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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	word_n	workman_n	worthy_a	14	3	6.7081	4	false

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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

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.

yet in this place 2 Tim. 2.4 The Apostle only aludes to ●hose in the Ministry or such who are ●piritual Officers in Christ's Army they ought to take heed who go forth i● that Warfare they intangle not themselves with the affairs of this Life i. ● in Trades and Callings which othe● Christians are allowed to follow and the reason is offered that they may pleas● him who hath chosen them to be Soldiers And hence 't is that the same Apostle in another place exhorts Timothy and so all other Ministers who the Church calls forth to that great Work to giv● himself up to Reading to Exhortation t● Doctrine and to the Study of the Word● Meditate on these things saith he giv● thy self wholly to them that they profiting may appear to all Nothing doubtless but real necessity may dispense with the contrary h● whole time and strength is little enough to be imployed in the Wor●… and Service he is called to Let th●… things be the business of thy Thoughts a●… take care of them be in them so it is 〈◊〉 the Greek as our Annotators observ●… Let them be thy whole Work. He m●… saith one give himself up to the Min●stry of the Word and Prayer and continue in reading Meditation c. as a Man wholly devoted unto Gospel Service and is therefore by his Call to the Ministry secluded from those ways and means of providing for his own Subsistance as Trades and Secular Employments of others furnish them with that his Mind by the cares of Wordly Business may not be diverted from the Study of God's Word and care of Souls which the duty of his Station engageth him to And if he may not expose himself to the careful Thoughts that accompany worldly Business though tending to his Profit certainly it is no way meet that he should be left to conflict with the Thorny Cares of a necessitous Condition whilst those he Ministers ●o have means to prevent it doubtless ●he Holy God Ordained the Mini●…ers Maintenance upon most weighty Grounds and Reasons some of which ●lessed be His Name he hath not ●oncealed or hid from us and this we say seem to us to be one among●… the rest viz. That his Mind and Thought● might not be diverted from his Work wit● Earthly Things Fourthly And not in respect of himself upon this account only but also to prevent that occasion of Scandal that we see daily is ready to attend Men who follow Trades and Secular Employments in the World for let Christiann Men be never so careful and circumspect in their Callings and Commerce with Men we find by daily experience how subject they are to fall under the clamours of some ungodly and envious People they lying in wait fo● their halting and if it be a Ministe● or Pastor of a Church that is a Trading Person be sure they will if 〈◊〉 be possible watch him so that he sha●… not escape their reproachful Tongu●… though it be not in the least deserve●… and hereby his Hands are not ●…ly made weak but his Spirits a●… grieved and his Ministry made th●… unjustly contemptible We find 〈◊〉 from hence very necessary that the Pastors of our Churches and Teachers too if possible should be freed from all such Insnarements and cannot but observe the Wisdom of God in respect of His Holy Ordinance i. e. in ordaining a Support and Livelyhood for His Servants another way so that they might not be brought under Infamy and Reproach and that thereby also the Word of God might the better Run and be Glorified These two Arguments we cannot but Judge are weighty namely 1. the work of the Ministry especially in the Hands of a Pastor being so great that it doth require his utmost attendance or all his whole time and strength as it must needs appear to every Man who soberly and seriously considers it in its Parts 'T is true a Man may bear that Name and Discharge that Sacred Office in part nay and as well as he can considering his circumstances in the VVorld and thereby have in part peace in his Mind but 't is another thing to discharge the duty of this Ca●…ing as he ought and as the Sanction of th●… Office calls for to the Honour of th●… Holy Name of God and Credit of Religion for we conclude to Preach on● or two Sermons in a VVeek is the leas● part of his Work and the least indeed if his Matter be not so well prepared and digested that he may show himse●… a Workman that needeth not be ashame●… rightly dividing the Word of Truth th●… so every one may have their portion 〈◊〉 Meat in due Season which that Tim●thy might do St. Paul advises him to a careful and diligent Study But how such poor Men can