Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 47
LECTƲRE XLVII.
PHILIP. 2. Verſe 29.
Receiue him therefore in the Lord with all gladnes, and make much of ſuch. 30. Becauſe that for the worke of Chriſt he was &c.
WIth all gladneſſe] This is the ſecond manner of entertainment that the Apoſtle would hauehave giuen vntounto Epaphroditus their Miniſter at his returne vntounto them. He would hauehave them to receiue him in the Lord, and to receiue him with all gladnes, that is, with ſuch gladnes, as that both all ſhould reioyce at his comming and that with an exceeding great ioy: ſo that he would hauehave both their ioy to be vniuerſall, that all ſhould reioyce for him, as he had longed for them all; and againe, no ordinarie ioy, but an exceeding great ioy, as the ſame words are very well tranſlated, Iam. 1.2.
What ſuch ioy, ſo vniuerſall ioy, ſo exceeding great ioy for their Miniſters returning home in health vntounto them? Was Epaphroditus their Miniſter? Was their Miniſter thus to be receiued? Indeede this would make a man to doubt, as the world goes now, whether Epaphroditus were their Miniſter▪ Enough for a noble man, a great man, one of the Peeres o… the Realme thus to be receiued. A Miniſter thus to be receiued, it is a ſcorne, a meere ieſt. Well, let it ſeeme vntounto th… world (as it will) a ſcorne, and a ieſt, the Apoſtle here we ſee would hauehave them thus to receiue their Miniſter, and the Miniſters of the Goſpell are thus to be receiued, euen with a… gladneſſe, ſo that all their people ſhould reioyce, and tha… with exceeding great ioy for them.Eſay 52.7. O how beautifull vponupon the mountaines are the feete of him that declareth and publiſheth peace, ſaith the Prophet, that declareth good tidings, and publiſheth ſaluation, ſaying vntounto Zion, thy God reigneth. Now of whom ſpeaketh the Prophet this? The Apoſtle plainely applieth this vntounto the Miniſters of the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt.Ro. 10.15. They are they that declare and publiſh our peace and our reconciliation with God the Father by Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne; they are they that declare the good tidings of the full and free remiſſion of our ſinnes by the death and paſſion of Ieſus Chriſt; they are they that publiſh ſaluation vntounto eueryevery one that calleth vponupon the name of the Lord, & departeth from iniquitie. How beautifull then ſhould their feete be vntounto vsus? When they come vntounto vsus, or when the Lord rather ſendeth them vntounto vsus with what gladneſſe ſhould wee receiue them? Surely I will tell you. Conſider that place yet a litle further. The Prophet there ſpeaketh firſt and primarily of the deliuerance of the children of Iſrael out of the captiuitie of Babylon, and of them that ſhould bring the meſſage and gladd tydings therof. With what gladnes then may we thinke would the children of Iſraell, when they were in the land of their captiuitie, receiue them that would bring them good tydings of their deliuerance out of captiuitie, and returne vntounto their countrie, and ancient libertie? Would not all of them receiue them with great gladneſſe? Would not all of them receiue them with exceding and vnfained ioy and reioycing? With what gladneſſe then ſhould we receiue the Miniſters of the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, who bring vntounto vsus moſt ioyfull tidings of a moſt bleſſed deliuerance out of the moſt wofull thrall and captiuitie that euer was, euen out of the moſt tyrannicall captiuitie of ſinne, death, and the deuill? Surely we ſhould receiue them with an vniuerſall ioy; we ſhould receiue them with an exceeding great ioy, we ſhould all of vsus be glad euen in our very ſoules for them, & eueryevery way that we could we ſhould teſtifie this our gladnes for them. A good ſhew of ſuch gladneſſe many of the Iewes then gaue, when Chriſt riding into Ieruſalem on an Aſſe, they ſpred their garments in the way, and cut downe branches from the trees, and ſtrawed them in the way, and cryed through the ſtreets of Ieruſalem, and ſaid, Hoſanna the ſonne of Dauid, Mat. 21.8.9.bleſſed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord, Hoſanna thou which art in the higheſt heauens. Here were tokens as of great honor done vntounto him, ſo of great gladneſſe for him that was the high Prieſt of our profeſſion. And the Euangeliſt S. Luke ſtorying the ſame thing ſaith, that the whole multitude of the Diſciples reioyced, Luk. 19.37.38.and praiſed God with a loude voice, ſaying, bleſſed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord, peace in heauen, and glory in the higheſt places. The whole multitude reioyced, and that with no ſmall ioy, when they lift vp their voices, and ſaid, Bleſſed be he &c. So we read that when Philip came to Samaria, Act. 8.5.6.8.