The Art of Giving, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Other Tentations there are in regard of the pretended vnworthinesse of those that stand in need to be relieued.
1 SAtan obiects:Tent. That hereby many shall be, first maintayned in their idlenesse. Secondly, Which will be hurtfull to the common-wealth.
1 Though it be a sinne for the poore,Reply. &c. to liue idlely, yet my entent is not by my liberality to maintayne them in sinne, but relieue their want, and so to obey the commandement of God. If they abuse my mercy, it is their greater sinne.
2 Yet that they may not abuse it, I will see they shall be set on worke, if they be able, if not I will relieue them that they may be able, and then if they will not worke, they shall not eate.
3 Because I hauehave not authority to set them on worke, therefore I will acquaint the Magistrate, who will supply in this behalfe.
4 And what is in my power shall not be wanting: Namely, godly exhortation and admonition to leaue their sinne, as also more sparing reliefe, as a kinde of punishment of their idlenesse. By this meanes I shall performe reliefe both to soule and body.
Seeing some poore folkes are suspected of witchcraft,Ob. and some conuinced, shall I therefore giuegive to those?
If they be but suspected,Answ. then they are to be relieued, because Charity is not suspicious. If conuinced, yet I am to relieue them, because hereby I shall heape coales on their head: And still they are my flesh, yea hereby I may be a meanes to bring them to repentance.
But if I giuegive them,Reply. they by this means hauehave power ouer me, &c.
If I accept of their company,Answ. and yet suspect them to be such, and so for feare, that they may not hurt me, doe giuegive them, then it is iust with God to punish my infidelity. But if they hauehave extreame neede, and so are relieued not of feare but louelove, because my flesh, I shall eyther preuent their malice, or all will be for the best.
But Satan replies.
Though thou giuegive them neuer so much,Tent. 3. they are neuer the better, for it all goes downe the throat, it is little seene on them, they hauehave still as much neede as euer they had, and therefore it may seeme that God doth not blesse it vntounto them: and therefore secretly seemes to forbid thy charity towards them.
1 Indeede to giuegive vsually, as the world, doth sparingly and miserable, rather to linger on a pining state then to set the poore on their feete, as wee say, that they may be able to worke for themselues: this as it doth them little good, so it is not accepted of God, who willeth vsus to giuegive, not sparingly, but plentifully.
2 And therefore I will giuegive, that it may doe good, with a large hand, as God hath giuen, to set them vp, and prouide them of some stocke, and withall to see to their following of their calling, and thriuing therein.
3 If for all my paines and cost I yet see them neuer the better: yet heere is my comfort: that God accepteth my purpose, and my faith is heereby more tried: that I cast my bread vponupon the waters.
4 Yet if still I see that no good will follow, but rather my bounty is wilfully abused, to be a cloake for sinne; here I may lawfully change my soyle, and sow my seede where there is better hope.
5 And yet rather then the vilest should perish, I am bound and wil relieue them, though he sinne in receiuing; yet I shall not sinne in giuing: and my well-doing shall returne into mine owne bosome.
Oh but (saith Satan) the poore are the most vnthankfull wretches that may be,Tent. 3. and therefore what comfort canst thou hauehave in relieuing them?
1 I doe not relieue them,Reply. that they may be thankefull, but because God hath commanded so, and promised to recompence, whose faithfulnesse shall content mee, notwithstanding mans vnthankefulnesse. And
2 If I should seeke praise of men, I should dishonour my God, and therefore it is his mercy that men should be vnthankefull, that so I might giuegive him the whole glory of the worke. Yet
3 Though I finde men vnthankfull, yet let me not cease to doe good: for hereby I shall in the end ouercome euill with good. Rom. 12.
Seest thou not (saith Satan) what dissemblers these professors are,Tent. 4. while they hauehave neede of thee, who so holy as they, but yet when their turne is serued, they embrace the world. And therefore, seeing thou knowest not who are the houshold of faith: nay indeede; canst hauehave little hope, but rather to maintaine hypocrisie, cast not away thy mony, &c.
1 Though men may deceiue mee, yet my God will not.
2 And therefore my well-doing is not cast away, though the person may be a cast-away.
3 It may be I may win him hereby: If not, I make him without excuse.
4 And what know I whether I may not adde sinne to sinne: First in not relieuing him: Secondly, in iudging him an hypocrite, seeing the sinne of hypocrisie is so hardly discerned?
5 Howsoeuer, the person may be: yet will I not be cast off from doing good vntounto him, because it is not for his sake, but for the Lords cause, that I doe it, who will accept my single heart herein, …owsoeuer he may punish the others hypocrisie.
6 Lastly, if I should play the hypocrite, in not giuing where God commands, vponupon such and the like pretences, where as indeede my wretched and couetous heart is the cause thereof: What will it aduantage mee to complayne of the hypocrisie of others, seeing therein I doe condemne my selfe? And this will be the issue, that hee will one day condemne me of hypocrisie for not giuing, who now pretends his hypocrisie, as not worthy to receiue.