do this who a●… forc'd to follow their Trades hard e●…ry Day in the Week to get Bread for their Families we see not But besides the great VVork of giving themselves up to Reading Meditation an● laborious and diligent Study an● Preaching of God's VVord There 〈◊〉 another great Duty lyes upon the●… which is Visiting the Members of th●… Church under their Care so that th●… may know the State of their Flock yea ' go from House to House And if this be not done How can they so well know what Food to Administer or Hand forth unto some poor Souls they have committed to their Charge VVhere the VVork of Visiting is neglected we conclude one main Part of the Pastors Business lies undone and what an account they will have to give of the Souls of Men and VVomen to Jesus Christ We know not if they be remiss here or what an account the Church can give if they are out of a capacity to discharge this great Trust through neglect of their Duty to them They saith the Apostle Watch for your Souls as such as must give account Heb. 13.17 And then Secondly the Credit and Honour of their Ministry in respect of what we before mentioned ought to be considered for if the Preacher hath Blots and Stains upon him through the necessities he may be in in respect of the things of this VVorld by not having his wants supplyed but is involved in Debt or exposed to the breach of his VVord in the way of Trading VVhat weight or power think you will his Ministry have upon the Consciences of Men For it necessarily makes room for the old Proverb Physician heal thy self and it is as a prevention of those Evils i. e. for the good Health and VVell-being of the Souls both of Pastors and People here and hereafter VVe conclude that God has been pleased to Ordain and so to provide for his Servants in the Ministry as we have shewed but this is not all For Fifthly According to the Law and Light of Nature the Church is obliged to provide for their Ministers as to the matter of Equity and Justice and from hence the Apostle argues the Point with the Corinthians 1 Cor. 9.7

they are prevented of Improving what they have for the future comfort and advantage of their Families Nay and we have heard to our great trouble how some worthy Men who have Laboured fully to improve their Ministry through the Peoples neglect of their duty to them have in process of time sunk in their Estates and in Truth have been brought to a low Condition for 't is rare to see a Pastor of our Churches to abound in Riches Tho some Blessed be God may be indifferent well to pass in the World now to expose a rich man to Poverty or to let a poor man shift for himself under wants and necessities are Evils much of the like nature and for a prevention of both God hath ordered it so that neither of these things should or ought to be Therefore this neglect in short exposeth Ministers to Temptations considering the moral Duty that lies upon them in common with other men to provide for their Families namely to content themselves in doing but one part of their Work viz. to Preach a Sermon or two in the Week c. Now our desires are that they may all be wholly sequestred to the Lord's Work and Service and not be other ways imploying themselves when they should be Preaching the Kingdom of God but to Labour to fulfill their Ministry they have received of the Lord so that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy in the Day of Christ Object But our Church is small and our Pastor can't take up all his time in the Lord's Work. Answer We Answer If he wants work who will hinder him from following of his secular Business provided he doth faithfully and fully discharge every part of the duty of his Place and Function But do not the Neighbouring Villages and places adjacent want the Gospel having no Bread for their Souls and this too by reason such Pastors are unconcerned in this matter and by which means 't is doubtless that the Glorious Gospel is no more promulgated up and down in dark and blind corners of this Nation nor the Church increases no more Besides do not many poor Sinners daily perish hereby for want of Knowledg Brethren 't is not for our selves but for the Lord and his sinking Interest that we plead for it grieves our Souls to hear what cries there are in many parts of this Kindom for want of Bread some being forc'd we hear to go twelve or sixteen Miles to hear a Sermon now if Ministers of Churches made it their whole Business to Preach the Word and concern themselves for the promoting of the Truth it would not be as it is at this very time nor can we think it should be otherwise unless we had a travelling Ministry which we fear we shall hardly find unless Pastors and Teachers in the respective Churches were taken off of all Incumbrances and so give themselves up to the