Apology for the Ministry and its Maintenance, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Asserts and vindicates the Maintenance of Ministers.
Fifth use is for the reprehension and correction of Anabaptists, Levellers, &c. who deny those stipends to the Ministers of Christ, which are due by a right both divine and humane, by the Law both of heaven and earth, for, grant a Ministry, and you must needs grant stipends, by which it may be maintained. This is almost as clear as a Demonstration can make it. For, VVho goeth to warre at his own charges? even the Law of Nature dictates this, that the workman is worthy of his wages. Hence Moses gave unto the Levites by divine appointment the Ten…, the first-Fruits, the best of the Sacrifices, the yearly pension of a …hekel, the mony for the redemption of the first-born, the mony for vows, as appears Exod. 34. 26. Lev. 27. 3… &c. Numb. 18. In that universal famine in Aegypt, when Ioseph the Kings Steward bought all the Land for Pharaoh, he bought not the Priests land, but allowed them Corn out of the Kings Granaries, Gen. 47. 22. Even Pharaoh himself, although an Idolater, had yet a singular care of the worship of his Gods, and maintined their Priests at his own proper cost and charges; And, if Pharaoh was so carefull for his Priests as to mantain them for the ruine and destruction of himself and his people, that he might not be thought to be wicked and ungratefull to his …eigned Deities: What an ingratitude, what a sacriledge is it, that the true Ministers of the true God should be neglected by Princes and Powers that call themselves Christians, whose pains they know to be of Gods approbation, and for their salva…ion. Hezekiah that Father of the Priests, did not only give a good part of his own substance to them, but commanded the people to maintain the Priests and Levites; that being freed from secular cares, they might wholly give themselves to the Law of the Lord, and lay out themselves in their sacred function, in the service of the Temple, 2 Chron 31, 4, 12. &c.
It was not the least (was it not the greatest) of Alexander's Commendations, that he loved and honoured Learning and larned men; which made his times be so fruitfull of great wits, and witty Inventions. He so well know how to esteem Learning, and to treat the learned, that it afterwards, became a Proverb, If thou hadst lived in Alexander's times▪ he would have given thee a Cyprus or a Phoenice for every Verse. For as a good refined disposition of the ayr begets plenty of fruits, so the benign and ingenious disposition and constitution of Kings and Powers produces a great encrease of Arts and Ingenuities. But on the contrary, the envy, ignorance and baseness of Princes blasts the fruit, and makes the birth of the brain abortive. Therefore, we have Nehemiah contending even with the Rulers, because they had denyed the Levites their tythes and salaries, Neh 13. 10, 11, 12. and he accounts this contention a subject fit for divine Remembrance; ver. 14.
1. Then let all Christian Magistrates take care that the Ministers of the Church (who are ignorant of manual employments) be not driven to wrestle with want and hunger, and by this meanes be turned aside from the diligent execution of their weighty calling, to the care of providing inecessities for nature, All know that the Ministry is a very weighty Calling, great enough for the shoulders of Angels, and such as may justly take up and challenge the whole man neither can the Preachers of the Gospel (nor ought they) to ex…cise any manuall Art, whereby to provide sufficient supplies or maintenance for themselves and theirs, who must either therefore live upon their people, or dye amongst them for want of a livelyhood.
2. Let them take heed they do not diminish, or suffer to be diminisht, or withheld the gifts given to God by pious Ancestors. For God is the revenger of all such, who will send upon the unthankfull world a famine of his Word, for the famishing of his Messengers, but rather let them imitate Constantine the Great, who took care that the Clergy should receive liberall and honourable stipends, and confirm'd it by a Law, Euseb, de vita Constant, lib. 2. cap. 21. 36, 39. Sozomen, Hist, Eccl. l. 2. cap. 8. l. 2. cap. 4.
3. Let them take heed lest the Levellers do also levell the weal publike, and convert it into private-wealth; for after the contempt of Moses, follows the insurrection of the people, Numb. 26. Nay for this, amongst other causes, do these men decry Ministers, because they are the pillars of the Magistracy.
But that I may handle these things the more exactly, I will discuss this position.
There are certain and fixed stipends due to the Ministers of Gods VVord, by a divine right, from their people, that they may be freed from the secular cares and wordly incumbrances, and give up their whole selves to the work of the Ministry.
All the Churches of God are Patrons of this Truth, the Opponents and Adversaries are the Anabaptistical party, and other sectaries.
But that the thing may be the rather clear and evident, I will 1. Confirm the position by the Testimony of the sacred Scripture. 2. I vince the same by Arguments. 3. Briefly answer the wranglings, and break the Forces of the Truths Adversaries.
