Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	church_n	communicate_v	communion_n	2,762	5	9.2903	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47561	The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first asserted, and the objections against a Gospel maintenance for ministers, answered. Also, the dignity, necessity, difficulty, use and excellency of the ministry of Christ is opened. Likewise, the nature and vveghtiness of that sacred vvork and office clearly evinc'd. Recommended to the baptized congregations, by several elders in and about the City of London.	Knollys, Hanserd, 1599?-1691.	1689 (1689)	Wing K711A; ESTC R213604	49,141	150

asserted as you have heard that He that is taught in the Word ought to Communicate to him that Teacheth in all good things 1 Tim. 5.18 And that they who Minister at the Altar should partake of the Altar God having Ordained that he that Preaches the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.14 Therefore we rather are of the Opinion in respect to this Text with a late worthy VVriter The Doctrine says he they were to Preach they were Impowered to Confirm with Miracles which say they He gives them a Charge they should Work freely without receiving any Reward for them that the Miracles might not be used to their private Profit but to the End they were appointed of God which was the Confirmation of their Doctrine 2. It may also teach us that Ministers ought not to make a Bargain with the People or desire to know what they shall have before they enter on their Work for he who would approve himself a true Minister of Jesus Christ o● 〈◊〉 not to Preach for Hire or filthy ●…cres sake i. e. that ought not to be the thing he aims at that 's a low and base design but as you know Churches provide and ought to provide for the Poor yet should any seek to come into your Communion meerly for a Maintenance you would say he or she that did so were no better than Hypocrites and may say truly yet that would not free you from communicating to poor Faithful Christians Even so if some deceitful and carnal Persons should undertake the Work of the Ministry for filthy Lucres sake and not in Love to Christ and to promote his Interest and Glory they doubtless act contrary to this Precept of Christ But yet nevertheless the Church i● bound to communicate and allow a comfortable Maintenance to her Faithful Ministers and as he freely and of a ready Mind and for Christ's sake Preaches the Gospel and is bound so to do if he will approve himsel● Faithful so in like manner are the People and Churches of God bound freely and of a ready mind to Minister to them if they would shew to all they are Faithful Christians such who have an equal respect to all Christs Commands and Desire to the utmost of their Abilities to further and not hinder the promulgation of the Gospel in the World. But by the way it is plain had it not been the practice of the Gospel Churches in the Apostles time to allow their Pastors a Maintenance what room was there for the Apostle to caution any Minister or Elder not to undertake the Work for filthy Lucres sake but of a ready mind Moreover very remarkable is it to consider how the Priests of God under the Law were to receive that Portion Jehovah gave them They were not as Mr. Ainsworth noteth To receive it after a base or servile manner but as Gifts due to the Lord and to them from him The Hebrew Canons saith he shew the Israelites were to give them their Portion with Honour and it was unlawful for the Priests or Levites to snatch away the Heave-Offering or the Tithes yea saith he if they did but ask their Portion with their Mouth it was unlawful Read his Annotation on Numb 18. v. 12. And then on Deut. 18.3 He saith again the Priest might not violently take the Gifts nor ask them with his Mouth but he received them when they were given him with Honour This may teach us two things First that Christ's Servants ought to take heed they shew all true and real Zeal and Love to Christ when they undertake his Work and Service and not to shew such a servile and base Spirit as to demand their Portion that God has Ordained for them but leave it to the free will Offering of the People Secondly It may also teach Churches to see they do neither withhold the Ministers Portion from them nor give it them grudgingly or in an unbecoming manner but to hand out to them what they need with due respect and honour they being worthy of it and are to receive it as their part and portion from God and as they are His Stewards and Faithful Labourers by Virtue of a Divine and Holy Law Nay and the Lord's People ought to be as careful in discharge of this Duty to Christ's Ministers now as the Israelites were to the Levites tho' as we have already said their Portion is not the Tithes of Mens Increase nor the First Fruits which Law is Abrogated Yet saith Reverend Ainsworth ' The Equity of that Law remaineth perpetually as the Apostle observeth Do you not know that they which Minister about Holy things live of the things of the Temple and they that wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord Ordained c. 1. Cor. 13.14 Because the Ministers of God then were injoyned to attend on His Service he would not have them cumbred with worldly Affairs least saith he they should be hinddred from doing their Duties as it is Written No Man that Warreth intangleth himself with the Affairs of this Life that he may please him who hath called him to be a Soldier 2 Tim. 3.4 From hence God hath ordered it thus for them ' Moreover the Hebrews say from hence 't was Levi was not counted meeet to have Inheritance in the Land of Israel or Spoils with his Brethren because he was separated to Serve the Lord and to Inherit him and to teach his strait Ways and his Just Judgments unto the People therefore was he separated from the ways of the World they wage not War as the rest of Israel do neither do they Inherit nor Earn for themselves with the Strength of their Bodies but they are the Lords Power or Substance as it is Written Deut. 13.11 Bless Lord his Power and the Blessed God earneth for them as it is Written Numb 18.20 I am thy Part and thine Inheritance Maim Treat of the Release and Jubilee c. 13. f. 12. The reason of the same Law 't is evident of necessity does remain the Work of Ministers is great now and 't is as Holy and as Honourable as ever and the neglect of a Faithful discharge herein as great a Sin as it was then and God's People have as great nay greater Benefit and Divine Profit by the Ministry of the Gospel than those had who lived under the Law besides Christ's Servants have the same need of it moreover our People are delivered from other great Burdens and vast Charges that the People of Israel were continually at and therefore how unjust and unreasonable a thing is it to with-hold a fit and convenient Lively-hood from them Nay and we must say that which any with-hold from the Servants of God is the Lord's and none of theirs for he lays claim to part of their Substance as that which He has Ordained to his own special service and use of His Faithful Ministers Quest May every one then that Preaches expect an Allowance though

Motive 2. Ministers being intrusted with our Souls we ought to take care they want nothing that is necessary for their Bodies 78 79 Motive 3. Ministers being exposed to many Temptations and Discouragements a great Motive why not to be left to serve in wants and necessities 80 81 Motive 4. Ministers may forbear working if they will provided the Church can provide for them and they faithfully discharge their Duty 81 82 Quest May a Pastor make Terms with a Church about his Maintenance before he take the charge of them Answered 82 Quest What shall that Church do that is not able to provide for her Pastor Answered 83 84 85 Quest Have not you disclaimed agains● such who Preach for Hire A Threefold Answer given 87 8● Obj. Is there any Reason that Rich Men th●… are Pastors should have an Allowance Answered 89 9● Obj. Our Church is small our Pastor cannot take up all his Time in Spiritual Service Answered 92 9● The Reason why some Churches are small may be because Ministers are no mor● Labourous in Preaching the Gospel up an● down in the adjacent places where the● Live which some can't do because n●… in capacity The present Liberty to b● Improved Idle and slothful Minister not to be maintained 93 94 95 96 Two Reasons of some Pastors Remisness i● Preaching or Labouring no more 97 98 Ministers may Work with their Hands an● ought so to do when it will tend to th● furtherance of the Gospel 10● A great Harvest now and good Weather therefore Ministers ought to Labou● hard 101 10● Freely you have received freely give Answered 103 10● Ministers not to Preach for Hire i. e. to propound that as their end 186 The Congregations ought to give the Ministers their Portion with Respect and Honour 108 Ministers Work now as great and weighty as those was under the Law like Necessity of their Work 't is as Honourable neglect as dangerous as then People now as great Benefit by the Ministry or more from hence the same Reason for their Maintenance as under the Law. 111 May he that Exercises his Gift but now and then expect an Allowance from the Church Answered 112 The Weightiness of the Ministers Work opened 113 114 Their Work is Honourable they are in a high Sphere intrusted with the highest concerns in the World. 114 They Workers with Christ 115 May be in danger of losing the Souls of Men. 117 118 They must have a Regulur Call. 120 Ministers intrusted with the Charge of the Church 122 ●…eir Work difficult in 5 Respects 127 ●28 129. ADVERTISEMENT READER WHereas in the 38th Article of Religio● called The Thirty Nine Articles of th● Church of England 't is said The Riches an● Goods of Christians are not common as touching th● Right Title and Possession of the same as certa●… Anabaptists do falsly boast We look upon o●… selves concerned to declare that if there we●… in the Last Age in Germany or elsewhere a●… People bearing that Name who Asserted any suc● thing we know none called Anabaptists in England nor any where else who hold that absu●… or rotten Principle but do testifie our