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I

Shall first take notice of his Preface, to one called a Quaker, in which he fays, "That he thinks that there is fufficient Matter of Conviction in "the Texts and Arguments improved."

Anfwer. But every fincere Soul when they come to fee the Texts themselves, will have Caufe to think to the contrary; for had they been fairly produced, they would have faved the Labour of a further Reply, they being far from countenancing any forced Maintenance to Chrift's Minifters. And as for his Arguments improved, they smell so strong of Perfecution, that I would charitably hope no fober Chriftian or Magiftrate, who inclines to Moderation (which ought to appear in all) will take any further Notice of them, than to pity his Ignorance.

Yet notwithstanding his mighty Arguments and great Improvements, he gives them this Blow, "He

has but little hopes of his being convinced, (to whom "he writes) because of the Efficacy of Error and "Delufion, &c."

He would have had more Reafon to have writ fo, if he had first proved Error and Delufion upon him. And truly, he would have been greatly deluded, if he had believed that great Untruth, That forcing a Maintenance for a Gospel Minifter was warrantable from the Holy Scriptures, if he be fober, and in his Wits, one would believe that he cannot (when he ferioufly confiders of it) but be convinced that he is mistaken.

And as for his Prayers, the Scripture fays, We know that God beareth not Sinners: And that he is a Sinner, is plain, in wrefting and perverting the Scriptures, as he has done, and as I fhall fhow through the Help of Chrift, my Lord and Saviour.

Forcing

Forcing a Maintenance,

Not WARRANTABLE from the

HOLY SCIPTURE,

FOR A

MINISTER of the GOSPEL.

N

OW, pray let us obferve what he fays to 1713. the Matter in hand.

ift. As to the Laws of New England,

he fays, The Laws of this Province require that the Inhabitants of each Town hall take due Care to be conftantly provided with a Gospel Minifter: And that each Minifter fhall be fufficiently fupported and maintained by the Inhabitants of the Town.

That all rateable Eftates, and Inbabitants in the Town fball be affeffed, and pay proportionable to fuch Main

tenance.

And that fuch as refufe to pay accordingly, shall have their Proportion taken from them by Diftrefs.

Anfwer. I fhall not here difpute the Injuftice of this Law fo largely as I might (only I must add, they bave no fuch Example from Chrift nor the Apoftles, with this Provifo, that it is made amongst a Society of Men for themselves, and those of their own Communion) but if this is intended to force thofe of other Pro

P 4

feffions,

1713. feffions, and who cannot for Conscience Sake join with them, believing them to be Antichriftian Minifters, (as to be fure all fuch are as go about to maintain fuch Doctrine as this Prieft Metcalfe doth, That it is warrantable from Scripture to force Maintenance for Minifters) Pray would he be willing the Papifts, or Church of England fhould take away from him by Force? Surely no: Then I fay that it is an unjuft Law, and far from the Nature of that Royal Law,which fays, Do to all Men, as you would that they should do unto you; Chrifts fays, This is the Law, and the Prophets. And doubtless the Gofpel falls not fhort of it (though this N. E. Minifter doth) tho' I hope it is not the Mind of all in Profeffion with him. Now the Law being unjust, it is no Crime to reject it Yet for Confcience Sake, and the Lord's Sake, we fubmit to it in paffive Obedience; and it is well known to all that know any thing of the Quakers, that their Principle is against refifting the outward Power.

Next to the Queftion, Whether it be Warrantable from Scripture, and the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and bis Apoftles, to put fuch Laws in Execution, to take from Men, altho' the Minifter preaches not to them, for they cannot believe they are fent of God?

This is his great Question, as he states it in his firft Page, which he pretends to anfwer from Scripture, but falls far fhort of it; and he goes on thus:

ift. It is Warrantable from Scripture, &c, that the Inhabitants of each Town hall take due Care, in order to their being fupply'd with a Gofpel Minifter.

Anfwer. This is as foreign from his Queftion, as Rome is from Boston. What is that to the Purpose? Let the Impartial judge; if he cannot prove a forced Maintenance from Scripture, he does nothing to his Purpose, nor according to his grand Question in his Title Page, &c,

Then

Then he goes on to his fecond Affertion, and fays, 2dly, It is Warrantable from Scripture, that Gofpel Minifters be bonourably supported and maintained: Such Maintenance is a Debt due from the People to the Minifters in ftrict Justice, and not as a meer Alt of Charity: For it is the Hire of their Labour, and the Wages of their Work.

Answer, Hereby he owns himself, and all that are in his Practice, to be Hirelings, tho' he will not allow others to call him or them fo, and quotes thefe Texts of Scripture to prove it, Luke x. 7. 2 Cor. xi. 8 1 Cor ix. 7, 14. Gal. vi. 6. 1 Tim. v. 17, 18. and adds as falfly, and fays,

"The Argument which the Apostle ufes for the Gen"tiles Miniftring to the Jews, reaches this Cafe, Rom. 66 xv. 27."

Answer. Surely the Man forgets himself, for the Apostle only spoke of a free Collection for the poor Saints at Jerufalem, as in the two foregoing Verfes plainly appears, Verfe 25. But now I go to Jerufalem to minifter unto the Saints. Verse 26. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain Contribution for the poor Saints at Jerufalem. When will our greedy Prieft's take fo much Care of the Poor?

As to the Texts of Scripture above quoted, I fhall take the Pains to fet them down at large, that the Reader may see how they answer his grand Question: For what Purpose he concealed them (in his) in Figures, is best known to himself. Truly if he had fet them down at large, it must needs have been plainly manifefted, to every Body that should read them, that he was in the wrong: For they affert no fuch Thing, as he would have them to prove, viz. a forced Maintenance for Gospel Minifters. The first is Luke x. 7. And in the fame House remain eating " and drinking fuch Things as they give (What could be more against him?) for the Labourer is worthy of his Hire: Go not from Houfe to House; and

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1713:

"into what City ye enter, and they receive you, eat "fuch Things as are fet before you." (Where is legal Force here?)

yet

Let this Man have a care left he be one of those that are blinded: For he must needs be blind, if he cannot see that this holy Text makes not for his Purpofe, but directly against him; here is not a Word of legal Force. It is far from it, that they were only to eat what was fet before them, if they received them who were true Minifters fent of Chrift, which will be hard Work for perfecuting Priefts to prove themselves fo; be they of what Religion they may: Well, what fhall we do for this legal Force? Why truly we cannot find it in the Gofpel, or the New Teftament. Chrift came to fulfil the Law, and change the Priesthood, and put an End to carnal Ordinances. But it may be Jofeph Metcalfe is an Old-Teftament Man (as a certain N. E. Convert faid, on an Occafion well known to fome of them) if he be, and will follow the Letter of the Law, he must go to knocking down Oxen, and killing of Sheep, which Work I believe they of his Cloth are generally to high for.

66

The next is 2 Cor. xi. 8. I robb❜d other Churches, taking Wages of them to do you Service.'

Surely can any Body be fo bold as from this Text to fay, that the Apoftle made a common Practice of Preaching for Wages, as our modern Priefts do now a-days? I hope no Chriftian will imagine from thofe Words of the Apoftle, that he was a Thief, or facrilegious Perfon, but only a Freedom of Speech, which he used to those whom he loved, as in Verfe 11. is plainly expreffed. It is a familiar Way of Expreffion among ourselves, where we know we may be free, when any Thing is given to us from our Friend, Oh I fhall rob thee too much: To put any other Conftruction upon the Apostle's Words, would be to make the Apostle a facrilegious Perfon, and a Robber, which is abfurd. Bu pray let him fpeak fairly a little for himself, and he will