The Plea of the Poor, Treatise · Chapter 17
CHAP. 17. That what we giuegive to the poore we ſhall receiue againe with great increaſe.
Sect. 1. That God will repay vsus with great increaſe▪
BY that which hath beene ſaid, it appeareth, that by giuing almes we ſhall be no looſers, ſeeing God will repay what is thus laid out. Now let this conſideration further induce vsus to the performance of this dutie, that we ſhall not only receiue our owne againe, but with great increaſe, according to that Luk. 6. 38. GiueGive and it ſhall be giuen Luc. 6. 38.vntounto you, good meaſure, preſſed downe, and ſhaken together, and running ouer ſhall men giuegive into your boſome. And the Wiſeman telleth vsus, that if we will thus honour the Lord with our ſubſtance, our barnes ſhall be filled with plenty, and our preſſes ſhall burſt out with new wine. Pro. 3. 9. 10. And if wee thus ſcatter the ſeeds of our beneficence, they ſhal Pro. 3. 9. 10.be the more increaſed; whereas if contrariwiſe we with-hold more than is meete, it is the ready way to bring vsus to pouertie, as it is, Pro: 11. 24. Pro. 11. 24.And hereof it is that almes-giuing is compared to ſowing of ſeede: ſo in my Text the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that the bleſſed man hath diſperſed, he hath giuen to the poore; and the Apoſtle ſaith, that he 2 Cor. 9. 6. Lucrū e…t …etati… n…mine f…er… ſumptū. T…rtull.which ſoweth bountifully ſhall reape bountifully; to note vntounto vsus, that there is no loſſe in giuing to the poore, but great gaine and aduantage, euen a fruitfull harueſt, yeelding 30, 40 or an 100 fold increaſe. In which regard it may be truly ſaid, that Eleemoſyna non est diuitiarum diſpendium, ſed diteſcendi potius compendiū, quaeſtuſ que omnium vberrimus. Giuing almes, is not the way to waſte our wealth, but the Art of thriuing, and the moſt compendious courſe to come vntounto riches. The which conſideration ſhould make vsus bountifull in doing theſe workes of merciemercy, ſeeing we hauehave much more benefit by the almes we giuegive, than our poore brethren who doe receiue them. For they are the ground into which theſe ſeeds are caſt, and we the husbandmen who diſperſe and ſcatter them; now as ſeede is chiefly for his benefit who ſoweth it, and not for the benefit of the ground into which it is caſt; ſo the poore hauehave but the preſent vſe and poſſeſſion of this ſeede of almes-deeds, but the benefit of the happy and heauenly harueſt belongeth to thoſe good huſbandmen, who ſowe in theſe grounds the feedes of their beneficence. Let vsus not then grudge to giuegive almes to the poore when we hauehave fit occaſion, but rather do them with ioy, and thankfulneſſe vntounto God, who hath giuen vsus fit oportunity of ſowing our ſeede, that ſo we may reape a fruitfull harueſt. For what husbandman would not readily and cherefully harken to one who ſhould offer vntounto him fertile and fruitfull land, ready prepared and manured, to ſowe his ſeede in, with a faithfull promiſe that he ſhould reap the whole crop for his owne vſe and benefit? But thus God dealeth with vsus when he giueth vsus oportunitie of releiuing the poore: yea in truth much better & more liberally. For though a man ſhould freely receiue of another, land to ſow his ſeede in, yet he were not ſure of a fruitfull harueſt, for many accidents happen, which cut off the hopes of the moſt skilfull husband-man, as froſts and milldewes, wormes and locuſts, tares and weeds, too much wet, or too much drought, may deſtroy the corne, though the ſeede were neuer ſo good; or when it is readie for the ſickle, the enemie may come and reape it: but if wee ſow theſe ſeedes of our beneficence, beleeuing Gods promiſes and hoping for an happy harueſt, we ſhall neuer faile of our expectation, becauſe God who is infinite in power and truth, hauing promiſed a fruitfull crop, no outward accident is able to hinder it. And although our Almeſdeedes ſeeme (like the ſeede ſowne) to periſh and rot, yet beleeuing what we ſee not, we ſhall aſſuredly ſee what wee beleeue, and finde ſuch a fruitfull increaſe in our heauenly harueſt; as wee ſhall conclude, that much greater benefit redounded to vsus who gaue, then vntounto the poore who were the receiuers of our almes.
