Qssefíions,and Cafes of Conrcience Chapa6 felves to be his children, john 13.34. and r lohn 3.14. and herebywe know that we love the brethren, if our hands andhearts are open to them, for love is bountiful. Thirdly, thoumuff begin to give, that thou mayeft get anhabit of giving, and prefie thy felftobe much in doing good works, till thou haft made it eafe, and delightful to thee : yea, thou (halt hereby finde as great a promptneiíe to it , as thou foundeft a backwardneffe before : and that you may get fomething to give, you muff obfenre thefe rules. r. You mutt be diligent in your callings, for the diligent hand maketh rich, and fo providematter for bounty, Eph. 4. 2.8. and this is one end that we mufî propound to our felves in the works of our calling , not oncly that we may fupply our own wants , but may have wherewithal to relieve o- thers. z. We mutt ufe. thrift , which is a due flying from finful and needleffe expen- ces ; and indeed hereby we might be enabled to do much, if we would cut off our fuperfluities. Objea. But fromwhat milk we fve ? Anfw. From riot, luxury, drunkenneffe, gaming,and finful expences bywhich men ferve the Devil, and the ßefh : From needleffe journics, and contentious hits in Lary : From excelle inworksof kindneffe,inattire,feafting, hou(holdfluff, &c.and trulywe fhould be willing todeny our felves in that which is much more then enough, to rninifter to them that have lefle thenenough. 3. :'., e a:ufi iay up in flore for mercy, we muff have a poors mans box in our hoefe ; as Devid,when he intended tobuild a houle for God , he provided all things aforehand inabundance, fo muff we for worksof mercy , I Cor. 16. r. when thus it liesby us we will giveit with a free heart. left. How much mull we lay árde ? 49nfw. Be fire to do it in convenient abundance, rather with the more then with the Idle : and truly molt menmay fpare their tenths of their comings in for pious ufes, fo we (hall be rich in good works. Try this a. hie , and iï chou findeft Gods bleflingfo liberal that thou 'unit well i are it, give it frill : If nor, give according as thou art profpered. Obje&i. I give as much aQ my neighbours which have at good. an eflate as 1? Autry. Not mens examples, but the Scripture mutt be our rule: God bids us to give after our ability, not after our neighbours nigardlinefle : Again, how knoweft thou that thou giveftas much as another of thy eftate ? Dolt thou know all that hegives ? or what his cffare is ? Ob ec`t. But Ido not know thatmy neighbour isto poor ? Anfw. Firtt, youcannot mock God with pretendingignorance,Prov.z4.r z. Secondly, why do younot inform your felve s by enquiring, and feeking ro know ; why areyou fo inquifitive in enquiring after all other things, and fo carcleffe in this ? To beignorant then is your fault , and one fault cannot ex- cufe another. Obje&t. But Ihave little enoughfor myfelfand family ? Anfw. Firft, he that hath two coats may think that hehath littleenough, and yet he is commanded to part with one. Secondly, probably its felf-love that makes thee think that thou haft little e- nough : Canft thou think fofhort a pittance asthy brother hath enough for him, and all thy abundance littleenough for thee ? Obj. But Iltaull provideformyfamily, and thereforecannotgive ? Anfw. If this were agood argument then none fhould give,but the fameGod that bids thee toprovide for thy family,bids thee give too , therefore thou mutt do both,andnot ltrive fo tooverdo for the one, as toncgle$ theother. Provide moderately for thyown, and thou (halthave fufficienr for the peor too. Objea.
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