A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Examples of Charity.
AS Husbandmen cast some of their Corne back into a fruitful soile, whereby in due time they receive it back again with increase: So should we do with worldly blessings, sowe them in the bowels, and on the backs of poor members of Christ, and in the day of harvest we shall finde great increase: Such laying out, is a laying up our treasure in heaven. Hereby we make to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousnesse; and though for the present it seem like bread cast upon the waters; yet Solomon assures us, That after many dayes we shall finde it again, Eccses. 11. 1. For we make God our debtour, who is a sure paymaster, Prov. 19. 17. Charity justifieth our faith, as faith doth our persons, James 2. 14, &c. But yet we must look to our affections and ends in giving, We must not draw forth our sheaves onelyonly, but our souls also, Esay 58. 10. But on the contrary, miserly muckwormes are like the muckhill, that never doth good till it be carried out: like the earthen box, that hath one chink to receive, but never a one to let out; and so doth no good till it be broken. Or like the fat hog, that yields no profit till he comes to the knife. But that we may be the more quickened to that lovely grace of Charity, observe these texts and examples following.
Directed, Mat. 6. 1, &c. 2 Cor. 9. 5, &c. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 16. 2.
Commanded, Luk. 11. 41. & 12. 33. Mica. 6. 8. Zach. 7. 9. 1 Tim. 6. 18. Luk. 3. 11. 1 John 3. 17. Luke 6. 36. Lev. 25. 35. Nehem. 8. 10. Rom. 12. 13. Heb. 13, 16.
Commended, Luk. 21. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 2, &c. Psal. 12. 9. Mat. 5. 7. Psal. 41. 1. Phil. 4. 16. 1 Tim. 5. 10.
It must be with compassion, Job 30. 25. Isa. 58. 10. Col. 3. 12.
Heartily, 2 Cor. 9. 7.
Considerately, Psal. 37. 26. & 112. 5.
Willingly, 1 Tim. 6. 18.
Chearfully, Rom, 12. 8 2 Cor. 9. 7.
Liberally, 2 Cor. 9. 6. Psal. 112. 9. Prov. 11. 25. & 22. 9. Eccles. 11. 1, 2, 6. Luk. 6. 38.
Seasonably, Prov. 3. 27, 28.
Impartially, Prov. 25. 21, 22. Rom. 12. 20.
Not grudgingly, Deut. 15. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Prov. 21. 26.
Scriptural Examples: Christians, Act. 2. 45. & 4. 34. Women, Luk. 8. 23. the poor widow, Mar. 12. 42. Dorcas, Act. 9. 36. Paul, Act. 24. 17. Cornelius, Act. 10. 2. Job, Chap. 31. 16, 21. Barnabas, Act. 4. 36, 37. Zacheus, Luk. 19. 8. Phebe, Rom. 16. 2. Hebrews, Chap. 6. 10. Philemon, Verse 5, 7. the virtuous woman, Prov. 31. 20. Obadia, 1 King. 18. 13. Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1. 18.
Saint Augustine was of so charirable a disposition, that wanting of his own wherewith to do it, he caused the ornaments of the Church to be sold, and imployed the money for the redeeming of Captives, and maintaining the poore. Possid. in vit. Aug. chap. 24.
Francis Russel, second Earle of Bedford of that Sirname, was so bountiful to the poore, that Queen Elizabeth would merrily complaine of him, that he made all the beggars: and sure it's more honourable for Noblemen to make beggars by their liberality, then by their oppression. Holy State. p. 297.
Holy Mr. Bradford in a hard time solde his chaines, rings, and jewels to relieve those that were in want. Act. & Mon.
George Wisehart a Scottish Martyr, forbore one meal in three one day in four, that he might have wherewithal to relieve the poor. He lay also hard upon straw, with new course canvas sheets, which when ever he changed, he gave away to the poor. See his Life in my General Martyrology.
Giles of Bruxels Martyr, gave to the poore all that he had, that necessity could spare, and lived by his trade, which was of a Cutler: some he refreshed with meat, some with clothing, some with shooes, other with housholdstuffe. A poor woman being delivered, and wanting a bed to lie on, he brought her his own bed, contenting himselfe to lie on the straw.
Dr. Taylour Martyr, used at least once in a fourtnight to call upon Sir Henry Doile and others of the rich Clothiers in his Parish, to go with him to the Almes house, and there to see how the poore lived, what they lacked, in meat, drink, apparel, bedding, or other necessaries, ministering to them himself according to his power, and causing his rich neighbours to do the like. See his life in my first Part.
Cimon, a chiefe magistate amongst the Athenians, went alwayes attended with many young men that were his friends: to whom as he met with any poor men, he commanded either to give them money, or else to change garments with them: Whence Gorgias Leontinus used to say, That Cimon so possessed his riches, as one that knew how to use them: For, saith he, the true use of riches is, so to imploy them, as may be for the owners honour. Plut. He used also to entertain the poore at his table, to cloath poor aged persons, and by throwing down the enclosures of his lands, he gave them leave freely to take of the fruits thereof. Plut.
