A20764:116
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. 7. That we must give alms constantly.
Sect. 7. That we must giue almes constantly.
And thus much for the object of our alms: the time of performing this duty is daily, continually, and constantly, as our ability will bear, and the necessity of the poor shall require, according 1to that. Eccles. 11. 6. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening hold not thine hand. And this assiduity in the action is implied in the object. For whereas he saith, that the godly man giveth to the poor, he implieth thus much, that he continueth giving, so long as they continue in their poverty; and that there is no end of his bounty, till he seeth an end of their wants. Neither doth he upbraid the poor man with remembrance of former benefits when he reneweth his suites, as though it were too great boldness in him to crave often, and superfluous for himself to give often to the same person: but remembering that his heavenly father reneweth his mercies unto him every morning, and harkneth graciously to his suites so often as he wanteth and craveth; he imitateth his unwearied goodness, & giveth often to the same poor man, according ⟨p. 44⟩to his own ability and the others necessity, if he see that his wants are not caused through his idleness and negligence, but through the hand of God lying heavy upon him. Or if God hath provided otherwise, for those whom we have formerly relieved, this must not put an end to our charity and almsdeeds, seeing the godly man giveth to the poor, that is, so long as there are any poor, so long he giveth, his liberality not being appropriated unto any persons, but extending it self to the same estate and condition of poverty, when as he findeth it in new subjects. And therefore as the fountain sending forth it streams, first filleth one empty hole as it runneth, and then goeth into another, and never ceaseth till it hath filled all: so the fountain of the righteous mans bounty never ceaseth to communicate the streams of his beneficence, but after he hath supplied the wants of one and many, he still seeketh after more, and never thinketh himself so rich in good works and almsdeeds, that now he may give over and spend upon the stock, blessing himself in his former bounty; but still he continueth his spiritual trade and never fainteth, until the great paymaster have given him an everlasting reward.