Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

Tap, 26 about Charity. but by the appointment of God, who makes rich, and makes poor ; wherefore all men are but his fervants and ttewards, CO whom he commits more or leffe as bell pleafeth him : hence it follows, that it mufc needs conduce much to the continuation and encreafe of a mans wealth, that he be found a goodSte '- areof the things committed to him by his Matter. Now to communicate of our fubfiance to the poor with a large heart and hand, is to' do the office of a goodSteward , t Pet. 4. 9, I o. and fuch (hall notbe put out of theiroffice, but as he hach been faithful in a little, he (hall be made Ruler over much. IL Secondly, Solomon tells us, Prov. so. as. The biding of the Lord makes rich,"&c. and gives a comfortable encreafe of oureflates : without which men are but like horfes, that carry a great burden ofgold and flyer through the world, and are not Matters but Slaves to their riches. Now fuch comfortable wealth Both not fpringfrom mans wit or paines, but from the bleffing of God, without which the Watchman watcheth in vain, the Builder buildeth in vain, the Husbandman plowes in vaine, the Merchant trafficks in vaine, &c. either no encreafe willcome, or nonebut a vexing, and cumberforne encreafe : but theLord bath exprefly promifed his bleffing to thofe that open their hands to their poor brethren, Deut. t ç.ro. and certainlyGodwill never be found aPro- mite-breaker. Thirdly, its a lending to the Almighty, and therefore will furely procure a- III. bundance, for Godwill never prove a Bankrupt, he will never borrowwithout a refolution to pay, nor without a6tual repayment, and that in the f ttetl time andmanner, Prov. 19. 17. there is the Bill of Gods hand, wherein he both acknowledgeth the debt, and promifes payment, q. d. Be it known untoall men by this prefent Promife, that I the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, do owe and acknowledge my felfe to be indebted toevery merciful liberal man all thole fummes of money whichhe hath, or (hallbeflow in relieving the ditireffed, to be paidback unto him, whenfoever he (hall demand it, (forwhere noday is fet, the borrower is bound to payment upon demand) and to this payment well and trulytobe made, 1 binde my felffirmlyby this prefent Promife, fent,feal- ed and delivered by Solomon myknown Secretary ; fothat unieffe we will pro- claim the Lord an mfufficientor difhonefh debtor, we fee that giving to the poor is the heft way to faveand encreafe our wealth, his word being far furet then Checquer. 4.1t will caufe many prayers to God for us, that mutt needs caufe him to give IV. us all good things in abundance, and fodeliver us from Penury. Prayers made toGodby his fervants,upon due ground cannot be in vain, a, Cor. 9. 54. or if any fliouldbe fo unthankful as not topray forfuch, yet furely the houfhold of faith will, towhom we ought molt to abound inbounty. Qeft. But what means may we ufe to enable sos toworks ofmercy ? Anjw. That a manmay give, he mull have money, and an heart, and a will, and a gift too : for hethat bath nothing, cannot give, though he would, he thatwants a heart, cannot give becaufehe will not : both therefore are re- quifite, and for the getting of both we mutt ufe thefe means. Fir(t, we mull ferioufly confider ofthefe many Precepts,Promifes and Threats, I. ' whichare in theBookof God,concernin 2 thisduty,pretTing them upon ourfelves, and faying, Doth not the fameGod, which faith, Hear theWord, fay alfo,Give to the poor ? and if confcience binde me to the one, Both it notbinde me to the:other alto ? If I fhould keep all the orher Commandments, and break one, tall.' notbe found a tranfgreffor'of all, will it any thing avail me, that I feem tobe religious, if I be not merciful. Secodly, to this addePrayer, befeechingGodtogiveyou this foworthy a II. Grace, by which you (hall be made fo likehimfelf, that you may know your our

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=