nothing like the Church in the Apostles Days, so great Evils have
and do follow upon it. For first, Parents seeing both the Honour and
Profit that attends the _Clergy_, do allot their Children sometimes
from their Infancy to it, and so breed them up on Purpose. And others,
come to Age, upon the same Account betake them to the same Trade, and
having these natural and acquired Parts that are judged the necessary
Qualifications of a _Minister_, are thereby admitted, and so are bred
up in Idleness and Pleasure, thinking it a Disgrace for them to
work with their Hands; [Sidenote: _The Clergy’s Study out of Books;
the Gift of God neglected._] and so just study a little out of their
Books, to make a Discourse once or twice a Week during the running of
an Hour-glass; whereas the Gift, Grace, and Spirit of God, to call
and qualify for the _Ministry_, is neglected and overlooked. And many
_covetous_, _corrupt_, _earthly_, _carnal_ Men, having a mere Shew and
Form, but Strangers to, and utterly ignorant of, the inward Work of
Grace upon their Hearts, are brought in and intrude themselves, and
so through them Death, Barrenness, and Darkness, and by Consequence
Superstition, Error, and Idolatry have entered and leavened the
_Church_. And they that will narrowly observe, shall find that it was
thus the _Apostasy_ came to take Place; of the Truth of which I could
give many Examples, which for Brevity’s Sake I omit. Thus the Office,
Reverence, and Respect due to it were annexed to the mere Name, so that
when once a Man was ordained a _Bishop_ or a _Priest_, he was heard and
believed, though he had nothing of the Spirit, Power, and Life that the
true _Apostles_ and _Ministers_ were in. And thus in a short Time the
Succession came to be of the Name and Title, and the Office was thereto
annexed; and not of the Nature, Virtue, and Life; which in Effect made
them to cease to be the _Ministry_ and _Ministers_ of _Christ_, but
only a Shadow and vain Image of it; which also decaying, was in some
Ages so metamorphosed, that not only the Substance was lost, but the
very Form wholly vitiated, altered, and marred; [Sidenote: _The marred
Church compared to _Theseus_’s pieced Boat._] so that it may be far
better said of the pretended _Christian Church_, as was disputed of
_Theseus_’s Boat (which by the piecing of many new Pieces of Timber
was wholly altered) _whether indeed it were the same or another_? But
in Case that the first had been of _Oak_, and the Pieces last put in
but of rotten _Fir_, and that also the Form had been so far changed
as to be nothing like the first, I think it would have suffered no
Dispute, but might have easily been concluded to be quite another,
retaining nothing but the Name, and that also unjustly. [Sidenote:
_The Abuse following the Distinction of _Laity_ and _Clergy.]
_Secondly_, From this Distinction of _Laity_ and _Clergy_ this Abuse
also follows, that _good_, _honest_, _mechanick Men_, and others who
have not learned the Art and Trade of Preaching, and so are not
licentiated according to these Rules they prescribe unto themselves;
such, I say, being possessed with a false Opinion that it is not lawful
for them to meddle with the _Ministry_, nor that they are any Ways fit
for it, because of the Defect of that Literature, do thereby neglect
the Gift in themselves, and quench many Times the _pure Breathings
of the Spirit of God_ in their Hearts; which, if given Way to, might
prove much more for the Edification of the Church than many of the
_conned Sermons_ of the Learned. And so by this Means the Apostle’s
Command and Advice is slighted, who exhorteth, 1 _Thess._ v. 19, 20.
_not to quench the Spirit, nor despise Prophesyings_. And all this is
done by Men pretending to be _Christians_, who glory that the first
_Preachers_ and _Propagators_ of their _Religion_ were such Kind of
plain mechanick Men, and illiterate. [Sidenote: _Both _Protestants_ and
_Papists_ exclude mechanick Men from preaching, who greatly contributed
to the Reformation._] And even _Protestants_ do no less than _Papists_
exclude such Kind of Men from being _Ministers_ among them, and thus
limit the Spirit and Gift of God; though their _Fathers_, in Opposition
to _Papists_, asserted the Contrary; and also their own _Histories_
declare how that Kind of illiterate Men did, without Learning, by the
Spirit of God, greatly contribute in divers Places to the _Reformation_.
