30. Moreover, it was said to
the Apostles that they should take nothing with them for their
journey, but should live by the Gospel.2347
And in a certain place too the
Lord Himself signified why He said this, when He added, “The
laborer is worthy of his
hire:”
2348
where He sufficiently shows that
this is permitted, not ordered; lest haply he who should do this,
namely, that in this
work of
preaching the word he should take
aught for the uses of this
life from them to whom he
preached,
should think he was doing any thing
unlawful. And yet that it may
more laudably not be done is sufficiently
proved in the
Apostle
Paul: who, while he said, “Let him that is taught in the word,
communicate unto him, that teacheth in all things,”
2349
and showed
in many places that this is wholesomely done by them to whom he
preached the word, “Nevertheless,” saith he, “I have not used
this
power.”
2350
The Lord,
therefore, when He spake those words, gave power, not bound men by
a command. So in general, what in words we are not able to
understand, in the actions of the Saints we gather how it is meet
to be taken, which would easily be drawn to the other side, unless
it were recalled by an example.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
