Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

This is made a pretence for gathering up portions, and providing a full estate for posterity, when the Apostle speaketh only against them that did cast their poor kindred and family on the Church to be maintained out of the common stock, when they were able to do it themselves. As if one that hath a widow in his house that is his mother or daughter, and would have her to be kept on the Parish when he hath enough himself. His following words show that it is present provision, and not future portions that the Apostle speaketh of, when he bids them that have widows, administer to them, or give them what is sufficient. 2. You may so educate your children as other mean persons do, that they may be able to get their own livings, in some honest trade or employment, without other great provisions. I know that your charity and care must begin at home, but it must not end there: You are bound to do the best you can to educate your children, so as they may be capable of being most serviceable to God, but not to leave them rich or a full estate; Nor to forbear other necessary works of Charity. merely for a larger provision for them. There must be some proportion kept between our provision for our families, and for the Church ⟨p. 239⟩and poor. A truly charitable self-denying heart, that hath devoted it self and all that he hath to God, would be the best judge of the due proportions, and would see which way of expense is likely to do God the greatest service, and that way he would take. 3. I confess I would not have men lie too long under endangering strong temptations to incontinency; lest they wound themselves and their profession by their falls: But yet methinks its hard that men can do no more to mortify the concupiscence of the flesh, that they may live in a single freer condition, and have none of these temptations from wife and children, to hinder them from furthering their Ministerial ends by charitable works. If he that marrieth not, doth better then he that doth, sure Ministers should labour to do that which is best. And if he that can receive this saying, must receive it, we should endeavour after it.

This is made a pretence for gathering up portions, and providing a full estate for posterity, when the Apostle speaketh only against them that did cast their poor kindred and family on the Church to be maintained out of the common stock, when they were able to do it themselves. As if one that hath a widdow in his house that is his mother or daughter, and would have her to be kept on the Parish when he hath enough himself. His following words shew that it is present provision, and not future portions that the Apostle speaketh of, when he bids them that have widdows, administer to them, or give them what is sufficient. 2. You may so educate your children as other mean persons do, that they may be able to get their own livings, in some honest trade or imployment, without other great provisions. I know that your charity and care must begin at home, but it must not end there: You are bound to do the best you can to educate your children, so as they may be capable of being most serviceable to God, but not to leave them rich or a full estate; Nor to forbear other necessary works of Charity. meerly for a larger provision for them. There must be some proportion kept between our provision for our families, and for the Church