The Ready Way to Good Works, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI How to bee alwaies readie and prepared in Action to doe good workes of MercieMercy.
AS no action whether morall, civill, or religious can be accounted vertuous, without a concurring readineſſe and willingneſſe of the minde: So no affection is ſound or well grounded, if it doth not breake forth and manifeſt it ſelfe in Action. Non ſatis eſt, (ſaith one) Benevelle, ſed etiam bene facere ex bona voluntate, &c. Now the Apoſtle inſtructeth us in a To lay aſide weekely is a Chriſtian dutie.ready way how wee may bee ever prepared at all times upon all occaſions, actually to contribute to any good worke, and this is by weekly laying aſide ſo me portion of our wealth more or leſſe according as God ſhall proſper us. And to incite and perſwade vsus hereunto, let us weigh well, and conſider theſe forcible enſuſuing reaſons.
1. The practice of laying aſide for charitable uſes is both preſcribed unto us by the direction of the holy Ghoſt, and ſufficiently warranted unto us, by Apoſtolical authoritie and command in this, 1 Cor. 16. 2. It being a point ſo evident and undeniable, that Saint Paul annexed onelyonly one reaſon here, though in the 2 Cor. 9. 5. 7. hee alledgeth An Apoſtolicall ordinance and command, ſaith Mr. Perkins in caſes of Conſcience, 2. b. cap 16. and ſo not left to our owne will.more, for the clearing and ratifying of it, ſuppoſing there could be none found ſo tranſcendently proud, ſtubborne, and inflexible, none ſo mercileſſe, frozen-hearted, and uncharitable, but would humbly ſtoope to ſo Divine a precept, and Charitable practiſe.
2. It is a treaſuring up unto God, for ſo the word is in the originall foreign, which by holy 2 Cor. 16. 2practiſe our Almighty Creatour doth both command, and expect from, and accept at our hands. Our ſoules and bodies he freely gaue us, and being loſt, and forfeited to the Divell by Adams diſobedience, he againe redeemed them, with both theſe therefore muſt we b1 Cor. 6. 20.glorifie him, and hee gave us our goods too, and therefore with them alſo muſt we cProv. 3. 9.honour him, we muſt uſe them for, and referre them to his onelyonly Glory. It is ſaid, Matth. 2. 11. of the Wiſe men, that when they had found Chriſt, they opened their treaſures, out of which they preſented unto their Savior gifts, gold, frankincenſe, and mirrhe. Did thoſe Magi, the firſt fruits and preludes of the Gentiles unto God, without any Apoſtolicall direction, or written precept, provide: treaſure for Chriſt, and ſhall not wee who have both precept, example, and direction for it out of Gods holy booke, prouide treaſures alſo, out of which wee may offer unto our Saviour gifts, ſilver, and gold, when good opportunitie ſhall be offered in his afflicted members.
3. It is a preparation to lend unto the Lord, as by laying up in thy coffer bagges of gold and ſilver thou doſt prepare (if an uſurer moſt unlawfully) to lend to thy neighbours, friends, or acquaintance: ſo by ſeparation of ſome part of thy wealth for good and charitable uſes, thou doſt prouide to lend unto the Lord. When thou haſt ſeparated it and layd it aſide, tis the Lords I confeſſe, but not yet actually, and really lent: when God ſhall ſend ſome poore and diſtreſſed members of his unto thee, and thou either feede, cloath, or any other way refreſh them, with thy ſanctified and conſecrated Pro. 19. 17.riches, then thou maiſt be ſaid to lend unto the Lord. This duty here, is onelyonly a preparing to lend unto him.
4. It is a ſtrong witneſſe and infallible Teſtimony of thy charitable ſoule, whereby God makes experiment and full triall of thy tender-heartedneſſe, louelove, pittie, and compaſſion: the hoarding and laying up of all thy other ſubſtance may ſerve to beare witneſſe againſt thee of thy earthlineſſe, carking, and Jam. 5. 3.worldly-mindedneſſe, but this laying aſide will beare witneſſe for thee, of thy readineſſe to ſhew mercy, bounty and liberality.
5. It incites, and provokes men forward unto the acts of charity, and makes them plot and deviſe how to expend it to Gods glory & their neighbours good, which is the duty of a liberall man. Eſay. 32. 8. For that which they have conſecrated to good uſes, is now no longer their owne, either jure proprietatis, or jure uſus, and therefore they deſire Conſider Dauids bounty. 1. Chron. 29. 2. and yet his prayer. Pſal. 119. 36.not to preſerve and hoard it up for poſterity, as they do their other goods, but are at all times propenſe, and ready upon every good and ſeaſonable occaſion, or opportunitie to part from it, and to beſtow it freely and cheerefully in charitable workes. Thou art by nature covetous, and an earth-worme, impotent, unwilling, dull, and ſlow to good works, uſe then this duty here preſcribed, as a ſpurre to quicken, animate, and pricke thee forward.
