A Defense of the Holy Scriptures, Part 8
OF THE TREASVRIE.
THe last point of difference from us Mr. Smyth setteth down thus †Dif. after the preface.We hold that in contributing to the church treasurie, there ought to be both a separation from them that ar without, and a sanctification of the whole action by prayer and thanksgiving. Of these & other points about the Deacons office, he speaketh *pag. 28after in his book. Wherein, if he would have his readers think we differ in al, he notably abuseth both them and us. But of the two points mentioned in his article, I will breifly intreat. First, for the separatiō frō thē vvithout, thus he writeth “pag. 30.There ought to be a separation in almes and contribution to the treasurie, as wel as in other parts of our spiritual cō …union. Act. 4. 32. & 5. 13. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Act. 2. 42. Heb. 13. 16. 2 Cor. 8. 7. therf…e they that are without, if they give any thing, must lay it a part severally from the treasurie, & it must be imployed to common use. Mat. 27. 6. 7.
How M. S. gathereth his proposition frō those scriptures, & how farr he wil stretch them, I cannot tel: the first place (Act, 4, 32.) mentioneth cōmunitie of al goods among the saincts: the second place Act. 5. 13. sheweth how no other man durst joyn unto thē: the third place 2 Cor. 6. 17. requireth Gods people to come out and separate from unbeleevers, and touch no unclean thing. If he match these things thus togither, as if the goods of unbeleevers ar uncleā, & not to be touched or received of the Saincts, he misseth of Pauls intent: for upon this ground, that †Psa. 24. 1.the earth is the Lords, and the plentie of it: the Apostle proveth it lawful for Christians to partake with unbeleevers at their table in *1 Cor. 10. 26. 27.whatsoever things is set before them: so that meat drink, clothing, or money may be received from them: neither are these or any like outward things, the unclean things that he forbids to touch, 2 Cor. 6. 17. Consequently, if we may goe to their table, we may hav them at ours: if in our povertie we may receiv releef of thē: in their povertie, we may and should releev them: wherfore there is that cōmunion in these carnal things permitted: which in spiritual things, as prayer, sacraments &c. is unlawful: & though it be sayd Act 2. 42. they continued in the Apost. doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, & prayer: yet he that shal gather we may have no more communion with an unbeleever in eating & drinking, then in prayer; mistaketh quite. We know that to the defiled & unbeleeving no thing is pure, “Tit. 1. 15.as Paul sayth, but unto the pure al things are pure: and if an idol cānot defile Gods creature so, but a Christian may †1 Cor. 8. & 10, 25. &c.use it, (so it be not with offence) neither can the idolater.
In some outward things, I observe difference between the Iewes state and ours. They went not in to, nor ate with men uncircūcised, Act. 10. 28. & 11, 3. we go in to men unbaptised, & eat with them, 1 Cor. 10, 27. They did not eat of al meats set before thē by infidels, Dan. 1. 8. we do eat of al that is set before us by such, 1 Cor. 10. 25. 26, 27. They admitted not an uncircumcised into the temple Eze. 44 9. Act. 21, 28, 29. we forbid not any unbaptised to come into our assemblies. 1 Cor. 14. 23—25, Notwithstanding his I find amōg them, that Solomon asked & received outward things as timber for the temple, *2 Chr. 2. 3. 8.of Huram King of Tyre: & king Darius gave “Ezr. 6. 8. &c.of his owne revenues towards the tēple & worship of God, & it was not refused. In Israel I find not that any admitted into the publik place of the word and prayers, was forbidden there if he would to contribute: neither any such law made by Christ. Rather the ground layd by the Apostle sheweth the contrarie: if the Gentiles (sayth he) be made partakers of their spiritual thinges, their duetie is also to minister unto them in carnal things. Rom. 15. 27. Vnbeleevers are admitted to the ministerie of the word in Christian assemblies, & so made partakers of our spiritual things; if then & there they wil give of their carnal things, upon what ground may we refuse them?
It is alleged, how 2 Cor. 8. 7. the communion of almose is called a grace, and in Heb. 13. 16. a sacrifice. I acknowledge it thus to be in the saincts, whither they give it in publik or private. For when he sayth, †Heb. 13. 16.to do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is wel pleased; he meaneth it not onelyonly of publik contribution in the church, but of private distribution to any at any time. Paul brought almose and offrings to his nation Act. 24. 17. and himself received such a sacrifice from the Philippians, Philip. 4. 18. And if any one Christian in private had sent him the like, had it not been a sacrifice also? Wherfore the Almose of the Saincts are sacrifices, though one give to another *Mat. 6. 4.in secret: yea if a Christian releev “Gal 6. 10an unbeleever in povertie and distresse, it is a sacrifice and sweet odour to God. If therfore upon this ground we may not receiv it of unbeleevers in the publik Church, because it is in the saincts a communion of grace and sacrifice: how may we receiv it of such in private?
But (sayth M. Sm.) they that are without if they give any thing, must lay it apart, several from the treasurie, & it must be imployed to common use. Mat. 27. 6. 7. This position I wil not absolutely condemn: neyther can I yet grant it, for the proof is insufficient. For wheras the Iewes (Mat. 27) would not put Iudas wages into their treasurie, it was not because he was one without; for Iudas was a Iew, no strāger unto them: but because it was the price of blood, therfore they mought not put it into the treasurie. This teacheth us, that goods gotten by violence, extorsion, murder, theft or other like evil way: may not be put into the treasurie, though the members of the Church do offer them. But this is no more for those without, then for those within. And for common use of al unbeleevers gifts; I suppose this example wil not bear it out. For if in the povertie and distresse of Christs church, they which are not of the same, minister releif thereunto, (which if they doe not, it shalbe one reason of their *Mat. 25. 41—45.condemnation at the day of judgment:) hath not the church libertie to use & injoy these benefits for themselves, seing †1 Cor. 10 26.the earth is the Lords and the plentie thereof? must they needs bestow it for the behoof of strangers, as was Iudas hire? I am otherwise minded, for the reasons before rendred. Howbeit concerning these things if any shall better inform us, by the word of God, we shal be willing to receiv it.
For the latter branch, that it should be sanctified with blessing or thanks giving to God, we do wel approve; upō that general ground of thanks unto God for al his benefits: and as any do give or send more special releef, so more special thanks to be rendred therfore, as we are directed, 2 Cor. 9. 12—15.
Albeit for the manner of performing this thing, as whither a special prayer is to be made before the contributiō, & a special thanksgiving after: or whither in the general prayers of the Church, it is to be sanctified among other the publik actions; there may be some question, and I wil not contend: let every one use herein, the wisedom that God giveth them. OnelyOnly I do observ, how M. Sm. himself makes *pag▪ 30.a quere, at what time of the Lords day, and after what manner the treasurie is to be collected: which sheweth in him no certaintie for the form of this busines. & I doubt not but as he, so we al may be to seek, for the most covenient māner & order of doing many things: wherein if any lust to be contentious, I say with the Apostle, “1 Cor, 11 16.we have no such custome, neither the churches of God.