THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL 5
are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should
glory in his presence. i
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto
us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
“That according as it is written, He that glorieth in the Lord.”
1st Cor. 1:19-31.
“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem-
eth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may
he wise.
“Therefore let no man glory in men.
yours.” 1st Cor. 13:18-21. i .
Possibly the strongest evidence given the laborer for
God that the Lord is accepting his laborers is the fruit
of that labor.
“For though yc have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet
have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten
you through the gospel.” 1st Cor. 4:15.
Thus it must be perfectly clear to every honest per-
son that a man-made ministry is not what God wants,
neither will it answer His purpose. And further as we
view each effort made in that manner we ask what has
it done for the world? The number of ministers has
been increased; but spirituality has decreased in propor-
tion, until the call has now come with full force to come
For all things are
out of Babylon and let every man save his own soul. In
no manner is Babylon more marked than in the present
system of organization and the hired ministry which in-
cludes the present methods of education and fitting of
men and women for gospel work.
The Support of the Ministry and Workers.
Said the Master: “The laborer is worthy of his
hire.” Says Paul: “If we have sown unto you spiritual
things, is it any great thing if we reap your carnal
things?” And again: “Who goeth a warfare at his own
charge?” And once more: “They that preach the gos-
pel shall live of the gospel.” “Who feedeth the flock
and eateth not of the milk of the flock?” And the
Apostle further says: “He that thresheth, thresheth in
hope.” “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that
treadeth out the corn.” All of the above quotations re-
fer directly to the support of the Gospel. But as to
God’s plan of support God has not left us in darkness.
That is all plainly given in the inspired word so that we
are not left to the devising of men neither are we left
to resort to devices of our own as to how we should be
supported. Neither is the “laity” left. to be imposed up-
on by those who are not Apostles, but are after the
loaves and the fishes. The duty of each is plainly given
and any fault that is found with the plan is found with
the Lord and not man, for man has nothing to do with
it only to obey it.
The New Testament teaching on this point is based
upon the law of Moses the same as it bases teaching on
every other point.
“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who
planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who
feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
“Say 1 these things as a man? or saith not the law the
same also?
“For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle
the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take
care for oxen?
“Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no
doubt, this is written; that he that ploweth should plow in hope;
and that he that thresheth in hope should be partakers of his
e.
“If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing
if we shall reap your carnal things?
“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.
“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things
live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the
altar are partakers with the altar?
“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the
gospel should live of the gospel.
“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.
“For though 1 preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of;
for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach
not the gospel!
“For if I do this thing willingly, Thave a reward; but if
against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto
me.
“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.
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself
servant. unto all that I might gain the more.” 1st Cor. 9:7-19.
The above Scripture plainly states the matter that
if we would know how the workers are to be supported
we must study the law as written by Moses. The duty
of the giver is also especially given by Paul in the fol-
lowing Scripture:
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth' bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheer-
ful giver.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that
ve, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to
every good work; as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He
hath given to the poor; His righteousness remaineth forever.
“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister
bread for your food, and multiply your ‘seed sown, and increase
the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Cor. 9:6-10.
The Apostle says again, as it is written: knowing
that both the giving and the receiving is plainly taught
how it is to be done in the law of Moses. So to that law
we go for our instructions for the support of the gospel.
The first seven verses of the eighteenth chapter of
Numbers states how Aaron and his sons were chosen
from the tribe of Levi to act as Priests for an everlasting
statute and then states how the tribe of Levi was given
them as assistants in the work of God. It also says
neither was to have any inheritance in the land with
the other tribes but their support was provided for as
follows:
“For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both
man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the
land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
“And 1 have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the
children of Israel.
“And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his
sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the
children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to
make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no
plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel
come nigh unto the sanctuary.” Num. 8:17-19,
“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given
thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things
of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason
of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordiance for ever.
“This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from
the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering” of theirs,
and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of
theirs, which they shall render unto me shall be most holy for
thee and for thy sons.
“In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall
eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.
“And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all
the wave offerings oi the children of Israel: I have given them
unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a
statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat
of it.
“All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of
the wheat, the first fruits of them which they shall offer unto the
Lord, them have 1 given thee.
+ “And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall
bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in
thine house shall eat of it.
“Everything devoted in Israel shall be thine.
“Everything that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they
bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be
thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem,
and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
“And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt
thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.
~ “But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the
firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt
sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for
an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
“And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and
as the right shoulder are thine.
“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children
of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, 'and thy sons
and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever; it is a cov-