A20764:373
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. 2. That alms deeds are absolutely required, proved by many testimonies.
Sect. 2. That almes deeds are absolutely required, proued by many testimonies.
Now whereas alms-deeds are called by the name of righteousness, from hence we may gather a strong argument to persuade every Christian to the doing of them. For they are not only works of mercy, but also fruits of righteousness, and therefore are not left as things arbitrary and indifferent at our own choice, to do or leave them undone, as we think good; but are absolutely required and straightly enjoined in the ⟨p. 165⟩law of God, which is the rule of righteousness, and with great earnestness pressed and urged in the Gospel, as the fruits of our faith, and testimonies of our love towards God and our neighbours. The which will more plainly appear, if we consider, both some testimonies of scriptures, & some effectual reasons grounded upon them. So Deut. 15. 11. The poor shall never cease out of 1the land, therefore I command thee saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor and to thy needy in thy land. and Esa. 58. 7. The Lord 2telleth us, that the fast which he requireth and chooseth, is to deal our bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor that are cast out into our houses; when we see the naked that we cover them, and that we hide not our selves from our own flesh. And these are the fruits of the just man, who shall live in his righteousness, if he hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment.