A41657:65
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.
But these bare assertions being no full convictions: For the better clearing the truth of this doctrine, I shall prove it by Scriptures, Examples, and Reasons.
1. For Scripture proofs, there are very many both in the old, and New-Testament. What the Apostle saith of Godliness, 1 Tim. 4. 8. It is profitable unto all things, having the promise of this life, and of that which is to come. The like I may say of Charity, It is profitable unto all things, having promises of temporal blessings, as well as of Spiritual, and eternal.
1. For Scripture proofes, there are very many both in the old, and New-Testament. What the Apostle saith of Godliness, 1 Tim. 4. 8. It is profitable unto all things, having the promise of this life, and of that which is to come. The like I may say of Charity, It is profitable unto all things, having promises of temporal blessings, as well as of Spiritual, and eternal.
Deut. 15. 10. Thou shalt surely give unto thy brother, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. It is not thine own labour, or care, but the divine blessing that maketh rich, and of that blessing behold here's a Scripture-entail upon the liberal. And the like we have Pro. •. 9, 10. Honour the Lord with thy substance, by giving out a portion thereof for the relief of the poor, So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and as thy Barnes, so thy Shop, thy Cellars, warehouses, where thou bestowest thy goods, shall be filled with abundance: and thy presses shall burst out with new wine, this seemeth to be an hyperbolical expression, yet it signifieth no less then this, that Gods usual way is to make good returns of all we lay out upon him and his; and that our wisest way both for ensuring, and improving what we have is to make our selves Creditors to his wanting Saints.