A20764:286
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. 1. That alms are to be given only to the poor and needy.
Sect. 1. That almes are to be giuen onely to the poore and needie.
AND thus we have showed who are to give alms. In the next place we are to consider to whom they are to be given; the which hath in part been touched when I spoke of the object of our liberality; and now is more fully to be handled. First then, howsoever we owe love unto all men, and in this love we may, yea, ought to do them all good: yea, howsoever we may give gifts and rewards to whom we will, either to show our love, or to encourage men in their well deserving; yet almsdeeds are to be extended only to the poor and needy, for therefore are they called Eleemosynae, because they are to be exercised towards those whose penurious and miserable estate requireth & deserveth mercy & compassion. So the Lord requireth Deu. 15. 11. Thou shalt open thine hand wide to thy poor, & 1to thy needy of thy land. Whereby thus much is signified, that we should give not only unto those who are generally and absolutely poor, but also to them who though they have a good estate, yet for the present, by some sudden accident do want and stand in need of our relief; as when a man otherwise of good means, is forced to ask an alms, being brought into present necessity, ⟨p. 128⟩through persecution, shipwreck, fire, robbery, and such like unlooked for and unexpected accidents.
AND thus wee haue shewed who are to giue almes. In the next place wee are to consider to whom they are to bee giuen; the which hath in part been touched when I spoke of the obiect of our liberality; and now is more fully to bee handled. First then, howsoeuer wee owe loue vnto all men, and in this loue wee may, yea, ought to doe them all good: yea, howsoeuer we may giue gifts and rewards to whom we will, either to shew our loue, or to encourage men in their well deseruing; yet almesdeedes are to bee extended onely to the poore and needy, for therfore are they called Eleemosynae, because they are to bee exercised towards those whose penurious and miserable estate requireth & deserueth mercy & compassion. So the Lord requireth