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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88695	The persecuted minister, in defence of the ministerie, the great ordinance of Jesus Christ. Setting forth the severall names of Apostles, prophets, &c. [brace] 1. That there is a ministerial office. 2. That the sacrament of baptisme by a lay-person is invalid. 3. That necessity is no plea. 4. That the long omission of the Lords Supper is unwarrantable. With many other things, plainly and methodically handled / by William Langley late of S. Maryes in the city of Lichfield, minister ...	Langley, William, b. 1609 or 10.	1656 (1656)	Wing L408; Thomason E860_4; ESTC R202682	143,990	208

as Salvianus writes Errant sed bono animo errant impii sunt sed hoc putant veram esse pietatem They think errour soundnesse and wickednesse godlinesse You stumble at the very threshold for every Christian should observe a right disposition in his course that is be sure to begin well to set out in the right and direct passage Otherwise if we run in wry-waies by-waies the more his labour the greater is his losse Luther postil in 1 Cor. 9.24 We must take heed lest Meta be transposita Such as will obtain Gods prize must walk in Gods path turning neither to the right hand nor to the left Deut. 5.32 33. for there is danger Com. in Gal. verse 6. and as Luther observes Often the greatest peril is on the right hand We are not to goe upon thought in the positive worship of God but to have our judgments rightly informed and throughly grounded in the truth had you consulted the Orthodox you would have had other thoughts touching this action of Mr. Butlers you must know the first thing in the order of every building is to lay the foundation sure God grant your Religion be more than thought I fear it This Age is strangely transported with an humorous appetite to novelties and rather affecteth variety of toyes than a constancy of plain and sober truth We see many Ixions that embrace clouds instead of Juno I wish he doth not preach by thought aswell as baptize and pick out crochets paradoxes and conclusions of his own imagination which commonly is very forcible and may in time bring forth Cattell ring-strak'd speckled and spotted These kinde of thoughts are but dreams that proceed from abundance of sumes which flie into the head Take it as a good observation That God judgeth of our words and works by our thoughts Men of our thoughts by our words and works Every thought of evil is not evil only those thoughts to which men joyn either consent of will or at least delight of affection Prov. 12.5 The thoughts of the Righteous are right Thought it necessary Object For the necessity of it I cannot believe that a man of Mr. Butlers understanding reading and ingenuity as he is given out to be could think it necessary the children were not weak and ready to die and if so yet no necessity for a private person to doe it There were many Ministers about and neer the City that would not have denied such a Christian act therefore no necessity Salvation may be without the Sacraments God is a free Agent Sometimes the baptisme of Water is without the baptism of the Spirit sometimes the baptisme of the Spirit goeth before sometimes accompanieth and sometimes followeth after God is not tied to the Sacrament or outward signe so that grace cannot be without it I speak not this that any should neglect the Ordinances of Christ but that none without Commission should dare to perform them Hel. for Zanc conf Boh. Belg. Ans Wirt It hath been fully proved that the Sacraments ought to be administred onely by a lawful Minister ordained and set apart to the work of the Ministery as is cleared by the Confession of the Reformed Churches Assem of Div. chap. 274. and all the Orthodox see ch 3. of the Church of England by the late Assembly of Divines the judgment of all the Orthodox Gerardus Bucanus Zanchy Beza Viril Amesius Aretius Trelcatius Piscator Calvin and others That necessity is no plea for Baptisme by Lay-persons you may see by Calvin Zanchy Piscator Beza Bucanus Trelcatius See the 7 chap. who saw with as clear eyes as Mr. Butler can doe and yet could not finde necessity a sufficient plea. Do they tell you there is no necssity to violate the Orders prescribed of God and will you affirm a necessity Fye fye Let shame cover your face Make not Necessity a stalking-horse to your private ends which many see you strive to promote But he would not have done it but upon the advice of other Reverend Divines who thought it lawful Object When God doth directly affirm a thing Answ 1 we must simply believe him but when Men speak we must not without all judgment and enquiry believe every thing but rather try all things and examine them according to the analogie of faith Rom. 12.6 and keep