A20764:311
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. 13. Next unto our neighbours we must respect our Countrymen, and then strangers.
Sect. 13. Next vnto our neighbours we must respect our Countrymen, and then strangers.
Next unto our near neighbours we are to relieve the inhabitants of the same City, Sheer, 1and Country, before those who are of other nations; according to that Deut. 15. 7. If there be among you a poor man, of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. And vers. 11. Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor and thy needy in thy land, &c. But yet we are not so only to respect them, as that we are to neglect poor Christians of other Countries, but they also are in the next place to be relieved, according to that Levit. 25. 35. If thy brother be ⟨p. 137⟩2waxen poor and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him, yea though he be a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with thee. And this is a part of that good hospitality which the Apostle exhorteth unto, Rom: 12. 3. and commendeth unto 3us in the example of Abraham and Lot. Heb. 13 2. Be not forgetful (saith he) to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares. And this is a part of that fast which God requireth, that we bring the poor which are exiled, or cast out, into our houses; especially when as they suffer banishment for the profession of the Gospel; for then in receiving them we receive Christ, and perform one of those works of mercy, which shall be so richly rewarded at the last day,