IT being reported, That ſome perſons have propoſed in writing, or otherwiſe, or have ſuch intent, ſeverall things which may tend to inconveniencies, if needfull proviſions be not in the ſame.

One of them being, (as is ſaid) That no Arreſt ſhall be before Summons, without any proviſiō either by ſpeedy Arreſt, or Reſtraint of any ſculking perſons, Out-lyers, or Fugitives, from going out of this Nation; or lying hidden, or obſcuring of themſelves, or giving out that they will, or running, or going about to run away, after they have gotten great Eſtates or ſummes of moneys into their hands, by flatteries and feigned machinations, and inventions, on a ſudden, and ſo daſling the eyes of many Conſcientious people, which (if ſo ſhould take effect) is to be feared, will be to the great loſſe of many, and undoing of divers of them, by many of ſuch, which will haſt ſuddenly away to Amſterdam, Conſtantinople, the Eaſt or Weſt Indies, and never come again to make any ſatisfaction to any of their Creditors; or give recompence to any of thoſe, which they have defrauded: but for any way of prevention of ſuch inconveniencies or miſchiefs, we forbear to write, being (as we conceive) ſufficient hath long ſince been publiſhed for that purpoſe.

Another of them (as is ſaid) is, for putting the Laws of this Nation againſt Drunkenneſſe in ſtrict execution; (which as ſaid is very well done) to which is wiſhed might be added, That none might drink Healths to each other; which is very like would prevent much Exceſſe in that way: ſuch doings being thought one of the principall cauſes of the fall of the African Churches; which loathſom and odious ſin, was much cryed out againſt by St. Auguſtin Biſhop of Hyppo, in his time.

Another of which (as is alſo ſaid) is, That no perſon ſhall be arreſted, attached, moleſted, or troubled by any Originall, or other Writ or Proceſſe thereupon iſſuing, without any proviſion for declaring or proceeding in Actions, which are neceſſary to be joynt againſt ſuch as ſhall or may be compelled to appear, with ſuch of them as be or ſhall be Fugitives, or obſcure perſons, and cannot ſuddenly be found to be proceeded againſt, with the other, and ſome of them not in a long time; whereof (it is hoped) ſerious Conſideration will be had by the honourable Commiſſioners, or Committee for conſideration of the regulating of the proceedings in the Law, that no juſt cauſe or ſuit may be loſt for want of ſuch proviſion.

IN the Infancy of the Church after the Paſſion of our Saviour, till about the end of the lives of the Diſciples and Apoſtles, all things were common among ſomeBut that was onely voluntary in times of great Tribulation of Chriſtians, when they cloſe adhered to the Apoſtles for advice and protection, and there is no Command for the continuance thereof, neither ought the ſame to be drawn into Example for any ſuch purpoſe; ſince Chriſtians have had the Government among themſelves, and not under Heatheniſh Perſecution: yet many unſtable people in this Nation would have the ſame here put in practice, which convenient that thoſe, who affect ſuch practice, ſhould collect themſelves together, and repair to ſome unpeopled place fit for Plantation (of which there be ſufficient in Number, and Goodneſs of Soyl in many places, and to trie their Concluſions there, that People may ſee whether or not any good will come of ſuch doings) and not to trouble, and perplex, and put the Nation here into a confuſion; to which end, it is doubted many malevolent perſons to the People here have ſet divers giddy people at work, and thoſe malevolent perſons are thought moſt fit to be ſent, to or with ſuch giddy People, Ranters, or Lubber-Landers into their Settlement and Government in their new Utopia, or Lubber-Land. For there be too many here already who (ſome through envy, others by ſottiſhneſs) have obſtructed the beſt Improvement of Lands and Grounds, by hindering neceſſary Incloſure for that purpoſe; whereby in ſome Counties a third, in others a half part of the benefit of Lands hath been hindered, and fewer People maintained, to the great prejudice