6. By the practiſe of this duty, a man excerciſeth privately before God his obedience, his faith, and charitie, and ſuffers not his charitable intentions to bee loſt, nor his purpoſe to do good to come to nothing: but by the frequent, and conſtant performance of this Chriſtian duty of laying aſide weekely, he fructifies and thrives in goodneſſe, goeth on and growes more and more, till he aſpireth unto the perfection of charity, as in other graces to the full ſtature of Chriſt Jeſus. The diffuſive and penetrating heate of this fervent grace of charity doth enlive, as it were the ſtupid ſoule of a chriſtian, revive the other infuſed graces and ſupernaturall habits, and keepe them in perpetuall action. For as the upper wheele in a jacke, by its moving makes all the under wheeles to ſtirre alſo in a circular motion. ſo the exerciſing and agitation of this ſupreme and moſt noble grace of charity, ſets a working all inferiour graces, as faith, hope, patience, humility &c. and ſuffers them not to ware faint, dull, weake and impotent.
7. This is an excellent way to make triall of a mans owne heart how much he affects the world, and how much the word, how much he loves God & how much Mammon. If thou haſt congealed, & ſhut up thy bowels of compaſſion againſt the poore, & thou be a churliſh Nabal, covetous, cruel, and frozen-hearted, then out of a ſtubborne and proud reſolution thou wilt ſnuffe and fret, and kicke againſt this duty: but if mercifull, loving, and out of a fellow-feeling affection, ſenſible of the temporall wants and neceſſities of thy chriſtian brethren thou wilt willingly and thankefully embrace and entertaine the very firſt motions of ſo convenient and neceſſary a direction, to become ready to any good worke.
8. It is a pious and wiſe training up of thy ſoule in the moſt gainefull art of almes-giving: for ſo tis called by Saint Chryſoſtome Eleemoſina est ars quaeſtuoſiſsima, a ſaying moſt gracious, true, and undeniable: for although all Gods graces ſhall be wonderfully and unſpeakeably rewarded, yet charity at the day of judgement ſhall in the firſt place be accepted, and crowned with the greateſt honour. Mat. 25. 34. 35. &c.
9. Laying aſide before hand, prevents all grudging and covetouſneſſe. 2 Cor. 9. 5. Herein this ſecond Epiſtle the Apoſtle tells the Corinthians, that they had notice before (in the firſtepiſtle) how they ought to lay aſide ſomething in ſtore by them, that it might be ready, as a matter of bounty and not of covetouſneſſe. By *Ad opes honoreſ que expetendos, ad ambiendam potentiam, ad cumulandas divitias, ad eas omnes ineptias quae ad mag nificentiam, pompam que facere videntur conquirendas, furioſa eſt noſtra libido infinita cupiditas. Calvin Inſtit. lib. 31. cap. 7. ſect 8nature all men are Eagleclawed, cloſſe-fiſted, earthlyminded, and hard-hearted, and the inſatiable canker-worme of covetouſneſſe, eates into, and gnawes upon the heartes of moſt men, and therefore content not thy ſelfe only with thy good intentions, and perhaps thy conceited abilitie upon good occaſion to doe workes of mercy, but put in preſent practice this duty here preſcribed to further thy intentions, and to prevent all future covetouſneſſe, leaſt a preſent covetouſneſſe ſeize upon thy ſoule, and ſo prevent thy future charitableneſſe. Qui non eſt hodie, cras minus aptus erit: Hee that is not fit for workes of mercy to day will be more unfit to morrow.
