A20764:207
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. 6. That our small means should move us to give
Sect. 6. That our small meanes should moue vs to giue
And therefore let none excuse their neglect of this religious duty, because their means are small: but rather let this move them the more ⟨image 40⟩carefully to exercise it, as being in respect of them an act, not only of charity, but also of Christian policy: seeing this is the means whereby being poor they may become richer, for there is that scattereth, and is the more increased; and there is that spareth more then is meet, and cometh to poverty. Pro. 11. 24. And our Saviour promiseth that 1if we give, it shall be given to us again, good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over. Luk. 6. 38. Now no man will in seed time excuse himself for not sowing his seed, because he hath 2but a small quantity to spare, above that which he is to spend for his sustenance that year; but this maketh him the rather to cast it into the ground, that being multiplied he may have also enough the year following. There is none refuse to trade because their stock is small, but so much the more diligently they do it, that it may be increased: and therefore seeing giving alms is our Christian sowing and trading, let not our small means make us neglect it, but to practise it with more cheerfulness, and so much the rather because we shall not only reap an earthly crop, but have also an heavenly harvest, which will never fail us.