The Art of Giving, Chapter 26 – Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVI.
A fift Policie, whereby Sathan keepes men from charity and true bounty, is a foolish feare that they may be esteemed Papists, and therefore they will doe no good workes, because the Papists glory therein, because this is a marke (as they say) of their Religion.
Yea, are they not hereby condemned; as merit-mongers? &c.
Are not their goodly monuments cast downe and demolished?
Are we not taught iustification by Faith, so that good workes may seeme to be thrust out of doores?
The Remedy hereof is.
1 TO consider, that the Lord hath commanded vsus to abound in good workes, and therefore wee should (not casting these feares) be obedient to his will.
2 Wee teach iustification by Faith, which worketh by louelove, so that howsoeuer by faith in Iesus Christ we iustifie Gods righteousnesse in pardoning our sinnes through Christ his merit, in whom wee apprehend the acceptance and iustification of our persons, as standing righteous through him in the sight of God. So by the vertue of Christ his righteousnes, wee are inuested with a true inherent righteous, whereby first in thankefulnes vntounto our God, we abound in good workes: secondly, to declare that wee are iustified, both to our owne consciences: thirdly, and also vntounto men. Iames 2. fourthly, to approue our conformitie vntounto our head Christ, as liuing members: fiftly to be made meet for that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light.
And therefore
Wee condemne the Papists, and hauehave demolished their glorious Sepulchers: that their rotten and stinking bones being discouered, their faces may be couered with shame, that they might seeke the face of God in Christ Iesus, whom they did daily crusifie by their abhominable Masses, Hori| Murthers of infants, Thefts, Rapines, which were discouered in the demolishing of those abhominable sinkes and cages of all vncleannesse.
And though we hauehave conuerted some few of those houses to be places of Gods worship, purging them of the idolatrous vse and end, by which they were abused. Yet hauehave wee wisely defaced the multitude of them, as being altogether vnnecessary, to cut off the hope of nurcing Popery againe.
To restore to the Common-wealth, what hath vniustly beene extorted from thence, by the couetousnesse and fayned deuotions of those Abbey-lubbers.
To roote out idlenesse, and such other mischiefes as were nourished in those abhominable Stewes.
To restore the people to their liberty, who were very fearefully enthralled, not onelyonly in their soules, but euen in their bodies, by those towers of Babell.
Specially to make free way to the execution of Iustice which was defeated by such sinfull Sanctuaries. And to restore the Tithes for the maintenance of a learned Ministery which we wish may (as in part it hath bin begun) be further conuerted to that end. And hauehave we not since the time of the gospel restored, exceeded them notwithstanding, in true bounty?
Yea surely:
Blessed be God, in Iesus Christ, that hath confounded the false charity of the Papists, by discouering the rotten foundation and cruell ends thereof: Blessed be the name of his Maiesty for euer, that hath confuted their slaunderous imputations against the glorious Gospell of his Sonne Iesus, as if it abolished good workes, had banished all true louelove and charity. Hath not the glorious Lord aduanced and iustified the power of the Gospell, in kindling the hearts of the true professors thereof to performe such renowned and glorious workes as cannot be matched in any age of Popery? Hath not these times of the Gospell yeelded the supply of foure new stately and magnificent Colledges in the Vniuersities, very richly endowed for the maintenance of true religion and learning to all posterity?
HaueHave they not furnished the honourable Citie of London with a most ample and worthy Colledge, endowed with constant and sufficient mayntenance both for a Reader of Diuinity, as also with seuerall Readers of the seauen liberal Sciences, to prepare the better for the Vniuersities, and so to ease such of that iourney which will receiue their seasoning heere?
And are not the foundations laid of another famous Colledge, by the pious and magnificent authority of our Soueraigne Lord King Iames, the most constant enemy of Antichrist, and defender of the true Christian, ancient, and Apostolike faith, for the maintenance of such worthies of our Church, to employ their studies in refuting the aduersary, and iustifying the truth of Iesus Christ?
Is not a good part of that Colledge alreadie erected? Is it not still furthered and vndertaken by the Soueraigne Maiesty, who for the glory of GOD will finish that glorious worke?
What should wee speake of those hundreds of free-Schooles, that hauehave beene erected since the dayes of glorious Queene Elizabeth, of happy memory, for the rooting out of ignorance; the very nurse of Popery, and trayning vp of youth in Learning and Religion? Shall we not euer remember, not only how many sinkes of Antichrist were conuerted to Hospitals, for the cure of the diseased, and nourishing of Orphanes in the Citie of London,By king Edward. and elsewhere, and hauehave not their reuenewes beene much encreased by worthy Citizens from time to time?
HaueHave there not beene scores of new Hospitals erected and endowed in each part of the land, for the reliefe of decayed and decrepet persons?
Shall not the memory of Sutton be glorious to posterity, for that his magnificent Colledge, so stately for the House, so bountifull for the Reuenue of at lest sixe thousand pound by the yeere, for the sustentation of decayed Souldiers, Scholers, Citizens, &c. to continue for euer?
