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…

But for as much as men are rich or poor, not only simply, but in relation unto others; a man is to be esteemed rich not only when he aboundeth with worldly wealth, but also when he is compared with one who is much poorer; and accordingly is to communicate of that which he hath to the relief of those who are in greater necessity. As for example, he who is of a mean and poor estate, must give alms when he meeteth with those that are ⟨p. 95⟩in greater need; and even those who are in great need, must communicate such as they have unto them, who are in extreme necessity, & in danger presently to perish, unless they have some help from others. Thus he that hath but a mere competency to supply the necessity of nature and estate, is to give something out of it to relieve those who want necessaries belonging to nature, and those who have only sufficient for nature, are bound to give unto them who are in great and present extremity; unless the like necessity be imminent to themselves. For the rule of justice and charity requiring that we should love our neighbours as our selves, and do unto them as we would have them to do unto us; doth in the equity thereof require, that we prefer the life of our brethren before our estate, and that we should endure small wants, to preserve them from suffering those which are great and dangerous.

But for as much as men are rich or poore, not onely simply, but in relation vnto others; a man is to bee esteemed rich not onely when hee aboundeth with worldly wealth, but also when he is compared with one who is much poorer; and accordingly is to communicate of that which he hath to the reliefe of those who are in greater necessitie. As for example, he who is of a meane and poore estate, must giue almes when he meeteth with those that are