to Abram. But perhaps he thought it But the Superiority of Melchifedec above Abram is largely Argu'd, Heb. vij. And under the Law, the Levites Num.xviij. were to Pay a Tenth of their Tythe to 26. the High-Prieft. And, if, in this Senfe, Abram (upon Mr. Selden's Supposition) pay'd Tythe to Melchifedec, then AiAxegdiviwv, Heb. vij. 4. is Literally the Tenth of the Tythe; for 'Anesina, as before obferv'd, fignifies Tythe: And fo rarely does it fignifie Spoils, that except in this Text (if it.. be fo meant there) Mr. Selden can find but one Inftance, amongst the Greek Authors, where it is taken for Spoils; at leaft, this must be Granted, that Spoils is but a ftrain'd and very unusual Signification of the Word. And Abram, fuppofing him a Prieft, paying Tythe to Melchifedec, E argues Gen. xxviij 22. Jacob. argues the Superiority of the Priesthood of Melchifedec; after which Order of Priesthood, and not after the Order either of Abraham or Aaron, our Lord Christ was Confecrated. And this will Infer all that the Apostle argues, from Abram's Payment of Tythes to Melchifedec, Heb. vij. as much as if Abram were then a Lay-Man. And he might then be a Lay-Man, though he were a Prieft afterwards: For he was then only Abram; it was before the Covenant God made with him, and the Alteration thereupon, of his Name into Abraham, Gen. xvij. whereby he was conftituted The Father of the Many Nations of the Faithful to come. But thefe Things concern not our Prefent Enquiry: Therefore let us Proceed. IV. The Second Inftance abovemention'd for Tythes, is that of Jacob: Againft which it is Objected, That this was only a Vow. Anfw. It was a Vow; But not therefore only a Vow. Men often, and most commonly Vow that which is their Duty to do, without Refpect to the Vow As, to Vom to serve God more more faithfully than we have done before. Thus, in this fame Vow of Jacob's, he Vows that The Lord fhall be his God. Will any fay that The Lord was not his God before? And indeed, this of Dedicating the Tythe to God, was no more than a further Declaration that the Lord was his God: Because Offering of Tythe was a Part of the Worship of God. And therefore Jacob did, by this, Declare that The Lord only fhould be his God, becaufe he would Offer his Tythe only unto Him. It was the Custom of the Nations among the Heathen, to Offer their Tythes to the God whom they Ador'd: And therefore, fome Offer'd their Tythes to One, and fome to Another of their Falfe Gods. But Jacob here Vows to The only True God, That He only fhall be his God; and that he will Offer his Tythes to none other God, but to Him alone. For to whom we Dedicate the Tythe, we acknowledge to have Receiv'd the other Nine Parts from him; of which, the Offering of the Tenth is a folemn Acknowledgment. E 2 And And the Vowing or Dedicating them, though Due before, was Customary with the Jews, as well as the Heathen; for fo it is commanded, Eccluf. Xxxv. 9. Dedicate thy Tythes with Gladnefs. And none will fay, that they were not Due among the Jews, even before their Dedication of them. That the Gentiles did Pay Tythes to their Gods. / I. T HE Great Oppofer of Tythes, the Learned Mr. Selden, cannot Deny this: But in his Hiftory of Tythes, cap. 3. he Endeavours to Leffen this as much as he can, by offering fome of his Conjectures: 1. That they were Pay'd only by Particular Vows. 2. Not by any Law Enjoining them. 3. Not Generally. 4. Not Yearly. 5. Only to fome Particular God; as, among the Romans, to Hercules, &c. 6. Only of fome Particular Things, not of all our Increase, of every fort. In In every one of which Particulars, he has been fufficiently Confuted by feveral Learned Anfwers which have been made to that Book of his. Dr. Comber, laft of all, has Collected thefe, and added to them. And put that Matter (I think) past a Reply. But I intend not to trouble the Reader with a Repetition of any of these: Because what Mr. Selden himself allows is abundantly fufficient to my Prefent Purpose. And indeed to Confute himself in every one of these Heads, to which I have reduc'd all his Pretences whereby he Endeavours to invalidate the Practice of the Gentiles from being a Teftimony to the Divine Right of Tythes. For However they paid their Tythe, 1. Whether of Every thing, or only of Some forts of their Encrease? 2. Whether to one or to more of their Gods? 3. Whether Annually, or Occafionally? 4. Whether Generally, or only the Devonter fort? 5. Whether thereunto Requir'd by their Municipal Laws, or not? Or, 6. Whether with, or without a Particular Vow? Yet this remains uncontroverted, upon either fide E 3 |