Sect. 2. Almeſdeedes compared to lending vponupon vſurie.
In the ſame reſpect, almeſgiuing is in the Scripture compared to lending; yea, to ſuch a loane, whereby we hauehave not onelyonly the principall reſtored, but with great encreaſe. For whereas if wee lend our money vntounto men, we ſhall hauehave but ten in the hundred, if for Gods ſake wee lend vntounto the poore, we ſhall hauehave an hundred for ten, yea, an hundred for one, and eternall life to boote. Neither Mark. 10. 30:neede wee to doubt of the payment, for though the poore bee neuer ſo vnable, yet they hauehave an all-ſufficient ſurety, euen GOD himſelfe, Prou. 19 17.who hath vndertaken in this bountifull manner to repay whatſoeuer is thus laid out. Luk. 6. 35.The which ſhould make vsus cheerefull in doing workes of mercy, ſeeing we our ſelues are ſure of the largeſt gaine, for not the taker, but the putter out to vſurie hath the greateſt profit. And not to giuegive readily vponupon this conſideration, is to proclaime, either that we doe not beleeue Gods promiſes, nor giuegive that credit vntounto him on his word, which we would giuegive to a Turke or Infidell dwelling among vsus; or that wee doe not eſteeme the payment of his ſpirituall grace or heauenly glory for currant money, or of equall value to theſe tranſitory trifles which we impart vntounto the poore. For if a man of any credit ſhould promiſe for the laying out of an hundred pound, that wee ſhould hauehave a yeerely annuitie of ſo much for tearme of life, how eagerly would we catch at ſuch an offer, though the quicke approch of death might make vsus loſers by the bargaine? But God promiſeth, that if wee will lay out our money on theſe vſes, wee ſhall hauehave an hundred for one, & for theſe earthly trifles, heauenly and euerlaſting treaſures; and who then would not willingly liſten to ſuch a motion, if hee beleeueth him that maketh it, or valueth the bargaine that is offered vntounto him? when Alchymiſts promiſe great ſummes of gold for the disburſing of a little money, though they neuer faile to deceiue thoſe that beleeue them, yet they finde many, who, to the vtter ruine of their eſtates, will giuegive credit vntounto them, being deluded with theſe golden hopes; and therefore let it be a ſhame vntounto all, which profeſſing Chriſtianity, will not truſt God, who is truth it ſelfe, and cannot deceiue vsus, promiſing better and more durable riches, euen heauenly and euerlaſting treaſures, vntounto thoſe who for his ſake are liberall to the poore, ſeeing heereby they diſcouer groſſe hypocriſie, in profeſſing faith when as they are wholly poſſeſſed of infidelity, and heatheniſh diffidence, ſeeing they are ready to truſt a cozening impoſtor, rather then the only true God; and carnall worldlineſſe, which maketh them to eſteeme more a little bread, a few ſcraps of meat, or caſt apparell, then the bread of life, the heauenly Manna and foode of Angels, and thoſe rich robes of glorie and bleſſedneſſe which ſhall neuer bee worne out.
Sect. 3. That louelove of our money ſhould mooue vsus to part with it to charitable vſes.
