246 dfter what manner muff wegive Alms, Serm, i I 3. By giving that which is not our own, we do wrong, and thereby make our felves liable to reiiitution, So as charity in fuck a cafe, is a plain injury. It is a cafe wherein recompence of Revenge may more be feared, than recompence of Reward expeoled. Q.101. Who may bePaid togive that which is not their own ? Anfw. Theywhofilch, fleal, or robfor this very end : As Parents for Children, or Chidren for Parents or one friend for another. It is a fin Prov,6.3 r. for one to heal to fatisfie his own hunger, much more is it fin to fleal for another;certainly it is a great wickednefs to do injuf ice,that we may do arils of Charity. 2. Suchas having raifed up an elate, or got fomething by indireti and unjufi means, as by lying,fweartng, falfeweights, deceitful meafures,and the li1Ze ; think to make up all bygivingpart to the Poor. For as the Civilians Banns ufus s7" fay well, the good u e doth not u i e, the un u getting of their goods. And jufiificat,injrcflè g. f y 1 g g f 4fica. can any imagine that Godwill be pleaCed with thofe mens charity, who give relief out of chat which they have wrongfully gotten ? rellitu- tion thould rather be made to fuck as have been wronged. And ifnei- ther the parties wronged, nor their heirs can be found, then what bath beenwrongfully got, ought to be given to the Poor, as their heirs. An example whereof we have in Zacheus, who having wronged many by oppreffion, after his converfion, offerech four-fold rellitution unto all whom he had wronged,and becaufe many could not be found,towhom he Ihould make it, heoffereth to bellow half of his goods to the relief of the poor. 3. Such as being under authority, and have no propriety in the things which theygive, do notwithflandinggivedirettyagaini, or (imply without z_ the content ofthofe who have the true propriety, do not give of their own, as Servants, Children,and others. Indeed Servants, and Children, may lawfully give out of that which is their own, but not out of chat which is their Maffers, or Parents, without their allowance. 4. Satoh asbeing joyned in Partnerfhipwith another, andgive Alms out of the Common flockwithotet the confent of their Partners, do not give that which is their own. N. Suchas are in extream debt, and owe more than they areworth ; We {hewed that mercy and juflice mull go together, yea, juflice mull gobe- fore mercy, and be fatisfied before mercy be (hewed. They who owe more than they are worth, have nothing at all to give for Alms, fuch joys Arrogancy to Injuflice, to make (hew of a great ellare, and yet have none. I (hall clofe this with a word of advice to fuch as have a merciful and Lake 19.8.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=