1. The Truth is confirmed by the mouth of Truth it self, even Christ Iesus, whose words are express for it, Mat. 10. 10 … 10. 11. The Labourer (speaking unto them that were to labour in the word) is worthy of his hire. Christs Ministers shall not want maintenance, for the promise leans upon the justice of God, which will not deceive them. A true paraphrase of the word is this, that the people ought by right to maintain those that preach the Gospel to them. They ought by right to do it, … which springs from poverty as its object, without obliging the person upon whom it is bestowed to any work or duty: (save onelyonly that by the law of nature, the Alms-receiver is bound to be thankfull to, and pray for the Alms-giver.) But what is given to the Ministers of Christ, is not properly given upon the account of their poverty, or is there be some respect had to their poverty, yet not purely and onelyonly upon that account, but for their works-sake; No one will say that he has received an Alms, when he has received it with an obligation to a piece of service, especially to a service that deserves much more, to which Austin gives his suffrage: saying, It is his Power, not his poverty, when a Minister of the Gospel receives from his people: for, if we judge watchmen that watch by night for us and our estates worthy of wages; what do the watchmen of our souls then deserve? from what has been said, I thus argue;
Whatsoever things … due, may be honestly demanded, and ought to be honestly payed, But maintenance and wages are due to the Ministers of the Gospel. Therefore they are lawfully demanded by the Ministers, and ought by right to be paid by the people.
2. That which is due to labourers by the Law of nature, is to be payed. But a ju… recompence is due to labourers by the Law of nature, therefore it is to be paid.
… ▪ But Ministers of the Gospel are not labourers, but … and slow-bellies.
Answ. So say idle and ignorant Anabaptists But I will con…idently averre, that the labour of the mind far exceeds the work of the hands. For, although the Ministers of the word do not work with their hand; yet if they diligently and faithfully discharge their office, give diligence in reading, watching over, praying for, preaching to, admonishing, reproving and comforting of their people, &c. it will be but an idle and unreasonable part to accuse any of them of idleness, Either let their adversaries confess them to be Labourers, or at once, accuse all Souldiers, Shepherds, Husbandmen of idleness; for such are they, as was before made to appear.
2. A second proof is easily fetch from Gal. 6. 6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that … foreign in all good things. That is, (1.) freely and liberally, not covetously and repiningly. (2.) Not in some onelyonly, but in all temporall good things. For as the Teachers communicates to the Learners their spirituall good things, the knowledge of Christ, and all heavenly Treasure; so it is fit that the Learners communicate unto their Teachers temporall good things, all things ordained for the relief of the necessities of an animall life, which things carry no proportion in them to spirituall good things, although the blind world put a great price upon them, and stick not to preferre them before spirituall things. It is a sad complaint that Musculus takes up. Now that there are no Tithes, no Revenues, no stipends constituted by our Ancestors, the people contribute to their Teachers so freely, that, whilst themselves either by covetousnesse contract all things unto, or by luxury consume all things upon themselves, the Minister of Christ has source dry bread, with which to satisfie the hunger of himself or his.
But here men begin to flinch. one pretends that he has a Family to maintain, another that he has nothing to spare: Others declaim against the Ministers: They are cove…ous, greedy, insatiable men; if they were right Gospel-Ministers, they should have nothing of their own, but should nakedly follow a naked Christ.
To all which the Apostle given a sharp answer, Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived, God is not m…cked, &c. Many men be deceived (but in this you have to deal with God) who cannot be, will not be, is not deceived.
3. The Apostle judgeth them worthy of double honour, who rule well, especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine, 1. Tim. 5. 17. He would have a liberall, honest and honourable allowance given to the Ministers of Christ▪ not onelyonly for nourishment but ornament, not onelyonly for necessity but for honour also. For the manner of the Scripture is by Double to mean manifold. Elisha in 2 King▪ 29. aske a double portion of the spirit of Eliah; …hat is, a very great and …ealous spi…t. So Rev 18. 6. double unto her double according unto her works; That is, Let Babylon be punisht af…er a fuller measure. Thus give unto them double honour, that is, honour them fully and freely? maintain them cheerfully, pay them stipends readily, and as it is meet, speak reverently and honourably of them; Hence it appears that the maintenance of Ministers ought to be sufficient, honourable, certain.
