A20764:100
The plea of the poor. Or A treatise of beneficence and alms-deeds teaching how…The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how…
The plea of the poor. Or A treatise of beneficence and alms-deeds teaching how these Christian duties are rightly to be performed, and persuading to the frequent doing of them. Necessary for these times, wherein the works of mercy are so much neglected, or so undiscreetly practiced. Published by John Downame Bachelor in Divinity.The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how these Christian duties are rightly to be performed, and perswading to the frequent doing of them. Necessary for these times, wherein the workes of mercy are so much neglected, or so vndiscreetly practized. Published by Iohn Downame Bachelour in Diuinitie.
London: printed by Edward Griffin for Ralph Mabbe, 1616
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.
CHAP. 4. That the poor should be the object of our bounty.
CHAP. 4. That the poore should be the obiect of our bountie.
Sect. 1. That the poor should be the object of our liberality.
Sect. 1. That the poore should be the obiect of our liberalitie.
And thus much of the action: the object of our liberality is the poor: whence we learn that though there are many ways, whereby men express much bounty and liberality in spending their riches, yet this only doth approve a man to be godly and blessed, when as he giveth freely to the poor and needy. And this our Saviour showeth. Luk. 14. 12. When thou makest 1a dinner or supper, call not thy friends nor thy brethren, ⟨p. 40⟩neither thy kinsmen and rich neighbours; least they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee, for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. So that if we would be blessed in our bounty, the poor must be the object of it. For they are the ground in which the seed of beneficence must be sown if ever we mean to reap an harvest of happiness. They are the bankers to whom we must deliver Gods talents, if we would have them increase in our masters estimate, and so receive the gracious reward of our faithful service. Finally, these are Gods factors, unto whom if we deliver our goods, the Lord himself will acknowledge the debt, and will surely pay us with great advantage.