Thirdly, The Christian is willing and cheerful in doing these works of mercy, because he knoweth that his heavenly Father doth love a 1cheerful giver, and looketh more to the heart of him that giveth, then to the quantity of his gift, and that it is not enough for us to do good, and to be rich in good works, unless we be also ready to distribute and willing to communicate, as it is 1. Tim. 6. •8. Besides his outward works of mercy proceed from an inward habit, and therefore it is no more painful or grievous unto him to do them, then for the eye to see or the ear to hear; yea rather they are the delight of his soul, and his meat and drink to do the will of his Father. And this cheerfulness of his heart he showeth (as hath been said) in the pleasantness of his countenance, in his sweet and comfortable words, and in the action it self, by his ready and speedy giving. For his works of mercy are not drawn out of him through the importunity of suitors, but are kindly sent out of his hart, and (like waters out of the spring) do readily flow from the inward fountain of his bounty & benignity. Neither is he apt to make delays, because they so afflict oftentimes the heart of the poor suitor, that he preferreth a quick denial before a slow grant; but he gladly layeth hold upon the occasion when it is first offered; and doubleth the gift by his speedy giving. But the worldling doth his works of mercy grudgingly and churlishly, & dumb manu dat, vultu negat, whilst his hand giveth, his look denieth: and proudly ⟨p. 158⟩insulteth over the poor in their miseries, by his rough speeches, bitter taunts, and harsh expostulations, turning his bread that he giveth into stones and gravel; so that he doth not so much comfort the poor man by his gifts, as he doth vex and afflict his soul with his manner of giving; causing him in his heart to prefer a courteous refusal, before a grant that is so sour and churlish. And as he giveth harshly, so hardly and slowly, putting of and even tiring the poor Suitor with many delays and denials. And when he giveth, it is rather because he is impatient of importunity, like the unrighteous judge spoken of in the Gospel, then pitiful and compassionate 2in the sight of the poor mans misery.
Thirdly, The Christian is willing and cheerefull in doing these workes of mercy, because hee knoweth that his heauenly Father doth loue a 1chearefull giuer, and looketh more to the heart of him that giueth, then to the quantitie of his gift, and that it is not inough for vs to doe good, and to be rich in good workes, vnlesse we be also readie to distribute and willing to communicate, as it is 1. Tim. 6. •8. Besides his outward workes of mercie proceed from an inward habite, and therfore it is no more painefull or greiuous vnto him to doe them, then for the eye to see or the eare to heare; yea rather they are the delight of his soule, and his meate and drinke to doe the will of his Father. And this cheerefulnesse of his heart he sheweth (as hath beene said) in the pleasantnesse of his countenance, in his sweete and comfortable wordes, and in the action it selfe, by his readie and speedy giuing. For his workes of mercie are not drawne out of him through the importunity of suters, but are kindly sent out of his hart, and (like waters out of the spring) doe readily flow from the inward fountaine of his bountie & benignitie. Neither is he apt to make delaies, because they so afflict oftentimes the heart of the poore suter, that hee preferreth a quicke deniall before a slow grant; but he gladly layeth hold vpon the occasion when it is first offred; and doubleth the gift by his speedie giuing. But the worldling doth his workes of mercy grudgingly and churlishly, & dum manu dat, vultu negat, whilst his hand giueth, his looke denyeth: and proudly ⟨p. 158⟩insulteth ouer the poore in their miseries, by his rough speaches, bitter taunts, and harsh expostulations, turning his bread that hee giueth into stones and grauell; so that hee doth not so much comfort the poore man by his gifts, as hee doth vexe and afflict his soule with his manner of giuing; causing him in his heart to preferre a curteous refusall, before a grant that is so sowre and churlish. And as he giueth harshly, so hardly and slowly, putting of and euen tyring the poore Suter with many delayes and denialls. And when he giueth, it is rather because hee is impatient of importunitie, like the vnrighteous iudge spoken of in the Gospell, then pittifull and compassionate 2in the sight of the poore mans miserie.
- 1Cor & non substantiam Deus pensat, n•c perpen•it qu•d in eius sacrifici•, sed ex quanto preferatur. Gregor. 1. Tim. 6. 8.
- 2Luk. 18. 5.