By this it may appear, that as in _Calling_ and _Qualifying_, so in
_Preaching_ and _Praying_, and the other particular Steps of the
_Ministry_, every true _Minister_ is to know the Spirit of God by its
Virtue and Life to accompany and assist him; but because this relates
to _Worship_, I shall speak of it more largely in the next Proposition,
which is concerning _Worship_.
The last Thing to be considered and inquired into is, concerning the
_Maintenance of a Gospel Minister_; but before I proceed, I judge it
fit to speak something briefly concerning the _Preaching of Women_, and
to declare what we hold in that Matter.
[Sidenote: _Women’s publick Preaching and Praying asserted._] Seeing
_Male and Female are one in Christ Jesus_, and that he gives his
Spirit no less to _one_ than to the _other_, when God moveth by his
Spirit _in a Woman_, we judge it no Ways unlawful for her to preach
in the Assemblies of God’s People. Neither think we that of _Paul_,
1 Cor. xiv. 34. to reprove the _inconsiderate_ and _talkative Women_
among the _Corinthians_, who troubled the Church of Christ with their
_unprofitable Questions_, or that, 1 _Tim._ ii. 11, 12. that _Women
ought to learn in Silence, not usurping Authority over the Man_, any
Ways repugnant to this Doctrine; because it is clear that _Women_
have _prophesied_ and _preached_ in the _Church_, else had that
Saying of _Joel_ been ill applied by _Peter_, Acts ii. 17. And seeing
_Paul_ himself, in the same _Epistle_ to the _Corinthians_, giveth
Rules how Women should behave themselves in their publick _Preaching_
and _Praying_, it would be a manifest Contradiction if that other
Place were taken in a larger Sense. And the same _Paul_ speaks of a
_Woman_ that laboured with him in the _Work of the Gospel_: And it is
written that [94]_Philip_ had _four Daughters_ that prophesied. And
_Lastly_, It hath been observed, that God hath _effectually_ in this
Day _converted many Souls_ by the _Ministry of Women_; and by them
also frequently comforted the Souls of his Children; which manifest
Experience puts the Thing beyond all Controversy. [Sidenote: Quest. 4.]
[Sidenote: _Ministers Maintenance._] But now I shall proceed to speak
of the _Maintenance of Ministers_.
[94] Acts 21. 9.
§. XXVIII. [Sidenote: _The Ministers _Food_ and their _Maintenance_
stated._] We freely acknowledge, as the _Proposition_ holds forth,
that there is an Obligation upon such to whom God sends, or among whom
he raiseth up a _Minister_, that, if Need be, they minister to his
Necessities. _Secondly_, That it is lawful for him to receive what is
necessary and convenient. To prove this I need not insist, for our
Adversaries will readily grant it to us; for the Thing we affirm is,
that this is all that these Scripture Testimonies relating to this
Thing do grant, _Gal._ vi. 6. 1 _Cor._ ix. 11, 12, 13, 14. 1 _Tim._
v. 16. That which we then oppose in this Matter is, _First_, That
it should be constrained and limited. _Secondly_, That it should be
superfluous, chargeable, and sumptuous. And _Thirdly_, The manifest
Abuse thereof, of which I shall also briefly treat.
[Sidenote: I. _Against constrained _Maintenance.] As to the _First_,
our Adversaries are forced to recur to the Example of the _Law_; a
Refuge they use in defending most of their Errors and Superstitions,
which are contrary to the Nature and Purity of the _Gospel_.