1. It ought to be sufficient to relieve their necessityes. This is a sacrifice well pleasing to God, an odour of a sweet smell, Phil. 4. 18. I have received all things, and abound, I am full. That is, ye have not onelyonly supplyed my necessi…yes, but have also made me to abound, not unto lust and luxury, but for necessity and use. Therefore the Holy Ghost expresses a stipend or a livelyhood, by salt, because it is as nec…ssary as salt. To have maintenance from the Kings Pallace, in the Chaldee is exprest, by being salted with the salt of the pallace, Ezra 4. 14. Even Christ himself received subsistence of the woman that followed him, Luke 8. 8. and had a common bag and moderate expence…, Iohn 4. 8. Ier. 13. 6.
2. It ought to be an honourable stipend. Publick work ought to be fruitfull and gainfull to the workmen. Great rewards are great encouragements to a diligence as great as either. Nay, it is just and fit that every man should not onelyonly live upon, but profit by his pains. Hence God commands that the best should be given for …ythes, Numb. 18. 29, 30. this ought to be the rather,
1. That by hospitality, and bounty, and good wo…ks they may adorn their Office, 1 Tim. 3. 2. Tit. 1. 8. for if you take away a liberall stipend, liberality must needs fall; take away the …, you extinguish the fire, Prov. 26. 20. where no wood is there the fire goeth out. Stipends decaying, charity must needs grow cold; What advantage can be gotten by mony that is already …lipt, or what shavings can be expected of an Egg?
2. That they may live like the Embassadour… of the great King▪ not like Nea…-heards and Swine…heards, that they may be more ready to give than to receive; For it is more blessed, and consequently more honourable to give than to receive; Act. …0. 35. And yet alas) in many places the Ministers of Christ have not the wages of a Gentlemans Hors-rider▪
3. That they may furnish themselves with books, Philosophicall, Historicall, Theologicall, Polemicall, Practicall, Criticall, &c. We must give diligence to reading,De justit. & jure. li. 2. cap. 1. but how shall we read without books? Some have therefore determin'd 500 l. some 600 l. requisite for the purchase of a Library. Lessius speaks well and to the purpose. They(meaning Ministers) had need of a great deal of Learning, the procuring of which requires great charges; and as for other wayes of advantages, as Merchandize▪ and m…chanicall▪ Arts they are ignorant of them, neither doth it become them to deal therein.
4. That they may cheerfully go through with the Lord's work, being freed from worldly cares and encumbrances. Not that they may be idle and luxurious, but that they may cheerfully, faithfully, and solely give up themselves to the Law of God, 2 Tim. 2. 4.
5. If the Leviticall Priests had an honourable stipend, then such ought the Ministers of the Go…pel to have (for they are obnoxious to greater labours, and expences than the Tribe of Levi was). But the Antecedent is true, as shall be made to appear hereafter. Therefore ought Christian Magistrat…s to take care that there be a liberall and honourable allowance for the Ministers of Christ.
3. It ought to be a setled maintenance, a certain stipend; not the benevolence of the people, not a spontaneous arbitrary gift, not an alms; for honour and alms do not well agree to the same person. But let it be fixed, certain, established, ratifyed and setled by the Laws of the Land; lest the Labans of this world change good Iacob's wages ten times or oftner. Our Brethren of London, commonly called (dissenting), did therefore take care that their stipends should be setled to them to the value of 100 200, 300. per annum. Experience witnesses that the men of the world are hardly drawn or driven to pay the stipends and salaryes due to Gods labourers; nay even those allowances, which by the bounty of pious Princes and Ancestors have been given to the Ministers of Christ, are hardly writing out of the hand of the…e Harpyes, notwithstanding the favour and assistance of the law. How much more deceitfully and unjustly should we be dealt with, if the Law did not befriend us then. This stipend, w… confess, is not the ultimate end which a Minister ought to propound to himself, yet it is a reward allowed by God to laboure…s, not to drones: and although these temporall things are not our chiefest good, yet they are concomitants thereof, they are encouragements and ornaments of Vertue▪ adding something to its …plendor and glory, Eccl 7. 11. VVisdom is good with an Inheritance. And hence it is that God promiseth these things as a reward of Piety, Deut. 28. …, 2, 3, &c.
Deservedly then are the Anabaptists condemn'd, who deny setled stipends to the Ministers of the Gospel. This is a delusion and suggestion of the Devils, to defraud faithfull Ministers of their livelyhood, to the intent that the Church may be made destitute of such, & himself might delude, dec…ive, devour without controul. And such is the ingratitude, inhumanity and sordid covetousnesse of the world, that it is not very thought…ull how to maintain the Ministers of the Gospel and the Devil uses this stratagem to rob the Church of the Doctrine of the Gospel, by want and the fear of poverty to afright the most from undertaking such a task, as you may see, Neh. 13. 10,
11. The tythes are injuriously detained, and the house of God is presently forsaken. This wretched cove…ousness of the ingrat…full world doth put a stop to many forward spirits: for we are men, and so are affected, encouraged or discouraged by the consideration of temporall things, as appears by the examples of zealous Elijah, and good Ieremiah, 1 King. 19. 4. Ier. 20. 9. Men know what a heavy affliction poverty is, Prov. 30. 8. Lam. 4. 9. We must therefore a little consider humane weaknesse, and encourage great and gracious ingenuities with generous rewards;
For who will follow vertuous studyes, when
Condigne rewards shall cease from vertuous men?
