Disputation VI: On Tithes

THE distinction between Sacrifice and Oblation is that of genus and species; for every Sacrifice is an oblation, but not the reverse. Among oblations the chief are First-fruits and Tithes; formerly both were paid by force of the ceremonial law, at least in respect of some determination; but now they are usually paid for the sustenance of the Church's ministers, or in recognition of natural gratitude.

On First-fruits nothing special remains to be explained beyond what has already been said; for although various chapters of Law, and likewise the Fathers and councils, intimate for them an obligation equal to that of Tithes, as in Suarez, cited in the place above, yet in various places they have fallen into disuse, either on account of the perversity of Heretics, or because the Ministers of the Churches are sufficiently sustained by Tithes and other means. Wherefore I shall here subjoin only a few things about Tithes. It should be noted, moreover, that Tithes take their name from the number ten, which among all numbers is the most perfect, as I shall show below; whence those offering this perfect number to God retain the imperfect for ourselves, arguing as it were that every perfect thing is to be rendered back to God; from which head D. Paul was inferring the greatness of Melchisedech, who prefigured Christ for us: consider (he says) how great this one is, to whom even Abraham the Patriarch gave tithes out of the chief things.