A20764:382
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. 5. That God hath allotted all we can spare to the poor as their portion.
Sect. 5. That God hath a•lotted all wee can spare to the poore as their portion.
Secondly, it is not only an act of mercy but also of justice to give alms to the poor, because the Lord, who is the chief owner of our goods, having appointed all that we can spare to their use, it is not our own, but their portion allotted unto them; which they have as good right unto as we have to the rest, because it is ratified unto them by the same authority. For if we have right to the main estate because God in his bounty hath given it unto us, then they have right also to the overplus which we may well spare by virtue of the same donation. Only here is the difference that God hath given unto us our riches immediately himself, but unto the poor mediately by us, whom he hath enjoined to perform unto them these duties of mercy and Christian charity. In which regard as it is theft in us to rob them of that portion which God hath allotted unto them, so it is theft in the poor to take it from the rich without their consent, seeing they have the right of disposing them from God; even as it is theft in the inferior servants, if when the steward neglecteth his duty in feeding and providing for them, they take upon them to be their own carvers; for as it is the will of the Master that he should feed them, so also that they should be fed by him, and not forcibly take it from him by fraud or violence. To this purpose one saith, it is the bread of the hungry which ⟨p. 171⟩1mouldeth in thy binge or cupboard; it is the coat of the 2naked which hangeth useless in thy chamber or wardrobe, they are the shoes of him that goeth barefoot, which lye rotting by thee; It is the silver of the needy which rusteth in thy chests, and so many thou dost injure, as thou canst, and dost not relieve in their wants and miseries. And another saith, that it is alike faulty and blameworthy to take from the right owners, &