A Short Conference, between a Puritan and Presbyterian Strupling about the the maintenance of Gospel-Ministers.
WHether are not the Ministers of the Gospell to live by the Gospel?
Yes doubtles, for we are forbid to mussle the very Oxe that tre [...]deth out t [...]e corne, and Gods taking care for Oxen, is to teach us that he tak [...]s farre [...]r [...]ter care for his true Ministers of the Gospel. 1. Cor. 9 9. 10.
Whether may not the Gospel Ministers require the same Tythes for their Gospel maintenance, which were due unto the Leviticall Prieist▪hood for their service adout the Tabernacle?
No, for 'tis plainly s [...]id that there was no perfection by the Leviticall Priest▪hood, under which the People received the Leviticall law, and that the Levitical Priesthood being changed, there was made a necessity of changing the Levitical law, Heb. 7. 11. 12. 19. even the whole Leviticall law, whereof Tythes were a part, an Article, a Cannon.
But may not the State alot or set, out a maintenance for the Gospel Preist hood or Ministrie, under some other proportion or denomination, as of one eight, or fifteenth of mens estates, to be given them for their labour & traveil in the Gospel. without so much as ever naming the word Tythes, amongst us? might not this be don lawfully and without scruple?
No, because the proportioning and imposing upon the people such a maintenance, for the Gospel Ministers, must be either by som expresse warrant from God, which never was as yet, nor, can ever be produc'd, or in imitation of the Leviticall Law, which would incroch too much on Iudaism, and in part revive the O [...]d Law which is abolished, Heb, 7. 12. or else must needs arise from a double presumption, of I [...]ol [...]trie [...] as it is pretended to relate unto Gods wo [...]ship, and tirany as it intrenches upon the Subjects propriety and liberty, if it be without their consent.
But since the Lord hath ordayned that such as preach the Gospell should live by the Gospel. 1. Cor. 9. 14. If the Parishioners wil not give the Preacher maintenance, is there not a necessity for him to take it, wbether the Parishioners will or no? Christ sayes the Minister must live by his Preaching, the people will not pay him for his Pre [...]ching, and I find no third way to make good that Scripture, unlesse hee force it from them for his livelyhood.
Tis true, how Christ appointed that such as preach the Gospel sh [...]uld live by the Gospell, upon the effects and fruits of the Gospell, hospitality, [Page 3] almes, deeds, community of necessaryes, when the Christians have wherwithall, not upon plundring and stealing; But if the people had no meanes for themselues, or would not part from it unto their Ministers, then, their living by the Gospel, wil be to worke with their hands in some honest caling as Paull did, unles wec will infet that Paul and his Disciples, did not live by the Gospell, because he chose to worke with his owne hands and advised others to doe the same, rather then their Ministerie should be thought chargable to any, Act. 20. 33. 34. 35. 1. Thess. 2. 9. & 4. 11. 12. They are then to live by the Gospel, on what Gods providence shall provide them under the Gospell, whether it come in by free maintenance from their Parishioners, or by labouring with their owne hands.
But was there no command nor president for compelling the People of God to Pay Tythes unto the Levites, nor to give maintenance unto the Gospel Ministers?
I finde no command nor President, neyther in the Old, nor New Testament, for such compulsion.
What may be the reason why God would not grant a compulsive power for levyeing, neither the Leviticall nor Gospel maintenanc [...]?
There are many reasons for it, both in respect of the people, and in respect of the Ministers; First in respect of the People; though God set out the portion, the Tythes which the Levits, were to haue, and expresly insinuates, that temporall things ought to be given unto such as administer spiritual, yet he would have it be given as a free gift, a matter of bounty, not grudgingly, 2. Cor. 9. 5. which is inconsistent with a coerciue way of levying it; Secondly in respect of the Ministers, it is expresly required concerning them, that they be not soone angry, no strikers, 1. Tit. 1. 7. they must not strive, but be gentle unto all men 2. Tim. 2, 24. They were, as neere as possible, to resemble Christ their Master, who was not to strive, nor to bee heard cry in the streets, a bruised reed he would not breake, and smoking flax hee would not quench, untill he sent forth Jugment unto victory, Matt. 12. 19. He had no civill Iurisdiction, Hee said his Kingdome was n [...]t of this world, Iohn. 18 36. Hee would not devide the Inheritance betweene the two Brethren, Luke. 12. 13. 14. muchlesse would hee play the divider▪ the carver for himselfe, and all this is likwise inconsistent with the Ministers using by themselves, or so much as countenancing in the civill Magistrate any compulsive means in or about their maintenace, or any thing else which immediatly concerns he Gospel of Peace.
