and their Councils Abridged, 24. Laflly,,contder onwhat fenflefs pretences all this enmity againn the Minifiry doth vent it fell. You (hall hear the worft that they have to fay againft us, ( thoughbut briefly) and then judge. r. The Quakers fay , We are idle droner that labour not , and there- fore Jhould not eat. Anfty. The worts I with you, is, that you had but my cafe infiead of your labour. I have reälon to take myfelf for the leak ofSaints, and yet I fear not to tell the acculer, that I take the labour of moll Tradefmen in the Town to be a pleafure to the body in comparifon of mine , (though for the ends and the pleafure of my mind, I would not change it with the greaten Prince) Their labour preferveth health, and mine confumeth it : They work in cafe, and I in continual pain : They have hours and dayes of recreation: 1 have fcarce time to eat and drink: No body molefteth them for their labour but the morel do, the more hatred and trouble I draw upon me. If a Quaker ask me, what all this labour is , let him come and fee , or do as I do , and he (hall know. ` 2. They secure us of covetoufnefr and opprefon, becaufe we take tither or hire, (as they call it.) Anfw. 1. Is it not malice or facrilegious covetoul nefs that frameth this accufation? IYhofe are the Tithes? are theyours or theirs? The fame Law of the Land that makes thenine parts theirs, doth make the tenth ours. If we have no title to the tenth, they have none to the refl. We asknone of our people for a farthing. They give it not tous : 'I't was never theirs. When they buy or take leales of their Lard, it is only the nine parts that they pay for , and if the tenths were fold them, they should pay themselves a tenth part more. And would rhefe men make all thepeople thieves and covetous; to take or delire that which never was their own? Nay would they have them rob God, to whom for his fervice the Tithes were devoted? Read, Mal. 3 8,9, so. Rom. 2. 22. Gen. 14.20. Heb.7.6,9..And whether Tithe itfeifbeof Divine in.. nitution fill, is more then they are able to difprove. Sure I am, when Chrift told them of tithing mint and cummin, he faith, Theft oughtyou to have done, and not to leave the other undone, Mat. 23.23. 2. But moll certain I am that God hathmadeit our duty to militateonhis word, and give our felver whollythereto, 1 him. 4.15. and that we may [ Forbearwor!Zing, and not go on warfare atour own charge i and[owing to men fpiritual things, Jhouldreap theircarnal things : Do ye not knowthat they which minifler about holy things, live of the things of the Temple ; and they which wait at the Altar, are par- takers with the Alter I Even fobath the Lord ordained, that they whichpreach" the Gofpel Jhould live of the Golpe!. ] s Cor. 9. 6, 7,13,14, 3. And know you not that the primitive Chrifltans gave not only the tenths, but all that they had, and laid it at the Apolloles feet? to thew that the Gofpel teacheth more clearly, then the Law ,. the necefìty of Dedicating our felves and all that we have to God. 4. And yet I mull fay, that we are cont)nt with food and rayment. Moll Minifi in England would be glad to give you all their tithes if you will] but allow them food and raiment for. 469
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