Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

pleased the Lord to stir up their hearts to raise the said sum of eighty pounds
per annum; for some servants subscribed ten shillings f966 per year, others six
shillings; other members mean in the world, but rich in grace, gave ten
shillings, others twenty, some thirty shillings, some others forty shillings,
some fifty shillings, some three pounds, some four pounds per annum, one
five pounds, and another six pounds per annum. Of those who subscribed to
the pastor’s maintenance there is to be observed the grace of God in some.
One aged brother, named Henry Pierce, a very mean poor man to appearance,
in person and habit, and by profession or trade but a journeyman or
shoemaker, that lived up in a cock-loft, yet his heart was so enlarged for and
by the Lord that he would subscribe, and did pay, not less than twenty
shillings per annum. And one other member, a sister named Margaret Webb,
that had two children to maintain, that lived very near, and took great care to
carry the world about, to live therein honestly toward all and labored very
hard so to do, yet she would subscribe towards the carrying on of the gospel,
and did pay forty shillings per year. Which example did provoke, if not
shame, f969 others.” f971
Eight years after this, this good sister died, and the records of this church read:
“Sister Webb, one of the deaconesses, was interred after the meeting was done
at Walbarrows. She was about sixty-four years of age. … She left a good
savour behind her; did much good with her little. She labored hard in her way
of distilling waters, and gave constantly while she lived forty shillings a year
for the pastor and left fifty pounds for the use of the congregation.” f972
Goadby says of English Baptists of the early part of the seventeenth century:
“It was a standing rule in most of their churches that all absent members
should send their weekly contribution to the church’s treasury. f970 … There
are not many indications in the middle of the seventeenth century that the
Baptists had any great need to spur the flagging generosity of their members.
It is toward the close of that century that we first meet with symptoms of the
decline of their fervor and benevolence. … By and by we begin to find
minutes about ‘the increase of covetousness.’” f973
Turning more to the history of the Welsh Baptists of the seventeenth century,
we read:
“In the Association held at Abergavenny, this church proposed to revive the
old plan of supporting ministers in weak and destitute churches. … William
Thomas was appointed home missionary for six months and received from
Swansea five pounds; Llantrisaint, two pounds and ten shillings; Carmarthen,
two pounds and ten shillings. … Our Welsh brethren were great advocates for
the ancient order of things. They adopted the old plan of supporting
missionaries. The gospel through the channel of missions has made its way to
many parts of the world.” f974