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religion_n	king_n	liberty_n	parliament_n	4,708	5	6.3048	4	false

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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

be hanged for Traytors and Antichristian Ministers in good earnest else l●t him be hanged in their steed for this his impudent slander of them all as well Independents as Prebyterians Have of late years come and been sent into this Realme of England and were any of our Ministers such and not rather Canne himself coming hither from Amsterdam for the purposes following and other the Queens Dominions OF PURPOSE AS IT HATH APPEARED as well by some of their own examinations now out of date as by divers other Manifest means and proofs more visible of late years than ever not onely to withdraw her Highnesse subjects from their due obedience to her Majestie but also to st●r up and move Sedition Rebellion and open Hostility within the same her Highnesse Realms and Dominions to the great indangering of the safety of her most Royall Person and to the utter ruine desolation and overthrow of the whole Realm now effected as a Realm if the same be not the sooner and now pray God it be not over late by some good means foreseen and prevented For reformation whereof be it ordained c. That All Priests and Jesuits Canne cannot spy such good friends within the Act but deletes them out of it Seminary Priests and other Priests whatsoever made and ordained out of the Realm of England c. under the penalties therein mentioned Had Canne pressed this Statute to those he dedicates his Pamphlet for the speedy execution of it against those many Jesuites and Seminary Priests now in England for their traiterous Practises and Designes therein mentioned of late and now driven on and almost compleated by them it had been a commendable zeale but to write one word or syllable against these Romish Vermine arch-Engineers Janizaries of the Romish See now swarming among us to rui●● our Kingdomes Parliaments Laws Liberties Church Ministers Ministry Religion forreign Protestant States Churches now engaged by them in bloudy wars both by Land and Sea and to omit th● very name of the Jesuits the first Popish Agents mentioned and chiefly intended in this Act and presse it onely against our Ministers Calling Ministry Tithes and Maintenance of purpose to ruine them and theirs and by consequence our Church and Religion the Designe and scope of his whole Pamphlet is such a malicious unchristian Antichristian Practise as proclaims him to all the world either a new converted Jesuite or Romish Factor under the Garb of an old Anabaptist or an over-grown cankered Anabaptist void of Piety Honesty and inspired by the very Father of Lyes For not one of our English Ministers I know or hear of except two or three Jesuits and Priests crept into Livings in Staffordshire and elsewhere very lately I know not by whose favour or negligence was ever ordained by any such Jurisdiction or authority as is here mentioned which all our Ministers and their Ordainers too whether Prelates or Presbyters particularly and publickly abjured both at the time of their respective Ordinations and admissions to their Benefices and likewise when they took any Degree of Learning in our Vniversities by the two known famous Oaths of SUPREMACY and ALLEGIANCE purposely made and ratified by * sundry zealous Protestant Parliaments against the usurped Papal Jurisdiction and authority of the See of Rome and the Popes Jesuits and Papists practises to blow up and destroy our Protestant Kings Parliaments Laws Liberties Religion and subvert our Kingly Government whole State and Common-wealth for the better discovering of them yet lately suspended abrogated as dangerous unlawfull Oaths by some of Cannes good friends who would be reputed Zealots against the Popes Jurisdiction and his Creatures too Now how those Ministers of our Church who thus abjured the Jurisdiction of Rome at the time of their very Ordination and their Ordainers too before them and since have don● the like in their Solemne League and Covenant can without the highest slander be said to derive their Ministry from it and that by Canne his Jesuiticall Anabaptistical Fraternity who never took one of these Oaths or the Covenant and revile repeal them as unlawful out of love to the Popes Jurisdiction Jesuits Priests c. or for want of zeal against them Let the world and this slanderers own Conscience if he have any left determine Besides who knows not but this Ignoramus that the Rites and Ceremonies of Ordination in the Church of Rome recorded at large in Ceremoniale Pontificiale Pontificum Romanorum and the ends of Ordination likewise viz. to say Masse create their Creator offer up Christ in Sacrifice at the altar to his Father Invocate Saints adore Images yield Canonicall obedience to the Pope and his Supremacy c. are far different from the form and ends of our Ministers Ordination in the Church of England prescribed by the Parl. 5. 