A20764:390
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. 8. That the communion between us and the poor, should move us to relieve them.
Sect. 8. That the communion betweene vs and the poore, should mooue vs to releeue them.
The third reason to move us to give alms as being an act of righteousness, and Christian equity may be taken from that communion which is between the poor and us, with our head Christ; for this is equal and just, that they who are united together in the nearest communion of persons should also communicate in the use of their goods, for their mutual relief and comfort; 1whereof it is that almsdeeds are called κοινωνία, that is, such gifts as arise out of communion, by a metonymy of the cause inducing, for the effect which is produced by it. But the nearest communion that can be imagined is between Christians, one with another, and all of them with their head Jesus Christ. For besides the civill communion between all men, whereby they are all of one flesh (which the Prophet Isaiah thinketh a ⟨p. 176⟩sufficient argument to move us to do these works of mercy in relieving the poor) the offspring 2and generation of God, as the Apostle 3speaketh, the sons of the same Adam and Noah, and so brethren one with another, and of the same country and common wealth, yea, it may be of the same city and corporation; there are many spiritual respects, and more divine relations, which make a more near communion between Christians one with another. For we are elected to the same eternal happiness; and who would not love and relieve those who have communion in the same decree of life and blessedness? we are Gods work-man-ship, who are not only created in Adam, according to his glorious image, but re-created and restored unto this divine image lost by Adam, in the second Adam Jesus Christ? & who would not cherish those who have such spiritual resemblance and likeness with God and one another? For if (as one saith) Idolaters so much reverence the insensible image of their Idol-gods, that they willingly bestow upon them the most precious things they have, of which notwithstanding they have no use, and