§. XXX.
[96] Mic. 3. 5.
Moderate Protestants and Papists exclaim against the Excess of the Clergy’s Revenues.Next, that a superfluous Maintenance, that is, more than in Reason is needful, ought not to be received by Christian Ministers, will not need much Proof, seeing the more Moderate and Sober, both among Papists and Protestants, readily confess it, who with one Voice exclaim against the excessive Revenues of the Clergy; and that it may not want a Proof from Scripture, what can be more plain than that of the Apostle to Timothy? 1 Tim. vi. 7, 8, 9, 10. where he both shews wherewith we ought to be content, and also the Hazard of such as look after more; and indeed, since that very Obligation of giving Maintenance to a Minister is founded upon their Need, and such as have Opportunity to work are commended rather in not receiving than in receiving, it can no Ways be supposed lawful for them to receive more than is sufficient. And indeed, were they truly pious and right, though necessitous, they would rather incline to take too little, than be gaping after too much.
§. XXXI.
Object.But it is usually objected, That Christians are become so hard-hearted, and generally so little heed Spiritual Things, that if Ministers had not a settled and stinted Maintenance secured them by Law, they and their Families might starve for Want of Bread.
Answ.I answer, This Objection might have some Weight as to a Carnal Ministry, made up of natural Men, who have no Life, Power, nor Virtue with them, and so may insinuate some Need of such a Maintenance for such a Ministry; They wanted nothing whom God sent; they laboured with their Hands.but it saith nothing as to such as are called and sent of God, who sends no Man a Wayfaring upon his own Charges; and so go forth in the Authority and Power of God, to turn People from Darkness to Light; for such can trust to him that sendeth them, and do believe that he will provide for them, knowing that he requireth nothing of any but what he giveth Power to perform; and so when they return, if he enquire, can say they wanted nothing. And such also when they stay in a Place, being immediately furnished by God, and not needing to borrow and steal what they preach from Books, and take up their Time that Way, fall a working at their lawful Employments, and labour with their Hands, as Paul did when he gathered the Church at Corinth. And indeed if this Objection had any Weight, the Apostles and Primitive Pastors should never have gone forth to convert the Nations, for fear of Want. Doth not the Doctrine of Christ teach us to venture all, and part with all, to serve God? Can they then be accounted Ministers of Christ who are afraid to preach him lest they get not Money for it, or will not do it until they be sure of their Payment? What serves the Ministry for but to perfect the Saints, and so to convert them from that Hard-heartedness?
Object.But thou wilt say, I have laboured and preached to them, and they are hard-hearted still, and will not give me any Thing:
Answ.Then surely thou hast either not been sent to them of God, and so thy Ministry and Preaching hath not been among them in the Power, Virtue, and Life of Christ, and so thou deservest nothing; or else they have rejected thy Testimony, and so are not worthy, and from such thou oughtest not to expect, yea nor yet receive any Thing, if they would give thee, but thou oughtest to shake off the Dust from thy Feet, and leave them. Mat. 10. 14. If they reject the Testimony, shake the Dust from off thy Feet.And how frivolous this Objection is, appears, in that in the darkest and most superstitious Times the Priests Revenues increased most, and they were most richly rewarded, though they deserved least. So that he that is truly sent of God, as he needs not, so neither will he, be afraid of Want, so long as he serves so good a Master; neither will he ever forbear to do his Work for that Cause. And indeed such as make this Objection shew truly that they serve not the Lord Christ, but their own Belly, and that makes them so anxious for want of Food to it.
§. XXXII.
1. The Clergy’s Covetousness.But by keeping up of this Kind of Maintenance for the Ministry and Clergymen, so called, there is first a Bait laid for Covetousness, which is Idolatry, and of all Things most hurtful; so that for Covetousness Sake, many, being led by the Desire of filthy Lucre, do apply themselves to be Ministers, that they may get a Livelihood by it. If a Man have several Children, he will allot one of them to be a Minister; which if he can get it to be, he reckons it as good as a Patrimony: So that a fat Benefice hath always many Expectants; and then what Bribing, what Courting, what Industry, and shameful Actions are used to acquire these Things, is too openly known, and needs not to be proved.