The Plea of the Poor, Treatise · Chapter 18
CHAP. 18. Of certaine ſpeciall benefits both corporall and ſpirituall promiſed to thoſe who giuegive liberally to the releife of poore.
Sect. 1. That he who releeueth the poore ſhall bee bleſſed in his poſteritie.
AND thus hauehave I ſhewed, that if by giuing to the poore we lend vntounto the Lord, we ſhall receiue full reſtitution with great aduantage. Now we will conſider wherein this reſtitution is to be made, and in what things it principally conſiſteth; namely, in all bleſſings and benefits both temporall and aeternall. The temporall benefits reſpect either our poſteritie, or our ſelues; for if we bountifully relieue the poore, the reward of our charitie ſhall not only extend vntounto vsus, but alſo to our of-ſpring and progenie; according to that in the ſecond verſe of this Pſalme: His ſeede ſhall be mighty vponupon earth, the generation of the vpright ſhall be bleſſed. So the Lord promiſeth, Eſa. 58. 10. 12. that if we will draw out our ſoule to Eſa. 58. 10. 12.the hungry, and ſatisfie the afflicted ſoule; the Lord will not only ſatisfie our ſoules in drought and make fat our bones, but that thoſe alſo that come of vsus ſhall proſper vntounto many generations. Now what better inheritance can we leaue to our children than the bleſſing of God, which like an euer-ſpringing fountaine will nouriſh and comfort them in the time of drought, when as our owne prouiſion which we hauehave left vntounto them may faile, and when the heate of affliction riſeth, will like ſtanding waters be dryed vp?
Sect. 2. That God rewardeth our almeſdeeds with corporall and earthly bleſſings.
The temporall benefits which reſpect our own perſons are either corporall or ſpirituall. For the Lord, to incourage vsus in theſe workes of mercy, doth repay and reward vsus, not only with the true treaſures of his ſpirituall graces; but ſtooping to our infirmitie, he payeth vsus with our owne money alſo, euen with the coyne of worldly bleſſings which is ſo current among vsus. According to that Pro. 3. 9. 10. Honour the Lord with thy Pro: 3. 9. 10.ſubſtance, ſo ſhall thy barnes be filled with plenty, and thy preſſes ſhall burſt out with new wine. And becauſe by this liberall giuing, men doubt leſt they themſelues ſhould come vntounto pouertie; he aſſureth vsus, that he who giueth to the poore ſhall not lack, Pro: 28. 27. So that if we ſow the ſeede of our Pro: 28. 27.beneficence it will returne vntounto vsus a double harueſt; the crop of temporall benefits in this life, and of euerlaſting bleſſednes in the life to come. Yea but thou ſeeſt not this increaſe in thy worldly eſtate by giuing almes. And if thou beleeueſt no more than thou ſeeſt, why doſt thou take vponupon thee the name of a Chriſtian, who liueth by faith rather than by ſenſe? For by how many ſecret paſſages can God conueigh vntounto thee the reward of thy almeſdeeds, though he writeth no ſuperſcription vponupon them, to certifie thee for what it is ſent? it is ſufficient that thou haſt it, and that thou knoweſt that he ſent it, as for the reaſons which moued him to giuegive theſe benefits vntounto thee, he will acquaint thee with them more particularly, when as he ſhall call thee to make vp thy Math. 25. 34.reckoning. Thou groweſt in thy ſtature from a childe vntounto a man, and thou ſeeſt not thy growing, though thou perceiueſt that thou art growne; neither knoweſt thou the particular time and meanes, when, or whereby thou cameſt to this height. And thou knoweſt and acknowledgeſt that thou art nouriſhed by thy meate, though thou ſeeſt not the ſecret paſſages whereby it is caried from the ſtomacke to the ſeuerall parts, nor canſt tell at what time or by what foode thou haſt beene chiefly nouriſhed. Why then haſt thou not the like faith and much ſtronger in ſpirituall, which thou haſt in reſpect of naturall things, ſeeing they are much more ſecret and inſenſible? and when thou haſt Gods promiſe of reward, and ſeeſt it performed by his bleſſings multiplyed in thy boſome, why doeſt thou doubt or call them into queſtion; or aſcribe them to thy ſelfe or other helps, ſeeing whatſoeuer are the meanes, they are of Gods ſending? Finally, if thou ſayeſt that thou ſeeſt no poſſibilitie of increaſing thy wealth by giuing away a great part of it vntounto the poore: I anſwer, and what more reaſon haſt thou by the collection of ſenſe, that thy ſeede which thou ſoweſt ſhould be multiplyed, which thou caſteſt away and letteſt rott in the earth, vnleſſe thou hadſt learned it by experience? And is not Gods word a much more infallible teacher & ſurer ground for thy faith to reſt vponupon, eſpecially when thou art not without experience of the like increaſe ſpringing from the ſowing of the ſeeds of thy beneficence? To conclude this point, if thou doubteſt of theſe promiſes of God made vntounto thoſe who relieue the poore, becauſe thou ſeeſt not how or when they are performed; why doeſt thou beleeue the remiſſion of thy ſins, ſaluation by Chriſt, and euerlaſting life, when as thou ſeeſt none of theſe, nor haſt any other ground but Gods promiſe, euen as thou haſt for the reward of thy almeſdeeds? and therefore if thou doubteſt of the one, thou doubteſt of the other; and were not the profeſſion of thy faith concerning thoſe ſpirituall things good cheape, but ſhould coſt thee as deare as the giuing of almes; thou wouldeſt doubtles diſcouer and proclaime thy infidelitie there as well as here, and plainly ſhew that it was in meere formalitie and hypocriſie.
