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And in the Form of the Levitical Priesthood, they transform'd themselves; and this was taught for Catholick Doctrine then, and is still upheld and pleaded for by the Proteftant Clergy thereby wholly denying Chrift Jefus come in the Flesh, the End of all Types, Figures, Shadows, &c. fee Fr. Howgill, &c. ibid.

So Henry 8. being a Papift, and believing the Pope's Doctrine, as alfo did his Parlia ment, made a Law, That every one should fet out, and pay bis Tithes, as due to God and Holy Church; alfo a Second Law was made in his time, to the like purpose: But ftill restrain'd the Trial of Tithes to the Ecclefiaftical Courts.

After him alfo Edward 6. in pursuance of his Father's Law, made another for the Payment of Predial and Perfonal Tithes, under Penalty of Treble Damages, who also restrained the Tryal to the Ecclefiaftical Courts: Thefe Laws fuppofed them due to God and Holy Church; therefore they required every Man to yield, and fet out his Tithes.

Now thefe Tithes have been received fince by Perfons of divers Profeffions, who would be accounted no Papifts; but 'tis obfervable, that as the Tithes, Hire, and Benefices have been taken away from any Party of them, that Party hath fenfibly declined. And it is lamentable to confider, that thefe Tithes and forced Maintenance, which were decreed by the Pope's Canon-Laws, fhould still be holden up by them that Profefs Reformation

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and Separation from the Pope, and to make the Holy Scriptures their Rule of Faith and Practice. Having thus briefly run over fundry Doctrines, Decrees, Practices, and Opinions, concerning Tithes, from the Apoftles Time downwards, we find them various, as before appears, and that the Right of Tithes was never clear, but remain'd in Controverfie, even amongst Great and Learned Men, for divers Ages fince they came up; yea, amongst many Papifts, in the time of the Pope's Domination; and in all Ages, there were those that withistood the Payment of them, even to this very day; and many of the Martyrs for that, amongst other things, fuffer'd in the Flames.

Now therefore it appears clear, Firft, That Tithes among the Jews were paid to the Levites and Priests. Secondly, That they were not for the Levites and Priests only, but for the Strangers, Fatherlefs and Widows. Thirdly, When Chrift was come, the Levitical Priesthood was taken away, and the Law for Tithes was changed. Fourthly, That neither Chrift nor his Apostles received any Tithes, nor demanded any, nor left any Command to others to touch them, or meddle with them at all. Fifthly, That in the Primitive Times, for the firft Three Hundred Years, while the Simplicity of the Gospel was more minded, no Tithes were either claim'd or paid amongft Chriftians; but their way of Maintenance was wholly Voluntary, every one as he pleased, all being Free-Gift, as occafion did require. Sixthly, As the Power of God.

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Godliness came to be loft, and the Myftery of Iniquity began to work, and Men's Imaginations taught, inftead of the Doctrine of Chrift, and Self fet up, inftead of being deny'd; then they began to preach up Tithes, fetching their Ground from Mofes, or any where to get footing for them; tho' after the Apoftacy was enter'd, they were not paid as Tithes, but Free Offerings, and as the Bounty of the Giver; nor were they given to the Clergy only, but to the Poor alfo; nor was it a general receiv'd Doctrine, till the Pope had fet up his Authority and Dominion over the greatest part of Europe, many Hundreds of Years after Chrift. Seventhly, After they were confirm'd by the Pope, and commanded to be paid, there was no Compulsory Law made, but only Excommunication. Eight bly, After that, they were accounted an Ecclefia ftical Duty, and never call'd a Civil Right, but were tryed in Ecclefiaftical Courts. Ninthby, Until about the Year 1200. the common Practice was, for every one to bestow his Tenths and Offerings where he pleas'd. Tentbly, They were firft brought in as a Duty owing to God and Holy Church, and fo were required and enforced; from whence it appears, there was no Civil Property or Right in him that claims them; that First Fruits and Tenths are but a late invented thing, and claim'd by the Pope, as Succeffor to the Jewish High Prieft, as he fays. Eleventhly, Tithes were the fame in the Ground and Foun

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Foundation, whether claim'd by the Priest of Impropriator, or by an Abby; and differ'd nothing, but in the Perfon of him that possess'd them. Laftly, This fhews the degenerate State of the Church, and how Corruption and Error crept in amongst Men; after the Power of Truth was loft, the Fruit was loft alfo, which caufed fuch earnest preffing unto needful Contributions. And afterwards, Men would ftill be owned to be Minifters of Christ, tho' never Sent of God, neither did they profit the People at all: But being fet up by Man, and the Golden Cup put into their Hands, full of fweet Wine, it relifh'd fo well to their Carnal Palates, that they fwallowed all the Poors Part, and were even drunk with it; and then fadly pull'd and tore one another for great shares of this Cup of Gold; and they that got the Rulers of the Earth on their fide, obtain'd Laws and Decrees to force the Payment of Tithes But in the beginning it was not fo; for while the Purity and Simplicity of the Truth remained, Charity abounded.

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Well, Friend William, after this plain Search and Discovery, I need not heed thy Vapouring and Infulting over me, for the Ground and Rife of thy Great Diana is found our and manifefted, and thy Legal Right to Tithes laid open. And muft I now go to Mafs, and do many other things, that Rome, France or Spain require by Law, becaufe I find them not exprefly forbidden by Christ? If I lived there, or in Turky or Barbary, this would be a fine

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Plea for Self-ease and Intereft. But if Chrift hath not required thee to take Tithes, nor me to pay them, may it not be faid, Who bath required these things at our hands? But when Chrit fent out his Difciples, he bad them Teach the Nations to obferve all things, whatsoever he bad commanded them: He did not fay, Whatfoever the Pope or Powers of the Earth, command you, in matters I fend you about; but, What I command you. Pray thee, how doft thou diftinguish between God's or Chrift's things, and Cafar's? If in matters relating to Faith, Worship, Confcience and Priesthood, Cafar muft rule me, and be obey'd; where, or in what I have no Command from God or Chrift? By this Rule I may pay Tithes to Popish and Mahometan Priests, if the Law of the Land commanded me. This is a poor Shift thou makest, and so lame and rotten, thou may'ft be afham'd of it.

But thou in thy laft Letter thinkeft, thou haft brought my Chaos, as thou ignorantly calleft my former Letters, into fome tolerable kind of Order, p. 76. And

First, My Reafons thou fay'ft are thefe, That Humane Laws are for Humane Things; and I fay fo ftill: And by Humane Things, I mean, that every Man, a Clergy-man as well as others, ought to be preferved in his Life, Birth-right, &c. As for Inftance, If I am my Fatber's Heir, or have a Portion left me, in Money, Goods, or Eftate of Land; which the Law cannot be faid to give me a Right D 4

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