244 After who merger moff we give Alms, Sera-1.1x, what is needful for our ufe andcomfort, or to deny the poor what is needful and neL:efláry for them ; but that we willingly give ouc,as wh. is meet for our felves, fo what is needful to the poor. 3. That in our treafuring up, we aim not meerly, wholly, and only at our felves,buc withal have an eye, as to the charge which in particular God bath committed to us fo alto ro the Church, Common- wealth, and Poor for the time to come. 4. That weexceed not meafure in our creature, no though we aim at the fore-mentioned good ends. So much for the clearing the firfl Duty the Apo1 le would have pref- fed upon Rich men efpecially, which is CO Trufiz in God. The fecond is Charity towards men, expreffed in feveral phrafes, as fire by doing good. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they do good. So chat true Charity confifiech not only in compaffionate affedtions, and kind eéyac9osgyHV. fpeeches, but in good deeds, as the word in the Original irriplieth. You Rich men ought to be rich in good works, as the Apofileaddeth. For God expedtech fruit anfwerabie to the feed which he foweth. He giveth youplenty of feed, thereforeyou mutt be plentiful in this kind of fruir. The next branches,Ready to diflribute,willing to cámmrtnicate, fet forth the manner of our charity. : . The former implying a wife difributio» of our Alms ; for to dill is not hand over head, without confideration to give, but according to the need of them to whomwe give. The latter implying a willingnefs therein. As by difiributing, good is done toothers, fo bywillingnefs therein, much comfort is brought unto our own fouls, and grace to Ce:,9.7, the work; and.Goddoch bell accept fuch,forheloveth, acheerfsslwilling giver. In the next place follows the Reafons, toenforce the fore-named Duties taken from the benefit of performing them, which is inbrief, affuranceof .eternal life, implied in thele words, Laying up in flore for themfelves,.agoodfoundation, againft-the time to core, `that they may lay hold on eternal life. The Apofile here, for their better encouragement to lay out a portion of their eflace on good works, relleth them that they are fo far from lolling what they fo lay our, as in truth they lay up ,thereby inflare for them,felves. Tea, they lay up goodfoundwion, that is fuch a treafure as is like a fotïndatcón in the ground, that cannot be lhaken nor overthrown. This treafure the Apofile thus expreffech, in 02i/94i=to-the fore-men- tioned
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