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
Motive 2. Ministers being intrusted with our Souls we ought to take care they want nothing that is necessary for their Bodies 78 79 Motive 3. Ministers being exposed to many Temptations and Discouragements a great Motive why not to be left to serve in wants and necessities 80 81 Motive 4. Ministers may forbear working if they will provided the Church can provide for them and they faithfully discharge their Duty 81 82 Quest May a Pastor make Terms with a Church about his Maintenance before he take the charge of them Answered 82 Quest What shall that Church do that is not able to provide for her Pastor Answered 83 84 85 Quest Have not you disclaimed againsâ— such who Preach for Hire A Threefold Answer given 87 8â— Obj. Is there any Reason that Rich Men thâ—… are Pastors should have an Allowance Answered 89 9â— Obj. Our Church is small our Pastor cannot take up all his Time in Spiritual Service Answered 92 9â— The Reason why some Churches are small may be because Ministers are no morâ— Labourous in Preaching the Gospel up anâ— down in the adjacent places where theâ— Live which some can't do because nâ—… in capacity The present Liberty to bâ— Improved Idle and slothful Minister not to be maintained 93 94 95 96 Two Reasons of some Pastors Remisness iâ— Preaching or Labouring no more 97 98 Ministers may Work with their Hands anâ— ought so to do when it will tend to thâ— furtherance of the Gospel 10â— A great Harvest now and good Weather therefore Ministers ought to Labouâ— hard 101 10â— Freely you have received freely give Answered 103 10â— Ministers not to Preach for Hire i. e. to propound that as their end 186 The Congregations ought to give the Ministers their Portion with Respect and Honour 108 Ministers Work now as great and weighty as those was under the Law like Necessity of their Work 't is as Honourable neglect as dangerous as then People now as great Benefit by the Ministry or more from hence the same Reason for their Maintenance as under the Law. 111 May he that Exercises his Gift but now and then expect an Allowance from the Church Answered 112 The Weightiness of the Ministers Work opened 113 114 Their Work is Honourable they are in a high Sphere intrusted with the highest concerns in the World. 114 They Workers with Christ 115 May be in danger of losing the Souls of Men. 117 118 They must have a Regulur Call. 120 Ministers intrusted with the Charge of the Church 122 â—…eir Work difficult in 5 Respects 127 â—28 129. ADVERTISEMENT READER WHereas in the 38th Article of Religioâ— called The Thirty Nine Articles of thâ— Church of England 't is said The Riches anâ— Goods of Christians are not common as touching thâ— Right Title and Possession of the same as certaâ—… Anabaptists do falsly boast We look upon oâ—… selves concerned to declare that if there weâ—… in the Last Age in Germany or elsewhere aâ—… People bearing that Name who Asserted any sucâ— thing we know none called Anabaptists in England nor any where else who hold that absuâ—… or rotten Principle but do testifie our dislike anâ— abhorrence of it and verily believe as 't is inâ—…mated in the said Article That the Goods Richeâ—… and Possessions of all Christians as touching tâ—…â—…ght and title of the same are their own as tâ—… 〈◊〉 Scripture witnesses Acts 5.4 Yet notwitâ—standing we also believe and teach that evâ—… man ought of such things as he possesseth liberalâ—… to give Alms to the poor according to his Abiliâ—… as is also there asserted Having this opportâ—nity we thought it not amiss to publish this clear our selves and our Brethren from tâ—… scandal which possibly some may cast upon 〈◊〉 since these Articles by reason of a late Act 〈◊〉 this present Parliament are more generaâ—…â—…own and examined by many People 〈…〉 A Regular Ministry in the Church Asserted GOD in his Infinite Goodness having by his present Providences not only given us reâ—…ite from our former Sufferings but â—…e trust begun that great and glorious â—…ork of the Churches Deliverance 〈◊〉 long the hope and expectation of 〈◊〉 that truly love and fear the Lord â—…e cannot but look upon our Selves â—…ncerned to endeavour to make a due â—…provement of that Mercy and Goodâ—…ss that is attending us herein and â—…ing into consideration the Condiâ—…n of the Church of Jesus Christ we â—…not but be concerned with and afflicted for the late and present wants She lies under in respect to the Ministry God having of late Years removed so many able and pious Men and seems to be near the removing many more by Age and Bodily Infirmities This with other things put us upon the Consideration how much the Honour of Christ the reputation of his Glorious Gospel in the World as likewise the Good and Well-being of the Church depends upon a regular and orderly Ministry and the Continuation thereof And for the Church to be under a supine neglect herein is very sad First Either in not endeavouring after and calling forth such a regular and stated Ministry according to Gospel Institution at all or Secondly to be so weak and inadverteâ—… as to call forth such as are not so duly furnished and qualified for it or Thirdly Suffering such as are call'â— forth to this great Work under competeâ—… Abilities to lye under unsupportable Burthens must needs be greatly blameable before our Lord Jesus