Do not the more noble and generous wits decline the …unction of the Ministry, seeing Ministers and their Windows and children (to the great shame of Christian Religion) frequently exposed to poverty and want? Hath not the poverty of Clergy-men begotten ignorance, and ignorance brought forth contempt? Do not poor means make poor Ministers? This Iulian the Apostate knew well enough, therefore he enterpri…'d the extirpation of Christian Religion, not by violence, but by spoiling the Clergy of all their Priviledges, stipends, …, and allowances, which they had from the publick: imitating the Stratagem or Souldiers, who, when they cannot prevail against a City or Garrison by down-right opposition, and violent storming, wearie it out with long and strait …iege▪ and weaken it by extream hunger, even unto Resignation: Take away all allowances and maintenance, and you cut the very throat of Religion; For, who will learn Arts and Languages at his own cost? Who will teach them for nought? Who will betake himself to a naked and beggarly Ministry.
4. We argue from 1 Cor. 9. 6. to the 15. Lo a Text big with irrefragable invincible Arguments; For the Apostle foresaw, that the wicked world would be very sordid and niggardly in maintaining the Ministers of the Gospel▪ although pro…u…e and prodigal in vain and idle expences. It is a just judgment of God, that they who will not give a bit of bread to the Ministers of Christ▪ the Messengers of Salvation, should be given up to throw away whole Kingdomes, and Provinces upon the Ministers of Sat…an, and the Messengers of death; as Luther speaks truely and roundly.
The Apostle proves, that he had right, and power to receive maint…nance of the Church; to lead about a wife, who should also be maintained at a publick Charge, that posterity might know this to be lawfull, ver. 4, 5, 6. and, to shew what a clear right of his own he denied for the Corinthians sake, that by this means he might win them to Christ, and promote their Salvation; He confirms this,
1. By an Argument drawn from three Similitudes, to wit, From the right of Souldiers, of Husbandmen, and of Shepherds. VVho goeth a warfare at his own charges? &c, that is, as it is right and fit that Souldiers should live upon their pay, the Planter of a vineyard feed upon the fruit of his vines, and a Shepherd upon the milk of his flock; so is it fit, that the Ministers of the Gospel should live of the Gospell, of their own vine, that is, the Church; of the milk of their own flock, that is, of the goods of their own people. Let those Souldiers that decry Tythes, and the settled stipends of Ministers, consider their own case, and answer the great Apostles Argument, if they can, VVho will go to war at his own charges? The Interrogation is a vehement Negation, No one will souldier it upon such terms. For indeed, it is an unjust, and unreasonable thing, that a Souldier should stand in jeopardy daily, fight for the common safety against the common enemy▪ and offer his very life as a sacrifice for the lives of the commonalty▪ and not be maintained at a common charge. He receiveth therefore wages from his General by a natural and civil right. And is it reasonable, or just, that the Ministers of Gods word should undergo the care of the Churches, the great burden of the Ministry, and yet live of their own? For their pains, and labours, and sufferings, and dangers exceed those of the Souldiery. These fight against flesh and blood, but they against the world, the flesh, and the devil, 2 Cor. 10. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 18. 2 Tim. 2, 3. This then is the Apostles Argument, Souldiers do not war at their own charges, The Ministers of the Gospel are Souldiers, Therefore ought not they to war at their own charges.
