Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But it is clean contrariwise in the Popedom, where it is said that by Gods Law the tithes are due to the Priests. Although (say I) that their Priests were such as they ought to be, so as they were not the priests of Moloch and of other idols, but that they served God purely: yet were it a gross ignorance to imagine that tithing were an everlasting order set down for all nations to observe. Again it was a flat fraud, in that the Priests being overruled by covetousness, did bear men in hand that the tithes belonged to them by Gods law. For the contrary is well known. And their challenging of that, was at such time as the whole world was corrupted, and men were utterly ignorant of the meaning of the holy scripture. For since the time that Christianity hath begun to flourish, and that there hath bin greater soundness of judgement than was before, it hath never bin said that Tithes are due to the Shepherds, nor to those which have the spiritual government of the Church: but it hath bin always orderly observed, that Princes & Lords have taken the Tenths: yea & in some places and coū tries which are less fruitful, they have taken but the Thirtieths or at leastwise but the Twentieths: whereas in other places where the lands are more fruitful, & where there is greater abundance than is ordinarily in other countries, they have taken the tenths. Hereupon the priests and Clergymen of the Popedom, have taken occasion to finger all things, & to usurp upon all men most wickedly. For they have thundered out their excommunications against such as would not grant them their robbery, so as men were driven to ⟨p. 599⟩them have their own wills. And then fell they together by the ears among themselves like a sort of cur dogs about a bone. The Monks said, they be ours: the Priests said they were theirs: and to be short, there was nothing but utter disorder among them.

But it is cleane cōtrariwise in the Popedome, where it is sayd that by Gods Lawe the tythes are due to the Priestes. Although (say I) that their Priestes were such as they ought to be, so as they were not the priests of Moloch and of other idols, but that they serued God purely: yet were it a grosse ignorance to imagin that tithing were an euerlasting order set downe for all nations to obserue. Againe it was a flat fraud, in that the Priestes being ouerruled by couetousnesse, did beare men in hand that the tythes belonged to them by Gods lawe. For the contrarie is well knowen. And their chalendging of that, was at such time as the whole world was corrupted, and men were vtterly ignorant of the meaning of the holy scripture. For since the time that Christianitie hath begunne to florish, and that there hath bin greater soundnesse of iudgement than was before, it hath neuer bin said that Tythes are due to the Shepheardes, nor to those which haue the spiritual gouernmēt of ye Church: but it hath bin alwayes orderly obserued, that Princes & Lords haue taken the Tenthes: yea & in some places and coū tries which are lesse fruitful, they haue taken but the Thirtithes or at leastwise but ye Twentithes: whereas in other places where the landes are more fruitfull, & where there is greater abundance thā is ordinarily in other countries, they haue taken the tenthes. Hereupon the priestes and Cleargymen of ye Popedome, haue taken occasion to finger all things, & to vsurp vppon all mē most wickedly. For they haue thūdered out their excōmunicatiōs against such as would not graūt thē their robberie, so as mē were driuē to