EpOleWS. Paulto ?'stns. called into praéiife: and finding it (elfe fo called , handeth not fomuch upon abilities, but workcth the will to to abilitie,yeaand beyond in iuh octillion: not that we call anyman to the cracking ofhis eflate,or ro the exhauhing of the fountaine of his liberality, for we need not; but wee would haue them to know, that Godmaketh themable to glue , before they be able to cart away as much as they giuc andhurt them not : and calieth them to difiribute, before their ownepleafures and lulls be fer- ued: feting thisprecept requireth the departure with, and forgoing of that which is often tweet, precious, yea and necefiarie for our lclues.Let vnconfcionabie men thinkewell hereof,whocan contentedly throwea- way at one cat+, or game, at cards or dice, more then willingly they would low in pence to thepoore all the yeare long. Hauing now (gene the neceffitie,and nores,we will fhortly fet dowse Tome rules ofpra&ife,for the better lettingvs forward in this duty.Firfl, get into thy foule the confcience ofthis commandement, accoun:ing it worthyof all thineobedience, beeing fo often vrged in the Scriptures, and made in the endof the former Chapter,theende of Chrifi s purcha- fing of vs. This reafon drawne from the feare ofGod,preuailed fo farce with Iob,thatThence he was mooned to vfe mercifulneffe to all forts of men: for Godspunrfhmentwarfearefullvnto mee mod I could not efcape bis highneffe. Secondly, take euerie opportunitie of well-doingwhile it is offered : for elle the opportunitie may be cut off from thee, or thou from it. This is the Apoftles rule, Gal. 6. io. While wee home time, doe good vntoall: that is, take the prefent occafion of doing all the good thou cant! , i. in regard ofthy (elfe, performe the principal! and maine dutie, know the dayof thy vifitation; fluke not this thy tearme-time, but get theoyle offaith,knowledge of God,andobedience to his word, that thy lampmay euer befhintng to theglorifyingofthe Facher,which is inheauen: inone word, forget not while thou haft time togiue all dili- gence, to make chine ele&ion lure. 2. In regard of others, if now thou canadoe them good in foule or bodie, delay it not : Prou. ;. a8. Say not to thy neighbour , gee, andBowe ¿gain tomorrowe, and Iwillgills thee, if now thou haft it: and what knoweth anyman, whether this may be the !aft day, wherein he can doe good tohimfelfe or others?Thirdly, Goe yet on hep further, to feeke andwatch occafions of doing good, andbe gladwhen thou haft obtained them, that fo thou mails euer bee furthering thy reckoning.Wo readeofthe Patriarchs Abraham and Lot, how they fate at theirdoores watching to entertains flrangers,chat they efpied them a farteoff, ranee: out tomeete them, andmolt carnally en. treated them to abideand refrefh themfelues ; (hew thy felfe herein the fount of Abraham. Andworld toGodChriftians werea little quicker N o 2 not Rulesofprt. Rife. Iob.3raó.ad13. a .Pet.i.ra 3
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