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to pay any. Firft, Becaufe they wanted their Priefthood and Temple. Secondly, Because the Law did reftrain the Payment thereof to Canaan. And herein they all agree. Alfo Eufebius agrees with

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the Jewish Rabbins, That Tithes were only limited unto the Land of Ifrael. Evang. l. 1. c. I.

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How things went on, and how they dif continued, appears in the Scriptures, and part in their great Sanhedrin, or Court of Seventy Elders. But it's clear on all hands, that Tithes only were given to the Levites, and Officers of the Temple and Tabernacle; and for the better Ordering of things, they were divided into Parts, as Levites, Kobatbites. Gerfhonites, Merarites; and these received the Tenths, and gave to the Priefts their part, which belonged to them, according to God's Law in that Covenant. And after the Sons of Aaron grew and multiplied, then there was a Divifion of Twenty-Four Ranks or Courses, to ferve at the Temple.

Is not this imitated by Deans, Prebends, &c. who take their Turns at Cathedrals, fo called; or taken from the Church of Rome, for that's more likely; because I find not the Names amongst the Jews, nor in the Primitive Church, truly fo called? But the Priefts of Aaron gave Attendance to do their Office,

and

and burnt Incense, as their Turns and Courses came. Hereupon Zacharias is faid to be of the Course of Abia, Luke 1. And the Levites, that were Singers, were also divided into Twenty-four Ranks or Courses; which, I believe, is imitated by the Querifters, Singers, and Surplice-men. But we cannot receive Judaism for Christianity, nor their Practices for Apoftolical Ordinances in the Church of God.

But now the Primitive Practice of Chrift, his Apostles and Minifters, and the Churches, planted by them in their Day, is easily feen in the New Teftament: So that how it comes to pafs, that they who pretend to another Priesthood, and to be Minifters of Chrift, fhould now receive the Tenths of all, clean and unclean, Beafts, Pigs, Geefe, Eggs, Fowls, Turfs, Wood, &c., All which things we do find mentioned, but fome of them forbidden in the Law to be offered, is very ftrange. But It seems, they diftinguish not of Times, nor Miniftrations; for if fo, they would be afham'd to lay claim to Aarons and the Levites Tithes, and yet do none of their Work which is contrary to all Equity, Truth and Reason. For Tithes were given to them, that had no Portion among their Brethren in the Land: But many of thofe called Clergyinen, have great fhares of Land among their Brethren, befides their Tithes, and great Dioceffes and Revenues, a good Part of fome Counties; yea, Tithes of fuch things as were

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never Titheable in the Law. Is not this the Pope's Yoke? Muft this be received for Apoftolical Doctrine and Practice, and enjoyn'd? Oh let it never be made mention of among them that would be counted Minifters of Chrift, nor any that profefs themfelves Chriftians! Come, truft in the Living God, who is the God of Heaven, and of the whole Earth; who feeds the Ox, the Sparrow, and cloaths the Lilly, and never fail'd nor forfook the Righteous; but is the Portion of his People, and brings them in Love to ferve one another. So there are no Beggars amongst the Ifrael of God; tho' there be not many Mighty, Rich, Noble or Great, amongst them, in the Kingdom of God, because it is fo hard for fuch to enter.

Now in the Fulnefs of Time, God rais'd up another Prieft, Chrift Jefus, who was not of the Tribe of Levi, neither made after, a Carnal Commandment, Heb. 7. 12, to 18. as the first Priesthood was: For he pertain❜d to another Tribe, sprang out of Judah, of which no Man gave attendance at the Altar; and therefore no Tithes due to them for that Service, which took up their Time: But He (viz. Chrift Jefus) hath obtain'd a more Excellent Ministry, and of a Greater and more Perfect Tabernacle, which is the true Tabernacle, that God has pitched, and not Man: Confider this, and fee where this Miniftry appears: He is the Sum and Subftance of all Shadows under

! under the First Covenant, and hath put an end to the First Priesthood, with all its Shadows, and Carnal Ordinances; and changing the Priesthood, which had a Command to take Tithes of their Brethren, (mark that) not of those that did not own their Worship, there was a neceffity alfo of the change of the Law, and a difannulling alfo of the Commandment going before.

Now after Chrift was manifefted, the End of the Law for Righteoufnefs to them that Believe, the End of the First Covenant, First Priesthood, Tabernacle, Temple, Tithes, Offerings, Oblations, &c. In a word, All the Outward and Ceremonial Worship of the Jews, with all their Types, Shadows, Figures, and outward Representations, with all their Sabbaths, Fafts, Feafts, and divers Washings, or Baptifms, Purifyings, Circumcifion, Pallover,&c. Which all were but Shadows of Good Things to come: For he is the Sum and Substance of them all, and was before them all, the Alpha; and fo is the Omega, and ends them all: Whofoever will plead a Neceffity of all, or any of the former things, that are mention'd in the First Covenant, that is faul ty, Chrift profits him nothing, and in effect denies the Faith of Chrrft, his Apostles and Minifters. For Circumcifion was once commanded of God, and was as real a Type, as any other; and yet they that would needs hold it up, after the Subftance, (viz.) Chrift was manifefted, the Apoftle concludes, that Chrift profits

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profits them nothing, Gal. 5. 2. Tho' he elfe-. where calls it, A Seal of the Righteousness of Faith unto Abraham, which he had before he was circumcifed, Rom. 4. 11. The like i also say of all the former Ordinances, which pertain❜d unto the first Priesthood and Covenant, they that hold them up, as of neceffity; deny the Faith of Chrift, and he profits them nothing: So thereby they are Debtors to do the whole Law; and he that fails in the breach of one Commandment, is guilty of all.

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Therefore of how great neceflity is it, for all that Profess Chrift, and the Faith once delivered unto the Saints, to ftand faft in the liberty wherewith Chrift bath made us free, and not to be entangled again with the Yoke of Bondage ? Gal. 5. 1. Let us keep the Ordinances and Commands of Chrift inviolated: For they that claim Tithes, and would force us to pay Tithes; do not themselves keep the Law, but would constrain us, that they might Glory in our Flesh? And would confound the Or dinances of the Firft and Second Covenant together, without putting a difference to the Time and Miniftration, unto which they did belong.

The Apostles and Minifters of Christ were made Partakers of the Divine Nature, and had the Word of Reconciliation to Preach; did not look back, nor draw People back to the former Ordinances of the Jews, and their Priesthood, but teftify'd against them: But they

that

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