Good old Way T R U° T H Which the Ancient Chriftians many Ages and Genera¬ tions ago witnefled unto in the World from Age to Age ■, even from the dayes of Chrift unto this very time, wherein the fame Doftrine, Life and Pradlice is vvittt fled unto by us who are in contempt cal¬ led through many Tribulations, Which our Anceftors, the moft ancient and true Chriftians that ever were upon the Earth, fealed unto, with the lots of their Lives and Liberties. By which, in fliort, is fully manifefted, in what is treated of herein, that the Doftrine of the Quakers^ in denying to Swear any Oath, and their refufing to pay Tythes, and many other things they pradlife, was the Doftrine and pratffife of the moft Famous and renowned Chriftians, both teftified of in the Scriptures of Truth, and the Books of Martyrs. Alfo, A brief Difeovery of the Ground and Rife of Tythes^ manifefting them no Gofpel-Maintenance-, but was teftified againft by the Beft and moft Ancient Chri¬ ftians many Ages ago, _ ~ JVritten bj a Branch[prMng fnw the Jncieat David, xchich hath long.bten compaffed about with wild Bfafit i but thoTow the ((«• dtr Mercies of the Lord jet remaint alive ; whrfe earthly name is. Arabros Rigge, Printed in the Year, idd?, TO THE reader. O H, Let not prejudice poffefs thy mind in. reading thisfmallTreatife, for then thou wilt reap no benefit thereby; but let thy eye be fingle to the Truth herein expreffed, and thy whole body (hall be full of Light *, for God ne¬ ver refpeded mens perfons in manifefting his firm and ancient Truth, and Myfteries of Life, which were ever hid from the wife and prudent of the World, as it is at this day j yet not fo hid, but that it is univerfally tendred to all without re- fpe£l: of perfons, even from the King upon the Throne, unto the Begger upon the Dunghil; and therefore is mans deftruftion of himfelf, as God faid to Ifrael ; becaufe man hath fo much depena dancy upon his own wifdom, and natural gifts and parts, that the things of the Spirit of God are fooliflmefs unto him, as they were to the Ru¬ lers and chief Priefts of the femm the dayes of old, whom Chrift called Blind-Guides^ though they had natural learning enough, as Pilate who crucified Chrift, had LatinCj Gree^. and A 2 which To the Readeri which any natural man may have, who doth not know the things of the Spirit of Godj becaufe they are [prituaUy discerned: Oh, therefore, lean not upon thy natural^fdom, for it will prove a broken Reed in the Day of the Lord, which hafteneth i but receive and obey the Manifcftatk of the Spirit of God, which he in infinite Love hath given thee to profit withal j for that is the Talent that he will aflurcdly require of thee, with advantage, and happy for ever are they who can give an account of the improvement there* of 7 he Qood Oldff^ay, (^c, I N every Age and Generation of the World fince man had a being upon the Earth, God had a Seed, either invifible in being, or vifible in inanifeflation, by and thorow which he manifefted bimfelf in his own way, time and manner, according to the good pleafore of hii Heavenly Will 5 which Way and manner, in every Age of the World, fince fin entred into the World, was contrary to the will and way of Mankind in the Fall i and therefore were they in whom God brought forth his Scedinall Ages, to give teftiroony in the World unto his Eternal Name and Truth, perfecuted, and made a prey upon by the earth¬ ly powersi who was not acquainted with thefe fecretsof the Lord, which was ever hid fromrhe wife and prudent of the World; and there fore d'd the lew; uiid chief Priefts with the Scribes agree toge¬ ther to (tucifie the Lord of Life, arid after them many Heathen Emperors rof^ np againfi his Members, and deftroyed many thou- fands of them for the Teftiraony of Jefni and Word of God, at both the Scriptures of Truth, and the Hiftories of the Ancient Chriftians, which immediately fucceededth^ Apofiles, doth large¬ ly and plencirully viiitnefs, tcftific anddeclare; fo that fince Mans Fall, Ht that t»k born after the Ftejbpcrffetittd him that vM born af¬ ter the Spirit, Gal. 4.29. even as it is manifeft at this day, for the Enmity ya remaineeb the Seed of the Serpent, and the Seed cf rAe irew4», Gen. j, 15. andfo will continue until the defoluti- on of all things. Now in the nth Moneth in the Year i66| dil the Word of the Lord come unto tDC,Saying,/fV»ff, and give aTeflimenj for mj Name thereby, and fpreadit amongfi thoft vho have mnltiplied thine, and many others Snferingt, for my Name and Teflimonj, thef fevrralyears la^pafi, that they may all be left tfithout excufe when I call them bt- feremy Judgement-Seat, to give an account of the deeds done intheh Bodies, who have not yet repented of their evil, butinferet havevin- dkafed thmfelveS) as that they have done mifetvict inperfecuting them ttmvhcm IhavefiHtto kff'itnejfaformj Name aniTmthinth Earth, Thefe Words lay upon my fpiric the raoft part of the aforefaid Monetbi being willing to wait upon the Lord, that he might fur¬ ther manifeft bis Will and Mind unto me, what I fliould write, rather chufing to continue infiience many years, then to fet Pen to Pa¬ per to declare any thing which the Spirit of Truth would notfeal onto; which burden of the Word of the Lord continued hill upon me, till I gave up thereunto: And upon the aift day of the fame Moneth, in theyeat aforefaidi 1 begun to write, and the matter that was firlt laid upon me to write was concerning Swearing at all, for the denial of which, in obedience to the Command of Chrift, I hadfudered ftraic anddofe imprifonment well nigh fevenyears; befides other great afflidions that have been added to my bonds by the bands of wicked men, in the raid time *, all which I have been both made able and willing to beat for the Teftimony of Jefus and Word of God; not counting my liberty not life dear nnto me, that I might tiniftrmy Teftimony with foy, being counted worthy not oncly to believe,' but alfo toiufer for that ancient Doftrine, Faith and Praftiec, which the beft and moft ancient Chriftians fuf- fered the lofs of their Liberties, and moil of them their lives for ; as hereafter I (hall make appear. And furthermore, it is upon my fpirit td give fome Teftimony againft that abominable OppreiSon of Tythes, under which ma¬ ny groan at this day, it being never any inftitution of Chrift to; his Minifters, under the Gofpel; nor ever owned by the ancient Chfi- ftians fucceeding them, nor ever claimed as any Gbfpel tight'for athoafjnd years after Chrift’sdayes, till the midnight of Popery came over the Earth; in the which the fcveral Popes ordered Tythes to be paid to the Mother Church. To the firft, that the Oppofets of Gods prefent bjanifeftatioiiof this Way and Truth in this out day, (whohaveinagniftedt^m- fel ves againft thofe whom God batbraifed in the Power of bis Spi¬ rit to revive the ancient Teftimony of his Servant* in the Earth J (houfi flitter ihemfelves in their rigorous proceedings againft me, and many others at this day, for our coaftant obedience to the Com¬ mand of Chrift, hiving no other thing to charge us withal, but concerning the Law of Chrift; Now I fay, left any who hath ap¬ peared agaiuA u» herein, Hiould vindicare chemfeives byor undn caltJurof pretence of any Scripture givei forth, either under the, Firft Of Second Covenant, or the taw it felf by which they now proceed againft us, which was never intended to take hold of the Innocent and let the Guilty go free. Now under the Law of the, Firft Covenant, while //?•«/' ftood in Covenant wlih God, they were <;otnmanded to fweac by his Name in feme Cafes, left they fho\ild fwear by falfe Gods and Idols, as was the manner of the Heathehs ih'their dayes', as the E|;/ri4»;fwore by the hiii of Fbarath-^ and after them the %.omansy by the Life or Fortune of C*f at^ which was to neither of them any Coratnahd of God, for they then wereEne* mies to him and his people. But//rdf/ was to Swear by the Living God, ThouJhakfear the Lord thj God, and him (halt thou fervti and to him fialt thou cleave, and [ware hj his Name, Deni. 10.20. Aai ia Leviticus, thit vvas the Precept to ft fbalinotfleal, neither deal falfly, neither [je one to another e, ktitbtr fraft' thou profane the Tiame of thj God', lam the Lord, Levit. 19.11,12. And in Numbers, If a man vow a vote unto tht Jjhi, and fwear an Oath to hind his Soul with a Bond, ht ftall not bredk^^hk Bond, hut do all that proceedeth out of his mouth, Nnmb.