall 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. chap. 29. 4. chap. 31. 2. chap. 35. 2. Levit. 1 5 8 9. they had Houses Churches 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. ch 42. 1 to 19. ch 44 19. ch 46. 19. These Cities Suburbs Habitations Churches the Priests and Levites constantly enjoyed without interruption till the revolt of the ten Tribes from Rehoboam and 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 carnall fear and suspition saying in his heart now shall the Kingdome 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 TVRN BACK AGAIN TO THE LORD even unto Rehoboam King of Judah ●nd THEY SHALL KILL ME and GO AGAIN TO REHOBOAM KING OF JVDAH 1 Kings 12. 26. to 33. and then we read 2 Chron. 11. 13 14 15 16. The Priests of the Levites that were in all Israell resorted to Rehoboam out of all their Coasts For the Levites LEFT THEIR SVBVRBS 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 Pr●ests 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 usurp●d Crown they objected against him and the revolted Tribes 2 Chr. 13. 4. to 14. Hear me thou Jeroboam and all I●rael ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the Kingdome 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 Beliall 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 Kingdome 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 ●IMSELF with 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 businesse c. For we keep the Charge of the Lord our God but ye have forsaken h●m And behold God himself is ●ith us for our Captain and his Priests with sounding ●rumpets to cry allarum against you The issue of this A●●eisticall policy and Sacrilegious deprivation or Spoliation of Gods Priests and Levites of their Suburbs Possessions and 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 slew 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 battle that ever we read of in Sacred or prophane Stories before or since 2. It brought Captivity on his Adherents who were brought under at that time pursued and had their wives taken and plundered v. 18 19. 3. It brought this misery and fatall Judgement on himself v. 20. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the dayes of Abijah And the Lord strook him and he dyed 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 Usurpers Persecutors and produced perpetuall successive civill warres between Judah and Israel 1 Kings 14. 30. chap. 15. 6 7 16 32. 2 Chron. 28. 4. to 12. 6. It brought finall captivity ruine desolation in conclusion to the whole Kingdome 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 untill 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 sinnes 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 Kingdome of Judah continued above 156 years after in Davids royall 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 were restored again to their Countrey reedified 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 Leaites and the Singers and the Porters the Nethinims DWELT IN THEIR CITIES and all Israel in their cities Thus

Levites did teach and instruct the people in the Law 2 Chron. 27. 7 8 9. cap. 35. 2 3. cap. 15. 3. Ez●a 7. 25. Neh. 8. 5 to 12. should not receive both Glebes Tithes and voluntary Oblations from the people as well as the Priests and Levites did under the Law by vertue of the self same Levitical law of God by which they claimed ●hem they being both the Priests of the self same God and both executing the self same priestly office in a different manner and that by the Apostles own Argument intention and positive resolution in this Gospel Text let Canne and all other oppugners of their Tithes resolve me and others from as clear Gospel texts these I have here alledged and others formely insisted on in the first Proposition or else yeeld their cause for ever lost I shall close up all with two other Gospel Texts most urged and abused by those now in their own cases who most of all forgot transgressed and oppugned them heretofore in other mens The first is 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. Submit your selves TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN for the Lords sake whether it be TO THE KING AS SUPREAM or UNTO GOVERNOURS c. The Second Rom. 13. 1 2. Let every soul be subject unto the Higher powers for there is NO POWER BVT OF GOD The powers that are are ordained of God whosoever therefore resisieth the power THE ORDINANCE OF GOD and they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation That these two Scriptures extend only to lawfull ●ereditary or elective Kings Governours Higher powers and that in their lawful commands alone not to Usurpers Tyrants Invaders of the peoples Rights Laws Liberties Properties Lives who may and ought to be resisted as well as any other Theeves Robbers Invaders Murtherers whatsoever I have largly proved in my Second Part of my Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes Authorized by the Commons House of Parliament p. 102 to 131. to which I shall refe●r the Reader for satisfaction not being the point in issue to which alone I shall apply them In the former Text last insisted on we had an Ordinance of God himself for the Maintenance and Tithes of the Preachers of the Gospel and here we have two Gospel commandements to submit TO EVERY ORDINANCE of our lawfull Governours and Higher Powers agreeable to Gods Ordinances not repugnant to them for the Lords sake and not to resist them for though the Ordinances themselves be made but by men and in that sence sti●ed every ordinance of man yet the Powers that make them are ordained of God and therefore those who resist them in their humane ordinances though but in humane things do therein resist the very ORDINANCE OF GOD especially in things divine commanded by and approved in Gods own sacred Word Now the Maintenance of Gods Ministers by Tithes is an expresse Ordinance of God himself both before and during the Law and under the Gospel too prescribed warranted by all the forecited Texts And there are infinite Laws Statutes Decrees Canons ORDINANCES of just and lawfull Christian Emperours Kings Governours Parliaments States Councels Synods and all higher Powers as well Civill as Ecclesiastical in all Christian Kingdomes States Churches especially in our own for the establishment and due payment of them to the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel too Therefore they are duly constantly chearfully to be paid unto them by all Christians and Professors of the very Gospel and cannot may not be oppugned detained substracted resisted by John Canne or any of his Confederates nor abrogated by any pretending to Power Ordained by God without resisting the ordinance of God himself fighting against him as these Texts and Acts 5. 