they Preach but now and then Answ That must be left to the Wisdom and Consideration of the Church who ought to consider the Persons Circumstances with the Call he hath to Preach c. But principally it belongs to those who are set a part to that Work whose Strength and Time is taken up about the great Affairs of Christ and the Gospel Thus we have indeavoured to discharge our Duty as touching this great Work and have we hope Answered all the material Objections any have to bring or urge against the Ministers Maintenance But since we have a little Room we shall add some brief hints further to shew the great charge and work of a true Gospel Minister and so conclude that all may see how needful a thing it is that every one take care to discharge their Duty in this matter to them whereby also the Justness and Righteousness of the Law and appointment of God herein may yet further appear to all The Great and Weighty Work of a True Gospel Minister opened THE Nature and Weightiness of the Work of the Faithful Servant of Christ together with the necessity and difficulty of it we shall consider in its parts in a brief and compendious manner First 'T is a Holy and a sublime Office he is placed in a very high Sphere and Station hence called the Ambassador of Christ What higher Dignity can be conferred on Man The greatness of the Prince whose Messengers they are sets forth their Dignity they are in Christ's stead Imployed in the great Affairs of His Spiritual Kingdom and have received Authority from Him and are also prepared and qualified for this Sacred Work by Him and indeed therefore ought to be blameless as the Stewards of God And hence it is that those who are said to receive them receive Him and those who despise them despise Him. O! with what Holy Fear Dread and Reverence ought they to enter upon this Work and Office least they should dishonour their great and glorious Prince and Heavenly Soveraign whom they represent Is it not a weighty thing to be made the Mouth of Christ 2. Nay and this is not all they are intrusted with matters of the highest moment in the World Christ having committed the Management of his Glorious Interests and great concerns he has on Earth into their Hands they are sent to treat with poor Sinners about Eternal Matters even the Eternal Life or Eternal Death and Damnation of their Precious and Immortal Souls in and about these things Ministers of the Gospel are Fellow Workers together with Christ 2. Cor. 6.1 Though but as Instruments serving him as the principal Agent and efficient Cause He trod the Wine-Press of his Fathers Wrath alone but in the Application of the purchase of Man's Salvation he admits of Fellow-workers tho the internal Work be his i. e. the effects of his Spirits upon the Souls of those whose Hearts are changed yet there is a Ministerial part which lyeth on the faithful Discharge of the Minister's Duty which consisteth partly in Exhortations Motives and Arguments by the Ear conveyed to the Soul and thus Ministers may be said to be Workers together with Christ and without him they can do nothing they are Workers but they must have Christ Work with them or they will find that they Labour in Vain But is it not think you a high and most sacred Place and Office thus to be imployed May not every one of us say who are sufficient for these things for we are unto God saith the Apostle a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish 2 Cor. 2. for that God whom we serve will not Judge of us nor reward us according to our Success as a worthy Author observes but according to our Faithfulness and Diligence in his Work we give as if Paul should say a good savour by our Doctrine unto all and our Labours are a sweet savour in the Nostrils of God whatever effects they have upon the Souls of Men God accepteth of our Labours as to good Men to whom we are Instruments of Eternal Life and Salvation and though others despise the Gospel and refuse the sweet sound thereof yet as to them also we are a sweet savour in the Nostrils of God tho Israel be not saved saith the Prophet yet I shall be glorious it is not through any neglect in us as to our duty if any perish but from their own Willfulness and Rebellious Hearts To the one we are the savour of Death unto Death and to the other the savour of Life unto Life And who is sufficient for these things ver 16. As sweet smells which are to some pleasant and comfortable saith a Worthy Author yet are to others pernicious and deadly so it is with the sweet savour of the Gospel the report which we in all places make of Christ to some through their unbelief and hardness of their Heart and fondness of their Lusts proveth but the Savour of Death unto Death hardning their Hearts to their Eternal Ruine and Destruction but to such who being ordained to Eternal Life believe our Report and imbrace the Gospel and live up to the Precepts and Rule thereof our Preaching proves a Cause of Spiritual and Eternal Life to which that leadeth but O how great a work is this What Man What Angel is sufficient for it O it is a mighty VVork to Preach the Gospel as we ought to Preach it it is that by which Faith cometh How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher And how shall they Preach except they are sent Rom. 10.14 i. e. Unless they have an extraordinary or ordinary Mission i. e. either from God more immediately which Call is long since ceased or else by the Election of the Church and Ordination of the Elders or Presbytery this is necessary in all Regular Ministers How else can they duly or profitably in the Name and Authority of Christ preach the Word of Life Brethren you who are Christ's true Ministers being orderly called to this sacred Work your Preaching hath attendency either to save or eternally to condemn the Souls of Men and with what trembling then ought this Work to be undertaken and performed you are intrusted with Men's Souls and must be accountable for them especially such who are committed to your Charge did we consider it and duly ponder upon it in our Minds certainly we should have little else to think upon nor trouble our Heads and Hearts about it would be sure cause us to be more Serious and Laborious we are perswaded than we are VVhat shall we do if through our Neglect and Remisness in this great VVork any should die and perish in their Sins Mind what God saith in that of Ezek. 3.18 Unto his VVatchman When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely dye and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from
