her Council and Parliament reformed many things that the others set up in the high places and otherwayes but still they left the Arch-bishops Bishops their great Lordships and the Glebe-Lands the Rectories and the Parsonages the first Fruits Tythes and the Houses of High Places standing for to be maintained still But then in the dayes of the late King the bishops and the Clergy by his Authority had got an encrease into their High places of their Organs their Rails their Altars Organists and Queâ—istors bowing and cringing to the Altars their white Surplisses Tippits Hoods and Copes and likewise Courts Canons and Intergatories Parrators-prisons Stocks Whips Gags Pillories for the honest Puritans to be punished withall but when the long Parliament sate they voted twelve of the bishops to be Traytors and cut off the head of one and put down all the rest with Danes and Chapters and all their Courts called Ecclesiastical Courts the Star-Chamber the High Commission Court and Counsel Table Anno 17. Caroli Regis and all their Officers and Attendants belonging to them and caused the Altars Rails Organs Quirestors Canons Singing-men and Singing-boyes to be all pull'd down and laid aside and caused the priests to lay aside their Surplisses Tippits Hoods and took away the great Lordships and Lands from the Bishops Danes and Chapters and sold them and their great Houses for the publike use and cut off the late Kings head and put down Kingly power or Government as oppressing and burthensom to the people and voted down the House of Lords as uselesse and made sale for the publikes use of the Kings Houses Lands and Estates and broke the Crowns to pieces for the publikes use as was repeated An Act Dei Vonens Sept. 1650. And likewise they repealed those Laws which the Enemies of God made use of to persecute the godly people by and so granted some liberty to religious and peaceable people as you may see by an Act of Parliament but notwithstanding all this they have left the High places falsely cal eâ— Churches standing still with the priests belonging to them and the Glebe Lands the Parsonages and the Viccarages and the Laws that the pope and popish Kings made to oppress the people by with paying of tythes and suing men at Law for tythes and imprisoning men for non-payment of tythes made an Ordinance for the taking trebble damages by distresse of mens goods for non-payment of tythes all this still remains undone and unreformed still by this present power that now rules and all those Judges and Justices in whom the Devil rules are protected who casts some of us the people called Quakers into prisons Rev. 2.10 and whip and stock us for bearing our testimony of Jesus by the spirit of prophesie And likewise our payment of tythes is our testimony that we thereby do own Christ Jesus come in the flesh and that for his sake do suffer both imprisonment and the spoyling of our goods and so own him to be to us both King Law-giver Judge and Priest and deny all Laws that are made in opposition to him who has changed the priesthood and disanulled the Law even Christ Jesvs the same yesterday to day and for ever who is over all God blessed for ever Amen But I say all those that make Laws for to pay tythes and all they who by those Laws require or force people to pay tythes and all they who do pay tythes and all they who receive tythes priests or improprietors deny Christ Jesus by their works to be come in the flesh and set at naught what he hath done upon the crosse and so likewise by their works own him not to be unto them neither King Law-giver Judge Priest nor Redeemer and so they all agree together and set themselves against the Lord and against his anointed but of tythes I have more to say against them hereafter Quest But it is very likely that some may say What wilt not thou pay thy money to the building and repairing of our Churches or of that Church of the Parish where thou dwellest for they that live in a Parish must do as the rest of the parish does and be subject to the Orders and Customes of the place where they live Prov. 15.9 Exod. 23.2 ver 24. Deut. 12.2 3. Ans The way of the wicked is abomination to the Lord and it is written Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil nor do after their works but I am to obey the Lord and to keep his Commandments therefore I have nothing to do with Ieroboams House of High Places neither go I to worship in the House of Rimmon therefore if Baal must have a House built or repaired let Omri and Ahab do it for I deny their works and therefore refuse to put a hand to it Isa 15.1 2. or to pay any money toward it for I go not with Moab to the high places to weep nor to howle neither do I take any delight in the high places that are decked with many colours upon the Walls with the likenesses of several creatures drawn by the painters and likewise their Scutchins and Streamers and carved and graven Images of dead men and women and children and the pillars of the high places likewise deckt with several colors â—zek 16.16 1â— 18 19. all are whoredomes and abomination as you may read in the Scriptures And now I come to speak of the priests which now go under the title of Ministers of parishes but formerly they had titles given them by men of Arch-bishops Bishops Danes Prebends Arch-Deacons Parsons Rectors priests Clarks made after the manner of other Nations and not of God Isa 29.13 2 King 17.32 33. 2 Chron. 13.9 The people they feared the Lord but said the Lord Their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men And they made unto themselves of the lowest of them Priests for the high places which sacrificed for them in the Houses of high places and after the manner of other Nations Ieroboam he made priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi and he placed those priests in the high places which he had made at Bethel Now the lowest of the people were young men who were made priests of for Micah the man of Mount Ephraim he consecrated a young man Iudg. 17. chap. and he became his priest and he likewise had before consecrated one of his own sons who became his priest but the young man that Micah consecrated came out of Bethlehem-Iudah and he was of the Family of Iudah and a Levite as saith the Scripture and he took hire for Micah he hired him to be to him a father a priest for ten sheckles of silver by the yeer and a Sute of Apparel and his Victual so Micah hired him Mich. 3.11 and consecrated him and he became his priest The priests preach for hire the prophets divine or study for money
against all those above-named unrighteous unjust and impure Decrees Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons and Ordinances that have been made by men for to require the people to pay first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions rates for tythes or such like that they are not of God and likewise That all those men who sate in councils and parliaments and have made those laws whether kings popes earls lords lords and commons protector and council or parliaments I say That they were not guided nor taught nor led by the spirit of God so to do but by a spirit of error were they ruled by for to bring again a yoke upon the neck of Christs Disciples by those unjust and unholy and unrighteous laws decrees constitutions acts and ordinances and clauses in ordinances whereby they require and compel Christs Annointed to pay first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions or any other rates in lieu of the same I say That those laws for the payment of tythes c. are not good for whatsoever law it is that is not good in its original or foundation can never be made good by any act or acts of man subsequent Now I say That the ground and original of these laws for the payment of first fruits and tythes c. since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was from the pope and his adherents the pope and his adherents are Idolaters and all the Idolaters are ungodly and such as hate the Lord Read 2 Chron. 18 19. chap. for Ahab the King and Israel was an Idolater and he was led by a lying spirit to go up to Ramath Gilead Iehosaphat King of Iudah joyned with him and said to Ahab I am as thou art my people as thy people but Hanani the Seer said to Iehosaphat Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord such are the pope and his adherents ungodly and such as hate the Lord therefore those laws that had their original foundation from the pope and his councils were and are altogether illegal and unjust in their original for can a corrupt fountain send forth sweet water neither can the pope and his adherents who are led by a spirit of error send forth pure and just laws Therefor say I to all the Rulers of England Should you help the ungodly to make laws against the Lord against his Annointed do ye not make your selves manifest by your actions herein to be such as love them that hate the Lord do not ye do the same things in nature though not in substance as the pope and his Adherents do or worse for the pope used to excommunicate or to curse out of his Church those that would not pay tythes and happy they were that were so excommunicated out of his church by him and his adherents See the Petition of Right and 〈◊〉 Act for regulating the Privy Council and taking away the Star-Chamber Anno 17. Caroli Regis but ye make laws to take three times the value of the tythes from them that cannot in conscience pay tythes c. and put men in prison for non-payment of tythes to the undoing of them their wives and small children which is contrary to the Common-law of the land And again It is a Maxime in the laws of this land That whatsoever in its original is altogether illegal and unjust can never by tract or length of time or by Actor Acts subsequent be they what they will in any kinds or construction of law be made just or legal And for the clear proof of which read Judge Huttons Argument against Ship-Money pag. 48 49. and Vox Plebis pag. 20. 43. and the fourth part of Cooks Reports pag. 125. and Vernons Case See also John Lilburns Grand Plea made against the Lords Jurisdiction over the Commoners Anno 1647. pag. 8. 