IT is not unknowne to them that know any thing , that Moses in this whole Chapter is totus in benedictionibus , spendeth himselfe in blessings , and standeth as it were upon mount Gerizzim , Deut. 27.12 . to blesse the people of Israel , with a severall blessing upon every Tribe amongst them . The Text which I now propose unto you , is a little drop of that dew of grace which falleth here upon the head of the Tribe of Levi , which the Lord had separated from among their brethren , to teach Jacob his judgements , and Israel his law , vers . 12. And herein this man of GOD calleth upon the mighty JEHOVAH , who being the greater , can blesse the lesse , Heb. 7.7 . whose blessing is a doing of some good (a) (a) Dei benedicere est benefacere . Lucas Brug . in Matt. 25. , bestoweth some gift alwaies upon them that are blessed of him (b) (b) Dei benedictio aliquid muneris semper his qui ab eo benedicuntur impertit . Orig. in Rom. 12. , maketh rich , Prov. 10.22 . and of whom whosoever are blessed , they shall be blessed indeed , as Isaac said of his blessing of Jacob , Gen. 27.33 . To blesse , that is , to defend and multiply : for blessing especially and properly is understood in multiplication (c) (c) Benedictio in multiplicatione solet maxime solet maxime & proprie intelligi . Aug. in Psal. 66. : according to which , Moses telleth Israel , GOD will blesse thee , and multiply thee , hee will blesse the fruit of thy wombe , &c. Deut. 7.13 , 14. His substance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so after our best translators ( quorum nomen sit in benedictione , ) Irather turne the word with many learned Interpreters (d) (d) Calvin , Pagnine , Martin Borrhaus , Chald. paraphr . &c. , finding for warrant hereof this word bearing the same sense , Deut. 8.17 . Beware lest you say , my power , and the strength of mine hand hath prepared me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this wealth . And Job 20.15 . Hee hath swallowed downe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 riches : then with others , his strength (e) (e) Vulg. edit. , his army , and multitude (f) (f) Cajet. Jun. ; for the words are well glossed by Martin Borrhaus , as thou hast adorned the Levites with the Priesthood , so for the maintenance of this , prosper their riches , which consist in First-fruits and Tithes (g) (g) In loc. ut sacerdotio ornasti Levitas , ita etiam ad istud conservandum , opes illorum qua Cernuntur in primitiis & decimis fortunato . ▪ and to accept , or , as Junius more fully , grato animo suseipere , with a favourable minde to receive ; and as the Greek phrase runneth , Heb. 13.16 . * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to bee well pleased with the worke of his hands ] so that howsoever hee shall many times spread out his hands unto a rebellious and gainsaying people . Isa. 65.2 . goe unto a rebellious people that will not heare , Ezek. 2.3 , 4. that altogether breake the yoake , and burst the bands of the Lords ordinances in sunder , Jer. 5.5 . and so may seeme to labour in vaine , and spend his strength in vaine , and for nothing , yet his judgement may be with the Lord , and his worke with his God , Isa. 49.4 .

Before I come to the right dividing of these words , 2 Tim. 2.15 . and to shew how they are profitable for doctrine , for reproofe , for correction , for instruction in righteousnesse , 2 Tim. 3.16 . the giving of satisfaction to two questions that lye in the way , shall be as a word spoken in due season . First , why the man of GOD more specially poureth out a prayer for a blessing upon Levies substance , than any other of the Tribes , unlesse it be Josephs , vers. 13. &c. upon whom the blessings also of his father prevailed above the blessings of his progenitours , Gen. 49.26 . Secondly , why he prayeth not rather that the worke of Levies hands should be blessed by GOD , than that it should bee accepted of him ? Of either a word .

For the first . Is there not a cause , nay a double cause , why he should thus strive in prayer ? why with Jacob he should not let the LORD goe , unlesse he gave a blessing , Gen. 32.26 . to Levie , substance ? First , for the consolation of Levi himselfe . This prayer ( saith Calvin ) seemeth secretly to be opposed to that penury which would come upon the Levites , unlesse GOD had provided them food by some other meanes , than by the revenues of their fields . They were deprived of all common inheritance , and GOD himselfe was their possession . Therefore that their estate might not be troublesome to them , Moses ministreth a comfort , and biddeth them expect from GOD all abundance for sufficient food , and promiseth that his blessing shall be in stead of a large revenue (h) (h) Videtur haec precatio tacite opponi penuriae qua Levitas manebat , nisi aliunde illis cibum suppeditasset Deus , quàm ex agrorumproventu . Privati erant communi hereditate , & solus Deus erat illis pro latifundio . Ergo ne illis molesta sit sua conditio , solatium adhibet Moses , & iubet à Deo expectare copiam quae ad victum sufficiat , acpromittit eius benedictionem uberrimi proventus loco fore . Calv. in loc. . The other for the consternation of Levies enemies , those Harpyes , who as the Poet saith (i) (i) Aeneid . 3. ,

