The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

IV. Be careful to prevent all superfluities in your expenses. As diligence in your callings, so frugality in your spending, is a special means for the practise of charity; Frugality, saith Justin,¹ is the mother of virtue; I am sure it is the foundation and supporter of Charity; For let a mans estate be never so great, yet if there be not frugality used in the management thereof, there will be but little found for works of charity. And on the other side, though a mans estate be but mean and low in the world, yet if there be frugality used in the management of it, there will be ever somewhat for charitable uses. As therefore thou desirest to be charitable, be careful to prevent all unnecessary expenses; I mean, let not thy apparel be too costly, for how can it be expected, that they should be charitable, ready to distribute to the necessities of others, who lay out the greatest part of their estates upon their backs. Neither let thy feastings be too frequent, nor too chargeable; which is noted for one of the sins of the old world, who were given to eating, ²as the word in the Original properly signifieth. Neither let thy recreations be too expensive, in playing more for money than for refreshment: Oh that such of you who spend so much time and money on your recreations; as if God had sent you into the world, and given you the good things of the world, for no other end than to follow your pleasures; would consider what a fearful reckoning you are to make at the day of judgement, not only of your precious time lavishly mis-pent, but also of your estate wickedly lost, or wasted? when in thy account there shall be found so much wasted in gaming and pleasures, and so little given to the Poor.

IV. Bee careful to prevent all superfluities in your expences. As diligence in your callings, so frugality in your spending, is a special means for the practise of charity; Frugality, saith Justin,¹ is the mother of vertue; I am sure it is the foundation and supporter of Charity; For let a mans estate bee never so great, yet if there be not frugality used in the management thereof, there will be but little found for works of charity. And on the other side, though a mans estate be but mean and low in the world, yet if there be frugality used in the management of it, there will bee ever somewhat for charitable uses. As therefore thou desirest to be charitable, bee careful to prevent all unnecessary expences; I mean, let not thy apparel bee too costly, for how can it be expected, that they should be charitable, ready to distribute to the necessities of others, who lay out the greatest part of their estates upon their backs. Neither let thy feastings be too frequent, nor too chargable; which is noted for one of the sins of the old world, who were given to eating,