A20764:437
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. 1. That he who relieveth the poor shall be blessed in his posterity.
Sect. 1. That he who releeueth the poore shall bee blessed in his posteritie.
AND thus have I showed, that if by giving to the poor we lend unto the Lord, we shall receive full restitution with great advantage. Now we will consider wherein this restitution is to be made, and in what things it principally consisteth; namely, in all blessings and benefits both temporal and eternal. The temporal benefits respect either our posterity, or our selves; for if we bountifully relieve the poor, the ⟨p. 212⟩reward of our charity shall not only extend unto us, but also to our of-spring and progeny; according to that in the second verse of this Psalm: His seed shall be mighty upon earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed. So the Lord promiseth, Esa. 58. 10. 12. that if we will draw out our soul to 1the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; the Lord will not only satisfy our souls in drought and make fat our bones, but that those also that come of us shall prosper unto many generations. Now what better inheritance can we leave to our children than the blessing of God, which like an ever-springing fountain will nourish and comfort them in the time of drought, when as our own provision which we have left unto them may fail, and when the heat of affliction riseth, will like standing waters be dried up?