A Christian Library, Chapter 56 – Chapter 57
CHAP. LVI.
BUt seventhly, there is another sort worse then these, viz. Such as are not only strangers unto mercy, but are opposites & enemies to it, walking in a quite contrary way. These do not feed the poor, but they flay them; they do not clothe them, but they strip them; they make not any provision for them, but cast how utterly to ruine, and undo them; instead of healing them, they wound them; instead of relieving, they rob and oppress them; and instead of being to them any ease and comfort, they lay upon them heavy burthens and pressures. These Hammons, hanging is too good for them; for if all those shall be bid, Depart ye cursed, that have not given to Christ's poor members, What wil become of thee that hast taken away from them? that hast beaten the poor to pieces, and ground their faces? that hast not onelyonly eaten up the Vineyard, but keepest the spoil of the poor in thine house, as the Prophet Isaiah complains, Isa. 3.14, 15. If the Levite bee so severely censured for not helping the distressed man, Luk. 10.30. &c. What wil be thy portion and punishment, that hast rob'd him, and hast dealt with him as the cunning Fowler deals with the poore birds; who sets his limed ears of Corn, to catch them in an hard Frost, or great Snow, when they be ready to starve.
Dives did but deny to give his own, thou hast taken away other mens. Now if he (saith Austin) be tormented in endless flames, that gives not his own goods to them that need, that gives not meat to the hungry, clothes to the naked, that takes not the stranger into his house, that visits not his brethren when they are in prison, as it is Matth. 25.41. &c. What shall become of him that takes away other mens, that robs the poore, turns them out of their own houses, and casts them into prison? O remember I beseech you, if that servant in the Gospel was bound to an everlasting prison, that onelyonly challenged his own debt, for that he had not pity on his fellow, as his Master had pity on him, whither shal they be cast that unjustly vex their neighbours, quarrel for that which is none of theirs, and lay title to another mans propriety?
When the Prophet that was slain by a Lyon (though an holy man) buies so dearly such a slight frailty, of a credulous mistaking: what shall become of hainous and presumptuous sinners?
Christians should be like Christ: but how unlike to him are these men? Christ made himself poor to make them rich: but they make many poor to make themselves rich: yea, they sink others eies into their heads with leanness, while their own eies start out with fatness: and to fill the other bag they will pare a poor man to the very bones.
Again, many men be unreprovable, and yet rejected: alas, what then shall become of our gluttony, drunkenness, pride, oppression, bribery, cozenages, adulteries, blasphemies, and of our selves for them? If he shall have judgment without mercy that shews not mercy; what shall become of subtraction and rapine,, Psal. 109.11. Do'st thou not know, that with what measure thou metest to others here, God will measure to thee again hereafter? Mat. 7.2. And were it not better then, to prevent a mischief before, then repent you did not when 'tis too late? O that thou wouldst but fore-think, what thy Covetousness will one day cost thee. As how will it one day grieve these griping Ingrossers, and Oppressors? when they shall receive a multiplicity of torments, according to the multiplicity o… their cruel and unconscionable deeds? and to the number also of their abused benefits. They will then wish, that they had not done so ill, nor fared so well upon earth; that they might have fared less ill in Hell. For if for one sin at the first, God plagued a world of men; how will he plague one man for a world of sin?
Consider but these things, thou cruel and unmerciful rich man, and thou canst not choose but tremble. If then they be so terrible to hear, what will it be everlastingly to feel them? If so intollerable to be felt and endured; be accordingly careful, that thou mayest never feel nor endure them: Thou art taking a Voyage to this Kingdom of darknesse, and art near upon arriving; it were happy if thou wouldst return, before thou art at thy journeys end. And certainly, didst thou but know the place, and thy entertainment when thou comest there; thou wouldst be bound for heaven, steer thy course thitherward, and fraught thy self accordingly. You know, or may know, what a rich and brave place Heaven is; the Pavement is of Gold, the Walls of Iasper, garnished with all manner of precious stones, the Gates of Pearl, &c. Revel. 21. & 22. chap. For I should but disparage it, by seeking to describe it. But
CHAP. LVII.
EIgthly, (that I may not be said to set in a Cloud) Is he that commanded thee (this …asie, and not costly, but most gainful service in the World) thy Heavenly Father, Maker and Preserver, yea, thy Saviour and Redeemer? Is he thy Lord by a manifold Right? And thou his Servant by all manner of obligations? As, First, He is thy Lord by the Right of Creation, thou being his Workmanship, made by him▪ Secondly, By the Right of Redemption, being his Purchase, having bought and ransomed thee out of Hell, by his precious Blood, where else thou must have been frying in flames to Eternity. Thirdly, Of Preservation, Being kept, upheld, and maintained by him, (all we have, being at his cost.) Fourthly, Thou art his by Vocation, even of his Family, having admitted thee a Member of his visible Church. Fifthly, His also (if it be not thine own fault) by Sanctification, whereby he possesseth thee. Sixtly & lastly, He would have thee of his Court by Glorification, that he might crown thee. So that thou art every way his. Yea, he hath removed so many evils from thee, and conferred so many good things upon thee, that they are beyond thought or imagination; then certainly thou art of a sordid and base spirit, if thou deniest him so small a matter as the surplusage of thy Estate to the relief of his poor and distressed members; for were you loving children indeed, though there were no Hell to fear, nor Heaven to hope for; no torments to dread, no rewards to expect; yet you would obey your good and loving Father, and be the sorrowfullest creatures in the World, if yee have but once displeased him, onelyonly for the meer love you bear towards him, and for the unspeakble love he hath shewed towards you: How much more in this case, when whatsoever we give to the poor, we give it not so much to them, as to our selves, Dan. 4.27. Prov. 11.17.