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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	scripture_n	spirit_n	word_n	12,728	5	4.8461	4	true

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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

actual Investiture in our Nature of a●… Power in Heaven and Earth Mat● 28.18.19.20 And Jesus came an● spake unto them saying All Power 〈◊〉 given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore Teach all Nations ●… And lo I am with you always even 〈◊〉 the End of the World. Amen Also after His Blessed and Glorious Ascention and Sitting on the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8. ● Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. Did by His Apostles give Commandment and Direction for the continuance hereof to the end of the World and his Second Coming without Sin unto Salvation Heb. 9.28 As Acts 14.21,22,23 After they had by their Ministry been blest with the Conversion of many Souls they took care to direct them into the Duty of Church Communion and by their Suffrages Ordained them Elders in every Church So the Apostle gives this as the Reason Why he left Titus in Creete he not having opportunity after Preaching the Gospel to them to put things into due Order Tit. 1.5 That he should set in Order the things that were wanting or left undone by the Apostle and Or ●…e Elders in every City that is Church in euery City as before Acts 14. who are called Elders Bishops or Pastors and Teachers Names significative of the●… Authority Office and Work. 2. Christ being now in Heaven and an extraordinary Call being ceased the Scriptures being a perfect and standing Rule to the Church through all Ages he has committed this Care to her self according to the Power given to Her who is the Pillar and Ground of Truth to provide Ministers for her own Edification in Obedience to his Commands and Rules given in his word as he shall see good to Bless her with Spiritual Gifts and Abilities in order to the fitting them for this Work the Father also has Covenanted to give his Spirit in the Gifts and Graces of it and promised that the Words he has put into Christs Mouth and the spirit that is upon him shall never depart from him nor his seeds seed for ever Likewise has according to the Circumstances of time the Church hath been under blest her as with his Grace so with all needful Spiritual Gifts Eph. 4.7.11 For the perfecting the saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ So that whilst there is a Church Millitant Saints on this side Perfection any of the Members of Christ Mystical Body on Earth those Spiritual Gifts needfull to their present State shall be given and be amongst them for the Support of the great Ordinance of the Ministry and for the good of the Church 3. And as its the Churches Duty to Seek these Spiritual Abilities and improve them when they are given to these great and Holy Ends so she must walk regularly herein in obedience to the Rules given by Christ in this Case who hath laid down the qualifications both Negative and Positive of all such as ought to be called to this great work and Trust of Ministring by Office 1 Tim. 3.1 to 9. Tit. 1.6.9 we have no warrant to put any into the Ministry otherwise save such as are here discribed and competently fitted for it For as it was a sin of Old in the Church to put any into the Ministry but those whom God appointed by the Rules given to them so it can be no less Evil for the Church now to call any forth into Office but such who are qualified as God's Word directs and now as Christ hath made this grant of Power to the Church of choosing her own Officers for her Edification so he hath left Rules for her who and how to chose as we said before So likewise he has laid down those special Duties of the Officers in the Church who are to take the oversight Feed Govern Go in and out before them Acts 20.17,18 1. Pet. 5. and 2. 4. When the Church has had a Tryal of the meetness and Abilities of any Person or Persons for this work and service they are by Election and Choice solemnly to set him or them a part by Prayer and Laying on of Hands Acts 14.21,22,23 Acts 6. By which a new relation ariseth of an Elder and a Church a Pastor and a Flock This must be therefore by the mutual voluntary acts of each other by which the Duties of each relation becomes binding upon them according to the Laws of Christ It is the Pastors Duty now to Watch Feed and Govern the Flock and to give himself up to it It is the Churches Duty to submit themselves to Him in the Lord to Love Reverence and Administer freely to him 1 Pet. 5.1,2,3,4,5 Heb. 13.7.17 How greatly then must those Churches be to blame that unconcernedly live in the neglect of so great a Duty upon which the Edification of the Church and her Well-being so much depends as well as Gospel Order For although the Essence and Being of a Church depends upon its Institution in respect both of Matter and Form A competent number of Believers may by mutual agreement lay the Foundation of the Being of a Gospel Church but they cannot be a Church Organical without Officers which the Lord hath placed there for the orderly Exercis●… of his Authority committed to her To neglect this is to despise the Wisdom of Christ who best knows wha● is for the good of His Church and for Her Edification in this State. 2 To slight His Goodness in so useful and beneficial an Institution 3 It s a contempt put upon his Authority as King of Saints who has in his Soveraign Right in and over the Church Ordained it so to be for the Churches Good and Well-being Secondly As there should not be a neglect of this Duty so there should be great care taken that we answer the Will of God herein wherein His Name and Honour is so much concerned in Respect of his Love to and Care of his Church therefore the greaest diligence should be taken that the Rules He has given be duly observed and Applications made of the Qualifications laid down in respect of all such that are called unto Office The outward Call is an Act of the Church the acceptation of the Person so called is an Obediential Act of him to the Will of God but neither of these can be regular where there is not at previous indication of the Mind of God in bestowing those Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications as may render him competently fit to the Discharge of his Office and Work. Now in a Churches undue proceeding herein they discover their own weakness if not Ignorance in respect of the Rule it self and injure the Person so called in laying the weight of so great a Work upon him who is not furnished with Spiritual Abilities to discharge it thereby expose the Honour of Christ and Reputation of His Gospel in the World which should be dear unto us And we have reason to