[Sidenote: Object.] They say, _God appointed the _Levites_ the Tithes,
therefore they belong also to such as minister in holy Things under the
_Gospel.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I answer, All that can be gathered from this is,
that as the _Priests_ had _a_ Maintenance allowed them under the _Law_,
so also the _Ministers_ and _Preachers_ under the _Gospel_, which is
not denied; but the Comparison will not hold that they should have
the _very same_; since, _First_, There is no express _Gospel Command_
for it, neither by Christ nor his Apostles. [Sidenote: Tithes _were
appointed for the _Levites_, not for_ Gospel Preachers.] _Secondly_,
The Parity doth no Ways hold betwixt the _Levites_ under the _Law_, and
the _Preachers_ under the _Gospel_; because the _Levites_ were one of
the Tribes of _Israel_, and so had a Right to a Part of the Inheritance
of the Land as well as the rest of their Brethren; and having none, had
this allotted to them in Lieu of it. Next, The tenth of the _Tithes_
was only allowed to the _Priests_ that served at the Altar, the rest
being for the _Levites_, and also to be put up in Store-houses,
for entertaining of Widows and Strangers. But these _Preachers_,
notwithstanding they inherit what they have by their Parents, as well
as other Men, yet claim the whole _Tithes_, allowing nothing either to
Widow or Stranger. But as to the _Tithes_ I shall not insist, because
divers others have clearly and learnedly treated of them apart, and
also divers _Protestants_ do confess them not to be _jure divino_; and
the Parity as to the _Quota_ doth not hold, but only in general as to
the _Obligation_ of a _Maintenance_; which _Maintenance_, though the
Hearers be obliged to give, and fail of their Duty if they do not,
yet that it ought neither to be stinted, nor yet forced, I prove;
[Sidenote: Reas. 1. _The _Gospel freely to be preached_, without so
much a Year._] Because Christ, when he sent forth his Apostles, said,
_Freely ye have received, freely give_, Mat. x. 8. and yet they had
Liberty to receive Meat and Drink from such as offered them, to supply
their Need. Which shews that they were not to seek or require any Thing
by Force, or to stint, or make a Bargain beforehand, as the _Preachers_
as well among _Papists_ as _Protestants_ do in these Days, who will not
preach to any until they be first sure of so much a Year; but on the
contrary, these were to do their Duty, and freely to communicate, as
the Lord should order them, what they had received, without seeking or
expecting a Reward.
[Sidenote: Nic. Arnoldus _his Answer to_ Freely ye have received_,
&c._] The Answer given to this by _Nicolaus Arnoldus_, Exercit.
Theolog. Sect. 42, 43. is not to be forgotten, but indeed to be kept
upon Record for a perpetual Remembrance of him and his Brethren; for
he frankly answers after this Manner, _We have not freely received,
and therefore are not bound to give freely_. The Answer I confess
is ingenuous and good; for if those that receive freely are to give
freely, it would seem to follow by the Rule of _Contraries_, that those
that receive not freely ought not to give freely, and I shall grant
it; only they must grant me, that they preach not by and according to
the _Gift and Grace of God_ received, nor can they be _good Stewards
of the manifold Grace of God_, as every true _Minister_ ought to be;
[Sidenote: Simon Magus.] or else they have gotten this _Gift_ or
_Grace_ by Money, as _Simon Magus_ would have been compassing it, since
they think themselves not bound to give it without Money again. But
to be plain, I believe he intended not that it was from the _Gift_ or
_Grace of God_ they were to preach, but from their _acquired Arts_
and _Studies_, which have cost them much Labour and also some Money
at the _University_; and therefore, as he that puts his Stock into
the publick Bank expects Interest again, so these _Scholars_, having
spent some Money in learning the Art of Preaching, think they may
boldly say _they have it not freely_; for it hath cost them both Money
and Pains, and therefore they expect both Money and Ease again. And
therefore, as _Arnoldus_ gets Money for teaching his young Students
the _Art_ and _Trade_ of _Preaching_, so he intends they should be
repaid before they give it again to others. [Sidenote: _All Things are
set to Sale at _Rome_. To _Franequer_ applied._] It was of old said,
_Omnia venalia Romæ_, i. e. _All Things are set to Sale at_ Rome; but
now the same Proverb may be applied to _Franequer_. And therefore
_Arnoldus’s Students_, when they go about to preach, may safely seek
and require hereby, telling the Hearers their Master’s Maxim, _Nos
gratis non accepimus, ergo neque gratis dare tenemur_. But then they
may answer again, That they find them and their Master to be none of
his _Ministers_, who when he sent forth his Disciples, gave them this
Command, _Freely ye have received, freely give_, and therefore we will
have none of your Teaching, because we perceive you to be of the Number
of those [95]_that look for their Gain from their Quarter_.
[95] Isa. 56. 11.
