A20764:173
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. 2. Ill gotten goods must not be given, out restored to the owners.
Sect. 2. Ill gotten goods must not be giuen, out restored to the owners.
Whereby it appeareth that men cannot lawfully give alms out of those goods which they have gotten by theft and rapine, bribery and extortion, simony ⟨p. 65⟩and usury, dicing and unlawful gaming. For as the Civilians say well. Bonus usus non justificat iniustè quaesita. The good use doth not justify the unjust getting of their goods. Because such goods are not their own but other mens, which they are bound in conscience to restore to their true owners; unless it be in this case, that they cannot possibly make restitution, because those whom they have wronged are dead or unknown unto them; and then it being unlawful to keep these goods themselves, it is the best course to give them unto God, the chief Lord of all, when the next and proper owner cannot be found; even as by our Law stolen goods found in the ground of an inferior Tenant, belongs to the chief Land-Lord, when the party appeareth not whose they are, or else to the King, when the thief is taken with his theft about him. An example whereof we have in Zacheus, who having by his office gotten much unjustly, after his conversion, offereth 1fourfold restitution unto all whom he had wronged, and because many could not be found to whom he should make it, he offereth to bestow half of his goods to the relief of the poor. Where by the way we may observe that this heathenish Publican was in his worst estate to be justified before many among us, making profession of Christian Religion, who if they should make a four-fold, yea, single restitution of their ill gotten goods, could not make the poor much beholding for that half which should remain, seeing all would be too little to make satisfaction.