A47561:91
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.
2. 'Tis evident, they have a great Charge committed to their Trust, they watch for your Souls, as they who must give an account, Heb. 13.17. And therefore you ought to consider them, and pity them, and endeavour to assist them, and put them into the best Capacity ⟨p. 79⟩you are able to do, that they may make full proof of their Ministry, and be free from the Blood of all Men; 'tis the Business of your own Salvation, and concern of your precious and immortal Souls, that your Ministers are employed in; and therefore 'tis much more your own Interest than his, and from hence ought to make Conscience of your Duty; for if they can't give their account with Joy, that will not be profitable for you: And how can they give an account of Joy concerning you, when you have neglected one great and indispensable Duty, by which means they were rendered unable to perform their Work, as became them? Nor can indeed the Ministry ever be effectual to your Souls, if you be not sincere in Obedience under it: Besides, as one observes, will you be less Careful for your Souls, and their Eternal welfare, than for your Bodies, and the Comforts of a Temporal Life? Can you be content to lay out your Strength and ⟨p. 80⟩Substance to provide for these, and neglect the other? Is it not sad, saith one to consider, How many there are among Professors, that live in this World, as if there were no Truth in the report of that which is to come, and have the meanest esteem of the most necessary means of Salvation? viz. The Word and Ordinances of Christ, and a Gospel Ministry; some can expend perhaps an hundred Pounds per Annum, more or less, for Ornaments or Delights to Adorn a frail Carcass, but will grudge half so much for the poor Saints, or to the support of the Worship of the Gospel, and his sinking Interest.
2. 'Tis evident, they have a great Charge committed to their Trust, they watch for your Souls, as they who must give an account, Heb. 13.17. And therefore you ought to consider them, and pity them, and endeavour to assist them, and put them into the best Capacity ⟨p. 79⟩