6. Ed. 6. c. 1. ratified by the Statutes of 1 Eliz. 2. c. 1 2. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. and 39 Eliz c. 8. made onely by Protestant Parliaments as they particularly condemne renounce the Popes power and Jurisdiction so they declare and resolve our Ministers Ordination to be lawfull and them in very deed to be Ministers and rightly made ordained and ●onsecrated according to Gods word without any derivative power or Ordination from the Church of Rome And therefore for this New pander for the Whore of Rome to averre they receive their ministry and ordination thence is a NOTORIOVS LYE yea but saith he Francis Mason of Consecration and Mr. Yates in his Modell of Divinity prove and confesse That the Ministry of the Church of England established by the Law of the Land IS DERIVED FROM THE POPE and ROME True but in what sense onely by way of Succession as his own Ministry and Faith if he hath any were derived from John of Leyden or just as our Bibles Religion Baptisme Churches were derived thence and all now living with Canne himself derived from Popish Ancestors many even from Popes Popish Priests Prelates Friars by naturall generation God used the Popes of Rome and their Instruments to convert the Britains and Saxons from thei Paganisme to the Christian not Papal or Roman Faith which through Gods mercy hath continued amongst us ever since yet mixed of later times with manifold Popish Errors and Superstitions These Errors and Superstitions our godly Martyrs and by them our Kings and Parliaments discovering did thereupon by speciall Acts of Parliament abolish as derived from the Church of Rome together with the Popes usurped power and Gain which they served onely to support retaining onely the Scriptures Sacraments Soul-saving Doctrines thence derived by succession onely but authoritatively and originally from God and Christ himself with such Godly Orthodox Bishops and Ministers who though first ordained in the Church of England when Popish did yet renounce all the Popish Errors Corruptions with the Popes Supremacy and all Popish additionall Rites to the form of their Ordination and

First paid by Souldiers out of the very spoyles of Battle taken in the very first Warre we read of to the very first Priest of God we find recorded in the Scripture and therefore admired that Officers and Souldiers in this age should so degenerate as to be the very ringleaders and chief oppugners of them drawing up some brief Notes of this subject out of Scripture to help passe the time in defence of Tithes relating more particularly to Souldiers to silence satisfie and reclaime them from this Sacrilegious designe which having since enlarged with Arguments and Answers to their Objections drawn from their own Military pro●essions for the better satisfaction and conviction of all Sword-men and others I hope neither Officers nor Souldiers nor any others truly fearing God if they confider Lecit 19. 17. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. Prov. 19. 25. 10. 17. 12. 1. 13. 18. 15. 10 31 32. 17. 10. 25. 12. Psal 141. 5. 1 Sam. 25. 32 33. 1 Tim. 5. 20. Luke 3. 14. will or can be justly Offended with me no more for writing truth then speaking it to their faces as I did upon all occasions whiles among them not to defame but to informe and reforme them for their own and the publick good in what I conceive not warrantable by but repugnant to Gods word and their duties as Souldiers or Christians and to those known fundamentall Lawes Liberties of the Nation they were purposely raysed commissioned waged and engaged by Protestations Covenants and their own voluntary printed Declarations to protect and not subvert and that they will not repute it a capitall crime in me not to prove a flatterer or dissembler or not to act or write wittingly against my Science and Conscience when our Ministers Maintenance Calling Religion Gods glory Lawes Liberties all we have or hope for are in danger of such a sad sodain and destructive Convulsion and concussion if not