CÌ18p> 2 .about Charity. 2í there is great caufe of .fufpition, that they proceed not from thofe right and reli- gious cáufes which fet Chrtfttans onwork to do them, but from finif{er ends, andworldly refpeets, which before prevailed not with them, till now they fee that they can keep themno longer. weft. How may the almes of Chriflians be differencedfrom thofe which are done bywerldlings ? . Anfw. Firfl , they differ in the caufes orfountain from which they arife : For Firft, the aimes of Chriflians are the fruits ofa lively and ju/lifying faith, and are done out of unfeigned love, and obedience unto God, and therefore he is merciful, becaufe he is affured that God is merciful to him, and he gives finall things to men, becaufehe receives great things from God. Secondly, they fpring from charity and mercy towardsthepoor,, becaufe they are members of Chrift, and of the houfhold of faith, or at leaft creatures of God, of the fame flefh with himfelf : whereas worldlings aimes arife from feif- love, whereby he aimes at fome temporary good, CO bederived to hi nfelf there- by.: or out of pride and vain-glory to get praife, Mat. 6. z. &c. orout ofan opinion of merit to get a greater reward from God : or out ofa fervile feare to efcape the wrath of God here or hereafter, and therefore they profit nothing, COY. 3.3. ' Secondly, a Chriflian thews mercy, being enclined theretoby the motion of CodsSpirit, and an inward fountain ofgoodneffe, whichis thereby wrought inhim, enclining him when he wants obje6ts toenquire, and feek after them ; but theworldlings mercy is the meer work of nature, and isonly moved by the prefence of fome miferable objeet, which firs himupto prefent pity, but the ôbjeétbeing removed,his mercy ceafeth. Thirdly, they differ in their endt : the end of a Chriflian being principally that God may be glorified r the fubordinate ends being thegood of his neigh- bour, the adorning of t he Gofpel, and the edification of others by his 000d example, his own prefent good in the affurance of Gods favour, andhis future glory in Heaven : But of theworldling, his chiefend is his own glory andgood, &c. as before. Fourthly, they differ in the matter, and that In regardof Propriety, a Chriftian gives liberally, out of his own flore, which Godhath beftowed upon him by hishoneftlabour:the worldling gives out of that !which is other mens, and having raked much together,by lying,fraud, injuflice, loppreffion, &c. he gives out of it fome mall alines to make fatisfa&ion for his fins, and to flop the Cryof Confcience , thathe may go more quietly to Hell. Fifthly, they differ in thequantity : a Chriihangives liberally, not onlyout of his fuperfluity, but outof hiscompetency, yea, he fpares fomething outofhis neceffaries, if need require : But the worldling gives with a niggardlyheart and hand, out of his fuperfluities, and that not till his own turn beïerved. Sixthly, they differ in the quality :. a Chriflian gives things profirable and wholefom : but the worldling thebafeft refufe, whichhe wouldfcarce give tohis dogs. . Seventhly, theydiffer in the obje&andextent. ÀChriflians mercy extends to all that need, becaufe they look not to their deferts, but toGods Command; yet its efpecially exercifed to the godly poor : as Gal. 6. to. imitating God therein, Mat. 5.45 and David, Pfal. 16. ;. But the worldlings mercyex- tends ufuallyto filch as havefomeway deferved it, or that maydclérve.it : or tokindred, or friends, therefore its reje&edbyGod, Mat. 5.46i47. Eighthly, they differ in the manner of giving, and in the.niûdes of the givers: For r:A II. Iv. VI. VII. VIII,
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