of many, and in ſome meaſure to ſuch envious and other Obſtructors, which every Honeſt and Experienced man well knoweth, and others (who pleaſe) may well be informed of the Incoveniency thereof, by the Books concerning Husbandry writ by Mr. W. Blyth, and others before, Chriſtians, And in thoſe times of the Infancie of the Church, had the Paſtors, Miniſters, Teachers, Preachers, and other Officers of the Church, and alſo the Poor of thoſe, as good allowance as in thoſe times could be afforded; and then no need was for the payment of any ſort of Tithes, where ſuch Uſage was. And in the firſt three Centuries next following no Tithes were paid, but the Paſtors, Teachers, Miniſters, and Poor, maintained by Voluntary Contribution, (which cannot be denied by any who have been in any conſiderable manner read in Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory) nor by many for ſeverall Centuries after; Neither when ſuch who have conſented to the payment of the ſame, and they or others denied further to pay them; had they (who claimed them) any remedy for recovery or obtaining of the ſame, but only have frighted ſimple People with threars of the Curſe of Bell, Book and Candle, to pay Tithes; Nor ever had the Prieſts any ſtrong Obligation to bind any to ſuch payment to any particular Prieſt, but that they might pay the ſame to any Prieſt; untill the Pope and his Counſellors in the ſecond Counſel of Lateran (being in the time of the Reign of K. John of England) made a Decree for the paying Tithes to the parochial Prieſts. And yet many Portions of Tithes remained to be paid, and were paid by owners of Lands in ſome Peculiar places to Prieſts reſiding in other pariſhes, ſome of which remain to this day: And beſides, Tithes within this Nation have been poſſeſſed, given, rendred, and paid in various manner, as appeareth by the Hiſtory ofPoſſeſſors, and Owners of Tithes in this Nation, were ſometimes the Kings or Princes here, at other times the Arch-Biſhops in their Juriſdictions, at other times the Biſhops all over their reſpective Dioceſſes, and theſe were out of thoſe Tithes to provide a competent Maintenance for every Parſon, or Incumbent, and to diſtribute the reſidue among the poor: And ſometimes the Lords of the Manners have held ſome of them in their hands, and have preſented fit Parſons, or Incumbents to Parſonages from time to time: And at other times ſome Owners of Lands have made ſome Tithes Fewdall or Infeodations by granting the ſame to other Lay-men: Or have given the ſame from time to time, into, or for Free-Almes or Frank-Almoygne, or to or for Superſtitious uſes to pray for the ſouls of them, and ſometimes for their Parents, Children, or ſome of their kindred, and ſuch like Fopperies. And ſome have been ſo beſotted that they have granted ſome Tithes to Monaſteries in one Nation iſſuing out of Lands in another; but none ſuch can be found to be paid out of any Lands in this Nation to any Monaſteries in any other, nor any, or but few Fewdall or Infeodated Tithes can be found here. See the Hiſtory of Tithes, and Review thereof, written by Mr. John Selden. Tithes, againſt which much hath been written. And although nothing be urged in that Hiſtory againſt the Divine Right of giving, rendring, or paying Tithes any other ways, but only a Commemoration how, to whom, and to what uſes they have been ſo given, rendered, or paid from time to time, in the ſeverall Ages, Nations, and Places therein mentioned; by Sir Fa. Sempell, Dr. Ti • ſl • y Ri. Mountagu. which any man may ground his Opinion of the juſtneſſe of paying Tith to any, or for any uſe, as it ſhall pleaſe God to enlighten him in his Judgement; yet * divers have written for the payment of the ſame to be due by Divine Right; And many ſmall Tracts have been written for the payment of the ſame to Impropriators, as conſcientious,See ſome of the ſmall Pamphlets, which within theſe 7 or 8 years have been ſcattered abroad: how ſome in a barking, and others in a whining way have written for the ſame, and thereby run into Non-ſence, and loſt themſelves in the Briers and Brambles