The Art of Giving, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
A third point in beneficence is Wisedome:Sect. 2. wherein obserue,Psal. 112. that first I must prouide for my selfe before others.Pro. 20. Here then is condemned,Pro. 5. 15.
1 COmmunity of goods,Mat. 22. as if all should be common, none should hauehave any propriety in any thing, compare the 19. of Mat. with the 5 of Acts. & the 4. vers.
2 Giuing of our patrimonies, and whole estates to the maintenance of idle Monkes and Friers: which is the best charity of the Papists.
1 As being vnfit for such men to manage.
2 Vnconscionable for any to giuegive, because he robs his present issue, and posterity of what the Lord hath cast vponupon him.
3 He renounceth his right in the heauenly possession: wherof the earthly was a signe. And therefore wee shall finde that the Lord gaue straight charge that the Iewes should at no hand part with their possessions: if for want they were compelled to sell them, yet they were to redeeme them after, if they were able: if not, they were freely to be restored, and returne vntounto them at the yeere of Iubily. Leuit. 25. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 1 Reg. 21. 3.
4 He maintaynes idlenesse, and so all kinde of wickednesse.
3 This also condemneth that vaineglorious and foolish charity of many, who to bee counted maintayners of others emptie themselues, and so bring vntimely and vniust misery: yet most iustly vponupon themselues.
A second poynt of wisedome is,Sect. 2. that we must giuegive where there is most neede presently, so that without our helpe, life will perish. And that because,
1 This is most impartiall; when we simply respect our owne flesh, and are not led with any more speciall circumstances. Esay. 58.
2 This is most seasonable, because now it doth good: And,
3 Generally eueryevery one beareth the Image of God, and so we are to relieue him, least in him we reiect God himselfe. Math. 25.
And this condemneth:
1 Those that neglect well-doing in such extremities, vponupon pretence that such are forsaken of God, and so to be left to his iustice; as presuming that if they were Gods they should not be left to such extremity: whereas the Lord doth this eyther to trie our charity, or shew his extraordinary mercy, &c.
2 Those, that cast water into the Sea, powring in where there is no want.
3 Those, that because they feare they may bestow amisse, therefore they will not relieue at all, much lesse in this extremitie.
A third poynt of this wisedome is,
That we not onelyonly giuegive as present occasion is offered,Sect. 3. but, That we set apart a moitie of our substance, as the Lord encreaseth it, to be as a Treasurie continually, as occasion is offered to draw forth for the poore. Pro. 5. 15. To this purpose compared to a Cesterne, &c. 1 Cor. 16. 2. For
1 Hereby we shew our determinate purpose to giuegive. 2 Cor. 8. which is discouered by actuall giuing vponupon occasions.
2 We prouide for constancy, and scasonablenesse of bounty, as hauing somewhat alwayes ready, and so continue to such end.
And this serueth,
1 To reproue those that among their bagges hauehave forgotten this: Or,
2 Thinke so of themselues, as that they ought not to let their stocke lie dead, and thinking, whereas they may imploy their stocke for the further maintenance of the poore.
Hereunto appertayneth,
1 The appoynting of set officers,Sect. 4. for the distribution of the Almes vntounto the poore. These in the Primitiue Church were called Deacons, and are vsed in all reformed Churches; like vntounto which are our Collectors for the poore.
Whose office was.
1 To hauehave a particular Catalogue of the names of the poore.
2 To discerne the measure of their pouerty, and to this end to ouersee them weekely, And,
3 So to distribute the reliefe of the Church among them, by such portions as may not linger them in a pinching famine, but indeede cheere them, and make them seruiceable to God, the common-wealth, or both.
4 That they should giuegive an account of this their distribution to the Pastors and gouernours of the Church.
2. To this purpose ought there a publike Treasury to be prouided.Sect. 5.
1 Not only of those weekely contributions, which are ministred by the Saints:
2 As also of those pledges of thankfulnes which are giuen at the Sacrament: But,
Further, eueryevery man is monethly, or quarterly, as he is able, to cast in his mite into the Treasurie, for the increase and continuance of the common Treasurie, not onelyonly to relieue their owne poore, but if occasion shall serue, to comfort other Churches in their afflictions and wants.
A fourth poynt of wisedome in giuing, is to keepe within the bounds of our abilitie. That is,
1 First to prouide necessary things for our selues, and so consequently to distribute.
2 To measure our ability, not by what may be, as fearing by giuing to diminish it, but by what is; so depending vponupon the prouidence of God for the increase of our estate, if we bestow on our Brother. Pro. 11. 24.
3 If the case of the Church so require, our ability must come within a narrower compasse: not onelyonly not to respect the time to come, but so farre to enlarge our selues for the time present, as to part with the inheritance of our Fathers, and to sell our possessions, for the reliefe of the Saints, reseruing some part for our necessary reliefe: and herein also for the time to come resting on the prouidence of God.Luke. 3. Luke 21. Widow. 2 Chron. 31. 3. 4. Hezekiah. Nehem. 10. 32. 33. Num. 31. 25. Act. 4. 32.
Reasons,
1 Because, as it is a triall of our faith to Godward, if we will lay downe our liues for his sake: so, if the Lord doe spare vsus herein, yet seeing we must suffer with our brethren, therefore wee must manifest our louelove by parting with our possessions to their reliefe.
2 If we ought to part with our liues for our brethren sake, then much more with our goods. 1 Iohn 3. 16. Rom. 9.
Prouided that this be in times extraornary, and cases of extremity, otherwise we are not bound to diminish our estates.
This
1 Reproueth all Popish charity and profession of wilfull pouerty.
2 As also those that onelyonly of their superfluity doe bestow, thinking it in no sort lawfull to impart their patrimonies to this end, whereas such will make no bones to sell away whole Lordships, &c. to maintayne dicing, whoring, &c.
3 Hereby the louelove of the Saints may be tried abundantly.
Apoynt of wisedome is,Sect. 7. That none may be any way dammaged or hindred by our benefice. This may be,
1 When sinne is manifested by the same: As in the maintenance of Rogues and idle Beggars, which though they can yet will not worke.
Quest. Are not these then to be relieued?
Ans. Yes, if they begin extreame necessitiy.
2 And be first punished for the breach of the Law.
3 And so tied to worke when they are able, that so they may liue of their owne: otherwise both the giuer sins in breaking the law, 2 Thes. 2. 12. and the receiuers sinne is maintayned, by nourishing idlenesse, &c.
4 If they be impotent, they are to be relieued at their houses, and not suffered to wander. 2. When our estates are lauished and consumed hereby,
To this end we must giuegive: Ordinarily
1 As God encreaseth our estate.
2 As may satisfie onelyonly the present necessity of our brother, that so he may as well depend vponupon the prouidence of God as wee.
3 When Superstition and Idolatry is maintained therby. Exod. 23. such is the Popish charity, in maintaining Iesuits, &c.
4 When idlenesse and vanity is thereby maintayned, and this is the vsuall bounty of our land: whose house-keeping and excesse, what else doth it maintayne, at solemne times, but gaming, and all excesse of sinne; tending to the hurt both of the giuer and receiuer?