For the wisedome of the Spirit of GOD , in whose eyes all things are naked and opened , Heb. 3.13 . and who declareth the last things from the beginning , Isa. 46.10 . foresaw and foreshewed , that the dayes would come , that men would be so farre from bringing offerings with the Israelites to the building of the Tabernacle , Exod. 36. that they would rather let it lye waste , yea , make it waste themselves , that they might dwell in sieled houses , Hagg. 1. So farre from asking with Saul , What present shall we bring to the man of God ? 1 Sam. 9.7 . that they will rather with Gehezi pursue them hard to pull somewhat from them , 2 King . 5.20 . so farre from providing with the Shunamite , a chamber furnished for the Prophet Elisha , 2 King . 4.10 . that rather with prophane Tobiah , they will chamber themselves in the courts of the house of GOD , Nehem. 13.7 . and with Oreb and Zeeb , take to themselves the houses of GOD in possession , Psal. 83.12 . So farre from paying Tithes of all , with Abraham ; yea , of the spoiles gotten in warre , to the Priests of the high GOD , Heb. 7.2 . that they will rather spoile them , yea , GOD himselfe in Tithes and Offerings , Mal. 3.8 . To shew therefore that these mens wayes are as much abominable to JEHOVAH , as they are different from his wayes , he prayeth that where they would bring a curse , he would give blessing ; where they would devoure , hee would defend ; where they would diminish , he would multiply ; where they would spoile , he would protect ; and addeth this imprecation against such , Smite through the loines of them that rise against him , and of them that hate him , that they rise not againe .

The other question is , why he rather prayeth not for a blessing from God upon their labours , then an acception of their labours by God ? Since , Except the Lord build the house , their labour is in vaine that build it , Psal. 125.1 . Except he give increase , Pauls planting , & Apollo's watering , is nothing , 1 Cor. 3.6 , 7. Except hee open the heart , as he did Lydia's , Act. 16.14 . their speaking to the eare is but a beating of the aire ; for , he hath his chaire in heaven , (h) (h) Cathedram in exlo habet , qui corda docet , Aug. who teacheth the hearts ( k ) . The answer wherof may be , that Moses prayeth rather here for an acceptation of Levies labour by GOD , as being their proper & peculiar good , than for a blessing upon their labours ; which is their peoples good committed to them . For although Levi , the LORDS messenger , must so unfainedly desire in his heart the salvation of Israel ; that in the fervency of his zeal , he could be content , with Moses , to be razed out of GODS Book for them , Exod. 32.32 . With Paul , be willing to be separated from Christ for them , Rom. 9.3 . Although their standing fast in the LORD , must be the life , and the joy of his heart , 1 Thes. 3.8 . That hee may rejoyce in the day of the LORD , that he hath not run in vaine , Phil. ● . 16 . Although every soule that he saveth , must be his crowne of rejoycing , his glory and joy in the presence of Christ at his comming , 1. Thes. 2.19 , 20. Yet shall John Baptist as well receive his crowne for preaching vengeance against disobedient Herod , as for winning converts to come to his baptisme , and professe resurrection of life , Luk 3. And we are unto GOD the sweet savour of Christ , not only in them that are saved , but also in them that perish , 2 Cor. 2.15 ▪ And although we labour in vaine in the world , and spend our strength for nought : yet is not our work unregarded before God , neither shall it passe unrewarded , Isa. 49.4 . Hee prayeth therefore for this acceptation , as being their speciall good for whom he specially prayeth .

