The Art of Giving, Chapter 2 – Chapter 6
CHAP. II.
Obserue we the diuers kindes of Liberality, and that to good ends.
THe first and speciall worke of Charity is to prouide for the saluation of the soule.Sect. 1.
To this end serue,
1 Prouision, that it be instructed by the word of God. Rom 10. 10.
2 Reproofe for sinne, and plucking it out of the fire. Iud. 2. 2.
3 Comfort, and consolation, raising it vp out of the deepe and pit of despayre. Gal. 6. 1. Iam. 5.
4 Chastisement, and humbling of the flesh, that the soule may be saued. 1 Cor. 5.
5 To this end serues the maintenance of the Ministry, as a speciall worke of bounty, as also 1 Cor. 9. 2. Cor. 11.
6 The erecting and maintayning of the Vniuersities, and Free-schooles, for the instructing of youth, &c.
A second and next worke of Beneficence is,Sect. 2. to relieue the body of our poore Brother: And this is properly called Almes: this is done;
1 By giuing freely vntounto him to supply his want. Hebr. 13. Math. 5.
2 We must also lend vntounto him, which steeds him more sometime then giuing. Deut. 5. 8. Luke 6. 35. Exod. 22. 25.
3 We must remit due debt, or money lent, if the party be not able to repay. Exod. 22. 26. Nehem. 5, 11.
4 We are to hinder and put off such wrongs as may be done vntounto him. Pro. 24 10. 11. 12. As also, as our callings will allow, to right him therein, and to be auenged of those that offer them.
6 Yea, to this end we are to prouoke others to tender his case, by making it knowne.
7 Hitherto serue set contributions, and treasuries for the poore.
8 By conscionable selling, we performe true bounty.
A third kinde of Beneficence is where gifts are giuen betweene parties for ciuill respects.Sect. 3.
1 Are gratulatory, such as Gen. 45. 23
2 Or placatory to appease wrath, as Iacob to Esau, Gen. 34.
3 Some for reward, as those of the Prince to the Subiect. Dan. 2. 48. Hest. 6. 2.
4 Or to procure fauour of those of the meaner to the superiour.1 Sam. 15. Pro. 21. 14.
5 Some to helpe and promote iust causes as Iacob to his sonne Ioseph. Gen. 43. 11.
6 And also to maintayne mutuall louelove and friendship. Nehem. 8. 1 Reg. 10▪ 11. 12.
7 To the aduancing of the worship of God. 1 Chron. 19. Exod. 35. 20.
8 By thankfulnesse we are giuen vntounto God.
9 Also gifts are giuen in signe of homage and subiection. 1 Sam. 10. 27.
Secondly some are to euill ends.Sect. 4.
1 As to the erecting of Idolatry. Exod. 32.
2 To the coruprting and enthralling of the soule. Reuel. 17.
3 To the corrupting of iudgement and iustice. Pro. 17. 23. 2 Sam. 16. Pro. 17. 8.
4 To the ensnaring, and entrapping into danger. 1 Sam. 18.
5 To the enthralling and abasing of men to serue the worlds turne.
6 To obtaine greater benefits againe, fishing with a Gudgeon to catch a Pipe.
CHAP. III.
Of the true Giuer.
1 GEnerally onelyonly the regenerate man may truly giuegive,Sect. 1. because he onelyonly hath right in what he hath. The wicked being no better then theeues.
2 Particularly the rich are bound to giuegive. 1 Iohn. 3. 17.. 2 Cor. 8. 14.
3 The poore euen of that little that they hauehave, are also bound to giuegive. Ioh. 13. 29. Eph. 4. 28. As the widow must giuegive her mite, seruants must giuegive of their wages.
4 Yea we must empouerish our selues in some cases, to giuegive to others in cases of necessitie. Act. 5. Nehem. 5.
Exception.
1 Those that are in paricular subiection to others,Sect. 2. as Seruants to Masters; these may not giuegive in selling, &c. vnlesse it be out of their wages.
2 Subiects cannot giuegive, but from that generall authority committed by the lawes of the land, vntounto them, answerable to the lawes of God, concerning relieuing of the poore, &c.
