A20764:487
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 say that the poor are wicked.
Sect. 3. Their obiectiō answered, who say that the poore are wicked.
Fourthly, it is objected that the poor now adays are so wicked and evil that they deserve no relief, and what is given unto them, is but cast away, seeing it doth but maintain them in their ungodly courses. To which I answer, that this should not discourage us from giving, but make us more diligent in seeking out those who are worthy to be relieved. The husband-man doth not refuse altogether to sow his seed, because there are some grounds so barren, that they will bear nothing but weeds and thistles; but this maketh him careful either to look out more fruitful soil, which will return fruitful increase, or with his good husbandry to make that which in it self is bad, to become better; neither doth he expect that all he soweth should prosper and increase his harvest, seeing some falleth by the wayside, and is trodden under foot, some is devoured by the fowls which prey upon it, and some falleth among the stones, or is so choked with weeds and thorns, that it thriveth not. And so ⟨p. 241⟩the wise merchant giveth not over trading, because some of the goods which he adventureth, is lost by shipwreck, pirates, bankrupts and other casualties, but is so much the more diligent in his employments, and sendeth out his goods into many places, that his gains at one time, may countervail and exceed his losses at another: And so the miscarrying of some part of our alms, should not discourage us in sowing the seeds of our beneficence, nor make us give over our spiritual merchandise, but cause us rather to exercise our selves in these Christian duties with more diligence, that the well-bestowing of alms at one time, may make amends for that which at another time is cast away and perisheth; according to that