13. And said the men of Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire See the Booke called The Husbandmans plea against tythes Printed 1647. Because said they Acts of parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a parliament as well as a Council may be led by wrong principles and so erre and so make laws Acts or Statutes that are unjust c. And again I say That all they who put those unrighteous and unjust laws for tythes c. in execution and all they who receive tythes firrst fruits oblations obventions offerings or any other thing in lieu of the same and all those who either through subtilty or willingly payes the said first fruits tythes oblations obventions or offerings or any thing in leuâ— of the same in obedience to those laws that are made by the ungodly and such as hate the â—ord I do judge them all to be enemies of God and such as will not that Christ Jesus should rule and reign over them neither do they own him to be unto them a King Law-giver and Judge but by their works do make themselves manifest to be such as deny Christ Jesus to become in the flesh for did they love Christ Jesus they would suffer the spoyling of their goods for his Names sake and keep his Commandments and did they own Christ to be King and Law-giver then they would obey no laws but his and submit to him that hath disanulled the law which was a shadow of good things to come and blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances having abolished in his flesh the law of commandments contained in Ordinances and changed the priesthood who by a law took tythes and not have revived an old law that was done away by Christ Jesus at the time of reformation by himself for who hath required that law to be revived again by them at their hands but onely the Pope and his Adherents whose work they do for his servants ye are to whom ye obey Therefore my son if sinners entice thee consent thou not neither follow a multitude to do evil walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their pathes for the wayes of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord therefore go not in the way of evil men as for God his way is perfect his work is perfect all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he and the way of God is strength to the upright an dt they that walk in his pathes finde peace but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity c. And now I come to shew out of Histories the testimonie that others in former yeers have born for Christ and against tythes Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. and them that took tythes I finde written that about the yeere 1360. in the prayer and complaint of a Plow-man wherein he said as followeth Ah Lord he that * Calleth cleepeth himself thy Vicar upon earth viz. the Pope hath ordained an order of Priests to do thy service and therefore he chargeth | Lay-men lewde men in pain of cursings to bring his
A ROD Discovered found and set forth to whip the Idolaters till they leave off their Idolatry which yet remains in the Rulers of England their Ministers and the people who follow their wayes which doth consist in the Houses of High Places falsly called Churches the two Universities Cambridge and Oxford and their Ministers which are made by man and not of God and their Ministers maintenance not the Ministers of Christs which is portions of Lands Tythes Offrings Oblations Obventions and great Houses for a certain dwelling place on the earth and forms of oathes all which is the fruit of Idolaters and the abomination of the Heathen So likewise here is described the true Magistrate and his Work and the way for he who is not to become such a one and likewise the way for all people to come out of their Idolatry to worship the true God in spirit and in truth Reward her as she hath rewarded you and double unto her double according to her works Rev. 18.6 7 8 9. The commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light and reproofs of Instruction are the way of life Pro. 6.23 The Rod and Reproof gives wisdom let the righteous smite me and it shall be a kindness let him reprove me it shall be an excellent Oyle VVhen the righteous are in Authority the people rejoyce but when the wicked bear rule the people mourn Psal 141.5 Prov. 29.2.15 Written by me HENRY CLARK Unto which is prefixed the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the LAODICEANS LONDON printed for the Author the sixth Month in the Year 1657. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE LAODICEANS 1 PAUL an Apostle not of man nor by man but by Iesus Christ 2 To the Brethren which are at LAODICEA Grace and peace be with you from God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ 3 I thank my God in all my Prayers that you remain stedfast in him and in all his works waiting upon his Promises to the day of judgement 4 And be not seduced by some unprofitable talkers who go about to cause you to fall from the Gospel which was preached unto you by me 5 Oh that they that were inctructed by me might serve to the profit of the Gospel of truth and become diligent in good works of eternal life 6 And henceforth are my bonds manifest which I suffer for Christs sake 7 Whereof I rejoice in heart and account it eternal salvation 8 That such is done through your prayers by the working of the holy Spirit whether by life or death 9 For I have a will and a joy to dye in Christ who will through the same mercy give you to have the same love and to be of one mind 10 Therefore beloved brethren as you have heard in my presence that keep and finish in the fear of God so shall you have eternal life for God will work it and perfect it in you without delay 11 My beloved rejoice in the Lord and take heed of them that are desirous after filthy lucre 12 Let your prayers be manifest unto God and remain firm in the knowledge of Christ. 13 And do that which is mete convenient just and reasonable and what you have heard and received that keep in your hearts so shall you have praise 14 The Grace of God and our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirits Amen Cause this Epistle to be read unto the Colossians and read you that which is written unto the Colossians Read Col. 4.16 This Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans was found in the oldest Bible that was Printed at Worms IN a translation of the New-Testament into both Latine and English each correspondent one to another after the vulgar Text commonly called St. Ieroms faithfully translated by Iohn Hollybush 1538. and printed in Southwark by Iames Nicolson and set forth by the Kings licence I finde in the sixt Chapter of Luke it is thus in the Margent after the fifth and sixth verses after these words The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath viz. in one of the Greek Copies this followeth Iesus seeing a cortain man working on the Sabbath-day said unto him O man if thou didst know indeed what thou dost thou wert happy but if thou knowest not thou art accursed and a transgressor of the Law A Rod discovered found and set forth c. WHen man hath forsaken the counsel of the Lord Deut. 9.12 16. Exod. 32.1 8. Psal 106.13 21. ver Numb 25.4 Iudg. 2.10 11 12 13. Psal 2.2 3. 1 Kings 11.38 12.28 29. 2 Chron. 12 1. 2 Kings 21. ch Read of Manassah and Amon and turned from the onely true God his Maker then he runs into the transgression and takes counsel of man and sets himself to act against the Lord and his annointed and in his imaginations he sets up other Gods for to worship and serve and this hath been the practise of the Kings and Rulers of the Earth and their Priests who have been the onely instruments together and the very Ring-Leaders of the people from the onely true God and his worship to fall down and worship the gods that they in their imaginations have set up which is Idolatry So likewise the Kings and Rulers of the Earth have done and do now in these dayes for the worship and service of their false gods and in pretence of worshipping the true God have those things in imitation which the only true God did do and required to be done for his worship and service but all those things which they in their imaginations did do in imitation of God was their sin for which the wrath of God was kindled up against them to cut them off and to destroy them And now I will instance some particular things that the onely true God did do and required to be done for his worship and service and afterwards shew how the Kings and Rulers of the earth have devised in their hearts to do the like for the worship of their false gods which was of their own setting up and a grievous sin they did commit in so doing And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring me an Offring Exod. 25 26 27 28. chap. and ye shall take my Offring of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart they were to take the offering of him that gave it willingly with his heart and with that willing offring that came from the heart they were to make the Lord God a Sanctuary that he might dwell amongst them And the Lord said unto Moses According to all that I shew thee after the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all the Instruments thereof even so shall ye make it and ye shall make the Ark of Shittim Wood and God shewed unto Moses the pattern of the Tabernacle how it should be built and of what it should be made of and all things belonging to it And when Moses went about to make the Tabernacle he was
