A20764:302
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. 9. Next unto our children, charge and family, we must relieve our spiritual kindred.
Sect. 9. Next vnto our childre, charge and familie, we must releiue our spirituall kindred.
So that all these are in their order to be relieved before all others by the express commandment of almighty God, even before those who are virtuous and religious, being not so near unto us in these bonds of nature. But next as (I take it) our spiritual kindred is to take place, and in our works of mercy to be preferred before those who are only a kin unto us in the flesh. I say only, because if our kindred in the flesh be also virtuous & religious, they are to be preferred before the other; yea though they have not attained unto that measure and degree of grace and godliness, so that it be in them in substance and truth, and not only in a general, bare, and unfruitful profession; as it is in many amongst us, who though they are content to be called by the name of Christians, yet are in truth devoted worldlings, who professing Christ with their mouths deny him in their lives and works. For the faithful are 1children of the same father, members of the same body whereof Christ is the head, and coheirs of the same glorious kingdom, where they shall reign together in all happiness for evermore; and therefore being mutually conjoined in so many bonds of love, they are to respect one another more then those, who being only a kin unto them in the flesh, are enemies to their profession, yea even to themselves, for being worldlings they love only their own, and not those whom 2Christ hath chosen out of the world; yea enemies to Gods grace and strangers to the common-wealth ⟨p. 134⟩