A20764:89
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. 6. Cheerfulness in countenance.
Sect. 6. Cheerefulnesse in countenāce.
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