^Q. 2. Thus Ifrael in their infancy was commanded to fwear by the Lord, and to perform their Oaths unto him, by which they bound their Souls both to God, and one unto another, which in its day and time w .s well-pleafing unto the Lord, they anfwering his requi- rings therein; but take notice by the way, Ifrael was but then un¬ der the Law of outward obfervances, which made nothing perfed, and fo it became them to fwear by the Lord, as it becomes a child to fuck -, but not a man; for when//fdr/wak growii up, j when Chriftcame, the Oath of God, who fulfilled the Law, and all the Commands therein, as they received him, and grew in Grace, and the knowledge of him, they put away childilh things, and teOified againft all Oathes, and -many other things which’ the Law com¬ manded,. as being but typical, and Figures of good things to come, • when the Subliance of all thefe things was brought in, who ca.oie not to dejiroj the Law, hut to fulfiUt, as he himfelf teftified to them that ;tvcre zealous for the Law, aad difpifed him, the Subftance of it. For ( 8 ) For Circumcifioa was ancxprefs Command of God to IfruA, being Jev/outwardly, to them and their StedforancverUftingC^- v;Miir,Gcn. 17. for faith God, The tmcircKmcifti wuefthiU xeboftfiifbof bit foreskin is tut circ/tweifed, that Sonlfi^hcKt off from hisfeofk, be hath broken mj Covenant^ verf. 14. this bad a fur¬ ther and more large extent then Swearing ever had, yet when Chrift came, the end of the Lam for righteoufnifs fake to every one that bt~ lieved, the Apoftlc told Ifiael when they were grown up. That if they mere circmcifedCbrip mould jroft them 5.2. yet might Circumcifion have been more ftrongly pleaded for,when faul fpoke to the being God had commanded it to the ?w/,and to their Seed for an e verlafting Covenant,which he never did Swear¬ ing, reiiher under the Firft nor Second Covenant; fo theG4i(*r»- ans had more ground tovvithftand Paul, in crying down Cirenra- cifion, then any hath to withftand the People of God at this day, fot denying Swearing: Ana under the Gofpel Swearing is more ab- folutely denied and forbidden by Chrifl and bis Apollles then Cir- cnmcifion, being, butt little alter Chrift began to Preach to J/mi/, under the Second-r.ovenant, by bis own mouth, given infpecial charge to them then in being, Net to Swear at all, Matth. 5. 54, 35,36,57. and confirmed by the Apoftle fawa, faw. S. 12. and never praftfed after by any of the Difciples, as was Circumcilton ; for Paul afterwards circumcifcd timothj : Therefore you who are fo Ztaious forswearing •, why are not you I’o zealous for Circuracifion, which was more enjoyned in the Scripture then ever Swearing was, and with lefs Authority funder the Gofpel) denied I Objeft. And further, fame pliadt for Swearing, btcaufe the holy tner, of old time did Swear, (viz.) Abraham, David and Solomon, Jofeph, (^c. To which I anfwer, Mefes, who gave forth the Law at the Com¬ mand of God, faid amolfrael, A Prophet fhall the Lard your God raife unto you, Ukf nnto me, him fhaU ye hear in all things ; and it flail come to pafs, that whofevtr ttill not hear thi voice of that Prophet, faSbecutef fromamong the People, Deut.18.18, 19. which Pro¬ phet, was Chrift, the end of the Law; and when God brought him forth into the World, he commanded Ifrael to hear him in all things, Matth. 17. 5. who faid. Before Abraham wjs Z am ; he com¬ manded Ifrael, Not to Swear at all. The ( 9 ) Tbefamejefu* faid, chat he was greater th^n .Wowow, Mat. i*. 41,42. and was Davids Lord, and by him God fpake to Ifracl, who was and is to be heard and obeyed in all things j yea, fVhtfoever Jhallhreuk^oKeti^ thekaj} of hit Commandmnts, Mii teaeh menfofjJjA he called leaf i» the Kingdom of Heavenbat whofotver jkatl do, and teach them, pall k called gnat in thf Kingdom of Match. 5. jj. by which, all you Swearing Teachers, and Swearers contrary to the politive Command of Chrift and the Apoftle, without any exception, may read your portion;, for they who love Chrift, both keep his commandment, and teach others fo to do. For where Chrift intended any exception in changing of the Law, in what it had commanded, he plainly expieffed it; as in Mattherp, where it was faid that Mofes faceted a rasn that would put away his wife togiveher a ll'ritingof Divorcement,&c. Mat, 5.' 51. but faith Chriii,, / faj onto joh, xehofoever JiaS pat awaj hit roife, favhg for the canfe of Fornication, verf. 31. [Mark] faving for the caufc of Fornication •, where Chrift plainly expreffeth the exception when he intended it J And at the aStb verfe Chrift ex- prefTedtheexception again when he intended it, (». r.) PFhofotver {hall looli^uptn a woman to lufl after her^ [markl to luff after her, hath committed Adalterj with her already in his heart •, fo it is plain, that when Chrift intended any exception in changing the Law, he did not leave his work irapetfeft for vain man after him to re- ftifie. And immediately after this, in the fameChapter,Chrift pofnive- ly commands, without any exception, his Difciples and lo,lowers, Not to fwear at all \ neither bj Heaven ; neither bj the Earth j neither bj ]eT\ik\m,mrbj the Head,&c. Mat.5.34, 35,35. Nowhere is a plain change of the Law, which commanded If- rael to fwcar by the Lord, by him who had all Power in Hea\cn and Earth given unto him, Matth. 28', 18. that he,might rule all Na¬ tions with a rod of Iron, who fulfilled the Law urider which ham,Solomon,Davidini Jofefhlwite-,{o\s their Swearing no'plea^or any under the Gofpel to immitate, but the contrary. Biiticisobjeded, Thathythofe of old time, Chri^ meant tfe Ex- pofiters. of the Law, who faid, If men fwear Truth, it w.a r.tevil ; bat onel) they were not tojwear to that which was falfr. To which is anfwered, that this being an invention of the Ob- B jeftors ( 10 ) jeaor, ana no where fo iaid in the Scripture of Truth; It needs no other anf.ver, but adenislj for by them of old time, is fpoken of them by whom God (poke to IfrAtl under the Law *, let the Greek Readers fpeak if the word therein doth not imply fo much. Bntwbcn./yrrff/revolted from the Lord in their hearts, and yet kept the Form of Swearing, and faid, The L$rd livid-, yer the Prophet Jfrtmijh faith, ‘Ihiugh thij ftj the Lird liieth^ alreit they Jer. i,2,and 25. though no truer thing could be faid crfwornunto, then that the Lord lived ^ yet after theyceafedto walk with God in his Covenant made with them, but went into Adultery and Deceit, and perverted Judgement) and judged not the caofe of the Fatherlefs, nor the right of the Widdow, and laft of all, the wonderful horrible thing was committed in their Land.TArir Prjpljctt prophifitd iaflj, and thir Priejls bt«r rule by their means, And they loved to have it fo •, there‘ire faith the Lfrd, what willye do i» fht end thereof? So though ir was'true that the Lord lived,yet he lived not in them vvhowtrein the aforeDid Abominations; they held tre Form, Sut were gone from the Power and 1 ire ■, and fo then ir was a cufto- tnarythi-gft'ith themto fwear, even as it i'now with the Apoftate Chrifrians, who are now in the very fame Horrible Abominations of Swesring, Lying, Killing Stealing, and con,mio.tng Adultery, their Priefis bearing rule by their means, more like lords over Gods Heritage, then any Examples of the Flock, and the people loving to have it fo y but what will ye do m the er.d -hereof. 'Em thostgh Ifrael flay the H;.rlot . yet In not ludab fo ofend : SMcomtye net to Gilgal, neitherp.o ye m to i ethauan, ncr Swear the Leri lives-. K.r\^Air.os fnth. They shas fwiarbj the fin of Sa¬ maria, end filth, the God ot Danlmr/;, and th- manner if Beeifteba Uveth 5 even they fisdl fall and never rife again, ,^mos8. 14. but while Ifratl kept Covenant w'tii God , as 1 frid b fore, they fworebyche Name of the LordinTru-h and Righteoulnefs 5 but when they revolted they kep. t^-e Fo’m, and fworc without fear, andprophaned theNaraeof the I.oid, md fwoteby th? Heathen, bj and fey the fin cf ^ttmana. which-was no where war¬ ranted to them by God: even as the Apoflate Chriftnns in oui age, fwearnowuponiBook, for which they have not ihele^ft colour of Scripture, it being made up of divers Creatures, which was never never commanded to be fworn by, either under the Firft or Second Covenant, but forbidden. Objeft. A^ain, hufaid, the /fpofiU in the EfijiU to the Hebrews elltwsof Swearing hfere» Magiftratc, in theft IVotiss For men ve¬ rily ('wear by the greater, and an Oath for confirmation is to them an end of all ft rife A»f». To which is replyed, that the Apoftle there fpoKe^of men that were in ftrife, and not of them who had learned of Chrift, as is very clear and manifeft from his words, both in that place, and alfain his Epiftle to the Cori»thi0i, faying, He had fid them with Milk} and not voith Me at ^ for hitherto je were not ahlt to hear it, neither jet are je able. For jt art carnal; for vhirtoi there is among )0H envying, andfirife^ am divifont-, arejt not carnal, andwalkas men} t Cor. 3. i,2,3€ Now thefc are the carnal men that fwear by the greater, of which Paul fpoke to the Hebrews, who were in ftrife, andfo had not learned Chrift, who ends the Law in which the ftrife is: here Paul makes a clear diftintSion to the Hebrews, between men in ftrife and fwearing, and grown ChriftianS who had learned of Chrift, and did abide in his Doftrine^ in faying to the Hebrews, For wen veriljf fwear bj the greater, ^c. [maik] men in ftrife, and carnal ^ not you Hebrews : And again, An Oath for con¬ firmation to them-, [mark] to them, ('nottoyou) is an end of all ftrife-. For where envying and (Irife is, there is contention, and every evilwoTh]ivi\. 