Counsel to the Afflicted, Question 3 · Section 5
SECT. 5.
5. Put on bowels of compaſſion towards ſuch as have been ſufferers by this fire, and towards all others that are in an afflicted, diſtreſſed condition; and be ready upon all occaſions to do all offices of love for any of them, as far as it lyeth in your power to be helpful to them. Pity them, Job 6.14. To him that is afflicted, pity ſhould be ſhewed from his friend. Mourn over their afflicted condition, Job 30.25. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my ſoul grieved for the poor? Rom. 12.15. Weep with them that weep. There is a wo pronounced againſt thoſe that are not affected with their brethrens miſeries, Amos 6.1,6. Wo to them that are at eaſe in Zion—That drink Wine in Bowls, and anoint themſelves with the chief Ointments, but they are not grieved for the afffliction of Joſeph. Pray for them, that God would comfort and ſupport them under, and bring them out of their diſtreſſes, Pſal. 25.22. Redeem Iſrael, O God, out of all his troubles. Pſal. 132.1. Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions. Counſel and help them in the management of their affairs, and carry your ſelves like a father to them, Job 29.15,16. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame; I was a father to the poor. Viſit them, and comfort them in their afflicted condition, Jam. 1.27. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God, and the Father, is this, to viſit the fatherleſs and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himſelf unſpotted from the world. Relieve them that are in want, Eccleſ. 11.1,2. Caſt thy bread upon the waters, for thou ſhalt find it after many dayes: Give a portion to ſeven, and alſo to eight; for thou knoweſt not what evil ſhall be upon the Earth. Job 31.16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23. If I have withheld the poor from their deſire, or have cauſed the eyes of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morſel alone, and the fatherleſs hath not eaten thereof: (for from my youth he was brought up with me as with a father, and I have guided her from my mothers womb:) If I have ſeen any periſh for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not bleſſed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my ſheep: If I have lift up mine hand againſt the fatherleſs, when I ſaw my help in the gate; then let mine arm fall from mine ſhoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone; for deſtruction from God was a terror to me, and by reaſon of his highneſs, I could not endue. Lend to them that would borrow any thing of you in their neceſſity, Matth. 5.42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away. Lending as well as giving, is a duty enjoyned by God; but both the one as well as the other, muſt be managed with diſcretion, Pſal. 112.5. A good man ſheweth favour, and lendeth, he will guid his affairs with diſcretion. And to make you willing to lend upon all occaſions unto thoſe that come to borrow ought of you, (if they be ſuch perſons as your Conſcience tells you, it is your duty and your diſcretion, that it is meet to lend to them) conſider, that for this very thing God will greatly bleſs you in all that you ſet your hands unto, Deut. 15.7,8,10. Thou ſhalt not harden thy heart, nor ſhut thine hand from thy poor brother; but thou ſhalt open thine hand wide unto him, and ſhall ſurely lend him ſufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth: Thou ſhalt ſurely give him, and thine heart ſhall not be grieved when thou giveſt unto him: becauſe that for this thing the Lord thy God ſhall bleſs thee in all thy works, and in all that thou putteſt thine hand unto: yea, God will not only bleſs you, but your poſterity alſo for this thing, Pſal. 37.26. He is ever merciful and lendeth, and his ſeed is bleſſed. In all reſpects carry your ſelves towards thoſe that are in a ſuffering condition, as you would deſire they ſhould have carried themſelves towards you, if they had been in your condition, and you had been in theirs; for this is according to the rule which is given us by our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, Matth. 7.12. All things whatſoever ye would that men ſhould do to you, do ye even ſo to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets. When you ſee any in diſtreſs, and find your ſelves backward to relieve them; ſay to your own hearts as Mordecai did to Eſther in anothers caſe, when ſhe was unwilling to put forth her ſelf for the help of the diſtreſſed Jews, Eſth. 4.14. Who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for ſuch a time as this? Who knoweth whether my Eſtate was preſerved from the fire for ſuch a time as this?
When therefore you are conſidering with your ſelves, what you ſhall render unto the Lord for his great mercy towards you, in preſerving your ſubſtance from the fire, determine with your ſelves to do what I have been exhorting you unto; namely, to put on bowels of compaſſion towards all that are in diſtreſs, and to do all the good you can for them, according as God ſhall Miniſter ability and opportunity unto you; for God is al-ſufficient, and needeth not any thing that you can do for him, Act. 17.25. Neither is worſhiped with mens hands, as though be needed any thing, ſeeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. Your goodneſs extendeth not unto him, Pſal. 16.2. neither can you be profitable to God as you may be profitable to his people, Job 35.7,8. If thou be righteous, what giveſt thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy righteouſneſs may profit the Son of Man. God expects this from us, that when he hath beſtowed any eminent mercy upon us, we ſhould expreſs our gratitude by doing good to others that are in diſtreſs, Luke 22.32. When thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy brethren. As it is in reſpect of comfort, when God gives us comfort it is not only for our ſelves, but alſo to enable us to comfort others, 2 Cor. 1.4,6. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God—Whether we be comforted it is for your conſolation and ſalvation. So it is with riches, they are not given to us only for our own uſe, but alſo to enable us to relieve the wants and neceſſities of others. We are not Lords, but Stewards of our Eſtates, and muſt one day give an account of our ſtewardſhip: And it is required in ſtewards, that a man be found faithful, 1 Cor. 4.2. Stewards muſt not diſpoſe of what is committed to their charge, according to their own, but according to their Lords will.