2. The Apostle having put to flight the souldiers that declame and rayle against the setled and honourable maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospel, he comes to stop the murmuring mouths of Husbandmen, sowers, plowers, threshers, shepherds and men of that mold. Against these he argues thus: They that plant and dress a Vine, it is fit that they should tast of the grapes thereof, (as it is said) that Noah planted a Vineyard and drank of the wine of it; and Prov. 27. 18. VVhose keepeth the fig tree shall eat of the fruit thereof.) But the Ministers of Christ plant, and dress Christs Vineyard, therefore it is fit that they should live of the fruit thereof. So also it may be argued from Shepheards, feeding upon the milk of their flocks. As much as if the Apostle had said, look but unto humane equity and common customs of men, in things of farre lesser and lighter moment, and conclude how just it is that the Ministers of the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
3. The Apostle sets upon these sacrilegious persons with stronger Arguments, Arguments fetch'd from Divine Authority. For, although the cause which he pleads be a most just cause, yet he knew how subtil and crafty worldly wit is to reply, especially in a money-matter; therefore, by a Prolepsis, he meets an Objection, ver. 8. where he proves, that he doth not onelyonly confirm his Position by humane Arguments and Examples, but by the Law of God also; Say I these as a man? Do I fortifie my cause with humane reason and examples onelyonly? Or, saith not the …aw the same also? Yes; Deut. 25. 4. Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox, when he treadeth out the corne. He uses an Argument from the less to the greater. If it were not lawfull to deny maintenance to an unreasonable creature, much less to a man; if not to an Oxe treading, then not to a Minister …oyling. For Gods chief care in this Law was not for oxen; he look'd at a further end, even at us, who are typical oxen, toyling in the Lords field, treading in his barnes: Therefore convenient maintenance must not be denied us, lest we faint in the work.
4. He argues from the less to the greater again; From the example of Plowmen, and Threshers, ver. 10. If the Plower ploweth, and the Thresher thresheth in hope, to wit, of his wages, and that he shall partake of his crop, and of his threshing, then a Minister of the Gospell may exspect a Salary, fruit of his labours, of which he and his may live comfortably. But the Antecedent is true (saies the Apostle) therefore the Consequent is true also.
5. The Apostle argues vers. 11. from natural right, and commutative Justice, which commands to give like for like, much more then, small things for great. Now, who doubts, but that spiritual things do much excell carnall, heavenly things excell earthly. eternal things excell fading, flitting, perishing, transitory vani…ies? For, by how much the soul excells the body, by so much does the Word, the food of this soul, outgoe corporal maintenance, Oh ingratefull wret…h then, whoever grudges to administer to him carnal things, who preaches unto him the eternal Gospel, and is an instrument to convey unto him the fruits of the same Gospel preacht, to wit, Faith, Regeneration. and Life Eternal! Now these things (saith the Apostle) we have sowed, therefore it is meet we should reap, For,
Whosoever do sow unto us spiritual good things, to them we ought chearfully to administer of our temporalls, Rom. 15 27.
But the Ministers of the Gospell sow spiritual things;
Therefore ought we cheerfully to administer unto them of our temporalls.
6. The Apostle argues from Example, ver. 12. If the true Apostles receive maintenance of you, why should not I and Barnabas, who have preached the Gospell to you as well as they. 2. If the false Apostles and Seducers, who devour you, receive things necessary, then, why may not we who propagate the Gospel of Christ? If stipends be given to the bad, why not much rather to the good?
7. He argues verse. 13. from the Testimony of the Law, from the Example of the Levites under the Old Testament; and from the Ordination of God under the New. These things are not Antichristian devices (as the do…ing Anabaptists dream) but Divine Decrees and Ordinations, as will appear, if we frame an Argument thus.
If the Ministers of God under the Old Testament were maintained of the publick, then are they so to be maintained under the New; But Ministers under the Old Testament were maintained of the publick. Therefore ought the Ministers under the New to be so maintained.
The▪ Antecedent appears, Numb. 18. 8. to 13. Deut. 12. 6. 14. 22. 18. 1. Lev. 2. 3, 10. 5. 13. 7. 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 32. 10. 13. 27. 30, 31. Numb. 3. 48. 5. 9, 10. 35. 2. Exod. 29. 26. 22. 29. Iosh. 13. 14. 21. 2. 2 Chron. 31. 4. Neh. 10. 32, to the end. 12. 44. 13. 5. &c. Ezek. 44. 30. 45. 4. Heb. 7. 5, 9. By all which places it evidently appears, that God did appoint▪ not a loose, and uncertain, and arbitrary, but a settled, standing, full, and honourable maintenance for his Ministers out of Tythes, Scrifices, Oblations, First-fruits, oyl, wine, honey, fleeces of sheep, and such like. G…d also commanded to give unto the Levites 48 Cities, with their Suburbs, for them and their cattel. Therefore God is called their Inheritance, because he gave them his part, to wit, the Tithes, First-fruits, &c. Numb. 18. 24. In a word, a special care was to be had of them; For, God commanded that they should not forsake a Levite all his dayes, Deut. 12. 19. and 14. 27. They must not be forsaken, as to maintenance, protection, or encouragement; because they were the Lords servants, and Embassadours. All these things were assigned and established by God to the Priests and Levites. Wo then to those wretched …ellowes, who envy the least conveniencies, or accommodations to faithfull Ministers, that would not give them a farthing (did not the Law constrain them) but rather defraud them of what is given them.
