TITHES Remounted and advanced BY The Word of God, FOR THE Ministers of the GOSPEL.  
PROVING, That Tithes are as due to the Ministers of the Gospel, as to the Priests and Levites under the Law.  
In Answer to a late scandalous and seditious Pamphlet entitled, The Ordinance of Tithes dismounted.  
Dedicated to the right honourable the Lord Mayor.  
By MARTIN BOWNE.  

Imprimatur.  
JOHN DOWNAME.   1 Cor. 9.11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing of we reap your carnal things? 
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Bates at the Mardenhead on Snow-hill, near Holborn Conduit. 1646.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, THOMAS adam's, Lord Mayor of the honourable City of LONDON.  
My very good Lord,  
I Do understand and perceive that there is a Pamphlet exhibited unto your Lordship, entitled, An Indictment against paying of Tithes unto the Ministers of the Gospel: and therein are alleged Reasons, seeming by their Allegations to prove them unlawful by the Word of God; and therein it doth appear unto me, they speak they cannot tell what, or else they care not what. I do therefore humbly beseech your Honour to accept my poor endeavours, in this ensuing Treatise, which doth concern the lawfulness of paying Tithes to the Ministers of the Gospel, and to give it your honourable favour, so fare as the truth of the Word of God doth approve of it, and no further.  
Your Honour's humble Servant, Martin Bowne.   

TITHES Remounted and advanced BY THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE Ministers of the Gospel.  
In answer to a late scandalous and seditious Pamphlet, entitled, The Ordinance of Tithes dismounted.  
THere is a great controversy now adays, and hath been a long time about the maintenance of the Ministers Instruments of God's Worship and Service, the derogation thereof hath hindered the propagation of the Gospel, and the Reformation of Religion, in a most miserable manner: And that in these respects, First in taking away the greater tithes of many Parishes in this Kingdom, and making many impropriatitions from the Church, where there hath not been maintenance or means for a Preaching Minister, in those impropriate Parishes; so that in many places there hath not been means for a bare reading Minister, much less for a preaching Minister: for Christ's Ministry is a preaching Ministry, and not only a reading Ministry, and therefore cannot be maintained with a little (as some do suppose they may) as Brownists Anabaptists, Antinomians, Familists, Independents and such like, that have out of pride and covetousness devised those errors and broached them in the Church, to pester and hinder more the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then to further it any way. They forsooth, will have no tithes paid unto the Ministers of the Gospel, but they should labour in some other calling for their living (say they) as others do, and as the Apostles did, some were Fishermen, and S. Paul was a Tentmaker.  
But I answer, there is a difference between the Apostles who had their immediate calling by God, and our Ministes who have their mediate calling by God also, but by means of schooling, and thereby to get learning, that they may attain to the Ministerial function, and so consequently by study, whose labour is greater than handicraft trades, or husbandry: and therefore it is a base opinion in those that said Ministers of the Gospel should labour in some manual calling; I think their diligent study and preaching is labour enough for them, we need lay no greater burdens upon their backs.  
Again, it is fit for religious people, professors of the Gospel, to consider that there is difference between a settling Church, and a settled Church; Now the Apostles had work enough in settling the Church in their time, as well in matters of faith, as in manners of life, according to the truth of God's holy Word and Will, and yet the Apostles do give rules and commands for Ministers maintenance, as you shall hear anon.  
OBJECT.  
But what Tithes did the Apostle receive in that time when they were upon the earth?  
ANSW.  
I answer: What Tithes did the Priests and Levites receive, as long as they were in the wilderness? It is true; God did command Tithes to be paid then; but the payment of Tithes was not performed, until the Children of Israel came into Canaan, the Land of promise where every man did receive his portion in possession. For the time they were in the wilderness, they had no settled portion in possession to pay Tithes withal; for God did feed Priests, Levites and People, and all in an extraordinary manner, as with Manna from Heaven; for as long as the children of Israel were in the wilderness, God was settling his Church, what they should do when they came to their promised place, and portions: for all things commanded was not, nor could it be done in an instant by men. So the Lord our God, in the time of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when he came, he did (as it were) new mould the manner of God's worship and service: That whereas before in the time of the Law, God's worship and service was by all external means, as killing of Beasts, and making of Sacrifices and all Offerings, and outward performances in the worship and service of God.  
But now, and since the time our Saviour Jesus Christ came upon the earth, he ordained, by the will of his Father, that his worship and service must be spiritual and internal unto the end.  
