A20764:349
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. They differ in the object and extent.
Sect. 4. They differ in the obiect and extent.
Fifthly, they differ in the object or extent, for the Christians mercy extendeth to all that stand in need, even to Infidels because they are Gods creatures; to their enemies, because they look not to their deserts but to Gods commandment; but especially it is exercised in relieving poor Christians, because they are the children of God and members of Christ. And though they be ready to do good unto all, yet chiefly to those who are of the household of faith: though their goodness like their heavenly Fathers reacheth to the good and bad, yet especially it extendeth 1to Gods Saints and to the excellent; and because 2it cannot extend to God himself, by reason of ⟨p. 154⟩3his all-sufficiency. Therefore to show their love towards him, they exercise it towards his sons and servants, who are above all others most dear unto him. But the worldlings mercy reacheth only unto those who have someways deserved it at his hands, or who (as they imagine) may deserve it, or to his kindred, friends or such as are some way linked unto him in the bonds of nature, going no further herein then Publicans and Hypocrites, whose mercy Christ rejecteth, as being of no worth in the sight of God. Matthew 5. 46. 47.4