c. Who goeth a Warfaâ—… at any time at his own Charge Whâ—… Planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the Fruit thereof Or who Feedeth 〈◊〉 Flock and eateth not of the Milk of thâ—… Flock None that Lists an Army expects that his Souldiers should maintain themselves without Pay The Ministry is a Spiritual Warfare undertaken at the Command of Christ and by the Call of the Church for the service of their Souls and 't is as reasonable that Ministers should receive a supply of outward things from them as that a Soldier should receive Pay from his Captain at the charge of thâ— Common-wealth for whose Good and Safety he enters upon that Military Employment Again the Apostle argues the equitableness of it further Shall a Man Plant a Vineyard an not Eat of the Fruit thereof The Preaching the Gospel is like a man planting â— Vineyard the Church is compared thereto in Scripture Isa 5.1.2 Thâ— Plants are the Lords but he useth Ministers Hands in the Planting of them and none planteth a Vineyard but 〈◊〉 expectation of some Fruit from thencâ—… none Imployeth his Servant to Plant but he doth and 't is but lust he should uphold him with Food and Raiment he doing his Work. The Church also as the Apostle intimates is compared to a Flock And now who Feedeth a Flock either personally or by his Servants but he eateth or alloweth his Servant to eat of the Milk of the Flock which it is his VVork to keep and feed By these three Instances commonly known to Men the Apostle sheweth the reasonableness that the Ministers of the Gospel should be maintained by the People to whom they Minister he plainly intimating that it is inconsistent with common Justice to deprive a man of the Fruit of that Vineyard which is planted and manured by his own Labour And such is the case between a Minister and his People it is not as one well observes your Charity that we ask for them but Justice and Right which the very Light of Nature as well as God's Word clearly sheweth They are Imployed in your Service and do that Business for you in which your Eternal Happiness is concerned they take care to provide Bread for your Souls and of right therefore should live upon your charge and you ought to see that neither they nor their Families want Bread nor any thing necessary for their Bodies Nay and since they Sow or Import unto you Spiritual Things Is it a great thing if they shall reap your carnal things Have you not as if the Apostle should say better things from them than they partake of from you St. Paul as our Annotators note argueth the reasonableness of Ministers maintenance from their People they giving them quid pro quo a just Compensation for such allowance yea that which is of much more value for there is a great disproportion between things Spiritual and things Carnal the former much excelling the latter so that the People have the advantage they receiving things far more excellent from Christ's Ministers than his Ministers receive of them They communicate Gold and precious Stones and Pearl and do receive from the People that which comparatively is buâ— as Brass or Copper And yet shall this seem a great thing Will you as if the Apostle should say Grudge them a due portion of your Temporals when you receive so plentifully from them of choice Heavenly or Spiritual things How unreasonable a thing is this Obj. But some may be will Object the things they communicate viz. those Spiritual Things are not their own but the Lords and imparted to them to hand out for the good of others And therefore the Case is different Answer It is against the Apostle you raise this Objection But will you see how you are mistaken Pray what more Right or Property have you to your Carnal Things than they have to their Spirituals Are not their Spiritual Things their own as much as your Carnal Things are your own Hath the Lord made you any other than Stewards of your worldly Things And must not you be Accountable to him for them if you do not lay them out as he hath Commanded you For the good of others come your Carnal Things even your Wooll and your Flax. Hos 2.9 is as much the Lords as the Ministers Knowledg and other Spiritual Gifts are the Lords and it doth as much behove you to see that you Communicate to others of your VVorldly or Carnal Things VVe mean to the Poor Saints and Ministers of the Gospel as it behoveth them to Preach or Communicate Spiritual Things to you and therefore the Case is not different Besides you forget how your poor Ministers oft times wast their strength and consume their Bodies being brought to utter Weakness in their outward Man in their painful Studies and Labours in Preaching the Word thereby Communicating Spiritual Things to you And is not that we mean health c. more in worth and their own too than all you have or can Communicate to them Sure their strength and the health of their Bodies together with the expence of their Time you will say is as much their own as any thing you can call yours And is 〈◊〉 then a great thing they should be supplyed from you with all things necessary for this Life Besides in point oâ— Equity our Saviour as well as the Apostle calls Ministers Labourers and you all will readily say The Labourer is worthy of his Hire How then is it thaâ— any should seek ways and excuses to avoid their Duty herein to their Spiritual Harvest Men we must tell yoâ— again t is Jesus Christ who saith t is theiâ— due and that they are worthy of it and He hath Ordained that they should have it so that you cannot with hâ—… it from them without Sin nay such â—… Sin that is not only against the Law and Light of Nature but the express Law of Jesus Christ And we must telâ— you That if the keeping back or defrauding the Hire of your Labourers who have Reaped down your Corn Fields be so great an Evil that their Cry enters into the Ears of the Lord of Sabbaths and doth provoke and stir up the justice of God to a severe Vengeance for their daring Boldness and cruel Oppression of the poor VVhat think you will be the Effects of the Cry of Christs painful Spiritual Harvest-men who Labour to gather in his Divine Corn should you withhold from them their just Right upon this Account by which means they may be exposed especially some of them to Heart Disquieting and Soul Afflicting Snares in the World and their poor Families want such things as are necessary for them when it is in the power of the Peoples hands plentifully to supply them We must in discharge of our Duty at this time be plain with every Man that we may deliver our own Souls and theirs too from so great a Sin as such an neglect as that is does appear to us