Christ the great Bishop and Shepherd of our Souls as well as highly negligent of their own Edification and Well-being 1. To proceed it cannot be denied but Christ hath and ought to have a stated and regular Ministry in his Church according to his own Institution Who himself when he entred upon his Ministry here on Earth did call forth Apostles and Disciples to bear that part of the Work with him which he called them to and fitted â—hem for See Mark 3.13 to the â—… Christ went up into a Mountain â—…d called to him whom he would and â—…hey came to him and he ordained Twelve â—…at they should be with Him and that â—…e might send them forth to Preach to â—hom He gave the Name of Apostles Mat. 10.2 Luke 6.13 Which he did â—ith great Solemnity and Invocation 〈◊〉 the Father for he continued all Night in Prayer to God and when it was Day he chose the Twelve and Named them Apostles After which he appointed other Seventy and sent them forth by Two and Two before His Face to every City and Place c. which were labourers with Him in the Harvest V. 2. And He commanded them to give themselves up to the Work he had called them to and not take Care what they should Eat or Drink For the Labourer saith he is worthy of his Hiâ—… Ver. to 14. Here our Lord Jesus Christ Himself did Institute and Lay the Foundation of the Gospel Ministry in His own Authority and accordingly takes care for the continuance of it after His Death and Resurrection and
yet in this place 2 Tim. 2.4 The Apostle only aludes to â—hose in the Ministry or such who are â—piritual Officers in Christ's Army they ought to take heed who go forth iâ— that Warfare they intangle not themselves with the affairs of this Life i. â— in Trades and Callings which otheâ— Christians are allowed to follow and the reason is offered that they may pleasâ— him who hath chosen them to be Soldiers And hence 't is that the same Apostle in another place exhorts Timothy and so all other Ministers who the Church calls forth to that great Work to givâ— himself up to Reading to Exhortation tâ— Doctrine and to the Study of the Wordâ— Meditate on these things saith he givâ— thy self wholly to them that they profiting may appear to all Nothing doubtless but real necessity may dispense with the contrary hâ— whole time and strength is little enough to be imployed in the Worâ—… and Service he is called to Let thâ—… things be the business of thy Thoughts aâ—… take care of them be in them so it is 〈◊〉 the Greek as our Annotators observâ—… Let them be thy whole Work. He mâ—… saith one give himself up to the Minâ—stry of the Word and Prayer and continue in reading Meditation c. as a Man wholly devoted unto Gospel Service and is therefore by his Call to the Ministry secluded from those ways and means of providing for his own Subsistance as Trades and Secular Employments of others furnish them with that his Mind by the cares of Wordly Business may not be diverted from the Study of God's Word and care of Souls which the duty of his Station engageth him to And if he may not expose himself to the careful Thoughts that accompany worldly Business though tending to his Profit certainly it is no way meet that he should be left to conflict with the Thorny Cares of a necessitous Condition whilst those he Ministers â—o have means to prevent it doubtless â—he Holy God Ordained the Miniâ—…ers Maintenance upon most weighty Grounds and Reasons some of which â—lessed be His Name he hath not â—oncealed or hid from us and this we say seem to us to be one amongâ—… the rest viz. That his Mind and Thoughtâ— might not be diverted from his Work witâ— Earthly Things Fourthly And not in respect of himself upon this account only but also to prevent that occasion of Scandal that we see daily is ready to attend Men who follow Trades and Secular Employments in the World for let Christiann Men be never so careful and circumspect in their Callings and Commerce with Men we find by daily experience how subject they are to fall under the clamours of some ungodly and envious People they lying in wait foâ— their halting and if it be a Ministeâ— or Pastor of a Church that is a Trading Person be sure they will if 〈◊〉 be possible watch him so that he shaâ—… not escape their reproachful Tonguâ—… though it be not in the least deserveâ—… and hereby his Hands are not â—…ly made weak but his Spirits aâ—… grieved and his Ministry made thâ—… unjustly contemptible We find 〈◊〉 from hence very necessary that the Pastors of our Churches and Teachers too if possible should be freed from all such Insnarements and cannot but observe the Wisdom of God in respect of His Holy Ordinance i. e. in ordaining a Support and Livelyhood for His Servants another way so that they might not be brought under Infamy and Reproach and that thereby also the Word of God might the better Run and be Glorified These two Arguments we cannot but Judge are weighty namely 1. the work of the Ministry especially in the Hands of a Pastor being so great that it doth require his utmost attendance or all his whole time and strength as it must needs appear to every Man who soberly and seriously considers it in its Parts 'T is true a Man may bear that Name and Discharge that Sacred Office in part nay and as well as he can considering his circumstances in the VVorld and thereby have in part peace in his Mind but 't is another