Chap, z6 about Charity. Objet, But I have net wherewithal! to be /fill giving I cannot fparczt? Anfw. Hatt thou for fine cloaths', for fine fare , &c. and haft thou not 1 for works of mercy fuppofe thy hat (hould be loft , haft thounotwherewith to buy another ? Yes, why thenwherefore haft thounotwherewith to relieve a poor man ? . Obe &. But if I fhould lofe agape and agaane, I fhould haze nothing at length ? Anfw. Itmay be fo, but thoumayft give fo moderately that thou mayfi have fill fotnctbing to give. Obje&. 'Igive enough according to my clime, why then do you preffe rre to give more ? Anfw. If this were true, it were a good anfwer : but inmolt Iprove it to be falfe , For compare thy expences for mercy with thofe for fuperfluities, in en- tertainments, in cloaths, &c. they are far inferiour , thofe of mercy are no- thing in comparifon of the other : whereas Godbids, feat the poor, and not the rich, i. e. rather then the rich, thereforeits evident that . thou doat not e- nou_h for mercy. Obje,&,t. Tea, but myplace requires ? Anfw. And doth not thy place require that thou fhouldit be rich in mercy as well as in cloaths, and other things?know therefore that till thou art as abundant in works of mercy as inother things, God doth not account that thou haft done enoueh. Obfe&. But thepoor are unthankful' it ? Anfw. Fir(t, all are not fo ; therefore give, to them that are thank- full. Secondly, one mans fault mat not difpenfe with another mans du- ty : Thou art unthankful to God; yet hegives,fo muff thou. Thirdly, take heed that thou dolt not caufelefly accufe them for unthankful- nefs,which thou mutt prove. Objef2. But they are tdle,andbring poverty upon themfelves by their idle,r>fj''c y andwafffulnefs ? Anfw. Firft, haft thou before admonifhed them of it ? Ifnot, here is a fault unfeafonably to mention their evills to excufe thy felfe from doing a dunk. Secondly,if thou canil not prove this, thou art a flanderer as well is a niggard; and that is a double fault. Obje&. But they arefuch as have wronged me? AAfro. Choofe to give to fuch, for fo thou (halt (hew mote charity, and have a greater regard : we arecommanded to feed out hungry enemy , and have a fpecial Wellingpromifed for it : and this is to imitate God, who loved us whenwe were enemies. Nbje&. But if I be .Ff'illgiving, I (hallgive all away ? Anfw. Ufe thy dìfcretion in givingas inother things , and thou needelt not do it. Aman maybe very bountiful , and yet referee enough for otlicr food tries, 2 Cor. 9. 8. Objefl. IF I givefomuch away, I fhall neverbe rich ? Anfiv. This is an excuff. worfe then the fault ; for it chargeth God with fiat fallhood t God faith, give, and thoudhalr not want ; Thou fayell I than want if I give ; He faith, he that gives (hall be bieffed : Thou fayell he that! not : God faith,he that watereth Ihallbe made fat : Thou fayef$, he full be made lean : Hefaith, he will repay it : Thou fayeft, He will not repay it. ` Doth not this impute falfhood toGod ? Betides, this obje&ion arifes from an abominable principle : Thus,: What I' K k cannot Z49 i
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