of Inconveniencies. although the ſame hath been found quite contrary to all Reaſon, and Conſcience. And in the judgements of moſt honeſt men, againſt, or for the damning of which payment to Impropriators, or any other beſides the Clergie, a Prieſt (who hath written againſt that Hiſtory hath much laboured,And barked lowdeſt to cry it down, uſing very many vain words and expreſſions to diſparage the ſame Hiſtory, by reaſon of the favour which he expected of one, bearing his name, then in high place, whom he boaſted to be of very noble Birth, and of great Learning and Religion, but whether or not the laſt be true, hath appeared by the works or deeds of his bragged of name-ſake, whoſe Learning alſo (in any thing, but onely for unlawfull gains in cauſes which have come before him) hath been much ſuſpected; by his gaining of which, many have been much damnified; for whom it is hoped ſatisfaction ſhall be had out of his ill-gotten Eſtate which he had; and as for all that which in his name is publiſhed in print, concerning any goodnes, it is thought to be done by others, (at his requeſt) or ſtollen, or borrowed from others; the expreſſions therein being contrary to his Actions; but by thoſe means that Prieſt was exalted into a Biſhoprick, though he run into, and loſt himſelf in a Labyrinth, in his gyddie writing concerning the Duty of paying of Tith by Divine Right: which (in the opinions of conſcientious and Judicious men) hath not at all diminiſhed, but fortified the worth of that Hiſtory to remain as a Memoriall for the honeſt people of this Nation, to learn how to know from time to time the antient Manners of Tithing, and Maintenance of the Miniſters and Poor; which Hiſtory for the benefit of this Nation (being it could not be collected without great trouble, ſtudy, labour, and pains, and much charges) is thought by the honeſt and judicious people of this Nation) who have read or been informed of the contents thereof) convenient to be preſerved. See that Hiſtory and the Diatrib • againſt it. and ſhewed many ſtrong Reaſons againſt the payment of Tith to Impropriators; and hath, as other Divines beſides have, branded the Exactors thereof as Sacrilegious, and Church Robbers; ſo that upon the whole matter it appeareth, that he who had, or held Tithes, was bounden to, as a duty to have, or procure to be had the Care of Souls, and relieve the poor, or one of them, according to the worth of ſuch Tith, which was as an Office; the non uſing or miſuſing of Offices according to Truſt, having been always accounted and have been adjudged forfeiture thereof, and agreeable to Right reaſon; therefore if ſuch Miſuſer, Non-uſer, or Diſ-uſer happen, may not every owner of Lands keep the Tithes thereof in his own hands to pay for his inſtruction in his Souls health, and of his Family, and to plead the matter thereof in Bar, or give the ſame in Evidence againſt any who ſhall ſue or proſecute for Tith, or not perform; or procure ſome other to perform ſuch duty? And why ſhould not ſuch Plea, or Matter to be given in Evidence be allowed for a perpetuall bar againſt the payment of Tithes in ſuch Cafe?

And yet ſuch undeſerving Tith-takers, or Patrons, or Diſpoſers of them, moſt commonly have kept or maintained Dove-houſes or Pidgeon-houſes; and with their Pidgeons therein devoured much of the Corn of their Pariſhioners, and formerly did very much labour to debar all others beſides themſelves from having any ſuch Dove-houſes or Pidgeon-houſes, untill above twenty years ſince, the matter concerning the ſame upon ſolemn debate was adjudged, That any Freeholder might have and maintain Dove-houſes or Pidgeon-houſes as well as ſuch Tith-takers, or Diſpoſers, or Patrons of them, ſince which time Pidgeons (being greater devourers of Corn than any ſort of Vermin, eſpecially of Wheat and white Peaſe) have not only devoured much Corn, but ſpoyled much more in bearing and beating the ſame downTo the deſtruction thereof, and moreover the Prieſts have been the chief obſtructors of improvement of Lands in commencing and threatning chargeable and troubleſome futes againſt