The Plea of the Poor, Treatise · Chapter 20
CHAP. 20. That God will make the eſtate of the mercifull proſperous and flouriſhing.
Sect. 1. That by giuing almes our eſtate is confirmed and increaſed.
ANd ſo I come from the firſt maine argument expreſſed in the text, to the ſecond contained in the laſt words: his horne ſhall be exalted; with honour. In which words the holy Ghoſt promiſeth to them who are liberall and diligent in doing the workes of merciemercy, a moſt proſperous and flowriſhing eſtate in this world and in the world to come. For firſt by exalting of their horne is ſignified the confirmation, ſtrengthening and increaſing of their proſperous eſtate, the metaphor being borrowed from thoſe beaſts whoſe chiefe ſtrength, both for offence and defence, is principally Pſal. 18. 2.in their hornes. And thus it is ſaid Pſal. 18. 2. The Lord is my rocke and my fortreſſe, and my deliuerer, my God, my ſtrength in whom I will truſt, my buckler, and the horne of my ſaluation, and my high tower. By all which borrowed ſpeaches the ſame thing is ſignified, namely that the Lord was his chiefe ſtrength by whom hee had ſafety and defence maugre the malice of all his enemies. So Pſal. 75. 10. All the hornes of the wicked will I cut Pſal. 75. 10.off, but the hornes of the righteous ſhall bee exalted. By which is meant that he would diſable and deſtroy the one, and aduance and confirme the proſperitie of the other. And thus the Apoſtle expoundeth theſe wordes; for perſwading the Corinthians to be bountifull in doing theſe works of merciemercy, hee taketh away a ſecret obiection which might hinder them in their liberality, namely that hereby they ſhould impoueriſh their eſtates, and bring themſelues to want: aſſuring them that there was no cauſe to feare this, for God (ſaith he) is able to make all grace abound towards you, that yee alwaies hauing all ſufficiencie in 2. Cor. 9. 8. 10.all things, may abound to eueryevery good worke, as it is written, he hath diſperſed abroad, hee hath giuen to the poore, his righteouſneſſe remaineth for euer. And in ſtead, of thoſe words, his horne ſhall bee exalted with honour; he addeth: Now hee that miniſtreth ſeede to the ſower, doth miniſter bread for your foode, and multiplie your ſeede ſowne, and increaſe the fruites of your righteouſneſſe. Whereby the ſame thing is ſignified, to wit, that God will increaſe their plentie and confirme their eſtate, ſo that the ſowing of the ſeedes of their beneficence, ſhall bring them no more loſſe, then the ſowing of corne doth to the Husbandman, which is the only meanes of continuing his ſtore and abundance. And thus alſo the Lord by the Prophet Eſay promiſeth to thoſe that draw out their ſoule to the hungrie and ſatisfie the afflicted ſoule, that hee will guide them continually, ſatisfie their ſoule in drought and make fat their bones; and that they ſhall be like a watered garden, and like a ſpring of water whoſe waters faile not. Eſa. 58. 10. 11. So Pro. 11. 24. There is Pſ 58. 10. 11. Pro. 11. 24.that ſcattereth and yet increaſeth, and there is that withholdeth more then is meete, but it tendeth to pouertie. 25. The liberall ſoule ſhall be made fat, and he that watereth ſhall bee watered alſo himſelfe. And Pro. 28. 27. He that giueth to the poore ſhall not lacke. Pro. 28. 17.The which conſideration ſhould effectually mooue all to be bountifull in doing theſe workes of mercy, ſeeing they doe not weaken, but much ſtrengthen our eſtate; and are ſo farre off from being the cauſes of our want and pouertie, that they are the onelyonly meanes of our plentie and abundance.
Sect. 3. That the mercifull ſhall bee filled with ioy.
Secondly, by exalting their horne, is meant that their hearts ſhal be repleniſhed with ioy, and delight; for it is the manner of horned beaſts to expreſſe their inward ioy by lifting vp and toſſing their heads and hornes. And ſurely it is no ſmall pleaſure which a Chriſtian taketh in performing theſe workes of merciemercy; For firſt theſe vertuous actions in themſelues do euen for the preſent fill their hearts with ioy who rightly performe them, in which regard the heathen man defineth a benefit to bee an action proceeding from goodwill, yeelding ioy to him that receiueth it, and receiuing it Seneca.whileſt it yeeldeth it. But much more doe they fill our hearts with ioy, as they are euident ſignes to aſſure vsus that wee are indued with Gods ſauing graces, and as they doe, being fruites of a liuely faith, aſcertaine vsus of our future rewards, and the fruition of Gods preſence, where there is fulneſſe of ioy for euermore.
Sect. 3. That the mercifull ſhall attaine to a proſperous eſtate with honour.
Laſtly it is ſaid, that his horne ſhall be exalted with honour, or glorie; whereby is meant, that mercifull men ſhall hauehave a faire paſſage to the compaſſing of their riches and inioying of their pleaſures; and whereas worldlings whileſt they aduance and confirme their eſtates, and obtaine their pleaſures by vnlawfull meanes, are commonly branded with the markes of their ſinne, & expoſed to diſhonour and reproach both before God and men; they atcheiuing theſe things by ſowing the ſeedes of their bounty, which God bleſſeth with this fruitfull increaſe, become honourable and of high eſteeme, not only amongſt men, but alſo in the ſight of God himſelfe. Yea in truth the duty of almeſ-giuing it ſelfe is exceeding honourable; for if it bee a great honour amongſt men to bee the Kings ſteward, and to hauehave the power of diſpoſing his goods for the vſe of all his familie, or to be his Almner to diſtribute his almes vntounto the poore, how much more honorable is it, to beare theſe offices vnderunder the moſt high and mightie Monarch of heauen and earth? And as it is very honourable in it ſelfe, ſo alſo it bringeth much honour with it. For he that relieueth the poore honoreth God, according to that Pro. 14. 31. He that oppreſſeth the poore reproacheth Pro. 3. 9. & 14. 31.his maker, but he that honoureth him, hath merciemercy on the poore, and who ſo honour God, thoſe will he honor, as it is 1. Sam. 1. 30. thoſe that draw out their ſoules 1. Sam. 1. 30.to the hungrie, and ſatisfie the afflicted ſoule, their light ſhall riſe in obſcuritie, and their darkeneſſe ſhall be as the noone day. as it is. Eſa. 58. 10. They ſhall Eſa. 58. 10.bee glorious in the ſight of men whileſt they liue, for their vertuous actions, and bee had in an honourable remembrance amongſt them after their death; yea and (which is the perfection of all their happineſſe) they ſhall not onelyonly be honourable in earth, but be made glorious in the fruition of God and euerlaſting bleſſednes in the kingdome of heauen.