Poole's Annotations Our Saviour designed to give them saith he an Experience of the Providence of God and to teach â—…em to trust in it as also to teach People that the Labourer is worthy of his hire and that God expecteth that his Ministers should not live of their own but upon the Alter 1 which they serv'd so as at once 〈◊〉 taught his Disciples not to he Covetous 〈◊〉 overmuch Sollicitous and the People 〈◊〉 provide for those who Ministred to them 〈◊〉 things Spiritual Besides those other absolute Precepts of like Nature giâ—en forth by the Spirit of Christ in the Apostles contained in several Epistles â—o sufficiently prove this to be the Mind â—nd Intention of our Saviour in this place Secondly That we may put 〈◊〉 out of all doubt We shall now come to â—…sider of the sacred Appointment of God 〈◊〉 this Matter If it appear to be noâ—…ing less nor more than what the â—ord has Ordained viz. That his â—ervants who are called forth to Preach the Gospel and take Care of his Churcâ—es should have a fit and suitable Maâ—…tenance according as the State anâ— Ability of the Churches may be 〈◊〉 whom they belong and whose Servanâ— they are than we hope there is noâ—… will object or argue against it any morâ— And that this is the Will and Sacreâ— Appointment of the Lord is very evâ—dent in that fore-cited place 1. Cor. â—… 14. and in divers others Even so haâ—… the Lord ordained that they that Preaâ—… the Gospel should live of the Gospel Truâ—… the Lord hath not Ordained that 〈◊〉 Servants and Ministers under the Gâ—…spel should have Tythes or the Tentâ— of every Members increase as he foâ—merly appointed under the Law yeâ— nevertheless he hath taken Care of theâ— and Ordained that they should live of 〈◊〉 Gospel not unless Necessity requiresâ— that they should live on the Labor of thâ—… Hands in common with other Meâ—… and pray observe 't is not said 〈◊〉 Church has Ordained it nor we 〈◊〉 Apostles have Ordained it but 〈◊〉 Lord hath Ordained it or it is the Holy Appointment or Sacred Precept of Jesus Christ for the Support and Comfort of his Painful and Faithful Servants he and his People have called forth to Preach his blessed Gospel out some may yet say how has he Ordained it Answ Pray observe So hath the Lord Ordained let us look a little back and take notice of the Scope and Coherence of the place the Apostle hath a Reference to what preceeds Do ye not know that they that Minister about Holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar So hath the Lord Ordained c. That is as God had a Ministry under the Old Testament Namely the Priest of the Tribe of Levi and he Ordained and Appointed a Comfortable Livelyhood 〈◊〉 them as Numb 18.20 Deut. 10. â—… and 18.1 So as they needed not 〈◊〉 Labor as other Men with their 〈◊〉 to get Bread to eat even so hath the Lord Ordained and appointed that those who Preach the Gospeâ— should have likewise a Comfortablâ— Livelyhood or Maintenance now under this Dispensation that they may be delivered from the Incumbranceâ— of this Life and so not hindred oâ— obstructed in their Holy and most Sacred Imployment with secular Affairs God's Will saith our late Annotators is the same under the New Testament that it was under the Old i. e It is not as to the People a matter of Liberty so as they may chuse whether they will maintain their Ministers or no there is an Ordinance of God in the Case it is the Will of God that those who are taken off from Wordly Employments and spend their time in the Study and Preaching the Gospel should have a Livelyhood from their Labours This also agrees with what the same great Apostle saith Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the Word Communicate to him that Teacheth in all good Things Is not this think ye a Precept Is not this directly laid down as other great and â—…dispensable Precepts and Duties are â—…e Ephes 4.23 Let him that stole steal 〈◊〉 more but rather let him Labour with â—…s Hands Let no corrupt Communicatiâ—… proceed out of your Mouths c. and â—…ain Ephes 5.33 Let every one of â—…u in particular so Love his Wife c. â—ou can under no pretence avoid these â—…eat Duties nor can you plead to be â—…cused and pray doth not the same â—oly Spirit and ever blessed God inâ—…n and require you in the same form 〈◊〉 Speech who are taught in the Word 〈◊〉 Communicate to him that Teacheth 〈◊〉 all good Things Shall such who â—ave always shewed much Zeal for the â—…red Ordinances and Institutions of â—…us Christ and plead for a Universal Obedience justifie themselves in the â—eglect of so plain a Precept Christ â—…h then are ye my Friends if you do â—…atsoever I have commanded you pray 〈◊〉 this great Ordinance then be thought â—…on and have equal regard by you 〈◊〉 a Gospel Institution and Appointment of Jesus Christ we argue foâ—… that so you may stand compleat in tâ—… whole Will of God You know what David saith then I shall not be ashamed wheâ—… I have a respect to all thy Commandments Let him that is taught in the Word Communicate to him that teacheth in all good things that is every one according aâ— God hath blessed him with the good things of this World God would noâ— have his Faithful Ministers want any good thing to make their Lives comfortable to them if so be it be in the Power of those who are taught to communicate it to them The Precept saith our late Annotators is concerning thâ—… Maintenance of Ministers which is fitâ—… expressed by the Term Communicateâ—… because as the People distribute to their Ministers things Temporal so the Ministers distribute things Spiritual The good things here mentioned are Temporal good things such as may be Useful to the Teacher for tâ— uphold Himself and Family The Texâ— teacheth us that it is the Will of God thaâ— Ministers should be maintained at thâ— Charge of the Church to which they Administer and it is but an Act of Justice for they do but Communicate Temporal things to those who Communicate to them much more valuable things Be not deceived God is not mocked c. The Apostle addeth this saith our Annotators to terrify those who find out vain and false Excuses to save their Purses he adviseth them not to cheat themselves for tho they might deceive Men yet they could not deceive the All-seeing and Heart-searching God c. Thirdly But to proceed Ministers are commanded to attend wholly upon their Sacred Calling in their Ministry and are required not to contangle themselves in the Affairs of this Life for certainly what Paul willeth Timothy to do in this respect in him he requireth all Ministers â—o do the like and altho' every Christian in many respects may be compared to a Souldier
