For Solomon hath said, With-hold not ⟨p. 69⟩the goods from the owners thereof. 1Another uniustice of this kind in lay-men, is possessing of tenths, or church-living, specially without any care, to have the duty of the ministry faithfully and sufficiently discharged. For not to stand upon that question, whether tenths be due by Gods law to the minister, (which yet I think) might probably and sufficiently be defended, even against a cavilling and witty objector, because the Apostle saying, that he which is taught in the word, must make him that teacheth him partaker of all his goods;2 doth thereby interest the minister into some portion of his peoples substance. Now seeing none other part was ever assigned him, either by the law of nature, or the law of God, but this, doth not it probably at the least follow, that even under the Gospel this is his due? but I say not to dispute this question, we have another reason to convince apparently, that the tenths cannot, by that true right which will hold good in the courts of conscience, and of heaven, be detained from the ministry, without some full requital other way; for whatsoever ⟨p. 70⟩hath once bin given & consecrated to the maintenance of Gods worship, and the true religion established by him, that is, invested into the person of God, or entangled unto Jesus Christ (as I may so speak) who will never acknowledge any fine, and hath this royal prerogative, that whatsoever is once his, the same is always his; and whatsoever is given to him can never be taken from him: neither is there any prescribing against him, seeing he hath neither superior, nor law above him, & therefore can forfeit no right;3 so that it is always destruction to devour holy things and after the vow to require. Now that these tithes were given & devoted by men well disposed to the maintenance of the true worship of God, even before gross and heretical popery had over-clouded the face of the world, is a thing that I think no man will or can deny. Wherefore the conclusion follows inevitably, that they be Gods still, and not to be bestowed any other way than in his service. So many lay-men therefore as serve themselves with Church-goods, deal unjustly with God and mens souls, and cannot escape ⟨p. 71⟩the blot of worldliness, if knowing this, they reform it not. The last uniustice that I will name as common to all sorts of men, is gaming in hope of gains.
For Salomon hath sayd, With-hold not ⟨p. 69⟩the goods from the owners thereof. 1Another vniustice of this kind in lay-men, is possessing of tenths, or church-liuing, specially without any care, to haue the duety of the ministry faithfully and sufficiently discharged. For not to stand vpon that question, whether tenths be due by Gods law to the minister, (which yet I thinke) might probably and sufficiently be defended, euen against a cauilling and wittie obiector, because the Apostle saying, that he which is taught in the word, must make him that teacheth him partaker of all his goods;2 doth thereby interest the minister into some portion of his peoples substance. Now seeing none other part was euer assigned him, either by the law of nature, or the lawe of God, but this, doth not it probably at the least follow, that euen vnder the Gospel this is his due? but I say not to dispute this question, we haue another reason to conuince apparantly, that the tenthes cannot, by that true right which will hold good in the courts of conscience, and of heauen, be detained from the ministrie, without some full requitall other way; for whatsoeuer ⟨p. 70⟩hath once bin giuen & consecrated to the maintenance of Gods worship, and the true religion established by him, that is, inuested into the person of God, or intangled vnto Iesus Christ (as I may so speak) who wil neuer acknowledge any fine, and hath this royall prerogatiue, that whatsoeuer is once his, the same is alwaies his; and whatsoeuer is giuen to him can neuer be taken from him: neyther is there any prescribing against him, seeing he hath neyther superiour, nor law aboue him, & therfore can forfait no right;3 so that it is alwayes destruction to deuoure holy things and after the vow to require. Now that these tithes were giuen & deuoted by men well disposed to the maintenance of the true worship of God, euen before grosse and heriticall popery had ouer-clouded the face of the world, is a thing that I thinke no man will or can deny. Wherefore the conclusion follows ineuitably, that they be Gods stil, and not to be bestowed any other way than in his seruice. So many lay-men therefore as serue themselues with Church-goods, deale vniustly with God and mens soules, and cannot escape ⟨p. 71⟩the blot of worldlinesse, if knowing this, they reforme it not. The last vniustice that I wil name as common to all sorts of men, is gaming in hope of gains.
- 1Prou. 3.27 To live upontenths, chiefly not providing for the maintenance of Gods worship.Prou. 3.27 To liue vpōtenths, chiefely not prouiding for the maintenance of Gods worship.
- 2Gal. 6.6.
- 3Pro. 20.25