Subversion as I long since by Authority of Parliament discovered in Romes Master-piece well worth perusall now when so many known Jesuits under a new Provinciall which Hugh Peters himself reported as I have been credibly informed are now even in London it selfe acting as busily and sitting there in Councell as duely as when the reclaimed Author of that discovery purposely sent from Rome for the purposes therein discovered was resident amongst them O that these professed Enemies of our Church Religion Nation and those Janizaries of Rome may not sow their Tares of error and seeds of ruine and desolation amongst us whiles almost our who●e Nation for ought I can discerne if not those who call themselves Watch-men are in a dead sleep or Lethargy and heaving at our most faithfull Ministers maintenance and Callings too in stead of enquiring after discovering these Arch-traytors and executing the good Lawes and Oathes against them to prevent those treafonable practises destructive designes miseries and that ruine to our Religion Government Governors Lawes Parliaments Church and Common-wealth which the wise Protestant vigilant Parliaments of 13 Eliz. c. 1. 23 Eliz. c. 1. 27 Eliz. c. 2. ●5 Eliz. c. 2. 1 Jac. c. 4. 3 Jac. 1 2 4 5. 7 Jac. c. 6. and some hundreds of Declarations and p●in ed Ordinances R●monst ances of the Lords and Commons the last Parliament with the good new Lawes and Oath they provided against those Romish Vipers quite buried in Oblivion have publ●shed to allarme all drowsie stupid carelesse people all lovers of God their Religion or Country against them even at this very season when they and their confederates are wittingly or ignorantly over-turning overturning overturning whatever is not yet totally subverted am●ng us and carrying on these their designes If these my impotent undertakings with a sincere affection only to Gods glory and the reall weal and preservation of our Religion Ministry Lawes Native Country and all Protestant Churches now indangered by their mutuall discords and Jesuite Emissaries to foment their intestine differences may so farre open the eyes of all Degrees in our Nation really fearing God so to know in this their day the things which belong unto their peace and settlement and to move them effectually to pursue them before they be hid from their eyes I have all the reward I do expect and shall blesse God for the good successe If any shall be offended with me or it and requite me only with envy hatred persecution and new Oppression Bonds close Imprisonments for well-doing and endevouring any more publick good for our Church Religion Country I shall commit my cause to God who judgeth righteously who hath so often brought forth my righteousnesse as the Light and my judgement as the Noon-day to the shame and confusion of my causelesse enemies and shall carry this comfortable cordiall unto my brest to any Prison Pillory Gibbet Grave that the malice or power of poor vapouring Mortals who know not how soon their violent dealing may or will come down upon their own pates as well as on other potent adversaries shall be able to hurry me to and ascend triumphantly which is to heaven it selfe that I have discharged that duty which God Conscience Providence and the publick danger of our Ministry and Religion and my sacred Oathes and Covenants have engaged me unto And if I perish for it I perish and in perishing shall by Gods assistanced part with this Swan-like Saint-like Song of that eminent Prisoner of Jesus Christ who was in Prisons more frequent in P●rils Afflictions and Persecutions often as I have been for the faithfull discharging of his duty I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteoufnesse which God the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but to all them also which suffer for his truth and love his appearing which is the unshaken constant faith hope and expectation of thine and our Churches Countries unmercenary faithfull Friend and Servant William Prynne A GOSPELL PLEA FOR THE Lawsulnesse and Continuance of the Antient setled Maintenance and Tithes of the Ministers of the GOSPELL THE antient necessary competent maintenance of our Ministers of the Gospell setled on them by the Piety and Bounty of our religious Christian Kings and Ancestors almost from the very first preaching and embracing of the G●spell in this Iland and constantly enjoyed ever since without any publick opposition being in these times of a long expected glorious resormation and reall propagation of the Gospell more audeciously oppugned more impiously decryed declaimed petitioned publickly against and more sacrilegiously invaded detained substracted then in the very worst or profanest of former ages and that not only by professed enemies of the Ministers and Ministery of the Gospell but by such who pretend themselves their friends and the most precious Saints who not yet satisfyed with the late sales of all

