A20764:463
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. 2. That by giving alms we lay up treasures in our own country.
Sect. 2. That by giuing almes we lay vp treasures in our own country.
But let us consider where this place of safety is, in which we are counselled to lay up our treasures; namely not in a strange kingdom whither we shall not come our selves, or being come thither shall make but small stay; but in heaven, our own native country, the place of our inheritance, among our kindred and chief friends, and of our perpetual abode and everlasting habitation; for they that feed Christ being hungry, and clothe him being naked in his poor members, shall inherit the heavenly kingdom which God hath prepared for them from the foundation of the world, Math. 25. 134. they that deal their bread to the hungry and cover the naked, shall have their righteousness to go before them, & the glory of the Lord shall be their rereward. ⟨p. 226⟩Esa: 58. 8. They that sell and give to the poor, 2for their transitory riches, shall have a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, Luk. 12. 33. Now what an excellent change is this, to have heavenly things for earthly, & treasures in our own country, where we shall enjoy them for ever, for parting with uncertain riches in the place of our pilgrimage, which we are ready every day to leave behind us; to forgo things which we cannot keep, and obtain such as we cannot loose? But this exchange merciful men do make; for when they give their goods to the poor, they do not loose them, but only commit them unto them, as unto porters, to be carried and transported for their use into those heavenly and everlasting habitations: whereas if they should hoard them up and keep them unto themselves, they would be cumbersome burdens, which would hinder their journey thither, and yet when they have done what they can, death at length, if not some other casualty in the mean time, will strip them naked of all, to go out as they came into the world, and let them carry nothing with them, but the sin and guilt which they have committed