10. It is a cleare evidence of bountifulneſſe and liberality. 2. Cor. 9. 5. 7. for he that thus layeth vp aforehand, doth it not as one compelled or enforced either by neceſſity, law, or importunitie, but moſt freely, lovingly and bountifully, being moved, and induced thereunto only out of true deſire to doe good readily out of a fore-conſideration of his duty, and out of a tender-hearted, and pittifull diſpoſition, and fellow-feeling affection, which hee generally beareth to all the penurious and afflicted Saints of God in the church militant, that may neede his helpe. A Nabal, a Dives, a moſt mercileſſe churle, or earth-worme may perchance ſometimes communicate & diſtribute to the neceſſities and miſeries of poore & diſtreſſed people (it being pumped out of them, and they in a ſort compelled, and ſtrongly enforced thereunto, either by much importunitie, or courſe of law, or ſome other neceſſity, or elſe peradventure moved thereunto out of the bowels of meere naturall compaſſion, but without charity which flowes from the true love of God in Chriſt) but none, but good Chriſtians endewed with faith, love of God, and the true grace of charity give freely, bountifully, and liberally. The gifts which charitable minded men give unto the poore, after this preſcribed method, are neither munera hamata nor lapidoſa, not hardly extorted by importunate ſupplication, neither is there any thing expected backe againe, but only the heartie prayers of the poore brethren.
11. It makes men give with cheerefulneſſe, as they ought Rom. 12. 8. Thou canſt not chooſe, but diſpenſe and diſtribute that with much joy and alacrity, which thou haſt collected for that purpoſe ſo eaſilie, freely, inſenſibly, and haſt intended in laying it apart to beſtow moſt charitably, as ſoon as a good occaſion is offered to ſhew thy bountie.
12. It makes a certaine ſtock for the Poore, whereas that greate aboundance, which otherwiſe thou haſt lying by thee is not ſo properly theirs, but in ſuſpence onelyonly, adplacitum, as thou pleaſeſt, perhaps theirs as the humor may take thee, perhaps not, for thy deceiveable heart may bee changed, and they not then the better for thy wealth.
13 It is a very wiſe courſe to become diſcreetly merciful, tender-hearted, and compaſſionate, becauſe its done with pious premeditation, and with mature deliberation. For the juſtification, whereof we want not examples, as the Corinthians who practized it, and other Churches in Galatia, 1. Cor. 16. 1. and the churches in Achaia, and Macedonia. 2. Cor. 9. 2. Moreover, learned and judicious men, have approved and commended this way to be rationem commodam exercendae liberalitatis, a moſtMethuſ. m. 1 Cor. 16. 2. convenient and commodious way to put in practice our liberalitie.
14. This kind of preparing to give, is ſincere & ſecret without all hypocriſie, irreſpective without ſiniſter regard and partiarlity. What this way is ſeparated and laid aſide, is not intenfor ſome particular perſons, but generally for the common good of the whole body of the church of God, as any ſhall ſtand in neede, and for any pious uſe.
15. Wee ought not to be leſſePro. 24. 27. provident in this heavenly trade of almes-giving, then worldly & carnall men are in their ordinary courſes of trading: but they for the moſt part are carefull to provide aforehand ſomething to ly by them in ſtore, that they may lay it out commodiouſly when good opportunity ſhall be offered. Therefore ought wee alſo in a caſe farre more neceſſary, and profitable to lay aſide ſome thing aforehand, that we may be both ready and able to contribute to the diſtreſſes & neceſſities of Gods poore people, when we ſhall meet with or finde out a ſeaſonable and good occaſion.
16. And laſtly, Many little will make a mickle (as the old ſaying is) many ſmall portions, this way laid aſide and collected will amount to a great Summe. As for inſtance, ſuppoſe 120 men lay aſide but two pence a piece weekely each one ſeverally, in a yeere the totall will be in computation fifty two pounds, the which this way may be almoſt inſenſibly gathered together to be imployed to charitable and pious uſes. Or let us ſuppoſe a hundred wealthy perſons ſhould lay aſide twelve pence a piece weekely (as eaſily they might) in one yeere the totall ſumme will be 260 pounds, or let us imagine a thouſand citizens ſhould lay aſide but a groat a piece weekely, in one yeere it will amount to the ſumme of 866l 13s 4d, what will great ſummes laid out, 12d, 2s, ten groats, a crowne weekely come to, which wealthy men may do, it would amount to thouſands in a yeere, by which many good workes might eaſily be performed with joy and rejoycing.
The Apoſtle preſcribes no certainty what muſt be laid aſide, but let every man doe ſaith he, as God hath proſpered him. All muſt lay aſide, the rich more, the poore leſſe, every one ſomewhat except ſuch as are extreamely poore & needy and ſunke down to the very loweſt degree of miſery.
Let no man object, that this is but Ob. a ſuperfluous duty in theſe dayes, and in this kingdome, wherein the needy and diſtreſſed are cared for by ſtatute lawes and politicke government. Anſ.
