Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And as touching the second point, Let us look to keep order and policy, so as this shame and dishonesty of begging be not among us. For why, it is nothing else but a nourishment of wicked rascals, and they will never be brought to any good, which are so maintained, but they become rogues and idle persons as I have told you before. And in the end they take a pleasure in their begging, and like so well of their scrip or wallet, that they would not change it for a yearly rent: Which thing experience shows too much. To be short, of Rogues, they become robbers, & in the end what must become of that? Therefore let all this be taken away, unless we purpose to provoke Gods wrath wilfully, & to cause things to grow every day worse than other. But yet howsoever the case stand, let us see that the poor be maintained. For if a man forbid begging, & therewithal do no alms at all: it is as much as if he did cut the throats of those that are in necessity. Nay, we must so provide for the poor, & redress their want, that such as are stout beggars and apparently seem not to be pitied, may be reformed. For they do but eat up the others bread, & rob the needy of that which should be given unto them. That (say I) in effect, is the thing that we have to mark here. But how may it be done? First the Hospitals should provide well for such needs. For what a shame is it, that the goods which are dedicated to God and the poor, should nevertheless be applied to other uses? That is not simple robbery, but a robbing of God. Therefore let them be employed according to his commandment; & let not men play the good husbands in hording up the things that ought to be bestowed upon God & upon those whom he offereth unto us. Also according as every man knoweth the particular needs of his neighbours, ⟨p. 587⟩so let him endeavour to succour them, and consider where want or need is, and help to remedy it. If this be done, then shall beggary be taken away as it ought to be, and they shall not need to make a simple forbidding of it: saying; let not men beg any more: & in the mean season the poor be left destitute, to die for hunger & thirst.

And as touching the second point, Let vs looke to keepe order and pollicie, so as this shame and dishonestie of begging be not among vs. For why, it is nothing else but a nourishment of wicked rascals, and they will neuer bee brought to any good, which are so mainteined, but they become roges and idle persons as I haue tolde you before. And in the end they take a pleasure in their begging, and lyke so well of their scrippe or wallet, that they would not chaunge it for a yeerely rent: Which thing experience shewes too much. To be shorte, of Roges, they become robbers, & in the end what must become of that? Therefore let all this bee takē away, vnlesse we purpose to prouoke Gods wrath wilfully, & to cause thinges to grow euery day worse than other. But yet howsoeuer ye case stand, let vs see that ye poore be mainteined. For if a man forbid begging, & therewithall doe no almes at al: it is as much as if he did cut ye throtes of those that are in necessitie. Nay, wee must so prouide for the poore, & redresse their want, that such as are stout beggers and apparantly seeme not to be pitied, may be reformed. For they doe but eate vp ye others bread, & rob ye needy of that which should be giuen vnto thē. That (say I) in effect, is the thing that we haue to marke here. But how may yt be done? First ye Hospitals shoulde prouide wel for such needs. For what a shame is it, that ye goods which are dedicated to God and ye poore, shold neuerthelesse be applied to other vses? That is not simple robbery, but a robbing of God. Therefore let thē be imployed according to his cōmaundement; & let not mē play ye good husbāds in hording vp ye things that ought to be bestowed vpon God & vpon those whome he offreth vnto vs. Also according as euery man knoweth ye particular needes of his neighbors,