To come then to the anatomizing , the unfolding of this Text. We have here honos Levitarum , the Levites honour , & onus Levitarum , the Levites duty : a substance wherewith Levi must bee supported , and sustained ; and a work wherewith he must be burthened . We have here , what JEHOVAH ( who giveth liberally to every one that asketh of him , Jam. 1.5 . ) is invocated to doe for him , To blesse his substance . ] What his Master , to whom he standeth or falleth , Rom. 14.4 . is intreated favourably to accept from him , Accept the worke of his hands . ] What must descend from JEHOVAH to Levi ? a blessing upon his substance . What must ascend and come up in remembrance before JEHOVAH from Levi ? an acceptable worke . In a word , all is comprehended in a twofold petition . First , for a blessing to be powred downe upon Levies substance from JEHOVAH . Secondly , for an acceptation of Levies worke by JEHOVAH . In the former wee have either the author from whom the blessing must come , Blesse God ; or the object on which it must come , substance ; amplified by the property , his substance . In the later wee have againe , first , an intimation of a worke to be performed by Levi , the worke of his hands : secondly , a supplication for the acceptation of it , accept the worke of his hands .

To beginne with the first , the author from whom this blessing must come , is he who openeth his hand , and filleth with his blessing every living thing , Psal. 145.16 . even the LORD : blesse Lord . ] In this particular then as in capitall letters , like to that vision of Abacuk , so plaine , that he may runne that readeth it , Hab. 22. We have this lesson , that the LORD is an ever-springing , an ever-streaming fountaine , from which all good gifts spring and flow upon every thing : and that this King of Kings and LORD of LORDS , is as that tree shewed to Nebuchadnezzar in a dreame , having in it meat for all , under the boughes whereof the beasts of the field had shadow , in the boughes whereof the fowles of the heaven dwelt , and of which all flesh was fed , Dan. 4. And as on the one side affliction commeth not out of the dust , neither doth misery spring out of the ground , Job 5.6 . but whatsoever evill is done in the City ( malum poenae , the evill of punishment ) it is the LORD that doth it , Amos 3.6 . For whereas there are two kindes of evill ; sin , and the punishment of sin (l) (l) Cum sint duo genera malorum , peccatum & poems peccati , &c. Aug. contr. Adimant . Manich. : sinne belongeth not unto GOD , the punishment of sinne belongeth unto him as the avenger : so on the other side , not onely promotion , but every good gift , commeth neither from the east , not west , nor from the south , Psal. 75.6 . but it is from above , and commeth downe from the Father of lights , Jam. 1.17 . and it is a generall interrogatory to bee ministred unto every one , What hast thou that thou hast not received ? 1 Cor. 4.7 . The voice of the naturall man who placeth his perfection in himselfe , is , By the strength of mine hands I have done this , and by my wisedome , for I am prudent , Isa. 10.13 . Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the might of my power ? Dan. 4.30 . His owne power , his owne mighty power . But they that are taught in the Schoole of grace , have learned to beleeve with their hearts , and confesse with their mouths , that it is the LORD that giveth , Job . 1.21 . that because GOD hath dealt graciously with them , they have all things , Gen. 33.11 . that all things come of GOD , all the store that they have commeth of his hand , and all is his owne , 1 Chron. 29.14 , 16. Let us beware then ( beloved ) of sacrificing to our nets , of burning incense to our drags , Abac. 1.16 . But as all things are of him , so to him let us give glory for all things , as the Apostle coupleth them together , Rom. 11.36 . And let us be as mindfull to remember , as forward to receive ; as ready with our Hallelu-jahs after deliuerance , as with our Hosannahs in the time of trouble ; as ready with our Quid retribuamus ? What shall I render unto the Lord ? Psal. 116 : after benefits received ; as with our Domine miserere's , God be mercifull unto us , and blesse us , Psal. 65.1 . in our woes and wants : as ready to fall downe at JESUS feet , and give thankes after cleansing , as afore to cry out , Jesu , master , have mercy upon us , Luke 17.13 .

