Having thus fhewn how much the ChriStian Religion does oblige to the Payment of Tithes.

I shall before I conclude this particular, fhew the Advantages of this Pradice, as it tends to Mens Temporal and Eternal Intereft. And if Men can be perfuaded, that this will promote their Interest, which they fo eagerly purfue after. It will furely prevent their Frauds and Thievery on this Account, by which they do the greatest. Injury to themselves, when they difho nour God thereby: It is the Sin of Sacrilege they are then guilty of, which is a Sin of fo deep a dye, that it will not be forgiven without the fincerity of Repentance and Restitution:

So on the other fide, it is not God, that is the gainer by the observation of this Duty, but it is those that faithfully perform it; and thereby fhew that their Trust and Confidence, and dependance is upon God, when they honour Him with their Substance, who fhall be the great gainers in the End.

This

This many Pious devout People have experimentally found to be true, and that God has blessed the labour of their Hands, and the fruit of their Ground, much the better for their Faithfulness

herein.

And, I do not in the leaft doubt, but others would find it their Privilege and Advantage, and great fatisfaction to their Minds; if they would also be careful in this Matter, and firmly rely upon God, and believe his Word, and truft in his Providence, by the regular payment of their Tithes, which will be an honouring Him with their Deeds beyond what they can do with their Words.

The Practice of which, he feems to have made the condition of their Profperity; which very many fail of, for want of trying the Experiment; and who can't find it in their Heart to be true to God, and honest in their dealings towards his Servants. Notwithstanding they do believe, tho' they do not confider it, that He fees and knows what they do, or what they neglect

the

the doing of: And that He will affuredly either punish or reward them, according as they do ill or well; in dealing truly, or defrauding God of

his Due.

This we must believe to be a certain Truth, unless we think that He did but delude the World, when He fets them upon the tryal of it, Mal. 3. 10, II, 12.

Bring ye all the Tithes into the Storehouse, that there may be meat in mine Houfe, and prove me now herewith faith the Lord of Hofts; if I will not open you, the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a Bleffing, that there hall not be room enough to receive it.

And I will rebuke the Devourer for your fakes, and he shall not destroy the Fruits of your ground; neither shall your Vine caft ber Fruit, before her Time in the Field faith the Lord of Hofts.

And all Nations shall call you Bleffed, for ye shall be a delightfom Land, faith the Lord of Hofts.

Prov. 3.

Where with wonderful Condefcenfion, the Lord does invite Mankind, to try if He will make his Promise good unto them, or be but fo good as his Word with them.

The like Promise he makes in the 16, 17. Text, Honour the Lord with thy SubStance, and with the First fruits of all thine Increase; fo fhall thy Barns be filled with Plenty, and thy Preffes burst out with new Vine. N

And therefore the Religious Jews did clearly believe, it fhould be even fo as He had faid. They called Tithes the hedge of Riches, but they more than Hedges, for they did not only Fence and Preferve what was contained within, but did procure the Increafe of the heap out of which they were Eccl. Pol, taken. From whence might arife that Proverb among them, Decima, ut Dives fias; pay Tithes and grow Rich. Hence the wife Son of Syrac, almost in Solomon's Words, Ecclef. 35. 8, 9,

Hooker,

Give

Give the Lord his Honour with a good Verfe 8. Eye, and diminish not the First-fruits of thine Hands.

In all thy Gifts fhew a chearful Coun, Verse 9. tenance, and dedicate thy Tithes with gladness.

Give unto the moft High, according Verse 10. as He hath enriched thee; and as thon hast gotten, give with a chearful Eye.

For the Lord recompenceth, and will Verse 11. give thee feven times as much.

From which places, nothing is more evident, than the great Benefit and Advantage is to be had by the regular paying our Tithes; infomuch that it is to be efteemed rather a Privilege to be admitted to do so, than to be exempted from it. God Himfelf invites all Men to it, that thereby He may manifeft his Bleffing towards them, by increafing their Store to a great abundance. And that they may be the more fenfible of it, He bids them prove Him herein, and fee how remarkably He will fhower down his E 2 Blef