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 ⟨p. 91⟩to pass in the World: now to expose a rich man to Poverty, or to let a poor man shift for himself under wants and necessities, are Evils much of the like nature: and for a prevention of both, God hath ordered it so, that neither of these things should, or ought to be. Therefore this neglect (in short) exposeth Ministers to Temptations (considering the moral Duty that lies upon them, in common with other men to provide for their Families) namely, to content themselves in doing but one part of their Work, viz. to Preach a Sermon or two in the Week, &c. Now our desires are that they may all be wholly sequestered to the Lord's Work and Service; and not be other ways employing themselves, when they should be Preaching the Kingdom of God, but to Labour to fulfil their Ministry they have received of the Lord, so that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy in the Day of Christ.
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 dilligence (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 to⟨p. 91⟩pass in the World: now to expose a rich man to Poverty, or to let a poor man shift for himself under wants and necessities, are Evils much of the like nature: and for a prevention of both, God hath ordered it so, that neither of these things should, or ought to be. Therefore this neglect (in short) exposeth Ministers to Temptations (considering the moral Duty that lies upon them, in common with other men to provide for their Families) namely, to content themselves in doing but one part of their Work, viz. to Preach a Sermon or two in the Week, &c. Now our desires are that they may all be wholly sequestred to the Lord's Work and Service; and not be other ways imploying themselves, when they should be Preaching the Kingdom of God, but to Labour to fulfill their Ministry they have received of the Lord, so that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy in the Day of Christ.
