A41637:735
Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…
Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of Sepulchres parish / by Tho. Gouge ...Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of Sepulchres parish / by Tho. Gouge ...
London: printed by R. Ibbitson and M. Wright, 1661
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
7 To strengthen and establish such as are weak in grace.
These indeed in one respect may be called works of Piety, namely, as they are instructions, directions, and consolations gathered out of the holy Scriptures: But in another respect they are works of mercy, namely, as they tend to the good of your neighbours souls: In which the poorest that are may be rich in good works.
II. The works of mercy, which concern the body of our neighbour, are these, and such like.
1 Relieving such as are in want. The Apostle enjoining the Corinthians to lay up some thing in store,1 every first day of the week (which is the Lords Day) implieth, that that is a very fit season, not only to do such works of mercy, which are then offered unto us, but also to prepare for other times. And surely, ⟨p. 102⟩if every one would every Lords Day set apart something out of his comings in that week, for a stock to give to charitable uses, much good might be done thereby. For as men by this means will have more to give, than otherwise they will find in their hearts to do on the week days: So they will give both more bountifully, and more willingly, because the stock out of which they give is prepared before-hand; and (it being a sacred Stock, by their voluntary setting it apart to such an use) their conscience will account it sacrilege to lay it out any other way. If poor men that live by their days labour, and servants that live on their wages, would every Lords Day lay up some half-pennies, or pence, for this end and purpose, they might have without any sensible damage to themselves, a stock for the poor. How much greater store would be for the poor, if rich men, according to Gods blessing on them, would so do?