Deep down in Milton's mind, notwithstanding his professed deference to Christ's words, "_The labourer is worthy of his hire,_" we can see this conviction that it would be better for the world if religious doctrine, or in fact doctrine of any kind, were never bought or sold, but all spiritual teachers were to abhor the very touch of money for their lessons, being either gentlemen of independent means who could propagate the truth splendidly from high motives, or else tent-makers, carpenters, and bricklayers, passionate with the possession of some truth to propagate.

This, however, having been acknowledged to be perhaps an impossibility on any great scale, he goes on to inquire, as proposed, what the legitimate and divinely-appointed hire of Gospel-ministers is, from whom it may come, and in what manner.

The general result is as follows:--I.

The Tithes of the old Jewish dispensation are utterly abolished under the Gospel.

Nearly half the treatise is an argument to this effect, and consequently for the immediate abolition of the tithe-system in England.