Page 1
An answer to a question of a Gentle∣man of quality (proposed to and made by a Reverend and learned Divine living in London) con∣cerning the settlement or abolition of Tithes by the Parlia∣ment, which caused him to doubt how to dispose of his Sonne whom he had designed for the Ministrey: wherein also are com∣prised some Animadversions upon a late little pamphlet cal∣led, The Countryes plea against Tithes, discovering the ignorant mistakings of the Authors of it, touching the maintenance of the Ministery.
Sir,
THough it were high presumption for a private man, as I am, to presage what so wise a Senate as the Parliament will doe for the future, either in point of Tithes, or any other affaire of so publike concernment, yet I hope I may, without reaching above my line, take upon me to tell you, that the ground of your doubt touching their alienation of Tithes from the Ministery, (which I shall bring in its proper place) is but such as will serve rather to beare up a transient suspicion or surmise of such a matter, then a settled assurance that it either is so already, or that hereafter it will be so. For the first, That it is not so, I am sure; because,
1. They have passed an Ordinance for the Ministers recovery of Tithes, and other Ministeriall dues from such as doe detaine them, November 8. 1644. which is still in force, through the influence of their power and favour.
2. They have made competent additions to very many livings out of impropriated Tithes in the hands of Delinquents; and this they have done with so much cheerefulnesse, and beneficence on the Ministers behalfe, by the Committee for plundred Ministers, that many have cause to blesse God for them as their great Pa∣trons, and benefactors for that manner of maintenance; where∣in they have done beyond and above any Parliament that were