poor laborious men, and they cauſing them to Plough errable Lands ſo long, and put the ſame out of heart, that after the Tith exacted out of them, ſuch poor labourers have not had increaſe anſwerable to their labour and ſeed, though they have paid no Rent for their Lands, and at other times they have not had their ſeed again, and by ſuch means many poor undone, and much Land ſpoyled for many years together, to ſatisfie the greedy appetite of ſuch Tith-takers, and thereby many people conſtrained to work ſo hard for a poor living, that they ſcarce have had any time to eat, drink, or ſleep at quiet, or had any time for devotion, but have fretted themſelves to meagerneſſe, curſing and banning not only their poor Cattell, but alſo their dead Ploughs. Harrows and Carts, divers of whom hath continued ſo to their ends, and died in a doubtfull condition of their ſaltation, after by ſottiſhneſſe they have wrought out of heart and ſpoyled much Land for many years.; And after the Prieſts or Monaches had by craft and ſubtilty (among their great poſſeſſions) crept into very many of the beſt Lordſhips and Mannors, the antient Lords whereof formerly (before ſuch Monches got in) have preſented and procured to be put into Benefices, Teachers and Preachers of the Chriſtian Religion, Devout, and very good Paſtors, Honeſt, Able, and Conſcientious Chriſtians to teach the people (as the dark times then could afford) but after the Abbey-lubbers had gotten into thoſe poſſeſſions they ſtarved the ignorant people for want of ſpirituall food, only putting in a poor Sir John the Prieſt to ſay Maſſe at ſuch Pariſh for a ſmall Salary of 20 Nobles a year, and ſometimes leſſe, and to Riddle up the ſame in the Latin Language by Rote, which neither he nor his Auditors or Spectators did or could underſtand, only about three or four times in a year, ſuch Monaches have ſent out a Franciſcan or Dominican to Preach the Common-people into the beſotted imaginary opinion of Purgatory, and duty of paying of Tith, and ſuch like errors, and obedience of their Papall Doctrine, for increaſe of the Riches of the Clergy, with a direfull Curſe denounced againſt them which ſhould not obey them, of Hell and Damnation. But as for the Tithes of every Pariſh ſo gained into their Clutches or Tallons (being of great value) they took to their own uſes and appropriated the ſame to their Denns ofAlthough at the firſt gaining of ſuch they were charitable to the Poor of the Pariſh of which they had ſo appropriated the Tith, but when they began to be lazie and idle, their Charity waxed ſo cold, that they neglected the Needy, and entertained out of their abundance the Rich to gain their favour, ſometimes by feaſting them in a Gluttonous manner. Idleneſſe, to feed them fat for the ſlaughter of the Devill.

And ſo were ſuch Tithes ſtollen by ſuch Abby-lubbers from the true Labourers in the Harveſt of the Converſion of ſinners, and Inſtructing them in Righteouſneſſe, and annexed to their ſtately Palaces for maintenance of their Pride and Luſt, in the height of which, by the juſt Iudgement of God they fell and were diſſolved; And after that King Henry the eighth had taken the Abbeys and other Monaſteries into his hands, the ſame and Tithes ſo Appropriated were by him, ſome parcels, and the reſidue otherwiſe, given, and ſome ſold to, and exchanged with Corporations or Colleges, Lords, Great men, and o • hers, at as low rates as Thieves ſtollen goods uſe to be ſold for, in reſpect of what was p • id or exchanged for them, and after the Tithes ſo appropriated, or annexed have been ſo given, ſold, exchanged, or bartered away, the ſame have been, and yet are called from the Names of Appropriations, Impropriations, and have been departed with from time to time, far more often than any Mannor, Meſſuage, Lands, and Tenements, for very little, (regarding what other Lands and Tenements have gon for for many years) and never were Rated in value of Purchaſe near to the Price of other Lands, and rare it hath been for an eminent Lawyer to purchaſe Tithe. And they who have held any of ſuch Tithes long, have