Heb. vii.

4, 9, 10.

SECT. XXII.

How Priefts are to Pay their
Tythe

I, Anf. Tov

O the Bishop, as the Levites to the High-Prieft. They are to Pay the Tenth of their Tenth. And the Levites Tythe, which they paid to the High-Priest, was as much an Offering and Sacrifice to The Lord, as the Tythe which the People pay'd to the Levites, and under the fame Limitations. They are call'd an Heave-Offering, and Holy unto The Lord. The Levites were not to Tafte of their Tenths till they had firft Offer'd the Tythe of them to the HighPriest, and of the very Best of them, As you may fee Numb. xviij. from Ver. 26.

H. Tythes argu'd the Superiority of thofe to whom they were Pay'd. Whence the Apostle inferr'd the Superiority as of Melchifedec above Abram, fo of the Priesthood of Melchifedec, and, in that, of the Chriftian Prieftbood above the Levitical.

And

And as the Levites TYTHING of the People, or putting them under that Tribute, argu'd the Superiority of the Levites above the People: fo the HighPrieft's TYTHING of the Levites fhewed the Superiority of his Order above that of the other Levites.

And this is as Neceffary to Preferve the Superiority of Epifcopacy above the Order of Presbyters in the Chriftian Church.

The Reafon holds the fame: and the Levitical Priesthood was an Exact Type of the Chriftian. Bishop, Presbyter, and Deacon, being the fame in the Church, that Aaron, his Sons the Priefts, and the Levites, were in the Temple; as St. Hierom obferves Ep. ad Evagr.

III. If it be ask'd, To whom the Bishop fhou'd pay his Tythe?

Anf. He having no Superiour, as Aaron had none, I conceive that he is not under the Tythe of Worship. For it muft End fomewhere.

But then, as the Heaven returns the Tribute of those Exhalations which it draws from the Earth, in Dew and Fruitful Showers; fo the Bishop, being

the most Immediate Representative of Chrift, ought to Diftribute his Tenths, and more, of Charity, and to Water his Flack with his Beneficence,

Thus Returning to the Poor, with Encrease, their Tythes; and Difpenfing the Temporal as well as Spiritual Bleffings of God to them.

That the Revenues of the Church (whatever other Abufes were in the Administration of them) were Apply'd more to this End than fince they came into Temporal Hands, will be Thewn in the Next Section.

Let it be only Obferv'd in this place, That even fince the Reformation, more Acts of Charity and Publick Works are to be feen from what is left to the Church, than from Many Many times the Greater Proportion of Wealth that is amongst the Laity. And this, notwithstanding that ther are fome ThouSands of Parishes in England which Exceed not Twenty Pounds a Year. And but very few of the Bishopricks that can Afford a Decent Subfiftence, with the Beft Husbandry.

And notwithstanding that the Church has been for many Years (in the Revolution

volution of 1641) totally Divested of all her Revenues,

HA

SECT. XXIII.

The Remedy.

Aving thus far Confider'd the Divine Obligation of Tythess and the Breaches of it that have been in this Nation: We ought not to Leave the Subject, till we can Propofe a Remedy, if any fuch can be found.

I. For the Obligation of Confcience. That lies upon Every Man Concern'd, to Reftore what has been Robb'd from God in order to Procure His Bleffing, instead of that Curfe which is Intail'd upon the Sacrilegious Poffeffion of the Spoils of His Church, into whatever Hands they come,

II. But because this has been a National Sin; and thefe Impropriations have been Bought and Sold upon the Credit of Acts of Parliament : Therefor ther ought to be a NATIONAL

REPEN

REPENTANCE and RESTI TUTION. Which may be by a Tax to Purchase the Tythes from the Impropriators, and Restore them to the Church: That the Whole Burden may not Lie upon those who have been Ignorantly involv'd in this Sin, as having Defcended to them from their Fathers; and may be the Whole or

Greatest Part of their Eftates. Tho that, nor any thing elfe, can be an Excufe for Continuing in any Sin. God is Able to make Amends; and has Promis'd it to those who will Truft in Him. And, as faid before, there are Examples of it, even here in England, whofe Hearts God has Touched.

III. The House of Commons have, in their Votes, Encourag'd any to Make Proposals for the Employing and Maintaining of the Poor, who are now fo Great a Burden upon the Nation.

I have no Skill at Proposals or Projects. Yet may Offer fome Confiderations, which others may happen to Improve.

1. First then, Let it be obferv'd, Ther never was any Tax laid upon

England