Monitory letter about the maintenance of an able and faithful ministry directed unto those…

I have been told, That if the Tavern-keepers in many Towns, would bring in true Accounts, of what Money they have received in the Needless visits of their Neighbours to the Taverns, the Sum would vastly exceed all that is in those Towns laid out upon the House of God. This is a Thing that Cries to Heaven, for the Removal of a Despised Gospel; Believe it, Sirs, Believe it.

I have been told, That if the Tavern-keepers in many Towns, would bring in true Accounts, of what Money they have received in the Needless visits of their Neighbours to the Taverns, the Sum would vastly exceed all that is in those Towns laid out upon the House of God. This is a Thing that Cryes to Heaven, for the Removal of a Despised Gospel; Believe it, Sirs, Believe it.

Tis a wonderful Damage, that you do your selves, if it were no more than This; That by taking off your Ministers from their Studies, you Stunt their Abilities, & Cramp their Accomplishments, & loose the vast Good that would thereby accrue unto your selves. It seems, you would have your Ministers to be the Stars, rather than the Lamps of the Churches, & like Stars, to Shine, without the supply of any Earthly Contributions: But they are Lamps; and how should they do any other than Burn Dim, if you don't supply them? Antigonus ⟨p. 15⟩admiring to see, the Diligent Philosopher Cleanthes, grinding his own Corn at the Mill, Cleanthes told him, I must either grind or Starve: whereupon Antigonus noted it as a great Indignity, that the Hands whereby Excellent Things had been written, should be galled with Mechanic Labours. But how often do the people cause the Hands which have Baptized them, and which break the Bread of Life unto them, to be Galled with Inferior Labours, for the getting of Bread? They must either Plough, or Starve. This must needs render their Ministry, less Edifying, to you, than it would have been. Yea, your Unrighteousness towards your Ministers may be punished by the Righteous God with Spiritual Plagues; and God may give you up to such a Spirit of Slumber, that their Ministry shall never more be Profitable to you: for the most Lively Ministry in the world, will do good no further than that the Blessing of God accompanies it. When people are called upon to Maintain their Ministers, tis added,