A20764:325
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. 3. Alms given by will to be esteemed according to the quality of the persons who give them.
Sect. 3. Almes giuen by will to be esteemed according to the qualitie of the persons who giue them.
And this shall suffice to have spoken of the manner. The next point to be considered is the time when these alms-deeds are to be performed; And that is in the whole course of our lives, when we have ability, and find fit opportunity of doing these works of mercy. But of this I have already spoken, and therefore I will here only show, what I think concerning those alms-deeds and works of mercy, which are not done in our life time, but by our last will and testament, appointed to be done after the death of the benefactor. The which actions of liberality are to be esteemed and censured, according to the quality and condition of the persons by whom they are performed; ⟨p. 142⟩for either out of love and obedience towards God, and christian charity and compassion towards men, they are done by such as have according to their ability been exercised in these pious and charitable works in their whole life, after their sound conversion unto God; or out of self-love, vain-glory or servile fear, they are performed by such as have utterly neglected these works of mercy in their life time, & now would make some satisfaction for this neglect after their departure. For the former we are to judge that it is a good conclusion of a like good premises, and a manifest sign of their love towards God and their neighbours, when as they are not content to do these works of mercy in their life time, but also take care that they may be continued even after their death; and not only relieve the poor members of Christ whilst they lived with them, but also bequeath unto them legacies after their departure, and account them among their children and heirs, by leaving unto them a portion with them, and a part in their inheritance in lieu of thankfulness towards their Saviour, who hath made them coheirs with himself in his heavenly kingdom. Neither is there just exceptions to be taken, if these works of mercy done by them after death, do exceed in number and quantity those which they have done in their life time, seeing herein they deal no otherwise with the poor, than with their own children and dearest friends, upon whom they bestow more by Will than ever before they had