ſeldome proſpered, but moſt commonly betook themſelves to Idleneſſe and Luſt; and the holding of the ſame hath been as it were a ruſt or Cancker, in cauſing of divers (who have had other gre • t poſſeſſions) although ſome of them at their firſt poſſeſſing of the ſame (they allways entring upon them as good bargains) have been Charitable, but (as before is mentioned, for the moſt part) have ſoon left off Charity, to Negligence, Gluttony, Drunkeneſſe and other Wickedneſſe) to waſt and conſume all or a great part thereof; and in ſome Corporations or Colleges, and ſuch like places, (with which ſome of the ſame have been held) thoſe perſons therein Living upon the ſame, thereby have been ſo full fed, that they have betook themſelves to Idleneſſe and laſciviouſneſſe, and in ſome of them to the moſt Abominable, Odious, Beaſtly, Unnaturall and Curſed ſinne of Sodom An example for this of many in Eminent Colleges, now forborn to be named. And yet, ſome have deſired the continuance of the ſame, as the moſt equall way for the Comfortable Maintenance of a Godly and conſcientious Miniſtry, although it hath appeared that the ſame hath gone to the Maintenance of Catterpillers and Locuſts, as bad as the Abbey-lubbers or Drones before mentioned; and the Poor Vicars (divers of whom have been very honeſt, and written, and publiſhed pious and learned Books, and took moſt pains in the Goſpel,) lived very poorly, and ſome of them in great want, notwithſtanding all their care taken for the feeding of their Flocks, when ſuch Locuſts and Catterpillers have out of their fat Benefices betook themſelves principally to Drunkenneſſe, Beaſtlineſs, Sottiſhneſſe, and Idleneſſe, and yet Domineered, and Tyranized over ſuch poor Vicars, having been as diligent as Saint Cyprian, and other antient Fathers of the Church, (who lived in Poor, Wattled Cottages, and fed ſometimes only upon Pulſe) before Poyſon was put into the Church by large allowances, which began to multiply (together with Pontificall Titles) about the time of Phocas the Adulterer and Uſurper (who Murdered his Maſter Mauritius the Emperor, his Empreſſe, and Children, and by the help of Boniface the third, then Biſhop of Rome, in gratifying him as a Pontifex, Univerſall Chief Biſhop, ſupreme above all other, equall with Rome before, and generally the whole Clergy with large allowances) obtained the Empire, and reigned like a Murderer, as did his Succeſſors after him (by one of whom himſelf, his Wife and Children were ſlain) untill by the Popes they were outwitted, and Outed of their Regal Power in Rome, who after did the like or worſe (uſing not only all fraudulent dealing, but Sodomy and Sorcery) and by thoſe means about the ſame time did Tithes generally begin to be paid, but not to the Parochiall Prieſts, untill the time of King John before mentioned, (being hundreds of years after) which have continued ſo long in ſuch manner, that ſome (not very knowing, we will not ſay altogether ignorant) have Idolized the ſame ſo far that they have cryed them up to be due (by Divine Right) and admitted of the claim of them from the Levites, among whoſe Tribe out of thoſe, beſides Prieſts, as Namely the holy Butchers for killing and dreſſing of the Sacrifice fit for the Altar, the holy Wood mongers for proviſion of Wood about the ſame, and the holy Porters for bearing the Arke, for none other but men then being or accounted holy might meddle with ſuch things, beſides others which in the written word of God, any (who have read and deſire the underſtanding of the ſame) may with eaſe underſtand; for the maintenance of which there is no warrant; for there was a particular command from God for payment of Tith to that Tribe, and none for the payment of any ſuch thing to any ſince; and by what right any one can claim the ſame, they ſeek far to find it to be due by Divine Right, and others have been ſo ſimple, as to derive the payment of the ſame from the payment of Tithes by Abraham to Melchiſedeck, which can be made appear or thought none other than a voluntary gift, to one that in thoſe times ſome wayes (though not