dislike an● abhorrence of it and verily believe as 't is in●…mated in the said Article That the Goods Riche●… and Possessions of all Christians as touching t●…●…ght and title of the same are their own as t●… 〈◊〉 Scripture witnesses Acts 5.4 Yet notwit●standing we also believe and teach that ev●… man ought of such things as he possesseth liberal●… to give Alms to the poor according to his Abili●… as is also there asserted Having this opport●nity we thought it not amiss to publish this clear our selves and our Brethren from t●… scandal which possibly some may cast upon 〈◊〉 since these Articles by reason of a late Act 〈◊〉 this present Parliament are more genera●…●…own and examined by many People 〈…〉 A Regular Ministry in the Church Asserted GOD in his Infinite Goodness having by his present Providences not only given us re●…ite from our former Sufferings but ●…e trust begun that great and glorious ●…ork of the Churches Deliverance 〈◊〉 long the hope and expectation of 〈◊〉 that truly love and fear the Lord ●…e cannot but look upon our Selves ●…ncerned to endeavour to make a due ●…provement of that Mercy and Good●…ss that is attending us herein and ●…ing into consideration the Condi●…n of the Church of Jesus Christ we ●…not but be concerned with and afflicted for the late and present wants She lies under in respect to the Ministry God having of late Years removed so many able and pious Men and seems to be near the removing many more by Age and Bodily Infirmities This with other things put us upon the Consideration how much the Honour of Christ the reputation of his Glorious Gospel in the World as likewise the Good and Well-being of the Church depends upon a regular and orderly Ministry and the Continuation thereof And for the Church to be under a supine neglect herein is very sad First Either in not endeavouring after and calling forth such a regular and stated Ministry according to Gospel Institution at all or Secondly to be so weak and inadverte●… as to call forth such as are not so duly furnished and qualified for it or Thirdly Suffering such as are call'● forth to this great Work under compete●… Abilities to lye under unsupportable Burthens must needs be greatly blameable before our Lord Jesus Christ the great Bishop and Shepherd of our Souls as well as highly negligent of their own Edification and Well-being 1. To proceed it cannot be denied but Christ hath and ought to have a stated and regular Ministry in his Church according to his own Institution Who himself when he entred upon his Ministry here on Earth did call forth Apostles and Disciples to bear that part of the Work with him which he called them to and fitted ●hem for See Mark 3.13 to the ●… Christ went up into a Mountain ●…d called to him whom he would and ●…hey came to him and he ordained Twelve ●…at they should be with Him and that ●…e might send them forth to Preach to ●hom He gave the Name of Apostles Mat. 10.2 Luke 6.13 Which he did ●ith great Solemnity and Invocation 〈◊〉 the Father for he continued all Night in Prayer to God and when it was Day he chose the Twelve and Named them Apostles After which he appointed other Seventy and sent them forth by Two and Two before His Face to every City and Place c. which were labourers with Him in the Harvest V. 2. And He commanded them to give themselves up to the Work he had called them to and not take Care what they should Eat or Drink For the Labourer saith he is worthy of his Hi●… Ver. to 14. Here our Lord Jesus Christ Himself did Institute and Lay the Foundation of the Gospel Ministry in His own Authority and accordingly takes care for the continuance of it after His Death and Resurrection and

for them all good Things But on the contrary if they come forth unprepared and feed you with Food that hath little Soul Nourishment in it How can you blame them or if they never go about all the Year to know the State of the Flock as their Duty is have they not a ready Answer and Excuse i. e. VVhat shall become of our poor Families VVhat can you say to them Can you excuse them from indispensible Duties And say we will be contented with what Service you are able to do and all to save your Purses the Lord open your Understandings and shew you the great Evil there is in this neglect in not complying with the VVill of God in communicating all good Things to them who Preach the Gospel to you And is it not from hence there is such a complaint in some parts of the Country for want of the saving Food of God's Word We hear daily what a vast blessing those Elders and Ministers are of to the People whereabouts they live who are provided for by the Churches over what others be who are not taken off of their secular Affairs being not maintained by the People one Minister may do more than several such do or can do Besides when once you come to acquit your selves as good Christians ought in this Case with what Comfort may you be able to give up your Account to Christ And with Joy and much Soul Peace lye down not only in your Beds but also in your Graves when you come to Dye Motives to press the Duty of the Ministers