to be and will to all if seriously Consider'd and laid to Heart Object May be some will Object ouâ— Ministers do not need it nor desire it of 〈◊〉 they can live without it Answ So perhaps some of your Harvest-men that Reap down your Fields may be well to pass in the World and can live without their Hire and Just due c. Yet will that be a good Plea think you to seek ways or means to with-hold their wages from them So and in like manner say we the Ability of your pastors in respect of the things of the World doth not excuse you from the discharge of your Duty to them according to the Just Law of God and Equitableness of the Case Yet certainly they if of Paul's Spirit will refuse to receive any thing lest it should lessen their esteem in their Ministry t is left to their Liberty they may chuse whether they will receive it or not But though they may dispence with their Right if they please as Paul did sometimes through his great Zeal and Love to the Gospel yet cannot you dispence with your Duty you have no Warrant so to do Yet we can't but greatly commend those Pastors of the Churches who can and do without receiving any thing serve Christ and his People and resolve being Blessed with the good things of the world not to make the Gospel Chargeable or a Burden to any but yet we would have you sensible of your Duty and look upon your selves to be Debtors to them and esteem of them the more But do these Pastors who are Rich Able and VVilling to serve the Churches for nothing sequester or give themselves up to the VVork of the Ministry and faithfully discharge that Trust as another who is taken off of Secular Employment But may be though they are like other Labourers yet if they did receive it from you they could Distribute it to the Needy or to help other poor Ministers who serve other Churches whose Poverty may be such that they cannot allow a sufficient Maintenance to their Pastors And therefore whether it may be necessary for you to with hold it from them or for them to refuse it is worth Consideration Sixthly But to proceed Since we are pleading the Case in point of Equity and just Right let it be Considered You do not chuse such Men to be your Pastors or Ministers who are of the lowest of the People but such as may be allowed to have ashare of Parts Common Prudence and Abilitys for Business with other Persons and some of them could manage Trades or fall into other Imployments and get Estates as well as you if they were not Devoted to a better Service And must as one observeth they needs be devoted to Necessities and Miseries in the same Hour that they enter upon the Ministry This ought not to be GOD hath Ordered the Case otherwise in his VVisdom Certainly all will Confess t is the Duty of a Minister as well as other Men to provide for his Family as much as lies in him or take Care of his VVife and Children that they may not be exposed to a Thousand Miseries and Temptations when he is gone For though a Covetous raking Temper worse becomes a Minister of all Men in the VVorld yet as the Author before cited Noteth we greatly mistake our selves to think he must divest himself of that due Affection of an Husband to his VVife or of a Father toward his Children or that those Fruits thereof which are Justly esteemed Commendable in others should be thought in him to be a Fault And is it not sad Judge you That they must be constrained to one of these Dialema's i. e. Either to neglect the full and Faithfull Discharge of their Duty to Christ and his Church or else Neglect their poor Families by fulfilling their Ministry and doing the work of Pastors according to the Nature of that Sacred Office. But as to him who is poor and must geâ— his Bread before he Eats it whâ—… thinks he can Discharge both these Duties well enough t is to be feared he does never a one of them as he ought Moreover 't is good for him to consider the reason of that Law of the ever Blessed God who hath otherwise Ordained Yet let every Servant of Christ use his own Freedom and act and do as he thinks may most promote the Glory of God and Good of the Church and the Increase thereof so that he may give a good account of himself in the Day of Christ Seventhly The Lord hath not left me To argue this only from general Principles of Reason and common Equity but to put the Matter beyond dispute as we have already shewed hath subjoyned His express Command And may not in the next place that Provision which God was pleased to make for his Ministers in the time of the Law be of great use to us and full of Instruction upon this account Nay and ought we not to consider it sith the Apostle argueth 1. Cor 9.13 for a Gospel Maintenance from thence Do ye not know that they which Minister about Holy things live of the Things of the Temple and they which serve at the Altar are partakers with the Altar It appears this is a Duty still and tho' the mode or manner of the Maintenance of the Ministers of God under the Law was quite different to this under the Gospel yet the reason and equitableness of the thing abides Ministers were then provided for by the Lord so he has ordered they should Live comfortably now under the Gospel We find God did then no sooner separate the Levites to the Service of the Sanctuary but he by Law provided for their Subsistence And though they were but one Tribe in Twelve yet the Tenth of the Increase of the whole Land was given to them besides the first Fruits and Offerings and diverse other Advantages so that their Lot and Portion might equal yea exceed that of their Brethrens This indeed is Abrogated Gospel Ministers have no Divine Right to the Tenths of men Increase but the Moral Equity we say does not cease nor can it be thought to be any Burden to provide a comfortable Livelyhood for our Ministers were but our Senses rightly exercised to discern how Good and Gracious God appears to us under the Gospel Dispensation in easing our People from those vast and great Expence and Charges which the Lord's People were required to be at under the Law For we shall soon perceive if we consider that the charge of the Worship of God and the Ministry c. now is comparitively little or nothing to what there was under that Dispensation though Men did endeavour now to come up to their duty for as one observes he thought he could make it appear That the Fifth Part of their Estates was Yearly to be Spent in Things relating to Temple Service And we know not but he might say right And yet we cannot be unsensible of