39. resolve For which they shall receive to themselves damnation though they dream as many now do they shou●d merit heaven and salvation by subverting both Tithes and Ministers even by open armed violence if they cannot accomplish it by Jesuitical policy and pious frauds And thus much for the confirmation of the Second Proposition by Scripture Texts and Presidents For humane Authorities that Tithes are lawfull and due to Ministers by a Divine Right even under the Gospel I could cite very many were I neer my Library and Books as heretofore but being far distant from them I shall trouble you onely with a Catalogue of such as I have by me or remember For Fathers of this Judgement and opinion you may peruse St. Ambrose in Sermone Quadragesimae cited by Gratian Causa 16. qu. 7. St. Hierome on Mal. 3. and St. Augustine Serm. 219. De Reddendis Decimis Tom. 10. both cited by Gratian Causa 16. qu. 1. For Councils you may peruse Concilium Rothomagense Maforiense in Gratian. Causa 16. qu. 7. Concilium Matisconense 2. Anno 588. Concilium apud Solomanum Anno 1266. Synodus Rothingae An. 1581. Concilium Trevense Ann. 1427. which resolves Decimae fuerunt à DEO primitus Institutae ●raecipiuntur solvi tam de veteri quam de Novo Testamento Syndus Lingon Ann. 1404. Synodus Turonensis An. 1588. Concilium Tridentinum Tholosanum Ann. 1591. which decree That the payment of Tithes Divino jure cautum est sacrisque utriusque Testamenti libris confirmatum All these Collected together by Bochillus Decreto Ecclesiae Gallicanae l. 6. Tit. 8. De Decimis with many more recorded in Binius Sarius Crab Caranza Merlin Syrmond and other Collectors of the Decrees of Councils resolve Tithes to be due to the Ministers of the Gospel by Divine Right For forreign popish Authors Aimericus Bishop of Poitiers in France in a Synod there held An. 1367. Enjoyned all Chaplains on Lords-dayes and Holy-dayes diligently to declare to the people in time of Masse and likewise in their Sermons under pain of Excommunication Qualiter Ex praecepto Divinae Legis quilibet Catholicus tenetur solvere Ecclesiae decimas de omnibus licite acquisitis Gratian the Canonist Caus 16. qu. 1. 7. with John Therry and others Glossers on his Text Hostiensis in his Summa Aurea Angelus de Clavasio in his Summa Angelica Baptista Tirvomala in his Summa Rossella Tit. Decimae Innocentius Res de Decimis Rezulfus de Decimis Tyndanus in his special Tract de Decimis printed at Colen An. 1590. and generally all other Canonists Alexander Alensis Summa Theol. parte 3. Richardus de Media vissa in lib. 4. Sentent Distinct 17. and most other Schoolmen on that place Aquinas 2. 2. quaest 87. with most Commentators on him there assert That Tithes are even at this day JURE DIVINO in quantum sunt à jure Naturali Morali but not as they were Ceremonial That Popish old and new Expositors and Commentators on Gen 14 and 28. Levit. 2. Chron. 31. Neh. 10. and 13. Mal. 3. Mat. 10. Luke 10. Rom. 16. 1 Cor. 9. Gal. 6. 6. 1 Thess 5. Heb. 7. 1 Tim. 5. are all of the same opinion and most Protestant Expositors likewise And therefore the Jesui●● popish

giddy-headed people and stript of a competent setled maintenance independent of the vulgars or Superiors meer wils and pleasures which will render both their Persons Words Doctrine and Ministry contemptible and lesse authoritative to the people For the Scripture informes us That poor men are lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18. 23. and therefore David couples these together Psal 119. 141. I am poor or small in estate and despised And Solomon informes us That the poor useth intreaties speaks not with authority like the richer sort Prov. 18. 23. That the poor is hated even of his own neighbour separated from him despised by him and that all the brethren of the poor do hate him how much more do his friends go far from him though he pursueth them with words yet are they wanting to him Prov. 14. 20. 19. 4. 7. Yea he resolves Eccles 9. 15 16. That a poor mans wisdome is despised and his words are not heard and that no man remembred or regarded that poor wise man who by his wisdome delivered the small city that was beseiged by a great King Neither is this old Testament but Gospell truth likewise Jam. 2. 2 3 5 6. If there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparell and there come in also a poor man in vile rayment ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and say to him sit thou here in a good place and say to the poor stand thou there or sit here under my footstool Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heires of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him But YE HAVE DESPISED THE POOR a fault still common in the world Poor indigent Ministers as well as Saints though rich in faith are alwayes generally contemptible to the greatest part of men and their very poverty makes not only their persons but words and Doctrine to be slighted and despised as these Scriptures and experience manifest Wherefore a competent setled maintenance and revenue is not only just but necessary to add more r●verence esteem and authority to their Exhortations rebukes words and preserve their persons callings Doctrine from contempt and scorne in the eyes and ears of men Who though they ought to know them which labour among them and are over them in the Lord and admonish them and to esteem them very highly in love for their workes sake 1 Th●ss 5. 