When God had made an end of describing the manner of his worship and service, as he would have it performed in the time of the Law, as we may find in the Books of Exodus and Levitieus. So at the end of the Book of Leviticus Chap. 27. the Lord by Moses had reserved the maintenance of his worship and service to himself, as namely, Tithes of those things that are spoken of in the foresaid Chapter.  
And after this the Lord gave the Tithes unto the Priests and Levites, as we may read in the Book of Numbers 18.21, 24, 26, 28. And not only to the Priests and Levites in the time of the Law, but also to the Pastors, Teachers and Ministers in the time of the Gospel of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; for it was given for an inheritance for ever. If one of those adverse parties should have the inheritance of a piece of land given him, I verily believe he does expect it as a right to him and his heirs for ever, only by this title of Inheritance: And if any one should offer to take from him this land, which he so holdeth by this title of Inheritance, he would hold himself greatly wronged and oppressed: You will say it is true.  
Then, I say, consider the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, even so do you; for this is the Law and the Prophets, Matthew chap. 7. vers. 12.  
Then consider what you would other men should do unto you, so do you unto other men, but especially unto your Pastor and Minister, who doth watch for your souls, as he that must give an account for you; for you should not think that too much, which your Pastor or Minister hath, especially if they be diligent in doing good to the Church of God.  
OBJECT.  
But what do you speak of the Law of God for Priests and Levites to have Tithes, it was a Ceremonial Ordinance, and it was abolished at the coming of Christ; and therefore this doth make nothing for our Ministers of the Gospel to receive Tithes, for private men are not to pay Tithes to the Ministers of the Gospel.  
ANSW.  
I answer: It is false to say, That payment of Tithes by private people, and receiving of Tithes by the Ministers of the Gospel, is a Ceremonial Ordinance.  
First, Reasons. for though the manner of God's worship and service in the time of the Law was ceremonial: yet the maintenance of God's worship and service is moral, and lasteth for ever; For God's worship and service must and doth hold continually; For though the Ordinances and maoner of the worship and service of God be changed at the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ, yet the matter and substance of the worship and service of God, is not changed, but doth continue unto the end of the World: And therefore the maintenance of the worship and service of God must of necessity continue as for conformation of this; the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was then tipified and shadowed by Melchizedeck King of Shalem; who brought forth Bread and Wine, and he was a Priest of the most high God, therefore he blessed him, saying, Blessed art thou Abram of God most high, possessor of Heaven and Earth, and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand: And Abram gave him tithe of all: by these words it doth plainly appear, that Melchizedeck was not only a figure of Jesus Christ, but also a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our alone Saviour, and as Abram gave tithes unto Melchizedeck so ought the Successors of Abraham that profess the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, to pay tithes unto the Ministers of the Gospel; and so consequently unto our Saviour Jesus Christ; For Melchizedeck was a figure of Jesus Christ, and though our Saviour did not receive Tithes personally, yet he did receive Tithes figuratively, and this is to good purpose to prove Tithes to belong to the Ministers of the Gospel. Heb. 7.  
2. Tithes were paid before the Law, and therefore they ought to be paid after the Law, for we may perceive and see that howsoever the manner of the worship and service of God as before was altered; yet the maintenance of God's worship and service (the tithes) were then paid therefore; to be considered.  
3. Abraham the Father of the faithful, did pay tithes unto Melchisedeck the figure of Christ, and therefore those that will or are the children of the faithful will pay tithes unto the Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  
The adverse party doth object that this doth nothing satisfy us Object. in the old Testament, show us out of the new Testament that ithes belong to the Ministers of Christ.  
I answer, First I will lay my ground on the old Testament, and then conclude in the new Testament.  
The Prophet Isaiah in his 66. chap. verse 19 prophesying of the calling of the Gentiles, doth foreshow the propagation of the Gospel that they shall bring of all your Brethren for an Offering unto the Lord out of all Nations, and verse 21. He saith, and I will take of them for Priests and for Levites saith the Lord, to wit, of the Gentiles, as it was verified in the time of the Apostles by Luke, Timothy, and Titus, first, and after to other sueceeding Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  
The Prophet here doth give us to understand by these Words, Priests, and Levites, to have relation unto the Priests, and Levites, unto whom God gave the tithes for an Inheritance, spoken of before, Numb. 18. from the 21. verse to the end of the Chapter, this Title I say Priests and Levites doth intimate unto us, that as God gave the tithes for the maintenance of his worship, and service unto the Priests and Levites, the then ministerial Instruments of the same, his worship and service which was then but temporal, and tipical, so he will much more continue the same maintenance of the Tithes unto Luke, Timothy, and Titus. The Prophet Isaiahs' Priests, and Levites, to the same men Luke, Timothy, and Titus, our Christian Pastors, Teachers, and Ministers of the Gospel, and to their successors for ever.  
