First; The Law and Light of Nature obligeth you to it, as to the matter of Equity and Justice. And from hence our Apostle takes his first Plea, in 1 Cor. 9.7, &c. Who goeth a Warfare any time at his own Charges? Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the Fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a Flock, and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock? The Ministry is a Warfare, undertaken at the Command of Christ, for the Service of your Souls; and it is as reasonable that the Minister should receive a Supply of outward Things from you, as that a faithful Soldier should receive his Pay from his Captain, at the Charge of the Commonwealth, for whose Good he militates. Shall a Man feed a Flock, (as a Pastor does) and be denied to eat of the Milk of that Flock, which it is his Work to keep and feed? Or, is it consistent with common Justice, to deprive a Man of the Fruit of that Vineyard, which is planted and manured by his own Labour? Such is the Case, in respect of Maintenance, between a Minister and the People. It is ⟨p. 261⟩not your Charity that I ask for him, but Justice and Debt that I plead for: He is employed in your Service, and of Right should live upon your Charge; Nay, you have called him off from other Business, and therefore his Maintenance is due from you, as is the Wages of your Servant; tho I fear some give more to the meanest Servant in their House, than they are willing to do to their Minister. Certainly, if you choose as you ought, your Ministers are not of the lowest of the People, but may be allowed to have a Share of Parts, common Prudence, and Ability for Business, with other Men; and could manage Trades, or fall into other Employments, and get Estates as well as you, if they were not devoted to a better Service: And must they needs be devoted to Necessities and Misery, in the same hour that they enter upon the Ministry? My Brethren, this ought not to be. Let your Ministers have as good a Treatment at least, as the Law provided for the Ox that treads out the Corn, who might not be muzzled. Neither was this written for the sake of Oxen; for, doth God take care of Oxen? or were there no higher End of this Law, than that the brute Creature should not be abused? Certainly there was; And for our sakes no doubt was this written, 1that he that ploweth, should plough in Hope; and that he that thresheth in Hope, should be Partaker of his Hope:
First; The Law and Light of Nature obligeth you to it, as to the matter of Equity and Justice. And from hence our Apostle takes his first Plea, in 1 Cor. 9.7, &c. Who goeth a Warfare any time at his own Charges? Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the Fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a Flock, and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock? The Ministry is a Warfare, undertaken at the Command of Christ, for the Service of your Souls; and it is as reasonable that the Minister should receive a Supply of outward Things from you, as that a faithful Souldier should receive his Pay from his Captain, at the Charge of the Commonwealth, for whose Good he militates. Shall a Man feed a Flock, (as a Pastor does) and be denied to eat of the Milk of that Flock, which it is his Work to keep and feed? Or, is it consistent with common Justice, to deprive a Man of the Fruit of that Vineyard, which is planted and manured by his own Labour? Such is the Case, in respect of Maintenance, between a Minister and the People. It is ⟨p. 261⟩not your Charity that I ask for him, but Justice and Debt that I plead for: He is employed in your Service, and of Right should live upon your Charge; Nay, you have called him off from other Business, and therefore his Maintenance is due from you, as is the Wages of your Servant; tho I fear some give more to the meanest Servant in their House, than they are willing to do to their Minister. Certainly, if you chuse as you ought, your Ministers are not of the lowest of the People, but may be allowed to have a Share of Parts, common Prudence, and Ability for Business, with other Men; and could manage Trades, or fall into other Employments, and get Estates as well as you, if they were not devoted to a better Service: And must they needs be devoted to Necessities and Misery, in the same hour that they enter upon the Ministry? My Brethren, this ought not to be. Let your Ministers have as good a Treatment at least, as the Law provided for the Ox that treads out the Corn, who might not be muzled. Neither was this written for the sake of Oxen; for, doth God take care of Oxen? or were there no higher End of this Law, than that the brute Creature should not be abused? Certainly there was; And for our sakes no doubt was this written, 1that he that ploweth, should plow in Hope; and that he that thresheth in Hope, should be Partaker of his Hope:
- 11 Cor. 9.8, 9, 10, 11.
