A20764:80
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. Moderation in giving according to our ability.
Sect. 2. Moderation in giuing according to our abilitie.
In respect of the former, it is said that the godly and blessed man giveth to the poore, Dat non profundit, he giveth but not wasteth, he so giveth as that he may still give, and because it is a more blessed thing to give, then to receive and crave, he preserveth the stock and store house of his bounty, that by continual giving he may continue his greater blessedness. So the Apostle appointing a collection for the Saints, enjoineth every one to lay up in store as God hath prospered him. Every one ⟨p. 25⟩1therefore in his almsdeeds, is to respect his own ability, and to give neither above nor under his means. The which a man observeth, when as he so giveth, as that he may be able to hold on in the same proportion, and that rather with increase then abatement. So the heathen man could say, Dabo egenti, sed ut ipse non egeam; succurro 2perituro, sed ut ipse non peream. I will so give to the needy, as that I do not need my self; I will relieve those who are ready to perish, but yet so, as that I my self may not perish. How be it this rule holdeth only in ordinary, for the extreme necessity of the poor (as we shall see 3hereafter) and the general necessity of the Church, bring a non obstante, and dispense with it; as we may see in the Acts of the Apostles, where the Saints that had houses and lands, fold them, that they might thereby supply the great wants of the faithful living under grievous persecution, the necessity of the times urging and requiring it. The which was not proper to those times, but should now also be put in practise, upon the like occasion.