Now this alacrity of heart, discovereth it self in the countenance, words, and actions. For first a willing mind causeth a cheerful countenance; the which is necessary in these actions of liberality, wherein it is not fit to have manum apertam & vultum clausum, an open hand and a close and cloudy look, which though it should not proceed from any averseness and unwillingness in ⟨p. 29⟩the heart, yet it serveth for no good use, but like a scarecrow affrigheth the poor, so as they cannot with any boldness or confidence come to ask relief, nor feed securely upon those seeds of beneficence which are cast unto them. And this the son of Sirach requireth in these actions of liberality. Cap. 35. 9. In all thy gifts (saith 1he) show a cheerful countenance, which that we may do, let us remember that the liberal look hath the promise of blessedness, as well as the liberal action, according to that, Pro. 22. 9. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth 2of his bread to the poor. But this hope of blessedness many rich worldlings make void unto themselves, who either like evil nurses are so hard of milk, that it cannot be drawn from them without pain and irksomeness, the which they express by their sower looks and wretched and wrinkled foreheads; or else cover the poor's nakedness and relieve their wants, as Noah's sons (with a better mind) did cover the nakedness of their father, with their faces turned another way. For as some, browbeat the poor with proud, sour, and severe looks; so there are others as bad as they, who turn away their eyes and faces from them, as though they were such an eyesore as might not be endured, nor be looked upon without grief and vexation. And this they do, because they fear to be infected with the contagion of the poor man's misery, so much as in a sympathy and fellow-feeling of his calamity; and therefore as men that come near ⟨p. 30⟩unto them who are infected with the plague or leprosy, so do they shun them; or (if they stand in their way) turn their faces from them; and out of a desperate resolution to give them nothing, they will not so much as look upon their miseries, least their conscious eyes should check their churlish hearts, and put them in mind of their barbarous inhumanity.
Now this alacritie of heart, discouereth it selfe in the countenance, words, and actions. For first a willing minde causeth a cheereful countenance; the which is necessary in these actions of liberalitie, wherein it is not fit to haue manum apertam & vultum clausum, an open hand and a close and cloudie looke, which though it should not proceede from any auersenesse and vnwillingnes in ⟨p. 29⟩the heart, yet it serueth for no good vse, but like a scarecrow affrigheth the poore, so as they cannot with any bouldnesse or confidence come to aske reliefe, nor feede securely vpon those seedes of beneficence which are cast vnto them. And this the sonne of Syrach requireth in these actions of liberalitie. Cap. 35. 9. In all thy gifts (saith 1he) shew a cheerefull countenance, which that wee may doe, let vs remember that the liberall looke hath the promise of blessednesse, as well as the liberall action, according to that, Pro. 22. 9. Hee that hath a bountifull eye shall be blessed, for he giueth 2of his bread to the poore. But this hope of blessednesse many rich worldlings make voide vnto themselues, who either like euill nurses are so hard of milke, that it cannot be drawn from them without paine and irkesomenesse, the which they expresse by their sower lookes and wrethed and wrinkled foreheads; or else couer the poores nakednesse and relieue their wants, as Noahs sonnes (with a better minde) did couer the nakednesse of their father, with their faces turned another way. For as some, browbeate the poore with proud, soure, and seuere lookes; so there are others as bad as they, who turne away their eyes and faces from them, as though they were such an eyesore as might not be indured, nor be looked vpon without griefe and vexation. And this they doe, because they feare to be infected with the contagion of the poore mansmisery, so much as in a sympathie and fellowfeeling of his calamitie; and therefore as men that come neere ⟨p. 30⟩vnto them who are infected with the plague or leprosie, so doe they shunne them; or (if they stand in their way) turne their faces from them; and out of a desperate resolution to giue them nothing, they will not so much as looke vpon their miseries, least their conscious eyes should checke their churlish hearts, and put them in minde of their barbarous inhumanitie.
- 1Eccle. 35 9.
- 2Pro. 22. 9.
