came from his bountiful Hand, he would by a fignal Obligation bind himself to the Performance of that Duty; notwithstanding he was antecedently obliged to it, as following Abraham's Example and Piety, by Vertue of that referved Right, which God had in his, and all Men's Eftate.

And that God had referved fuch a Tenth Part, was well known to him from the Common Practice, by which, He would be honoured, and with no lefs; either by Tradition from his Forefathers, or by immediate Revelation from God Himself: Otherwife, we cannot rationally fuppofe, that he and all others fhould fo exactly hit upon a Tenth, and not Vow any other Part, as a Seventh, a Ninth, a Twelfth, or a Sixteenth, as well as a Tenth, as a neceffary Duty.

By both which Inftances of those infpired Patriarchs exprefly mentioned in the Word of God, setting afide what the Rabbies fpeak in their Tradition's of the rest of the Patriarchs, performing constantly the fame Duty, we

have

Dr. Comber, Ch. 2. p. 17.

have a fufficient Affurance, Thac Tithes were paid before the Law, and as they all thought by Divine Right; because God had from the very beginning obliged Mankind to it, as he was the giver of all Things, which they had the Enjoyment of.

Now then, from hence it is evident that it could not be a part of the Ceremonial Law, or any other purely belonging to the Jewish State to oblige to this Duty, any otherwife than as thofe Laws night enjoin the Obfervation of other Antecedent Duties as to abstain from Murder, from Theft, &c. So alfo from Tithe Stealing; beso cause it was a neceffary Duty to pay Tithes before the Ceremonial Law was inftituted, and confequently it was not to be done away, as the Ceremo nial was, at the coming of Christ.

Such as were the Additional Payments, beyond the Tenth Part due to the Priest and Levites, viz. The (Bicurim) or firft Ripe Fruits, an 100th Part, the Therumah or Heaveoffering, a 5oth Part.

The

10.

The leaving the Corner of the Field Lev. 19.9, unreaped every Tear. The Tithe for Deut. 24. Feafts; the Poor Man's Tithe every 19, 20. Third Year: And one other mentioned, Numb. 15.20, 21.

All which were to be paid, over Dr. Comand above the First-fruits or Tenths ber fays, The Firstto the Priests, which made the Jewish fruits were Payments much more than the Chrifti- not Tithes, ans, and fometimes Three Times as ces to note much, to be rather a 5th Part than a that both 10th. But thofe Additional Pay of Firftthefe forts ments being fuperadded by the Law, fruits were are abolished with it, while the Anci- paid before the Tithing. ent Portion of the Ancient of Days, or the Original Tenth, is of an Eternal Obligation; of equal Force with the Moral Law, and alike binding all People in all Ages who own God, who are bleffed with an, Estate, and who ought to Honour Him with their Subftance, and with the First-fruits of all their Increase.

Since then it does appear, that there is an Honour due to God to be paid out of all our Increase: As the Firft-fruits ~ or Tenths of the best and fairest of its Kind.

And

And fince those Holy Patriarchs before the Law, Abraham, Jacob and others, who were infpired by God, practiced the fame Duty. It follows plainly, that Tenths were not of Mofaic Inftitution, nor were therefore to be abolished with the Law of Mofes, but ought to be paid by all, who by Faith are the Sons of Abraham to the Sons of Melchizedec; by all true Chriftians to the Chriftian Priesthood, which continues for ever. They were paid from Adam to Mofes, from Mofes to Chrift, from the beginning of Chritianity they have been and will be paid, until the Confummation of all Things.

During the Difpenfation of the Law, there is the highest Evidence imaginable for it, which lafted about 2000 Years, as the Period before the Law did. And after thofe Two Periods were ended, and the Christian Religion eftablished, which according to the Calculation and Opinion of very Learned Men, fhall continue the like Period of Years.

" And

And then the Seventh Thousand Hilar. in fhall bring on the Period of all 17. Mat. Juftin.Mar"Accounts, when the Everlasting tyr in Dial. Sabbath fhall commence, and Time cum Tryph. & Quaft. "shall be no more. ad Orthod.

During which Period of the Gospel, this Duty of paying Tithes fhall indifpenfably continue, as being a Moral Duty, and fo of an Eternal Obliga

tion.

ad

3. This brings me to the Third
Particular, To fhew how much
the Chriftian Religion does oblige
to this Practice. Together with
the Advantages of paying of Tithes.
Carefully and Honestly, both with
refpect to this Life and the next,
as it relates to Temporal Profperi-
ty and Eternal Happiness.

From the Two foregoing ParticuJars, we may well be affured of the greatest Antiquity of this Practice, both before the Law and under it, each Period containing about 2000 Years, which makes a long Prescription.

And

71.