A20559:452
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For if you deal thus wrongfully, make an account that as you sowed so you shall reap, such as your seed time was, such shall be your harvest, this your corrupt and unjust dealing shall get but a sorry reward, and such as shall bring but small comfort to your selves; and in an other place the Apostle saith, if they give spiritual things, is it a great matter that they receive carnal, and those that serve at the altar live by the altar. So that ⟨image 127⟩it is the peoples duty, freely and without grudging to help the minister with sufficient allowance for matters of this life.
For if you deale thus wrongfully, make an account that as you sowed so you shall reape, such as your seede time was, such shall be your haruest, this your corrupt and vniust dealing shall get but a sorrie reward, and such as shall bring but small comfort to your selues; and in an other place the Apostle saith, if they giue sprituall thinges, is it a great matter that they receiue calnall, and those that serue at the altar liue by the altar. So that ⟨image 127⟩it is the peoples dutie, freely and without grudging to helpe the minister with sufficient allowance for matters of this life.
Lastly, they must give him maintenance against the wrongs of bad men as it is noted of Aquila and Priscilla that they stood for Paul, and that was not a thing that he alone was bound to be thankful to them for, but in so doing they deserved thanks of the whole Church, which received good by his ministry. And if this duty were carefully performed, persecutors would not be so bold and audacious to molest and trouble the ministers and faithful men of God as they be. But it comes oft so to pass, that though the minister be in all things faithful to his power, and bear such a love unto his people, as that he would part with his blood to do them good; yet let but some vile person of a wicked and ungodly life, (as indeed the devil never lacks such instruments, to vex Gods ministers,) let some but base limb of the devil step forth to set him self against the minister and to persecute him, many in the congregation will be ready to join with him, and have their hand in as deep as any. But others of the better sort have no courage to stand for him, and to defend his good cause; many think they do not break the fifth commandment, and yet know that God hath said, that he that laboureth in doctrine is worthy of double honour. Yet when will they speak well of the minister, when will they open their mouth in his defence? but are ready to say it was his indiscretion, he was to hasty and unadvised, he might have kept himself quiet and thus either because they be dastardly and dare not, or malicious and will not, almost none can be found, that will stand in the maintenance of their faithful minister, against the fury and malice of the Devil and his limbs wicked persecutors.