& preached Chriſt vntounto them, the people gaue heede vntounto thoſe things which Philip ſpake with one accord, hearing and ſeeing the miracles which he did, and it is ſaid, that there was great ioy in that Citie. They heard Philip when he preached Chriſt vntounto them, they gaue heede to the things he ſpake, and that with one accord, and vponupon this there was great ioy in that Citie. So we read that when the Apoſtles paſſed through Phanics and Samaria, Act. 15.3.declaring the conuerſion of the Gentiles, and no doubt ſtrengthning the brethren alſo in the faith wherein they ſtood, it is ſaid, that they brought great ioy vntounto all the brethren; no ordinarie ioy, but a great ioy; not vntounto a ſmall number, but vntounto all the brethren. Thus yee ſee with what gladnes the Miniſters of the Goſpell ought to be receiued: yee ſee how our Sauiour Chriſt the high Prieſt of our profeſſion was thus receiued when towards his paſſion he came downe from the mount of Oliues vntounto Ieruſalem: yee ſee how the Diſciples and Apoſtles of our Sauiour Chriſt were thus receiued, euen with great ioy of all the brethren. And thus at this day the Miniſters of the Goſpell are receiued, euen with all gladneſſe of all the brethren. But as then it was, ſo now it is, the multitude, of the brethren no great multitude, as may eaſily appeare euen by this one note, that the multitude of them that receiue the Miniſters of the Goſpell with all gladnes is no great multitude. Well (beloued) to ſtand no longer vponupon this point, I cannot better exhort you touching this point then out of theſe words of the Apoſtle, Receiue the miniſters of Chriſt his Goſpell in the Lord, receiue them with all gladnes, and make much of them, for ſo it followeth.
And make much of ſuch] In which words the Apoſtle brings it to the generall which before he had ſpoken in the particular, & tels them how he would hauehave them to receiue not only Epaphroditus in particular, but the Miniſters of the goſpel in generall. Make much of ſuch, make much account of them, hauehave them in high honor & eſtimation:foreign. for ſo the word here vſed in the originall ſignifieth. But whom muſt we hauehave in ſuch honour? Make much of ſuch; ſuch as Epaphroditus, ſuch as faithfully and painefully worke in the Lord his harueſt, ſuch as carefully watch for our ſoules, as they that muſt giuegive accounts, ſuch as labour in the word and doctrine make much of them, and account them worthy of double honor.
Here then we are taught in what account we are to hauehave ſuch Miniſters of the Goſpell as faithfully and painefully labour in the word and doctrine. We are to make much of them, we are to hauehave them in high honor and eſtimation, we are to account them worthy of double honor. For ſo the Apoſtle elſe where alſo telleth vsus, ſaying,1 Tim. 5.17 The Elders which rule well are worthy of double honour, eſpecially they which labour in the word and doctrine. Where whatſouer be meant by double honour in particular, in generall it is meant, that all honour is due vntounto them that labour in the word and doctrine. Yea indeede? honour ſuch? make much of ſuch, ſuch finde-faults, ſuch troublers of the ſtate, ſuch hot-headed fellowes, ſuch diſcoueries of their fathers ſhame, ſuch publiſhers of whatſoeuer they know, euen in Gath, and Aſhkelon. For thus commonly they are accounted of, eſpecially if according to the neceſſitie of the times they lift vp their voices like trumpets, and ſhew the people their tranſgreſſions, and the houſe of Iacob their ſinnes. If they tell Herod of his inceſt, they may doe it without that danger that Iohn did, but let them looke for no leſſe then to be counted troublers of all Iſrael, 1 Reg. 18.17. Act. 19.25.as Elias was accounted by Ahab. If Demetrius and the craftsmen men with him be like to ſuſtaine any loſſe by their preaching; if the godles Atheiſt, or the ſuperſtitious Papiſt thinke themſelues galled by their preaching, then they traduce them by ſuch and ſuch names, and then they raiſe vp whatſoeuer troubles poſſibly they can againſt them. Thus are they rewarded with euill for good, and with hatred for their good will; thus doe they become enemies becauſe they tell the truth; thus are