16. And there is no more ground given by the A poftle for the Saints to fwear at all, by any Oath, from the words before mentioned, then there is ground from Chrift’s words to the Saints, to exercile lordlhip one over another, becaufe he faith, Mark_ ^0. 4a.- The Gentiles do fo, &c. Beiides, did not thofe that ultd fwearing in thofedayes, do it to put an end to all ftrife? but is notOathes im- pofed at this day where no ftrife is? nay, are they not impofed for the beginning of ftrife? let the Righteous judge how far tbefewho would be accounted Gofpel-Profeflbrs arc fallen, that they are fhortof thepraftifeof thofe who were carnal, and lived m ftrife in dayespaft. . And the Apoftle fames, to confirm Chrift’s words, when be fpoke to his Brethren, who had learned of Chrift, and come out of the ftrife, faying, Above aUthings,n>j Bf*thren, Sweat net, neither B 2 if ^7 Brovin, nor Eorth, r.or tr.j other Ooth i but let jimr jeo, bejea, ondjeur naj, haj, i-fije fall into condimnotiin. Jam. 5. U. This hc fpofce without any cxcqjtiotjj as Chnft had done before to his Di- fciples; fo as it was the perfeftion of the Jews under the Law, no: CO fwear falQv’, foitwas the perfeftion of theChrifliaBsun* derthe Gofpel, not tolwear sc all. Objed. But foKe hm/e fnid, that it k vain fviAring that Chrifi, ad the A^oflk James forboi, in erdinarj communmtitn, nnd not jvteArino in Courts of JudicAturt, &c. Anfa. If fo, then Chrift did no more then wh.at the Lawliad done bcforei which is high prefumptionagainh God to fay, for the Law polficively forbad all vain and falfe f.vearing whatfoever, though ic made nothing perfefti Thu (halt mtakjithe NAtneof the icrdthjGodinVAin-, forth Lord will noth Id him guiltk\s that tA~ U'.b hit Name in vain, t xod. 20.7. This (huts out ait vain Swear^ ing, ui hour anv exception, before the better Hope was brought in, H‘.b. 7.19. which was ChriH in them the hope of glory,O/. 1. ■ 27. who was and is tbeMiftifterof abetter Covenant then that which commanded Swearing, which was eliabiiftied upon bettec Promifes. Heb.S.6^ So the Priellhood being changed, there is made of N^ceffity a change of the Law, Beb,y.ii. and Chrift did not cneiy change that part of the Law which appertained to fwearing, but divers other claufes and fayings thereof. As firft, thitef Circumcihon, which the Law ftritftly commanded, 2. Secondly, Love to Enemies, which the Law commanded to hate, Matth.’), Thirdly,Overcoming evil with good,&c whereas the Law commanded to take Eye for Eye, and Tooth for Tooth,&c. and many other inftances which I might produce j yet he came not to deftroythe Law, but to fulfil it, Matth. 5,17. as the Jews who upheld fwearing, and hating of Enemies after Chrift came, charg¬ ed him withal, even as the Apoftate Chriftians now charges his Fol¬ lower* (who abide in bisDoftrine, and dare not fweat at all) to be Deftroyers of the Law, snd Contemners of Wagiftracy, and bringersinof new Do( 5 rine,.^f?/17.19. which the fame fpiricin the Jews of old charged upon him and them whom God raifed up inhisdayes to preach Repentance and Remilfion of fins by Jefus Chrifij who fiid, hUrvelnot, mj Brethren, if the fVorldbate jou, I Job. 3.13. For it hatfd me before h hatedjou j and theSexvant it m greater then h‘u Lor^^(^c. John IJ, i8,19. Objfd. itjfaiilPiulfwe e frmthnt Scriptnri, I proteft before God,&c. andinfa}ing^ I call God to wiinefi; which ufcid to heart Oath. jliifip. As to the firft, it is an intrufion of the Tran/lation, It be* ing neither in the Grrr^Copies, norintheZ,«/f«f, nor fome Copies. Tothefecond, that be calls God to witnefs, is no Oath, but an earned atteftation; for an Oath is that whereby fometbing is fworn by; as Ifrael was to ftvear by the Lord in 7rmh, judgement and Righitoufri'fsi and calling God to witnefs is no more, then to fay, Mpealt in iheprelcnceof God, who knows the hearts and tlioughts ot all men, and is no formal Oath, neither under .thje Lavv-nor Gofpel. Neither is there any command more full in either Law or Gofpel, then Chrill’s Command to his Difcipirs, not to fwear at all by any Oath, without any exception, being feconded by the ApofUes com¬ mand to his Brethren, as I faid before, enjoyning them earnefily, above all things, not to fwear by any thing either in Heaven or Earth,, left they fell into condemnation, which Commands were binding to all both then prefent,and the fucceeding Saints and Chri*. ftians feveral hundred years after Chrift afeended to the Father,.and the ApolllesTeftimony was finiflied in the World: yea, the anci¬ ent Ghriftians many years after their dayes, kept the Doftrine of Chrift and the Apoflle Jamet, teftifyingto their death againft the Heathen Emperors, who would have compelled them to Swear, affirming it a fpecial mark and chiraftcr of a Chiiftian, from Chrift’s words, not to fwear.at all, as ftiall be made evident anon. t By all which it will manifeftly appear, that the denial of all Swearing is no New Doftrine, but the renewing of that which was commanded and, praftifed by the beft of Chriftians above fix- teen hundred years ago, and continued in force and praSice many hundred years, eventillthci 5 r 4 y?that jFo/nifpokeof in t\ie%eve- lation got up and made war with the Witnefles, and with the Saints, and overcame them that kept the Tellimony of Jefus and V.'ord of God, RevAi.^. and then the power of Darknefs came over the Earth, which fet up Swearing, contrary to Cbrift’s (ommands, under andcr which many of cheancienc Chriflians fuffered cruel IWanyr- dom, forftandingfakhfull Wiincffes for the Name of the Lord in the Eanb, and for denying to fvvear at all to thofc under whom they were; as a cloud of Witneffes might be brought out af the Ecclcfi- aftical Hiilorifs of them that denied all Swearing in divers Ages > Oncly for hrewtyl (hall inftince a few. Fir'd, who was, as its faid, Johni Difciple, and had been a Cbriftian Eighty fix years, when he came to fuffer Martyr¬ dom, the Proconfol requiring him to fwear By the Emperors good Fortune, and ByProfperity, {Ircnimlil/.^.eap.i.) which was the Cuflom of the Romans at that time, and divers Heathen Emperors to fet up their Images to beworfliipped, and their Perfons to be Sworn by 5 but PoljcarfHs denied, and faid, he was a Chri- fiisn, and would (hew foah the Doftrine of Chrinianity, if he de- fired the fame, if the Proconful would appoint a day to hear it fo refufed to Swear, and kept Chtift’s Doftrine, for which he was led away to be burned, being an old man, and full of dayes, AasvaiMonKments voLi.foL 55, 56, Secondly, BajiUaxs, an Officer,and afterwards a Martyr,being re¬ quired to Swear, affirmed plainly, that it was not lawfall for him to Swear, for that he was aChriftian : hence it appears that it was the proper mark of a Chriftian, not to Swear, and Mo«. w/. i.