A discourse concerning the maintenance due to those that preach the Gospel

It must also be acknowledged, That in Poland some who passed under the Name of Waldenses, were faulty in this matter: their Nobles ^(*)(as P. Martyr reports) did insult over other Churches, pretending that they in Poland only had true Ministers of the Gospel among them, because their Ministers took no reward for their Labours. But the Bohemian-brethren endeavoured to excuse this fault by the Poverty of that People.

1. (*)Loc. Commun. cl. 4. c. 2. p. mihi. 761.

No People on the Earth have pretended to a greater Reformation in Religion, than ⟨p. 32⟩have the Churches in New-England: But have not they been faulty in this matter also? Reverend Mr. Davenport has sometimes said to me▪ That he had for a long time doubted that New-England was guilty of much Sin in respect of their Strait-handedness towards the Ministry; and he told me, That he knew my Father Cotton was of that Mind also, who would sometimes say Pleasantly (as another has informed me) That there was nothing cheap in New-England besides Milk and Ministers. The first Ministers of the Gospel in this Colony, brought good Libraries, and considerable Estates with them from England, which is a sufficient Answer to that Objection, How are the People in New-England, blame worthy for their Strait-handedness towards the Ministers of Christ; whenas they had such a Liberal Maintenance as to be able to give a Liberal Education to their Sons? It is true, that some of them have done so. My Father had four Sons brought up at the College, which if he had not had a Personal Estate of his ⟨p. 33⟩own, he could not have done: For he had not more than an 100 l. Per Annum Salary from his People in Dorchester, which (although' it is a larger Stipend than what most Ministers in New-England have, yet) without other supplies, is not sufficient to support a Numerous Family, after an honourable manner. The like is to be said concerning the very Learned Mr. Chauncey; He was constrained to leave Situate because of his Family Straits. When enquired of, how it fared with him, his answer was in these Words, Ut plurimun deest Panis. What a shame is it, that so great a Man should be forced so to speak! And after he was President of the College, the Country was not so grateful to him as ought to have been. Nor could he have subsisted, if he had not received supplies from England, out of an Estate which he left there. I have often thought that Providence has frowned on that Society as an effect of the Lords displeasure against this Colony, for their ingratitude towards that Eminent Man, who had deserved highly