believe it that God is offended and may justly blast you in your Trades and Worldly Substance if he hath not already because you do not lay this Evil to Heart and that which you think ye save this way may bring a blast upon all you have and while you look for much ye may carry in little and that which you do gain and bring home may be put into a Bag with Holes Hag. 1 6. pray Read the 6. v. Ye looked for much and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it Why saith the Lord of Hosts Because of mine House that is waste and ye run every Man to his own House Many Persons we have amongst us meet daily with great Disappointments Losses and manifold Afflictions diverse manner of ways and wonder at it and are troubled at the Thoughts but we fear do not lay to Heart nor consider from whence it is nor the chief Cause thereof which possibly may be because you have not discharged your Duty to Christ for the promoting of his blessed Gospel and Interest in the World but have shewed much more Love to and Care of your own Houses and Concerns than for the House and Church of God God may say of you O ye Professors you have toiled and been at great Cost and Labour and have expected hoped and promised your selves great Increase but you have clearly discerned and were sensible that it answered not your Expectation much of it dwindled into very little you were loosers and went backward still which you have not regarded nor laid to Heart but have let my House lie as it were waste nothing was too much in your Eyes to lay out on your own Houses and Buildings to Adorn and Beautifie them nor did you grudge to provide Sumptuous Provision and Apparel for your Selves and for your Sons and Daughters Nay have idlely and in superfluities expended much Treasure to gratifie your Lust and yet have let my poor Children and Faithful Ministers want such things that were Necessary for them and not been concerned to encourage an able and painful Ministry that the perishing Souls of Sinners up and down in the Nation might have the Bread of Life and from hence is it that your Trades fail and your Labours bring in but little increase But if once you reform your doings and shew your Zeal for the Gospel and Love to me and act as becomes a People professing my Name you shall see you shall not be losers by it for I will open the Windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Nay saith he Prove me now if I do not do it We conclude the Judgment on the one hand for such a great Evil and neglect of Duty herein and Mercies and Blessings promised on the other hand may be a great Argument to provoke you to a Faithful Discharge of those Obligations that lye upon you in this matter If you have a Desire to be blest in your Bodies Souls and Estates take Care of God's House and bring in your Stores that there may be Provision for his Poor and for his Ministers But if you neglect this Duty and persue the World and prefer your own Houses and Things above those great Things of God and his Gospel you may look for a blast Twelfthly Consider the Zeal of the Heathen of Old and that of the Antichristian Party of latter Times the former spared no Cost nor Pains to Beautify and Garnish their Idols they lavish Gold out of the Bag c. Isa 46. They took it by handfuls as it were and never told it as some conceive not mattering what Cost or Charge they were at sith it was for the Adorning of their Gods The Goldsmith spreadeth it over with Gold and casteth Silver Chains Isa 40.10 He is saith the Prophet so impoverish'd that he hath no Oblation that he can hardly procure Money sufficient to buy the meanest Sacrifice for his Gods he is so Zealous for his Idols that he will one way or another find Money to procure the choicest Materials saith the Annotators and get the help of the best Artist to make it c. Did they shew such Zeal for and Love to them who were no Gods And shall not such be ashamed and blush who have been so niggerly and sparing to help on the Service and Worship of the True and Living God They would have the best Artist and most Curious Workman to do their Business though they impoverished themselves but some of you we fear can be contented with very unskilful Men to carry on the Work of the God of Heaven rather than be at the Charge to distribute of your Treasure for the better Improvement of them which you imploy or to procure such who you have not amongst your selves and as for the Papists you cannot be Ignorant what vast Treasure they have from time to time freely bestowed on their Church and large Revenues appointed for their Priests c. and have they not commonly when they come to dye besides all this left large Legacies for Spiritual Uses as they call them and all to carry on their filthy Idolatry But how little hast thou O Professor parted with to this day for the upholding the Church of God and carrying on the Ministration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Thou hast not shewed that Zeal for the True God which some have shewed for a False One Nor that Care of and Love to the True Worship of God which others have shewed for Idolatry May not these Carnal and Antichristian Heathens one Day rise up in Judgment against you Obj. But may be you will Object and say 't is no marvel the Papists give so plentifully because they think to merit Heaven thereby Answ What then Will not you do as much for the Honour of God and to promote his Interest in the VVorld as thou wilt do for the Salvation of thine own Soul If thou hast Eternal Life meerly of Grace or through the Favour and Mercy of God and Merits of Jesus Christ How much the more should this lay thee under an Obligation to be Bountiful and Liberal to further and carry on and promote the Gospel and the Glory of God in the VVorld or have you a mind to betray your own Sincerity Doth not Grace teach you better Doctrine even to prefer the Honour of God above whatsoever is dear to you on Earth Thirteenthly This will render your Ministers inexcusable if they do not faithfully discharge their Duties in every Respect to God and his People we mean when you discharge your Duties to them according to the Law of Christ and Rule of Justice and Righteousness What will they have to say to excuse their Remissness and Omissions in a painful studying Mediation and preaching the VVord and in visiting the Flock when you have freed them from all manner of worldly Snares and Incumbrances and comfortably provided
