The reviler rebuked: or, A re-inforcement of the charge against the Quakers, (so called) for their contradictions to the Scriptures of God, and to their own scriblings,: which Richard Farnworth attempted to answer in his pretended Vindication of the Scriptures; but is farther discovered, with his fellow-contradictors and revilers, and their doctrine, to be anti-Scriptural, anti-Christian, and anti-spiritual. By John Stalham, a servant of the great bishop and shepherd of souls, appointed to watch his little flock at Terling in Essex.

(17. Head of their Scripture-contradiction) Concerning Ministers maintenance.

Section 44.

I Had noted what R. F. saith in another Pamphlet, viz. The Apostle had a free spirit, and was chargeable to no man, building this assertion upon 2 Cor. 11. 9. and* 1.1 mounting it up against Ministers taking any mainte∣nance: He attends not the Apostles limitations, I preached to you at Corinth, the Gospel of God freely, ver. 7. With you, I was chargeable to no man, ver. 9. nor how he used his li∣berty elsewhere to take wages, ver. 8. But he * 1.2 returns me some truth, and some railing (as his maner is) Paul coveted no mans silver, nor gold, nor apparel, but preached the Go∣spel freely, and his hands ministred to his necessities; That is truth, and will stand as a witness against all proud, covet∣ous, self-seeking, hireling Priests in Scotland and elsewhere; and at the Truth which witnesseth against your deceit, thou art offended.

Rep. It no ways offendeth me that R. F. or any man can write out a Scripture-truth, viz. That Paul was free of co∣vetousness (in outward manifest acts, while he had the body of all sin within him, take that truth with the other, Rom. 7.)

but it offends me, and much more the holy and true God, when his words are alledged to bad ends and purposes, and when more is collected from them then he intendeth; as in this case of Ministers maintenance, and in these instances of* 1.3 the Apostles words and practise: For,

[First,] Preaching the Gospel freely, may stand with taking allowance and maintenance three ways.

1. When it is preached with a free and cheerful Spirit, as it should be always, by all the Preachers of the Gospel, not by constraint, but willingly, 1 Pet. 5. 2.

2. When 'tis preached not for filthy lucre; that neither being the first nor last end of the Preachers service, for then the wages they take becomes (to them) filthy lucre.

3. When it is upon free-cost, in respect of some such as* 1.4 we preach unto. They give, they contribute nothing; no∣thing is demanded of them, but supplies are given and re∣ceived from other persons, or places: This was the Apo∣stles case in reference to the Corinthians; he preached all upon free-cost to them, took nothing of them; but took he nothing of others? Did he live upon the Air? It's fit for Ministers to live by Faith, but wanted other Churches their Love, or did he refuse supplies from elsewhere? No, ver. 9. That which was lacking to me (at Corinth) the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied.

[Secondly,] From the Apostles working with his hands, Acts 20. 30. cannot be collected, either that Ministers are* 1.5 bound to follow a trade, (for 'tis ordained of the Lord, they should live of the Gospel, i. e. of the Allowance due to them for preaching the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9. 14. and not of a trade)* 1.6 or, that Paul, and consequently others, might not have forborn working; for expresly he tells the Corinthians, and others by them, what was the minde of God, and is to this day. 1 Cor. 9. 6. Or I onely and Barnabas have we not power or liberty to forbear working? Observe it, [Or I onely and Barnabas] it seemeth other Apostles used their liberty every where; Peter, James, and John had left their nets (as to a trade of fishing, thereby to get their livelihood) long before, as Matthew his Custom-house; and Paul and Barnabas might have left their work of Tent∣making

(as they had left off the trade) But at Corinth, be∣cause* 1.7 Paul met so providentially with Aquila and Priscilla, who by their occupation were Tent-makers, and he had the skill, he practised it with them, Acts 18. 3. and at Ephe∣sus, and at Thessalonica, 1 Thes. 2. 9. he labored with his hands, to minister to his necessities; but there was no ne∣cessity, from any direct precept, that he must so labor, or Sylvanus, or Timotheus: but saith he, ver. 6. we might have been burthensom, as the Apostles of Christ.

[Thirdly,] Although the Apostles example, and what followeth, Acts 20. 35. may stand as a witness against all* 1.8 loyterers in the ministerial work; and against all covetous, self-seeking, hireling Preachers, in every place, (who make hire, and gain the end of their preaching) yet doth it not so much as once appear for witness against them, who do what Paul himself did, by rule, viz. At some times, and in some places take more allowance then otherwhile or where; nor against them that live meerly upon the allowance of Provi∣dence, for the preaching of the Gospel, not having learnt a trade to help themselves withal; and if they had, may use or not use their skill, and take pains, as it may be a further∣ance or hinderance to their Gospel-work. And these things well pondered, henceforth let not R. F. or others go about to binde up Ministers where God hath left them free; nor envy or reproach their Calling, with the names of Hire∣lings and Priests, &c. without distinction or difference, as if all were such who have their outward livelihood (accord∣ing to Gods ordinance) upon the account of preaching∣work, and labor, unto which, who is sufficient? Let not J. Nayler send abroad his invectives against Town-teachers; his common place, concerning the ministery of Christ * 1.9 is little better: The Lord rebuke him, with his fellow R. F.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Cor. 11 9. vindicated.
• * 1.2

  Page 22.
• * 1.3

  Preaching freely may stand with taking main∣tenance.
• * 1.4

  2 Cor. 11 7. cleared.
• * 1.5

  Acts 20 34. vindicated.
• * 1.6

  1 Cor. 9. 14. opened.
• * 1.7

  Section 44
• * 1.8

  Acts 20. 35. vindicated.
• * 1.9

  Love to the lost, pag. 60, 6.