12 13. Yet by reason of their inbred pride and corruption will be very averse to do it if they be very poor indigent and living like beggers upon almes and charity as our new Reformadoes would have them XI Ministers of the Gospell must not seek to please men but God for if they yet pleased men they should not be the servants of Christ Gal. 1. 10. Neither must they corrupt the Word as many do to humour the Iusts wils or countenance and carry on the unrighteous cove●ous ambitious oppressive bloudy or treacherous designes of wicked men fasting yea preaching praying for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse Esa 58. 4. But as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God must they speak in Christ 2 Cor. 2. 17. Now a just comp●tent setled maintenance independent on the Governours Magistrates or peoples wils and pleasures such as was the Priests and Levit●s under the Law enjoyed by divine institution is the best means and preservative to keep Ministers from being Men-pleasers flatterers time-servers and corrupters of the word of God to humour men a great inducement to them to preach the word of God sincerely and to rebuke and exhort with all authority Whereas a poor beggerly mean dependent Minister whose whole maintenance and subsistence must only rest upon the arbitrary wils of persons in highest present power who may out or strip them both of their Callings and Benefices when and for what they please or only upon the peoples voluntary contributions will certainly be a men-pleasing time-serving flattering unsincere and word corrupting Ministry studying more to please and favour those by and from whom they have their Livelihood then to please God and fitting their preaching and praying to their opinions tempers factions parties designes holding alwayes with the prevailing strongest party and wresting the Scriptures to support their very errors vices sins and most unrighteous treacherous perfidious oppressing practises and bloudy usurpations not daring to displease them as Ecclesiasticall Histories record and our own experience can sufficiently testifie in these late whirling times and changes as well as in King Edward the 6. Queen Maries and Quen Elizabeths reigns when our Religion suffred so many publick alterations and most Ministers theu changed their peoples Opinion and Religion with the times Hence the Scripture records this as one of Jeroboams policies to keep the People and Kingdome from returning to the right heire 1 King 12. 28 29 31 c. ch 13. 33 34. That he made Priests of the lowest or poorest of the people who were not of the Sonnes of Levi and placed them in Bethel who being poor mean and depending on him for their Salaries readily sacrificed to his golden Calves offered upon the Altar which he had made in Bethel and observed his new prescribed Feasts which the Priests and Levites that were in all Israel having La●ds Suburbs and a setled maintenance refused to do Whereupon Jeroboam and his Sonnes cast them out from executing the Priests office unto the Lord and substituted these base Idol-Priests for the Calves 2 Chron. 11. 13 14 15. Which became sin unto the house of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth God deliver us of th●s Nation from the like Atheisticall Jeroboam-like policy and practise now which will certainly prove the ruin of them and their house who shall put it in execution if not of our Religion and Nation as it did of Jeroboam his house and the wh●le Kingdome of Israel XII All Christians are commanded Gal. 6. 10. As they have opportunity to do good to all men to relieve their wants especially to the houshold of faith Therefore they are in an especiall manner bound to do good to their Ministers in maintaining them and communicating to them in all good things as he resolves v. 6. The rather because we have this Precept thus seconded Heb. 13. 16. But to do good and communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased coupled with this injunction Obey them that have the rule over yon and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account That they may do it WITH JOY and NOT WITH GRIEF FOR THAT IS UNPROFITABLE FOR YOU Wherein these 3. Conclusions are positively asserted 1. That Christians must not only obey their Ministers but likewise do good and communicate to them in all good things the want 2. That this is so

TABLETS to make an aton●ment for their soules before the Lord amounting to sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekel● every shekel weighing halfe an ounce Which Eleazet the Priest took of the Captaines of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the Tabe●●acle of the Congregation FOR A MEMORIALL of the children of Israel before the Lord Numb 31. 48 to the end Here were self-denying saint-like Officers Colonels and Captaines indeed after all the former deductions and tributes out of their spoyle to bring to the Priest and offer up to God all their Jewels of Gold Chaines Bracelets Rings Ear-rings Tablets and richest plunder they had gotten in the Warres for the maintenance of his worship when our Officers Colonels Captaines Souldiers shall do the like and pay a tribute of the best of their spoyles to our Ministers as these by Gods command did to the Priests and Levites not purchasing Church-Lands and Revenues with them devoted to the augmentation of our Ministers small Stipends we will cry them up for self-denying Saints and Souldiers indeed and say they are no self-seekers If this Scripture Precedent be not enough behold a whole cloud of Precedents imitating them and faithfull Abraham recorded and united in one memorable text seldome read or taken notice of 1 Chron. 26. 