for them all good Things But on the contrary if they come forth unprepared and feed you with Food that hath little Soul Nourishment in it How can you blame them or if they never go about all the Year to know the State of the Flock as their Duty is have they not a ready Answer and Excuse i. e. VVhat shall become of our poor Families VVhat can you say to them Can you excuse them from indispensible Duties And say we will be contented with what Service you are able to do and all to save your Purses the Lord open your Understandings and shew you the great Evil there is in this neglect in not complying with the VVill of God in communicating all good Things to them who Preach the Gospel to you And is it not from hence there is such a complaint in some parts of the Country for want of the saving Food of God's Word We hear daily what a vast blessing those Elders and Ministers are of to the People whereabouts they live who are provided for by the Churches over what others be who are not taken off of their secular Affairs being not maintained by the People one Minister may do more than several such do or can do Besides when once you come to acquit your selves as good Christians ought in this Case with what Comfort may you be able to give up your Account to Christ And with Joy and much Soul Peace lye down not only in your Beds but also in your Graves when you come to Dye Motives to press the Duty of the Ministers Maintenance with an Answer to other Objections 1. COnsider well and remember that your Pastors are the Ministers nay the Ambassadours of Jesus Christ such who represent his Sacred Majesty and have his Commission for what they act and do in his Name and dispenee the Mysteries of God to you according to their Duty therefore the Lord Jesus will account that done to Himself which is done to his Ministers He that receiveth you saith he receiveth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Mat. 10.40 Luke 10.16 If the Name and Authority of Christ will beget an aw in you or his Matchless and Unspeakable Love Influence your Souls there is no doubt but his word will abide upon you and cause you to discharge the Duty we have pressed upon your Spirits If you acknowledge a Religious Respect and Reverence due to the Son of God exercise it in a humble Obedience to his word and if you Love him and value his Gospel treat not his Ministers in an unworthy manner Have you not called them off from other Business And are they not your Servants And is not from thence a Gospel Maintenance due to them from you as is the wages of your other Servants Tho we fear some give more to the meanest Servants in their House than they to give to the Ministers of Christ 2. 'T is evident they have a great Charge committed to their Trust they watch for your Souls as they who must give an account Heb. 13.17 And therefore you ought to consider them and pity them and endeavour to assist them and put them into the best Capacity you are able to do that they may make full proof of their Ministry and be free from the Blood of all Men 't is the Business of your own Salvation and concern of your precious and immortal Souls that your Ministers are imployed in and therefore 't is much more your own Interest than his and from hence ought to make Conscience of your Duty for if they can't give their account with Joy that will not be profitable for you And how can they give an acccount of Joy concerning you when you have neglected one great and indispensible Duty by which means they were rendred unable to perform their VVork as became them Nor can indeed the Ministry ever be effectual to your Souls if you be not sincere in Obedience under it Besides as one observes will you be less Careful for your Souls and their Eternal wellfare than for your Bodies and the Comforts of a Temporal Life Can you be content to lay out your Strength and Substance to provide for these and neglect the other Is it not sad saith one to consider How many there are among Professors that live in this World as if there were no Truth in the report of that which is to come and have the meanest esteem of the most necessary means of Salvation viz. The Word and Ordinances of Christ and a Gospel Ministry some can expend perhaps an hundred Pounds per Annum more or less for Ornaments or Delights to Adorn a frail Carcase but will grudg half so much for the poor Saints or to the support of the Worship of the Gospel and his sinking Interest 3. Consider how many Temptations and Soul discouraging VVeaknesses your Ministers lye under continually both from within and without if sensible of the greatness of their VVork and of their own insufficiency You know not their Fears their Cares their Tears and how hard they are put to it to keep up in their VVork finding such strong Oppositions made against them by the Enemy continually so that you had need to Strengthen Comfort and Incourage them as much as you can and not to add to their Sorrow and make them serve you in wants and necessities 4. We might tell you also what the Apostle says in respect of his Liberty as a Minister in forbearing to Work at all Will any of you say your Ministers must labour and provide for themselves when God hath Ordained the contrary and also when the Apostle saith he had power to forbear Working See 1 Cor. 9.6 Or I only and Barnabas Have we not power to forbear Working We certainly as well as the rest of Christ's Ministers if we will run out to the utmost end of the Line of our Liberty in things without having regard to your Circumstances might forbear Working with our Hands and expect that those among whom we Labour should maintain it So the Annotators render it Now you would think this a hard thing should any of your Pastors make use of their Liberty yet if they should do it provided they were Faithful in their Work and Office knowing also your Ability we would know whether any of you could charge them with Sin as we know you may and ought other Persons who work not and though the Apostle did sometimes Work it was of choice and to prevent the glorying of those false Apostles and for some other Reasons which upon special Circumstances for that time he mentioneth and yet he accounts it amongst his Afflictions Quest Ought a Pastor or Minister to make Terms with the Church about his Maintenance before he take the Charge of them Answ We assert for no such thing he is to take the Charge freely and of a ready Mind But we say there is as indispensable a Duty lies upon the People to provide Carnal or Temporal good
