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1. VVHether have we not cause to suspect, that those persons which petition against Tithes and an imposed Maintenance, are acted by Jesuites, who cunningly creep in amongst them, seeking hereby to overthrow the English Mini∣stry,
which hath so strongly opposed them, both by word of mouth and wri••ings? And the rather, because of that Scottish Jesuite, who lately turned Anabaptist, and upon examination at Newcastle confessed that he was sent over for that end. And Osterweeke a great Agitator, went here under another name, who in his Romish Pontificalibus did lately officiate at the Mass publickly in Dunkirk, as the Printer hereof can prove; besides some other like examples which might be easily pro∣duced.
2. Whether can such Petitioners be rightly stiled the godly and well-affected of the Nation, who strive hereby to bting the greatest judgement upon the Nation that ever did, or can possibly befall it? viz. A samine of the word, Amos 8. 11, &c. And the removing of our Teachers into corners, Isa. 30. 20.
3. Whether have we not cause to belieye, that the far greatest part of the Gentry, Yeomandry and Commons of the Land that have Tithes to pay, are desirous to have them continued to the Ministry: seeing so many thousands of them out of a few Counties, have formerly petitioned for the same, and the City of London of late. And no doubt but many thousands more out of every County would do the like, if they had the least encouragement thereunto.
4. Whether if Tithes were wholly taken away, would the generality of the peo∣ple be at all eased, seeing both Purchasers and Tenants must pay so much the more for their Land?
5. Whether can we imagine that the Parliament, that hath so often and lately declared to the world, That they will be exceeding tender of every ones Liberty and Property, will now so soon after, take away the Propriety of all the Ministry of Eng∣land at one blow, to the ruine of so many thousand Families for the present; to the discouragement of Parents from bringing up their Children to the Work of the Ministry for time to come, and so to the endangering of the removal of the Gospel from amongst us.
6. Whether would not these Petitioners (if Tithes were removed) cry out and complain as much of the tyrannicall oppression and burden of Rents, as the Ana∣baptists in Germany did, and so never be quiet till they have levelled all things?
7. Whether all persons, whose eyes are open, do not clearly see, that the actings and motions of many persons of all ranks, doth demonstrate that the Jesuites Rules for reducing England to Popery are prosecuting? And whether it be not the duty of all worthy Patriots, especially the Honourable Members of the Parlia∣ment, to oppose such a damnable design with their Wisdome and Power? And all the godly Party of the Land to stand in the gap, by improving their Interest in Heaven, for the stopping of Popery, and the upholding the Gospel-Ministry?
—Si non prosunt singula, mult a juvant.
I have good information that there are lately come over 100. Iesuites that have their fre∣quent meet∣ing in London to drive on this design.
See the Iesuites ••i∣rections translated in Baxters Pre∣face to his Holy Com∣monwealth: and also the Preface to Dailles A∣pology for the Reformed Churches, by Thomas Smith, Printed at Cambridge, 1653.