A Christian Library, Chapter 59
CHAP. LIX.
BUt many to save their purses, will object, that they are poor themselves, and have nothing to spare them when they want relief: And many of them speak more truly then they are aware; for though they abound with earthly Riches, yet are they bare and beggarly in respect of the chief riches, and spiritual Treasure; though they are rich in goods, yet are they poor in Grace, poor in Love towards God, and their Neighbours; poor in Faith and Obedience, and poor in Pity, Mercy and Compassion towards their Brethren, which makes them so niggardly and close handed, that they wil part with nothing for their relief. They have not for the poor, a few scraps to preserve them from perishing with hunger; but they have enough for themselves to pamper their bellies, and with the Rich Glutton, to fare deliciously every day: They have enough to entertain their rich friends with superfluous pomp and plenty; and they, they will not leave to their own appetite, but press them with their importunity, to eat still more, when already they have eaten enough, and too much; but to the poore they will not allow some poor pittence to keep them from famishing. They who make no spare of their most costly Wines, but swallow them down themselves with great excess, and provoke, yea even compel others to drink of them unto drunkenness, will not give a little small drink to the poor members of Iesus Christ, to quench their thirst; they have not for the poor some worn and cast Apparel, to cover their nakedness, and keep their bodies from the injuries of Wind and Weather; but they have enough not onelyonly for their own use, but also for pride and ostentation, their Chests full thrust with rich Clothing, and their Wardrobes thorowly furnished with gorgeous Garments, which serve for little other use, then to keepe those from sloath and idleness, that keep them from moulding and Moth-eating: And whereas they have no course Clothes to cover naked Christ, they have costly Ornaments of Arras and Tapastry, for their walls. Finally, They have not a few pence to spare for the relieving of naked and hungry Christ, be hee in never so extream necessity; but they have many shillings and pounds to spend wastfully and riotously upon Dicing and Gaming, vain Sights, and obscene Stage-playes, and so upon all other sinful pleasures and worldly delights, which their carnal appetites can any way desire.
But what a fearful reckoning have these men to make at the day of Judgement, when they give in their accounts unto God? And with what indignation will Christ look upon them, who have thus meanly and basely regarded him. Then they wil have the wit (or cause) to wish that they had not thus occasioned Christ to deal with them, as they have dealt with him and his. But there is no perswading them to believe, that are ordained to perish.
But say thou hast but a small pittance of this Worlds goods, and not such plenty or superfluity as is before spoken of; yet oughtest thou out of that little thou hast, to spare somewhat to relieve those that are in extream necessity, either by selling what thou canst spare; or if thou hast nothing to sell, yet God commandeth thee, rather then thou shouldest neglect these Works of Mercy; to labour with thy hands, that thou mayest have to give unto him that needeth, Ephes. 4.28. And therefore excuse not thy neglect of this duty by saying that thou hast nothing for them, unless thou hast nothing to waste upon thy superfluous vanities, nothing to sell; unless thou art unable by, thy honest labour, to earn thy living, and art thy self such an one, as needeth by others to be relieved: that the poorest are not exempted from this duty, we may see in the example of the poor Widow, who was so commended by our Saviour for casting into the Treasury her two mites, which was all her substance, Mark 12.43. In the Macedonians, who being themselves poor, gave even above their ability to the relief of those that were poorer, 2 Cor. 8.2. In the Apostles, Acts 3.6. and in our Saviour Christ himself, who though he were so poore, that he lived upon what others out of their love and duty ministred unto him, as appears Luke 8.3. yet he himself gave Alms to those who were in greater want, as we may gather Iohn 12.6.8.
Yea, if we did indeed rightly consider it, our small means should move us the rather to give, and the more carefully to exercise this Christian duty, since this is the means whereby being poor, we may become richer, as I have plentifully proved in the Prevention of Poverty, Chap. 30. which I may not stand to repeat. See Prov. 3.9, 10, & 11.24, 25. & 28.27. Psal. 112.3. Isa. 32.8. Luke 6.38. 2 Cor. 9.6. Which Scriptures shew, that giving to the poor does not weaken, but much strengthen our Estates, and is so far from being the cause of our want and poverty, that it is the onelyonly means to keep us from it, and bring to us plenty and abundance.
Besides, if having little we are content in obedience to God, to part with somewhat, we perform a duty the more acceptable to God, and in the day of Christ's appearing we shal be so much the more richly rewarded; and for the present, our Work will be so much the more commendable, as wee may see, Mark 12.43. 2 Cor. 8.2.
Neither are we to imagine, that if we be careful in feeding Christ, that he will be careless in feeding us; that he will deny us meat, 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 far from us, who professe our selves to be of the Houshold of Faith. But rather let us believe God, under hope, above hope; that is, when in respect of humane means and second causes, we have cause to despaire, as Abraham in the case of a Child, when there was no possibility in Nature, nor probability in Reason.