The second Chapter. Of the receiuing and not receiuing of rewards, gifts, and offices. And also of goods Ecclesiasticall, and the immunitie of Ecclesiasticall persons.
1 THat which is propounded cannot in one answere be determined, séeing it is a thing in it owne nature indifferent, as that which sometime is rightlie & sometime naughtilie done. 2 But that it is lawfull for Prophets and Ministers of the word of God to receiue rewards and gifts, wherewith they maie maintaine their life, manie reasons doe confirme. For in a common prouerb it is saide, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 3 Which prouerb being true, Christ and his Apostles vsed the same. Further Paul saieth (which thing he gathereth out of the newe Testament) He that serueth at the Aultar, 4 liueth of the Aultar. And Christ did more largelie expound the same in saying: 5 He that laboureth in the Gospell, let him liue of the Gospell. Neither ought such an exchange séeme to bée vniust, 6 That they which sowe spirituall things, should reape carnall things: yea rather it may be called the change of Diomedes and Glaucus, séeing a great deale lesse is receiued than that which is giuen. Of this doeth the Apostle purposelie treate in the first Epistle to the Corinthians, where amog other things he expresselie writeth: 7 Who goeth a warfare at his owne charges. But it is no obscure thing, that the ministerie is a certaine holie kinde of warfare. Wherefore we ought not to defeate it of his wages. Furthermore he alleageth out of the Lawe: Thou shalt not moosell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne. 8 And if so be that meate must be fréelie giuen vnto the Cattell which labour for our liuing, why shall not things necessarie for their liuing be also giuen vnto Ministers, that labour daie and night for the saluation of soules? Pastors also haue fruite & liuing of their flocke. Are not husbandmen & planters of vines maintained by their labours and fruites? So that the Prophets and ministers of the Church, whe they féede the children of God, and husband them as the spirituall husbandrie, they haue a right to be nourished and sustained thereby. Yea and Paule who receiued nothing of the Corinthians: 9 and among the Thessalonians laboured with his hands, And was oftentimes in hunger, thirst and nakednesse, 10 yet did he receiue those things which were sent from other Churches: and he so praised that sacrifice of theirs, 11 as he called them a swéete fragrant smell. Christ also commanded his Disciples that they should eate such things as were set before them, 12 asking no question for conscience sake. And Pharao, otherwise an Ethnick Prince, fedde Priests from his owne table. Wherfore in the time of a grieuous dearth, when as other men were constrained to sell their inheritance, they still retained those things vnto them. And in the first Epistle vnto Timothie we reade, 13 that The Elders should haue double honour done vnto them: especiallie they which labour in the word and doctrine. 14 The Lord himself also had purses of Almes, which he committed vnto Iudas, and he was maintained by the wealth of the holie women which accompanied him. And the Apostles receiued their liuing of the faithfull, not onelie for themselues, 15 but also for their wiues which they led about with them, as Paul vnto the Philippians testifieth. Ioseph as it is written in the Booke of Genesis, 16 receiued rewardes of Pharao: by the which he honorablie maintained not onelie his owne life, but had also for his father and brethren which went downe into Egypt vnto him. Moreouer Salomon when he gaue giftes, 17 did also receiue gifts of the Quéene of Saba. Neither did Abraham refuse oxen, shéepe, golde, and siluer, which were giuen vnto him by Pharao, when he had restored vnto him his wife Sara, 18 who neuerthelesse refused to receiue anie thing of the King of Sodom, least it should haue bin thought that he had bin inriched by him. Yea and let vs call to minde the historie of the holie Prophet, 19 namelie of Elizeus, who, when he would receiue nothing of Naaman, yet did he not reiect the gift of that man which came from Baasalizack: a gift I saie of the first fruites, that is, of xx. barlie loaues and of new wheate corne. Also Elias refused not to be fed by the widowe of Sarepta. 20 Yea and the children of the Prophets which hid themselues in the dennes by fiftie and fiftie, 21 receiued dailie sustenance of that godlie man Abdias, which was the steward of Achab the King. Wherefore we haue examples and testimonies ynowe, in the holie Scriptures, whereby it is confirmed, that it is lawful for Prophets & Ministers of the worde of God, to take a liuing of them whom they bring vp and instruct in godlie doctrine. Hitherto also pertaineth the Law giuen by God as concerning the honoring of parents: 22 23 and the maintena~ce of the whole Tribe of Leuie by tythes. Lastlie, the reason that persuadeth this is verie plaine: all men know, that the ministerie of the Church is a thing verie laboursome, which exerciseth and requireth the whole man, if he will doe his duetie. So that he hath no leisure to exercise other Arts and functions, whereby he might get his liuing. For the which cause, vnlesse he should receiue a liuing of his flocke, he shoulde be constrained to die with hunger. Neither must he rashlie attempt so to doe, least while he séeke to liue by anie other meanes, the flocke of Christ should be defrauded of spirituall nourishment.