Queflion,r, andCafes ofConfcience _4:b p.26 uefl. what warrant had the widow of Sar,pta to relieve the Prophet before fke 74 ode provifionfor her felf and her Son ? . e,44w. Had fhe notknown that it was the fpecial will of God,;; she fhould not have done it , to defraud her Pelf andher fonne to relieve a flranger, con- trary to theaccuflomed rule of piety , I Tim. 5, 8. therefore Paul would have widows tobe maintained by their o.vn kindred. uef}. Is a man to prefer a flranoer eminent in piety before his brother which is not fo adorned with it ? Aria. Thou muff rathernouriih and relieve thy poor brother , then thy friend : For this office iscoupled with nature and blood,according towhich thou art more obliged , and never to thy brother then to thy friend : But if it be in thy power to advance the one to publick offices in Church or State , thou mutt preferre thy virtuous friend before thy carnall bro- ther. Quell. IfIfee many 3i'rangtrs in want , and onegood man elfo, whether should I relieve thole manystrangers, or that onegood man ? Anfw. A good man is to be preferred beforea a (lranger,but many !}rangers before one known perfon For the more common good is the better. Balls power ofgodlin:ff . uel}. why is giving to the poor a duty ? I, Anfr. Firs}, becaufe its fuck a duty asevery poor man doth delire , and crave of another; and hopes, and wishes that he mayperform it to him , and blames him for unmercifulneile if he negle& it ; and every richnun will acknowledge that if he should loofe all, he would defire that others should thew mercy to him : therefore itsa manifefl duty arilìng from that plainMaxime, Dour you IL would Seondiy; t tends to therefrefhingof our brethrensbowels,and fupplying their wants, and may keep them fromperifhing : and it pleafed God fo to order the world that force (hall be poor, and others !hall have abundance, that hemay try the diupofitionof the later by the former, joh.I2.8. III, Thirdly, it will abound by many thanfgivings unto God, &c. a Cor.9.12,13. Its makes heaven refoundwith thanks, and praifes : yea if the poors tongues should be filent, yet their very lqyns do bleíle God for thee in their kinde : therefore its our duty to do that which makes fo much for Gods honour. IV. Fourthly , Its undoubtedly a dutywhich mull either juflifie the truth of our religion , or condemne us as'hollow hearted : Nowbounty to thepoor is a note of foundnefee in religion, and on the contrary, he that gives not to the poor ac- cording to his means, though he pray never fo often , hear never fomany Ser- inons, fat} never lofrequently, receive the Sacrament never fo conllantly,read the Scripturesnever Lo daily : be he never fo earnefl a condemner of other mens faults , and ofpublick abufes , and let his thewofReligionbe never fo a- bundant, yet he is but an hypocriteand diffembler , and the Lord takes no de- light in his fervices, Ifa. 58.7, 3am.I. ult. I-46h.18.18,24. Mat.z5.4I. jam. 2.13. Próv.21.13. I Joh.s.t7,s8,19. fam:a.14. V Fifthly, covetoufneffe is as thorns that choaks ne Word , and keeps a man from following the diregìions ofGod therein ; and it he loveshis money more then God, more then hispoor brother,more then the r-wards ofGod,and more then heaven it felf, and fo he is an arrand hypocrite. Quell.. But what ¡hall we be better for our bounty to the poo,e ? .Aofw. Its the bell way to prevent poverty, Luk.iZ.33. Cor.g.6. Prov. 11.24,25. and that for these reafons. 1. Becaufe God is the greatLord and malterofhis family in heavui and earth, and riches-comenot bychance,or mens induftry,or the love oftheir friends, but
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