reckon that some Churches not walking so regular herein has been one cause of the want of that Reputation which otherwise they might have gained amongst the Saints and in the World observe what Moses said to Israel Deut. 4.6 Keep therefore and do them for this is your Wisdom and your Understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear of all these Statutes and say Surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding People Who otherwise were the least of all Nations We ought with far greater reason to take heed we deviate not from the Laws of the Son of God who deserves greater Honour than Moses which he hath given to His Church under the Gospel Dispensation If in the choice of Deacons Acts 6.3 They were to look out from amongst themselves Men of honest Report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom to be set apart to that Work How much more in the choice of Pastors or Elders whose Work requires greater spiritual Abillities to a right discharge thereof For Churches therefore to be so unconcern'd whether they have Officers or not according to Gospel Rule or so overly in the Choice of those they ca●… into such high stations amongst them whether they are competently qualified or not are greatly blameable Thirdly In the next place we conclude It is very dishonourable to God and a reproach to our Sacred Religion for the Churches when they have called forth such Pastors and Ministers who are competently qualified according to the Rule of the Gospel to let them lye under those unsupportable burdens of worldly Snares and Incumbrances without providing a due maintenance for them according to the Ordaination of our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament The Gospel Minister's Maintenance Vindicated AND indeed it seems to us a thing Grievous as well as Strange that any People should be so be clouded in their Understandings as in the least to doubt whether it be Duty or no● that the Church should allow a Mee● and Due Maintenance to their Faithful Pastors and Teachers Yet w● hear there are not only some who hav● doubts about it but others who see● to Object and stiffly argue against i● as if it were Unlawful if not Antichristian for Ministers to receive 〈◊〉 Yearly or Quarterly Allowance from the Churches amongst whom they are placed and imployed as Labourers which Conceit cannot be without its sad Effects and Consequences and if they are not convinced o● this Mistake and Error the sooner may in a little time appear to the mor● palpable Detriment and Prejudice o● the Gospel and Reproach of Profession which is indeed too Visible or Manifest already therefore are we stirred up in Love to Christ and his Blessed Interest and as a Prevention of th● Evil and Danger threatned upon th● Account of this Defect and Remisne●… of Duty to Write this short Treatise Our main Business at this time is not only to Assert the Minister's Maintenance to be an Institution of Christ but also to prove it so to be and that to with-hold it from them by a Church who is able comfortably to provide for them is a great and crying Sin and will be attended we fear unless prevented by an unfeigned Repentance and Reformation with severe Judgment from the Holy God who will not always bear with the Ignorant much less the willful neglect of his own Holy Law contained so expresly in his sacred Word and that we may do this the more effectually we shall in the first place cite those Scriptures upon which we ground the Truth of what we Assert and Plead ●or Matt. 10.9,10 Provide neither Gold ●…r Silver nor Brass in your Purses ●…r Scrip for your Journey neither Two ●ats neither Shoes nor Staves for the ●ork-man is Worthy of his Meat 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders who Rul● well be accounted worthy of double Honor●… especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth cut the Corn for the Labourer is worthy of his Reward Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the Word communicate to him that teacheth him in all good Things be not deceived God is not mecked for what a Man soweth that shall he reap v. 7. 1 Cor. 9.7 Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own Charge Who planted a Vineyard and eaterh not of the Fruit thereof Who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock v. 9. Is it not written in the Law of Moses Thou shalt not muzzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn doth God take Care for Oxen v. 10. Or saith 〈◊〉 it altogether for our sakes For ou● sakes no doubt this is Written That h● that Ploweth shall Plow in Hope and he which Thrasheth in Hope shall be mad● partaker of his Hope V. 11. If we hav● Sown unto you Spiritual Things is it a great Thing if we shall Reap your Carnal Things v. 13. Do not you 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 v. 14. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which Preach ●he Gospel should live of the Gospel We will Appeal to all Mens Consciences in the Fear of God whether ●here is any Duty lies more clear and ●vident in express Words in the Holy ●cripture than this doth and yet how ●trangly are some good Christians at a ●oss about it and are hardly brought ●o receive it as an indispensable Duty ●r else to a Faithful Discharge of their Duty herein Our Work is before us we shall therefore proceed to open as ●he Lord may help us the Mind of God in these places of Holy Scripture ●nd give you the Sense of them First 〈◊〉 appears that as soon as ever our blessed ●aviour sent forth his Ministers to Preach 〈◊〉 Gospel as we have shewed Matt. 10. 7,8,9,10 He Discovered this part of 〈◊〉 Will and Pleasure i. e. That they shou●… not spend or waste their own Substan●… they are forbid to take either Gold 〈◊〉 Silver c. which Words clearly i●timate they might have both Go●… and Silver and more Coats and Sho●… too but they were not to take the● with them in their Journey bein● sent forth to Preach the Kingdom 〈◊〉 God. Obj. But some possibly may Object 〈◊〉 was but a temporary Precept being 〈◊〉 Will of God concerning them for that sh● Journey at that time Answ We Answer it seemeth to 〈◊〉 manifestly to declare the absolute W●… and Pleasure of Christ that his Fai●…ful Labourers should be provided for the People with all things Necessar●… appertaining to this Life and not of then but also in all succeeding A●… and we find our Worthy Annotators 〈◊〉 directly agree with us herein th●… may be some things contained in th●… place might be temporary Take wh●… our late Annotators say upon this Text Continuation of Mr.

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