that which is good now good and true are all one The spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14.32 Your practise is quite cross to the Word of God Rom. 10.15 Tit. 1.5 1 Tim. 4.14 And therefore these Orthodox Divines so termed may well be suspected We are taught not to believe every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4.1 Here is a story most improbable contrary to the judgment of all Episcopal and Presbyterial Divines to advise such an act What a strange Riddle is here that those that are Orthodox should allow and approve of what is Heterodox But that is not the title Reverend they must be a good word but foully abused It was S. Augustines wish that he might have seen three things especially Rome in her glory Paul in the Pulpit And Christ in the Flesh My wish is to see Christ advanced England restored to its glory And all Schismatical and Heretical Ministers discountenanced The Romish Church it is observed have canonized many for Saints who were no better than Devils Styles of Reverend and Orthodox is not sufficient that they were such we must take Mr. B. and his friends words for it Yea I am confident they never heard any Reverend Divines advise him so Facile credunt quod volunt He had put out his own eyes and now the blinde leads the blinde Other Reverend Divines implies Mr. Butler one such surely as he was when he came to Lichfield There is a sort of people whose Entia be transcendentia in all things absolute Superlatives Their Sots are Solomons their Black-birds Swans Like the vain Philosophers in old time Popularis aurae mancipia vaenalia Certain creatures bred of the peoples breath hoc ipso placere cupiunt quòd placere contemnunt Hicron Ep. ad Eustoc They reak not to be contemned of the Learned for Ignorant so they may be commended of the Ignorant for Learned Seeing love believeth all things it is exceeding necessary that our love should abound in knowledge whereby we may discern between good and bad between Heretick and Catholick It is no new thing to have Errour fathered on Reverend and Orthodox Divines witnesse the Apologies of Athenagoras Tertullian and others It will amaze us to see what blasphemous seditions horrible and odious impieties were fathered upon the antient Christian Divines Many under the name of Church overthrow the Church Ecclesiae nomine armant contra Ecclesiam dimicant Celsus and Antiphon writing against the truth entituled their Treatise The Book of Truth Lib. de carne

God he that is an avenger of Fornication and Covetousnesse is God he that calleth unto this holinesse is God he therefore that despiseth our admonition in this case despiseth not man but God God the Father who created us in holinesse God the Son who renued us unto holinesse and God the Holy Ghost who keepeth us in true holinesse But how doth the Apostle prove this Proposition He that despiseth c because saith he God hath sent his holy Spirit among you There are two Readings of these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if we translate with Marl and Beza God hath given us his holy Spirit then Pauls argument is thus framed he that despiseth us despiseth not man but God for we write not out of our own authority but as inspird by the blessed Spirit which is God If according to the best Copies God hath sent his holy Spirit among you then the Apostle thus argueth God hath sent his Spirit to this end that you may discern sanctification to be his will His Spirit is our keeper Rom. 8. Our Comforter John 14. Our Teacher 1 John 2. and therefore quench not the Spirit in endeavouring to quench the gifts of the Spirit He that stoppeth his ears and hardneth his heart in the Preachers Exhortation by the Lord Jesus little regardeth the will and word of God despiseth not man but God Despise him not at your perill you despise God himself and you shall not go Scot-free on your souls be it that hear me this day whose Table-talke is furnished with jests and invectives against Ministers and whose study is how to vex afflict and torment them Themistocles was ever banished in peace but sent for home in warre We are passed over in the daies of pride as uselesse creatures but when the wrath of God falls on their naked conscience then the Minister is thought on when your pulse beats sickly and you lie on your groaning beds then are they intreated for counsell and advise What a madnesse is it to contemn those living whom if God own you in mercy you will love dying I am sick and like to die is there no balm in Gilead is there no Physitian there tell some tydings from heaven some comfortable things of Sion I beseech you you are the Ambassadours of Christ and bring the glad tydings of peace and is there no comfort no peace for me thus they that in fair weather beat us in foule run for shelter to us We shall