Again, the Apostle Saint Paul doth reason of the case very plainly, 1 Cor. 9 and showeth that he hath power to require maintenance, as in the 6. verse. I only and Barnabas have we not power to forbear working, I marvile then with what face the Separatists dare to speak so boldly, as they do, to say that Ministers ought to labour in some bodily or outward calling, when the Apostle saith that it is in their power to forbear working at any handy Trade, then in the 7. verse the Apostle further saith, who goeth a warrfare at his one charge at any time, giving us to understand that if Captains and Soldiers do not go to wars at their own charge, than very well may Ministers forbear their duty if they cannot have maintenance; for he showeth his reasons for it, who planteth a vineyard and eateth not the fruit thereof, or who feedeth a flock and eateth not the milk of the flock?  
The Apostle doth reason from a twofold experience of man's own practice, first, in planting a vineyard, secondly, in feeding of a flock, as if he should have said, Is there any man that is so foolish as to plant a vineyard or feed a flock, and not expect some benefit for his pains and charge?  
I know your answer will be, you will say no, I myself would not take such pains, and lie on charge for nothing.  
Then consider a Ministers friends are at great charge for keeping him at school, and when he hath got learning, to be at great cost for Books, and to attain to the Ministry, and to bestow his pains with diligence in his study, & then to have little or nothing for his labour; Is this equity, & can this stand with a good conscience, let conscionable men judge; but saith the carnal worldly man, Ministers will speak well enough for their own profit.  
The Apostle doth answer that cavil in 1 Cor. 9.8. say I these things as a man, or saith not the Law the same also, Deut. 25.4. Here the Apostle citeth the Law of God for the maintenance of Ministers of the Gospel, and yet our Anabaptists, our Antinomians, our Brownists, and Jndependents, will not in any case hear of the Law of God, truly either the Apostle or they must needs be in a fowl errout: But they will not say the Apostle is in an error, therefore they are in an error for want of grace, and Judgement. Certainly, if men would (that do profess the Gospel) leave of pride, and covetousness, there would not be such variances among professors of the Gospel as there is, which doth breed and bring a great scandal to the truth. It maketh ignorant people to speak idly and harshiy of Religion, and say there be so many Religions, that we cannot tell which way to take, when indeed there is but one Religion that is the truth that must bring us to true faith, true fear, and the true love of God.  
So amongst many differences here is one about Tithes; for the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel, which the Apostle doth prove by the Law of God, 1 Tim. 5.17.18. and so doth reason the case in a fair exemplary way, in the 1 Cor. 9 the 9.10.11. and 12. vers. and in the 13. and 14. vers. he cometh close to the matter in these words, do you not know that they which minister about holy things, live or feed of the things of the Temple, and they that wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar?  
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.  
I hope you are not ignorant, how the Priests and Levites the Minister's Jnstruments of God's worship and service, how they did live, so, if you will not hear and learn what the Law of God saith, then hear learn and practice, what the Apostle doth tell you, do you not know that they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the Temple, and they that wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar.  
As if the Apostle should have said, you have a sufficient precedent before you, how our predecessors before us were maintained: howsoever we differ in title, they were Priests, and Levites, we are Apostles, Pastors, and Teachers, their worship and service to God was external and temporal, and our worship and service to God is internal and spiritual; you see though the manner of God's worship and service is changed, yet the maintenance of God's worship is not changed, the Apostle goes on in the 14. verse. That as he said even now, that as they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the Temple, and they that wait at the Altar are partakers of the Altar; even so saith the Apostle, hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, mark I pray you the Apostles words, even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, they and none but they.  
I would very willingly know of any one that doth deny this truth, that the Ministers of the Gospel should not receive Tithes for their Maintenance, & where they can prove that God hath ordained maintenance other ways for an inheritance then in the 18. Chap. of Numb. the 21. and 24.  
And if any shall say that is ceremonial for all that which hath been spoken before; Then I say they are wilful, and will have their own will, being perverse in judgement and understanding Mehuge like proup and will teach God, how he should maintain his Pastor and the Ministers of his Gospel.  
This doth savour both of Pride and Covetousness.  
First, of pride in thinking themselves to be such as have attained to so much knowledge in the Scriptures, as they can convince any that say, Tithes do belong to the Ministers of the Gospel, when as indeed they say nothing.  
