A20764:113
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.
Sect. 6. That we must not be over scrupulous in making choice.
Sect. 6. That we must not be ouer scrupulous in making choise.
The other extreme is too much care & scrupulosity, when men of almsgivers will be judges, or 1justices of peace, and are so busy in examining the poor about their estate and desert, that they can find no leisure to open their purse or relieve their wants. With which practise the Apostle ⟨p. 42⟩meeteth. 2. Thes. 3. 13. for having given charge that the idle should not be relieved, he addeth in the next words, but ye brethren be not weary of well doing. As though he should say; let not the disorder and inordinate courses of some, make you desist from doing the works of mercy, and to pick a quarrel against almsdeeds, because of the unworthiness of those who are to receive them. And therefore let us take heed, that we do not use this practise as a veil to hide our niggardliness and hardheartedness, because we can meet with none worthy to have them. And to this end let us remember that we do not out of justice and equity, give rewards to them that have deserved them, but an alms and free gift out of mercy and pity, to relieve the poor whom we see in necessity; and that if we take convenient care, though the alms be lost in respect of the party who hath received them; yet not unto us in respect of the fruit of our beneficence. For we have given it in love unto God and in obedience to his commandment, and he will be our paymaster in rewarding our charity, according to that gracious promise of our Saviour.