A20764:48
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. 6. The properties of beneficence. First, that it be liberal and bountiful.
Sect. 6. The properties of beneficence. First, that it be liberall and bountifull.
The properties of this beneficence are divers, and they are all implied in this metaphor of dispersing or scattering seed. As first in respect of the quantity, it must be liberal and bountiful, and we must dare multum multis, do much good unto many. For though a man be never so sparing in other things, yet he will not be niggardly in sowing his seed, but will scatter and cast it from him in full handfuls, as much as is sufficient, and the ground will well bear; because he knoweth that the fruitful harvest will return all again with large increase: and so the godly and blessed man though he be hard in idle expenses and superfluities, as in rioting, gaming, adorning the back and pampering the belly, yet he is bountiful in doing good, and scattereth the seeds of his beneficence with a liberal hand, because he knoweth that after the seedtime the ⟨p. 13⟩harvest will follow, and then all will be returned with great advantage, which argument the Apostle useth to stir up the Corinthians to this liberal beneficence, because he that soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully, and he that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly. 2 Cor. 9. 6. And this the wise man observed. Pro. 11. 24. There is (saith 1