Firſt of all I anſwere, as in part, I have ſaid before, that the law takes order for ſuch onelyonly as are ready to periſh, and extreamely miſerable. Secondly, it is one thing for the law to impoſe, and another thing to have the ſame duly executed. Doe not many live miſerably for all the law? Thirdly, it is moſt evident that the generall relieving of the poore in every pariſh, according to the intention and inſtitution of the law is an act of Charitie: but becauſe moſt men are rated & neceſſitated to contribute according to their abilities, oftentimes againſt their wils it is no charitie in them. For very few doe give this way to the poore freely and cheerefully: Give indeed they doe, but moſt men in this caſe unlooſe their purſe ſtrings, as ſchoole boyes doe their points to bee whipt, judge you how willingly and cheerefully. Laſtly the publicke & ordinary contributions of the pariſh are not ſufficient to ſupply the private neceſſities of all, pauper ubique jacet, every where almoſt may a man charitablyminded finde many occaſions and fit objects of charitie.
There is no rich man, I dare ſay, but may ſoone finde a poore neighbour towards whom hee may exerciſe his liberality for whom the law provideth not. I intend not here for the preſent to particularize the perſons who are worthy of pitty and compaſſion, beſides thoſe whom the law takes no order for: we ſhall fully handle this point, when we come to ſpeake concerning the object of charitie.
When to lay aſide.
IF inquiry bee made by any which might be the moſt ſeaſonable time to lay aſide for good uſes, our anſwere is made by the Apoſtle, it muſt be on the 1 Cor. 16. 2.firſt day of the weeke, no time is comparable to that on the*Rev. 1. 10. Lords day. Now albeit the Apoſtle onelyonly preſcribes and commands this day to be obſerved before any other and addes no reaſons to prove the ſeaſonableneſſe & conveniency thereof, yet to give ſatisfaction, to all curious Queriſts that will have reaſon to ſupport their faith, they may take notice of theſe. Wee may very fitly practice this dutie on the firſt day of the weeke. The Apoſtle injoyned it then for the preſent neceſſity of the Church, and it is good counſell ſtill, though not now to be urged as a neceſſary duty, but onelyonly as a good meanes, preparing to the duty.
1. Becauſe it is a ſpeciall day appointed and ſeparated by God himſelfe for good workes, heavenly duties, and religious ſervices. Though pious actions be at all times commendable and acceptable, yet on the Lords day they are accounted moſt ſeaſonable.In Hom. on 1 Cor. Aptum eſt tempus ad benignitatem, prompto et alacri animo exercendam, ſaith Saint Chryſoſtome.
2. It is a day of fellowſhip and of the publike meeting of Chriſts choſen flocke, and redeemed inheritance, of which, number wee evidence and demonſtrate our ſelves to be, when we conſider on the wants, and prepare to contribute to the neceſſities and diſtreſſes of our feeble, impotent and helpleſſe fellow-members.
3. It is a day of treaſuring up for our ſoules, of hoarding up grace and ſpirituall ſubſtance1 Tim. 6. 19. Mat. 9. 20. Luk. 12. 33. for the life to come, wherefore as thou deſireſt to lay up in ſtore a good foundation for thy ſelfe againſt the time to come, that thou mighteſt lay hold on eternall life, remember the Apoſtles advice to lay by thee in ſtore upon the Lords day ſome portion of thy earthly treaſure for the poore and pious uſes. God hath allowed thee ſixe dayes to labour and provide for the body, but the day called by Saint John. Rev. 1. 10. the Lords day, is the ſoules faire-day, or market day, wherein thou muſt buy tryed gold, white raiment, and precious eye-ſalve. Rev. 3. 18. & other ſuch ſpiritual neceſſaries, therfore omit not this duty of weekely laying aſide on Gods holy day for the poore and pious uſes, this is an eaſie and an excellent way to thrive in heavenly ſubſtance, and to enrich thy ſelfe everlaſtingly, for concerning charity a moderne of our owne delivers this divine fancy.
It is a grace, or art to get a living.
By ſelling land, and to grow rich by giving.
4. It is a day of meditation on Chriſt and on his benefits, now this act of laying aſide doth evidently ſhew and teſtifie, that we are not ungratefully oblivious of our Saviours deareſt favours, mercies and tender compaſſions, when we remember, and make ready to relieve the miſeries and commiſerate the wants and extremities of his diſtreſſed poore members.
5. It is a day of repreſentation of our happy meeting in the kingdome of heaven, when all wants and penury ſhalbe quite taken away: and hereby we are put in minde to be ready mutually to communicate each to other, and to ſupply one anothers wantes while wee are ſojourners here on earth.
6. It is the day of Chriſts reſurrection, which ought to mind us of our reſurrection at the day of judgement, when our charity ſhalbe highly honoured & moſt infinitely rewarded. Mat. 25.