they honoured and accounted of the world; thus commonly are they made of in the world that are carefull not to doe the worke of the Lord negligently. Yea and ſee the ſtrangeneſſe of it. The cauſe why we ſhould make much of the Miniſters of the Goſpell is, for the meſſage ſake which they bring vntounto vsus, becauſe they bring vntounto vsus the holy word of life, the Manna, and foode of our ſoules; and becauſe out of it they both teach vsus that truth which we are to beleeue and imbrace, and improue thoſe errors which we are to beware and auoide, and correct thoſe faults in our life which we are to flie and deteſt, and inſtruct vsus in that way of righteouſneſſe wherein we are to walke all the daies of our life. Thi… I ſay is the cauſe why we ſhould make much of them, and this is the very cauſe why we cannot away with them. It would beſt of all pleaſe a great many of vsus that they ſhould hold their peace, and ſo …, and ſuffer vsus to ſleepe in our ſinnes. Other o… … …ppily can away with it that they ſhould reach, and inſtruct, and exhort, and ſpeake to the eare: But that there ſhould be amongſt the Diſciples of Chriſt ſonne of thunder, that the Miniſters of the Goſpell ſhould powre into the wound both oyle and vineger, that they ſhould improue and rebuke, that a great many of vsus cannot away with, and therefore when they doe ſo we breake our into termes at our pleaſure againſt them. Well, he that will be ſoundly healed he muſt ſuffer both oyle and vineger to be powred into his wounds, and he that will liue muſt ſuffer himſelfe to be awaked out of his dead ſleepe of ſinne, and he that will ſhew himſelfe to hauehave profited in the ſchoole of Chriſt muſt make much of ſuch as both teach, and improue, and correct, and inſtruct as the glory of God, and the good of hi… people doth require. As for thoſe that are not ſuch I ſay now no more, but I wiſh they were ſuch, and that they would ſtudie to be ſuch.
Beloued, I hauehave vrged this point, touching the Miniſters of the Goſpell, of receiuing them in the Lord, of receiuing them with all gladneſſe, of making much of them, partly the laſt day, and partly this day: For your ſakes, that yee might know how to vſe the Miniſters of the word, that ſo yee may giuegive teſtimonie how yee honor the word. For as men like or miſlike the Miniſters of the word, ſo commonly they are affected towards the word. Let the word of Chriſt therefore dwell in you plenteouſly, let your delight be in the law of the Lord, and louelove the word of life as your life: and for a proofe thereof, ſuch as faithfully and painefully labour in the word and doctrine, receiue them in the Lord, receiue them with all gladnes, and make much of ſuch. It followeth.
Becauſe that for the worke of Chriſt &c.] This is the reaſon which the Apoſtle bringeth why the Philippians ſhould receiue their Miniſter in the Lord, and with all gladnes. The reaſon then briefly is this: Epaphroditus was neere vntounto death for the worke of Chriſt, and regarded not his life to fulfill that ſeruice &c. therefore yee ought to receiue him in the Lord, and with all gladnes. By the worke of Chriſt the Apoſtle meaneth in this place that whole paines and labour which Epaphroditus tooke in comming to him to Rome, in bringing with him that releefe which the Philippians ſent vntounto him, and in miniſtring vntounto him in priſon ſuch things as he wanted. A ſeruice well called the worke of Chriſt, becauſe commanded by Chriſt, and performed to the ſeruant of Chriſt for Chriſt his ſake. Againe, in that the Apoſtle in the end of the verſe ſaith, to fulfill that ſeruice &c. the Apoſtle his meaning is not thereby to note any fault in the Philippians, as if they had beene any way wanting vntounto him, but therein he commendeth Epaphroditus his faithfull and painefull performance of that ſeruice, which they if they had beene preſent with him would hauehave done, but now could not becauſe of their farre diſtance from him. The whole reaſon is indeed drawne from the commendation of Epaphroditus. His commendation is that he took ſuch paines with him and for him that it had been like to hauehave coſt him his life, and that hee made not ſo much reckoning of his life as he did of diſcharging that truſt that was repoſed in him, and performing that ſeruice which the Philippians themſelues would hauehave done if they had beene preſent. This (I ſay) is the commendation which the Apoſtle here giueth him, and for this cauſe he willeth them to receiue him in the Lord with gladneſſe.