- fcl ji, EHjcb. cap. 6. pag, 98. Thifdl}', In the dayes of Domitim Nero, who began to reign about fixty feven years after Chrift, under whom was the Firftof the Ten cruel Perlecutions of the Chriftians, he caufed theChri- fiiansof all forts to fuffer? he commanded Rome to be fet on fire in twelve places, and to avoid the infamy thereof, heaccufedthe Chriftians with it, and caufed them to be put to death. After him began Dfiwitwu the Emperor to reign, who began the fecond Per- fccution ef tbs Chriftians, who was a Blafphemer of God, and an Idolater, in his dayes was the Evangelift biinifhed into the Ifle of Patmos. This Dfffljirijn the Emperor, fearing the coming of Chrift again, commanded, chat all that could be found of the Stock of Vavid in ]uTj ftiould be put to death; The inquifition was this, they com¬ manded thofe they fufpefted to be Chriftians, to fwear whether they were indeed Chriftians or not; but the Chriftians refufedto Swear, Swear, confefling that they were Ghriftians, and could not deny Chrift nor his Doftrine > for which they were commanded to be put to death. Fourthly, The ff'jUenfet or Lunifl/, whofe names are fo famous among the reformed Churches, and who are faid immediately to fucceed the Apoftles, and were the moft ancient and true Prote- ftants profelTed itno way lawfullfor a Chriftia" man to Swear 5 In defence of whom, in the vtjy mittcr, iiiihofVIbert (T)e C6f 6 .) late Bilhop ot Armtth, Primate of heUnd, pleaded .heir caufeagainflthePapiftsand jeluits, who are Swearers, and Break¬ ers of Oarhes. Fifthly, The Tkwnmn in his Complaint, which is fo much cflccra- ed of, and commended in the Book of Martyrs, faith, ‘ Lord thou ‘givethus a Commandment of Truth, in bidding us fay yea, yea, ‘ and nay,nay, and fwear for nothing; theu giveft us alfo a Cora- ‘ mandment of meeknef;, another of poornels ; but, Lord, he ‘that calls himltlf thy Vicar on Karth harh broken both thefe * Commandments ^ for he maketh a Law to confpel men to Svvear, ‘and by his Law he teacheth,that fora man tofdVe his life .may for. ‘fwear and Lyey and lo, Lord, through comfort of him.rndhis •Laws, the people nedreadeth to Swear or Lye-, nay, ofc-timcsto ‘forfwear themfelvcsj Lord, here is little truth, &c. A^izodMon, Wl. I. fol. 527* Sixthly, It is one of fohn Wicl 0 s Articles, whofe Works were as much efteemed by the ProtelUnts in EngUnd and Bohmi*,^ as dilrifed by the Papilts and their Clergy, having his bones taken up and burnt forty one years afte- bis deceafe; and his Books were alfo burned by the Papifls -, and tnis Article was condemned, with many other, by the Countelof CottjiMct: That all Oaths which be made for any Com,ad or civil Ba'gain between man and man be unlawfo'l ; Juhn l .m. ^rd Jtrow oi were condemned for holding of ifickliff't opinions, Ex AQi* Ctnftli] Con. fiat. Vel ' fsf 606. Seventhly, 'A'ahe/Brute, a Teacher among the People of God, in the .kgeo* Scorners railed, The Devil’s Servant fit Lollard, againft whom the Pope and King Richurd ihe fecond, and the then un¬ godly Bilhogs, made fo much ado to have the Name of Truth C'ttin* guiihed, and the ProfclTors thereof cut oflF. This is hf'altery Tcfti- mony mony concerning Oathes; ‘ J ^liere and obey the Doftrine of Ai- ‘ mighty God, and my Mafter JefusChrift, which teacheth that ‘ Chdftiin men, in the affirmation of Truth, (hould pafs the rigli- ‘teoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees of the oldTeftamenc, or ‘ clfe he exclndeth them from the Kingdom of Heaven; for he ‘faith, Except yoar righccoufnefs; exceed the righteoufnefs oi 'the Scribes and Pharifees ye cannot enter into the Kingdom •of Heaven : And as concerning Oathes, he faith, It hath ‘ been faid of old time , Thou (halt not forfwcat thy felf, but * (halt perform chufe things unto the Lord thoa knoweft ; But ‘ I fay unto you, thou (halt not Swear at all, neither by Heaven, ‘ nor by the Earth ^ hue let your communication be yea, yea, and ‘ nay, nay, for whatfoever is more then .thefe coraeth of evil; ‘Therefore is the Perfection of the ancient men of theoldTefta- ‘ ment was not to forfwear themfelves; fo the Perfeftion of a ‘Chriflianmanis not to Swear at all j becaufehe isfo commanded ' of Chrift, whofe Commands in no wife mult be broken although * the City of Kcrr.e is contrary to the Dodrinc of Chrift, ASs and zd.i. fol. 653. Ricli. id’s days. Eightly, Chrjfeftom, who was a Bifhop of Confi.wtinople, in com¬ mendation of whom much is faid in the Ecclefiaftical Hiitoryi he blameth them greatly that brought forth a Book to fwear upon ; charging his Clerks, that in no wife, they conllrained any body to Swear, whether they think a man fweareth true or falfe, faying, it it a fn to SwearxfeH^&c. Ads and Mon. vol. i. fo/. 701, 702. Ninethly, ftromt, who was an incient Father and Teacher in the Church, whom all the Proteftants owned, upon that place, and fames’), 12, thefe were his wo'ds, Jtv>Mpcr~ misted ssndcT the Law to the Jews., as being tender, and .0 it were In- fants, that they miyht (f-r Sacrifices to God, left- they fnoiddficrifice to Iddst fotkej might fwear by Cod, not that it wasrightfnllfato do, hut hecaufe it was belter to [wear bj God, then bj falfe gods and Devils ; hut the great D.vangelifi admits not of an Oath, fince every true faying is e^Hal thereunto, &c. Tenthly, In like manner doth Theophilifi, an ancient Father of the Church, whom the Proteftants own, and have often cited his Dodrine, for proof upon the place in controyerfie, faith. Learn hence that under the Law it tfas not evil for one to Swear ■, but htit firtee the cmiug of Chri(l it u evil, as is C'mmcifm, and in fm, vhat ever is judicial ■, for it maj hcome a (hild to fuck,', hut not a man, Kleventh, And Amhrofs faith upon Pfalm lio- Let him then Smear that eannet repent of his Oath ; and a little after the faid Am^ hrofs faith, Do not immitate him in fooearing, vhom joh cannot immi~ -tate in following and indeed the principle folution given by him is, Swear not at all. Twelfth, Many other Saints and Martyrs I might inflanceat large, both in Henry the fourth, and’flrw^ the filth's days, where¬ of feme were burned, feme cruelly handled) who faid, Uwas not lawfnll to Swear in private Cafes, VoLi.pag, 896, Hen, 6. days. Thirteenth, In Henry the fourth dayes it is faid, That neither the Pope nor Prelatesi neither any Ordinary can compel any man to fwear by the Bible-book, or any Creature of God; for faith a Mafterof Divinity, It is not lawfull either to give or to take any Oath upon a Sool^ j for every Book,, faith he, h nothing elft ht divert Creatures of which it is made; Therefore to fwear upon a Bcok,, is to (wear by Creatures^ and this /wearing is ever mlawfull. Afts and Mon. vol. I. fol. 701. It would melt any tender heart to hear of the Cruelties and Tor¬ tures which that Blood-thirfty fpirit invented to deftroy the Bo¬ dies of thofe who kept the Commands of Cbrift, and could not be forced to fwear by all the Cruelties that the power ofdarknefs, either in f/rnry the fourth's dayes, Henry iht filth’s dayes, Richard the feconds, or Queen Mariet dayes could invent to torment their Bodies withal, which was not a few, as may be feen upon record at this day in the fir ft, fecond and third Volums of-the Books of •Martyrs. But they who loved Chrift, and kept his Commands, in thofe dayes had power and ftrength given them to endure whatever the Lord fuffered wicked hands to inflid upon them, by which their Faith and Patience was fully tried and manifefted > but after the Ini¬ quities of their Adverfaries were fnlli the Lord brought fwift and fore deftrudion upon them, divers manner of wayes, as a juft re¬ ward of their Blood and Cruelty, as may be read at large, in the latter end of the faid Books: For.God in every Age fhewed his fe* vere wrath againft the Spirit oCperfecUtion about Woflhipand Sa- C crifie (i8) amce unto him, (Gtr,. 5.) even from the dayes of wicked C^in nr.to this hour, that fpint is accurfed, and drove out from the j; G'/;, i john 2. 3, 4, 5,6,7. Bvaii which it is more then maniieft that the raoft ancient true nnd fahhi'.iil Chriftians in their cr.y ami time gave ateliiraonya- gainfv Swearing at all, and fuifered for it, both under the Pope, and many heaiben Emperors j bu^they who would be accounted Chnuisnsnow, having got the power into their hands, are found in the fame fpiri: of Perfecution, as they were in> under which the true Chriftians alwayes iuffered, and do ad as furioufly, accord¬ ing to the power given them from above, as they did in dayes pith, and no doubt would run as high as they did, in Burning, Hanging Gibbittiog and Strangling, if they had the leaft colour of Law to countenance them therein. Bv ali which, let the fober and i'onefl hearted Judge, whether the Quakers Dodrine of not Swearing be any new Dofiripe or not ? and whether our Sufferings this many years for our obedience to the Commands of Chrift be not vindicated both by Chrift, and all his Difciples in their dayes, and by all the ancient Chriftians before cited f and whether they , who now calls themfelvesGhriftiaBS, are not fat degenerated from the Life and Doftcineof Chriftianity, though ihough they retain the name, and from theprafticeof the ancient Chriftians, breaking Chrift’s Commands, and forcing others foto do, which in time will pull down the wrath of God upon their heads, if they repent not; For it it not evtrjone that faith Lord, LordythAtfilillenter into the Kingdom of Heaven, hut he that doth the Witlof mj Father -which .u in Heaven, Match. 