The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first…

Answ. So perhaps some of your Harvest-men that Reap down your Fields, may be well to pass in the World, and can live without their Hire and Just due &c. Yet will that be a good Plea (think you) to seek ways or means to with-hold their wages from them? So, and in like manner say we, the Ability of your pastors in respect of the things of the World, doth not excuse you from the discharge of your Duty to them, according to the Just Law of God, and Equitableness of the Case. Yet certainly they (if of Paul's Spirit) will refuse to receive any thing lest it should lessen their esteem in their Ministry; tis left to their Liberty, they may choose whether they will receive it or not: But though they may dispense with their Right if they please as Paul did sometimes ⟨p. 41⟩through his great Zeal and Love to the Gospel; yet cannot you dispense with your Duty, you have no Warrant so to do: Yet we can't but greatly commend those Pastors of the Churches, who can and do without receiving any thing, serve Christ and his People, and resolve (being Blessed with the good things of the world) not to make the Gospel Chargeable, or a Burden to any; but yet we would have you sensible of your Duty, and look upon your selves to be Debtors to them, and esteem of them the more: But do these Pastors who are Rich, Able, and Willing to serve the Churches for nothing, sequester or give themselves up to the Work of the Ministry, and faithfully discharge that Trust, as another who is taken off of Secular Employment? But may be, though they are like other Labourers, yet if they did receive it from you, they could Distribute it to the Needy, or to help other poor Ministers who serve other Churches, whose Poverty may⟨p. 42⟩be such, that they cannot allow a sufficient Maintenance to their Pastors And therefore whether it may be necessary for you to with hold it from them, or for them to refuse it, is worth Consideration.

Answ. So perhaps some of your Harvest-men that Reap down your Fields, may be well to pass in the World, and can live without their Hire and Just due &c. Yet will that be a good Plea (think you) to seek ways or means to with-hold their wages from them? So, and in like manner say we, the Ability of your pastors in respect of the things of the World, doth not excuse you from the discharge of your Duty to them, according to the Just Law of God, and Equitableness of the Case. Yet certainly they (if of Paul's Spirit) will refuse to receive any thing lest it should lessen their esteem in their Ministry; tis left to their Liberty, they may chuse whether they will receive it or not: But though they may dispence with their Right if they please as Paul did sometimes through