The last reason is more peculiar to this 1age of the new Testament, namely, want ⟨p. 21⟩of maintenance and preferment, for them that labour in this calling: men are flesh and blood, and in that respect must be allured, and won to embrace this vocation, by some arguments, which may persuade flesh and blood: the world hath in all ages been negligent herein, and therefore God in his law took such strict orders, for 2the maintenance of the Levites: but especially, now under the Gospel, this calling is unprovided for, when it deserves best of all to be rewarded: certainly it were a worthy Christian policy, to propound good preferments to this calling, that thereby men of the worthiest gifts might be won unto it, and the want thereof, is cause why so many young men of special parts, and greatest hope, turn to other vocations, and especially to the Law, wherein at this day the greatest parts of the finest wits of our 3kingdom, are employed, & why? But because they have all the means to rise, whereas the Ministry, for the most part yieldeth nothing, but a plain way to beggary: this is a great blemish in our Church, and surely I wish the Papists, those children of ⟨p. 22⟩this world, were not wiser in their kind, (in this point) then the Church of God: the reformation hereof is a work worth the labour of prince and people▪ & special care is to be had in it, else it will not be reformed, for doubtless had not God himself in the old testament, taken such straight orders for the livings of the Levites, they had been put to no less extremities, then is the Ministry of this age. And this reason added to the other, makes them perfect; and all put together make a reason infallible: for who will undergo so vile contempt, and undertake so great a charge for no reward: and where there is so great contempt, so heavy a burden, and so mean a reward, what marvel, if a good Minister be one of a thousand?
The last reason is more peculiar to this 1age of the newe Testament, namely, want ⟨p. 21⟩of maintenance and preferment, for them that labour in this calling: men are flesh and blood, and in that respect must be allured, and wonne to embrace this vocation, by some arguments, which may perswade flesh and blood: the world hath in all ages beene negligent herein, and therefore God in his law tooke such strict orders, for 2the maintenance of the Leuites: but especially, now vnder the Gospel, this calling is vnprouided for, when it deserues best of all to be rewarded: certainly it were a worthy Christian pollicie, to propound good preferments to this calling, that thereby men of the worthiest giftes might be won vnto it, and the want thereof, is cause why so many young men of speciall partes, and greatest hope, turne to other vocations, and especially to the Lawe, wherein at this day the greatest partes of the finest wits of our 3kingdome, are imployed, & why? But because they haue al the meanes to rise, wheras the Ministerie, for the most part yeeldeth nothing, but a plaine way to beggery: this is a great blemish in our Church, and surely I wish the Papists, those children of ⟨p. 22⟩this world, were not wiser in their kinde, (in this point) then the Church of God: the reformation hereof is a worke worth the labour of prince and people▪ & speciall care is to bee had in it, else it will not be reformed, for doubtlesse had not God himselfe in the olde testament, taken such straight orders for the liuings of the Leuites, they had beene put to no lesse extremities, then is the Ministrie of this age. And this reason added to the other, makes them perfect; and all put together make a reason infallible: for who will vndergo so vile contempt, and vndertake so great a charge for no reward: and where there is so great contempt, so heauie a burthen, and so meane a reward, what maruell, if a good Minister be one of a thousand?
- 13. Reason▪ want of maintenance.
- 2Deut. 10. 9. & 28. 2. Num. 18. 26.
- 3This makes many of our best wits turn from Divinity to Law.This makes many of our best wits turne from Diuinitie to Law.