But is it not to be feared, that if the People be not compell [...] to give maintenance unto the Ministers, that in many Parishes the Pre [...] chers would not have wherewithall to live upon, but must be constray [...] to neglect their studye [...], and labour all the week long for reliefe of themselues and families with food and raiment, wherby they would li [...]y become much unprepared, if not totally disabled, to Preach unto their P [...]rishioners on Sundayes, in such a case as this, were it net better to compell maintenance for a Preaching Ministrie, then that there should be no Ministrie, no preaching at all?
No doubtlesse, for since wee have no warrant for levying suc [...] kind of maintenance, it can not be of faith▪ whatsoever is not faith is sin, R [...] 14. 23 and wee may not sinne, wee may not doe evill that good may come th [...]of, Rom. 6. 1: Besids, it is absolutly sinfull to make such asupposition, to suppose that a true and painfull Ministrie should, or can want maintenance since it cannot be without an absolute distrust of God, [...]ho [...] ha [...] promised to be their portion and inheritance, Num. 18. 20. Deut. 10. 9. a [...]d since Paul said that it was better for him to die, then that h [...]e sh [...]u [...]d bee prevented in his bosting of not making the Gospel chargable, 2. Cor. 9. 15. 18. 23. even so ought every conscientious Minister to w [...]rk [...] [...]ith his owne hands, and rather starve then goe to law, or compell his P [...]rishioners to give him maintenance, whether they will or no [...]; and for the impertinent and over officious c [...]re, which some seeme [...]o have of upholding Gods Ministers, by such indirect courses, they out [...] the Constable; I [...] is Gods worke to send and furnish us with Ministers, and their duty to require maintenance after such a manner only, [...]s they are warranted in Christs Commission, which bids them give freely as they have receaved freely, Matt. 10. 8. and that when they were in [...] ny place, they should eate and drinke whatsoever was set before them, Luke. 1 [...]. 7. 8.
But is there no third way, no means of ind [...]fferency betwi [...]t t [...]king Tythes really or equivocally, which as you insinuate, will oblige us no l [...]sse then Paul sayes of Circumsi [...]ion, to the keeping of the whole Law, Gal. 5 3 4▪ that never made any one perfect, Heb. 7. 11. 1 [...]. Is there▪ I say, noe medium betweene such a Leviticall kind of maintenance, if you will have it so, and becomming meer almes-men, to li [...]e upon the Peoples charity?
Noe doubtl [...]s; for as there is no third way of Goverment prescribed the people of God, betweene, or besides the Old and new Law, or Testament, so is it impossible there should be sound any other warrantable [Page 5] meanes of [...]ay [...]ing maintenance unto the Ministers of eyther Testament, then what God has therin prescribed them, which under the old Law, was a stinted Proportion even the Tyther, whether the encreas were more or lesse, for the Livi [...]ecall Preist-hood; But for the Gospell Ministry, nothing besides the charity and free bounty of the people, which yet through faith became a larger portion then that of Tythes, whilst the beleevers at some time and place; had not only all things in common, Ast. 2. 44. but such as had land [...] and houses, sould all they had, and laid the whole price thereof at the Apostles feete, Act. 4. 34. 35.
Tel me then deer Brother in Christ, how a conscientious Minister ought to demean himself in his great extremity, one who hither to has l [...]ved on Tythe, which you cal robbery & plunder, and has not as yet faith enough to renounce them, without a distrust that both himsele and family will bee reduced to beggary?