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

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

reviled persecuted defamed we are as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things unto this day If all Ministers in times of peace and setlement must be like the Apostles in not receiving ti●hes then they must be like them too even in setled Christian Kingdoms States Churches in all these their particular sufferings and have no certain dwelling place c. And if so Let Canne his new Ministers of the Gospel as they stile themselves begin the president of whom our Ministers may now say as Paul did of the Corinthians in the precedent verse of this chapter v. 8. Now ye are full nowye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us when as most of them were very poore and farre enough from reigning as Kings or so much as Petty Constables before these unhappy Wars and in dayes of former persecution when Canne himself durst not shew his face in England for fear of a Bishops power or High-commission Pursuivant nor durst reproach our Orthodox protestant pious Ministers and Parliaments as Antichristian Popish and compare their Laws for Ministers Tithes with the very Idolatrous Statutes of Omri and A●ab as he doth now p. 3. for which he might have taken a turn at Tiburn in steed of walking fre●ly in Westminster Hall without being questioned for this his impudent high Slanders both of our Laws and Parliaments as well as Ministry 6. If the M●nisters of the Gospel be bound to imitate the Apostles in all things then they must not have Gold nor Silver nor Brasse in their purses neither Scrip nor two Coats nor yet Shoes but Sandals onely on their feet Mat. 10. 9 10. Mar. 6. 8 9. as the Capuchin-Friars Mendicants hence conclude this being a positive Precept the objected examples of the Apostles c. onely a a President And if so not onely all our Ministers but Canne and all his Administrators must turn Friars Mendican●s too in good earnest who ground their Vow of Voluntary poverty on this Text and the objected Presidents of Christ and his Apostles and so become no Ministers of Christ but Antichrist and as truly Antichristian as these Friars are 7. If our Ministers must all now be like those of the Primitive times whiles under persecuting Heathen Emperours Kings Magistrates then all Saints and Christians too in our dayes and times must imitate and be like the Saints and Christians in those dayes They must sell all their old and new purchased Lands Houses Lordships Palaces and lay the money at the Ministers feet have all things in common like the reall Saints and Christians in the Apostles times Acts 4. 34. to the end and instead of Lording and feasting it in their new acquired Royall Episcopall Palaces and Mannor Houses they must wander about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins in Desarts and in Mountains and in Dens and Caves of the earth being destitute and affli●ted like the Saints of old yea and like them they must be tortured not accepting deliverance have trialls of cruell mockings and scourgings bonds and imprisonments be stoned sawn asunder slain with the Sword instead of slaying plundering imprisoning and sawing others asunder with the Sword Heb. 11. 35. to 39. And when our Army-Saints Officers Souldiers with other Tithe Oppugners who presse this Objection against Ministers Tithes shall lay down their Arms Commands Power Lands sell all they have and become like to all these Primitive Saints and Martyrs of Christ in sufferings in times of Persecution I doubt not but our Ministers will joyfully part both with their Glebes Rectories Tithes and setled Maintenance to sympathize with them in their Persecutions and Sufferings But til● such hard times of Persecutions and they begin to follow this President of the self-denying Primitive S●ints I hope they will not make all our Ministers present Martyrs in their Tithes and setled Maintenance nor enjoyn them alone to follow the Primitive Ministers of the Gospel in those times of persecution and prove greater persecutors to them in these pretended times of Christian