thing to discharge the duty of this Caâ—…ing as he ought and as the Sanction of thâ—… Office calls for to the Honour of thâ—… Holy Name of God and Credit of Religion for we conclude to Preach onâ— or two Sermons in a VVeek is the leasâ— part of his Work and the least indeed if his Matter be not so well prepared and digested that he may show himseâ—… a Workman that needeth not be ashameâ—… rightly dividing the Word of Truth thâ—… so every one may have their portion 〈◊〉 Meat in due Season which that Timâ—thy might do St. Paul advises him to a careful and diligent Study But how such poor Men can do this who aâ—… forc'd to follow their Trades hard eâ—…ry Day in the Week to get Bread for their Families we see not But besides the great VVork of giving themselves up to Reading Meditation anâ— laborious and diligent Study anâ— Preaching of God's VVord There 〈◊〉 another great Duty lyes upon theâ—… which is Visiting the Members of thâ—… Church under their Care so that thâ—… may know the State of their Flock yea ' go from House to House And if this be not done How can they so well know what Food to Administer or Hand forth unto some poor Souls they have committed to their Charge VVhere the VVork of Visiting is neglected we conclude one main Part of the Pastors Business lies undone and what an account they will have to give of the Souls of Men and VVomen to Jesus Christ We know not if they be remiss here or what an account the Church can give if they are out of a capacity to discharge this great Trust through neglect of their Duty to them They saith the Apostle Watch for your Souls as such as must give account Heb. 13.17 And then Secondly the Credit and Honour of their Ministry in respect of what we before mentioned ought to be considered for if the Preacher hath Blots and Stains upon him through the necessities he may be in in respect of the things of this VVorld by not having his wants supplyed but is involved in Debt or exposed to the breach of his VVord in the way of Trading VVhat weight or power think you will his Ministry have upon the Consciences of Men For it necessarily makes room for the old Proverb Physician heal thy self and it is as a prevention of those Evils i. e. for the good Health and VVell-being of the Souls both of Pastors and People here and hereafter VVe conclude that God has been pleased to Ordain and so to provide for his Servants in the Ministry as we have shewed but this is not all For Fifthly According to the Law and Light of Nature the Church is obliged to provide for their Ministers as to the matter of Equity and Justice and from hence the Apostle argues the Point with the Corinthians 1 Cor. 9.7
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
his way to save his Life the same wicked man shall die in his Iniquity but his Blood I will require at thine Hand tho some do prophanely scoff and deride yet must we speak to them and warn them until it do appear they are such as will turn again and rend us Men must be told their Sins and their Dangers that so we as Instruments in God's Hand may preserve their Souls and recal them aâ— once both from Sin and Death the Man who is not warned will certainly die in his Sins his Ignorance will not be sufficient to prevent his Ruin and Damnation but if Ministers admonish him not warn him not that will involve them also under Guilt and Danger God will punish such Ministers and Watchmen who possibly might have saved those perishing Sinners however they ought to have warned them And Hence how Careful was St. Paul see Acts 20.26 that ye might be pure from the Blood of all Men he appeals to the Church of Ephesus in that matter they knowing his great Care Faithfulness and unwearied Industry upon every Respect and shews that no Soul had been lost through his default he having sincerely and in all simplicity declared to them the way of Life and perswaded them to walk therein and had not kept back any part of the Will and Mind of Christ from them but had shewed them the whole Counsel of God and ceased not for â—hree Years which was all the whole â—ime he was amongst them to warn â—very one Night and Day with Tears Acts 20.31 The precious Worth of the Immortal Souls of Men lay upon the Spirit and Conscience of this Blessed Apostle And in this he laid forth himself as an Example for all true and faithful Ministers who are inâ—oyned elsewhere to follow his Steps â—f one Soul be worth more than all the World How great is the charge of Christ's Ministers that have many Souls committed to their Care and Trust But 2. This is not all they are Intrusted with that Holy High and Peculiar Interest which Jesus Christ hath â—ere below which is dearer to him â—han Ten Thousand Worlds He is gone into Heaven and hath left Hâ—… great Concerns He hath here 〈◊〉 Earth to them to mind and look afte◠〈◊〉 and take the care of For the good of which and to carry it on and for the perfecting of it He hath shed His most Precious Blood and given His Holy Spirit to them in the Gifts and Graces of it and appointed them a Livelyhood without being incumbred with worldly Business and hath also promised them a Crown of Glory at last if they abide Faithful to the end assuring them that they and all others who turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever more Dan. 12.2,3 3. They are not only Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 