Annesley - Houston-Packer Collection BX9327 .M6 1664

2S4 After wbat manner mali wegive Alms, Serm,i ¡. i Cor.9.6, lleut.I 5:7,$, 1 1.3et.4.I I. Rorn.I,i6. fhould then be rich in good wofks ; ¡owing liberally,, thatfowe may reap li6erally. Now that our Alms may be liberal, it mull be fitted to two things, I. The Neceflìty of the Receiver. 2. The Ability of the Giver. That in our giving we fhould have refpe& to the need and necetlity of our Brother ; The Law is clear, which faith, If there be amongyou a poor manof one of thy Brethren, thorn ¡halt open thy handwide pinto hirn,and 'haltgive him fuf fcient for his need, in that which he wanteth. That we fhould likewife have refpe& ro or own Ability, the Apoale St. Peter is as clear, where he faith, Ifanyman miniper, let him do it as of the Abi- lity which Godgiveth ; that is, let every one give with refpel tohis own &late and ability. Notwithflanding in cafes of urgent necef- fity, and great extremity, we are to firain our felves even above our ability. Here it may not be impertinent to anfwer another queflion ( for I refolve CO contrive all I have to deliver upon this fubje6 into this plain and eafie method ) and that is this. Quefl. How many wales may rich menexerc;fe their charity ? Anfw. t . By laying out a portionof their eflate inEach a way as direW, tends to the worfhip of God, the advancement of Religion, the falvation of fensfouls ; which 1 may not unfitly term, A Spiritual Charity. And this may alto be done feveral waies. As a. By contri6ating towards the planting andpropagating the Gomel where it bath not been. A work fer on foot by divers in New-England, but chieflycarried on by the charityof well- difpofed people herein Old- England. 2. Byfitting up, andmaintaining of La-lures ; the preaching of the Word, being the ordinary means appointed by God for the bringing of finners to theknowledge of Jefus Chrifl, whom to know is life eter- nal. 3. Byadding to the maintenance offach fetled Preachers, whofe pains aregreat, and means fnoall, through the covetoufnefs of Impropriators, who ingrofs to chemfelves what doch more properly belong to the Mi- fier. q.. Bymaintainingof poor Schollarsat the Zlniveriity in reference to the work of the Miniflery, that fo there may be a continual fupply of lear- ned, Godly, and Orthodox Minifiers, for the edifying of the Body of Ghrifi. 5, By

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