revealed) had a right to, or deſerved the ſame for ſome good deed done; and it cannot be imagined any other, than that the ſame, if not ſo given, was only a Gratuity or deed of Charity by our Father Abraham, or that he had a ſecret command from the Almighty for rendering the ſame as to the Prieſt of the moſt high God: but cannot with Equity or any ſolid Iudgment be drawn into example to be paid to Drones, or Locuſts, in theſe times of their permiſſion in ſeverall places. And for mainteinance of the ſame, divers (when they have been convinced in the by-gone things before mentioned) have been of ſuch affectionate Opinion, or ſo ſeemed, or made ſhew, as to ſay and divulge, that although the ſame ſhould be taken from errable Lands, and ſuch like places, where much labour and travell hath been in Plowing, Sowing, Manuring, and buying of Compoſt or Manure, and Rent, and otherways, and conſideration had of their one only conſiderable Crop in 3 years, (againſt exacting of Tithes, out of which divers have complained and Petitioned) yet would not that be beneficiall to any poor Countrymen (who have taken or ſhall take ſuch Labour, Travell, and Pains, and be at ſuch Charges) but that only the benefit would redound to the Purchaſers and Landlords, in the riſe and improvement of Rents or otherways, which every conſcientious & judicious man knoweth to be otherwiſe) for can any man imagin that ſuch Heatheniſme is intended, or any other thing, but that there ſhall be a Competent Maintenance for a Godly and Conſcientious Miniſtry, and is not that moſt convenient to be impoſed upon ſuch things which uſe to be Tithable? and what cauſe then can there be of increaſe of Rents? but that ſomething (accounting one thing with the other equivalent to Tithes) ſhould goe out of the ſame and otherwiſe for good purpoſes, and not for the maintenance of Locuſts and Catterpillers; for if the people and their Children ſhould depend only for their Teaching and Inſtructing upon ſuch Tith-takers, as for the moſt part have been, (they having been accompted the moſt vitious of any ſort of men, according to the reſpective Numbers) they may be as ignorant as any Heathens for ought any of them have had or could have of ſuch Locuſts or Catterpillers, for ſuch (as have been intent and deſirous to be inſtructed in true Holineſſe and Righteouſneſſe, and have thirſted after the way of Salvation) have been conſtrained (according to their reſpective Abilities) to contribute towards Maintenance of Godly, Conſcientious, and ſincere men, Learned in the Written Word of God, to inſtruct them in that way, and thoſe who have received Tithes have not benefitted them at all, but have waſted, conſumed, and imployed the ſame in ſuch courſes above mentioned, which they have practiſed and miſpent the ſame, as bad as the Heatheniſh Prieſts (who before received Tithes) and ſacrificed to Devills, Idolls, and Oracles.See the Hiſtory before mentioned.

And further, as for the loſſe of Such who may be damnified by the taking away of Tithes, that is like to be the loſſe for the moſt part of ſuch, by whom and their Anceſtors they have been long enjoyed, and therefore ſuch in Equity ought to expect little or nothing for forgoing the ſame, in reſpect of the low Rates which they have paid for them at the firſt, regard being had to the great profit which they have received by the ſame, far beyond the profits of any other Lands purchaſed; and if any who have purchaſed the ſame, ſince the written word of God hath ſhined in a more bright manner to us, than in other former dark times of ignorance, they deſerve to bear the loſſe in forgoing thereof, for not endeavouring the knowledge of the Scripture, and thereby by what Right any Tith can be claimed, the loſſe of which may more benefit thoſe as now hold the ſame, or that hereafter ſhall purchaſe any of them, for their Souls health (in ſearching the Scripture concerning the ſame) and ſo to be brought to true Chriſtianity, in the reading the written Word of God with ſerious deliberation, than the loſſe which they ſhall receive in departing with ſuch Tithes; for