A20764:70
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. 16 We must increase in doing good.
Yea our care must be, as to grow in grace, so to bring forth new fruits of good works, imitating 1herein the Church of Thiatira, whose last works excelled the first, Apoc. 2. 19. Seeing we cannot otherwise be sure to be constant in them; for they who go not forward but stand at a stay, will not long stay in their standing. And in this the beneficence of a godly man differeth from that which is in worldlings, who do some good works of mercy by fits, but are not constant in well doing; and also from that which is in hypocrites who do some good deeds for praise or profit, but yet desist when their turn is served; the flame ⟨p. 22⟩of their charity lasting no longer then the fuel doth wherewith it is nourished. But these have only a green blade of an outward profession, and never come to the bearing of ripe fruits; they run well for a time, but get not the garland, because they do not hold out to the end of the race. They are not true Christians, but only dead images of them, like unto that which Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream, which had an 2head of gold, the middle parts of silver, his thighs of brass, his legs of iron and his feet part of iron and part of clay; for so the head and first beginnings of their works are golden and glorious, but the last and latter ends base and of no worth.
Yea our care must be, as to grow in grace, so to bring forth new fruites of good workes, imitating 1