A20764:127
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. 5. The third cause is charity. First, the love of God▪
Sect. 5. The third cause is charitie. Fitst, the loue of God▪
Thirdly, the christians alms arise from true charity and unfeigned love; and are therefore called 1by the Apostle χάρις, that is a gift given out of mere good will. The which is so necessary to the doing of alms, that they are of no worth, if they be done without it. For so the Apostle saith, 1. Cor. 13. 3. Though I feed the poor with all my goods, and have no charity, it profiteth me nothing. 2Now this charity from whence almsdeeds ⟨p. 49⟩spring is twofold. The first is the love of God, for when we are persuaded, that God dearly loveth us, and as a pledge hereof hath given unto us his dear Son to the death for our redemption, and with him all good things, respecting this life or the life to come; then from the fire of this divine love towards us, flameth or rather sparkleth our love towards him again, the which we manifest by loving our neighbours for his sake, and approve both our love and thankfulness to be hearty and sincere, by giving unto them somewhat out of that store wherewith God hath enriched us, in obedience to his commandment; and that we may glorify his name by having the light of our godly conversation shining before men. Which duties of love and Christian charity who so neglect, they show that they are destitute of the true love of God, as the Apostle affirmeth,