Congregation that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem and reigned over Israel and Solomon said Now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side so that there is neither adversaries nor evil occurrent Behold I purpose to build an House unto the Name of the Lord my God as the Lord spake unto David my Father saying Thy son whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room he shall build an House unto my Name Then Solomon began to build the House of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah where the Lord appointed unto David his father Deut. 12.10 11 12. 2 Chron. 3.1 2. and that was the place that God did choose to cause his Name to dwell and thither was the people to bring their tythes and first fruits their Burnt-offrings and their Sacrifices And Solomon began to build the House of the Lord at Jerusalem in the second year of the second Month in the fourth year of his reign and when the House was finished throughout all the parts thereof according to all the fashion of it then Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated 1 Chron. 29.1 2 3 4 5. viz. the Gold the Slver and all the Instruments put he among the Treasuries of the Hduse of God and then Solomon assembled the Elders of Israel and all the Heads of the Tribes and the chief of the Fathers of the children of Israel unto Jerusalem to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the City of David which is Zion and all the Elders of Israel came 2 Sam. 5.7 9. 1 Chron. 11.4 5 6 7 8. and the Levites took up the Ark and they brought up the Ark and the Tabernacle of the Congregation and all the holy Vessels that were in the Tabernacle these did the Priests and the Levites bring up And the Priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord unto his place to the Oracle of the House into the most Holy Place even under the Wings of the Cherubins and Solomon said unto the Lord I have huilt an House of habitation for thee and a place for thy dwelling for ever And blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my Father David saying Since that day that I brought my people out of the Land of Aegypt I chose no City among all the Tribes of Israel to build an House in that my Name might be there neither chose I any man to be a Ruler over my people Israel but I have chosen David to be over my people Israel And said Solomon The Lord hath performed the word that he hath spoken for I am risen up in the room of David my Father am set on the Throne of Israel as the LORD promised to David my Father and I have built the HOUSE for the Name of the LORD GOD of ISRAEL and the Lord God said I have chosen Jerusalem that my Name may be there And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said unto him I have heard thy prayer and I have chosen this place to my self for an House of sacrifice for now have I chosen and sanctified this House 2 Chron. 33.7 Psal 132.13 2 Chron. 7.12 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. that my Name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually and my ears shall attend unto the prayers that is made in this place and as for thee said the Lord God to Solomon if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked and do according to all that I have commanded thee and shalt observe my Statutes and my Judgements then will I establish the Throne of thy Kingdom according as I covenanted with David thy Father saying There shall not fail thee a man to be Ruler in Israel but if ye turn away and forsake my Statutes and my my Commandments which I have â—et before you and shall go and serve other Gods and worship them then will I pluck â—hem up by the roots out of my Land which I have given them Deut. 12.10 11 and this Houâ—e whiâ—h I have sanctified for my Name will I cast â—ut of my ligâ—t Therefore â—ake notice First God told the â—hildre of â—raâ—l when â—heâ— were in the Wilderness That when they came into the â—â—nâ— whiâ—h he wâ—uld â—ive them to possess and that when he had given them rest â—rom all theiâ— Enemies round about then there should be a place which he would choosâ— to cause his Name to dwell in 2 Chron. 6.5 6. Secondly Thâ—t in the Land of Canaan Ierusalem was the place that God chose from amâ—ng all the Trâ—bes of Israel that his Name might be there Tâ—irâ—ly 2 Chron. 3.1 Deut. 12.5 Joh. 4.20 Exod. 23.14 15 16. Deut. 16.16 2 Chron. 8.12 13 14 15 16. That at Ierusalem Solomon built in Mount Moriah a House called a Temple unto the Name of the Lord and for his Worship according to the Command of God 2 Sam. 7.12 13 14. 1 Kings 5.5 6. chap. Fourthly That to Ierusalem was the people of Israel required to bring their Burnt-Offrings their Sacrifices their first Fruits and their tythes Then Solomon offered Burnt-Offerings unto the Lord on the Altar of the Lord which he had built before the Porch even after a certain rate every day offering according to the Commandment of Moses and he appointed according to the order of David his father the Courses of the Priests to their Service and the Levites to their Charges the Porters also by their courses at every Gate so the House of God was perfected Now that which I come to write of further is That God required the people of Israel to pay the Priests and Levites their first fruits and tythes unto them in the land of Canaan Deu. 10.8 9 14. cha ver 22 to the end 18.1 2 3 4 5 6. and that they were to bring their Offerings and Sacrifices their first fruits and their tythes unto the place which he should chose that to Jerusalem were the first fruits and the tythes brought into the House of the Lord to be for food for the Priests the Levites the fatherless and the widow and the stranger that they might eat and be satisfied And Hezekiah King of Iudah sent to all Israel and Iudah to come to Ierusalem to keep the Passeouer unto tne Lord God of Israel 2 Chron. 30 31. chap. and Hezekiah appointed the courses of the Priests and the Levires after their courses every man according to his service the Priests and tae Levites for Burnt-offerings and for Peace-offerings he appointed also the Kings portion of his substance for the Burnt-offering to wit For the Morning and the Evening Burnt-offerings for the Sabbaths and for the New Moons and for the set Feasts as it is in the Law of the Lord Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to
give to the Priests and the Levites their portion that they might be incouraged in the law of the Lord as soon as the commandment came abroad the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of Corn Wine and Oyle and Hony and of all the encrease of the field and the tythe of all things brought they in abundantly and the children of Israel and Judah that dwelt in the Cities of Judah they also brought in tythes of Oxen and Sheep and the tythe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God and laid them by heaps and Azariah the Priest said to the King and the Princes Since the people began to bring the Offrings into the House of the Lord we have had enough to eat and have left plenty for the Lord hath blessed his people of that which is left is this great store Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare Chambers in the House of the Lord they prepared them they brought in the Offrings and the Tythes the dedicated things faithfully into the House of God over which Azariah was Ruler And after the children of Israels return out of captivity from Babylon when they had builded up the Walls of Ierusalem and that they were setled again every one in their places Nehemiah went the two and thirtieth year to the King of Babylon and after certain dayes he obtained leave of the King Neh 10 12 13. chap. and he came again to Jerusalem and he found the House of God forsaken and perceived that the portions was not given to the Levites because that the Levites was fled every man to his field then Nehemiah contended with the Rulers and said Why is the House of G d forsakâ—n and he gathered them together and set them in their places and then brought all Judah the tythes of their Corn and the New Wine and the Oyle into the treasuries Now God had commanded to bring all â—he tythes into the Store-House Mal. 3.10 that there might be meat in his House And Nehemiah and the Rulers made Ordinances accordingly and râ—quiâ—ed the people the children of Israel to bring the first fruits of their ground and the firrst fruits of all their trees year by year unto the House of the Lord and that they should bring the firstlings of their Herds and of their Flocks to the House of God unto the Priests that ministred in the House of God and that they should bring the first fruits of their Dough and their Offâ—â—iâ—gs â—nâ— thâ— fruit of all manner of trees of Wine and of Oyle unto the Priests to the Chambers of the House of God and the tythes of their ground they were to bring unto the Levites that the same Levites might have the tythes in all the cities of their tillage and the Priest the son of Aaron was to be with the levites when the levites took tythes and the levites was to bring up the â—ythe of tythes unto the House of God into the Chambers of the treasure-House And so much I have in part set forth to shew what God did do and required to be done in his worship and service of which the Scripture speaks more at large And now I come to shew how that the Kings and Rulers of the earth who forsake the onely true God to serve strange gods were the onely and chief Ring-leaders of the people from the true God and his way of Worship to worship the Images that they had set up And likewise how they in their imaginations have in their actions imitated to do the like things for the worship and service of their false gods that they set up as was done for the worship and service of the onely true God by his Command And now I will lay down the particular things to shew wherein the Kings and Rulers of the earth have acted in their own wills by their imaginations to do those things for the worship of their false gods which things that by them done were sin and what things they are doing for a false worshipping of the onely true God which is sin and such as God never required at their hands The first is The building and repairing of the Houses of High Places 2. Kings 17.12 15. Jer. 19.5 Jer. 7.31 32. called Churches for the worshipping of their false gods in or otherwayes for a pretence of worshipping the true God which thing God never required at their hands to do For God dwells not in Temples made with hands nor is he worshipped in Temples made with hands but he is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth and such worshippers the Father looks for dmells with him that is of an humble contrite spirit Ioh. 4.20 21 22 23 24. Acts 7.47 48 49. Isa 57.15 The second is Their consecrating and making Priests to offer up Sacrifices to preach in those Hgh Places called Churches for money and tythes is a thing that God never required at their hands to do and therefore it is a sin for them so to do 1 K ngs 13.33 34. Matth. 9.37 38. The third is the Laws that the Kings and â—ulers with the Pope and Bishops of the earth who sate in counsel together have made by which they compel the people of God to pay the Priests or Ministers that they have made tythes and Hire by which are contrary to God and Christ and such Laws God never required them to sit together to make against him and against his anointed and therefore I say that those Laws are unrighteous unjust unholy because they are not of God but contrary to God and therefore they are not to be obeyed for God is to be obeyed rather then man Isa 10.1 2. Mic. 6.16 Amos 8.4 5 6. Isa 1.12 But of tythes I have something more to wâ—ite hereafter in its place First God exalâ—ed from among the people of Israel Jereboam the son of Nebat one of King Solomons servants 1 King 11. ch 14.7 8 9.10 and made him Prince over the people Israel but Jeroboam turned away from the Lord God and followed not the Lord to keeâ— his Comâ—andments with all his heart nor stood in his counsel who had exalted him from all the people but Jeroboam lightly esteemed of the Lord aâ—d set his counsel at naught and set himself to do evil above all that were before him and rebelled against the Lord then the loss of Jeroboams Kingdom was set before him and the fear of his life was upon him and thus being surprised with fear on evevy side he said in his heart Now shall the Kingdom â—eturn to the House of David for said he If this people go up to do sacrifice at Ierusalem then shall the hearts of this people return again unto their Lord Rehoboam King of Judah and they will kill me 1 King 12. chh and go to Rehoboam King of Iudah again Wâ—ereupon Ieroboam took counsel but not of the Lord God who exalted him and made two Calves