7. 21. It is not the nameof Chriftianity, nor aProieflionof Chill's words recorded in the Scripture, that will hide j ou in the daj of the Lord that hafi- mtb, which fiaH hum M an Oven, wherein all the frond, jea, andall that da wickedlj{hallbe m fuhble, and the daj that cmeth {hall leave them neither Root nor Branch, Mai. 4. i. the Mouth of the Lord hath fpokenif. For the Earth kfilled with violence, and the Land mourns hecaufe of Oathes t (Jer. 5.) and the Proud are counted happy, and they that work.wickednefs are fet up, and they that tempt Cod are even delivered, Mil and they that reprove Iniquity in the Gate are madeaprey upon-, for which God hath begun to viht th s Nation with his fore Judgments, which will bring defolation in the end to them who continue in the aforefaid Abominations. Objeft. And furthermore, feme -wicked and maliciouf fpkits have faid, we who are called ^al ers win notfwart, hecaufe wedepre to plot and contrive mifehief a^ainji the King andGcvtrnment,&c. This is altogether falfe and groundlefs as many years experience will witnefs for us, who were never found plotting againfi any Government under which we have been, but have from time to time patiently born the rod of the wicked lince we were a peo¬ ple? and if we durft break the Command of Chrifi to Swear any Oath, we should as willingly Iw'ear obedience to the Power and Go¬ vernment under which wc are, as any Oath that could be ttndtfd US; this, for my own part I fpcak heartily, willingly, and freely, without any referve of mind whatever ; snd if sny Ihould have power given them to imprifon my body fo long more as I have fuf- ftredhere, if I would not confent to hurt the Kings Ptrfon, or theperlonof any, I could as vvillingly fufferforthe denial of that, as I have for my conftant obedience and adhering to the Command of Chrift, who faith, Swearnot at ail-, for the fame Jelus com¬ mands me not to war with flelhand blood, but to love my Fne- mies •, and though I Ihould futfer live times more then I have done, I could nev<;r be brought to redeem my felf through the deftrufti- C 2 on cnof the perion of another, though never fo wicked and ungodly 5 for I know Vengeance is the Lords, and he will repay ic, Rem. 12.19. and therefore have I committed my juft and innocent caufe unto him, who in every x^ge and Generation of the World recompenced Trilulatiin r.f.nthm th&t troy.blci hhpiofle, 2 Ihifj. i. 6, though he fpared feme of them long, to fee if his long fuffering would lead them to repentance; but is they heardned their hearts againft him, arj his people, he manifeftly appeared in many Judgments againil them, to awaken them, as he bath done of late years agairftthofe who have opt refled his Royal Seed in this Age, which he hath caufedto fpringupin his people, fcornfully called vshich inallfpread over the face of the Earth • yea, it is aseafle to flop the coutfeof tbeSunfrom running his courfe, asa Giant, as to hin¬ der the growth of the Seedot Godj for he hath bicfled it, and i.o irchintmenc fnall prevail againfl it; yea, if all our bodies fhould be dcp.royed m vshom iris ri'en, yet after us fhaJi all the Fami- lits c: the 1: .trth be blefltd in it; for the rriore ic is pcrfecuted, the more it grows; as'.\hen a Vine tree is cut, the more it is cut, the thicker ic i'preads; fo doth theTruth at this day, as in .Agespaftj He was made perfeti through Sufferings, 2. ic. and tie is the litne ftill, snd will remain when all the wrath of man which works not the righteoufrefs of God fhall have an end, and be ro more*, and therefore vve cannot fear him that kills the body, and hath no more that he can do; but are taught both to love and fear him, who after he hath killed the body, hath power to caft both into Hell,10.28,29. and therefore are we made agazing flock totbe World now, and havcas little love from the world, as our fore-fathers had in dayes paft, marvelling not \;hy the world hateth us, feeing it hated him who is the Prince of Life, and condemned him to death as a Blafphemer and a Deceiver, beforeithatedus, Z-x/^ey. 21. Matth. 2j.6i. for the Servant is not greater then his Lord -, and it was the chief Priefls that was the chief fWurtherers of him, for they furred upjche Pvulers to do it, Leki which happily otherwife they would have dreaded and fo brought Innocent Blocd upon their hiads, and upon their Foftaity forever. And who is it now that flirts up the R-ulers againft his Appear- lEce r Is ic not the chief Priefls, who both are, and ever vvere the greateft greateft Enemies that he and his people had upon the Earth f wlio knows, that if people fliould ceaie from man, and follow Chriff, and learn ef him, down goes their IVlerchandize by which they maintain their Pride and Pomp, for the prefervingof which they will cry up any thing that will promote their trade, ashath been roanifeft in England within thtfe late years; but God hath fliaken his hand at their diflioneft gain, and is bringing contempt and mife- ry upon them, 22.12, ts- and they will become aby-\vord to many in Ages to come ; and the Arm of Flefli which they have fo long trufted in (hall wither before them •, and the Lord will more and more gather his Sheep from their raouthes, that they fhall not alivayes prey upon them, 54. 10, the Mouth of the Lord hath fpokenic •, and all their rage and madnefs (hall but heap Coals of fire upon their own heads; for they have over-pafled the deeds of thewickfdin Drunkennefs, Swearing, Whoring, Ly¬ ing Couzening, Cheating, Pride, Luxury, Wantonnefs, Covetouf* nefs which is Idolatry, a Generation of Vipers, hinging, and moll grievoufly perfecutingall who will not put into their raou:hes; I might filla Volumnof their multiplied iniquities, which ever were the certain tokens, and fore-runners of defolation and delf ruff ion, and the people chorow their evil example are overwhelmed in all manner of debauchery and uncleannels, even drinking in iniquity as the Ox doth water: Oh, was ever Sodom or Nineveh (o over-grown with iniquity, as England now is ? what will be the end of all thefe Abominations under which this Land niourr.s? Oh, that my bead were aswater, and mine eyes a Fountain to tears, that I might thorowly bemoan the Calamity of this people; for all flelh hath corrupted bis way before the Lord, their thoughts are the thoughts of vanity, and their works the works of iniquity, de- firuftion and mifery is in their wayes, and the way of peace they know not, %pm. 3. 16,17. Ob, repent, repent, and amend your wayes, for the Kingdom of God is at hand, Matth. 4 17. the Sword of the Almighty is drawn, it is fitted and furbilbed for a- mighty (laughter, and it (hall wound the hairy fcalp of every one. that goeth in iniquity, TUlm 68.21. Oh, thefefore, return, return' unto the Lord while he is.near, and fcek his face while he may be. founds for hewilleth not the death of aSinnerj therefore, if yc: pcri(h,yourdefiruftionis of yourfelves. A A Brief Dtfcoverj of the entering in of Antichrijls andfnlfe Prophets 3 rvitb their Mtrks and Fruits tvho infiituted Swearing} centrarj to Chrifl's Command, and manf ether things which noware, and for along time have been up¬ held contrarj ts the Scripture, and practice of the Saints of old, N Ow you who call your felvesChriftians, open your eyes, and fee from whom you hare derived Swearing upon a Book, which now you arc fo zealous for, chat raoft of you calls it an Or¬ dinance of God, let both Chrift aadthe Apoftles Teftimonies be VVicneffesagainft you herein 5 and not oneiy them, but theTefli- mony of the beft and mod ancient Chriftians, fmce their dayes, who under-went moft grievous Sufferings, both from the hands of many Heathen Emperors fevcral hundred years before there was a Pope-, and after that Beafi arofeouc of theSea^ {"which then had flowed over the Earth) under whom many faithfull Martyrs fuffer- edfor their obedience to the Faich and Doftrine of Chrift, who teftifiedagsinft Swearing, and many other abominable Idols, which that Beaft had derived from the Heathens, againft Cbrift’s Com¬ mand, all whofe Teftimonies ftaads as a Cloud of Wicneffes againft you at chi; day, who are fwearing upon Books, and laying your hands upon them, faying, So help me God ; which, at the beft was bat invented by JufliniAn the Heathen Emperor, and after him by the Pope, from whom it is derived at furcheft •, and fo condemns the fakirs to lofe all their Goods and Lands, and to lieinPrifon daring the Kings pleafure, oneiy bccaufe they cannot deny Chrift, nor his Commands, nor the praft^ice of the Ancient Chriftians many hundred years agO; though there is a witnefs in many of you that the people of God, whom you thus cruelly per- ftcute, never plotted any raifehief againft the King, or any man, nor ever countenanced any who would j fo that there is not any people in England, Scotland or Ireland that the King may more confide in, then in the true born ^akors, who cannot betray the Lord- Lord, n®r the King i but they who are not faitlifull to God and his Truth, can never be faithfull to the King. Here follom jeveral itifianees of the Priefls fraHices , for which they have no Scripture^ but were infituui by the Pa- pip and Bifliops of Rome. Efpotttim a Popifli Bifliop, at a Council held at Pjfoj in t ram, in the year One thoufand five hundred, ordained, that Infant Baptifm Oujuld be received by tradition, bc- caufe it could not be proved by Scripture. 