Efay of the P. 170. Aug. Ser “ That Pious Bishop, had often admonished his People of their neg'lect of paying their Tithes, and laid a particular stress upon it, as a main cause of the Miseries that had over'taken them; efpecially of their Poverty, occafioned by the heavy Taxes, which were extorted from them, to carry on that War in which they were engaged. And he obferves to them, that God by this, was exacting double from them, for those Tithes which they had neglected to 6 pay to Him. And concludes by saying, We would mon, 219. not share with God in giving Him the Tenth; and now behold the whole is taken from us. If thon giveft not the Tenth, thou wilt give that to an impi ous Soldier, which thou wouldst not give to God and his Priest. The Exchequer has swallowed that, which we refused to give to Chrift. This was their Cafe then, and I pray God it may never be ours; that for not being careful to pay a Tenth of All where it is due, we be not by degrees degrees brought to that pafs, as not to have a Tenth of what we had left us. God will not always have Patience with us, though his long suffering Goodness, tries if we will repent, for coming fhort in that part of his Worship, which the Scribes and Pharifees came up to, beyond us. ། It is certainly the fafeft way to keep entirely off from a Tranfgreffion, fo dangerous and deftructive, and not to rob God of his Honour; either defignedly, by fhuffling Tricks; or indirectly, by fecret Evafions, and joyning with others that do fo; or, upon any Account whatsoever: For, He is a Jealous God, and will not suffer the Enemies of his due, to prevail over him, though He bears long with them. 9 Such covetous People God abhorreth, Pfalm 10. 3. And in the fight of Men, furely He that robs God in the Field, is a greater Criminal, than he that robs ManTM upon the Highway; though for Politick Ends, the latter fometimes fuffers greater Punishments; as he that violates the commandments of the Second Second Table, is more feverely punished, than he that breaks the first; tho' no Body doubts, but Offences against God, are greater than thofe against our Neighbour. In like manner, Tithe Stealers should be more odious, as they are more fcandalous and wicked than SheepStealers: Of which latter, are commonly none but the bafer fort, of the least Reputation, and the lowest Character: But the former, though of a worse denomination, may for a while carry their Heads a little higher, and impudently out-brave the Crime, as the most desperate Sinners are wont to do, because of their fuperlative Wickedness, being not able, or ashamed to make fatisfaction for the Injuries they do, and therefore do endeavour to ftifle their Consciences, left the Terrors of them should run them into desperation. Yet, the Time may come, when God will take the Matter of complaint into his own Hands; when the right of his Church is so nearly con concerned; and vifit fuch a Nation, [fuch a Town, fuch a Parifh] as this, and then shall we not be able to withstand his Judgments, when we cannot justify our felves on this Ac count. Printed 1623. P. The Author of the Practice of Pie-Edition 14. ty, has already noted us out, for having been several Times the mark 432. of his Judgment; for the Profanation 1598. and of his Sabbath, and for the Contempt 1612. of his Service. And shall we not fear his Judgement for our Sacrilege, in withholding or fubtracting his reserved Portion, and thereby denying the Honour that is due unto Him; efpecially fince we enter into confederacies and combinations to do fo. Surely he has referved the Tenth part of our Increafe to himself, as well as the Seventh part of our Time. And He may feverely fcourge us for our defranding, or robbing Him of either. If He does not, we thall efcape better than our Fore-fathers, though F we Anno. we are not better than they; but we must speedily repent, and make Reftitution and Satisfaction for the Injuries we have hereby done to God and Man, least a worse Thing befal us For, fhould we perfift in our Sacrilegious Wickedness, and not take warning by others Example, we shall not escape from bringing Confufion and Destruction upon our felves and Posterity. I will not fay of fuch workers of Iniquity, let them steal on, and let their Theft be their greatest Punishment; let them be left to the lash of their own guilty Consciences. A greater evil I am fure I cannot wish them. But I would much rather, endeavour to prevent their Sin, that they may escape the dreadful Punishment due to it. I would endeavour to keep them from tranfgreffing after fuch an heinous Manner, and pray yet against their Wickedness, and that God may be Merciful unto them; tho' the Pfalmift gives no encouragement to : |