3 The Wife may not giuegive in some cases, vnlesse it be of such things as are common to both. 2 As also of that which she hath excepted from mannage.
3 And that with the consent of her Husband, eyther expressed, or presumed, from the generall liberty giuen to her.
4 In a case of extremitie, when all is like to be lost, and the Husband vnfit to gouerne the family. 1 Samuel 25. 19.
CHAP. IIII.
Obserue more especially what true giuing is, as it properly belongeth to the elect of God, and of the seuerall properties thereof:
Namely:
A Most free, franke, and liberall imparting some meet and conuenient portion of that wherewith God of his goodnesse hath blessed eueryevery man.
1 To the maintenance and aduancement of Gods pure religion and worship. Hebr. 8. 3.
2 To the mercifull relieuing, comforting, and succouring of all such as we see: or for want of such, of those whom we doe by credible report vnderstand at any time, to be in any present necessity and neede. And that in such manner as God himselfe would hauehave his owne worship to be vpheld and furthered: And the poore among his people in all Christian Churches, to be comfortably relieued and succoured.
CHAP. V.
Of the conditions and propertie, of true liberality, gathered out of the former difinition.
1 IT must be free,Sect. 1. and from a franke minde,First it must be free. Luke 6. 33. 34. 35. Prou. 25. 21. 22. euen to our enemies. Math. 5.
2 To those that cannot requite vsus againe. Luke 14. 12. 13 14.
3 And that not sparingly and grudgingly, but bountifully. 2 Cor. 9. 5. Philem. 14. Luke 19. 1 Pet. 4. 9.
Because.Reason.
1 It must be from the heart. 2 Cor. 9. 7.
2 This is it that God loueth and accepteth. 2 Cor. 8. 12.
3 Yea, though the gift be small, yet the heart makes it acceptable. Luke 21. Act. 9. 36. 1 King. 18. 3. 4. Obadiah and Lydia, Act. 16. Exod. 35. 20. 2 Chron. 39. 31. 36. & 35. 8. sub Hezekiah and Iosiah, Deut. 20. 8. Exod. 36.
Markes of this free giuing:Sect. 2. Are,
1 To giuegive bountifully of a little, so the widow. Luke 21.
2 To straine our selues euen aboue our ability. 2 Cor. 8. 4.
3 To preuent importunate asking.
4 Not to defer and put off til to morrow. Pro. 3. 28.
5 To giuegive with ioy and gladnesse of heart. 1 Chron. 19. Deut. 26. 10. 11. 14. yea, to reioyce theerein as well done.
6 To giuegive of the best, and costliest, as is fitting to the party. Iohn. 12. 3.
7 And that accordingly as God hath blessed vsus. 1 or. 16. 2.
8 Yea, according as hee hath determined in his heart 2 Cor. 9. 7.
9 Not to tie our liberality strictly to the law of men, but besides that, to doe ouer and aboue according to our abilitie.
Prouided.
1 That others be eased, and wee our selues not grieued. 2 Cor. 8. 13. Pro. 5. 16. 17. Luke 3. 11.
2 In a case of extreamity to relieue others, we must sell euen our possessions, Luke 12. 33. Psa. 112. 9. of which more afterward.
Now that we may giuegive cheerefully,Sect. 3. these things are required;
1 A delight in the thing to whom we shew our beneficence.Helpes hereunto. Psa. 131. 2. 1 Chro. 29. 2 Sam. 6. Psa. 16.
2 Faith: both that we are perswaded that this wel-doing is acceptable to God, Heb. 13. 16. Phil 4. 18. Hose 6. 2. That God also wil blesse and prouide for those that are liberall, notwithstanding the feare of after wants.
3 A third helpe is Humility, acknowledge our selues vnworthy of those blessings which yet our gracious God hath made vsus stewards of, to giuegive to others. Gen. 32. 10. 1 Tim. 6. 17. 18. 19.
4 Consider we the vncertainty of our life, that if we neglect to day wee may be cut off tomorrow. Gal. 6. 10.
5 Meditate we daily on the free and and vndeserued bounty of our God towards vsus, how seasonably it commeth, how plentifully aboue our desires.
