The last thing to be considered is the divers kinds of alms, the which are principally 3. giving, forgiving, and free-lending; For not only do we relieve the poor when we give unto them, but also when we ease them of the burden of debt wherewith they are oppressed. To which duty we are bound, when we see our neighbour decayed in his estate, and not able to pay what he ⟨p. 160⟩hath borrowed; for when by the hand of God he is cast down, we are not with the weight of our hand to keep him down, but by the lightning of his load, we must help him to rise again: which mercy, if we ordinarily show to a brute beast, when we see him lying under his burden, how much more should we exercise it towards those who are of the same flesh, children of the same father, and members of the same body? And this is commanded Exod. 22. 26. If thou at 1all take thy neighbours raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by then the Sun goeth down. 27. For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? And it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear him, for I am gracious. The which duty good Nehemiah 2caused the princes of the people to put in practise, as we may see, Nehem. chap. 5. 11. Restore I pray you to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, also the hundred part of the money, and of the corn, and of the 3wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. The which our Saviour also requireth, when as he biddeth us to lend, looking for nothing again, in case our brother be not able to pay. And this is a part of that fast which God so much esteemeth. Isaiah 58. 6. Is not this (saith he) the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, and to undo the 4heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? And in this regard every year should be the Christians Jubilee, wherein all debts are to be remitted to the poor, who have ⟨p. 161⟩not wherewith to make payment, which if we perform not, but cruelly catch our brethren by their throats, and cast them into prison, to take our penny-worths (as they say) on their bones, and to make dice of them;
The last thing to bee considered is the diuers kinds of alms, the which are principally 3. giuing, forgiuing, and free-lending; For not onely do we releeue the poore when we giue vnto them, but also when wee ease them of the burthen of debt wherewith they are oppressed. To which dutie wee are bound, when wee see our neighbour decayed in his estate, and not able to pay what hee ⟨p. 160⟩hath borrowed; for when by the hand of God he is cast downe, wee are not with the waight of our hand to keepe him downe, but by the lightning of his loade, wee must helpe him to rise againe: which mercie, if wee ordinarily shew to a bruite beast, when wee see him lying vnder his burthen, how much more should wee exercise it towards those who are of the same flesh, children of the same father, and members of the same bodie? And this is commanded Exod. 22. 26. If thou at 1all take thy neighbors raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliuer it vnto him by then the Sunne goeth downe. 27. For that is his couering onely, it is his raiment for his skinne: wherein shall he sleepe? And it shall come to passe, when he crieth vnto me, that I will heare him, for I am gracious. The which dutie good Nehemiah 2caused the princes of the people to put in practise, as we may see, Nehem. chap. 5. 11. Restore I pray you to them, euen this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliue-yards, and their houses, also the hundreth part of the money, and of the corne, and of the 3wine, and the oile, that ye exact of them. The which our Sauiour also requireth, when as hee biddeth vs to lend, looking for nothing againe, in case our brother bee not able to pay. And this is a part of that fast which God so much esteemeth. Esay 58. 6. Is not this (saith he) the fast that I haue chosen, to loose the bands of wickednesse, and to vndoe the 4heauie burthens, and to let the oppressed goe free, and that ye breake euerie yoke? And in this regard euery yeere should be the Christians Iubile, wherin all debts are to bee remitted to the poore, who haue ⟨p. 161⟩not wherewith to mak payment, which if we performe not, but cruelly catch our brethren by their throats, and cast them into prison, to take our penny-worths (as they say) on their bones, and to make dice of them;
- 1Exod. 22. 26.
- 2Nehem. 5. 11.
- 3Luk. 6 35.
- 4Isaiah. 58. 6.Esay. 58. 6.
