A47561:92
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.
3. Consider how many Temptations and Soul discouraging Weaknesses your Ministers lye under continually, both from within and without, if sensible of the greatness of their Work; and of their own insufficiency: You know not their Fears, their Cares, their Tears, and how hard they are put to it to keep up in their Work, finding such strong Oppositions made against them by the Enemy, continually, so ⟨p. 81⟩that you had need to Strengthen, Comfort, and Encourage them, as much as you can; and not to add to their Sorrow, and make them serve you in wants and necessities.
3. Consider how many Temptations and Soul discouraging VVeaknesses your Ministers lye under continually, both from within and without, if sensible of the greatness of their VVork; and of their own insufficiency: You know not their Fears, their Cares, their Tears, and how hard they are put to it to keep up in their VVork, finding such strong Oppositions made against them by the Enemy, continually, so ⟨p. 81⟩that you had need to Strengthen, Comfort, and Incourage them, as much as you can; and not to add to their Sorrow, and make them serve you in wants and necessities.
4. We might tell you also what the Apostle says in respect of his Liberty as a Minister, in forbearing to Work at all: Will any of you say your Ministers must labour and provide for themselves, when God hath Ordained the contrary; and also when the Apostle saith, he had power to forbear Working? See 1 Cor. 9.6. Or I only and Barnabas, Have we not power to forbear Working? We certainly (as well as the rest of Christ's Ministers) if we will run out to the utmost end of the Line of our Liberty in things, without having regard to your Circumstances, might forbear Working with our Hands, and expect that those among whom we Labour should maintain it. So the Annotators render it. Now, you would think this a hard thing, should any of your Pastors make