THE CASE OF James Haviland, Of the Isle of Purbeck, in the County of Dorsert, presented to the view of every Impartial Reader; But more particularly to the Inhabitants of the Isle and County aforesaid. GEORGE KING, Rector of Langton-Matravers; and James Parkins, Rector of Corf-Castle in the Isle and County aforesaid, who call themselves Ministers of the Peaceable Gospel of Jesus Christ; have contrary to the terms of that Gospel and contrary to the Practice of all the Apostolic Ministers recorded in the New-Testament, proceeded against the said James Haviland, for the Claims which they severally had upon him for Tithes. That their Practice is contrary to the terms of the Gospel, will best appear by setting down the Terms of it as they are recorded by the Evangelist, Luk. 2.14. Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, to Men. These two Rectors pretend to be Ministers of this Gospel, and do yet compel Maintenance, and from such who Contientiously refuse to pay them, they have in a cruel manner endeavoured their Ruin, as in the present Instance of James Haviland, whose household-goods, Linen and Wearing Apparel they have seized to many times the value of the Tithe which they demanded; yet not content with that; they did seize and carry away two Bibles, which tho' they call it the Only Rule of Faith and Manners, they did deprive the Man of that, and expose the Rule itself to be Sold to Feed their Bellies. But this their Do as they are not agreeable to the Nature of the Gospel, so neither are they agreeable to the 〈◊〉 of the Apostles and Primitive Christians, who did Preach Freely the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to our Saviour's command to his Disciples, Matth. 10.8. Freely ye have received, freely give. And the Apostle testified he did keep himself from being burdensome, by Labour, working with his Hands, 2 Cor. 11.9. 1 Cor. 4.12. Tho' it's not to be expected that these Rectors will be inclined to follow the Apostles Example, because they cannot in truth say they became Ministers in the same manner which he did, when he says, I was made a Minister according to the Gift of the Grace of God, given unto me by the effectual working of his Power, Ephes. 3.7. Tho' after th●● manner it is that the Ministers of Christ now do, and ever did receive their Ministry. Surely it behoveth the People to consider how disagreeable these two Rectors are in their Ministry and Practice to the true Ministers of Christ, who never did as these do, Violently take away the Goods of those they do not Preach to. In this their Practice they are condemned even by Austin the Monk, and those that came with him, according to the Testimony of Bede, the Church Historian, who saith, lib. 1. cap. 25. At ubi sibi datam, etc. They entered, where Mansions were given them, and began to imitate the Apostolic Life of the Primitive Church, in continual Prayers, Watch, and Fast, Preaching the Word of Life to whom they could, rejecting, as Strangers, the things of this World, receiving from THOSE whom they taught, those things ONLY which were Necessary to sustain them; and in all things lived according to the Doctrine they taught, ready to Suffer, or also to Die, in testimony to the Truth which they Preached. This was about the Year 600, and tho' there were many great Corruptions entered the Church at that time, yet in this particular of the Maintenance of Ministers, she wa● so happy as Bed● says, as to imitate the Apostolic Life of the Primitive Church. It is not to be doubted, but that the Primitive Christians in the Apostolic Times, did when there was occasion, very willingly administer to the necessity of the Ministry: And it cannot fail that any Man who is called to be a Minister of Jesus Christ, as Paul was, but those to whom he preacheth, will cheerfully supply his Wants. But not to urge th●● single Instance only from Bede, it may be shown they were so far from making any pa● to their Priests who did not hear them, that they would not receive Alms from any wh● were not in their Communion: The Instance is this, there was a Synod celebrated in Ireland about the Years 450, or 456, by Patritius, Isservin, Auxilius, and others, 〈◊〉 the Canons of which Synod, as given by Henry spelman, the 12. & 13. are, 12. Quicunque Christianus excommunicatus fu●rit nec ejus cleemesyna recipiatur. 13. Eleemosynam à Gentibus offerendam in Ecclesiam recipi non licet. spelman. Concilia, etc. Orbis Britannici Tom. primus. p. 52. But since there is at this Day such very great alteration, That These Rectors who pretend to be Christ's Ministers, do like those the Prophet mentions, 〈◊〉 3.5. He that putteth not into their Mouths, they even prepare War against him. They might ●et, one would have thought, 〈…〉 within some Bounds of Modesty: For if their design had only and 〈…〉 gotten from James Haviland, what was their pretended d●e for Preaching, the 〈…〉 hath made provision, that it may be very speedily, and with much less charge obtained. But throwing aside all Modesty, and common Humanity, these 〈◊〉, have neglected that way of procedure, that they might of set purpose and design, ruin the Man and his Family; of which intent they have given full proof, as may be seen by the under-written Inventory of Goods which they seized, carried away, and sold, amounting by estimation to 50 l. Which is a Sum manifold the value of the Tithe demanded. James Haviland of Corf-Castle, in the Isle of Purbeck, and County of ●orset, was prosecuted upon the Statute of Triple Damages, by George King, Rector of the Parish of Langton-Matravers; and also by James Parkins, Rector of Cors' Castle aforesaid, in a Suit of Tithes, and the Jury finding for each of them to the value of Forty Shillings, for which Judgement and Execution is awarded each of them Seventeen Pounds. And on the third, fourth and fifth Days of the second Month, 1700. Walter Frampt●n, John Riges, Gervis Cross, and Priest Parkins' Servant Laurence Simonds, took and carried away from him the said James Haviland, the particular Goods following, by estimation amounting to the value aforesaid. First, Two BIBLES. Twenty one Yards and half of Blue Linne, or Dowless. Thirteen Yards of Broad Dowless. Thirty One Yards of Narrow Dowless. Two Featherbeds. Four Feather-Bolsters, one Flock Bolster, and one Dust-Bolster. Four Feather-Pillows. Two rugs. Six Sheets. Nine Bed-Blankets. Three Bed-Coverlets. Three Canvas Bolster-Clothes. Two Table-Cloths. 〈…〉 ●oats; two great or top Coats; and two House body Coats; four pair of Breeches. One Brass Warming-pan. Two Pewter Platters. One pair of Boots. Two great Brass Kettles, and one small Brass Kettle. One Bellmettle Pot. One Brass Pot. One great new Towel. One great new Trendle. Two new Half Hogsheads. Eight Joint-Stools. Six Leather-Chairs. One large Table-Board with its Frame. One Oak Table-Board of eight Foot long without a Frame: One other long Table-Board with its Frame: And one Round Table-Board with its Frame. One Poudering-Tub. Five Deal-Boards. One pair of Tongues, and one Firepan. Four Beer-Vessels. One Steel-Quern, or Handmill, for to grind Malt. Two Winnowing-Sheets. Four Sacks, and two Two-Bushel Bags. Three Pecks and half of Wheat. One Peck and half of Beans. Four Sives to winnow Corn withal. Two Rush-bottom Chairs. One Ax. Thirteen pound of Bacon. One 〈…〉 〈◊〉 cupboard. One Coffer. One Pillion, and one Panel, with Footstool and Girts. One Brewing-Fat, or Vate. One new Strap-Rope. One Box. One great new Oak Press or Wardrobe to lay and hang in. One standing Bedstead with the Cord and Mat. One Half-head Bedstead, with the Cord and Mat. About Four Load of Cleft Wood, and other great Wood One Pocket-Knife which cost 2 s. 6 d. One Pocket-Handkerchief; and one Holland Cap that was in some or one of the Pockets of the Clothes. LONDON, Printed by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Grace-church-street; and at the Sign of the Bible in Leadenhallstreet, by Leadenhall-Market, 1700.