Vert 13,14,15. the Epiflle to the Romans. 527 as have much, fhould give to fuch as have little; and that the abundance of fome,fhould fupply the wants of others, 2 Cor. 8.13,14. Further, by being mcr- cifull to the poor, we are like our hea- venly Father, which is merciful' and gives liberally, math. 5.45. Alto we expreffe love and kindneffe to Chrifl, by doing good to his members, Mattb. 25. 35, 36, 37. We witncífe to our felves and others, the truth ofour faith, which workes by love, Galin. 5.6. and comforts the heart of our brethren, Pbilcm. 7. and brings glory to God and onr profeflion. Betides all thefe fore- named reafons, there be three reafons more in our Text,to perlwade unto this duty, as the loveof Saints,becaufe poore Chriftians are [Saints] purged by the blood, and fanaifyed by the Spirit of Chri fi, Secondly, the comparifon of their neceffities and wants, which we are bound to pity. Thirdly,liberality in communicating. By u hid; word of communicating, we are put in minde, in that the Apoflle faith rather communicating then gi ving ; that the poore have an intereft in the goods of the rich, as touching the ufe by virtue of Gods Commandement :i and that the rich ought to communicate with them in affe &ions and fympathy, by relieving then,, as if they felt their wants, and fuffered with them, Heb. 13. 3. And laftly, that between rich and poor, there is a kinde of fpirituall traf- ficke and merchandize, the rich com- municating temporall things in making the poore partakers of their fttbftance, and the poore fpirituall, in making the rich partakers of their prayers. The examples of fuch men as have perfor- med this dude, is firft Dorcas, ARr 9.39. making coates to give to the poore: the brethren of Antioch , fending reliefe to the poore Saints at 7eru falem, whom alto the Church of Macedonia did re- lieveeven beyond their power, a Cor. 9.2, 3. Now as for the manner how beneficence is to be performed, a Cor. S. and 9. chap. not grudgingly, or of nrcefiity, or Iparingly, not of cow ul lion,but out of a Chriftian comp Earl of a ready minde with chearfulneffe, for the love and fake of Chrifl, and as to him; for God loves a chearlull giver.For the quantity, it muft be much where much is, 2 Cor. 9.8, s 1. ,1 Tint. 6. 18. no certaine flint or rate, but according to thy ability, and thy neighbour necellicy. T t M. What are the vices contrary torbi duty S t L. They be covetoufreffe and prodigality ; for by exceffe in appareil, eating and drinking,Chriftians are made both unable and unwilling to doe this dutie,as they might and ought, if they were temperate, and kept a feemely moderation and meafure in the ufe of Gods blefáìngs bellowed on us : and covetouftrefle dolt quite choake the affeCions and liberally, it hardens the heart of the rich againft the poore, and, binder tip their hands, fo as nothing comes from them, unleffe it be wrung out by great entreaty, or by authority, as feiles. Laflly, in giving Chi iflians are to beware both of opinion of merit, which poyfoneth Popifh liberality and of vain- glory,which fpoyles the bounty i ofmany Proteftants giving, to be teen and talked of. T t M. What ii the next duty here exhor- ted to? S t L. After beneficence , Paul ex- horts unto hofpitality, by being ready to entertain flrangers and exiles, fùch as weredriven from home for the CGof- pell ; whereof great !lore were in the primitive Church, when both Apoffles and other Chriflians were forced to travel l from Countrey to Countrey for their fafety, throu2,h the heat of pet it- cations : See Heb. t 3. 2. Note in our Text, that he faith, not imbrace, but be given : which fignifes to purfue and follow it with eagernefle and carnefl- neffe, as if is were not enough to invite ftrangers, and to receive them, but that we ought alfo to entreat and urge them to come to us ;after the example of Ly- dia, Atli 16. 15. and of Abraham, Gen. 18. and of Lot, Gen. 19. which while hey received llrangers, unawares en- tertained i Hofpitality
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