A41657:208
The surest & safest way of thriving, or, A conviction of that grand mistake…
The surest & safest way of thriving, or, A conviction of that grand mistake in many, that what is given to the poor, is a loss to their estate : which is so directly contrary as to the experiences of the charitable : so to the testimony of God's spirit in divers places of Scripture ... by Thomas Gouge ...
London: printed for William Rawlins, 1673
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.
2. Out of a compassionate heart. Get a compassionate heart, and fetch all thine alms out of thine own bowels. 'Tis the hard-hearts of men that shut up their purses: thou sayest, Thou hast not to spare, thou wantest it thy self, or those about thee may want it: No, thou wantest an heart, and that is the reason that those that need, must want thine alms. A compassionate heart would find something, or other, for those that are in distress.
2. Out of a compassionate heart. Get a compassionate heart, and fetch all thine alms out of thine own bowels. 'Tis the hard-hearts of men that shut up their purses: thou say'st, Thou hast not to spare, thou wantest it thy self, or those about thee may want it: No, thou wantest an heart, and that is the reason that those that need, must want thine alms. A compassionat heart would find something, or other, for those that are in distress.
Get a compassionate heart. God is a God of compassion, and his children are compassionate children, Col. 3. 12. Put on, (as the elect of God) bowels of Mercy. 1 John 3. 17. Whoso hath this worlds goods, and seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, (or is a man of no bowels,) how dwelleth the love of God in him? What ever thy profession, or thy religion be, or thy hopes be concerning it, thou hast nothing of God in thee, thou art none of His, who hast no bowels. God is a God of mercy, His children are all merciful children.
Get a compassionate heart. God is a God of compassion, and his children are compassionate children, Col. 3. 12. Put on, (as the elect of God) bowels of Mercy. 1 Iohn 3. 17. Whoso hath this worlds goods, and seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, (or is a man of no bowels,) how dwelleth the love of God in him? What ever thy profession, or thy religion be, or thy hopes be concerning it, thou hast nothing of God in thee, thou art none of His, who hast no bowels. God is a God of mercy, His children are all merciful children.