The greedy Kirk, a Proverb.The Scandal that by these Means is raised among Christians is so manifest, that it is become a Proverb, that the Kirk is always greedy. Whereby the Gift and Grace of God being neglected, they have for the most Part no other Motive or Rule in applying themselves to one Church more than another but the greater Benefice. For though they hypocritically pretend, at their accepting of and entering into their Church, that they have nothing before them but the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls; yet if a richer Benefice offer itself, they presently find it more for God’s Glory to remove from the first, and go thither. And thus they make no Difficulty often to change, while notwithstanding they accuse us that we allow Ministers to go from Place to Place, and not to be tied to one Place; but we allow this not for the gaining of Money, but as moved of God. For if a Minister be called to minister in a particular Place, he ought not to leave it, except God call him from it, and then he ought to obey: For we make the Will of God inwardly revealed, and not the Love of Money and more Gain, the Ground of removing.
2. The Clergy’s Luxury.Secondly, From this Abuse hath proceeded that Luxury and Idleness that most of the Clergy live in, even among Protestants as well as Papists, to the great Scandal of Christianity. For not having lawful Trades to work with their Hands, and being so superfluously and sumptuously provided for, they live in Idleness and Luxury; and there doth more Pride, Vanity, and worldly Glory appear in their Wives and Children than in most others, which is open and evident to all.
3. The Clergy’s Cruelty.Thirdly, They become hereby so glued to the Love of Money, that there is none like them in Malice, Rage, and Cruelty. If they be denied their Hire, they rage like drunken Men, fret, fume, and as it were go mad. A Man may sooner satisfy the severest Creditor than them; the general Voice of the Poor doth confirm this. For indeed they are far more exact in taking up the Tithes of Sheep, Geese, Swine, and Eggs, &c. and look more narrowly to it than to the Members of their Flock: They will not miss the least Mite; and the poorest Widow cannot escape their avaricious Hands. Poor Widow’s Mite cannot escape the Priest’s greedy Hands.Twenty Lies they will hear unreproved; and as many Oaths a Man may swear in their Hearing without offending them; and greater Evils than all this they can overlook. But if thou owest them aught, and refusest to pay it, then nothing but War will they thunder against thee, and they will stigmatize thee with the horrible Title of Sacrilege, and send thee to Hell without Mercy, as if thou hadst committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost. Of all People we can best bear Witness to this; The Work of Antichrist is Fury, Envy, Malice.for God having shewn us this corrupt and Antichristian Ministry, and called us out from it, and gathered us unto his own Power and Life, to be a separate People, so that we dare not join with, nor hear these Antichristian Hirelings, neither yet put into their Mouths, or feed them. Oh! what Malice, Envy, and Fury hath this raised in their Hearts against us! That though we get none of their Wares, neither will buy them, as knowing them to be naught, yet will they force us to give them Money: And because we cannot for Conscience Sake do it, our Sufferings have upon that Account been unutterable. Yea, to give Account of their Cruelty, and several Sorts of Inhumanity used against us, would make no small History. These avaricious Hirelings have come to that Degree of Malice and Rage, that several poor labouring Men have been carried hundreds of Miles from their own Dwellings, and shut up in Prison, some two, some three, yea, some seven Years together, for the Value of one Pound Sterling, and less. A Widow for the Tithe of Geese about four Years in Prison.I know myself a poor Widow, that for the Tithes of her Geese, which amounted not to five Shillings, was about four Years kept in Prison, thirty Miles from her House. Yea, they by Violence for this Cause have plundered of Men’s Goods the Hundred-fold, and prejudiced much more; yea, Hundreds have hereby spilt their innocent Blood; by dying in the filthy noisome Holes and Prisons. Some lost their Lives in nasty Holes, some wounded by the Priests, &c.And some of the Priests have been so enraged, that Goods thus ravished could not satisfy them; but they must also satisfy their Fury by beating, knocking, and wounding with their Hands innocent Men and Women, for refusing (for Conscience Sake) to put into their Mouths.
The only Way then soundly to reform and remove all these Abuses, and take away the Ground and Occasion of them, is, to take away all stinted and forced Maintenance and Stipends. Whoso heap Teachers to themselves, let them provide their Stipend.As whoever call or appoint Teachers to themselves, let them accordingly entertain them: And for such as are called and moved to the Ministry by the Spirit of God, those that receive them, and taste of the Good of their Ministry, will no Doubt provide Things needful for them, and there will be no Need of a Law to force a Hire for them: For he that sends them, will take care for them; and they also, having Food and Raiment, will therewith be content.
§. XXXIII.
The true Ministers Call.I. The Ministry and Ministers we plead for, are such as are immediately called and sent forth by Christ and his Spirit unto the Work of the Ministry: So were the holy Apostles and Prophets, as appears by these Places, Matt. x. 1. 5. Ephes. iv. 11. Heb. v. 4.
1. But the Ministry and Ministers our Opposers plead for, are such as have no immediate Call from Christ; to whom the Leading and Motion of the Spirit is not reckoned necessary; but who are called, sent forth, and ordained by wicked and ungodly Men: Such were of old the false Prophets and Teachers, as appears by these Places, Jer. xiv. 14, 15. item. Chap. xxiii. 21. and xxvii. 15.
True Ministers Guide.II. The Ministers we plead for, are such as are actuated and led by God’s Spirit, and by the Power and Operation of his Grace in their Hearts, are in some Measure converted and regenerate, and so are good, holy, and gracious Men: Such were the holy Prophets and Apostles, as appears from 1 Tim. iii. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Tit. i. 7, 8, 9.
2. But the Ministers our Adversaries plead for, are such to whom the Grace of God is no needful Qualification; and so may be true Ministers, according to them, though they be ungodly, unholy, and profligate Men: Such were the false Prophets and Apostles, as appears from Mic. iii. 5. 11. 1 Tim. vi. 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. 2 Tim. iii. 2. 2. Pet. ii. 1, 2, 3.
True Ministers Work.III. The Ministers we plead for, are such as act, move, and labour in the Work of the Ministry, not from their own mere natural Strength and Ability, but as they are actuated, moved, supported, assisted and influenced by the Spirit of God, and minister according to the Gift received, as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God: Such were the holy Prophets and Apostles, 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11. 1 Cor. i. 17. ii. 3, 4, 5. 13. Acts ii. 4. Matt. x. 20. Mark xiii. 11. Luke xii. 12. 1 Cor. xiii. 2.