Some JPecial Good Jvorks recommended: ff'bicb are to be preferred. • 2• The attempt of Re!lori~i? the.Chrifiian Churches to thei: primitive· purity and Uni:y) accord– mg to mens fe~cral opportunmcs, JS a mo~ excellent and dchrable work : which though the ig... norancc and W1ckcdncfs of many, and the Hnplacablcntfs and bloodincfs of the carnal proud domi– neering pau, and the too grcar alienation of fomc others from them, do make it {0 difficult as ro be next to, defpcrate,.at the .pre~ent, yet is not to b.e cafi o~ as defperare indeed : For great things have been Hone by w1fe and valiant attempts. Pnnccs m1ght do very much to this, if they were both wife and willing. And who knoweth but an age may come that may be fo happy? The means and method I would willingly defcribe, but that this is no tit place or rime. 3· ~h~ ~lanti~f? .or. a learned, ab~e, holy., concorda.nt MiniHry i? a particular Kingdom, ·and feding the prunn1ve Dlfc1phnc thereby, IS a work alfo winch thofc Prmccs may very much promote, whofC hearts are fet upon it, and who fet up no contrary inu~rcfi againfi it ; But bec1ufe thcfe lines are ne– ver like to be known to Princes ( unlefs by way of accufation), it is private mens works which we mufl !peak to. 4· It is l very good work to· procure and maintain a worthy Minifier in any of the mofl: igno– rant Parifhes in thefe Kingdoms: ( of which alas, how many are there) ; where the skilful preach– ing of the Gofpd is now wanting: or to maintain an aflifiant in populous Pari!hes, where one is not able to do the work: or by other jufi means ro promote this fervice. 5· It is a very good work to (et up Free-Schools in populous and in ignorant places; efpecially in lYales : that all may be taught to read, and fome may be prepared for the Univerfities? 6. It is an excellent work to cull out fome of the choice(\ wits, among the poorer fort in the Countrey Schools, who otherwife would wither for want of cuhure ; and to maintain them for Learning in order to the Miniftry , with fame able godly Tutor in the Univerfity, or fame Countrey Minifiet who is fit and vacant enough thereunto. 7· It is an excellent work to give among poor ignorant people, Bibles and Catechifrns, and fame plain and godly Books which are moll fitted to theirufe. But it were more excellent to leave a fetled revenew for this ufe (naming the Books, and choofing meet Trull:ees) that fo the Rent might every year furnHh a feveral Parifh ; which would in Chart time be a very e:xtenfivc benefit, and go through many Countries. 8. It is a very good work to fet poor mens children Apprentices to honeft religious Mafiers, where they may at once get the bldling to their fouls of a godly education, and to their bodies, of an honefi way of maintenance. • 9· It will not be unacceptable to God, to relieve fome of the pcrfons, or poor children, of thofe very many hundred faithful Minifiers of Chrift, who are now filenced and defl:itute of maintenance, many having nothing at all, but what charity fendeth them, to maintain themfdves and defolate fa– milies, who were wont to excrcife charity to the bodies and fouls of others. Read Mattb. 2 5· Gal. 6. 5, 6, 7, 8. 10 . lr is a good work of them who give flocks of money, or yearly rents, to be lent for 1ive, or fix, or feven years to young Tradefmen, at their fecting up, upon good fecurity; choofing good Tru fiers, who .may choofe the fittefi perfons: And if it be a rcot, it will fiill increafe theHock, and if any lhould break, the lo[s of it may be born. 1 I· lt would be a very good Work for Landlords to improve their interell: with their Tenants, to further at once their bodi\y comfort, and falvation: To hire rhem by fOrne abatement at their Rent dayes, to learn Catechifms, and read the Scripture and good Books in their families, and give the Pa– fior an account of their proficiencc. Whether the Law will enable them to bind them to any fuch thing in their Leafet, I cannot tell. 12· ~nd the prefent work of Charity for every one, is to relieve the mofi needy wh,ich are next at hand. To know what poor families are in greatefi want, and to help them as we are able: and to provoke the rich to do that which we cannot do our felves ; and to beg for others ; And tl:ill to make u[e of bodily relief, to further the good of their fouls; by feconding all with fpiritual advice and help. · Q!e!t. 4· In whJt order are worb of Charity 10 be done? (lnd whom mufl ,., prefer when we are R!!_ej!. 4 ; unoblt toaccommadate all l Anfw. r. The mol\ publick works mufl be preferred before private: 2• Works for the foul c~teri< p.ribu< before works for rhe body; And yet bodily benefits in order of time, muft oft go firfl as pre– parations to the other. 3· Greatefi nec:effities c.eterH parilnu, mull be fupplyed before leffer: The faving of~nothers life mull: be preferred before your own lefs neceffary comforts. 4· Your own and families wants mufl: c.ettrif paribm be fupptxed before fir.angers ; eve~ before fame that you muft love better : Becaufe God hath in point of prov1fion and mamtenance, gwen you a nearer charge of your felves and families, than of others. 5· Nature alfo obligeth you to prefer your kindred before {hangers, if there be a parity as to other reafons. 6. And c.eteri-1 paribm a good man mull: be prefer· red bcfpre a bad. 7· And yet that charity which is like to tend to the good of the foul as well as of the body, is to be preferred: And in that c1fe oft-times a bad man is to be preferred, when a greater good is like to be,the effect. 8. A friend c~terif parihM, is to be preferred before an enc.. my: But not when the Good is like to be greate~ which will follow the relieving of an enemy. M:-.x._other rules might be given, but they arc lard down already 1om. •· Cap. where I treat of Goou. .rork.J: whither I refer you. Q:!tft. 5· Should I give in my life tTme, ~at my death l. i<.!!eft. s: Bbbbbbbb 2
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