A Few PROPOSALS Offered In humility and in the spirit of meekness, to the Supreme Authority, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND.
Holding forth A MEDIUM or ESSAY FOR The Removing of TYTHES, and establishing a Maintenance for A Godly Ministry in the Nation: Such as may be satisfying to the Consciences of all Sober-minded Men, and injurious to no Mans just Propriety or Interest.
Which were some time since presented to the Parliament, by several well-affected People in the County of Suffolk;
And now published By a Well-wisher to England's Peace, and the Gospels Prosperity.
London, Printed for L. Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley. 1659.
A Few PROPOSALS Offered In Humility and in the Spirit of Meekness, TO THE Supreme Authority, the Parliament OF The COMMONWEALTH of ENGLAND.
- 1. THat all the Tythes within this Commonwealth, be exposed to sale at so many years purchase, as in the wisdom of the Parliament shall be thought [Page 2]meet; that so every man may by buying in his own Tythes, free his Estate from that Encumbrance: and in case any shall refuse to purchase his own Tythes, liberty be given for any other man to buy them.
- 2. That all Glebe-Lands, Parsonage-Houses, Deans and Chapters lands, and all other Revenues whatsoever belonging to the Ministry, be sold, except such onely where a preaching Minister is to be settled.
- 3. That a survey be taken of the number and conveniency of all the publick meeting-places or Churches in this Commonwealth, that so supernumeraries may be abolished; and where there is a deficiency, supply may be made according to a rule of proportion in that case to be provided.
- 4. That with the Monies arising out of the said Sales, Lands may be purchased in or near every such Town where a preaching Minister is to be settled; which together with the Glebes and other Lands and Revenues [Page 3]before reserved for that end, may make up a competent maintenance for every such Minister; as suppose 80 l. per annum for every Minister in the Country, and 100 li. per annum for the Minister in every Market-Town.
- 5. That these Lands so Purchased and set apart by Authority for the Maintenance of the Ministry, may be in the posfession, and at the dispose of every such Minister, to be by him improved to the best Advantage for the maintenance of him and his Family, and not brought into a publick Treasury.
- 6. That in case there shall be a redundancy or over-plus by the Sales of the former, more then will pay the purchase of the later, (as it is humbly conceived there may be) the same may be put into a publick Treasury, and improved (the stock and principal being always preserved) for the relief of such Ministers as may possibly by this alteration be laid aside, and have no other way of Livelyhood; [Page 4]and also for the Widows and Orphans of such Ministers as may without their Sin, and abuse of Mercy, be left in a Poor and Necessitous Condition; that so good Ministers may be delivered from the Fear, and their Wives and Children from the Reproach and Misery of unavoydable Poverty.
- 7. That in case there should not be sufficient by the Sales of the one, to discharge and pay for the purchase of the other, a voluntary Contribution be made by all persons within this Commonwealth, who are well-affected to so good a work; that so the defect may be supplyed, and the redundancy (if any be) employed to the aforesaid ends.
- 8. Lastly, that persons of known fidelity, and good affection to the work, be employed in the management of this Affair, and a convenient space of time given wherein the same may be effected, and a set time fixed for the receiving and paying of all such Monies [Page 5]as shall be due either to or from the State upon such Contracts: that so at one and the same time the one may be removed, and the other introduced, and all inconveniences avoided, which otherwise might happen by fraud and delay in such Transactions.
FINIS.