Deare Brothe [...]: If you be truly conscientious, and througly convinced, you would quickly see as our Saviour saith, how disadvantagious twere to you, to gaine the whole world and loose your owne soule, Matt. 16. 26. I will therefore deal cleerly with you, as in the presence ef God, the most exquisite Accountant, and severest Iudge, to all such as with Ananias and Sapphira presume to lye unto the Holy Ghost, Ast. 5. The Law, ordayned such asstole to restore fiue for one, Exod. 22. 1. Zacheus according thereunto, when hee was converted, restored fourfold, for whatsoever hee had taken from any body upon false accusation, Luke, 19 8. and with out restitution (to such as have wherewithall) all Casuists presume there can be no true repentance, and consequently deny absolution: If you be able therefore you must make restitution of all that you have extorted from your Parishioners, under pretence of maintenance, at lest unto such as will not freely remit the debt unto you, and for the [...]n [...]ur, endevour to get faith in Gods Ordinances, without which it is impossible to please him, Heb. 11. 6. and as the Apostle Iam [...]s sayes, you must not, nay I may say you can not somuch as thinke too receive any thing of him without it, Iames 1. 7. But on the contrary, (if you wil beleive the Scripture) If you have faith but as a grain of musterd seed. you might remove Mountaines, Matt 17. 20. and receive of God whatsoever you shall aske, & 21. 22. Trust in him who has promised to bee your portion, doe what God commands, and leave the successe unto his Providence, say with Iob, that you will trust in God, though hee should suffer you to starue, Iob 13. 15. Rely upon the maintenance that hee has provided for you, through the free gift of the Brethren, 2. [Page 6] Cor. 9. 5. which to many of the Independant way, as you may observe, proves more beneficiall then Tythes, and if it should fayle you (which yet it cannot except through your owne want of faith) you have notwithstanding your hands as well as your neighbours, to get a living by, and take this for a parting Word, that it may leave deeper impression; God who cloathes the Lil [...]y [...]s of the feild, which neither take care nor worke, more gloryously then Solomon in all his greatnes, Math, 6. 28. 29. and feeds the young ravens which cannot helpe themselves, any other wise then by crying unto him, Iob 38. 41. Psal. 147. 9. will not let thee only his Gospel Minister, with whom hee hath made a better Covenant, and upon better Promises then with all the world besides, Heb 8 6. be put to shifts for maintenance, if thou bel [...]ivest, if thou reliest upon him; and hadst thou been born a Potentate, or bred up to the most gainsomest calling, in thine owne imagination, wit [...]out this anker of faith, thou must needs have miscarried, and come to begga [...]ry, God bring it home unto thy heart, and move thee being once converted to endevour the convertting so many of thy misled Brethren.
To the Divines assembled at Westminster.
TH [...]s short dialogue about the Ministers maintenance comming to my h [...]nd, I thought good to dedicate it unto your selves, whom it most concerns, But be cause it is argued with much mildnes and sweetnes of Spirit, a thing in it self much commendable, I am some what fearful it wil not awaken your [...]ul frozen-heart [...]dnes, nor pierce deep enough into the putrid depth of your unfathomable covetousnes: Beare with mee then, if for your good, I give you mine owne opinion of the matter in these following lines, with a little more tartnes of expression in some few passages thereof.