Sect 3. That God will be mercifull to thoſe that ſhew mercy.
The promiſes alſo of ſpirituall bleſſings are many and diuers. In which reſpect Chryſoſtome Chry…. in dictum Apoſtoli, Oportet eſſe haer…ſes.compareth almes-deeds vntounto good corne ſowne in a fertile ſoyle, which eueryevery yeare bringeth forth fruit in due ſeaſon: ſaving that herein they differ, namely whereas, this fruit in the richeſt ground commeth but once a yeare, the ſpirituall fruit of almes-deeds ſpringeth eueryevery day, as confidence in God, aſſurance of the remiſſion of ſins, a good conſcience, ſpirituall gladnes, ioyfull hope, and other good things which God hath prepared for thoſe that louelove him. But among theſe innumerable ſpirituall bleſſings we will obſerue ſome few. As firſt, they who are mercifull to the poore, ſhall finde mercy at the hands of God; according to that Math. 5. 7. Bleſſed are the mercifull, Math. 5. 7. Eccli. 4. 10.for they ſhall obtaine mercy. Now what an excellent thing is this, to hauehave the treaſures of Gods mercy in our owne keeping, and to hauehave the key in our hand, by which we may go in to & enioy them our owne pleaſure; for if we be mercifull to the poore, and impart vntounto them ſome of our ſmall ſtore, the Lord will be mercifull to vsus, and communicate vntounto vsus abundance of pitty and compaſſion, out of the infinite treaſures of his louelove and goodnes.
Sect. 4. That if wee heare the cry of the poore, God will heare vsus. Eſa. 58. 7. ….
Secondly, if we heare & regard the cry of the poore, begging of vsus ſuch things as are neceſſary, the Lord will heare our cry when we call vponupon him for a ſupply of our wants; according to that Eſa. 58. 7. If thou deale thy bread to the hungry, and bring the poore that are caſt out into thy houſe &c. Then ſhalt thou call, and the Lord ſhall anſwer; thou ſhalt cry, and he ſhall ſay, here I am. An example whereof we hauehave in Cornelius, who with his faſting Act. 10. 4.and prayers ioyning almeſdeeds, had this comfortable meſſage from God, that his prayers and almeſdeeds were come vp for a memoriall before him. Yea in truth, theſe workes of mercy will ſpeake loude for vsus in Gods eares, when we hold our peace; and the loynes of the poore ſhall bleſſe vsus, Iob. 31. 20.when they and we are ſleeping in our beds. But contrariwiſe, if we will not heare the ſuites of the poore, neither will the Lord giuegive vsus audience when we ſue vntounto him, according to that. Pro: 21. 13. who ſo ſtoppeth his eares at the cry of the poore, Pro. 21. 13.he alſo ſhall cry himſelfe, and ſhall not be heard.
Sect. 5. That if we pittie the poore God will pittie vsus in our afflictions.
Thirdly, if we pitty the poor in their miſeries, and with our helping hand free them from their diſtreſſe, the Lord likewiſe will take compaſſion on vsus in the time of our afflictions, and when it is moſt ſeaſonable will deliuer vsus from them: according to that, Pſ. 41. 1. Bleſſed is he that conſidereth the Pſal. 41. 1.poore, the Lord will deliuer him in the time of trouble. 2. The Lord will preſerue him and keepe him aliue, and he ſhall be bleſſed vponupon the earth, and thou wilt not deliuer him vntounto the will of his enemies. 3. The Lord will ſtrengthen him vponupon the bed of languiſhing; thou wilt make all his bed in his ſickneſſe. So Eccli. 29. 12. Eccli. 29. 12.Shut vp almes in thy ſtorehouſes; and it ſhall deliuer thee from all affliction. 13. It ſhall fight for thee againſt thine enemies, better then a mightie ſhield and ſtrong ſpeare. And the Lord promiſeth that if we draw out our ſoules to the hungrie and ſatisfie the afflicted ſoule, then ſhall our light riſe in obſcuritie, and our darkneſſe be as noone day; Eſ. 58. 10. wherby is meant, that the light of comfort by a gracious Iſa. 58. 10.deliuerance ſhall ſhine vntounto vsus in the night of afflictions; or ſuch a meaſure of inward ioy, as is able to make the afflictions themſelues, euen whileſt they laſt, ſweete and comfortable; according to that, Pſalm. 30. 5. weeping may indure for a Pſal. 30. 5.night, but ioy commeth in the morning.