There is nothing that hindereth a man more from doing theſe workes of mercy, then exceſſiue louelove of money and riches, which maketh them ſo loth to part with them; whereas in truth if they loued them wiſely, nothing ſhould make them more ready to beſtow them vponupon theſe vſes. For euen worldly men that are wiſe in their generation, the more that they louelove their money, the ſeldomer they let it lie by them where it encreaſeth not, and is ſubiect to many caſualties, but the more ready they are to put it out, either vponupon vſurie, if they can finde a ſufficient debtor, or vponupon ſome good bargaine which will returne it againe with great encreaſe. O why then ſhould not we who profeſſe our ſelues ſpiritually minded imitate this wiſedome in our owne kinde: ſeeing if wee will lay out our coyne on theſe charitable vſes, the gaine is ineſtimable, and our pay-maſter all-ſufficient and infallible in his promiſes? For what greater gaine can bee imagined then to change earth for heauen, tranſitorie trifles for eternall treaſures, the bread of men for the bread of Angels, rotten ragges for glorious robes; and a little drinke, yea, a cup of cold water, if the well or riuer be our beſt cellar for the water of life, which will infinitely delight and ſatisfie vsus, without glutting or ſatietie? why ſhould wee thinke the poore ſo much beholding vntounto vsus for our ſcraps and ſuperfluous reliques, and not rather our ſelues beholding vntounto them, ſeeing they are the occaſions of ſuch ineſtimable gaine, for ſuch trifling disburſements? Bee mindfull (ſaith one) ô Auguſtine.man, not onelyonly of that which thou giueſt, but alſo of him who receiueth. For the poore may ſay vntounto thee: conſider, ô man, that I in receiuing alwies giuegive no leſſe vntounto thee, then thou in beſtowing them giueſt vntounto me. For if there were not ſome to receiue thy almes, thou couldeſt not giuegive earth and receiue heauen. Doe not looke vponupon me, but vponupon him that made both thee and mee; and becauſe thou haſt heard mee, aske of him what thou wilt, and he will heare thee. GiueGive therefore thankes vntounto him, who hath giuen thee meanes by ſuch a ſmall price to procure a thing ſo precious. GiueGive earthly things and thou ſhalt receiue heauenly, giuegive temporall things and thou ſhalt receiue eternall. Let therefore no man ſay that he giueth to the poore, when as it may more truely be ſaid, that he giueth vntounto himſelfe rather then vntounto them.
Sect. 4. That God is the ſureſt paymaſter.
And as the gaine is ineſtimable, ſo the payment moſt aſſured; for wee hauehave Gods word and hand-writing for it, who neuer failed of his promiſe; for as he is true of his word, ſo he is all-ſufficient to performe. Nihil promittit & non reddit: fidelis ille factus eſt debitor, eſto tu auarus exactor. He Aug. in Pſa 32.payeth whatſoeuer he promiſeth; he is a true debter, be thou a couetous exactour. Feare not to be an vſurer, ſo thou lendeſt vntounto God; put out to him thy money, and expect great increaſe: for thou haſt God for thy debtour, and his payment (like himſelfe) is infinite. GiueGive to him who hath giuen all to thee, for thou canſt neuer exceed him in bounty, though thou ſhouldeſt giuegive him all thou haſt and thy ſelfe to boote; neither can thy liberalitie bring anie loſſe, ſeeing the more thou giueſt the more thou ſhalt receiue. Doeſt thou louelove thy money, and wouldeſt thou hauehave it encreaſed. Deliuer it not into the hands of men, who Hominē quaeris; quando accipit gaudet, quando reddit plorat; vt accipiat precatur, ne reddat calumniatur. Auguſt. de tempore ſerm. 146.(as Auſtin ſaith) will reioyce when they borrow, and mourne when they repay it; Intreate that they may receiue, and calumniate when they ſhould reſtore; who may be bankrupt and cannot, or deceitfull and will not pay: Or who will put thee off with many delaies, and trouble thee with expecting, as they hauehave formerly troubled thee with their importunitie in borrowing. But if thou bee a wiſe vſurer, chuſe God himſelfe for thy debtor, who is the ſureſt pay-maſter. GiueGive me of mine owne (ſaith Chriſt) and of a creditor make me to become thy debtor; and I will repay thee eternall treaſures for tranſitory trifles. But vnderſtand this ſoberly. For wee cannot (as the Debitor factus eſt, non aliquid à nobis a…cipendo ſed quod ei placuit promittendo Au…. de verbis Apoſt. ſerm. …9.Papiſts dreame) make God our debtour by the merit of our works, but by his owne free and gracious promiſe. According to that of Auſtin; He is made a debtor, not by receiuing ſomething from vsus, but becauſe it hath pleaſed him to promiſe ſomething to vsus. For we after one manner ſay vntounto man, thou oweſt me that which I hauehave giuen thee, and after another, thou oweſt me becauſe thou haſt promiſed mee: when as thou ſaieſt, thou oweſt me, becauſe I hauehave giuen thee, the benefit hath proceeded from thee, though it were lent and not giuen. But when thou ſayeſt, thou oweſt me, becauſe thou haſt promiſed, thou requireſt that which thou haſt not giuen. For his goodneſſe that hath promiſed, will mooue him to giuegive, leſt his fidelity ſhould degenerate into maliciouſneſſe▪ &c.