And hath not the streame of this bounty, yet flowed more boundantly to our Vniuersities?
Is there any Colledge almost in the Vniuersities, which hath not receiued, euen new glory from thes… times of the Gospell, not onelyonly by enlarging of the buildings and beautifying thereof, but by addition of large maintenance for the encrease of their Fellowship and Scholers-places, to continue for euer?
It not that glorious Library, exceeding the Vatican, or any now extant in the World, furnished with all sorts of bookes, and constant mayntenance for a Keeper therof, and continuall supply for the same, a very true and blessed monument of the bounty of these times, a very liuely fruit of the true Religion of Iesus Christ? Shall not the memory of deuout Bodley be blessed for euer?
And can wee forget what is now by Gods mercy euen finished, that magnificent building of the Vniuersitie Schooles, so stately for the structure, so sufficient for mayntenance, begunne euen from the foundation, and finished by the procurement and charge, especially, of those most worthy instruments: The Right Reuerend Father in God, the Lord Bishop of London, a true Kingly and Hieroicall Spirit; and that illustrious Sir Iohn Bennet, both liuing members of the Church of Christ Iesus, both sometimes brought vp in that magnificent Colledge of Christ Church.
Surely if we shall adde vntounto these, the multitude of new Bridges, erected substantially in the needfull places of the Land of free stone &c. The building of many Gates in the C…tie of London, &c. It may appeare that the Gospell of Christ hath beene most fruitfull in good workes.
Especially if we be wise to distinguish of the times, it will appeare that the charges of such great buildings and endowments doe in these dayes farre exceede those of former ages, though of the like bulke and quantity. Both in that the Land doth now much more abound with people then in former ages, in regard of the long peace our good God hath vouchsafed. And so in regard heereof the prices of all things being much enhansed, charges of building must needs be so much the greater.
And this the rather, because the wise and gracious Lord, hath also furnished the Land with more abundance of treasure then formerly: which as it is an occasion to make things deerer, in that men are better enabled thereby to procure their necessaries: so doth this serue for the great enriching and contentment of the Land.
That our inbred commodities shall passe at a round price, as hath else-where beene truly and sufficiently proued: see my Lord Cokes preface to his Reports.
Lastly, if we shall consider, that as the doctrine of the Gospell teacheth what is the nature and property of true bounty, so also it enableth to an holy practise of well-doing. It will easily appeare, that though it should be granted that the former times hath exceeded vsus in the outward worke, yet seeing they fayled in the true vse and end of well-doing, they cannot iustly compare herein, with the times of the Gospell. And that well manifestly be discouerd by these differences.
1 Because the good workes of popery were done in darknesse; refused the light and true touchstone thereof, and therefore wanting knowledge wherefore, and faith to make the person acceptable, they could not be good in the sight of God.
Whereas the Gospell teacheth to doe all things by a good warrant from the Word, and in the faith of IESVS CHRIST, doing all things in thankfulnesse vntounto God for his louelove vntounto vsus in Iesus Christ, informing vsus, first to labour the acceptance of our persons, in the Lord Iesus, and so through him to offer vp this sacrifice.
2 Popish workes, as they wanted a good foundation, so they fayled in the manner and meanes.
Either doing euill that good might come thereof, Rom. 3.
Or being stinted in well-doing, not by the word, but by the orders of their superiours, and seuerall rules of their professions.
Whereas the Gospell teacheth, to doe good by good meanes, not according to the will of man, in a voluntary deuotion & imitation of angelicall perfection, but according to the blessed will of God, each keeping him-selfe within the bounds of his calling. Whereas in Popery, either the calling is not lawfull at all, and so no good can truely be there done; or else liberty is taken to vsurpe an other calling, as that of the Magistrate: or else they presume of an extraordinary calling, as the best ground of all their heroicall and great exploits, as they call them, indeed, their diuelish, and monstrous enterprises vponupon States, Princes, whosoeuer stands in their way.
3 Popish workes faile in the true end, which is to giuegive glory vntounto God, and procure saluation to the soule, as being done, first, to merit by them and so to rob God of the glory of his free mercy, and Christ Iesus of the efficacie of his all-sufficient merit: secondly, being done to depriue the soule of it saluation, as teaching it; first, to rest in the outward workes, without faith: secondly, by outward workes to excuse and satisfie for any grose and notorious wickednesse, and so giues the bridle to all sinne, with greedinesse, and vtterly excludes true repentance.
3 By their good workes to merit heauen, and so to depriue themselues of the onelyonly true way thereto.
4 OnelyOnly tending to the maintenance of present credit and profit, and so to build vp an imaginary happinesse in this life, and thereby to exclude themselues eternall happinesse.
But the Gospell teacheth to ayme in all things at Gods glory. 1 Cor. 10. 13. To propose saluation not any present respect onelyonly as the marke of well-doing. 3 Phil. 13.
Not to rest in the thing done but in the acceptance thereof.