of Gold and the one he set up in a City called Dan and Iereboam built up at Bethel a House of High Places and he made an Altar at Bethel and Jeroboam he set up the other golden Calfe at Bethel and then Jeroboam said unto the people It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem to worship behold thy Gods O Israel which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt And thus you see how one of the Kings of the earth was the Ring-leaders of the people from the true God to worship Idols for the people went to worship before one of the golden Calves even to the City of Dan and that thing became a sin unto them and Jeroboam he built an Altar at Bethel and he made Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi and he placed the Priests in the Houses of High Places at Bethel And Jeroboam he ordained a Feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month which he had devised of his own heart like unto the Feast that was in Judah there was his imitation and Jeroboam offered upon the Altar sacrificing unto the Calves that he had made 1 King 13. ch and he stood by the Altar to burn Incense and the Priests that he had made of the lowest of the people for the High Places burnt Incense upon the Altar as it was done in Judah so the like did he do at Bethel But I do not find that the House of High Places was so glorious as the Temple was at Jerusalem But behold there came a man of God out of Judah by the Word of the Lord unto Bethel and as Jeroboam stood by the Altar to burn incense the man of God cryed against the Altar in the Word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar thus saith the Lord Behold a child shall be born unto the House of David Josiah by Name and upon thee shall he offer the Priests of the high Places that burn incense upon thee and mens bones shall be burnt upon thee Now Jeroboam who was turned from the Lord God that exalted him fell to persecute the Prophet of the Lord and Jeroboam himself put forth his hand when he heard the saying of the man of God and said lay hold on him but the Lord God was just in causing his hand that he put forth to be dryed up Read 2 Chron. 11. 12. chap. for that he could not pull it again to him yet the Lord God was merciful to his Enemy and at the request of the man of God his hand was restored to him again but after this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way but made again of the lowest of the people priests for the high places after the manner of the Nations likewise of other lands and for the Devils and for the Calves which he had made he ordained them priests and whosoever came himself with a young Bullock and seven Rams the same he made a priest to them that were no Gods and him who Jeroboam consectated became one of the priests of the high places and this thing became sin unto the House of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth But take notice that this House of High Places that Jerobam built at Bethel was called the Kings Chappel by Amaziah the priest of Bethel Amos 7.10 11 12 13. who was a persecutor of the prophet of the Lord as you may read Amos. 2 Chr. 12.13 14. And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned over Judah in Jerusalem the City which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his Name there And when Rehoboam had established the Kingdome and made it strong then he forsook the law of the Lord and all Israel with him and Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and they provoked him to jealousie with their sins which they committed above all that their Fathers had done for they also built them high places and Images 1 King 14 21 22 23. and Groves on every high Hill and under every green tree and there were Sodomites in the land and they did according to all the abominations of the Nations which the â—ord had cast out before the children of Israel And thus you see now that if the King turn from the Lord forsake his Commandments the peopâ—e generally follow to do wickedly with him and as these two Kings did so other Kings of Israel and Judah did the like as you may read of Nadab 2 Kings 15.25 26. and Baasha ver 33 34. and of Zimri and Omri 2 Kings 16.19 25 26. And Ahab the son of Omri King of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him and it came to pass as if it it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam 1 King 16 3â— 31 32 33. for he took to wife Jezebel the Daughter of Ethbaeal the King of the Zidonians and went and served Baal and worshipped him and Ahab he built a House in Samaria for Baal he reared up an Altar for Baal in the House of Baal which he had built in Samaria and Ahab had got for Baal four hundred and fifty prophets and he had got four hundred prophets for the Groves that fed at Jezebels Table 1 Kingâ— 18.19 and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger then all the Kings of Israel that were before him And the Samaritans they made Houses of high places in all their senced Cities from the tower of the Watchmen to the fenced City and they set up Images and Groves and they burnt Incense in the high places as did the Heathen and they served their Idols Jer. 7.31 19.5 2 Kings 17. ch ver 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. wherefore the Lord God said unto them Ye shall not do this thing And the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the Seers saying Turn you from your evil wayes and keep my Commandments and Statutes according to all the law which I commanded your Fathers and mhich I sent to you by my servants the Prophets But they would not hear but hardened their necks like the necks of their Fathers that did not believe in the Lord their God and they rejected his Statutes and Covenant and his testimonies which he testified against them and they followed vanity and became vain and went after the Heathen and worshipped all the host of Heaven and served Baal And Ahaziah son of Ahab he reigned over Israel and he walked in the way of his Father and in the way of his Mother and in the way of Jeroboam for he served Baal and worshipped him 1 King 22.51 52 53. And after a reformation that King Hezekiah had made as you may read 2 Kings 18. chap. Manassah his son
that lay upon the people and likewise for the unprofitablenesse thereof The children of Israel were by the law commanded to pay first fruits and tythes for the maintenance of the levitical priesthood And the sons of Levi who received the office of che Priesthood had a commandment to take tythes of their Brethren according to the law and of no other Nation or people were they to receive any first fruits or tythes but verily that commandment is disanulled and the law is changed by our King our Law-giver and our Iudge and Prophet and Priest for ever viz. Christ Iesus who having abolished in his Flesh the enmity even the law ef commandments contained in Ordinances and hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and contrary to us which was a yoake of bondage upon the neck of the Disciples he took it and nailed to his cross tryumphing over them in himself and said It is finished for he is the end of the law for righteeusnesse to every one that believeth in him c. But wicked and ungodly men who believe not in him even Kings Rulers Pope Matth. 13.54 55 56 57. Mark 6.23 Ioh. 7.48 49. Bishops Priests for out of their own mouths they are judged Have any of the Rulers believed in him And said Paul Not many wise men after the flesh nor many mighty nor many Nobles are called even such as believe not in Christ Iesus will not that he should reign over them therefore they have made unrighteous unjust and unholy laws for to require people to pay tythes to the priests and ministers which they themselves have so ordained consecrated and sent forth and not God And the Priests and Ministers who are not ordained nor consecrated nor sent forth of God but by man even they by their unrighteous unholy and the unjust laws of men they take tythes and sue men at the unrighteous law for tythes and cause men to be put in prison by the unjust law for tythes and by the unholy law they take trebble damages of mens goods for non-payment of tythes thus contradicting what Christ Jesus hath done for Christ the true King and the just and righteous Lawgiver he disannulled the law Eph. 2.15 Col. 2.14 15. and abolished the law of Commandments and blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances and changed the priesthood that took the tythes so that when the levitical priesthood ceased to be a priesthood the tythes ceased also and the law likewise Therefore I say That the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents who have made laws to pay and to take tythes by they are such as believe not in Christ Jesus the Son of God for had they believed on Christ Jesus the Son of God they would have owned him to have been a King and a Law-giver unto them and likewise they would that he should have reigned over them as King and had they loved him Isa 26.12 13 33.22 Ioh. 13.21 Matth. 