Secondly, it savours of Covetousness; for there are many that think if they can save their Tithes to their own use, they have gotten a great Booty, and much benefit to themselves, when as indeed it maketh the other 9 parts to be accursed. It is like unto achan's Babilonish Garment, and his wedge of gold and silver that he stole, Josuah 7. a deed that will never prosper, or as a woman that bees a peck of meal and divides it into 9 parts, and puts a tenth part of Ratsbane into the 9 parts and see how that will prove, you will say that will poison as many as use it, and have part of it. And so will the Tithes that cometh of the owners, that doth or shall retain them: Therefore hear and consider. Experimental knowledge is the best knowledge, I have known those that would not endure paying of Tithes in kind, to their Pastor and Minister at no hand, except they may buy their Tithes of their Minister, and so to have it for half that it was worth, they have let land lie still, because that he should have nothing, but the Lord who gave those Tithes took them to himself, and laid such a curse upon the other nine parts, that they in their days, nor their posterity did ever prosper: Nay now shall we think that God doth not see into this sin, as well as into other sins, yes certainly, and hath and will punish it too. The Lord by the Prophet Malachi saith, 3.7, 8, 9, 10. Even from the days of your Fathesr ye are gone astray from mine Ordinances, and have not kept them, return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts; but ye said wherein shall we return, verse, 8. will a man rob God, yet ye have rob me; but ye say wherein have we rob thee, in Tithes and Offerings, vers. 9 ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have rob me, even this whole Nation, vers. 10. Bring ye all the Tithes into the Storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven and power you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  
This portion of Scripture doth deserve a good Commentary to be made upon it; for further instruction and stirring up of people, to the duty of paying their Tithes the right way, and not to Church-Robbers, viz. to private men, dumb dogs, idle drones, and non-resident: But to faithful, painful, and diligent Ministers that have a Pastoral charge over a Parish or Congregation whereby the Souls of God's people may be fed with spiritual food, unto eternal life. For the true and sincere preaching of God's word is the means of faith, and true faith doth bring us to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life in Heaven.  
If it had pleased God in the beginning of King James His Reign, that all Impropriations had been called in, and a faithful diligent Minister placed over every Congregation in a Pastoral charge, and the Tithes of every several Congregation, paid unto every several Minister that had such a Pastoral Charge, and the true discipline and reformation of the Church, had then been established as it was then hoped it should have been at the coming in of King James. Then had this misery (that is now upon this Land) never come, but the time of Reformation was not then come, and God had a Controversy with this Kingdom, and therefore this Land was not fitted for such a good work: yet the Lord did in mercy and judgement send a great Plague and Pestilence, and since he hath sent a greater Plague and Pestilence, and yet nothing of all this would call this Land to Repentance; For the people of this Land are as proud as ever they were before, as hateful to true Religion, Prophaners of the Lords day, full of railing, blaspheming the name of God, and foulmouthed swearing, swearing false, whoring, murdering, and blood, sucking Church-robbing, and irreverent behaviour in the very Public place of God's worship and service, but I have something digressed.  
The Apostle Saint Paul saith in his Epistle to the Galathians, 6. Chap. 6. verse. Let him that is taught in the word make him that teacheth him partaker of all his goods. I marvel who shall decide this partaking of these goods, which the Apostle here speaketh of; shall any man do it? No, for than he will be a Mehuwell a Teacher of God: For seeing God hath apparently set down in his Word that Tithes must belong to the Instruments of his Worship and Service, as is aforesaid, and our Pastors and Ministers of God's Worship and Service are the Instruments thereof. Now therefore the Tithes must of necessity belong unto them, for that is a true partaking of all his goods.  
Furthermore, the Apostle to the Hebrews, Chap. 7. makes it very plain that Tithes do belong unto our Pastors and Ministers of the Gospel.  
Concerning this 7. Chap. if there were no other Scripture in all the New Testament to prove Tithes to belong to the Ministers of the Gospel; but this one Chapter, it were yet sufficient for touching Melchisadec, it is said he was King of Salem, a Priest of the most high God, and in that he was a Priest of the most high God, and meeting Abraham when he returned from the slaughter of the Kings he blessed him, and Abraham gave him the Tenth of the spoils: From whence we may very well observe, That when the Ministers of the Gospel do perform their Pastoral Charge, in setting forth God's Ordinances to their Parishioners, the Congregation is to give unto their Pastor and Minister, the Tithe of all they do get by their labour that cometh of the Fruit of the Earth, Gen. 14.19. Gal. 6.6. 1 Cor. 9.9, 10, 11.  