To labour perfection of well-doing, not by Euangelicall councels, but by the warrant of the word. And in this, confounding all Popish well-doing, that we especially ayme at the sincerity of the heart, and yet deny still our owne righteousnesse, that wee may be found in Christ Iesus.
And that, wherein the Papists doe well, therein wee may be like vntounto them, and hauehave exceeded them: but we must not be stinted by their measure, nor misled by their ends.
They doe well without knowledge, without Faith, to merit thereby, excusing hereby their ignorance, Idolatries, and all other kinde of abhominations.
We doe good workes out of knowledge of the will of God, out of Conscience to obey Gods will, as true branches, deriuing our goodnesse from the Vine Christ Iesus, performing and bringing forth fruit onelyonly as we are engrafted in the Vine, and daily receiue vertue and sap from thence to enable thereto; hauing the imperfection of our goodnesse daily couered with the righteousnesse of Christ, that we may be accepted of our God, &c. By the power of Christ dwelling in vsus; we are daily led on to perfection, daily ascribing our righteousnesse to our maker.
CHAP. XXVII.
Hereunto appertayneth that Tentation.
That because,
1 VVE sinne in the best wee doe, Stherefore we will doe no good at all, least we should sinne.
To which we may answere,
1 That it is a sinne to omit wel-doing, as well as to doe euill.
2 That sinne which accompanies well-doing shall not be imputed, if there be a willing minde.
3 Our persons are accepted in Christ, and therefore our faylings are couered with his righteousnesse.
4 This life is not a time of perfection, but of growing and hastening thereto, and therefore though we be not perfect without sinne, yet if we doe it truly without hypocrisie, it shall be accepted.
5 The sinne which accompanies wel-doing is not ours, and therefore we shall not answere for it.
And yet by
6 Sinne we are still humbled to giuegive glory vntounto Christ.
CHAP. XXVIII.
A seauenth deuice to draw men from true bounty, is by nourishing them in Idlenes, and so disinabling thereto.
And that this sinne abounds in this age is manifest.
1 BY the generall pouerty of the Trades-man and Artificer, each labouring onelyonly from hand to mouth, to maintaine life and soule together (as wee say:) the rest of the time being spent in idlenesse and vnthrifty sports, &c. Whereas the hand of the diligent might hauehave plenty.
2 By that ordinary sleightnesse to which all Trades are growne, each making things onelyonly saleable to the eye, without substance, &c. Idlenesse, hauing found out a neerer way to deceiue it selfe and others.
And is it not iust with God to giuegive vp the deceiuer, to be deceiued? Is not the deceitfull Artificer, that workes sleightly, because hee loues idlenesse, and cannot, through his pouerty, forbeare payment; is hee not, I say, met with all by as cunning as himselfe? Hath not idlenesse bred vp the Cony-catcher to strip him of his deceitfull gaine.
Hath not idlenesse fostred and instructed the slye and deceitfull gamester, to fleece him thread-bare?
Is not the Stage-plaier, a right bird of this idle neast, ready to entice him yet to more idlenesse? Is not the Tauerne and Alehouse dore open to receiue such a guest? Is not the bawdie house readie to send home this Prodigall by weeping-crosse, that hee may crie late repentance?
Doth not the abundance of these nurseries of idlenesse, conuince the raiging of this sinne in these times? would not the fire be quenched, if there were not such fuell?
What should wee speake of those swarmes of sturdy roagues, and Idle beggers, whose meat is for the most part ease and idlenesse, who had rather starue then be set a worke?
And are not such vsually forced to steale, that they may not starue? doe not the abundance of these conuince the Land to swarme with idlenesse?
And by your leaue, is it not now a fashion to liue in idlenesse? My high borne younger-Brothers, because they hauehave no lands, therefore they hauehave nothing to doe what they should; they cannot digge, to begge they are ashamed: meete the enemy they dare not, and therfore they wil be meet with their friend, if they can, by cheating, if not by plain cutting, and so they will doe what they should not, and so in the end suffer what they would not.
Well then it is apparant that idlenesse abounds. Learne we now in the next place, the remedy hereof.
1 Labour we to get grace in our hearts, for he that is in Christ wil be alwaies bringing forth fruit in due season, he cannot be idle that hath the spirit working in him.
2 And therefore let vsus stir vp the spirit by prayer and holy duties, that howsoeuer the world count, the seruice of God idlenesse, yet wee may finde, that when our God is honoured he will honour vsus before men, in giuing vsus diligence, that we may stand before Princes, and giuing vsus wisdome and faithfulnesse in the least.
3 And giuegive wee not our hearts to pleasures and delights, abuse we not our liberty in the creatures of God, for these will draw on and confirme in idlenesse.
4 Consider wee how the creatures are in continuall imployment.
5 And obserue wee that the diuell is neuer idle to hurt vsus.
6 Remember wee how vnprofitably wee hauehave spent the time past, and consider wee what warrant wee hauehave for the time to come.
7 And know wee that the minde can neuer be idle, if not working for good, then certainely for euill.