they are prevented of Improving what they have for the future comfort and advantage of their Families Nay and we have heard to our great trouble how some worthy Men who have Laboured fully to improve their Ministry through the Peoples neglect of their duty to them have in process of time sunk in their Estates and in Truth have been brought to a low Condition for 't is rare to see a Pastor of our Churches to abound in Riches Tho some Blessed be God may be indifferent well to pass in the World now to expose a rich man to Poverty or to let a poor man shift for himself under wants and necessities are Evils much of the like nature and for a prevention of both God hath ordered it so that neither of these things should or ought to be Therefore this neglect in short exposeth Ministers to Temptations considering the moral Duty that lies upon them in common with other men to provide for their Families namely to content themselves in doing but one part of their Work viz. to Preach a Sermon or two in the Week c. Now our desires are that they may all be wholly sequestred to the Lord's Work and Service and not be other ways imploying themselves when they should be Preaching the Kingdom of God but to Labour to fulfill their Ministry they have received of the Lord so that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy in the Day of Christ Object But our Church is small and our Pastor can't take up all his time in the Lord's Work. Answer We Answer If he wants work who will hinder him from following of his secular Business provided he doth faithfully and fully discharge every part of the duty of his Place and Function But do not the Neighbouring Villages and places adjacent want the Gospel having no Bread for their Souls and this too by reason such Pastors are unconcerned in this matter and by which means 't is doubtless that the Glorious Gospel is no more promulgated up and down in dark and blind corners of this Nation nor the Church increases no more Besides do not many poor Sinners daily perish hereby for want of Knowledg Brethren 't is not for our selves but for the Lord and his sinking Interest that we plead for it grieves our Souls to hear what cries there are in many parts of this Kindom for want of Bread some being forc'd we hear to go twelve or sixteen Miles to hear a Sermon now if Ministers of Churches made it their whole Business to Preach the Word and concern themselves for the promoting of the Truth it would not be as it is at this very time nor can we think it should be otherwise unless we had a travelling Ministry which we fear we shall hardly find unless Pastors and Teachers in the respective Churches were taken off of all Incumbrances and so give themselves up to the Ministry of the VVord God has done great things for us and hath opened a mighty door and shall not we do some great thing for Him The Case Blessed be the Lord is much altered You may come now into any Town and none dare forbid you if any one will but entertain you and Preach the Gospel And shall we not take care to answer this Mercy and do what we can that the poor Blind VVorld may be Inlightened and brought to the saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ If the present Providence of God be not answered by a due Improvement to his Glory and the furtherance of the Gospel VVe may say with Solomon Why is there a price in the Hand of a Fool seeing he hath no Heart to it Prov. 17.16 By this time we hope you may more clearly understand us and what we drive at and earnestly desire to see accomplished viz. That Ministers may not only bear that Name but with all Faithfulness do the VVork they are called to 't is not to press our People to Minister to such Preachers who are Idle and Negligent in their Business whose Hearts and Hands are in the VVorld and eagerly pursue their own secular Affairs and matter not what becomes of the Interest of Jesus Christ No 't is to encourage the Faithful and Labourous Person who is willing to give himself up to the Lord in the Discharge of that great Turst committed to him and to Labour indeed in Christ's Vineyard it is in truth â— shame for a Minister to receive the Lord's VVages and not do the Lord's VVork some there are in the World â—hat do not deserve the Name of Miniâ—…ers they doing the VVork of the Lord so deceitfully Our Churches also are 't is like in some places in the Country but small and â—re like to be smaller if the Ministry 〈◊〉 not awakened to become more Labourous Are there not such in some Towns who are hardly known by the Inhabitants to be Ministers at â—ll they are so little concerned in Preaching they are better known to be Farmers Yeomen and Tradesman then Preachers of the Gospel they are inâ—angled so in the Affairs of this Life â—hat they have but little time to mind â—he great Work they are called to We would ask some Ministers whether â—hey could not do much more Preach oftner and in more Places and take greater Pains to promote the Gospel and gather in Souls to Christ than they do Certainly they will and must say yea we might VVhy what is the reason of your not doing it Ought we not with Mary to do what we can VVe conclude this Omission of Duty either arises from the evil of your own Hearts or else from the Remisness and Neglect of the People in Respect of their Duty to you 1. It may arise from the Evil in your own Hearts in that you have not or do not espouse the Interest of Jesus Christ equal with or above your own Can any be contented in doing a little Service for Christ tho his Interest sinks in their Hands whilst they thrive in their own concerns and grow Rich in the VVorld Lord what will become of such Ministers in the day oâ— Judgment Can they think to looâ—… Christ in the Face with Comfort thaâ— have been such slothful Servants buâ— God forbid there should be any among us who mind more theiâ— own trifling Affairs than the greaâ— VVork and Business of their blessed Lord and Master Is this the making full Proof of your Ministry you have received of the Lord Christ's Ministers are called Labourers but we fear some Labour but little unless it be at their own work should you be as Remiss in your own Affairs as possibly you are in the Lords you would find quickly a decay in your Estates and be in a sinking Condition in the World which 't is like would soon startle you and stir you up to greater Care and Industry and ought you not to be as considerate in the great concernment of Christ his Gospel and Churches We take it not upon us to reprehend any of
