scribe to that confession of faith, and attend to that way of worship which he esteems incumbent on him to promote and further? That we may answer distinctly, observe, I. That the inquiry is concerning them only that hold the head; for others, their case is not proposed. They are left to the providence of God, in his working on the hearts of them whom he raiseth up for governors, according to the measure of light, love, and zeal, which he shall be pleased to impart unto them. And though it cannot be proved, that any magistrate is authorized from God to take away the life or lives of any man or men, for their disbelieving or denying any heads or articles of the Christian religion; yet it doth not seem to be the duty of any professing obedience to Jesus Christ, to make any stated, legal, unalterable provision for their immunity, who renounce him. II. That things or opinions of public scandal, national demerit, and reproach to the profession of the gospel, ought to be restrained from being divulged by that public speaking of the press, or in extrafamilial assemblies, both which, according to the usage of all nations, are under the power, and at the disposal of the supreme magistrate, was before proved in our answer to the first inquiry. III. It is agreed that the measure of doctrinal holding the head, consists in some few clear fundamental propositions. IV. It cannot be denied but that most men in the determination of this question, have run into extremes, much upon the account of their present interest, or that of some party of men, wherein and with which as to some special self-ends, they are engaged. These things being premised, I answer to the question negatively, and that because the authority inquired after, exerted to the ends mentioned, would immediately affect the conscience, and set up itself in direct opposition to the light of God therein; a defect of proving the conveyance of such an authority over the consciences of men holding the head, having been long since discovered. The third Question. 'Whether it be convenient that the present way of the maintenance of ministers or preachers of the gospel be removed and taken away, or changed into some other provision. Ans. I. That the public preachers of the gospel ought to be maintained, by a participation in the temporal things of them to whom the word is preached, is an appointment of the Lord Christ, and of the apostles in his name and authority; 1 Cor. ix. 14. Gal. vi. 6. II. The reasonableness of this gospel institution is manifested by the Holy Ghost: 1. From the law of nature; Luke x. 7. 1 Cor. ix. 7. 11. 2. From the law of nations in the same place. 3. From the tendency and equity of Mosaical institutions; 1 Cor. ix. 9—13. III. Where God by providential dispensations hath laid things in a nation, in a subserviency to an institution of Christ according to his promise, Psal. ii. 8. Isa. xlix. 23. as he hath done in this case, to oppose that order of things, seems to be a fighting against God and his anointed. IV. The payment of tithes, 1. Before the law; Gen. xiv. 20. Heb. vii. 4, 5. with, 2. The like usage amongst all nations, living according to the light of nature; 3. Their establishing under the law; with, 4. The express relation in gospel appointment unto that establishment, 1 Cor. ix. 14. do make that kind of payment so far pleadable, that no man, without being able to answer and satisfy that plea, can with any pretence of a good conscience, consent to their taking away. V. A maintenance by a participation in men's temporals, for those who preach the gospel, being expressly appointed by Jesus Christ, and reference for the proportion, being directly made by the apostle, unto the proportion allotted by God himself under the Old Testament; for any man, or number of men, to suppose they can make a better and wiser allotment, especially when and where a near approachment thereunto is already made by Providence, seems to be a contending with him, who is mightier than they. VI. To deprive preachers of the gospel, when sent out into their Master's harvest, and attending unto their work, according to the best of the light which the present age enjoyeth, with visible and glorious success, of the portion, hire, wages, or temporal supportment prepared for them in the good providence of God, upon pretences of inconveniencies, and dis satisfactions of some prejudiced men, seems to be an attempt not to be paralleled from the foundation of the world. VII. Wherever, or in what nation soever, there hath been a removal of the maintenance provided in the providence of God, for the necessary supportment of the public dispensers of the word, the issue hath been a fatal and irrecoverable disadvantage to the gospel and interest of Christ in those nations. It appears then, first, That to take away the public maintenance provided in the good providence of God, for the public dispensers of the gospel, upon pretences of present inconvenience, or promise of future provision, is a contempt of the care and faithfulness of God towards his church, and in plain terms, downright robbery. Secondly, To entitle a nation unto such an action, by imposing it on them without their consent, is downright oppression. VIII. An alteration of the way of payment of that revenue which is provided in the providence of God for public preachers, by the way of tithes, into some other way of payment, continuing the present right, is not obnoxious or liable to any of the forementioned evils, but its convenience or inconvenience may be freely debated. Yours, J. O. |