But here may some ask, whether the pastors were then bound to live upon voluntary contribution, as upon alms; _For who_, saith St. Paul (_1 Cor._ ix. 7) _goeth to war at his own charges? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?_ And again, (verse 13) _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, partake with the altar_; that is to say, have part of that which is offered at the altar for their maintenance? And then he concludeth, (verse 14) _Even so hath the Lord appointed, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel_. From which place may be inferred indeed, that the pastors of the Church ought to be maintained by their flocks; but not that the pastors were to determine, either the quantity, or the kind of their own allowance, and be, as it were, their own carvers. Their allowance must needs therefore be determined, either by the gratitude and liberality of every particular man of their flock, or by the whole congregation. By the whole congregation it could not be, because their acts were then no laws; therefore the maintenance of pastors before emperors and civil sovereigns had made laws to settle it, was nothing but benevolence. They that served at the altar lived on what was offered. So may the pastors also take what is offered them by their flock; but not exact what is not offered. In what court should they sue for it, who had no tribunals? Or, if they had arbitrators amongst themselves, who should execute their judgments, when they had no power to arm their officers? It remaineth, therefore, that there could be no certain maintenance assigned to any pastors of the Church, but by the whole congregation; and then only, when their decrees should have the force, not only of _canons_, but also of _laws_; which laws could not be made, but by emperors, kings, or other civil sovereigns. The right of tithes in Moses’ law, could not be applied to the then ministers of the gospel; because Moses and the high-priests were the civil sovereigns of the people under God, whose kingdom amongst the Jews was present; whereas the kingdom of God by Christ is yet to come.