Serm.I II that they may be Acceptable unto God? Lord bath bleffed with anelate, would in their life time become their own Adminifratours, making (as one faith) their own hands their Exe- cutors, and their ozvn eyes their Overfeers. For que(lionlefs that charity, which is exercifed in a mans life time is the belt, and moll acceptable untoGod. VII. Our Alms mutt be bountiful, and liberal, giving out proporti- onably to what theLord bath given unto us. This is implyed in that command of God to his people, Thou ¡halt open thine handwide unto thy Deut.t 5.1 1. Brather, to thypoor, and to thy needy in the Land ; that is, thou fhalt give untohim bountifully and liberally. And our Apofile here in the Toxr, z would have rich men charged to be rich ingood works, even as God hash . im. z 6.t t8 given them allthings richlyto enjoy ; For unto whomfoever much ùgiven, of Luke T him much fhall be required. And therefore the fame Apo(lle advifech the z Cor, i 6.z. Corinthians togive, as Godbathprolered them : TowhomGod bath e- ven little of thisworlds goods, of themhe requireth but little, but to whom he hath given much, of them he requirech much. Rich men therefore muff not only give a portion of their wealth to the relief of others, but alfo in fomefit proportion to their efiate. Qeft. If any fhall as1Zwhat is that portionor proportionof eftate,which richmen ought tofit apartfor Charitable ufes? Anf. It is an h ?rd matter to determine thequantity and proportion of mens charity,theScripture being filent herein,leaving this to thedif- cretion and ingenuity of the prudent Chriflian. As the Apofile fpeak- eth, every manaccording as hepierpofeth in his heart, fo let himgive,&c.A a Cor.9.7. certain quantity is not fithim, that is left to the freepeerpofe ofhis ownheart. But yet though the Scripture giveth us no dire& precept in this par- ticular ; it holdall forth many prefsdents for our imitation ; as that of 3acob, who in tefiimony of his thankfulnefs untoGod for what he fhould beftow upon him, Vowed the tenth part thereof unto God for pious and charitable ufes. And 7acob vowed avowunto God, Paying, of Gen.%S.%n,zz. all that thou !haltgive me, 1 will furelygive the tenth unto thee. Of Corne- Aas lists it is recorded, that he gave much Alms. And the Macedonians are z Cor.8.3. highly commended, for their great bounty, and large contributions. Thefe examples are left upon record for our imitation. For s the Apatite fpeaketh, whatfoever things were written afore-time, were Rom.t 5.4: writtenfor our learning, and for our admonition. So that though the quan- i Cori o.i r. tity of our Alms, howmuchwe fhould give, is not exprefly Pet down ; yet this we find both commandedand commended, by precepts and prefi- dorts, in the Scripture, that we give liberally and bountifully in fome fit proportion to our eflates; that if we be rich in this worlds goods, we K k 2 fhould 253
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