The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

AND it may be observed, that at the same instant Hypocrisy and Avarice began to attempt their Advantage on the consideration of this Provision for the Poor, which they afterwards effected unto their safety. For on the pretence hereof, Judas immediately condemned an eminent Duty towards the person of Christ, as containing a cost in it, which might have been better laid out in Provision for the Poor: The Ointment poured on our Saviour he thought might have been sold for Three hundred pence (it may be about Forty or Fifty Pound) and given to the Poor, But this he said, not that he cared for the ⟨p. 180⟩Poor but because he was a Thief, and had the Bag; out of which he could have made a good prey unto himself, Joh. 12.6. And it may be observed, that although Judas maliciously began this murmuring; yet at last some of the other Disciples were too credulous of his insinuation, seeing the other Evangelists, ascribe it to them also. But the same pretence, on the same grounds, in following Ages was turned unto the greatest advantage of Hypocrisy and Covetousness that ever was in the World. For under this pretence of providing for the Poor, the Thieves who had got the Bag, that is the Ruling part of the Clergy, with the Priests, Friars and Monks who served them, allowed Men in the neglect of the greatest and most important Duties of Religion towards Christ himself, so as that they would give all that they had to the Poor; not that they cared for the Poor, but because they were Thieves, and had the Bag; by which means they possessed themselves of the greatest part of the Wealth of the Nations professing Christian Religion. This was their compliance with the Command of Christ; which they equally made use of in other things.

AND it may be observed, that at the same instant Hypocrisie and Avarice began to attempt their Advantage on the consideration of this Provision for the Poor, which they afterwards effected unto their safety. For on the pretence hereof, Judas immediately condemned an eminent Duty towards the person of Christ, as containing a cost in it, which might have been better laid out in Provision for the Poor: The Ointment poured on our Saviour he thought might have been sold for Three hundred pence (it may be about Forty or Fifty Pound) and given to the Poor, But this he said, not that he cared for the ⟨p. 180⟩