452 ThePlatformofCharit,y, or, fiefs of their life ; only they conceive ofit as a matter ofpraifeand commendations,. a thing that they do well in performing,and not very ill in omitting. They conceive I it to be ofnoabfolute neceflity, but voluntary charity, as a matter arbitrary, but not as a duty neceffary,and for this caufe they appear but flack and indifferent; they conceive this as a duty to lay up wealth, but never remember theneceffity of lay-) ingout wealth to be commanded for a greater duty than the former :.they take it for I their duty to get all they can, but forget the following precept, to doall thegood with that they get, as they`can. A,nd here is the reafonwhy there arc filch lavilh I expertces beftowed upon every vanity, that the portion of the poor, and fuch as ought to be relieved with our elutes inpoint of equity ; and by vertue of Gods Commandment is fwallowed -up by every vanity: It is'fpent in exceffive apparel, I for the fatisfaftionof the vain fathion-monger : in fiiperfluity ofdiet for the Glut-! ton, and the Epicure : in Hawks, and Hounds, and Dogs, topleafe the humour of! the voluptuous perfora: it is confumed in railing up vain and unneceflary Buildings by earth-worms, that make their habitations below, and lay afoundationfor them- (elves onearth ; negleéing that goodly building givenofGod,tothe re- edifyingof their fouls in the kingdom ofGrace.And thus isthe portion of the poor confirmed; and themfelves ( for want of the fame ) expofed to all the mifery that this World can infliEt. Some cry they cannot do it,we have not an eftate toundergo it , in the mean time they run to excels of Riot, and make fuch voluptuous and fuperfluous- feafts,that the Phenixhardly efcapes the bounds oftheir delires. If you can be thus excellive in your diet , in your apparel, in your (ports ; if you can call away in prefents, and in gifts, in bribes, and in gratuities, fuperfluoufly upon rich friends; there muff (ofnecefty) be a defe& inyour will to the commandofGod,whenyou negleft the miferable condition of the poor, and lend no hand to help them. what is the reafon of it ? but becaufe of the natural rebellion andAtheifme that isin the heart ofevery man againft God; that they will employ their effacesany way,rather{ than bellow them to that purpofe for which they are appointed by God. O what account flaall fuch be ableto make at the day ofJudgment; do but-fupppfe whenthe Books /hall come to be opened, whereinthe particulars, Diariesandpaffàges of your', fife (hall be thus examined: Item, fo much for a fealt; Item, on fuch a day, for Ì. fuch another great feaft ; and many a hundred dayes, for as many hundred feaffs, ll wherein hundreds ofthe fervants ofGodhaveendured extream want, and inforced into banifhment into other places, to perfecution,tomifery and diftrefs,when thou couldeft not find oneof them in a corner of thy purfe. Item, fo much for fuch,ap- parel, for filch entertainment, for fuch buildingof Walks and Galleries; What no- thing for the fervants ofGod? are they fo empty, when your houles appear fo full? live they fo poor, and you fo richly clad ? what can you fpare nothing for Clara, and the diftrefl"edmembers of the Church all this while ? Oh nay beloved, remem- lames f. ber what Sr. James faith ; Go to now you richmen, weep andhowl,foryourgarments areMoth eaten, whereon you havebeftowed fo muchcoft, andyourgold andflyer is ruffy and canket'd, and the ref ofthem /hall eat up yourfie 112 muwerefire, at that day. Vfi z. Let it teach therefore the fervants ofGod to beftow theirAlmes molt willingly,, to be free and in continual readinefs, in extending their contribution towards the neceffities of thofe that want them; and not only fo,but to do good in fo doing, for that is the principal ditty untowhich the Textloth invite you. FI hole jotshaveop portunity, dogood. . QPf But how (hall aman in fuch aillions ofmercy, and bounty, and liberality, make it How so givefo appear thathe dorbgood i Thereforebriefly, take fome helps in this. as so do good. A man that will contribute out ofhis eftate to relieve others, and intends to do- An/w' good. Firlt, he mull do what hedoth julll , he mull not out ofmercy extended r. 6n e;uftly. to one, injureanother, but muftalwayes level his charity by his own ability. And this is that which the holy Ghoft calls,the giving of a mansown. Cult [thy].bread Ecclef. MI, 110/1 rise maters: thyown bread, not anothermans. Togive that which is a mans own by right, by lawful procuring; his own by right of poifellion, thegiftsbe- ftotvest out of that, makes acceptation before God, andprovides a double reçom- _. pence
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