But also Intrusted with the charge and care of his Churches and Holy Doctrine of the Gospel Ministers are the Stewards of Christ's House Moreover It is required in Stewards that a Man be found Faithful 1 Cor. 4.2 Especially such Servants who are entrusted with their Masters Goods to be dispenced out to others Now the Faithfulness of such Stewards lies in â—heir giving to every one their due Portion according to their Masters order and not detaining any thing from others which he hath ordered them to have the same in quality not Water instead of Wine nor Dross instead of Gold not Mens Inventions and Traditions instead of his Holy Sacraments and Sacred Institutions And the same for quantity not now and then a small Portion but as Christ hath provided plenty so they should plentifully hand forth to all His Servants And they also must be Faithful to cherish and strengthen the Weak and heal with all Skill and Tenderness the wounded and sickly Ones of Christs Family and every way improve their Masters Money and do what they can to gather in Souls to him For one chief End of Gospel Ministry is for the gathering together of the Saints as well as for the Edifying the Body of Christ therefore in every place where there is a Door opened for them they must work hard whilst there are any Sinners to be called into the Vineyard and must not leave their Masters Business to follow their own especially when they know not but Christ hath much People in and about the place where they live who are to be brought into His Fold Secondly The necessity and usefulness of their Work and Ministration is opened by divers other Metaphors viz. they are called Shepherds What would soon become of the Sheep if the Shepherd should be careless they will quickly go astray c. the Wolf would devour them They are called also Guides and of Old Seers and Watchmen being set to discover and give warning of approaching danger The Greatness and Labouriousness of their Work is set forth by their being called Planters Builders and Labourers The Dignity and Honourableness of their Work and Office is set forth by their being called Fathers Angels Ambassadors Stars and Rulers Now from the whole it must needs appear to all that the Ministers Work is hard and difficult We may well say Who is sufficient for these things 'T is such a Work that it caused some of God's Servants of Old to undertake it with much Trembling nay it made Moses to cry out Send by whom thou wilt send Exod. 4.13 'T is so hard and difficult that a man with all his acquired Parts is not sufficient for it nay a Saint with all his Spiritual Gifts and Graces is not able to perform it without fresh supplies of renewed Strength every Day But to proceed the difficulty of the Ministers Work lies in these respects following First In regard of themselves who are Imployed in it 1. They are but Men Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman And as they are men so commonly they are not the wisest and most learned in respect of humane Parts and Knowledg neither You see your Calling Brethren 2. Man at best is but a Worm he is but a poor dark-sighted Creature we saith the Apostle know but in part 3. Man at best with all his Accomplishments is attended with Weakness and carries about with him a Body of Sin and Death Rom. 7. 4. Man at best with all his Heavenly Graces hath but small Skill and short Experiences 5. Man at best is subject to great Discouragements and lyable to many grievous Temptations Secondly The difficulty of their Business lies in the Work it self the Ministers Imployment is hard and no ways easie Because 1. 'T is a Mysterious VVork what Mysteries are greater than those a Minister is to study and dive into Without Controversy great is the Mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3.16 But we speak the Wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden Wisdom 1 Cor. 2.7 That which the most wise and knowing in the same Art can reach or understand but part of must
Things for him as there lies upon him to provide Spiritual good Things for them and to give him Grounds to Believe they will be Faithful to Christ and to him in their duty upon that account Quest But what shall that Church do who are not able to allow a sufficient Maintenance to their Pastor Answ We have a Three-fold Answer to this Question First If through the Poverty of the Church they cannot provide for their Minister they may make their Case and Circumstance known to other Sister Churches and desire their Aid and Assistance herein but if they can have none and the Church do their Duty to the utmost themselves and yet they are not able to supply his Necessities then he must be contented to suffer with the Church But 2. If God Bless a Congregation with a plentiful Portion of this Worlds Good it is their Duty to make their Ministers a Party with them in their Flourishing Condition and as a late Author saith Considering the Place and Imployment he is in and the Service he attends it would be extreamly unworthy to think they have done enough if his pressing Necessities be answered whilst they themselves abound in Superfluities But if the Congregation be poor and there is no helps to he had then their Minister must and ought to be content to be poor with them yea rejoyce to approve himself a Minister of Christ as Paul did