The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

Fourthly, Her works of Charity were remarkable, upon manifold accounts. First, The largeness of her Charity, so great indeed it was, that it may well be admired, how this Tree should not long ago have killed it self with overbearing. The Trees in our Orchards yield their Fruit but once a year, taking so long a time to be put in heart for bearing again. But her Charity was dropping Fruit all the year long. Many ways it diffused it self; she had Silver for the Moneyless aliment for the Hungry, Medicaments for the Sick, Salves for the Wounded. Abundance of good she did this way, in Town ⟨p. 140⟩and Country; she did not only give, but devised liberal things. If her Servants knew of any that were in great need, and did not tell her of it, she would (when by otherways she heard thereof) be very angry with them. It happened, that an honest poor Neighbour dyed, before she knew he was sick, for which being troubled, she asked her Servant, whether he had wanted in his Sickness, saying, with some earnestness, I tell you, I had rather part with my Gown from my back, than the Poor should want. Secondly, In the prime objects of her Charity, she cast her seed upon all sorts of ground, but especially on Gods enclosure. The Household of Faith, had her fullest handfuls; to such she never thought she gave enough. Thirdly, Her Secrecy in giving. When it might be, she did not give her Charity, as some throw their Money into a Basin at a Collection, so that it rings again, but it fell like Oil into a vessel, without noise. Fourthly, Her Self-denying Spirit in all this; she ⟨p. 141⟩was no Merit-monger; good Lady, she never thought to purchase Land in Heaven, with the money she gave on Earth. She was no Merchant to sell her Charity, but a Faithful Steward, acknowledging, what she gave, was not her own, but her Lords money; she was, notwithstanding all her Charity, carried out to a naked Christ, desiring to be found alone in him, and his Righteousness, as earnestly, as if she had not done one good work in all her life. Hear this, Oh ye Papists, and be ashamed for your notorious slander; who would make the world believe, that Protestant Religion, is too cold a Soil for Charity to thrive in. Behold here, a Protestant Dorcas, full of good Works, and Alms-deeds.

Fourthly, Her works of Charity were remarkable, upon manifold accounts. First, The largeness of her Charity, so great indeed it was, that it may well be admired, how this Tree should not long ago have killed it self with overbearing. The Trees in our Orchards yield their Fruit but once a year, taking so long a time to be put in heart for bearing again. But her Charity was dropping Fruit all the year long. Many ways it diffused it self; she had Silver for the Moniless aliment for the Hungry, Medicaments for the Sick, Salves for the Wounded. Abundance of good she did this way, in Town