A20764:166
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. 3. That if our ends be evil, the action is unprofitable.
Sect. 3. That if our ends be euill, the action is vnprofitable.
But if contrariwise the fountain of our alms be pride and self-love, and our end be, like the 1hypocrites, to be seen of men, we have our reward, as our Saviour teacheth us. Matth. 6. 2. Or if with the proud Pharisee we give alms, that we may glory and boast our selves in them, even unto God himself: or with Popish Justiciaries, do them with an opinion of merit, or to satisfy Gods justice for our sins (for so they teach, that they satisfy for sin by those three principal works, alms-deeds, prayer, and fasting) then in our almsdeeds, we shall sacrifice unto God swines flesh, and the head of a dog, or (which is more abominable unto him) our works defiled with hellish pride and horrible blasphemy against his free grace, and the all sufficiency of Christs merits and satisfaction, by whose poverty alone we are 2made rich. As it is 2. Cor. 8. 9.
But if contrariwise the fountaine of our almes bee pride and selfe-loue, and our end bee, like the 1hypocrites, to be seene of men, we haue our reward, as our Sauiour teacheth vs. Matth. 6. 2. Or if with the proud Pharisie wee giue almes, that wee may glory and boast our selues in them, euen vnto God himselfe: or with Popish Iusticiaries, doe them with an opinion of merit, or to satisfie Gods iustice for our sinnes (for so they teach, that they satisfie for sinne by those three principall workes, almes-deedes, praier, and fasting) then in our almsdeedes, we shall sacrifice vnto God swines flesh, and the head of a dogge, or (which is more abominable vnto him) our workes defiled with hellish pride and horrible blasphemie against his free grace, and the all sufficiency of Christs merits and satisfaction, by whose pouertie alone we are