ΤΟ ΑΝ Adequate and Liberal Support ; ALSO A PLEA For the Preaching of the Gospel to the Poor, but Not by the Poor. For the poor the gospel is preached. Luke vii:22. BY THE REV. THOMAS SMYTH, CHARLESTON, S. C.: PRINTED BY R. B. HUSSEY, 36 BROAD STREET. PREFACE. In revising for present and more prominent publication the following discourses, the author is actuated by the same reasons which led to their original appearance in print. He is the more encouraged to do this by the favorable opinion of their adaptation to usefulness, expressed by many, and among these the Rev. Dr. Thornwell, who in a letter to the author said: "I do not hesitate to pronounce the argument the best which I have ever read upon the subject." The form of discourses is preserved for the reasons stated in the original preface as follows: The substance of a recent unwritten address before the society for the support of superannuated ministers and the families of deceased ministers in connection with the Synod of South Carolina is added. THE same reasons which induced the author to prepare and to preach the following discourses, also urge him to publish them. The subject of the support of the Christian Ministry, is one on which there should be the most free and candid interchange of views between a Pastor and his people. A proper understanding of the necessity-the reasonableness-and the divine obligation of this duty on the part of all christian people, is very requisite, as well to the comfort, the peace, and the usefulness of a minister. Many persons seem to think that the support of the ministry and other ordinances of the Church of Christ, is not a duty at all, but an act of pure charity, which they may, or may not perform, at pleasure. Others are of opinion that while this is to a certain extent, a duty-yet it is one of a very inferior and subordinate character, which must give place to all ordinary expenditures, as being of primary importance. Others again, imagine, that this is a duty not resting upon the poorer, but only upon the other members of a Church: while there are some who think that ministers should find their "meat and their drink” literally, in the distribution of spiritual aliment to others, just as an infidel was heard to declare, that if the Bible was true, its light must be so great that we ought to be able to read it in the dark. The author has here designed to prove, in opposition to all such views, that the support of the Christian Ministry is an imperative obligation, imposed upon all by positive divine reqirement that it is as reasonable and just as it is necessaryand that it has, therefore, a prior, and not a mere subsidiary 40-VOL. VI. claim upon all christian minds-that this obligation rests, in its measure upon all who are at all able to meet it—and that upon its punctual and liberal discharge depend the interests of the people, as much as the influence and comfort of their ministers. He therefore commends these discourses to the consideration of those whose benefit they were originally written, and to all others into whose hands they may come, feeling neither ashamed of the "glorious gospel" itself, nor of that wise and just provision, by which "they that preach the Gospel" are appointed "to live of the Gospel," and thus to receive of their "carnal things" to whom they dispense "spiritual things." DISCOURSE FIRST. 1 COR. ix. 3-14. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this; Have we not power to eat and drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses: Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he is altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth, should plow in hope: and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiriual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know, that they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel. There is one subject connected with the Christian Ministry, in its relation to the people over whom it is established, which should be fully and freely discussed, in order to be properly understood and faithfully acted upon,-I mean the adequate support to which that Ministry has a reasonable and christian claim. It has been well remarked by an authority high in our Church, that "as this (the support of the Gospel Ministry,) is a duty which is so clearly enjoined in the Scriptures, and as it is one, on the right discharge of which such important interests are dependent, it is obviously a fault on the part of public teachers, that it is so seldom presented and urged. The Apostles did not allow a false delicacy, or a dread of misconstruction, to prevent them from being frequent and explicit in their statements on this subject; and the man whose motives are really good, need not be, and he seldom is afraid of having them misconceived."* This subject is very thoroughly considered by the apostle Paul, among other places in this epistle to the *See Biblical Repertory, April, 1839, p. 187. |