First, because it is God's part, Reasons. God did reserve the Tithes unto himself, Levit. 27.30. to the end.  
Secondly, God hath given the Tithes to his Ministers, that hath a Pastoral Charge, Numb. 18. as you have heard before.  
Thirdly, Gospel Doctrine was taught before the Law, and the tenth part was paid before the Law; Therefore the tenth part of the Fruits of the Earth is due to the Ministers of the Gospel, Gen. 3.15. Chap. 17.7. and 28, 12, 14, 22. and 49.10. Revel. 10.2.  
Fourthly, as it was lawful for the Priests and Levites to receive Tithes for the performance of their Duties in the Worship and Service of God, then being but types and shadows, much more than the Ministers of the Gospel deserve Tithes for their maintenance, being they do labour in the substance of God's Worship and Service, Heb. 7.11.  
For the Priests and Levites were but temporal, and also corporal, and therefore not perfect. But our Ministers of the Gospel are Spiritual Labourers, and therefore the more precious, as the Apostle himself showeth in this 7. Chap. vers. 7. and without all contradiction the lesser is blessed of the better, giving us to understand, That as the Lord hath commanded the Sons of Levy, to receive Tithes of their Brethren after they had received the Office of Priesthood; Those I say who had paid Tithes unto Melchizadec, and so consequently to our Saviour Christ whilst they were yet in the loins of Abraham, and then Melchisadec blessed him and them; that is to say, Abraham and his Seed.  
And further in the 8 verse, and here, men that die receive Tithes, but there he receiveth them; of whom it is witnessed, that he liveth, and who is he that ever liveth, was it Melchisadec, or our Saviour Jesus Christ? if it was Melchisadec, than it cannot be denied but he was a figure of Christ, as Chap. 7. vers. 1. and 3. it doth appear. Then Melchizadec receiving Tithes, vers. 4.6. it must needs follow consequently, that Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour did receive Tithes: and what did he with them? I answer, he did leave them with Melchizadecs' Successors, until he brought the Children of Israel forth of Egypt into the wilderness, and then he gave them his Law, showing them how they should carry themselves towards God, and towards themselves, and their Neighbours; And withal gave them Priests and Levites as Instruments of his Worship and Service, and then he gave them the Tithes for their maintenance an Inheritance, viz. for ever as you have heard before: And these Tithes being for an Inheritance, the Ceremonial Law being but shadows and Types of better things to come: These things ended, and the substance came, when Jesus Christ came in the flesh: the Office of the Priests and Levites being ended, to whom should the Tithes belong, but to the Ministers of Christ that preach the Gospel to continue for ever for their maintenance, as God hath before commanded.  
I do verily believe, that if any of our Reverend Divines of the Synod should but commentary upon this seventh Chapter to the Hebrew, they could not but yield the tithes to the Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if there were no other proofs in the Bible to prove it; but if they should, one adverse party or other, would be ready to raise aslander upon them, and say they preached for themselves, when as indeed it is as necessary a truth as any is to be preached: for take away the maintenance of preaching the truth, how long can it stand?  
You keep much ado about payment of Tithes, as if there were nothing to be done but paying of Tithes; but if this paying of Tithes be a Moral Law, as you say it is, I marvel how it is that Offerings are not paid as well as Tithes. I am sure else Lord did complain by the Prophet Malachi in his 3. Chap. 8. Verse. That they had rob him in Tithes, and Offerings; And now no Offerings are paid, and the refore it should seem the Law for Tithes and Offerings to be paid, is Ceremonial and not Moral.  
I answer, you think you have spoken wisely, and home to the purpose, but alas, you are quite befogged in the dark shadow of Ceremonies.  
It should seem you never in all your life paid Offerings, and therefore no marvel that you would pay no Tithes.  
But to the matter. As the Doctrine of the Gospel is spiritual, so are the paying of Offerings spiritual: The Prophet Dania did well prophesy of these spiritual offerings, long before the coming of Christ in the flesh, Psal. 40.6. saying, sacrifice and offerings thou didst not desire, but mine ears hast thou opened, as if the Prophet should have said, Lord, as thou hast given me the Spirit of Prophecy, to speak in the person of the Messia● to come, so O Lord thou hast opened mine ears to hear, & my heart to understand, what manner of worship thou hast in thine eternal Counsel appointed, the Messiah at his coming shall be performed in these words,  offerings and sin offerings hast thou not required, and so forwards in the 7, 8, 9, and 10, verses, so that the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ, he set forth his Father's will, what manner of Worship he would have, john 4.23, 24, 25. so here we see what Worship and Service be requireth, as namely, spiritual Worship, and spiritual Service.  