be thought to be good Ministers untill unpleasing things drop from us and then farewell good conceit as Tertullian spake merrily of the Heathen Unlesse God please man he shall be God no longer But alas say some what are you and what is your calling why doe ye lift up your selves the Congregation is holy c. First you are but men it is true yet men of God called and deputed his Officers and Ambassadours intrusted with high and holy mysteries 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man c. Secondly you are weak men its true subject to the like passions with others yet our word is powerful and the proudest of you if God intend you good is turned by our Ministery and if the word be not the savour of life it is the savour of death We have this treasure saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.7 Thirdly you die like men its true but our words live and it is the immortal Word of God that lives and abides for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born anew c. Fourthly all you say is but talk words are but winde Well if you call the preaching of Gods Word talking for ought I know you may talk of mercy and have none it is such talking as will tend either to thy conversion or confusion for whom we loose on earth are loosed in heaven and whom we binde on earth are bound in heaven Lay aside therefore contempt and disdain of those whom God hath chosen to bring thee the glad tydings of salvation The Idolaters and Heathens doubtlesse shall rise up in judgment against the men of this generation How were Baals Priests esteemed by Jezebel the Priests of the Grave by Ahab the Aegyptian Priests by Pharaoh Masse-Priests by Papists and the Mufti by the Turks And yet the true Preachers of the Word that hold forth the saving doctrine of salvation are amongst Christians as spectacles unto the world as laughing and gazing-stocks 1 Cor. 4.9 I am afraid it will befall many as it did Saul who sought Samuel when he was dead whose counsell he did not regard whilest he was alive It is observed that the contempt of the Ministery leadeth to the greatest and foulest sinnes for it is not possible that any should honour the Message of God and despise him that God hath chosen to bring it and this very sinne opens a gap to all wickedness and ushereth in monstrous impieties Sathans kingdome as is observed standeth on four props especially all which I finde in the 8th of S. John 1. Railing verse 48 Say we not well that thou art a Samaritane and hast a Devil The Pharisees in their wickedest actions the persecuting of Gods Prophets thought they did God service and in their foulest words railing against Christ the Son of God they think they doe well Say we not well It is said of the Lyndians that they worshipt Hercules the best when they railed the fastest So many in railing and reviling think it an ornament a grace a badge of zeal and that there is nothing amisse Say we not well No no such saying derogates from God the honour of Christianity and most unbecoming the Gospel of Christ But who railed thus No Rabshakeh no Shimei no sons of Belial but such as called themselves holy verse 33. We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man Oh the great delusion of the Devil to blinde men and women so that they think they say well when they sin foulest in those words of Christ who condemns the Pharisees glosse who judged that murder which consisted onely in the actual depriving a man of his life you shall finde three degrees of sin and three degrees of punishment Mat 5.22 The degrees of sinne are angry thoughts scornfull gestures and opprobrious words to the first is opposed Judgment to the second a Councel to the third Hell fire It is the saying of S. Hierome to strip men of passion is to make them no men Est hominem de homine tollere S. Paul bids Be angry and sinne not Ephes 4 26. He alloweth that which is natural and condemneth that which is culpable so Gerson Ira non est peccatum quoad esse naturae sed quoad esse moris That our anger should not prove faulty Christ sets down two Rules for our direction 1. Concerning the matter with a brother 2. The manner unadvisedly the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is left out in many both old and new Translations but some Greek Copies as Erasmus

