Letter about People who Sin Against the Gospel, Title page – Dedication
A Monitory LETTER About the MAINTAINANCE Of an Able and Faithful Miniſtry.
Directed Unto thoſe People, who Sin against, & Sin away the Goſpel, by not Supporting the Worthy Preachers of the Goſpel.
A Decree of a National Synod of Reformed Churches at Paris.
All the Churches ſhall be deſired to ſhun Ingratitude unto their Miniſters, (a Sin too rife among us) & take ſpecial care, that they be more Reſpected, and their Labours better Rewarded, not to Enrich & Fatten them, but to give them a Becoming & Sufficient maintainance.
Duriter profecto et Miſere viverent Evangelij Ministri, ſi ex Libera Populi Contributione oſſent Suſtentands. Luther.
Boſton, in N. E. Printed in the Year, 1700.
To J. F. Eſq.
SIR,
A Famous Ruler in Iſrael gives us that Report of his own Conduct, Neh. 13 10. 11. I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; Then I contended for them, and ſaid, why is the Houſe of God forſaken? God has made you a Ruler, even one of the Counſellors & Juſtices, in our little Iſrael; and tho', I know, nothing is more diſtaſtful to you, than a Worldly, Sl…thful, Ambitious Clergy, & you are as far as any man I know, from the Character of, Prieſt ridden; yet you count no ſort of men, more Highly to be Eſteemed, than Holy, Prayerful, Watchful, Painful, Humble, & Learned Miniſters of the Goſpel Becauſe when you were informed, that in many Towns, thoſe Men of God, have not their Portions duely given them, you hop'd, that among other wayes of helping it, ſome Good might be done, by a Monitory Letter to the Negligent; you deſired one, who has the leaſt occaſion for your Cares about him, to compoſe it, and are your ſeif at the charge to Publiſh it, & Scatter it. The Worthy Miniſters, whom you thus deſire to ſee well Supported, have their Graces tryed by their Temptations, & Live by Faith, Eving the Providence of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the Proviſion that He ſtrangely makes for them What if You ſhould now be an Inſtrument of ſome Advantage to them, & becauſe to them, to their Flocks alſo? You will at leaſt meet with this Recompence; while you Speak comfortably unto them, who teach the Good Knowledge of the Lord, they will in their Secret Prayers before the Lord, Remember You & your Family; And whom they Bleſs, their God will Bleſs!