by Hunger and Nakedness if the Providence of God call him thereto but whilst it is in the power of their Hands to provide better for him God expects it from them and let none deceive themselves GOD is not mocked nor will he suffer his Commands to be slighted and evaded without rendring a just rebuke to the Offender For whatsoever a Man Soweth that shall he Reap Yet necessity is laid upon Christ's Ministers and woe be to them if they Preach not the Gospel 3. It may deserve our most mature Consideration whether a People may safely constitute themselves into a Church State when not able to provide for a Ministry especially as the Case may be circumstanced for possibly they might very well joyn themselves to another Congregation near unto them and be a great help to such a Church being Imbodied with them And this we do say For a People to put themselves into a Church State is one of the most weightiest Things in the World and ought with as great Care and Consideration to be done we concluding in some places where there are many Churches near to each other it would be far better for some of those small and insufficient Societies to unite themselves to some other Congregation and by that means the weight of those Indispencible Duties and Obligations that are incumbent on them would with much more ease be borne and answered to the Honour of Christ Reputation of the Gospel and their own Edification Moreover if all Christians ought to consider whether they may or ought to put themselves into a Church State except they have Persons fitly qualified and furnished with Gifts and Graces for the Ministry which if they may not safely do then by the same parity of reason ought they to consider whether they may proceed therein if they know their own Insufficiency in respect of their making a Gospel Provision for their Maintenance unless they live remote from any other Church and so necessity put them upon their so doing Obj. But is not this to build that which you your selves have destroyed viz. Have you not disclaimed against such who Preach for Hire Answ We never went about we hope to destroy any Institution or Ordinance of Jesus Christ as the Ministers Maintenance is as has sufficiently been proved But for Men to Preach for Hire to make that their End we mean in Preaching the Gospel we still utterly disclaim any such Practice and say 't is a low carnal and hase End and Design and unworthy of any Christian Man. 2. We have always disowned or do disclaim against Tythes or the Tenths of Mens Increase declaring that they are not the right of any Gospel Ministers by the Law of Jesus Christ or the due of the Ministers of the New Testament by the appointment of the Lord Jesus being only a Mosaical Rite and that Law to be Abrogated as Aarons Priesthood is 3. We have always disowned and declared against such Ministers who use to strive to compell Men by outward force to Pay them what they call their dues it looking so much like an Antichristian Spirit and Practice and not agreeable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ were Love to Christ and the sence of Duty we find ought to be the only prevailing Argument to excite and provoke every Man to his Duty in this great Case Moreover you must take heed you are not prejudiced against your Dutys from mistaken and false Conclusions because some will not Preach unless you put into their Mouths and so make a meer Trade of Preaching VVill you not answer the requirement of God to those who are the Faithful Ministers of his Word Because some will not relieve their Poor unless they are forced to do it Will you disown your Duty to the poor Saints and not relieve them but Object and say 't is too much like the National practice Or do you not like Preaching after that manner i. e. with a Text Doctrine Reasons and Application because such and such do so whom you disown and cannot have Communion with Let all such weak Objections be avoided and mentioned no more for ever Object You have we fear ever done it for though we do belive 't is the duty of the Churches to allow to their Pastors a comfortable Maintenance who are low in the World and so exposed to the distracting Cares of this Life and thereby hindred in the discharge of their Duty in the Ministry Yet for rich Men who need it not to have an allowance we see no reason for that Answ We Answer It is not an act of Charity to Ministers that are poor we plead for But we have proved it is an Ordinance of God he hath been pleased to Ordain that those who Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 'T is their due as they are Christs Ministers He is their Portion now as well as formerly under the Law and have therefore as much right to it as you have to your Inheritance and from hence he willed them when he first sent them out to take no Money in their Purses c. And therefore the State of such you speak of can't exempt you from that Ordinance nor your duty to them besides is it fitting think you that such Minister who have Estates should waste their Substance and injure their Children in their Faithfulness to Christ in Preaching the Gospel and in the services of your Souls For their Work is such that it calls for all their time and uttermost dilligence in a right discharge of their Duty therein and therefore thereby
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