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Quesnel on Tit. 1.7. The subject of this Chapter suggests the notice of the opposite spirit of improvidence. Distressing embarrassments have often arisen from imprudent marriages, from wasteful wives, or from personal habits of negligence; by which Ministers have been degraded before their people, in the loss of their respectability, the true dignity and independence of their office, and their usefulness in the church. Whether these difficulties were incurred without rational prospect of deliverance; or whether charitable assistance was contemplated, as opening a way of escape; either case is most unworthy of our heavenly calling. Poverty, after the example of Christ and his apostles, can never be a disgrace: but liberality and wastefulness with the resources of others (attended too often with crooked devices for our own personal interests), must bring the Ministry into contempt. The strict economy which the Ministerial income often demands, is a Providential appointment; nor can we overstep the bounds (except perhaps under particular dispensations) without equal discredit to ourselves and to our office. The aggravation of the evil is that the embarrassments often arise not from actual necessity, but from needless expenditure. And therefore, while we would deprecate the pitiful savings of meanness, we would seriously recommend a wise economy in maintaining the strict balance between our resources and our wants; and a liberal spirit, within the bounds of those resources, to be attained by habits of plainness, simplicity, and self-denial. Restraint in our own indulgences, liberality to our friends, largeness of heart and sympathy with the poor—and consecration of all to the service of God—would fully exhibit the high spirit of the Christian Ministry.