The Deprived and Silenced Ministers Arguments, Conclusion
The Concluſion.
HItherto (Right Reuerend and Honourable) according vntounto my weake abilitie, I hauehave with as much breuity as I could (ſeeing wordes ought to be numbred vntounto ſo great States) defended the equity of the proceedings againſt the clamors of theſe phantaſtique Plaintiſes. Wherein, as I cannot but very much lament this their contentious and wrangling humour. So alſo (albeit in the ecclipſe of their charity, they eſteeme of vsus, that ſtand in the breach, as of the greateſt enemyes they hauehave) I cannot in like manner, but grieue in my very ſoule, when I heare them complaine of their Pouerty and want of the benefits of this life, as they do in ſundry places of this Supplication: which would God their ſingularity hindred them not to enioy, as well as we. For (alas!) what pleaſure can we take to ſee them depriued thereof? We al beleeue in one Chriſt according vntounto the truth of his Goſpell, we do, or ſhould obey one King, our peace is their peace, and our liberty theirs, if they will be content (as they ought) to inioy it: We can afford them roome amongſt vsus, we enuie them no preferments and places of any good and honourable ſeruice in the Church, according to their worthineſſe and ability to deale therein. And whereas they lay the blame vponupon vsus, who are their Brethren, to be alwayes at the Nobles and Princes elbowes to ſtirre them vp, and to provoke al men againſt thē: let them looke into themſelues, and acknowledge their owne error, and we aſſure our ſelues, vponupon the compaſſionate clemencie & mercifull nature of our ſoueraigne Lord, that they ſhalbe graciouſly and louingly embraced, and that they ſhall want no manner of thing that is fit for them. Let them be aſhamed of their feeding of ſhales and huskes at other mens trenchers, as they do, without reſpect, either vntounto the neceſſity of their eſtate, or to the dignity of their calling: whereas the ſincere Miniſters of the Goſpell (as a learned Man well obſerueth) ought to be maintayned, not by popular contributions, but by ſet ſtipends or tithes, & that for many reaſōs.Aret. in Probl. loc. 142. pag. 426. 1. That the occaſion of marchandizing the word of God might bee auoyded. For otherwiſe, crafty, vnfaithful and hypocritical Miniſters would apply themſelues to their affections, whom they ſuppoſed would giuegive them moſt. 2. That Euangelicall liberty of reprehenſion might ſtill be retained. For otherwiſe the Miniſters, either durst not taxe the vices of their peculiar Benefactors, or, if they did, it would turne to their owne hurt. 3. That ſuſpicion of flattery might be eſchewed. For either the Miniſters would frame themſelues to pleaſe the wealthier ſort, or, in caſe they did not, wicked and enuious people would iudge it ſo. 4. That the honour, ſhame faſtneſſe and honeſty of the Miniſters might be preſerued. For what ingenuous man would not be aſhamed, either to lay open his eſtate and pouerty to eueryevery baſe fellow, or to ſend forth his ſeruants to beg neceſſaries for him from dore to dore. 5. That all fraud and deceipt might be preuen…on miniſters. who otherwiſe would neuer acknowledge themſelues wealthy, but would craftily diſſemble their eſtate. 6. That enuious worldlings might hauehave no cauſe to calumniate the Miniſters, to hauehave receiued more then indeed was giuen them. 7. That the poore people might not be preiudiced. For they must eyther contribute ſomething towards the Miniſters releefe, hauing more neede to be releeued themſelues, or they muſt endure ſhame for ſtaying their hands, when others ſhewed their liberality. 8. That men might not ſeeke occaſions to put away their Miniſters, vponupon diſlike eyther of their continuall charge in maintayning them, or of the liberty in reprehending their vices. 9. That the miniſters might not ſeeme to be maintayned by wicked and vngodly perſons, Idolaters, Heretickes, Atheists, Swiggerers &c. with whom good men ought to hauehave no communion. 10. That the Miniſters might not be burdenſome vntounto the poore, to VVidowes, Pupils, Orphans, Sick, needy &c. whom it were ſinne to rob. 11. That prodigall and arrogant men might not, by their large contributions, take occaſion of boaſting, and extolling themſelues aboue others. 12. Becauſe there is no commaundement in holy ſcriptures, that Miniſters ſhould be ſo maintained in all places, and at all times. Let them be aſhamed, I ſay, of ſuch baſe popular exorbitant dependence, when they may be maintained with their Brethren at home, and feed of the fineſt of the wheate. Lo the malice, the enuy and ſpite, which we, whom they terme their Accuſers, doe beare vntounto them, God beeing witneſſe vntounto our conſciences, that wee wiſh them all the good that may be.
Reuel. 7.12.
Amen. Praiſe, and Glory, and Wiſdome, and Thanks, and Honour, and Power, and Might, be vntounto our God for euermore. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Gabriel Powel, The Deprived and Silenced Ministers Arguments (1606)