A20764:155
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 by visiting the poor we may learn to be thankful.
Sect. 7. That by visiting the poore we may learne to be thankful.
But this duty is so much out of use among the rich & wealthy, through the pride, niceness, and uncharitableness of these times, that there will haply seem to be in it some absurdity, unless it be pressed with stronger arguments then those which arise from neighbourly love. And therefore if their benefit will not move us to put it in practise, yet at least let love of our selves prevail. For by seeing the wants and miseries of our brethren, we in our own particular may receive much good. For we shall have hereby just occasion offered of bursting forth into Gods praises, who hath dealt so bountifully with us, giving us not only plenty of his blessings for our own use which others want, but also making us helpful unto our brethren. For those who abound will never be so thankful unto God for his benefits as they ought, unless they have learned their worth out of the experience of their own and others wants.
But this dutie is so much out of vse among the rich & wealthy, through the pride, nicenesse, and vncharitablenesse of these times, that there will haply seeme to be in it some absurditie, vnlesse it be pressed with stronger arguments then those which arise from neighbourly loue. And therefore if their benefit will not moue vs to put it in practise, yet at least let loue of our selues preuaile. For by seeing the wants and miseries of our brethren, we in our owne particular may receiue much good. For we shall haue hereby iust occasiō offered of bursting forth into Gods praises, who hath dealt so boūtifully with vs, giuing vs not only plenty of his blessings for our owne vse which others want, but also making vs helpfull vnto our brethren. For those who abound will neuer bee so thankefull vnto God for his benefits as they ought, vnlesse they haue learned their worth out of the experience of their owne and others wants.