only of the Matt. xxv. 41, 42, &c.) a special means to render us liable to the most unhappy sentence of condemnation at the last day; then, by analogy of reason, much more liable to condemnation shall such become, as refuse to relieve the spiritual wants, not poor, but of many others also. contribute to the building and repairing of churches, is one principal way to contribute towards the relieving of men's spiritual wants; and the neglect of the former is a neglect of the latter. But now to To conclude; If because the " young man would not sell all that he had, and give to the poor," our Saviour said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter And lastly from Mark x. 31, &c. on the one hand. into the kingdom of God!" what then shall our Saviour say at the last day to such as refuse to contribute only a suitable part of what they have toward the relieving the spiritual wants of the poor and of others also, by building or rebuilding churches? How much more hardly shall such enter into the kingdom of God? b Mark x. 21-23. O And on the other hand, since our Saviour has plainly informed us, that " in His Father's house are many mansions," c i. e. And on the John xiv. 2. in heaven are many and different degrees of happiness and glory, which are thus differenced or distinguished in order to be bestowed on saints, according to their different degrees of piety in this world; hence it may be reasonably inferred, that those who have shewed their piety, as in other respects, so particularly in their concern and zeal that God should have such mansions or churches here on earth, as are somewhat suitable to the dignity of His Divine Majesty, shall have such their piety suitably rewarded by God, in bestowing on them some of the chief mansions in heaven, that is, some of the highest degrees of happiness and glory in the world to come. Whence it appears that the duty here treated of hath the most considerable motives, both spiritual and temporal, to encourage or enforce the practice of it. c John xiv. 2. O O CHAPTER XVIII. Wherein some pretences (not before taken notice of) for not practising the duty here treated of, are largely considered and fully answered; particularly that common objection of briefs being farmed. BES ESIDES the pretences already answered in their proper places, there remain one or two more to be still taken notice of Other pre tences remain to be taken notice of. in this place, and to be laid open as to their weakness or insufficiency to excuse persons from contributing, and that liberally, to the building and beautifying of churches. One of these pretences is this, that the briefs are farmed; and therefore to give to such briefs is only to give to the farmers One of these of them, and not to the churches for which the briefs are intended. pretences. Now this being a pretence generally made use of, I shall therefore give it a full consideration. And to this end I shall do, what otherwise need not be done, This supposed to be true. namely, I O shall suppose that this pretence is grounded on real matter of fact; or that it is true, that briefs for churches are thus farmed. This then being supposed, I say, that although it is a good reason why we should not give liberally to such briefs, yet it is Is a good rea son for not giving liberally to briefs. no good reason why we should give nothing to them. That it is a good reason why we should not give liberally to them is obvious to any one that considers, that it is reasonably to be supposed, that such as adventure to farm the said briefs are persons who have had some experience to what sum the contributions to briefs usually arise according to the common way of giving thereto, which is too well known to be not at a liberal, but at a low or small rate; and therefore to be sure such farmers will make their bargain so, as that they shall be somewhat gainers at the common or low rate of contributing to briefs. On which account it comes to pass, that for a man to give above the common rate is indeed only to give so much more to the said farmers; it is only to raise their ad vantage so much higher, not to raise the sums to be laid out on the churches themselves. So that supposing briefs to be farmed, it evidently appears from what has been said, that it is a good reason why one should not give liberally to them. However, it is no good reason why one should give nothing thereto. For it is not to be denied but that the farmers of briefs are obliged by their bargain But no good give nothing. O to pay some considerable sum to the church for which the brief is granted, and therefore it is but reasonable that they should be repaid the said sum. Again, it is undeniable that the farmers must be at some considerable charge or expense in gathering in the contributions to the briefs; and therefore it is but reasonable that they should also be repaid what they are out of pocket by such charges or expenses. Lastly, it is undeniably reasonable that such farmers, besides the sum they are obliged to pay to the church, and besides the charges that they are necessarily at in gathering in the contributions to briefs, should have a due |