A20764:479
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 we ought to give something to the poor, even out of our mean estates.
Sect. 2. That we ought to giue something to the poore, euen out of our meane estates.
But say thou hast but a mediocrity of estate, and doest not attain unto such plenty or superfluity; 1but hast only a competency and sufficiency for thy self, yet out of this thou must spare somewhat to relieve those who are in extreme necessity; and if thou hast so little money in thy purse, that it will only serve thine own turn, thou art enjoined to sell somewhat which thou mayest best spare, as either corn, land, or useless household stuff, that thou mayest raise a stock, out of which thou mayest relieve the poor. For ⟨p. 236⟩if carnal wicked men will make sale of such things, rather than they will want that which is sufficient for the satisfying of their sinful lusts, how much more should we do it for the better performance of these christian duties? If they care not to waste their estates in the service of the Devil, let us not spare such disbursements as will further us in the service of God, seeing he is such a liberal master as will reward our kindness and never suffer us to loose by our bounty? Finally, though it were granted that thou hadst nothing to sell, yet God commandeth thee rather then that thou shouldst neglect these works of mercy, to labour with thy hands, that thou mayest have 2to give unto him that needeth; and therefore excuse not thy neglect of this duty, by saying that thou hast nothing for them, unless thou hast nothing to waste upon thy superfluous vanities, nothing which thou canst spare from thy necessary use, and sell for these charitable employments; yea unless thou art not only poor in estate, but impotent and unable by thy honest labours to earn thy living, and hast both an empty purse and also shaking hands and weak knees, and in a word art thy self such a one as needeth by others to be helped and relieved.