Fourthly, by our bountie towardes the poore we hauehave the benefit of their prayers vntounto God, the which are very auaileable for the obtaining of all good things for vsus; the which argument the Apoſtle vſeth to incite the Corinthians to a liberall contribution, 2. Cor. 9. 14. As alſo by the 2. Cor. 9. 14. 13.ſame meanes we giuegive them occaſion of praiſing and glorifying God, whileſt by the experiment of this miniſtration they ſee our profeſſed ſubiection to the Goſpell of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh in the ſame place. verſ. 13.
Sect. 6. That almesdeedes further our ſaluation.
Finally by theſe workes of mercy wee are furthered notably in the way to ſaluation, the which our Sauiour implieth, whenas hee perſwadeth vsus to make vsus friends of the Mammon of vnrighteouſnes that when wee faile they may receiue vsus into euerlaſting Luk. 16. 9.habitations. Luk. 16. 9. For in theſe earthly riches which are of ſmall value the Lord trieth our fidelity and obedience, and if in the triall we be found faultie, theſe talents are taken from vsus, and we caſt into the priſon of outer darknes; but if by our honeſt, faithfull and charitable diſpoſing of them wee are approoued, the Lord will commend vsus for good ſtewards, and commit to our keeping thoſe heauenly riches and euerlaſting treaſures. According to that which followeth in the next words, hee that is faithfull in that which is leaſt, is faithfull alſo in much: and he that is vniuſt in the leaſt, is vniuſt alſo in much: If therefore yee hauehave not been faithfull in the vnrighteous Mammon, who will commit to your truſt the true riches? and if yee hauehave not beene faithfull in that which is another mans, who ſhall giuegive you that which is your owne? So the Apoſtle would hauehave rich men charged to do good, to be rich in good workes, readie to diſtribute, willing to communicate, that they might lay vp ſtore for themſelues, a good foundation againſt the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternall life. 1. Tim. 6. 18. 19. 1. Tim. 6. 18. 19Yea in truth by exerciſing our ſelues in theſe workes of merciemercy, euerlaſting happineſſe is begun in this life; not onelyonly, as thereby we hauehave an entrance into it by aſſurance of faith; but alſo hauehave the earneſt and fruits of this happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe. In both which regards they are in the Scriptures pronounced bleſſed, who taking compaſſion on the poore doe liberally relieue them. As Pro. 14. 21. He that hath merciemercy on the poore happie is he. And Pro. 22. 9. Hee that hath a bountifull Pro. 14. 21. and 22. 9.eye ſhall be bleſſed, for hee giueth of his bread to the poore. And thus are they bleſſed of God, according to that. Deut. 15. 10. Thou ſhalt ſurely Deut. 15. 10.giuegive to thy poore brother and thine heart ſhall not bee greeued when thou giueſt vntounto him: becauſe for this thing the Lord thy God, ſhall bleſſe thee in all thy workes, and in all that thou putteſt thine hand to; which bleſſing in theſe temporall things is vntounto the faithfull an earneſt and pledge of their euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe. And our Sauiour pronounceth them, bleſſed who are mercifull, becauſe Matth 5. 7.they ſhall obtaine merciemercy, Math. 5. 7. and telleth vsus, that if in ſtead of our kinred and rich friends, wee will inuite the poore to be our gueſts, we ſhall be Luk. 14. 14.bleſſed. Luk. 14. 14. And thus alſo they are bleſſed of men; as we ſee in the example of Iob, who ſaith, that becauſe he deliuered the poore that cryed, Iob. 29. 12. 13.and the fatherleſſe, and him that had none to helpe him, the bleſsing of him that was readie to periſh came vponupon him. Iob. 29. 12. 13. And in this regard, becauſe our almeſdeeds are the meanes of deriuing vntounto vsus ſo many bleſſings, they themſelues hauehave the name of a bleſsing giuen vntounto them by the Apoſtle, 2. Corinth 9. 5.2. Cor. 9. 5.
