A discourse concerning the maintenance due to those that preach the Gospel

That every man ought to consecrate a part of his Estate to pious Uses is indubitable. Against this also some pretend ⟨p. 39⟩their Poverty; but are they poorer than the Widow, that had but two Mites, & yet cast them into the Lords Treasury? Nor do such consider, that this is the way to have more. For God will be in no man's debt; That which he has given, the Lord will pay him again. Such Ventures have a rich Return, Eccl. 11.1, 2. Cast thy bread on the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days: Give a portion to seven, & also to eight. There are few that will say that nothing is due to God out of their Estates: but about the Quota pars, or how much they ought to give, there are disputes. Some have thought that under the Gospel ⁽ⁱ⁾a fifth part of a man's yearly income should be devoted to Christ, viz. 200 l. out of a Thousand, which is a fifth part; a double portion to the Levitical Tenth, Cant. 8.11. If they whom God has blessed with great Estates should do thus, they would honour God, and themselves too. The Pious Lord Harrington, ⟨p. 40⟩did not only give the Tenth of his Incomes to the Poor, but was other-ways bountiful in many Charities. Mr. Gouge relates concerning that Religious Gentlewoman, Mrs. Parthenia Lowman, that in the time of her Widowhood, She devoted above a fifth part of her yearly Rents to Charitable Uses. Dr. Walker reports concerning that Right honourable & religious Lady, the late Countess of Warwick, that She enquired of a Divine, What proportion one is obliged to consecrate to God out of his Estate? Who answered, That it was difficult, if not impossible, to fix a rule that should hold universally; for that the Families and circumstances of Persons must be considered: but that he supposed, That if She gave a seventh part of her large Incomes, that would be sufficient. She replied, That was not enough, and that She would not give less than a third part; which She religiously performed accordingly: That made some People say, That the Earl of Warwick, in giving his whole Estate to his Wife, (as by his Will he