Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

CONFORMITY.

When Jesus Christ first sent forth his Disciples to Preach the Gospel, he forbid them to provide Gold, or Silver; alledging for this prohibition, that the la∣bourer was worthy of his hire. St. Paul, who wrought with his own hands, that he might be burdensome to none, nevertheless appoints in his Epistles, the obliga∣tion Flocks have to their Pastors, saying, None goes a warfare at his own expence; That him that plants a Vine, cats of the fruit; and him that feeds a slock, drinks of the milk of it; that what the Law saith, Thou shalt not mussle the ox which treadeth out the Corn, is to be appli'd to the Ministers of the Gospel, who ought to receive tem∣poral things of those to whom they sow Spiritual things; That those which were employ'd about holy things, did eat of that which was Holy; and those which served at the Altar, did participate of the Altar; that in like manner the Lord ordained, * 1.1 That those which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel.

The Charity of Christians, who lived presently after the Holy Apostles, was so servent, that they suffered not

those which were ordained to instruct in the know∣ledg of the Mysteries of Heaven, to lack any thing; and altho in those first Ages, they lived on the volunta∣ry Oblations of Believers, nevertheless they had suslicient for their maintenance and support, and for the relief of the poor: And because these offerings were divided amongst the Clergy, each had his portion, or at least, they spent altogether that which fell to their share, and also imparted to the relief of Indigent Clerks, and other Brethren, * 1.2 which were in want; and which St. Crprian designs by Sportulantes fratres; an expressi∣en sound in the Testament of Perpetu Bishop of Tours, in the Fifth Century, inserted by Dom Luke D'Achery in the fifth Tome of his Collection. The 25 Can. of the Council of Antioch appoints, That the Bishop should receive of the Church-stores what shall be convenient for the necessary support of life, both for himself and for the Brethren which lodg in his House; and the 36 Syned of Agde, in the year 506 requires, That all the Clerks which serve in the Church faithfully, * 1.3 and with care, receive of their Bishops the wages due for their labour, prop••rtionable to the service they yield, or accor∣ding as the Canons do appoint. After all, when Riches came flowing into the Church, in several Provinces, they divided them into four equal portions; the Bishop had one, the Clergy another; the third was for the poor, and the fourth for repairing the Church: But in the Countreys where they divided them into three Portions, as in Spain; one third was for the Bishop, one third for the Clergy, and the other third for the Poor, and repairation of Temples.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Cor. 9.14.
• * 1.2

  Ep. 66. p. 109.
• * 1.3

  Tom. 1. Conc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 p. 168.