Liberty and Justice than the late Oppressing Prelates and High Commissioners who suffered many of them though Non-conformists to enjoy their Tithes and Glebes and not eject or disinherit them and their Successors for ever of their ancient Glebes Tithes and setled Maintenance without any Legall Tri●ll by their Peers or Conviction of any Treasonable crimes against our known Lawes for which they deserve to forfeit them and all under the false petence that Tithes are Jewish and Antichristian under the Gospel which I hope I have sufficiently refuted being established on them by Ch●istian Kings States Parliaments immediately after the Primitive persecutions generally throughout Christendome as the fittest Maintenance of all other and particularly in our Realm when as the abolishing of them will be really such in the Judgement of all Godly Protestants and Patrons of Religion both at home and throughout the World FINS a Isa 45. 15. 46. 9. b Mat. West An. 1055. p. 422. Antiq. Eccles Brit. ● 88 89. c Psal 73. 25. d Act. 17. 28. e Psal 73. 26 f 1 Thess 5. 23. Rom. 11. 36. Psal 139. 15 16 17. g Psal 100. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Job 7. 20. Gen. 48. 16. h Dan 6. 16. i 2 Tim. 4. 17. k Dan. 3. 19 20 c. l Jona 1. 2. m In my Histriomast●x Healths sicknesse Love-locks Cosens Cosening Devotions Breviate Quench-cole Memento Speech in Parliament and other Books n Jude 3. Levit. 19. 17. Tit. 1. 13. o Rom. 13. 1 2. p Deut. 7. 9. Neh. 1. 5. P●a 89. ● 28. to 38 110 4. 11● 5. Jer. 33. 20 21 c. Heb. 5. 17 18. q Gen 50. 5 6 Levit. 19. 12. Num. 30. 2. Josh 1. 17. 6. 22. 9. 15 to 22. Psal 15. 4. Hos 10. 4. Zech. 5 4. Eccles 8. 2. Ezek. 17. 16 18 19. r Prov. 24. 21 22. Rom. 16 17. 2 Ti● 3. 1 to 8. s Revel ●● 1 2. t Psal 20. 5● 6 7 8. u Ps 107. 16. x Act. 12. 4 to 12. y See the Beacon fired and Nicolas Causins the Jesuit's holy Court printed at London 1650. in folio z Psal 146. 7. a Isa 49. 9. 42. 7. b 1 Sam. 7. 12. c Psa 83 4 5 6 7 8. d Act. 6. 10. e 1 Co. 14. 25. f Psal 83. 9. 10 11 c. g Psal 79. 13. h Psal 146. 2. 104. 33. a Ezek. 46. 16. 5● 16. give it this Title b Isa 5. 25. Ezek. 13. 5. 22. 30. c Magna Carta of King Henry the I. and K. John Mat. Paris Hist Angl. p. 53. 230. 246. 9 H. ● c. 1. 29. 37. ●imes since confirmed in Parliament d Isa 49 23. 60. 9 10. Psal 72 10 11. Rev. 21 24. e J●r 47. 6 7. f A collection of Ordinances c. p. 124. 125. g Mat. 15. 13 h G●l 3. 9. i Gen. 14. 20. Heb. 7. 1 to 12. k Dr. Griffith W●lliams

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

which David and his Captaines contributed so largely out of their spoyles he had so much Piety and naturall Religion in him as to dedicate all the Vessels of Silver and Gold which he tooke out of the house of God to the honour and service of his Idol-gods and put them in the Temple at Babylon not converting them to his private or publick Treasury 2 Chron. 36. 7 18. 2 King 24. 13. Ezra 1. 7. Which Vessels afterwards being brought forth thence and profanely caroused in by Belshazzar and his Princes at his great feast wherein he praysed the gods of Gold and Silver of Brasse of Iron of Wood and of Stone you may read what fatall judgement presently befell him to the losse of his life and Kingdome Dan. 5. These Vessels though a just and lawfull spoyle wonne by Warres Cyrus King of Persia brought forth out of the house of his Gods where Nebuchadnezzar had put them by the hand of Mithredah his Treasurer and numbred them unto Sheshbazzar the Prince of Judah when he proclaimed liberty and gave order to the Israelites to rebuild the house of the Lord God of Israel in Jerusalem and this is the number of them thirty Chargers of Gold a thousand Chargers of Silver nine and twenty kniv●s thirty Basons of Gold Silver basons of a second sort foure hundred and tenne and other Vessels a thousand all the Vessels of Gold and silver were FIVE THOVSAND AND FOVRE HVNDRED all these did Sheshbazzar bring with him from Babylon to Jerusalem for the use and service of God in the Temple there all these did Cyrus a Heathen King restore by a Decree Cyrus a Heathen King restoring them to God and the Temple by a Decree when will our Army Saints depart with so many Gold and Silver vessels to Gods house This Decree was afterwards confirmed by Darius and Artaxerxes his successors Ezra 1. 4. 7 15 16 17. 8. 