Sect. 5. That it is the end of riches to be imployed on good vſes, and not locked vp.
Againe, the louelove of our money ſhould not hinder vsus from doing the works of merciemercy, but rather make vsus more diligent in them; for he that loueth any thing wiſely, deſireth aboue all, that it may attaine to his right and cheife end, as being the beſt which his louelove can wiſh vntounto it: now the end of our money and riches, is not that they ſhould lie ruſting and rotting by vsus without vſe, but that they ſhould bee communicated to the glorie of God and the good of our neighbours; and therefore ſeeing the more we louelove our wealth, the better wee wiſh vntounto it, and nothing is better for it then to attaine to theſe ends, they louelove it not at all, or at leaſt after a fooliſh manner, who by inpriſoning their riches, and ſo fruſtrating their cheife end, doe hinder them from attaining vntounto their perfection.
Sect 6. That by giuing our riches to the poore, wee long enioy them.
Finally, if wee wiſely louelove our wealth, let it bee our cheife care, that we may long enioy it: the which we cannot doe by keeping it on the earth, for though wee keepe it vnderunder locke and key, bolt and barre, continuall watch and ward, it may bee loſt whilſt wee liue; but if not ſo, yet when death commeth (and for ought wee know it may come to day before to morrow) it will ſpoile vsus of all, and turne vsus naked out of the world, as wee came naked into it. But the onelyonly meanes to hauehave the fruit and benefit of our riches for euer, is to ſend them before vsus into our heauenly countrey, where wee ſhall hauehave our euerlaſting habitation, and the beſt meanes of tranſporting them thither, is to deliuer them vntounto the poore, who like truſty porters will carrie them for vsus, for if wee carry them our ſelues, they will, like heauie burthens, hinder our iourney, and like the camels bunch, keepe vsus from entring into the ſtraight gate; whereas if the poore whom God hath appointed for this ſeruice carry them for vsus, we ſhall auoyd the trouble, and eſcape this danger. The which ſhould be a forcible argument to moue vsus with a bountifull hand to giuegive vntounto the poore, ſeeing whatſoeuer is ſo giuen is ſent before vsus, and whatſoeuer is hourded vp in our cheſts is loſt and left behinde vsus. And what folly is this, there to leaue thy wealth whence thou art departing, and not to ſend it before thee whether thou art going? to leaue and looſe thy riches in thy Inne and the place of thy pilgrimage, and not to tranſport it into thine owne Country and manſion-houſe where thou art euer to reſide? And therefore ſeeing the onelyonly way to keepe our goods for euer, is to part with them for a time, and the meanes to preſerue them for euerlaſting vſe, is to diſperſe & ſcatter them amongſt the poore members of Ieſus Chriſt; and contrariwiſe the keeping them too carefully on earth, is the direct way to looſe them in heauen; let vsus giuegive that which wee can no otherwiſe keepe, that wee may receiue that which we can neuer looſe, and if wee thinke that heauen is our home let vsus ſend our wealth thither before vsus, that we may the more cheerefully trauell after it. For hee who is eternally to dwel in thoſe heauenly manſions, doth in this life ſend his heart thither to take poſſeſſion: which that wee may do let vsus lay vp our treaſures there, that ſo our hearts may bee there alſo. Whereas contrariwiſe hee whoſe onelyonly care is to hourd vp riches vponupon the earth, doth plainely ſhew that this world is his natiue home and Countrie, and that hee hath no right or intereſt in the heauenly Canaan.
Sect. 7. That our ineſtimable gaine counteruaileth our temporary forbearance.