I conc [...]ive, wee are bound by the unrepealable Law of Christian charity, and the necessity of preserving hum in society, even man-kind it selfe, by doing as wee would be done unto, Matt. 7. 12. to releive the necessityes of the S [...]ts, of our Brethen, and mankinde in generall, to the parting with our whole estates, save somuch only as our owne necessity [...]s require at present: For th [...]ugh charity begine at home, yet it must be so regulated that under p [...]ten [...]e therof, we do [...] not so lay up in store against a dear yeare, or pamper our selves for the time, whilst others dye through our uncharitablenes, of penury and hunger. In which respect, wee may take up this unerring rule, that if any bodies instant necessities be greater then our own, we are indispensibly cal [...]'d upon to administer unto them of what wee have: Oh the fearfull account and condemnation, which attends all sorts of people for fayling in this [Page 7] way of Stewardship, but principally the covetous of the Clergy, or covetous Clergy rather, the very masse of them being plung'd and drown'd herein, as appeareth by their compelling men of all ranks, estates, & conditions whatsoever, to the payment of their Iewish Tythes? Doe people of any caling in the world except pretended Ministers, which wer never rightly called, constrain their Brothren to buy their merchandize, & that at what price the owners please, beside these merchandizing Clergy men? Or can any people but themselves in all the Land escape the heavy hand of Justice, if they should force monyes from others, under pretence of payment for sophisticated wares, which they never did or would receive? Oh let such a suppositious Tribe of Levy, or truer offspring of Symon Magus heare and tremble at what the Spouse sayes unto the Churches: Ho every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters, and he that hath no money, come yee buy and eate, yea, come buy wine and milk without money & without Price: Wherfore doe you spend your money for that which is not bread? & your labour for that Which satisfieth not; What say you now, is Christ or Antichrist your Lord and Master? which of them is it which you follow in denying both the spirituall and reall bread, milke or Wine of the Gospell, to such as will not be lik [...] your selves, guilty simony in purchasing them at your sacralegious mōopolizing prices? who have you for a President of constra [...]ning not only your own, such as to you are within, but even those which are without contrary to Pauls rule, to spend their money with such prophane exchangers, deserving to be turned out by the Church, for that which is not bread? to make poore people which labour all the weck long to fil their bellys, disburse the price of blood, of life unto you, for that which satisfieth not, which they approve not of? Holy David did not only refuse it even in extremity, but the very murthering lews made conscience therof, though they had to deale with ludas the worst of miscreants. Paul did not only set up, shop where ever he came (oh prophane) laboring with his own hands, with whom Silvanus & Timothie did the like, as appeares by comp [...] ring the two last Scripturs with 1. Thess. 1. 1. & 2. Thess. 1. 1. as also did Tytus; but Paul required the Pastors Elders of setled congregations to doe the same, giving them reason for it as wel as precept, and such a powerful one as might prevaile not only with Christians but with Infidels, saying, 'tis more blessed to give then to receave; professing withall, that hee kept back nothing that was profitable for them, ver. 20. and that he had declared unto them the whole counsell of God ver. 27.
Answer for your selves the, you mercenary Marchants of your pretended heauenly manna; who have you t [...]is commission from? how can you give us infalible assurance, that God discovered to you more of his coūsel thē he did to Paul? [Page 8] or why must a State or People damne themselves for your bas [...] ends, to [...]al [...] Pauls truth in question, and not beleeve him when he tells the Pastors of Mi [...]etus, and in them all true Ministers and Pastors successively, that it was Gods absolute will they should labour with their hands supplying such as wanted, as you have seene in that second of Acts a fore cited?
Phy, phy for shame, remember that they which will be rich fall into many temptations, the love of money is the roote of all evil, but godlynes with contentment is great gaine: Begin at last, to think repentace necessary, and if you will not with Zacheus make restitution of all the Tythes you have unjustly taken; at least disclaime them for the future and sin no more: Trust in the Almightyes providence, and your owne hands for maintenance, waite upon his Ordinances; Christian charity will grow into a community of all things, rather then true beleevers shall want wherewithall to live upon; God will teach Ravens to administer unto you, if but Eliah-lyke you bee obedient to his commands: if you bee not more idle then the ravens, which neyther sow nor reap, which neyther have storehouse nor barn [...], and [...]t God feeds them when they crye: If you be not lesse promoters of Gods honour then Lillies, which neyther toile nor spin, and yet are more glorious then Solomon in his best array, how much more would be have care of you, O ye of little faith? fly then to God at last, now that you are discovered, at lest make avertue of necessity, trust in God & not in Tythes; Such as h [...]etofore adored [...]ou, their eyes be now open & take notice of your grosse i [...]postur [...]; they have no longer patience to see you live like drones, to tiranize over their consciences, to be your owne carvers of all they have, nor wil be longer accessary thereto by fatning you like Swine against the day of Slaughter.