The Consequent appears by the Apostles own words. Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they that preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell. This then is his Argument,
That which Christ hath ordained is to be observed:
But Christ hath ordained that the Churches should give a full and honourable maintenance to their Ministers:
Therefore ought the Churches, &c.
Lest any should object, that these are Mosaical rites, and nothing to the purpose, the Apostle brings Christs own Authori…y for this▪ That they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, Luke 10. 7. The labourer is worthy of his hire. In which words our Saviour doth both authorize his Ministers to take, and oblige the Church to give Salaries. This thing is an universal right, belonging not to the Apostles onelyonly, but to all the Ministers of the Gospel, in all places, at all times. They who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel: They that wait at the Altar▪ are partakers with the Altar. The Proposition is indefinite, and that is as large as an universal one, should live, but how?
1. As men, not wanting any thing that is for necessity or honest delight. 2. As Believers, having a care of their Wives, children, and Families; for, h… that provideth not for his own, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel, 1. Tim. 5. 8. …. Cor. 12. 14. And 3. Let them live as the Embassadours of Christ, that they may by works of piety and charity adorne their calling.
Objection, Then they must have the First-fruits, Oblations, &c.
Answ. 1. That does not follow. For, although those Ceremonies be taken away by Christ, yet a way of maintaining the Worship of God in generall is not taken away; the way of maintaining it being one and the same generically, though not specifically, and both in quantity, proportion, sufficiency, and certainty: Otherwise the Apostles Argument could not hold water, who saies with an Emphasis foreign, even so, since the Ministers, of the Gospell do succeed the Levtical Priests and Ministers, let them be maintained by some such like way; let them that preach the Gospell, live of the Gospell, even so, that is, so liberally, so plentifully, so certainly as the Leviticall Clergy lived under the Law. For so hath God, not man, nay▪ God-man ordained, Even so hath the Lord ordained. The due maintenance then of the Ministry is not man's device, but Gods Decree; not a h…mane order, but a Divine Ordination, which whosoever denies, resisteth the Ordinance of God, and procureth condemnation to himself.
2. Those Lawes concerning First-fruits, Tithes and Offerings may be considered, either as to their substance, or as to their circumstances; as to their Substance, they belong also unto us; for the end of those Lawes was, that the people by those Offerings should testifie their thankfulness to God, to the advantage of the Church, the Ministry▪ the poor; to which things even the Law of nature doth bind. And if our Magistrates shall at this day enact Lawes for the maintenance of Ministers, we ought to obey them carefully and cheerfully, especially in those things which neither contradict the Moral Law, nor the Law of Nature. It followes therefore that as the Israelites were to communicate of their goods to the Levites, as unto them that administred their holy things, so ought Christians at this day freely to communicate of their substance to their Ministers: And the rather, because the Ministry of the Gospell is more glorious, laborious, costly, than the Ministry of the Law was. To say nothing (saies Bellarmine) of the dignity of the Gospell-Ministry, which is farre greater than that of Aaron's Ministry, the Christian Clergie is exposed to greater pains and cost than the Tribe of Levi was. It concerns now that Ministers be learned▪ and consequently, that they spend much of their estates upon their studies; who therefore ought, according to their condition, to be maintained honestly and …reely by the goods of the Church.
5. We argue, ab …, from the Profit of it. That which will certainly bring a blessing upon the doers of i…, is to be done, But an honest and lib…ral maintaining of Ministers brings with it a Blessing, as you may read Deut. 14. 22, 23, 28, 29. 26. 12, 13, 14, 15. 2. Ch…on. 31, 10. Prov. …. 9 10. Mal. 3. 10, 11, 12. Temporall good things bestowed upon Gods Ministers are not cast away, but are as …eed cast into the ground, which bringeth forth a plentifull c…op: Ti…hes (say the R…bbines) are the wall of riches, because the payment of the Tenth part defended the other nine: Hence it was their familiar Prove…b, Pay Tythes and be rich: Austine observes, that our Ancestours were rich, and abounded with temporal blessings, because they gave tenth so faithfully to God. Be liberall to God and his Ministers, and you shall finde God more liberall to you; for he will not suffer his creatures to out-doe him in liberality.
