N00769:19
A monitory letter about the maintenance [sic] of an able and faithful ministry. Directed…A monitory letter about the maintainance [sic] of an able and faithful ministry. Directed…
A monitory letter about the maintenance [sic] of an able and faithful ministry. Directed unto those people, who sin against, & sin away the Gospel, by not supporting the worthy preachers of the Gospel. : A decree of a national synod of reformed churches at Paris. ...A monitory letter about the maintainance [sic] of an able and faithful ministry. Directed unto those people, who sin against, & sin away the Gospel, by not supporting the worthy preachers of the Gospel. : A decree of a national synod of reformed churches at Paris. ...
Boston, in N.E. : s.n., Printed in the year. 1700
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I beseech you, Sirs, Let Reason and Justice be a little heard, pleading the cause of your Neglected Ministers. Your Ministers demand not their Maintenance, as making a lucre of Prayers, and Sermons, and Sacraments, and Spiritual Benefits: They are not the Sons of Simon Magus, to make a merchandise of things that are Spiritual; nor are they unmindful of Simon Peters caution, about, Filthy Lucre. But while they apply themselves unto Spiritual Services, first, it is a vast Labour which they undergo. The Ministry is a most Laborious Employment, unto all that have any sense of the Account, that they must give of their Stewardship. And sure, a Maintenance is one Thing, in the Honour, belonging to them, that Labour in the Word and Doctrine. And then, they are unavoidably taken off all other ways of nourishing themselves and their Families. Had they been brought up unto another Calling, or, would they yet betake themselves to a meaner Calling, they would probably grow Rich as fast as […]. But they confine themselves to their Ministry; because the Lord has Commanded them ⟨p. 9⟩to give themselves unto it, and, Be wholly in i•. It is therefore Barbarous to deny them an agreeable Maintenance.
I beseech you, Syrs, Let Reason and Justice be a little heard, pleading the cause of your Neglected Ministers. Your Ministers demand not their Maintainance, as making a •ucre of Prayers, and Sermons, and Sacraments, and Spiritual Benefits: They are not the Sons of Simon Magus, to make a merchandize of things that are Spiritual; nor are they unmindful of Simon Peters caution, about, Filthy Lucre. But while they apply themselves unto Spiritual Services, first, it is a vast Labour which they undergo. The Ministry is a most Laborious Employment, unto all that have any sense of the Account, that they must give of their Stewardship. And sure, a Maintainance is one Thing, in the Honour, belonging to them, that Labour in the Word and Doctrine. And then, they are unavoidably taken off all other ways of nourishing themselves and their Families. Had they been broug•t up unto another Calling, or, would they yet betake themselves to a meaner Calling, they would probably grow Rich as fast as 〈…〉. But they confine themselves to their Ministry; because the Lord has Commanded them ⟨p. 9⟩