2. Ignatitif, Bilhop of Pome, was the fiift that ordained that Infants IhouU boBipnfed, and have Godfathersand Godmothersi cb, what blafpcmaus w'ords bath Antichrift brought in againft God? how canthefebe God and Father, or God and Mother to the Child? and how can they promife and vow that the Child fliall forf.ke the Uevil and all hii U orks, and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the fame all bisdayes, when as the fame men and women do believe before-hand, that neither they themfelve?, nor the child can ever perform thefe things? Is this Scriptural, or Papiftical, anfwer Priclls? ■ 3, Wi«,Bi(lKipof Tfe/we, built the firft Temple after the Apoffacy, in honour to the Virginand finceihePapills have built thoufands and confecrated them, for which they have no Scripture, or example from Chriftoranyof the ancient Ghriflians. 4. ?»■()«))(»«, in the year Two hundred fixiy feven, divided both Komc) and jH their Places into Parilhes atw Dioceflfes for Fiihops. 5* Silieflcr, Eilhopof .Kewe, ordained, that all Churches ihould be C hrillened and anoinr^^ with Oyl s and called them St Pner^ St Paul, St Katherine, St Maifdlen, St St Vunfton, St /fx- thonj, St Gtfgorjt St C Umnt, St Giles, which fuperflitious names are upheld to this^day^ by ihojc who fay they dvriy the Pope. G Clement, Bilhop, ordained Confirmation of Children , and faid none was perleft that wanted that 5 he alfo ordained, that Children Ihould bcfmoie on the cheek, and figned with thefign theCrofs. 7 * At (H) 7» Ac L»3 »;j in Fraud they appointed holy dayes to enereaie their Reiision , (viz.) Chriftmus^ Candkm.u, Lammas, which wat never ordained nor confecrated of Chtiit nor any of his Servants, who neither went to Mafs, nor oblcrvcd any Mafs-Dayes, but kept Gods Commacd, who laid, Six iajss /halt thou labour and a.Uhdthsu hajt to do,&c. Exod. 20. S. Sor.ifac’. the fourih ordained Stephen^ Inr.ocenty Lawrence^ Michad, 'JcbnBaptijl, and all the Saints dayes to be kept hoiy, igainftGods command beiorecited-, and the Apoftle teftinf ed againit fuch Obfervations, Gal, 4.10. Grtgory ordained, that Mafs, or ftiort prayer fhould be faid over the Tombs of the Dead : Now Priefts, fee the original of your Prayer* over the dead, and fee if it be Apoftolical, yea or nay? to. Grtgorj alfo ordained, that neither Flefh, nor any thing that had affinity in it. as Cheefe, Milk, Butter, Eggs fhould be eaten on fuch dayes as were Faffs here came in that Doflrine of De¬ vils, commanding to abftain from Meats, which God hath com¬ manded to be received with thankfgiving, of them that believe and obey the Truth* It. Sabinianns ordained, that People fhould come together to bear Service, by ringing of B; 11 s at certain hours* 12. fefin the twenty fecond, Bifnop of Kcmc, ordained Bells to betol’d three times a day^ here was the original of your Bells and tolings, from the Popes Decrees* 13. Singing of Mattensat fet times Hferow appointed, as Foly dors and others fay. IV Pf/.?^*»«the fecond commanded Friefls to fay them daily; and VtilinHHs invented the decent tunes wherewith the Hyms be lung, and joyned thereto the Organs, &c. 15. TcUfphorus appointed that Leef. fhould be kept before Eaftsr, and added another week to it, which is called ^uinqua- gfjjima ; and alfo ordained Epiftles and Gofpels; and Dmafiu divided them as they are read at this day in the Reformed Churches fo called, 16. Anafltfm commanded that People fhould ftand »t the read¬ ing of tbeGofpel* X7. Higintu xj. Hi|»«wthcnincth Bifliop oiRmt, ordained the Coramua* nion to be celebrated three times a year* i8+ F'm, about the year Four hundred and feven, after Chrift, the tenth BiAop, ordained, that £ words foBoweth concerning Tythes, mnifeping them no GefpeUmaintenance, ht fme Chrifi Mtd the Apofile dojis invented hj the Popi^s. T Ytbeswere never commanded to be paid by the Lord to any but Ifratl under the Law 5 neither was it ever payable, but by the Jews in the firft Covenant, under the Levitical Priefthood, out of the Land of Canaan, to fuch Levites as bad no pare nor portion allotted them in theproraifed Land, the Tythe or Tenth part of the increafe thereof was commanded to be given unto them by the Lord, for the Office of the Priefthood, andforthcferviceof the D Taber- Taberrjcle, 4. and the Leviresout of the Tycbes were to o^er up to the Lord a Tenth part of theTythes, and give it unto Am* the Prieid, for hirafelf and bis Sons, £^< 4 .- 4 > J 3 ' and no other portion bad theLevitical Priefls outef thcTythes; but the tenth of the tenths, for the reft had the Levites that did ferve at the Tabernac'e, and it was alfo to relieve Strangers, hatherlefs and Widows, Tim. 14.29. So l[mh Tytheswere not all given to the Priefts, but the poor was maintained out of it befide, for there was not to be a Begger in Ifml j here was the end for which it wasatfirftinftituted. But Chrift theEverkitingHigh-Prieft being come, he changed that Priefthood, which was but to continue until the time of Re- ibrraation, Htir. %io. and the Priefthood being changed, thereis made of needhty 2 change of the Law, that took Tyches,H<^. 7.12, after which there was never any Command given by Chrift to any yf his Winifters OF Servants under the Second Covenant, either to take or receive Tythes of any people j and for Eight hundred years after Chrift it was never impofed upon the People, but they might give it to whom they would, at their own pleafure. And the Maintenance which Chrift allotted his Miniflersur.des the Gofpal is esprelFd in Luks^mto whatfoever houfe they entred,co eat and drink fuch things as were fet before them, for the Labourer v.cS worthy of his hire, Luke 10.7,8, This is the hire the Minifiers of Chrift arc contented withal at this day; but theMiniftersiof An- tiebrittare not contented with their Allowance, nor the allowance of the Tirft Covenant, which Ihcws that-they are Minifiers of nei¬ ther, for if they were, they would aft according to one •, but their Fruits plainly teftifies to their faces, that they are Miniftersof Antichrift, who have run when the Lord never fent them, Ma:- fC'wy. t6,17, i8. Objeft. New feme hive f haded for Tjthes frem Abraham’s _gt. vixg the Tenth ef the Spoils of the Kings, ebc. to Melchifedeck, &c, Heb. 7.2. Anfw. This was not Tythe of Lands increafe, neither was it any Command of God to Ahrahmi but a free voluntary gift out of the Spoils he had taken in war 5 (but Mark) He was jet in the lojns if his Father when Melchifedeck mt him, Hebr. 7.10. and there¬ fore no Cofpel plea: So who would have Tythes from the Scrip: turc, muft go and meet the Souldiers as they return from the Spoils of their Enemies, and receive the Tenth thereof at their hands, if they willgive it them freely; fork is evident, that he who chang¬ ed the Priefthood, and fulfilled the Law which commanded Tythes of Lands, fpraiig out of ^udAh, of which Tribe Mofis fpakc nothing concerning Prielthood, Hthr, 7. i 14. AndhuynfAT mrt tvidm, foy that afttr the Jlmilitade if Uel- chifedeck thtir Ariftth Amhiy Prieji, verfe 15. {yhoistiot made afttr the Law of a carnal Camtnandmtnt, ‘but after the Power of an erJlefs life, verfe 1 6, Forthereis verilj adifannuUingof the Commandment going before, [mark] a difannulling of the Commandment, that was carnal, where Tythes were included, for the weaknefs and unpreftabUntfs thereof, verk 17,18. ‘ • it made nothing jierfeU^ hut the bringing of abetter hope did, by which they drew nigh to Gad, verfe ip. which better hope was, Cbrifi in them the hope of glory. By all which it is evident, that whoever receives or payesTythes as any Legal right, denies ehrill coraeintheFlelh, andfuch are the Antichrifis which the Scripture fpesks of, ifoh-y. and this is the reafon why they who now witnefs him come in their Fielh