The sacrifice of thankfulness A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, the third of December,…The sacrifice of thankefulnesse A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the third of December,…

I know not how happily, I am fallen into that I would never be out of, Charity. Most men now-a-days (as it is in the Proverb) are better at the Rake, then at the Pitch-fork; readier to pull in, then give out. But if the Lord hath sown plentiful Seed, he expects plentiful Fruits; an answerable measure, heaped, and shaken, and thrust together, and running over. If God hath made the Bushel great, make not you the Peck small. Turn not the bounty of Heaven, to the scarcity of Earth. We love the retentive well, but our expulsive is grown weak. But as God hath made you Divit•• in arca, so beseech him to make you Divites in conscientia. Accept not only the distributive virtue from Heaven, but affect the communicative virtue on Earth.

I know not how happily, I am falne into that I would neuer be out of, Charitie. Most men now-a-dayes (as it is in the Prouerbe) are better at the Rake, then at the Pitch-forke; readier to pull in, then giue out. But if the Lord hath sowne plentifull Seed, hee expects plentifull Fruites; an answerable measure, heapen, and shaken, and thrust togeather, and running ouer. If God hath made the Bushell great, make not you the Pecke small. Turne not the bountie of Heauen, to the scarcity of Earth. Wee loue the retentiue well, but our expulsiue is growne weake. But as God hath made you Diuit•• in arca, so beseech him to make you Diuites in conscientia. Accept not onely the distributiue vertue from Heauen, but affect the communicatiue vertue on Earth.

As in a state politic, the lieger Ambassadors that are sent abroad to lie in foreign Kingdoms, secureth our peaceable state at home. So, that we disperse abroad, makes safe the rest at home. The Prayers of the Poor by us relieved, shall prevail with God for Mercy upon us. The happy solace of a well pleased Conscience shall rejoice us: and the never failing Promises of God, shall satisfy us. We hear many Rich men complain of losses, by Sea, by Debtors, by unjust Servants: we never heard any man complain of want that came by Charity: No man is the poorer, for that he gives to the Poor: Let him sum up his Books, and he shall find himself the richer. As God therefore hath laid up for you In terra morientium, in this World: so lay up for your-selves Interra viventium, in the World to come. As you are rich in the Kings Books, be rich in Gods Book. If it were possible, all the World should miscarry, your Treasure in Heaven is in a sure Coffer: no Thief, Rust, Moth, Fire, shall consume that. You shall find God the best Creditor; he will pay great Usury, not ten in a hundred, but a hundred, a thousand for ten.