Ministry of the VVord God has done great things for us and hath opened a mighty door and shall not we do some great thing for Him The Case Blessed be the Lord is much altered You may come now into any Town and none dare forbid you if any one will but entertain you and Preach the Gospel And shall we not take care to answer this Mercy and do what we can that the poor Blind VVorld may be Inlightened and brought to the saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ If the present Providence of God be not answered by a due Improvement to his Glory and the furtherance of the Gospel VVe may say with Solomon Why is there a price in the Hand of a Fool seeing he hath no Heart to it Prov. 17.16 By this time we hope you may more clearly understand us and what we drive at and earnestly desire to see accomplished viz. That Ministers may not only bear that Name but with all Faithfulness do the VVork they are called to 't is not to press our People to Minister to such Preachers who are Idle and Negligent in their Business whose Hearts and Hands are in the VVorld and eagerly pursue their own secular Affairs and matter not what becomes of the Interest of Jesus Christ No 't is to encourage the Faithful and Labourous Person who is willing to give himself up to the Lord in the Discharge of that great Turst committed to him and to Labour indeed in Christ's Vineyard it is in truth ● shame for a Minister to receive the Lord's VVages and not do the Lord's VVork some there are in the World ●hat do not deserve the Name of Mini●…ers they doing the VVork of the Lord so deceitfully Our Churches also are 't is like in some places in the Country but small and ●re like to be smaller if the Ministry 〈◊〉 not awakened to become more Labourous Are there not such in some Towns who are hardly known by the Inhabitants to be Ministers at ●ll they are so little concerned in Preaching they are better known to be Farmers Yeomen and Tradesman then Preachers of the Gospel they are in●angled so in the Affairs of this Life ●hat they have but little time to mind ●he great Work they are called to We would ask some Ministers whether ●hey could not do much more Preach oftner and in more Places and take greater Pains to promote the Gospel and gather in Souls to Christ than they do Certainly they will and must say yea we might VVhy what is the reason of your not doing it Ought we not with Mary to do what we can VVe conclude this Omission of Duty either arises from the evil of your own Hearts or else from the Remisness and Neglect of the People in Respect of their Duty to you 1. It may arise from the Evil in your own Hearts in that you have not or do not espouse the Interest of Jesus Christ equal with or above your own Can any be contented in doing a little Service for Christ tho his Interest sinks in their Hands whilst they thrive in their own concerns and grow Rich in the VVorld Lord what will become of such Ministers in the day o● Judgment Can they think to loo●… Christ in the Face with Comfort tha● have been such slothful Servants bu● God forbid there should be any among us who mind more thei● own trifling Affairs than the grea● VVork and Business of their blessed Lord and Master Is this the making full Proof of your Ministry you have received of the Lord Christ's Ministers are called Labourers but we fear some Labour but little unless it be at their own work should you be as Remiss in your own Affairs as possibly you are in the Lords you would find quickly a decay in your Estates and be in a sinking Condition in the World which 't is like would soon startle you and stir you up to greater Care and Industry and ought you not to be as considerate in the great concernment of Christ his Gospel and Churches We take it not upon us to reprehend any of

needs be a great Mystery but so it is here for the Apostles who had the greatest and clearest Knowledge of these Mysteries as any ever had in the VVorld yet declare they knew but in part and saw but in part darkly as through a Glass ver 13.9.12 'T is such a Mystery that he that thinks he knows any thing knows nothing as he ought to know VVhat a Mystery is that of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus That the Nature of Man should be joined to the Divine Nature of God and both make but one Christ What a Mystery is there in the Doctrine of Faith 1. That a Man should go out of himself and be carried above himself to believe things impossible to Man's Natural Reason that he should seek for Justification by the Righteousness and Obedience of another for a Man as one would think to have a great store of Holyness and good Works and yet throw it as it were all away and be dead to it in point of Trust and Dependance is to Natural Men a strange Mystery 2. To believe when every thing is opposite to it To Work for Life and oppose some Sin a Natural Man is ready to do but to believe in Christ for Life and Holyness to rely on his Doings his Works his Merits this the Heart of Man can't understand but is naturally averse to nay and Satan also opposeth it and the World mocks at it and accounts it Foolishness 3. That a Man should believe and not see nay believe as Abraham did in hope against hope is a Mystery Yet may be there are some greater Mysteries than this which a Minister is to Study in respect of Christ the Mediator his Work Offices Glorious Covenant Ordinances and Providences of God in the World and therefore his VVork is a difficult VVork 2. 