authority of sin whereby it detained men under condemnation Calvin in loc Captivitas hîc est nomen collectivum pro captivis hostibus significat quod Deus in suam potestatem hostes redegerit The second fruit of his Ascension 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He gave gifts unto men The Heb reads it Lakachta Mattanoth Baadam Thou hast received gifts speaking to ●hrist in the second Person Psal 68.18 betwixt receiving and giving there is a vast difference To reconcile the Prophet and Apostle for Gods words admit of no contradictions Hieromes answer may suffice any sober Christian Hieron in Psal 68. David speaks of this donation in time to come but S. Paul as already past and accomplished Thou hast received gifts à Patre hominibus distribuenda Zanch. in Eph. 4. from the Father to be given to men and behold in the Gospel the performance dedit he gave he received that he might give such a reading we finde Exod. 25.2 Speak unto the children of Israel that they receive an offering for me that is according to the translation of our present Church Bible they that bring Bibl Hen. 8. where receiving as Abenezra noteth is giving Castalion Genebr in Psal 68. Calvin in loc and so S. Paul alluding rather to the sense than to the words of David saith He gave gifts unto men Calvin speaks to the same purpose Rem potius ipsam sequitur c. Christ saith August August in Psal 68. is said to receive gifts in that his members received them Mat. 25.40 In as much as ye have done c. As he was man he received gifts on earth as God Aquin. in loc he gave gifts in heaven the first I conceive is more agreeable to the minde of the Holy Ghost whosoever desireth further satisfaction may consult Calvin and Beza But it may be further demanded Quest how Christ is said to give some Apostles c. when elswhere we read that God the Father ordained them 1 Cor. 12.28 and in the same Chapter the Spirit works all these offices I answer Answ 1 from the Person in the text we are taught three things First that all the works of the holy Trinity quoad extra without it self are common and communicable to every Person of the three according to that rule In operibus ad extra tres personae operantur simul servato ordine personarum in operando for we finde that Redemption Acts 20.28 Sanctification 1 Pet. 1.2 is ascribed to the Father Creation John 1.3 and Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.2 is ascribed to the Son Creation Psal 33.6 and Redemption Ephes 4.30 is ascribed to the Holy Ghost joyntly all to each 1 Cor. 6.11 The changing of the persons is usuall in the Bible S. Peter affirmeth that the Word of God was written by the Holy Ghost but S. Paul saith Heb. 1.1 that God the Father in old times spake by the Prophets Secondly we may learn that God the Son is equall in power might and mercy to the Father the Persons diversity alters not the sacred identity He being ascended above all heavens giveth gifts unto men The Creation of the world Col. 1. and his omnipotency Mat. the last his omnisciency forgivenesse of sins divine adoration and a plenary donation of gifts to his Church doe bespeak him God the true God To lay down some particular instances the works which none can doe but God alone are ascribed to him to wit to create and preserve Joh. 1.3 5.17 Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 3. to redeem 1 Cor. 1.30 1 Thes 1.10 to blot out iniquities Mat. 9.6 to search the heart Mat. 9.4 Mark 2.8 14.13 to hear our prayers Joh. 14 14. to quicken Joh. 5.27 to judge Joh. 5.22 Moreover the miracles which he wrought by his own power according to that prophesie Esa 53.5 6. unto which also even Christ himself sendeth us Joh. 10.25 Mat. 11.4 5. and for the working whereof he gave power to his Apostles Mat. 10.8 Moreover those attributes which doe agree onely to the nature of God and are ascribed unto him as eternal Mic. 5.2 almighty Joh. 3.31 infinite Mat. 18.20 King of kings Rev. 19.26 Saviour Mat. 1.21 and the rest testifie him to be God by nature I might adde Scripture wherein the Divinity of Christ is proved Esa 9.6 Judg. 6.11 Mat. 16 16. John 20.28 Rom. 9 5. 1 John 5.20 1 Tim. 3.16 In which places Christ is absolutely called God and the name JEHOVAH given to him From the Person Ipse saith Calvin is signified First that it is not a humane invention but a holy institution of Christ Secondly that the Apostles did not chuse themselves but were chosen of Christ Thirdly that none are fit for such a work but those that are set apart by Christ But how is Christ said to give some Apostles Quest and Prophets after his Ascension when we read that on earth he chose his Apostles Mat. 10 gave them a Commission to preach and after his resurrection confirmed them by breathing on them and giving them the Holy Ghost John 20.21 They were sent Answ fitted and qualified whilst Christ was on earth but after his ascension they received the gifts of the Holy Ghost after a more glorious manner and in a farre greater measure Leo. Eadem semper virtus charismatum quaemvis non eadem semper mensura Donorum They had tasted of the Spirit before but at the day of Pentecost they were filled with the holy Ghost they had infusion but then diffusion and effusion as one speaks who distinguisheth the gifts of the holy Ghost by Infusion Diffusion Effusion Again they received the