can¬ not uphold that Priefthood which takes Tythes, knowing that he -hath changed the Prieflhood, and the Lawaffo, and not thorow covetoufnefsto fave fo much of our Ellates, as feme have falfely judged j for if we bad no reafon for the denial of Tythes, but to . fave bnr goods, we would affuredly pay them, knowing aforehand, if we do not pay them, we fhall certainly lofe three times fo much, at the heft; therefore humane reafon would not lead us to de¬ ny them upon that fcore; but it is only in Coufdence towards God that we cannot pay them, knowing the Ptiefthood changed, and the Law aifo that commanded them difannuIlM, as is faid above; land therefore, if we ftiould uphold that which Ghrift have difannul’d, we fhould be Ancichrifts, like them, and wo would be our portion; And therefore we joyfully fuffer the fpoiling of our goods for the Name of Chrift, and the hope that is fet before us, Htbr.io. 34. knowing that the C?ptain of our Salvation was made perfed thorow Sufferings, Heir. z> lo. And becaufe we could not deny him come inourFlefti, have the D z Chief (x8) Chief Pried of ont Age devoured much of our Subdance, even beyond the bounds of humanity, and the Law by which they pro tend to claim it, which, at molt, allows them but treble damages againft them that refufe to pay them, yet they have not been con¬ tented with five tiroes the value; nay, it would pierce any tender heart to hear of the bavock and fpoil they have made of ont Bodies and Goods throughout this Nation, for our witneiung Ghrift come in the Fle(h-, appearing manifeftly worfe then the ft'xs thatlcourgcd the Apoftles of Chrift, for they abated PmI one firipe of forty every time they whipped him, 2 Cor. 1 1. 24, though their Law allotted forty ftripes, yet they would not go to the rigour thereof; But thefe merctiefs Wolves have exceeded in cruelty, to the power they have bad given thecoj all that ever I read of in any Age 5 for proof hereof I refer the Reader to a Boo's called, A Ketord of Stfferir.gs for Tjthes, wherein they are thoro-.vly proved grievous Wolves indeed, ASls 20. 29. who have exceeded the rigour of their own Laws many d g'ecs, even to the utter undoing, as far as in them lies, of whole Families. Objeft. Sowt htvt pleaded the right of T)thts under the Gofpel, f'.PS thefe turds, Te pajTjthe of Mint) and Annk,and Comment &c. stife things ought je to have doKe,&c. Matth.23.23. Anftr. This wasfpoken by Chrift to the Scribes and Pharifccs, who denied him, and upheld the firft Prtefthood, and therefore he called them Blmd-Guides, aud cried many woes againft them, for their Hypocrifie, Manh. 23.16,17. and feeing they did not own own him who fulfill’d the Law, they ought tythc their Mint ard Annis, &c. and fo all thofe who know not Chrift the better hope brought into them to tythe their incteafc; butwhofodolh, muft not affurae the title of Chriftians, for they can never be recei¬ ved/wreDiim by any under he Second Covenant; I fuppofeiha Tythc-mongers have been aihamed of that plea fevetal years. Therefore let us come to their plea f«re Humam, which is their main Prop or Piiiar ; they fay, by the Law of man, They have as god Tight totheTenth part, as the Owner hath tttht Nine paTtt, &c. This is much like the/fwr plea againft Chrift, to take away his life, johnie.y. becanfetheybadaLawfoiodo, which made them boldandimpudent, not regarding the evil they did in executing their { 29 ) their Law, when it turned againftchtifl and his followers, neither would their Law they were fo zealous for, defend them from the flroke of Gods terrible vengeance, which aftec they bad filled up the meafure of their Iniquity, came upon them and their Pofte- riry, though they were fuffered to reign long over the Heritage of God. But let ihefe Tythe-mong«s tell us,who firft invented this Tythe to Priefts fince Chrift ? and if they can clear the Pope of it, and dedud it from the Scriptures, or the ancient Chriftians, let them 5 and then they will have fome colour of Chriliianity todc* mand them. But this Jure humam was the main pica in Oliver Crmvelt time, by ihefe tythingteraporifing Priefts, to uphold their pluralities and Tythe?, though they could throw away the Common-prayer. Book at his C oramand, and filently fuffer the people to want that which the fame Priefts now cries up as an Oracle and Ordinance of God, and Divine Service} for the reading of which they now wholly plead Tythe their Axx^Jure humdne, yet in thofe dayes, when that which they now call Divine Service was rejefted by them, they pleaded and ravened as much for the Fleece as they do now, though they fuffered thoufands to perilh without that which they now threaten damnation to all who will not hear and receive-, which if they had been true Shepherds, they would have'aid down, not only their liberty and their Tythes, but their lives for their Flocks in thofe dayes, rather then they (hould have been led away by thofe they now count Wolves, John i o. 11, r 2,13. but the Love of their Tythes and Pliiraiitits which O/iw fuffered them to enjoy, over-ballanced their love to their Flocks: and no queftion, if the Pope come and holdout the Mats Book to them in one hand, with Tythes and large Revenues in the other, and promife, in accepting of the one, they fliall enjoy the other, and for refufal (hall lofcboth, thefe cunning. Siecfs-men, that can alwayes fail in the eye of the wind, will no doubt fwallow this Pill with little ornodifficuUy alfo, and cry up the Mau-Buokfor as Divine an Oracle, and Ordinance of God, as the Diredory was with them in its day, or as the Common-Prayer now is with all its Rites and Ceremonies now in their efteem •, for then alfo they may plead for their Tythes fine hmm. And And thty who formerly endured turning out, could filently faffer their Flocks to he devoured by them whom thijy counted Wolves, and durft not openly declare againft them, nor enter into their Synagogues and difpute with them, a; the manner of and the true Minillersof Chrift was, 17. 16, 17, i8* for fear of lof; of liberty, or fome other profit*, if fuch be not the Hire:* lingsthit Chriif fpo're of, that flees before the Wolf, and leaves their (heep, I know no: any Hirelings at all-, for was the Com¬ mon-Prayer -dalatry in Oliver's dayes, and Divine-Service now? how was the nature and property of it altered. The fsAn dmJ prinelpxl Feuniatmof the Live of England K the LiTv 0- Godfo fays the Law-Book, Dsfior rt»dStudent, cap.2. pag.4. in thefe word?, ‘There is a Law written in the heart of man, which is man cre- ‘ated in the Image of God, and this Law is alwayes good and righ- ^tcous, flirting up themanto do that which ii good, and abhor ‘ the evi;; and therefore agaihft this Law, (faith the Book) Pre* ‘fcr:ption,Sca:ute,Cuftora may not prevail i andifany bebrought ‘ againfl it, they are void, and againft Juftice, &c. If fo, then let all who hath the lead fpark of reafon (eft in them judge, whether it isnot high prefunjption againft God, and his un- iimitted Prerogative and Royal-Law written in the hearts of his people, according to his Promife by the mouth of his holy Prophet fereaUh ? Jer.ii.n. to fet up mans Law above it, and force the execution thereof againft it-, for in the Second Covenant, where* in God promifed to write his Law in his peoples hearts, Tythesand their Law were abolilhed, as is faid before*, therefore Ptefetiption, Statute, and Cuftoni that is brought againft the aforefaid Royal- Law of God written in the heart, is void and againft Juftice by the aforefaid Law Book of EngUni, which will not admit of Jure Ha- mifno to prevail againfl fan Divine. (30 Hire foBmth (evml Frtfidents cf the Ancient Chripm^ fme in the Jpfiles dayeSy snd feme fvccy rvha had no f^thes from the Peofle, who ^ave Tefimonj ttgainfi th^m that did require them. I N the Churches of Antkch, Galatia and Ccrinth the Saints poffefled every man his ovvneflate, where the Apofile ordain¬ ed a weekiy offering of the Saints, that every man rnight offer free¬ ly of vvhat God had bleiTed him withal, which was put in the hands of Deacons for the maintenance of the poor, and other neceffary nfes, 11 . 29 . for Cbriff having InLalieio- allotted their Ivliniffers their Maintenance, they were contented with it j and •.