Section 6: The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies… by Richard Steele | AskReformation

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VI. THe Sixth Temptation of the Husbandman ¹is, Vncharitableness and Nigardliness. He can hardly part with that which he hath so hardly gotten. That which he hath gotten with the drops of his sweat, he is like to part with as the drops of his blood, 1 Sam. 25.11. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh—and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? said that rich Chub Nabal. So the Husbandman, must I take pains for wealth, and give it away when I have done? Let all that will eat, labour as well as I; and herewith he turns off the fittest objects of charity that are, and resolves that every man must be for himself, and so will he. He argues, that no body gives him, and therefore he will give to none. But though this be his Temptation, yet I do not assert that Husbandmen are generally conquer'd by it: For according to the proportion of his estate, he exceeds for the most part the Gentry round about him: The poor Criple at his door, shall have a larger alms to his power, I am sure a quicker dispatch, than at the great pair of Gates close by him: And in publick Collections for charitable uses, the poor Husbandmans ⟨p. 88⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 89⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 90⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 91⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 92⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 93⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 94⟩Purse is ready with his Mite, when hi• Landlord was not at Church that day. Neither do I affirm, that every one that asks, is a fit object for the Charity of our Husbandman, (especially if our Laws for setting the poo• on work, were put in execution) no, some lusty Beggars he entertains with a charitable Exhortation to honest labour, and tells them the benefit and comfort that he finds by it; and somtimes sets them on work upon tryal: but because he considers, that it's safer to relieve nine needless Beggars, than to turn away one needy one; therefore he strains himself to help the most that cry for it, and refers himself to the Lord his God for recompense. But yet he hath much adoe with his heart herein. Flesh and Blood looks thrice upon his money, ere the Spirit and Grace can once part with it. It puts all the Faith he hath to the utmost, to give to strangers, when perhaps his own children are unprovided for; and to relieve others, that must come (if two or three bad years meet with him) to be relieved himself.

:233p. 96–97¶2

2. You must believe that giving will make you rich. Well-ordered charity makes no man poor. The way to have full Barns, is to have free hands. To this both God and Man bea• ⟨p. 97⟩witness, Isa. 32.78. The instruments of the Churl are evil; that is, he who maketh empty the soul of the hungry, vers. 6. But the liberal man deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand. He deviseth how he may do good, and where, and when; he lies in his bed contriving how he may do poor men good in the best manner; I, say you, so he may quickly devise away all that ere he hath. Nay, saith the Holy Ghost •y liberal things shall he stand: Piety, Equity, and Charity, are the best Pillars in any mans house. None more punctually pays his debts than God; now he that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord, and the Lord he will pay it him again, Prov. 19.17. There is his Bond. Though all be his, yet he will accept of it as lent. Think, when the poor crave, God hath sent them to borrow for him, who will not take it kindly to be denied. It's true, it seems lost, and you think its as good to cast it down the River, as give it to them. O no, it is not lost, it's Booked in Heaven, and shall be paid on Earth. Cast thy bread on the Waters, and it shall return after many days, Eccl. 11.1. most commonly in this life, but the longer it s unpaid, the greater will the sum be at last. The man is yet unborn, that hath lost any thing by God. If you can but trust him, you may gain sufficiently by him.

2. You must believe that giving will make you rich. Well-ordered charity makes no man poor. The way to have full Barns, is to have free hands. To this both God and Man bea• ⟨p. 97⟩witness, Isa. 32.78. The instruments of the Churl are evil; that is, he who maketh empty the soul of the hungry, vers. 6. But the liberal man deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand. He deviseth how he may do good, and where, and when; he lyes in his bed contriving how he may do poor men good in the best manner; I, say you, so he may quickly devise away all that ere he hath. Nay, saith the Holy Ghost •y liberal things shall he stand: Piety, Equity, and Charity, are the best Pillars in any mans house. None more punctually payes his debts than God; now he that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord, and the Lord he will pay it him again, Prov. 19.17. There is his Bond. Though all be his, yet he will accept of it as lent. Think, when the poor crave, God hath sent them to borrow for him, who will not take it kindly to be denyed. It's true, it seems lost, and you think its as good to cast it down the River, as give it to them. O no, it is not lost, it's Book't in Heaven, and shall be paid on Earth. Cast thy bread on the Waters, and it shall return after many dayes, Eccl. 11.1. most commonly in this life, but the longer it s unpaid, the greater will the sum be at last. The man is yet unborn, that hath lost any thing by God. If you can but trust him, you may gain sufficiently by him.

:234p. 97–98

And to this, do all good men set their Seal, That the charitable hand is blessed of the Lord, and he that loves to give, seldom is in need to receive. Alas, God doth litt•e less th•n ⟨p. 98⟩miracles, in the Husbandmans house every day. So much Rent to pay, so many Children to maintain, so many payments without any breathing time, and yet he lives, and is cheerful, and for the most part dies less in debt than his Landlord. Whence comes this! but from the wonderful Providence and Blessing of God. A man would wonder whence every penny and pennyworth comes, that he gives and spends and pays: why the Scripture will tell you, He that watereth shall be watered also himself. Sirs, charity is good Husbandry, for it brings a certain and plentiful Harvest. Let the man come forth, that can say he ever was loser by Christ at the long run. If every bit of bread, nay if every cup of cold water, nay if every cheerful word, nay if every charitable thought, be not now or shortly rewarded, then murmur and hold your hand; but till then, open your purse, open your hands, open your hearts, and hide not your self from your own flesh.

And to this, do all good men set their Seal, That the charitable hand is blessed of the Lord, and he that loves to give, seldom is in need to receive. Alas, God doth litt•e less th•n ⟨p. 98⟩miracles, in the Husbandmans house every day. So much Rent to pay, so many Children to maintain, so many payments without any breathing time, and yet he lives, and is cheerful, and for the most part dies less in debt than his Landlord. Whence comes this! but from the wonderful Providence and Blessing of God. A man would wonder whence every peny and penyworth comes, that he gives and spends and payes: why the Scripture will tell you, He that watereth shall be watered also himself. Sirs, charity is good Husbandry, for it brings a certain and plentiful Harvest. Let the man come forth, that can say he ever was loser by Christ at the long run. If every bit of bread, nay if every cup of cold water, nay if every cheerful word, nay if every charitable thought, be not now or shortly rewarded, then murmure and hold your hand; but till then, open your purse, open your hands, open your hearts, and hide not your self from your own flesh.