A47561:105
The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first…
The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first asserted, and the objections against a Gospel maintenance for ministers, answered. Also, the dignity, necessity, difficulty, use and excellency of the ministry of Christ is opened. Likewise, the nature and weightiness of that sacred work and office clearly evinced. Recommended to the baptized congregations, by several elders in and about the City of London.The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first asserted, and the objections against a Gospel maintenance for ministers, answered. Also, the dignity, necessity, difficulty, use and excellency of the ministry of Christ is opened. Likewise, the nature and vveghtiness of that sacred vvork and office clearly evinc'd. Recommended to the baptized congregations, by several elders in and about the City of London.
London : printed, and are to be sold by John Harris at the Harrow, in the Poultry, 1689London : printed, and are to be sold by John Harris at the Harrow, in the Poultrey, 1689
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.
Object. You have we fear ever done it; for though we do believe 'tis 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 hindered 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.
Object. You have we fear ever done it; for though we do belive 'tis 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: 'Tis 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 ⟨p. 90⟩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 diligence (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 'tis rare to see a Pastor of our Churches to abound in Riches: Tho some (Blessed be God) may be indifferent well