A20764:176
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. 4. Alms out of goods gotten by oppression unlawful.
Sect. 4. Almes out of goods gotten by oppression vnlawfull.
But as all sacrifices and alms-deeds are unlawful, which are offered and given out of ill gotten goods; so some above others are most abominable; as first when as men give alms out of those goods which are gotten by oppressing the poor, and that whether they wring from some poor by cruelty, deceit or violence, and give unto others; for as one saith, What kind of gift is that which one receiveth with joy, and another looseth with 1tears? or pull from the same poor by pounds at one time, and give unto them by pence at another. As is the practise of those cruel, yet vainglorious ⟨p. 67⟩Land-lords, who rack their poor Tenants the whole year, and in the twelve days only keep open house, and feast them with some small part of that which is their own. But he that bringeth unto God such an alms, or offering of the goods of the poor, doth as one that killeth the son before the eyes of his father, as it is Eccli. 34. 20.
But as all sacrifices and almes-deedes are vnlawfull, which are offered and giuen out of ill gotten goods; so some aboue others are most abominable; as first when as men giue almes out of those goods which are gotten by oppressing the poore, and that whether they wring from some poore by cruelty, deceit or violence, and giue vnto others; for as one saith, What kinde of gift is that which one receiueth with ioy, and another looseth with 1teares? or pull from the same poore by pounds at one time, and giue vnto them by pence at another. As is the practise of those cruell, yet vaineglorious