§. XXIX.
Reas. 2.Secondly, The Scripture Testimonies that urge this are in the same Nature of those that press Charity and Liberality towards the Poor, Mere voluntary Deeds no Man can stint them.and command Hospitality, &c. but these are not nor can be stinted to a certain Quantity, because they are Deeds merely voluntary, where the Obedience to the Command lieth in the good Will of the Giver, and not in the Matter of the Thing given, as Christ sheweth in the Example of the Widow’s Mite. So that though there be an Obligation upon Christians to minister of outward Things to their Ministers, yet there can be no Definition of the Quantity but by the Giver’s own Consent, and a little from one may more truly fulfil the Obligation than a great deal from another. And therefore as Acts of Charity and Hospitality can neither be limited nor forced, so neither can this.
Object.If it be objected, That Ministers may and ought to exhort, persuade, yea and earnestly press Christians, if they find them defective therein, to Acts of Charity and Hospitality, and so may they do also to the giving of Maintenance.
Answ.I answer, All this saith nothing for a stinted and forced Maintenance, for which there cannot so much as the Shew of one solid Argument be brought from Scripture. I confess Ministers may use Exhortation in this as much as in any other Case, even as the Apostle did to the Corinthians, shewing them their Duty; Paul’s Labour was, that the Gospel might be without Charge.but it were fit for Ministers that so do (that their Testimony might have the more Weight, and be the freer of all Suspicion of Covetousness and Self-interest) that they might be able to say truly in the Sight of God that which the same Apostle subjoins upon the same Occasion, 1 Cor. ix. 15, 16, 17, 18. But I have used none of these Things; neither have I written these Things, that it should be so done unto me: For it were better for me to die, than that any Man should make my Glorying void. For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for Necessity is laid upon me, yea Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel. For if I do this Thing willingly, I have a Reward; but if against my Will, a Dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. What is my Reward then? Verily that when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without Charge, that I abuse not my Power in the Gospel.
Reas. 3.Thirdly, As there is neither Precept nor Example for this forced and stinted Maintenance in the Scripture, so the Apostle, in his solemn Farewel to the Pastors and Elders of the Church of Ephesus, guards them against it, Acts xx. 33, 34, 35. But if the Thing had been either lawful or practised, he would rather have exhorted them to be content with their stinted Hire, and not to covet more; whereas he sheweth them, first, by his own Example, that they were not to Paul coveted no Body’s Silver or Gold.covet or expect any Man’s Silver or Gold; secondly, that they ought to work with their Hands for an honest Livelihood, as he had done; and lastly, he exhorts them so to do from the Words of Christ, because it is a more blessed Thing to give than to receive; shewing that it is so far from a Thing that a true Minister ought to aim at, or expect, that it is rather a Burden to a true Minister, and Cross to him, to be reduced to the Necessity of wanting it.