A20764:411
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. Their objection answered, who think their riches lost which are given to the poor.
Sect. 5. Their obiection answered, who thinke their riches lost which are giuen to the poore.
So that here are answered two objections of worldly men, which are notable impediments to hinder them from doing these works of mercy. The first is that their riches bestowed on these good uses are unto themselves utterly lost; which argueth such carnal diffidence, that it utterly mis-beseemeth those who take upon them the profession of christianity. For seeing we have so many gracious and infallible promises from God himself, that if we give to others, we shall receive from him; if we let the streams of our liberality water the dry and thirsty lands into which he would have them run, they shall again be replenished from the all-sufficient fountain of his bounty, why should we restrain and with-hold our alms from the poor in the time of need? or why should we give unto them with a strait and niggardly hand? why should we hazard the drying up of our breasts, which are only replenished from God with his blessings, by refusing to communicate them to the use of his children, and not let the poor draw them which is the only ⟨p. 194⟩means to preserve their fullness and plenty? why should we assuredly lose our riches for fear of losing them; and not rather seem to lose them, that we may in truth find them? according to that, Eccli: 29. 10. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. 1