23.23 Luke 18.12 they would have kept his commandments but such as own not Christ to be King and Law-giver believe not in him and so will not that he should rule and reign over them These as the Scribes Pharisees and Hyyocrites did so do they pay tythes of Mint Annis Cummin Rue and all manner of Herbs yea and of all that they possesse and so by their works they deny Christ to be King and Law-giver and Priest too but said Christ Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither Luke 19 27. and slay them before me Now there was a time that the Hypocrites Scribes and Pharisees paid tythes as said Christ Ye pay tythes c. and at that time that they paid tythes they omitted the weightier matters of the law Judgment Mercy and Faith which said Christ ye ought to have done and not to leave the other that is tythes undone which tythes was to be paid according to the law by the people of Israel which law and carna ordinances imposed upon the people continued for them to observe and do until the time of reformation which reformation was by Christ Jesus who changed the priesthood and disannulled the law and said Paul He having abolished the law of commandments and blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us nailing it to his crosse so that after that time that Christ had fulfilled the law and put an end to that law which was a shadow of good things to come and changed the Priesthood to which the tythes was paid I say again That there was no more tythes nor first fruits to be paid and all they that refused to pay tythes and first fruits after that time of reformation which was made by Christ Jesus who offered one sacrifice for sins for ever and after he had so done Heb. 10.12 Rom. 4.15 he sate down at the right hand of God they transgressed no law in so doing for where there is no law there is no transgression But the Heathen at this they raged and the people imagined a vaine thing the Kings of the earth they set themselves and the Rulers and the Pope and the Cardinals the Bishops and the Popes Adherents took counsel together against the Lord and against his annointed saying Come let us break their bonds asunder and cast their Cords from us such would not that Christ should rule and reign over them these were and are enemies to God they have made the Word of God of non-effect they have set Christ at naught and have lightly esteemed the Rock of their salvation they have cast his Law behinde their backs and will have none of his reproof they have not taken up the Crosse of Christ nor gone in the strait way that leads unto life but have gone in the broad way that leads unto destruction being led by a spirit of error in their Councils whereby they did make Decrees Canons Constitutions Laws Statutes Acts and Ordinances which are unjust unrighteous impure and not good for said the men of Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and Herefordshire speaking of the Acts and Statutes made in former Kings dayes for the payment of tythes said they The Husband-mans Ploa against tythes printed in the year 1647. Because Acts of Parliament are Acts of men and not Oracles from Heaven a Parliament said they as well as a Council may be led by wrong Principles and so erre and so make Laws or Statutes that are unjust c. So acting against the Lord and against his Annointed in making Laws Canons Acts c. to pay tythes by for after that Christ had disannulled the Law and put an end to it they made Laws to uphold and to pay tythes therefore those Councils and Parliaments c. who have acted and made such Laws formerly and those that do act and make such Laws to pay tythes by now were and are led by a spirit of error to bring again upon the necks
the Mount of God And when Iezzabel cut off the prophets of the Lord 1 King 18.4 Obadiah hid a hundred of them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water c. And now see after what manner Elisha the prophet of God was maintained It fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem where was a great woman and she constrained him to eat bread and it was so 2 King 4.8 9 01. that as oft as he passed by he turned in thither to eat bread And the woman of Shunem said unto her Husband Behold now I perceive that this is an holy man of God which passeth by us continually let us said she make a little Chamber I pray thee on the Wall and let us set for him there a bed and a Table and a Stool and a Candlestick and it shall be when he cometh to us that he shall turn in thither And it fell on a day that he came thither and he turned into the Chamber and lay there c. By these ye may see now that the Kings of the earth would not provide first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions nor set out portions of land and great Houses for the prophets of God which he sent to live in 2 Chron. 18 25 26 as they did for their own that they themselves sent worth 100. l. a yeer more or lesse nay said Ahab by Micaiah the prophet of God Go take Micaiah and carry him back unto Amon the Governor of the City and to Ioash the Kings son and say Thus saith the King Put this fellow in prison and feed him with bread of Affliction and with water of Affliction until I return again in peace And this is that which the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents provide for the prophets that come and go in the Name of the Lord but the prophets of the Groves that come and go in their own Name they shall feed at Iezzabels table And Iohn the Baptist the Messenger of the Lord Matth. 3. chap. Luk. 1.15 Luk. 3.1 2 3 4 Matth. 1. chap who was filled with the holy spirit of God from his Mothers Womb went preaching in the Wildernesse of Iudea and in all the countrey about Iordan preaching the baptism of Repentance for the remission of sins and he was great in the sight of the Lord but his Rayment was of Camels Hair and a Leathern Girdle about his loins and his meat was Locusts and Wilde-Honey Here was nothing provided for him by the Kings of the earth to maintain him the messenger of the Lord no but instead of a great House Glebe-Land Tythes and Offerings Oblations and Obventions and 100. l. Matth. 14 ch a yeer Herod the Tetrach laid hold on him and bound him and put him in prison and afterward cut off his Head And such is the provision that the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents make for the Messengers of the Lord But the priest and preachers and teachers and Ministers that are of their own ordaining consecrating or by their appointment and law so made are well provided for so that they eat of the fat of the land and the finest of Wheat and drink Wine and strong Drink and take Tobacco and go clothed in black soft Raiment Cuffs and Rings on their fingers Ribans and Boot-hose-tops and sit at ease like a Queen and feel no want in the outward like other men Aaron and the sons of Levi who received the office of the priesthood they were maintained by first fruits offerings tythes c. according to the law which was a shadow of good things then to come until the time of reformation But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law who in the fulnesse of time came having compassion on the ignorant of them that were out of the way and being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him but Christ Jesus he glorified not himself to be made an High-Priest but he that said unnto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee the same said unto him thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Now Christ Jesus he was called of God an High-priest and made an High-priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec of God not by a carnal commandment but by the power of an endlesse life and he offered up his body a sacrifice once for all and by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and after he had offered that one sacrifice for sins for ever he sate down at the right hand of God and now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin So that Christ Jesus who is the Mediator of a better covenant then that of the old is the sum and substance of all figures and shadows held out by the Law which he put an end to for he changed the priesthood and disannulled the Law which was a shadow of good things to come by which the tythes was paid So that it is evident that Christ Jesus was not maintained by first fruits offerings nor tythes neither did the Kings and Rulers of the earth provide any House or Lands for him whom God sent For God so loved the world that he sent his onely begotten Son into the world but they would not bestow hundreds of pounds a yeere to maintain him with nor settle him in a Vicarage Parsonage nor in a Rectory of two or three hundred a yeer for said Christ Jesus The Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests Luk. 9.58 Luk. 8 1 2 3. Ioh. 13.29 but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head For he went throughout every City and Village preaching and shewing the glad tydings of the Kingdom of God and those that received his Doctrine and believed on him such ministred unto him of their substance and Iudas carryed the bag and he betrayed him into the hands of the chief priests the Elders the Rulers Herod and his men of War who delivered him up to Pilate to be condemned and to be crucified and platted a Crown of thorns and put it on his head and provided a Crosse and crucified him upon it and mocked him and thrust a spear in his side and cast lots for his Garment and gave him Vinegar to drink and this was all that they provided for the Son of God but they did not serve their own so for the world loves their own and calls them Master Master and sets them at the uppermost room at their feasts and in the highest seat in their Assemblies c. Neither was the twelve Apostles nor the seventy Disciples that Christ called and gave power to and sent forth to preach the Gospel maintained neither with first fruits offerings tythes oblations obventions c. for Christ
