A Christian Library, Chapter 21 – Chapter 22
CHAP. XXI.
Touching the grounds, reasons, and inducements, which may move men to be bountifull and beneficent to the poore, with which I will begin: they are so many, that onelyonly to name them all, would by worldlings be thought too much. Wherefore I will onelyonly nominate such, as every wise man (even out of self love) will allow for weighty. And therein be as brief as possibly I can in running them over.
1. If in some good measure we perform this duty, if we deal our bread to the hungry, bring the poore that are cast out into our houses; and that seeing them naked, we cover them, as it is Isay 58.7. God hath promised and given it under his hand, that it shall go well with us in our estates, and that we shall be no loosers by it, but he will surely pay it us again, Ecc. 11.1. Luke 6.38. Matth. 6.4. And lest any should be discouraged, from performing these duties, because he is able to give but a little: he assureth us, that whosoever giveth a cup of cold water unto a Disciple in the name of a Disciple he shall in no wise lose his reward, Matt. 10.42. And that because this reward is not grounded upon the excellency and merit of the work, but upon Gods righteousness and truth, in fulfilling his promises, according to that Heb. 6.10. For God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your work and labour of love; which ye have shewed toward his name▪ in that ye have minstred to the Saints, and do minister; Whereby he implyeth that it is no more possible, that those who in love and obedience, have exercised themselves in these works of mercy, should lose their reward, then that God himself should lose his righteousness. And the wise man telleth us, that he who hath pitty on the poore, lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given, he will repay again, Prov. 19.17. Neither in reason can it be otherwise, for if mercy and bounty be in God, as an inexhaustible & everspringing fountain, and in us as a little stream that floweth from it, how is it possible that our small and shallow rivulets of mercy should flow to our Neighbours, and that the everlasting spring of Gods mercy and goodness should be dry unto us? or how should the stream flow and the fountain and well …ead be dried up? Yea let us assure our selves, that we cannot faster (in a wise and discreet manner) empty our selves of these waters of Gods blessings, for the satisfying and quenching of the poore mans thirst, and relieving of his wants: but we shall again be replenished from the fountain of all goodness; and if like kind Nurses, we let these deare Children of God suck the breasts of our bounty, for their comfort and nourishment: that which is thus spent will again be restored: whereas if we churlishly refuse to impart, and communicate this milk of Gods blessings, it is the readiest way to have it quite dried up.
Neither are we to imagine that if we be carefull in feeding Christ, that he will be carelesse in feeding us. That he will deny us meate who hath given us his precious blood. That he will suffer us to want earthly trifles, who hath provided for us heavenly riches. Let such more then heathenish diffidence, be farre from us, who professe our selves to be of the houshold of Faith. Is it not he (as Hannah speaketh) that maketh poore, and maketh rich; that bringeth low, and lifteth up. Do we enjoy all things through Gods blessing? And can we thinke to keep our riches, by disobeying his commandment? Indeed the contrary we may well expect, according to that, Prov. 11. There is that scattereth, and is more increased; but he that spareth more then is right, shall surely come to poverty, vers. 24. And it is but just, if God deny thee thy daily bread, if thou denyest him the crumbs.
And thus it apppeareth, that by giving to the poor, we shall be no loosers. But this is not all; For
CHAP. XXII.
Secondly, we shall not onelyonly receive our own again, but it shall be with great increase. Yea, if the Word of God be true, there is not a more compendious way to thrive and grow rich, then by being bountifull to the poore: But that bounty is the best and surest way to plenty, and that it is so far from weakning a mans estate, or bringing him to want and poverty, that it is the onelyonly meanes to keep us from it, and to bring plenty and abundance. I have largely and plentifully proved (if you remember) in Chapter the 30. of The best and surest way to become rich: And I heartily wish, that the Reader would perule the same: For it is the most piercing and patheticall Chapter of all the parts, and should methinks exceedingly whet on those that are greedy of gaine, to put the same into practice, and make them bountifull in doing these workes of mercy, and not think themselves loosers thereby; but rather to conclude as a mercifull man once did; The more I give, the more I have. As what Husbandman does not reckon more of his seed in the ground, then of that in his Barn or Garner? And shall we be such Atheists, as to trust the ground, and not God?
Yea, let us be so far from grudging these Almes to the poor, when we have fit occasion, that we do them with joy and thankfulness unto God, that he hath given us so fit an opportunity of sowing our seed, that so we may reap a fruitfull harvest. For what husbandman would not readily and cheerful…y hearken to one, who should offer him fertile and fruitfull land, ready prepared, and manured, to sow his seed in, with a faithful promise, that he should reape the whole crop for his own use, and benefit? But thus God dealeth with us, when he giveth us opportunity of relieving the poor: Yea, in truth much better and more ability, for he gives us even the seed also we sow with; and whereas, if a man should freely receive of another, Land to sow his seed in, yet he were not sure of a fruitfull harvest: For many accidents usually happen, which cut off the hopes of the most skilfull Husbandman, as Frosts, and Mildewes, wormes and locusts, tares and weeds, too much wet, or too much drought may destroy the corn, though the seed were never so good: or when it is ready for the sickle, the enemy may come and reap it; but if we sow these seeds of our beneficence, believing Gods promises, and hoping for a happy harvest: we shall never fail of our expectation, because God who is infinite in power and truth, having promised a fruitfull crop, no outward accident is able to hinder it.
But lest what hath been said should not be sufficient to prevail with men to be mercifull to the poore, let them hearken to, and mind well the many other reasons and inducements that propound themselves, and then I doubt not, but they will if wise, do good to others, if it be but to do a greater good to themselves. For of all other graces, the grace of charity and bounty, hath the most primest promises of reward, to us and ours, both here and hereafter, of which I will mention some.