Chap.zí3 about Charity. Obje&. But the poorare founthank ftelthat our alms are loft ? Anfw. Thoumat do thyduty and -expe& thy reward from God , not from men, Ecclef.Ij.4. we mull give, not only to the ungrateful, but to-our enemies, Rom. 12. zo. Obje&. But moff poor arefo wickedthat it difcourages us togive them ? Anfw: This fhouldmake theemore diligent in feekingOut inch as are wor- thy tobe relieved, Ecclef. i i.6. v12at.5,42. yet in givingwe fhould not be o- 1 ver-fcrupúlotts.Bor, I. Hereby we may negle& our duty, and not do it at all , Ecclef, 4. a. God caufes his Sun to Thine on the evil and good, Matth. 5. 45. and we fhould imitate him. So Rom.i2.21. 3. Its far better to give tomanyunworthy,then that one who is worthy fhould be neglet}ed in his necefftty. 4. Confiderthat mercylooks nor after merit,but after mifery, and chiefly in- tends to relieve their poverty, not to look after their ribhteoufneffe : Non moribxi dames,fedhomini. Chrrf welooknot after the manners,but after the man : nor do we take compaflion of him for . his virtue , b,,t for his mifery. 5. if God fhould take the fame courfe with us as we do with the poor , and examine our deferts before hewould beflow his gifts,we fhould never have our requeffsgranted,but hopelefly perifh inour wants. 6. We fhould forbear thefe overflritt examinations of thepoor, left here by we do not fo much comfort themby tsar gifts , as torment them by our harfh manner ofgiving. .. ; 7. Confider that though the poor be unworthy to whom thou give[}, yet God is worthy for whofe fake thou, ,giveft, and if thou givelt in o- bedience to. his command , though it feeme to be call away in refpeâ of the party , yet not in refpeI of thee who giveft ; for God will certainly re- ward thee. Objeet.' But I have agreat bharge,andmany children,and therefore muff pre- fer them before f rangers ? Anfw. They that are miferable becaufe they have wife, and children , would not be liberal ifthey hadnone : Netransfras culpam in infontes , faith Bafil , lay not the blameupon thofe that are innocent. Befdes,wasnot the Cape! written for fuch as well as for thofe that haveno children ? and ate both by it equally bound toworks of mercy ? Did they beg children of God-for this -end, that they mil;ht plead by them apriviledge from -obeying Gods Command- ment ? may theynot juflly fear that God for this caufe will cafe them of their burden by "taking away their children "? we may provide for them a competen- cy , and yet not deny toGod of our abundance , and fuperfluity. When thou beginneft to number thy children , number them, and fpare not , but fo-get not to reckonChrill as oneof the number : He bath given thee whatloever thou haft, and will richly recotapence thee. Betides" thou knoweft not how thy children' will prove ; it may be ungrateful ,- and will not thank -thee for it : It may be wicked and prodigal( , who will mifpend ií rofufly : , Yea , it may be the wealth thou leaveft themwill betheoccafioti of their e- verlafting ruin. Secondly, we muff love our children wifely , and take care-fo to provide for them,as that their elates maybe bleffed, and durable , which is b:1í effe tied by leaving them toGodsbleiling in a moderateeftate, without which they may be oppreffed by thofe that are more mi:hty,or defrauded by thofe that are more crafty , &c. But if God.take charge ofthem, he is-their belt Proteaor , fo that none (hall wreft their patrimony out of their hand, Pfalm 37. 26. I i z Thirdly; I Ir.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=