But I cannot figere pedem hic ; I hasten from the author of this blessing , to the object about which it is conversant , a substance , wealth , riches , ( so much the word imports ) and that such as is his , not others ; his owne peculiar , not other mens almes or voluntary contribution , to be given and taken away at pleasure ; his in justice , as his proper right , not his by way of gratuity , and at other mens courtesie ; for so serving at the Altar would soone come to starving at the Altar . But because the Priests , and all the whole Tribe of Levi , were to have none inheritance in the land of Israel , nor any part among them , Num. 18.20 . nor to share with their brethren , in dividing the land by lot among the Tribes , Deut. 18.1 , 2. let us examine a little what this substance of Levies was , what in the whole was the portion of Aaron and his seed , that were to minister unto GOD in the Priests office , Exod. 28.1 . of the Levites , that were appointed over the Tabernacle of the Testimony , to doe fervice in it , Num. 1.50 . First then , although the land was not divided amongst them , as to the other Tribes , yet had they ( in all likelihood ) in the Cities , and suburbane grounds assigned unto them , as much as the portion of the greatest Tribe came unto . For the fourty eight Cities , which the children of Israel were commanded to give them to dwell in , with the Suburbs for the Cities round about them , reaching two thousand cubits on every side from every City , Num. 35.4 , 5 , 6. must in all probability equall the portion of any other Tribe , in so little a land as that was , which by St. Hieromes description (m) (m) Hierom. Epi , ad Dardanum . did containe but in length from Dan to Beersheba an hundred and sixty miles , in breadth from Joppe to Bethlehem , about fourty six miles . Secondly , besides this glebe wherewith they were indowed , they had all the tenth in Israel , Num. 18.21 . even all the Tithes of Corne , Wine , Oyle , Fruits , Herds and Flocks , Levit. 27.30 , 32. Thirdly , they had every thing which opened the matrice in all flesh , whether of men or beasts , the firstlings of Kine , Sheepe , and Goats , not to bee redeemed ; the firstborne of Men to bee redeemed at five shekels , and the firstlings of the other beasts to be redeemed at the Priests estimation , with a fist part put to it , Exod. 34.19 , 20. Num. 18.15 , 16. Levit. 27.27 . Nehem. 10.36 . Fourthly , they had the first fruits , even whatsoever was ripe in the Land , Num. 18.13 . the firh fruits of their Corne , Wine , Oyle , the first fruits of the fleeces of their Sheepe , Deut. 18.4 . the first fruits of all manner of Trees , and of their very dough for a blessing upon the rest , Ezek. 44.30 . Nehem , 10.35 , 37. Fiftly , they had all Oblations and Vowes , even every devoted thing in Israel , Num. 18.18 , 14 , 19. Ezek. 44.29 , 30. Sixtly , they had every meat offering , every sinne offering , every trespasse offering , every heave offering , every shake offering , and the shew bread , Num. 18.9 , 10. Ezek. 44.29 . Levit. 24.9 . Seventhly , of Sacrifices eucharisticall , the breast and the shoulder , Num. 18.18 . Levit. 7.31 , 32. of other Sacrifices , the shoulder , the two cheekes , and the maw , Deut. 18.3 . and of whole burnt Sacrifices , the skinne , Levit. 7.8 . And last of all , all the males among them must three times a yeare appeare before the LORD , in the place which he should choose , and not come empty handed , but every one was to give as he was able , according to the blessing of the LORD which he had given him , Deut. 16.16 . This was the matter of their maintenance , being in respect of the quantity very large and liberall , and for the manner of it also , it was very honourable , for all these duties were to bee brought yeare by yeare unto the house of God , Neh. 10.35 , 37. that , ( as (n) (n) Lib. de prim . sacerd. Philo Judaeus observeth ) from thence the Priests and Levites might receive them as from the hands of GOD , and not bee upbraided by the people , as though they lived by them , and were their almesmen , which is now rife in the mouthes of rude and ignorant men : But GOD stoppeth the mouthes of such miscreants , when hee saith , I have given the children of Levi all the tenth , Num. 18.20 . I , whose the earth is , and the fulnesse thereof , Psal. 24.1 . and not the children of men , to whom I have given the earth , Psal. 115.16 . And if any for their owne ease were desirous to redeeme any duty , and not to carry it to the LORDS house , ( which to some that dwelt afarre off would have beene very cumbersome ) they were to pay according to the Priests estimation , at all times , Levit. 27.27 . with the addition of a fist part ; and not by any injurious and Church-robbing prescription or custome , a feather for a goose , as the change of the times hath made it amongst us . And if any but through ignorance ( for wilfull theft in civill matter was punished with a fourefold restitution , Ex. 22.1 . much more in the things of GOD ) detained any thing either in whole or part ▪ which was holy to GOD , he was to bring a ramme for an offering , to make good that which he withheld , and to adda fifth part , Levit. 5.15 , 16. This both for the matter and the manner was the substance of Levi , given , granted , assigned and confirmed to him , haeredibus & successoribus in perpetuum , for their executing the Priests office , for their service in the Tabernacle , for their teaching of Iacob Gods judgements , and Israel his law ; and that not by man ( by whom notwithstanding any thing devoted to the LORD is most holy , Levit. 27.28 . ) but by this JEHOVAH , who is implored here to blesse his substance ; unto whom by an eternall right , before the Law , under the Law , and after the Law , all Tithes are holy , Levit. 27.30 . and so not onely his , as the whole earth is his by right of creation and preservation , ( for he hath founded it upon the seas , and established it upon the floods , Psal. 24.2 . but by a propriety and immediate right that he hath in them , as having separated them from mans use to himselfe , and allowed man none interest in them at all , no not of use and possession .

