Monday, March 27, 2006

Monday Puritan

Commenting on Mark 6:10, George Petter writes:

"May not Ministers of the Word meddle at all with Matters of the World and this life?

"Yes, they may use the world, as well as other Christians. for their present necessity in this life; and they may and ought to take care to maintain themselves and such as depend on them (for that speech of the Apostle is general, I Tim. 5. 8. If any provide not for their own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denyed the faith, etc.). But a Minister is not to indulge his Mind with immodest cares about matters of this life, so as to hinder himself in the diligent reading and meditation of the Word of God, and in the study of other learning and knowledge necessary for him in his Ministry: neither is he so to give himself to followig the world as others do, whole Profession and Trade of life is to deal in matters of the World. He must not ordinarily spend his time caring about earthly matters, or worldly businesses and dealings, either for the providing of Maintenance for himself and his family, or otherwise: much less is he to be drown himself in the world, and worldly profits or pleasures, and to give himself over to these."

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