The Plea of the Poor, Treatise · Chapter 9 – Chapter 10
CHAP. 9. Of the perſons who ought to giuegive almes.
Sect. 1. That the rich are bound chiefely to giuegive
THe ſecond generall point to bee conſidered are the perſons who are to bee exerciſed in this worke of almes, and that both in reſpect of giuing and receiuing. Concerning the former we muſt conſider of the perſons to whom the duetie of giuing appertaineth, which admitteth a double conſideration; firſt of eſtate, who are bound to giuegive; ſecondly of right, who may lawfully performe this duetie. For the firſt, all of any eſtate and degree whatſoeuer are bound to giuegive when they meete with poorer then themſelues, at ſometimes, and in ſome caſes, but principally this duetie belongeth vntounto rich men; for whereas the Scriptures hauehave diuided all men into two ſorts; the rich, whom God hath indued with poſſeſſions and worldly bleſſings: and the poore who are ſcanted of them; God requireth that thoſe who abound ſhould miniſter vntounto the reliefe of thoſe that want. So Luk. 16. 9. Make vntounto Luk. 16 9.you friends of the Mammon of vnrighteouſneſſe. and 1. Tim. 6. 17. 18. Charge them that are rich in this 1 Tim. 6. 17. 18.world, that they doe good, that they bee rich in good workes, ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate. Thus the Apoſtle would hauehave the Corinthians out of their abundance to ſupply the wants of the faithfull that were in pouertie. 2. Cor. 8. 14. And the 2. Cor. 8. 14.Apoſtle Iohn ſaith, that who ſo hath this worlds good, and ſeeth his brother hath neede, and ſhutteth vp the bowels of his compaſsion from him, how dwelleth 1. Ioh. 3. 17.the louelove of God in him?
Sect. 2. That none are exempted from this duetie.
But for as much as men are rich or poore, not onelyonly ſimply, but in relation vntounto others; a man is to bee eſteemed rich not onelyonly when hee aboundeth with worldly wealth, but alſo when he is compared with one who is much poorer; and accordingly is to communicate of that which he hath to the reliefe of thoſe who are in greater neceſſitie. As for example, he who is of a meane and poore eſtate, muſt giuegive almes when he meeteth with thoſe that are in geater neede; and euen thoſe who are in great neede, muſt communicate ſuch as they hauehave vntounto them, who are in extreame neceſſitie, & in danger preſently to periſh, vnleſſe they hauehave ſome helpe from others. Thus he that hath but a meere competencie to ſupply the neceſsitie of nature and eſtate, is to giuegive ſomthing out of it to relieue thoſe who want neceſſaries belonging to nature, and thoſe who hauehave onelyonly ſufficient for nature, are bound to giuegive vntounto them who are in great and preſent extremitie; vnleſſe the like neceſſitie be imminent to themſelues. For the rule of iuſtice and charitie requiring that wee ſhould louelove our neighbours as our ſelues, and doe vntounto them as we would hauehave them to doe vntounto vsus; doth in the equitie thereof require, that wee preferre the life of our brethren before our eſtate, and that wee ſhould indure ſmall wants, to preſerue them from ſuffering thoſe which are great and dangerous.
Sect. 4. The former point proued by teſtimonies.
So that not onelyonly they who abound in riches, but euen thoſe alſo who are of meane eſtate are bound to performe this Chriſtian duetie. The which will more manifeſtly appeare, if we conſider both the precepts and examples of holy Scriptures. The Baptiſt requireth that thoſe who hauehave two coates part with one, and that they who hauehave Luk 3. 11.meate do likewiſe: that is, if he meet with thoſe who are in extreame neceſſitie, theſe things being not neceſſarie to the preſeruing of his owne life and eſtate. And our Sauiour commaundeth vsus to giuegive almes of ſuch things as wee hauehave, bee they more or leſſe, better or worſe. Luk. 11. 41. And if we hauehave Luk. 11. 41.nothing to ſpare out of ſuperfluitie, we muſt as (wee hauehave heard) ſell that wee hauehave and giuegive almes, in caſes of great neceſſitie: and if we hauehave nothing to ſell, wee muſt worke with our owne hands, that we may hauehave to giuegive vntounto him that needeth. Eph. 4. 28.Eph. 4. 28.
Sect. 5. Secondly, by examples.