preaching writing printing or otherwayes were counted Hereticks and then according to the Popes Canons Decrees and Institutions were the Cardinals Bishops and others of his Clergy to proceed against them in their Ecclesiastical Courts by iniquisition examination or proof of Witnesse c. and so to passe definitive sentence upon them according to the Popes Canons and Decrees c. and then those they called Hereticks were delivered by them to the Secular Powers viz. the Magistrates of the Land who did punish those that they called Hereticks by whipping stocking hanging burning chopping off of their heads or cutting out of their tongues and put balls of Iron in their mouths and boared their tongues through with hot Irons banishment and confiscating of Goods and many other torments c. And now I will instance one particular mans sufferings and that which they made his crime was for setting up a certain Bill upon one of their falsly called Church doors against the Popes pardons in which Bill he named the Pope to be Antichrist for the which he was three several dayes whipped and after that he was burned in the forehead I would have Parliaments to take notice of this whipping and burning and not do as the papists do and for pulling down the Images and breaking them to pieces he was by the Canons Priests and Monks c. judged and condemned and by the Secular Powers had his right hand cut off from his arm and with a sharp pair of pinsons they violently pull'd his Nose off from his face and his paps from his breasts and both his arms from his body and afterward burned him in the fire And so by this example let all judge what spirit these were of whether this spirit that led them on to do this was of God or of the Devil I say That that spirit that led them on to destroy mens bodies or otherwayes Luk. 9.54 55 56. Matt. 26 51 52 53. by burning was not the spirit of Christ Jesus for Christ answered Iames and Iohn saying The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them therefore see how contrary that spirit was by which the Pope and his Clergy was guided by to destroy the lives of men to the spirit of Christ as you may read And the same spirit that guided the Pope and his Councils to destroy mens lives guided them to make Decrees to pay tythes for in the Council of Lateren under Pope Gregory the tenth said they Let no man give his tythes where he pleaseth as before but let them be paid to Mother-Church c. Now do but observe Tindall who said That all moral Divines have a wicked conscience TINDAL in his Book of the Revelation of Antichrist full of scrupulosity and said he All that do pursue are Antichrist the Pope the Cardinals Bishops and their Adherents Take notice and their Adherents do pursue therefore the Pope Cardinals Bishops and their Adherents are Antichrist and I say If of Antichrist then not of Christ but against Christ and his annointed did they sit in counsel and plotted against the just to destroy them And now ye shall see it appear that the Popes Adherents viz. the Bishops and the Clergy of England were guided by the same spirit as the Pope was Statute ex Officio Hen. 4. and also the Magistrates likewise for in the dayes of King Henry the 4th it was agreed upon by the King the Lords spiritual and temporal and by them enacted That no man within this Realm or other of the Kings Dominions do presume to preach teach inform maintain openly or in secret or make or write any Book contrary to the Catholike faith and determination of holy Church and if it happen that any person or persons of what kinde state or condition soever he or they be do attempt any manner of thing contrary to this Proclamation and Statute c. the Ordinary of the same Diocesse upon information had power by the said Statute so called to cause the party or partyes so defamed and evidently suspected to be arrested and to detain the party or parties in safe custody until he or they had purged themselves touching the Articles laid to his or their charge in that behalf or else till they had denyed and recanted c. And further If any person was lawfully convinced before the Ordinary of the place or his Commissaries of the said preachings teachings opinions writings c. and would not abjure and recant then sentence was to be pronounced by the Ordinary or his Commissaries upon the party or partyes and after sentence pronounced he or they were to be delivered over to the Secular Power viz. the Mayor Sheriffs or Sheriff or Bailiff of the City Town Borrough or Village of the same County who were to take unto them the said persons so offending and cause them to be openly burned in the sight of all people c. And Thomas Arundal Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with other of the Popes Adherents added to the Statute so called their own Constitutions whereof one was Item No manner of person shall presume to dispute upon the Articles determined by the * The Pope his Adherents were meant by them to be the Church Church as is contained in the Decrees Decreetals or Constitutions provincial or in the general Councils nor none shall call in doubt the Authority of the said Decreetals or Constitutions or the Authority of him that made them nor teach any thing contrary to the determination thereof c. and whosoever doth preach teach or obstinately affirm contrary to this and all other Constitutions and Decrees except he recant in manner and form aforesaid shall forthwith incur the penalty of Heresie and shall be pronounced an Heretiâ—k in all effect in Law And no sooner was these Constitutions and their pretended Laws finished but Thomas Arundall Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the learned Clergy his Brethren Suffragans and Assistants fell to put it in execution and past sentence definitive upon William Sautre alias Chautre for an Heretick and delivered him over to the Secular Power viz. the Mayor and Sheriffs then of London to be put in execution and for fear said my Author that it should not be speedily enough done The Spanish Inquisition is no Law of God nor the Dominican Fryars that were deputed Inquisitors were no just Iudges of Heresie Neither was the English Clergy who were led by the same spirit See FOX Act. Mon. Vol. 1. Elizabeth Young denyed to swear in the dayes of Queen MARY Matth. 5.34 35 36 37. 23.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Ier. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 11. Iames 5.12 Luke 23. chap. Act. 12.2 the Bishops called upon the King to make a Decre who thereupon did and sent it to the then Mayor and Sheriffs of London to put it in execution and the words of the Decree in the latter end of it are as followeth Provided alwayes according to the Law of
if any such words was spoken as tended to Treason they were Traytors for concealing it so long Read the story of the life and death of THO. L. CROMWEL in FOX Act. Mon. Vol. 2 Here you see what was charged against the man for his good service and for all his good service that he had done the King and the Nation by the means of the blood-thirsty clergy had his head cut off at the Tower-Hill in London One thing I observe at the doing or bringing about this thing to be done is That before time the two Bishops viz. Sardiner Bishop of Winchester and Bonner bishop of London were made friends who before were the greatest enemies each to other that might be and by their means Barns Clark and many others were burned all that was contrary to themselves must be burned in the fire and they so delighted in burning of people that they burned some papists of their own Religion as well as Hereticks as they called them And thus ye may see what a bloody generation these learned men have been who were brought up at Cambridge and Oxford and other schollars and by a carnal commandment of man made Ministers and Preachers for no sooner did any thing of God appear in a King or other Magistrate but these like the red Dragon were ready to deuour that good thing in them For I find that young King Edward was one of a meek spirit Reâ— 12.4 and much inclined to clemency for he alwayes spared and favoured the life of man and favoured the life of those they called Hereticks for one Ione Butcher should have been burned and all his Council could not move him to put his hand to have her burned but were fain to get bishop Cranmer to perswade him to do it but Cranmer could not with much labour induce the King to do it do but take notice of the Kings answer to bishop Cranmer said the King What will ye have me to send her quick to the Devil in her error And yet although one Cheek the Kings School-Master could not perswade the King nor his council could not perswade him to set his hand to the burning of the woman Yet the bishop like the old Dragon overcame him to put his hand to the writing but Cranmer confessed that he had never so much to do in all his life as he had to cause the King to do it for said the King to Cranmer I will lay all the charge upon you before God So likewise his council sent the said Cranmer then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Ridley bishop of London to perswade the King to permit his Sister the Lady Mary that bloody Queen to have private Masse in her House without prejudice of the Law for the which they alledged their reasons and perswasions for the accomplishing of the same but the King replyed to them by answering to them from the Scriptures so that they confessed what he said was true But still they like the Devil did urge him to it politickly and alledged what danger it might be to him if he should deny such a thing but the King answered them and willed them to be content for he would said he spend his life and all he had rather then agree and grant to that which he knew certainly to be against the truth Yet notwithstanding they urged him still to grant it and would by no means have his nay whereat the King seeing their importunity burst out in bitter weeping and sobbing and desired them to be content c. And by these two before writ of viz. King Edward and Thomas Lord Cromwell ye may see how those learned men could turn and wind about to destroy the appearance of God not onely in Kings and Rulers but likewise in others and if they could not destroy it one way they would destroy it another and that was by causing their bodyes to be imprisoned wracked whipped hanged burned c. as witness all the Martyrs in Queen Maryes dayes whereof Cranmer himself was one and the same spirit that ruled in those bishops and the clergy ruled in the bishops and the clergy in the days of the late King as witness the cruel sufferings of Henry Burton Iohn Lilburn William Prynne and Iohn Bastwick c. and the same spirit of envy and cruelty reign now in these dayes in the parish-ministers * But not in the Ministers of Christ of England for the Tree is known by its fruit for not only by their deeds but by their words do I judge them to be such as for what I have heard from some of their own mouths I shall let it pass and their deeds to me likewise But by the way take notice what Mercurius Politicus said viz. that several petitions were presented to the House Thursday the 18. day of Decemb. 1657. containing divers complaints against the growth and exorbitances of the people called Quakers and so did Pharoah against the children of Israel was this day read Exod. 1. chap. The first was from the county of Devon and Exceter The second was from the Ministers of Northumberland Durham and New Castle upon Tine but not from the Ministers of Christ And the third was from the Justices of the Peace Gentry Ministers of the Gospel as he said and others in the county of Palatine of Chester and the attestation of the same petition by the Mayor Aldermen and Ministers of the city of Chester not the Ministers of Christ The fourth was from the Mayor Aldermen and Common-counsel of the city of Bristol with the Ministers of the Gospel as he said and other chief Inhabitants there The fifth was the humble petition of divers well-affected persons Gentlemen Ministers he did not say here Ministers of the Gospel and others in the county of Cornwall which said Politicus were all referred to a Committee to consider of them and to collect such heads as may be fittest for a Bill for the suppressing of the mischiefs and inconveniences complained of therein c. And let the prisons in England testifie of the sufferings of those people called Quakers by the means of the Parish-Ministers of England and also the losse and spoyle of their goods for non-payment of tythes and likewise the whipping stocking and stoning of them by the brutes of this Nation above all other Nations for whereever they have yet come the Rulers hath not dealt the like to them as they of their own Nation have done unto them which Nations may be a witness against England in the day of Judgement for the hypocrisie and cruelty in her Rulers and their Ministers c. Quest But it is very likely that some may say They be not all such as thou shewest them to be for some of them are better then others therefore thou must not condemn all to be alike c. Answ I do grant that amongst the Rulers and Magistrates of this Nation there is some that are more sober moderate and discreet
