Annesley - Houston-Packer Collection BX9327 .M6 1664

erm.I I. that they may be Acceptable unto Cod? 266 this was one, tofet apart every year a tenth of his gain for the relief of the poor ; and that God from that time forward abundantly advanced his crate. Another eminent Divine in his Funeral Sermon at the Eu ia1 of the Mr. stock, LordHarrington, fpeaking of his Charity, declared,that in his life time he gave the tenth part of his yearly revenue to the poor. And frommine own experience I can tell you of one yet living,who finding little coming in by his trade, refolved upon two things. z. To be more careful in SauEtifring the Lords Day. 2. Tofet apart the tenth of his increafe for charitable sofa. Whereupon he gained fo much in a fewyears,that hegave over hisCalling, and ever fence liveth upon his rents. Many like inflances I could give you of Tome that are Dead, and others yet living, who have devoted, force a tenth, and others a fifth part of their whole elate to pious and charitable ufes. Which I do not propound as a General Rule to all good Chriflians ; for,fome there are who have no more than is neceffary for the comfortable fupport of themfelves and family, from whom lets is required for the relief of others. But I queflion whether fuch, whom the Lord bathbleffed with a plentiful elate, fo that their neceffary expences are, or might be, far lefs than their incomes, can be accounted rich ingood works, unlefs they giveat leafl a tenthpart of their whole yearly income to charitable ufes. I fay,of their whole yearly income, withoutfirfl deducting anypart there- of for diet, cloaths, or other neceffary expences ; for the tenth of the remainder will be a very inconfiderable proportion for a rich man to devote to charity, and far fhort of that which the Scripture feems to call for. It is recorded of the yews, that very many amongfi the richer fort, who are devout in their Religion, do ufually give away a tenth part of their &late to charitable ufes. And is it not veryunbefeeming Chri ftians, who are rich in this worlds Goods, to fall frort of the Yews herein ? Having thus done with the means on our part to be performed for attainingunto this Grace of Charity. Come we noov to the Motives, to quicken us up to a confcionable performance of the works ofit J (hall touch-only upen there four, Mm z ',The

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