The larger treatise concerning tithes long since written and promised by Sir Hen. Spelman, Knight ; together with some other tracts of the same authour and a fragment of Sir Francis Bigot, Knight, all touching the same subject ; whereto is annexed an answer to a question ... concerning the settlement or abolition of tithes by the Parliament ... ; wherein also are comprised some animadversions upon a late little pamphlet called The countries plea against tithes ... ; published by Jer. Stephens, B.D. according to the appointment and trust of the author.

CAP. XII. That Ministers must have plenty.

THose that would have Ministers live of alms and benevolence, make their reason, that they must fol∣low the example of Christ and the Apostles; but by the example of Christ and the Apostles they are taught to abound in all works of charity themselves, to feed the hungry, to cloath the naked, lodge the harbourlesse, &c. and how shall they perform this, living in want? 5000. did Christ feed at one time, Joh. 6. 10. Mat. 14. 21. above 4000. at another time, Mat. 15. 38. and even herein are his Ministers bound to follow him, not in the miracle, but in shewing like mercy and compassion: for he saith not, I desire to doe a miracle, but I have compassion on this people, Mat. 15. 32. and therefore lest his mercifull disposition toward them should be unprofitable (wan∣ting then other means) he chose rather to perform it by a miracle, then to leave it undone; yet to shew that all ordinary means must first therein be used, as far as it may be, he neither called for Manna from heaven, nor quailes from the sea, (Exo. 16. 13. Numb. 11. 31.) but beginneth the feasts by ordinary means, the one with 5. loaves and 2. fishes, the other with 7. and a few little fishes. In which example of charity and hospitality, the Mini∣sters

I say are bound to follow him as far as they can; for the commandement is, Sequere me, Follow thou me, Mark 10. 21. & cap. 5. 27. Ioh. 21. 19. and if the Minister be not able to follow him for worldly wants (as the Galatians would have given Paul their eyes, so) the Congregati∣on must give him their legs, that is, means and faculty to doe it: for the arm of working of miracles is now taken from our mother the Church, and therefore her children must now strengthen her hand the more abun∣dantly to work by ordinary means, that is, they must furnish her with worldly necessaries, whereby she may be inabled to perform these great works of charity re∣quired of her.

Paul commandeth that the Bishops should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.1 hospitales, good housekeepers, and how should they be so, if they have not provision and means to maintain it, and that in a certain manner? for if themselves be fed at the trencher of benevolence, what assurance have they of a dish of meat for their poor brethren? The hea∣vens themselves are unstable; now it raineth, and wee have abundance, then commeth drought, and all is in scarcity. The humour of man is as variable; the peo∣ple of Lystra that made a god of Paul on the one day, stoned him on the other, Acts 14. and in the fiery time it self, when zeal was most inflamed, our Saviour as it seemeth found even then a cooling blast; when for want of ordinary supply he was fain to fetch 20^d. by a miracle out of a fishes mouth to serve his need with∣all, Mat. 17. 27.

It is meerly therefore unfit that Ministers should live upon benevolence and uncertainty: therefore though Christ and the Apostles lived so for the present, yet it is not prescribed as a perpetuall law to the succeeding Mi∣nisters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  3 Tim. 3. 2.