7. It is a day of Sequeſtration, wherein we are to conſider whatEze. 20. 12. & 37. 27. 28. Pſa. 147. 19. Lev. 20. 24. 29. Heb. 7. 26. things God hath pepared and ſet a part for his people, (viz) a day, a place, holy lawes, and ordinances, yea, and Chriſt for us, and our ſelves for his ſervice, if we be the elect of God, and therefore we ought to be moved to put ſomewhat a part for charitable uſes on this day, to witneſſe our ſound ſequeſtration in heart from the love of the world.
8. It is a day which requires a comfortable preparation unto the houſe of God, and how can wee better prepare our ſelves then by mercy to go to the God of mercy and compaſſion, for the Lord makes a faithfull promiſe that hee will bee mercifull to thoſe that ſhew mercy, Pſal. 18. 25. and will heare their prayers, Eſai. 58. 9.
How to lay aſide.
NOw to lay aſide wiſely, gratiouſly, and religiouſly, obſerve theſe rules.
1. In reſolving thus charitably to lay aſide, doe not purpoſe or determin any certain ſumme, but doe as Paul directs and inſtructs1 Cor. 16. 2 Luk. 11. 41. thee, according as God hath proſpered thee, ſometimes more, ſometimes leſſe, as a man 2 Cor. 9. 7.ſhall purpoſe in his heart.
2. Having once begunne ſo good a worke, never after deſiſt or give over, he that putteth his hand to Gods plough, and looeth backe, is not fit for the Kingdome of God. Remember alſo the Apoſtles good caution,Gal. 6. 9. be not weary in well-doing, for in due ſeaſon wee ſhall reape if we faint not.
3. Be ſure to practiſe this dutie with a fervent and pertinent praier, in which obſerve 5. things.
1. Begge of God acceptance of this thy bounden dutie.
2. Pray for ſtrength of faith in his promiſe, to wit, that the mercifull ſhall never lacke, Prov. 28. 27.
3. Deſire God to increaſe, and to inlarge thy bowels of pittie and compaſſion towards thy poore brethren.
4. Intreat the Lord to afford unto thee temporall meanes, whereby thou maiſt bee able to communicate liberally.
5. And laſtly, deſire thy God to give thee a will to continue on ſtill, and conſtantly to perſevere in ſo charitable a work unto thy lives end.
6. And laſtly having once laid is aſide, take heed thou commit not herein ſacrilege, for that which thou haſt once thus religiouſly ſeparated for charitable workes, thou maiſt not imploy to thy private uſes. Rob not Peter (as the proverbe goes) to pay Paul, but remember to give every one his owne, that which is the poores, give unto the poore, that which is Ceſars, give unto Ceſar, and unto God the things that are Gods. To conclude this point, then let mee earneſtly deſire and intreat every one, whether rich or poore, profeſſing the Name of Chriſt, to be pleaſed according to their power and abilitie to follow the Apoſtles rule, to trie themſelves, and to traine up their hearts in this moſt admirable and much honoured dutie of Almeſ-giving: Taſt, I pray, and ſee how good the Lord is, how the holy Ghoſt will bleſſe you in his preſcribed way, how your ſoules ſhall thrive in the practiſe of charitie, and be forwardly bent unto merciemercy, pious workes, and liberalitie.
I hope well of the well diſpoſed, and cannot doubt of the forwardneſſe of thoſe whom grace maketh readily prepared to every good worke; yet there will never want too many worldly-minded, who will not onelyonly ſtumble at the blocks laid in their way by others, but willingly caſt rubs of themſelves in their owne way likewiſe to binder their entring into the way of well doing, and to keepe others backe with them in their perverſe and crooked paths from works of charitie, whoſe objections I might here ſet downe, and make anſwers thereto; but I hope that which is delivered may ſufficiently ſway with any moderate and ſober ſpirit, and give full ſatisfaction to an humble heart, which receives with meekneſſe the ingrafted Word of God, and is not obſtinately and refractoriouſly carried away with the prodigious pride of ſelfe-conceitedneſſe, or with the fooliſh vanitie of ſelfe-love, the peſtilent plagues of brutiſh and rebellious ſpirits, and the moſt deadly enemies of that moſt rare and excellent grace of falſe-deniall, which effectually humbleath and ſubjecteth the heart unto all ſincere obedience, and to the ſpeedy performance of all holy ſervices. The reaſons before premiſed, I ſay may eaſily perſwade any, that are piouſly and charitably diſpoſed afore hand to doe good.