you but in Love as fellow Servants may do to caution you pray remember you have the most sacred Interest and Matters of Jesus Christ committed to your Trust 't is the greatest Charge in the World and you and we must be calâ—ed to an Account if Souls perish in their Sins and the Watchman gives not suitable warning the Blood of those Sinners God will require at the Watchman's Hands Zeck 3. Ministers ought to be the Light of the World they should shine therefore in Life and Doctrine to all round about where they live that the People may know they have a Noah a Preacher of Righteousness amongst them But 2. This grand fault may arise from the Peoples Remisness of Duty to their Ministers for hark do we not hear many worthy and faithful Pastors crying out Alas Brethren we are no more in the Lord's VVork no more in Preaching in Visiting c. Because our Families would suffer want and what is necessary for them we should gladly make the Gospel our whole Business and not only watch over and feed our own Flocks but Preach the Gospel up and down in Towns and Villages lying near us if we knew how our VVives and Children might be provided for for should we neglect that great Moral and indispensible Duty how would the Holy Name of God be reproached Alas our Souls are bowed down in us we must confess we have daily calls to Preach in this and that place where to this day there has hardly been any Meeting but we are not able to do it and therefore we are forc'd to send to London that some Ministers might come down into our Parts to Answer that great Call and Cry of Men and VVomen for want of the Bread of Life This is a hard Case indeed i. e. for the Servants of Christ to have the due sense of the greatness of their work upon their Hearts but cannot discharge it according as they see there is a Call and Occasion by Reason the People neglect their Duty to them But however do what you can and venture out God will provide for you and move upon the Hearts of such you Preach the Gospel to or some other way provide for you Improve this present Liberty and do not let the Lord's House lie waste Remember Necessity is laid upon you and wo be to you if you Preach not the Gospel be not Unbelieving but trust the Providence of God great things he expecteth from us who has so gloriously and graciously appeared for us and for the Land of our Nativity Nevertheless Let none mistake us we do not say 't is unlawful for Preachers to VVork or follow Callings but as Preaching doth not make VVorking unlawful neither should any VVorldly Business hinder Preaching therefore when working with our Hands will further the Gospel we may VVork we have a Call so to do which was once Paul's Case but when working at Trades and Callings does palpably tend to the hinderance of the Promulgation of the Gospel we must give over such VVorking and wholly give up our selves to Preaching c. 'T is but to make an Expediment if the People should fail you You know your Liberty he that Laboured with his Hands hath by that Example set the Consciences of Ministers at Liberty to provide for the Necessities of this Life by other Imployments when they cannot Live of the Gospel but this very thing Paul accounted amongst his Afflictions and certainly it must needs be a sore Grief and Exercise to any Godly Preacher in this Respect i. e. when he hears People calling him one Day to this Town to Preach and another Day to that and he finds he cannot Answer neither of their Calls through the Necessities of his Famly and the truth is all do readily grant that no positive Duty can Discharge a Man from the Obligations of that pure Moral and Universal Duty of providing for his Families Brethren you know when the Harvest proves catching and the Painful and Laborious Harvest-men are taken off of their Business then they may do a little VVork for themselves but when 't is good Harvest weather and the Harvest is great and the Labourers but few they must stick to it and Labour hard Even so when the late Storms of Persecution were upon us many of Christ's Spiritual Harvest-men were much hindred and taken off of their Work and did may be imploy themselves otherwise in their other Affairs few being willing to open their Doors to them but now the Providence of God has opened a great Door for the Gospel and sent us Blessed Harvest Weather and the Labourers alas being also very few though the Harvest is very great How ought we to stick to our Business There was never certainly such a Call to Ministers to Work for God as there is now therefore that Servant that will not do his best at such an Hour is like the Son that Solomon speaks of that Sleeps in Harvest and so causeth Shame And as a wise Husband-man will not neglect a fit opportunity of gathering in his Corn upon presumption of much fair Weather to come So ought not we to lose the present Season for gathering in Souls to Christ not knowing how soon Clouds may rise and another Storm overtake us when we cannot Work for God as now we may and if you have not such Incouragement as you ought to have from the People yet remember when Night comes the Lord Jesus will well reward you for all the pains you take in his Work yet since our Saviour saith the Labourer is worthy of his Hire we can't think any when they consider the Matter a little better will any way obstruct or hinder you in your Business through their neglect of Duty to you Object But doth not Christ tell his Disciples As they had freely received so they should freely give Answ We Believe this Text is not taken or understood according to the meaning of our Saviour for it cannot mean that Christ's Ministers should receive neither Money Meat or Clothes whilst they are imploy'd in his Work and Service because in the very next Verse he bids them Provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brass in their Purses nor two Coats nor Scrip for their Journey because he plainly intimates all such things they were worthy of and might expect them from the People to whom they Preached Therefore 't is an horrible abuse put upon the Text to take the Words in that Sense as if our Blessed Master should forbid his Servants to receive a Maintenance from the People for then indeed they might have said Lord If we must Preach so freely as not to receive any thing it behoveth us to provide well for our Journey but since they were forbid to do so it is clear that could not be our Saviours meaning Besides such a Sence is directly opposite or repugnant to those other Precepts the Lord Jesus hath laid down by his Apostles in the Epistles wherein it is positively