An example hereof we hauehave in the poore widdow, which was ſo much commended by our Sauiour Chriſt, for caſting into the treaſurie her two mites which was all her ſubſtance. Mark. 12. Mark. 12. 43.43. In the Macedonians who being themſelues but poore, gaue euen aboue their ability, to the relief of thoſe who were poorer. 2. Cor. 8. 2. In the Apoſtles who wanting ſiluer and gold, gaue ſuch 2. Cor. 8. 2.as they had to the poore criple; reſtoring him by miracle to the vſe of his limmes, that ſo by his labour he might get his owne liuing. Act. 3. 6. And Act. 3. 6.in our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, who though he were ſo poore, that he liued vponupon that which others out of their louelove and dutie miniſtred vntounto him, as appeareth. Luk. 8. 3. yet he himſelfe gaue almes to thoſe who were in greater want, as wee Luk. 8. 3.may gather. Ioh. 12. 6. 8. To which purpoſe one Ioh. 12▪ 6. 8.ſaith, that the commandement of mercy is common vntounto all offices and ages, neither is the Publican or Ambroſe.ſouldiar, the husbandman or citizen, the rich or poore excepted, but all are to be admoniſhed that they be ready to giuegive vntounto him that needeth.
Sect. 6. That our ſmall meanes ſhould moue vsus to giuegive
And therefore let none excuſe their neglect of this religious dutie, becauſe their meanes are ſmall: but rather let this moue them the more carefully to exerciſe it, as being in reſpect of them an act, not onelyonly of charitie, but alſo of Chriſtian pollicie: ſeeing this is the meanes whereby being poore they may become richer, for there is that ſcattereth, and is the more increaſed; and there is that ſpareth more then is meete, and commeth to pouertit. Pro. 11. 24. And our Sauiour promiſeth that Pro. 11. 24.if we giuegive, it ſhall be giuen to vsus againe, good meaſure, preſſed downe and ſhaken together, and running ouer. Luk. 6. 38. Now no man will in ſeede time excuſe himſelfe for not ſowing his ſeede, becauſe he hath Luk. 6. 38.but a ſmall quantitie to ſpare, aboue that which he is to ſpend for his ſuſtenance that yeare; but this maketh him the rather to caſt it into the ground, that being multiplyed he may hauehave alſo inough the yeare following. There is none refuſe to trade becauſe their ſtocke is ſmall, but ſo much the more diligently they doe it, that it may be increaſed: and therefore ſeeing giuing almes is our Chriſtian ſowing and trading, let not our ſmall meanes make vsus neglect it, but to practiſe it with more cheerefulneſſe, and ſo much the rather becauſe we ſhall not onelyonly reape an earthly croppe, but hauehave alſo an heauenly harueſt, which will neuer faile vsus.
Sect. 7. That the almes of the poore are as acceptable as of the rich. Deut. 15. 1….
Neither let any man ſay that this only belongeth vntounto thoſe who hauehave much to giuegive; but as for their almes they are ſo ſmall by reaſon of the meaneneſſe of their eſtate, that they hauehave no hope they will be reſpected; for the Lord commandeth not giuegive much, but to open the hand wide, whether it be great or little, and he meaſureth the deede by the will; and the outward act 2. Cor. 8. 12.by the habite & internall vertue; he looketh not ſo much, Quid datur, as ex quo; not to the greatneſſe Q…n…ita…m … C…h…ſ. … paru… eſt … mag…us … …pp…ra…m▪of the gift, but to the quantitie of the ſtore out of which it is giuen, and the largeneſſe of the heart, which out of a little can ſpare ſomewhat. And therefore the affection of the giuer maketh the almes precious and eſtimable, or vile and contemptible in Gods ſight, in which reſpect no mans gift (as one ſaith) is accounted ſmall, who giueth it out a great and liberall minde, ſeeing our pietie is not to be meaſured by our outward wealth, but by the inward riches which lieth hid in the heart. It is true indeede that rich men giuegive N… diſ…r…pat … operum … aff…ctus perantiumgreater gifts, and meane men leſſe in reſpect of the matter or thing giuen, but there is no difference in the fruit of the worke, where there is no want in the affection of the workers; for as another ſaith, it is the heart and minde of the giuer which maketh him rich or poore, and doth ſet Ambroſ. in offic.the price vponupon all theſe ſpirituall wares: and in Auguſt. in Ioan…m.Gods ſight the hand is neuer empty of a gift, if the treaſurie of the heart be full of good will and bountie. An example whereof wee hauehave in the poore widdow who caſting into the treaſury two mites, was adiudged by our Sauiour to hauehave giuen the greateſt gift, becauſe ſhee had the largeſt and moſt liberall heart, which made her to giuegive (not like others out of their ſuperfluitie, but) euen out of her penurie, all ſhee had; as alſo becauſe the rich giuing out of their ſuperfluitie, relie vponupon their own abundance as ſufficient to beare thē out in their bountie; whereas they who being poore, and yet giuegive out of their penurie, doe in their almeſdeedes by a liuely faith and affiance depend wholy vponupon Gods promiſes. Now what greater incouragement can there be vntounto them that hauehave little, to giuegive ſomewhat of their ſmall ſtore to thoſe that ſtand in neede, ſeeing their worke is as much eſteemed and ſhall bee as richly rewarded, as thoſe who giuegive much out of their greater ſtore? If a poore man had a gracious promiſe from his Prince, that if hee would lay out a few pence at his appointment, hee ſhould hauehave a reward equall with his greateſt nobles, who hauehave in the ſame reſpect disburſed ſummes of great value, how readily would he part with his ſmall pittance for the aſſuring of ſuch rich hopes? or if a merchant out of his louelove and bountie, ſhould offer a precious iewell to ſale, ſetting his price, not according to the ineſtimable value of the thing ſold, but according to the proportion of their abilitie who come to buie it, ſo that they who will giuegive ſomewhat out of little, ſhall as ſoone hauehave it, as thoſe who will giuegive much out of their rich eſtates, how would poore men croud to come to ſuch a bargaine, and with their ſpeed preuent the wealthy in running to ſuch a market? but here is the like caſe, yea ſo much better as heauenly iewels and rewards exceede thoſe which are earthly, and things permanent and euerlaſting, excell in worth thoſe which are mutable and but of momentany continuance.
