A20764:179
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. 5. Alms given out of the spoils of the Church unlawful.
Sect. 5. Almes giuen out of the spoiles of the Church vnlawfull.
But much more abominable are their alms, who spoil the Church by simony and sacrilege, & taking into their possession the portion of Levi, which is consecrated unto God, think to please the Lord, & as it were, satisfy for their sin, by giving some small alms to the poor, or keeping good hospitality of the spoils of the Church. And that not only for the time past, but with a resolution to continue still in their sin, paying these pittances to the poor, as the price or penalty of their sacrilegious wickedness: but unto these may be well fitted the saying of the holy Ghost. Prou. 21. 27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an 1abomination: How much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
But much more abominable are their almes, who spoile the Church by simonie and sacriledge, & taking into their possession the portion of Leui, which is consecrated vnto God, thinke to please the Lord, & as it were, satisfie for their sin, by giuing some small almes to the poore, or keeping good hospitalitie of the spoiles of the Church. And that not onelie for the time past, but with a resolution to continue still in their sinne, paying these pittances to the poore, as the price or penaltie of their sacrilegious wickednesse: but vnto these may bee well fitted the saying of the holy Ghost.