fhou'd they have this Notion All at once? Wou'd not fome Footsteps or Account remain in Hiftory, how it was Receiv'd from one Nation to another? If that of Abram was the Original of Tythes, wou'd not their Beginning be found in fome Nation or other? What Wild and Un-accountable Imaginations are these?

But the Truth is, the Gentiles neither learn'd the Notion of Tythes from Abram, or the Jews; nor the Jews' from the Gentiles; more than the Notions of Sacrifices, of Priesthood, of Marriage, which were Receiv'd from the Beginning of the World; and Deduc'd through the After-Generations as well of Jews as Gentiles.

Tythes must be as Ancient as Sacrifice; for Tythes were a Sacrifice. They were the Quantum of the Sacrifice. And they must be as Ancient as Prieftbood; for they were Given by God, as a Maintenance to His Priefts, and always fo understood, To Sacrifice was the Office of the Priest; and the Tythe was his Reward, So that these, being Relatives, must be of equal Standing.

Having thus fhewn the Original of Tythes to have been from God, at the Creation; and to have Defcended from that time to this, through all Ages and Generations of Men: I will now Proceed to Answer fome Obje&tions which have been made against them.

SECT. IX.

Obj. That Tythes are not Commanded in the Gospel.

I.

T

HIS Objection proceeds from
a Mistake of the Nature of

the Gospel, as if it did Abrogat the
whole Law; and that Nothing of
the Law were of Force, but what
is anew Commanded in the Gospel.
Whereas the Gospel was not meant
to Overturn any thing in the Lapp;
but to Confirm it, to the least Jota; Matth. v.
by Fulfilling all the Types of Chrift; 17, 18.
which, as Shadows, vanish, of Course,
when the Substance is come. And the
Ceremonys which were ordain'd to

accom

accompany these Types, were, with the Types, Fulfilled, that is, Ended. And Fulfilling is the Perfection, not the Destruction of any thing. That is the Highest Perfection to attain to the End for which it is Ordain'd; and that is the Fulfilling of it. Ther was another Part of the Law, which refpected the Particular Nation of the Jews, as to their Political Government and Oeconomy, which is call'd their Judicial Law. And this vary'd, even in the Nation of the Jews, according to their Different Times, and Circumftances; as it must be in all Nations. And this do's not, or ever did oblige any other Nation, otherwife than as the Justice and Equity of that Municipal Law of the Jews (being given by God Himself) is the Best Pattern that can be follow'd, in other Nations, where their Circumstances will állow of it.

But all the Reft of the Levitical Law, except the Typical, the Ceremonial, and the Judicial, were Confirm'd by Chrift; and needed no New Injunction. Now it is Evident, That Tythes were no Part either of the Ty

pical or Ceremonial Law. They were no Type of Chrift. For Chrift is call'd by the Name of His Types. Christ our 1 Cor. v. 7. Paffover is facrificed for us. But Chrift is nowhere call'd our Tythe. Tythe had another End and Tendency, which was, an Acknowledgment and Homage Due to God, as the Author of all the Good we Receiv'd in this World; And that it was his Bleffing alone, which gave Succefs and Encreafe to our Labours. This Refpected God as our Creator and Preferver; but had no fignification as to the In-Carnation, Sufferings, Death, and Refurrection of Christ. And therefor was no Type of Him. And therefor was not Fulfill'd or Ended in Him. The Reafon of it, is Eternal; and must laft, while God feeds Man upon the Earth. And has been, ever fince God Created Man upon the Earth. It was Long before the Law, and therefor, not taking its Rife from the Law, cou'd not be Abrogated in the Law. It is true, it was a Part of the Law, as being anew Enjoined in the Law; fo was a Municipal or Judicial Law among the Jews: But it do's not

and

therefor

therefor Cease to oblige other Nations, as other Parts of their Judicial Law may cease, because, 1. The Juftice and Equity of it, is nothing Peculiar to the Jews, but Equal to all People and Nations whom God do's Preferve and Feed. But 2dly, Other Nations were in Poffeffion of it long before the Law of Mofes; and after, not from the Law of Mofes, but from its Original and Univerfal Obligation: and therefor the Abrogation of the Law of Mofes, had it been every word Abrogated, cou'd not have Diffolv'd the Obligation of Tythes.

But Tythes belonging to no Part of it, that ceas'd upon the Coming of Christ; confequently is ftill confirm'd, unless it can be fhewn that Christ has Discharg'd it. Christ did not anew Institute the Decalogue; but left it of Force, because not Alter'd by Him. And fo it is of Tythes.

II. But Christ has not only, by his not Forbidding, confirm'd Tythes; but has given Express Approbation of them. Matth. xxiij. 23. Where he fays, Thefe things (i.e. the paying Tythe of the fmalleft things, as of Mint, Annife,

and