QWhether Self denial lie Tn renouncing Propriety ? 2 CHAP. L I. Q. Whether Self. deniallie in renouncing Propriety (22:Left. s . TVZ ether dott felf-denial require us to renounce 14' rapriety, and to know nothing as our own (as the Monks among thePapifts fwear to do, as part of their flare of perfection : and a Book called The way to the Sabbath of Refl., doth teach us.) ilnfw. 1. That there fhould be no Propriety in goods, or elate among men, is contrary-ro,the will of God ; who bath made men his Stewards, and trufied feveral perfons with feve- ral talents and forbidden 'haling , and commanded men to labour that they may have to give to him that needeth ; andhe that bath thUworlds goods andfeeth his krother have need,mufl not shut up the bored: of 1111 compagion. It is a (landing duty to give to the poor ; andwe fhall therefore have the poor always with tx for this exercife of our Charity. And he that bath nothing,can give nothing, nor ufe it for God. Why did Paul require them togive to the difirefed Saints, ,nd maintain the illnifiry, and gather forhuh ales every firft day of the week, if he would have men have nothing to give ? This therefore is a conceit that neeeds nothing but Reafonand thereading and beliefof Scri- pture to confute it. z. But as no man is a Proprietary, or bath any thing of his Own in the ftrid and Abfolute ferife, becaufe all is Gods, and we are but Steward; fo no man may retain his humane analo- gical propriety, when God calleth him to give it up : No man may retain any thing from. Gods Ufe and fervice which he bath a propriety in. We have fo much Propriety as that no man mull rob us ; and fo much as our works ofcharity are reward- able, though it be but giving a cup of cold water, which could not be without propriety ; for who will reward him that gives that which is none of his own ? yea it is made the !natter of the fait judgement /was hungry, andye fed. me ; Iwas nakid , and ye cloathed me, Stc.] which they could not have 7
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