26 27 28. Which Shelomith and his Brethren were OVER ALL THE TREASURES OF THE DEDICATED THINGS which DAVID THE KING and the chief Fathers THE CAPTAINES OVER THOUSANDS and HUNDREDS and THE CAPTAINES OF THE HOST HAD DEDICATED OUT OF THE SPOYLES WON IN BATTLES DID THEY DEDICATE TO MAINTAINE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD marke and imitate it O ye Army Officers Captaines Souldiers And all that SAMVEL the seer and SAVL the Sonne of Kish and ABNER the Sonne of Ner and Joab the Sonne of Zeruiah had dedicated was under the hand of Shelomith and his Brethren Here we have examples of all sorts and sizes for our Army Officers and Souldiers imitation We have David a victorious Warrier Generall King and man of God after Gods owne heart dedicating the Treasures and Spoyles he took from his enemies in Battles to the House and service of God thus more specially recorded for his honour and others practise 2 Sam. 8. 11 12. And Tol sent Joram his Sonne to King David to salute him and to blese him because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him and brought with him vessels of Gold and vessels of Silver and vessels of Brasse which also King David DID DEDICATE TO THE LORD WITH THE SILVER AND GOLD THAT HE HAD DEDICATE OF ALL NATIONS WHICH HE SUBDUED Of Syria and of Moab and of the children of Ammon and of the Philistines and of Amalek and OF THE SPOYLES OF HADADEZER Sonne of Rehob King of Zobah Recorded againe in 1 Chron. 18. 2 to 12. with this addition And David took the shields of gold which were on the Servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusal m. Likewise from Tibhath and from Chun Cities of Hadadezer brought David very much brasse wherewith Solomon made the Brasen-sea and the pillars of the vessels of Brasse What the value of the spoyles which he dedicated to God and his service amounted to himselfe records 1 Chron. 22. 14. Now behold in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord AN HUNDRED THOUSAND TALENTS OF GOLD and A THOUSAND THOUSAND TALENTS OF SILVER and OF BRASSE and IRON IN ABOUNDANCE WITHOUT WEIGHT Besides what he dedicated out of his owne proper estate registred in 1 Chron. 29. 3 4. 2. We have Joab Davids Captaine Generall the Captaines over Thousands and Hundreds and the Captaines of the Army dedicating out of the spoyles won in Ba●tles to the service of the House of the Lord ●nd that in a liber●ll proportion even five thousand Talents of gold and tenne thousand drams and of silver tenne thousand Talents and of brasse 18000. Talents and one hundred thousand Talents of Iron besides precious stones all which they offered willingly with a perfect heart unto the Lord rejoycing with great joy they had done it 1 Chron. 29. 6 7 8 9. When our Generals Officers Colonels Captaines and Souldiers of the Army shall imitate King David and his Generals Colonels Captains Officers and Souldiers in such a liberall contribution of the Jewels Gold Silver Brasse Iron and Spoyle they have won in Battles at home and from other Nations to repaire or build houses for Gods publick worship and maintaine the Ministers of the Gospell in stead of seeking to demolish and spoyle those stately Edifices which our pious Ancestors have erected for that purpose and breaking downe the Carved worke thereof with axes and hammers of which David much complaineth Psal 74. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. and in lieu of endevouring to devest our Ministers of their remaining Lands Tithes Glebes not yet demolished all the World will proclaime them Men after Gods owne heart and Men of God in truth like David and give over censuring them for Sacrilegious Harpyes more like to Zeba and Zalmunna then him who said Let us take to our selves the Houses of God in possession as David himselfe objects against them Psal 83. 11 12. 3. Here is Samuel the seer doing the like out of his spoyles won in Battle A precedent for all those Souldiers who will be Sunnes and New-lights to imitate 4. If the good mens examples be neglected yet let the Precedents of bad men shame and excite others to this duty Here are Saul the Sonne of Kish much talked of and reviled now by many for a Tyrant the Warrelike King given to Gods people in anger and taken from them in wrath as these object now Hos 13. 11. which I conceive rather meant of Jeroboam the Idolatrous usurper who made Israel to sinne as judicious Interpreters prove by 2 Chron. 13. 20. compared with 2 Kings 17. 10 to 24. and the context likewise which made mention of their Idolatry in kissing the Calves erected by Jeroboam and speaks only of the Kingdome of Israel as divided from that of Judah yet he as bad as they make him together with Abner his chief Captaine none of the best of men as 2 Sam. 3. 7 8. discovers had so much Piety Zeal and Religion in them as likewise to dedicate part of their richest spoyles of Warre to the maintenance of Gods house and worship And will it not be a great dishonour to those Generals Officers Colonels and Captaines who pretend themselves the holiest justest zealousest Saints not to be as bountifull towards the maintenance of Gods house and worship and of their spoyles as these they brand for Tyrants and ungodly wicked men If these Precedents be ineffectuall to work upon any Covetous or Sacrilegious bondmen let them reflect upon others who were Idolaters how neare they came in their way to imitate Abraham David and these forecited When Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had taken Jerusalem ransacked and burnt the glorious Temple there towards

