structions,
which are recorded by the Evangelists, can be collected on this subject,
that he considered any pecuniary stipend as necessary or proper for
those who were to assist in the promotion of his religion.

Jesus Christ, on the erection of his Gospel ministry, gave rules to his
disciples, how they were to conduct themselves in the case before us. He
enjoined the twelve, before he sent them on this errand, as we collect
from St. Matthew and St. Luke, that,[19] "as they had received freely,
so they were to give freely; that they were to provide neither gold, nor
silver, nor brass in their purses, nor scrip, nor other things for their
journey; for that the workman was worthy of his meat." And, on their
return from their mission, he asked them,[20] "When I sent you without
purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said,
nothing. Then said he unto them, but now he that hath a purse let him
take it, and likewise his scrip."

[Footnote 19: Matt x. 8. Luke ix. 1.]

[Footnote 20: Luke xxii. 35.]

In a little time afterwards, Jesus Christ sent out other seventy as
disciples, to whom he gave instructions similar to the former, that they
should not take scrip, clothes, and money with them. But to these he
said additionally, that[21] "wheresoever they were received, they were
to eat such things as were given them; but where they were not received,
they were to go their way, and say, even the dust of your city, which
cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you." And as on that occasion he
compared the ministers of his Gospel to the labourers, whom a man sends
to the harvest, he told them they were at liberty to eat what was set
before them, because the labourer was worthy of his hire.

[Footnote 21: Luke x.]

This the Quakers conceive to be the substance of all that Jesus Christ
taught upon this subject. They go therefore next to St. Paul for a
farther elucidation of it.

They are of opinion, that St. Paul, in his Epistle to[22] Timothy, and
to the Corinthians, and Galatians, acknowledges the position, that the
spiritual labourer is worthy of his hire.

[Footnote 22: 1 Cor. ix.--1 Tim. v.--Gal. vi.]

The same Apostle, however, says, "that[23] if any would not work,
neither should he eat." From this text the Quakers draw two conclusions,
first, that when ministers of the Gospel are idle, they are not entitled
to bodily sustenance; and, secondly, that those only, who receive them,
are expected to suppor