of the Disciples Christs Annointed a yoke of bondage which Christ their King and Law-giver hath freed them from as hereafter you may read how the Saxon Kings who governed or ruled this Land About the year 604. they began to build the high places called by the Names of Cathedral Churches Churches and Chappels And about the yeer 635. they began to build up Crosses and Altars And about the yeer 666. they began to build up Abbiet Monasteries Fryar-Houses See Fox Act. Mon Vol. 1. Chantry c And about the yeer 720. King Inas alias Ina King of the West-Saxons made a Law That the first fruits of all that was sown should be paid at the day of St. Martin as he called it And in the yeer 933. King Adlestan made a Law That tythes should be paid of all the proper goods as well of living Cattel as of Corn and the first fruits of the ground c. And in the yeer 940. King Edmond made a Law That tythes with the first fruits of every mans Crop should he duly paid c. And in the year 959. King Edgar ordained and decreed concerning Liberties and Freedoms of the Church as he called it That tythes and first fruits of Corn and Peter-pence be all duly paid c And about the sixt yeer of King Henry the first Anno 1106. Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by the permission of the King assembled a great Council at Westminster of the Prelates and Clergy of England and amongst other Councils and that it was decreed That no tythes should be given but to the Church so called And in the yeer 1215. Pope Innocent the third sent his Decretal Epistle into England to the then Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by whose means it was decreed That private tythes should be paid at Easter so called And in thâ— yeer 1274. at a Council at Lateran held under Pope Gregory the tenth a Canon was made in this manner that is Let no man give his tythes where he pleaseth as before but let them be paid to Mother-Church as he called it And in the dayes of King Henry the 8th by his Authority and the Lords spiritual and temporal and the Commons assembled in Parliament an Act was made for the payinng of tythes offerings and other duties of Holy Church Now I say What were these Offerings Were they Heave-offerings or Wave-offerings or Burnt-offerings or Sin-offerings or Trespasse-offerings that were to be paid to the Parson Vicar Curate c. I would have all people to take notice also of the Preamble of the said Act because that Thomas Bradley tells us Tho. Bradleys Book called Cesars Duc. That the Lords spiritual sate in one Parliament in the Vpper-House in great Power and with them in that Parliament twenty six Abbots which together with the Bishops were able to carry a great Vote against the Lords temporal which in those dayes said he were not so numerous and besides there was full convocation of the Clergy sitting and unanimously assenting c. I do not doubt but the Bishops the Abbots and the Clergy would assent to any thing for their own profit right or wrong But wo be unto them that decree unrighteous Decrees and that write grievousness which they have prescribed Isa 10.1 2. and to turn aside the needy from judgement and to take away the right from the poor of my people that the Widows may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherlesse c. The words of the Preamble of the Act are as followeth Forasmuch as many evil disposed persons have attempted to withhold their tythes as well predial as personal An. 27. Hen. 8. ch 20. due unto Almighty God and holy Church and also have contemned and disobeyed the Processes and Decrees of the Ecclesiastical Court of this Realm Be it enacted c. that every subject of this Realm according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Church of England and after the laudable usage and custom of the Parish where he dwelleth or occupieth shall pay his tythes offerings and other duties of holy Church c. An. 26. Hen. 8. cap. 1. An. 28. Hen. 8. cap. 11. Now they had made King Henry the eighth the supreme Head of their Holy Church by an Act of Parliament instead of the Pope so that their Churh was as unholy as the Popes was and is for one and the same spirit guided them all in making their unrighteous Decrees for tythes first fruits and offerings c. So in the dayes of King Edward the sixt Personal tythes was the tenth part of a Tradesmans clear Gaius an Act was made for the true payment of all manner of predial Tythes and personal Tythes Offerings Obventions Profits Commodities or other Duties to the Parsons Vicars Proprietories c. Be it also enacted c. That every of the Kings Subjects shall from henceforth truly and justly without fraud or guile divide set out yeeld and pay all manner of their predial tythes in their proper kind as they rise and happen c. And the parsonal tythes was to be paid at Easter An. Ed. 6. cap. 13. and the offerings were to be paid at four offering-dayes or in default thereof to pay the said offerings at Easter then next following And likewise the Parliament of Lords and Commons they made an Ordinance for the payment of tythes c l take their words as followeth Ordinanee of Lords Commons Die Veneris 8. Novemb 1644. Be it therefore declared and ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled That every person and persons within the said Realm and Dominion shall fully truly and effectually set out yeeld and pay respectively all and singular tythes offerings oblations obventions rates for tythes and all other duties known by the Name of tythes to all and every the respective Owners Proprietors Improprietors and possessors Ordinanco of Lords and Com. Dei Luna 9. Aug. 1647. as well Lay as Ecclesiastical persons respectively viz. Parsons Vicars Rectors c. And another Ordinance they made to award trebble damages to the parties complaining of the non-payment of tythes whether minister or other person which Ordinances of the Lords and Commons was renewed and confirmed to stand in force by Oliver Protector and his then Council Ordinance of O.P. and his Council Aug. 1654. by a Clause in an Ordinance made for the ejection of scandalous ignorant and insufficient Ministers and School-Masters And this last parliament that sate have confirmed the said Ordinance made by Oliver Protector and his then Council to continue for three years for the proof of which see their Declaration of Acts and Ordinances made by this last Parliament and assented unto by Oliver protector When thou sawest a thief Psalm 50.18 thou thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with the Adulterers And now I say In the presence of the Lord God and from his power who bears me witness and whose testimony I bear
under the Gospel deriving its being and institution from the injunction of the Pope and his Council doth subject us to the dictates of the See of Rome against which we are all engaged by our former protestations c. And the men of Middlesex in their first Letter to his then called Excellency the Lord General Cromwel said That tythes is an usurped popish Relique And in their petition to the Parliament they said It is very clear that tythes have been formerly by the popish Clergy subtilly perswaded or rather extorted from our Ancesters Wherefore said they we humbly desire that all tythes and tenths may be speedily removed as a great oppression and usurpation c. And Aug. Wingfield calleth tythes the Nursery of contention and strife and that the proud and pompous priests did constrain the poor people of England viz. the popish Canons to pay their tythes unto them In his Book called Tythes totally routed by Magna Charta printed 1653. So that tythes were grounded meerly upon a popish Canon contrary to Magna Charta which is acknowledged by the learned viz. Magna Charta to be the Common-Law of England both before and after the Conquest c. And Cook that learned Oracle in the Laws of England said in his Chapter of tythes Eighth Book of Cooks Reports and in Dr. and Stud. JENKINS fol. 139. That all Canons which are against the common law or custome of the land are of no force And in Bonhams case it is laid down for law That Acts of Parliament made against common Right or Reason are ipso facto void And it is proved by Jenkins That the common-Common-Law shall controle Acts of Parliament made against Right or Reason and adjudge them to be void c. And such are all the Acts Statutes and Ordinances for tythes against both reason equity and truth And at a Parliament holden at Westminster in the two and forty yeer of Edward the third it was assented and accorded That the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forrest 42 Ed. 3. cap. 2. be holden and kept in all points and if any Stâ—â—nte be made to the contrary that shall be holden for none And the Free-men of Bucks Bedfordshire and Herefordshire said That Tythes t s the mark of the Beast or Antichrist spoken of in the Revelations the 13. chap. ver 16 17. for said they There is no ground in the New-Testament as can be found for them See their Booke called The Husbandmans Plea printed 1647. but onely from the Popes laws and canons and