The Faith Principles of Ministry (1824)

​The Faith Principles of Ministry (1824)

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1. We consider every believer bound, in one way or other, to help the cause of Christ. We have scriptural warrant for expecting the Lord’s blessing on our work of faith and labor of love. Although according to Matthew 13:24-43, 2 Timothy 3:1-13, and many other passages, the world will not be converted before the coming of our Lord Jesus, still, while He tarries, all scriptural means should be employed for the ingathering of the elect of God.
2. The Lord helping us, we do not mean to seek the patronage of the world; i.e., we never intend to ask unconverted persons of rank or wealth to support this institution, because this, we consider, would be dishonorable to the Lord. “In the name of our God we will set up our banners” (Psa 20:5). He alone shall be our patron. If He helps us we will prosper; if He is not on our side, we will not succeed.
3. We do not mean to ask unbelievers for money (2Co 6:14-18); though we do not feel ourselves warranted to refuse their contributions, if they, of their own accord, should offer them (Act 28:2, 10).
4. We reject altogether the help of unbelievers in managing or carrying on the affairs of the institution (2Co 6:14-18).
5. We intend never to enlarge the field of labor by contracting debts (Rom 13:8) and afterward appealing to the Church of God for help, because this we consider to be opposed both to the letter and the spirit of the New Testament. But in secret prayer, God helping us, we shall carry the wants of the institution to the Lord, and act according to the means that God shall give.
6. We do not mean to reckon the success of the institution by the amount of money given or the number of Bibles distributed, but by the Lord’s blessing on the work (Zec 4:6)—and we expect this in the proportion in which He shall help us to wait upon Him in prayer.

While we would avoid needless separation, we desire to go on simply according to Scripture without compromising the truth; at the same time thankfully receiving any instruction which experienced believers, after prayer upon scriptural ground, may have to give us concerning the institution.