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These contributions

These contributions had been voluntary, and answered the general purposes: for as these wants were confined within narrow limits, they were easily satisfied. And many contributing very liberally from motives of brotherly kindness and benevolence, a foundation was laid in many places as a stock or public fund; and when human wisdom and policy gained the ascendency, the zealous ecclesiastics artfully propagated the notion that munificence to the church would atone for sin, and purchase iiiture happiness: and, accordingly, it soon became enriched with secular possessions. Many of the great found it easier to give freely than to live well; and many others now fohnd means to sanction their ambitious projects, and their most unjustifiable methods of gratifying MBT Trainers their avaricious desires of accumulating wealth, by dividing their spoils with the churchthat is, with the mercenary priesthoodall which greatly contributed to increase their wealth The bishops, in order to get the revenues into their own possession, relieved the deacons froR the charge of the administration, into whose hands if, had been originally given, or intrusted, by the apostles. And now, having none MBT Shoes to control their ambition, or oppcxfe their proceedings, they spon undertook to exact MBT Shoes Sale pecuniary rewards, which they authoritatively demanded, as the conditions and price of their spiritual commodities Their " wheat," for the fine and ddicate palate, and their "barley," for the more gross, the vulgar and superstitious"And see thou hurt not the oiljind the wine." As in the purest ages of Christianity there were some that were but mere formalists or worshippers ift thouW ward court, so in this time of spiritual darkness theri wee sonje who, notwithstanding they were blinded with the general prejudice of the diving authority of the churchto impose matters oft |uth, and religiously conformed to her decrees, yet they also laboured to impress the necessity of holiness of life; and were diligent in visiting the sick and afflicted; MBT encouraging them to, seek for an inward communion with God, and the consolations of his spirit: that "wine" that ani mates Che drooping soul and " the iP of joy and gladness which comforts the mourners in ZioiuAlthough there were a few of these who appear to have been highly esteemed and respected, yet it was in the general a time of famine and extreme scarcity. " Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Not a scarcity of Jealous ecclesiastics, for they Were very numerous; but their ohief views were the advancement of their own power and interest.