A20764:342
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. 1. That there are many & great differences between the alms of Christians and of worldlings. And first in the causes moving them.
Sect. 1. That there are many & great differences betweene the almes of Christians and of worldlings. And first in the causes mouing them.
The next point which I propounded in this duty of almsdeeds was their properties, whereby the pious and charitable alms of Christians, which are the undoubted signs of a godly and blessed man, may be discerned, from those counterfeit alms which are done by hypocrites and worldlings; the which are great and manifold. For first they differ in the causes and fountains from which they arise and spring; For the alms of Christians are the fruits of a lively and and justifying faith, and are done out of unfeigned ⟨p. 151⟩love and obedience towards God: and therefore is a Christian merciful unto others, because he is assured of Gods mercy to himself; therefore doth he give small things to men, because he hath received great things from God; and for this cause is he liberal to those that need his help, not because they have deserved it, but because God hath commanded it. So also his alms spring from Christian charity, mercy and compassion towards the poor, because he is a member of Christ, and of the household of faith, or at least a creature of God and of the same flesh. But the worldlings alms arise from self-love, whereby in his alms he aimeth at some temporary and earthly good to be derived by them unto himself, out of pride and vain-glory, that he may be praised 1and magnified amongst men, or may merit a far greater reward at the hands of God, or out of servile fear of Gods judgments in this life or the life to come, which by this means he would avert and turn away from him; and therefore not proceeding from true charity they profit nothing. 1. Corinth. 13. 3.