gifts of the Holy Ghost after a farre more glorious manner multitudes were witnesses of its descending upon them in visible forms of cloven and fiery tongues the substance of the Spirit was invisible the signe visible there must not be onely a tongue eloquence and utterance but fiery tongues courage and zeal Vt fervor discretionem erigat Bern. serm 23. in Gant discretio fervorem regat That zeale may lead discretion and discretion govern zeal If Christ had given his Apostles onely cloven tongues and not fiery they should have been full of knowledge but void of zeal if fiery tongues and not cloven they should have abounded with zeale but not according to knowledge Christ therefore did send down the Spirit in fiery and cloven tongues Thus much of the Person Secondly from the Act in the text pointing out the ordaining and setting apart men for the work of the Ministery is held forth the free and unlimited love of Christ So Placid and Jacob de Val. who besides many pledges of his love freely and undeservedly bestowes on his Church garments of divers colours some excelling in explication some in application some in determination of School-doubts some judicious in informing the understanding others powerful in reforming the will and affections some the sons of consolation others of thunder some construing the Scriptures

allegorically as Origen some historically as Hierome some morally as Gregory the great some pathetically as Chrysostome some dogmatically as Augustine Thirdly the persons ordained some Apostles c. The Lord hath from time to time raised up instruments and taught the children of men the secrets of his kingdome by men of the like passions its true he can give wisdome without a Teacher maintain life without bread raise up children to Abraham of stones doe more by his absolute power than he will by his actuall But it is his will to make use ordinarily of means to teach Cornelius by Peter Lydia by Paul Paul by Ananias the Eunuch by Philip and every soule that is wise in the doctrine of salvation by Apostles Prophets c. Lat. Confes of Helvetia c. 18. God hath alwaies used his Ministers for the gathering or erecting of a Church to himself c. True it is God can by his power without any means take unto himself a Church amongst men but he had rather deal with men and the ministery of men The Lord useth no Angels in this great work of mans happinesse but men Consultissime autem sapientissime fieri à Deo intelligimus Zanch. confes Ch● relig de Eccl. Milt g●ber quod non per Angelos sed per homines doceat in Ecclesia Christus tam quia libentius sinimus nos à nostri similibus familiaritèr institui quam à longè dissimilis naturae spiritibus cum insolita majestate deceri c. We know saith he it was most wisely and advisedly done of God that Christ should teach in his Church not by Angels but by men both because we can more willingly suffer our selves to be informed familiarly of our equals than to be taught of spirits of a farre differing nature with an unacquainted Majestie and also because we might more easily be deceived of Sathan falsly faining himself to be sent of God and transforming himself to an Angel of light and those surely in our judgment are two not the least causes why the Son of God when he was to fulfill the Office of a Teacher in the Church would be made a man and our brother and familiar like unto us in all things sin onely excepted hence it is that in these last dayes he is said to speak unto us by his Son Nempe jam homine facto In cod loco familiariter in Ecclesia agente Namely being now made man and living familiarly in the Church Bucanus gives severall Reasons why the Lord doth not teach by Himself or by Angels but by Man First Buc. in 42 Com. pl. of the Ministery he provides for our infirmity in choosing such Interpreters Secondly to make triall of our obedience who speaks by such Thirdly that he may declare his favour towards us when he consecrates the mouthes and tongues of men to himself that in them his very voice may sound out unto us Fourthly lest without the outward Word we should expect the hidden Revelations of the Spirit or preaching of Angels Lastly this treasure is in earthly vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 We shall considering the weight of every word in our Text handle the persons therein 1. Severally then Joyntly Apostles To be called by God to the office of Publick teaching and administring the Sacraments Zanch confes Chr. relig de Eccl. Milit. guber is two fold Extraordinary or Ordinary Extraordinary is that which is done by God himself or the Son of God immediatly without the work and Ministerie of man and this is done 3 waies First without using any mans service or suffrage Bucan 42. Com. pl. of the Ministerie but his own voice onely of this sort was the calling