The Art of Giving, Title page – Dedication
THE ART OF Giuing. Describing the true Nature, and right vse of Liberality: And prouing That these dayes of the Gospell hauehave farre exceeded the former times of Superstition in true Charitie and Magnificence.
BY THOMAS COOPER.
LONDON, Printed for T. Pauter, and are to be sold in Iuy Lane. 1615.
TO THE RIGHT VVorshipfull, Sir Iohn Rotheram, and Sir Gilbert Wakering, Knights, and their vertuous Ladies, especiall Patrons of my studies, T. C. wisheth all encrease of the blessings of Heauen and Earth.
Right Worshipfull:
THe occasions that hath moued mee to treate of this subiect of true Beneficence in these latter dayes are First, to propose it as a liuely Touchstone for the triall of our holy entertainment of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ: Secondly, to confound hereby the vaine confidence of this deceitfull generation, which seeme to be somewhat herein, when indeed they are nothing; deceiuing themselues, euen as clouds without water, in their false liberality. And so to conuince the Atheist, that saith, where is the promise of his comming? seeing this very decay of true louelove, is among other, one of those pregnant signes, that the day of the Lord Iesus is neere at hand, that so the wise in heart may see the plague, and hide himselfe. And seeing he that is comming will come quickly, with his reward with him, to giuegive vntounto eueryevery one according to his work, yea, will come sodainly in an houre, that no man knowes of, ought we not alwaies to hauehave Oyle ready in our Lamps, that so we may enter in vntounto our masters ioy?
Surely were there nothing else to moue vsus hereunto, but the commandement of our heauenly Master, this should prouoke vsus to louelove one another, this should adiure vsus to abound in Charity, that so we might auoid eternall vengeance, seeing all the commandements are fulfilled in this, that we louelove each other, & to faile in one duty is guilty of the breach of all. But behold what louelove the Father hath shewed vsus, that, what was impossible to the commandement in regard of the transgression, whereby sin reuiued & became … of measure sinfull: and so the hatred increasing, we had no hope, but were as water spilt vponupon the ground, that we could not be gathered vp againe: Our God which is rich in mercy through his great louelove, wherewith he loued vsus, supplied by a most gracious and wonderfull remedy, namely, the pretious bloud of his deere sonne, as of a Lambe vndefiled & without spot. This is that bloud that hath spoken better things for vsus then the bloud of Abel, not only stopping that loud crie of Vengeance which our sinnes called for, but opening vntounto vsus the gates of righteousnesse, and enabling vsus to walke in the similitude of the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ, that so we might be partakers with him of eternall glory. And this is that blessed Lord Iesus, who hath not beene a stranger vntounto vsus, or soiournour with vsus for a season, but hath beene liuely described in our sight, and euen crucified among vsus, in the glorious and constant publishing of the Gospell of Peace. And could greater louelove be shewed to vsus by any then that the sonne of God should lay downe his life for his? And if the Lord so loued vsus, ought we not to louelove one another? Is not this our euidence that we louelove God whom we hauehave not seene, in that we louelove our brethren whom we see daily? Is not this our warrant that we are translated from death to life, because we louelove the brethren?
Behold then our triall of the right entertainment of the Gospell. And hauehave wee brought forth this fruit to repentance and amendment of life?
Surely we must needs acknowledge that our glorious God can truly iustifie him against vsus: What could he hauehave done vntounto vsus which he hath not done? Enquire we, in the name of God, of the dayes that are past, which were before vsus, since the day that God created man vponupon the earth, and aske from one end of heauen to the other; if there came to passe such a great thing as this, or whither any such like thing hath beene heard: What nation is so great vntounto whom the Gods come so neere as the Lord our God is neere vntounto vsus in all that we call vntounto him for?
Had euer nation the Gospell of Iesus Christ so long continued with such constant outward peace and prosperity for the better entertainment thereof? Was euer nation deliuered out of so horrible a pit, as was the Gunpowder treason? Thus may the Lord iustifie himselfe against vsus, but how hauehave we iustified our God in a conscionable embracing of so great saluation, bringing forth fruit answerable thereunto?
That we hauehave a name to be aliue, who may deny vsus? Is not yet the Gospell preached in our streets? Doe we not draw forth with ioy out of these fountaines of saluation? How is it then that we bring forth wilde grapes? are we not for all this euen now dead, and pluckt vp by the rootes? Yea, if we may be beleeued our selues, we say that we are rich, and encreased with goods, and hauehave neede of nothing? But is not this because wee know not that we are poore, and lame, and blinde, and miserable? Are we not willingly ignorāt of the truth of our estates, iudging of the same by false rules, as Opinion, Custome, Estimation, Multitude, and such like: and so are deceiued in our imagination, esteeming our selues to be somewhat, when we are nothing, at leastwise nothing to what we should be? HaueHave we brought forth fruit answerable to the time of our visitation?
