A20764:481
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. 3. Their objection answered, who put off this duty to those who are richer.
Sect. 3. Their obiectiō answered, who put off this duty to those who are richer.
Yea but there are many richer, and therefore this duty of giving alms lieth rather upon them than upon thee, who art but poor and of small means in comparison of them, and if they neglect to give, much more mayest thou (as thou supposest) and yet be excused before God. I answer ⟨p. 237⟩first, that none are excepted, but every one is to give according to his ability; wherein if thou failest, their neglect will not excuse thee, for their example is no president, but every one must bear their own sin. Secondly, if having little, thou art content in obedience to God, to part with somewhat, thou performest a duty the more acceptable to God, and in the day of Christs appearing, thou shalt be so much the more richly rewarded; and for the present, thy work shall be so much the more commendable: as we see in the example of the poor widow and the Macedonians, who are so much commended for parting with somewhat out of their small store. Thirdly, if thou wilt not live by precepts but by examples, why doest thou propound them for thy pattern, who are carnal and covetous, and not rather the example of our Saviour Christ, and the holy men of God, whose bounty even out of their poverty, is for this very purpose recorded in the Scriptures? Lastly, thou must consider, if thou art poor, that almsdeeds are a notable means to make thee richer, as being a spiritual kind of husbandry and merchandise, wherein if we labour and trade, we shall thereby have our wealth increased. Now no man in his right wits having small store of corn will omit to sow it, because others neglect the seasonable seed-time who have greater plenty; no wise merchant will refuse to trade and lay out his money upon a good bargain, because those who have greater stocks will not employ them, but so much the rather they will sow and