Sect. 7. That the greateſt benefit of our almes redoundeth to our ſelues. Acts 20. 3…
By all which it appeareth, that it is much better to giuegive then to receiue, as it is Acts 20. 35. Becauſe the poore receiue onelyonly things tranſitory, and but of ſmall value, but they that giuegive, things ſpirituall, ineſtimable and heauenly. In which regard it may bee truely ſayd, that as he who is mercifull is good vntounto others, ſo he is beſt of all to himſelfe; for whereas hee onelyonly releeueth their bodies, he feedeth and refreſheth his owne ſoule; according to that Prou. 11. 17. The mercifull man Prou. 11 17. & 25.doth good to his owne ſoule. And ver. 25. The liberall ſoule ſhall be made fat, and he that watereth ſhall be watered alſo himſelfe. Whereof it is that God is ſayd to hauehave beſtowed, and the Churches of Macedonia to hauehave receiued grace, when in their affliction and pouerty they abounded vntounto the riches of their liberalitie, and euen aboue their power contributed to the neceſſity of the poore Saints. 2. Cor. 8. 1. 2. And therefore let vsus alſo labour to abound in this grace, as the Apoſtle exhorteth. 2. Cor. 8. 1. 2. v. 7verſ. 7. becauſe there is no loſſe in this ſpirituall traffique, but the more we lay out, the greater will be our gaine, the more liberally we giuegive, the more bountifully we ſhall receiue.
Sect. 8. That fearefull threatnings are denounced againſt the vnmercifull.
But if all theſe arguments, taken from our own good, will not perſwade vsus to be bountifull in doing theſe works of merciemercy, yet let thoſe thretnings of euils and comminations of Gods iudgements, ſomwhat rouze vsus vp to the performance of theſe Chriſtian duties. For the Lord ſo abhorreth the neglect of them, that hee reckoneth it among thoſe hainous ſinnes of Sodome, which mooued him in his fearefull wrath to deſtroy them with fire and brimſtome from heauen. Ezech. 16. 49. Ezech. 16. 49.And that wee may not fall into it, threatneth againſt all who liue in it, moſt greiuous puniſhments. As firſt, that he will turne away his eares from hearing their praiers. Prou. 21. 13. Who ſo Prou. 21. 13. Fruſtra manus ad Deum ex pandit, qui has ad pauperes non extendit. 2. Cor. 9. 6.ſtoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore, he ſhall alſo cry himſelfe, and ſhall not bee heard. That as they ſow nothing in the ſeed-time of this life, ſo they ſhall reap nothing in the harueſt of happineſſe. 2. Cor. 9. 6. that as they hauehave ſowen only to the fleſh, ſo of the fleſh they ſhall reap nothing but corruption. Gal. 6. 8. that they ſhall lie open to the curſe Gal 6. 8. Prou. 28. 27.of the poore: according to that. Prou. 28. 27. He that giueth vntounto the poore ſhall not lacke, but hee that Deut. 24. 15.hideth his eyes, ſhall hauehave many a curſe. The which curſes of the poore he will heare and ratifie, according to the ſaying of the ſonne of Syrach. chap. 6. 5. Eccli. 6 5.Turne not away thine eie from the needie, and giuegive him no occaſion to curſe thee. 6. For if he curſe thee in the Iob. 31. 16. to 29.bitterneſſe of his ſoule, his praier ſhall bee heard of him that made him. Finally, the Lord threatneth vntounto them iudgement without merciemercy who hauehave ſhewed no mercy. Iam. 2. 13. To which purpoſe one ſaith, Iam. 2. 13.Thou haſt not beene mercifull, and thou ſhallt not finde mercy, thou hast not opened thy gates to the poore, and Baſil. Orat. ad Diuites.thou ſhalt be ſhut out of the gates of heauen; thou hast not giuen bread, and thou ſhalt not receiue the bread of life. And againe: The fruits which thou ſhalt reape, will be like the ſeede which thou haſt ſowen. Thou haſt ſowen bitterneſſe and thou ſhalt reape bitterneſſe; thou haſt ſowen crueltie, and thou ſhalt reape cruelty. Thou haſt ſhunned merciemercy, and mercy ſhall ſhun thee; thou haſt hated the poore, and hee in like manner ſhall hate thee, who beeing rich was content for our ſake to become poore. The which denunciation of iudgements ſhall accordingly bee executed at the latter day, when vnmercifull men ſhall bee baniſhed out of Gods Kingdome, not only for hurting the poore, but for not helping them: nor for taking away their bread, drinke and clothes, but for not giuing theſe things vntounto them. An example whereof our Sauiour propoundeth in the parable of the Luk. 16. In inferno poſitus ad petenda minima peru…nit, q…ae hi… parua negauit. Auguſt. de Conflict. virt.rich glutton, who hauing receiued from God the large portion of a childe, grudged to ſpare out of his plenty and ſuperfluity the portion of a dog, euen the ſcraps which fell vnderunder his table. And therefore his puniſhment was anſwerable, for he who denied his crummes, to ſatisfie poore Lazarus his hunger, was himſelfe denied a droppe of colde water to quench his owne heate and thirſt.