A ſecond impediment, which hindereth men from doing theſe workes of mercy is, becauſe they looke at this great returne of gaine, as being many yeares and ages after to bee receiued; for though they like theſe heauenly treaſures, which the Lord promiſeth to thoſe, who by giuing to the poore do lend vntounto him; and cannot but confeſſe that God is the beſt and ſureſt Paymaſter, yet they are diſcouraged from thus laying out their mony, becauſe he ſeemeth to take long daies of payment, and hath appointed the place of receipt in another world, whereas they, both for place and time are wholy for the preſent, and in truth, deſire to be paid in their own coine, that is, in tranſitory and momentary riches which are ſubiect to their ſenſes. But to theſe I anſwere, that if they liue onelyonly by ſenſe and not by faith, they hauehave indeed little cauſe to exchange their earthly poſſeſſions for heauenly treaſures, ſeeing they can hauehave no true hope of comming into that place of happineſſe, or of inioying thoſe diuine riches which are prepared onelyonly for the faithfull; and therefore let ſuch keepe their mony till it periſh with them. But let thoſe, who being true Chriſtians, can with the eye of faith pearce the heauens and there behold things inuiſible, continually exerciſe themſelues, in theſe workes of mercy, notwithſtanding this diſcouragement; ſeeing they know not how ſoone the Lord will call them to account, and make all reckoninges ſtraight which are betweene them. For howſoeuer they may conceiue hope of prolonging their liues to an hundred yeares, yet it may be, it will not laſt another monethmonth or day, and ſo their payment ſhall be as ſpeedie and quicke, as great and ineſtimable. But ſay that the line of their life ſhould outreach the length of their longeſt hopes, yet hauehave they good cauſe to lay out their wealth on this ſpirituall and heauenly bargaine. Firſt, becauſe if they will waite and expect with patience, they hauehave ſuch a ſure Pay-maſter who will not faile to accompliſh all his promiſes. According to that Gal. 6. 9. Let vsus not be wearie in Gal 6. 9.well doing; for in due ſeaſon wee ſhall reape, if wee faint not. And though our bread ſeemeth to bee caſt on the face of the waters, and ſo euen caſt away, yet we ſhall ſurely finde it after many daies, as it is Eccleſ. 11. 1. Secondly, the ineſtimable Eccleſ. 11. 1.worth of the heauenly reward which alſo will be euerlaſting, when wee do inioy it, may ſufficiently incourage vsus to lay out our riches on ſuch infinite hopes, though the full payment bee a while delayed. Euen the moſt greedie Vſurer will lend his mony for longer time, according to the greatneſſe of the intereſt and increaſe which hee expecteth. The husbandman though neuer ſo couetous is content to ſpare his ſeede wheate for a longer time, then his ſummer corne, & to expect the harueſt almoſt the whole yeare with as much patience and comfort, as he doth a few moneths for the other graine, becauſe hee knoweth that when it commeth it will be of much better value. And we ſee by experience that our Merchants as willingly venter their wealth into the furtheſt parts of the Eaſt Indies, as into the next adioyning Countries, becauſe their greater gaine will ſufficiently recompence their forbearance and reward their patience. And yet the Vſurer meeting with banrupts may with his hoped gaine looſe his principall; the husbandman after much coſt and paines, may by vnſeaſonable weather and many caſualties, looſe both the gaine of harueſt, and alſo a great part of the ſeede which he hath ſowed; and the Merchant if he looſeth not his goods together with the expectation of his gaine, yet he getteth and recouereth them after long time and innumerable dangers. O why then ſhould wee not chuſe rather to put out our mony to ſuch a debter, as promiſing ineſtimable gaine for the time of our forbearance, is alſo moſt true of his promiſe and all-ſufficient to performe? why ſhould wee not patiently expect the comming vp and ripening of the ſeedes of our beneficence, ſeeing wee are ſure of ſuch a rich croppe and heauenly harueſt? and why ſhould wee not like wiſe Merchants venter our goods into the holy land, ſeeing though the returne be ſlow, yet in the end it will bring the beſt and ſureſt gaine?