Moreover, the B. objecteth the example of Joash: who, while he Sect. 8 yet did right in the days of Jehojada the Priest, psent the Priests & Levites, to gather from all Israel, money for repairing the house of the Lord: and when they dealt negligently in this business, he transferred the charge of the same unto others, and making himself ⟨p. 129⟩the Keeper of the holy money, did both prescribe how it was to be •eboursed, and likewise take from good Jehojada the Priest the administration of the same. Now, where he hath read that Joash made himself the keeper of the money and prescribed how it should be disbursed, also that he took the administration •rom Jehojada; I can not guess, or the Text hath no such thing in it, but the contrary, viz. that the Kings Scribe, and the High Priests Officer, kept the money and disbursed the same, as the King and Jehojada prescribed unto them. As to that which he truly allegeth out of the holy Text, I answer, 1. The collection for repairing the house of the Lord was no humane ordinance, for Joash showeth the Commandment of Moses for it, Vers. 6. having reference to Exod. 30. 12. 13. 14. No other collections did Joash impose, qbut those quae divino sure debebantur. 2. As for the taking of the charge of this collection from the Priests, he behooved to do so, because they had still neglected the work, when the three & twenty year of his reign was come. And so say we, that when the ministers of the Church fail to do their duty, in providing that which is necessary for the service of God, Princes ought by some other means to cause these things be redressed. 3. Joash did nothing with these moneys without Jehojada, but rPontifex eas primum laborantibus tribuit, tum in aedis s•crae restoration em maxim converti•. 4. And what if he had done this by himself? I suppose no man will reckon the hiring of Masons and Carpenters, with such as wrought Iron and Brass, or the gathering of money for this purpose, among spiritual things or causes. 5. And if these employments about Solomons Temple were not to be called Spiritual or Ecclesiastical, far less about our material Churches, which are not holy nor consecrated as Solomons was for a typical use. Wherefore without all prejudice to our cause, we may and do commend the building and repairing of Churches by Christian Princes.
Moreover, the B. objecteth the example of Ioash: who, while he Sect. 8 yet did right in the dayes of Iehojada the Priest, psent the Priests & Levites, to gather from all Israell, money for repairing the house of the Lord: and when they dealt negligently in this businesse, he transferred the charge of the same unto others, and making himselfe ⟨p. 129⟩the Keeper of the holy money, did both prescribe how it was to be •eboursed, and likewise take from good Iehojada the Preist the administration of the same. Now, where he hath read that Ioash made himselfe the keeper of the money and prescribed how it should be deboursed, also that he tooke the administration •rom Iehojada; I can not guesse, or the Text hath no such thing in it, but the contrary, viz. that the Kings Scri•e, and the High Preists Officer, keeped the money and deboursed the same, as the King and Iehojada prescribed unto them. As to that which he truly alleadgeth out of the holy Text, I answer, 1. The collection for repairing the house of the Lord was no humane ordinance, for Ioash sheweth the Commandement of Moses for it, Vers. 6. having reference to Exod. 30. 12. 13. 14. No other collections did Ioash impose, qbut those quae divino sure debebantur. 2. As for the taking of the charge of this collection from the Priests, he behooved to doe so, because they had still neglected the worke, when the three & twentie yeare of his raigne was come. And so say we, that when the ministers of the Church faile to doe their duty, in providing that which is necessary for the service of God, Princes ought by some other meanes to cause these things be redressed. 3. Joash did nothing with these money•s without Iehojada, but rPontifex eas primum laborantibus tribuit, tum in aedis s•crae restauration em maxime converti•. 4. And what if he had done this by himselfe? I suppose no man will reckon the hiring of Masons and Carpenters, with such as wrought Iron and Brasse, or the gathering of money for this purpose, among spirituall things or causes. 5. And if these employments about Solomons Temple were not to be called Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall, farre lesse about our materiall Churches, which are not holy nor consecrated as Solomons was for a typicall use. Wherefore without all prejudice to our cause, we may and doe commend the building and repairing of Churches by Christian Princes.
- p2. Chron 24.2. Chrō 24.
- qI. Wolph. in 2. Reg. 12.
- rId. I. bid.