-’iien they returned to him again, they could fay they had no wanthut then they lived not in pride, nor fulnefs of bread, not went in long Robes, nor maintained their Wives in pride ar.d f f;, as the men of our Age do ; for fuch Chtift never fent in :...v Age; for they were not Lord Bilhops, nor call’d of men Mailers, but were Patterns ar.d Examples to the Flock, and and faid to the Difciplcs and Brethren, Be je Folkmrs cf w, tvm as m are cf Chrtft ; but now if people fliould follow none, hut they that are Followers of Chrift, the Tythe-mongers would have none at all. But the aforefaid contribution continned amongft the Ancient Chriftians about Three hundred years till the great ptrfccution un¬ der Maxmman and Diuleftan, as Euftbitu witneffeth, and fo doth Tmtulian, Origen, Cyprian, and others, here was not Tythes fo much as fpoken to of the Chriflian Miniflcrs, but they did abide in theDo< 3 rincof Chrill, and having food and rayment they were therewith content- After which time feme Lands were given to the Church, but OrigcK faith, ‘It is notlawfull for any Minilierto poffcl's Lards, ‘ given to the Church, to his own ufe, . Cyprian, Bifliopof Carthage, alfo teflifitd the fame, ardflew- eth how the Church maintaineih many poor, and that her own cx^ psnecs was full of frugality, and'her diet fparing and plain, Cyprian EpIJi. £ei/f.27!34>36. fr5y'”«ralfofaith, ‘That aMiniller able to live ‘ot himfelt, ought not CO ddireany thing of the people, and he ‘ that receiveth it, doth it not without great fin. And the Bohr, rr/wsm their fruitfull and Ghriaian Exhortation to Kings and Princes, to lEr tbemu? to zeal for the Gofpel, in many Articles againft the Clergy of their Antichriftian Praftifei: In the fifteenth Article againil themi they fay thus, &c. ‘ That they receive Tythes of men, and will of right have them, * ard preach, and fay, that men are bound to give tbemTythes, and ‘ therein they fay falfly^ forthey cannot prove by the Nevv-Tefta- ‘ment. that our Lord JefusChriH: commanded it, and his Difciples ' warned no man fo to do, neither did themfelves fo receive them; ‘ but although in the Old-Teftament it were commanded to give ' the.-; yet i: cannot thereby be proved, that Chriftian men are ‘ bound thereunto; for this precept of the Old-Teftament hadan ‘ end in the firft year of our Lord Jefus Chrift, like as the prceept ‘ of Circnmcifion; wherefore. Beloved, confider, and fee how your ' Bifhops feduceyou with things that have no proof; Chriil faid in ‘the lichof Luke, Give Alms of thofc things that remain, but he ‘ fad not, Give the Tenth of the Goods ye poflefs.Stc. ALls and Mon.v-A. I. fd. 8 ( 50 . Cci. 2. in H«. $. dayes. But the firft that reftrained peoples freedom in this kind, was the Council under Pope Alexander the third, AsnoiiSo. by. whofe time much Wickednefs and Idolatry was crept in among them, as H flory relates. But the raoft ftriSeft decree was made at the Council oiTrent, under Popethe fourth, about the year 1560. they command¬ ed Tythes to be paid under the penalties of Excommunication* About the vears 800,900, and I coo. and after, Tythes were called the Lord’s Goods: So here was the rife of Priefts Tythes, which for manyhundred years they held as they faid, which ever fince they have exaSed againft the Law of God and right rea- fon, and have no: only robbed God, but the poor alfo; and there¬ fore is every Parifh forced, to keep the poor from ftarving, unto whom Y'f any^ the Tythes do moft properly belong ; and yet though the Fnefts go away with the Tythes, it is very hard, in many places, rogecthemtocontribureany thing to the Poor-Tax, manifefting their Charity far (Viortof the Levitical Priefts, who for- formerly out of the Tyches mjincained the Widows and Fither- |efs,&c. and confequently far beneath the Mioifters of the Go* fpel: And furthermore, did ever any, either of the Levitcs or Mini- fters of the Gofpel fue any people at Law, that fcparated from them, for Maintenance ? nay, was eree fuch inhumane adions known from the word of the Merchants of Bdjlon (let Hiftory teftifie) as to tear four or Hve times fo mnch as they pretend their due, from them who do not like their Wares, and troubles them for D0thinginay,B44l4w,though he loved the wages of unrighteoufnefs-, yet he durftnoc take it , but thefe are not contented with three times fo much, which modefly would blufti to appear in ? il thefe be not the greedy dumb Dogs which //itUfefpoke of, which can never have enough, I know not where they arc, Ifa. 56.10,11,12. The with-holding of thefe pretended dues, atfartheft, is but a trefpafsagainft them-, and it is their manner often to pray to the Lord) to forgive them their trefpafles, as they forgive them that trafpafs againA them, &c. Now let the boneft hearted judge, whether they forgive fuch as trefpafs againft them!, when they force the mraoft rigour of the Law againft fuch at trefpafs againft them, yei or nay ? How do thefe men think to be forgiven of the Lord ? For, faith Chrift, if je forgive men their trefpa[fes, jowr Henvtnlj Father rriU forgive you jomr trtfpa^d i hat if ]t forgive not men thtir trefpajfet, neither viU joar Heavenly f4- ther forgive you jottrtrefpa^es, Mattb, 14, 15, And Ptttr (aid. Lord how often fiallmj Brother fin againjl me, and I forgive him, till feven times ? Jefus laid unto him, / faj not unto thee, until fevtn times, but until feventj times feven, IWattb. iS^ai, *2. So if thefe Priefts could really prove that Tytbe was their due, the with*hold¬ ing of them is but a trefpafs committed againft them once a year it farcheft j now if Chrift would not allow of Peters forgiving his Brother feven times, but would have him forgive him feventy times feven, which is Four hundred and ninety times*, what kind of Chriftiansare they who take treble revenge at leaft, and oftentimes five times for every trefpafs againft them ? this is fo far from Chri- ftianifm, that 'fevss^n^.THrks would blulh at it. Thus far it was laid upon me to give this Ihort Teftimony againft this abominable Oppreftion, under which many groans at this day, that if pofti- blcthe ears of people might be opened, and that they may fee E how how they have been blinded with things that have no Foundation, nor colour from the Scripture •, and they who pretend the Scrip¬ ture to be their Rule, may fee that they walk befide their preten¬ ded Ruie, in either paying or receiving Tythes as any Gofpel- rigbt-, therefore are they I'uOly condemned and reproved by their own Rule, whkh will for ever itand a witnefs againft them, both in that, and ail other ungodly prafHces by them upheld at this day, for which they have not the lead colour of Scripture to vindicate them therein. Ambros Ri^ge<. Poilfcript. I Could not let this little Book pafs without annexing hereunto fome few of the Boukct- like pradifes of Lmard Lttchferd, Prieftof Hurfi-Pierjtointt who calls himfeit a tfolpel-Minifter, which within this feven years laftpaft he hath done sg dnft Am- hros forhis obedience unto the Commands of Chrill, as be¬ fore is expreffed- And fecondly, of the proceedings of jhe.afore- &id Lftchferd againft wife, bccaufc (he could not m conlii- ence pay him Tyche, for the caufes aforefaid, as knowing it no Gofpel right. To the firft, it alwayes bath been the pradice of the fpirit of Antichrift, the better to cfled its mifehievous purpofes. to dellroy and root out the Flock of Chrift’sFold ^ firft to clothe them with Wolves skins, and then tofet the Dogs and Lions to devour and tear them to pieces. Novyin theyeariddz, andfince, this fpirit hath manifeftly ap¬ peared in the aforefaid Letchfordi for when by the ipiritual Wea¬ pon he could not at all defend himfeif, as a Minifter of Cnrift ought to do, hefiirreduptheRulersinH»rj?, aiorefaid, as know¬ ing aforehar.d that for Confcicnce the faid Jmiw could not fwear, to tender him the Oath of Allegiance, on purpofe to infnare him, for t^e refufal of which he was committed to Hor!}}a'n Goal chc 28th day of the 3d Moneih aforefaid 3 after the faid Leschferd had cSeftedthic, he, with George r/werPrieft ofCoz/e-oW, cloaihedthe faid faid/^wiwivvith a reproach, as though he had run away from his Wife and Children in Lwolnlhire^ and had left them to the Parifli; which when this report was fpread, it was asked Georg^t Vinter^ who formerly was faid to be a LimlHjhire man, out of what Town the Aid Ambros run away; who before witnefs faid, out of the Tovyn of EagU^ which after Exaroinacion pioved an abominable Lye; for the beft pare of twenty perfons ol lmc Town of £ der what you are a doing, before it be too late for the Spirit of the Lord will not alwayes flrive with you; large hath been the day ofyourVifitation, which you have mod grievoufly abufed : The fim i hkf Priefisdid think they had done well when they per- fecured the Servants of Chrift, who had more colour of Scripture for what they did, then yon have •, therefore are ye more inexcufa- ble before the Lord.