A20764:294
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. The Church and Commonwealth are to be respected in the first place.
But if there be an equality of estate, and the want and necessity be alike, then is there to be an orderly proceeding of our alms, in respect of persons, and those to be first relieved to whom we are most bound. As first the whole Church and common-wealth is to be preferred before a mans own person, and if there be such a necessity, we are rather to perish our selves, then to suffer them to perish, for it is better for one member to be cut off, then that the whole body should be destroyed: and this made the Disciples in the Primitive Church to sell all they had for the relief of the common necessity. And in this respect the King and such public persons, in whose safety the welfare of the Church and Common-wealth consisteth, are also to be preferred before our selves, so that if we and they be in equal extremity, we must neglect our own persons for their good and preservation.
But if there bee an equalitie of estate, and the want and necessity be alike, then is there to be an orderly proceeding of our almes, in respect of persons, and those to bee first releeued to whom wee are most bound. As first the whole Church and common-wealth is to bee preferred before a mans owne person, and if there be such a necessity, we are rather to perish our selues, then to suffer them to perish, for it is better for one member to bee cut off, then that the whole body should be destroyed: and this made the Disciples in the Primitiue Church to sell all they had for the releefe of the common necessitie. And in this respect the King and such publike persons, in whose safetie the welfare of the Church and Common-wealth consisteth, are also to be preferred before our selues, so that if we and they be in equall extreamitie, we must neglect our owne persons for their good and preseruation.