therefore may they be truly called a mark of the Beast or Antichrist the Pope of Rome Neither is there said they any greater tyranny of the Pope exercised over mens persons and goods then is by this law of tythes And said they in their Epistle That tythes is the most unequal the most irregular and the most unagreeable to the Word of God fâ—r said they in their Plea If therefâ—râ— perfection had been by the Priesthood of the Levite then what further need was there that another priest should arise for under it was the law established unto the people the ceremonial law was but for a time even until the time of reformation which was done by Christ Iesus who changed the priesthood Col. 2.14 and at his death abolished the law bloting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and tooke it out of the way nailing it to the Crosse And said they As the payment of tythes is contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel so likewise it is repugnant to the power of godlinesse for said they Pope Gregory the tenth ordained that tythes should be given to the priests So that the customs that we pay tythes by at this day were setled upon this Kingdom by the Popes Legates in Provincial and Synodal Constitutions about the time of Hen. 3. and Hen. 5. And said they Tythes is a popish custom that is imposed by the Popes Authority and not by the Authority of God Seldons History of tythes chap. 11. without any warrant for it in the New-Testament So likewise tythes are a Relique of superstition because they were at first given out of a superstitious opinion viz. for satisfaction for the sins of the giver his wife and children as it appears by some of our old Charters recorded by learned Selden And said they Tythes are an oppression to the Husbandman and too heavy for him to bear because that the tenth of the Husbandmans stock and yeers labour is yeerly taken from him under the name of tythes which is every particular Husbandmans proper goods by a civil and natural right so that neither Kings nor Parliaments can take them from them nor any particular man by their appointment without giving to every particular man a consideration for it of equal value when he takes it from him Rom. 8.2 Acts 20.33 34 35. or else he sins against the eighth Commandment Thou shalt not steal and against the tenth Thou shalt not covet c. which Paul a Minister of Christ said he was free from c. And I finde in a Book wherein is contained certain grievances of divers persons of this Common-wealth of England See a Booke printed 1653. called The afflictions of the afflicted or The unjust exaction oâ— the Tythemongers discovered who suffered as the said Book relates both imprisonment and the spoiling of their goods for the testimony of Jesus and against tythes as appeareth both in the Epistle and Schedule of their particular sufferings in the Book They said That Antichristian Teachers Improprietors and all others which afflicts the consciencious people by owning receiving and urging of tythes and forced maintenance denieth the work of the Lord Jesus done at his death for in that he hath dissolved the levitical law and the priesthood for he said It is finished as you may see Ioh. 10.30 for said they Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth and Christ is our Law-giver and High-priest which came of the Tribe of Judah and so the priesthood is changed and therefore a necessity of a change of the law also Luk. 10.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. But said they Tythes is no law of Christ to us and it is a great sin to pay tythes and forced maintenance the payment of tythes said they is against the Law of Christ and the Apostles Doctrine Gal. 5.1 Act. 15.1 2 10 19 20. ver and that if the law of England be contrarary to the law of God we are not to obey it but to obey God for whether is it better to obey God or to obey man judge ye But said they Seeing that tythes is thus unjustly taken from the free people of this Nation it is absolutely treason both in the Priest and Improprietor for in so doing they destroy the fundamental law where it is ordained that no free-man shall be taken or
imprisoned or disseâ—sed of his Free-hold Liberty or free Custom neither shall he be out-lawed banished 9 Hen. 3. cap. 29. 5 Ed. 3. cap. 9. Read the petition of Right or by any means brought to destruction neither shall any passe or sit in judgement upon him but by the lawful judgement of his Peers that is his equals or by the law of the land and Magna Charta is acknowledged by the learned to be the Common-law of England both before and after the conquest And now I shall refer the Reader to a Book called The Cry of the Oppressed from under their Oppressions wherein the Reader may see a cloud of Witnesses that have born and still do bear their testimony for the Name of Jesus and against tythes who go under the Name of Quakers who have suffered and do suffer bonds and imprisonment and likewise the spoiling of their goods they take joyfully knowing in themselves that they in Heaven have a better and an enduring substance And again besides all this they undergo sore travels out of the North and other parts of this land to appear before the Judges at the Tearms at Westminster Tearm after Tearm do they continue still more or lesse bearing their testimony not as the parish-Ministers and the professors do who professe Christ in words but by their works deny him come in the flesh against tythes and that Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and thir testimony of him â—s born through suffering the losse of all for his Name sake which to them is an evident token of their salvation and that of God for they that suffer with Christ shall reign with him but unto their adversaries by which they do suffer it is to them an evident token of their perdition for those mine enemies that would not said Christ that I should rule and reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me I tell you that God doth hear the cry of the oppressed and he will avenge his own Elect which cry unto him day and night for vengeance is the Lords and he will repay it upon his adversaries ye wicked and ungodly ones because that judgement is not speedily executed upon you therefore the hearts of you sons of men are set on to do wickedly but know that for all this you shall come to judgement for the innocent have committed their cause unto God who judgeth righteously and you shall find that when you appear before the Lord who sees all your doings and knows the thoughts of your hearts that they are evil that with God there is no respect of persons nor taking of bribes Ye see here before written that I have shewed how the parish-Ministers that the Kings and the Rulers the Pope and his Adherents have ordained and consecrated and sent forth to their parishes to preach have been and are maintained first their maintenance is in part after the maintenance of the Levitical priesthood under the Law viz. first fruits tythes offerings oblations obventions c. Secondly like unto Pharoah the King of Aegypts Priests by portions of lands viz. Parsonages Vicarages Exâ—d 47.24 1 King 18.19 Rectories and Glebe-lands Thirdly like unto the prophets of the Groves that fed at Jezzabels table viz. at Kings and Queens tables Earles Lords and Ladyes tables yea 1 King 13.33 34. Mic. 3.11 and at Oliver Protectors table too Fourthly like the false prophets and the priests of the high places that Ieroboam and others consecrated who preacht for hire and divined or studyed for money so they have some 30.40.50 100. or 200 l. a yeer and some more in the parish where they are setled for their yeerly maintenance and their Lecturers place together all which hath been and is provided for those heaps of Teachers which the world who having itching ears have heaped up to themselves by which they are seduced even by those unprofitable talkers viz. Cambridge and Oxford Schollars by the Kings and Rulers of the earth the Pope and his Adherents And now I come to shew you out of Scripture how the Prophets that God sent forth was maintained I shall instance how some of them were maintained and so by them do ye judge how the rest were maintained For Elijah the prophet of God he was a hairy man and he was girded about his loins with a leathern Girdle and God commanded Elijah to go and hide himself by the Brook Cherith 2 King 1.8 Read 1 King 17. chap. that is before Iordan and God told him that he should drink of the Brook and that the Ravens should feed him there So Elijah went according to the word of the Lord and dwelt there and the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening And it came to passe after a while that the Brook was dryed up because there had bin no rain in the land And then the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying Arise get thee to Zarephath and dwell there behold I have said the Lord commanded a widow woman there to sustaine thee So he arose and went to Zarephath and when he came to the Gate of the City he found the widow woman gathering sticks and he called unto her said Fetch me a little water in a vessel that I may drink and bring me a morsel of bread in thy hand And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah and she and he and her Houshold did eat many dayes and the Barrel of Meal wasted not neither did the Cruse of Oyle fail according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah And it came to passe after many dayes that the word of the Lord came unto Elijah in the third year saying Go and shew thy self unto Ahab and I will send Rain upon the earth And Elijah went and shewed himself unto Ahab and after that he had done the work of the Lord as you may read in 1 King 18. ch Iezzabel sent a messenger to him saying So let the gods do to me and more also if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time And when he saw that he arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba which belongeth to Iudah 1 King 19. and he left his servant there and he himself went a dayes journey into the Wildernesse and sate him down under a Juniper Tree and as he lay and slept under a Juniper Tree behold then an Angel touched him and said unto him Arise and eat And he looked and behold there was a Cake baken on the coles and a Cruse of water at his head and he did eat and drink and laid him down again And the Angel came again the second time and touched him and said Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat fourty dayes and fourty nights unto Horeb