§. XXIX. [Sidenote: Reas. 2.] _Secondly_, The Scripture Testimonies
that urge this are in the same Nature of those that press _Charity_
and _Liberality_ towards the Poor, [Sidenote: _Mere voluntary Deeds
no Man can stint them._] and command _Hospitality_, &c. but these are
not nor can be stinted to a certain Quantity, because they are Deeds
merely voluntary, where the Obedience to the Command lieth in the good
Will of the Giver, and not in the Matter of the Thing given, as Christ
sheweth in the Example of the _Widow’s Mite_. So that though there
be an Obligation upon _Christians_ to minister of outward Things to
their Ministers, yet there can be no Definition of the Quantity but by
the Giver’s own Consent, and a little from one may more truly fulfil
the Obligation than a great deal from another. And therefore as _Acts
of Charity_ and _Hospitality_ can neither be limited nor forced, so
neither can this.
[Sidenote: Object.] If it be objected, _That Ministers may and ought to
exhort, persuade, yea and earnestly press _Christians_, if they find
them defective therein, to Acts of Charity and Hospitality, and so may
they do also to the giving of Maintenance_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I answer, All this saith nothing for a _stinted_
and _forced Maintenance_, for which there cannot so much as the Shew
of one solid Argument be brought from Scripture. I confess _Ministers_
may use Exhortation in this as much as in any other Case, even as the
Apostle did to the _Corinthians_, shewing them their Duty; [Sidenote:
Paul’s _Labour was, that the _Gospel_ might be without Charge._] but it
were fit for _Ministers_ that so do (that their Testimony might have
the more Weight, and be the freer of all Suspicion of Covetousness
and Self-interest) that they might be able to say truly in the Sight
of God that which the same Apostle subjoins upon the same Occasion,
1 _Cor._ ix. 15, 16, 17, 18. _But I have used none of these Things;
neither have I written these Things, that it should be so done unto
me: For it were better for me to die, than that any Man should make my
Glorying void. For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory
of; for Necessity is laid upon me, yea Woe is unto me if I preach not
the Gospel. For if I do this Thing willingly, I have a Reward; but if
against my Will, a Dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me.
What is my Reward then? Verily that when I preach the Gospel, I may
make the Gospel of Christ without Charge, that I abuse not my Power in
the Gospel._
[Sidenote: Reas. 3.] _Thirdly_, As there is neither Precept nor Example
for this forced and stinted Maintenance in the Scripture, so the
Apostle, in his solemn Farewel to the _Pastors_ and _Elders_ of the
Church of _Ephesus_, guards them against it, _Acts_ xx. 33, 34, 35.
But if the Thing had been either lawful or practised, he would rather
have exhorted them to be content with their stinted Hire, and not to
covet more; whereas he sheweth them, first, by his own Example, that
they were not to [Sidenote: Paul _coveted no Body’s_ Silver _or_ Gold.]
_covet or expect any Man’s Silver or Gold_; secondly, that they ought
to _work with their Hands_ for an honest Livelihood, as he had done;
and lastly, he exhorts them so to do from the Words of Christ, _because
it is a more blessed Thing to give than to receive_; shewing that it is
so far from a Thing that a true Minister ought to aim at, or expect,
that it is rather a Burden to a true Minister, and Cross to him, to be
reduced to the Necessity of wanting it.
§. XXX. [Sidenote: Reas. 4.] _Fourthly_, If a forced and stinted
Maintenance were to be supposed, it would make the Ministers of Christ
just one with those [Sidenote: _No _Hireling_ fitting the Gospel
of _Christ.] Hirelings whom the Prophets cried out against. For
certainly if a Man make a Bargain to preach to People for so much a
Year, so as to refuse to preach unless he have it, and seek to force
the People to give it by Violence, it cannot be denied that such a one
preacheth for Hire, and so _looks for his Gain from his Quarter_, yea
and [96]_prepares War against such as put not into his Mouth_; but this
is the particular special _Mark_ of a false Prophet and an Hireling,
and therefore can no Ways belong to a true Minister of Christ.
[96] Mic. 3. 5.