his reigne by the Councell of his Barons through all the Counties of England caused 12. men of the most Noble wise and skilfullest in the Law to be sunm●ned out of every Shire that he might learn th●ir Lawes and Customes from them and gave them this Oath That proceeding in a right path without deel●ning to the right hand or the left to the best of their power they should make known to him the Customes and Sanctions of their Lawes pretermitting nothing adding nothing and altering n●thing in them by prevarication which they accordingly performing a●d King William intending to alter the Law only in one particul●● according to the Lawes of Norway from wh●nce he and his N●●●●ans desee●ded all the Barons and Grand English Enquest w●o presented him their Lawes on Oath being much grieved at it unanimosly besought him that he would permit them to enjoy their pr●pe● Lawes and ancient Customes under which their Fathers lived and themselves had been borne and educated because they deened it very hard for them to receive unknown Lawes and to judge of those things they knew not importunately beseeching him for the sou● of King Edward WHO HAD GRANTED TO HIM THE CROWNE and KINGDOME AFTER HIS DEATH and whose Lawes they were that he would not compell them to persevere under the Lawes of any Forainers but their owne Country Lawes alone Wherefore the King taking advise consented to the request of his Barons confirming all their Lawes and Customes in Parliament without any alteration or diminution as they presented them Whereof this is the very first Law concerning the preservation of the Churches rights and Scholars from rapine Every Cleargy-man and likewise all Scholars and all their Goods and Possessions wheresoever they are shall enjoy the Peace of God and of holy Church free from all forfeiture and Seisure and if any shall lay hands on that which Mother Church shall require LET HIM RESTORE THAT WHICH HE SHALL TAKE AWAY and likewise one hundred shillings in the name of a sorfeiture if it be from an Abby or Church of Religion and 20. s. if it be from a Mother Parish Church and 10. s. if it be from a Chappell After which follow 6. other Lawes concerning the Churches peace and priviledges and then these two Lawes concerning TITHES Of the TITHES of the Church Of all Corne the tenth Sheaf is given to God and therefore to be paid If any shall have a ●erd of Mares let him pay the tenth colt he who shall have onely one or two let him pay a penny for every colt Likewise he who shall have many Kine let him pay the tenth calfe he who shall have but one or two let him pay a penny for every calfe and he who shall make cheese let him give the tenth to God and if he shall make none the milke every tenth day Likewise the tenth Lambe the tenth Fleece the tenth Butter the tenth Pig Of BEES and all lesser TITHES In like manner also of Bees the tenth of the profit and also of Wood of Meadowes Waters and Mils and Ponds and Fishings and Copses and Orchards and Gardens and Negociations wherein Souldiery and all other Professions are included and all things which the Lord shall give THE TENTH PART IS TO BE TENDRED TO HIM WHO GIVETH THE NINE PARTS TOGETHER WITH THE TENTH And he who shall detain it SHALL BE COMPELLED TO RENDER IT BY THE JUSTICE OF THE BISHOP and OF THE KING IF NEED BE For these things St. Augustine hath prea●hed and taught and THESE THINGS ARE GRANTED BY THE KINGS and BARONS and PEOPLE But afterward let our Tith oppugners and detainers marke who is their originall Tutor BY THE INSTINCT OF THE DEVILL many have detained Tithes and rich negligent Priests do not care to prosecute them because they had sufficient necessaries for their life for in many places now there are three or four Churches where at that time was only one and so they began to be diminished This is that William the Conquerour whom our Officers Souldiers with the Levellers and Anabaptists most virulently reproach and raile against in their Discourses and silly ignorant scurrilous Pamphlets for an Invader Vsurper ROBBER TYRANT and subverter of our native Lawes and Liberties c. when as he claimed the Crowne onely by Gift and Title confirmed all our ancient Lawes and Liberties Civill and Ecclesiasticall without any alteration or diminution put never a Noble man or other person to death who rebelled or tooke up Armes against him all his reign but such who were actually slain in Battle was the gallantest Souldier and best Justiciary of any in his age as some Historians then living attest and not only much devoted to Religion frequenting the Church both morning and evening but likewise very industrious and bountifull to promote it honouring and richly endowing the Cleargy that lived according to their rule and profession but being very rough and hard hearted to the licentious and scandalous degrading his own Vnkle Malgerius Archbishop of Rhoan and many English Bishops for their dissolute lives founding no lesse then three Churches and Abbies of chief note whereof that of Battle was one endowing them with large Possessions and Priviledges according to the piety of those times out of his Conquests and confirming all the Clergies Tithes Rights Priviledges by the recited Lawes If those Officers and Souldiers who now pretend themselves Conquerers and us a Conquered or cousened Nation will really imitate his Justice Piety Bounty in these recited particulars no man will thenceforth bestow such reproachfull termes of Invaders Vsurpers Robbers Tyrants Subverters of our Lawes Liberties c. as they do usually on this first Norman King but repute them reall Saints and Patrons of Religion Ministers and the Church yea Sonnes of faithfull Abraham who gave the tenth of the Spoyles of war to God whose example with all the rest here recited in justice and conscience rather obligeth them to imitate his and their footsteps as the premises evidence then to spoyle our Ministers and Churches of their Tithes and Materials And so much in Answer of the first Evasion respecting our Army Officers and Souldiers only Object 1 The second Evasion of Abrahams Precedent is made by Country Farmers Tradesmen and their Advocates who alleage That Abraham gave the tenth only of his spoyles gained in Warre to Melchisedec but not of his Corn Wine Cattle and other Goods therefore this example bindes only Souldiers to pay personall but not them or any others to pay any such prediall mixt or personall Tithes as now they do by coercive Lawes and Ordinances against Law and Gospell To which I answer Answ 1. That the expresse words of Moses Gen. 14. 20. are And he gave him Tithes OF ALL. Which being universall not confined by him to the spoyles taken in War must be taken and intended in the largest sense that is of all his Substance or Encrease as well as of the spoyles then wonne 2. The