of Abraham Moses the Prophets John Baptist and the Apostles Secondly when God useth some but yet as Messengers only shewing the calling and commandment of God so Philip was called by the message of the Angel to baptize the Eunuch Ananias sent to comfort and baptize Paul the Apostle Thirdly by his inward inspiration Of this kinde was the journey of Philip to the City of Samaria Acts 8. Of this sort was the calling of those that preached the Gospel in Phenicia and Cyprus after the scattering of the Churches The 12 Apostles had the aforesaid extraordinary calling not from man or by man but immediately by Christ employed in the highest Ministery of the Church planters of the New Testament amongst the Nations founders of the future edifices of the Church whose doctrine is the canon and rule of all Christian Religion free from corruption of inerrable spirits impowered by the laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghost verst in all Languages else they could not be instrumentall to convert all Lands and having the gifts of miracles which doth ever accompany an extraordinary calling saith Mayer Mayer Jam 3. Doct. 3. else how should men know they were sent of God But Zanchy thinks Miracles not alwaies necessary to an extraordinary call Zanch rel●g Christi de Eccl. Mil. guber Neque enim credimus ad hujus generis Ministrorum vocationem Ministeriúmque confirmandum semper opus esse miraculis cum neque omnium Prophetarum c. We doe not believe that there is alwaies need of Miracles to confirm the calling and Ministerie of this kinde of Ministers sith we read not that the sending of all the Prophets was confirmed by miracles but onely by the Spirit of God and zeal of his glory wherewith they burned c. had the Apostles done no Miracles yet their very preaching was not without Miracle probatur Deus per Apostolos God was exceedingly glorified by such mean poor rude men and out of the mouthes of these babes and sucklings God ordained praise Leo serm 1. de pen. We may see Vbi Deus Magister est quàm citò discitur quod docetur Where God is the Tutour the lesson is soon taught such instruments as these God thought fit to lay the foundation by but employed ordinary ones for the building of the walls and of the roof Now this extraordinary calling singular endowments and miraculous actings of the Apostles are not patterns and presidents for us The Church of God is not now to make use of illiterate men unfit unqualified relying on Enthusiasms and Revelations for the same Christ that elected these by the pen of his Apostle in that excellent Epistle to Timothy which Hierom calleth Speculum Sacerdotii as the whole Scripture is Speculum Christianismi sets down some directions for the choice of a Pastor 1 Tim 3.2 he must be sober vigilant of good behaviour apt to teach it is not enough to be holy and well-learned and so climb into the Pulpit and preach but he must have an outward ordination by the imposition of hands 1 Tim. 4.14 God doth not in these daies so enthusiastically inspire men but sets them 1st to be Cisterns in the Universities

comparing peoples practise with our preaching I come now to a third thing The esteem and respect to the Ministers of the Gospel consisteth in their provision and maintenance not onely in a carefull c. For if we sow spiritual things is it a great matter that we shall reap your carnall things Doe ye not know that they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar 1 Cor. 9.11 13. S. Paul giveth a strict charge Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the Word make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Emphatical in all his goods If Idolatry fed her Priests Gen. 47.22 let not the Gospel starve her Ministers I am I confesse upon an unpleasant subject I crave your attention I matter not your censure So great was Gods care under the Law of the Levites that he gave to his people both mandat and caveat precept and counsel Mandat Numb 35.2 Command the children of Israel that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession Caveat Deut. 12.19 Take heed to thy self that thou for sake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth Now it will follow were there no Texts in the New Testament that Gods care is not lesse of the Ministers of the Gospel than of the Ministers of the Law Observe what inference the Apostle makes 1 Cor. 9.9 10 11. I reade of Christ who came to fulfill all Righteousness that as he paid tribute unto Caesar so he offered his duties unto the Temple Luke 2.24 The Minister is Gods workman labouring in the salvation of his peoples souls his work calls for wages from the people or a woe unto the people Jer. 22.13 The Ministers are both the sowers in the seed-time and the shearers in the harvest The cry of their hire aswell as others if it be