CHAP. 10. Of the perſons who may lawfully giuegive almes.
Sect. 1. That none may giuegive but ſuch as are owners of the things giuen.
ANd thus wee hauehave ſpoken of the perſons who are bound to giuegive: now wee are to ſpeake of them who may lawfully performe this duetie. Neither may all giuegive almes that will, but they who are qualified and fitted for it; vntounto which is required that thoſe who giuegive, hauehave right vntounto the things thus beſtowed: ſo as they may giuegive their owne, & not that which belongeth vntounto others: as alſo that they bee left by the poſitiue lawes of men grounded vponupon chriſtian equitie, to their libertie that they may diſpoſe of that which is their owne, and of right belongeth vntounto them, hauing age iudgement and diſcretion, to performe this duetie in ſome good manner.
Sect 2. That it is vnlawfull for ſeruants to giuegive their maiſters goods.
In the former reſpect it is vnlawfull for ſeruants to giuegive almes of their maiſters goods, vnleſſe he hath giuen them licence and libertie, if not for eueryevery particular, yet at leaſt by generall allowance. And yet are not ſeruants hands ſo bound from doing theſe workes of merciemercy, but that they may lawfully giuegive out of that which is their owne; as either that which they hauehave lawfully gotten by their ſeruice, or that which they can ſpare out of ſome allowance for their diet or apparell, which their gouernours are willing to make vntounto them. Otherwiſe it is vnlawfull for ſeruants to giuegive almes, vnleſſe it be in caſes of extreame neceſſitie, in the abſence of their gouernours, they hauing a purpoſe to make it knowne vntounto them; vponupon the aſſurance which they hauehave of their liking and approbation, or to reſtore vntounto them what they hauehave giuen, if they finde that they miſlike of it.
Sect. 3. That it is vnlawful for children to giuegive without conſent of parents.
So alſo it is vnlawfull for children vnderunder the gouernment of their parents or tutors, and remaining ſtill in the familie to giuegive almes without the conſent of their parents or gouernours, either plainely expreſſed by their words, or at leaſt intimated by the continuall cuſtome of the familie, vnleſſe by their labour they earne their owne liuing, and are allowed by their parents to diſpoſe of their owne gettings. Otherwiſe if they be for themſelues out of the familie, or out of the familie and vnderunder gouernment, but yet allowed by their gouernours ſome ſtipend for their maintenance, they may lawfully giuegive ſome almes out of their allowance, ſo that it bee ordered with iudgement and diſcretion; or if they hauehave no certaine ſtipend, yet may they giuegive ſomewhat which out of frugalitie and parcimony they hauehave ſpared euen from their owne ordinary, eſpecially if they be truely perſwaded that their parents comming to the knowledge of it would allow and approue of ſuch disburſements.
Sect 4. That it is vnlawful for thoſe that want diſcretion to giuegive almes.
In regard of the latter, thoſe who are not of ſufficient age and diſcretion, though they hauehave right to the goods they giuegive, yet are reſtrained from beſtowing of them by the equitie of law, becauſe they want iudgement to beſtow them well. In which reſpect it is vnlawfull for children vnderunder age and vnderunder guardians, or for fooles, mad men, and impotent perſons to giuegive almes, becauſe for want of diſcretion they may waſte their ſtate, or beſtow their gifts vponupon vnfit and vnworthy perſons.