rr..I4. PR O VERBS. 55 are the other to be termedmercifull or hofpitall. But tbele culll mens examples, mayCerue to prouuke their betters to rue iuflice, mercy, and liberality : Forifthey that arewor- kers of iniquity deale eqùally withany x it becormeth thee which art the feruanr ofGod to doe fo withall : if their pur- les be alwaycs open to ruffians and routers the limbs ofthe diuell ; let not thine be euer (hut to thy godly poore bra- thrcnllthe membersofChrfil, whom thou fccfl innccelfìty, andart able to relieue. This kinde of corrupt community is mentioned in way ofreproofe , andcondemned as a dangerous baite of (inne; but that beneficence which is conferred vpon the Saints of God, is often commended and flricly commanded, and hatha promifeoflargt recompenceannexed vnto it : And here by obferuation of their exorbitant manner oflargetÏe, wee may learne the right rules of found liberality ; as fire!, that thou muff be good, and not a firmer as they were, if thouwilt haue the credit or comfort of thy goodnes. it is recorded for thehonor and eucrlaf ing praifeof the Adracedonians,that (praying Paid withgreat inrance to receiare the graceandfellowthip ofmsinfiring which is toward the Saints) they (raw thesfeltses fcrß vnto the Lord . Secondly , thou mull be mofl beneficial! to them that archeft , ifthey f}and in as much need ofthy help as others. Them efpeciallywill Chrifl acknowledge at the laíl day, and that to their prayCe andpromotion , which haue fed, clothed, harboured, or anyway comforted him : and whoare they but thole which haue filmed that mercy and kindnes, to his, euen to his poore brethren, who beleeue in him?All the Aleand Wine that is bellowed vpon drunkards : all the feafls and ban- quets that are made for gluttons : all the money or lands that are (pent vpon blafphemers, idolaters, or any other, that walke inordinately are mil-fpent andwafted, no recom- pence fromGod remained) for them. Thirdly,beveare,that under thepretence ofkindoes,ofcurtefie,or a liberall mind, thou feekenot toperuert men , and corrupt their hearts, as to infecl themwith popery, or erroneous opinions, or (like thefe Acles 434.. Hebr.a3,s6. Matth.ZS. t .eorint, $.4, 5
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=