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that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

88th Q.-Is this inward call a sufficient qualification for the office of the ministry without the aid of human learning?

A.-The apostles and first ministers of the gospel, than whom none were better qualified to fulfil the duties of the ministry, were generally illiterate; and since the gospel, and the office of the ministry, continue the same in their nature as in the apostles' days; so the same divine call and influence remain sufficient without the aid of human learning.

Matt. xi. 25. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.

26. Even

Acts iv. 13. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

1 Cor. i. 17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 19. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 26. For yo see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things

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of the world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty; 28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1 Cor. ii. 1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4. And my speech, and my preaching, was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power. 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Gal. i. 9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

89th Q.-Is the aid of human learning then entirely precluded?

A.-No, for though it is not essential to gospel ministry, it may nevertheless be of subordinate use.

90th Q.-Are ministers of the gospel authorized to receive hire for preaching the gospel?

A. No: as this holy unadulterated gift of God is not to be purchased by money, but is freely committed to chosen instruments; so

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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. 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.

18.

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

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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? mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter standing up with the cleven, 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.

14.

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 Jife to the spiritually dead: indeed a call to

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