The poor mans advocate, or, A treatise of liberality to the needy. Delivered in…The poore mans advocate, or, A treatise of liberality to the needy. Delivered in…
The poor mans advocate, or, A treatise of liberality to the needy. Delivered in sermons by William Whately minister of BanburyThe poore mans advocate, or, A treatise of liberality to the needy. Delivered in sermons by William Whately minister of Banbury
William Whately 1583–1639London: printed by George for George Edwards, 1637
[22], 179, [1] p. · 17k words · STC 25316 · ESTC S106612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, from them to whom thou shouldst give, are they not brethren to thee, sons and daughters to God, hath not he tied them to thee by many bonds, the same God made & preserveth them, the same Saviour redeemed them, they have the same faith, the same spirit, the same baptism, head, and wilt not thou see reason to give to ⟨p. 172⟩them that are so near thee?
Thirdly, from them to whom thou shouldst give, are they not brethren to thee, sonnes and daughters to God, hath not he tyed them to thee by many bonds, the same God made & preserveth them, the same Saviour redeemed them, they have the same faith, the same spirit, the same baptisme, head, and wilt not thou see reason to give to ⟨p. 172⟩them that are so neere thee?
And fourthly, from thy wealth, is it not uncertain and fickle? why then shouldst thou not do good with it whilst thou hast it, for when it is gone, nothing will comfort thee but the remembrance of the good thou hast employed it in, as we see in Jobs case.
And fourthly, from thy wealth, is it not uncertaine and fickle? why then shouldst thou not do good with it whilst thou hast it, for when it is gone, nothing will comfort thee but the remembrance of the good thou hast employed it in, as we see in Iobs case.
But lastly, consider the fruit of this giving, and it cannot but win thee to giving, for it is of all the things in which we may bestow our goods the most advantageous, it
doth the greatest good, extending to the most & greatest things, and in the largest measure. It doth good to the soul for the present, in ministering an assure argument of uprightness and so of unspeakable comfort, chiefly in the day of temptation, this giving assures the conscience before God as Saint John saith, so can no other expending. It doth good to the name, procuring more honour to ones self, and more honour to ones Religion, then all the fine clothes in the world, and
⟨p. 174⟩
all the gay buildings, those do not prove a man good, merciful, charitable, this doth; it doth the greatest good to the state, for it is a sowing that will bring in harvest, it will secure from wants, which no riches can do. It doth the greatest good to the seed, for they shall enjoy the blessing, yea it doth all these things too, in the greatest quantity, for to no other giving are half so many promises made, and our good shall be according to Gods promises. It doth good for longest
⟨p. 175⟩
continuance, for it doth good after death. The money so bestowed shall follow one, yea it shall follow him at the resurrection, for then shall these expenses be remembered, praised, rewarded. It doth good with most case, for here needs no toiling, no great labouring, sweating as in other things, for God will bring the fruit to our hands by a secret blessing (as he maketh the corn to grow when it is sowed) whilst men sleep & do other things, not thinking of it, yea it doth all this
⟨p. 176⟩
with most assurance, one cannot loose this gain for God is the assurer, & if we will live by faith, here is no hazard at all, he that hath Gods word cannot loose his reward. Lo now store of reasons, and those clear, & those weighty, to persuade you. O Brethren be persuaded, be persuaded, get this blessing, get security against wants, rush not upon many curses, what shall I say more? the Lord bade Moses speak to the rock, and it gave water, will you be harder then rocks? he
⟨p. 177⟩
commanded the clouds to send down Manna, will you be ebellious above the senseless clouds? yea he bade the ravens bring bread and flesh to Elijah, will you be worse then these ravenous fowls?
But lastly, consider the fruit of this giving, and it cannot but winne thee to giving, for it is of all the things in which we may bestow our goods the most advantagious, it ⟨p. 173⟩doth the greatest good, extending to the most & greatest things, and in the largest measure. It doth good to the soule for the present, in ministring an assure argument of uprightnesse and so of unspeakable comfort, chiefly in the day of temptation, this giving assures the conscience before God as Saint Iohn saith, so can no other expending. It doth good to the name, procuring more honour to ones selfe, and more honour to ones Religion, then all the fine clothes in the world, and ⟨p. 174⟩all the gay buildings, those doe not prove a man good, mercifull, charitable, this doth; it doth the greatest good to the state, for it is a sowing that will bring in harvest, it will secure from wants, which no riches can doe. It doth the greatest good to the seed, for they shall enjoy the blessing, yea it doth all these things too, in the greatest quantity, for to no other giving are halfe so many promises made, and our good shall be according to Gods promises. It doth good for longest ⟨p. 175⟩continuance, for it doth good after death. The money so bostowed shall follow one, yea it shall follow him at the resurrection, for then shall these expences bee remembred, praised, rewarded. It doth good with most case, for here needs no toiling, no great labouring, sweating as in other things, for God will bring the fruit to our hands by a secret blessing (as he maketh the corne to grow whē it is sowed) whilst men sleep & do other things, not thinking of it, yea it doth all this ⟨p. 176⟩with most assurance, one cannot loose this gaine for God is the assurer, & if we will live by faith, here is no hazard at all, he that hath Gods word cannot loose his reward. Loe now store of reasons, and those cleare, & those weighty, to perswade you. O Brethren be perswaded, bee perswaded, get this blessing, get security against wāts, rush not upon many curses, what shal I say more? the Lord bade Moses speake to the rocke, and it gave water, will you bee harder then rockes? he ⟨p. 177⟩commanded the cloudes to send downe Manna, will you be ebellious above the sencelesse cloudes? yea he bade the ravens bring bread and flesh to Eliah, will you be worse then these ravenous foules?
O now power redound showers of bounty upon your needy brethren, and God will power redound showers of blessings upon you. Brethren be not forgetful hearers but doers of the work that you may be blessed in your deeds. Give that you may never want, hide not your eyes ⟨p. 178⟩that you may not inherit many curses, I require you to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
O now pow redowne showres of bounty upon your needy brethren, and God will pow redowne showres of blessings upon you. Bethren be not forgetfull hearers but doers of the worke that you may bee blessed in your deeds. Give that you may never want, hide not your eyes ⟨p. 178⟩that you may not inherit many curses, I require you to be doers of the word, and not hearers onely, deceiving your owne selves.
And this if any amongst you heretofore have done,1 or hereafter will do, to them we must speak a word of encouragement, assuring them that they shall find God true, they shall not want. Their seeds-time shall bring in harvest, God will bless their seed sown, he will enrich them to all bounty; God will perform his promise ⟨p. 179⟩to them and to their seed. Whosoever will give liberally to the poor, that is, bestow as much in merciful expenses as in works of superfluity, and kindness, here he hath Gods word, he shall not want, let him acknowledge the sufficiency and faithfulness of God, and go away assured, that the Lord will abundantly supply all his needs according to the riches of his grace in Christ.
And this if any amongst you heretofore have done,1 or hereafter will do, to them we must speake a word of incouragement, assuring them that they shall find God true, they shall not want. Their seeds-time shall bring in h arvest, God will blesse their seed sowne, hee will inrich them to all bounty; God will performe his promise ⟨p. 179⟩to them and to their seed. Whosoever will give liberally to the poore, that is, bestow as much in mercifull expences as in workes of superfluity, and kindnesse, here he hath Gods word, he shall not want, let him acknowledge the sufficiency and faithfullnesse of God, and goe away assured, that the Lord will abundantly supply all his needs according to the riches of his grace in Christ.
