MY own indexterity and unfitness to appear thus Publicly, needs some Apology; But your acceptation is my encouragement; and the order from your Honourable Court, Carries so much ⟨image 3⟩Authority with it, as to add some weight to that which dares not plead worth. I was the more inclinable to publish this Discourse, because though the theme be common, yet the practice of it is rare and unusual. Contentions never more hot, Charity never more cold, a sign Iniquity abounds. The zeal of our forefathers condemns us, we with Rachel have better eyes, but they with Leah were more fruitful. We are so far (at least the generality of men) from building Churches and Alms-houses, that we are more ready to pull them down. How is TRUTH in these days forsaken, and CHARITY forgotten! We may say of many they are miserable rich, their affections towards public advancements and disbursements, are like the scales of the Leviathan, shut up together, as with a close seal, Job. 41. 15. Saint Ambrose saith that when we ⟨image 3⟩relieve not one, whom we see ready to perish with hunger, we are the cause of his death. *If this rule hold true, there are more guilty of the breach of the sixth Commandment than we are aware of. When shall we see a resurrection of Charity, which seems to lye dead and buried? Sure, it will not be, unless God work a miracle upon mens hearts. The good Lord by his Spirit cleave the rocks in our bosoms, that the water of repentance, and the wine of Charity may flow forth! O that England might have that encomium as once Athens, to be the Nursery of Humanity; believe it, Charity is the best policy; by helping others we heal our selves, Job 29. 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me. As the poor had Jobs alms, so he had their prayers, and he fared the better. Christs poor are Favourites of the ⟨image 4⟩Court of heaven, and you that give them of your gold, they can unlock heaven by the golden key of prayer, and set God a work on your behalf. The merciful man hath many intercessors, which made Hierom to say, that it is almost impossible that God should not hear the prayers of so many. *Why should there be the least regret, or recoiling in our hearts, why should Charity stick in the birth? It would be our glory, if it might be said of us, as St. Paul speaks of those Evangelical, or rather Angelical Christians, 1 Thes. 3. 9.
MY own indexterity and unfitnesse to appear thus Publickly, needs some Apology; But your acceptation is my encouragement; and the order from your Honourable Court, Carries so much ⟨image 3⟩Authority with it, as to add some weight to that which dares not plead worth. I was the more inclinable to publish this Discourse, because though the theam be common, yet the practice of it is rare and unusual. Contentions never more hot, Charity never more cold, a signe Iniquity abounds. The zeale of our forefathers condemnes us, we with Rachel have better eyes, but they with Leah were more fruitful. We are so far (at least the generality of men) from building Churches and Almes-houses, that we are more ready to pull them down. How is TRUTH in these dayes forsaken, and CHARITY forgotten! We may say of many they are miserable rich, their affections towards publick advancements and disbursements, are like the scales of the Leviathan, shut up together, as with a close seal, Job. 41. 15. Saint Ambrose saith that when we ⟨image 3⟩relieve not one, whom we see ready to perish with hunger, we are the cause of his death. *If this rule hold true, there are more guilty of the breach of the sixth Commandment than we are aware of. When shall we see a resurrection of Charity, which seemes to lye dead and buried? Sure, it will not be, unless God work a miracle upon mens hearts. The good Lord by his Spirit cleave the rocks in our bosomes, that the water of repentance, and the wine of Charity may flow forth! O that England might have that encomium as once Athens, to be the Nursery of Humanity; beleeve it, Charity is the best policy; by helping others we heal our selves, Job 29. 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me. As the poor had Jobs almes, so he had their prayers, and he fared the better. Christs poor are Favourites of the ⟨image 4⟩Court of heaven, and you that give them of your gold, they can unlock heaven by the golden key of prayer, and set God a work on your behalf. The merciful man hath many intercessours, which made Hierom to say, that it is almost impossible that God should not hear the prayers of so many. *Why should there be the least regret, or recoyling in our hearts, why should Charity stick in the birth? It would be our glory, if it might be said of us, as St. Paul speaks of those Evangelical, or rather Angelical Christians,
- *Pasce fame morientem fi non paveris occidisti. Ambr
- *•ene impossibile multorum preces non exaudiri.
