A20764:428
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 it is the end of riches to be employed on good uses, and not locked up.
Sect. 5. That it is the end of riches to be imployed on good vses, and not locked vp.
Again, the love of our money should not hinder us from doing the works of mercy, but rather make us more diligent in them; for he that loveth any thing wisely, desireth above all, that it may attain to his right and chief end, as being the best which his love can wish unto it: now the end of our money and riches, is not that they should lie rusting and rotting by us without use, but that they should be communicated to the glory of God and the good of our neighbours; and therefore seeing the more we love our wealth, the better we wish unto it, and nothing is better for it then to attain to these ends, they love it not at all, or at least after a foolish manner, who by imprisoning their riches, and so frustrating their ⟨p. 207⟩chief end, do hinder them from attaining unto their perfection.
Againe, the loue of our money should not hinder vs from doing the works of mercie, but rather make vs more diligent in them; for he that loueth any thing wisely, desireth aboue all, that it may attaine to his right and cheife end, as being the best which his loue can wish vnto it: now the end of our money and riches, is not that they should lie rusting and rotting by vs without vse, but that they should bee communicated to the glorie of God and the good of our neighbours; and therefore seeing the more we loue our wealth, the better wee wish vnto it, and nothing is better for it then to attaine to these ends, they loue it not at all, or at least after a foolish manner, who by inprisoning their riches, and so frustrating their