A20764:326
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. 4. What is to be thought of those that wholly defer giving alms till their death.
Sect. 4. What is to be thought of those that wholy deferre giuing almes till their death.
But concerning the other, who have utterly neglected the works of mercy in the whole course of their lives, and think it sufficient if they appoint somewhat for these uses after their death; there is not the like judgment. In christian policy they are not absolutely to be condemned, least hereby they should take occasion to neglect the works of mercy living and dying; no nor yet in christian charity, seeing these may be the after-fruits of their late repentance. Besides, these good works are assuredly good unto the receivers; and in respect of the givers thus much may be said, that they do much better than those who do neglect them altogether, taking no care that any good should be done either in their lives or after death. And though now they can keep their goods no longer, yet being to part with them of necessity, it is good that they make choice freely to bestow them on these good uses; wherein they are much to be preferred before those who bestow them upon such uses, as are either evil, superfluous, superstitious, or mere worldly and carnal. Neither may they justly be taxed for doing these good works now, but their long delay is to be blamed, and because they ⟨p. 144⟩would not be persuaded to do them sooner.
But concerning the other, who haue vtterly neglected the works of mercy in the whole course of their liues, and thinke it sufficient if they appoint somwhat for these vses after their death; there is not the like iudgment. In christian policie they are not absolutely to be condemned, least hereby they should take occasion to neglect the workes of mercy liuing and dying; no nor yet in christian charitie, seeing these may be the after-fruits of their late repentance. Besides, these good workes are assuredly good vnto the receiuers; and in respect of the giuers thus much may be said, that they do much better than those who doe neglect them altogether, taking no care that any good should be done either in their liues or after death. And though now they can keepe their goods no longer, yet being to part with them of necessitie, it is good that they make choice freely to bestow them on these good vses; wherein they are much to bee preferred before those who bestow them vpon such vses, as are either euill, superfluous, superstitious, or meere worldly and carnall. Neither may they iustly be taxed for doing these good workes now, but their long delay is to be blamed, and because they