Whence I gather this generall obſeruation, that it is a very commendable thing in the ſeruants of Chriſt, not to regard their liues vntounto the death, but to hazard their liues for the worke of Chriſt, which either Chriſt hath commanded them to doe in their place whatſoeuer, or which for Chriſt his ſake they are to performe vntounto any ſeruant of Chriſt. What thing more commendable or memorable in Eſther, Eſter. 3.13.then that when the Kings decree was paſt againſt the Iewes, to roote out, to kill, and to deſtroy all the Iewes, 5.1.both yong and old, children and women in one day, ſhe put her life in preſent danger to deliuer her people? For it was a matter of death by the law for one not called to come into the inner court vntounto the King. 4.11.Yet for this worke of God, the deliuerance of his Church from the deuouring ſword ſhee put her life in moſt eminent danger, and went in into the King, 16which was not according to the law. We ſee it likewiſe regiſtred vntounto the view of all poſteritie touching the Apoſtles, that their liues were not deare vntounto them ſo that they might fulfill their courſe with ioy; that they were ready not to be bound onelyonly, but alſo to die for the name of the Lord Ieſus; that howſoeuer they were threatned, yet they would not ceaſe to preach in the name of Chriſt Ieſus. And whiles this Epiſtle ſhall be read Epaphroditus his praiſe ſhall not die for hazarding his life for the worke of Chriſt in releeuing Paul his neceſſitie when he was in priſon, and miniſtring vntounto him ſuch things as he wanted. Yea and what if we ſhould not onelyonly hazard our liues, but giuegive vp our liues for any worke of Chriſt? HaueHave we not a ſure promiſe? He that loſeth his life for my ſake (ſaith our Sauiour) ſhall ſaue it. Matth. 10 39. 1 Reg. 17.If therefore Eliah, or any of the poore children of God be an hungred, & want to ſatisfie their hunger, though we hauehave but an handfull of meale in a barrell, and a litle oyle in a cruſe for our ſelues and for our familie, and though we hauehave no more hope of ſuſtenance but euen to die when that is ſpent and eaten, yet let vsus with that good widow of Sarepta ſtraine and hazard our ſelues that they may be ſomewhat releeued. If Paul or any godly brother in Chriſt bee in priſon, though our watchings, and care, and paines, and trauaile with them and for them bee not without manifeſt danger of our health, and happily of our life, yet let vsus with godly Epaphroditus by all theſe hazard our ſelues and our liues for their good, and ſuch things as may be needfull for them. If any brother be ſicke, though it be with ſome danger let vsus viſit him, and comfort him. If for the worke of our miniſterie we be ſo preſſed that in our ſelues we receiue the ſentence of death, as our holy Apoſtle was often preſſed, yet let vsus not ſhrinke, but let vsus declare vntounto the people all the words of the Lord, and ſpeake of all the iudgements of his mouth. In a word, in whatſoeuer worke of Chriſt (for I doe not now ſpeake of this worke alone here mentioned) but in whatſoeuer worke of Chriſt which he hath commanded vsus in our places to doe, or which being done for his ſake hee accounteth as done for himſelfe, let vsus be bold in the Lord, let not our liues bee dearer vntounto vsus then the performance of his will, but let vsus hazard our liues for the worke of Chriſt.
But here the doubt may be made, and the queſtion demanded, whether we are alwaies to hazard our liues for the worke of Chriſt, whether in ſome worke of Chriſt we may not ſometimes withdraw our ſelues from danger, and prouide for our health, & for our liues? As for example, whether we may not forbeare the viſiting of the ſick, when the ſicknes is peſtilentiall and contagious, whether in ſuch times we may not prouide for our health, & for our liues? The queſtion I know is hard, and the doubt not eaſily anſwered, neither will I take vponupon me the deciſion of the doubt: only I ſhew my opinion, and willingly ſubmit it to the iudgement of others. Touching priuate men therefore, I meane ſuch as whoſe place and office doth not neceſſarily require a more publike care then of themſelues & of their own family, they may in my iudgment ſpare themſelues, and not hazard their health or their liues, but for the time withdraw themſelues from the danger, eſpecially if ſuch reaſonable order be taken for the ſicke, as that by comming vntounto them they may more endanger themſelues & others, then doe them good. My reaſons are theſe, 1. By the law of Moſes, we ſee that thoſe that were troubled with any contagious diſeaſe, as with the leproſie,Leu. 13 46. they were commanded to dwell apart, and to hauehave their habitation without the campe, and in places where they came to cry, I am vncleane, I am vncleane. Which doth plainely ſhew that all were not to come vntounto them, but both they were to giuegive warning vntounto others, and others were to take warning by them, leſt happily they ſhould be infected by them, if they ſhould come vntounto them. Againe, howſoeuer in ſuch caſes we could be content to hazard our ſelues and our owne liues, yet may we and we ought to hauehave care ouer our owne houſhold, and ouer that charge that is committed to vsus.1 Tim. 5.8. For if there be any (ſaith the Apoſtle) that prouideth not for his owne, and namely for them of his houſhold, be denieth the faith, and is worſe then an infidell. We muſt then prouide for our owne, as for their wealth in good ſort, and things neceſſarie to this life, ſo for their health, and therefore auoide ſuch occaſions as whereby wee might bring their health in danger. Againe, we hauehave many examples in the holy Scriptures of that great Eliah, of our Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus, of the bleſſed Apoſtles, and of many others that did for the time auoide ſuch dangers as otherwiſe would hauehave ouertaken them, and did not alwaies thinke it meete to hazard themſelues in eueryevery occurrent danger. Which reaſon I doe the rather in this place bring, becauſe if they might, then much more priuate men ſometimes may for the time withdraw themſelues from danger.
