Reasons humbly Exhibited, why Ministers Tithes and Profits should not be taxed as a real Estate of yearly Rent, or yearly value of Land, as hitherto they have been, but as a personal Estate of Goods and Chattels only.  
1. FOr that their Tithes do arise from, and by the yearly improving of the Stock of the Farmer, or Ocupier of Land, and if the Farmer suffer loss therein, the Minister suffers in his proportion with him; neither hath the Minister a right in Law to any thing Tithable which is fixed to the freehold until it be severed therefrom, and then if the Farmers nine parts thereof be justly deemed Goods and Chattels, and in justice and equity is assessed but as a personal Estate, then surely the Ministers tenth part of the same cannot justly be deemed other than Goods and Chattels, and in like justice and equity ought to be assessed but as a personal Estate of Goods and Chattels only, and not as a real Estate of yearly Rent, or yearly value of Land.  
2. For that the Act compriseth all Estates under real and personal, and (as is humbly conceived) holds forth yearly Rent or yearly value of Land to be only real Estate, and all other Profits, Money, Goods, Chattels, Stock, Merchandizes, &c. to be personal Estate, as in fol. 308. Now Tithes being but the tenth of Goods and Chattels Tithable as aforesaid, and of no other or more value, than so much Goods and Chattels: How in justice and equity can they according to the Rule of the said Act be assessed for more than a personal Estate of so much Goods and Chattels?  
3. For that the late Committee of Parliament for the Army by their Order of the 3. of February, 1652. Resolved that all Profits and Salaries arising or allowed to any person, by, or in respect of any Office belonging to the commonwealth, aught to be assessed as personal Estate, and that the Commissioners for the Assessments for the Army in the City of London, do take care that the respective Assessors and Collectors for the said City do proceed in the assessing collecting of the said Assessments and Arrears accordingly, and is there not the same reason, the like Rule should be observed in the country? Now how far the Office of a Minister will be deemed belonging to the commonwealth, is humbly submitted, yet sure as the Ministers Tithes and Profits are allowed as a salary or Reward, or hire for his labour and pains in the discharge of his said Office (which will clearly appear to be so in the next reason) so there is an adequate suitableness to receive a like benefit by the said Order, viz. of being assessed, but as a personal Estate.  
4. For that the whole yearly Incumbe of the Ministers Living, is but the salary, Reward, or ●ire for their constant labours, viz. they by their constant labours in their ministerial Office do produce so much yearly towards the maintenance of themselves and Families: and that it is the salary, Reward, or Hire for their labour appears, first, because the Scripture so terms it, saying, the Labourer is worthy of his hire, referring to the Office of the ministry. 2. Because they have no other Salary, Reward, or Hire for their labour and service allowed them by or from men. 3. Because if they cease to perform the constant service and labour of the said Office, they are liable to be ejected by Law and Equity, which of late years, to the great comfort of many fearing God in several places, hath often been done and practised; unto which servitude and encumbrances a real Estate of yearly Rent, or yearly value of Land is no way liable: Therefore how in justice and equity can the yearly profits of a Ministers labours be assessed equal with yearly Rent, or yearly value of Land, or for more than a personal Estate as aforesaid?  
5. For that no Lawyer or physician, &c. although he get 500 l. a year by his Science and Practice is assessed for the same as so much real Estate of yearly Rent or yearly value of Land, but as a personal Estate of so much money: Therefore in justice and equity, how can the product of the poor Ministers labours (which to many is not sufficient maintenance for themselves and Families) be assessed at more than so much personal Estate of money or Goods? &c.  
6. For that the said Act, to the end that there may be an equal and right proportioning of the Tax, doth enact that a pound rate be made of all real and personal Estates, according to the value thereof, and gives by way of rule an instance how they shall be valued; that is to say, every 20 l. money, Stock, or other personal Estate shall bear the like charge, as shall be laid upon every twenty shillings yearly Rent, or yearly value of Land; so that 100 l. yearly Rent or yearly value of Land, according to that computation, is always worth 2000 l. money, and so of a greater and less proportion, which said Rent, as it ariseth certain without labour or service, so is it descendable or alienable to Heirs or assigns, when as the Minister must first perform the service of the place, if he look to receive the Profits thereof, which if they amount at the years end to 100 l. are never more worth to him, than so much money, Goods, or Chattels, if he happen to live to the end of Harvest, & can get it in; nor is it descendable to wife & children, nor can be by him put to sale, as in the case of Lands aforesaid, although the Minister bestow his whole time from his childhood, till the age of 23 or 24 years at the soonest, sometimes much longer at the great Charge of Friends to fit and prepare himself for the work before he is capable in Law to take upon him the Office of a Minister and take the profits of a Benefice: Therefore how in justice and equity can their Tithes and Profits be assessed equal which the yearly Rent or yearly value of Land, or for more than a personal Estate of money, or Goods and Chattels as aforesaid?  
The aforesaid Reasons considered and humbly conceived to be valid, the Minister hath hitherto been assessed at nineteen times in twenty, more than his due proportion.