[Sidenote: _Moderate _Protestants_ and _Papists_ exclaim against
the Excess of the _Clergy_’s Revenues._] Next, that a superfluous
Maintenance, that is, more than in Reason is needful, ought not to be
received by Christian Ministers, will not need much Proof, seeing
the more Moderate and Sober, both among _Papists_ and _Protestants_,
readily confess it, who with one Voice exclaim against the _excessive
Revenues_ of the _Clergy_; and that it may not want a Proof from
Scripture, what can be more plain than that of the Apostle to
_Timothy_? 1 _Tim._ vi. 7, 8, 9, 10. where he both shews wherewith we
ought to be content, and also the Hazard of such as look after more;
and indeed, since that very Obligation of giving Maintenance to a
Minister is founded upon their Need, and such as have Opportunity to
work are commended rather in not receiving than in receiving, it can no
Ways be supposed lawful for them to receive more than is sufficient.
And indeed, were they truly pious and right, though necessitous, they
would rather incline to take too little, than be gaping after too much.
§. XXXI. [Sidenote: II.] [Sidenote: _The Excess of the _Priests_ and
_Bishops_ Revenues._] Now that there is great Excess and Abuse hereof
among Christians, the vast Revenues which the Bishops and Priests have,
both _Papists_ and _Protestants_, do declare; since I judge it may be
said without any Hyperbole, that some particular Persons have more
paid them yearly than Christ and his Apostles made use of in their
whole Life-time, who yet wanted not what was needful as to the outward
Man, and no Doubt deserved it far better than those that enjoy that
Fulness. But it is manifest these _Bishops _and_ Priests love their fat
_Benefices_, and the Pleasure and Honour that attends them, so well,
that they purpose neither to follow Christ nor his Apostles Example or
Advice in this Matter_.
[Sidenote: Object.] But it is usually objected, That _Christians are
become so hard-hearted, and generally so little heed Spiritual Things,
that if Ministers had not a settled and stinted Maintenance secured
them by Law, they and their Families might starve for Want of Bread_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I answer, This Objection might have some Weight
as to a Carnal Ministry, made up of natural Men, who have no Life,
Power, nor Virtue with them, and so may insinuate some Need of such a
Maintenance for such a Ministry; [Sidenote: _They wanted nothing whom
God sent; they laboured with their Hands._] but it saith nothing as
to such as are called and sent of God, _who sends no Man a Wayfaring
upon his own Charges_; and so go forth in the Authority and Power of
God, to turn People from _Darkness_ to _Light_; for such can trust to
him that sendeth them, and do believe that he will provide for them,
knowing that he requireth nothing of any but what he giveth Power to
perform; and so when they return, if he enquire, can say _they wanted
nothing_. And such also when they stay in a Place, being immediately
furnished by God, and not needing to borrow and steal what they preach
from Books, and take up their Time that Way, fall a working at their
lawful Employments, and labour with their Hands, as _Paul_ did when
he gathered the Church at _Corinth_. And indeed if this Objection had
any Weight, the Apostles and Primitive Pastors should never have gone
forth to convert the Nations, for fear of Want. Doth not the Doctrine
of Christ teach us to venture all, and part with all, to serve God? Can
they then be accounted Ministers of Christ who are afraid to preach him
lest they get not Money for it, or will not do it until they be sure of
their Payment? What serves the Ministry for but to perfect the Saints,
and so to convert them from that Hard-heartedness?
[Sidenote: Object.] But thou wilt say, _I have laboured and preached to
them, and they are hard-hearted still, and will not give me any Thing_:
[Sidenote: _Answ._] Then surely thou hast either not been sent to them
of God, and so thy Ministry and Preaching hath not been among them in
the Power, Virtue, and Life of Christ, and so thou deservest nothing;
or else they have rejected thy Testimony, and so are not worthy, and
from such thou oughtest not to expect, yea nor yet receive any Thing,
if they would give thee, but thou oughtest to _shake off the Dust from
thy Feet_, and leave them. [Sidenote: Mat. 10. 14. _If they reject the
Testimony, shake the Dust from off thy Feet._] And how frivolous this
Objection is, appears, in that in the darkest and most superstitious
Times the _Priests Revenues_ increased most, and they were most richly
rewarded, though they deserved least. So that he that is truly sent of
God, as he needs not, so neither will he, be afraid of Want, so long as
he serves so good a Master; neither will he ever forbear to do his Work
for that Cause. And indeed such as make this Objection shew truly that
they _serve not the Lord Christ_, but their own Belly, and that makes
them so anxious for want of Food to it.