Maintenance with an Answer to other Objections 1. COnsider well and remember that your Pastors are the Ministers nay the Ambassadours of Jesus Christ such who represent his Sacred Majesty and have his Commission for what they act and do in his Name and dispenee the Mysteries of God to you according to their Duty therefore the Lord Jesus will account that done to Himself which is done to his Ministers He that receiveth you saith he receiveth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Mat. 10.40 Luke 10.16 If the Name and Authority of Christ will beget an aw in you or his Matchless and Unspeakable Love Influence your Souls there is no doubt but his word will abide upon you and cause you to discharge the Duty we have pressed upon your Spirits If you acknowledge a Religious Respect and Reverence due to the Son of God exercise it in a humble Obedience to his word and if you Love him and value his Gospel treat not his Ministers in an unworthy manner Have you not called them off from other Business And are they not your Servants And is not from thence a Gospel Maintenance due to them from you as is the wages of your other Servants Tho we fear some give more to the meanest Servants in their House than they to give to the Ministers of Christ 2. 'T is evident they have a great Charge committed to their Trust they watch for your Souls as they who must give an account Heb. 13.17 And therefore you ought to consider them and pity them and endeavour to assist them and put them into the best Capacity you are able to do that they may make full proof of their Ministry and be free from the Blood of all Men 't is the Business of your own Salvation and concern of your precious and immortal Souls that your Ministers are imployed in and therefore 't is much more your own Interest than his and from hence ought to make Conscience of your Duty for if they can't give their account with Joy that will not be profitable for you And how can they give an acccount of Joy concerning you when you have neglected one great and indispensible Duty by which means they were rendred unable to perform their VVork as became them Nor can indeed the Ministry ever be effectual to your Souls if you be not sincere in Obedience under it Besides as one observes will you be less Careful for your Souls and their Eternal wellfare than for your Bodies and the Comforts of a Temporal Life Can you be content to lay out your Strength and Substance to provide for these and neglect the other Is it not sad saith one to consider How many there are among Professors that live in this World as if there were no Truth in the report of that which is to come and have the meanest esteem of the most necessary means of Salvation viz. The Word and Ordinances of Christ and a Gospel Ministry some can expend perhaps an hundred Pounds per Annum more or less for Ornaments or Delights to Adorn a frail Carcase but will grudg half so much for the poor Saints or to the support of the Worship of the Gospel and his sinking Interest 3. Consider how many Temptations and Soul discouraging VVeaknesses your Ministers lye under continually both from within and without if sensible of the greatness of their VVork and of their own insufficiency You know not their Fears their Cares their Tears and how hard they are put to it to keep up in their VVork finding such strong Oppositions made against them by the Enemy continually so that you had need to Strengthen Comfort and Incourage them as much as you can and not to add to their Sorrow and make them serve you in wants and necessities 4. We might tell you also what the Apostle says in respect of his Liberty as a Minister in forbearing to Work at all Will any of you say your Ministers must labour and provide for themselves when God hath Ordained the contrary and also when the Apostle saith he had power to forbear Working See 1 Cor. 9.6 Or I only and Barnabas Have we not power to forbear Working We certainly as well as the rest of Christ's Ministers if we will run out to the utmost end of the Line of our Liberty in things without having regard to your Circumstances might forbear Working with our Hands and expect that those among whom we Labour should maintain it So the Annotators render it Now you would think this a hard thing should any of your Pastors make use of their Liberty yet if they should do it provided they were Faithful in their Work and Office knowing also your Ability we would know whether any of you could charge them with Sin as we know you may and ought other Persons who work not and though the Apostle did sometimes Work it was of choice and to prevent the glorying of those false Apostles and for some other Reasons which upon special Circumstances for that time he mentioneth and yet he accounts it amongst his Afflictions Quest Ought a Pastor or Minister to make Terms with the Church about his Maintenance before he take the Charge of them Answ We assert for no such thing he is to take the Charge freely and of a ready Mind But we say there is as indispensable a Duty lies upon the People to provide Carnal or Temporal good