Again, That which takes away many occasions of sin is very profitable and necessary; But a convenient, settled, and and ratified Salary, cuts off many occasions of sin; Therefore a certain and settled Salary is necessary. The Major is an undeniable truth; The Minor may be proved in many particulars. 1. A certain and set…led Salary takes away temptations to flattery; were a stated maintenance taken away from Ministers, a sad temptation to make marchandize of souls would follow upon it. Men will be inclinable to comply with those that they hope to get any thing by. The Itinerary Levite, in Iudg. 17. who was fain to accept of what Mi…ah would give him (which was but 25 s. a year) complyed with him in his Idolatry▪ as you may read, vers. 11. And so consequently the Gospell would be preached with more boldness and freedom of speech. For, who almost would be so bold, as to tax the vices, or reprove the corrupt manners of those, from whom they received dayly gratuities? But where there is a settled and stated maintenance, there all sorts of men are freely and indifferently dealt withall. 2. By this means Ministers shall not need to be condemned for taking or having more than they will confess: which although no good men will deserve to be condemned of, yet malignant and corrupt men are apt to load them with such slanders. 3. Otherwise▪ what contribution might ministers exspect from the wicked world, who being reproved, would rather suffer them to sterve with hunger, then relieve them. They would be bad at works of arbitrary charity, who are so base at works of necessary justice; and they who will not suffer Ministers to enjoy their own maintenance quietly, will not easily give of their own to maintain them. 4. By this means pride and arrogancy is prevented, a sin very familiar to free Contributions; pride, not conscience, would soon principle men to Liberality. 5. By this means Ministers shall be freed from secular cares, and wordly encumbrances, and shall not be put to study for meat and drink, when they should be studying the Law of God.
6. We argue a damno, from the losse and danger which followes upon the contrary. That which is cursed by God, is to be avoided; But the defrauding of his Ministers is accursed of God, Therefore it is to be avoided. The major needs not to be proved, the minor is proved sufficiently by the Testimony of the Spirit of God, Mal. 3. 8, 9. VVill a man rob God? But ye have robbed me in tithes and offerings. Therefore ye are cursed with a curse. A man robs God, when he withholds from Gods Ministers Tithes, and other things necessary for their maintenance; whereby it comes to pass, that they studying to avoid poverty, are forced to desert Gods service in publick Administrations. Therefore ye are cursed with a curse; that is, with Famine, poverty, and barrenness of the earth; For, It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, Prov. 20. 25. that is, it is a dangerous thing; for, a snare catcheth soon, holdeth sure, and destroyeth suddenly. Austine, Serm. 219 de decimis speaks sharpely, Thou hast lost nine parts, because thou wouldst not give the tenth; For this is the just proceeding of God that thou, who wouldst not give a tenth part, shouldst thy self be reduced to a tenth part.
7. Crying sinnes are to be avoided; But the Scripture reckons the defrauding of God's Ministers amongst crying sinnes, Deut. 24. 14, 15. Ierem. 22. 13. Iames 5. 4. This cry is the foulness and grievousness of the sinne, which can neither be concealed nor excused, but beats Gods ears continually, and provokes him to vengeance. School-men observe four Crying sinnes in Scripture, which they comprehend in a Distich, thus,
The voyee of Blood-shed, and of Sodomy,
Oppression, and Fraud, aloud do cry.
Now if the defrauding the Reaper that reaps down our corn, be so abominable a sinne to God; how much more abominable is the de…rauding of his Ministers, who reap a crop of soules for God himself?
8. If we ought to maintain the Fathers of our flesh, from whom (organically) we have our naturall being, and that both by the Law of God, and of Nature; then much rather our Spirituall Fathers, from whom (instrumentally) we have our well-being. 1. Maintenance is due to the Fathers of our flesh from us, Gen. 45. 9, 10, 11. 2. Love, and that not onelyonly whilest they live, but to be exprest to them even when they are dead, Gen. 25. 9. Gen. 50. 2. 3. Reverence, exprest by mouth, heart, and hand, Exod. 20. 12. 1 Tim. 5. 4. 4. Obedience, Ierem. 35. 18. Col. 3. 20. The consequence is clear from 1 Cor. 4. 15. Gal. 4. 19. Philem. ver. 19. 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13.
9. They that give diligence to Reading, Exhortation, and Doctrine, that minde these things, and give up themselves wholly to them, and ought not to engage their heads or hands in the ca…es of this world, must necessarily receive a stated Maintenance of the Church; but such is the duty of Gospell-ministers, Act. 6. 4. 1 Tim. 4. 13, 15, 16. 2 Tim. 2. 4. Therefore had their types the Levites no part in the division of Canaan, that they should not be engaged in Secul…r affairs, and worldly business, but might be wholly for the Lord, and for the Temple; but the Lord was their inheritance, that is, the Tithes and offerings due to God, of which the Levites did live, and were not sollicitous concerning any other way of maintenance, which otherwise they would necessarily have been.