Nerva the Romane Emperour, though a heathen, was very charitable: to many who were unjustly dispossessed by Domitian, he restored their goods, and possessions: he caused the sonnes of poor men to be educated at his charges: To poor Citizens whom he knew to be in want, he gave possessions which he purchased with his own money. Dion.
King Henry the second of England, sirnamed Beauclerk, was very charitable, and merciful to the poor And Anno Christi 1176. in a great dearth in his countreys of Anjou, and Maine, he fed every day with sufficient sustenance ten thousand persons from the beginning of April till the time that new corne was inned: and whatsoever was laid up in his Granaries, and storehouses, he imployed the same for the reliefe of Religious, and poore people. Petrus Blesensis.
King Edward the sixth was as truly charitable in granting Bridewel for the punishment of sturdy Rogues, as in giving Saint Thomas hospital for the relief of the poore.
Mr. Fox never denied to give to any one that asked for Jesus sake: and being asked whether he knew a poore man that had received succour of him, answered, I remember him well; I tell you I forget Lords and Ladies to remember such. See his life in my first Part.
Mr. Hooper Bishop of Worcester used every day at dinner, to have a certaine number of the poore of the City by course, where they were served by four at a Messe, with whole, and wholesome meat, before himselfe would go to dinner. See his Life in my first Part.
Amedeus Duke of Savoy, being asked by certain Ambassadours, whether he had any hunting Dogs to shew them, told them, they should see them the next day: and getting together many poor people, he set them with him at his own Table on the morrow; and said to the Ambassadours, These be the Dogs that I keep daily, and with which I use to hunt after heaven.
Queen Anne Bullen ever used to carry a little purse about her for the poore: thinking no day well spent, wherein some had not fared the better at her hand. She kept her maides, and such as were about her, so imployed in working, and sowing garments for the poore, that neither was there seen any idlenesse amongst them, nor any leasure to follow foolish pastimes.
Paulinus Bishop of Nola, having consumed all his estate in Redeeming of poor Christian Captives; at the length having nothing left, pa…ed himself for a certaine Christian widows sonn… the Barbarians (moved with his goodnesse, and charity) returned him home, and many captives with him freely. Paul. Diac.
The young Lord Harrington gave the tenth of his allowance (which was one thousand pounds per annum, during his minority) to the poor, and other good uses; besides what he gave in the way as he walked, which was often, and much. See his life in my second Part.
Mr, Whateley, the late painful and powerful Preacher of Gods Word at Banbury, for the space of many years together, set apart the tenth part of his Revenues, both Ecclesiastical and Temporal, which he used to give to the poor. See his Life in my first Part.
It it storied of Stephen King of Hungary, and of Oswald King of England, that their right hands, though dead, yet never putrified, because they were often exexcised in relieving the wants of the poor, Beda, Hist. Ang.
A certain good Bishop of Millaine journeying with his Servant, was met by some poor people, who begged something of him. He commanded his man to give them all that little money that he had, which was three Crowns; the Servant gave onelyonly two, reserving the other for their own expences at night: Soone after, certaine Nobles meeting the Bishop, and knowing him to be a good man, and bountiful to the poor, commanded two hundred Crowns to be delivered to the Bishops Servant for his Masters use; The man having the money, ran with great joy, and told his Master: Ah, said the Bishop, what wrong hast thou done both me and thy self? Si enim tres dedisses, trecentos accepisses; If thou hadst given those three Crowns, as I appointed thee; thou hadst received three hundred, …lanc. apud Job. Manlium in loc. com. p. 360.
Our General Norris never thought that he had that thing that he did not give.
The Emperour Tiberius the second being a valiant, godly, and liberal Prince, the more bountiful that he was to the poor, the more his riches encreased; so that he had such quantities of gold, silver, and precious things, as none of his Predecessors attained the like. Plat.
Titus Vespasianus, though an Heathen, yet was eminent, for justice, liberality, and the love of all; He was a great enemy to Promoters, Petty-foggers, and Extorters of penal Laws, which Canker-worms of Commonwealths and Caterpillars of Courts of Justice he caused to be whipped and banished out of Rome. Merciful he was to the poor, and so ready to do them good, that one day being spent by him without any notable action, in sorrow he said, Perdidimus diem, I have quite lost a day.
Whilest King Edward the third besieged Callis, when victuals in the Town began to fail, the Citizens put forth all unuseful persons, as old men, women, and children: and the merciful King turned not them back again, as he might have done, the sooner to consume the enemies store; but suffered them to passe through his Army, gave them Victuals to eate, and to every one of them two pence apeece in money. Dan. Chron. p. 240,
When thou doest thine almes, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the Hypocrites do in the Synagogues, and streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest Almes, let not thy left band know what thy right hand doth; that thine Almes may b… in s…ret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly,
Matth. 6. 2, 3, 4,
Est modus in dando, quis, quid, cui, quomodo, quando.