Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But this hath bin corrupted & falsified by the papists. For they have borne men in hand, that tithes belong to them by Gods Law. And why? because (as they say) they belonged to the Levites. But they consider not, that the Levites were inheritors of the land of Canaan, as well as those that were of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh and all the residue. In respect whereof it was meet they should have had their portion with their brethren, & they ought not to have bin excluded or banished from it: for the inheritance of the land was common to them all: therefore was it meet that they should have had their part of it. Yea, but God recompensed them after an other fashion. It were meet then that the Pope & all his rabble, should show how the inheritances of all lands belong to them, & then might they thereupon demand their tithes. Thus ye see how this text hath bin miswrested. But yet for all this, let us bear in mind how S. Paul saith,¹ that even at this day it is Gods will that they which preach the gospel should be nourished and maintained, as well as the Priests had their livings appointed them in old time.² S. Paul demā death in way of comparison, whether the spiritual service that is yielded to God nowadays, ought not at the least to be as much esteemed, as the service that was under the figures of the law? Now it was Gods will, that such as served at the altar, should be maintained by the altar, therefore it is good reason, that such as at this day do serve Gods Church in bringing them his word, should also be nourished and maintained. Thus ye see that the way to under stand this text a right, is to take S. Paul for our expounder thereof. But to conclude peremptorily that tithes belong to the preachers of the gospel, is to gross an abuse & fondness. Nevertheless we must mark also, that it is not our Lords meaning, that idols or idle bellies, & much less that such as pervert all order & turn us away from the serving & obeying of God, should be nourished in his Church. Now then if the Shepherds will needs claim to be found at the common charges of the Church: they must look that they occupy themselves in the service of God. As how? It is no title of idleness, it is no fantastical dignity, to be called the Shepherd of a Church: but it is a kind of bondage, howbeit that it be honourable.

But this hath bin corrupted & falsified by the papistes. For they haue borne men in hand, that tithes belong to thē by Gods Law. And why? because (as they say) they belonged to ye Leuits. But they consider not, yt the Leuites were inheriters of the land of Chanaan, as well as those yt were of the tribes of Iuda, Beniamin, Ephraim, Manasses and all ye residue. In respect whereof it was meete they shold haue had their portiō with their brethren, & they ought not to haue bin excluded or banished frō it: for ye inheritance of the land was cōmon to them all: therfore was it meete yt they should haue had their part of it. Yea, but God recompensed them after an other fashion. It were meete then yt the Pope & al his rable, shold shew how ye inheritances of all landes belong to thē, & then might they therepon demand their tithes. Thus ye see how this text hath bin miswrested. But yet for all this, let vs beare in minde howe S. Paul saith,