10 If Idolaters & Heathens have been even prodigal toward Baals Priests and seducers, then it doth not become Christians to be illiberal and covetous to the faithful Ministers of Christ. But so prodigal have they been, witness Iezabel, who maintaind above 800. Priests of Baal at her owne costs and charges, 1. Kings 18. 19. whilest an hundred of the Lords Prophets were hid in caves and onelyonly relieved with bread and water v. 13. so prodigal were the Idolaters in the Prophet Isaiahs time, who lavished silver out of the bags for their Idols, Isaiah 46. 6. It grieved not Pharaoh to maintaine all the Egyptian Priests with his owne bread. In a generall famine he was so farre from making money of the Priests lands in the first place, that he continued to them their inheritances, and gave them their diet severall years besides. The Heathens thought not much to offer the tenth of their spoyls to their Gods. And if the Papists with a prodigal liberality be willng to spend allmost all upon their silly Priestlings, and greedy Iesuites, notorious deceivers; sure then the faithfull Ministers of Christ may justly expect an honest maintenance from their people. Ahab the King of Iudah, who sought to reduce the Priests of the Lord unto want, is therefore branded with this mark, This is th… King Ahaz, 2. Chron. 28. 21, 22.
11. All Sacriledg is to be avoided, but to defraud the Ministers of Christ of their stipends is Sacriledg▪ Therefore &c. The major is plain of it self. The minor God himself proves, Mal. 3. 8. Y… have robbed m in Tythes and Offerings. God complains here that this injury and fraud was not so much done to men as to himself. Sacriledge is not a simple theft, but a stealing of sacred things, which is the highest degree of Theft: Now that is sacred which is given to holy uses, either by the express command of …od▪ or by the voluntary devotion of men: whether it be given (saith learned Mr: Cartwright upon P…v. 20. 25.) for the and sake of Gods worship, for the … of Schooles Vniversities, or for the reliefe of … and if it be a wickednesse and a snare after vowes … again, that is to call back, or withhold any thing given or vowed to Gods use, Prov. 20. 25. then what notorious impiety shall they be guilty of, who having not given any thing themselves, shall yet go about to diminish and de…raud us of the gifts of others: when as a mans last will or Testament is not changed or disposed of otherwise, than as the Testator did ordaine, Gal. 3. 15.
Let the Governours of the Common-wealth then take special heed, that they do not engross any Church-revenues to themselves, convert those things, or any of those things unto private uses, which are dedicated to sacred uses, and so devolve upon their heads the heavy doome of sacrilegious persons robbers of God,
For who can think that God will let such scape,
That do on sacred things commit a rape.
The Eagle burning her nest and her young ones by a coal fetched with a piece of flesh from the Altar doth well prophesie and prefigure the ruine of those Harpyes and Vultures, and their posterity, who make so bold with the Churches revenues▪ Or if such a doom be not prefigured by the Eagle, I am sure it is prayed for by the Psalmist, Ps. 83▪ 11, 12. make their Nobles like Oreb and like Zeb, yea all their Princes as Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, Let us take to our selves the houses of God in possession, &c. Nay and certainly the time will come when they shall not onelyonly disgorge like dogs, what they have drunk downe like Oxen, but when it shall repent them that they have so much as touched the inheritance of the Lord.Tollant foreign, & …iunt foreign, See A. Gellius Noc. Attic. lib. 3 cap. 9. Such Levellers that sow Sacriledge shall reap a snare, Prov. 20. 25. They take away that which is devoted to God, and God himself will devote them to destruction. Such revenues will certainly prove as unhappy to their unjust detainers, as Cn. Seius his horse proved to him, afterwards to Dolabella to Cassius, to Antonius, and to as many as had him, and will create sooner or later as many vexations, as the gold which Q, Caepio found in Tholossane, a towne in France, in the Churches thereof, did create to all that did lay but a thievish hand upon it: Witnesse Belshazzar, Antiochus, Po… peius Iulianus, Claudius, Fulvius, Pyrrb…, &c. whose doom any one may read in Lactant. lib. 2. cap. 4. 7 And no wonder, for Sacriledge is worse than Idolatry, for it argueth a contempt of all Deity. Rom. 2. 22. Thou that abhorrest Idols, committest thou Sacriledge? Thou that abhorrest false Gods, doest thou rob the true one, which is worse? In a word, such must needs pay dearly for their injustice, who detain that which is anothers; to which iniustice there is yet added a sacrilegious king of malignity, because Tythes are due to God, not openly as an expression of thankfullness, but as a means to preserve, and to maintaine his sacred worship.