Now if here it be obiected and ſaid, that auoiding of ſickneſſe and other dangers is an argument of diſtruſt in God, and therefore we may not withdraw our ſelues in ſuch times; I anſwer that it is no ſure argument. The wicked indeede withdraw themſelues in ſuch times of danger becauſe they diſtruſt in God, and thinke that God either cannot or will not helpe them, and deliuer them from the danger: and ſuch auoiding of ſickneſſe or other danger is wicked and vngodly. The children of God therefore withdraw themſelues, becauſe they know that it is lawfull to vſe ſuch remedies againſt dangers as are lawfull and good: and ſuch auoiding is lawfull. Againe, if it be ſaid that to auoid at ſuch times is to no purpoſe, becauſe God hath certainly decreed whom to take and whom to leaue at ſuch times, and none but they alone ſhall die; I anſwer, that in like ſort it may be ſaid, that it was to no purpoſe for Iacob to ſend into Egypt to buy corne,Gen. becauſe God had certainly decreed to ſaue him and his familie from the famine:Act. 27. and likewiſe to no purpoſe that Paul ſhould keepe the mariners from flying out of the ſhip by boat, leſt all ſhould periſh, becauſe God had decreed to ſaue all them that ſailed with them. And yet wee ſee that both Iacob ſent into Egypt, and Paul cauſed the ſouldiers to cut off the ropes of the boat, both vſing ſuch meanes as God had ordained whereby to bring his will to paſſe, and therein leauing vsus an enſample to doe the ſame. Againe, if it be ſaid that it is a ſcandall ſo to withdraw our ſelues, I anſwer that it is a ſcandall taken, not giuen. Againe, if it be ſaid that whereas wee ſhould louelove our neighbours as our ſelues, thus wee doe forſake them, and ſo leaue the rule of louelove and charitie. I anſwer, that to leaue them for a time, when there are either ſome of their friends, or ſome others prouided for the nonce to looke vntounto them, is not to forſake them, neither is againſt the rule of louelove and charitie. Nay it were very prepoſterous louelove and charitie ſo to be deuoted vntounto this or that priuate friend, as by that occaſion to bring in danger a whole familie or charge whatſoeuer committed vntounto them. Neither doe I know any thing which can be brought to croſſe that which hath beene ſaid touching priuate mens auoiding of dangers, which may not as eaſily be anſwered.
Now touching publike men, Magiſtrates and Miniſters, the doubt is ſomewhat more difficult. To inſtance in Miniſters, to ſhew mine opinion in briefe, in my iudgement the Miniſters are firſt and principally to looke vntounto the good of the whole Church, and then vntounto the good of eueryevery particular member thereof. If there bee many Miniſters of one Church, ſome one by lot or common conſent may be deputed to regard the ſicke, and the reſt may auoid the danger. But if there be but one, he is ſo to be carefull for the ſicke, as that the reſt of the Church may not be depriued of his miniſterie. Hee may and muſt comfort the ſicke, and goe vntounto them in ſuch ſort, and ſo neere as hee well can without danger: and againe, he may and muſt auoid manifeſt danger for the good of the reſt of the Church ſo much as he can without impietie. Neither may too much feare withdraw him too much from danger, neither through too much boldneſſe may hee thruſt himſelfe too much into danger: for by too much feare hee is more ſlow to the worke of Chriſt then he ſhould be, and by too much boldneſſe he more endangereth both himſelfe and the Church then hee ſhould. To conclude the whole point therefore, howſoeuer it be moſt true that it is a very commendable thing in the ſeruants of Ieſus Chriſt to hazzard their liues as Epaphroditus did for the worke of Chriſt, yet ſometimes both priuate and alſo publike men may withdraw themſelues from danger in ſuch ſort as already hath beene ſhewed.
