A20764:140
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. 12. Pity without almsdeeds unprofitable.
Sect. 12. Pittie vvithout almesdeedes vnprofitable.
But as we are to take heed of bare alms without mercy, so much more of naked mercy without alms; which is that false visard and counterfeit of mercy wherewith hypocrites disguise themselves, of whom the Apostle James speaketh. 1Chap. 2. 15. If a brother or sister (saith he) be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto him, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful for the body, what doth it profit? For ⟨p. 54⟩if we have in our hearts the inward habit of mercy and compassion, it will surely exercise it self not only by the tongue in fair words, but also by the hands in charitable works, the which also the Apostle requireth. 1. Joh. 3. 18. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. And this is implied by the other name 2צדקה which the Hebrews use to signify almsdeeds 3and works of mercy; whereby is also signified justice, which is such a grace or virtue, as resteth not only in the affection of the heart, but proceedeth to the act and work. So that by both these names together the nature of almsdeeds is fully expressed; the one signifying the inward habit of mercy and compassion seated in the heart, the other the outward exercise of it by the hand: whereby we are taught, that in these works of mercy, we must join the affection with the action, and the action with the affection, the one being the fountain, the other the stream; the one the root, the other the fruit, that floweth and springeth from it.