A20764:466
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 the reward of our alms-deeds and the punishment of their neglect shall be everlasting.
Sect. 5. That the reward of our almes-deedes and the punishment of their neglect shall be euerlasting.
And thus we see the place where our riches will endure and remain for us; now the time of their continuance, and of our enjoying them in heaven is for ever; in which respect we may truly say of alms-deeds, that they are that meat which will not mould, the drink that soureth not, the garment that will not wear out, and the treasure which is not subject either to rust or stealing; And this eternity of reward is promised in many places of Scripture to those who exercise themselves in these works of mercy. So Luk. 16. 9. 1Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness, that when you fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations. And the Apostle would have those who are rich in the world to be rich also in good works, ready to distribute, and willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation, against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1. Tim. 6. 19. yea so 2doth the reward of everlasting happiness through Gods free grace and goodness belong to these works of mercy, that the doing or neglecting them is accompanied with eternal blessedness or endless misery; for the sentence of absolution or condemnation shall be pronounced, either for or against us, accordingly as we have performed or omitted them. To those who have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick &c. come ⟨p. 228⟩ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; and contrariwise to those who have not done these duties; Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. The consideration whereof should be a sufficient motive to stir us up to the doing of these good works, though there were no other reason; for if we either love heaven or fear hell, if we would be everlastingly rewarded or would not be everlastingly punished and tormented; if we desire with unspeakable confidence and joy to appear before our sweet Saviour and to our inestimable comfort hear that blessed sentence; or would not be astonished and perplexed with that horror and guilt, which shall make us to cry out to the hills and rocks to fall down and cover us from the presence of our terrible judge;