522, Chap. 29. An Expofition upon the Book of o s. Nerf. 13. that (lightly paffe over the fad condition of others ; who fay, they, knew it not. When the poor and diareffed apply themfelves for help, iris the ufual excufe of many to fay, we know you nor, we know not your condition, whether it be thus with you or no, or doe 'we know howyou came into this condition, nor doe we knowho: or by what means to help you out of it ; and fo they fo:bear to deliver thole that are 'drawn to death, and thofe that are ready/to be flain, either by hunger and cold, or' by cruelty and perfecution, when 'cis in the power of their, hand to doe it. It is not a duty to deliver every one that is drawn to death , or ready.to be fláip, but thofe that are drawù to death wrongfully_ thole that are ready to be flain unjuffly, thofe that arc ready to perifh under Oppreffing butthens, we fhould be ready to deliver.And let all take heed of Paying to fuch,we knew it no ,or we know you not ; that's the anfwer of a Nabal ; he,'whenDavid fent his fervants to him for,provifion,fent themback with this cold com- fort (a Sam. z5; ao,tt.)VVho is David, andWho is the fon of Jeffe ? there-be many fervants now adayes that break away every man from his Mailer ; fhall I take my bread, andmy water; and myflofh, that I. have killedfor my (hearers, andgive it to men whom I know not whence theybe ? This is the churles charity, Iknow you not ; he knows how to fave his ptirfe, by pretending he doth nor know.. But (as it follows in Solomon proverb) Dab not be that ponderetb the heart confider it ? and he that keepetb thyfoal, doth not be know dt ? That is doth not God (who is the heart-ponderer, or weigh- er, and who bath a ballance for every thoughts who is alto be foulès keeper, doth not be) confider and know the +wants of fuch a man ? doch not he know the forrows of his heart and the weight of greif that preffeth his foul ? doth not God alto confider and know, what thou haft Paid to ptìt off this perifhing foul without affz arding any help ? doth not he ktiow that this is a' meer excufe to colour thynot doing for himwith thy ignorance, while-the true reafon is thy unwillingneffe to do ir, and the hardneffe of thy heart? And feeing he knoweth whether our pretended igno- rance and inability be real or no ; he will (as _ Solomon. con- eludes) render to every one (not according to his words, but )ac- cording to his wor'es. It is a vain thing to plead ignorance, or not kowìtg before the gall- knowing (God, whether it be to excufe our doingof evil, or out not doing that which is good , cfpecia}1y our not
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