A20764:128
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. How our alms arise from the love of God in respect of the order.
Sect. 6. How our almes arise from the loue of God in respect of the order.
Now the order to be observed in this Christian beneficence is, upon consideration of this infinite love of God towards us in giving us his dear son, to have our hearts so inflamed with love & enlarged with thankfulness, that we be ready to give our selves unto God, & to dedicate & consecrate our souls, bodies, goods, all that we ⟨p. 50⟩have to his service for the advancement of his glory; and consequently to give liberally to the relief of the poor, because we know that it is acceptable unto him. And this the Apostle observed in the Macedonians, who being to extend their Christian bounty to the relieving of the poor Saints, first gave themselves unto the Lord, and then their alms to the afflicted Saints. 2. Cor. 8. 5.1
Now the order to be obserued in this Christian beneficence is, vpon consideration of this infinite loue of God towards vs in giuing vs his deare sonne, to haue our hearts so inflamed with loue & inlarged with thankfulnes, that we be readie to giue our selues vnto God, & to dedicate & consecrate our soules, bodies, goods, all that we ⟨p. 50⟩haue to his seruice for the aduancement of his glorie; and consequently to giue liberally to the reliefe of the poore, because wee know that it is acceptable vnto him. And this the Apostle obserued in the Macedonians, who being to extend their Christian bountie to the relieuing of the poore Saints, first gaue themselues vnto the Lord, and then their almes to the afflicted Saints.