Surely, if there were nothing else to conuince our barrennesse & vnprofitablenes in the entertainment of so great saluation, the very bleating of the Sheep, and lowing of the Oxen; the cries and complaints of the poore, ringing daily, and piercing the heauens for their contempt, and des…lations: the diuisions of Ruben, should cause great sorrow of heart; this might iustly challenge a great decay of vnfained louelove. Is not Ephraim against Manasses, and Manasses against Ephraim, and both against Iuda? Hath not the abundance of selfe-louelove eaten out all hearty and true affection to each other, while eueryevery one seekes his owne, and not that which may concerne the common good: nay, with the generall wracke of the publike weale? And if wee thus bite and teare one another, shall we not be deuoured of each other?
Learne we hence, in the name of God, to see the plague, and hide our selues. Is it not already begunne; shall I say in the vttermost part of the hoast, or not rather in the hoast and eyes thereof? And is not the Kite ready to seaze vponupon both? The Lord giuegive vsus vnderstanding in all things. Is not this the day of Iacobs trauaile? Doth not the Iudge stand at the doore? Will not the Master come in an houre which that seruant dreameth not of, and giuegive him his portion with Hypocrites, where shall be weeping and wayling, and gnashing of teeth? Surely, were it not that the Lord had reserued a remnant of the holy seed among vsus, we had long since beene as Sodome and Gomorrha: And is not the righteous daily taken from the euill to come? Is not Ezekiell daily made a signe to the house of Israell? And is not the hand of the Lord stretched out still? Who so is wise let him vnderstand these things, and to whom the Lord shall reueale them; for the wayes of God are holy and righteous, and the iust shall walke therein, but the w… ked shall fall in the same. Must not the Gospell be a stumbling-blocke to the Iew, and foolish to the Graecians? Doe any of the Rulers beleeue in him? nay, is it not an offence that the poore receiue the Gospell? And shall not the Lord stay his hand till Lot be remoued out of Sodome? shall not the Gospell be continued till the remnant be gathered in? And may we not daily obserue a great Haruest abroad, euen the barraine and desolate corners of the Land, hungring after the Word, and catching the Kingdome, with all holy violence? And why then stand wee idle in the Market-place? Why helpe wee not the Lord against the mighty? Is not the Canaanite yet in the Land? Hath hee not encreased by our contentions and securitie? Why ioyne wee not together against the common enemy? Doth he not beast of false liberality? Doth not the harlot begin to encroach vponupon vsus by her offerings of Peace and pretences of reconciliation, by her glorious shewes, and sugred greetings, entending more desperately to kill, when she kisseth and croucheth, that heapes of men may fall by her might? Can we euer forget that hidden Mine? Shall we not euer suspect such fawning Absalons, and deepe Achitophels?
Is not this the age of complements, and formalities, vanishing meerely in shewes and bodily worships? Was euer deadly hatred carried more cunningly vnderunder sugred words, and fayned deuotions? Is not our friendship turned into flattery, our hospitality to stately houses, and gay cloathes, our Beneficence to vaine boastings, and cold words: Nay, to euill deeds? Witnesse our enclosures and turning out of our brethren from their ancient habitations, and placing in their roomes heards of beasts: Were it not better to be such Gentlemens sheepe then their Tenants? Were it not better that such great ones had not a foot of the earth, then that hereby they should endanger the losse of heauen? What shall wee thinke of that innaturall encroaching and vndermining of each other in their callings and liuelihoods? Tradesman eating out Tradesman, Merchant supplanting Merchant, one Brother vndermining another, the common wisedome and misery of the times? Doe not they argue that both conscience and charity is dead among vsus? And ought we not then to strengthen the things that are ready to die, that so wee may recouer our first louelove? Surely what these poore labours shall come short of herein, that shall I not fayle to make vp with my best desires: All which I doe here, with whatsoeuer I humbly commend vntounto your Worships good acceptance in Iesus Christ, as acknowledging hereby my selfe, and all mine deepely indebted vntounto your Worships for your fatherly louelove vntounto vsus in our afflictions, and binding my selfe hereby in all hearty affections and endeauours, at least to take away iust imputation of vnthankefulnesse. And thus commending your Worships to the grace of God in Iesus Christ, I euer rest:
Your Worships poore kinsman, euer bounden in Iesus Christ THOMAS COOPER.