'T is difficult in that it calls for the greatest Care and Exactness imaginable every thing must be done according to the Holy Pattern set by Christ in the Gospel there must be no adding to no diminishing from nor altering of any thing in the least without eternal hazard and danger 3. 'T is difficult and very hard in that it calls for the greatest strength that the most strong in Grace and Wisdom can arrive unto it requires all the Powers of the whole Soul to be exerted or put forth to a right Discharge thereof 4. It calls not only for all our strength but also all our Time and Diligence a slothful or Idle Person is not fit to be a Minister 't is a work that must be followed continually let the times be what they will Preach the Word be instant in season and out of season reprove exhort with all long Suffering and Doctrine be not Slothful but Diligent fear no Faces regard no Threats respect no Mans Person reprove all impartially be no fawning nor flattering Preacher nor like those who rather vent their own Passion than persue the end of Instruction and Reformation of Souls and this is a hard Work to do 5. 'T is difficult Work in respect of the opposition that is made against them and the Grand Obstructions they meet withal 1. From their own Hearts the Flesh is weak tho the Spirit indeed is willing many times that it is ready to say with Peter Master pity thy self Why dost thou spend thy Time thy Strength and ware out thy poor Body at this sort Less may do c. Besides The Heart of a Minister who is sensible of the Nature of his Work causes him oft to tremble in Consideration of his Unfitness and Unworthiness for such a sacred Undertaking and Imployment 2. From Sin in dwelling Sin and other Humane Frailties alas they are Men of like Passion and Infirmities with others 3. From Satan he is an Implacable Enemy to them and to their Work hence he raises up all the Opposition against them imaginable to hinder them in their Business or take them off of it or make them Remiss and Negligent in doing it we are not Ignorant saith Paul of his devices 2 Cor. 2.11 4. From the World 1. by Reproaches and Contradictions of Ungodly Men 2. By Hereticks and False-Teachers with these they are forc'd to fight and many times are hard put to it as Paul when he ingaged those evil Beasts at Ephesus 5. Lastly By Persecutors allways the heat of this Battle falls upon Christ's poor Ministers they are the Mark these wicked Archers shoot at hence they like Paul are oft in Bonds and Prisoners for Christ's sake Now put all these things together and is it not needful think you that your poor Ministers be thought upon and incouraged by you as Christ hath appointed But we shall say no more only conclude all with one VVord to our Fellow Labourers Brethren let us strive to double our Diligence and shew to all the sense of the greatness of our work is upon our Spirits and tho we have not that incouragement from the People that God has Ordained yet remember we serve a good Master Besides a Necessity is laid upon us we must Preach the Gospel and let us be contented with that State and Portion we meet with in the World 't is our great Business to approve our selves the Ministers of Christ in Labours in Watchings in Fastings by Pureness by Knowledge by the Holy Ghost by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the Right Hand and on the Left by Honour and Dishonour by evil Report and good Report 2 Cor. 6.5,6,7,8 Possibly we may be reproached and sensured for what we have done and said in this small Tract But should it be so we matter it not since we have the Testimony of our Consciences that our Design is the Glory of God and the promoting his Blessed Gospel in the Nation and the good of his poor Churches and also because we know we have the sure Word of God to confirm the Truth of what we plead for VVherefore whilst we make it appear to all 't is not the Hire the VVages c. that we aim at but contrariwise the Honour of the ever blessed God and to VVitness to the Sanction of every one of his Just and most Holy Precepts we cannot be without Peace in our own Souls FINIS