them likewise in the due and just maintenance of their Ministers by Tithes and Glebes reserved to and prescribed by that true holy just and righteous God who is not only the God of the Jews but of the Gentiles also Rom. 3. 19. Let any rational Christian now resolve his own Conscience and mine from friends or Scripture Reason or equity if he can God having given us a Land flowing with milk and honey and as fit as able to render Glebes and Tithes of all things in kinde as he did unto the Jews It is a received maxime in our Law Quod venit in loco alterius est de natura Prioris If this be Gospel as it hath been h●ld both Law and reason under the Gospel I need add no more to this Aphorisme to prove the lawfulnesse and equity of our Ministers Glebes and Tithes and to continue as well for the future as heretofore by a divin● Right 8. That all Christian Churches and pious Christians generally throughout the world from the Apostles dayes till now have unanimously resolved both in point of Piety Justice Conscience and right Reason that they are bound to consecrate and render unto God the sel●same weekly portion of time for his publick worship as the Israelites and Jews under the Law were obliged to do to wit one day in seven though they differ in the circumstance onely of the day they observing the seventh day from the Creation every week in memory of the Creation and Gods rest thereon for their Sabbath prescribed by speci●ll Lawes and we the first day of every week in memoriall of our Saviours Resurrection thereon by the Generall Morall Equity of these Laws warranted by Apostolicall practise only without any special Gospel-precept Let then the whole Army of Tithe-Oppugners render me one dram of Reason or shadow of answer if they Canne why all Christian Realms Churches Nations in the world may not should not by the self same rule of Piety Justice Equity and proportion continue and render the like proportion of Glebes Tithes to God and his Ministers under the Gospel as the Jews did to him his Priests and Levites under the Law as well as they render to him the self same Proportion of time for his Weekly publick Service and why payment of Tithes under the Gospel to God who gives us both them and the residue of our Estates and encrease out of his own meere free grace for the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel and support of his publick Worship on the Lords Day should be more Judaicall Vnchristian Antichristian Superstition as Canne and others stile it than the dedicating and appropriating of the Lords Day to Gods publick Worship and Honour who hath given and allowed us the other fix for our imployments when as he might have justly reserved the nine parts of our Lands and goods to himself had he pleased instead onely of the Tenth as well as the six dayes in lieu of the seventh wherrewith he is content which Divines usually urge men to induce men to the more chearfull Sanctification of the Lords Day and some Scribler● against Tithes as well as others 9. That Christians under the Gospel are bound in Justice Equity and Conscience to give their hired Servants Labourers their due and deserved Wages and not to detain it from them even under the Gospel and that by vertue of Gods command recorded in the Leviticall and Judiciall Law Levit. 19 13. Deut. 14. 14 15. approved in the Gospel Col. 4. 1. and to allow their Beasts and Oxen that plow and tread out their Corn Straw and Provender without muzling up their mouths by vertue of a like precept recorded Deut. 25. 4. twice repeated and urged by the Apostle in the new Testament to prove the lawfulnesse of Ministers maintenance under the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 8 9 10. 1 Tim. 5. 18. and that without the least suspition of Judaisme or Antichristianisme therefore they may and are also bound in Justice equity Conscience not onely to settle Glebes upon but likewise to pay Tithes to the Ministers of the Gospel as a due Wages Hire and Reward for their Labour in the Ministry as well as the Jews did to their Priests and Levites without the least tincture of Judaisme or Antichristianisme since Christ in the Gospel resolves Math. 10. 10. Luke 10. 7. and 1 Tim. 5. 18. That Ministers being Labourers are worthy of their Meat Hire and a competent Maintenance suitable to their pains and Function as well as any other hired Servants or Labourers in the Fields or as our labouring Oxen or Horses are of Straw and Provender 10. We read it recorded 1 Sam. 8. 11 15 17. That this would be the manner of the King that should reign over the Jews that amongst other things He will take the Tenth of your Seed and of your Vineyards and the Tenth of your Sheep give them to his Officers and Servants In imitation wherof the Kings of England in ancient Parliaments and of late times have usually demanded and received by Grant in Parliament a Decime or Tenth of the Goods and Estates of their Subjects for their Supplies and likewise a Tenth of their Merchandise exported and imported for Tonnage and Poundage as our Parliament Records Histories and Rastall in his Abridgement of Statutes Tithes Taxes and Tenths attest If then our lawfull Kings Princes and Governours under the Gospel may justly demand and receive by Grantia Parliament the Tenth of all our Goods Corn Wooll Sheep Estates Merchandise for their necessary supplies and the Defence of the Kingdome and some who are no Kings and have engaged against Kingship as Tyrannicall do the like without a Parliament being not only a Tenth of all our Estates but a double and treble Tenth of all mens yearly Revenues and Estates and of Ministers Tithes besides for the Maintenance of themselves and