260 After whit manner muff wegive Alms, Serm. i i. Eph.q..z8. 1 Thcf,4.6. Pfal. i t z.S. lkrpijjimraraz gemys perr.G;ncii e(t incorifulta eio;a:zti o. ;nïs. APIs 4.3 S. a Tim.5.8. fiüi! ályeirvV. i Tini, f.16. Ca1.6.: o. S. Inhibitions againfl flealing, and againtt all kindof injuilicepre- fuppofe a propriety. Thus have I done wish the feventh property, recui t: to the right manner of giving Alms ; which is bounty and lrberaiity,whereon I have fomewhat the longer inGtled, becaufe it is the principal thing intended in my Text, That they which are rich in this worlds&tads, be rich in good works. I fh >11 add but one more. VIII. Our Alms must begiven prudently, with difcretion,according to every ones need. Ir is Paid of the merciful mar, A good man fheweth fa- vour and levdeth, he willguidehis affairs with difcretio,v. And truly there is a great deal of difcretuon to be ufed, in the ordering of our Charity; by putting a difference between poor and poor ; for as one faith, Nnad- vifedgiving, is the worff kzndof lofing. Prudence in Alms - giving is commended to us by our Saviour, in this word, d,,Jlribette, di/lribtete to the poor, Luke i 8.z2, For to diflríbute, is with difcrecion to give CO fundry perfons,feveral portions,according ro their need. When mention is made of a prudent, difcreer, relieving the poor, it is chug expreffed; Diflri6asticn was made unto every man ac- cording as he had Need. For the better-performing this due difcretion in our Charity,let there rules following be obferved : r. Firfl, they are before others to be relieved, over Whomwe have an epecial charge, as they who are of our houfhold, of our own houle and family, as Wife, Children, and Servants ? For as the Apofllefpeaketh, 1f any provide not for his own, and efpecially for thofe of his own hocrfe, he huh denied the faith, and is worfe thanan Infidel. 2. In our Charity we ought to have a fpecial refpe& unto our peor kindred, for of thole is the fore- mentioned place (1 Tim.5.8. ) robe underflood, where the word in the Gregg, tranflated Hotafe, is rendred Kindred in the Marginof your Bibles. For the fcope of the Apotile is to free theChurch from unneceflary charges, and to that endBoth im- pofe the careof providing for poor kindred, upon fuchof their Relati- ons as were able: 3. They are to be relieved, whoare of the Congregation, or Parifh; whereof we are members, efpecially they who dwell near unto us, in regard that we may bell know their wants. 4. They whom we have jut+ caufe to believe, that they are of the houfhold of Faith. For we may judge them ro be true in their words; and believe their wants are fuch as they declare them to be. Now amongII
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=