how can they think that in Law or Conſcience they may expect the ſame, when they cannot find them to be due by Divine Right, but crept into as aforeſaid, by Craſt, Subtilty, and Deceipt? And how may Tithes be required, ſeeing their foundation is ſo ſandy, as before is mentioned, if the ſame were put upon ſolemn Debate, by Argument of Learned and Conſcientious Counſell, and Mature deliberation thereupon had is a great queſtion; and thought by many that their foundation would ſink or ſlide away (the ſame to this day never having been tryed by ſuch a touchſtone) but as is thought our Anceſtors (coming out of the dark Clouds of Anti-chriſt, and but newly peeping into the light) could not conveniently on a ſudden conſider of another way more equall and convenient, for the maintenance of a Godly Miniſtry to be ſetled on, and ſatisfied to them without care or trouble of Collections, or tedious Sutes to obtain the ſame? for ſince thoſe times the Miniſtry hath for a great part happened to be of ſuch Drones, Locuſts, or Catterpillers, who for getting in of Tithes have Commenſed, Proſecuted, and Stirred up much trouble, and many Chargeable and Tedious Sutes, and divers of them very Unjuſt (whereby many poor honeſt people have been undone) and neglected their duties and Callings; which Miſchiefs and Inconveniences would be prevented if every one reſpectively (according to his Ability) may be taxed to the Competent Maintenance (regarding deſert) of Paſtors, and Teachers, that the greateſt burthen may not lye upon the Poorer or Meaner ſort, and the Uſurer, or Rich bear a Feather, reſpecting the Weighty burthen lying upon thoſe, comparing their Eſtates together, all which would be remedied, if all perſons ſhould be taxed equally and reſpectively for ſuch Maintenance, as for other things, and that if ſuch Maintenance ſhould be competent, and according to the deſerts of ſuch Paſtors, Miniſters, or Teachers, then would their Congregations be better Taught, and lead out of Blindneſſe, Ignorance, Hereſie, and Heatheniſm. And as for Cuſtom, by which ſome Challenge Tithes to be due, how can that ſtand? And if the Originall thereof be ſearched into, may it not be found by Record when the ſame beganSee the Hiſtory firſt mentioned, and Sr. E. Cook his Comentaries., and then there it may be found how ſlender the ground thereof is; and beſides, if the contrary thereof could not be found, being the Cuſtom (as to thoſe of ſuch ill lives and converſation, before mentioned, who have had an exacted the ſame) is diſſenting from the Word of God; and ſo conſequently not good therefore in Law, Right, Reaſon, and Conſcience to be aboliſhed; and why may not Purchaſers of Lands hold the ſame without paying Tith with a ſafe Conſcience, though great benefit accrew thereby, in reſpect that then (no doubt) it will be provided, that every one ſhould be taxed equally, to the Maintenance of a Godly and Conſcientious Miniſtry of Paſtors and Teachers, and they truely to be ſatisfied the ſame without trouble, or ſubſtraction, as hath been too often uſed by many Haetheniſh, Hypocriticall, and Atheiſticall people from many Vicars, by craft and ſubtlety, by putting them upon, and leaving them to ſtuntling, or Starveling Calves, Lambs, and Piggs, addle Eggs, and Worm-eaten, and Waſp-eaten, rotten Windfalls or other fallings of Apples, and ſuch like Traſh? and thoſe Heatheniſh, Hypocritical, and Atheiſtical Subſtractors have took no regard of the fearful end of Ananias and Saphira.

And alſo in regard ſuch Purchace may on a ſudden by Fire, Inundation, or otherwiſe be ruined or waſted by accident, or the Purchaſers thereof cheated in a Crackt Title, by reaſon of former Dormant Sales, or otherwiſe, or after by Enemies, Thieves, Woolves, Foxes, Weeſels, Polecats, Rats, or Mice, &c. entred upon, and haunted, and great ſpoil by them made there, before the Purchaſers can thence rid the ſame, of all which the Purchaſers muſt bear the loſſe, and why not the benefit of Improvement or other beneficiall Contingencies after the riddance of thoſe, and all manner of other Vermin from the ſame?

