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neither is it to be made a trade of, but is to be freely dispensed to others.

Matt. x. 7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Acts viii. 18. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. 20. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Acts xx. 33. I [Paul] have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34. Yea, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

2 Cor. xii. 14. Behold, the third time I [Paul] am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

91st Q. But may not ministers on some occasions accept of temporal assistance, if freely offered to them?

A. Yes, they undoubtedly may for their present support, when they are travelling from home in the work of the ministry.

Matt. x. 9. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses: 10. Nor scrip for your journey,

neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; (for the workman is worthy of his meat).

1 Cor. ix. 7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12. 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. 13. Do you not know that they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the temple? 14. Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel. 15. But I have used none of these things. Neither have I written these things that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for a necessity is laid upon me; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. 18. What is my reward then? verily that when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

92d Q.-Is any person, on account of difference of sex or station, excluded from the ministry?

A.-No, these distinctions among men are lost in Christ; for whether male or female, bond or free, they are all one in him. Christ frequently displays the efficacious power of his grace by choosing those that are esteemed weak and foolish, to confound the wise and mighty of this world.

Joel ii. 28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your

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sons and your daughters shall prophesy. 29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days, will I pour out my Spirit.

Acts ii. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy 'Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5. And there were dwell ing at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven. 6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? 8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

13. Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 14. But Peter standing up with the eleven, lift up his voice and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at, Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, 17. And it shall come to pass, &c.

Acts xxi. 8. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, (which was one of the seven,) and abode with him. 9. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Gal. iii. 26. Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

See also the Proofs to the 88th Answer.

93d Q.-What are the benefits attendant on a gospel ministry?

A.-God thereby affords strength to the weak, encouragement to the desponding, and life to the spiritually dead; indeed a call to

the ministry is a call to awaken mankind to a sense of their sinful state by nature, "to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God;" baptizing them into the name or power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Isaiah xxxv. 3. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not.

may sift

Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he you as wheat: 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren.

Acts xxvi. 15. And I [Paul] said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16. But rise, and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17. Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Cor. iv. 14. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

1 Thess. v. 14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Heb. xii. 6. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 11. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but

grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby. 12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.

Eph. iv. 11. And he [Christ] gave some, apostles: and some prophets: and some, evangelists: and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the saints; for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. See also Matt. xxviii. 18, 19, 20.

§. III.

94th Q.-Do those ministers then, whose preaching is "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," baptize the believing hearer with the baptism of Christ ?

A. They do, or rather the divine power. of Christ does it through them as instru

ments.

Acts x. 44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.

Acts xi. 15. And as I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them as on us at the beginning. 16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

95th Q.-Is this Baptism experienced only through the medium of preaching?

A.-No, the soul feels the baptizing power of Christ, not only mediately through his

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