It is a learned, able, faithful Ministry, which yet is the daunting and discouragement of the Jesuits and other deceivers, ⟨p. 5⟩who well know, if these were but taken out of their way, how boldly they might dare us, how insultingly they might challenge us to dispute for our Religion, and how easily they might silence and shame us, and thereby carry away the multitude after them. For who should strengthen the Peoples hearts and defend the Cause of the LORD against them, if such a Ministry were down? It was a faithful Ministry who revealed Gods Mercy, and the precious Truths of the Gospel to our own souls, and whom God by the Cooperation of his Spirit hath blessed to be the means of converting, or confirming, or both, the souls of all those of us who have attained to any saving knowledge of himself. When we remember how often and how happily our souls have been revived and refreshed by their Ministry, we are ashamed of the remissness of our Zeal in this Cause; when we think that they are our Fathers, and confirmers in Christ, and how they must present us to him at his appearing as their Joy and Crown, Phil. 2. 19, 20. and that when we have escaped the flames of Hell, and meet them in glory, we must acknowledge them Instruments of so unvaluable a blessing; we had rather there were no tongues in our mouths, then that ever we should join with their reproachers, and had rather suffer greater wants then ever we yet suffered, then ungratefully deny them their necessary maintenance, seeing our Lord himself said, when he set them upon his Work, The Labourer is worthy of his hire; and the Holy Ghost saith, Who goeth to warfare at his own charge? They that minister about holy things, live of the things of the Temple; even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9. 7. to 15. Considering also that they are not Foreigners, but Englishmen, our own Brethren, and Sons that receive it from us, even that which by Law is not ours but theirs; and considering also how much more liberal Papists are to their Mass-Priests and seducing Jesuits then we are to a faithful Ministry of Christ.
It is a learned, able, faithful Ministrie, which yet is the daunting and discouragement of the Jesuits and other deceivers, ⟨p. 5⟩who well know, if these were but taken out of their way, how boldly they might dare us, how insultingly they might challenge us to dispute for our Religion, and how easily they might silence and shame us, and thereby carry away the multitude after them. For who should strengthen the Peoples hearts and defend the Cause of the LORD against them, if such a Ministry were down? It was a faithfull Ministry who revealed Gods Mercy, and the precious Truths of the Gospel to our own souls, and whom God by the Cooperation of his Spirit hath blessed to be the means of converting, or confirming, or both, the souls of all those of us who have attained to any saving knowledge of himself. When we remember how often and how happily our souls have been revived and refreshed by their Ministry, we are ashamed of the remisness of our Zeal in this Cause; when we think that they are our Fathers, and confirmers in Christ, and how they must present us to him at his appearing as their Joy and Crown, Phil. 2. 19, 20. and that when we have escaped the flames of Hell, and meet them in glory, we must acknowledge them Instruments of so unvaluable a blessing; we had rather there were no tongues in our mouths, then that ever we should joyn with their reproachers, and had rather suffer greater wants then ever we yet suffered, then ungratefully deny them their necessary maintenance, seeing our Lord himself said, when he set them upon his Work, The Labourer is worthy of his hire; and the Holy Ghost saith, Who goeth to warfare at his own charge? They that minister about holy things, live of the things of the Temple; even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9. 7. to 15. Considering also that they are not Forreigners, but Englishmen, our own Brethren, and Sons that receive it from us, even that which by Law is not ours but theirs; and considering also how much more liberal Papists are to their Mass-Priests and seducing Jesuits then we are to a faithfull Ministry of Christ.