But it is to be doubted, that many great men of Wealth, or otherwiſe of Power and Subtelty have been, and are the greateſt Sticklers in upholding the exactions of Tithes, by reaſon they have graſped great Poſſeſſions and Inheritances, and Leaſes of Impropriations into their hands, and therefore much argued and diſcourſed for, and made great means about upholding the ſame, and cauſed others ignorant to be beguiled into obedience, and divers ſimple to be of opinion of the duty thereof by Divine Right: And ſuch have been the Obſtructors of ridding this Common-weal of the moſt ſubtle of thoſe Vermin. [*The before mentioned Tith-takers.] And that hath been the occaſion of depraved Lords of Mannors (wanting the true knowledge and power of Godlineſſe) for ſecret Rewards (or, as they may be more fitly be called Symony or Bribes) for the moſt part to preſent and procure into Benefices ignorant Parſons, of bad life and converſation, who have entred into the ſame by Perjury or falſe Oathes, and lived in the ſame for many years together, and the Inhabitants of the Pariſh received no benefit, but miſchief by them, in keeping them in Ignorance, & preaching falſe Doctrine and Hereſie; and rayling and ſcoulding (thoſe ſeldom times they have prated in the Pulpit) and giving evill example by their Curſing and Swearing, and Whoredom, Gluttony, or Drunkenneſſe, undoing ſome of their Neighbours by unjuſt Sutes, and vexing others of them, ſometimes for ſubſtraction, or ſuppoſall of withholding of very ſmall things, as with the not rendering of two Eggs, or ſuch like, or other Trifles, whereby ſuch as have been no better taught and inſtructed; than by ſuch like Parſons, have been no better than meer Infidells: And many ſuch Bribing, and Symonizing, and Perjured, or Forſworn Parſons, (who have been Avaritious and Ambitious) from time to time have gotten to be Doctors, Deans, &c. and into places of great profit, and by that means ſoared to a Biſhop, and ſometimes higher, and by thoſe means gained power, that none ſhould Preach, but by their permiſſion, and alſo be derived from them as they themſelves from Age to Age, one of them from another, which they can draw from none but the Pope in the Originall, to go on ſucceſſively as they claim their call; and that can be proved only as well as the Pope is Supreme of the Church, or that he is the ſucceſſor of Peter, or that he was ever at Rome; Or whether Lynus or Clement was his immediate ſucceſſor, or Cletus or Anacletus or one of them, about which much Debate hath been between the Papalls (among whom the claim of Tithes were firſt hatched, as they of late have been paid. And ſuch Bribing and Symonizing Parſons as before mentioned, with their Aſſociats and Adherents, had gained ſuch power (which they had an endeavour to continue) that the people (by themſelves or their Repreſentatives) ſhould have no Election of Paſtors, Miniſters, or Teachers, but what ſhould be impoſed by them, and went about to prove it to be due to them by Divine Right, and to none other: which they can, or did as well prove as the ſucceſſion of the Pope from Peter, or they theirs from the Pope, whoſe Authority, (as appeareth by Record in the Tower) was from hence baniſhed in the time of K. E. 3. therefore let thoſe who can, ſhew when the ſame was brought hither ſince; the ſuperiors of whom notwithſtanding have aſſay'd utterly to keep the poor People in Ignorance, and to debar them from having any hand in Election of any whom they ſhould be conſtrained to maitain for their ſpirituall Inſtruction, but to aſſeſſe ſuch upon them (whom they ſhould be compelled to maintain, or pay Tithes to) who neither ſhould or could any more benefit them than Monopolizing Counſellors, or Advocates, or Attorneys, or ProctorsWhich go for, and be but Servants to their Clients, and yet have been in Chancery, Civill Cerporation, and ſuch-like Courts by the chief Monopolizers there aſſeſſed or impoſed upon Clients, and they conſtrained to pay them Fees and other great Rewards or Bribes, or to ſit ſtill and loſe the benefit of their Suces, Moneys, and Demands to great value, whereby many have been undone, and divers much impoveriſhed., their Clients: which courſes have proved Miſchievous to many, and is accompted no better, then if a Servant ſhould be impoſed or aſſeſſed upon a Maſter to keep, and pay wages unto, although he ſhould know that ſuch Servant could, or would doe unto ſuch his Maſter little or no ſervice, but to be vehemently ſuſpected to cut his Throat, or doe him other miſchief, when he could have an opportunity for that purpoſe, and ſuch Maſter to be conſtrained to a continuall Vigilancy (for the prevention thereof) and not only to pay, but pray, ſcrape leggs, and ſtand Cap in Hand to his Servant, to have his buſineſſe done, or to have the ſame left undone, and thereby the Maſter utterly ruined.