Doct. 1 Giving to the poor is a necessary duty, I draw this point out of the Text in this manner, what is commended to men with a gracious pracious promise, and whose contrary is threatened with a curse, must be a duty sure as all will yield; now so is this ⟨p. 10⟩work of giving to the poor as you see with your eyes, wherefore it must be undeniably concluded a duty, that is, a thing not which we may do if we will, and if we will not we may choose, but whereto our consciences are tied by the authority of God the sole Commander of the conscience, and which if we omit, it shall be reputed a transgression. Now that it is a duty, you shall perceive by the many Texts of Scripture which do most expressly ⟨p. 11⟩require it. Deut. 15.9. If thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought, and it be sin unto thee, and verse the 10. Then shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved, when thou givest unto him, and verse the 11. Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in the land. Not giving is entitled a sin, giving, and that without grief, and that with a wide hand is enjoined, Eccles. 11.1, 2. Cast thy bread upon the ⟨p. 12⟩waters. Give a portion to seven and to eight, that is, to many still and still. Lo giving, and a constant giving to many is required. Luke 11.41. our Saviour saith, Give alms of the things you have, and behold all things are clean unto you, It is a duty that gives unto our selves the lawful use of all Gods creatures if we impart them to the poor, for alms is a gift bestowed on a needy person, and 12.33. Sell all that you have and give alms: if a man want money, yet if he ⟨p. 13⟩have money worth that he may spare, he must sell and give, you see, and in some cases must sell much to bestow in alms, yea and in some cases all, as they did in the beginning of the Gospel.1 And Luke 3.11.
Doct. 1 Giving to the poore is a necessary duty, I draw this point out of the Text in this manner, what is commended to men with a gracious pracious promise, and whose contrary is threatned with a curse, must bee a duty sure as all will yeeld; now so is this ⟨p. 10⟩worke of giving to the poore as you see with your eyes, wherefore it must be undeniably concluded a duty, that is, a thing not which we may doe if we will, and if wee will not wee may choose, but whereto our consciences are tied by the authority of God the sole Commander of the conscience, and which if wee omit, it shall be reputed a transgression. Now that it is a duty, you shall perceive by the many Texts of Scripture which doe most expressely ⟨p. 11⟩require it. Deut. 15.9. If thine eye bee evill against thy poore brother, and thou givest him nought, and it be sinne unto thee, and verse the 10. Then shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved, when thou givest unto him, and verse the 11. Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poore, and to thy needy in the land. Not giving is intitled a sinne, giving, and that without griefe, and that with a wide hand is injoyned, Eccles. 11.1, 2. Cast thy bread upon the ⟨p. 12⟩waters. Give a portion to seven and to eight, that is, to many still and still. Loe giving, and a constant giving to many is required. Luke 11.41. our Saviour saith, Give almes of the things you have, and behold all things are cleane unto you, It is a duty that gives unto our selves the lawfull use of all Gods creatures if we impart them to the poore, for almes is a gift bestowed on a needy person, and 12.33. Sell all that you have and give almes: if a man want money, yet if hee ⟨p. 13⟩have money worth that hee may spare, he must sell and give, you see, and in some cases must sell much to bestow in almes, yea and in some cases all, as they did in the beginning of the Gospell.1 And Luke 3.11.
- 1Act. 4 34 35.