24 to 31. these and their Princes and chief Officers also freely offered and dedicated Silver and Gold besides amounting to a great value towards the reedifying of the Temple and maintenance of the worship and Priests of God there Moreover King Artaxerxes makes this Decree concerning these Vessels The Vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem and whatsoever more shall be needfull for the house of thy God BESTOW IT OVT OF THE KINGS TREASVRE HOVSE Adding this further Decree To all the Treasurers beyond the river Whatsoever Ezra the Priest shall require of you let it be done speedily unto an hundred Talents of Silver and to an hundred measures of Wheat and to an hundred bottles of Wine and to an hundred bottles of Oyle Salt without prescribing measure Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven for why should there be wrath against the Realme of the King and his Sonnes Also we certifie you that touching any of the Priests and Levites Singers Porters Nethinims or Ministers of this House of God IT SHALL NOT BE LAWFVLL TO IMPOSE TOLL TRIBV●E OR CVSTOME VPON THEM and whosoever will not do the Law of God and the Law of the King let judgement be executed speedily upon him whether it be unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment Ezra 7. 11 to 27. The storie of Cyrus and Darius concerning the building of the Temple and restitution of these Vessels is very remarkeable and thus recorded Ezra 6. 3 to 13. Let the house be builded the place where they offered Sacrifices and let the foundation thereof be s●rongly l●id the height thereof threescore Cubits and the breadth thereof threescore Cubits with three rows of great stones and a row of new Timber and LET THE EXPENCES BE GIVEN OVT OF THE KINGS HOVSE And also let the Golden and Silver Vessels of the house of God which N●buchadnezzar tooke forth out of the Temple which is at Jerusalem and brought unto Babylon be RESTORED and BROVGHT AGAINE INTO THE TEMPLE which is at Jerusalem every one to his place and place them in the house of God Now therefore Tatnai governour beyond the river Shethar-boznai and your companions the A●harsachites which are beyond the river be ye farre from thence Let the worke of the house of God alone let the Governours and the Elders of the Jewes build the house of God in his place Moreover I make a Decree what ye shall do to the Elders of these Jewes for the building of this house of God that of the Kings goods even OF THE TRIBVTE beyond the river forthwith expences be given unto these men that they be not hindred And that which they shall have need of both young Bullocks and Rams and Lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven Wheat Salt Wine Oil according to the appointment of the Priests which are at Jerusalem LET IT BE GIVEN FROM DAY TO DAY WITHOVT FAIL that they may offer Sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the King and his Sonnes Also I have made a Decree that whosoever shall alter this word let timber be pulled down from his house and being set up let him be hanged thereon and let his house be made a dunghill for this And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there DESTROY ALL KINGS and PEOPLE THAT SHALL PVT TO THEIR HAND TO ALTER and DESTROY THIS HOVSE OF GOD which is at Jerusalem I Darius have made a Decr●e let it be done with speed If these three Heathen Kings and Conquerors were so zealous to restore the Vessels of Gold and Silver amounting to so great a number and value to the House of God at Jerusalem to contribute so literally towards the reedifying of it out of their owne Tributes Treasures and Revenues wonne by Warre and Conquest to allow them Bullocks Rams Lambs Wheat Wine Oile Salt and all other necessaries for dayly Sacrifices to furnish the Priests and Levites with all Necessaries to exempt them all the Officers of the Temple from paying any Toll Tribute Tax or Custome which it was not lawfull for any Officer to lay upon them under the severest penalties and to enact such severe Lawes and passe such bitter imprecations against all such as should oppresse or hinder the worke or seek to destroy or deface the Temple of God Oh how should this inflame all Generals Officers Souldiers who professe themselves the choysest Christians and eminentest Saints to imitate and equall them in all these particulars now Else how will they shame confound and rise up in judgement against all such of these and all others who in stead of restoring the Gold and Silver Vessels Lead Iron Timber Stones they have taken from the Temples of God and repairing those Churches they have demolished and defaced providing necessaries for Gods wouship and exempting his Ministers from Toll Tribute Taxes