2 52 After what manner muß wegive Atrar, Santa', ', goand comeagain, and to morrow I will give thee, when thouha.ft it by thee, he that fo delayeth his helping hand, as next door to him that deniech. And therefore as any occafion offers it felf unto us, let us fpeedily em- b;..ce the fame, as knowing that a fpeedy giver, is a double benefia&or, and the fwvifter that a benefit cometh, the fweeter it taftes. And con- trariwife a benefit lofech its grace that flickech to his fingers who is about tobeflow ir. What then [hall we think of their charity,who put off all to their death-beds, never giving any thing confiderable to the Poor, till they can keep it no longer ? thefe though by their /ail will and teflament they give fomewhat to the poor, yet queflionlefs it is againfl their wills,for could they have kept it longer,theywould not haveparted with ic I (hall delire fuck ferioufly to confider, thefe fix things ; I. That ifall Rich men fhould do chus,the poor would foon be flar- ved for want of bread. 2. That this praetife of theirs, is againfl the exprefs commandof Ga1.6.1 o. God,who requireth us todo good,and to communicate out of our flore, Aiat.s.i 6, while we have time and opportunity. 3. That they have no affurance of the continuance of their wealth. Pro.V 3.: For as thewifeman fpeaketh,, Riches many times make themfelves wings, t4l io ,-t pains, theyfly awayas an Eagle t owards Heaven ; t hey have Eagles wings to fly from us. And how marry are there, who have out-lived a fair eftate ? IfGod in his difpleafure blafls a mans fubflance; it vanifheth away in a moment. 4. Though their Riches fhould continue with them, even to their deaths? yet theyhave no affurance that God will give them grace tobe liberal at their deaths, who had never the goodncfs tobe charitable in their life-time. 5. That they have no affurance that God will accept of their Death- bed charity : what St.Asflin fpeaketh of Death-bed Repentance,that it isfeldom true andhearty ; The fame may I fay of Death-bed Charity, it is feldome true and hearty, but for the moil part rotten and Hypo- critical, proceeding from ill grounds, as vain-glory, conceit of merit, and the like. 6.Thac they have no affurance of the true performance of their will, that thepoor (hall be the better for what is therebygiven them. For how many Execastours have proved moll unfaithful to their trufis, whereby many charitable gifts have been clean perverted. And if friends be fo unfaithful, to us in our life-time ; how can we but quefli- on their fidelity after our deaths ? Oh therefore that all, whom the Lord
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