§. XXX.
Reas. 4.Fourthly, If a forced and stinted Maintenance were to be supposed, it would make the Ministers of Christ just one with those No Hireling fitting the Gospel of Christ.Hirelings whom the Prophets cried out against. For certainly if a Man make a Bargain to preach to People for so much a Year, so as to refuse to preach unless he have it, and seek to force the People to give it by Violence, it cannot be denied that such a one preacheth for Hire, and so looks for his Gain from his Quarter, yea and [96]prepares War against such as put not into his Mouth; but this is the particular special Mark of a false Prophet and an Hireling, and therefore can no Ways belong to a true Minister of Christ.
[96] Mic. 3. 5.
Moderate Protestants and Papists exclaim against the Excess of the Clergy’s Revenues.Next, that a superfluous Maintenance, that is, more than in Reason is needful, ought not to be received by Christian Ministers, will not need much Proof, seeing the more Moderate and Sober, both among Papists and Protestants, readily confess it, who with one Voice exclaim against the excessive Revenues of the Clergy; and that it may not want a Proof from Scripture, what can be more plain than that of the Apostle to Timothy? 1 Tim. vi. 7, 8, 9, 10. where he both shews wherewith we ought to be content, and also the Hazard of such as look after more; and indeed, since that very Obligation of giving Maintenance to a Minister is founded upon their Need, and such as have Opportunity to work are commended rather in not receiving than in receiving, it can no Ways be supposed lawful for them to receive more than is sufficient. And indeed, were they truly pious and right, though necessitous, they would rather incline to take too little, than be gaping after too much.