Another particular obſeruation hence I gather, which is this, that releeuing them that are in bonds and in priſon, and miniſtring vntounto the neceſſities of Gods Saints vponupon earth, is a worke of Chriſt; for ſo the Apoſtle in this place, as wee ſee, calleth it. It is, I ſay, a worke of Chriſt, ſuch a one as hee commandeth,Heb. 13.3. and loueth, and rewardeth. Remember them that are in bonds, ſaith the holy Ghoſt by the Apoſtle, as though yee were bound with them, and them that are in affliction as if yee were alſo afflicted in the body. 1 Tim. 6.16.And to Timothy the Apoſtle ſaith, Charge them that are rich in the world, that they be ready to giuegive and glad to diſtribute, laying vp in ſtore for themſelues a good foundation, &c. Againe, how the holy Ghoſt loueth this worke, may appeare by that of Paul, 2 Tim. 1.16.where he ſaith, The Lord giuegive mercy vntounto the houſe of Oneſiphorus, for he oft refreſhed mee, and was not aſhamed of my chaine, &c. and by that where the Apoſtle ſaith,Heb. 13.16. To doe good and to diſtribute forget not, for with ſuch ſacrifices God is pleaſed. Againe, how Chriſt rewardeth this worke wee ſee in the Goſpell, where ſetting the ſentence of the laſt iudgement he ſaith,Mat. 25.34 Come yee bleſſed of my Father, &c. Contrariwiſe, how the Lord hateth the neglect of this dutie, of miniſtring vntounto the neceſſities of his poore Saints on earth, wee may ſee both by the example of that churliſh Nabal, of whoſe badneſſe this is eſpecially regiſtred as moſt hatefull vntounto the Lord,1 Sa. 25.10. that he would not releeue the neceſſitie of Dauid being in diſtreſſe, but ſent away his ſeruants with crooked and churliſh anſwers: and likewiſe by the example of the rich man in the Goſpell, of whom likewiſe this is eſpecially regiſtred, as moſt hatefull vntounto the Lord,Luk. 16.19. that when Lazarus lay at his gate full of ſores, and deſired to be refreſhed with the crummes that fell from the rich mans table, the dogges came vntounto him, and did more for him then the rich man would doe: and likewiſe by the teſtimonie of Iohn, where hee ſaith, Whoſoeuer hath this worlds good, and ſeeth his brother hauehave need, 1 Ioh. 3.17.and ſhutteth vp his compaſſion from him, how dwelleth the louelove of God in him? As if the Apoſtle ſhould hauehave ſaid, Whatſoeuer ſhew this man makes, the louelove of God dwels not in him; neither he loueth God, nor God loueth him. Men and brethren, what ſhould more ſtirre you vp vntounto this holy worke of releeuing of Gods poore Saints, a thing ſo needfull now to be vrged and preſſed, what (I ſay) ſhould more ſtirre you vp vntounto it then this which hath already beene ſaid? It is a worke of Chriſt, which Chriſt commandeth, which hee loueth and liketh, which Chriſt highly rewardeth, and vnmercifulneſſe to the poore he hateth and deteſteth. As eueryevery man therefore wiſheth in his heart, ſo let him giuegive vntounto the poore Saints, not grudgingly, or of neceſſitie, for God loueth a cheerefull giuer. 2 Cor. 9.7.If it be a worke of Chriſt, it well beſeemeth thee if thou be a Chriſtian; if he hauehave commanded it, it ſtands thee vponupon to obey it; if he louelove and like it, thou haſt great cauſe to moue thee to it; if for his mercies ſake he reward it, thou haſt great reaſon to be occupied in it; and if he ſo hate the neglect of it, it behoueth thee not to be negligent in it. As therefore eueryevery man hath receiued of the Lord, ſo let him be ready to giuegive according to that he hath. Hee that hath mercy on the poore, Pro. 19.17.lendeth vntounto the Lord, and the Lord will recompence him that which hee hath giuen. And bleſſed is hee, ſaith Dauid, Pſal. 41.1.that conſidereth the poore and needie, the Lord ſhall deliuer him in the time of trouble. Conſider what I ſay, and the Lord giuegive you a …ight vnderſtanding in all things, and fill your hearts full of all knowledge, that yee may abound in eueryevery good, vntounto the glory of God the Father: to whom with the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt, &c.
Laus omnis ſoli Deo.