Now to come home with this to our times , men , brethren , and fathers : Was this Levies substance ? Was the LORD so bountifull to the Priests and Levites under the Law ? And will he not be as liberall to those whom he hath put apart to preach the Gospel , and to serve him in the Gospel of his Son ? If the ministration of death , of condemnation , 2 Cor. 3.7 , 9. received so plentifull and large a maintenance from the hand of God , no man that hath any understanding in the mystery of Christ , can deny , but he would be as open handed to the ministration of life and of the spirit . And why shall not the Apostles reasoning à pari , that as they which minister about the holy things , live of the things of the Temple ; and as they which wait at the Altar , are partakers of the things of the Altar ; even so GOD hath ordained , that they which preach the Gospel , should live of the Gospel , 1 Cor. 9.13 , 14. hold as well for the proportion and quantity of the maintenance , as for the just right and authority to claime and receive it ? so that from that very Scripture we may not onely shew , that as GOD and not any man gave the Tithes to Levi ; so GOD and not man hath ordained , that the Preacher of the Gospel should live of the Gospel ; not of the Disciples goods , but of the Gospel , as Theophylact (o) (o) Non ex discipulorum facultatibus sed ex Evangelio . Theophylact . in 1 Cor. 9 glosseth the words , not of the Disciples goods , by way of voluntary contribution , or beggerly almes , but upon their owne goods gotten by preaching of the Gospel : for neither ( as Theophylact saith there ) doest thou yeeld them maintenance , but their owne industry maintaineth them (p) (p) Neque enim tuteiis alimonium subministras , sed propria quaedam industriaipsos alit . ; but also that as great a portion and proportion is due to him that preacheth the Gospel , as to him that ministred in the Tabernacle , and served at the Altar . And if as great , why not the selfe same in kinde for Tithes , Oblations , and vowed things ( setting aside the Sacrifices , and the like , which were meerly ceremoniall and shadowes of things to come , and are now abrogated by Christ the body and substance of them , Col. 2. ) Since they were due to GOD long before the Law , as wee see in Abrahams giving Tithe of all to Melchisedech Priest of the high God , Gen. 14. in Iacobs vowing of Tithes unto GOD , Gen. 28. since there can be no better course for fulfilling that Canon of the Apostle , Let him that is taught in the word , communicate to him that teacheth , in all his goods or good things , Gal. 6.6 . If in all his good things , why not by way of a tenth ? since there can be no more equall course , any quantity above that being too little for the teacher to receive , and under it being too much for him that is taught to give . That Tithes are to bee given to GOD and his Ministers , Abraham signifieth by his deeds , Iacob by his promises , afterwards the Law ordaineth it , and all the holy Doctors mention it (q) (q) Decimas Deo & sacerdotibus eius dandas , Abraham factis , Iaacob promissis insinuat , deinde lex statuit , & omnes Doctores sancti commemorant . Walfr . Strabo de rebus Ecclesiasticis ▪

But here ,

The scorching East , the South winde loud doe bluster ,

The Southwest winde up all his storme , doe muster (r) (r) Vnâ Eurusque Notusque ruunt , creberque procellis Africus , &c. Virg. id. 1. .

