The storming and totall routing of tythes wherein is shewed the unlawfullnesse of claiming them by the now pretended tribe of Levy, and both takers and payers therein denying Christ to be come in the flesh / by Edward Barber.

TO The Right Honourable Lord General Crum∣wel, Lievtenant General Fleetwood, Colo∣nel Pride, with the rest of those worthies of the nations Liberties.

RIght Honourable and worthy Patriots, we having enjoyed much good and quietnesse by Gods goodnesse, through the care valour and prudence, God having by you brought us in some measure out of that thraldome and bondage we were in under the late Prelates that we may not be carried back again to more then Egyptian thraldome or Reheboams Reformation, and that you may not be a Moses onely, to go unto mount Nebo and there see the good land; But as our Josuah to carry us into the good Land of a thorough Re∣formation, the which to do that God would give you self-denying spirits, and to be a means to the Parliament to chuse out according to Jethrows advice, and provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousnesse, and place such over them &c. Exod. 18. 21. Such as would make it their work as Moses did from morning till night, vers. 13. That so poor people might not be totally ruined in Courts of Injustice or Committees, espetially for that Popish claim of Tythes &c. And to this end that none without a special occasion might have plurality of places of profit, in Church or Common-wealth as too many have, whereby the work is left undone They like Locusts going over the bredth of the Earth Exod. 10. 14. Revel. 9. 3. Or false Teachers that seek the fleece not the fleck, the love of money being the root of all evil; But that

he that hath an Office might weight on his Office (not Offices) one place being sufficient to take up the whole man of the ablest self-denying honest man in the nation, and that a sufficient known salary may be allowed to each party for their service, and not to live upon bribes called fees, or one to have several places and 500, 600, 1000, 1500. per annum, for that which others that have been as faithfull and are as able as themselves for that service, would perform for 100. per annum, against whom there can be no just exception, whereby it hath been proffered to some in Authority by 100. mens service to save the nation 100000 per annum, which might be imployed towards the relief of the poor or the payment of the Souldiers & not some that had mean estates at the begining of these troubles, yet now glut themselves with ungodly gains and the ruins of the nation, when others are ready to starve, as too many have done, for want of means by ho∣nest imployment; all which is practised by reason of some time-servers that sowe pillowe under their Arm-holes, as Isa. 38. 12. and Ezekiel 13. 18. That by enjoying their great Benefices dare not with the Prophets say thou art the man, or with the watchman of the Lord tell the house of Israel their sinns and transgres∣gressions, yet they seek me dayly &c. saith the Lord, Isa. 58. 1. Have not they discovered themselves to be as Baals Prophets, 1 Kings 18. and 20. that seduced Ahab, or those unclean spirits like froggs that came out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet, being the spirits of devils, working Miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty, &c. Revel. 16. 13, 14. That therefore in per∣formance of your Protestations Vows and Covenants, ye, would be instruments of easing this bleeding nation of this Popish burthensome practice of Tythes, who as the rakers thereof, have been the cause of 12. years war, bloudshed and ruin already, so had rather have an utter desolation then loose their ungodly gains: that by your doing this, the loyns of the poor may blesse God for you, and your Re∣presenter with other free people of the nation may injoy this one thing, as a part of the first ripe Grapes of our Canaan, which will be as acceptable as the Olive-branch was in the mouth of Noahs Dove, and is the desire of your humble supplicant

EDWARD BARBER.