A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

Amongst the many and great uses of riches, some of them concern our selves, some of them others, and there lieth no less necessity upon us to show mercy for the supply of others, then to pay our debt, or supply our selves; and to a man in case for it, God hath not left the one indifferent more then ⟨p. 419⟩the other. For clearing of which, we would consider that God, who is the great owner and absolute proprietor of the Creatures, and who distributed them to men according to his pleasure, hath distributeth riches to some, as it were to Stewards, to be made use of for his household, as may be gathered from Luke 16.10, 11, 12. Hence it is not left arbitrary to men to give alms, or not, as they think meet, but it lieth on them as an absolute duty: Hence also we may see what a sin it is to be altogether neglective of it, or deficient in it; 1. It is a stealing and theft, as is implied Ephes. 4.28. 2. It is per •idiousness and unfaithfulness in a trust committed to us, Luke 16.9, &c. 3. It is cruelty and murder, and hating of our brother, 1 John 3. v. 15. and 17. compared; and indeed if it be intolerable in a mans Steward entrusted with that which the fami •y should be provided with, to apply to his own use what should entertain them, or to spend it on himself, it being both stealth, unfaithfulness, and cruelty; so is it no less intolerable in this case, see Prov. 11.24, 25. This giving of alms rightly qualified, is highly accounted of in Scripture, and assigned as the mark of a righteous man, Psal. 119.9. noticed and commended in a special manner at the day of Judgment, Matth. 25.30. &c. commanded as a duty,