The Tabernacles of Edom , and the Ishmaelites : of Moab and the Hagarins , Gebal , Ammon , and Amalek , the Philistines , with the inhabitants of Tyre , Assur also is joyned with them , Psal. 83.6 , 7 , 8. Polititians and Papists , Schismatikes and Atheists , are confederate together against GOD and his Church , for the spoiling of him and it in Tithes and Offerings , Mal. 3.8 . The Polititians plea , is , that Levi was in estimation as the tenth part of Israel , and therefore having none inheritance amongst them , had the tenth for their inheritance , whereas our Clergy are not the tenth part , nay scarcely the fiftieth part of the Realme , so that they need lesse maintenance , and it is enough to provide them of a competent stipend . These men are wife to doe evill , can reason plausibly , so long as they speake Babylons Logicke , Downe with it , downe with it to the ground , Psal. 137. But all their reasonings herein , are but perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds , and destitute of the truth , supposing that gaine is godlinesse , 1 Tim. 6.5 . And their mouthes may be easily stopped by answering them , that howsoever the Levites were the thirteenth Tribe , yet they were not the tenth nor thirteenth part in Israel , but at that time that GOD gave them the Tithes for the service of the Tabernacle , the sixtieth part . For when the other Tribes were numbred from twenty yeares old and upward , such as were able to beare armes were in number six hundred thousand , three thousand , five hundred and fifty , besides those which were either but twenty yeares old , or unfit for service , who would have doubled the number at least : but the Levites being reckoned from a month old and above , their number was twenty two thousand , Num. 1. per totum , which was not much above the sixtieth part . At this day then the Clergy of England , and their families , being not lesse than the sixtieth part of the Reame , as large a portion ( even in their owne reasoning , out of their owne mouth will I judge them ) is requisite for them as for the Levites . But that fancied Chimaera , that individuum vagum of a competency , how shall it answer the Apostles rule of communicating in all their goods ? Gal. 6.6 . How shall it supply their want at all times ? How shall there be any certainty in it ? since by reason of the ebbing and flowing , rising and falling of the prices of things , it is as impossible to set downe a competent stipend , as it is to make a coat for the Moone . Was not tenne pounds by the yeare as competent about an hundred yeares since , as an hundred pounds are now ? and who knoweth not whether future ages may not see as great alterations ? Certainly these competencies have already brought our Livings to an impotency , and the yoke of prescription and custome in receiving our dues after the old rate , lieth so heavy on our neckes , that the more other men prosper , we pine ; the more they flourish , wee fade ; the more their estate increaseth , the more ours diminisheth .

Now againe the Papists , and some of our owne side , that have not looked so narrowly into this truth as they might have done , hold Tithes not to be required by the Morall Law consonant to the law of Nature , but by the Judiciall Law , and therefore now to stand or fall in the Church , as it shall please Saint Peters heire the Pope , ( saith the one ) or the supreme Magistrate , faith the other . But here , both antecedent and consequent , both assertion and inference halt downe right , and finde no rest for the soale of their foot in any place of Scripture . The antecedent , that Tithes are judicialls , for all Tithes are holy to the Lord , Levit. 27.30 . separated by himselfe from common use ; but all judicialls are things in common use , not separated from man : Tithes therefore are not , cannot bee judicialls . The consequence againe is lame , Tithes are judicialls , therefore now they may be retained or removed ad placitum . For is it not a received tenent amongst many of our Divines (s) (s) Pisc . praefat. in Levit. Perk. cases consc . &c. , that those judicialls which serve for the backing of the Morall Law , for punishing the breaches of it , namely , idolatry , witchcraft , blasphemy , murther , adultery , theft , disobedience to parents , are still alive , stand in force , or at least have a surviving equity in them ? If the rest , why not this of Tithes , which is as a bulwarke to the first Table , which prescribeth the worship of GOD , the manner and maintenance thereof ?

But this position of our latter Papists , is not so old as their Canon Law : It was first invented by the Schoolemen , Alexander of Hales the Master , and Thomas Aquinas the Scholar , and the rest of that ranke . When dominus deus Papa , had taken the Tithes from the Oxen , that either did or should plough , Job 1. the Rectors of the Churches , to whom they were properly due ; and had improperly given them to the Asses that fed by the Covents of Monks and Friers . Those locusts that had made the face of the Church more desolate , than ever the locusts of Egypt did the face of the country , by devouring every greene thing throughout their land , Exod. 10.15 . That so his sacriledge in exempting some of their orders , from paying Tithes of their grounds , where they were due , ( as Alexander the third exempted the Cistercians Hospitalars , and Templars from payment of Tithes (t) (t) Alexander 3. Cistercienses , Hospitalarios , & Templarios decimarum solutione exemit , Catal. test . verit . Tim. 2. lib. 15. . John the fifteenth gave the like privilege to the Benedictine Monkes at Cusinum (u) (u) Leo Marsicanus Hostiens . Episc. lib. 2. hist. ca. 1. . And in appropriating Church livings to all their Covents , might the better bee salved .