the Army without the guilt of JVDAISME or ANTICHRISTIAN TYRANNY OPPRESSION OR SVPERSTITION Why our faithfull Ministers may not likewise demand and enjoy their Glebes and Tithes not onely granted but confirmed to them by our Ancestors in successive Parliaments from the first planting of the Gospel in this Nation till the Reformation all our Protestant Parliaments since the Reformation and by sundry Ordinances in the very last Parliament to which some now in highest Power gave their cordiall Votes for the Preaching and propagating of the Gospel and saving of mens Souls without the like Brand of Judaisme and Antichristianisme let John Canne resolve me when he can who most falsely scandalously and unchristianly brands both the last and all Protestant Parliaments confirming Tithes for Popish Idolatrous Parliaments acting against the Lord Jesus and our Ministry for ANTICHRISTIAN MINISTRY Who certainly was in his Cannes or Cups when he writ and published such palpable Scandalous untruths to the dishonour of our Church Parliaments Nation Religion But such Cretians are alwayes LYARS EVIL BEASTS SLOW BELLIES wherefore they need a sharp rebuke

this very case of Tithes If not then why should not Tithes and Glebes which many Ministers and we have vowed and devoted to God continue and still be paid under the Gospel without superstition sin or Judaisme as well as other Vows Oaths and the religious observation of them Upon these Considerations all or most Christian Kingdomes States Churches upon the very first preaching and embracing of the Gospel amongst them not onely edified Churches and Chappels for Gods worship and publike Assemblies but likewise endowed the Ministers thereof with convenient Glebes and Tithes as Eusebius Socrates Scholasticus Theodoret Nicephorus Calistus the Century Writers Baronius Spondanus with other Ecclesiastical Historians and Hospinian De Origine Templorum prove at large for forraign Parts and our own ancientest Annualists with Antiquitates Ecclesiae Brittanicae Sr. Henry Spelman Concilium 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 ignorance hath newly published in his Second Voyce 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 Kingdome by the Popes Legates in Provinciall and Synodall Constitutions about the time of Henry the third and Henry the fifth Vouching Thorpe and Ridley the Civilian to prove it I shall give you a brief touch concerning the Original of Churches Glebes Tithes in this our Island About the year of our Lord 48. as our Historians record Joseph of Aramathaea 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 preaching the Gospel to him and his people he perceiving the purity of their Doctrine and the holinesse of their Conversation gave them twelve Hides of land in the Isle of Avalon since called Glastenbury for to build a Church and support them till this day called and known by the Name of the twelve Hydes of Glastenbury where they built the first Church erected for Gods worship in this Isle made of Wattle and Reed and there continued together preaching the Gospel and living upon this their Glebe now of great value which was afterward confirmed to them and the Ministers of the Gospel there succeeding them both by Marius and Coilus next successors to Arviragus whom they instructed in Christian Religion to which they were well affected 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 Arimathaea After this Lucius King of Britain being converted to the Christian Faith and Baptized his subjects and many other petty British Kings about the year of our Lord 176. by Faganus and Domianus 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 builds and ●ndows Ch●rches throughout his Dominions with Glebes and Tithes to support the Ministry whence our ancient Poets thus write of him Lueius in Christum credit Christoque dic●tas ECCLESIAS DOTAT DISTINCT AS ORDINAT VRBES Many of our ancient Historians adde that in his time there were 28 Flamins and three Ar●h Flamines in Britain endowed with great Revenues for the Service of their Idoll gods to whom they had erected so many faire 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 pollutions dedicated them to the Service of the true God which Sr. Henry Spelman Dr. Vsher Godwin and the most judicious of our later Antiquaries justly reject as fabulou● 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 ●12 the Christians being here and elsewhere restored to peace and freed from persecution by Constantine began to build and repair those Churche● 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 arrival being bloudy Pagans cruelly wasted the British Churches and butchered their Ministers Schollers Saints being converted to the CHRISTIAN FAITH by Augustine sent hither for that purpose by Pope Gregory the first who disclaimed that Papall Supremacy his Successors since challenged Aethelbert King of Kent and his Saxons being baptised by Augustine about the year of Christ 603 thereup they began to repair the old ruinated Churches and to build new throughout his Dominions this King turning his Royall Palace at Canterbury into the Church of Christ and that City the Seat of his Kingdome 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 with large Possessions Not long after divers other Saxon Kings and their Subjects being converted and baptised built endowed sundry other Churches both with Glebes 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 Kingdome by the most cruel depredations of barbarous Enemies and Pagan Nations and the manifold Tribulations afflicting him and his people even to their destruction he thereupon summoning a general Councell or Parliament at Westchester in which himself Bernredus King of Mercia and Edmund King of East Angles with all the Prelates and Nobles of England were present did by their wholesome Counsel for redresse of these evils by his Charter ratified in and by this Councell Give the Tenth part of all his own Lands in perpetuity to God and his Servants free and exempt from all Secular Services and also from all Royall Tributes and Taxes Great and Small and from all Military Expedition Building of Bridges and GVARDING OF CASTLES that so they might the more diligently powre forth their prayers unto God for him without ceasing who had in some part thus eased them of their servitude from which Grant of his Sir Henry Spelman conceives the Parsonage House Rectory and Glebes in every Parish of his Realm had its Originall though afterwards increased by the munificence of the Patrons And this shall suffice touching the true Original and progresse of our Churches Rectories and Glebes in the beginning of Christianity both amongst the Britains and Saxons of