Considerations and motiues to giuegive bountifully and freely:Sect. 4. Are,
1 Heereby we come neerest the nature of God.
2 We prouide wisely for our selues, as vndoubtedly being assured that we shall be plentifully rewarded. 2 Cor. 9. 10. 11. of the Lord.
3 Wee make vsus more friends of our vnrighteous Mammon in the world. Luke 16. to further vsus to heauen.
4 We giuegive sound contentment to the receiuer hereby: whom if we should defer, wee prouoke to despayre, murmuring, &c.
5 Wee turne that which is vsually a snare, hereby to be a blessing and good foundation against the life to come. Luke 16. 1 Tim. 6. 19.
6 Whatsoeuer we giuegive vntounto the poore, wee giuegive it vntounto Christ Iesus himselfe. Math. 25. 44. 45.
CHAP. VI.
A second thing in beneficence is, that we must giuegive of our owne, that wherewith God hath blessed vsus.
That is:
VVe must giuegive in righteousnesse, Sect. 1:Psal. 106. Deut. 24. 13. Dan. 4. 24. Psal. 112. vers. 2. 2 Cor. 9. 9. Mat. 6. Pro. 5. 25. 1 Chron. 21. 24. Luke 19.
And that because.
1 It is approued hereby of God: as being the liuely fruit of faith. Heb. 11. 6. without which all liberality is theft, &c. Esay. 61. 8. Deut. 23. 18.
2 Hereby onelyonly it will prosper, and benefit the giuer.
3 Yea, hee to whom it is giuen can hauehave no assurance of blessing and comfort, but that it may be a snare vntounto him, vnlesse it be giuen in righteousnesse, because he is the receiuer to a Thiefe.
This condemneth.
1 Those that rob the poore, to grease the rich.
2 That hope to make amends for their ill gotten-goods, by a little charity at their deaths.
3 Colour their iniustice with cloaks of authority, necessity; &c.
4 As also such receiuers, as indeed are no better then brokers, and sharers with those theeues.
Now we giuegive in righteousnesse.Sect. 2.
1 When we giuegive of our owne, that is, what we hauehave gotten by holy and conscionable labour.
2 What comes vntounto vsus by inhetance, gift, &c.
3 And that is then truly our owne which we doe sanctifie both by the acceptance of our persons in the sight of God, as also by daily prayer for the blessing of God vponupon it: vnlesse these latter be added nothing is truly our owne.
4 Then also a thing is our owne truly, when as we hauehave gotten it honestly, or it comes to vsus by inheritance, &c. so wee imploy it faithfully in some honest calling.
And this,
1 Reproueth Gentlemen and others, that hauing goods & possessions, eyther gotten, or come vntounto them by inheritance, thinke their onelyonly end is to spend it in housekeeping, and worse, neuer respecting the poore, otherwise: neyther walking in any calling, &c.
2 Generally the prophanes of all that make no conscience of sanctifying the blessings of God, nothing regard how their persons are accepted, onelyonly stand vponupon the credit of these things.
We give in righteousnesse when we giuegive where there is best desert,Sect. 3. and more bonds to tye vsus thereto: Heere then,
1 Wee must giuegive to the household of faith. Gal. 6. 10. and Church of God. And that not for any by-respects, but euen because they are beloued of God. Mat. 10. 41. 42. 43.
2 To our country & common Parent.
3 To our naturall parents and kinsefolkes. 1 Tim. 5. 4.
4 Leauing these, we may make a difference, giuing one more then the other, as they are purest in religion, or likeliest in condition, or neerer in bloud. So Iacob loued Ioseph, Ioseph Beniamin, &c. Gen. 37 Gen. 43. 44, &c.
Ob. But our Sauiours lesson is, we must louelove our neighbor as our selues: therfore ther must be no difference in our affections. Againe this may seeme to be partiality.
An. There may be degrees in louelove, & yet all may be loued truly: our Sauiour bidding that we louelove our brother; it hinders the quality of our louelove, not the quantity.
5 Next these are our friends.
6 Then our neighbours.
7 Strangers.
8 Our enemies Rom. 15. 24.