detained it will enter into the ears of the Lord Jam. 5.4 The Ministers are Lamps and shall the people look to have them burn and not finde them oyle shall there be Oxen where the crib is empty or will the Eagles flie where there is no carkasse They are Christs souldiers and No man saith the Apostle goeth on warfare on his own charges none feeds a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock 1 Cor. 9.7 They seem to put out the very light of nature in themselves which repine at the reasonable maintenance of them that minister before the Lord. Every change is full of peril and alterations and in this particular though shadowed with the plausible name of Reformation it threatens nothing lesse than the overthrow of Learning and Religion It was foreseen no doubt by Gods Spirit how the Ministers of the Word should be contemned how injuriously dealt withall what havock and spoyle should be made of the Church which moved him to those Exhortations 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Thess 5.12 It is written of the Christians in the life of Nero that they preserved the state yet dogs must devour them They made Aurelius his Army to prosper yet Christianos ad Leones Threw the Christians to the Lyons It hath ever been the posie of the Church Facere bonum habere malum To doe good and to suffer evil So Christ himself sped He healed and was hurt He pitied and was mocked He saved others himself was killed The colour of our Livery on Earth is either black or red mourning or persecution the armes of the Church is the Crosse Woe unto those that adde crosses to the Crosse and grow rich by the poverty of the Church and her Servants Bishop King It was the saying of a Learned Bishop in his Lectures on Jonas Time was that Religion did eat up Policy and the Church devoured the Common wealth but now Policy eateth up Religion and the Common-wealth devours the Church Men are grown professed Politicians Floreat Respublica copiis referta Let the Common-wealth prosper and what care we for the Church Unlike that godly man Me moriente vivat Ecclesia whatsoever becomes of me let the Church live c. I cannot conceive how men can plead their faith in the Gospel and not reward those that bring it all the Devils in hell cannot take a directer course to overthrow the Ministery than by taking away all their livelyhood Perhaps some will pity but what 's that others will afford some bare and naked praise but we cannot like Cameleons live on the aire of commendations those that are driven to study how to get bread to put in their mouthes will with a heavy heart study for Sermons and I like not those that preach without study that turn the cock and let the water run Oh unhappinesse unhappinesse misery misery to devour holy things and then to make enquiry Prov. 20.25 But to wave this for the present The Labourer is worthy of his hire and woe to those that doe detain it Jam. 5.4 if the Labourers that reap our fields much more those that reap in the Lords Vineyard Maintenance to the Ministery is not due ad modum Eleêmosynae as of alms and courtesie but ad modum debiti as their right and due I shall not here dispute the lawfulnesse of Tythes they were lawfull to the Priests there was no question Numb 18.21 There is Mandat and Caveat and how they come to be taken away I know not for there was no Law abrogated but the Ceremonial and they were no part of it Again I finde no prohibition in the New Testament but commendation of it Ye observe saith Christ Mìnt Anise and Cummin and ye doe well The Pharisee was in this an honest man our Saviour condemneth his hypocrisie and so he did the hypocrisie of the Jewes in that they observed the smaller but omitted the mightier matters of the Law in boasting of their little good but neglecting mercy and judgment these things they ought to have done That which I intend to hold out is that maintenance by the Law of God is due to a Gospel Minister so you may read 1 Cor. 9. from the 7 ●h to the 15th verse Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the word c. 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 double honour countenance and maintenance reverence and recompence honour and reward It is our duty saith the Apostle to doe good unto all especially to those Gal. 6.10 and amongst the houshold of faith above the rest unto such as have been our spiritual Fathers in begetting us unto Christ 1 Cor. 4.15 for a childe to let his father starve is both inhumane and barbarous he is not fit to live This condemns exceedingly the practise of some in our Age whose chief policie yea piety for with the Pharisee they think they doe God good service is to strip a Minister whom they dislike of his Livelyhood and expose him and his family to want and poverty such in the end will hale down judgments on their own