Again, in Pauls practise we see an earnest care and diligence to provide for the poor. And his diligence is further expressed Rō. 15. 25, 28. where it is said, that he ministered to the Saints at Jerusalem, and withal that he gave himself no rest in this duty, till he had sealed this fruit unto them, that is, till he saw §30it done according to his desire. His example must be followed of us. It is not enough for us to give good words, and to wish well, but we must in our places and callings, do our endeavour that relief may even be sealed to our poor. And there be many reasons to move us. First, let us consider that the §35charge was very great, to maintain the altar of the Lord in the old Testament with sheep, and oxen, and offerings of all kinds: and now in the new Testament the poor come in the room of the Altar. Secondly, the poor represent the person of Christ; and in them he comes unto us, and saith, J am hungry, ⟨p. 101⟩I am sick, I am naked, I am harbourless: therefore, look what we would do to Christ, the same must we do to them. Thirdly the poor have title, and interest, to part of our goods: for God is the Lord of them, and we are but stewards to dispose and use them, according to his appointment. And his will is, that part of our goods be given for the relief of the poor. If §5this be not done, we are thieves in respect of the goods we possess. Lastly, mercy or the bowels of compassion in us, is a pledge, or an impression of the mercy that is in God, towards us: and by it we may know, or feel in our selves, that mercy belongs unto us. Thus we see, what is our duty: now let us §10consider what is our fault. Not to blame any person or persons, it is our common fault, that we are backward and slack in this duty. And the cause is, that we do not heartily give our selves to Christ: and this makes us to be so slack in giving our §15goods to the poor, 2. Cor. 9. 5. Again, we commonly live (as it were) without a law. We do not with David, set the laws of God before us, Psal. 119. v. 168. Neither do we apply our hearts to his statutes, v. 112. For then would we with David, make haste to keep the commandments of God, v. 60. Specially §20this great commandment of relief: and the rather, because the observing of it, is the enriching of us all.
Againe, in Pauls practise we see an earnest care and diligence to prouide for the poore. And his diligence is further expressed Rō. 15. 25, 28. where it is said, that he ministred to the Saints at Ierusalem, and withall that he gaue himselfe no rest in this dutie, till he had sealed this fruit vnto them, that is, till he saw §30it done according to his desire. His example must be followed of vs. It is not enough for vs to giue good words, and to wish well, but we must in our places and callings, doe our endeauour that releefe may euen be sealed to our poore. And there be many reasons to mooue vs. First, let vs consider that the §35charge was very great, to maintaine the altar of the Lord in the old Testament with sheepe, and oxen, and offerings of all kinds: and now in the new Testament the poore come in the roome of the Altar. Secondly, the poore represent the person of Christ; and in them he comes vnto vs, and saith, J am hungrie, ⟨p. 101⟩I am sicke, I am naked, I am harbourlesse: therfore, looke what we would doe to Christ, the same must we doe to them. Thirdly the poore haue title, and interest, to part of our goods: for God is the Lord of them, and we are but stewards to dispose and vse them, according to his appointment. And his will is, that part of our goods be giuen for the releefe of the poore. If §5this be not done, we are theeues in respect of the goods we possesse. Lastly, mercie or the bowels of compassion in vs, is a pledge, or an impression of the mercie that is in God, towards vs: and by it we may knowe, or feele in our selues, that mercie belongs vnto vs. Thus we see, what is our dutie: nowe let vs §10consider what is our fault. Not to blame any person or persons, it is our common fault, that we are backeward and slacke in this dutie. And the cause is, that we doe not heartily giue our selues to Christ: and this makes vs to be so slacke in giuing our §15goods to the poore, 2. Cor. 9. 5. Againe, we commonly liue (as it were) without a law. We doe not with Dauid, set the laws of God before vs, Psal. 119. v. 168. Neither doe we apply our hearts to his statutes, v. 112. For then would we with Dauid, make haste to keepe the commandements of God, v. 60. Specially §20this great commandement of releefe: and the rather, because the obseruing of it, is the inriching of vs all.