In the 5. Book of Moses there is mention made of many sorts of Offerings, especially in the three middle Books, and above all offerings, the  offerings are most spoken of, as in the 28. Chapter of the Book of Numbers, the Lord doth most of all press those offerings made by fire, now what have we to learn by this, that our offerings must be spiritual. That is, our prayers must burn with zeal, with ferventness, and pure affection: we must be zealous in prayer and praising God, james 5.16. Psa. 119.7. in uprightness of heart, our love must be zealous and fervent to set forth the glory of God in Jesus Christ, zealous of a true justifying lively saving and working faith apprehensively, Rom. 3.24. Jam. 2.17, 18, 21, 22, 23. to be zealous of repentance, to be zealous of obedience, to be short, that we be zealous of every good work, and duty. Tit. 2.14.  
Thus you see what spiritual  offerings are, and they that have received the Spirit of God in any good measure, can and will be zealous; and those that have received the spirit of illumination and understanding of God's Word may and can prove that Ministers of the Gospel ought to have Tithes for their maintenance, though it be in Cities and Towns, there it may arise in monies.  
But here may very well arise a question, how Tithes are to be raised in Cities, and Towns, not wronging the Parishioners on the one side, nor the Pastor and Minister on the other side; must the Parishioners pay the tenth penny of their labours?  
I answer, No, neither are labouring men that live only by their mere labour to pay Tithes, in the Country they do not, therefore not in the Cities or Towns, but if those labouring men, or women have a garden or a cow, or any thing more than their labour, they are to pay the tenth part of it in those Cities and Towns, but how must Tithes be paid?  
I answer thus, T●● Merchants or Shopkeepers buy in their ware to their shops, and then he himself or his servant, or servants are to attend all the day, to sell their ward, either by gross, or retail; and then when the night is done, that he hath shut up his shop, he looks in his Cash-box to see what money he hath taken for that former day, and what he hath sold, and what that he sold did cost him; then he lays out the moneys it cost him, and his charge for his labour and attendance in sale of it, to those he doth employ, and lays out of the money for that, and then that part that is left is clear gain●. The tenth penny must arise and be paid out of this clear gains to the Pastor and Minister of that Congregation, and by this means those that do in right pay their Tithes, shall void the curse that is threatened against defrauders of Tithes.  
But there is enough spoken of this before, only this, All they that shall refuse paying their Tithes to their Pastor or Minister are Church-robbers: I do understand there be some that have petitioned the Parliament, that Tithes may not be paid unto the Ministers of the Gospel, because (as they say) it is Jewish and Popish.  
O horrible impiety! That men should be so graceless, as to derogate from the word of God, and also to abuse the power and authority of the King, and the most Honourable and Supreme Court of Parliament, making it a Bawd to their sinister designs.  
If those Petitioners had petitioned for a licence to rob upon the Roadway, their sin had not been so great: But you will say this were a gross sin, the Parliament would never have granted such a wicked Petition.  
I answer, No; and I hope they will not grant this, except they mean to procure another curse upon the Land, Malach. 3.9. But their vigilancy is better than so, for they labour to bring blessings upon the Kingdom, and not curse. But such as keep the maintenance of God's worship and service to themselves, do draw on a curse upon their heads, as is said before.  
And this is the beloved sin, the private sin, and the hypocritical sin, that Church-robbers both in themselves and in their posterity are plagued for.  
And thus we may see the perverse natures of these cruel, proud, covetous wretches, that make no care or conscience how they get the riches of this world, so they have it: As for to covet the Tithes, is the Lords portion, Levit. 27.32. It is his Minister's portion, 1 Cor. 9 vers. 8, 9, 13, 14. Hebr. 7. vers. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And therefore those private men that do retain Tithes to their own private use in possession, and do not deliver them to their Pastor and Minister that have the charge of their souls, they do procure the curse of God upon themselves, Malac. 3.8.9. as is before spoken.  
Howsoever the Adversaries of the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel will not approve of it by Tithes, yet those that do receive the earnest of God's sanctifying spirit, 2 Cor. 5.5. they will with modesty read the holy Scriptures with understanding, and moderately to judge the truth of it, when as indeed those that are possessed with a proud, scoffing, and scomfull spirit, they will never have done with their scoffing, jeering, and cavilling.  
FINIS.