Acts 21. 20. to 28. which he being a Jew was obliged even then to observe to avoid scandall but not to the Gentiles Therefore Tithes amongst the Jews were then still paid to their Leviticall Priests and not to the Apostles 4. Though Christ whiles on earth received no Tithes from the Jews yet he had a just Right and Title to Tithes from Abraham and all his Posterity and the Leviticall Priests themselves especially after their abolition as he was a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech 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 and after the Leviticall priesthood was abolished which he might have both lawfully claimed and exercised and his Apostles likewise in his Right though they did it not We read that Christ had a just Right and Title by Inheritance and lineall descent from his Father King David to the Temporall Crown and Kingdome of Judah and is therefore said by the Wisemen Matth. 2. 2. TO BE BORN KING OF THE JEWS an unanswerable Argument for the lawfulnesse and Excellency of Hereditary Titles to Crowns and Kingdomes before that of Election onely wherewith I frequently silenced vapouring Souldiers against Hereditary Kingship being the very Title of Christ himself both to his Spirituall and Temporall Kingdome and that which God instituted amongst his Church and people as the best the surest of all other taken up by most Heathen Nations Now though Christ neither claimed nor exercised this his Temporall Right but avoided it when the people would have made him King by force John 6. 15. who yet after cryed him 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 and fixed this Title on his Crosse JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS John 19 14 15 19. will or can John Canne or any other of his confederates h●nce justly inf●rre that it was unlawfull for Christ himself Right Heir by Descent to his Hereditary Temporall Kingdome kept and thrust out thereof by usurping Herod who murdered all the Infants in Bethlehem and the Coasts thereof that were two years old and under and should haue murdered our Saviour himself to secure his own usurped Power Mat. 2. 13 16. Such is the bloudy cruelty and 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 bloudy Intruder Herod by force from his usurped Authority and made Christ King as they intended or because Christ did then voluntarily forbear and relinquish his Right to Herod 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 and Kingdome by armed violence against the generality of his peoples desires by any aspiring usurping Herod to lay claim to his Crown or Kingdome or for the faithfull naturall born Subjects according to their duty Oathes and Allegiance to endevour by all lawfull means and open force to exp●ll dethrone such Herods and crown and set their lawfull Soveraign on the Throne of the Kingdome Doubtlesse they cannot be so absurdly stupid as affirm it seeing Jeboiadah the high Priest the Captains of Hundreds Levites Souldiers and people too thrust out Ath●liah the bloudy Usurper of the Kingdome and Throne of Judah in the seventh year of her Usurpation and crowned Joash THE KINGS SON as the Lord had said OF THE SONS OF DAVID and set him KING VPON 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 eternall Honour by God himself and for others imitation in the like case 2 Chron. 23. and 2 Kings 11. and seeing all 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 Rightfull Crown then by the self same Reason our Ministers of the Gospel now may lawfully take and challenge Tithes from the people though Christ and his Apostles did not albeit they had a just Right and Title to them which they might have exercised had they pleased without Sin or Judaisme as our Ministers do now To clear which Right from Judaisme and all other Cevills beyond all contradiction I shall cite onely two Proph●●ies relating joyntly to Christs Kingdome and Ministers u●der the Gospel The first is Jer. 33. 15. to the end In those dayes and at that time will I cause the Branch of Righteousnesse to grow up unto David and he shall execute Righteousnesse and Judgement in the Land In those dayes shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our Righteousnesse For thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the House of Israel Neither 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 Coven●nt 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 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 2d is Isa 66. 18. to 22 I will gather all nations and tongues and they shall come and see my Glory and I will set a Signe 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 Be●sts TO MY HOLY MOVNTAIN IN JERVSALEM saith the Lord as the Children of Israel bring on Offering in a clean Vessell VNTO THE HOVSE OF THE LORD And I WILL ALSO TAKE OF THEM FOR PRIESTS and FOR LEVITES saith the Lord. From which Texts I shall observe 1. That as Christs Title to his everlasting Spirituall Kingdome under the Gospel over all the converted Gentiles as well as Jews is expressely set forth to be neither elective nor by conquest but by DESCENT HEIRSHIP and lineall Succession from King David and all the regenerated Sons of God by their Right of Son-ship and new-birth even in like sort intituled to the Kingdome of